Recommended: Women’s (History) Month

It’s March…. let the sink in for a moment. It is indeed March already and I am still can’t quite believe that we are already into the third month of 2018; what a year it has been so far! When we often think of March, we dwell on Spring being around the corner and drinking green beer on St. Patrick’s Day, but March is also Women’s History Month. As a reader, I have been drawn to read more books on women’s rights, roles, history and involvement in society this past year and I cannot be more excited to share some books with you. There are so many different genres and avenues you can go down to read books for Women’s History Month. Whether its actual history books or romance with strong female leads, or women authors or books on feminism, you cannot go wrong! And with all the recent material continually coming out about women, and for women, you have endless possibilities.  Since it is a month to celebrate women, I cannot recommend enough to pick up a book to read, share, and expand your mind while tipping your hat to the ladies.

History – Non Fiction

• Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott: A historical look at the women who helped shape and impact the Civil War. This book is dense but has so much information and sheds light on women in a time where it is believed that women didn’t have much of a say  or a role in society. If you love history, I would pick this one up ASAP. 

• Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy:  Ladies come through! Yes, women helped to break code during WWII which ultimately helped us win the war! Boom! Couldn’t get enough of this book! 

• Special Mention:
  • Sarah Vowell – She has written so many different historical novels, I couldn’t have a history section without mentioning her. I love her work! Not only is she thorough in her work, but she is bloody hilarious! Sarah makes history engaging and funny. If you aren’t into history because it can be quite dry,  I would pick up her novels for sure!

History – Fiction

• Lady Emily Mystery Novels by Tasha Alexander: If you are new to this blog, let me put you to this delicately. I love two authors deeply (who are both women) one is Jane Austen, (surprise, surprise) and the other is Tasha Alexander. I randomly picked up one of her Lady Emily Mysteries in the library one day, and was instantly hooked! The novels take place in Victorian England and Emily, a woman of class, expands beyond her ” proper gender role” to help solve mysteries and demand to do more than what society tells her to be. Emily is her own woman, and doesn’t follow the rules or boundaries that Victorian Society puts her in. Love this series, first novel is And Only to Deceive.  I apologize to your bank account in advance because you will want to buy all her books.
• Special Mention:
  • Diana Gabaldon….need I say more. If you haven’t read the Outlander series then, you have indeed been under a rock. GO BUY NOW!

Non-Fiction/Feminism

• Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen Schaefer: So I just bought this book, and I’m OBSESSED! As someone who has always had tons of male friends, and only a few female friends, I see the importance of surrounding yourself with a tribe aka female friendships. This book is so fascinating to see how female friendships have changed in society, and how important it is that we have female friends. I love my guy friends, but I can’t share with them the struggles I go through like I can with my female friends. Plus, guy friends aren’t really into brunch. 

• Girls Will be Girls: Dressing Up, Playing Parts and Daring to Act Differently by Emer O’Toole: Another recent book of obsession, this book shows how women are often defined by how we look and act, but this book is breaking those boundaries. This book will help you redefine what it means to me ” feminine”. Plus it’s hilarious!
• Special Mention:
  • All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation by Rebecca Traister – If you are single, just buy this book now… it will change your life and give you a new perspective on being a single women in today’s society. 

Romance

• I am just going to talk about two authors for this genre that write beautiful female leads who are willing to stand up for themselves but also willing to be vulnerable when the time calls for it; Julia Quinn & Sarah Maclean. They are both in the Regency Romance genre, but I cannot get enough of their books. With female characters taking control of their own destinies, and breaking gender roles, plus the novels aren’t dirty like some romance novels can be. Obsessed forever and for always.

Biographies/Memoirs

So many to choose from, so here is a list:

• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Wild by Cheryl Strayed

• All That Makes Life Bright: The Life and Love of Harriet Beecher Stowe by Josi S. Kilpack

• Hunger Makes Me a Modern Women by Carrie Brownstein
• Bossypants by Tiny Fey
• Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own by Kate Bolick

• I Don’t Wait Anymore by Grace Thornton 

• Around the World in 80 Dates by Jennifer Cox
• The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

• It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love and War by Lynsey Addario 

Female Authors You Need to Read

Ok, there are to many books out there to label them all in this post, but I am just going to create a list of female authors you need to check out, you will thank me later:

• Jane Austen (Classics)
• Emily Bronte (Classics)
• Charlotte Bronte (Classics)
• Lucy Vine (Fiction)
• Rupi Kaur (Poetry)
• Jen Mann (Essays, Short Stories)
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( Non-fiction, Feminism)
• Roxane Gay (Non-fiction, Feminism)
• Daisy Goodwin (Historical Fiction)
• Havilah M Cunnington (Christian Non-fiction)
• Lisa Bevere (Christian Non-fiction)
• Katherine Arden (Fantasy)
• V. E. Schwab (Fantasy)
• Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)
• Nora Ephron (Fiction, Non Fiction)
• Helen Oyeyemi (Short Stories)
• Rainbow Rowell (YA Fiction)
• Marissa Meyer (YA Fantasy)
• Leigh Bardugo (Fantasy)
• Becky Chambers (Science Fiction)
• Dr. Caroline Leaf (Nonfiction)
• Jojo Moyes (Fiction)
• Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy, YA)
• Terry Tempest Williams (Nonfiction, Nature)
• Sarah Knight (Nonfiction)

Sorry not sorry about this post. I wrote it with the intent that I would only mention a few books but as I went along, I kept thinking of more books and more authors that I love and proceeded to overwhelm myself a little bit, lol. I know there are so many more authors and novels, but I mentioned only the authors I’ve read, actually enjoyed, and tried to keep the list to a decent length.

Feel free to add books, novels or authors in the comments below for Women’s History Month. I hope you take a moment to check out some of the authors or books that I’ve mentioned above. Also be sure to let me know what you are currently reading and loving in the comments as well.

Happy Women’s History Month & Happy Reading!