💛NEW INTERVIEW 💛This is one of our favorite books of the past year, so we were delighted to get to talk to her about her wonderful story. She tells us about the news article that inspired her to create Eleanor, what it's been like to have a debut novel so widely awarded, and much much more. You can hear our entire conversation here: https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/interview-with-gail-honeyman. #ReadingWomenMonth

✨NEW EPISODE✨#ReadingWomenMonth
This month on the podcast, we're talking about audiobooks. One of the books we're reviewing this episode is EDUCATED by Tara Westover. Based on Goodreads and other reviews, this book seems to be pretty divisive. It's the story of a woman who finds her way out of an isolated, fundamentalist Mormon culture. Listen to our full review here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-women/id1118019442?mt=2 ⠀

🎉 NEW INTERVIEW 🎉⠀
We were delighted to get to talk to Meaghan O'Connell about her book AND NOW WE HAVE EVERYTHING: ON MOTHERHOOD BEFORE I WAS READY. Pregnancy and motherhood look differently for everyone and in her story Meaghan explores the middle range of people who had not so great experiences but aren't sure how to talk about them. ⠀
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or find it on our website.

I had heard good things about this book, but it far exceeded my expectations. At the beginning of the story, we meet Nao, a sixteen-year-old Japanese girl who has decided that suicide is the only answer. We then meet Ruth, who lives in Canada and who finds a diary washed up on the shore one morning after a storm. It's Nao's diary. And that's where things get interesting. More here: readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2018/05/02/ep-43-were-going-places

Somehow, neither of us read A WRINKLE IN TIME when we were kids, so with the release of the incredible new movie, we decided it was time to give it another try. We talk about our history with the book and give our initial thoughts on Ep. 43, which you can listen to here: https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2018/05/02/ep-43-were-going-places

Anyone else out there who didn't read it as an adult? Or re-read it as an adult? ⠀

✨Ep. 42 has arrived!✨ ⠀
We're talking about INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN by Thanhha Lai and WHEREAS by Layli Longsoldier. Head over to your favorite podcatcher to listen to our discussion episode for #NationalPoetryMonth. And don't worry if you haven't read them yet. We wanted this episode to inspire those who haven't read them–so this one's for you!

One of our book picks this month is Shauna Barbosa‘s debut poetry collection CAPE VERDEAN BLUES. Just published this year, Barbosa's collection evokes a contemporary feel interlaced with Barbosa's personal style. What a great debut!⠀
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Tune in to Ep. 41 to hear more about CAPE VERDEAN BLUES and other poetry collections by or about women.⠀

#NationalPoetryMonth #FridayReads

Welcome back Littens! We‘re hosting a giveaway over on our Instagram page. Follow the link to enter.

https://www.instagram.com/thereadingwomen

Next month is National Poetry Month and we‘ll be featuring some incredible contemporary poets all month on the podcast. ⠀

While we‘re not discussing MILK & HONEY by Rupi Kaur, there‘s no denying that this collection has put poetry back on the mainstream radar—and not without debate. Have you read it? What do you think? Is it poetry? ⠀

Our weekly newsletter goes out tomorrow! We'll be featuring our most anticipated new book releases, reviewing a few books, and announcing our April discussion books. 🎉⠀

One of the books we'll be reviewing is Mary Beard's WOMEN & POWER, a booklet of two of Beard's lectures adapted for print. Be sure that you're subscribed so that you won't miss out!

readingwomenpodcast.com/newsletter

✨✨New Interview✨✨ Today on the podcast, we've got an interview with Anjali Sachdeva about her short story collection ALL THE NAMES THEY USED FOR GOD. It was one of our most anticipated reads for 2018, and it's now one of our top books of 2018. Needless to say, we're thrilled to have been able to talk to her.⠀ https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/interview-with-anjali-sachdeva

NEW Q&A
Today on the blog we have a Q&A with Xhenet Aliu, author of BRASS. It's the story of a mother and daughter as they each come of age in small-town Connecticut. Both want to leave their hometown, but the trials of young adulthood make their dreams feel so much farther away. Aliu talked with us about her inspiration for her debut novel and the importance of featuring working-class Americans in contemporary literature.
https://t.co/nPdzeRLv6y

"She was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world.”⠀
Oh, Edna Pontellier. She's quite the character. And, if you look at reviews of this book, quite polarizing. Regardless of how you may feel about this book, it's one of those daring stories that greatly influenced the books that followed it. We review this classic read (and five more) on the latest episode.

Here's to amazing women everywhere and all the incredible books they write.
And thanks to all of you who help us celebrate brilliant women writers the other 364 days of the year. 🎉
#InternationalWomensDay ⠀

Episode 39 is live!! 🎉 We talk about all the classic women we've never gotten around to including JANE EYRE, Phillis Wheatley, FRANKENSTEIN, and THE AWAKENING. Kendra also swears her undying love for Greek myths and nerds out about this amazing pro-woman translation of THE ODYSSEY. Thanks to @w.w.norton for sending us a copy!

Did you know we have a new Q&A on the blog with Beth Ann Fennelly? We both loved these mini, poetic stories that manage to be both touching and funny, while often fitting on one page. As she says, "The micro-memoirs in HEATING & COOLING explore the reverberations of a moment, particularly moments that seem small, unimportant, but, when the noise and clutter are cleared away, reveal themselves to be central to identity." It‘s on our website!

Happy #WorldBookDay!!! Tomorrow we send out our next newsletter! Be sure that you're subscribed so you won't miss our latest book reviews, book news, and most anticipated new book releases for March. This week, Kendra shares some of the books she read during a couple sick days she had this month. She always reaches for fantasy and mystery novels when she's down for the count. Do you have any particular genre you like to read during sick days?⠀

We loved getting to talk to Mira T. Lee about her novel EVERYTHING HERE IS BEAUTIFUL. It's a stunning book about sisters, family, and mental health ... well, I don't feel like I can do it justice. Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts to hear Mira talk about her writing process and where the inspiration for the story originated. And we're now on Spotify, so you can listen there too.
#ReadingWomenChallenge

Jende Jonga leaves Cameroon in hopes of finding a better life in America. He becomes a chauffeur to Clark Edwards, an executive at Lehman Brothers. But Jende starts to see that not all is OK with this NY exec. And when Jende learns he's being deported, everything begins to unravel. This is a powerful story about the struggles and difficulties of immigrant life. I can't believe I forgot to post about it before now! Hear our full review on Ep. 37. ⠀

If you‘re spending your weekend running around doing errands like I am, download our interview with Maggie O‘Farrell to keep you company along the way. She was such a delight to talk to and her new memoir is just amazing. Find the interview wherever you get your podcasts. .

Ep. 38 is live! 🎧💃🏽💃🏿💃🏾🎧
We're discussing KINDRED by Octavia E. Butler and HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi. We talk about the themes in both books, the structure/style, how they overlap and more. And we avoid spoilers, so if you haven't read either of these books yet, we won't ruin the ending for you. ⠀

Available wherever you get your podcasts. Have you read either of these books? What did you think?
#ReadingWomenChallenge

Hello friends! If you listen to the podcast, could you take a few minutes to fill out a survey letting us know what you think about it and how we could make it better? Thanks in advance. 🙌

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1u7NYCVqN8t5UDxNcJMYxbsMdvSPg-fxNIcP6ImHhT1k/vie...

Tomorrow we have our first discussion episode of the year! But be sure to check out our others picks for February. 📚🎉 One is this amazing essay collection that discusses the multifaceted issue of race. It‘s a great introduction to race relations in the U.K. and keep recommending it to EVERYONE. You may have also seen this book over on Emma Watson's feed as one of her selections for her #bookclub. You can hear our full review on Ep. 37.

I put QUEEN SUGAR on my TBR as soon as I saw the trailer for the TV show directed by Ava DuVernay. It's the story of Charley and her daughter Micah, who move from California to Louisiana to tend a sugar cane farm left to Charley by her dad. But it's not easy. Cane farming has historically been work for white men and slaves – and Charley is an African American woman.⠀

Hear our full spoiler-free review on Ep. 37 wherever you get your podcasts. ⠀⠀

We got to chat with Maggie O'Farrell about her her new memoir I AM, I AM, I AM. It's a beautifully written story about her life told through 17 brushes with death.

Maggie is a prolific fiction writer (You may have read THIS MUST BE THE PLACE in '16), but this is her first work of non-fiction. You can hear our entire conversation wherever you get your podcasts or follow the link readingwomenpodcast.com

Happy #Galentines Day! A few weeks ago, we did a #podcollab with the lovely women over at the @friendlierpodcast about social reading. Kendra and I talked about the different kinds of social reading and I talk about the first book I read because of social media — STATION ELEVEN! Listen here: www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/1/31/ep-365-friendlier-pod-collab

What are some of the best books you‘ve found via bookish social outlets?

🎉Happy Birthday #JudyBlume! I'm sure many of us had their book obsessions start with a book by Judy Blume.
🎂
Have you read any of her books?
What was the first Blume book you ever read?
Any standout favorites?

Today on the blog, we have a Q&A with friends and collaborators Acree Graham Macam and Natalie Nelson. We asked them about their creative process, how their friendship influenced their collaboration, and what it's like to write a picture book about Flannery O'Connor.

It‘s a wonderful way to introduce young readers to Flannery O‘Connor and captures her quirkiness perfectly.

Raise your hand if you need this on your bookshelf! 🙋🏻‍♀️

First off, let's just say how amazing is is that THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas has spent 48 weeks on the NYT YA Hardback Bestseller list. 🎉 🎉 Starr Carter is headed home with a friend from a party, when they're pulled over and her friend is shot. As the only witness, Starr is put into a situation where she must balance the safety of her family and what she believes. Listen to the full review on Ep. 37 of the podcast @ readingwomenpodcast.com

To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we chose as our first theme of the year Black Women Authors. One of the books we review on the podcast is HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi. You've probably heard about this book, or seen it make the rounds online, but let me tell you, it's totally worth the hype.⠀

You can hear our full review of this and five other incredible books on the podcast. Listed on our website or wherever you get your podcasts. ⠀

We were so excited to get to hear Min Jin Lee talk today. She‘s just as wonderful in person as you would expect. And so knowledgeable about the history that inspired PACHINKO!

We also got to meet Jenny of the @readingenvy podcast. If you haven‘t listened to her podcast yet, you really should she has the best recs. And we did a collaboration episode with her that you definitely don‘t want to miss.

Children's Authors & Illustrators Week: Let's be honest, no kid enjoys grammar. But using some sort of magic, Holub makes learning the parts of speech fun in LITTLE RED WRITING. As Little Red explores the type of story to write, she learns about nouns, adjectives, and more. Sweet's illustrations visualize the concepts (BOLD imperatives, etc.), which really help re-inforce the concepts. Fun for older kids (and the rusty adults) among us. ⠀

#ChildrensAuthorsAndIllustratorsWeek: LITTLE OWL'S NIGHT is a stunningly illustrated story by Divya Srinivasan. We go with Little Owl as he sees what all the forest animals do at night: Cricket sings and Hedgehog looks for mushrooms. He starts to wonder what happens during the day when he's a sleep, so he asks his Mom, and, well, you'll have to read the ending for yourself. A charming read and the first in a whole series of books about Little Owl.

Today, we have a special episode collab with the Friendlier Podcast about Social Reading. We talk about the first books we read after seeing them online, the different types of social networks and why we do/don't like them, and, of course, book clubs.

Give it at listen, let us know what you think, and head over to the Friendlier podcast to hear their part of the discussion.

readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/1/31/ep-365-friendlier-pod-collab

Some of the best books we‘ve ever read have been set in the American South - and they‘re often overlooked. Which is why we included it as a category in the #ReadingWomenChallenge. One of our favorites is Gloria Naylor's MAMA DAY. Based off of THE TEMPEST, this novel is a family saga set on the Georgia coast and filled with all sorts of mysteries. Head over to our GoodReads group for more recs.

Happy Monday! To those of you who participated in @24in48, congrats! You made it! Here's hoping you read a lot of books on your backlist and made room for some great new reads. Speaking of great new reads, our latest podcast episode is all about the books we are looking forward to the most in the first half of 2018, two of which are FEEL FREE and HEART BERRIES. Find out what else we're looking forward to by downloading Ep. 36.

Today‘s the first day of the @24in48!! These are a few of the books on my TBR—where should I start first? 😻 I‘ll be adding my reading updates to our Instagram stories, so stay tuned! What are you reading for the #readathon?

#24in48 #TBR #thereadingwomen

New on the blog, a Q&A with Thi Bui, author and illustrator of THE BEST WE COULD DO. We absolutely loved this graphic memoir and the illustrations make us all 😍. How could we not shortlist it for the nonfiction #ReadingWomenAward this year?

https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/1/26/qa-thi-bui

Happy Birthday to the goddess of modernism, #VirginiaWoolf. 🎂⠀

Woolf once wrote, “Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman.” Women have all too often been ignored throughout literary history. Let‘s help change that.

Thank you all for joining us in celebrating women writers. 💪
#thereadingwomen⠀

For our first podcast of 2018, we wanted to share with you just a few of the books we are looking forward to reading in the first half of the year. I mean, just look at that line up. 😍 You can find it wherever you get your podcasts. What books are you looking forward to in 2018??

https://www.readingwomenpodcast.com/blog/2017/8/30/ep-36-most-anticipated-new-re...

I did not expect this to be the hilarious essay collection it turned out to be. Scaachi shares what it‘s like to grow up in Canada as the daughter of Indian immigrants. And what it's like, generally, to be a 21st century woman. I especially resonated with her story "Size Me Up", where she talks about getting stuck in a skirt at a clothing retailer – where she once worked! I'm looking forward to reading more of her essays in the future. - A⠀

Thanks for the shout out, Bustle. 😘

https://www.bustle.com/p/9-podcasts-about-books-to-help-you-figure-out-wtf-you-w...

The @24in48 Readathon starts THIS Saturday! Have you signed up yet? .

We‘re sponsoring prizes for international giveaways, so be sure to check that out if you don‘t live in the US. Head over to the #24in48 page for details.

Quatro layers her novel with meaning, and her writing moves and rolls and burns with the emotions of her characters. In a just a few words, she conveys lifetimes of meaning. This book parallels spiritual and sexual intimacy, so it can get a little weird, and won't be for everyone. But her skill and insight into the truths we hide from others, and ourselves, make FIRE SERMON a book I will still be thinking about months from now.⠀

Tomorrow‘s newsletter includes a review of this book from Kendra‘s backlist. Don‘t miss it. Subscribe below:
Readingwomenpodcast.com/newsletter

After her fiancé is killed by a box jellyfish off the coast of Thailand, Shannon backpacks through Eastern Europe as she tries to come to terms with his death. Shannon says she wanted to this book to look at life after the death of a loved one, when the mourner must face day-to-day life as she deals with her grief. I appreciate how she emphasizes this theme, reminding us that grief is a never-ending process of emotions and memory. ?⠀

I moved this short story collection to the top of my list so I could read it before the #NationalBookAwards. Some of the reviews I read said that it was a little graphic, so I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. That said, each story in this collection was a wonderful, often harrowing, look at how society treats women's bodies. And it's not pretty. Longer review on our Instagram page about my favorite story. - A

Dr. André Cabral is a Brazilian-born man living in London. Life is peachy until he gets a letter from his ex-girlfriend Luana, who he's not heard from in 30 years. He‘s a wealthy son and she‘s the maid‘s daughter. Even though he's moved away from Brazil, he is still haunted by his summer of unrequited love and this letter stirs up 30-years worth of repressed emotions. And then things get crazy. Has anyone else read it? - A⠀
Revised for TW incest.

Who else is still not ready to take down their Christmas tree? ✋⠀
I wrote a blog post about my favorite fantasy books of 2017! One of them is JANE, UNLIMITED. At first I didn‘t know what to make of this quirky choose your own adventure book. But Cashore quickly won me over with her creativity and orchestration of all the different timelines in JANE. I will never doubt her ever again. You can check out my other favorites over on our website.⠀- K

Before I started this book, I worried that this novel would be a cliched story about yet another unhappy, 30-something working in a large city. Instead, I found a novel that takes a fresh look at loneliness and why our emotional and mental health are so vital to our lives. I found ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE to be a beautiful love letter to people who discover the courage to live their lives to fullest in face of horrible tragedy. - K