As much as I claim Barnes and Noble, or any bookstore for that matter (hello, 2nd and Charles), to be my favorite place on the planet, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get overwhelmed by that feeling of being absolutely engulfed by the smell of new books. It’s always bothered me that we only get to live about 100 years, if we’re lucky, because I could spend 25 hours a day reading and still not finish all the books ever written. This crisis is why I actively avoid BookTok, as the infinite media coverage of never-ending book conversations just makes me feel like the world’s worst reader. To fix this self-induced guilt while still feeding my book-worm (or parasite?), I have sworn myself to only reading classic works. Truth be told, once I started this path, I have never looked back. So, I’m now going to introduce you to the best books I have ever read to convince you to pick them up, which just so happen to be written by women (#womeninlit).Â
The Awakening by Kate Chopin:
If you know me, you already know that if you ask me what my favorite book is, I’m going to say it’s The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I think about this book on a weekly basis and talk about it with my stepmom every time I go home to visit my parents, who are also obsessed with it. It’s a very tiny book that can literally fit in a small purse and accompany you anywhere, which is ironic because Chopin speaks about her oppression as a woman in the late 1800s through the main character of the book, Edna Pontellier, who often couldn’t go anywhere. Published in 1899, the book itself is a little under 200 pages and is not a complicated work of literature to read considering it was written so long ago. It’s ultimately about a woman of privilege who feels like she can be truly free only when she is sharing physical intimacy with another person, or by engaging in acts just for herself, which wasn’t normalized for women at that time. The ocean becomes a big symbol of her liberty throughout the book, and maybe growing up by the beach is a big reason why I love it so much. Either way, I find this book being the most relatable to women, regardless of what stage of life they find themselves in.Â
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison:Â
The second book I recommend is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. However, I think any one of her other books could be a realistic substitute for this one. She was a huge feminist and advocate for the female African American experience by challenging societal expectations regarding race, identity and womanhood. Every one of her books is on my TBR and I recently checked out Paradise from Lib West, which has a huge section dedicated to her works. Anyway, Song of Solomon follows the main character, Milkman, as he embarks on a journey to find his familial roots that were not accessible to him. His path is a symbol for the struggles that many African Americans faced in understanding their familial stories that were lost through slavery. Additionally, Milkman’s aunt, Pilate, plays a huge role as his mentor throughout the book, which displays a trust in women’s guidance that was commonly undermined at the time (and continues to be today).Â
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:Â
This third book has a special role in my heart because it was gifted to me over the summer by someone dear to me, so it might be a little biased for me to even include it in this list. Nevertheless, I think the writing is beautiful and follows a story that is commonly seen in our girlhoods. Published in 1869, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women depicts her personality through four sisters, or the little women of the story. Each sister has a distinct personality trait that was typically frowned upon during the 1800s, yet these flaws make each character more lovable and relatable in a modern reader’s eyes.
While these books might not be on the next hottest TBR, they are timeless pieces that I wholeheartedly believe deserve to be read at least once in your lifetime. Each one highlights not just stories that the authors might’ve personally faced, but also a glimpse of how women lived across different time periods, along with the ongoing feminist fight for acceptance of identity and womanhood among all.Â