$14.89 (45% off) Shop Now. (Photo by: Albert Harlingue/Roger Viollet/Getty Images)(FILES) A picture taken 30 October 1984 shows Persian-born English writer Doris Lessing at her home in London. August 2, 2019 8:46 am. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Not always a comfortable read but often an invigorating one.Proving that feminism can be very funny indeed, Sunday Times’ columnist and presenter of the High/Low podcast Alderton’s often hysterical and gloriously optimistic look back on her turbulent twenties and the power of female friendship to get you through the worst of times is the best kind of tonic for a bad day.Irish writer Gleeson’s vivid essay collection tackles everything from birth, pregnancy and motherhood through to death, asking us to consider how we inhabit our bodies in today’s world and what that might mean for a woman in Ireland, where so much bodily autonomy has been restricted, in particular.All rights reserved. $27.00. This article contains affiliate links. BitchReads has been on hiatus, but our list of books that feminists should read is back—in a new format. Native Country of the Heart: A Memoir by Cherríe Moraga (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) BitchReads has been on hiatus, but our list of books that feminists should read is back—in a new format. 12 best feminist books of 2019 – everyone should read these These top tomes are this year’s must reads. Packed full of examples of “Black Girl Magic”, it’ll have you sighing with frustration, cheering with joy and celebrating its authors’ determination.One of the best of the recent influx of anthologies of feminist writing, Farrugla pulls together pieces from past and present to produce a sparkling, diverse collection of essays touching on everything from beauty standards to sex and pregnancy.From Sojournor Truth’s 1851 cry from the heart “Ain’t I A Woman?” to Mindy Kaling on cinema’s female stereotypes, there is something from every feminist to read, enjoy and learn from.Top lawyer Kennedy’s follow-up to the ground-breaking From the way in which probation appointments frequently ignore school hours and childcare appointments – leading to escalating sentences for often minor offences – to the continued “double standards” surrounding rape cases, Kennedy’s forensically detailed study makes for particularly salutary reading in the Me Too era.Journalist Buchanan’s warm and wonderful memoir covers her life growing up with five sisters – imagine Pride and Prejudice meets the Kardashians, Buchanan suggests – tackling everything from sisterly competitiveness to “Big Sister Syndrome” with wit and impressive lightness of touch.Australian comedian Frances-White adapts her popular podcast into book format with this passionate and engaging manifesto, tackling everything from the diet industry to toxic masculinity while reminding readers that feminism isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal and sometimes it’s ok to stumble.Not a word is wasted in Levy’s razor-sharp account of the end of her marriage, the death of her mother and her battle for creative autonomy in a world that still expects women to conform to certain behaviours.Reading less like a straight-forward memoir and more like a series of glimpses into Levy’s interior life, Gay’s powerful account of her gang-rape, her weight gain and the way in which her body is viewed both by the world and in her own mind is a harrowing, heart-breaking and thought-provoking addition to the conversation around weight and body image.The best of the recent influx of books about the women’s suffrage movement, Atkinson’s meticulous history is assured, detailed and definitive.While the amount of information on offer can threaten to overwhelm, it’s balanced by Atkinson’s eye for a good detail – the women who posted themselves as “human letters” to 10 Downing Street, the glorious insubordination of actress Kitty Marion who told a magistrate “men don’t always behave properly, and they get the vote” – and the skill with which she unfolds her tale.American editor and critic Crispin takes aim at the “banality” of modern-day feminism arguing for a radical overhaul of conversations around women’s rights and taking aim at everything from “outrage feminism” to the “spoil yourself stupid” feminism of women’s magazines.