Women’s History Month reading list from Banter Bookshop

 

For Women’s History Month this year, One Book One BART asked partner Banter Bookshop to curate a list highlighting books written by women who live in or have a connection to the Bay Area. The list was created by Amy Holmes Davis, the owner of Banter, and Fareeha Qadir, a bookseller. Said the curators, “These authors below are all celebrated women writing in their preferred genres either to bring to light women’s issues that are often misrepresented, or shedding light on stories that are often not told at all.”

 

On the list, you’ll find everything from the work of speculative fiction visionary Ursula K. Le Guin (who was born in Berkeley!) to a debut rom-com by Taleen Voskuni. There’s an additional tie-in with One Book One BART: Vanessa Hua, whose "Forbidden City" is included in this list, moderated a conversation at BART HQ last winter with author Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, whose novel "On the Rooftop" was the One Book One BART fall/winter club selection.

 

Find the One Book One BART Black History Month reading list here.

 

One Book One BART will be returning with a new book selection and events later this year. In the meantime, we want to encourage reading all year long. For more information about One Book One BART, visit the webpage here and sign up for the mailing list (use the box at the top of the page). Questions or suggestions? Email [email protected].

 

 

 

 Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) one of the most prolific speculative fiction writers of the 60s and 70s, was born in Berkeley, California. Her body of work includes 23 novels, 12 volumes of short stories, 11 volumes of poetry, 13 children’s books, five essay collections and four works of translation. The "Left Hand of Darkness," written in 1969, is often referenced as one of her most impactful works, the story centering around a first encounter on a planet with gender fluid aliens. She was a feminist writer who often reimagined gender, sexuality and critiqued the patriarchal lens through her work.

 

 

Leila Mottley is a young author born and raised in Oakland writing stories about Black girlhood and vulnerability. She began writing her debut novel at 16 and quickly rose to success with its publication. "Nightcrawling" is based on a true crime story involving exploitation of a young black girl, corruption and the Oakland police department. She was the 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, her novel was longlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, and her work has now been translated into over a dozen languages. Her next book is a collection of poetry set to release in 2025.

 

Vendela Vida is an American novelist, journalist, editor, screenplay writer and educator from San Francisco. Her fiction centers around women whose lives are disrupted by violence. Her latest novel "We Run the Tides" is a story of female friendship, betrayal and a mysterious disappearance set in the changing landscape of San Francisco in the 1980s.

 

Taleen Voskuni is an Armenian-American debut author from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her rom-com, "Sorry, Bro" is a heartfelt romance that explores themes of queerness, identity and womanhood through the lens of a bisexual Armenian woman fully embracing her culture. “One of my goals with 'Sorry, Bro' is to reach a wide audience and to teach non-Armenians about who we are. To have an Armenian-American story out there, one that is joyful and has the potential to reach readers who don’t know anything about Armenian culture.” In 2023 "Sorry, Bro" was awarded the Golden Poppy Award in romance. Voskuni’s next title is called "Lavash at First Sight," set to release May 7th, 2024.

 

 

Vanessa Hua is an award-winning author and celebrated journalist from the Bay Area that has been writing about Chinese history and diaspora for over two decades. Her novel, "The Forbidden City," a finalist for the California Book Award, covers the chinese cultural revolution through the perspective of a young girl barely 16. “In my fiction and in my journalism, I always try to shine a light onto untold stories.”

 

Based in the Bay Area, Aisha Harris is the co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. Her book "Wannabe" is a collection of essays that have a little something for every interest from theater nerds to obscure 90s media buffs. She often discusses her experience being a Black critic in the pop culture world and how her life experiences are reflected in her work.

 

Julie Chavez is an elementary school librarian in Northern California with a story to tell. Her debut memoir, "Everyone But Myself," covers her life as a mother struggling with depression and anxiety, leading to a debilitating panic attack. Her memoir is a humorous and honest reflection of what motherhood demands, the often overlooked mental health struggles of women and the road to recovery. Her book was featured as a USA Today Bestseller and won the Mom's Choice Award. 

The bookshop is the dream project of Amy Holmes Davis, a longtime Fremont resident. The Banter Bookshop team is excited to create a shop for all ages where everyone will feel welcome to browse the latest selection of new books, chat with a bookseller or fellow patron, or purchase a gift for a friend. We hope your love of reading will inspire you to stop by.