To Be Read lists. They're awesome and overwhelming at the same time. They give the excitement of new reads to look forward to, then anxiety because how the hell are you ever going to find time to read all of them....no?...Just me?...ok. Anyway, I compiled TBR lists of varying topics and genres. The topic of badass women is just the first topic. More will happen. All of these are historical biographies or memoirs of women past and present that I thought would be fun to read. Here they are, in no particular order.
Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, by Brad Ricca
This is the story of Mrs. Grace Humiston an attorney who turned to crime fighting in early 20th century New York. She graduated from NYU law and set up a law firm in a low-income part of town. She defended those who needed her in court and solved crimes on the side. She was nicknamed Mrs. Sherlock Holmes, she apparently wore only black and became the first female U.S. District Attorney. This seems like a crazy fun read, especially for true crime fans.
Agent Sonya, by Ben Macintyre
The true story of Ursula Burton, code-named "Sonya". Burton was a Russian spy with a picturesque unassuming life. No one would have guessed she was wanted by the Japanese, the Chinese, the Nazis, MI5, MI6, and the FBI. A spy thriller about a real spy. A high-ranking one at that. Should be interesting.
The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice, by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
In 2014 a rebellion took place in a small Syrian town called Kobani. The rebels are an army of Kurdish women who squared off with ISIS to protect their town and the rights of women everywhere. Through hours of interviews, author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon put it all together to give us the story of the women who frightened terrorists.
Yours Cruelly, Elvira, by Cassandra Peterson
On a lighter note, it's a freakin' biography of Mistress of the Dark, Elvira. Who doesn't love Elvira? Written by the legend herself, this is bound to be a fun and interesting peek into the life of Cassandra Peterson and her daringly gothic alter ego, Elvira. What's not to love?
Delicacy: A Memoir About Cake and Death, by Katy Wix
A memoir said to be beautiful, heartwrenching, and funny, by comedian and actress Katy Wix. Katy Wix is hilarious and anything she does is bound to be good. If you don't believe me watch BBC's Ghosts. She plays Mary and she's awesome.
NIGHT WITCHES: The Soviet Female Pilots Who Terrified the German Army, by History Titans
A short read of only 66 pages, tells about the female bomber pilots who scared the bejeezus out of the German army. They would fly their second-hand, often prone to malfunction, bomber planes over the German army in Soviet Russia. They would fly as close as they could, turn off their engines so they didn't make noise, and then drop bombs on unsuspecting German soldiers. They were so terrifying that the Germans started calling them the Night Witches.
Madame de Pmpadour: Mistress of France, by Christine Pevitt Algrant
A historical account of the life and times of Madame de Pompadour the mistress of King Louis XV. She rose up out of seemingly nowhere in 18th-century France to become a person of influence. This book discusses her childhood, her training, and her life before and after finally settling in as one of the most famous and powerful mistresses in history.
Call the Midwife, by Jennifer Worth
The memoir the hit show was inspired by, tells the true story of the East End of London in the 1950s and the midwives who delivered pretty much every baby there for years. Specifically, it's told by Jennifer Worth one of the midwives based in a convent. It tells the stories of her career in the East End and sheds light on the poor conditions of the area.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, but you get the idea. The world is filled with stories of women and their power from various walks of life past and present. You just need to look for them.