"Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan" by Zarghuna Kargar

250 pages

This is a collection of stories gathered for "Afghan Women's Hour," a weekly BBC program that ran from 2005-2o12. Kargar, who grew up in Afghanistan before moving to the United Kingdom, used the connections she had there to find women with interesting, inspiring, and often heartbreaking stories and shared them on the program. There's a child bride given as payment to settle a family feud. One woman spent nearly every day of her life in a dark room weaving carpets. One girl was raised as a boy because her family couldn't handle the shame of being son-less. Many of the Afghan women women featured had to tell their stories anonymously because revealing their identities would endanger them. 

I think I got a lot out of this book. I knew things were bad for women in Afghanistan, but hearing individuals' stories, in their own voices, made it really feel real. That many of these women were able to overcome such insane obstacles is a huge inspiration, and it makes me realize that if they can do that, I can do much more in my more secure environment. Their stories put my problems in perspective. 

"Break Any Woman Down" by Dana Johnson

157 pages


In this collection of short stories, Dana Johnson explores race and gender identity with honesty and often humor. Most of the stories feature women who are trying to find their own place in a world that tries to identify them by their race. There's one about a black stripper whose white boyfriend, a porn actor, insists she stop stripping. In another, and eleven-year-old girl as a crush on a white boy from Oklahoma who, like her, is an outsider in their Los Angeles school. Another story features a woman who struggles to break free of the low expectations her mother has for her. Dana Johnson does a great job of bringing these characters to life, which is difficult to do in the limited space of short stories. As with any collection, there are some stories that I liked more than others. For the most part, though, I enjoyed them all. They offer short glimpses into these women's lives, but these glimpses show aspects of their lives as a whole. 

"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker

290 pages

This novel spans thirty years in the life of Celie, a poor, uneducated black woman living in the American South during the early 20th century. Her story is told through letters, the earliest addressed to God and the latest addressed to her sister, Nettie, who spent most of her life in Africa. Celie has been abused her entire life, first by her father, who rapes her and allegedly murders the consequent children, and then by her husband, who considers her worthless and knocks her around. She's never felt loved, but she doesn't seem to expect it because she's accepted that that's the way her life is. Then she meets a couple of remarkable women who show her that she's a beautiful person and that it's okay to stand up for oneself. As she slowly grows into her natural self, several big surprises change her life even more.

This is one of the books that was on my Librarian Shame List because I'd gone through high school, college, and the first few years of my adult life without reading it. I wish I hadn't waited so long! The intimate writing style drew me in right away (though I would have appreciated some punctuation!) and I immediately cared deeply for Celie, Nettie, Shug, and the others. The story is paced so well and there are so many shocking surprises along the way that it was hard for me to put the book down. There's so much to think about that's addressed in this book: racism, subjugation of women, human sexuality, colonialism, violence, self-esteem, and more. It will break your heart but also inspire you and stimulate some good thought and discussion (I led a book discussion on this title and it was a perfect pick!).

Women in the Civil War

Cobblestone, Discover American History by many authors, 48 pp

Women in the Civil War were not just your average 1800's lady. Some were soldiers, spies, doctors, nurses, authors, chaplains, teachers, and much more. Usually these roles were of men, not women. Several women were involved in espionage. All just wanted to desperately help their side of the war.

I have been reading a lot about women of the Civil War lately and these books are very interesting. I especially like this Cobblestone book because it has fun ideas of what young girls did as well during the Civil War. There are several authors in this book. The stories are really neat how they set them all up to. There are fun activities and even a comic strip on the last page of the book. A lot of fun and interesting facts!

Women Who Dare ~ Women of the Civil War

By: Dr. Michelle A Krowl, 63 pp

Bold, brave women did their part in the Civil War here in the United States. Some may also be a bit extreme, like Anna Dickinson. Dickinson was in her early twenties, but very famous for her speeches. She once "commanded a $1,000 speaking fee in 1863, at a time when ordinary soldiers received just $13 a month."

The picture on the right above is of brave Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. She was well-known for her giving the opportunity for the soldiers not having to always amputate their limbs. She was awarded Congressional Medal of Honor bestowed by President Andrew Jackson, however, later in 1917 she was stripped of her award on a technicality, but Walker refused to give her medal up. She wore her medal until her death in 1919. In 1977, her award was restored.

This book only touches on just a very few of the women that were well-known for their courage, support, and activities during the Civil War.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is informational. There are actual pictures of these women that Dr. Krowl speaks of in this book, which brings them to light.

Simply Irresistible: Unleash Your Inner Siren etc... by Ellen T. White

Longest.subtitle.ever

Yes, I am that librarian that totally judges a book by its cover.  I discovered this book by accident on the shelf kinda like a crow sees something shiny. Ooooh, it’s pretty and red! I admit, I snickered at the full subtitle and almost put it back. Ok, if you must know: Unleash your inner siren and mesmerize men, with help from the most famous and infamous women in history. Happy?

Basically, the author has broken down the world of sirens into five different categories ranging from companion siren to sex kitten siren. It all sounds a little bit ridiculous until she breaks down each category into brief biographies about different women throughout history that have fit into each of the siren roles.  Each woman’s  background and how they used their feminine wiles and what lessons the reader can take away is provided. Still sounds silly?

I know, right!? But, it was so interesting that it became my nightly, historical People magazine type of indulgence. Some of the obvious sirens throughout history I knew (Cleopatra, Mae West, Angelina Jolie) but others I knew nothing about and their stories and how they made their way no matter what their circumstances made for an enjoyable read.

Oh well, it was a fun romp! Never apologize for your reading tastes, right? Hello?  2007, 259 pages.