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GoodReads Hit List

Purple Star emoji 18 items
If you seek out deep insights or compelling storytelling, you'll probably like my book vibe. This list will evolve over time with more of my favorites and wishlist books.
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The Complexities of Women

I'm a fan of narratives that explore the multifaceted experiences of women. This list includes profound and provocative works that delve into themes of identity, motherhood, sexuality, and the complexities of the human psyche.

 
LouLou Baum profile picture
Incredibly funny, a little odd, and very erotic story about food, sex, and God. It's a tender telling of our human appetities for food, sexual desire, and longing.
Milk Fed a book by Melissa Broder
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LouLou Baum profile picture
I've been dying to read this but it's still on my wishlist. It's an investigation of what Lydia Davis has called the "expressive power of fetishism" how a seemingly irrelevant aesthetic detail may cause the eruption of sublimity within the mundane.
The Ribbon at Olympia's Throat a book by Michel Leiris, Christine Pichini, and Marc Auge
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LouLou Baum profile picture
Another on my wishlist. Within I'm A Fan, a single speaker uses the story of their experience in a seemingly unequal, unfaithful relationship as a prism through which to examine the complicated hold we each have on one another. With a clear and unfor... herself as a vital new voice in literature, capable of rendering a range of emotions, visceral  experiences on the page. Sex, violence, politics, tenderness, humor – Patel handles them all with both originality and dexterity of voice.
I'm a Fan a book by Sheena Patel
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LouLou Baum profile picture
One of the most influential thinkers of her generation draws us into the lives of three women, all past their first youth, all facing unexpected crises in these three "immensely intelligent stories about the decay of passion" (The Sunday Herald Times...
The Woman Destroyed a book by Simone de Beauvoir
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LouLou Baum profile picture
From Lisa Taddeo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon Three Women, comes an "intoxicating" (Entertainment Weekly), "fearless" (Los Angeles Times), and "explosive" (People) novel about "what happens when women are pushed b...
Animal a book by Lisa Taddeo
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LouLou Baum profile picture
An ambitious mother puts her art career on hold to stay at home with her newborn son, but the experience does not match her imagination. Two years later, she steps into the bathroom for a break from her toddler's demands, only to discover a dense pat...
Nightbitch a book by Rachel Yoder
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A darkly comedic novel about a young woman's attempt to escape the pressures of life by embarking on a year of self-imposed hibernation, exploring themes of trauma and mental health.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation a book by Ottessa Moshfegh
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A poignant memoir that explores the author's experiences with loss, identity, and the healing power of food and culture.
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir a book by Michelle Zauner
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A collection of short stories that blend the surreal with the familiar to explore the realities of women's lives and bodies. Machado's writing is both haunting and insightful, offering a unique perspective on gender, identity, and the body.
Her Body and Other Parties: Stories a book by Carmen Maria Machado
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A semi-autobiographical novel, this book follows the life of a young woman named Jacaranda who navigates the bohemian and artistic circles of Los Angeles and New York. The story explores themes of self-discovery, ambition, and the pursuit of pleasure...
Sex and Rage a book by Eve Babitz
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A collection of nine short stories, "Black Swans" spans the 1960s to the 1990s, offering a retrospective look at Babitz's experiences and the cultural shifts she witnessed. The stories cover a range of themes, from love and loss to the changing socia...
Black Swans: Stories a book by Eve Babitz and Stephanie Danler
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LouLou Baum profile picture
This novel tells the story of two women, Sophie and Lou, as they navigate their lives in Los Angeles. It delves into themes of friendship, identity, and the pursuit of happiness amidst the city's eclectic and often superficial culture.
L.A. Woman a book by Eve Babitz
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A seminal work that examines the intersections of gender, race, and class, exploring how these elements have historically shaped the experiences of women, particularly women of color. Davis's incisive analysis provides a comprehensive look at the str...
Women, Race, & Class a book by Angela Y. Davis
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A collection of erotic short stories that explore human sexuality with literary grace. Nin's stories are rich with sensuality and psychological depth, making them timeless pieces of erotic literature.
Delta of Venus a book by Anaïs Nin
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LouLou Baum profile picture
An accessible argument for why feminism should be an inclusive and universal movement, addressing issues of gender inequality.
We Should All Be Feminists a book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Art and Activisim: The Transformative Power of Art in Crisis

In times of crisis, art serves as a beacon of hope, a tool for resistance, and a medium for expressing the inexpressible. I put together a grouping of books that highlight works that examine the role of art in responding to emergencies, challenging s...

 
LouLou Baum profile picture
A thought-provoking collection of essays that explore how art can act as a lifeline in times of personal and political turmoil. Laing examines the works of various artists and writers, revealing how creativity can offer solace and provoke social chan...
Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency a book by Olivia Laing
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LouLou Baum profile picture
Laing's exploration of urban loneliness through the lives and works of artists such as Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol. This book delves into how art can reflect and alleviate the isolating experiences of city life.
The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone a book by Olivia Laing
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LouLou Baum profile picture
A memoir by musician and artist Patti Smith that chronicles her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the vibrant art scene of 1960s and 1970s New York City. The book highlights how their creative partnership helped them navigate the ...
Just Kids: An Autobiography a book by Patti Smith
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