Books Every Woman (man, child, and dog) Should Read

As I have gotten older and become a more alert reader, I have been really interested in reading pieces that deal with feminist themes, classics especially because women authors were kept out of the literary cannon for so long. So today, I am here with a list of literary pieces that I have read and think that every woman should read as well. But these pieces are so great, that I think every reader should read them, not just women readers, but women readers will connect to them more easily. Later in the week I will be making a list of books that I think every woman should read that I have not yet read myself.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know. All book tittles link to my review of the piece if there is one.

A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf

This is a nonfiction essay by Woolf that started out as a lecture she gave to women students. I would have loved to hear this lecture. Woolf's writing is powerful and full of sass and authority in this essay and I love every minute of it. This essay looks at the troubles faced by women artists and scholars and the attitudes that men have towards the mind of women and anything they create. This essay is relatively short and highly worth the read. 

The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

This book blew me away. I still think about it quite often and really want to reread it very soon. Atwood is such a powerful writer, and this book is so scary but so important. It's realistic, it's possible and plausible, and it's scary. This is the only work by Atwood that I have read so far, but I think that a lot of her works will make future lists similar to this one. This is a very important book.    

The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

This is one of my all-time favorite novels and one that I will never tire of rereading. I love everything Plath writes, and I highly recommend her poetry as well. I love how themes cross over from one piece to another of hers. This novel is perfect for any girl feeling the pressures and uncertainty of being a student or what comes after being a student. Plath's writing is so honest and blunt and Esther is so relatiable, her fears and problems are our fears and problems.  

The Awakening, Kate Chopin

I love Kate Chopin! Her short stories are great- some of the best I have ever read- and her novella The Awakening is amazing too. Everything she writes is packed with powerful ideas of gender expectations and equality, and her heroines are so fierce! She's an author who really struggled to get into the cannon and get the respect she deserved, so I love to share how amazing her work is and urge people to read her. If you are just starting to become more aware of gender expectations and issues as a woman, than I highly recommend The Awakening, you will be nodding your head in agreement with and in encouragement for Edna the entire time. 

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Or any book by Jane Austen for that matter. Her heroines defy their time period, tradition, and societies and never settle for a life that is anything less than they deserve. The love interests in her novels are romantic, and respectable. If I could give young female readers one book to read, I would pick an Austen because her books are such great examples of healthy, well-matched romances. If you're not a big fan of romance or contemporary novels, but you need something a little swoon worthy and sweet, I highly recommend Austen. I've also read, reviewed, and loved, Persuasion.   

Trifles, Susan Glaspell 

This is a one act play which was adapted from a short story in 1916. I haven't wrote anything about my thoughts on this play yet, so I thought this was a perfect time to share them. I really enjoyed this play. It is so quick to read, and the plot is so simple, yet it provokes so much conversation and thought. The irony is so biting, and the women characters are so clever. I highly recommend checking this one out, even drama isn't usually your cup of tea. This one is quick and so very good. 

You can also check out my list of Women Authors if you want some more girl power in your reading line up, and of course, let me know what you thought about these if you have read them and leave me your recommendations.

I also made a list of Books Every Woman (including myself) Should Read