APOOO All-time Favorites for Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month and a dialogue came up among APOOO members about what books we would choose among our all-times favorites list. --http://www.apooobooks.com/library/apooo-all-time-favorites/. Some of us needed clarification of what books qualifies to be on the list. Does is just have to be a book written by a woman? Or about a woman? Does it have to be historical? Just what? The conclusion was that everyone would define the criteria for themselves.
There were so many books on our All-times Favorites list and I reviewed each one that I had read and deemed why it made my Women’s History Month literature list. Below is my list and a brief explanation why each book qualifies to be on this list.
72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell- ground breaking; brought mental illness to the African American community forefront
March is Women’s History Month and a dialogue came up among APOOO members about what books we would choose among our all-times favorites list. --http://www.apooobooks.com/library/apooo-all-time-favorites/. Some of us needed clarification of what books qualifies to be on the list. Does is just have to be a book written by a woman? Or about a woman? Does it have to be historical? Just what? The conclusion was that everyone would define the criteria for themselves.
There were so many books on our All-times Favorites list and I reviewed each one that I had read and deemed why it made my Women’s History Month literature list. Below is my list and a brief explanation why each book qualifies to be on this list.
72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell- ground breaking; brought mental illness to the African American community forefront
And on the Eighth Day She Rested by JD Mason- survivor, coming into her own
Angel of Harlem by Kuwana Hausley- historical fiction about a New York’s first black woman doctor
Cane River by Lalita Tademy- historical; women surviving slavery, racism, and slavery
Coldest Winter Ever by Sistah Souljah - ground breaking- girl child lost
Color Purple by Alice Walker - classic; women survivors, strong women of early century
Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon- young woman coming-of-age against odds
Crawfish Dreams by Nancy Rawles- matriarch of large Creole family keeps family together
Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Shelia Williams - I will survive; I am woman
Darkest Child by Delores Phillips- What poverty and racism and lack of education does to black women; survivor
Daughter by asha bandele- explores mothers and daughters relationship in the deepest way
Disappearing Acts by Terry McMillan - woman learning to survive despite heartbreak- women’s fiction
Douglass Women by Jewel Parker Rhodes- powerful; another I will survive
Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas- historical; young woman coming into her own during civil rights
Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy- young woman learns the meaning of her roots; awakening
Gal by Ruthie Bolton - Survivor story if there ever was one
Getting Mother’s Body by Suzan-Lori Parks- ground breaking; hecka funny
The Hand I Fan With by Tina McElroy Ansa- women and sexuality
Hottentot Venus by Barbara Chase Riboud- historical; a testament to racism and survival
Hunger by Erica Turnipseed- learning to get beyond the pain and becoming a real woman
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou- survivor, coming of age
Jump at the Sun by Kim McLarin- finding oneself when the world is swallowing you up
Justus Girls by Slim Lambright- girlfriends, the 60s, and survival
A Love Noire by Erica Turnipseed- loving oneself and finding self
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor- she the wo-man
The New Moon’s Arm by Nalo Hopkinson- women and midlife, menopause
No Place Safe by Kim Reid- autobiographical; living through history of mass murder of black children
October Suite by Maxine Clair- 50s era woman and how society, class, and racism shaped educated black women
Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice - another mother/daughter dynamics; getting through pain
Passport Diaries by Tamara Gregory- throwing cares to the wind and doing your thing
Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown- autobiographical; survival
Playing My Mother’s Blues by Valerie Wilson Wesley another mother daughter, secrets and lies and how the past shapes women's circumstances
The Prisoner’s Wife by asha bandele- ground breaking memoir- why an educated, intelligent woman would marry a prisoner
The Professor’s Daughter by Emily Raboteau- finding oneself in a color conscious world
Push by Sapphire- survivor classic
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry- how women hold families together
Rhythms by Donna Hill - historical coming-of-age
Shifting Through Neutral by Bridgett Davis- daughter/father story- how having a father shapes you
Song Yet Sung by James McBride- I am woman slave survivor
The Street by Ann Petry- a mother's love defies poverty and racism
Unburnable by Marie-Elena Jones- finding self; discovering roots
Upstate by Kalisha Buchanon- coming of age of young woman at crossroads of life
When Did You Stop Loving Me by Veronica Chambers- daughter searching for elusive father
When She Was White by Judith Stone- the politics of race on a young woman who didn't have a choice in Apartheid South Africa
Who Does She Think She Is by Benilde Little - I'm going to do it my way; loving self
6 comments:
What a wonderful list Dera! I concur wholeheartedly with your choices and I love your justifications for why they are included. You've inspired me to do the same for my blog -- I'll reference yours and try to make some additions...Great job -- I can tell you put thought into this exercise.
Great job...hopefully next week I will get my list done.
Wonderful list -- saw a couple of books that I have not read and since they are on your list - I will put on my TBR list.
All on your list that I have read are great reads to cuddle up with and lose yourself.
You will laught, you will cry but one thing is for sure - all of those stories will become a part of you.
Thanks for sharing
Great list! I wish I had time to participate.
Great list Dera,
I have read almost all of them, the two by Kalisha Buckhanon I have yet to read...so I need to order them...thanks!
Blessings!
angelia
Thanks Phyllis. This was fun.
Yas, looking forward to your list.
Beverly, I couldn't believe I read all these books except for a couple.
Darnetta, I hope things slow down for you.
Angelia, you will love both Buckhanon's books. Well written.
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