Nominations for autumn/spring group reads

[Alexa]

We've currently got books lined up to read through August. Let's see if we can pull together some nominations for the next three months, September, October, November (autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere).

So what would you like to read!

[El]

I've been meaning to read Joanna Russ's The Female Man for a while now - a feminist science fiction novel from the 1970s. I'll toss that out there for a fiction nomination.

For non-fiction, I've been meaning to read Audre Lorde's Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, which I understand to be an autobiography, right? I saw someone mention it in another thread around here, and it put it back to the front of my mind.

[Alexa]

Oh, those both look like great nominations! Thanks!

[Taylor]

I just read Zami and thought it was excellent. I second that nomination!

[Alexa]

What else? Bring on your nominations, your possibilities, your I've-been-meaning-to-get-to-thats. The more, the merrier!

[Alexa]

On Understanding Women
A Short History of Women

One's a novel, one's actual history!

[Kayla]

"Breasts a natural and unnatural history" by Florence Williams is such a great book. Until you read this book you have no idea what danger our breasts are really in and face every day. I recommend this to every one, female and male for a greater appreciation of the most sensitive human organ.

[Alexa]

Anybody up for Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

[Taylor]

I also read Why Be Happy recently and thought it was great. It would go along nicely with the discussion on Oranges as WBH is like the real life version of Oranges ha

[Linda]

Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

[Alexa]

Thanks, that looks like a great possibility!

[Alexa]

I would also really like to read Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution.

And I think I should add in The Bone Doll's Twin which came up in discussion in another thread.

[Vernice]

I'm currently reading Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny and I really want to recommend it for this group! It's not what you would expect, and a great feminist read.

[Alexa]

Thanks for the recommendation Vernice!

[Alexa]

We've got some great nominations here! Since the plan is to fill the next three months with these, a few more might still be a good idea. We particularly need a few more fiction recommendations. What feminist fiction have you run across, been intrigued by, been thinking you want to read?

[El]

I would like to re-read Alice Walker's The Color Purple. I wasn't sure if you guys had read that previously or not, but if not then I'd recommend that one.

[Alexa]

Thanks El, that's a great recommendation! We've never read The Color Purple as a group, although it is sitting on our bookshelves as a possible to-read. There are actually a lot of great books sitting there in the to-read category - if anyone wants to browse through there for some more nominations that would be fantastic!

[Ann]

I'd like to nominate Equal Means Equal by Jessica Neuwirth. A documentary by Kamala Lopez of the same name is due to be released (soon, I hope!). A great resource with a wealth of information about why the time for the Equal Rights Amendment is NOW!

[Alexa]

Thanks so much for the recommendation, Ann!

[Stef]

The Swan Book was wxcellent but very, very sad.

I am planning on reading: Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins and Nights at the Circus both of which are supposed to have feminist content.

Last year I read a few feminist books such as The Summer We Got Free Pirates! As We Are Now The World Unseen and Playing My Mother's Blues

Recent ones with feminist content were The Help and The Quality of Silence

As far as my recommendations go, I don't think feminism is always the main point of the book, but it is there with no great stretch of the brain.

[Alexa]

Thanks Stef! Oh goody, I think we're actually approaching a full slate now!

[Stef]

:)

[Alexa]

The non-fiction poll is up! Come vote!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/1...

[Alexa]

The original plan was to take the top three vote-getters in the poll for our three autumn non-fiction reads. Right now though there are four clear front-runners, so we may be getting four books out of this poll. Remember, if your first choice doesn't seem to have much chance at this point, you're always allowed (in fact encouraged!) to go back and change your vote - the goal is that everyone will be happy with our next three (or four) months of group reads!

[Alexa]

And the fiction poll is now up too! Come vote again! https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

And if you haven't yet voted in the non-fiction poll, it will be open for one more day: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

[Taylor]

Look at all the voters!! Woohoo!

[Alexa]

And the votes are in! We've now got selections through the end of the year!

This is the line-up for nonfiction:
September - Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
October - Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History
November - Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
December - Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

And for fiction:
September - The Color Purple
October - How to Build a Girl
November - The Female Man
December - A Short History of Women

Thanks everybody for voting - it looks like we've got a fantastic line-up here!!!

[El]

Wow, thanks, Alexa! Looks like a great few months coming up!

[Alexa]

Yep, I'm excited!