Read Women discussion

This thread is for our January 2023 nominations. In january, both fiction and non-fiction are Open Choice themes. Since they are the same, I will open just this one thread. You may nominate one book for each category, please indicate which category each book falls under - whether fiction or non-fiction. Also, please feel free to tell us a little about your nomination/s.

Criteria:
1. Book must be by a female author (transwomen and women using male pseudonyms are women).
2. No books that have already been group reads within the past 3 years/36 months (check the group's bookshelf).
3. Do not nominate a book you have written or for which you are the publicist or lead marketer.
4. Consider availability. If a book is available in the US and UK (at minimum), and in paperback and ebook formats, more members can participate than if not.

To Nominate:
1. Give both the title of the book and the author's name when nominating to avoid confusion. Please use the 'add book/author' button when nominating.
2. Indicate whether you are willing or not to lead discussion if your nomination is chosen.
3. Maximum - one nomination per member.

Nominations so far:

Non-fiction:
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, Carol
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang, Lindsey
A Fine Old Conflict by Jessica Mitford, KOMET
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister, Vivian
A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming, Gail
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century by Alice Wong, Michaela

Fiction:
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi, Lindsey
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey, KOMET
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora, Gail
Home by Larissa Behrendt, Michaela
The Women's Room by Marilyn French, Lyn

For nonfiction, I nominate Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. It is her 2014 essay collection focused on "pop culture and her personal experiences, covering topics such as the Sweet Valley High series, Django Unchained, and Gay's own upbringing as a Haitian-American." (quoting Wiki) I've seen a couple of reviews where readers were disappointed that every essay isn't on feminism, so - heads-up for voters who would want to know that fact. I suspect her essays would give us much to discuss. (I can lead.)

I've been wanting to read Bad Feminist. My track record with "funny" books is poor, but this one looks worth the read.

For Fiction I nominate: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
(I can lead)

For Non-Fiction I nominate: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
(I can lead)

For non-fiction, I nominate the memoir "A Fine Old Conflict" by journalist and civil rights activist Jessica Mitford.




And for fiction, I nominate "The Bombay Prince" by Sujata Massey.



It's a novel set in 1920s India in which Perveen Mistry, one of India's first women lawyers (who studied law at Oxford) applies her skills towards solving the murder of a Parsi student in a Bombay seething with political unrest.

Carol wrote: "For nonfiction, I nominate Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. It is her 2014 essay collection focused on "pop culture and her personal experiences, covering topics such as..."

Ah, I've been meaning to read Bad Feminist for a while! For some reason a part of me thinks I won't like it, so I keep picking up other feminist pieces, but...

Lindsey wrote: "For Fiction I nominate: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
(I can lead)"

Wow, this book looks intriguing! It's out of my usual pool, but on my TBR it goes!



Can I ask what leading consists of? I'm not really that much active in this group, so I'm not sure if I'm going to nominate something yet, but... I'd like to know.

Lindsey wrote: "For Fiction I nominate: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
(I can lead)"

That looks intriguing. I've put it on my TBR. Thank you for telling us about it.

For non-fiction, I nominate Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister

I nominate the following:

Non-fiction:
A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming

Fiction:
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora. Historical fiction and magical realism.

Unfortunately, I can't lead either of these. It will be tax season!

Jassmine wrote: "Can I ask what leading consists of? I'm not really that much active in this group, so I'm not sure if I'm going to nominate something yet, but... I'd like to kno..."

This is really a commitment to read the book and participate in the discussion. Everyone leads differently, but as moderatos, we can focus on other things if we know a member will be watching the discussion thread. You can start the thread, post info about the book and author, respond to other people's comments and posts (and know that you don't have to lead any discussion to do these things anyways), or you can post a reading schedule if you're more involved type of discussion leader, post spoiler timelines, etc. It can be as hands on or hands off as you like, but you're mostly just letting us know that you will be involved in the reading and discussing of your nomination. We love when our members lead because it tends to lead to more involved book discussions.

Anita wrote: "Jassmine wrote: "Can I ask what leading consists of? I'm not really that much active in this group, so I'm not sure if I'm going to nominate something yet, but... I'd like to kno..."

This is reall..."

Anita, based on your explanation, I would be able to lead if either of my suggestions go through. It's not as though I'm never on here during tax season. Thanks!

For fiction I nominate Home by Larissa Behrendt.

For non-fiction I nominate Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century by Alice Wong.

I can lead.

For fiction, I nominate the pioneering feminist novel, "The Women's Room" by Marilyn French. I'll be glad to lead.
I do have a 2nd choice for fiction, but we can only nominate one at a time. So I'll save that one for later.
I have about five possibilities for a non-fiction nomination, so I'll nominate that separately.

Gail wrote: "Anita, based on your explanation, I would be able to lead if either of my suggestions go through. It's not as though I'm never on here during tax season. Thanks!..."

Love it, thank you for letting us know Gail!

Lyn, I'll add your non-fiction as soon as you put it down.

I want to close nominations tonight, so last call for nominations members!

Nominations are closed, polls wil be going up later tonight. Thank you everyone for your nominations.

Polls are open through November 23rd.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

Sorry I didn't make the deadline for non-fiction. I'll nominate something next time there's a call for nominations.

Lyn wrote: "Sorry I didn't make the deadline for non-fiction. I'll nominate something next time there's a call for nominations."

I hope you do, Lyn!

Just 2 more days to vote on our first reads of the year!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...