‘March-ing’ forward with purpose– Women’s Month is here!
As we celebrate the path we’ve carved to create a society where women are recognized for their strength, resilience, and power, here is a list of books to keep yourself hooked into the occasion. These characters are here to represent “the power of the female.”
WARNING: Some spoilers are mentioned in each book and might ruin a new read!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Starting off strong, Little Women fits right into the theme as our second eldest sister– Jo March, urges us that we do life on our own terms. While the book takes place in the 1800’s and… let’s just say times were very different back then with society’s expectations for women to be submissive, Jo does the complete opposite and challenges norms on gender roles, independence, and ambition.
Jo teaches us that above all, your dreams are worth pursuing. While marriage was seen as a way to secure oneself in the literary piece’s setting, she refuses to do so. She chose to value her independence and took on pursuing a career she was passionate about in a male-dominated field, namely, writing. Resisting the idea of men, she inspires her sisters in her own journey of navigating the world, encouraging them to be self-sufficient as she believes in their capability.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
While the story covers Susie Salmon’s murder, its themes show us how much each woman in this novel has fought for the justice of all the girls who had fallen victims in the hands of George Harvey. Susie takes us on a trip down memory lane, she recalls all of her good memories with her friends and family. The narrative shifts when she starts to recount how her life was taken from her, and she meets each of George’s victims– at least through their spirits.
Lindsay Salmon, Susie’s younger sister, slowly unveils the truth to her sister’s demise and goes on a heart-racing mission as she sneaks into George’s house and discovers his hidden notebook, revealing the true events that took place. She literally runs for her life and barely escapes through a window, book in hand, as she confirms her suspicions of him. The book not only uncovers the murder-mystery that takes place, but it also gives a voice to silenced women while exploring their strength as each character grew in their own ways.
Related read: ‘The Lovely Bones’ author apologizes to man for wrongful conviction
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Taking place in The Republic of Gilead, a dystopian and totalitarian society where women are stripped of their rights, Handmaid, Offred who is forced to bear children after a fertility crisis shows us how she survives and resists the oppression and the dangers in which extreme patriarchy has caused women. While living under strict control, she quietly shows her little acts of defiance as she forms secret alliances.
Despite her fear from the brutal system, Offred refuses to be broken and shows us a good fight from the best of her abilities. She teaches us that even our smallest acts of opposition can be powerful forms of resistance, showing women that even in the darkest of times, the aversion to the mistreatment is possible and is a path to winning the fight.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins
Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo gives her final interview with reporter Monique Grant. At a time when Hollywood was at its peak of sexism in the late 50s, she strategically navigated the industry with the use of her seven marriages and maintained power over her career, making bold decisions for success as she defied the expectations of women as submissives.
With the reputation she made for herself, Evelyn uses her power to expose the entertainment industry and how women had been discarded for issues which men have also been regarded with. She does give a little plot twist in the end, but to avoid spoilers, let’s just say she broke the mold of traditional love stories. Ultimately, Evelyn shows us how to take control of our own path and celebrate ambition as we fight for personal freedom.
The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton
While the novel was left unfinished after the author’s death in 1937, it was completed by Marion Mainwaring in 1933. Nan St. George, a wealthy New Yorker who springs through life with love and positivity around her, is hit with reality as she starts to come of age and experiences societal expectations alongside her sister and best friends. Unlike most women from her time, set in the 1870s where British aristocracy was a means to attain social status, she refuses to fall into this norm where marriage is a woman’s only option.
As she seeks the truth to who she really is while trying to win her freedom from the ties that have bound her to a life where a twist of events has brought her, Nan and her friends stay true to themselves, showcasing that they are more than just girls who are to become wives of men with title, and maintained their dignity.
With all these suggested reads of different characters from different ranges, owe it to yourself and continue searching for more influences that keep you inspired with just how much women can show their capability in creating a world where we are seen and heard.
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