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As we saw in "5 Great Biographies from the Last Few Years", these types of books can give us a glimpse into the life of some truly interesting characters. As a result, we may be able to understand them a little bit better, even beyond what the media might have told us about them. Of course, this isn't limited to real life, as fiction books are nothing but a reflection of real-life issues the authors face. In fact, both genres can help us understand the struggles and victories women face in our society.
With that in mind, here are four books written by remarkable women, to read for Women's History Month and beyond.
Molly’s Game by Molly Bloom
Most biographies tell the story of a person trying to overcome multiple problems, and succeeding in the end. The story of Molly Bloom, however, follows a different path. It tells the story of a woman who overcomes a life-changing injury, only to discover that her skills led them in a dangerous direction.
In Molly’s Game, Bloom describes how her dreams of becoming an Olympic skier were destroyed by an injury, forcing her to use her other skills to find success. She did in the form of a high-stakes poker game organizer, a career that allowed her to meet famous athletes and Hollywood actors, but that also brought her problems with the law.
Open Book by Jessica Simpson
When Jessica Simpson was invited to write a book on how to live your best life, she realized people saw her as someone who never had to experience suffering or struggles. Simpson did end up writing a book, but this time it was about how the need to please others can both bring success and problems.
Open Book is an inner monologue between Simpson and her most intimate struggles, like balancing a successful singing career with becoming the embodiment of multiple Hollywood clichés. Through these experiences though she learned some valuable lessons such as the value of true friendship, as well as helping others.
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
People are not like fictional characters. They may have beliefs and display behaviors that seem contradictory from the outside while being perfectly logical from the inside. And there's no better example of these than the creator of Wonder Woman, William Moulton Marston.
In The Secret History of Wonder Woman, Jill Lepore explains how Marston's particular view of feminism led him to create one of the most famous superheroes in popular culture. The book delves into some surprising revelations regarding the private life of Marston, giving us a glimpse into a life so intense and peculiar, that it was adapted to film in the form of the biographical drama "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women".
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
There are fewer stories that have caught the attention of younger audiences around the world like The Hunger Games. The book was extremely popular among young adults and was adapted into a successful movie franchise. The story about resisting an authoritarian government was so successful, that some of their symbols were replicated by anti-government movements around the globe.
In The Hunger Games Collins tells the story of a world where extreme divisions have led governments to force districts to fight each other for resources in a brutal televised competition. The books describes this dystopian world and its issues with more details than the movie directed by Gary Ross. So it's definitely worth listening to even if you already saw the film.
Audiobooks are not just a fun way to spend your free time. They are doors to learning experiences that may come from complex imaginary worlds and personal real-life struggles. And there’s no better time to enjoy these wonderful works by female writers, than Women’s History Month.
