Yass, Queen: 3 New Books About Women Who Rule
Ilana Lucas
Ilana Lucas
Ilana is an English professor, theatre consultant and playwright based in Toronto, Canada. When she’s not at the theatre or insisting that literary criticism can be fun, she’s singing a cappella or Mozart, occasionally harmonizing with the symphony, or playing “Under Pressure” with her rock handbell group, Pavlov’s Dogs.
With International Women’s Day recently behind us and the welcome rise in feminist activism across the country, it’s a great time to remind ourselves that women really do rule. Some do it literally, by title, and some merely rule our hearts by the way they challenge and take on the world. This week’s book club features books about and by the first female president of an African nation, the OG Renaissance queen (even pre-Elizabeth), and our favorite queen of The X-Files.
<em>Madame President: The Extraordinary Journey of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf</em>
One of the very best parts of Amy Poehler’s amazing and wonderful Parks and Recreation (seriously, once you’re finished reading these books, watch it) was that it introduced a wider swath of the word to the comedy powerhouse that is Retta. The show’s secret weapon, she ruled her every scene, and her live-Tweeting knows no bounds. It’s not surprising that Retta knows how to rule the screen, because her aunt, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, worked her way to becoming Africa’s first female president, along with the small matter of winning a Nobel Prize.<em><strong> </strong></em>
by Giles Tremlett ($35): Far before there was Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, before there was even a presidency, and even before Elizabeth I, there was Isabella of Castile. Isabella, born in 1451, was Europe’s first female monarch, and the 35 years she ruthlessly ruled Castile would result in major consequences for centuries to come. Some, like historian Manuel Fernández Álvarez, even call her the most important figure in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. At 18, she was already asserting herself, choosing her own husband, Ferdinand, from the sons of neighboring Aragon’s ruling class.<em> We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere</em>
If you want to rule, and you don’t have Queen Isabella’s army, you need a guidebook to get you there. Actress and writer Gillian Anderson collaborates with journalist Jennifer Nadel to provide a self-help manual for the woman who wants to improve her prospects and lot in life (and if we’ve learned anything from history, unfortunately, it’s if we don’t help ourselves, who will?). The book is part guiding principle, part conversation, and part workbook for success (though if you want to do the exercises provided, you’ll need a journal). The book cautions that the process is complex and can’t be superficial, but this is reflected in the results; it’s a “Radical transformation” structured around a core principle of compassion.Ilana Lucas
Ilana is an English professor, theatre consultant and playwright based in Toronto, Canada. When she’s not at the theatre or insisting that literary criticism can be fun, she’s singing a cappella or Mozart, occasionally harmonizing with the symphony, or playing “Under Pressure” with her rock handbell group, Pavlov’s Dogs.
Ilana Lucas
Ilana Lucas
Ilana is an English professor, theatre consultant and playwright based in Toronto, Canada. When she’s not at the theatre or insisting that literary criticism can be fun, she’s singing a cappella or Mozart, occasionally harmonizing with the symphony, or playing “Under Pressure” with her rock handbell group, Pavlov’s Dogs.