Read Women discussion

Starting April 1 and ending on June 30, members participating in this challenge will read non-fiction written by women and published in the last 5 years.

Whether a book meets the challenge criteria – is it published in the last 5 years if it was first published in Chinese in 2010 but translated into English in 2017, for example - is up to each member reader's judgment.

Let us know if you plan to participate and share any recommendations in this thread, along with your thoughts on the books you select.

I love lists and will share pertinent ones as I find them this quarter. Please do the same and also, even if you're not participating in this challenge, share your recommended recent nonfiction with us in this thread.

This list of then-best-new feminist books is from April 2018, but includes several gems I'd like to keep on my radar.

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/...

This list isn't limited to woman authors, but avoids the same-old, same-old in its list of 20 Biographies of Remarkable Women.

https://earlybirdbooks.com/biographie...

I've been getting better at finding non-fic by women this year, so I'm in.

Not challenging myself to a specific number, but definitely keeping track,

I'm lowering the bar for this one. I will aim for 3 books and have selected the following:

At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell 30/06/19

Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright 02/06/19

The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World by Catherine Nixey 29/06/19

That’s a great list, liesl.

My first choice is Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. I’ve owned it for some time and always pick something else instead so am hoping to defy on my own tendencies.

I also hope to read for this challenge The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri.

Has anyone read a good book on Victoria Woodhull? Free Woman: The Life and Times of Victoria Woodhull by Marion Meade turned up in a marketing email, and interested me in learning more about Woodhull; however, the Meade book is lightly reviewed and appears to be more conversational and less factual (no footnotes) than is my preference, if I'm going to dig in on a non-fiction topic. All recs appreciated.

Carol wrote: "That’s a great list, liesl.

My first choice is Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. I’ve owned it for some time and always pick something else instead so am hoping to defy o..."

This sounds lovely.

This one looks interesting to me: The Lost Gutenberg by Margaret Leslie Davis

review from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/20/705069...

Lark wrote: "This one looks interesting to me: The Lost Gutenberg by Margaret Leslie Davis

review from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/20/705069......"

you've totally enticed me, Lark. What a fascinating topic.

I have quite a number of books on my shelves that fit this challenge, so I am in. I think I will start with Mary Roach's Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War

I've got a couple of memoirs on my list for the coming months, one which was published in the last 5 years - Educated .

Sarah wrote: "I've got a couple of memoirs on my list for the coming months, one which was published in the last 5 years - Educated ."

That one is on my list too :) I also hope to get to Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, and I'd really like to read Michelle Obama's book.

Anita wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I've got a couple of memoirs on my list for the coming months, one which was published in the last 5 years - Educated ."

That one is on my list too :) I also hope to ..."

I forgot! Becoming is my F2F book club read in early May, so I need to get on finding a copy.

I’ve never read a Mary Roach book and the topics always intrigue me. This challenge might give me the push to prioritize one...

I found this Goodreads list of non-male non- fiction. I'm not positive about the published date of all the works, but I've found plenty that were published in 2018 during a brief survey of it.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

A surprising find is a book written by Zora Neale Hurston just published in 2018, Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", which I'm currently reading and led me to the list through goodreads algorithms ("lists with this book").

*every single one of the books I listed as wanting to read for this challenge are on extreme backlog at my library. Of course.

Anita wrote: "I found this Goodreads list of non-male non- fiction. I'm not positive about the published date of all the works, but I've found plenty that were published in 2018 during a brief survey of it.

ht..."

That’s a great list, Anita!

As to your asterisk, heck I’m just glad when my library owns what I want to read. The Venn diagram of my TBR and my library inventory is 99% different:(

I finally let myself finish Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward, my first read of hers. I started it in February with a friend, and we opened up a Buddy Read in another group. Probably a dozen readers rolled right through it, participated in the discussion, with deep appreciation of its themes. For me, though, I knew I needed to pace myself, lest its despair hit me too hard. I need to watch out for Ms. Ward. Her talent is powerful.

On a lighter note, I started an ARC of The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri last evening and am such a fan of her rhetorical style.

The Mary Roach book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as her writing style really didn't work for me. But moving on, and the next book I am tackling from the list of 17 books on my TBR I picked as fitting this challenge is Jenny Lawson's memoir Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

Love seeing everyone's great suggestions so far! Am adding The Ungrateful Refugee, Men We Reaped and Baracoon to my TBR

Carol wrote: "I finally let myself finish Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward, my first read of hers. I started it in February with a friend, and we opened up a Buddy Read in another gr..."

This has actually made me really excited, as I have Sing, Unburied, Sing on my list for this year.

Valerie wrote: "The Mary Roach book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as her writing style really didn't work for me. But moving on, and the next book I am tackling from the list of 17 books on my TBR I p..."

We’re you bored? Too much detail? I’m curious about what didn’t float your boat if you don’t mind sharing.

Sarah wrote: "Carol wrote: "I finally let myself finish Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward, my first read of hers. I started it in February with a friend, and we opened up a Buddy Read..."

I’ve heard universally good things about that, except from those who fundamentally aren’t fans of ghosts as characters. The same folks disliked Lincoln in the Bardo, and the writing is entirely different.

Carol wrote: "Valerie wrote: "The Mary Roach book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as her writing style really didn't work for me. But moving on, and the next book I am tackling from the list of 17 boo..."

It wasn't so much the substance of the book - I did find it interesting - but more her style of writing. I found the way she inserted herself in the story all the time and the not funny jokes and attempts at light-heartedness really irritating. But that's of course a very subjective experience; other people might not be bothered by it or actually enjoy it. So I wouldn't necessarily say not to read the book. Really depends on what kind of narrative tone you like in your nonfiction books.

Valerie wrote: "Carol wrote: "Valerie wrote: "The Mary Roach book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as her writing style really didn't work for me. But moving on, and the next book I am tackling from the ..."

Thanks, Valerie. I would react similarly to both of the stylistic choices you mention.l. Very helpful.

I loved Sing, Unburied, Sing, and would love to read more by Jesmyn Ward. Although I breezed through that story it was heavy afterwards as it rolled around my mind. I will add Men We Reaped to my tbr.

Finished Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo". It was mostly easy to read, but there were a few times I stumbled over the phonetic writing. A short and interesting read though.

Next up: Dead Girls: Essays on Surviving an American Obsession for a book club read but it also works for this challenge. Two birds, one stone.

I abandoned Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things; it was just not for me - too high-octane and not my kind of humour. Instead, I read Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shatterly. The book was interesting but I found it a bit dry and repetitive. I would have also liked the book to give more depth to the experiences of the women themselves, as I felt they were portrayed somewhat unidimensionally. So this was just an ok read for me.

Valerie wrote: "I abandoned Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things; it was just not for me - too high-octane and not my kind of humour. Instead, I read Hidden Figures b..."

I’ve wondered about Furiously Happy for some time, so hearing your reaction is really helpful in clarifying it ain’t for me.


I’m still reading and enjoying The Ungrateful Refugee, and am starting Becoming this afternoon for a F2F book club meeting Wednesday. A little more pressure than I like, but I’m looking forward to reading it.

Anita wrote: "I loved Sing, Unburied, Sing, and would love to read more by Jesmyn Ward. Although I breezed through that story it was heavy afterwards as it rolled around my mind. I will add [book:Men We Reaped|1..."

@anita , did you read Dead Girls or are you into it? I’m curious. It sounds perfect for me.

Carol wrote: "Anita wrote: "I loved Sing, Unburied, Sing, and would love to read more by Jesmyn Ward. Although I breezed through that story it was heavy afterwards as it rolled around my mind. I will add [book:M..."

Yes, I finished it, Carol. I had mixed feelings about it. I think because it happens to be one of those books that is marketed a little off from what it actually delivers. You can read my review, it's not a spoiler review, but generally it was more of a compilation of American media analyses than the specific "dead girls" focus that one may be expecting. I really did enjoy the essays that I did like, but there were a couple that seemed oddly out of place in which she goes off on tangents about her childhood or her college years and it's a little hard to understand how these tangents fit in with her theme...

The essays cover a lot of media - shows, movies, some music, and books. So there could be spoilers in it for certain t.v. shows and book series'. But if mystery and thriller are a genre of yours then most likely you've read/seen the media discussed. It was still pretty interesting.

Anita wrote: "Carol wrote: "Anita wrote: "I loved Sing, Unburied, Sing, and would love to read more by Jesmyn Ward. Although I breezed through that story it was heavy afterwards as it rolled around my mind. I wi..."

Thanks, Anita. I get annoyed when a thematic collection doesn’t focus squarely on what it is marketed as covering; it’s so odd when a publisher or editor tosses in a couple of off-point essays, but I’ve had that reading experience before.

I'm the same way, Carol! Unfortunately expectations can break an otherwise good book for me - especially if I pick it up because I'm in the mood for a specific type of read - and I think that may be what happened a little here. It was otherwise still a decent read.

My next books on hand for this challenge after I finish my current (not applicable here) non-fiction are All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir and An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew. But I have Anna Karenina coming up for a book club so they may have to wait until June!

I've been quite poor at this challenge so far but have read The Salt Path by Raynor Winn on my local bookseller's recommendation which I really enjoyed. Adding the South West Coast path to my list of long distance uk walks to do.

Anita wrote: "I'm the same way, Carol! Unfortunately expectations can break an otherwise good book for me - especially if I pick it up because I'm in the mood for a specific type of read - and I think that may b..."

I've heard good things about that Allene Tew book. Good luck with AK - I think everyone falls on the pole positions and I hope you're on the "love it" side.

Louise wrote: "I've been quite poor at this challenge so far but have read The Salt Path by Raynor Winn on my local bookseller's recommendation which I really enjoyed. Adding the..."

Wow - that's quite a story. I"m not sure my reaction to losing everything would be so healthy or positive (Honey, let's go on a multi-hundred mile hike!) I'll have to keep an eye out for that one.

Just have to say, I am loving Becoming. Really, it is stand-out. Props to the ghost-writer because the cadence of every sentence "sounds" like Michele. I'm just under halfway through and highly recommend it.

The Firebrand and the First Lady would be my choice. I love to read about mrs. Roosevelt, she was a real fascinating person. All the struggles and troubles left behind after WWII she was famous to bring the world together.
This book there will be another view on her, so I would like to read this as a group reading.
Have a fine time!

Carol wrote: "Just have to say, I am loving Becoming. Really, it is stand-out. Props to the ghost-writer because the cadence of every sentence "sounds" like Michele. I'm just under halfway throug..."

Carol I think that Michelle Obama wrote this herself. I am sure that she had a great Editor but I don't think there was a ghost writer.

Liesl wrote: "Carol wrote: "Just have to say, I am loving Becoming. Really, it is stand-out. Props to the ghost-writer because the cadence of every sentence "sounds" like Michele. I'm just under ..."

Maybe not.

Becoming and The Princess Diarist are my two completed so far for this challenge. I am track to finish a 3rd too, Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be.

Is this challenge going to be added to the Challenges section of the group in addition to it being a discussion?

Carol wrote: "Just have to say, I am loving Becoming. Really, it is stand-out. Props to the ghost-writer because the cadence of every sentence "sounds" like Michele. I'm just under halfway throug..."

Michelle wrote this herself and she also recorded the audiobook.

Laura wrote: "Is this challenge going to be added to the Challenges section of the group in addition to it being a discussion?..."

Laura, yes! Thank you, the Spring challenge is up and can be found under the challenges tab for the group, or here. (Sometimes links from my phone don't work)

Anita wrote: "Laura wrote: "Is this challenge going to be added to the Challenges section of the group in addition to it being a discussion?..."

Laura, yes! Thank you, the Spring challenge is up and can be foun..."

Thank you! I prefer tracking my challenges that way. :)

The next book I've started reading for this challenge is The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. So far, I am enjoying it. I really appreciate that there is hardly any mention of Jack the Ripper or the murders themselves, as instead the book is entirely focused on telling the lives of the five victims. As a result, it is more a social history book than a true crime book, which is what I was looking for.

I started Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen yesterday for this challenge. It’s more of a memoir than I had anticipated but I am really enjoying the linguistics content, and her love of Greek is contagious if one didn’t already share it.

Carol wrote: "I started Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen yesterday for this challenge. It’s more of a memoir than I had anticipated but I am really enjoying the linguistics content, and..."

Done! In two days. A bit lighter than is my style, but I found this book to be both educational and charming.

Carol wrote: "I started Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen yesterday for this challenge. It’s more of a memoir than I had anticipated but I am really enjoying the linguistics content, and..."

I thought it sounded lovely in the description. Have you read her other book Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen?

Liesl wrote: "Carol wrote: "I started Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen yesterday for this challenge. It’s more of a memoir than I had anticipated but I am really enjoying the linguistic..."

I haven’t but plan on finding it now. I would want her for a friend IRL.

I have finished The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper and highly recommend it. I think it offers a very interesting insight into the lives of impoverished women in 19th century London, and makes an important critique of how (female) murder victims can sometimes be devalued and misrepresented.

The next book I am going to read is Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

Valerie wrote: "I have finished The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper and highly recommend it. I think it offers a very interesting insight into the lives of impoverishe..."
Thanks for the rec Valerie! Added to my tbr, looks great. I read the sixth extinction - it's a little horrifying but a really good read. Hope you enjoy it

Thanks Anita. I am only 70 pages into the book but am findings it very interesting so far.

I just finished Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright. I personally enjoyed this a lot. Starting with Mussolini, it provides a great history of Fascism right up to the current day. The ability to make side-by-side comparisons of various world leaders is an interesting exercise. I also really enjoyed the personal insights that Madeleine Albright was able to add from her time as Secretary of State meeting with many of these leaders.

There is also a lot of thoughtful commentary about democracy as well.