Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Wow! I love this topic! And I have NO IDEA what I could read!!!

Popsugar recommends The Mercies

Listopia list is here.

I've added a few that came to my mind. If people don't mind graphic novels & came to mind. Even if you aren't keen on grpahic novels I do really recommend Y: The Last Man - The Deluxe Edition Book One

I added A Brother's Price - fantasy with a matriarchal society. Also The Wheel of Time series I believe?

Woman World is a semi-thick graphic novel, but is probably the funniest and most wholesome take on the concept of "all the men are gone and now just women are left" and is one of my favorites!

The House of Night books are set in a matriarchal society. The first book is Marked

Hmmmm it's interesting that nonpatriarchal is interpreted as matriarchal. A book that has neither patriarchy or matriarchy fits too, right? Because if I remember correct, Scythe by Neal Shusterman is set in a world like that, and I need to read the sequel 😅.

I’m thinking of . It has two time lines and one is about an Amazonian queen and the band of warriors she leads

Having read The Mercies, I have no idea why Popsugar thinks that book is set in a "nonpatriarchal society." It's historical fiction, and most of the conflict comes from the fact that seventeenth-century Norway was, in fact, extremely patriarchal.

Yes, most (but not all) of the men of the remote fishing town are killed in a terrible storm, but most of the action takes place when a (male) witch-hunter is sent to crack down on the more independent women there, with his young wife, who is basically sold to him, in tow. The novel is basically about religious patriarchy.

The Mercies is a good (if unsettling) novel, but it doesn't fit this category at all.

What a about a book that displays a group of men and women who themselves treat each other as equals?

I think The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman would be a great choice for this topic. The Dovekeepers

The Priest by Monica La Porta fits well here. I loved this series. This would be a good time to re-read it.

Mary Beth wrote: "Having read The Mercies, I have no idea why Popsugar thinks that book is set in a "nonpatriarchal society." It's historical fiction, and most of the conflict comes from the fact that seventeenth-ce..."



Thank you, that's really helpful!!

Mary Beth wrote: "Having read The Mercies, I have no idea why Popsugar thinks that book is set in a "nonpatriarchal society." It's historical fiction, and most of the conflict comes from the fact that seventeenth-ce..."
I agree!

Going with The End of Men

Could oryx and crake work? After all non-patriarchal doesnt necessarily mean matriarchal. A dystopian society isn't really patriarchal either

Sofia wrote: "Hmmmm it's interesting that nonpatriarchal is interpreted as matriarchal. A book that has neither patriarchy or matriarchy fits too, right? Because if I remember correct, Scythe by ..."

Yep, neither patriarchy or matriarchy works, or even a society run by the kids. You could probably make a case for Lord of the Flies if you wanted to. A world taken over by sexless aliens. A society run by snakes, literal snakes. I don't know if anybody has written those last 2 books, but they'd work.

Mary Beth wrote: "Having read The Mercies, I have no idea why Popsugar thinks that book is set in a "nonpatriarchal society." It's historical fiction, and most of the conflict comes from the fact that seventeenth-ce..."

I had the same reaction when I saw that was their example.

I'm currently reading The Island of Sea Women. Think I'm going to have to put it on pause for a few weeks.....

Daughter of the Blood is a matriarchal society. I will warn you there are some scenes in this series that get a bit....graphic so read with caution

I am thinking something like The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin would fit as it is set on a planet of beings who can switch between male and female, there is no designated life gender. She has other books set in the galaxy. Personally, I did not much care for the book, but it is a genre classic, broke through many gender barriers at the time it was published, and perhaps helps create an out of the box way of identifying a non-patriarchal society, one that is not exclusively single gender based.

Which has me thinking about Murderbot's world. I think that might fit.

Marie wrote: "Daughter of the Blood is a matriarchal society. I will warn you there are some scenes in this series that get a bit....graphic so read with caution"



That's one of those books that claims to be matriarchal, but actually the old guy (Saetan SaDiSomethingsomething) was the one in charge, Janelle is raped at some point as a plot device, and the other two main characters are men (Daemon & Luciver). It's been a long time since I read it, that's all I remember now, that the old guy was in charge. Janelle was supposedly the most powerful whatever in all time, but I don't remember her having much actual power.

This one fits Empress of All Seasons

From my TBR:
The End of Men
Femlandia
Native Tongue

As a contrast to Lord of the Flies, Beauty Queens is available. It's a YA book about a ship of literal pageant winners whose plane (or boat? I forget) crash on a deserted island. The survivors are all girls, although there are some reality show actors who show up here and there. But the girls have to form a decision-making group, as in Lord of the Flies, to figure out how to survive until help arrives. It is laugh out loud funny, in my opinion.

Along the same lines as kids ruling, The Girl Who Owned a City is a YA classic (1975) that is about a society attacked by a virus that kills anyone over the age of 12. It's a quick read, and pretty fluffy by today's YA post-apocalyptic standards, but I've thought about it a lot the last few years....

I think I might use Chapterhouse: Dune, The Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres are matriarchal orders and at that moment in Dune history, the real leaders of humanity. Heretics of Dune could also work for the same reason. I suppose it could be considered a bit of a strech, but I think it fits.

I have The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.

I haven’t read it yet, but what do you think about “The Husbands”?

The Power would definitely work.

What about Matrix by Lauren Groff? My understanding (I haven't read it) is that it's historical so the overarching society is patriarchal, but focused on a group of nuns and their society?

Lauconn wrote: "The Power would definitely work.

What about Matrix by Lauren Groff? My understanding (I haven't read it) is that it's historical so the overarching society is patri..."

I'd say a nunnery is a non-patriarchal society, and since the story is based there it'll probably work.

The Summer Prince is set in a futuristic Brazilian matriarchy, and I've loved other books by Alaya Dawn Johnson, so I'm going to try it.

Aleksandra wrote: "I think I might use Chapterhouse: Dune, The Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres are matriarchal orders and at that moment in Dune history, the real leaders of humanity. [book:Heret..."

Oh I am all about stretching the prompts! In previous years when a prompt would say "on the cover" (such as this year's tiger prompt) I would go "the word is in the title, that's totally on the cover!". Interesting to see that this year it's modified to fit both!

A Dutch children's classic fits perfectly: Kinderen van Moeder Aarde by Thea Beckman. She was my favorite author when I was in my early teens. We would call it young adult now, but that didn't exist in the 1980's *smile*.
Good reason to re-read!

Would I Who Have Never Known Men fit this?

Johanna wrote: "I'm currently reading The Island of Sea Women. Think I'm going to have to put it on pause for a few weeks....."

Does Island of Sea Women fit? Its on my list of books to read and I have no idea what to do for this prompt

Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon could work for this as well. And maybe Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King. Part of the book isn't set in the normal patriarchal society.

it's been quite a while since I've read it, but The Gate to Women's Country by Tepper should fit.

Rachael wrote: "Aleksandra wrote: "I think I might use Chapterhouse: Dune, The Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres are matriarchal orders and at that moment in Dune history, the real leaders of hu..."

I think they did this to be more inclusive, those with vision impairments that can't see covers can still use titles.

Also, IMO, The Island of Sea Women fits.

Herland

Katy wrote: "Sofia wrote: "Hmmmm it's interesting that nonpatriarchal is interpreted as matriarchal. A book that has neither patriarchy or matriarchy fits too, right? Because if I remember correct, [book:Scythe..."How about a world taken over by Grasshoppers? Grasshopper Jungle is bonkers!

Would Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake work? Or maybe Dune by Frank Herbert? I’m having a difficult time finding a book on my TBR to fit this prompt, I was going to read The Mercies, but I’m not totally convinced it fits the prompt.

Johanna wrote: "I'm currently reading The Island of Sea Women. Think I'm going to have to put it on pause for a few weeks....."
I read this last year and loved it.

Maddie wrote: "Would Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake work? Or maybe Dune by Frank Herbert? I’m having a difficult time finding a book on my TBR to fit this prompt, I was going to read The Mercies, but I’m not ..."

Ohhh Im curious about this too! I would say yes as the girls are the rulers... I read the first one in the series a while back so i not 100% on it, but I would say yes, meaning i can read the second book for this!

Black Sun is on the Listopia. Can I get confirmation that it fits in this category?

Oh The Interdependency fits! I love this series.

The Collapsing Empire
The Consuming Fire
The Last Emperox

(em-per-oh) - gender neutral title of the leader

It was either The Wheel of Time Series 1-15 Books Collection Set Pack (Book 1-14) By Robert Jordan or The Mists of Avalon for me.

However, I'm going with The Wheel of Time as it's a series I'm determined to read given that there are 15 books. Much of it focuses on the female characters and their power from what I've come to notice.

Would Wonder Woman: Warbringer work for this? I haven't read it, but it seems like it should work?

I'm reading Tor's article about upcoming 2022 books, and I think this one will work for non-patriarchal society. Has anyone read an advance copy?

The Lost Dreamer

I think I'll read it, and if it works for this category, it works, and if it doesn't, I'll find something else.

If I remember correctly, The Queen of the Tearling might work for this one. I really enjoyed it, but it's been a few years since I read it.

The Dovekeepers is on this list and it's one I want to read. I nominated it in the poll but I am curious as to wether it really fits the prompt or not. It is set in ancient Israel which is definitely NOT nonpatriarchal. Women weren't even considered fit to witness in court or give any kind of testimony in that society. Josephus even says the ONLY reason he used these women's accounts of Masada is because they were the only survivors. It's interesting... If a man had survived those women's stories might have gone unheard.

It's one of the reasons the account of Jesus's resurrection is believable, because women were the first to find the empty tomb. Anyone in that society making stuff up never would have put women as the first ones there unless it really did happen that way...

Got off topic a bit, but it's a fascinating subject. :)

Anyone have thoughts on The Dovekeepers and wether it does fit or not?

On another note, from what I'm reading, Dragonflight would work.

A society run by kids made me think of Everland.