Women’s History Book Tag | What Book Inspires Me?

Hey everyone!!

Today I have a VERY, VERY exciting post because it is the Women’s History Book Tag where we get to celebrate lots of remarkable women and talk about books.

This was created by Margaret @ Weird Zeal and let’s just admire the care that was taken to create this tag!! Thank you for tagging me and if you aren’t already, you really need to be following her.

RULES:

• Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post.
• Link to the creator’s blog in your post
• Answer the questions below using only books written by women
• Feel free to use the same graphics
• Tag 8 others to take part in the tag

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

In this book we follow Rin who is told by a lot of people who she is supposed to be and that she shouldn’t dream bigger basically. But she pushes against these limitations constantly and rewrites her entire life how she wants it. She is definitely a morally grey character, but she fits this prompt well.

“fear was impossible to eradicate but so was the will to survive.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This isn’t the immediate pick I would go for but there are many ways to be smart and Evelyn Hugo was adaptable and intelligent. From understanding the industry, using people to her advantage, knowing her own worth, picking Monique for the interview and all these thought-out actions. The way she executed her ambition proved her genius but in an understated way.

“I’m under absolutely no obligation to make sense to you.”

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

This book follows Hesina who is the recently appointed ruler and I loved how this whole part of her was written. It felt so realistic of the journey and her age. It talked about growing into the role, the different emotions, the burdens she faced and the duty she had.

“She could do all the wanted in the dark, but in the light, she had to choose her people. She always had to choose her people.”

Circe by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller writes lyrically. She was able to capture the emotions of Circe and construct sentences with the weight of time and power. Whilst reading her book it was just really easy to admire the art that was her writing. It was atmospheric and character-driven. The writing was probably one of my favourite aspects of this book.

“That is one thing gods and mortals share. When we are young, we think ourselves the first to have each feeling in the world”

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I love this series, and everyone needs to read it, okay. This series features two warrior females and they are very different, but they also have a lot of similarities as well. Laia and Helene are both strong and determined. They both go through difficult situations and both would fight until the very end.

“I do not doubt, I do not hesitate. I am the Lioness’s daughter, and I have the Lioness’s strength.”

Winter by Marissa Meyer

So, I have barely read any sci-fi, so The Lunar Chronicles was the only series that fit this prompt. It is set on the moon in parts, so it counts as much as it isn’t deep space. But I loved this series and all the friendships. It was fun and full of wonderful characters with lots of badass female characters, all with different strengths.

“broken isn’t the same as unfixable“

Unboxed by Non Pratt

This is a short but meaningful read based on a friendship group opening a memory box after some years, after one of them has died. It is emotional and nostalgic. I think it really delivered on what I wanted it to. Lots of people would love it as I read it in one sitting because it is addictive and just 139 pages.

“None of us have finished becoming who we want to be. I have a whole list to get through”

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

To me, Alice Oseman is royalty in the YA contemporary genre, and I love their books. There are so many amazing things about them, but I admire the diversity they write about and how it is effortless, it is who the characters are supposed to be. They have written about amazing LGBTQ+ characters and truly cared about good representation and making them amazing individuals. They rewrite the heteronormative formula, doing it beautifully and realistically.

“You probably think Aled Last and I are going to fall in love or something. Since he is a boy and I am a girl. I just wanted to say- we don’t. That’s all.”

The Night Circus by Erin Morgerstern

So, I have had to bend the rules slightly for this one as I haven’t read too many award-winning books. But The Night Circus has won awards and although I found it slightly disappointing, I still admired many things. From the writing, the magic and the atmosphere. It was all crafted with care and skill and let’s not forget that this was Morgenstern’s debut which definitely inspires me.

“People see what they wish to see. And in most cases, what they are told that they see.”

Wow, they are so many to choose but I’m going to with…

Irena Sendler (1910-2008)

 

“Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker who, during World War II, helped to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto, and placed them in convents or with non-Jewish families.”

Source: biography.com

She is believed to have personally saved 400 Jewish children and she kept records of their families so she could reunite rescued children (unfortunately many of the parents have died.) She was later arrested by Nazis and tortured for information regarding Zegota (the council to aid Jews that she joined) but she didn’t give any information. The Zegota bribed the guards and she was released. She continued to work until the war had ended.

She acted with strength, bravery and kindness which I think is always inspiring and amazing. Especially in dangerous times, she stood for what she believed to be right even putting herself at risk for it. She is definitely inspiring.

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Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

So, this is an answer that surprised myself actually and it is for a few small reasons:

(1) Daisy Jones was a singer, so she got to write lyrics and create something that inspired me to create something with as much emotion and beauty.

(2) There is one bit where she has to do something with singing that she isn’t confident with, but she does it anyway. It starts badly but it eventually evolves into something good. The courage to be bad is always inspiring to me because I would literally be terrified, but you have to do it to get better.

(3) There were many different female characters who wanted different things, but none were belittled for this which I admired. And I really, REALLY love this quote “Don’t count yourself out this early, Daisy. You’re all sorts of things you don’t even know yet.” It was women empowering women and it showed that you can be all sorts of things and you don’t have to limit yourself.

Thank you again for the tag Margaret, I loved doing it!! It was so fun and perfect for this month. If you would like to do this tag, I officially tag you.

I would also like to tag…

• Emer @ A Little Haze
• Emma @ A Few Chapter ‘Til Love
• Lois @ My Midnight Musing
• Charis @ Charis Rae
• Charvi @ Not Just Fiction

Obviously, this is entirely optional and there is no pressure, but I would love to see your answers if you choose to do this tag.

Who do you consider a woman who inspires you??

What book inspires you? Tell me about a female character who you love??