July Roundup: Recommendations from the Badass Women's Book Club Members
Happy July! This summer is flying by - and the temps just keep rising! I plan to stay nice and cool, under the A/C, diving into all these recs from our Badass Women’s Book Club members!
But before we get to the recs - how awesome is this picture??? On the left is Rose Lavelle, dressed as Mia Hamm for a 3rd grade book report project. On the right is Lavelle, after scoring in the Women’s World Cup final. Reason 1001 we need our girls to read more books for, by and about badass women! If they see it (and read it!) - they can be it!
What all the badass women are reading…
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hildebrand. I also enjoyed this interview with Hildebrand, discussing how she became the Queen of the Beach Read (22 bestselling novels!), a new TV series she has in development, and a sneak peek into her upcoming book (about a woman running for President!).
One of the historical moments captured in Summer of ’69 is the Apollo 11 moon landing (which happened 50 years ago today!). This is a great article to read in celebration of this anniversary – “How Poppy Northcutt cracked NASA’s boys’ club and became a feminist icon”
Pop Culture Happy Hour is one of my favorite podcasts! Host Linda Holmes has an awesome new book out – Evie Drake Starts Over – about a young woman in Maine who suddenly loses her husband. It’s a love story, a friendship story and a family story – you can read an interview with the author here.
One of the most talked about books this summer is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. Taddeo spent almost a decade following a trio of women and documenting their relationships, desires and affairs. The book is being called “ambitious” and “impressive” for its honest look at women and sex. This book is one of 5 Hot July releases that I recommended!
What all the badass women are watching…
Shows for, by and *starring* badass women! Some of my favorite comedy shows – VEEP, Fleabag, Dead to Me and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - received Emmy nominations earlier this week. If (like me!) you have watched their episodes multiple times while waiting for the new seasons then check out some of these binge-worthy book recommendations based on each of the shows. I’m eager to check out I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution, a new book by Emily Nussbaum. Nussbaum, TV critic for the New Yorker uses this book to explore and expand the types of television that get taken seriously, particularly focused on the dismissal of guilt-pleasure television (which tends to be female). You can read more about this book and her work here.
The Toni Morrison documentary, The Pieces I Am. This article gives a behind-the-scenes look at this moving and intimate work, years in the making. You can also check out Morrison’s new book, “The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations”
Amanda Seales’ HBO Special: I Be Knowin’. Get ready to laugh through the whole thing – once you watch you’ll see why it’s no wonder Fast Company named her one of their Most Creative People in 2019! She has a new book, Small Doses: Potent Truth for Everyday Use, coming out in October. In the meantime, you can check out her podcast of the same name (and of course watch her on Insecure on HBO!)
What all the badass women are doing…
Telling myself stories – but not in a good way. Brene Brown to the rescue!
I’m also cutting myself some slack. Join me!
What all the badass women are listening to…
How to Fail podcast with Fleabag creator and actress, Phoebe Waller- Bridge. And then – Part 2 when she comes back one year later (after all of her Fleabag success!)
This Longform Podcast Interview with Taffy Brodesser-Akner, author of the recently-released Fleishman Is in Trouble . “My writing career was something that was always about to happen, just as soon as the baby falls asleep, just as soon as I finish watching this five-hour bout of As the World Turns, just as soon as... What do you do when you realize that you have not been doing the thing you were going to do? You're in your 30s. You get to work.”
Do you have a recommendation to share? Shoot me an email at hello@badasswomensbookclub.com. I’m always looking for great ideas from our members! - Gina
For a full list of books, resources and gifts for badass women (including many of my favorites!) visit the Badass Women’s Book Club page.