Nasty Woman Summer Reading List

Nasty bibliophiles unite! This summer I invite you to join my Nasty Woman book club.  I've chosen 8 wonderful books below, that I know we can all get through by the end of the summer. Starting today we will make our way though the list one book per week or two.  Some are quick reads that you can tackle in an afternoon, others will require more time and attention.  I'll post new books Sundays as well as review the last book.  Let's get started!

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1. New Erotica For Feminists authored by Caitlin Kunkel, Brooke Preston, Fiona Taylor and Carrie Wittmer

This book tells honest tales of what turns feminists on.  Sorry boys, its not what you think, its more tales of amusing fantasies about what the world would be like if their was no gender bias.  It's a quick lighthearted book, perfect for a poolside read, an airplane ride or an afternoon when you are free of children bugging you every five minutes.  Be prepared to laugh out loud.

2. Before She Sleeps by Bina Shah

This is a great fiction book and will be well received by those who love the handmaids Tale. In a dystopian Southeast Asia, the ratio of men to women has motivated the government to forcibly ramp up women’s reproduction, making them take multiple husbands to have more children as quickly as possible. Shah dives into the complex relationship or lack thereof between sex, reproduction, intimacy and power in a near future technocracy, and the toll it takes on the people who live it, as well as the underground collective of women trying to resist.

3. Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark.

Written by two very funny and insightful women this is a book of the best advice that your mother never gave you.  They share stories ranging from struggles of depression, eating disorders and addiction and impress upon you the importance of self advocating and and having unapologetic frankness. It's one of those books that once you pick up you have a hard time putting down. Its just well written, poignant and filled with hard won wisdom.

4. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

Milk and Honey is a book of poetry that focuses on themes of abuse, love, loss and femininity.  This book is simple yet elegant and has the ability to resonate with women from all walks of life. If you haven't read it yet, take an hour by the pool and you'll have an enjoyable afternoon sunning and going on an emotional ride.

5. The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, The Wayfarers Book 1. by Becky Chambers

This is a modern science fiction book with a strong lead female character.  Rosemary is new comer and joins a crew who journeys through outer space. Character diversity and development is amazing. This book is incredibly well written and the author is a master at building these new worlds for us to be a part of.  If you can stick with it past the slow start you will be amazed. This is actually a three part series but the books can stand alone. If you enjoy sci fi, tech and futuristic stories this is a must read.

6. Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit

This book of 6 essays starts off with the obligatory mansplaining story ( and tells us how she met a man that actually recommended her book to her)  but then ties the dynamic behind it to much more sinister problems including men exploiting women and then brings the problem to the global level of gender inequality.  She is both humorous and angry, my favorite combo.  It left me inspired.

7. How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran

This book had me at:

"So here is the quick way of working out if you're a feminist. Put your hand in your pants.
a) Do you have a vagina? and
b) Do you want to be in charge of it?
If you said 'yes' to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist.”  She reminiscences about the confusion of being an adolescent woman through humor, intelligence and tact. I found her let-your-freak-flag-fly message to be reassuring, entertaining and very funny. Be aware, if you aren't one for foul language this may not be for you.

8.  We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Based of her 2012 TED Talk of the same name this book makes the argument for why everyone should embrace equality of the sexes.  Fun fact, part of her TED speech was included in Beyonce's 2013 song, "Flawless."

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