Read Women discussion

Let the planning begin!

2022 20-Theme Challenge

1. Published between 1750 - 1900: Behind a Mask
2. Author is of African descent, living anywhere: Transcendent Kingdom
3. Fairy Tales and/or Retellings: A Thousand Ships
4. Speculative Fiction
5. In translation: Three Strong Women
6. LGBTQ+ Theme and/or Author: Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows
7. Author over 50: Women & Power: A Manifesto Updated
8. Published between 1900 - 1970
9. Nature and/or the Environment: The Last Migration
10. Author is of indigenous descent
11. Neurodivergence - author, main character or subject matter
12. Author is of Asian descent, living anywhere: Galpa: Short Stories by Bangladeshi Women
13. MENA - Author born in or resides in/story takes place predominately in a MENA country: Wild Mulberries
14. Feminism or feminist perspective: Period. It's About Bloody Time
15. Author born in or resides in a Nordic country (Scandinavia + Finland + Iceland + Greenland + the Faroe Islands + the Åland Islands): Fruit Of Knowledge: The Vulva vs. The Patriarchy
16. Immigration/displacement (F or NF): From Another World
17. Author is a contributor to Margaret Busby Daughters of Africa collection
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughte... Black Mamba Boy
18. Memoir or biography: A Woman of Firsts: The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world
19. Monsters of any kind - Stalin, those living under the bed, fantastic, historical …: Μέσα πέτρα
20. Ancient World – the subject can be a (real) heroine of the ancient world, or the novel takes place in ancient times, or the author is a woman writing about ancient history, culture etc.: The Silence of the Girls

Alternate/Substitute Prompts:
1. Published by a small press: Made in Saturn
2. 1001 BBYD
(https://1001bookreviews.com/the-1001-...)
3. NYTimes Bestsellers (listed by year @
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_o...)
4. The Caribbean - author born in or resides in/story takes place predominately in
5. Book Riot’s 100 Classics by Authors of Color. (https://bookriot.com/100-must-read-cl...)

The first book for this challenge, is Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows and (obvously) covers the sixth prompt (LGBTQ+ Theme and/or Author).
It is a collection of essays and more than half of the contributors (14/23) are women (either trans or not).

It is a really interesting book although quite dry and repetitive at some points. You can find my review here

For the second prompt (Author is of African descent, living anywhere), I read the book Transcendent Kingdom. I loved Yaa Gyasi's novel Homegoing and I also liked this one (but not as much).

I think it started a bit weak but midway through it became deep and heartbreaking. I didn't like the end though, it was rather abrupt.

I do suggest that you read it though, it is a good book.
You can find my complete thoughts here

For the 19th prompt, monsters of any kind, I read the greek book Μέσα πέτρα (the title translates as rock inside) and I wish it were translated in english so you could read it.

It is about a femicide and how people in small places (and larger ones) mind "their own business", don't want to interfere in "family business" and pretend that nothing is happening even when the abuse leads to a murder.

The monster in this book is the husband/father who after years of physica abuse murders his wife when she anounces that she will leave him. The monster is also the society, the neighbors and the other residents of the village, that looked the other way when the victim was screaming for help (this part of the book was the hardest for me to read) and covered the murder but not saying a word to the police and worse. The even took the meaning of hypocricy to a new level by hating the murderer, who they helped remain unpunished, and not even passing in front of his house.

The book is brilliant, even though heartbreaking!

I will replace the 8th prompt with the first Alternate/Substitute Prompt (Published by a small press) and I will add the book Made in Saturn.

Unfortunately I didn't like this book. I found it way too fragmented and the characters were underdeveloped.
You can read more about my thoughts here.

For the 14th prompt (Feminism or feminist perspective) I read the book Period. It's About Bloody Time which I found quite interesting but it was lacking in diversity and inclusivity. I will definitely give it to my daughter.
You can read my thoughts here

For the 17th prompt, and more specifically for the "companion volume, entitled New Daughters of Africa", I read the book Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed and you can read my thoughts here

For the 7th prompt (author over 50), I read the book Women & Power: A Manifesto Updated by Mary Beard, who at the time of publication was 62 years old.
You can find my thoughts here

In translation and for the 5th prompt the book Three Strong Women by Marie NDiaye (my thoughts

For the 3rd prompt (Fairy Tales and/or Retellings) I read A Thousand Ships, a retelling of the Trojan war and the Odyssey. You can read my thoughts here

For the 18th prompt, Memoir or Biography, I strongly suggest the book A Woman of Firsts: The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world. You can read my thoughts here

For the 9th prompt, Nature and/or the Environment, I read the book The Last Migration and you can find my thoughts here

The book for the 12th prompt (Author is of Asian descent, living anywhere) is Galpa: Short Stories by Bangladeshi Women (my thoughts)

For the prompt number 20 (Ancient World – the subject can be a (real) heroine of the ancient world...) I read the book The Silence of the Girls.
I really enjoyed it and you can find my thoughts here

For the 13th prompt (MENA - Author born in or resides in/story takes place predominately in a MENA country) the book Wild Mulberries fits perfectly (the story takes place in Lebanon and the writer is Lebanese). You can read my thoughts here

The first prompt, Published between 1750 - 1900, is covered with the book Behind a Mask, a great surprise by Louisa May Alcott. (my thoughts)

From Sweden, for prompt number 15, Fruit Of Knowledge: The Vulva vs. The Patriarchy.
You can find my thoughts for this brilliant book here

For the 16th prompt, the fictional (with lots of non-fictional events and information), about immigration or displacement, the heart breaking book From Another World.
(my thoughts>)