Red Ajah's International Women's Week – Literature for, about, and by women

[poetstorm]

With all these wonderful discussions going around I thought it might be nice to share some of our favorite stories, poems, books etc…

 

These can be inspirational for women, written by women, or written about women. Please post links or snippets of you can so people can get to know your favorites. *cuts ribbon*

 

Also stay tuned for the music and TV / Movies threads!

 

I’ll start off with one of my favorite poets, Emily Dickenson. Not only is she a female poet writing in a time where most writers were male, but she has also written some beautiful verses that I find inspirational. Here is one of her shorter works:

 

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain:

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

 

Next I’ll share a poem about women that I really love.

 

Beautiful Women by Fion Lim

 

Beautiful woman,

come out and play,

reveal your inner treasures.

 

The sparkle in your eyes,

the natural swing in your walk,

you radiate excitement and enthusiasm.

 

You need no latest fashion,

No expensive hair cuts,

No blinding big accessories.

 

You glow in your passions,

passionate in your pursuits,

you know what you are made of.

 

You are not easily bothered,

by the mindless opinions of others,

you know very well where you want to go.

 

you are a joy to watch,

an inspiration to others,

your pure soul an endless marvel.

 

Beautiful woman,

let your brilliance shine through,

your eyes speak of true inner beauty.

[Torrie]

I love Emily Dickinson. I still have a poem book for children written by her. :)

I love the first part of this poem.

 

Because I could not stop for Death—

He kindly stopped for me—

The Carriage held but just Ourselves—

And Immortality.

 

We slowly drove—He knew no haste,

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility—

 

We passed the School, where Children strove

At recess—in the ring—

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain—

We passed the Setting Sun—

 

Or rather—He passed Us—

The Dews drew quivering and chill—

For only Gossamer, my Gown—

My Tippet—only Tulle—

 

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground—

The Roof was scarcely visible—

The Cornice—in the Ground—

 

Since then—'tis centuries— and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity—

 

 

I also like Anne Desclos, who wrote The Story of O. She and her boyfriend had a bet on if a male or a female could write a better story. Now The Story of O has lasted through generations and it was not until recently that the world found out it was written by a woman.

[Eowyn]

I love everything Jane Austen and constantly re-read her books. She was a really an oddity in her day, as the concept of feminism did not really exist yet and female authors were rare. Here is a selection of some of her quotes that I really like, especially the one about education, as female education was a privilege and a hobby at the time. Women relied on marriage for security and could not own property..

 

Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well, without further expense to anybody.

 

Men have had every advantage of us in telling their own story. Education has been theirs in so much higher a degree; the pen has been in their hands. I will not allow books to prove anything.

 

If any one faculty of our nature may be called more wonderful than the rest, I do think it is memory. There seems something more speakingly incomprehensible in the powers, the failures, the inequalities of memory, than in any other of our intelligences. The memory is sometimes so retentive, so serviceable, so obedient; at others, so bewildered and so weak; and at others again, so tyrannic, so beyond control! We are, to be sure, a miracle every way; but our powers of recollecting and of forgetting do seem peculiarly past finding out.

Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

 

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid

"Northanger Abbey" (1817)

 

I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.

[poetstorm]

I've read a bit of Jane Austin myself. She does write very well. But I love the quotes you posted. :D

 

Another author I am very fond of is Ayn Rand:

She writes science fiction with a political twist. My very favorite is Anthem but she also wrote Atlas Shrugged.

 

She emphasizes the importance of reason and individual rights.

 

"I am not primarily an advocate of capitalism, but of egoism; and I am not primarily an advocate of egoism, but of reason. If one recognizes the supremacy of reason and applies it consistently, all the rest follows."[8]

 

Here's the wiki

Ayn Rand

 

And here's info on Anthem, an awesome read IMO

Anthem Wiki

"Anthem is a dystopian fiction novella by Ayn Rand, first published in 1937 in England. It takes place at some unspecified future date when mankind has entered another dark age as a result of the evils of irrationality and collectivism and the weaknesses of socialistic thinking and economics. Technological advancement is now carefully planned (when it is allowed to occur at all) and the concept of individuality has been eliminated (for example, the word "I" has disappeared from the language). As is common in her work, Rand draws a clear distinction between the "socialist/communal" values of equality and brotherhood and the "productive/capitalist" values of achievement and individuality."

[Rasheta Ardashir]

Another good Author is Elizabeth Peters, and her stories about Amelia Peabody

 

Here is a overview of the series. :)

 

The history of Mrs. Amelia P. Emerson (also know as Amelia Peabody) is an amazing family saga, encompassing three generations, a world war, and thirty-five years of turbulent history.

 

It began with the first trip to Egypt of Amelia Peabody (as she then was) in 1884. She was accompanied by a young companion, Evelyn Barton Forbes, who, like Amelia, found a career and true love in the Land of the Pharaohs. They married brothers -- Amelia accepting the hand of the distinguished archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson, and Evelyn that of his younger brother Walter. Amelia’s love of Egypt almost equaled her love for her hot-tempered (but extremely handsome) husband. She joined him in his annual excavations, which, except for a few brief hiatuses, continued for the entire thirty-five years.

 

Inevitably, as Amelia might say, a second generation of Emersons ensued. Walter Emerson and his wife retired to her family estate in Yorkshire, where he could pursue his study of ancient languages. They became parents of six children (one of whom perished in infancy): Radcliffe Junior, Margaret, Amelia Junior (who insisted on being addressed as Lia to avoid confusion with her aunt), and twin boys, Johnny and Willy. Johnny died in France, serving his country during the First World War.

 

For reasons Mrs. Emerson declines to discuss (as is certainly her right), the elder Emersons had only one child, a boy named Walter Peabody Emerson. He is better known by his nickname of Ramses, given him by his father because he was “swarthy as an Egyptian and arrogant as a pharaoh.” His mother would have said (and indeed, often did say) that one like Ramses was quite enough for any woman. Precocious, prolix, and pedantic, he barely survived a number of hair-raising adventures, but he finally developed into a young man with all the qualities a mother could wish.

 

Further additions to both families came through adoption and/or marriage. On a trip to an unknown oasis in the Western Desert, Amelia and Emerson (who prefers to be addressed by his last name) discovered a young English girl, Nefret Forth, and brought her back to England as their ward. Ramses and Nefret were raised as brother and sister, and it took Nefret some time to realize that her feelings for him were considerably warmer than that of a sibling. (Ramses was a lot quicker to catch on.) After a considerable amount of misunderstanding, heartbreak, and frustration (particularly for Ramses), they were married.

 

The other adopted child was David Todros, a talented young Egyptian artist, who was working in semi-slavery for a forger of antiquities when the elder Emersons found and freed him. The grandson of their Egyptian reis, or foreman, Abdullah (of whom more hereafter), he became Ramses’s blood brother and eventually his cousin by marriage, when David wed Lia Emerson. Lia and David also produced a third generation, a girl named after Evelyn Emerson and a boy named for his great-grandfather, Abdullah.

 

The Emersons had very little to do with Amelia’s Peabody kin, an unattractive lot who produced one of the nastiest villains they ever encountered. The only good thing Percy ever did was produce a child, little Sennia, who was adopted by the Emersons and became very dear to them. However, Amelia considered herself to have a second family in a group of Egyptians who were the blood relations of their reis Abdullah. Abdullah’s innumerable relatives worked for the Emersons on the dig and in the household; several became close friends of the Emersons, including Selim, Abdullah’s youngest son, who replaced his father as reis after Abdullah’s heroic death; Daoud, Abdullah’s nephew, noted for his immense strength, amiable disposition, and love of gossip; Fatima, Abdullah’s daughter-in-law, who became the Emersons’ indispensable housekeeper; Kadija, Daoud’s wife, the dispenser of an amazingly effective green ointment; and of course David Todros.

 

As Amelia mentions, Egyptians are fond of nicknames. So, it would appear, were the Emersons. Ramses and Lia are consistently referred to by those names; Amelia secretly appreciated her flattering appellation of Sitt Hakim, Lady Doctor, though she was equally appreciative of her husband’s habit of calling her by her maiden name of Peabody as a demonstration of equality and affection. Emerson detested his given name and preferred to be addressed by his surname or by his Egyptian sobriquet, Father of Curses (which, as his wife admits, was well deserved despite her effort to cure him of using bad language). Nefret was known to many Egyptians as Nur Misur, “Light of Egypt.” Her husband’s less charming Egyptian name was Brother of Demons. It was meant as a compliment, however, acknowledging his varied abilities in disguise and languages.

 

One other member of the family had a plethora of pseudonyms. When Amelia and Emerson first encountered Sethos, aka the Master Criminal, aka the Master, they regarded him as a deadly enemy -- head of the illegal antiquities racket in Egypt and the Middle East, and Emerson’s rival for Amelia’s affections. It came as a considerable shock to them (and, the Editor must admit, to her) when they discovered he was Emerson’s illegitimate half-brother. During the First World War he redeemed himself by serving as a secret agent, a role for which he was well qualified by his skill in the art of disguise and his knowledge of the Middle East. Ramses, who had similar talents, was also recruited for the Secret Service, and carried out several perilous missions in Egypt and the Middle East. His best friend, David, served with him on one of these jobs; the Editor suspects David may have been involved in at least one other, but unfortunately the journals for several of the war years are still missing. Sethos, much to the surprise of everyone except Amelia (who claimed the credit for reforming him) became a friend and supporter.

 

And now, dear Readers, the Great War has ended and the family is about to be reunited. The saga continues!

[theicewitch]

My top 3

 

Anne Rice

Anne Perry

Pauline Gedge

[poetstorm]

Another good Author is Elizabeth Peters, and her stories about Amelia Peabody

 

Here is a overview of the series. :)

 

The history of Mrs. Amelia P. Emerson (also know as Amelia Peabody) is an amazing family saga, encompassing three generations, a world war, and thirty-five years of turbulent history.

 

It began with the first trip to Egypt of Amelia Peabody (as she then was) in 1884. She was accompanied by a young companion, Evelyn Barton Forbes, who, like Amelia, found a career and true love in the Land of the Pharaohs. They married brothers -- Amelia accepting the hand of the distinguished archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson, and Evelyn that of his younger brother Walter. Amelia’s love of Egypt almost equaled her love for her hot-tempered (but extremely handsome) husband. She joined him in his annual excavations, which, except for a few brief hiatuses, continued for the entire thirty-five years.

 

Inevitably, as Amelia might say, a second generation of Emersons ensued. Walter Emerson and his wife retired to her family estate in Yorkshire, where he could pursue his study of ancient languages. They became parents of six children (one of whom perished in infancy): Radcliffe Junior, Margaret, Amelia Junior (who insisted on being addressed as Lia to avoid confusion with her aunt), and twin boys, Johnny and Willy. Johnny died in France, serving his country during the First World War.

 

For reasons Mrs. Emerson declines to discuss (as is certainly her right), the elder Emersons had only one child, a boy named Walter Peabody Emerson. He is better known by his nickname of Ramses, given him by his father because he was “swarthy as an Egyptian and arrogant as a pharaoh.” His mother would have said (and indeed, often did say) that one like Ramses was quite enough for any woman. Precocious, prolix, and pedantic, he barely survived a number of hair-raising adventures, but he finally developed into a young man with all the qualities a mother could wish.

 

Further additions to both families came through adoption and/or marriage. On a trip to an unknown oasis in the Western Desert, Amelia and Emerson (who prefers to be addressed by his last name) discovered a young English girl, Nefret Forth, and brought her back to England as their ward. Ramses and Nefret were raised as brother and sister, and it took Nefret some time to realize that her feelings for him were considerably warmer than that of a sibling. (Ramses was a lot quicker to catch on.) After a considerable amount of misunderstanding, heartbreak, and frustration (particularly for Ramses), they were married.

 

The other adopted child was David Todros, a talented young Egyptian artist, who was working in semi-slavery for a forger of antiquities when the elder Emersons found and freed him. The grandson of their Egyptian reis, or foreman, Abdullah (of whom more hereafter), he became Ramses’s blood brother and eventually his cousin by marriage, when David wed Lia Emerson. Lia and David also produced a third generation, a girl named after Evelyn Emerson and a boy named for his great-grandfather, Abdullah.

 

The Emersons had very little to do with Amelia’s Peabody kin, an unattractive lot who produced one of the nastiest villains they ever encountered. The only good thing Percy ever did was produce a child, little Sennia, who was adopted by the Emersons and became very dear to them. However, Amelia considered herself to have a second family in a group of Egyptians who were the blood relations of their reis Abdullah. Abdullah’s innumerable relatives worked for the Emersons on the dig and in the household; several became close friends of the Emersons, including Selim, Abdullah’s youngest son, who replaced his father as reis after Abdullah’s heroic death; Daoud, Abdullah’s nephew, noted for his immense strength, amiable disposition, and love of gossip; Fatima, Abdullah’s daughter-in-law, who became the Emersons’ indispensable housekeeper; Kadija, Daoud’s wife, the dispenser of an amazingly effective green ointment; and of course David Todros.

 

As Amelia mentions, Egyptians are fond of nicknames. So, it would appear, were the Emersons. Ramses and Lia are consistently referred to by those names; Amelia secretly appreciated her flattering appellation of Sitt Hakim, Lady Doctor, though she was equally appreciative of her husband’s habit of calling her by her maiden name of Peabody as a demonstration of equality and affection. Emerson detested his given name and preferred to be addressed by his surname or by his Egyptian sobriquet, Father of Curses (which, as his wife admits, was well deserved despite her effort to cure him of using bad language). Nefret was known to many Egyptians as Nur Misur, “Light of Egypt.” Her husband’s less charming Egyptian name was Brother of Demons. It was meant as a compliment, however, acknowledging his varied abilities in disguise and languages.

 

One other member of the family had a plethora of pseudonyms. When Amelia and Emerson first encountered Sethos, aka the Master Criminal, aka the Master, they regarded him as a deadly enemy -- head of the illegal antiquities racket in Egypt and the Middle East, and Emerson’s rival for Amelia’s affections. It came as a considerable shock to them (and, the Editor must admit, to her) when they discovered he was Emerson’s illegitimate half-brother. During the First World War he redeemed himself by serving as a secret agent, a role for which he was well qualified by his skill in the art of disguise and his knowledge of the Middle East. Ramses, who had similar talents, was also recruited for the Secret Service, and carried out several perilous missions in Egypt and the Middle East. His best friend, David, served with him on one of these jobs; the Editor suspects David may have been involved in at least one other, but unfortunately the journals for several of the war years are still missing. Sethos, much to the surprise of everyone except Amelia (who claimed the credit for reforming him) became a friend and supporter.

 

And now, dear Readers, the Great War has ended and the family is about to be reunited. The saga continues!

 

Oh I like this! I just might go find the books now. I like this style of writing though I'm not sure how to classify it. When was htis written?

 

My top 3

 

Anne Rice

Anne Perry

Pauline Gedge

 

How could I forget Anne RIce, the mistress of vampire fiction. And her vampires don't twinkle in the sun either. :P

[poetstorm]

I would also like to add Beatrix Potter to the list. She wrote a series of wonderful childrens books that I grew up with as a kid.

 

 

Does anyone remember Peter Rabbit? The illustrations were wonderful too.

 

 

Here's the wiki:

Beatrix Potter

[Rasheta Ardashir]

When was htis written?

 

I'm not sure when the books were written, I think in the 80's the stories are set of course in the late 19th and early 20th century and they are fairly good. Although if you are a person who figures mysteries out quick may not enjoy it as much. LOL