The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont and Manjit Thapp

Title: The Little Book of Feminist Saints

Author: Julia Pierpont and Manjit Thapp

Publisher: Random House 2018

Genre: History; Women's Studies

Pages: 190

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries

In this luminous volume, New York Times bestselling writer Julia Pierpont and artist Manjit Thapp match short, vibrant, and surprising biographies with stunning portraits of secular female “saints”: champions of strength and progress. These women broke ground, broke ceilings, and broke molds—including

Random pick off of the library's new books shelf. I am surprised that I have at least heard of every single woman featured. I did learn more about a few of the women (mostly non-Americans), but overall enjoyed reading each entry. Plus, the illustrations are just beautiful.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen

Title: Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World

Author: Ann Shen

Publisher: Chronicle Books 2016

Genre: Biography

Pages: 222

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd)

Aphra Behn, first female professional writer. Sojourner Truth, activist and abolitionist. Ada Lovelace, first computer programmer. Marie Curie, first woman to win the Nobel Prize. Joan Jett, godmother of punk. The 100 revolutionary women highlighted in this gorgeously illustrated book were bad in the best sense of the word: they challenged the status quo and changed the rules for all who followed. From pirates to artists, warriors, daredevils, scientists, activists, and spies, the accomplishments of these incredible women vary as much as the eras and places in which they effected change. Featuring bold watercolor portraits and illuminating essays by Ann Shen, Bad Girls Throughout History is a distinctive, worthy tribute.

An awesome collection of short biographies of extraordinary women throughout history. I knew the stories of most of the women featured, but it was still a joy to read about their lives. And I even learned about some women I hadn't known before. On top of the great biographies, the beautiful watercolor portraits are a joy to behold. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

No Turning Back by Estelle Freedman

Title: No Turning Back

Author: Estelle Freedman

Publisher: Ballantine Books 2002

Genre: Nonfiction - Women's Studies

Pages: 446

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W40

Repeatedly declared dead by the media, the women’s movement has never been as vibrant as it is today. Indeed as Stanford professor and award-winning author Estelle B. Freedman argues in her compelling new book, feminism has reached a critical momentum from which there is no turning back. A truly global movement, as vital and dynamic in the developing world as it is in the West, feminism has helped women achieve authority in politics, sports, and business, and has mobilized public concern for once-taboo issues like rape, domestic violence, and breast cancer. And yet much work remains before women attain real equality. In this fascinating book, Freedman examines the historical forces that have fueled the feminist movement over the past two hundred years–and explores how women today are looking to feminism for new approaches to issues of work, family, sexuality, and creativity.

This amazing book was our first book club selection for the South Bay Feminist Book Club.  I was excited to revisit a book that was written, published, and read back in my college years. And a reread did not disappoint.  Freedman lays out an extensive argument for feminism in the history of the United States and the world.  Each chapter focuses on a aspect of history from race to politics.  I warn you that this book is dense.  Freedman packs it full of information and theories of feminism.  A very enjoyable and through-provoking read.  I can't wait to discuss it with others next week.

Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel

Title: Bachelor Girl: 100 Years of Breaking the Rules -- a Social History of Living Single

Author: Betsy Israel

Publisher: Perennial 2002

Genre: Nonfiction -- Women's Studies; Cultural Studies

Pages: 294

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy Nonfiction -- Cultural Affairs; Mount TBR; Dusty Bookshelf; Nonfiction Adventure

How I Got It: I own it!

Drawing extensively on primary sources, including private journals, newspaper stories, magazine articles, advertisements, films, and other materials from popular media, Israel paints remarkably vivid portraits of single women -- and the way they were perceived -- throughout the decades. From the nineteenth-century spinsters, of New England to the Bowery girls of New York City, from the 1920s flappers to the 1940s working women of the war years and the career girls of the 1950s and 1960s, single women have fought to find and feel comfortable in that room of their own. One need only look at Bridget Jones and the Sex and the City gang to see that single women still maintain an uneasy relationship with the rest of society -- and yet they radiate an aura of glamour and mystery in popular culture.

One of those books held over from my days as a Women's Studies major.  I always meant to get to the this tome, especially since it dealt with women in U.S. History (my concentration).  Upon finally reading it years later, I can still say that it held my interest.  While some of Israel's "current" references to Sex and the City and Allie McBeal seem very dated in 2013, the meat of the book is a timeless study of the concept of single women in history.  Israel goes era by era to give the reader a clear picture of how our attitudes toward single women have and have not changed.  Being single is still something of a deformity (just ask any single women of 25 how many times they get asked "when are you getting married?") and yet it is such an integral section of society.  I especially loved reading about the various famous examples Israel sprinkles throughout.  For example, Florence Nightingale is a fascinating example of a women with aspirations caught by her familial obligations and expectations.  A very readable look at a complex societal issue.

Click edited by Courtney E. Martin and J. Courtney Sullivan

Title: Click: When We Knew We were Feminists

Edited by: Courtney E. Martin and J. Courtney Sullivan

Publisher: Seal Press 2010

Genre: Nonfiction -- Women's Studies

Pages: 240

Rating:  4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey -- 300s; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Library Loan

When did you know you were a feminist? Whether it happened at school, at work, while watching TV, or reading a book, many of us can point to a particular moment when we knew we were feminists. In Click, editors Courtney E. Martin and J. Courtney Sullivan bring us a range of women—including Jessica Valenti, Amy Richards, Shelby Knox, Winter Miller, and Jennifer Baumgardner—who share stories about how that moment took shape for them.Sometimes emotional, sometimes hilarious, this collection gives young women who already identify with the feminist movement the opportunity to be heard—and it welcomes into the fold those new to the still-developing story of feminism.

This book took me back to to my college women's studies day.  I loved reading about how others found out they are a feminist.  This is more of a feel good book for me.  I really enjoyed the the stories that were a bit more sad.  They seemed to really ring true.  This is a great little introduction to feminism.  Definite read.