Greetings, friends of CALYX! Intern Marissa writing. With summer soon coming to an end, I am once again reflecting on how fortunate I am to contribute to CALYX, along with gaining invaluable publishing experience and meeting some especially first-rate folks while here. From mini-assembly lines of letter sorting to perusing manuscripts over coffee, we interns have really enjoyed ourselves and learned together.
In the meantime, I just completed summer courses at OSU to obtain my degree in English. What do you do with a B.A. in English, you might ask? Aside from being a responsible, independent adult, I plan to spend much of my newfound free time reading. I love a variety of genres and books, many of which are penned by guys. But it’s just as important to recognize a traditionally underrepresented group in the literary field: women authors, past and present, with creative talent and something to say.
Recently, I read Who in This Room by Katherine Malmo — a CALYX original. It’s a brave, truthful, and thought-provoking account of one woman’s life with breast cancer and subsequent treatment, and I’d recommend it to any woman. But don’t just take my word for it; you can find what some reviewers had to say and purchase your own copy at www.calyxpress.org/whointhisroom.
I also devoured the latest installment in the trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater, Forever, released in July. What’s this, you say — a college grad reading YA fiction? Well, sometimes the most inspiring writing comes in small or unexpected packages. Stiefvater’s novel happens to be that rare hybrid of breezy page-turner and poetic craftsmanship. Her blog is also fantastic resource for aspiring authors, including entries with handy writing tips.
Some other books on my need-to-read list by ladies of literature:
- The Purity Myth, Jessica Valenti
- Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
- Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
- Something Blue, Emily Giffin
- From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
- The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
- The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula Le Guin
I’m always open to new reading recommendations while supporting women writers. Do you have a favorite female author or novel to recommend? Let us know in the comments!
Until next time,
Marissa