20 books every woman should read

editor

Esquire recently posted a list of 75 books every man should read. It was in fact a list of fine literature, but we couldn’t help but notice that the compilation was very bland (as in, a mere four authors are non-white and only one is a woman) listing Bukowski’s misogynistic Women as a must-read is kind of offensive. 


Jezebel decided to make their own list of the 20 books every woman should read, and these selections are much more on target—and yay for female authors! Slouching Towards Bethlehem would rank highly on my list, but my all-time favorite book? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Sure it’s a children’s book, but I think it could make the cut. 


Check out Jezebel’s picks below and share with us: What books do you think every woman should read? 




  1. The Lottery, Shirley Jackson
  2. To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf
  3. The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton
  4. White Teeth, Zadie Smith
  5. The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende    
  6. Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion
  7. Excellent Women, Barbara Pym
  8. The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath
  9. Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys
  10. The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri
  11. Beloved, Toni Morrison
  12. Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert
  13. Like Life, Lorrie Moore
  14. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
  15. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
  16. The Delta of Venus, Anais Nin
  17. A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley
  18. A Good Man Is Hard To Find, Flannery O'Connor
  19. The Shipping News, E. Annie Proulx
  20. You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down, Alice Walker

Related: jezebel, esquire, books, 20 books every woman should read

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From the Community…

Comments 11-20 of 106
  • Scooter's Avatar
    Posted by Scooter Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:07am PDT

    S.E. Hinton - The Outsiders

    Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird

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  • MochaMama42's Avatar
    Posted by MochaMama42 Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:05am PDT

    Mustang_girl, yes, Stephanie Plum is the greatest! My sister turned me on to her...I love all those books, even the one with the Angel that will come and visit Stephanie every now and again. I really wish they'd do a movie, but then part of me thinks it just won't do it justice.t

    Scooter, I loved The Outsiders and To Kill a Mockingbird. Two really excellent works you can pick up again and again.

    I'd really like to read The Secret Lives of Bees. I definitely need to do it before the movie comes out....

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  • beck's Avatar
    Posted by beck Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:45am PDT

    what about jane austens works?? theyre the best!

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  • wotdoin's Avatar
    Posted by wotdoin Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:57am PDT

    gone with the wind,

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  • Kate the Absolute Great's Avatar
    Posted by Kate the Absolute Great Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:14am PDT

    Indiana by George Sands is a must read book and therefore should be on the list.

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  • Alisa's Avatar
    Posted by Alisa Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:32am PDT

    I think Bukowski needs to be approached with an open mind. His style is gritty, but real--life isn't all sunshine and sparkles. "Women" is my favorite of his novels. One of the best short stories that I've read is "The Most Beautiful Woman in Town," also by Bukowski. Jhumpa Lahiri's collection of short stories in "Interpreter of Maladies" was absolutely amazing.

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  • redheadseattlegal's Avatar
    Posted by redheadseattlegal Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:58pm PDT

    The new Stephanie Meyer series that is out is excellent. I read thru the 1st book in 2 days. I'm quite looking forward to starting the next one tonight.

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  • Tara's Avatar
    Posted by Tara Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:08pm PDT

    How about "The TIme Travellers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. That book is wonderful, sad but wonderful.

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  • jules, ( jellybean)'s Avatar
    Posted by jules, ( jellybean) Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:30pm PDT

    I've read The House of the Spirits, very good. My list would include:

    The Red Tent

    The Secret Life of Bees

    The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman

    Host by Stephine Myers

    The Other Boylen Girl and the whole series that goes with it by Philippa Gregory

    that's a start I could go on and on.

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  • Buddhagrrl65's Avatar
    Posted by Buddhagrrl65 Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:17pm PDT

    She's come Undone Wally Lamb,

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