Publishers often lump female-interest novels into the chick-lit category, but women's issues fiction books tackle substantive topics in a wide variety of genres. From literary fiction and young adult novels to historical and even speculative fiction, the settings may vary but the concerns are the same. How can women be authentic to themselves while confronting the challenges of everyday life?
"The Generosity of Women" by Courtney Eldridge
Courtesy Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The benefits of friendship between women is undeniable, but sometimes the drama among old friends can make you crazy. In this complex, multi-layered literary novel about the intertwined lives of six women -- mothers, daughters, best friends, acquaintances -- each woman contributes her own unique perspective in a constantly-shifting narrative that relies heavily on dialogue and flashbacks to take the reader through an emotional five-day period. From a 16-year-old who hates her life to a successful fiftysomething woman who's falling in love (and afraid of the consequences), these women's lives will captivate, infuriate, and entertain you...and challenge you to reexamine your own.
"Four Freedoms" by John Crowley
© Courtesy William Morrow
With so many women in the workforce today, it's hard to remember a time when wives were hesitant to work outside the home. Acclaimed author John Crowley recreates that era in "Four Freedoms," which follows a handful of women during World War II as factories opened their doors to wartime female workers. Living the life epitomized by the iconic Rosie the Riveter, the women at Van Damme Aero in Ponca City, Oklahoma come from all over the U.S. to manufacture airplanes and enjoy the benefits of a steady income. But underneath their seeming independence, old wounds are still tender from the lives they left behind. Each woman has to deal with the past before she can embrace the future, and one man links all of them in this well-written novel.
"Brutal" by Michael Harmon
Courtesy Random House
The world needs more strong heroines, especially in young adult fiction, and Poe Holly is one of the toughest and most independent ones to come along in a while. In "Brutal," the 16-year-old heroine finds herself living in a new town with a father she's never known, dumped by a surgeon mother who puts her medical career above her daughter. Instead of descending into self-pity, however, Poe gets caught up in fighting against school administrators and students who turn a blind eye to a very real problem -- bullying. Poe's not the victim; instead, it's her neighbor Velveeta, a strange gawky kid who is targeted by the high school football star. How Poe confronts injustice is a compelling tale recommended not only for teens but adults as well.
"Daughters of the North" by Sarah Hall
In a not-too-distant future in which global disasters have lead to the breakdown of society, an ominous Authority takes over and forces women to submit to mandatory contraception. A female narrator identified only as Sister tells how she dreams of escaping from the fenced in Official areas to find sanctuary in Carhullan -- a legendary village of women. Award-winning novelist Sarah Hall's vision of a feminist utopia is anything but idyllic, and the novel poses the question of how far women will go and how high a price any of us would be willing to pay for freedom and self-determination. Bold, graphic, and at times stomach-turning, "Daughters of the North" is a provocative read.
