(And no, it’s not just because I keep listening to Paris Paloma…) After yet another sexist incident at work—as if sexism hasn’t been haunting me for over ten years in various industries already and is getting old—I’m full on in female rage mode. As a literary researcher, I’m now looking for the best picks and insider tips when it comes to books concerning and/or including this very feeling.
It can be subtle or OTT, resemble a fable or allegory (*The Power* by Naomi Alderman, anyone?), but it can also be exaggerated, brutal, furious and to the point. Anything goes. The main thing is for me to feel less alone with this issue—and this anger. The more straightforward, the better.
For reference: I adore authors like Ottessa Moshfegh, Meg Wolitzer, Rachel Cusk, Sally Rooney and Lisa Taddeo. Thank you!
by n4vybloe
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Essay collections that could work here, although some of them are more subtle than others:
– The Sum of Her Parts (Sian Griffiths).
– The Witch of Eye (Kathryn Nuernberger). For what it’s worth, this is my favorite among the books I’m recommending here.
– Sky Songs (Jennifer Sinor). This is probably my least relevant rec, and it’s been a while since I read it, but I could feel Sinor’s anger simmering on the page in several essays.
Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels may have been written for you.
I’d look up “good for her” books as a subgenre. It’s getting increasingly popular and there’s a lot there to explore.
Two that stood out for me were:
Slewfoot by Brom: Witchy revenge tale against a puritan village
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo: Thriller about a college professor/serial killer who targets shitty men on campus
*Iron Widow* by Xiran Jay Zhao.