book reviews
Must-read books for and about women, including thought-provoking novels, business books, memoirs and feminist histories.
10 Books to Raise Stronger Girls
Unfortunately, in society today, young girls can be mean. Middle school has become one of the most important times in the girl world, because this is when girls are turning into young women and defining who they will become in the eyes of their peers. Body image starts to become important, girls move into different social circles, and daughters start to pull away from their mothers. In these difficult years, mothers may need guidance in how to deal with their young daughters, and keep their little girls from going down the wrong path. Here are the best books to raise stronger girls with good character.
By Morgan E. Westling8 years ago in Viva
Feminist Children's Books Every Child Must Read
My childhood was filled with princess stories. Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, you name it. When I was a little girl, I wanted nothing more than to find a handsome prince and live happily ever after. I know I’m not the only one who had a steady diet of these stories. But if I ever have kids, whether they’re girls or boys, I don’t want them to grow up solely on stories where the princess needs to be rescued by someone else. I’d rather introduce them to feminist kid's books—ones with characters who are amazing role models. If you feel the same, read on, and check out these feminist children’s books that every child must read.
By Kioko Leonia8 years ago in Viva
Plain Jane: A Classic Revisited
We all have that one book. The one we covet. Hold to our chests like a protective shield. Usually, it is the one filled with highlighted passages, dog-eared pages, or post-it notes stuck in what looks to others as random placement. But you know the truth. Those singled out pages contain words of wisdom and quotes you can probably recite from memory. They speak to you in your hour of need. You recite them to friends and family who need a boost of confidence, a reminder that life is messy, but will always offer some shine to those who seek it. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is that book of choice for me. A personal favorite, it continues to touch me with its language and themes of independence as well as Jane's search for family and love.
By Jessica Leibe8 years ago in Viva
This ‘Doll House’ is Not My Home
Nora Helmer lives in the time period where women had no rights in the world. For a while, that concept that women are powerless is seen in the beginning of Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll House”, until Nora stamps her mark as a “human being just like Torvald” (Ibsen, 840) with the same rights as anybody else. The play opens up with Nora being stuck between her husband’s favors and a blackmailing conspiracy. In the beginning of the play, Ibsen portrays Nora as this submissive, gold-digging wife who is always after Torvald Helmer’s, her husband, money. As the action moves more towards the climax of the play, antagonist Nils Krogstad visits Nora about her payment issues. At the end, during the resolution of the play when the truth comes out, Nora finally gets her courage to stand up and speak her mind against Torvald. A desperate Nora searches for a way out to try and justify her previous criminal actions against her late father; therefore, putting her family name in jeopardy.
By Robyn Welborne8 years ago in Viva
10 Empowering Feminist Novels Every Woman Must Read
As a feminist, we want to possess the strength and mind to take on a world that continues to be dominated by men. There are moments when we encounter situations that make us feel small and helpless in this massive world. However, we should never feel this way! I've personally felt this so many times, and it's really hard to get back up without the motivation. I wanted to start feeling empowered to get out there and be my best.
By Jennifer Violet8 years ago in Viva
'Beauty Restored': Life After Rape (Must Read)
After I had been raped I told all that needed to know. When my mom told the pastor that worked at her job, I was far from thrilled. I didn’t think that she needed to know. I wasn’t even sure I still believed in God. What would it help? Probably nothing because my heart had been aching for far too long to heal.
By The Darkest Sunrise8 years ago in Viva
Diary of a Strong Black Woman with Nothing to Hide
"This kind of feels like the first date...."- Gabrielle Union. Actress, author, and activist, Gabrielle Union, is an open book. In Union's brilliant and well-written book of short stories, We're Going to Need More Wine, she is unapologetic throughout each chapter and dives into her relationships, casual flings, marriages, traumas, fears, and even losing her virginity.
By Ali McPherson8 years ago in Viva
Feminism in 'The Great Gatsby'
After reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I am left a bit surprised by the female characters. Half of them seem to be independent and embracing their opportunities to be something more than a wife, whereas the others seem to be depend solely on the men in their lives and don’t seem to fully grasp their own free will.
By Maya Conroy8 years ago in Viva
In the Eyes of the Beholder
In the Eyes of the Beholder: Classification, labels, branding: we have all been sorted into groups whether through our income, gender, religious beliefs, or even the most simple of things; your shirt, your shoes, the way we look at each other. According to Linguist Benjamin Whorf, “the words we use to describe things aren't just idle placeholders-they actually determine what we see" (Psychology Today). Adam Alter wrote about the physiological classification of everything we surround ourselves with. It is human nature to label, it makes a complex idea more simple for us to process. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is labeled as a sinner and branded with the letter A, which is embroidered on all of her garments. This is the town's way of deeming her “the other” and stripping away her power and morality as an individual. Hawthorne unveils where power truly lies and how we can use that power through Hester Prynne.
By Clare Woodford8 years ago in Viva
All Heterosexual Sex Is Rape
At first, I misunderstood the premise of Andrea Dworkin’s book, Intercourse, to mean heterosexual sex is rape. I fell into the trap of believing her critics without reading the book myself, but when I finally did read it, I was angry how reviewers misled the public into thinking she insisted all intercourse between a man and a woman is rape.
By Nancy Fingerhood9 years ago in Viva
