The pandemic, lockdown(s), and the aftermath of it all, personally, brought a lot of good with it. Books are my form of self-care, my way of making sure I got my own back and these books on womanhood played a huge part in that.
I always strive to share my favorites with you and today, I want to share these gems. Being a woman is wonderful, messy, hard, and rewarding at the same time and I appreciate its complexity even more after reading these (just click the title to learn more):
The Game of Desire by Shan Boodram
Truth be told, I was never particularly good at dating. For years I focused way too much on what my date wanted and thought and how to impress them, so much so, that I neglected my very own needs. I would have saved myself a lot of time if Shan’s book existed ten years ago already, or books on womanhood in general. Dating with dominance to get what you want and meet yourself along the way and be non-apologetic about it, is what The Game of Desire is all about. Such a must-read, dating or not!
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.
Speaking of non-apologetic: Come As You Are is the book on female sexuality that will transform your sex life. I gifted it to girlfriends and they read it with their partners together. It’s bite-sized new science explained in a way that’s exciting and informative at the same time. Just read it, make your partner read it, and thank me later!
Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Chances are you most likely know this one out of the seven I am introducing to you today. I included it before in my feminism book list because I had to. Difficult Women is a collection of stories about the complexity of womanhood and the beauty, strength, and vulnerability of being a woman. Requiem for a Glass Heart might be my favorite. What’s yours?
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History by Laurel Thatcher-Ulrich
The first time I heard about this book was in The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet when it was mentioned by Eva Longoria as the book that helped her find herself. I had it on my wishlist for years and after finally reading it, I now get why it’s been referenced so often. First mentioned in one of the author’s early articles in 1976, Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History is the phrase that coined modern-day feminism. If you’re interested in how it all started, but usually have a hard time reading overly factual books, this one is a breeze to read and understand.
Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud by Anne Helen Petersen
This book got a lot of slack for its title and seemed to make people uncomfortable before they were even able to read it. Having read it, I guess that’s exactly what the author was after all along. The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman is direct and brash and all about being a nonconforming woman in a society that still strives to silence us everywhere we go. Read if being an “acceptable” woman was never one of your life goals!
Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Discovering my inner wild woman is a concept that had me curious from the beginning. This book is dubbed a creation of poetry and power, and clearly, one that will accompany you for many years to come as you read and re-read again. Beautifully written, it gives you a new understanding and appreciation of being a woman. If you are looking for a book that touches you deeply, this is it!
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
If I had to tell you my all-time favorite books, this would be one of them. Reading it, just hit me differently. My friend Nina introduced me to it years ago while on a road trip, when the book I was reading was kind of underwhelming. Always trusting her book recommendations, I downloaded it immediately on my Kindle during our train ride and read it several times since. I bought the paperback copy and gifted it to my sister too.
This book is mandatory for every woman to read, especially if you love traveling and feel like a traditional five-year plan is not the way for you. Kristin Newman has a way with words. You are pulled in immediately and you laugh until you cry. It’s that kind of book that reassures you that no matter where you are in life and where you want to go as a woman, you are exactly where you should be, and staying true to yourself is always the right thing to do!
Read more about my picks and follow along on Goodreads here!
