On March 8, Estadão recommends 8 inspiring stories written by women
Books written by women, about women, that can inspire others. Among national and international writers, from different eras and social conditions, the narratives in this list focus on self-discovery, mourning, perseverance, overcoming and the ability to change or make history.
1. A roof of your own (Virginia Woolf)
In this classic of English-language literature, Virginia Woolf addresses the non-place of women in artistic production and reflects on the craft of writing. By exposing the problem of the scarcity of books published by women, Virginia builds the thesis according to which the conditions of female production have always been more difficult. For example, while for men it was possible to work in their own office, where they could isolate themselves from the presence of their children to concentrate on their work, for women, domestic carers, this was a privilege. Despite her setbacks, the author raises important social issues and inspires women not to give up on their vocation, even if she is not the one most expected by them.
Ed. Nova Fronteira; 120 pages; R$24.99.
two. My story (Michelle Obama)
Lawyer, wife, mother, activist. Michelle Obama, like many, juggles multiple roles. No best sellers My storythe former first lady of the United States fascinates by telling, in a direct and natural way, her humble childhood in Chicago, her commitment to her studies, her work at the law firm when she was the mentor of Barack Obama, life as a black first lady in the White House, to becoming one of the most influential women on the planet. As a lesson, she points out that it is always possible to reinvent yourself, even if the burdens are heavy.
Objective Ed; 464 pages; R$59.92.
3. The slave (Carolina Maria de Jesus)
Consecrated by Dumpwhere she tells of a woman, black and peripheral, inspired by her experience in the Canindé favela, in the Northern Zone of São Paulo, Carolina Mary of Jesus He had to face the prejudices of the literary class even when he was at the top. She was asked to continue writing memoir, despite her desire to position herself as a fiction writer as well. Only posthumously was it possible to present it from this other literary perspective. In The slave, released in 2023, Carolina presents the story of two young people from different social classes who face obstacles on the path to love – with the thesis that the very condition of this love is a form of slavery. The simple and poetic sentences of her literature are also present. The naturalness of her metaphors moves those who tend to approach life with a distracted gaze: for example, the couple’s love grew “like the sun that tilts in space”.
Ed. Companhia das Letras; 208 pages; R$64.90.
4. Only boys (Patti Smith)
In this autobiography, the reader learns the story of Patti Smith before becoming the singer, poet and writer who became known as one of the symbols of the North American counterculture. It shows that his artistic sensitivity comes from childhood and tells of the meeting he had with another sensitive soul, the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, with whom he shared art, dreams, a life of scarcity and a room at the legendary Chelsea Hotel, in New York. The time spent with Robert was a source of inspiration for his career and future plans. A narrative that shows the importance of valuing the good encounters that life offers.
Ed. Companhia das Letras; 280 pages; R$64.90.
5. Extraordinary: Women who revolutionized Brazil (Duda Porto de Souza and Aryane Cararo)
The writers Duda Porto de Souza AND Arianna Cararo present a series of profiles of women who have made a difference in the history of Brazil. Written in a light-hearted and informative manner, the profiles are a gateway to discover and admire the successes of women who have changed the course of their lives and the destinies of others, such as Bertha Lutz – representative of the suffrage movement in Brazil – the indigenous leader Sonia GuajajaraWriter Payamong others.
Subsequent ed.; 345 pages; R$47.50.
6. moist eyes (Conceição Evaristo)
In this book of short stories, the highlight are the different black protagonists created by the writer from Minas Gerais. Through his writing, Evaristo sheds light on women fighting for survival amidst social inequalities. One of the highlights is the story of the same name, in which the narrator wakes up wondering, “What color were my mother’s eyes?” – the fact of not remembering is a reclamation of the memory of loved ones. The book, with its fluid narrative, won the Jabuti Prize in 2015 and promotes reflection on lives profoundly affected by the social conditions of the country.
Ed. Pallas; 116 pages; R$32.
7. Rita Lee: Another Autobiography (Rita Lee)
After Autobiography (2016) which celebrated a life of success in career and love, Rita Lee continue to enchant you Another autobiography. The diary book, published posthumously in 2023, focuses on the moment the singer discovered she had cancer. Living with illness and hospital could make the book melancholy, but this is not – and has never been – the path chosen by Rita Lee. Instead, he prefers to face difficult processes with the self-awareness and self-irony that are common to him. A book that causes laughter and tears, and exposes the most intimate part of a woman with a strong personality in the face of illness, the passage of time and other things in life.
Ed. Globo Livros; 192 pages; R$64.90.
8. The year of magical thinking (Joan Didion)
In this work, the famous journalist and essayist Joan Didion She turns her gaze not to the cultural processes that changed her generation, when it became famous, but to her own experience, when she talks about the sudden death of her husband and her daughter’s illness. In a memorial process, which involves the denial of the feeling of loneliness, the book is painful and, at the same time, stimulating, as it recounts the writer’s journey through mourning – a universal, but deeply individual process – and, subsequently, through new beginnings natural aspects of life.
Ed. HarperCollins; 240 pages; R$59.90.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
