The importance of ‘The Bell Jar’ by book club member and writer, Susan Furber

‘It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.’

About The Bell Jar:

Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, originally published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas in January 1963, is one of my favourite novels. I’ve read it five times; the first when I was nineteen and most recently at the age of thirty-two. With each reading I discover, or connect to, something new in the work. This, for me, is the definition of a classic.

In The Bell Jar, nineteen-year-old Esther Greenwood wins an internship at a leading women’s magazine, Ladies’ Day, in New York City in the early 1950s. Over the course of the summer, her mental health deteriorates, and when she returns home to the suburbs of Boston to live with her widowed mother, she learns she has not been accepted on a prestigious writing course at Harvard.

After a suicide attempt, Esther recovers in a mental health care facility, and faces what it means to live in the bell jar: ‘What was there about us, in Belsize, so different from the girls playing bridge and gossiping and studying in the college to which I would return? Those girls, too, sat under bell jars of a sort.’

When the novel was published, it wasn’t a commercial success. A month later, on 11 th February 1963, Plath, who was estranged from her husband the poet Ted Hughes, died by suicide. Two years later, her poetry collection Aerial was published posthumously to much acclaim, and when her only novel was republished the following year in the UK under her own name, it was a critical and commercial success. The myth of Sylvia Plath had risen out of the ash.

Imagery from one of our most recent book clubs, taken by one of our members, Wida

Susan reading the novel

I first read the novel as a teenager and immediately saw myself in Esther Greenwood. It is one of the great accomplishments of the work that so many of us readers not only relate to Esther, but believe we are Esther – that Plath is describing so intimately and accurately our own feelings and experiences.

At nineteen, I wrote the first draft of what would become my first novel, The Essence of an Hour, which is a coming-of-age story set in upstate New York in the 1940s. I wanted to write a young woman character who had that same intimate and yet acidic voice of The Catcher in the Rye’s Holden Caulfield, and through her explore the sexual double standards that I was experiencing at my own American mid-western all-girls’ college.

A few weeks after finishing that draft, I read The Bell Jar for the first time, and I thought, ‘Well, Plath has already done it.’

For me, a successful first-person novel should teach us as readers the vocabulary of the narrator within the first few pages, so that we cannot just sympathise with them, but actually feel that we enter into their minds and see the world as they do through their language. T

his is most obviously done in A Clockwork Orange with the teen language of Nadsat, but I also find it effective in novels with deeply troubling narrators such as American Psycho and Lolita.

In The Bell Jar, Esther’s idiosyncratic language infects us and so we see the events of those six months through her eyes, but we may also bring our own stories into the novel and feel she could just as well be narrating our lives. This is certainly how I felt when I first read

this:

‘When I was nineteen, pureness was the great issue … I saw the world divided into people who had slept with somebody and people who hadn’t, and that seemed the only really significant difference between one person and another.’

I also felt the anxiety Esther expresses for not knowing what to do with her life after she finishes college. ‘The one thing I was good at was winning scholarships and prizes, and that era was coming to an end.’ I believe that it is because Plath gets us not only on Esther’s side early in the New York section, but makes us believe that we are being seen through this character, that we follow her through her clinical depressive episode and suicide attempt – experiences not all readers will have had, or perhaps not to such extremes.

I also believe that this helps us as modern readers to overcome some of the differences of period – we thankfully do not live in an age of electrical shock treatment being so commonplace nor where marriage and children are so readily expected of women. However, at least in the repressive communities in which I grew up in America, several girls’ highest ambitions were to marry and have children as quickly as possible and most boys were just as dismissive of young women’s mental health concerns as Esther’s ex Buddy Willard is in the novel.

How The Bell Jar informed Susan’s writing

In redrafting my first novel, I kept returning to The Bell Jar not so much thematically or even historically but to study Plath’s handling of Esther’s voice and the divide between the Esther who is looking back presumably about ten years and the Esther of nineteen.

Plath writes in the voice and vocabulary of a nineteen-year-old, but we as readers hope that Esther has grown past her insular limitations of nineteen. We are only given one clue as to who Esther becomes, when she tells us,

‘I still have the make-up kit [Ladies’ Day] gave me … I also have a white plastic sun-glasses case with coloured shells and sequins and a green plastic starfish sewed on to it … last week I cut the plastic starfish off the sun-glasses case for the baby to play with.’

Like other readers after the republication in 1966, I assume to know what happens to Esther given how closely her life follows that of Plath’s – she too will go on to win a scholarship to Cambridge, where she will meet and marry an aspiring English poet with whom she will have this baby she mentions.

Plath could have told us this in The Bell Jar – she could have filled in what happens between the Esther of twenty who likely returns to college after her recovery and the Esther who narrates the story – but she doesn’t.

And, as a writer, this choice to give us only this one small clue as to what and who Esther becomes has inspired my own decisions about what the narrator admits and what is left concealed for the reader to interpret.

Readings four and five

On my last two readings, I’ve been struck by how isolated Esther is – she has no real friends, and she never speaks well of anyone nor shows kindness to others. Esther constantly says racist, homophobic, fatphobic, and, above all, misogynistic remarks, often in an attempt to exert her own superiority in the midst of her self-hatred.

This makes for uncomfortable modern readings, and there is also the issue of Plath’s appropriation of others’ suffering and traumas, more notable in her poetry, particularly in ‘Daddy’ and ‘Lady Lazarus’, but which can also be found in Esther’s strange fascination with her heavily pregnant neighbour’s Catholicism or the other women in the mental health care facility. It is perhaps ironic then that so many of us readers appropriate Plath’s tragedy as our own, believing we feel the same as Esther and by extension Plath.

But what other novel so openly describes the mental decline of its protagonist, and allows us as the readers to have such access to her thoughts? The honesty and the vulnerability of the narration – though Esther is hardly likeable nor is she always reliable – I believe is what keeps us returning to Esther’s story long after we grow out of so closely identifying with her, if we ever did.

Each time I come to reread, I fear that this time I will have outgrown the novel, that it is best to be read by teenagers who are simultaneously experiencing the feelings Plath writes about. And this is part of the problem with the reception of Plath – she is quaintly placed in the canon of writers meant for young girls and not given the serious consideration she deserves, or, if she is, it is usually for her late poetry.

The personal, the political, the social

While The Bell Jar is a deeply personal novel – both for the author as an autobiographical piece of fiction and for the reader who associates with Esther – it is also a political work. It echoes the ‘problem with no name’ of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique (published in February 1963). Plath shows how the personal is political, the rallying cry of the Women’s Liberation Movement a few years later.

It would be an important work of social and historical relevance merely for how well it details the lives of young women in the early 1950s and the attitudes towards mental health at that time.

There are certain novels which I measure my own growth against – both as a woman and as a writer – and The Bell Jar is one of those novels. I wish we had more work by Sylvia Plath, that she had lived to write about women’s mental health issues in their thirties and beyond.

What an illumination and comfort that might be – and admittedly how little in fiction we still have of women chronicling their whole lives. We cannot know what books Plath may have written, or how she would have engaged with Women’s Liberation. All we have is her poetry, the journals (or what is left of them), many of her letters, some early short stories, and this, her one novel.

But it is through the work that Plath left, that we can see ourselves and our own transitions from girlhood into womanhood expressed, and continue to keep her legacy if no longer in the bell jar, then in a mirror.

Writer, Susan Furber

Thank you Susan for writing such a beautiful and intelligent article for us!

Susan Furber is an author and book editor based in South London. Her novels ‘The Essence of an Hour’ and ‘We Were Very Merry’ (Valley Press) explore modern themes such as sexual double standards, consent, motherhood, marriage, and women’s friendships set in the near historical past.

If you would like to write an article for our website, please email: londonfeministbookclubcic@gmail.com

Our five questions with Vanessa Walters

Ahead of our upcoming event at Penguin Random House with author of The Lagos Wife Vanessa Walters, and journalist and writer Pandora Sykes.

Take a read through of our mini-interview and then get your tickets to come and join us on the evening!

What inspires your creativity?

Places. I was born and raised in London but have since lived in five cities on four continents, and I'm endlessly fascinated by cultural differences and how environment shapes character.

Lagos was a complicated and compelling city. I'm still obsessed because it is such a heady combination of opportunity and adversity that it is teeming with stories, but all places are stories played out infinitely in the people you meet there, so place, place, place!

What is the one book you wish you had written?

Beloved by Toni Morrison because it was the first book for me that captured the tragedy and wonder of surviving transatlantic slavery, which is also the story of my ancestors via Jamaica. Although I've read many slave narratives by authors such as Olaudah Equiano and Frederick Douglass, Morrison was one of the first to use fiction and, in particular, magical realism to fill in the gaps that helped us understand in a way that memoir strangely cannot. This device has opened the door to many other writers to illuminate this history and for generations to see and feel seen. What a powerful thing it is to open a door for others.

What top tip do you have for anyone wanting to start writing?

Trust your natural storytelling instinct. How do you normally tell stories? How do you keep people engaged? What are the kinds of stories you like to tell people and why? That is the strongest place to start. 

Do you listen to music while you write? And if so, what?

Sometimes yes! I'm currently loving classical or instrumental music that is wordless. But it depends on what I'm writing. Sometimes, I use painful ballads to put me in a certain mood; at other times, strident hip-hop. 

What book should everyone read once in their lifetime?

It is probably the Bible because it relates to much of the English-speaking language and underpins Western philosophy. The Bible stories have become templates for storytelling and even the rhythm of storytelling. e.g. the Jeremiad sermons. Luckily, if you've been raised in the church, you've already read a lot of it, but even if you haven't, it is the one book above all others I would recommend, and feel free to skip the boring parts!

Credit:  The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters is published by Hutchinson Heinemann on 29 February (£14.99, HBK, EBK Audio)

The Feminist Book Club will be hosting an evening with Vanessa Walters and Pandora Sykes on Monday 3 June, at Penguin Random House, full details and tickets can be purchased via the button below.

We are now The Feminist Book Club!

Take a read of our latest blog and hear why we are changing from London Feminist Book Club to The Feminist Book Club!

Our lovely new logo

Over the last four years, what started out as South London Feminist Book Club has grown far beyond our wildest dreams. Set up in the pandemic to create a sense of community while the country was in lockdown, South London Feminist Book Club originally met monthly via Zoom to chat about a book, and try our best to have a bit of escapism from the horrors of Covid-19.

Fast forward two years, the book club was back to in-person meetings, and soon the demand grew for a club north of the river. At this point, we felt we needed something to establish both book clubs, so that they weren’t stand alone clubs. This is where we celebrate the birth of London Feminist Book Club CIC, a community interest company which exists to benefit the community.

What happens when you launch a community interest company? Well, you need professional support of course. So, we recruited a board of non-executive directors to assist us in making wider business decisions and to ensure we could grow both book clubs while remaining committed to our core values - creating safe spaces that come together on a monthly basis to read books by women, but are open to all.

We are extremely lucky to have a board of incredibly talented women, who have a huge amount of expertise in the following sectors - publishing, writing, business, the charity sector and women’s rights.

We’ve developed such an incredible network of people over the last four years, but we are growing - and fast! We have now set up two book clubs outside of London - in Bristol and Sheffield, and we have plans for more to launch across the country in the next couple of months!

To reflect the incredible growth we’ve witnessed, and the community we have created, we have decided to re-brand from London Feminist Book Club to The Feminist Book Club. 

We want to hear from women’s voices across the country, and while we know London is a gorgeous literary hub and will continue to serve this area, we’re keen to shine a light on literature outside of the capital and reach new audiences, wherever they are.

That’s why The Feminist Book Club will aim to work with regional authors and independent publishers (whilst always being grateful for the support from the big seven), as well as encourage our members to visit local businesses where our events will be held.

A huge thanks to the authors who have partnered with us, the venues which have hosted us and the publishers for their kind book donations.

None of this could have happened without the time and patience of our incredible network of volunteers, thank you for helping us go from strength to strength. We hope our members are as excited about the change as we are! 

We hope you are as excited as we are for our future, and you’ll support our transition to becoming The Feminist Book Club as it evolves into its next stage, and we hope to keep bringing communities together through a shared love of reading, for a very long time.

We hope to have everything transitioned over to The Feminist Book Club in the next couple of weeks, but as always, we do this alongside full-time jobs, so please be patient and forgiving whilst we change the logos over - we are continuously learning as we grow!

Read our interview with ‘Weyward’ author, Emilia Hart

Emilia Hart is a British-Australian writer. She was born in Sydney and studied English Literature and Law at the University of New South Wales before working as a lawyer in Sydney and London. Emilia is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative’s Three Month Online Novel Writing Course and was Highly Commended in the 2021 Caledonia Novel Award. Her short fiction has been published in Australia and the UK. She lives in London.

We (the feminist book club) were delighted to be able to send Emilia a list of questions, and here are her responses:

1. Where did the idea for ‘Weyward’ come from?

I was inspired to write ‘Weyward’ while living in Cumbria during the early stages of the pandemic. Those were strange, uncertain times for all of us, and I took solace from the harsh beauty of the landscape around me. But I learned that the region had a dark history in the form of the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, which resulted in the hanging of eight women in nearby Lancaster.

At the same time, I was reading about the increase in reports of domestic violence during lockdown, as (mainly female) victims were confined to their homes with their abusers.

The misogyny that had led to the persecution of women as witches had not faded away: it had only changed its face. I really wanted to interrogate this and also showcase female resilience and survival. I had an image in my head of a modern-day woman overcoming abuse by reclaiming the power of her female forebears and the natural world. This was the seed that became ‘Weyward.’

2. Why did you decide to focus on three different generations of women?

Originally, there were only going to be two generations of women: Altha in 1619 and Kate in 2019! But I realised that the characters were so far apart in time that it would be difficult to connect them: I needed a third character to link the two, which is how Violet was born.

Intertwining the lives of three women also allowed me to explore the ways in which the female experience has changed – and remained the same – over the centuries.

3. The book has such an interesting structure. How did you link the three women’s experiences across the centuries?

I wrote the stories in chronological order. So, first I wrote Altha’s story in its entirety, then Violet’s, then Kate’s, braiding them together. This enabled me to create subtle echoes in their narratives – whether experiences of the female body or encounters with male characters.

The shared setting of the cottage, and the characters’ connection with the natural world, really helped with this. I was able to weave common imagery – such as crows, bees, insects and flowers – through all three stories to amplify the sense that these women were all part of the same powerful lineage.  

4. What do you hope for the reader to get from the novel?

I appreciate that the novel touches on heavy themes, such as male violence and pregnancy loss. But I’d love for readers, and female readers in particular, to come away feeling empowered and inspired to seek out the stories of their foremothers. I think learning from our female ancestors can give us so much – it reminds us of how far we have come in the struggle for gender equality, and also inspires us to keep going.

Above all, though, I think writing and reading novels is fundamentally about two things: human connection, and entertainment! So if someone recognises their own experience reflected on the page, or just enjoys reading late into the night, then I’m happy.

5. The book received a glowing review on BBCs Between the Covers book list, with Sara Cox asking if they could imagine it being adapted for TV, and Sophie Duker responding that it felt ‘cinematic’ - how do you feel about this and who would be your dream cast?

That would be an absolute dream! It would be fascinating to see the novel interpreted on screen and obviously a huge privilege. I’d be delighted. As for my dream cast – I’d love Jessie Buckley for Altha, Millie Bobby Brown for Violet and Jodie Comer for Kate. A girl can dream…

6. What are your ‘go to’ book recommendations?

Where do I start?! Some of my favourite writers are Penelope Lively, Kate Atkinson and Daphne Du Maurier. The latter especially was such a versatile novelist: I love ‘Rebecca’ but also adore her historical fiction, like ‘Jamaica Inn’ and ‘Frenchman’s Creek.’ Her time travel novel, ‘The House on the Strand,’ is wonderfully original.

 At the moment I’m constantly recommending ‘The Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray, a modern-day saga about a troubled Irish family. The characters are so real that they seem to burst off the page. I thought about it for weeks afterwards.

7. What does your writing style / creative process look like?

 So far, the process has been different for each novel! While I was working on ‘Weyward’, I wrote every day until I had a first draft. I was quite superstitious about that, believing that I’d be unable to finish a novel any other way, but as it turned out my second novel was a very different beast. I rewrote the beginning about ten times before I felt ready to continue!

I’m now at the very early stages of writing my third novel and so far that’s different again. I’ve been doing a lot of long form writing; I find that literally putting pen to paper really helps to tease the story from my brain.

8. What advice would you give to new writers / our book club members who want to write a book?

Read as much fiction as you can – that’s your apprenticeship. Try to immerse yourself in the world of your story every day; whether that’s writing a thousand words, a sentence, or simply daydreaming about a scene or character. Every bit helps!

And lastly, be brave and show people your writing. That’s the hardest thing of all, I think!

9. Can you give us an insight into what is next for Emilia Hart?

My next novel ’The Sirens’, comes out in January 2025. It’s about two sets of sisters separated by centuries but bound together by the power of the sea. Expect secrets, shipwrecks, and a touch of folkloric magic.

Thank you Emilia!

You can find out more about' ‘Weyward’ here or if you are a publisher and would like us to interview one of your authors, please email us.

International Women’s Day 2024

It’s International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, we are a feminist book club, and we’ve just launched a new blog space on our website.

Put the three together, and you’ve got yourself a brand-new blog for International Women’s Day, with responses from our gorgeous book club community.

The theme for this year’s IWD is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, and on their website they said: 

“When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world.

And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women.”

Because of this, we wanted to hear our book club community’s response to the theme. We asked them four questions and their responses were all we ever wanted, and so much more. We hope you enjoy reading their responses, have the best International Women’s Day, and we will see you at one of our book clubs / author events or socials very soon!

Here’s what we asked:

1. Can you tell us about a book that you have read (or an author) where you have felt that there was a theme of inclusion, where the book empowered you, or gave you a sense of belonging? 

2. Can you tell us about a place in your area (let us know the area) where you feel a sense of community or belonging?

3. Tell us your top tip for feeling empowered - it could be listening to Beyonce at full volume, finishing 20 minutes of yoga, or a Saturday evening at your favourite club dancing your socks off! 

4. Your ideas on how we create a more inclusive world for women

Here’s what they told us:

Response from South London co-host and member, Joelle

1. I always find myself returning to ‘What a Time to Be Alone’ by Chidera Eggerue (AKA The Slumflower) because it’s a brilliant example of a book that truly empowers readers to embrace and fully choose themselves unapologetically and wholly, whether they are partnered or not. She writes with not just one kind of woman in mind with a real tenderness that I hadn’t seen in a long time in other books.

2. I was born in South London and have lived in various towns within it for most of my life. I have been living in Lambeth for close to a decade and find real solace in a number of libraries in the area. I can just zone out to get work done but also admire the architecture and people watch too. I also like to attend author events to support local talent and uplift their work, which provides me with a great sense of joy.

3. Always remember who the f**k you are. Regardless of your status or circumstance, there’s power in your name and you need to tell yourself that out loud every day. No one can take you for a dickhead when you’re sure of yourself.

4. A good start would be to stop seeing Black, brown, trans and disabled women as Other or an afterthought. Bringing everyone to the table in a non-performative manner is the only way of achieving our shared goal of being seen and heard in a genuinely inclusive world! I’d also say never stop being curious and always ask questions.

   Finally, It’s super important to read outside of your comfort zone and ask yourself why you don’t read or listen to certain podcasts by women who don’t look like you or have a different background.

Response from our board member and founder of The Girl Lab, Nikki

1. I loved the book 'Untamed' by Glennon Doyle. She writes about the role of women, how we see ourselves and the ways we conform to a society that doesn't work for anyone. It ignited something in me that led to me creating a new project for children and young people called, The Spark Movement.

2. I think the greatest sense of belonging comes from being with people who are on my wavelength, rather than being in a specific place. It's all about community, and I think that the more we can be our authentic selves, the more we align with people who are similar to us, and feel that sense of belonging. I run events for changemakers in my hometown of Cardiff and always feel a huge sense of community in those spaces.
   

3. My top tip for feeling empowered is to listen to your gut and act on it. It feels scary at first, but the more I do, the more it works out, the more I feel empowered by my own knowing and self-belief. That, and playing the new Kylie tracks at top volume!

4. Start with young people. Remove the gender stereotypes from children's toys and books, educate young people about gender roles, allow kids to be who and what they want to be, and eventually this will create a more inclusive world for all.

Response from South London member, Shivani

1. I read ‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty’ by Florence Given a few years ago. This book addresses outdated narratives and empowers you to rewrite your story. Throughout the book, Florence takes you on a journey of self-discovery that talks about setting new boundaries, embracing your worth and ditching the negativity. It’s a book that really focuses on loving yourself and ditching the idea that you owe anyone anything, particularly men, especially when it comes to beauty standards.

2. I have lived in Brixton for over seven years and Brixton Village Market is a place where you feel a strong sense of community, it’s a lively street market with lots of restaurants that are popular with a range of different communities, selling Caribbean, African, South American, and other international cuisines. It’s a great place to enjoy lots of delicious food and experience such a welcoming atmosphere.

3. Going to spin classes with some of the great female friends that I am lucky to have in my life and a few weeks ago I went to a themed class that played one of my favourite female music artists, Jorja Smith and I left feeling 10/10 and really empowered!

4. Empower the women in your life, whether that be at work, your family, or your friends. Show up for them, support them, empower them and celebrate them!

Response from Sheffield book club member member, Olivia

1. ‘Friendaholic’ by Elizabeth Day made me feel empowered in my friendships and gave me a framework to understand the pattern some of them had followed so that I could view them in a different way. It also empowered me to set boundaries where there hadn't been any for too long.

2. Wood's Fitness in Walkley, Sheffield – a community gym with small class sizes and people of all ages/abilities/walks of life, plus a very kind and understanding instructor. It's the complete opposite of every intimidating, glamorous London gym class I've ever been to and every time I go it helps me feel strong, capable, less stressed and more confident in connecting with other people.

3. Finishing a 10K run or half-marathon – I've only done a handful of them but I've never felt more powerful or indestructible than when crossing the finish line.

4. Mandatory free childcare provision in medium-large company offices/buildings. The burden of childcare still falls predominantly to women, even after their maternity leave finishes. Free childcare provision would enable and empower women to return to work after maternity leave without the financial impact of paying for childcare, stressful nursery waiting lists, and strict drop-off/pick-up times. It would also enable breastfeeding mothers to return to work sooner if they want to, and allow time to connect with their child(ren) during the day.

Response from North London co-host and member, Emily

1. When I reflect on the books I've read, one title that always comes to mind is ‘Mrs Hemingway’ by Naomi Wood. This book is a beautifully written and captivating autobiographical exploration of the interconnected lives of those associated with Ernest Hemingway.  It is narrated by his wives themselves, giving them a voice to tell their stories. The book showcases how love and loss can shape and uncover the bonds of women, even in the most unique and unusual circumstances.”

2. For me this will always be Crouch End. I like to think of it as a tiny slice of eclectic charm. It’s small, cosy, and independent from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. It’s life is generated through small businesses, uniquely blending culture and amenities. It has, for a number of years now, helped me heal throughout some of the darker points of my life. I feel very lucky to be able to call it home. 

3. I know it may sound cliché, but there is nothing quite like dressing up in something fabulous. I consider personal style to be a wonderful way of expressing myself without words. It allows me to communicate how I'm feeling in my body and how I'm relating to the world around me. Whether I'm drowning myself in diverse charity shop garments or channeling my inner goth-inspired Jessica Rabbit, I can always rely on my fashion choices to invigorate and energize me. Whenever I am feeling low, deflated, or simply flat, my fashion choices empower me to reconnect with the world on my own terms.

4. Almost everything can be solved through the power of friendship. It allows us to open ourselves up to learning about others and their experiences. I believe it is the solution to almost anything, and the key to entwining our lived experiences with one another.

Response from book club member and employee of AllBright (our April Book Club partnership!), Lydia

1. Undoubtedly, ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller. The writing is absolutely beautiful and a treat to read; I was so captured by Circe’s story. The retelling of Greek mythology, through a feminist lens, I found extremely empowering. I felt all emotions of love, independence, rage and forgiveness in the book!

2. I live in St Albans, Hertfordshire. I find a sense of community or belonging every weekend by visiting the local market on the high street. It’s great to people (and dog!) watch, and meet the local, independent sellers. I would also say Books on the Hill is a beautiful bookshop to tuck away into.

3. My top tip for feeling empowered is trying something new that is good for the soul (and finding comfort at being a bit sh*t at it)! It’s one of the reasons why I joined the book club, to push myself to go out and socialise independently, and meet like minded people. I’ve now just started taking tennis - I’m pretty awful, but I think that learning/growing, even if it’s just 1% more every time you do something new, is very empowering!

4. Call it out!  However I acknowledge it’s not easy for everyone to do this, and it’s certainly a privileged position to take as a white woman. 
   
   But I’m a firm believer that it is my responsibility to call out unacceptable behaviours that exclude women and/or actively support those who are victim to it. To be inclusive, we must not be complicit.

Response from Bristol book club member, Kelly

1. Narrowing down to a single book is difficult but I was blown away by ‘The Color Purple’ and its exploration of female friendship. Shortly after, I read ‘Hello Beautiful’ and again was struck by the portrayal of female relationships, both the highs and lows.
   

2. I'm just outside Bristol in a small village and we are lucky to have a strong community vibe. Every month there is a community market with a pavement cafe and other stalls. It’s a chance to catch up with other villagers and is often an opportunity to collaborate or find out about other projects.
   

3. I like to be reminded of what my body can do, so a run or a gym session is great to physically feel empowered. When this is combined with learning something, whether that is a new skill or knowledge, you've got the best of both worlds. 
   

4. Listen and repeat when a woman expresses a good idea. When it is shared widely, make sure the credit remains with the original woman.
   

If you would like to write a future blog for us, email us - londonfeministbookclubcic@gmail.com

Everything You Need to Know About Alice Walker’s ‘The Color Purple’

Image credit: Everett Collection

This January, our 2024 book club starts with a novel that has left a significant mark on readers since its publication in 1982 – Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, 'The Color Purple’.

In anticipation, we've been exploring the novel's profound themes, its impact on literature, and the excitement around its upcoming movie adaptation - no major spoilers, we promise!

For those coming across this book for the first time, 'The Color Purple' is a captivating story unfolding in the early 20th century, tracing the life of Celie, an African American woman in the Deep South.

Through Celie's letters to God, the novel explores her struggles with abuse, racism, and sexism.

With that, Alice Walker weaves a compelling tale of resilience, self-discovery, and sisterhood as Celie finds strength and connection with other remarkable women - making it an inspiring read for feminists everywhere.

About the author 

Born in rural Georgia and raised in homes without electricity or plumbing, Alice Walker was the eighth daughter to sharecroppers. While growing up she was accidentally blinded in one eye, and her mother gave her a typewriter, allowing her to write instead of doing other chores.

Walker eventually became an activist and a writer, with 41 books across genres. 'The Color Purple' was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, making her the first Black woman to win the prize for fiction.

Beyond her literary achievements, Walker has been a vocal advocate for social justice.

Her ability to address societal issues through powerful storytelling has solidified her status as a literary icon. In 1967, Alice married Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal, a Jewish civil rights attorney, and they became the first legally married interracial couple in Mississippi.

Key themes and talking points

Oppression and empowerment: Walker tackles the harsh realities of racial and gender-based oppression, portraying the characters' journeys from victimhood to empowerment.

Sisterhood and solidarity: The novel celebrates the bonds forged between women, highlighting the transformative power of female relationships in the face of adversity.

Spiritual awakening: Celie's letters to God serve as a poignant exploration of spirituality and personal growth, providing a unique lens through which to view her evolving sense of self.

The upcoming movie adaptation

It's been almost four decades since Steven Spielberg's classic adaptation of 'The Color Purple' was released, and now a reimagined, fresh version prepares to grace our screens, in cinemas from 26th January.

Directed by Blitz Bazawule (who also helmed Beyoncé's Black Is King), the latest adaptation promises to breathe new life into Celie's story, while staying true to the novel's emotional depth and social significance. 

As for the cast, expect to see singer Fantasia Barrino stars as Celie, Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black) as Sofia, Henson (Hidden Figures) as Shug Avery, Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) as Harpo, Colman Domingo (Euphoria) as Mister, H.E.R. as Squeak and Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) as Young Nettie.

Whether you're revisiting the novel or experiencing it for the first time, 'The Color Purple's’ timeless themes and powerful storytelling are sure to spark thought-provoking discussions at book clubs all around - the perfect choice to inspire a new year of reading. 

We’d like to say a big thank you to book club member Helena for writing this beautiful blog post! If you would like to write a blog for us, please submit your idea to: londonfeministbookclubcic@gmail.com.

2023 Book Club reads

London Feminist Book Club has had a wonderful year of fun, fantasy and feminist friends, so we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on all the books we’ve read for the book club, and get some of our members feedback!

As always, and we would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your support in 2023. We literally wouldn’t exist without you - so to our book club members, our volunteers, our board members and to all the authors and book shops and venues who have hosted us, thank you so much.

Now back to the books…

Across South and North London Feminist Book club, we have read a range of fantastic, women-written books (listed on the following pages) which have taken us on journeys of tragedy, comedy, difficult relationships and liberating revelations.

Not only have we read some amazing authors, but we’ve met some too! It has been our pleasure and honour to welcome authors such as Tice Cin, Amy Key, Rosie Wilby and Jyoti Patel into our community to share some insight into their creative practices. We are so excited to host more author events in the new year.

This year also saw the launch of the London Feminist Book Club Festival! This would not have been possible without every members’ support and passion to help us bring this to life and we simply cannot wait to do it all over again in 2024.

We have so many plans and aspirations for the new year ahead and we are so excited and thrilled to have you as part of this journey!

We hope you enjoy this blog, and remember to follow us on our socials - we have South and North London, London, and now Sheffield and Bristol, were also on LinkedIn, X, and Tiktok. That’s a whole lot of content for you!

January

‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow'
Gabrielle Zevin

Spanning 30 years, and travelling through a myriad of destinations, Zevin's ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ is an intricately imagined novel that examines the nature of identity & failure, and above all, our need to connect. It is a love story you haven’t read before.

February

‘Lessons in Chemistry'
Bonnie Garmus

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality.

Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s scientific approach to cooking isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

March

‘The Things That We Lost'
Jyoti Patel

When Nik’s grandfather dies, he has the opportunity to learn about the man he never met. Armed with a key and new knowledge about his parents' past, Nik sets out to unlock the secrets that his mother has been holding onto his whole life.

April

‘I’m Glad My Mom Died'
Jennette McCurdy

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy. Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

May

‘Keeping the House'
Tice Cin

Centred on North London’s Turkish heroin trade, and the overlapping leaves, are the stories of its players. There’s Damla, a Turkish-Cypriot girl growing up in Tottenham, and her mother Ayla. There’s Mehmet, a mover in the trade, and Ali, who’s got big hopes for Ayla.

'Keeping the House’ is a bewitching debut that lifts the lid on a covert world, with a dynamic introduction to a fascinating new voice.

June

‘Really Good, Actually'
Monica Heisey

Maggie is fine. She’s doing really good, actually. Sure, she’s broke, her graduate thesis on something obscure which is going nowhere, and her marriage only lasted 608 days, but at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new life as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée.

This is a remarkable debut from an unforgettable new voice in fiction.

July

‘Arrangements in Blue’
Amy Key

Now in her forties, poet Amy Key sets out to explore the realities of a life lived in the absence of romantic love, using Joni Mitchell’s Blue as her guide.

‘Arrangements in Blue’ explores the painful feelings we are usually too ashamed to discuss: loneliness, envy, grief and failure.

September

‘I’m Sorry You Feel That Way’
Rebecca Wait

A compelling domestic comedy about complex family dynamics, mental health and the intricacies of sibling relationships.

As adults, Alice and Hanna must deal with disappointments in work and in love as well as increasingly complicated family tensions, and lives that look dismayingly dissimilar to what they'd intended.

October

‘Yellowface’
R. F. Kuang

When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the pseudonym Juniper Song.

‘Yellowface’ grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media.

November

‘The Breakup Monologues’
Rosie Wilby

This book is a love letter to Rosie’s breakups in a celebration of what they have taught her. With anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists. Rosie delves deep into the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and conscious uncoupling.

December

‘The Woman in Me’
Britney Spears

‘The Woman In Me’ reveals Spears’s incredible journey to reclaiming her own freedom. Written with incredible candor and humor, This ground-breaking book illuminates the power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.