7 Books From The Last Decade That Will Inspire & Challenge Women
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In a world of countless books and book lists, you’ve likely seen many lists of classic literature that every woman should read, female literary heroines to emulate, and much more. To be sure, Anne Shirley, Jane Eyre, and Elizabeth Bennet can delight children and adults, and have much to offer at any milestone.
But fortunately, good books for women continue to be written today, though some might wonder where to start. With that in mind, here’s a book list from multiple genres, published during the last decade or so, that can offer encouragement and conviction for women.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (2018)
You probably know something about C. S. Lewis, celebrated children’s author and Christian apologist. But have you heard of Joy Davidman, the impulsive and unconventional American poet and mother who became Lewis’ wife?
An enigma to many modern scholars and disliked by several of Lewis’ contemporaries, Joy entered his life in 1950 and would redefine him and his writings in ways that researchers continue discovering.
In this historical fiction account of Davidman’s life, Patti Callahan beautifully draws back the curtain on the woman who went from Lewis’ lively correspondent to his beloved wife and co-author. She proves that behind every great man, a great woman does indeed often stand.
Seeing Green: Don’t Let Envy Color Your Joy by Tilly Dillehay (2018)
Unlike many other vices, envy offers no brief escape or relief. It feels dirty and corrodes trust and friendship. It can also sneak in unbidden.
Tilly Dillehay tackles the subject in this book with piercing questions, thorough exegesis of the Bible, and honest recounting of her own struggle with envy.
Sadly, women can often be each other’s worst enemies – culture normalizes competition and comparison, but envy frequently lies at the root. Seeing Green may help you to not only diagnose and kill hidden envy, but also to truly delight in the gifts of other women in your life.
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017)
At 14, Georgia Hunter discovered almost by accident that she was descended from a line of Jewish Holocaust survivors from Poland. In the years following, her continued curiosity eventually resulted in We Were the Lucky Ones, a tale of perseverance, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Among the story’s family of survivors, many strong women made the difference at crucial points. Herta and her husband, Genek, faced transport to a gulag, where Herta bore their first child during a bitter winter. Meanwhile, Mila spent many days in Poland’s ghetto and went to staggering lengths to protect her daughter. Halina, fiery and whip-smart, proved adept in the Polish resistance alongside her husband, Adam.
Like diamonds that grow bright under intense heat and pressure, the women of this story grow stronger as they face dangers. By the end, their examples shine forth beautifully, inspiring their families and readers alike.
The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (2017)
This might be the book for you if you enjoy spy thrillers or stories of hidden heroes – Elizebeth Friedman was one such hero during World War II. She and her husband, William, worked as cryptanalysts in Washington, D. C., both on top-secret projects to intercept enemy communications. Some researchers now consider Elizebeth, “America’s first female cryptanalyst”.
The Woman Who Smashed Codes traces her career from rudimentary cryptography in relative obscurity, all the way to becoming a respected cryptanalyst who infiltrated South American Nazi spy rings. Both exciting and fast-paced, Elizebeth’s story offers a real-life example of a woman breaking new professional ground in ways that also saved lives.
Victoria the Queen by Julia Baird (2016)
Interest in the matchless Queen Victoria has revived in recent years due to the Masterpiece series, Victoria, and the 2009 film, The Young Victoria. But screen adaptations have only scratched the surface of the life of this towering, unforgettable monarch. From girl queen to matriarch of a nation, Victoria oversaw an extraordinary period of social change in her six decades on the throne.
Meanwhile, she experienced her own fair share of joy, loss, humiliation, and triumph as a woman, wife, mother, widow, and skilled politician. This thick biography brings Queen Victoria to vivid and detailed life for modern audiences and will surely keep you turning the pages.
Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More by Karen Swallow Prior (2014)
William Wilberforce became a household name for his work in Britain’s Parliament to pass a bill to abolish the slave trade – the effort took twenty years. Less-known now is Hannah More, a poet and activist who labored alongside Wilberforce for every step of those twenty years and beyond.
Thankfully, Karen Swallow Prior has brought her out of the shadows with this stirring biography. Whether in education reform, the abolition of slavery, equal opportunities for women, or criminal justice reform, Hannah More sought to be and bring about change if she saw a need. Her name never reached the heights of her contemporaries, but her steady dedication offers a profound example of a woman committed to serving the needs she saw in front of her.
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber (2011)
If you’re feeling weary, cynical, or burnt out, why not take a rejuvenating trip to Oxford through Carolyn Weber’s delightful memoir? Weber outlines her own seasons of disillusionment and doubt – she thought studying literature at Oxford would be a welcome escape and helpful credential, but she ended up finding more than she ever bargained for in that famed “city of dreaming spires”.
Through new friendships and the literature she loved, she slowly realized that the God she’d spent most of her life denying was speaking to her and drawing her to himself. In him, she would find a new capacity for love, courage, and faith. Perhaps you will too if you travel Carolyn’s journey with her through this wonderful book.
