When I saw the Women Unbound challenge I just knew I had to join it! Have you heard about it? Well, you can get all the details on the challenge blog but basically it’s a challenge to get readers to read books related to women studies.
Eva, Aarti and Care are co-hosting this one and have come up with great reading lists, reading levels and of course cool buttons. So check it out and join in.
I’m going to try and shoot for the Bluestocking level (because I just love the word bluestocking) which means I’m going to try and read five books between now and Nov. 2010. As usual, I’m going to select books from my stacks. Here are the books that sound good to me so far but you know I’m a moody reader so my list is probably going to change but that’s for later.
- A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. How one woman seeks to free herself from the demands of city life.
- West With The Night by Beryl Markham. She was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic. She definitely sounds like a woman who lived quite a life.
- The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell. A tale of sisters who were seen as funny, glamorous, intelligent, beautiful, and quirky.
- Leaving Home by Anita Brookner. At twenty-six, Emma Roberts comes to the painful realization that if she is ever to become truly independent, she must leave her comfortable London flat and venture into the wider world.
- The Vagabond by Colette. A story about an actress who rejects a man she loves in order to live in an independent way
Who else is joining and what are you a reading?
Have fun with the challenge, Iliana! 🙂
I KNEW you would do this one! It had your name all over it. Anyone that reads a mag called “Bitch” is going to go there!
I’ve seen this challenge all over the Blogosphere and wasn’t sure if I was going to join (I really need to concentrate on the books I own!), but I think I’ll give it a go. How can I resist that cool button?! 🙂
I listened to A Gift from the Sea a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. My husband and I are going to Sanibel Island for Christmas and I plan to spend a day on Captiva Island (the setting for Lindbergh’s memoir). This might be just the perfect timing for a re-read, don’t you think?
I read West With the Night several years ago and thought it was good, but not great. I have another book about her in my stacks. Maybe I’ll add that to my list for this challenge.
Thanks for motivating me!!
Melody – I think it’s going to be great! I am already wondering which book I should start first 🙂
Sandy – Ha,ha… Indeed, right! I think there’s also a Bitch book out there which the magazine produced. Maybe I should get a hold of that and add it to my list 🙂
Les in NE – Yay, I’m so glad you are joining! And, oh my goodness your trip over Christmas sounds wonderful. I’m sure I’ll be drooling over the pictures you’ll take. I have heard some mixed reviews of the Markham book, it seems yes she was quite a pioneer in some areas but maybe not such a nice person? I don’t know. Should be interesting.
I want to join this one too, just don’t have my list yet. I’ll bet there will be way too many books on it once it’s done though!! 🙂
I so want to do this, and yet I’m not sure I can commit. But then, I will probably read at least five books by women (not that all women are feminists) in the next two months! Loving everyone’s suggestions, though. I very much enjoyed The Vagabond, as well as the Mary Lovell biography of the Mitfords.
I keep being so tempted by this challenge! So far I have stayed strong and haven’t jumped in but I am thinking it is only a matter of time… I read A Gift From The Sea last year and absolutely loved it – a gorgeous book.
I read A Gift from the Sea several years ago…Lindbergh had such a love of language! Beautifully written.
I’m not joining but I have been enjoying reading everyone’s lists! I read Gift from the Sea many years ago, I think it is one you will enjoy.
I’ve joined this one at the bluestocking level as well. Enjoy The Sisters. I absolutely loved it and it sparked my interest in the Mitford family.
sounds like a fun challenge, happy reading 🙂 Leaving Home sounds really good. Great list.
I am reading Loving Frank and am surprised at how much I’m enjoying it. It’s very much a “woman’s studies” book despite what people think it’s about. Very interesting characters and subject matter.
Glad to see you are joining in! It should be a fun challenge. 🙂
I might almost be tempted by this challenge…will have to think about it, since it’s a long running one. I read West with the Night a long time ago and really enjoyed it. I’d like to read the Mitford book, too as well as more books by Colette.
Anita B novel- so is the girl independently wealthy to live without worries in London?
Have fun with the challenge.
I joined this challenge also and just posted my first review for the challenge on Anita Brookner’s Leaving Home-
I hardly ever do challenges anymore, preferring to pick my way through my stacks according to how I feel at the time, but if I did, I’d do this one! Never read any of your five choices, so I’ll be interested in your reviews.
It’s great that you’re doing this challenge. I want to start right away, but I have to keep reminding myself I have other books that need reading first…how long will that last.
So interested to see what you think of the Mitford sisters, they always sound like the craziest family!
Sounds fun! Especially interested in the one about the Mitfords.
Good challenge and you have an excellent list of books.
I love your choices. I think I need to join this challenge!
oh, great list! I’m so glad you are joining us.