If the only books you read during your high school or college career were written by males, you should probably expand your reading palate. Fine, maybe you picked up “Wuthering Heigths” by Emily Bronte or “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. There’s nothing wrong with that. Both of those great books were written by talented female authors, but the stories those two told are rather focused on their male characters, don't you think? If you’re looking for more well-written women in your reading, here are six amazing books by six female authors starring six female protagonists.
1. "The Handmaid’s Tale" by Margaret Atwood.
This is a science fiction, or speculative fiction, tale about a handmaid named Offred who lives in a totalitarian world, the Republic of Gilead. In this dystopian story, Offred has been reduced to baby-maker in an increasingly infertile world, but she wasn’t always confined to such a bleak life. The saddest part is that Offred can remember her days with her husband, child and job…but all of that has vanished.
2. "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte.
This is a bildungsroman about a girl named Jane. The book follows Jane from her orphaned childhood, to boarding school, to her employment as a governess, leading her to Mr. Rochester. One way to describe their relationship is…tangled. This novel portrays a woman's passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed. Charlotte Bronte herself was a bit of an outsider in Victorian society as well, as she published "Jane Eyre" under a male pseudonym and kept up the pretense for years.
3. "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin.
This is a story ultimately about how motherhood and marriage isn’t right for all women. While we’ve grown to accept this truth in today’s society, that was not the case when this book was published in 1899. It was extremely controversial for its time. This novel is a daring portrayal of a woman trapped in a marriage, who seeks to figure out who she is and what she wants outside the confines of her domestic situation.
4. "The Bonesetter’s Daughter" by Amy Tan.
This is the story of a daughter and mother that have a tumultuous relationship, to say the least. However, this is changed with the daughter’s discovery of her mother’s true past. It reveals a side of her that was never known, which changes perceptions about family and love, and inspires forgiveness.
5. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison.
Warning: this book might make you cry.
Set in 1941, this novel tells a heart-breaking story about an 11-year-old black girl, Pecola, who wishes to have blue eyes. Morrison tells the story from Penola’s point of view, as well as that of her acquaintance Claudia MacTeer, and an omniscient narrator. Racism, sexism and abuse, are confronted by Morrison in this work. As fear and loneliness permeate Pecola’s life, her wish is tragically fulfilled in the end.
6. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou.
Maya Angelou’s autobiography tells her coming-of-age-story as a teenager, filled with abandonment, attack and love. As Angelou grows up, she learns the power of self-love, kindness and strong spirit. She also learns that the ideas of great authors (such as Shakespeare) will give her freedom.
