Top 10 Books Every Woman Should Read (3 of 6)

The Bell Jar

The Bell Jar is an autobiographical book by Sylvia Plath, who examines mental illness and the lives of women in the 1950’s. She sheds light on anxiety, depression, and the pressure that women had to maneuver during this time, from society and impossibly sexist standards. Her work through this book is still instrumental and impactful today.

We Were the Mulvaneys

Joyce Carol is known for her breadth of work, having written 58 novels. She has written all sorts of books, from short stories, plays, nonfiction, and poetry. John Updike of The New Yorker said, “If the phrase ‘woman of letters’ existed, [Joyce Carol Oates] would be, foremost in the country, entitled to it.” This particular novel is about a seemingly perfect family that is stricken with suffering, love, and plenty of ups and downs.