Read Women discussion

I'm reading Deborah Levy's very small book on writing: Things I Don't Want to Know. Her novel Hot Milk was one of my favourites of 2016.

I started "Outline" by Rachel Cusk, which was the Group book read for October 2016.

I'm reading Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, which is amazing and inspiring. Especially if, like me, you dabble in writing yourself and lack confidence.
Also The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch. It's slightly hard going, but generally I find those books are the most rewarding. I'm enjoying it - it's atmospheric and the central character is so believable. Worth the effort, even over Christmas!

Rainofpanda wrote: "I'm reading Trouble Gender by Judith Butler and it's absolutely fascinating. The style can be quite hard at the beginning because it's a precise lexical field and after all it is an essay but at a ..."

I read it at uni, but that was some time ago. I seem to remember finding her 'Bodies that Matter' really useful too. My PhD was a feminist approach to Russian literary texts, and I definitely quoted Butler quite extensively. Bit embarrassing that I can't remember her work in detail now!!

Lia wrote: "I'm currently reading The Ages of Lulu, erotic novel of the spanish writer Almudenas Grandes; Orlando, a classic of Virginia Woolf; and Tropic of Capricorn, by..."

I read Orlando a couple of months ago and loved it! It blew me away with its originality. I'm a huge Virginia Woolf fan.

I started Alice Munro's Lives of Girls and Women, her only novel. It ticks two 2017 boxes: 1 for my 10 Canadian women challenge and 1 for my repeat authors challenge.

Elizabeth, let me know what you think of it! I'm trying to pick an Alice Munro offering for 2017 still.

I'm reading Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool. I'm working towards being a children's librarian and my reading of middle grade fiction has been lagging. I figured Christmas was a good time to pick it up a bit!

Nicole wrote: "Elizabeth, let me know what you think of it! I'm trying to pick an Alice Munro offering for 2017 still.."

It's hard to pick a bad Alice Munro! My first was The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose, and if you're not an especial fan of short stories, this one might appeal. They *are* stories, but they have the same characters and the book is set chronologically. That said, my favorite so far might be Runaway.

Thanks! Short stories aren't usually my jam, and I think that's why I've been tentative. I appreciate the suggestions!

Hi, i'm new in the group and i'm reading Esperame en el paraiso by Mayte Carrasco and let me tell you all that is a wonderful book, it's about a experienced war reporter who has covered the Arab Spring, abandoning any hope of remaking her life after her divorce, and she tell us about a story about love, loalty, and passion in the first novel about the civil war in Syria, i really recommended this book.

Paula wrote: "Hi, i'm new in the group and i'm reading Esperame en el paraiso by Mayte Carrasco and let me tell you all that is a wonderful book, it's about a experienced war reporter who has covered the Arab Sp..."

Hi Paula, I haven't heard about this book but it seems very interesting, thanks!

Last night I started Affinity by Sarah Waters for our January gothic theme. She certainly is able to evoke the atmosphere!

Hello! I am new! I'm so glad to have stumbled upon this thread, I am currently reading "The Outlander". I've just now got back into reading books after being without for quite a while but I know this thread will introduce me to some wonderful reads.

I started The Woman in Black by Susan Hill for the January gothic theme.

Hi. l am reading L'Échappée belle

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Last night I started Affinity by Sarah Waters for our January gothic theme. She certainly is able to evoke the atmosphere!"

Terrific idea for anyone who doesn't care for traditional horror stories, it's more psychological and I think very well done.

Debora wrote: "Hi. l am reading L'Échappée belle"

Hi Debora, you must read French. I do as well, and I love Anna Gavalda but I don't know that one. She does sometimes have a supernatural side to her stories.

Debora wrote: "Hi. l am reading L'Échappée belle"

Hi Debora, you must read French. I do as well, and I love Anna Gavalda but I don't know that book.

New member Patrick here. I have a lot of books in progress, which is pretty usual for me. Checking my list, I see that three are by women: Mazo de la Roche's Canadian classic The Building of Jalna; an obscure but excellent 19th Century Irish novel, Margaret Brew's Chronicles of Castle Cloyne, which I found at BiblioBoard; and Gertrude Jekyll's Colour in the flower garden.

Not sure the best place to put this, but here is an interesting blog post about the neglected English poet Anna Wickham (1883-1947):

http://neglectedbooks.com/?p=4562

Another rediscovery, the outsider artist Lee Godie:

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/th...

I find material like this fairly regularly which could be of interest to this group. Perhaps one of the mods could create a thread for "Rediscovered Women"?

Also, I have a Pinterest "General Interest" board where I post my finds. Would posting the link here run afoul of the rules of the group? Some Goodreads groups have an absolute ban on any form of "self-promotion", even posting links to your own reviews at Goodreads.

Robin wrote: "Debora wrote: "Hi. l am reading L'Échappée belle"

Hi Debora, you must read French. I do as well, and I love Anna Gavalda but I don't know that book."

lt"s a very good book.

My first read of 2017 is by a woman. It's Rin Chupeco. The book is a Net Galley ARC of The Bone Witch which isn't released yet.

Hi, everyone! I am currently reading "The Vagabond" by Colette. I really like it.

Hello, everyone! I am reading How To Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran, and I love it!

Hey everyone! I began the year by reading the goddess of dystopian fiction , Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" .This is my first attempt at reading any of her works.I'm really hooked to it and I love it already!

I read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in college. it is really good.

Amandeep wrote: "Hey everyone! I began the year by reading the goddess of dystopian fiction , Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" .This is my first attempt at reading any of her works.I'm really hooked to it an..."

My favorite feminist dystopia is Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin.

I'm reading The Raven Boys. I like the writing a lot! The storyline is dragging a bit.

I'm reading The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon. I'm loving it so far, it's creepy and also emotional.

Finishing up Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue, which I totally recommend, especially as it is written by a WoC author of African descent, who writes on immigrant life in NYC, USA.

Starting The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi, which was on my tbr list for years. Excited!

Amandeep wrote: "Hey everyone! I began the year by reading the goddess of dystopian fiction , Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" .This is my first attempt at reading any of her works.I'm really hooked to it an..."

It's still my favorite Margaret Atwood's book. When I read it in the early 90s, I thought Ms. Atwood might be prophetic in her vision of where our society is headed in so many ways.

I even liked the movie with the talented cast and saw yesterday Netflix is going to be redoing the eerie work. I hope they do it justice.

I just finished reading a brain candy book but the author gently chided readers into remembering how society treating women in the late 1880s. The book, A Change of Fortune, by Jen Turano follows a young British heiress to New York City as she attempts to recapture her stolen inheritance. She finds herself in comical situations as she attempts to assert her independence and determination.

There is a gentle undercurrent of Lady Eliza struggling with her faith in God but she finds resolution to a lot of unanswered struggles.

I decided to read Believing Is Seeing: Seven Stories. I know Diana Wynne Jones is a relatively popular author, but this is the first book of hers that I've read.

Hi! The first book I chose to read in 2017 is To the Lighthouse, by Virginia Woolf. I'm absolutely in love with her writing.

I am just about to start reading the Detection Collection.

Claudia wrote: "Amandeep wrote: "Hey everyone! I began the year by reading the goddess of dystopian fiction , Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" .This is my first attempt at reading any of her works.I'm reall..."

When Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale, she said that everything in the book was happening at the time someplace in the world, just not all in one society.

I just started the paranormal historical thriller Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal. It'll be my first book for the Around the World challenge as I am currently in Le Havre, France with this book. The rather unusual premise is that there was a secret team of British spirit mediums during WWI relaying information from dead British soldiers. The mediums are all women. Some are West Indies immigrants.

I'm also reading Selected Poems of Anne Sexton by Anne Sexton .

Right now i am reading El mal menor (The lesser evil) by C.E. Feiling, I really like it so far.

oooh ghost talkers is on my TBR shelf- would love to know how you're liking it/how you liked it!!!

I'm reading The Terror by Dan Simmons right now and an anthology of horror short stories edited by Ellen Datlow.

Rachel wrote: "oooh ghost talkers is on my TBR shelf- would love to know how you're liking it/how you liked it!!!

I'm reading The Terror by Dan Simmons right now and an anthology of horror short stories edited b..."

I'm almost finished with Ghost Talkers. I've been liking it. There have been surprises along the way.

Robin wrote: "Claudia wrote: "Amandeep wrote: "Hey everyone! I began the year by reading the goddess of dystopian fiction , Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" .This is my first attempt at reading any of her..."

I've been listening to the audiobook on Audible and I am debating whether I should cave and buy the book. It is so quotable and relatable and resonates with me so deeply...

I am reading the detection collection by the detection club.

just started H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - non-fiction account of a woman who trains a hawk after the death of her father. Have been meaning to read for ages but then my friend gave me a copy for Christmas along with a strong recommendation so am finally getting round to it. About a 3rd in and enjoying it a lot so far.

I am reading Night Blind Ragnar Jónasson

Louise wrote: "just started H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - non-fiction account of a woman who trains a hawk after the death of her father. Have been meaning to read for ages bu..."

Several people in my challenge group are reading this as we have a task about birds, and also a science one for the Dewey 500s classification, so fits two places. I hope you like it!

Currently reading Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape by Raja Shehadeh. Fifth book of the year, the second by a male author. Part of my around the world in 80 books-challenge. A non-fiction account of the author walking through the changing country side of occupied Palestine. Interesting, and I love the idea of just getting out there and keep walking.

I'm reading The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin, but so far have only read one chapter. I'm not sure if I'm going to like any of the characters, but it's set in Nigeria and deals with polygamy, not serial monogamy.

I'm currently reading two books.
The first one is Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski and The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie.

Sword of Destiny is the second book in "the Witcher" series. The first two books are a compilation of short stories involving the Witcher Geralt and his many adventures. If you enjoyed the games or enjoy dark fantasy, I'd recommend attempting the books.

The Blade Itself is the first book of the First Law trilogy. I'm 100+ pages in and it's pretty good so far, though I haven't completely fallen in love with it.