Ursina's Shelf - Female empowerment
Issue 54
Dear readers,
It looks like there was a technical glitch and Friday's newsletter didn't go out.... retrying it now.
About two years ago, I read the book Invisible Women (see issue 13 on women’s voices). The book greatly influences my day-to-day thinking and actions, including an increased awareness of the authors I am reading. Today I’d like to introduce three must-read books written by women about women.
Female empowerment
How the One-armed Sister Sweeps the House by Cherie Jones (2021)
Description: A story of marriage, family, sacrifice, and survival set in a beachfront Barbados community. The book starts with the night of Lala’s daughter's birth and the murder of Mira’s husband. The intertangled story centers on the people touched by these events and the days immediately following, as well as the paths that led these characters here.
My take: This book is the opposite of a beach read. The story of the women portrayed is one of generations of hardship and struggle in a society that normalizes male aggression, domestic violence, and female suppression. The depth of this debut’s storytelling is haunting and will appeal to fans of Toni Morrison.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022)
Description: A chemist and single mother, Elizabeth Zott, becomes a TV cook show host in the 1960s after losing the love of her life, the brilliant Chemist Calvin Evans. While she is thwarted by sexism at every corner, she is unstoppable with her highly rational and no-nonsense approach to life, its hardships, and providing nutritious meals for your family.
My take: This book came highly recommended by Deanna, Jessica, and Aishwarya and I highly enjoyed the audio version, including the author interview at the end. The story itself is intriguing, but it is the characters that made me love this book. Next to Elizabeth, we have Calvin, her daughter Mad, her dog, the neighbor, a priest, and so many more. While the sexism of the 60s feels shocking, it also feels all too familiar at times. The themes of feminism, empowerment, and found family make for an uplifting and inspiring read. (Buy here).
Bonus facts: This debut’s author is a rower, who spent several years living in Switzerland with her family. She was inspired by the Feminine Mystique and her dog Friday. For her research, she read a chem textbook from the 1950s. This debut was already translated into over 30 languages and a TV series adaptation is due to drop in 2023.
The Cost of Sexism by Linda Scott (2022)
Description: This non-fiction book by acclaimed Professor Linda Scott analyzes how holding women back is bad for the global economy, and subsequently all of humankind. Her arguments for female empowerment are well-researched and based on her own and the broader discipline’s studies and personal experiences during fieldwork.
My take: This is a must-read for any feminist with a penchant for economics or if you enjoyed Invisible Women or Melinda Gates’ Moments of Lift. It covers difficult topics, starting with women forbidden from leaving their homes or with no access to sanitary products, and thus a good job covering a breadth of women across the world in its research.
Currently reading: Volker Kutscher's Marlow, the 7th book in the Gereon Rath crime series, which serves as the loose inspiration for the hit show Babylon Berlin. Season 4 started with a bang.
I hope you are inspired by these reads and wish you an empowering weekend. As always thanks for your recommendations, keep them coming. Also please forward this newsletter to anyone who would enjoy it and encourage them to sign up with the link below.