Yesterday’s post featured some summer reading recommendations from AAUW staff members. Here are a few more of our picks, this time from AAUW’s ¡Adelante! Book of the Month Club, including several from previous ¡Adelante! lists:
Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, by Cokie Roberts
“Cokie Roberts has been recognized for her work for many years by AAUW. In 1988, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction at the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. In 2005, her book Founding Mothers was on AAUW’s ¡Adelante! reading list. Ladies of Liberty was presented to me at this year’s AAUW of Maryland state convention, and I look forward to reading this marvelous story about the women who helped establish our nation.”
—Linda Hallman, AAUW Executive Director
Kindred, by Octavia E. Butler
“A modern black woman celebrating her 26th birthday with her new husband is abruptly snatched from her home in present-day California and transported back to the antebellum South. Couldn’t put it down — well worth the read.”
Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Chanted the Future of Girls in America, by Karen Blumenthal
“It’s written for young adults, but it’s a nice easy, summer read for adults as well.”
Nickel and Dimed, on (Not) Getting By in America, by Barbara Ehrenreich
“The book shines an important light on several major issues that many women in our society face — a lack of economic security, being pigeonholed into “pink collar” jobs due to a lack of education or opportunity, and a lack of resources available to help them improve their situation.”
Riding the Bus With My Sister: A True Life Journey, by Rachel Simon
“A wonderfully written memoir centered on the rekindling friendship between two sisters in their late 30′s.”
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
“With haunting sympathy and piercing immediacy, this tells the story of Janie Crawford’s evolving selfhood through three marriages. Through Janie’s story does not end happily, it does draw to a satisfying conclusion.”
We’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite book and why?
Chances by Pamela Nowak
This is about a suffragette in 1876 Denver who is a female telegrapher. She dresses conservatively so she will not be evaluated by her attractive apprearance and will be respected for who she is and what she stands for It is a fun read with romance in the plot as well. Good timing to read in August.
My favorite is always the book I’m reading at the time! Did recently enjoy Madelaine Albright’s latest, The Mighty and the Almighty, her take on the role of religion in US foreign policy. Her unique perspective makes this a very interesting book.
Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi is a book that I couldn’t stop reading. The writing is exceptional and the story about ordinary families coping with the dramatic changes in pre WWII Germany is both frightening and heartening. Hegi’s main character, Trudi Montag, is memorable for many reasons. She has physical challenges, intellectual and emotional gifts, and heart that creates strength in others.
Hegi has written a children’s book about Trudi called Trudi and Pia that tells a small and touching part of the larger novel. It’s a treasure.
Great suggestions!
Another book I was recently told about: My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams by Abigail Adams (Author), John Adams (Author), Joseph J. Ellis (Foreword), Margaret A. Hogan (Editor), C. James Taylor (Editor). After reading the reviews, it’s now on my book list.
World Without End by Ken Follett
This is an interesting historical fiction novel set in 1300′s England and follows the lives of 5 main characters over a period of 30 years. One of these Karis, I found to be a strong female character that didn’t fit a stereotype. I wasn’t sure if this surprising character was believable of the times, but my historian daughter tells me that the novel portrayed her accurately with the times. It was a very good read.
Paula, by Isabel Allende. The book is beautiful not just for its words but also for Allende’s intent and boldness in exposing herself to her readers.