This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase from Amazon, I’ll receive a small commission. This will not affect the price you pay for any product.
Earlier this week, I published a post about classic novels that deserve a second chance. Today, I’m introducing you to five novels about brave women. (That seems appropriate to a “fearless guide for women,” doesn’t it?) From the time I was a very young reader, I’ve resonated with those characters who dare to do something they’re not expected to, or not supposed to. Honestly, I don’t know if there’s anything braver than heading out on a limb on your own, knowing those around you are just waiting for a chance to say Told you so!
Here are five great novels that feature brave women. Fair warning, though: not all of these characters are successful in achieving their goals. Sometimes, being brave enough to try is the point.
O, Pioneers!, by Willa Cather. This short novel is about Alexandra Bergstrom, a woman who runs her family’s farm after the death of her father. She keep two no-good brothers in check while raising the youngest as if he’s her own, all the while trying to find a little happiness for herself. If you were a fan of the Little House books as a child, you’ll enjoy this woman’s story. She’s brave enough to do what people tell her can’t be done. She even stands up for herself even when people she loves turn against her.
Half Broke Horses, by Jeannette Walls. Walls calls this a “true life novel”; it’s based on a the story of her grandmother, Lily Smith, a woman who survives natural disasters and personal tragedies with the kind of stoicism Hollywood cowboys made famous. But Lily has no patience for the movie star “cowboys” that try to take over the ranch she and her husband have managed for years; she’s busy teaching in a one-room schoolhouse and working cattle and raising children and, yes, learning to fly an airplane. Lily’s story is one I’d never read before. That’s the highest compliment I can give any novel.
The Street, by Ann Petry. Lutie Johnson is a single mom. She’s trying hard to raise her son–to keep him away from negative influences, even those within her family–but the two of them can’t afford to live anywhere but Harlem. Told from multiple perspectives, allowing readers to see the world from Lutie’s point of view as well as that of her neighbors and her son, The Street is both heartbreaking and honest. It has a lot to say about the ways in which people misuse each other as they try to survive.
Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee. Jasmine is one of many names taken on by Jyoti, a woman who travels to the United States from India after her husband’s murder. She comes for the purpose of fulfilling one of his life goals. As she travels across the world, though, she becomes brave enough to think about what she wants for herself. Like all of Mukherjee’s work, Jasmine poses difficult questions and doesn’t offer any easy answers. The final chapter will have you asking whether or not Jasmine’s story has a happy ending.
Winter’s Bone, by Daniel Woodrell. Ree Dolly’s father disappears under suspicious circumstances. She’s left to hold her family together (and save their home) by solving that mystery. I love this book because Ree’s determined spirit–her complete unwillingness to give in to despair–is its driving force. As she navigates a community that would rather see her dead than successful, Ree learns who she can trust. In the end, it’s the women of this community who help her. Even if you’ve seen the film version of this book, the novel is absolutely worth a read.
And there you have them: five great books to get you started on an expedition into the world of brave women in literature. If you have recommendations of your own in this category, feel free to mention them in the comments.
No Comments