Feminist Book Club?

[tishaLA]

Does this sound like anything that might interest anyone? I know I'd love to do it...but then again I organized a feminist reading group for the faculty and grad students at my university, so I'm predisposed to pursue these things.

I'm open to fiction or non-fiction from wherever about whatever as long as it's feminist. If you're interested, speak up and give some suggestions!

[libodem]

1. I think books are a good influence

share reading lists and find out what we've read that's in common.

[all.of.me]

2. sounds interesting!

[BlueIris]

3. Count me in. nt.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Sounds great

A few books on my shelf and in my head now that might make for an interesting read in terms of feminist and women-affirming reading:

Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class

Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman's Journey From the Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine]

Midlife Crisis at 30|: How the Stakes Have Changed for a New Generation--And What to Do About It

The Burning Times: A Novel of Medieval France

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood

Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven: Women, Sexuality, and the Catholic Church

[Finder]

5. "The Handmaid's Tale"

is one of the most popular fictional works I hear cited. I think it hits upon a lot of issues between women.

[BlueIris]

6. These aren't exactly scholarly, but they ARE feminist.

And excellent. Has anyone ever read the early to mid-career works of Alice Hoffman? I post early because if you've read her stuff published after about 2000, you may have noticed that she appears to have stopped caring about writing decent novels. I don't believe in (permanent) artistic "burn out," but I do believe that sometimes people run out of ideas, fail to remain invested in their work, or lose their good editors. Or their minds. Anyway, I don't know what happened to her, but her books of the late '70s and the '80s are terrific. I would love to reexplore them, as I haven't done it in years since becoming too shocked at the downturn in the quality of her prose.

The plots of Hoffman's early to mid-career stuff almost all concern primarily the lives of convincingly constructed female characters living realistic lives in various time periods and locations in America. Almost all the novels have something really interesting to say about the way women relate to other women in the world; their mothers, female coworkers, neighbors, daughters. The word "feminism" is almost never mentioned, but these (usually) independent, intelligent and realistic characters and the decisions they make in their lives would make any feminist proud. The upside of our groupd choosing one of these books to read is that a) they're readily and cheaply available at most used books stores and b) they're extremely readable (when she wrote well, she wrote well). My suggestions:

"Seventh Heaven"--It depicts a neighborhood in Long Island in the last days of 1959 and first few months of 1960. Yes, there are male characters in this one two, but as in most Hoffman novels, they, well, play second string to the female characters involved, mainly the wives and mothers of this neighborhood, in this snapshot of an America on the brink of cataclysmic change. What I think would be fun to do is read the book, and decide what we think will happen to the characters as the '60s wear on--which couples will stay together, which women will become (more) feminist, which teenagers revolutionaries. There are also plenty of things to talk about in terms of the psychologies of the female characters and their choices to discuss.

"Fortune's Daughter"--This is a great one about mother-daughter relationships. Takes place in L.A. in the '80s and focuses on the strange friendship that develops between a fortune teller and one of her newly pregnant film producer clients.

"Turtle Moon"--I'm lukewarmly suggesting this one because it takes place in Florida. I don't remember much political content, so if it bothers anyone that we're reading about a 1980s Florida that is depicted as sanely governed, which on DU, would be understandable, this might not be the books to go with. There are some great potential discussions here about the relationships between particularly young women. And it features a few of my favorite male Hoffman characters, who are among the sweetest and the smartest (and the most subtly feminist) from within her works. It's been so long that I barely remember the actual plot, except for something about a murder and some turtles.

Thoughts?

[tishaLA]

9. Good cause I don't want scholarly!

Too much of that in RL. Thanks for the suggestions. I hope we get more input, too.

[BlueIris]

10. If you don't want scholarly, then don't read my post too closely.

Damn. That's the biggest pile of typos I've ever left in one post here before. Normally, I'm not one to point out my own flaws, but yikes. I swear, everyone, I'm just alarmed at some of the sexist shit I've seen in the news today, not having a mental breakdown or suffering from an intercranial bleed or anything.

[UCLA Dem]

13. Oh...A Handmaid's Tale is a tough one....gave me nightmares!!

[lukasahero]

7. I'd be interested.

Have nothing to suggest in the way of titles (since anything I might have has already been suggested!) but I'm interested in not just reading these books but getting different perspectives on the contents of them.

I think it's important to get outside of my own head and hear other opinions on things. Also since so many of the women here have a great deal more knowledge about feminist history than I, I value the opportunity to learn from them.

[atommom]

8. I'd definitely be interested. I love reading and discussing books

and I don't get to do either of those things as often as I'd like!

[Kerrytravelers]

11. Love it!

I like biographies. How about "What Women Want" by Patricia Ireland, the former President of NOW?

[BlueIris]

12. "Like the Red Panda," by Andrea Seigel.

I haven't read it yet, but the awesome reviews I've encountered describe it as a "welcome antidote to 'chicklit.'" As someone who hates that shit, that's enough to get me interested. I skimmed a couple of chapters in Borders and the prose is decent (always a plus). It's the story of a high school senior's last two weeks in twelfth grade. Supposedly, the female protagonist is a unique feature in the world of modern novels--she actually has a brain, and perspective, things which have left her alienated from her peers. It's for an adult audience, though, if anyone cares. Just one more suggestion because this topic appeared to have died down a little. It came out last year, so we'd all (probably) have to buy it; but it's only $12.99.

[UCLA Dem]

14. Sure sounds great!! What about some Jane Austin or Edith Wharton??

I love discussing the feminist aspects of these authors. Though some might argue they are still traditional, I think they were way a head of their times and that interesting to explore.

I read "The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton in high school and found it fascinating. I would love to read it again and discuss with a bunch of like-minded women.

Also, I know Pride and Prejudice has probably been read a lot, but I love the female characters in the novel and it would interesting to discuss feminist and anti-feminist aspects of the story.


On edit: What about "Vanity Fair," by William Makepeace Thackeray? It just recently made into a movie and has a most interesting female protagonist. I was just thinking this week that it would be interesting to read the novel and discuss for that matter!

[BlueIris]

15. Oh, good call. We were being a little contempo, there.

I love Edith Wharton. I would love to read "House of Mirth" again. Yes, I know the ending is considered problematic and depressing, but there would be a lo to discuss from the plot in terms of feminism and interesting female characters.

[UCLA Dem]

16. Definitely!