International Women’s Day: Our Favourite Female Reads

Melissa Surgey

International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked around the world on Monday 8^th March. It is both a global day of celebration of the achievements and contributions of women in all aspects of society, and a call to action to accelerate gender equality.

Celebrations this year are noticeably different as many of us are unable to gather with our friends, family members, and colleagues. IWD also coincides with us reaching almost a year since the UK went into a national lockdown as a result of the Covid pandemic. The last 12 months have comprised of a series of events unimaginable by any of us, and the impact of Covid has been felt greatly by women around the world. The United Nations forecasts that Covid may set gender equality efforts back decades. Women are more likely to work in insecure jobs or industries detrimentally impacted by the pandemic, such as hospitality. At the same time, unpaid care work has increased, with women taking on an even larger proportion of childcare and caring for relatives and friends whose health needs may have increased or have limited access to health and care services and support. Gender-based violence has increased exponentially around the world in the last 12 months due to women being ‘locked down’ with abusers whilst also being able to access previously safe spaces and support services. These issues are experienced even more intensely by ethnic minority women and disabled women, who are at greater risk of financial difficulty, ill-health, and social isolation. Finally, we must not overlook that the health and care workforce – both on the frontline caring for the public and behind the scenes supporting the delivery of care – is overwhelming female-dominated, with 77% of NHS and 80% of adult social care jobs occupied by women.

To mark IWD within the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, we have crowdsourced a reading list of staff and students’ favourite books by women. Reading has been a great source of solace for many of us during lockdown. For some, books have been a gateway to destinations we currently visit. Others have relied on literature to expand our knowledge and understanding of social, political and cultural issues. Sometimes we’ve all needed a few hundred pages of something light-hearted, poignant or uplifting to soothe the soul. Our list includes a diverse range of books and genres from women of many different walks of life. There are cult status novels, childhood favourites and lesser-known discoveries. We hope you find something new or re-discover an old favourite to give yourself a break from reality for a few moments. Thank you to everyone who contributed!

Our Favourite Female Reads (listed alphabetically by author surname)

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Nominated by Melissa Surgey: ‘Americanah has cult status in my all-female book club. It tells the story of two young friends and lovers who leave military-ruled Nigeria for very different lives in America and London and are later reunited. It’s a sharp, multi-layered saga addressing race, immigration, status, and relationships and sparked my interest in reading other authors of African heritage such as Oyinkan Braithwaite, Abi Daré, and Yaa Gyasi’

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Nominated by Anna Coleman: ‘Her observations are sensitive and portray a reality of life for women in Africa. Touches on domestic violence and religious fundamentalism. Better known for her novel Half of a Yellow Sun.’

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Nominated by Melissa Surgey: ‘A dystopian thriller that reads like the other side of The Handmaid’s Tale. Women develop the ability to be physically stronger than men through a physiological anomaly that allows them to administer electric shocks at the flick of their fingers. This turns the balance of power – both physical and social – on its head with men experiencing the oppression women previously were under. A brilliant exploration of gender politics, power and influence’.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Nominated by Charlotte Mellor: ‘For me, this is a book which lives up to all of the expectations which come with being a classic. A staple bookshelf classic which I regret putting off reading for so long.’

All That Remains by Sue Black

Nominated by Charlotte Mellor: ‘I could not put this down. Professor Sue Black tells her story in the most compelling and sensitive way which made me even more interested in forensic anthropology.’

Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume

Nominated by Laura Mackay: ‘My all-time favourite book. It was written in the 60s (I think), so even more dated now than it was when I first read it in the 90s but still captures that anxious, exciting time for girls in that final year of primary school – friendships, periods, first bras, first kiss…such a wonderful book.’

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Nominated by Maureen Glendinning: ‘Wuthering Heights is in particular my go to, well-thumbed book. I’ve read it a hundred times and can’t get enough of it! I like the dark, thrilling (but not too scary) mystery which both authors [Bronte and Daphne Du Maurier] inject into their writing.’

Brene Brown’s books

Nominated by Laura Mackay: ‘My idol! From her own website: ‘Researcher. Storyteller. Texan. Courage is contagious. Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver.’ I’m currently reading I Thought It Was Just Me. But It Isn’t which is brilliant. I think she is perhaps better known for Daring Greatly which is about the imposter syndrome.’

Mindfulness for Health: a practical guide for relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring wellbeing by Vidyamala Burch

Nominated by Kimberley Fowler: ‘It’s one of my favourite books for learning about mindfulness and really helped me to see mindfulness as a great tool for my chronic pain. It’s a really interesting and engaging read but also includes references to peer reviewed journals to provide evidence for the practice.’

Cheer Up Love by Susan Calman

Nominated by Charlotte Mellor: ‘Sometimes a book is needed which will be honest, hilarious and helpful all in one. This book is that. One of the best memoirs I’ve read.’

Tales From The Heart: True Stories from My Childhood by Maryse Condé

Nominated by Isabel Adeyemi: ‘It is difficult to select only one book by Maryse Condé. She has written so many memorable books for example: ‘I, Tituba’, ‘Segu’, and ‘The Belle Créole’. Her books explore racial, gender and cultural issues. I selected this book because it is a good starting point for an introduction to this remarkable author. In this autobiographical book, the author writes about her upbringing in Guadeloupe, about finding your identity and your place in the world.’

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Nominated by Caroline Sutcliffe: ‘I’ve read lots of fiction in lockdown and this was by far my favourite book from last year. There is so much humour in the book despite its quite emotional and dark storyline – that does have a happy ending! Definitely one book I’ll keep and re-read.’

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

Nominated by Isobel Heyworth: ‘The power and strength of three generations of women in a family writ large on a backdrop of fascinating Chinese history but told ‘from the kitchen table’ rather than dry politics. Informative, emotional, unputdownable from beginning to end.’

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Nominated by Jon Hammond: ‘A fantasy story set in an alternate early 19^th Century England concerned with the destructive endeavours of two men to revive English magic. Written in a richly detailed, Austen-esque style, the book explores the role of marginalised groups in a society oppressing them in service to the solidification of nationalist identity.’

Happy by Fearne Cotton

Nominated by Kimberley Fowler: ‘I was a little sceptical at first, with it being written by a ‘celebrity’ but it really delves deep into understanding happiness and I feel it would really resonate with a lot of people especially at this difficult time! It’s also really good at helping to break the taboo around mental health.’

Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez

Nominated by Katie Williams: ‘I’m reading it at the moment, and as a woman in the world of science/data it holds a great wealth of information and statistics about the gender biases present still in modern society and gives interesting insights into gender biases I hadn’t even considered.’

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Nominated by Kerry Hozhabrafkan: ‘I first read this book as a trainee midwife and was so inspired by such a powerful story of women finding strength in one other through the shared experiences of childbirth, loss and oppression. This re-casting of a well-known bible story through the eyes of a woman is gripping in both its beauty and tragedy.’

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr Edith Eger

Nominated by Isobel Heyworth: ‘Impossibly uplifting and emotional autobiography of Dr Eger a psychologist and Holocaust survivor of her journey through the concentration camps and to America.’

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Nominated by Liz Dalgarno: ‘Utterly liberating and a must read for any young woman. It intertwines folk stories / legend / myth with the modern experience of life and while further progress has been made, the book is still very relevant.’

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Nominated by Jennifer Chileshe: ‘A novel based on facts, in the early 17th century women are living independently on an island of Vardø until men decide to put a stop on it.’

The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig

Nominated by Maureen Glendinning: ‘The book that most influenced me at a very early age (my mother read this to me and my sisters – one book amongst many), has to be The Endless Steppe, by Esther Hautzig. I think I may have been a bit young when my mother read it to me (fine balance with two older sisters to entertain too), but it left a lasting impression on me.’

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Nominated by Laura Mackay: ‘One of my favourite books in recent times Very funny, but deeply moving. It’s a book about loneliness and kindness and warmth. I’ve nominated this novel because it tackles some important subjects and does so with warmth and humour. This book changed the way I react to others, and has (I think/hope) given me a little more patience with, and acceptance for others.’

Shirley Hughes’ books

Nominated by Laura Mackay: ‘She wrote and illustrated some of my favourite childhood books – probably best known for her Alfie and Annie-Rose series. Such beautiful drawings, and simple engaging stories. Just magical.’

The Fifth Season (part of The Broken Earth Trilogy) by NK Jemison

Nominated by Leanne Walker: This is a fantasy fiction novel with a powerful female lead character, written in a unique and conversational writing style. It also deals with topics of bigotry and discrimination. NK Jemison won the Hugo Award for all three books in this series, and it is one of my favourite book series ever written.

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Nominated by Sarah Cotterill: ‘A quote on the back of this book says ‘Utterly gripping…Kingsolver gives her readers two incredible heroines’. The main protagonist is a woman (Willa) who is struggling to keep her family’s heads above water in the present-day US: between them they have to deal with a crumbling family home and no money to renovate; chronic illness without adequate health insurance; precarious work contracts; and grown-up children still living at home. Willa discovers that a pioneering female scientist lived on her street in the past, and there is a fascinating parallel story about the scientist’s work and her correspondence with Charles Darwin.’

Circe by Madeline Miller

Nominated by Naomi Brook: ‘A fascinating, feminist reimagining of the Greek myth of Circe; this story spans centuries and incudes encounters with many of the more famous gods and heroes. Madeline Miller succeeds in making these larger-than-life deities feel like real and sympathetic people and gives a particular insight into the lives and desires of the female characters who are often presented as one dimensional in other retellings.’

Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell

Nominated by Nic Small: ‘A lived experience account of being diagnosed and living with dementia. During lockdown, I bought this book to read as my gran has dementia and is living in a care home not too far away from me. I found out about it as I follow Wendy on Twitter for her lived experience public contributor work. I found her book extremely helpful and insightful to understand how I might more meaningfully connect with my gran during the pandemic, and beyond.’

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Nominated by Maureen Glendinning: ‘A book that was very close to my heart in my late teens, early 20’s was one that I keep to this day. The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath. I was introduced to Sylvia Plath by my A level English teacher, in English Lit. We read some of Sylvia’s poetry, which sparked my interest in reading more. I felt an affinity with the character and this book helped me be more independent and free spirited.’

Tamed by Alice Roberts

Nominated by Kimberley Fowler: ‘This is wonderfully written and explores 10 species that changed our world – I’m really enjoying it so far but haven’t read enough for much more of a review than that!’

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Nominated by Nic Small: ‘One of my friends posted me this book to read after a bad break-up with my long-term partner at the end of my PhD a good few years ago. The complex story really helped me all of that into perspective as it is written with a psychological narrative, which appealed to the lapsed psychologist in me, and is beautifully written.’

Primeval and Other Times by Olga Tokarczuk

Nominated by Jennifer Chileshe: ‘Tokarczuk is the Nobel Prize Winner for Literature in 2018 (awarded in 2019). Her novel is about ordinary people who try to keep calm and carry on in extraordinary times. It spans across several decades and nations (Poles, Ukrainians, Russians, Germans). Some of the characters are women who have to find their own way in challenging, as ever, circumstances.’

The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson

Nominated by Melissa Surgey: This is one of the few books I can remember reading with my late dad (who hated reading) as we got a kick out of shouting Tracy’s catchphrase ‘bog off’ at bedtime! It’s the first time I remember being acutely aware of children with different upbringings to me and all Wilson’s books handle many complex issues such as mental health, abuse, and different family set-ups in an accessible but very real way. As an adult, Tracy Beaker feels even more poignant after finding out that Wilson (who herself is gay) intended to write one of the lead characters as a gay woman but couldn’t due to Section 28 which would have made the book inaccessible to many children in schools and libraries.’

The Passion by Jeanette Winterson

Nominated by Clare Huish: ‘Contains one of my favourite quotes: “I was happy but happy is an adult word. You don’t have to ask a child about being happy, you see it. They are or they are not. Adults talk about being happy because largely they are not. Talking about it is the same as trying to catch the wind. Much easier to let it blow all over you…”’

Honourable mentions

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood