In this edition of Bookstr’s Three to Read we’re highlighting three absolutely phenomenal, moving, and deeply personal essay collections we can’t help but connect with. From the intricacies of sexual identity to the beauty of attentiveness, these three collections highlight the joys and griefs of womanhood and personal exploration alike. Keep reading to learn more about this week’s picks.
HOT PICK
Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, collected by Gillian Anderson
SUMMARY:
Talking about sex means more than just sex. It encompasses womanhood, motherhood, personal expression and exploitation, love, and hate; it can ride the line between pleasure and pain. And for many reasons — some complicated, some simple, some societal, and some personal — too many of us don’t talk about it. It’s fundamental in many people’s lives and relationships, and yet, for some reason, many of our deepest fantasies and desires remain locked away, shrouded in anything from embarrassment to fear, until the right person comes along. But for some of us, that right person never comes. Want poses the question: what do women want when they’re alone?
WHY:
For some reason, so many people — women especially — are reluctant to talk about sex. While it can be nerve-wracking, it’s also important. From the embarrassing to the positively life-changing, it’s important to have a community to share with and learn from. Want is a raw glimpse into the worlds and desires of women from around the world in a setting where they can be truly honest and not fear rejection or ridicule. Even the most open-to-sharing women can learn from and appreciate the beauty of these stories shared by women just like — and beautifully different from — ourselves.
COFFEE SHOP READ
Slowing: Discover Wonder, Beauty, and Creativity Through Slow Living by Rachel Schwartzmann
SUMMARY:
What happens when we slow down? Rachel Schwartzmann invites readers to answer this question along with her as she shares her experiences of unplugging, unwinding, and turning toward living intentionally in every moment. Her poignant essays share how slowing down affects our emotions, relationships, minds, and work. She shares stories from prominent voices in culinary, design, the arts, and fields beyond. She also provides follow-along practices to encourage and support readers on their journey to slowness — even when our lives demand a faster pace.
WHY:
Mindfulness is a buzzword we can hardly seem to escape these days. But, the more you think about it (or stop thinking, that is), the more it becomes apparent what all the professionals and masters are trying to tell us. Schwartzmann’s retellings and depictions of the slow life, the conscious life, and the mindful life highlight the importance of placing meaning and intention into our actions and, conversely, illuminate all of the ways in which we are not living intentionally through opposition. She invites us to slow down, think more, and feel.
DARK HORSE
The Position of Spoons: And Other Intimacies by Deborah Levy
SUMMARY:
Deborah Levy shares deeply personal, intimate, and existential — yet remarkably simple — sentiments on the smallest things in life to dramatic and emotionally gravitational effect. From a bowl of lemons to the effect of a garden on the rapid pedestrian pace of New York City, she juxtaposes and observes in painstaking detail the minutiae of everyday life in beautiful and touching ways. From experiences of her own life to literary storytelling, Levy questions the reality of the self as she shares her deep personal wisdom and ponderings.
WHY:
Sometimes the grandest concepts are best conveyed in the simplest terms. Levy has mastered the art of sharing tender observations in vivid terms that clearly relay themselves to the reader. It is impossible not to be moved by her brevity and consumed by her storytelling. She is intellectual and witty, and her writing speaks to her wisdom as she takes readers on a deep dive into our personal psyches and encourages us to explore our own nature.
From sexual intimacy to the depths of our personal identity, these books shine a light on the psyche of any woman and can be enjoyed by men and women alike. Paired together, these collections illuminate the ways sex and selfhood connect in powerful ways.
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