Reflecting on "We Should All Be Feminists: A Guided Journal" Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has a rare ability to ignite conversations that linger long after the last page is turned. When I stumbled upon "We Should All Be Feminists: A Guided Journal," I was drawn not only by the familiar name that has come to symbolize contemporary feminism but also by the interactive nature of this new release. As someone who often grapples with societal expectations and inequalities, I was eager to dive into a guided journal that promised not...

The World According to Joan Didion: A Complex Reflection Joan Didion has long been a literary beacon for me—a writer whose keen observations of life, grief, and culture resonate deeply with my own experiences. When I heard about The World According to Joan Didion by Evelyn McDonnell, I was excited at the thought of delving even deeper into Didion's fascinating life and work. However, as I turned the pages, I found myself grappling not just with McDonnell’s insights but also with the book's own identity, which felt a bit...

A Life of One's Own: Nine Women Writers Begin Again by Joanna Biggs – A Heartfelt Journey of Reinvention When I first picked up A Life of One’s Own: Nine Women Writers Begin Again by Joanna Biggs, I did so with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. As someone who often finds solace in literature, the idea of exploring the lives of women writers who faced adversity resonated deeply with me. I was at a crossroads, much like Biggs, and eager to find guidance in their stories. Little did...

Book Review: Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Stephanie Marie Thornton As I explored the pages of Her Lost Words, I found myself drawn into the complex lives of two extraordinary women: Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley. I must admit, prior to diving into this beautifully woven tapestry of historical fiction, my knowledge of either figure was embarrassingly scant. However, Stephanie Marie Thornton’s masterful storytelling transformed my ignorance into a profound appreciation for these groundbreaking literary figures. Thornton crafts a dual narrative...

Review of Loving Sylvia Plath: A Reclamation by Andrea Van Duyne When I first came across Loving Sylvia Plath: A Reclamation by Andrea Van Duyne, I was intrigued—not just by Plath's enduring legacy in literature, but more so by her complex relationship with Ted Hughes. Van Duyne’s exploration promises to shed light on a history that often feels entwined not just in love, but manipulation and tragedy. As someone who has always believed that understanding the human element in literary history is crucial, this book spoke to me on...

Discovering Eileen: A Dive into Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder When I first heard about Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder, I was immediately intrigued. Having admired Funder’s previous work on the stories of former East Germany in Stasiland, it felt like a natural progression to explore another moment in history shrouded in silence yet filled with complexity. This book doesn’t just delve into George Orwell's life; it seeks to unearth the often-overlooked narrative of Eileen O'Shaughnessy, his wife, and a remarkable woman in...

Exploring the Nuances of Language: A Review of Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words by Jenni Nuttall As a lover of language and its many intricacies, Jenni Nuttall's Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words caught my attention immediately with its poignant title. The exploration of women's language—words specifically associated with our lives, experiences, and history—seemed like a treasure trove waiting to be unearthed. And while I approached it anticipating an enlightening journey through etymology, I finished the book with a sense of intrigue mixed with...