‘On the front line with the women who fight back’ Stacey Dooley

‘On the front line with the women who fight back’ by Stacey Dooley is a biographical novel that looks at the women Stacey has met throughout her years making documentaries. The book looks at women from all walks of life who all deal with different issues and events daily. Throughout Stacey Dooley’s time making documentaries she has looked at a multitude of difficult and harrowing topics from sex trafficking in Cambodia, to Yazidi women fighting back in Syria. These experiences have inspired this book as at the focus of the majority of her documentaries are the strong and brave women in a variety of different circumstances.

Throughout the book, we are introduced to many women who Stacy has met through her documentaries and we are told their stories. Many of these women face unbelievable circumstances and have difficult lives. This book looks at these issues and shares them respectfully in a very educative way much like her documentaries however we do get to see an insight into Stacey’s own opinions and how these have been changed or strengthened throughout her journey meeting these women. Although Stacey shares her opinions, it is very much up to the reader to create their own and decide for themselves what they think about these circumstances.

I also feel that this book shows that Stacey is great at sharing a topic and teaching about what happens in other countries in an inspiring and enlightening way and she tells it respectfully and with real passion. She shares stories that she herself is inspired about and that transpires. She knows what she thinks and isn’t scared to share that which is admirable.

I find the book inspirational in many ways. We are given the opportunity to see what people are dealing with elsewhere in the country yet we see these strong and determined women. The book is ultimately there to raise awareness and is there to show “what’s going on in the world so that people can make up their own minds about how best to fight back”. (On the Front Line with the Women Who Fight Back, Stacey Dooley)

I think having watched some of the documentaries is a bonus because as she tells you about a certain topic you can look back at the documentary but with extra insight and information but I don’t believe it is necessary at all as you are giving all the information in the book. I would fully recommend this book as it looks at serious topics beautifully and provides education into these issues.

Many thanks, Caitlin x

(PS please feel free to comment your thoughts on this book or you have any other books that share the same theme)