Books by Women Authors that are NOT J.K. Rowling
Our world is home to so many creative women authors who have written millions of books to be enjoyed, pondered, and questioned. Yet, when asked to think about their favorite female author many people pick J.K. Rowling. Her Harry Potter series is incredibly popular; it is the highest selling book series ever. But, people also need to remember that she is a transphobic person who has also included little to no representation of the LGBTQ+ community in her books. During women’s history month this year, dig into some of the books and works of the female authors listed here that have been recommended by the Pacific community and enjoyed by many. Take a look at some books by women authors that aren’t J.K. Rowling.
Uncomfortable Labels by Laura Kate Dale
Uncomfortable Labels: My Life as a Gay Autistic Trans Woman written by Laura Kate Dale is a wonderful memoir for the modern day. I think Dale explains her own life and story best through this quote from her book: "So while the assumption when I was born was that I was or would grow up to be a neurotypical heterosexual boy, that whole idea didn't really pan out long term." You can access this book through Pacific’s library and read it anywhere as an ebook!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Hate U Give was recently adapted into an award winning movie in 2018. The book, published in 2017, was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and the murder of Oscar Grant by police in 2009. The novel follows the main character Starr as she navigates her poor neighborhood and her fancy school. The book has won multiple awards including the Goodread Best of the Best award in 2018.
Emma by Jane Austen
The book Emma follows the life of Emma Woodhouse and how she learns to become more introspective and to stop forcing her way into her friend’s affairs. Emma is the rare female protagonist that is actually flawed in a real way that women can relate to. She is handsome, clever, and rich, but she is also precocious, meddlesome, and spoiled. You can check this book out at the Stockton campus library in print or read it as an ebook.
Recommended by: Emma Garber (author of this article and staff writer for the Pacifican)
New York School Painters & Poets: Neon in Daylight by Jenni Quilter
Jenni Quilter teaches writing at New York University and she has written four books. Her most recent book, New York School Painters & Poets: Neon in Daylight, explores the lives and works of important New York artists from the 1940s to 1950s through their art, writing, and memories. It also led Quilter to be a finalist for the 2014 AICA Award for Best Criticism.
Recommended by: Dr. Camille Norton, professor in the Department of English
The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg
This book follows the hidden stories of the “bacha posh” or girls who are temporarily raised and presented to the world as boys. Jenny Nordberg is a Swedish journalist and award-winning investigative reporter who spent five years working on The Underground Girls of Kabul. The story of survival presented in this book shows the often hidden strength and energy of Afghan women. There are some interesting reviews and articles about the book and about Jenny Nordberg available on the library website.
Recommended by: Emma Garber (author of this article and staff writer for the Pacifican)
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The novel Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988. It follows the story of former slave Sethe and her memories. Sethe is not free from the ghosts of her past as she mourns her child who died. The child’s gravestone is labeled only with the word “Beloved.” Toni Morrison was a prolific writer who authored eleven novels and three essay collections. She was also the first black female editor in fiction at Random House. Beloved is available in print at the Stockton campus library along with the movie released in 1998.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
The book tells the gruesome and ultimately tragic story of how young scientist Victor Frankenstein created a creature out of dead people’s body parts. The creature learns to have a will of its own and causes death and suffering. The reader is left with many questions about life, mortality, and who the real victim was after reading this book. Mary Shelly is considered to be one of the earliest writers of science fiction and she was only 18 when she started writing the story.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Normal People is Irish author Rooney’s second book published in 2018. It has also recently been made into a television series on Hulu. The book follows the untraditional but relatable love story between teenagers Marianne and Connell. Both the book and TV show have high ratings!
Author recommended by: Lizbet Garcia (Pacifican Staff writer and avid reader)
Borderlands/ La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa
Anzaldúa grew up on the Mexico-Texas border. She has written many books and she is best known for her work Borderlands/ La Frontera. She was a political activist and a scholar of Chicana cultural theory, feminist theory, and queer theory. There was some criticism of her work because of potential indigenous erasure and ignoring of black history, though her impact on history, wriitng, and feminism are still seen today.
Author recommended by: Lilliana Lopez (Editor in Chief of The Pacifican)
All works by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was not only a stunning author and poet, she was also a strong civil rights activist. She expanded the genre of autobiography through her work. Angelou is best known for writing mainly autobiographical work, like the novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Many pieces of Angelou’s work and different biographies about her are available in the library on the Stockton campus both in physical print and online formats.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street is author Sandra Cisneros’ first book. It is a coming of age novel that tells the story of 12-year old Esperanza Cordero and how she grows up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. It is told through a series of vignettes and touches on many sensitive subjects like domestic violence and racism. The House on Mango Street often faces threats of censorship but it still remains required reading in many schools and universities.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood tells the story of June and how she survives in the theocracy of Gilead. The book explores many difficult dystopian topics and it shows how the freedom of women is removed by taking away their jobs and money. Women are eventually forced into certain roles in the cryptic society of Gilead. Atwood has written multiple books and remains a popular author today. Many of her works are available at the library on the Stockton campus.
