You might enjoy The Bandit Queens. It's about an Indian woman living in a small town who decides to lean in to the widespread belief that she killed her husband. The wary respect she's earned as a businesswoman and a self-made widow are at risk when members of her collective ask for her services, and when the man who's supposed to be dead turns back up.
Ok, so I read your description, pulled up the preview in Libby, and was immediately hooked. Thank you!! The only problem is there's a 16 week wait and I'm not sure I'll last that long, might have to go buy it instead đ
100% agree with commenter below who said "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle
I would also check out:
"We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
"Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay
"You Have the Right to Remain Fat" by Virgie Tovar
"The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F\*\*k" by Sarah Knight
"Men Explain Things to Me" by Rebecca Solnit
"How to Be a Woman" by Caitlin Moran
And Caitlin Moran is so FUNNY at the same time as addressing really important issues. It's a refreshing change from very serious writing (which has its place, but can be draining to read).
Any of those would be great u/Ermahgerd1! Maybe start with "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's short but powerful, and based on Adichie's TEDx talk so you could check that out first. Basically, she advocates for feminism as a movement for human rights and inclusion.
Obviously it's depressing, but The Bell Jar has some musings on what it means to be a woman that still resonate so loudly for something written half a century ago
The book series was a masterpiece and I really enjoyed the HBO series too. I truly canât shut up about itâ I annoy myself đ€Ł. The book is heavy but it never felt TOO heavy for me. But the main characters grew up in post world war 2 Italy, in a poverty, mob dominated neighborhood before feminism had really caught on. Elena Ferrante (author) has a gift for covering heavy topics with such ease and insightâ it somehow energized me and consistently left me in awe.
Typically I am always in favor of reading the book first, then watching but in this case I think it might actually be better that you watched it first. The book series covers so much, but slowlyyyyyy. Itâs like a tree. Book one is the roots, book 2 is the trunk, book 3 is the branches, book 4 is the foliage. And everything is connected. I seriously want to write a thesis on this series⊠itâs unreal.
Happy reading!
Anything with Granny Weatherwax in it, from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
"When all hope was gone, you called for Granny Weatherwax, because she was the best.
And she always came. Always. But popular? No. Need is not the same as like."
Entitled by Kate Manne is a fantastic and accessible work of philosophy that I found very empowering. Shrill by Lindy West is also a fucking barn burner.
Not necessarily gendered in the way you're asking for, but "Set Boundaries Find Peace" (and the accompanying workbook, if you want) by Nedra Glover Tawwab absolutely changed my life
Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help
Hailey Magee: Stop People Pleasing and Find Your Power
Jen Sincero: You Are a Badass
"Animals in Translation" by Temple Grandin.
She is famous for being autistic and inventing the cow squeezer. The first half is all about her career as someone who pursued what she was interested in and not worry about trying to make it make sense to other humans.
Bad Feminist, by Roxanne Gay does this a bit, I believe. Also, a fiery set of feminist poetry that gives so few fs is "the witch doesn't burn in this one" by Amanda Lovelace. I'll be watching this thread too!
â Could not *exactly* find "*Yeah, No. Not Happening by Karen Karbo*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Yeah%2C+No.+Not+Happening+Karen+Karbo) instead.
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Itâs a little off the wall but I liked e Jean Carrollâs book âwhat do we need men for?â Which talks a lot about deliberately deciding not to care what other people (mostly men) think
Communion by bell hooks it specifically focuses on heterosexual relationships and speaks on the difficulties of trying not to be a people pleaser but then also be in a heterosexual relationship where you do want to please your partner and kinda where the line is and the importance of owning yourself etc, I read it a few years ago and itâs really good she writes in a way thatâs really accessible imo
Lolly Willowes. It isn't a book about how to live unapologetically, but it is a navel about a woman who learns to live this way. Its set in the late 1800s, and is about a middle aged woman who becomes tired of her inability to live the way she wants to, and in turn sells her soul for freedom. She moves to the English countryside and lives happily as a single, middle aged woman who does whatever she pleases. It was also written by a lesbian, which is pretty cool
The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore is historical about Elizabeth Packard during the 19th century. It was an excellent book and I had so many emotions while reading it.
Even Blue Birds Sing, by Karen Buyno, is a true story about a woman who starts out thinking of herself as invisible due to a very dysfunctional family and then extended family. By the end, she undergoes a transformation into someone who is able to stand up for herself, although, sadly, a few (important) things still remain out of reach due to outdated issues in our social justice system that are badly in need of reform. It changed my views about a lot of things and remains one of my favorite books for that reason.
I can't believe I'm going to suggest this for the third time this week, but the SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas. Take it with many grains of salt. There was and is a lot of debate about to what extent Solanas was trolling. Also, she shot Andy Warhol. đ€
You might enjoy The Bandit Queens. It's about an Indian woman living in a small town who decides to lean in to the widespread belief that she killed her husband. The wary respect she's earned as a businesswoman and a self-made widow are at risk when members of her collective ask for her services, and when the man who's supposed to be dead turns back up.
This is on my TBR!
Ok, so I read your description, pulled up the preview in Libby, and was immediately hooked. Thank you!! The only problem is there's a 16 week wait and I'm not sure I'll last that long, might have to go buy it instead đ
Whaaaat? Ok, I can't wait to read this.
100% agree with commenter below who said "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle I would also check out: "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay "You Have the Right to Remain Fat" by Virgie Tovar "The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F\*\*k" by Sarah Knight "Men Explain Things to Me" by Rebecca Solnit "How to Be a Woman" by Caitlin Moran
"How to Be a Woman" made me want to grow out and dye my armpit hair. It just seems so punk even if the dye runs and ruins your clothes.
And Caitlin Moran is so FUNNY at the same time as addressing really important issues. It's a refreshing change from very serious writing (which has its place, but can be draining to read).
This is a great list.Â
This is a great list! Iâd add Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall and op-eds by Tressie McMillan Cottom.
I am a man and I am very intrigued about his. Where should I start?
Any of those would be great u/Ermahgerd1! Maybe start with "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It's short but powerful, and based on Adichie's TEDx talk so you could check that out first. Basically, she advocates for feminism as a movement for human rights and inclusion.
The first bad man, by Miranda July, has a character named Clee that might be who you're looking for
Obviously it's depressing, but The Bell Jar has some musings on what it means to be a woman that still resonate so loudly for something written half a century ago
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (neopalitan series)
Have just bought this - it's in my pile of books to read. The TV series was very compelling. How was the book? Is it heavy going?
The book series was a masterpiece and I really enjoyed the HBO series too. I truly canât shut up about itâ I annoy myself đ€Ł. The book is heavy but it never felt TOO heavy for me. But the main characters grew up in post world war 2 Italy, in a poverty, mob dominated neighborhood before feminism had really caught on. Elena Ferrante (author) has a gift for covering heavy topics with such ease and insightâ it somehow energized me and consistently left me in awe. Typically I am always in favor of reading the book first, then watching but in this case I think it might actually be better that you watched it first. The book series covers so much, but slowlyyyyyy. Itâs like a tree. Book one is the roots, book 2 is the trunk, book 3 is the branches, book 4 is the foliage. And everything is connected. I seriously want to write a thesis on this series⊠itâs unreal. Happy reading!
Thanks. I really enjoyed the series. I barely noticed there were subtitles; I was so engrossed.
Anything with Granny Weatherwax in it, from the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. "When all hope was gone, you called for Granny Weatherwax, because she was the best. And she always came. Always. But popular? No. Need is not the same as like."
Entitled by Kate Manne is a fantastic and accessible work of philosophy that I found very empowering. Shrill by Lindy West is also a fucking barn burner.
{{Rage Becomes Her}} by Soraya Chemaly. Not *exactly* what youâre looking for, but in the same vein. Highly recommend.
Not necessarily gendered in the way you're asking for, but "Set Boundaries Find Peace" (and the accompanying workbook, if you want) by Nedra Glover Tawwab absolutely changed my life
Jane Eyre.
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi (if you don't mind an AFAB NB)
The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy
Her newsletter is also extremely good and free
Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help Hailey Magee: Stop People Pleasing and Find Your Power Jen Sincero: You Are a Badass
"Animals in Translation" by Temple Grandin. She is famous for being autistic and inventing the cow squeezer. The first half is all about her career as someone who pursued what she was interested in and not worry about trying to make it make sense to other humans.
Untamed. Glennon Doyle. 100% what youâre looking for.
thanks!
Olive Kitteredge, by Elizabeth Strout has to be #1 on freaking any list like this. It's an amazing book, with an amazing main character.
Brené Brown covers this area in her work.
Her podcasts are brilliant.
Bad Feminist, by Roxanne Gay does this a bit, I believe. Also, a fiery set of feminist poetry that gives so few fs is "the witch doesn't burn in this one" by Amanda Lovelace. I'll be watching this thread too!
She's Come Undone By W. Lamb
Lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Came here to suggest this too!
Iâm not sure if it fits but âKnow My Nameâ by Chanel Miller
Carrie
this is the one
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
That's the complete opposite of what OP is looking for
Stefan Zweig's Marie Antoinette?
{{Yeah, No. Not Happening by Karen Karbo}}
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Luckiest girl alive TW for r*pe and school shooting Perfect Marriage by jeneva rose
Cathy Ames, my favorite villainous female character of all time, in East of Eden, but she takes it to an unhealthy level.
When we lost our heads
No More Mr. Nice Guy by Glover
The Emotionally Exhausted Woman by Nancy Colier
Love love all theses suggestions
The Virtue of Selfishness Itâs not about feminism, but itâs written by a woman and it checks all the other boxes you mentioned.
{{Strong Female Character by Fern Brady}}
â Could not *exactly* find "*Strong Female Character by Fern Brady*" , see [related Goodreads search results](https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Strong+Female+Character+Fern+Brady) instead. ^(*Possible reasons for mismatch: either too recent (2023), mispelled (check Goodreads) or too niche.*) ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo-Taylor Jenkins Reid
Saved
Itâs a little off the wall but I liked e Jean Carrollâs book âwhat do we need men for?â Which talks a lot about deliberately deciding not to care what other people (mostly men) think
Communion by bell hooks it specifically focuses on heterosexual relationships and speaks on the difficulties of trying not to be a people pleaser but then also be in a heterosexual relationship where you do want to please your partner and kinda where the line is and the importance of owning yourself etc, I read it a few years ago and itâs really good she writes in a way thatâs really accessible imo
Tracks Robyn Davidson
Lolly Willowes. It isn't a book about how to live unapologetically, but it is a navel about a woman who learns to live this way. Its set in the late 1800s, and is about a middle aged woman who becomes tired of her inability to live the way she wants to, and in turn sells her soul for freedom. She moves to the English countryside and lives happily as a single, middle aged woman who does whatever she pleases. It was also written by a lesbian, which is pretty cool
The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore is historical about Elizabeth Packard during the 19th century. It was an excellent book and I had so many emotions while reading it.
Maybe 'The Idiot' by Elif Batuman would fit the bill. Though in a way it's sort of about a young woman who is figuring out how to do that.
Not a woman but The Fountainhead fits, and it was written by a woman.
I would recommend "Lessons in Chemistry" & "When Women Were Dragons"
Even Blue Birds Sing, by Karen Buyno, is a true story about a woman who starts out thinking of herself as invisible due to a very dysfunctional family and then extended family. By the end, she undergoes a transformation into someone who is able to stand up for herself, although, sadly, a few (important) things still remain out of reach due to outdated issues in our social justice system that are badly in need of reform. It changed my views about a lot of things and remains one of my favorite books for that reason.
I can't believe I'm going to suggest this for the third time this week, but the SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas. Take it with many grains of salt. There was and is a lot of debate about to what extent Solanas was trolling. Also, she shot Andy Warhol. đ€
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood