Want to Read Wednesday

Feminism Edition!

Continuing strong into the second "Want to Read Wednesday" with a subject that I'm sure is near and dear to most of our hearts: feminism. I decided to go with a mix of fiction and nonfiction, because I feel that essay and be just as powerful as stories; it depends more on the execution than the medium. Happy reading!

5 Books I Cannot Wait to Read:

5. The Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler

Why: The Vagina Monologues is a compilation featuring interviews from women talking about their vaginas. What isn't to like about that? I've heard about it from pretty much everywhere; it's an incredibly infamous piece of writing, and I'm curious to find out why. I've read some more negative reviews about it recently, so I'm also interested it reading it on my own to form my own sort of opinion on it from start to finish. I feel safe to say that it's considered to be a classic of feminist literature, so regardless of the current consensus, I'd like to add it to my "read" list, more than anything else. Plus, it seems at least mildly entertaining.

4. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Why: Once you've known me for about five minutes, you'll know that I love dystopian fiction. A world where a women's only real purpose is reproduction sounds horrifying, and like something that may have noticeable parallels to a society from not so long ago. The Handmaid's Tale is on virtually every "Read Before You Die" list, and based on premise alone, I'm inclined to agree. Plus, I'm a bit of a purist, and so I really want to read the book before I see the movie (which looks incredible, by the way). 

3. Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray

Why: This book has everything. Girls, beauty contestants, LGBT character(s), dance numbers (?), and, I'm sure, plenty of talk about societal expectations and roles. And it's funny! I'm a little split on my opinion of books with a ton of relevant characters, and even more split of books with multiple POV's, but I've heard so many great reviews of this Beauty Queens that I know I need to give it a try. 

2. Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions & Heretics, by Jason Porath

Why: First, I know what you might be thinking if you read above- "why is a male author on a list about feminist books?". Rather than beginning the argument over whether or not men should be in the feminism movement (they should), or whether they have any right to write about it (Jury's still out), there is no possible way that this book couldn't be classified as pro-women. Based on historical accounts of women's accomplishments in the past centuries, (the earliest one is from 1500 BCE), based on the Table of Contents), what Porath has done is collect dozens of women who deserved to be in history textbooks but were left out. When it first came in the mail, I couldn't help but to read the first few stories, and my God, are they interesting. He added some fairy tales in there that have since been largely forgotten, and I'm happy at the representation I'm seeing. Probably far from exhaustive, the list still contains histories and stories from all around the world, and will surely please the little historian inside me. 

1. Milk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur

Why: This has been on my to-read list for almost a year. I have no excuse as to why I haven't read it yet. I've reblogged countless photos of it on Tumblr, read select poems posts by other bloggers, and even read The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace (otherwise it would be on this list), which was noticeably inspired by Milk and Honey. So why the hell haven't I read it yet? I think maybe I feel unprepared for it. It's no doubt going to be incredible, but it also feels like the book of poems will be a journey, one that I'm unsure if I'm in the right head space for at the moment. Every line is so powerful, that I know I'm going to want to take my time and not breeze through it, and that takes both willpower and patience, neither of which I possess at the moment. So, until that time comes, Milk and Honey will be left at the top of my "must read" list, until I am ready for that impact on my life. 

Extremely Honorable Mention Goes Out To:

1. We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2. Bad Feminist, by Roxane Gay
3. The Purity Myth, by Jessica Valenti
4. Only Ever Yours, by Louise O'Neill
5. Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights, by Katha Pollitt

Have you read any of these books? What would be on your "Want to Read" List, with feminist characters/subjects? Put any books that I should check out in the comments below!

Want to Read Wednesday

LGBT Edition!

Woo! First Want to Read Wednesday post! I decided to start it off strong by talking about LGBT+ books that I've been really looking forward to read, since I'm taking part of an LGBT Reading Challenge over on Tumblr (you'll see those posts floating around there if you follow me!

If you're unclear about my weekly posts, feel free to head over here, where I ramble about some of my ideas for what I'm hoping to do with each theme. Happy reading!

5 Books that I Cannot Wait to Read: 

5. Ash, by Malinda Lo

Published by Little, Brown

Why: It just sounds cool. I've never read an LGBT fantasy novel (nothing that I can remember, at least). Let alone one that is also a fairy-tale retelling. Ash- Lo's Cinderella- makes a deal with a dangerous fairy. When she begins to fall for the King's Huntress, she has to decide between her dream, and her love. A story with fairies and magic and "true love" are great on their own, but when a relationship between two girls is added to the mix? Amazement is sure to ensue!

Published by Simon & Schuster

4. Boyfriends with Girlfriends, by Alex Sanchez

Why: I've owned this book for a while, and I'm excited to finally delve into it. Focusing on two relationships, BwG is about "four very real teens striving to find their places in the world- and with each other". Plus, their variation to each characters sexualities, which is incredible in my opinion, because it shows that not everyone feels the exact same level of attraction, or has the exact same experiences. If that makes any sense? Lance is gay, Sergio is bi. Allie's questioning, and Kimiko is a lesbian (I believe, taken from the Goodreads summary). Obviously, I haven't read it, so I could be way off. But at least the idea I have of it in my head makes me really eager to begin reading it.

Published by Dover

3. Great Speeches on Gay Rights, collected by James Daley
Why: I don't feel familiar enough with public displays of support towards the queer community. I was the Treasurer of my High School's GSA, and I'm currently Secretary of my University's Queer Alliance. I need to become more informed, and I'm excited to read of the movements and power of a community that I am proud to say I am a part of.

2. Pantomime, by Laura Lam

Published by Strange Chemistry

Why: Pantomime is a little... difficult for me to explain my relation to it. I was so excited to read it when I was gifted a copy (really, I won a giveaway, but doesn't "gifted" sound so professional?). I opened it to begin reading, and I think I made it through the fifth page before I put it down. That was two years ago, and I haven't even attempted to restart it. I still really want to read it: I love magical realism, and the story has such a fantastical air to it that I'm really intrigued by. Plus, Micah's intersex. Intersex characters are rarely seen in books, or in media in general, on a grander scheme (unless I've just been blind to it. If that's the case, please feel completely free to recommend me movies/TV shows/books/etc. with intersex characters).

I don't know what it was, that made me put it down before. I think it might have something to do with the way my edition was formatted on the page (which is a huge pet peeve of mine, by the way?). Or maybe I just wasn't in the right place that day, and I've built it up in my head since then so much that I think there's something there when there isn't? Either way, it's time to face my fear, so to speak, and finally dive in, because I'm sure that it'll be a story I'll remember long after I've finished it. 

1. Keeping You a Secret, by Julie Anne Peters

Published by Little, Brown & Co. 

Why: I've only read one book by Peters before, and it was a book that I can honestly say changed my life. I didn't understand my sexuality when I started Lies My Girlfriend Told Me; I remember seeing it at Barnes & Noble when I went with my parents so they could pick out a present for a party we were going to straight after. I was browsing the Young Adult section while I waited for them, and I picked up LMGTM. My eyes went wide reading the blurb: girls in a relationship with each other? Gay people had always been around me growing up, but until then I had never really understood that it was something that was normal, and that I might be part of the community too. I almost had a heart attack asking my dad if I could get it, and I read it all in one sitting that night. The girls had relationship problems, like "normal" couples did. They joked around and flirted and confided in each other and depended on one another, things I'd only ever seen straight couples do. This is why diversity in media is so incredibly necessary; so that kids growing up know that they are not alone, and that there is nothing wrong with them for not following the expectation that so much of media places on them. Lies My Girlfriend Told Me will always be the book that helped me discover my sexuality, and for that, I'll be forever grateful. 

Keeping You a Secret would be the second book I'd have read by Julie Anne Peters, and suffice it to say, I'm excited (and a little nervous) to read it.

Extremely Honorable Mention Goes Out To:

1. More Happy Than Not, by Adam Silvera
2. How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater, by Marc Acito
3. Grasshopper Jungle, by Andrew Smith
4. Not Otherwise Specified, by Hannah Moskowitz
5. Bi Any Other Name, by Lorain Hutchins & Lani Kaahumanu

Have you read any of these books? What would be on your "Want to Read" List, in regards to the LGBTQIAPP+ community? Put any books that I should check out in the comments below <3