8 Thought-Provoking Novels Written By Women
For the most part, female authors have not had it easy in the historically male-dominated literary world, where their voices and stories have often been deemed insignificant. Even with these barriers, women have penned some of the greatest books ever written, and continue to offer terrific and thought-provoking works that stand tall among all literature. Check out the titles listed here for some excellent examples. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
8 Compelling Books By Women
Fay Weldon on Her Generation of Feminists
Inspiring Quotes From Successful Women
| Quote | Source |
|---|---|
| "A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman." | Melinda Gates |
| "I believe that it is as much a right and duty for women to do something with their lives as for men and we are not going to be satisfied with such frivolous parts as you give us." | Louisa May Alcott |
| "One's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results." | Florence Nightingale |
| "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!" | Sojourner Truth |
| "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always." | Oprah Winfrey |
Female Writers Who Changed the World
In Depth
Since ancient Greek times, women have been known to author groundbreaking books on a variety of subjects. The 21st Century has proven no different, as females have not slowed down when it comes to writing paradigm-shifting work that has the potential to change the world. In no particular order, the following are 8 women-authored novels that are sure to spark a conversation.
First up at #1 is Isolation Junction by Jennifer Gilmour. This novel details the emotional abuse that one woman endured before finding the confidence to regain her independence. This is a very common situation many people find themselves in but which few gather the strength to talk about. Isolation Junction takes the reader on a journey through the emotional rollercoaster of domestic abuse while seeking to embolden others to speak out.
Born in Yorkshire, England, Jennifer Gilmour is a married mother of three. A passionate advocate for women in abusive relationships, she has amalgamated stories from other survivors alongside her own personal experiences to write Isolation Junction. The book was written in hopes of raising awareness of this often hidden and unseen circumstance that many women face, and to empower those in need to seek help and change their paths.
Born in Yorkshire, England, Jennifer Gilmour is a married mother of three.
Next up at #2 is Before the War by Fay Weldon. This is her most recently published book about how looks and appearances can dictate our destiny. This is a subject most women can relate to and have most likely encountered. More specifically, the novel is about how the author feels that in life pretty girls flourish while plain girls do not, and the problems that stem from this fact. The book also touches on the subject of international tensions and how they mirror family dysfunction.
Fay Weldon was born in 1931 and has been writing fiction for over five decades. She has written 34 novels, numerous television dramas, several radio plays, five full length stage plays and several collections of short stories. On her spare time, Fay works as a professor teaching creative writing at Bath Spa University.
#3 on the list is Speaking of Summer by Kalisha Buckhanon. A literary thriller about one woman who desperately searches for her missing twin sister, Speaking of Summer is a multi-layered mystery set against the neighborhood of Harlem. With this latest book release, the critically acclaimed author has created a postmodern, fast-paced story of urban peril and victim invisibility, and the complicated truths at the heart of every family. The novel pulls readers into a quest for answers and justice, shedding light on the reality of struggles that females face in America and their arduous task of survival.
The novel pulls readers into a quest for answers and justice, shedding light on the reality of struggles that females face in America and their arduous task of survival.
Kalisha Buckhanon is a writer, speaker and commentator creating stories and media on the subject of African-American life, women, love, and justice. She was born in Kankakee, Illinois, and attended the College at University of Chicago, The New School M.F.A. Creative Writing Program and University of Chicago's English PhD program. Speaking of Summer is a 2019 book pick of Essence, O Magazine, TIME, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, to name a few.
Next up at #4 we have Worry by Jessica Westhead. The novel is about an overly protective mother of a precocious young child as they visit a family cottage belonging to a lifelong friend. A complicated past is revealed through flashbacks and heartbreaking third-person accounts that slowly unfurl through the book. Worry becomes as much a reflection on adult relationships as it is about a parent desperately wanting to make the best choices for her child. The novel tells an eerie, twist-filled story which dissects the subjects of parenting and relationships in the age of anxiety.
Jessica Westhead's short stories have appeared in major literary magazines including Hazlitt, Five Dials, Room, Maisonneuve, Geist, The New Quarterly, and The Indiana Review. CBC Books has called her one of the "10 Canadian women writers you need to read now". Jessica resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband and daughter.
Jessica Westhead's short stories have appeared in major literary magazines including Hazlitt, Five Dials, Room, Maisonneuve, Geist, The New Quarterly, and The Indiana Review.
Moving on to #5 is the novel entitled Eternal Truth: The Tunnel Of Light. It is the tenth book by globally recognized spirituality thinker, Ann Marie Ruby. As an author, blogger and influencer, Ann Marie Ruby has been named as one of the top leaders in the spiritual space resulting in collaborations with numerous public figures, films, and brands. Her books have been hailed by readers all over the world.
A dream reader, psychic and leader in the spiritual space, Ann Marie Ruby frequently receives questions regarding the mysteries of life. These inquiries mainly focus on the topics of the birth, death, reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, miracles, and the end of time. With religious, scientific, and spiritual evidence, Ann Marie Ruby now brings answers to the mysteries of life in Eternal Truth: The Tunnel Of Light.
#6 on our list is Until I Find You by celebrated author Rea Frey. Her newest novel is an explosive, emotional, taut domestic drama about the powerful bond between mothers and their children and how far one woman will go to bring her son home. The story revolves around a blind woman who finds a strange child in her son's crib whom she does not recognize. While dealing with the police who think she is confused and her friends who do not believe her, the protagonist of the story must rely on the conviction of her instinct and intrinsic power of a mother's love.
While dealing with the police who think she is confused and her friends who do not believe her, the protagonist of the story must rely on the conviction of her instinct and intrinsic power of a mother's love.
Rea Frey went to Columbia University in New York City to study fiction and then abandoned it for journalistic pursuits. After working on several death row cases, she found herself with an insatiable desire to write fiction. She published her first novel in 2019.
Kate Mildenhall is the author of #7 on our list, Skylarking. A writer and teacher who resides on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, Kate has taught in many schools and volunteered with Teachers Across Borders in Cambodia. Her debut novel was published in Australia by Black Inc. in 2016 and in the UK by Legend Press in 2017. Skylarking was listed for the Voss Literary Prize and the Indie Book Awards the following year.
Inspired by a true story, Skylarking is a novel about friendship, love, loss, what it means to remember and how tempting it is to forget. The novel centers around two best friends, Kate and Harriet, who are growing up together on an isolated Australian cape in the 1880s. As daughters of the lighthouse keepers, the two girls share everything, until a fisherman arrives in their small community. When Kate witnesses the desire that flares between him and Harriet, she is torn by her feelings of envy and longing. The book deals with themes of jealousy, friendship, loyalty and regret.
The novel centers around two best friends, Kate and Harriet, who are growing up together on an isolated Australian cape in the 1880s.
Last but not least, #8 is Smash All the Windows. Written with immediacy, style and a sense of empathy, the story focuses on the injustices served to the families of the victims of a fictional disaster. It touches on how such a wrongdoing can affect the wellbeing of generations to come. The novel illuminates the fact that it takes courage and conviction to stand up and right the wrongs of history.
Jane Davis is the acclaimed author of eight novels from Carshalton, Surrey. Smash All the Windows, her latest, is inspired by the aftermath of a public tragedy and its lengthy mishandling. Tapping into the issues of the day, Davis offers a highly charged work of metafiction, a compelling testament to the human condition and the healing power of art.
