‘Thoughtful’ books about womens’ experience

[Justrunwithit]

Have a young woman in my life who is from a very sheltered, conservative, Christian background with limited education and exposure to the world (any part of the world!) . She likes reading though, and has read Austen. I’ve given her I capture the castle, pursuit of love, Rebecca and she’s really enjoyed them. I am going to try Jane eyre.

I’d like to try something a little more socially/politically challenging though (not my place to change her views but they are um... from a very strict patriarchal place whereas I guess I believe thinking from different angles is good). I think Handmaid’s Tale and Fingersmith would frankly be ideal but too out there for her right now... what would you suggest to be thought- provoking? Age presents as more like a western sixteen/seventeen year old if you see what I mean, but she is definitely smart. But raised to believe critical thought wrong and education sort of irrelevant .

[lastqueenofscotland]

I read wild swans when I was about 15/16 and loved it.

[slipperyeel]

Carol Shields- The Stone Diaries
Diary of Anne Frank
The Bell Jar

Agree with lastqueen, wild swans is a great choice

[londonloves]

Memoirs of a Geisha
A Streetcar names desire
Lady Chatterley's lover
Madame Bovary

[turkeyboots]

If she likes fantasy or SciFi, Sheri S Tepper is a good read and very focused on experience of females.

Even if Fantasy isn't her thing, Beauty by Sheri S Tepper is a brilliant read.

[anonymice]

The L shaped room
Precious Bane
Esther Waters

[bookbook]

Dairy of an Unknown Woman by Margaret Forster - I loved this book, (though I was a bit disappointed at the end to realise it was fiction !)
I loved Wild Swans too :)

[hackmum]

I think Cold Comfort Farm is a must if you're from that kind of background.

[Justrunwithit]

These are all brilliant suggestions, thanks so much. Cold comfort farm - we might just watch it, I loved the Joanna Lumley / kate beckinsale version!

[Tinlegs]

If she liked Jane Eyre why not try "Wide Sargasso Sea"?

[FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast]

Marilyn French - the Womens Room
Alice Walker - the Color Purple
Anything by Amy Tan.

[londonloves]

Also, this might be a bit leftfield and less heavy weight than other suggestions - but Philippa Gregory and Allison Weir novels (and also Alison Weir non-fiction) tell history from the women's perspective and are brilliant reads.

[Mountainsoutofmolehills]

The Red Tent
The Bookseller of Kabul

[Jaimx86]

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

[DissertationDrama]

I second the The L Shaped Room, that’s brilliant.

Try Every Day Sexism!

[Toomuchsplother]

If it doesn't have to be fiction the 21 Women in British History is an amazing book, it's be Jenni Murray.
Wuthering Heights, The tenant of Wildfell Hall spring to mind. Also Testament of Youth by Vera Britten.
Oranges are not the only fruit - Jeanette Winterson

[Sadik]

I would definitely second The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (especially given it's also a brilliant book and a gripping story).

What about Mrs Gaskell - Mary Barton or North and South? Safely 'historical' & written from a deeply Christian perspective, but very radical, thoughtful books.

[Justrunwithit]

Yes I love the l shaped room.


Omg Jeannette winterson I think she would fly home and her family would come after me with pitchforks

[Justrunwithit]

Now I want to reread Mrs Gaskell and wildfell Hall...! All super helpful, thanks.

[ReginaBlitzkreig]

The Group by Mary McCarthy: the experiences of a group of female Uni friends in 1940s America.
A Woman in Her Prime by Francis Selormey: lovely book about the life of a woman in rural, traditional West Africa.
The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley: child used as messenger by adults having clandestine affair. Beautifully written, nothing explicit, moral but also compassionate.
Any of Edith Wharton's books
Women in the 17th Century by Antonia Fraser.

[Toomuchsplother]

Yes I did wonder that about the Winterson. Sorry!

[Justrunwithit]

No, no, it’s a great suggestion and I was eyeing it on the shelf the other day, is t it so crazy that it could be considered too shocking!

[alanvenya]

from my bookshelf I would consider...

The Alice Network - Kate Quinn
Sula - Toni Morrison
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Circling the Sun - Paula McClain
Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

[CaptainNelson]

What about some Anne Tyler? I'm making some guesses about the cultural origins of your young woman and what would/wouldn't work. Anne Tyler's depictions of family might be very insightful for someone who comes from a place/culture where the family dynamic is very regulated and male-dominated. But not quite so shocking for her...

[elkiedee]

The Group sounds potentially rather shocking, and I say that as someone who read it first at 14 and then 40.

Anne Tyler sounds like a good suggestion.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie? Purple Hibiscus as well as Half of a Yellow Sun.

[FadedRed]

If you want Science fiction/fantasy, then Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey would be very suitable.