Women Unbound Reading Challenge

The last thing I need is a reading challenge -- especially since I'm failing miserably at the Everything Austen Challenge I started this summer (only 1 of 6 books/movies read or viewed -- however I have until Jan 1, 2010 to finish -- surely I can squeeze in reading Persuasion and Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin AND watching P&P with Colin Firth, S&S with Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet, and Emma w/Gwyneth Paltrow, by then).

However, the Women Unbound Reading Challenge, really intrigues me. I love reading about women, whether fiction or non-fiction. So, I think I'm going to take the plunge. The general rule is:

"Participants are encouraged to read nonfiction and fiction books related to the rather broad idea of 'women’s studies.’"

There are three levels of participation: (you can count books for other challenges as well):

Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one.
Bluestocking: read at least five books, including at least two nonfiction ones.
Suffragette: read at least eight books, including at least three nonfiction ones.

I'm going all out and becoming a Suffragette!

My own stipulation for this challenge: my book choices MUST currently reside on my bookshelves!! No library checkouts, no Barnes and Noble purchases, no Amazon orders, no used bookstores. They all must be in my possession and haven't been read before! (That should be a challenge in and of itself -- the "Clearing Off Your Bookshelf Challenge!")

Here is my reading list (I hope they all qualify as women studies!):

NON-FICTION:

West with the Night, by Beryl Markham

Born in England in 1902, Markham was taken by her father to East Africa in 1906. She spent her childhood playing with native Maruni children and apprenticing with her father as a trainer and breeder of racehorses. In the 1930s, she became an African bush pilot, and in September 1936, became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west.

Nine Parts of Desire, by Geraldine Brooks

In this captivating book, award-winning journalist Geraldine Brooks offers an intimate, often shocking portrait of the lives of modern Muslim women, and shows how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once-liberating faith. "A valid, entertaining account of women in the Muslim world."--The New York Times Book Review

Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History, by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

In this engrossing volume, Laurel Ulrich goes far beyond the slogan she inadvertently created and explores what it means to make history. Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History celebrates a renaissance in history inspired by amateurs, activists, and professional historians. It is a tribute to history and to those who make it.

FICTION:

The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.

...through the novel The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., not only do we learn of the many differences between Robespierre and Rousseau, but we gain insight into the marriage of one of history's greatest political couples: Napoleon and Josephine.

The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton, by Jane Smiley

The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton is a Little House on the Prairie for grownups. Lidie's accounts of homesteading, from buying a new stove to coming upon the finest horse in the territory (and among the finest in literature), combine character, charm, and social history.

A Woman of Independent Means, by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey

At the turn of the century, a time when women had few choices, Bess Steed Garner inherits a legacy--not only of wealth but of determination and desire, making her truly a woman of independent means. From the early 1900s through the 1960s, we accompany Bess as she endures life's trials and triumphs with unfailing courage and indomitable spirit: the sacrifices love sometimes requires of the heart, the flaws and rewards of marriage, the often-tested bond between mother and child, and the will to defy a society that demands conformity.

The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, by Erin McGraw

Trapped in Kansas at the turn of the twentieth century, Nell Plat is seventeen, unhappily married, and the mother of two baby girls. No reality could be further from her secret dreams of glamour and excitement, dreams that will tempt her to do the unthinkable and run away to the glittering wonderland of Los Angeles and the burgeoning motion picture industry.

A Short History of Women, by Kate Walbert

From National Book Award nominee Kate Walbert, a provocative and beautiful novel about five generations of women.

The challenge runs from Nov 1, 2009 -- Nov 30, 2010.

Book Review -- The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë by Syrie James


My rating: 4 of 5 stars







Charlotte Bronte wrote prolifically – poetry, juvenilia, fantasy stories, letters, novels – some published, some not, some not finished – but we don’t have her diaries. Whether she kept a diary or not we will never know. But thanks to author, Syrie James, we can imagine what it might be like to read Charlotte’s private thoughts.

Through her “diaries” we learn that Charlotte’s suffered greatly – she lost her mother at 5 to cancer, her older sisters both died when she was 9, her brother was an alcoholic, and her remaining sisters, best friends and confidants -- Anne and Emily -- both died within 6 months of each other, before they turned 30. Charlotte and her father were the only surviving members of her family. She was educated at harsh, bleak boarding schools, she studied abroad in Belgium, was determined to start a school with Anne and Emily, only to have it closed because of no applicants and she had an “affair” with her tutor, who would later become her inspiration for her posthumously published novel, The Professor. Finally, Charlotte reveals to us her great romance with curate, A. B. Nicholls, which was nearly ruined because of her father’s disapproval.

This was a delightful novel. I felt Charlotte’s agony at the loss of her family and I shivered with her when she sought solace in the moor landscape of her English home. Ultimately, I cheered her for preserving against the establishment and succeeding in getting her works published (even if she had to publish them under a male pseudonym).

Additionally, I loved the “extras” at the end of the book – where I could read samples of Charlotte’s actual letters and poems. I’ve been inspired to read (and re-read) all of the Bronte sisters’ books!

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte was recently selected as a “great group read” by the Women’s National Book Association. A well deserved honor for Charlotte’s “diary.”

View all my reviews >>

New York Times -- The Help by Mokoto Rich

Thanks to anonymous for finding the link...

My Lucky Day!

Today I won:

Description: A die-hard fan of Jane Austen novels and the traditional English mystery, Tracy Kiely has combined elements of both for this truly delightful and witty debut.

Planning New Year’s resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year’s Eve at Winnie’s new Cape Cod B and B comes just in time. But when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. The suspects include the town gossip, a haughty rich woman, and an antiques business owner much enamored of his benefactress, a Mrs. Kristell Dubois. If that isn’t bad enough, Elizabeth must also contend with her childhood nemesis, Peter McGowan---a man she suspects has only matured in chronological years---and her suspicions about his family’s interest in Winnie’s inn.

Yesterday, her only worry was of ever finding her Mr. Darcy. Now she has a murder to solve. Is it any wonder her resolution to achieve inner poise is in tatters?

By reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly disarming.

Thanks to Stephanie at Stephanie's Written Word for her contest!

Now that my responsibilities at the library include shelving Mysteries, I'm determined to add more of them to my reading repertoire.

This is a great way to start.

My Very Own Betsy Tacy

In stead of a "Halloween Party" at school today, they had "Dress Up As Your Favorite Literary Character Day" for their Accelerated Reading program.

I was thrilled when my 8 yr old wanted to be Tacy, from the Betsy-Tacy series!!

We pulled a costume from the theatre costume shop -- since her mother DOES NOT under any circumstance, sew.

I think she looks good!

Controversy

I don’t look like a controversial blogger.

I have pretty flowers adorning my mast head.

I have nice quotes trying to inspire my visitors.

I have pretty book covers on my side bar.

I talk about mother/daughter book group and libraries and recipes and my favorite things.

Even though I love politics, I will NEVER talk about my political opinion here. Not the venue, not the forum.

This is a place about nice, happy, thoughts. (Unless you are a Texas football fan, then I will take you down!)

But, my blogging career didn’t start out so hot.

My 1st post, which I thought was a tongue-in-cheek, mocking, even funny, portrayal of Gwyneth Paltrow’s blog, GOOP, crashed and burned into a name calling, she said-she said, fiesta! I was stunned and embarrassed and totally unprepared for the debate I created.

My next post on the group blog was about something very safe – laundry.

So, when I critiqued The Help, even though I was negative, I was rather vague on my reasons why I didn’t like it, because I don’t like confrontation. I had issues with it, but didn’t want to get into a debate about the book. Nor did I want to fault the author. I’m sure she is a lovely woman.

As a result of my mini-rant, the last thing I expected was to get an email from a New York Times reporter asking me if I would be “willing to talk” to her about my dissenting review.

Yes, The New York “Freakin” Times!

Holy Book Bloggers Batman!

What the heck am I going to say to a NYT reporter? Without sounding like a bumbling, idiot, SAHM, who hasn’t worked outside the home in 9 years (until recently), and has a brain that has shriveled up to the size of a pea?

But, I agreed.

And she called.

And we talked. About 15-20 min.

I’m not sure what I said. I was a nervous wreck. I tried to be NICE about why I didn’t like it – that I felt white folks, like myself, would have a hard time portraying what it would be like to be a black maid in the pre-civil rights 1960s; that I am glad the author gave a “voice” to these women – but what do African-American women think of this portrayal? Is it accurate? I wanted to plead, “Please don’t make me sound like a raving lunatic! I’m a really nice person! I don’t need my pretty, low on the totem pole, only gets 20 hits a day, blog to be destroyed by one quote!”

Anyway…I’m sure I said something “controversial” and whenever this piece is published (and, no, I don’t know when it goes to print) I think I will seek safety in the witness protection program!

The Perfect Mother/Daughter Give-a-way!

This is a PERFECT giveaway!

Booking Mama couldn’t have better timing! She’s sponsoring a Mother/Daughter book club give-a-way on her blog! Here are the details:

Cindy has graciously offered to giveaway two copies of her new book BOOK BY BOOK to two lucky winners. And remember how much I enjoyed THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB by Heather Vogel Frederick (you can read my review here)? Well, Heather has offered up ten sets of THE MOTHER DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB series (THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB, MUCH ADO ABOUT ANNE, and DEAR PEN PAL) to two lucky winners -- that's five sets of three books each. That means that two of you will win five sets of THE MOTHER DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB series plus a copy of BOOK BY BOOK. What a fantastic opportunity for someone who is currently in a mother-daughter book club or thinking about starting one!

I really want to win this one!

Mother Daughter Inaugural 3rd Grade Book Group

I have a confession, this happened last Tuesday night. However, my own daughter, the one I started this for, was home sick all last week with a fever fluctuating between 101-103 (was it H1N1? I have no idea – I couldn’t even get her an appointment with a pediatrician. Our neighbor, who is an ER pediatrician, advised me, “The fever is not your enemy, but if she starts having trouble breathing, get her in immediately.”). So my precious sweetie couldn’t even attend. Huge bummer! But I persevered, because I wasn’t going to let any pig virus derail our first meeting!

I was really nervous about whether I could pull this off. I wasn’t sure how committed any of the mothers/daughters were to this activity. And I wasn’t sure whether our choice -- the old-fashioned Betsy-Tacy – was going to appeal to our Hannah Montana–reared daughters. Terror really set in when at 6:35pm (we were supposed to start at 6:30pm) no one was there!

But, guess what? Twosomes showed up! 4 of them in fact! I was thrilled and heaved a big sigh of relief.

I talked a bit about how I thought our book group should proceed – with the daughters doing the author report and asking the questions – with the moms providing assistance when needed. I also gave them a list of rules that I “borrowed” from Caroline by line (thank you Caroline!) that proved invaluable.

And from there the evening took care of itself. The girls, I’m happy to report, LOVED Betsy-Tacy!! I mean they REALLY LOVED this book! There is something to be said for timeless stories about girls and their friends. One of the girls’ favorite scenes was when Betsy and Tacy “pretended” they were floating on a feather. Nothing like make believe! And the moms loved it too. I wasn’t the only mom that hadn’t heard of this book or read it as a child. Some of the girls were more vocal than others. But I’m hoping the more shy girls will follow the others example.

We’ve agreed to meet once a month (except for December, because of the holidays) until school is out. And we’ve committed to read the remaining 3 Betsy Tacy juvenile books (Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown and Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill).

I am so excited about this endeavor. I’ve wanted to start something that was special to me and my daughter. Now, I have to cross my fingers that next month she is healthy!

Book Clubbing at Booking Mama's!

A big shout out to Julie at Booking Mama for my guest post today!

I love me some book group!

Wanna Go to a Singles Dance?

After reading this...

and watching this...



and this...




I'm most definitely buying and reading this...



She looks like she needs a new best friend? I wonder if she would consider me?!