BOOKS

If you're looking for a new summer read, going back to the classics is a fab place to start!

Many people steer away from classic lit or think of "classics" as being books by white men about other white men. While those make up a chunk of our school assignments, the label "classic literature" really covers a huge range of books across centuries and authors, including many women writers!

Read on for some recs for our fave classic books by women authors, ranging from tried-and-true Jane Austen to more modern titles by Toni Morrison and other women of color. Whether you're in the mood for a sweet love story or deep social commentary, there's a woman-written classic work out there for you to revisit this summer!

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen

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While not as famous as Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion has been getting some more traction thanks to the Netflix movie with Dakota Johnson that came out last summer.

Whether you saw the movie or not, Persuasion is a beautiful, introspective novel that tells the story of Anne Elliot, a 27-year-old English woman who reunites with her ex-fiancé and the love of her life Captain Frederick Wentworth eight years after they broke off their engagement.

Unlike plucky Emma or Elizabeth Bennet, Anne is a quieter heroine (and extra relatable for those of us who are more introverted!). Whether you've read a bunch of Jane Austen's more famous books or are newer to her work, Persuasion is a lovely summer read with some scenes set on the English seaside.

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

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In a time when very few women were writing published books, Jane Eyre is famous for both its author, Charlotte Brontë *and* its incredible heroine, Jane.

Jane comes from very little in life, with a tragic backstory, average looks and no money, unlike (most) other traditional romance heroines. But Jane's determination and unwavering moral compass help her change the course of her life and eventually marry the wealthy Mr. Rochester (but only after her morality forces him to reconsider his own life). Smart, determined and so morally superior that you make other people rethink their own existences? Queen.

3. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

@penguinbooks

For a 20th-century classic by a woman of color, The Color Purple by Alice Walker is stunningly beautiful (and will make you cry buckets of both sad and happy tears).

The Color Purple centers on Celie, a young African American woman living in rural Georgia in the early 1900s. The book covers her teenage years and growth into adulthood as she navigates racism, poverty and abuse, while learning to love and value herself as a person, and the novel is equally tear-jerking and uplifting.

There's also a movie version from 1985 starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, so you can reread the book *and* watch this summer!

4. Beloved by Toni Morrison

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Beloved by Toni Morrison (which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction!) is another emotional novel by a POC woman author.

Beloved deals with heavy themes surrounding slavery's legacy in the United States, but Toni Morrison's writing is complex, poetic and downright magical. (And if you're already hooked on Toni Morrison, she has many equally incredible books including Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye and Sula.)

5. Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan

Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan, Simon & Schuster, $23.99

Mean Spirit might not be as well known as the other books on this list, but this historical novel is def worth your time this summer.

This 1991 novel by Chickasaw author Linda Hogan tells the story of the Osage Native Americans in the 1920s during the Oklahoma oil boom. Mean Spirit is just as heartbreaking as some of the other books on this list, but its absolutely gorgeous prose shines light on a period of American history that not many people know about and develops powerful themes about the importance of family and community in the midst of prejudice.

Did any of these classics make your summer reading list? Let us know on IG @glbestiebookclub!

Looking for more book recs? We've got you covered...
📺 What you should read next, based on your favorite TV show
🏖️ 4 light reads to add to your TBR list for an It girl summer
📚 5 book recommendations from Selena Gomez

Slider image: @the.classicalbookworm
Top image: @womanon

by Ava Slocum | 7/30/2023