14 Books Every Woman Should Read

A must-read book list is a pretty bold statement. There are so many great books out there. And so many people have books they would call “must reads.” I believe that’s because books touch us all in different ways, make us think about things in different ways and make us see the world in different ways.

These books are the ones that have touched me and made me see things differently.  They are books by and about strong women who have lived through hard times and whose strength have made their own and the lives of the people around them, better.  I have loved all of these books for different reasons, but each of them have affected me in some way and made me want to be better. I hope that in reading them, you will find yourself positively affected, too.

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#1 – Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner

This is the story of Lyman Ward, a former professor, now wheel-chair bound, and his quest to learn more about his family’s past, particularly, his grandparents, Susan and Oliver.  Susan came from a wealthy eastern family, but when she married Oliver, she followed him west when the west was still wild. This is a story of a strong woman, bound by her love for family and her determination to settle in an untamed wilderness.

#2 – Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

Delia Grinstead has a beautiful home, a husband who is a doctor, three almost-grown children, and a life that seems to have lost all meaning.  On a trip to the seaside with her family, Delia excuses herself to go on a walk along the shore. And she keeps walking. Once out of sight, she grabs a ride to the next nearest town with only her bathing suit, beach bag and $500 to her name.  Delia begins a new life in this new town and she begins her search for herself. This is a story for women who have fantasized about leaving everything behind and starting over.

#3 – The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

This book tells the story of the women of biblical times, specifically the wives of Jacob from the Old Testament, Leah,  Rachael, Zilpah and Bilhah. The story is told from Leah’s daughter, Dinah’s point of view. Dinah allows us to see what the bible doesn’t delve into, what life was like as a woman in those times, how women were seen and treated in the world and how their strong bonds helped them navigate their brutal world together.  

#4 – The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Edna is a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, who tries to rediscover herself and rekindle a passion for life.  She meets and falls in love with another man and finds another kind of passion as well. This was shocking to readers at the time the book was written, 1899.  An unfaithful woman? But Chopin’s beautiful writing gives us a look into a strong woman, hindered by society’s expectations, searching for some happiness. The story ends sadly, but the power of the writing lives on.

#5 – A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Francie Nolan is a young girl living in a tenement in Brooklyn in the early 1900s.  Her father, Johnny Dolan, was creative and fun and taught Francie everything she needed to know about politics and the ways of the world.  Unfortunately, he was also an alcoholic who couldn’t support his family. Katie Dolan, Francie’s mom, was a harsh woman, who struggled on her own to keep food on the table, and to make sure that her children’s life would be better than her own.  She instilled a love of reading in Francie, whose goal it was to read a book a day. This is a young girl’s interesting coming of age story that juxtaposes the harsh realities of poverty, with the beauty of the simpler things in life.

#6 – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skoot

Henrietta Lacks was a poor, black woman diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early 1950s.  Unfortunately, she died from the disease. She lived on, however, through her cells, which her doctors kept alive for the purpose of medical study.  These cells were replicated many times over and were of untold value to the study of many different diseases. This is a wonderful and noble thing, however the doctors never told her they had done they had taken those cells, and her family continued to live in poverty as the medical field grew rich off of Henrietta’s legacy.  This is an interesting look into medical ethics and how one woman could make a difference in so many lives.

#7 – The Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes

Shonda Rhimes is the author and producer of popular television shows such as Gray’s Anatomy and Scandal.  She is AH-MAZ-ING. But even though she is THE Shonda Rhimes, this book shows us that she still is still human and feels fear of doing new things like all of us do.   This book tells about one year of her life when she decided not to let opportunities go because she was nervous about it or thought that she couldn’t do it. She vowed that she would say “Yes” to all new and exciting things that came her way.  It’s an inspiration to all woman to live life to its fullest.

#8 – Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg

Sheryl Sandburg, COO of Facebook, writes that although things have improved in the corporate field for women, we still have a long way to go to achieve true equality.  She asserts that we have to “lean in” to help and support each other, and expect that our spouses will lean in to help at home more. Part of this is on us, as women are less likely to put themselves out there for a promotion, or to ask for a raise.  The fault of inequality is not on any one group of people. It is everyone’s responsibility to be sensitive to the subtle gender bias that holds us all back and work together to find the answers.

#9 – Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

This book is on about 10 different lists for me because it is one of my all time favorite books.  The narrator of the book is a nameless, mousey woman who falls in love with a wealthy and influential man with dark secrets and moods.  What I love about this book, is how the narrator overcomes her insecurities about the first wife, Rebecca, and how she establishes herself as her own person, strong and stable in the face of a family maelstrom.  

#10 – Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This is the story of Marilyn and James, two people that meet and fall in love, but find that happiness doesn’t necessarily follow. Struggling with their own troubles, they raise their children the best they can, yet find that the same things that caused them to struggle they are now passing on to their children.  And when their daughter ends up missing, they must stick together to find her. And when they do find her, they must confront the sad truth together as well. This is a well-written insight into a troubled family.

#11 – Hunger by Roxane Gay

In this memoir, Roxane exposes her truths to the world.  She lets us know about her trials as an overweight woman in a world that is overly-conscious of appearance.  Her story is touching and real and her writing style draws you in as she describes her thoughts and feelings around body image, self confidence and vulnerability.  She talks about her past, her pain and how she survived cruel violence. This is a must read for any woman that struggles with body image.

#12 – The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Set in the early sixties, Lily grows up in a house with her abusive father and Rosaleen, their black housekeeper, who is the one person that truly loves her.  One day, Rosaleen is harassed by racists in town. That night, Lily and Rosaleen run away. Without food or water, the two become desperate until they come upon the house of sisters, May, June, and August.  The three sisters take them in and teach Lily about beekeeping, spirituality, and life. This book not only celebrates the close bond of sisterhood but also shows that family isn’t always determined by birth.

#13 – Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Nathan Price, an evangelical minister, brings his wife and four daughters into the jungles of Africa so that he can “save” the souls of the “savages.”  This story shows, from the perspectives of each of the five women, how they saw their lives as missionaries and how they dealt with the harsh realities of life in the Belgian Congo.

#14 – In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Set in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s, this book follows the story of the three Mirabel sisters, who decide that they will become part of the movement against dictator Trujillo.  This is actually based on the true story of these sisters, how they grew up, became involved in the revolution, and then risked their own lives to save their country from the unfair and harsh practices of the government.  These three “butterflies” were eventually found out and murdered for their involvement in this underground movement.

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