Poll
[2016] Which book would you most like to read in July & August?
HOW TO VOTE:
Click the book cover of the title you'd like to vote for.
**Please do not submit duplicate write-ins.**
HOW TO VOTE:
Click the book cover of the title you'd like to vote for.
**Please do not submit duplicate write-ins.**
Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl
by Carrie Brownstein
Mom & Me & Mom
by Maya Angelou
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
by Judy Blume
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
(write-in)
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
by Jeanette Winterson
We Need New Names
by NoViolet Bulawayo
I Am Malala
Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity
by Julia Serano
The Handmaid's Tale
(write-in)
Self-Made Man: One Woman's Journey Into Manhood and Back Again
by Norah Vincent
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
(write-in)
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(write-in)
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
(write-in)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
(write-in)
Annie John
by Jamaica Kincaid
Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West
(write-in)
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
(write-in)
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Bell Jar
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
(write-in)
To Kill a Mockingbird
(write-in)
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
(write-in)
Anne Frank's diary
(write-in)
The Geek Feminist Revolution
(write-in)
Wild - Cheryl Strayed
(write-in)
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
(write-in)
The Red Tent
(write-in)
Homegoing
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
(write-in)
Simone de Beauvoir, Le deuxième sexe
(write-in)
I Call Myself A Feminist: t: The View from Twenty-Five Women Under Thirty
(write-in)
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
(write-in)
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
(write-in)
Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou
The Way We Weren't: A Memoir
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
(write-in)
The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Irin Carmin and Shana knizhnik
The Woman That I Am: The Literature and Culture of Contemporary Women of Color
(write-in)
'The Awakening' by Kate Chopin
Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Girl in a Band
(write-in)
Girl Interrupted!
(write-in)
The Beauty Myth by Virginia Woolf
VAGINA by Naomi Wolfe
UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE A STUDY OF CONVICTED RAPISTS BY DIANA SCULLY
(write-in)
Reading Lolita in Teheran
(write-in)
Little women
(write-in)
Women Who Run With the Wolves - Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés
(write-in)
The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
Scarlet Sisters
Like water for chocolate
(write-in)
Asking For It by Louise O'Neil
(write-in)
Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg
(write-in)
Women and the Priesthood by Sheri Dee
(write-in)
The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
(write-in)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
(write-in)
Stone butch blue
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Ph.D.
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jennifer Lawson
(write-in)
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
milk and honey - rupi kaur
(write-in)
The Only Woman in the Room by Eileen Pollack
(write-in)
Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates
(write-in)
Girl Up by Laura Bates
(write-in)
Girl in the Woods: A Memoir by Aspen Matis
(write-in)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
(write-in)
The underground girls of Kabul : in search of a hidden resistance in Afghanistan / by Nordberg, Jenny
(write-in)
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
(write-in)
Asking For It by Louise O'Neill
(write-in)
We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement by Andi Zeisler
False Choices: The Faux Feminism of Hillary Rodham Clinton Edited by Liza Featherstone
(write-in)
Virgin: The Untouched History by Hanne Blank
(write-in)
I Am An Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler
The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt
(write-in)
H is for Hawk
(write-in)
Kindred - Octavia E. Butler
(write-in)
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
Frida by Hayden Herrera
(write-in)
I Love Dick
House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
(write-in)
The Adventures of Copper Wild
(write-in)
Kicking Butt in Computer Science: Women in Computing at Carnegie Mellon University
(write-in)
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
(write-in)
Ask The Passengers by A.S. King
(write-in)
Second-Hand Time by Svetlana Alexievich
(write-in)
The summer without men
(write-in)
It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War- Lynsey Addario
(write-in)
Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistlestop Cafe
(write-in)
The Kite runner
(write-in)
A Woman by Sibilla Aleramo
(write-in)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland
Desert Flower by Waris Dirie
(write-in)
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
(write-in)
The Creation of Patriarchy
(write-in)
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
(write-in)
Who Stole Feminism?: How Women Have Betrayed Women - Christina Hoff Sommers
A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Christiane F
(write-in)
The Left Hand of Darkness
Spinster by Kate Bolick
(write-in)
Cunt, Inga Musico
(write-in)
All the single ladies by Rebecca Traister
(write-in)
Wild swans
The Awakening
(write-in)
The Vagena by Rhiannon Lucy Cossley and
The Book of Memory, by Petina Gappah
(write-in)
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence, by Inga Muscio
(write-in)
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
Sula by Toni Morrison
(write-in)
A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
I, Bificus
(write-in)
Widows - Ariel Dorfman
(write-in)
Letter To a Child Never Born - Oriana Fallaci
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
(write-in)
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
(write-in)
Game-Faint Signals by Alice N. York
(write-in)
How to Suppress Women's Writing - Joanna Russ
When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice
The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
The Oldest Soul - Animus by Tiffany FitzHenry
(write-in)
Princess Sultana's daughters by Jean Sasson
(write-in)
Mama's Girl by Veronica Chambers
(write-in)
The House of Hidden Mothers - Meera Syal
Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo
(write-in)
Hats and Eyeglasses, by Martha Frankel
(write-in)
A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout
The Shaded Side by Janet M Brown
(write-in)
Vaddey Ratner - In The Shadow Of The Banyan
(write-in)
It's Okay to Laugh: (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmort
(write-in)
The evolution of Calpurnia Tate
The Whole Woman - Germaine Greer
A Woman of Independemt Means
(write-in)
Egalia's Daughters: A Satire of the Sexes by Gerd Brantenberg
(write-in)
Olympe de Gouges par Catel & Bocquet
(write-in)
The Untold Tale by J.M. Frey
In the Beginning, She Was by Luce Irigaray
(write-in)
Trail of Broken Wings by Sejal Badani
(write-in)
fast forward by melanne verveer and kim k. azzarelli
(write-in)
The Sisters are Alright
(write-in)
Why does E=mc^2?
It'll Feel Better when it Quits Hurting
(write-in)
The Breadwinner by Doriah elis
(write-in)
Mighty be our powers by Leymah Gbowee
(write-in)
Paralian - Not Just Transgender
(write-in)
Hanya Yanagihara - A Little Life : A Novel
(write-in)
Double Teenage - Joni Murphy
(write-in)
How to be Both
(write-in)
strayed
(write-in)
Love Sick by Cory Martin
(write-in)
Dietland by Sarai Walker
(write-in)
Moral Infidelity
(write-in)
Angela Davis: An Autobiography
Lynda La Plante - Twisted
for one more day
Jailbreaking the Goddess: A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality
(write-in)
Emel Akal - Kızıl Feministler
Stalin's Cows by Sofi Oksanen
La Question Du Hijab
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo
(write-in)
The Stargazer's Sister by Carrie Brown
(write-in)
7762 total votes
Poll added by: Emma
This Poll is About
Books:
Comments Showing 51-100 of 102 (102 new)
I understand why she is asking for everyone's help that was so hard...
I love a good poll, but WAY TOO MANY CHOICES! :o
Anna Karenina is the book I've been trying to read lately and having it as the book of the month would really motivate me to get on it!
I'd really love Asking for It by Louise O'Neill to be considered. Particularly with the climate in the U.S. regarding the Stanford Rape case, it would be good to read a novel that goes with it.
Tiaan wrote: "A male author? It probably won't be chosen, but at least the option is actually there..."A male author shouldn't deter you from reading a book. You could be missing out on a great book!
I don't think anyone said this? Lots of people read mostly or only male authors without noticing.the poster just speculated that the book with the male author won't be chosen... though idk, given that it's JKR's pseudonym ;)
(there are also male authors among the recs, obviously)
Thanks beautiful Emma , you did great by adding poll and giving us opportunity to vote for these all amazing books. So, I've voted for one book as it reminded me about my lovely mom by looking it's cover and soon I will buy it.
"We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,that's what I chose, because I can really recommend it! The essay is a strong manifesto and the best introduction to the new wave of feminism I could have imagined. I wish we had it on the SharedShelf sooner! It's also a very quick read - took me only 2 hours.
I'm a blogger for Huffington Post, and my mini bio says, "Author, blogger, feminist who writes to empower women." I've been a feminist for 45 years, and was a teenager when I read Betty Frieden's THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE. This 50-year-old but still relevant book is a feminist bible of sorts for all women, but especially for young women. You will realize how far we've come, but also realize that we are in grave danger of returning to those days of "women submit to your husbands"...and adapt it to the present with, "women submit to your politicians." Get involved! Vote, and spread the word. We're powerful, and getting stronger!
I did Half The Sky in school 2 years ago, it's extremely eye-opening and moving and addresses a wide variety of issues, all of which are very important, it'd be interesting to see everyone's opinions :)
Hi! I'm not entirely sure I'm in the right space but I would like to suggest adding another book to this poll or to the next one. I haven't read it yet but it seems both interesting and fun: Men explain things to me by Rebecca Solnit.
Alda wrote: "...I haven't read it yet but it seems both interesting and fun: Men explain things to meIt's very very good. I definitely recommend it. The audio version is quite good too. I don't know if others had the same experience with Men Explain Things to me, but I found I needed a conversation partner with it. It's not very long, but it seems like every sentence packs a punch, so every few pages I needed to stop and reflect or talk it over with friends. If you're like me, it will take longer than you think to read it, but it's WELL worth it. You'll laugh, you'll think, and you'll never forget the experience of reading it.
@Rebecca you said the book is great for all women, does this include trans women?I'm not making any judgement of the book, I just think it's really important to avoid saying "all women" if it doesn't include trans women.
as for Lolita, I'd love to discuss it here from a feminist viewpoint. If we read Moran then we may as well pick this apart, although I totally understand if people think it's a waste of opportunity.
No one read . Made by - first hand - second hand .
And there is lefted . End is new start someone say ?
Mostly want do can imagine enough to .
We when arrive that o x is line .
That day will be come ?
No .......
I choose " second hand time "
Hi everyone! Just an advice, hope you don't mind... Isn't it better to limit the choice to a few titles every month? It's impossible to gather informations about any single book and choose
Too many choices in this poll. It would have been easier to make a better-researched decision if there would have been 10, 15 options at most.
I've always wanted to read some Betty Friedan, but there are so many cool choices! Great list.
Midhat wrote: "I'm only 14, I haven't even heard of half of these books; but I think I want to do I Am Malala, although it wasn't in the poll."(i'm 48) me too :-(((
but that's why i'm here (to learn and grow), never too young and (hopefully) never too old LOL :-DDD
Hm - there are several good choices. I'd prefer to read one that I've not read before, so that means Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and I Am Malala are both out. Of the ones pictures, my first choice would probably be either Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity or if we really want to read a book on feminism - I'd suggest:- Alice Walker In Search Of Our Mother's Garden: Womanist Prose
Or really any of the classic feminist novels published during the 1970s.
I would like to add Lihaaf, by Ismat Chugtai
I would like to read some book of George Sand "Indiana" would do te job. Another one, man author, "Le premier siècle après Béatrice" would be, I think, a good read.Enjoy summer for those who are in summer time and winter for the others.
Love
Oranges Are Not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson. It is an interesting book where it highlights that the role of women in society and how society thinks women should be.
I've voted In the Shadow of the Banyan because it's the book I've been seeking to read for quite a while now and I think it's worth getting to know this story.
Picking a book was difficult because based on the summaries they all sound interesting. I wouldn't mind reading which ever book is picked. I chose Are You There God, It's Me Margaret! I admit I have read this book. However, I read it as a child at the age of 11 or 12. Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors. She was the JK Rowling of my childhood. I would love to re-read it from an adult perspective.
Midhat wrote: "I'm only 14, I haven't even heard of half of these books; but I think I want to do I Am Malala, although it wasn't in the poll."Hi, i voted for "I am Malala" as well, and it WAS in the poll, actually. You should Go vote for it now! It's actually twice on the poll, as far as I got to see, but for me it didn't display the book cover. You can still click on the title and it will count as a vote.
Hi guys, hope you all are well! Just wondering, can the books recommended can be any kind of book, e.g. fiction, biography, documentary etc.? Sorry am a newbie so was just wondering how this awesome club worked! Take care xx
There are so many good books listed, it's hard to choose one to vote for! However, I do love the poll idea Emma. :)
Harm wrote: "Wow Emma that's an impressive lineup, since I'm one of the few able to find this poll :) this gives me the power to choose for... Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Sex mixed with religion seems appea..."Yes! I've heard so much praise from literary ladies I respect for Jeanette Winterson, but I've not yet had a chance to read her work. This seems like the perfect opportunity.
Mod
@Emma: You may add any genre of book to the poll as a write-in as long as it's related to our mission of reading books about women, feminism, gender, sexuality, etc.
@Maria: Emma specifically enabled write-ins (in addition to the first nine options that were her own) so that she can hear from all of you. Because this is our first time holding a poll for our book choice, Emma is attempting to get a full picture of what members are interested in reading, so in that sense, she's enabling write-ins so that people vote for what they actually want to read. It will inform our future voting process and perhaps inspire Emma's future picks as well! In any case, your input is valuable, and we will certainly take it into consideration when organizing our next vote, whether it's for Sept/Oct or a future choice.
I hope that answers your questions :)
So many great books to choose from and more than half I've never heard of or read. I copied the book list so I can do some reading on my own... very excited about this :)
I vote We Need New Names. It sounds modern and like it represents issues currently present in our society.I strongly disliked Anna Karenina when I read it and did not see it as a feminist novel AT ALL. Anna, in my opinion, is an obnoxious, selfish character who does nothing to present women in a positive or empowering light. I know many people feel differently so everyone should decide for themselves but I do not think it is a good choice for the purpose of Our Shared Shelf.
I think everyone should read I Am Malala because it is amazing but since The Persepolis was just read and they are similar in being memoirs and telling of oppression by their governments (at different times and in different countries), it may be nice to switch gears a little bit.
There are so many great choices though!
While I know it may limit us from some amazing books, can we please try to get books that are available digitally! This will allow moee peoplento access it in case libraries get backed up.
Nicole wrote: "I've read a few of these and actually picked We Need New Names BECAUSE I've read it. It was beautifully written and I feel it deserves much more exposure. The treatment of immigrants in many areas ..."I voted for We need new names for same reasons.
I wish we could have chosen 3 - the list is so long and there are so many good titles!
I think some poetry would be great :) Rupi Kaur milk and honey is divine <3
These all sound so good. It was hard to pick and vote for just one. I read Half The Sky a few years ago and it was an excellent book. Whether it gets picked for this coming month or not I would definitely recommend it to read.
In the poll, I clicked on a listing that did not have an image, and I would up here. Did that count as a vote? If you have not read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, I strongly recommend it. It's a really amazing view into a world we only hear bits and pieces about, and her voice is very compelling. She's an impressive woman.
Mod
If you see the message: "The results of this poll have been hidden until Jun 30, 2016 11:59PM PDT." instead of the poll after casting the vote, that means it successfully went through!
Maybe I missed this in the list but I strongly recommend "Angela Davis: An Autobiography". A brilliant story and one that is truly inspiring.
It is Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl! Looks like an interesting read to me. :-)
I just can't believe Anna Karenina is considered by someone a feminist novel :((( People, it was written by Tolstoy, who was mysoginist and abused his wife, and who reflected his sexist views in all his novels, including Anna Karenina. Why the heck do we need this book here????
Dang it, I was hoping for something that's not an autobiography or memoir.
I've read Carrie's book already, but I'm stoked to see what everyone else thinks! Such a talented, inspirational woman!
Memoir of a Cashier: Korean Americans, Racism, and RiotsI would like to recommend Memoir of a Cashier by Carol Park.
The author tells such a strong and captivating story about her experience as a Korean American during the 1992 Riots in Los Angeles.
I believe more people should read this book to better understand cultural gaps and to have an insight of what it feels to be trapped in a world of racism and violence.
Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.
Hope you enjoy it!
Sofia wrote: "Memoir of a Cashier: Korean Americans, Racism, and RiotsI would like to recommend Memoir of a Cashier by Carol Park.
"
We're at the mercy of Emma Watson now, polls are off. But I must say I did not like the endless discussions about what would be a good book for this bookclub, so I'm happy to leave it to someone who actually has a degree in English literature.
I love having 2 months, but this also makes each individual choice more important. I really hope there won't be any (modern) anti-intersectional books like the one by Moran.
BTW, I hope it's not against the rules, but it's possible to click change your vote several times and submit a few books. I've submitted three. Your vote will count for only one book of course, but there's the hope that other people will vote for it :)