Our most recent book picnic took place on Wednesday 5th of september, and our staff and volunteers gave us new exciting recommendations that we wanted to share with you.
The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write – by Sabrina Mahfouz 
Sabrina Mahfouz choose to bring together in this book a collection of Muslim women’ stories, on different topics, from new writers published here for the first time to better known writers. From Algiers to Brighton, from the career of an actress to the user of an Islamic Tinder, Sabrina Mahfouz gives an outlet for this women in the search for belonging.
Recommended by Emily
Birdcage Walk – by Helen Dunmore 
In this book you will follow Lizzie Fawkes, in Bristol, during the french revolution. Daughter of a fervent woman fighting for women’s rights, she is confined in an abusive relationship with a jealous and suspicious husband. Helen Dunmore talks about public and private violence as the heroine try to preserve her independent and questioning spirit.
Recommended by Pauline
Swell : a Waterbiography – by Jenny Landreth 
In this part history part memoir book, Jenny Landreth will take you into the “swimming suffragettes” history. Even though today swimming seems to be a common activity, it is important to remember that, in the 19th century, Women were barely allowed to swim in the sea, and could do so as long as no men were around. This book is a tribute to women who have made equal access to swimming possible, their fight and their victory in the 1930s.
Recommended by Gabrielle
Between Shades of Gray – by Ruta Sepetys 
This is the story of Lina, a fifteen Lithuanian girl, during the stalinian regim in 1941. She and her family are deported to Siberia in a labor camp. In her first novel, Ruta Sepetys will take you on the paths of deportation, resistance, love in the darkest times and a little known page of history.
Recommended by Claire
Revolting Prostitutes – The fight for sex workers’ rights – by Juno Mac and Molly Smith 
Juno Mac and Molly Smith bring back to the table the questions of sex workers’ rights, from different perspectives and within different questions of migration, work, feminism or white supremacy. This book is a reflection about justice and freedom for sex workers, especially from a UK perspective.
GWL is hoping to host the two authors for a discussion about the book. More information will be on the site soon.
You might also like: Fish Net by Kirstin Innes
Recommended by Katie
The girl Guide: 50 ways to learn to love your changing body – by Marawa Ibrahim 
This is a funny and illustrated guide about the wonders of our changing bodies as teenagers. This guide is regrouping stories, anecdotes and lessons that the author experienced in her own body, in collaboration with Doctor Janice K. Hillman. A funny and playful way to understand, or remember, the feelings of our unpredictable bodies.
Recommended by Hannah
Elsewhere, Home – by Leila Aboulela 
Elsewhere, Home offers the stories of several immigrant women as they go through the assimilation and difference in new countries and new homes. In a time when immigration is a social issue, Leila Aboulela explore the different feelings which flow from a new life in a new environment.
Recommended by Wendy
We should all be feminists – by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
We should all be feminists is an essay, wich aims to give a definition of Feminism in the 21st century. This essay was actually adapted from a TED talk video of the author, in 2012, and includes anecdotes and analysis about a main subject: what it means to be a feminist.
Ted talk video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc
Recommended by Celestine
A Court Of Mist and Fury – by Sarah J. Maas 
This is the second book in the Sarah J. Maas fantasy series “A Court of Thornes And Roses”. In this second book, you will follow again Feyre as she had to deal with the terrible events that happened in the first book. In a fearie world divided in Courts, such as the Day Court, the Night Court or the Summer Court, our heroin has to face depression, the recovery of an abusive relationship and the understanding of what it means to stand for yourself.
Recommended by Laura
