book reviews
Must-read books for and about women, including thought-provoking novels, business books, memoirs and feminist histories.
Dis-JOY-nted Developments
I used to be a solid "fiction only" reader. Sometimes, though, an amazing non-fiction book slams me upside the head and demands that I pay attention! Tembi Locke wrote one of these books.
Hannah Marie.Published about a month ago in Viva
The Murder of Myrtle
I read the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald when I was a teen in high school. Actually, I cheated. I read the Cliff Notes and watched the movie. The poetry of the book was nice, but I just wanted to know the story so I could get through my assignments and be done with it. I did not like the novel at all when I first learned of it. I hated Daisy right away because she acted like what happened to Myrtle and Jay was no big deal, when both of their murders are really her fault. Jordan admits that she's "irresponsible" but Daisy never does. Daisy is a spoiled, worthless, emotional piece of junk who doesn't appreciate her wealth, her husband, her child, or the love of other people who were obsessed with her. F. Scott Fitzgerald actually has the nerve to end the novel with her as a Winner. If you want to see Evil Triumph over good, then by all means agree that The Great Gatsby is the Great American novel. But I disagree. As a woman and as a writer, I think The Great Gatsby is the worse piece of literature ever to be written as American fiction, and I think that women should be ashamed of themselves if they think it's any good. It right up there with the trash of "50 Shades of Gray". Please women! Use your brain! Do you want to end up dead like Myrtle or miserable like Daisy? That's what Fitzgerald promises you.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished 2 months ago in Viva
A Thousand Splendid Suns By Khaled Hosseini – Book Summary: A Story Of Female Friendship And Sacrifice
If you are looking for a book that makes you wail, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is it. I had heard many things about Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner, but I wanted to begin with his second one. And I didn’t regret it at all.
Rochi ZalaniPublished 2 months ago in Viva3 Obscure Modern Classic Novels by Women
Perhaps you have noticed the new style of article I am testing out here. Lists of three. I began with lists of five, but I felt that I was going on for way too long. Three seems like a nice way to test if you want to read more into a certain topic, doesn't it?
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Viva
3 Great Female Characters from Obscure Modern Classics
Women have always been sidelined in modern literature - especially that of the 20th century which actually seems more male-dominated than you actually think it was. From the poets of the 1930s writing about the horrors of the Great Depression to the writers of the experience of the Second World War. It has all been orientated on the male experience. There have been, in between, the experiences of women. But we do have to go hunting for them.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Viva3 Obscure Classic Novels About Women
Rebellious, outspoken women were not a normal part of the culture during the previous centuries. From Shakespeare's romantic interests of Juliet, Cressida, Hermia and others, there have been obedient and quiet women. But famously, Shakespeare's more complex characters have also been women, in the forms of the violent Lady Macbeth, the outspoken Titania, the almost machiavellian Portia and even the powerful Cleopatra.
Annie KapurPublished 2 months ago in Viva
Lucia Berlin – A Life
“The first word I spoke was Light” – Lucia Berlin, Welcome Home. Welcome Home by Lucia Berlin will stun you with its optimism and simplicity. The unfinished work by the deceased author is an autobiographical work that sparkles with buoyancy even in the face of hardship, and you’ll be warmed by the sentiment behind it. Consisting of the original unfinished work as well as photographs and letters compiled by her son, Jeff, the work is a fitting capstone tribute to this fascinating short story writer.
Drew JaehnigPublished 2 months ago in Viva
Book Review: Vanessa Diffenbaugh 'The Language of Flowers'
This Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller novel The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a meaningful, insightful, inspirational, and emotional novel that I recommend all teenage girls and grown women to read once in their lifetime. The Langauge of Flowers tells the story of a young woman (Victoria Jones) who uses the language of flowers and their definitions as a therapeutic form of communicating strong emotions like neglect, solitude, grief and displeasure. Victoria's raw emotions and thoughts about her experiences and tough childhood in and out of the foster care system determine her quality of life and ability to live independently and meaningfully as an adult. Once Victoria turned 18 years old, she becomes homeless and plants a small garden of her own at a local park in California. Her interest in learning about flowers and their definitions leads her to purposeful employment as a florist at a local flower shop named Bloom. Throughout her adulthood, Victoria encounters an introverted, mysterious and young man named Grant, who works as a flower farmer and vendor. Over a period of time, Grant and Victoria start a relationship, resulting in Victoria's young pregnancy and duty to revisit her past and share her painful secrets to decide whether it is worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness and satisfaction.
Talia DevoraPublished 3 months ago in Viva
How Deborah Burns Turned Memories Into a Memoir
Deborah Burns and I basically reenacted that line from “Pretty Woman” when we met over hors d’oeuvres at an industry event several years ago: “What happens when (s)he rescues the princess? (S)he rescues him right back!” We bonded over boredom and brie and traded business cards. The kind of exchange that means well, but ends up in the card pile of good intentions.
'The Handmaid's Tale' Analysis: Chapters 15-17
CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Ceremony continues. Blink and you’ll miss it, but there’s a clever bit of subtle dramatic metaphor in how the scene is set up. The Commander must knock on the sitting room door to enter, the sitting room being described as “Serena Joy’s territory” in which “he’s supposed to ask permission to enter it.” The Commander enters the room without her permission, foreshadowing what exactly this Ceremony entails. Offred muses over this “protocol,” wondering if it’s because of a domestic spat over dinner.
Reading Is What? Fundamental!
I’m not even sure where to start with this one! This is, hands down, one of the funniest “self help” books that I have ever read. I’m generally not one for these types of books, but I knew that I had to give this a read. Life advice, hilarious stories, and beautifully captured photographs align to create the perfect reading experience. I think it is important to have diverse representation in all forms of media, and seeing two accomplished drag queens sit down and write a self help book as “modern women” is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of diverse representation.
Kurt MasonPublished 6 months ago in VivaBooks By Influential Women of Today
Books By Influential Women of Today Today’s Ambitious Women Share Their Stories CHANEL MILLER Chanel Miller is a rape survivor. We first learned of her harrowing experience in 2015 while visiting her sister who was a student at Stanford University. Chanel was attacked by fellow student Brock Allen Turner. Chanel was asked to write her victim impact statement to be read at the sentencing hearing. She posted her victim impact statement online and it almost immediately went viral drawing more than 11 million reads in just four days. Her victim impact statement was 50 minutes long. She carefully details her anger, her resentment, her pain, her fear and how this has so negatively changed her and the rest of her life. She points out that her attacker, his attorney and the judge has missed the point. The real point. How we as a society need to change how sexual assaults are treated not just in a court of law but by the media, by the sentencing and all involved. You can read her story in her book:
Paula C. HendersonPublished 8 months ago in Viva
