Women’s History Book Tag

Hi everyone! I am back with another book tag. Unfortunately, I was unable to post a book tag last month, thus, ending my streak of posting at least one book tag. The last time I was unable to post a book tag was back in November 2018. I didn’t realize that my streak has been that long. Nevertheless, I am restarting a new streak with the Women’s History Book Tag.

I came across this book tag through its creator, Margaret @ Weird Zeal. I found this book tag interesting and it also aligns with this month’s theme, which is Women’s History Month. March 8 is also known as International Women’s Day. It is for this reason that I have been reading works written by female writers for this month. Without more ado, here’s the Women’s History Book Tag.

Rules

• Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post.
• Link to the creator’s blog in your post
• Answer the questions below using only books written by women
• Feel free to use the same graphics
• Tag 8 others to take part in the tag

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Emma by Jane Austen

Jane Austen is easily one of the most recognized female writers of all time. Her works – like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Northanger Abbey – transcend time and remain seminal parts of literary discussions. She has also created some of the most memorable literary characters like Emma Woodhouse, the heroine in her fourth novel. Emma Woodhouse is the type of character you love to hate and hate to love. She is outspoken. She is self-absorbed. She follows her own set of rules. Above all, her flaws make her an impressionable character, a character who blossomed in a period when women were seen only inside of the houses while the men were outside.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott is another popular female writer. At a young age, she was already exposed to literature as she grew up in the company of esteemed literary figures  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Her writing career began in 1860 when she wrote for Atlantic Monthly. Her first novel was Moods, published n 1864. While Of all her works, Little Women (1868) was, without a doubt, her most critically and commercially successful work. It is the heartwarming story of the March sisters, with Jo, the second-born, narrating their story. Jo, who dreamt of being a writer, was the author’s alter ego.  

A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford

It has been over a decade since I read Barbara Bradford Taylor’s A Woman of Substance and still I can vividly recall details about the book. This is mostly because of the novel’s main character Emma Harte. She was born to a poor family but through sheer determination, she was able to put up her own enterprise. She began from scratch but she managed to singlehandedly build her own empire. Emma Harte’s tenacious and resilient spirit made her one of my most unforgettable literary characters. And yes, I would read the next three books of the series even though she is no longer alive; her spirit lived through her grandchildren.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

One of the writers who have made a deep impression recently was Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She captured me with Half of a Yellow Sun but she consolidated the fanboy in me with Americanah. On the surface, it is the love story of Ifemelu and Obinze but as one digs deeper, the book is an exploration of several subjects such as identity, the African diaspora, and the quintessence of the American dream. All of the novel’s elements were masterfully woven together by Adichie’s lyrical prose.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Honestly, I didn’t have a book in mind that’s why I had to research for a book that can fit the description. Lo and behold, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games was listed by Goodreads as one of the books about female warriors. Now, it is a book I read back in my university days. The news of the movie adaption made me curious about the book. At the heart of the story is the female warrior, Katniss Everdeen, who volunteered in her sister’s stead to represent her district (12) for the annual Hunger Games. I enjoyed the action-packed story although I found the third book of the trilogy a downer.

Unfortunately, I haven’t read any books set in space written by female writers. Interestingly, a quick search showed that most of these books are works of young adult fiction. Hmmm. When I read the description, the first book that came to mind was Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The Little Prince is another book that was considered as a book set in space (but of course, the young prince came from space!). But then again, none of these were written by female writers. Maybe anyone can suggest a good book? Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle Time has been part of my to-be-read list for quite some time.

Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur

My venture into Iranian literature is quite limited but I am happy to say that both books I read were written by women. The first one was Marjane Satrapi’s The Complete Persepolis, which was also my first graphic novel. The second was a book I came across while randomly browsing through an online bookseller’s catalog. The book immediately grabbed my attention. Women Without Men relates the story of four women in contemporary Iran. Female liberation is, of course, a sensitive subject in Iranian society, and this book provides an interesting portrait of it. Her works have been banned by the Iranian government and she is currently residing in the United States as a political refugee.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

At first, I wasn’t too keen on reading Madeline Miller’s debut and Orange Prize-winning novel, The Song of Achilles. This is despite the fact that I love Greek mythology. The book’s title simply wasn’t piquing my interest. However, after having a grand experience with Miller’s second novel, Circe, I decided to give her first book a chance. I am grateful I did. Like Circe, The Song of Achilles is a retelling, not of a major character’s life, but of a minor character’s story. the novel follows the story of Patroclus, Achilles’ trusted friend, and second-in-command. The writing was cruder compared to Circe but it still gave justice to the story of Achilles and Patroclus.

Flights by Olga Tokarczuk

2018 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Olga Tokarczuk has certainly swept me. Prior to her winning the prestigious award, I did not have any iota on who she was. Curious about her body of work, I bought two of her novels before the Philippines went into lockdown back in March 2020. I had reservations about Flights because of the reviews I have read. Nevertheless, I made it part of my 2021 reading journey. Unlike Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, there is no central story in Flights. However, there was a central idea; Flights is not your typical novel. While it can be discombobulating at times, it nevertheless provides a unique reading experience. It is the deserving winner of the 2018 International Booker Prize and of the 2008 Nike Prize in Tokarczuk’s homeland.

Princess Diana (1961–1997)

Circa 1997. I was just seven years old then I can still recall watching the news about Princess Diana’s gruesome accident that led to her death. I barely had any iota on who she was back then. The television was proliferated with news of the world mourning for her. I experienced chills watching how thousands of people gathered, not just in her homeland but across the world, not only to mourn her death but also to celebrate her life. I would learn more about her as I grow up and I can’t help but be inspired by the people’s princess. It was her humility and her grace that made me look up to her.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

For the inspiring story, I have picked Nigerian writer Abi Daré’s debut novel, The Girl With the Louding Voice. It is a gripping tale about how the indomitable courage of a young woman, driven by her dreams, to find her voice and appeal to her inner strengths in order to overcome the disadvantages and challenges thrown her way. Adunni’s story is a story of hope, one that beacons through the darkness sweeping contemporary Nigeria.

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And that’s my version of the Women’s History Book Tag. I hope you liked my answers. As always, I am not going to tag anyone but feel free to do it if it has piqued your fancy as well. Just don’t forget to tag me so that I can check out your answers. Happy reading!