Best Feminist Books

This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read. Let me know what books you feel should be added to this list!

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1	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 2,062,424 ratings score: 81,643, and 828 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath 4.06 avg rating — 974,889 ratings score: 48,951, and 501 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 4.15 avg rating — 2,103,739 ratings score: 44,357, and 457 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf 4.21 avg rating — 209,895 ratings score: 42,758, and 439 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir 4.17 avg rating — 41,924 ratings score: 37,454, and 385 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 4.29 avg rating — 4,294,047 ratings score: 33,987, and 354 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.27 avg rating — 690,236 ratings score: 32,344, and 336 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 4.05 avg rating — 86,437 ratings score: 26,099, and 270 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 4.40 avg rating — 294,653 ratings score: 23,166, and 241 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1) by Maya Angelou 4.29 avg rating — 533,718 ratings score: 22,085, and 233 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 3.87 avg rating — 28,477 ratings score: 20,940, and 217 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Vagina Monologues by V (formerly Eve Ensler) 3.87 avg rating — 36,712 ratings score: 19,520, and 204 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Awakening by Kate Chopin 3.68 avg rating — 209,662 ratings score: 18,511, and 194 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 28,720 ratings score: 16,593, and 174 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Beloved by Toni Morrison 3.95 avg rating — 438,754 ratings score: 15,415, and 165 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author) 4.47 avg rating — 2,779,079 ratings score: 15,331, and 162 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.34 avg rating — 8,726,767 ratings score: 14,841, and 157 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 594,901 ratings score: 13,489, and 142 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 3.76 avg rating — 146,292 ratings score: 13,215, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 3.98 avg rating — 349,561 ratings score: 13,155, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks 4.16 avg rating — 24,181 ratings score: 11,959, and 126 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft 3.91 avg rating — 24,615 ratings score: 11,132, and 121 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Red Tent by Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 600,861 ratings score: 10,986, and 117 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 4.31 avg rating — 1,210,554 ratings score: 10,787, and 115 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	Orlando by Virginia Woolf 3.87 avg rating — 94,298 ratings score: 10,285, and 114 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author) 4.43 avg rating — 1,539,874 ratings score: 10,063, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson 4.17 avg rating — 3,197,063 ratings score: 9,951, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 8,102 ratings score: 9,543, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Emma by Jane Austen 4.05 avg rating — 891,257 ratings score: 9,216, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.10 avg rating — 184,090 ratings score: 9,137, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Antigone (The Theban Plays, #3) by Sophocles 3.67 avg rating — 154,803 ratings score: 9,006, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Women, Race & Class by Angela Y. Davis 4.58 avg rating — 28,736 ratings score: 8,991, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 4.39 avg rating — 183,322 ratings score: 8,809, and 96 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Mary Edwards Walker: America's Only Female Medal of Honor Recipient by Ammar Habib (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 7,877 ratings score: 8,800, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.13 avg rating — 206,891 ratings score: 8,763, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity by Judith Butler 4.05 avg rating — 16,674 ratings score: 8,752, and 95 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde 4.53 avg rating — 36,087 ratings score: 8,662, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran 3.72 avg rating — 109,028 ratings score: 8,362, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio 3.89 avg rating — 10,468 ratings score: 8,276, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés 4.13 avg rating — 76,165 ratings score: 7,897, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Yes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape by Jaclyn Friedman (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 5,176 ratings score: 7,755, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden 4.15 avg rating — 2,007,499 ratings score: 7,405, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by bell hooks 4.44 avg rating — 8,027 ratings score: 7,349, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf 3.80 avg rating — 184,914 ratings score: 7,344, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 685,008 ratings score: 7,302, and 81 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	A Vindication of the Rights of Men & A Vindication of the Rights of Woman & An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution by Mary Wollstonecraft 4.02 avg rating — 788 ratings score: 7,189, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman 4.02 avg rating — 1,531,240 ratings score: 7,161, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (Whistle Stop #1) by Fannie Flagg 4.28 avg rating — 307,866 ratings score: 7,018, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 4.15 avg rating — 2,247,392 ratings score: 6,975, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi 4.03 avg rating — 9,047 ratings score: 6,855, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 130,937 ratings score: 6,813, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Kindred by Octavia E. Butler 4.30 avg rating — 221,050 ratings score: 6,786, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2) by Stieg Larsson 4.25 avg rating — 926,253 ratings score: 6,698, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 113,514 ratings score: 6,640, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai 4.15 avg rating — 578,833 ratings score: 6,627, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich 3.65 avg rating — 191,605 ratings score: 6,581, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.34 avg rating — 958,954 ratings score: 6,526, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe L. Moraga (Editor) 4.52 avg rating — 9,430 ratings score: 6,363, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer 3.69 avg rating — 7,119 ratings score: 6,290, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks 4.50 avg rating — 16,412 ratings score: 6,156, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3.43 avg rating — 868,181 ratings score: 6,125, and 71 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century by Boston Women's Health Book Collective 4.37 avg rating — 7,464 ratings score: 5,909, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The V Girl: A Coming of Age Story by Mya Robarts 3.99 avg rating — 15,788 ratings score: 5,829, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy 3.66 avg rating — 10,156 ratings score: 5,713, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women by Jessica Valenti (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 8,425 ratings score: 5,659, and 62 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 54,913 ratings score: 5,499, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Lysistrata by Aristophanes 3.85 avg rating — 43,345 ratings score: 5,473, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi (Goodreads Author) 3.65 avg rating — 134,584 ratings score: 5,454, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Herland (The Herland Trilogy, #2) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 3.48 avg rating — 22,323 ratings score: 5,295, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange 4.28 avg rating — 34,056 ratings score: 5,117, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 3.59 avg rating — 93,651 ratings score: 5,111, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 4.09 avg rating — 852,974 ratings score: 5,102, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin 3.84 avg rating — 42,063 ratings score: 5,048, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 3.79 avg rating — 309,185 ratings score: 5,031, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Ariel by Sylvia Plath 4.20 avg rating — 80,329 ratings score: 4,837, and 54 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape by Susan Brownmiller 4.05 avg rating — 3,999 ratings score: 4,745, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know by Jessica Valenti (Goodreads Author) 3.89 avg rating — 3,279 ratings score: 4,718, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity by Julia Serano (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 7,964 ratings score: 4,711, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins 4.33 avg rating — 3,706,595 ratings score: 4,634, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas 3.74 avg rating — 9,671 ratings score: 4,580, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls by Mary Pipher 3.89 avg rating — 26,225 ratings score: 4,264, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde 4.39 avg rating — 21,400 ratings score: 4,225, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	The Women's Room by Marilyn French 3.99 avg rating — 8,891 ratings score: 4,219, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel 3.95 avg rating — 367,999 ratings score: 4,215, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 3.97 avg rating — 98,372 ratings score: 4,178, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 4.11 avg rating — 255,324 ratings score: 4,138, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Middlemarch by George Eliot 4.02 avg rating — 163,913 ratings score: 3,948, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination by Sandra M. Gilbert 4.21 avg rating — 3,933 ratings score: 3,914, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 3.83 avg rating — 284,820 ratings score: 3,854, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Medea by Euripides 3.93 avg rating — 76,910 ratings score: 3,625, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria E. Anzaldúa 4.33 avg rating — 12,394 ratings score: 3,610, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel 4.08 avg rating — 182,109 ratings score: 3,437, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 4.29 avg rating — 468,184 ratings score: 3,421, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 185,831 ratings score: 3,390, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand 3.69 avg rating — 391,096 ratings score: 3,296, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	A Room with a View by E.M. Forster 3.90 avg rating — 184,997 ratings score: 3,209, and 37 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Witches, Midwives and Nurses: A History of Women Healers by Barbara Ehrenreich 4.03 avg rating — 5,258 ratings score: 3,184, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich 4.24 avg rating — 9,199 ratings score: 3,055, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Fear of Flying by Erica Jong 3.47 avg rating — 21,857 ratings score: 3,037, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 3.89 avg rating — 1,817,368 ratings score: 2,971, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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2,397 books · 3,457 voters · list created June 24th, 2008 by Lissette (votes) .

Tags: activism, african-american-history, african-american-nonfiction, african-american-studies, american-literature, american-studies, autobiography, best, biography, bisexual, british-literature, feminism, feminist, fiction, gender, gender-studies, history, intersectionality, lesbian-nonfiction, literary-classics, literary-fiction, memoir, non-fiction, politics, queer, queer-studies, sexual-politics, sexuality, women, women-nonfiction, women-of-color, womens-history, womens-studies

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 61 (61 new)

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message 1: by Lisa (new)

Oct 14, 2008 06:17AM

Please add 'Manifesta' and 'The Body Project' both excellent feminist reads.

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message 2: by Merry (new)

Mar 05, 2009 07:08AM

I would also add "Flux: Women on Sex, Work, Love, Kids, and Life in a Half-Changed World" by Peggy Orenstein

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message 3: by Kathryn (new)

Apr 30, 2009 01:54PM

I am disappointed that bell hooks' name is not represented correctly.

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message 4: by Jill (new)

Jul 08, 2009 07:22PM

Please add, The Feminine Mistake Are We Giving Up Too Much?. Thanks.

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message 5: by Jill (new)

Jul 08, 2009 07:22PM

P.S. Great list!!

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message 6: by mazal (new)

Apr 27, 2010 05:54PM

Is there an easy way to adopt this list, or keep a file of it handy? I'm starting a feminist library at work. This list is a fantastic start. Kudos

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message 7: by Derya (new)

Oct 17, 2010 09:28AM

Anyone, who's interested in feminism must read Virginia Woolf. Especially, her groundbreaking essays, such as; A Room of One's Own and "Professions for Women".

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message 8: by Dusty (new)

Oct 26, 2010 01:29PM

Gone WIth The Wind? King Lear? Just because a book has a "strong female lead" doesn't make it feminist!

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message 9: by RB (last edited Mar 18, 2011 02:38AM) (new)

Mar 18, 2011 02:37AM

Surpriced to see that The War Against Women wasn't on the list until I used the added function...

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message 10: by Anna (new)

Sep 10, 2011 12:52PM

A Woman of No Importance

I added this one

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message 11: by Lisa (new)

Feb 04, 2012 03:56AM

Sex Wars by Marge Piercy & The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued Ann Crittenden

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message 12: by Moira (new)

Apr 22, 2012 06:28PM

Tried voting on the whole list, but 'Too many books, remove one before you add another.' sigh.

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message 13: by Stephanie (new)

Jun 12, 2012 02:23AM

How the hell did Atlas Shrugged get up there?

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message 14: by Lynne (new)

Aug 23, 2012 04:17PM

Kathryn wrote: "I am disappointed that bell hooks' name is not represented correctly."

I agree. People spell it wrong all the time.

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message 15: by Lynne (new)

Aug 23, 2012 04:18PM

julian wrote: "this list is too white+western+second wave"

I have to disagree with you. There are a lot of books here representing all women. You should look a bit closer.

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message 16: by Richard (new)

Sep 07, 2012 06:11AM

It may seem strange that a male would want to add to a feminist book list but the lady for whom I authored the book NOT AGAIN (Amazon Kindle) is, to my mind, the most inspirational person I've ever encountered and I would like to add her to your list, as an inspiration to other ladies.

The background to her story can be found at http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/insp... and the description can be found on Amazon: UK http://tinyurl.com/ct5xqx9
USA http://tinyurl.com/cxv9c9x

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message 17: by Lapsus (new)

Oct 07, 2012 06:44AM

Much to my astonishment, I didn't find The Tenant of Wildfell Hall so I added it.

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message 18: by Fatin (new)

Oct 07, 2012 04:48PM

hmm, I'm a huge fan of Jane Eyre but I'm not sure I'd call it the best "feminist" novel. But then, I haven't read it in a long while and the details aren't very clear to me.

Here's a great poem I read, I have no idea who it's by but it's great.

I fight like a girl who refuses to be a victim.
I fight like a girl who is tired of being IGNORED & HUMORED & BEATEN & RAPED.
I fight like a girl who’s sick of not being taken seriously.
I fight like a girl who’s been pushed too far.
I fight like a girl who OFFERS & DEMANDS RESPECT.
I fight like a girl who has a lifetime of ANGER & STRENGTH & PRIDE pent up in her girly body.
I fight like a girl who doesn’t believe in FEAR & SUBMISSION.
I fight like a girl who knows that THIS BODY & THIS MIND are mine.
I fight like a girl who knows that YOU ONLY HAVE AS MUCH POWER AS I GRANT YOU.
I fight like a girl who will never allow you to take more than I offer.
I fight like a girl who FIGHTS BACK.
So next time you think you can distract yourself from your insecurities by victimizing a girl, THINK AGAIN. She may be ME and I FIGHT LIKE A GIRL.

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message 19: by Cindy (new)

Nov 25, 2012 10:40PM

How about some Alice Walker?

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message 20: by Fatin (new)

Nov 26, 2012 09:36AM

Cindy wrote: "How about some Alice Walker?"

I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Color Purple. I think it's great not just as a feminist novel that goes to the very core of feminism, but also as a piece of literature about religion.

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message 21: by Annette (new)

Feb 10, 2013 05:22PM

Please add Intercourse by Andrea Dworkin

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message 22: by Kate (new)

Feb 11, 2013 08:17PM

I'm with Stephanie, how the hell did Atlas Shrugged end up on here?

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message 23: by Tom (new)

Mar 25, 2013 04:09AM

No Joan Wallach Scott, no Helene Cixous?

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message 24: by Davina (new)

Apr 21, 2013 01:24PM

There is a lot to be added to the list. How can readers do that?

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message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

May 25, 2013 04:01PM

Fatin wrote: "hmm, I'm a huge fan of Jane Eyre but I'm not sure I'd call it the best "feminist" novel. But then, I haven't read it in a long while and the details aren't very clear to me.

Here's a great poem I ..."

I was wondering why Jane Eyre was on here. What did I miss? She should have smacked Rochester up the side of the head. Read Wide Sargasso Sea.

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message 26: by Kirsten (new)

Aug 06, 2015 11:04AM

I know that I'm responding to an old post by a deleted user, but I believe that Jane Eyre is on here because Jane (and the woman who wrote her) was an independent woman caring for herself in every way (including monetarily) in a time when that was extremely uncommon. Also, the author, Charlotte Bronte, was a very loud voice for women in that very early time period in which few women spoke up. Yes, Rochester was a cad, but thankfully he wasn't the whole focus of the novel.

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message 27: by Kirsten (new)

Aug 06, 2015 11:15AM

ALSO, I agree with Stephanie -- I do not understand why Atlas Shrugged is on here. If someone can explain that, please do. If not, I'm going to come back in a few days and delete it, if that's okay with everyone...

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message 28: by Deborah (new)

Aug 26, 2015 08:38AM

Great list of books!I wanted to recommend a book I think that deserves to be on the list called "The Pedestriennes" by author Harry Hall (http://www.pedestriennes.com/). During the Industrial Revolution the sport of endurance walking was taking off (of course it was hugely dominated by men) until a group of women, calling themselves the Pedestriennes, took over. Endurance walking was a BEYOND difficult sport that required the competition to last for days and weeks. Madame "Ada" Anderson (top walker among men and women) walked 1,008 miles and it took her one week. Her feet were so swollen they had to wrap them in turpentine and raw beef! The book tells the story of many successful women endurance walkers and the controversy and difficulty that followed their career choices. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a fascinating look into a sport I had no idea existed!

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message 29: by Sarah (new)

Sep 16, 2015 11:29AM

Why on earth is Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus on here?!

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message 30: by Kirsten (new)

Oct 05, 2015 03:11PM

Sarah wrote: "Why on earth is Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus on here?!"

Yeah, I have no idea. It definitely doesn't belong here.

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message 31: by Kaion (new)

Nov 24, 2015 10:13AM

There's a whole lot of questionable books on this list. I mean, what's supposed to be feminist about Atlas Shrugged or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter?

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message 32: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Nov 24, 2015 07:39PM) (new)

Nov 24, 2015 07:25PM

Kaion wrote: "There's a whole lot of questionable books on this list. I mean, what's supposed to be feminist about Atlas Shrugged or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter?"

I can only answer for Pride and Prejudice, as I haven't read Atlas Shrugged. I haven't voted for it myself, but I can see why people thought Pride and Prejudice to be feminist. Just look at the behaviour of Elizabeth: She definitely showed a feminist streak in those days :-) And although she is rather an empty-headed girl, one can also argue that Lydia shows signs of feminism in her behaviour... (considering the era the book was written in). And after all, the description of the Listopia does say "This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read." Seen in this light, I don't think Pride and Prejudice should be missing on this list.

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message 33: by Erik (new)

Nov 26, 2015 12:41AM

Kaion wrote: "There's a whole lot of questionable books on this list. I mean, what's supposed to be feminist about Atlas Shrugged or Pride and Prejudice, for that matter?"
Seriously. I balked when I saw those on here!

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message 34: by Kali23 (new)

Nov 27, 2015 09:00PM

I would add The Death Of Feminism by Phyllis Chesler.

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message 35: by V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards (new)

Dec 03, 2015 09:43PM

I voted Breaking Dawn. Bella would kick the asses of all heroines here. If you can include Anna Karenina who is a cheater, or Tita from water to chocolate who is a wimp and lets her man treat her badly, then Bella should be in first place.

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message 36: by Linda (new)

Dec 17, 2015 02:51PM

How do we add or suggest books. There are many new books and authors that could be on this list. This list is dated. Or we need a Fresh List of Best Feminist Authors. The criteria ought to be not whether xxx was a feminist or ought to be viewed as one---but is she/he one of the best?! imho.

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message 37: by Gabriela (new)

Dec 31, 2015 04:16PM

Please remove Twilight or other codependency glorifying books.

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message 38: by Gabriela (new)

Dec 31, 2015 04:21PM

Lapsus wrote: "Much to my astonishment, I didn't find The Tenant of Wildfell Hall so I added it."
How do I vote for it?

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message 39: by Gabriela (last edited Dec 31, 2015 05:23PM) (new)

Dec 31, 2015 04:46PM

Veronica wrote: "I voted Breaking Dawn. Bella would kick the asses of all heroines here. If you can include Anna Karenina who is a cheater, or Tita from water to chocolate who is a wimp and lets her man treat her b..."
Well let's see...

Anna Karenina (the book) examines the life of a woman and how she is constrained by social conventions. She attempts to escape but is eventually unsuccessful. This would be classified as a social criticism novel. The female character doesn't have to have a happy ending for the book to be feminist. The point is that her only options are dependence on men or poverty and social ostracism.

I would not necessarily classify Like Water for Chocolate as a feminist book, though it does portray the oppression of women by other women because of their gender (a son would not have the same restrictions and duties) in a negative way. The House of Bernarda Alba is, for me a better case study.

But these sort of lists end up being popularity contests where best selling, mass produced books end up with the most votes even if they actually have little to do with the subject.

Also, Twilight presents codependency and nearly abusive controlling behavior between the two main characters as normal and even desirable and romantic. One male friend once asked me why feminism still existed, if women had achieved equality . I replied that although many advances had been made, many aspects of our culture still reflect underlying patriarchal values. I only needed a one word example for him to concede "Twilight".

Being a feminist does not mean you beat people up like a comic book character. It is about self reflection and examining the values and ideas that guide your life or are present in your social environment. If you want to read about women who ARE feminists and can stand up for themselves here's a good book: Women of a Non-State Nation, The Kurds ( they also happen to be real people not fictional characters).

The only reason I got through the first two books of Twilight was because my two best friends (one just out of a codependent relationship) promised to read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in return. After the second book, I could not take the silly Cinderella nonsense anymore and stopped. My friend ended up watching the movie and said it helped her determine she did not want to get back together with the guy.

Now I try to balance the examples my high school students get from the media by loaning them out my books like the Bell Jar, A Doll's House etc and show them that it's Okay to be with someone if you want to, but you don't owe anyone any explanations if you want to be single and concentrate on your studies or career and achieve your own goals.

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message 40: by Devorah (new)

Jan 26, 2016 12:48PM

When G-D Asks Me; When God Asks Me by Devorah Kalani

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message 41: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 29, 2016 06:26AM

'Delusions of Gender' by Cordelia Fine is a good one. Didn't see it mentioned here.

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message 42: by Jana (new)

Mar 04, 2016 03:26AM

Add Susan Brownmiller's "Against our will"

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message 43: by V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards (new)

Mar 05, 2016 08:38PM

You would think that a story where the heroine works hard to get what she wants in life, to overpower the wills of the stronger creatures that surround her, that stands her ground against her dad and is willing to do would be consider empowering. But no! Being a strong female doesn't mean to be heartless, doesn't mean to ignore love, doesn't mean to be a man with a vagina, doesn't mean to be willing to abort your child so you won't risk your life. It doesn't mean that you won't ever face depression or dark periods in your life, but that you will fall and then get to your feet again stronger than ever. IN my opinion, being a feminist woman means to take decisions, to fight for what you want in your life even when everyone who surrounds you is trying to deter you to live up to the consequences of them. Like Bella.

Nice to know that Tita who never stood her ground is considered a "feminist" when she never stood her ground. Nice to know that Anna Karennina is considered feminist because the book in which she appears was written by a genious writer. Not that Ana, the character did anything good. In breaking dawn is Bella who saves the day. Anna Karennina is just a wimp who whines a complain.

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message 44: by Elissa (last edited Apr 10, 2016 06:34PM) (new)

Apr 10, 2016 06:23PM

to those of you questioning atlas shrugged, how many of you have read the book? The female protagnonist, Dagny Taggart, kicks butt and takes names!She is the head of the largest transportation company in the US that is being kept a float thanks to her intellect. its a long book but a great read. Not to mention it was written by Ayn Rand, a woman, who is a wickedly smart philosopher, author, and playwright.

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message 45: by Alaina (new)

Nov 01, 2016 01:06PM

I suggest adding:

Flirting with Danger by Lynn M. Phillips
Almost Famous Women by Megan Mayhew Bergman
Girls on the Verge by Vendela Vida
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls by Jes Baker
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
Angry White Men by Michael Kimmel
Hunting Girls: Sexual Violence from The Hunger Games to Campus Rape by Kelly Oliver
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear...and Why by Sady Doyle

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message 46: by Rainbowheart (new)

Jan 14, 2017 11:50AM

Alaina, I agree with several of your choices. Feel free to add them!

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message 47: by Imke (new)

Mar 22, 2017 04:39PM

Sooooo, are we not going to talk about the fact that the hunger games are on this list, or am I terribly mistaken and are those books suddenly feminist?

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message 48: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Mar 22, 2017 11:29PM

Imke wrote: "Sooooo, are we not going to talk about the fact that the hunger games are on this list, or am I terribly mistaken and are those books suddenly feminist?"

There are other titles on this list I wonder about as well. But I guess it is left up to the reader to decide, as the description says "This is a list of books any feminist, new feminist, or a soon-to-be feminist should read". Because of it, one can add almost any title, unfortunately...

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message 49: by Nocturnalux (new)

Apr 15, 2017 09:51PM

Elissa wrote: "to those of you questioning atlas shrugged, how many of you have read the book? The female protagnonist, Dagny Taggart, kicks butt and takes names!She is the head of the largest transportation comp..."

Well, yeah, but later in the book Dagny pretty much admits that she needs Galt to dedicate everything about her life. As happens to every righteous character in the novel, everyone gets Galt'ed.

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message 50: by Cindy (new)

Apr 16, 2017 08:09PM

I have really enjoyed the discussion in this thread, and I am personally glad that people posted titles with which others disagreed, as that has led to thoughtful and interesting comments. Keep it up!

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