Authors and Titles--Women's Fiction Part 2

Essa Adams has an extensive list of Women’s Fiction titles at Women’s Fiction Blog. I also like her summation of what makes a book women’s fiction:

• 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.

I have been reading women’s fiction lately to get a feel for the genre and to guide my own work on my WIPs FRIENDLY FIRE and LINE OF FIRE. Considering how wide ranging the definition for this genre are, (See Part 1) my list is very broad and inclusive.

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. ; )