Newsletter #11 | Celebrating Women’s Voices

Hello tribe, 

It’s been a summer since I haven’t been in touch with you. Honestly, I needed time to read and process the work of new writers I discovered in the past two months. 

I was planning to share with you this newsletter last Saturday since it was the first Saturday of the month, but things got out of track (life happens) and I couldn’t finish my research for this newsletter. Still here we are with some suggestions and readings for this month. 

As every March, in this issue, I’d like to celebrate women’s voices. Those who regularly come to my book club meetings know that I love dedicating this month to new women writers who give voice to powerful female characters or who often choose to show the harshness of female characters’ world. 

In the past years, we have spent March reading women writers each with her own style and background, but still so powerful in their statements. 

For this issue, I’d like to share three stories we read in past Women’s Voices editions - and which have been attendees favorites. 

The first story I’d like to share is “Three Girls” by Joyce Carol Oates (Lockport,1939)  If you are a fan of JCO, you may know that the life of Marylin Monroe is a recurring theme in her writing. She published “Blonde” in 1999 based on Monroe’s life (fun fact: Netflix’s TV show is based on Oates’ novel). She has also written a horror story narrated by  Marylin’s sex doll. And, she also published “Three Girls” which is the cutest story I have read in many years which defies gender stereotypes showing us a different version of the actress most people are used to. I don't want to spoil the end but I invite you to read it and share your thoughts on our Telegram channel. 

Another story I enjoyed debating in our book club meetings is “How to be An Other Woman” by Lorrie Moore(Glen Falls, 1957). Well, if you haven’t started reading her work, do it now. Please. This story is included in her first short story collection “Self-Help” (1989) . It’s funny, ironic and satirical - I laughed all the way. It reminded me of New York in the movie When Harry Met Sally.

An interesting fact is that the book “Self- Help” was her Creative Writing MFA thesis at Cornell, and immediately the work received widespread critical acclaim. To think she was only 28 when she wrote it. 

Finally, I’d like to share “Puro Amor”, a story by poet and novelist Sandra Cisneros(Chicago, 1954). Puro Amor is the story of the Mister and Missus, a reimagining of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in their later years in Coyoacán, Mexico City.The story  poses many questions: Why do lovers love? How can complete dedication to another be so destructive and so beautiful at the same time? To me, this is a story about love itself and not two lovers. 

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did. To receive the stories please subscribe to the newsletter here or join our Telegram Channel for story discussion and news. 

If you wish to get more suggestions, please follow us on Instagram for news. This month author was Margaret Atwood because we simply adore her. Check out more about her here 👇

An invitation

In April our bookclub is back every 15 days. If you wish to be part of it throughout the year, please leave your info here and we’ll let you know when it starts and how to join 💫

That's all for now. Happy reading! 

Fer

❤️