Feminism and feminist theory Books

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Book SynopsisDrawing on explorations of the labour movement and working-class politics, Brenner provides a materialist approach to one of the most important issues of feminist theory today: the intersections of gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and class.'

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Book SynopsisMore than a memoir of personal and political achievements, this volume chronicles a family's development from Mexican immigrants to American leaders. Written in an authentic and unique voice, this book describes how the author’s Mexican parents instilled a love of learning, a desire to excel, and a commitment to community in their children. Relating how her heritage and upbringing allowed her to lead her community and promote social justice, the author conveys a courageous story of hope, love, faith, and a fighting spirit long committed to social and environmental justice, regardless of the personal cost.Trade ReviewMaría, Daughter of Immigrants is a landmark book, essential reading for anyone hoping to understand San Antonio and the woman who remains an inspiring role model for a new generation of leaders." —San Antonio Express-News (September 16, 2012)"This book is a rare achievement—both a landmark story of one bright life and a beacon for many others. . . . Her book gives us an eye-witness account of how real politics work in a major U.S. city." —Jim Hightower, editor, Hightower Lowdown, author, Swim against the Current"Painfully and purposefully honest, this book carries the decisive mark of personal history, introspection, and whistle-blowing on the issues that count." —Carmen Tafolla, Poet Laureate, City of San Antonio, author, Sonnets and Salsa Curandera and Rebozos"Maria's book is a testimony to a moment in women's history, in mestiza history, in the history of the borderlands. It is a document chronicling an American story, and as such, belongs to us all." —Sandra Cisneros, author, The House on Mango Street"What a rich exploration of the frontiers of a life of service. This autobiography is a treasured window into a bilingual, bicultural world. It is a story of political struggle, occasional triumph, and always commitment to the community." —Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, executive director, NETWORK: The National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

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Book SynopsisSociety of Midland Authors Literary Award Finalist in Biography & Memoir Award-winning journalist Michele Weldon provides a potent antidote to the harried single mom stereotype in this beguiling memoir of raising three sons alone in the face of cancer, an ambitious career, and the shadow of her ex. Untethered from a seemingly idyllic life with a handsome but abusive attorney husband, Weldon relates the challenges and triumphs of the years that followed her divorce as she maneuvers through a complicated life of long daily commutes, radiation treatments, supporting the boys’ all-consuming high school wrestling careers, and trying to mitigate their hurt and resentment at an absent father. By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Weldon describes facing her fears and failures honestly, guided by a belief in the power of staying calm, doing one’s best, and asking for help. She provides a graceful example of how a single mother, and her children, can succeed when others—neighbors, family, teachers, and in this case an incredible high school wrestling coach—step in to fill the void and she can stay the course with common sense and dutiful love.Trade Review"Michele Weldon's memoir of raising three sons in the absence of their father brims with candor, humor, anger, and abundant tenderness. In the face of daunting challenges, mother and boys find grace and resilience from unexpected sources: the wrestling mat, and the extraordinary high school coach who redefines what makes a family." Nancy Horan , New York Times--bestselling author, Loving Frank and Under the Wide and Starry Sky"With affable, heartfelt text, Weldon shares the intimate details of her trial-and-error parenting of three competitive wrestlers, each in varying stages of resentment over their father's heartless disinterest in them." Kirkus Reviews"There are so many things to admire about Escape Points . The honesty. The heart. The compulsive readability. I don't know how Michele Weldon made wrestling, breast cancer, and single parenting tie together so naturally, so beautifully, but in fact each is a perfect metaphor for this book's message of soulful triumph." Elizabeth Berg, New York Times bestselling author of The Dream Lover"Escape Points is the riveting memoir of a mother and her sons, a compelling story of life, love, and family, told through the prism of the sport they adore, wrestling. Michele Weldon is a beautiful writer. This is a beautiful story." Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist and ABC News, CNN, and PBS commentator"Journalist and single mother Weldon is the Everyperson voice of parents everywhere who are raising children on their own for anyone who has been through a contentious divorce, or breast cancer, or child support battles, or kids' wrestling matches and cauliflower ears or anything similar, Weldon's voice will ring of truth and wisdom and hurt and, yes, the beauty of it all." Booklist"Weldon's honest reflectionssprinkled with humorous anecdotesread like a stream of consciousness, somehow relating cancer, divorce and motherhood to sports, all the while maintaining a strong undertone of hope." West Suburban Living

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Book SynopsisNamed a Wisconsin Writers Award Honorable Mention What is it like to be a young mother threatened with deportation to the country whose government has imprisoned you and whose soldiers have raped and tortured you? You don’t want to leave your children behind, but how can you take them with you, knowing that your homeland, ruled by chaos and violence, is notorious for murdering failed asylum seekers? Regina Bakala found herself in just this situation ten years after escaping the Congo and settling in the United States. Upon arrival, Regina had worked with an immigration lawyer, then joyfully reunited with her husband, also a Congolese torture survivor, and had two children. Life was challenging but full of hope until the night there was a knock at the door and immigration agents burst in. They forced Regina from her home as her family watched, then locked her in prison to await deportation to certain death. In Rescuing Regina, author Josephe Marie Flynn tells Regina’s powerful story—and how her husband, a pit-bull lawyer, a group of volunteers, and a feisty nun set aside political differences to galvanize a movement to save her. Revealing what she uncovered about US immigration policies and the dangers faced by those escaping war crimes, Flynn exposes an America most never see: a vast underbelly of injustice, a harsh detention and deportation system, and a frighteningly arbitrary asylum process. In their battle for justice, Regina and Josephe not only confronted dangerous obstacles but also reawakened emotions and traumas from the past. A compelling story of a quest for justice, Rescuing Regina is also a tale of friendship, faith, hope, and the transformative journey of two friends.

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Book Synopsis“A work of courage and ferocious honesty” (Diana Abu-Jaber), Double Bind could not come at a more urgent time. Even as major figures from Gloria Steinem to Beyoncé embrace the word “feminism,” the word “ambition” remains loaded with ambivalence. Many women see it as synonymous with strident or aggressive, yet most feel compelled to strive and achieve—the seeming contradiction leaving them in a perpetual double bind. Ayana Mathis, Molly Ringwald, Roxane Gay, and a constellation of “nimble thinkers . . . dismantle this maddening paradox” (O, The Oprah Magazine) with candor, wit, and rage. Women who have made landmark achievements in fields as diverse as law, dog sledding, and butchery weigh in, breaking the last feminist taboo once and for all. “Both intimate and scalable” (Atlantic.com), Double Bind finally seizes “ambition” from the roster of dirty words.Trade Review"In essays that are bold, absorbing, insightful, and wise, the writers in Double Bind explore the complicated realities of what it means to be an ambitious woman today. I was enthralled by this important book, and moved too. I want to press it into the hands of everyone I know and say, Read it: the truth is inside." -- Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things"Wonderful, readable stories that are as complex and compelling as their authors. Double Bind raises as many questions as it provides answers, but they are questions that women and men with wives, sisters, and daughters should be pondering." -- Anne Marie Slaughter, author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family"Daring, wonderfully readable, and packed with truth. Double Bind is a work of courage and ferocious honesty. A book to inspire us now and the generations of ambitious women to come." -- Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Life Without a Recipe: A Memoir and Crescent"Robin Romm has assembled a terrific group of writers to explore an essential and durable topic. Double Bind is always engaging." -- Meg Wolitzer, author of The Interestings"I read this book from cover to cover on two plane flights, and I instantly felt welcomed into my tribe of women struggling with ambition. Some of these women want ambition; some do not. Some are polite and demur in their expressions of ambition; others are ballsy (!) and forward. Some of the women feel supported in their pursuit of ambition; others struggle alone. Listening to the voices of all these women, I felt embraced and understood." -- Kara Cooney, author of The Woman Who Would Be King"This vital book is full of the true, brave voices of women who’ve accomplished great things despite living in a culture that pays lip service to the notion of women’s full humanity but still does so much to hold us back—including, not incidentally, teaching us to hate and doubt ourselves. Now more than ever, these stories need to be read." -- Emily Gould, author of Friendship"The animating ethos of Double Bind is that there is soft political power in the discussions it offers—in stories that are both intimate and scalable. The book is dedicated to giving voice to a problem, thus humanizing it—and thus, also, productively re-complicating it." -- Megan Garber - Atlantic.com"A welcome addition to the discourse on a topic that rarely receives the kind of honest and wide-ranging consideration these essays offer. A thoughtfully provocative anthology." -- Kirkus Reviews"Women today have been told that they can ‘have it all,’ but novelist and essayist Romm presents a collection of essays that reveals that the reality is much more complex. . . . Raw, frank, and utterly relatable, this collection is a must-read." -- Kristine Huntley - Booklist (starred review)"Illuminating . . . . While not an advice book in the traditional form, the experiences recounted and lessons learned seep as if by osmosis, and Romm’s thoughtful aggregation has provided a diversity of voices." -- Publishers Weekly"Ambition will always be complicated for women, and not just because of external impediments: it is an imperfect drive, enacted in imperfect circumstances, that inevitably leads to imperfect things. The more compelling essays in Double Bind address this head on." -- Jia Tolentino - NewYorker.com"On one hand, women are told to claim their seat at the table and run the world. On the other, society still synonymizes female ambition with bitchiness. Essays by nimble thinkers from Roxane Gay to Molly Ringwald explore and dismantle this maddening paradox." -- O, The Oprah Magazine

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Book Synopsis"This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre Beautifully written and deeply personal, this book follows the struggles and triumphs of one single, immigrant mother of color to raise an American feminist son. From teaching consent to counteracting problematic messages from the media, well-meaning family, and the culture at large, the author offers an empowering, imperfect feminism, brimming with honest insight and actionable advice.Informed by Jha's work as a professor of journalism specializing in social justice movements and social media, as well as by conversations with psychologists, experts, other parents and boys--and through powerful stories from her own life--How to Raise a Feminist Son shows us all how to be better feminists and better teachers of the next generation of men in this electrifying tour de force. Includes chapter takeaways, and an annotated bibliography of reading and watching recommendations for adults and children. "A beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family." —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All QuestionsTrade Review"How to Raise a Feminist Son has practical to-do lists about how to tackle some of the hardest conversations."—NPR“Jha weaves her own fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, and always beautiful story of raising her own feminist son with careful research, insightful interviews, and helpful advice. This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre “[A] beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family.” —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All Questions “Essential reading for any parent, loved one, or teacher seeking to raise feminist boys in these times."—V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and The Apology “Combining the insight of memoir with sound advice, How to Raise a Feminist Son is a glorious map to a better future.”—Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk "Sonora Jha takes on the hardest questions and the most-fraught conversations with nuance and grace. Here, when addressing the deepest anxieties of parents raising boys committed to a fair and just society, her insights are invaluable." —Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her"A beautiful and honest ode to imperfect parents everywhere who are trying to raise kind, compassionate, confident feminist sons."—Ms. magazine"Jha issues an urgent, fervent plea to raise feminist sons in this trenchant guide. At times touching and always impassioned, this is an excellent resource for like-minded parents."—Publishers Weekly"In How to Raise a Feminist Son, [Jha] has created a feminist manifesto steeped in personal story that seeks to unwind and re-weave the way we make men."—The Rumpus"Part memoir, part parenting guide...combines Jha’s life story and her indispensable advice and is essential reading for today’s parents."—Booklist"By weaving moving, personal stories about her own life and her son’s life together with research and interviews, Jha encourages readers to embrace the difficulties and the joys simultaneously."—Seattle Times"Jha has accomplished something magical here: a blend of memoir, theory, and practical advice that’s as entertaining and funny as it is provocative and enlightening."—Jordan Shapiro, author of Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad

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Book Synopsis"This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre Beautifully written and deeply personal, this book follows the struggles and triumphs of one single, immigrant mother of color to raise an American feminist son. From teaching consent to counteracting problematic messages from the media, well-meaning family, and the culture at large, the author offers an empowering, imperfect feminism, brimming with honest insight and actionable advice.Informed by Jha's work as a professor of journalism specializing in social justice movements and social media, as well as by conversations with psychologists, experts, other parents and boys--and through powerful stories from her own life--How to Raise a Feminist Son shows us all how to be better feminists and better teachers of the next generation of men in this electrifying tour de force. Includes chapter takeaways, and an annotated bibliography of reading and watching recommendations for adults and children. "A beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family." —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All QuestionsTrade Review"How to Raise a Feminist Son has practical to-do lists about how to tackle some of the hardest conversations."—NPR“Jha weaves her own fascinating, sometimes heartbreaking, and always beautiful story of raising her own feminist son with careful research, insightful interviews, and helpful advice. This book is a true love letter, not only to Jha's own son but also to all of our sons and to the parents--especially mothers--who raise them.”—Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race and Mediocre “[A] beautiful hybrid of memoir, manifesto, instruction manual, and rumination on the power of story and possibilities of family.” —Rebecca Solnit, author of The Mother of All Questions “Essential reading for any parent, loved one, or teacher seeking to raise feminist boys in these times."—V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and The Apology “Combining the insight of memoir with sound advice, How to Raise a Feminist Son is a glorious map to a better future.”—Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk "Sonora Jha takes on the hardest questions and the most-fraught conversations with nuance and grace. Here, when addressing the deepest anxieties of parents raising boys committed to a fair and just society, her insights are invaluable." —Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her"A beautiful and honest ode to imperfect parents everywhere who are trying to raise kind, compassionate, confident feminist sons."—Ms. magazine"Jha issues an urgent, fervent plea to raise feminist sons in this trenchant guide. At times touching and always impassioned, this is an excellent resource for like-minded parents."—Publishers Weekly"In How to Raise a Feminist Son, [Jha] has created a feminist manifesto steeped in personal story that seeks to unwind and re-weave the way we make men."—The Rumpus"Part memoir, part parenting guide...combines Jha’s life story and her indispensable advice and is essential reading for today’s parents."—Booklist"By weaving moving, personal stories about her own life and her son’s life together with research and interviews, Jha encourages readers to embrace the difficulties and the joys simultaneously."—Seattle Times"Jha has accomplished something magical here: a blend of memoir, theory, and practical advice that’s as entertaining and funny as it is provocative and enlightening."—Jordan Shapiro, author of Father Figure: How to Be a Feminist Dad

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Book SynopsisContains new facts concerning Nixon, Watergate, and the death of Dorothy Hunt, wife of E. Howard Hunt Dorothy Hunt, “An Amoral and Dangerous Woman” tells the life story of ex-CIA agent Dorothy Hunt, who married Watergate mastermind and confessed contributor to the assassination of JFK. The book chronicles her rise in the intelligence field after World War II, as well as her experiences in Shanghai, Calcutta, Mexico, and Washington, DC. It reveals her war with President Nixon and asserts that she was killed by the CIA in the crash of Flight 553. Written by the only person who was privy to the behind-the-scenes details of the Hunt family during Watergate, this book sheds light on a dark secret of the scandal.Trade Review"In his heartfelt memoir, Dorothy , St. John Hunt, the son of E. Howard Hunt, reveals startling and unknown details about the Watergate scandal. Dorothy exposes dangerous truths -- it was an act of courage to write it." Mark Lane, author, Citizen Lane"Was the fatal 1972 plane crash that killed her intended to prevent Mrs. Hunt from telling what she knew about Watergate and other secrets, including the JFK assassination? Who better to present the thrilling story of the intrigue surrounding this woman than her son?" Jim Marrs, author, Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy" Dorothy reads like a gripping spy novel and you are wise to have selected this title. I have no doubt that Saint John Hunt will continue to help us uncover the hidden history of the United Sates and the truth shall set us free." Roger Stone, author, The Man Who Killed Kennedy: The Case Against LBJ"I and many others strongly suspected this was a case of cover-up by murder." Jim Marrs, author, Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy" Dorothy is a fascinating story of love, intrigue and espionage. Dorothy Hunt's key role in Watergate and mysterious death have never been fully examined, until this book. Dorothy reads like a novel and is a gripping spy thriller as well as a true story of untold history." Eric Hamburg, producer, Nixon

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Book SynopsisTwelve incisive, probing essays on womanhood in popular culture. An Atlantic Edition, featuring long-form journalism by Atlantic writers, drawn from contemporary articles or classic storytelling from the magazine’s 165-year archive.On Womanhood: Bodies, Literature, Choice gathers a selection of Pulitzer Prize finalist Sophie Gilbert’s essential and attentive essays on womanhood and popular culture. Unflinchingly positioning television and literature as capacious sites of feminist critique, Gilbert’s criticism sharply surveys our contemporary media landscape. This collection joins treatises on beloved series like Game of Thrones with thoughtful meditations on Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale; ponders the lessons supermodels offer us on questions of consent; and examines the rebellious literary legacies of Jane Austen, Margaret Atwood, and their respective contemporaries. On Womanhood offers some of the most commanding popular criticism of this generation.

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Book SynopsisSTEM gets steamy when a coder takes up sexting to pay the bills in this daring debut novel, perfect for fans of Olivia Dade and Kate Stayman-London.As the only woman programmer at her firm, Lark is thrilled to land an account for a huge client. But her dream job quickly becomes a nightmare when she accidentally projects a scandalous (and completely unsolicited) picture from her phone onto the screen during a presentation. Before she can recover, her coworkers jump in to steal the account, leaving Lark jobless and broke.When a friend suggests text message–based sex work as a stopgap between jobs, Lark is dubious. She's all about sex positivity, but carrying out sexual fantasies—even digitally and anonymously—with complete strangers is daunting. How will she explain how she’s earning a living—especially to Toby, her good friend and longtime hopeless crush?Still, she needs the money, and after a few (embarrassing and hilarious) false starts, she actually starts to like sexting—especially with one particularly charming and nerdy client who keeps popping up in her DMs. But as Lark and Toby grow closer, she finds herself with a decision to make: tell Toby she’s a sex worker—and try to forget the anonymous client who has her struggling to separate work from real feelings—or keep the secrets that are piling up in her inbox.Sure to appeal to readers of Helen Hoang and Jen DeLuca, Amber Roberts’s Text Appeal celebrates women in STEM, friends becoming lovers, and finding lasting love in the digital age.

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Book SynopsisFinalist for the Gotham Book PrizeAn explosive tale of art and myth, desire and betrayal, from New York Times bestselling author Jill BialoskySomething terrible has happened and I don’t know what to do. An unnamed narrator’s life is unraveling. Her only child has left home, and her twenty-year marriage is strained. Anticipation about her soon-to-be-released book of poetry looms. She seeks answers to the paradoxes of love, desire, and parenthood among the Greek and Roman gods at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As she passes her days teaching at a boys’ prep school, spending her off-hours sequestered in the museum's austere galleries, she is haunted by memories of a yearlong friendship with a colleague, a fellow poet struggling with his craft. As secret betrayals and deceptions come to light and rage threatens to overwhelm her, the pantheon of gods assume remarkably vivid lives of their own, forcing her to choose between reality and myth in an effort to free herself from the patriarchal constraints of the past and embrace a new vision for her future.The Deceptions is a page-turning and seductively told exploration of female sexuality and ambition as well as a human drama that dares to test the stories we tell ourselves. It is also a brilliant investigation of a life caught between the dueling magnetic poles of privacy and its appropriation in art and literature. Celebrated poet, memoirist, and novelist Jill Bialosky has reached new and daring heights in her boldest work yet.

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Book Synopsis"Moving, multifaceted, and deeply human...as eye-opening as it is compelling” —Cecile Richards, author of Make Trouble At a time where reproductive rights are at risk, these vital stories of diverse individuals serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy, finding community and motivating advocacy For a long time, when people asked Dr. Meera Shah, Chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, what she did, she would tell them she was a doctor and leave it at that. But when she started to be direct about her work as an abortion provider an interesting thing started to happen: one by one, people would confide that they'd had an abortion themselves. The refrain was often the same: You're the only one I've told. This book collects these stories as they've been told to Shah to humanize abortion and to combat myths that persist in the discourse that surrounds it. A wide range of ages, races, socioeconomic factors, and experiences shows that abortion always occurs in a unique context. Today, a healthcare issue that's so precious and foundational to reproductive, social, and economic freedom for millions of people is exploited by politicians who lack understanding or compassion about the context in which abortion occurs. Stories have the power to break down stigmas and help us to empathize with those whose experiences are unlike our own. A portion of proceeds will be donated to promote reproductive health access. Trade Review"You're the Only One I've Told boldly breaks the silence around abortion that has served as a weapon for denying human rights and health care for far too long. Meera Shah places a wide range of engrossing abortion stories in their social, legal, and political contexts and spotlights the unjust toll restrictions on abortion access inflict. Her much-needed reproductive justice lens shows that abortion is not a cure for poverty and other structural inequities but is absolutely essential to ensuring freedom and equality. An illuminating and inspiring call for reproductive freedom for everyone." -- Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body"A clear-eyed and shame-free examination from a doctor on the frontlines, You're the Only One I've Told is the book the feminist movement has been waiting for. Everyone should read it." Jessica Valenti, columnist and author of Sex Object: A Memoir"The courage and honesty in the writing of Dr. Meera Shah paints the clearest of pictures: abortion isn't a political tool. It is health care. Personal, moving and necessary - truly a must read" Alyssa Mastromonaco, New York Times bestselling author and cohost of Crooked Media's #Hysteria podcast"These moving stories, taken together, sharply reveal the connections among 'reproductive justice, gender justice, racial justice, and economic justice.' A strong contribution to discussions of reproductive rights." Kirkus Reviews"Through these compelling stories, Dr. Shah reveals the determination and the deliberations of people who seek abortion care. This book shows, as my research has confirmed, that people make the decision to end a pregnancy balancing their own responsibilities and visions for the future. With Dr. Shah as our guide, we see the compassion and thoughtfulness of people who dedicate their careers to providing abortions." Diana Greene Foster, PhD, author of The Turnaway Study" You're the Only One I've Told goes far beyond the headlines and political rhetoric to paint a moving, multi-faceted, and deeply human picture of abortion. Dr. Meera Shah blends medical expertise and facts with personal accounts, resulting in a book that is as eye-opening as it is compelling." Cecile Richards, author of Make Trouble"To declare "I own my body" is revolutionary. To say "I count" is revolutionary. We do that by sharing our stories. And when our stories come together they create a subversive wave that sweeps away shame and silence. In this vital book, Dr. Meera Shah gifts her confidants - the storytellers - and us - the reader - with that power. Read this book." Mona Eltahawy, author of The Seven Necessary Sins For Women and Girls"Readers who have felt isolated or stigmatized in talking about their own abortions will find stories that resonate, while others will have their concept of who seeks an abortion broadened. This is a moving and deeply informed argument for abortion as a human right." Publishers Weekly"Shah places a wide range of engrossing abortion stories in their social, legal, and political contexts and spotlights the unjust toll restrictions on abortion access inflict. Her much-needed reproductive justice lens shows that abortion is . . . absolutely essential to ensuring freedom and equality. " Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body"I learned something I didn't know about abortion in every chapter of this book. Deeply thankful for this resource." Alex, Goodreads"I fell in love with the humans and their stories. I feel like this should be required reading in school. It's compassion training 101 and important right now more than ever." Claire, Goodreads

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Book Synopsis"A must-read for any activist or reader in search for a piece of inspiration." —Liz Shuler, president, AFL-CIO9 to 5 wasn’t just a comic film—it was a movement built by Ellen Cassedy and her friends. Ten office workers in Boston started out sitting in a circle and sharing the problems they encountered on the job. In a few short years, they had built a nationwide movement that united people of diverse races, classes, and ages. They took on the corporate titans. They leafleted and filed lawsuits and started a woman-led union. They won millions of dollars in back pay and helped make sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination illegal. The women office workers who rose up to win rights and respect on the job transformed workplaces throughout America. And along the way came Dolly Parton’s toe-tapping song and a hit movie inspired by their work.Working 9 to 5 is a lively, informative, firsthand account packed with practical organizing lore that will embolden anyone striving for fair treatment.Trade Review"A must-read for any activist or reader in search for a piece of inspiration." -- Liz Shuler, president, AFL-CIOTable of ContentsForeword by Jane Fonda Prologue 1. Every Morning 2. Vying for Power 3. Start-Up 4. “I’m Not a Feminist, But . . .” 5. A Bill of Rights for Women Office Workers 6. Teetering for Our Rights 7. While He Was Wearing Them 8. In Our Glory! (Part I): “We Think a Lot of Women . . . ” 9. A Union of Women, by Women, for Women 10. Se-cre-ta-REES, Unite! 11. In Our Glory! (Part 2): The Wallpaper Comes Alive 12. Going National 13. Hollywood 14. Our Union Goes National 15. Looking Back, Looking Ahead Epilogue Time Line Resources Discussion Guide Acknowledgments Index

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Book Synopsis"Brujas, Witches of Color are ancestral magical beings and the world we live in has tried to silence our voices. . . . This book is such a beautiful tribute to the different stories and experiences we go through as brujas. . . . Amplify the voice of Witches of Color by reading their stories." —Juliet Diaz, author of Witchery and Plant WitcheryThere is a new kind of witch emerging in our cultural consciousness: the bruja.Witchcraft has made a comeback in popular culture, especially among feminists. A growing subculture of BIPOC witches, led by Afro-Caribbean immigrants, Indigenous Americans, and other witches of color, is reclaiming their ancestral traditions and contributing their voices to the feminist witchcraft of today. Brujas chronicles the magical lives of these practitioners as they develop their healing arts, express their progressive politics, and extend their personal rituals into community activism.They are destigmatizing the “witch” of their ancestries and bringing persecuted traditions to the open to challenge cultural appropriation and spiritual consumerism. Part memoir, part ritual guide, Brujas empowers readers to decolonize their spiritual practices and connect with their own ancestors.Brujas reminds us that witchcraft is more than a trend—it’s a movement. Table of ContentsPart I: A Magical Ancestry Ch 1: The New Brujas Ch 2: Occult Powers Ch 3: The Ancestral Curse Ch 4: Guardian Spirits Part II: Spiritual Activism Ch 5: Joy as Resistance Ch 6: Abuelita Medicine Ch 7: Queer Magick Ch 8: White Witches Part III: The Brujapreneur Ch 9: Bruja Feminism Ch 10: Drama at the Botanica Ch 11: Brown Girl Coven Ch 12: Decolonizing Futures

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Book Synopsis“A vivid investigation of faith, perseverance, and human violence as they exist at the end of the world . . . Scintillating.” —Brian Evenson, author of Song for the Unraveling WorldThis “genre-shredding” (Tor.com) feminist dystopian eco-horror, perfect for fans of The Last of Us, traces a girl’s coming-of-age on a post-apocalyptic trek through the Southwest.In a bleak, desiccated future, eleven-year-old Magdala and her father are forced to flee through the desolate landscape of the American Southwest, searching for shelter and peace. Pursued by horrors both unnatural and all-too-human, they join a pilgrimage to the holy city of Las Vegas, where it is said that vigilante saints reside, bright with neon power. Magdala, born with a clubfoot, is determined to be healed there. But one by one, the pilgrims and her father fall victim to an eerie, all-consuming sickness—leaving Magdala to fend for herself in the wilderness.After surviving for years on her own, Magdala grows tired of waiting for her miracle. She turns her gaze to Las Vegas once more, taking an exiled Vegas priest hostage to guide her as she navigates the unsettling expanse of the desert and the hungry, dark ambitions of men. Even as she nears the holy land, Magdala must choose: survival or salvation?In this moving debut novel, acclaimed short fiction writer Kay Chronister twines the strange, terrible beauty of the desert into a haunting exploration of faith and hope. Bold and disquieting, Desert Creatures is a surreal examination of humanity and the myths we tell ourselves to survive.Trade Review★ “Chronister’s futuristic, dog-eat-dog Sonoran and Mojave deserts are as devastating as they are inventive. . . . Chronister cleverly deploys and subverts horror, dystopian and western genres alike in this razor-sharp novel.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review“If The Canterbury Tales was set in future Sonoran and Mojave deserts, it might look a little like this . . . [A] strange and frightening vision.” —Publishers Weekly“Chronister pierces with her prose. You’ll find hope and acts of kindness in an unkind world. Desert Creatures is not a comfort read—it is rife with horror, betrayal, and a landscape that will burn itself on your consciousness. But in the end, this book will comfort you.” —BookRiot’s "Best Books of 2022"“[Desert Creatures] is a striking new take on the post-apocalypse novel, invigorating an old genre tradition with new vitality and life. And it is a haunting meditation on what it means to retain our humanity under the most adverse of conditions. It is a masterpiece, all the more impressive for being Chronister’s debut.” —The Fantasy Hive “Genre-shredding . . . Stunning . . . A story of both creation and apocalypse, where characters struggle with both belief and heresy.” —Tor.com“In [this] distorted version of Las Vegas wherein false saints peddle false promises, . . . a rejected girl takes a wretched journey whose inward dimensions hold the potential for healing. . . . Heartbreaking.” —Foreword Reviews“A vivid investigation of faith, perseverance, and human violence as they exist at the end of the world . . . Scintillating.” —Brian Evenson, author of Song for the Unraveling of the World“Incredible . . . pushing the wild weirdness of the Sonoran Desert toward the furthest extremes of possibility. I will never forget this uncanny world, nor brave Magdala’s quest across it.” —Matt Bell, author of Appleseed“[Desert Creatures] does for the Southwest desert what Jeff VanderMeer did for Florida’s swamps and Algernon Blackwood did for the Danube. . . . Unlike most post-apocalyptic works, the narrative never revels in the downfall of modernity, but scavenges in the remnants of what was and calls forth the twinned opulences of medieval Catholicism and Las Vegas as its guideposts. . . . This is the book of monsters our liminal year deserves.” —Ancillary Review of Books

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Book SynopsisThis “genre-shredding” (Tor.com) feminist dystopian eco-horror, perfect for fans of The Last of Us, traces a girl’s coming-of-age on a post-apocalyptic trek through the Southwest.In a bleak, desiccated future, eleven-year-old Magdala and her father are forced to flee through the desolate landscape of the American Southwest, searching for shelter and peace. Pursued by horrors both unnatural and all-too-human, they join a pilgrimage to the holy city of Las Vegas, where it is said that vigilante saints reside, bright with neon power. Magdala, born with a clubfoot, is determined to be healed there. But one by one, the pilgrims and her father fall victim to an eerie, all-consuming sickness—leaving Magdala to fend for herself in the wilderness.After surviving for years on her own, Magdala grows tired of waiting for her miracle. She turns her gaze to Las Vegas once more, taking an exiled Vegas priest hostage to guide her as she navigates the unsettling expanse of the desert and the hungry, dark ambitions of men. Even as she nears the holy land, Magdala must choose: survival or salvation?In this moving debut novel, acclaimed short fiction writer Kay Chronister twines the strange, terrible beauty of the desert into a haunting exploration of faith and hope. Bold and disquieting, Desert Creatures is a surreal examination of humanity and the myths we tell ourselves to survive.Trade Review★ “Chronister’s futuristic, dog-eat-dog Sonoran and Mojave deserts are as devastating as they are inventive. . . . Chronister cleverly deploys and subverts horror, dystopian and western genres alike in this razor-sharp novel.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review“If The Canterbury Tales was set in future Sonoran and Mojave deserts, it might look a little like this . . . [A] strange and frightening vision.” —Publishers Weekly“Chronister pierces with her prose. You’ll find hope and acts of kindness in an unkind world. Desert Creatures is not a comfort read—it is rife with horror, betrayal, and a landscape that will burn itself on your consciousness. But in the end, this book will comfort you.” —BookRiot’s "Best Books of 2022"“[Desert Creatures] is a striking new take on the post-apocalypse novel, invigorating an old genre tradition with new vitality and life. And it is a haunting meditation on what it means to retain our humanity under the most adverse of conditions. It is a masterpiece, all the more impressive for being Chronister’s debut.” —The Fantasy Hive “Genre-shredding . . . Stunning . . . A story of both creation and apocalypse, where characters struggle with both belief and heresy.” —Tor.com“In [this] distorted version of Las Vegas wherein false saints peddle false promises, . . . a rejected girl takes a wretched journey whose inward dimensions hold the potential for healing. . . . Heartbreaking.” —Foreword Reviews“A vivid investigation of faith, perseverance, and human violence as they exist at the end of the world . . . Scintillating.” —Brian Evenson, author of Song for the Unraveling of the World“Incredible . . . pushing the wild weirdness of the Sonoran Desert toward the furthest extremes of possibility. I will never forget this uncanny world, nor brave Magdala’s quest across it.” —Matt Bell, author of Appleseed“[Desert Creatures] does for the Southwest desert what Jeff VanderMeer did for Florida’s swamps and Algernon Blackwood did for the Danube. . . . Unlike most post-apocalyptic works, the narrative never revels in the downfall of modernity, but scavenges in the remnants of what was and calls forth the twinned opulences of medieval Catholicism and Las Vegas as its guideposts. . . . This is the book of monsters our liminal year deserves.” —Ancillary Review of Books

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA thrilling and eccentric novel about what it means to make art as a woman, and about the powerful forces of voyeurism, power, obsession, and online performanceWoo Woo follows Sabine, a conceptual artist on the verge of a photo exhibition she hopes will be pivotal, as she plunges deeper into her neuroses and seeks validation in relationships—with her frustratingly rational chef husband, her horde of devoted Gen Z TikTok followers, and even a mysterious, potentially violent stalker. Accompanying her throughout are Sabine’s strange alter egos, from hyperrealistic puppets of her as a baby to the ghost of conceptual artist Carolee Schneemann, who shows up with inscrutable yet sage life advice. Ella Baxter approaches the desire to see and be seen that defines both the creative and romantic act with humor, empathy, and a good dose of wildness, driving Sabine to an surreal and compelling climax that forces her—and us—to reconsider what it means to be an artist and a partner.

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Book SynopsisFrom author Deryn Collier comes a smart, charming postwar historical novel based on the true story of an aspiring writer who dares to dream big. Montreal, 1947. To support her once-prosperous family, June Grant joins a steno pool in a prestigious advertising firm. For June, it’s hard to imagine having the kind of life her parents want—the kind of life her sister Daisy has, with a well-off husband and two precocious kids. But Daisy might not be a picture-perfect housewife after all. As June makes her own waves in the advertising world, she probes a hidden side of her sister’s life. June’s discoveries upend everything she thought she knew about her sister while challenging her own inner conflict about pursuing her dreams versus living up to expectations. Being a dutiful housewife might mean something else entirely. Based on the true story of the author’s aunt, A Real Somebody charts the journey of a talented young writer who dares to break the conventions of her time during one pivotal season of her life.Trade Review“The formal societal norms of those days are well displayed to transport readers to that era…The story is narrated aptly in June’s first-person voice—a pleasurable read.” —Historical Novels Review

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Book Synopsis“A courageous novel, beautifully imagined and written.” —Elena Lappin, The Washington Post"De Cespedes' work has lost none of its subversive force”—The New York Times Book Review* "De Céspedes’s melancholy testament to a hidden life feels timeless and vital." —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)From the author of Forbidden Notebook, Alba de Céspedes, a richly told novel she called “the story of a great love and of a crime.”As she looks back on her life, Alessandra Corteggiani recalls her youth during the rise of fascism in Italy, the resistance, and the fall of Mussolini, the lives of the women in her family and her working-class neighborhood, rigorously committed to telling “her side of the story.” Alessandra witnesses her mother, an aspiring concert pianist, suffer from the inability to escape her oppressive marriage. Later, she is sent away to live with her father's relatives in the country, in the hope she’ll finally learn to submit herself to the patriarchal system and authority. But at the farm, Alessandra grows increasingly rebellious, conscious of the unjust treatment of generations of hardworking women in her family. When she refuses the marriage proposal from a neighboring farmer, she is sent back to Rome to tend to her ailing father.In Rome, Alessandra meets Francesco, a charismatic anti-fascist professor, who ostensibly admires and supports her sense of independence and justice. But she soon comes to recognize that even as she respects Francesco and is keen to participate in his struggle to reclaim their country from fascism, this respect is unrequited, and that her own beloved husband is ensnared by patriarchal conventions when it comes to their relationship. In these pages, De Céspedes delivers a breathtakingly accurate and timeless portrayal of the complexity of the female condition against the dramatic backdrop of WWII and the partisan uprising in Italy.Trade Review"Alba de Céspedes wrote novels in the 1940s and 1950s that were radically contemporary, both then and now . . . [her] fiction is written with an acute sense of responsibility to tell the truth. . . . Her Side of the Story is a courageous novel, beautifully imagined and written.”—Elena Lappin, The Washington Post"Her Side of the Story is an achievement that warrants not only a second look at this forgotten writer, but also an important place in the canon of women’s literature."—Margarita Diaz, The Chicago Review of Books ★ "De Céspedes’s melancholy testament to a hidden life feels timeless and vital."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)"A lavishly detailed critique of romantic ideals and social constrictions."—Kirkus Reviews"De Cespedes' work has lost none of its subversive force."—The New York Times Book Review"Asks perennial questions about the value and dangers of an examined life."—Lara Feigel, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisOur Culture Magazine Best Book of 2023 “Rushton's work is generous, thoughtful, and honest, taking care neither to romanticize nor to disparage the choice to become a parent.” —Jenny Hamilton, Booklist (starred review)A bold feminist investigation into the mother of all questions; whether or not to become a parent in these turbulent times.Should we become parents? This timeless question forces us to reckon with who we are and what we love and fear most in ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world as it is now and as it will be.When Gina Rushton admitted she had little time left to make the decision for herself, the magnitude of the choice overwhelmed her. Her search for her own “yes” or “no” only uncovered more questions to be answered. How do we clearly consider creating a new life on a planet facing catastrophic climate change? How do we reassess the gender roles we have been assigned at birth and by society? How do we balance ascending careers with declining fertility? How do we know if we’ve found the right co-parent, or if we want to go it alone, or if we don’t want to do it at all?To seek clarity on these questions, Rushton spoke to doctors, sociologists, economists, and ethicists, as well as parents and childless people of all ages and from around the world. Here, she explores and presents policies, data, and case studies from people who have made this decision—one way or the other—and shows how the process can be revelatory in discovering who we are as individuals.Drawing on the depth of knowledge afforded by her body of work as an award-winning journalist on the abortion beat, Rushton wrote the book that she needed, and we all need, to stop a panicked internal monologue and start a genuine dialogue about what we want from our lives and why.Trade Review"Moving . . . Showing equal kindness and compassion."—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker“Rushton's work is generous, thoughtful, and honest, taking care neither to romanticize nor to disparage the choice to become a parent.”—Jenny Hamilton, Booklist (starred review)"Rushton is asking a question that is likely to resonate with anyone paying attention: "I want to know how people parent without living in permanent denial or perpetual dread." [ . . . ] The Parenthood Dilemma, in its inability (or perhaps refusal) to offer a black-and-white response to a complex, messy inquiry, may actually be an answer in and of itself, inviting insight, reflection, and comfort."—Kerry McHugh, Shelf Awareness"As a woman who struggled with whether or not to have a child, I appreciated Gina Rushton's The Parenthood Dilemma immensely. I loved the beautifully written introspection and the meticulous reporting around considerations like climate change, fertility, genes, and reproductive rights -- even as Rushton comes to understand that ‘no one is going to write the ending for me.’ I hate the term ‘must-read,’ but damn it, everyone considering having kids in this chaotic era should read this book." —Amber Sparks, author of And I Do Not Forgive You"Gina Rushton brings her forensic journalistic eye to the question of whether we choose to be a mother or not. This is an honest, compelling, well-researched book that makes a valuable contribution to the contemporary discussion about reproductive choices and rights in a nuanced and thoughtful way." —Dr. Pragya Agarwal, author of Sway and (M)otherhood"With a journalist’s doggedness, a philosopher’s scope, and a thirtysomething woman’s sense of a deadline looming, Gina Rushton rips back the sentimental gauze of motherhood to confront a question as urgent as it is unmentionable: Should I -- should anyone -- bring a child into a world on fire? For parents and non-parents alike, this book is a call to arms to build a fairer, freer, more sustainable, and more truly feminist future."—Joanna Scutts, author of Hotbed and The Extra Woman"A fiercely intelligent meditation on the decision to have a child, and an interrogation of all that modern motherhood entails."—Leah Hazard, author of Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began and Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story"Gina Rushton reports unflinchingly from the disjunction between received wisdoms about motherhood and received realities that continue to constrict the choices of women of her generation. A significant and vital book; a must-read." —Sarah Krasnostein, author of The Believer"The Parenthood Dilemma changed the way I view my life, myself, and the way I relate to the world. I say that without exaggeration. This is a vital, necessary read not just for those considering parenthood but for anyone who wants to live a more conscious, compassionate life and to more deeply understand the relation between individual and community, human and climate, and between our present lives and the past and future."—Emma Bolden, author of The Tiger and the Cage: A Memoir of a Body in Crisis"A vigorous interrogation of one of the most significant decisions of our lives. Exceptionally clever, unfearing, and tender. An important addition to a growing body of contemporary literature that examines the intersection between our personal lives and global justice."—Alice Kinsella, author of Milk: On Motherhood and Madness"A smart and insightful exploration of parenthood – both personal and political – that’s sure to move, stir and inspire."—Chloë Ashby, author of Second Self and Wet Paint"A passionate and punchy exploration of modern parenthood, mixing memoir with journalism, the personal and the political. A propulsive and powerful read."—Sam Mills, author of Fragments of my Father and Chauvo-Feminism: On Sex, Power & #MeToo

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Jennifer McMahon and Silvia Moreno-Garcia comes a haunting and atmospheric new novel from debut author Katrina Monroe.If you can hear the call of the water,It's already far too late.They say Cape Disappointment is haunted. That's why tourists used to flock there in droves. They'd visit the rocky shoreline under the old lighthouse's watchful eye and fish shells from the water as they pretended to spot dark shapes in the surf. Now the tourists are long gone, and when Meredith Strand and her young daughter return to Meredith's childhood home after an acrimonious split from her wife, the Cape seems more haunted by regret than any malevolent force.But her mother, suffering from early stages of Alzheimer's, is convinced the ghost stories are real. Not only is there something in the water, but it's watching them. Waiting for them. Reaching out to Meredith's daughter the way it has to every woman in their line for generations-and if Meredith isn't careful, all three women, bound by blood and heartbreak, will be lost one by one to the ocean's mournful call.Part modern gothic, part ghost story, They Drown Our Daughters explores the depths of motherhood, identity, and the lengths a woman will go to hold on to both.

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