Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion

I have looked over the past several months of nominations and winners. Almost all are written by white American or English authors. This month we will not have a white American or English author. Instead, we will nominate books written by non-English speaking authors and whose works were translated into English OR we will nominate books by women of color - black, brown, indigenous, etc. The second category can included English or American authors, but it would be great to get some African or Asians in the mix.

The books should written by women and should be at least 50 years old. If we get limited by this time in this category, let me know.

Please indicate if you can lead the discussion.

Nominations end on February 12.

Nella Larsen's Passing.

I would also like to nominate Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston. It is shown as being published in 2018, but it was hidden away for decades. Zora died in 1960. The ship that brought the "black cargo" has recently been discovered underwater near Mobile, Alabama.

Query: I haven’t been able to find any articulation of what constitutes “classic” fiction/literature by women in this group. I’m curious about Passing too but in what sense is a current book classic? I’m asking just because I don’t want to stray outside group boundaries in offering a nomination. Or maybe I’m just getting hung up on terminology?

Abigail wrote: "Query: I haven’t been able to find any articulation of what constitutes “classic” fiction/literature by women in this group. I’m curious about Passing too but in what sense is a current book classi..."

We usually use the 50 years limit for determining classic. Special themes we may drop it down to 20 or 30 to get more selection- like when we did a South American author.

Thx!

I found a couple of translated authors in my to read list. So my nominations are:

Memories: From Moscow to the Black Sea and
Grand Hotel

Abigail wrote: "Query: I haven’t been able to find any articulation of what constitutes “classic” fiction/literature by women in this group. I’m curious about Passing too but in what sense is a current book classi..."

Charlene answered the general question, but I am not sure what you are questioning about Passing which was published in 1929 and is considered a classic. It is still read today. Barracoon is not a "classic" in the sense of it being published for 50 years, but it is lost classic by a classic writer that has a lot of relevance to today. However, I can remove it if it is a problem.

Memories: From Moscow to the Black Sea by Teffi and Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum. I added the authors to make it easier for me at voting time.

This is a great idea, Emily. I can highly recommend Passing, Barracoon and Grand Hotel!

Would a short story collection be okay to nominate? I was thinking of Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang, originally published in 1943.

Sorry, there’s a new book also titled Passing! That’s why I was confused.

Kathleen wrote: "This is a great idea, Emily. I can highly recommend Passing, Barracoon and Grand Hotel!

Would a short story collection be okay to nominate? I was thinking of Love in a Fallen City b..."

Short stories are fine. I think we had a collection of short stories by Katharine Mansfield a few years ago.

Abigail wrote: "Sorry, there’s a new book also titled Passing! That’s why I was confused."

No problem; That is why I added the authors in Charlene's nominations. I went to Grand Hotel and found everything but the one she nominated.

Thanks, Emily!

Then I'll nominate Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang.

I nominate Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya. Published in 1954.

It is now to vote.

The selections are:

1. Grand Hotel - Vicki Baum
2. Love in a Fallen City - Eileen Chang
3. Barracoon - Zora Neale Hurston
4. Passing - Nella Larsen
5. Nectar in a Sieve - Kamala Markandaya
6. Memories: From Moscow to the Black Sea by Teffi

Please have your votes in by the 24th! You may inbox me with your choice or reply in this thread.

You are eligible to vote if you have made a comment within the past year in one of the monthly book discussion threads.

Those eligible to vote are:

Emily
Ginny
Carol She’s So Novel
Hannah
Anastasia Kinderman
Francis
Charlene
Carolien
Viv
Marilyn
Milanna
Carol
Kathleen
Suzann
Nidhi
Eileen
Lisa - South Africa
L
Florence
Quinn Smells Books
Lauren
Nanette
Janice
Abigail
Lusy
Lisa Bianca
Elizabeth
CindySR#HasBrokenNotifications
Indeneri

Please let me know if I missed your name and I will correct that.

I vote for Nectar in a Sieve.

I'll vote for Love in a Fallen City.

I vote for Memories: From Moscow to the Black Sea.

We had a tie at the end of voting, so everyone can help break the tie. The poll is on the bottom of the home page.

The winner is Passing by Nella Larsen.