That's What She Said by Kimothy Joy

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That’s What She Said by Kimothy Joy

Genre: Non-Fiction | Inspirational

My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

128 Pages | Published: April 3, 2018 by Harper Wave

Book Jacket Synopsis

An artist and activist committed to the empowerment of women and girls has created a gorgeous illustrated volume, blending watercolor and short biography to showcase the contributions of more than fifty influential female leaders whose words and actions are a passionate call to arms.

Distraught by the results of the 2016 election and the realization that the nation was not ready for its first female president, Kimothy Joy found herself poring over the biographies of brave women throughout history—those who persisted in the face of daunting circumstances—to learn from their experiences.

Turning to art, Joy channeled her feelings to the canvas, bringing these strong women to life in bold watercolor portraits surrounded by inspirational hand-lettered quotes. With each creation, Joy found catharsis and hope. She shared her watercolors with her online community and encouraged everyone to raise their own voices and recharge for the battles ahead.

Now, in this beautiful gift book, Joy has gathered her stunning illustrations and quotes and paired them with surprising, illuminating biographies of her subjects to inspire women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. That’s What She Said honors a powerful and diverse group of over fifty women—from Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, and Virginia Woolf to Sojourner Truth, Malala Yousafzai, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg—role models whose words and insights remind us that we must never give up the fight for a more just and equitable society.

Reclaiming the derogatory cultural barb “that’s what she said,” this stunning book celebrates strong female leadership throughout history and empowers current and future generations to find their voices and inspire change in their communities.

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Favorite Quotes

Our words have power. Our stories can change others. And, standing together with the women of the past and present, we can change the world – we can shape the course of herstory.
This book has energy and purpose. It is an invitation to consider your own voice on the matters you feel most strongly called to speak on. It is encouragement to build on the incredible work of the women who have come before us.

Review & Thoughts

Review Notes: Although you could read this book in one quick sitting, I chose to read a few pages at a time to soak it in and enjoy it. I loved the research that went into the book and especially loved the beautiful illustrations.

I absolutely love the idea of reinventing the perspective of ‘that’s what she said’. I think the only thing that would have made the book better is if it also included a few inspirational sound bites rather than just the one illustrated quote. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

In a Nutshell: Great read and a beautifully illustrated book, perfect for picking up from your coffee table for a shot of inspiration.

Book Format & Source: Hardback copy purchased from Book Outlet

From the pages:

About Kimothy Joy

Author Bio on Amazon: Kimothy Joy is a Denver based artist whose work combines watercolor and pen with hand lettering. She has collaborated with the Women’s March on Washington, I AM THAT GIRL, Juniper Books, Gucci, Melinda Gates, author Jessica Bennett, and poets Nikita Gill and Cleo Wade. Her illustrations have also been featured in Glamour, Teen Vogue, O, Oprah Magazine, Refinery29, Washington Post and Huffington Post.

Kimothy’s artwork aims to add a sincere and hopeful message of empowerment to women in a conversation where that is often lacking. She is passionate about social justice and women’s empowerment and has created a business that gives back to organizations advocating for girls and women like EMILY’s List. Kimothy is also a creative consultant for socially conscious organizations such as Smart Girl and Soul Day Foundation. Additionally, she participates in organizing Denver’s TEDx programs to incite change and spread progressive ideas.

Visit the author’s website: https://www.kimothyjoy.com/