Book after Book

Welcome to the blog tour for Daughters of the Nile  by Zahra Barri! More about the book… Paris, 1940. The course of Fatiha Bin-Khalid’s life is changed forever when she befriends the Muslim feminist Doria Shafik. But after returning to Egypt and dedicating years to the fight for women’s rights, she struggles to reconcile her political ideals with the realities of motherhood. Cairo, 1966. After being publicly shamed when her relationship with a bisexual boyfriend is revealed, Fatiha’s daughter is faced with an impossible decision. Should Yasminah accept a life she didn’t choose, or will she leave her home and country in pursuit of independence? Bristol, 2011. British-born Nadia is battling with an identity crisis and a severe case of herpes. Feeling unfulfilled (and after a particularly disastrous one-night stand), she moves in with her old-fashioned Aunt Yasminah and realises that she must discover her purpose in the modern world before it’s too late. Following ...

Welcome to the blog tour for A Bookshop of One's Own  by Jane Cholmeley! More about the book… What was it like to start a feminist bookshop, in an industry dominated by men? How could a lesbian thrive in Thatcher’s Britain, with the government legislating to restrict her rights? How do you run a business when your real aim is to change the world? The captivating true story of an underdog business and a woman at the very heart of the women‘s liberation movement. Silver Moon was the dream of three women – a bookshop with the mission to promote the work of female writers and create a much-needed safe space for any woman. Founded in 1980s London against a backdrop of homophobia and misogyny, it was a testament to the power of community, growing into Europe’s biggest women’s bookshop and hosting a constellation of literary stars from Margaret Atwood and Maya Angelou to Angela Carter. While contending with day-to-day struggles common to other ...

Welcome to the blog tour for Goddesses  by Nina Millns! More about the book… Ayesha is just about finding her feet on the London stand-up scene, but when her response to a sexist heckler goes viral, she finds herself drawn into an exclusive group of activists: a sacred circle of change makers, each woman with a specific gift to contribute to the cause. The circle draws in her friend Yaz too and they are both invited to an intimate hen do, except it’s not a hen do – it's a Goddess Retreat. While Ayesha, longing to find her tribe, tries desperately to fit herself into a shape that the women will accept, Yaz treats the entire ‘itinerary’ with open disdain. But the Goddess Retreat is no laughing matter. As the weekend descends into chaos, they’ll need to stick together if they want to get out alive. Goddesses  is a bitingly brilliant novel that explores the power dynamics of sisterhood and activism, the dark side of white feminism and the importance of making y...

Welcome to the blog tour for Forgotten Women by Zing Tsjeng! More about the book…  A compendium of women who shaped and were erased from our history. Forgotten Women  reaches around the world and its history to rediscover, retell and reinstate the lives of over 190 important and significant women. From Neolithic times to modernity, Zing Tsjeng has traced the women who have shaped their age and revolutionised society. In this book lies the strength, lives and sacrifices of women who have refused to accept the hand they’ve been dealt and have changed the course of our futures accordingly. More about the author… Zing Tsjeng is the editor in chief of VICE UK and the author of the Forgotten Women book series. She specialises in women’s and LGBTQ rights, politics, culture and lifestyle. She is also a documentary host and podcaster, her recent podcast for the BBC was entitled Forgotten Zingdom and she interviews for publications such as Vogue, Dazed, an...

Welcome to the blog tour for Hotbed by Joanna Scutts! More about the book… New York City, 1912. The very idea of feminism is radical and outlandish, but a group of women believe they can change the world. They meet in a bustling Greenwich Village restaurant and give their club a name that enshrines the notion of difference of opinion: Heterodoxy. Among themselves, the women could talk freely—no topic off limits—and plan their liberation without fear of a man labelling them difficult or strident. The group quickly grew: there were pairs of sisters and pairs of lovers; women entwined by family and marriage; and those who had studied together, worked together, and marched side by side for the vote. However, the history of Heterodoxy remains elusive. To allow each other space to disagree, the women kept no records of their meetings. In Hotbed, Joanna Scutts unravels the never-before-told story of this secretive, unruly club by exploring the lives of its members. Socialites and socialists; ...

Welcome to the blog tour for The Philosopher Queens , edited by Rebecca Buxton and Lisa Whiting ! Synopsis: The history of philosophy has not done women justice: you ve probably heard the names Plato, Kant, Nietzsche and Locke but what about Hypatia, Arendt, Oluwole and Young? The Philosopher Queens  is a long-awaited book about the lives and works of women in philosophy by women in philosophy. This collection brings to centre stage twenty prominent women whose ideas have had a profound but for the most part uncredited impact on the world. You ll learn about Ban Zhao, the first woman historian in ancient Chinese history; Angela Davis, perhaps the most iconic symbol of the American Black Power Movement; Azizah Y. al-Hibri, known for examining the intersection of Islamic law and gender equality; and many more. For anyone who has wondered where the women philosophers are, or anyone curious about the history of ideas it's time to meet the philosopher queens. How did this bo...

It is with special pleasure that today I welcome you to the blog tour for First in the Fight , written by Helen Antrobus and Andrew Simcock. About the book Emmeline Pankhurst stands proudly in St Peter’s Square, but she stands for so many more… First in the Fight  tells the compelling stories of the twenty women featured on the Our Emmeline statue long-list. Author Helen Antrobus brings to life the achievements of these radical Manchester women alongside beautiful illustrations by the Women in Print collective. Be part of the legacy of the 20 Manchester women who changed the world. Description The women of Greater Manchester have long stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight for equality and social change. The unveiling of the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst in St Peter’s Square, strove to represent the contributions that Manchester women had made not only to the city, but also to the rest of the world. Sitting alongside stunning illustrations from...

2019 marks the centenary of the Women’s Engineering Society and today I am extremely proud to be able to join the blog tour for a book that – now more than ever – is very close to my heart: Magnificent Women and Their Revolutionary Machines by Henrietta Heald . About the book... In 1919, in the wake of the First World War, a group of extraordinary women came together to create the Women’s Engineering Society. They were trailblazers, pioneers and boundary breakers, but many of their stories have been lost to history. To mark the centenary of the society's creation, Magnificent Women and Their Revolutionary Machines brings them back to life. Their leaders were Katharine and Rachel Parsons, wife and daughter of the engineering genius Charles Parsons, and Caroline Haslett, a self-taught electrical engineer who campaigned to free women from domestic drudgery and became the most powerful professional woman of her age. Also featured are Eleanor Shelley-Rolls, sister of car magn...

By Geoffrey Trease Synopsis: An office worker and an aristocratic young lady become unlikely friends as they work together for women's right to vote. A thrilling story of secret meetings, police oppression and social upheaval, as well as an accurate account of the Suffragette movement in the years before the First World War. How did this book end up in my hands? While walking through the library, a book cover caught my attention. This cover! Was it a page-turner? We all know how the fight for women’s suffrage ended so I didn’t rush to the end. Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Yes, it did. On a side note, at first I hadn’t noticed that the author was a man. It shouldn’t matter but for a moment I faltered as it almost seemed nonsensical to be reading a short novel about the Votes for Women struggle written by a man from the point of view of women. It worked though and I’m glad I wasn’t put off. Did I like the ending? Yes, the short novel en...

Written by Emmeline Pankhurst Published by Vintage Books "I began to think about the vote in women’s hands not only as a right but as a desperate necessity." (p.27) This ye ar marks the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted votes to women over the age of 30 with property valued at £5 or more. It is thanks to the anniversary of this milestone in the Votes for Women campaign that I reached for my copy of My Own Story , Emmeline Pankhurst’s memoir, first published in Great Britain in 1914. The faded receipt hidden among the pages places my purchase on the 30th December 2014 in the shop of the National Portrait Gallery in London. It has taken me a while to do justice to Mrs Pankhurst’s words and I now firmly believe that everyone should read this book, regardless of sex or political beliefs. If you are looking for gossip, you will find none. What you will gain by reading this book is a clear and matter-of-fact insight into the Women’...

B y Louise Kay Stewart Illustrated by Eve Lloyd Knight Published by Wren and Rook , Hachette Children's Group Rebel Voices – The Rise of Votes for Women – is a children’s book. A children’s book with a difference. I mean, take a look at that bold, feisty and unapologetic front cover. Doesn’t it make you feel ready to take on the world? That same world that you can see reflected in those beautiful eyes. Such a smart cover! Equally smart is the content. Girls will be inspired and empowered by the women portrayed in this book. Women who take risks, break rules, speak out. Women who are dedicated and passionate. Women who are not afraid to lose everything they have – including their lives – for a cause they believe in. Women who fight and – ultimately – women who win. On the centenary of some women gaining the right to vote in the UK, this is such a brilliant homage to all women who have linked arms all over the world to fight for equality. The text is informative and eas...

100 years ago, for the first time in the UK, some women obtained the right to vote! A lot is still to be achieved but it is only fair to remember everything that has already been achieved and to be grateful to those extraordinary women who have come before us. A great film to watch - and definitely worth a re-watch - is Suffragette : If you're more into the written word, this is what I am going to be reading this month: My Own Story by Emmeline Pankhurst and an interesting article about Eleanor Marx - because all great women deserve to be remembered. I will be sharing more titles in celebration of 100 years of vote on Twitter , using the hashtag #FeministBookshelf . Please feel free to add your recommendations in the comments below or on Twitter.

B y Charlotte Perkins Gilman Published by Dover Thrift Editions Synopsis: When three American men discover a community of women, living in perfect isolation in the Amazon, they decide there simply must be men somewhere. How could these women survive without man's knowledge, experience and strength, not to mention reproductive power? In fact, what they have found is a civilisation free from disease, poverty and the weight of tradition. All alone, the women have created a society of calm and prosperity, a feminist utopia that dares to threaten the very concept of male superiority. How did this book end up in my hands? A friend of mine had recommended it to me as a ‘must read’ for any self-respecting feminist and I followed her advice. Was it a page-turner? Not for me. I found myself wanting to pick up the book purely because I hoped that the interesting part might be just around the page! Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Not entirely. The sy...

One more title from my ever-expanding reading wish list. ** The cover image is for illustrative purposes only. If you are a publisher and would kindly like to offer me a copy of this book for review, I will change the cover so as to reflect the edition received. ** Man Made Language By Dale Spender Amazon's product description: This edition of this feminist study of language offers clear analysis of the ways in which our language is "man-made", of all the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which the masculine is asserted as the norm, while feminine experience is muted and pushed to the margins of life and language. Why I want to read this book: I am extremely fascinated by the feminist view on language and the way it shaped society.