The first set of books
that I would like to review and recommend are all written by strong and
formidable women. The three that I would
like to recommend today are ones that I have read over the last year. Please note that I do not get paid by anyone
to promote these; these are just my honest thoughts, and (immodestly) my good
deed for the day.
The first, and most
recently published book was written by my friend, phenomenal woman and writer,
Megan Ross; who just launched her first book of poetry, Milk Fever, in May of this year.
Her emotive writing explores the complexities of motherhood and the
plight of an unplanned pregnancy and postpartum depression. Ross takes her work to new heights, opening avenues
and allowing for important conversations to take place, wherein people usually
fear stigma. It is evocative, raw, and
original. Her honesty is refreshing, and her emotions are powerful. I felt overwhelmed reading this book, knowing
bits and pieces of her experiences, but seeing them completely stripped and
bared for the reader. It was seeing my
friend in this new light, no pretenses and not knowing that she had all of this
magic and flair inside of her head through the past three years of her story. She has a beautiful knack for turning her
words into something magical that gives the reader a punch of reality. This book of poetry is a testament to all
mothers about the expectations and sentiments that women are supposed to feel, and
the societal implications that surround pregnancy and motherhood. Knowing her, and knowing her son, made the
process of reading this so much more special.
It is the perfect book to go back to, flag pages, sit and deconstruct
the content and let it overtake you; I know it is one that will be on my
nightstand for a very long time.
The second book that I
deeply recommend is Americanah by
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I don’t have
enough words to describe what this book did for me. I was going through a patch, as I often do
when I battle to read, longing for a book that I couldn’t put down. For me, this was that book! Adichie provides such a refreshing lens
through which to see the world, and race, in a subtle way that really gets the
reader thinking. She looks at the
constructs of race, as an African in America and as an African American. In my opinion, she hits the nail on the head
with her descriptions of individuals, especially WASPS, and how people dance
around race. The protagonist
interestingly states that she never thought about being black until she moved
to America from Nigeria, and seamlessly brings the stereotypes associated with
race into the book, in a sardonic and almost comical way. It also provides an inside perspective on the
life of an undocumented immigrant in London and showcases the sides of immigration
that aren’t disclosed in the media. I
think with the current dynamics in both England and America, it is a very
important novel to read, and beneficial in showcasing that everyone has a story. It is insightful and eye-opening, with
writing that comes so naturally it’s impossible to put down. For the days I was reading it, I was
completely absorbed in Ifemelu and Obinze’s world and I couldn’t wait to go
back.
The third book on my
recommendations list is one that a friend gave to me to review for the magazine
that she worked for at the time. I loved
her job for my sake, because I got quite a few free books out of it. I was glad that she knew my tastes and chose
it for me, because I probably wouldn’t have known about it without her. The War
on Women: And the Brave Ones Who Fight Back by Sue Lloyd-Roberts is an
account of twelve different plights that women all over the world still face
today. It is written by a BBC and ITN
video-journalist and television reporter, who had first-hand accounts during
her travels to make documentaries on such issues. In efforts to not ‘other’ third world
countries and cultures, she also takes it home to England to describe the
inequalities that women still face there in the present day. Her momentum for writing the book came to her
when addressing an audience in Trafalgar Square. She states:
“Why is it, I asked myself, that women who make up 51 per
cent of world’s population are still campaigning for fair and humane treatment
in the twenty-first century, as if we are just another of the world’s
persecuted minorities?”
These ‘wars’ range from
female genital mutilation, to honour killings, to the abuse of UN peacekeepers
in war-torn countries. Certain strides
have been made in some regards as one chapter describes the laws in Saudi
Arabia stating that women cannot drive, and what the repercussions were for
those who cannot afford drivers. This
law was put in motion to change in September 2017, and will be put into
practice on June 24th; which is a great first step, amongst many that still
need to happen (See link here). Sue Lloyd-Roberts sadly passed away before
the book was finished, and her daughter put it together and wrote the
introduction. It was a moving account
too, in which she touched on her mom’s strengths and weaknesses and stated how
Sue felt that she wasn’t a good mother because she was always away on work
trips. The stigmas that are attached to
women who chose careers are still very indicative, and her daughter felt that
her mom had never chosen work over her, and was proud of all that her mom had
accomplished. It was touching to read
about the pride of her children in what their mom had achieved and unearthed.
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