We’re almost there guys! And I’m not talking turkey. I’m talking about the glorious month in between Semesters where we get the chance to sit back and relax and not have to think about MLA formatting for a while. If you’re like me, you divide your holiday two catch up on two things: sleep and reading.
In light of the annual Georgia Literary Festival gracing our lovely Milledgeville last weekend, and also of the various “list-icles” that pop up on my news feed claiming to be “Top books for women in their twenties”, I have decided to compile my own list of books highlighting female power in a list especially for women of Georgia College. One of the greatest things about going to school in Milledgeville is that we are living in an epicenter of literary activity. So this Christmas, take the ITunes gift cards off your letters to Santa and delve into some of these hidden jewels of American literary treasure:
Flannery O’ Connor: The Complete Stories
As a lady of Georgia College you cannot go wrong with the Patron Literary Saint of Milledgeville herself, our lady Flannery. O’ Connor’s stories are the literary equivalent of smothering something in chocolate and then having it forcibly stuffed down your throat until your soul is crushed along with your esophagus. If you don’t believe me, try “Good Country People” on for size. And if you get the chance, check out the exhibit in the museum dedicated to her life and her cartoons.
Edna St. Vincent Millay; Selected Poems
While not a Georgia girl by birth, her poetry is some of the most widely acclaimed and beautiful, and a lot of it explores themes from our everyday lives: relationships, sexuality and femininity. Something that is great about poetry anthologies is that they are perfect for the girl who does not have the time to commit to a full sized novel, just grab a poem between breaks during the winter internship or winter job or just between servings at Christmas Dinner.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
If youre looking for a literary relationship that is a little more long term than the poems or short stories allow, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a great roller coaster of a novel that deals with the War in Afghanistan, through the eyes of women, all while exploring female friendship.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
If you are a lover of books in any form, do yourself a huge favor and pick up this book at your local library. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a beautifully written look into the mind of a woman in a dystopian society that has been reduced to extreme regulation of the female body.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A classic, set right up the road from Milly, in Alice Walker’s own Putnam County, Georgia, The Color Purple has been widely regarded as one of the finest literary achievements of the present time. The story focuses on Celie, who grows into her own being through a lifetime hardships, eventually making herself into her own woman.
Love and the Eye by Laura Newbern
Another collection of poetry, this one comes from Georgia College’s own Laura Newbern, professor of poetry. This anthology includes poems characterized by gorgeous imagery intertwined with insightful inner monologue, perfect for a relaxing day
Vinculum by Alice Friman
Vinculum is the latin word for “bond”, and the various connotations thereof. Likewise, the poems in this collection are versatile and intimate as the woman who wrote them, which makes this the perfect book for a woman who is exploring her own identity.
Sweet Land of Bigamy by Miah Arnold
Miah Arnold is new to the Georgia College English faculty, and Sweet Land of Bigamy is her first novel. This book is a humorous nonlinear novel that is a breath of fresh air after the voluminous tomes of that biology class you were forced to take. The story revolves around Helen Motes, a woman who ends up with two husbands, and throughout the novel ponders the implications of this.
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
Myla Goldberg is not a native of Georgia or Milledgeville however this novel is perfect for a twenty-something year old, as it takes you through a world of shattered peices: from spirituality to sexuality, from spelling bees to synagogues, from mental illness to motherhood and everywhere in between. Told alternatively through the eyes of each of the four members of the Naumann family, Bee Season is a must read for those who enjoy the metaphysical.
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Not only was this book a triumph for southern writers, it was also a triumph for women writers. It deals with the problematic female character Scarlett O Hara, who has since become one of the classic icons of American Literature, and covers everything from racism, sexuality, history, and the human condition. It was an instant best seller, and the book most widely associated with our fair state of Georgia. Also it was made into a movie which itself became a instant classic and featured this glorious specimen:
Hello Ladies.