- Women’s fiction books are usually written by women, for women.
- They are based on the motivation of women’s issues and personal drama.
- Most often, women’s fiction is written sans the typical romance.
- Even without this typical romance, these novels are seldom read by men.
- Women’s fiction books are almost always contemporary, given they are not in a genre such as Regency, historical, romance, supernatural, fantasy, horror, or mystery.
- Personal and career drama, environmental issues and political activism are tempered with the distinctive ways the protagonist deals with challenges and self-realization.
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS—Vanessa Diffenbaugh
COMING UP FOR AIR—Patti Callahan Henry
CATCHING GENIUS—Kristy Kiernan
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFÉ—Fannie Flagg
THE HELP—Kathryn Stockett
DON’T GET MAD, GET EVEN—J. L. Campbell
A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST—Gene Stratton-Porter
THE SECRET LIVES OF BEES—Sue Monk Kidd
A MOTHER AND TWO DAUGHTERS—Gail Godwin
ON FOLLY BEASH--Karen White (I just finished this one. It's excellent!)
GODS IN ALABAMA and THE GIRL WHO STOPPED SWIMMING--Joshilyn Jackson
Other books I have, but haven’t read yet, but think will fit the genre:
FALLING HOME—Karen White
THE JOY LUCK CLUB—Amy Tan
Other authors who have been suggested to me include:
Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve, Anna Quindlan
Do you have any suggestions of women’s fiction authors or titles? Or do you want to argue with me on what I’ve classed as women’s fiction?
Really, I want to know. ; )
I loved The Help, Girl of the Limberlost and Joy Luck Club but haven't read the others. I'll need to add them to my list.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's women's fiction because it's historical (and written a while ago) but I love "A Lantern in her Hands".
Who's the author of "A Lattern in her Hands"?
ReplyDelete"Oh Folly Beach" had a healthy dose of history in one of it's story lines, too.
Cool list, thanks for including mine. I believe Snow Flower & The Secret Fan would make a good addition to the list. The definition of women's fiction from Katie Shea and Linda Hyatt resonated with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion, J.L. and you're very welcome. ; )
DeleteJ. L. Campbell's book is on my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the others. I think of Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, but I guess they're not very "now". Kait Nolan's books are amazing! They're more YA romance - not sure if that fits your criteria.
Hmm, women... I tend to go for old white male Brits, myself [g] Unless it's Dorothy Sayers!
Hope you've resolved your computer issues! I've been rather silent too, but it's because I'm extra busy at work and rarely logged in - trying to complete a *huge* knitting project!
Deniz, I'm starting to think that the definition of Women's Fiction is so broad that nearly any book fits if it's main POV is a woman. Some definitions say that chick lit and romance fit, too. That's the problem--I have no clue *what* genre my WIPs are. This is a problem if I ever get to the agent hunting stage. That's why I'm trying to figure it out and picking everyone's brains in the process. ; )
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