Trying to diversify your reading list? Please allow me to introduce some of my favourite female authors, in no particular order:
Zadie Smith — gritty fiction with evocative character descriptions. I recommend ‘Swing Time’ and ‘White Teeth’.
P.D. James — whodunnit novels. I recommend ‘An Unsuitable Job for a Woman’ and ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’.
Nessa Carey — superbly explained complex science, specialising in epigenetics. I recommend ‘The Epigenetics Revolution’.
Dorothy Koomson — I’ve yet to read a Dorothy Koomson novel that I didn’t like, and often read them cover-to-cover in just two or three sittings. I recommend ‘The Ice Cream Girls’.
Cathy O’Neil — mathematician and data scientist. Her debut book ‘Weapons of Math Destruction’ is an essential read on algorithmic bias, data ethics and the exacerbation of inequality through data.
Erin Morgenstern — un-put-down-able novels which transport you to fantasy worlds. I recommend ‘The Night Circus’ and ‘The Starless Sea’.
Jessie Burton — her novels are bestsellers for a reason, and The Miniaturist was adapted into a BBC miniseries. I recommend ‘The Confession’.
Becky Chambers — sci-fi that makes you think. I recommend the Wayfarer Series, starting with ‘A Closed and Common Orbit’.
Emma Dabiri — everyone should read ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’. Her second book is on my reading list.
Donna Tartt — epic crime/thriller novels, perfect for long winter evenings. I recommend ‘The Secret History’.
Clare Hunter — her memoir ‘Threads of Life’ is beautiful, and tells the stories of women who are often forgotten in the history books.
Gillian Flynn — thrillers with unexpected twists. Author of ‘Gone Girl’ which was adapted into a film. I recommend ‘Sharp Objects’.
N. K. Jemisin — fantasy with varied yet relatable characters. I recommend ‘The City We Became’.
Catriona Ward — crime fiction with a twist. Even if you know there’s a twist you won’t see it coming. I recommend ‘The Last House on Needless Street’.
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On my reading list: Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Candice Carty-Williams, Nova Reid, Blair Imani, Brene Brown, Ruby Tui.
Who else should I add?
