For this week, our book editor Naomi Round brings you reviews of some brilliant books writer by Women for Women that you need to add to your reading list this month!
Bloody Brilliant Women *****
Author: Cathy Newman
Being a woman is no easy feat. Being a woman looking to change the world is even more of a struggle. And yet there have been many pioneering women who have made their mark on history. Many of them, though, have failed to be recognized and do not spring to mind when conjuring up the names of world-changers. Cathy Newman, in a year in which we celebrated 100 years since the first women were granted the right to vote in the UK, took it upon herself to counteract this forgetfulness. And so Bloody Brilliant Women came about, aptly subtitled “The Pioneers, Revolutionaries, and Geniuses Your History Teacher Forgot to Mention”.What an important service she has provided to all of us.
In Bloody Brilliant Women, broadcast journalist Newman pays tribute to all those women who might have eventually slipped through the cracks of History who fought against the status quo, carved out their place in their field of choice, and strove to make a difference.
Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible ****
Authors: Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinené
Every black girl or person is interested in learning more and getting to understand the experiences of black girls and women in the UK should be reading this book. To bring it to fruition, Yomi and Elizabeth have started in-depth and meaningful conversations with some of the most distinguished and successful black women in the UK – from filmmaker extraordinaire Amma Asante to radio presenter Clara Amfo and journalist Charlene White.
Slay In Your Lane digs deep into what it is like growing up as a black girl in the UK, and the challenges, discrimination, and marginalization they can face. It is a wonderful and honest collection of life experiences and a hopeful portrayal of what they can achieve when they face those challenges head-on and come out the other end victorious. Slay In Your Lane is not just a book filled with the experiences of powerful and industry-leading black women in the UK. It is also a bible filled with thoughtful and useful advice.
Life Honestly: Strong Opinions from Smart Women ****
Edited by: The Pool
For those of you who are not familiar with The Pool, it is a website for women, about issues that concern women, written by women.
The platform now brings to women (and interested men) this varied selection of essays to shed some light on the biggest issues and taboos that women are facing nowadays.
From the matter of keeping your maiden name after you married to period poverty, mental health, infertility, the gender pay gap, the sizeist fashion industry, maternity, Life Honestly hardly leaves any stone unturned. There is no topic too controversial.
Because it is a collection of essays written by different The Pool contributors the writing style is varied which makes it a great read, not too monotonous.
Contributors include women from a wide range of backgrounds (black, Muslim, LGBTQ+ women. Life Honestly is, therefore, a book filled with the experiences and opinions of women from all kinds of points of view. This variety not only makes it a great read for women looking for texts reflecting their world but also challenges women’s perceptions of the world.
Life Honestly is both inspiring and educational. People who pick up a copy will be invited to share in the spirit of sisterhood. This is a book written by women, about women – a kind of advice guide but also a collection of experiences that will make the reader feel like they are not alone in the way they feel.
