The Group, by Mary McCarthy – not really focused on empowerment, but a classic in its day.
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen – how two very different sisters respond to romantic situations.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Nonfiction – Wedlock, by Wendy Moore – How the richest woman in early Victorian England escaped a disastrous marriage and was one of the few women to get a divorce – reads like fiction.
15volt on
*Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life* –Lulu Miller
SparklingGrape21 on
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. It’s an incredible book and would be great to discuss in a book club.
cykia on
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes — about the Trojan War from the women’s perspectives.
thechops10 on
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Or the tenant of wildfell hall by Anne Bronte
Texan-Trucker on
I recently acquired the audiobook “The Women with Silver Wings” by Katherine Landdeck. About many of the prominent women who transported aircraft from factories to bases to support the war effort, and who did a lot to advance women’s place in a “man’s world”. Compiled from many memoirs and news stories.
Also “The Exiles” by Christina Baker Kline. About women who were forced to survive together or die alone, and bonds that only women can truly understand and appreciate. Historical fiction set in the 1840’s. An amazing narration performance by Caroline Lee.
pickin_dim_kurva on
Hannah’s Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson, story of grandmother, mother and daughter
The Braid by Lætitia Colombani, story of 3 women from different parts of the world who are connected through a braid
mintbrownie on
Here are three lesser-known novels about women written by women. The common thread is the amazing writing by the three different authors.
[Gun Love by Jennifer Clement](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35661769-gun-love?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8) – another young woman who is raising her daughter in a car at a trailer park – it does circle around guns but doesn’t hit you over the head with it. Fascinating prose (some people aren’t a fan) and a really tight small story with interesting characters.
[Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54785502-agatha-of-little-neon?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17) – something in the air with young women, but this one is a sister (as opposed to a nun – explained in the book) who is finding her way in the world. Again some difficult stuff but the writing is perfection and there is a surprising amount of humor (that doesn’t break the overall mood at all).
These are all fairly short (200-275 pages) so you could consider more than one.
Dry-Strawberry-9189 on
If you’re willing to consider nonfiction (and are okay with violent/graphic content), there are some fantastic memoirs that would be perfect for IWD:
– Toufah: The Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement by Toufah Jallow
– Know My Name by Chanel Miller
– Defiant Dreams by Sola Mahfouz
– The Last Girl by Nadia Murad
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The Group, by Mary McCarthy – not really focused on empowerment, but a classic in its day.
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen – how two very different sisters respond to romantic situations.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Nonfiction – Wedlock, by Wendy Moore – How the richest woman in early Victorian England escaped a disastrous marriage and was one of the few women to get a divorce – reads like fiction.
*Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life* –Lulu Miller
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. It’s an incredible book and would be great to discuss in a book club.
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes — about the Trojan War from the women’s perspectives.
The Change by Kirsten Miller
Or the tenant of wildfell hall by Anne Bronte
I recently acquired the audiobook “The Women with Silver Wings” by Katherine Landdeck. About many of the prominent women who transported aircraft from factories to bases to support the war effort, and who did a lot to advance women’s place in a “man’s world”. Compiled from many memoirs and news stories.
Also “The Exiles” by Christina Baker Kline. About women who were forced to survive together or die alone, and bonds that only women can truly understand and appreciate. Historical fiction set in the 1840’s. An amazing narration performance by Caroline Lee.
Hannah’s Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson, story of grandmother, mother and daughter
The Braid by Lætitia Colombani, story of 3 women from different parts of the world who are connected through a braid
Here are three lesser-known novels about women written by women. The common thread is the amazing writing by the three different authors.
[The Seas by Samantha Hunt](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/332768.The_Seas?ref=nav_sb_ss_4_14) – a troubled young woman who believes she’s a mermaid and is in love with an older veteran – gets rather heartbreaking at times.
[Gun Love by Jennifer Clement](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35661769-gun-love?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8) – another young woman who is raising her daughter in a car at a trailer park – it does circle around guns but doesn’t hit you over the head with it. Fascinating prose (some people aren’t a fan) and a really tight small story with interesting characters.
[Agatha of Little Neon by Claire Luchette](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54785502-agatha-of-little-neon?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_17) – something in the air with young women, but this one is a sister (as opposed to a nun – explained in the book) who is finding her way in the world. Again some difficult stuff but the writing is perfection and there is a surprising amount of humor (that doesn’t break the overall mood at all).
These are all fairly short (200-275 pages) so you could consider more than one.
If you’re willing to consider nonfiction (and are okay with violent/graphic content), there are some fantastic memoirs that would be perfect for IWD:
– Toufah: The Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement by Toufah Jallow
– Know My Name by Chanel Miller
– Defiant Dreams by Sola Mahfouz
– The Last Girl by Nadia Murad
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See maybe?