Five Books to Read During Women’s History Month

By Ariana dos Santos

Now that we’ll all be home and self-isolating for a while, we’ll all have some extra time on our hands. Why not spend that time reading some books written by women in the last few weeks of Women’s History Month and even in the weeks beyond?

As we all start our online classes, reading or listening to one of these books will give us a chance to take our eyes off of our screens and relax — at least for a little while.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This award-winning book tells the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, who fall in love in Nigeria and are separated when Ifemelu goes to America to study. It is a story of lost love, immigration, and diaspora.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Every once in a while you need to read a good autobiography. So, why not read the story of Michelle Obama’s life and her journey of becoming who she is? In this autobiography, Michelle Obama shows us that a girl with humble beginnings can become whoever she wants to be.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Sometimes we’re all a little bit like Eleanor Oliphant––anti-social and stuck in a routine. Honeyman gives us a story of a unique character who’s just trying to figure out who she is. This story will make you laugh and teach you that you deserve life to be more than just fine.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is one for all of the history and World War II buffs out there. It’s the story of a pair of sisters who struggle to survive the war in France during the German invasion. Like many WWII novels this is a heartbreaking story, but it’s so beautiful in the way that it shows the courage and sacrifice of these women. This novel will also be on the big screen soon with Dakota and Elle Fanning playing the sisters, Vianne and Isabelle.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

An Ember in the Ashes is the first book of Tahir’s fantasy series. The other books in the series are A Torch Against the Night, A Reaper at the Gates, and the final book, A Sky Beyond the Storm, which will be out in Dec. 2020. This series follows Laia and Elias, who are from two different worlds, but who long for the same thing – freedom from the lives they didn’t choose for themselves. This book will captivate you and make you want to devour the others in the series right away.

All of these books were written by women and are about journeys of women. They all tell a different story, but the thing they have in common is the strength that their female characters possess. So, no matter if you buy, listen, or borrow these books, they should be next on your reading list.