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This thread is to mark your completion of the March challenge for the prompt: "a book about an interesting woman." You can join in with the group read of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race or pick a different book to satisfy this challenge.

Please include the following:
Title:
Author:
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women):
Would you recommend:

No other posts in this thread please!

Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Author: Mindy Kaling

Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I recently started watching The Office and I've had this book on my radar for a while (I shelved this on goodreads in 2015!) and never fit it in to any of the other challenges.

Would you recommend: Yes and no. Some parts were very interesting, some parts weren't necessary. Liked listening to the audio version.

Technically I finished this category in February because my Feb challenge book was taking forever. BUT I do hope to read Why Not Me? this month too to make up for it!


Edit - 3-29-17 Just finished Why Not Me?. Have the same feelings about it as her other book... :|

Title: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Author: Maya Angelou
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I've been intending to read this for some time, and Maya Angelou really was the Phenomenal Woman.
Would you recommend: Yes, it's really quite amazing.

If You Ask Me

Title: If You Ask Me (But I Know You Won't)
Author: Betty White
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I'm a childfree woman and I've always admire Betty's unapologetic attitude about not having children. She's had an awesome career and she's led an incredibly rich life.
Would you recommend: Yes, but if you read this one, I recommend the audio version. It's so fun to listen to her tell the stories.

The girl with the lower back tattoo by Amy Schumer

I am reading hidden figures with the group but am putting it into a different category (either author of colour or characters of different ethnicity than myself).
I enjoyed Amy's book, it was funny but had several serious moments and subjects (date rape, assault, her father's ms). I chose it more out of necessity in a way, it was a book I had on hold for last year's written by a comedian but I was so far down the wait list i didn't get in until January (I fulfilled the prompt with food:a love story instead). So I basically put it in this category for now. But I didn't realize how interesting she actually is until reading this book, so I would recommend if you like her comedy and/or similar books in the genre. I have also read Jim gaffigan's (both), mindy kaling's first, Paige kellerman's (both), moms who drink and swear, and Tina fey's. Amy's was pretty much smack dab in the middle.

I read a different book for this prompt, but a book I read in March that would fit this prompt is:

Title: Sisi: Empress on Her Own
Author: Allison Pataki
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): Several books I read recently from this time period mentioned the Empress of Austria, and I was curious to know more about her.
Would you recommend: I would recommend this book, though it's historical fiction it is well researched and follows the Empress' life pretty closely. The fictionalized pieces are of course her relationships and her thoughts about events, but even with those the author was able to cite sources such as diaries and public records. It was easy to get into and once I'd started I really didn't want to put it down.

The book I read for this prompt (in January) was

Title: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between
Author: Lauren Graham
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I adore Lauren Graham as an actress and a person, and I respect the way she carries herself. Plus, I'm a huge Gilmore Girls fan.
Would you recommend: Absolutely recommend - reading Lauren Graham is as fun as watching her. There were plenty of anecdotes in here both from her time on Gilmore Girls and her life before and after.

Title: The White Queen
Author: Philippa Gregory
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): My boyfriend's mom had recommended this book to me, and in reading a little bit about Elizabeth Woodville, I quickly realized that she was a very interesting woman. I also just find The War of the Roses intriguing since George R.R. Martin has said that this true historical event has been a huge influence on Game of Thrones.
Would you recommend: Definitely! It's a fascinating (mostly) true story. I can't wait to continue the series!

Title: Hidden Figures
Author: Margot Lee Shetterly

Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I picked this book for the prompt because it was the March group read book. As a math/science person originally from that area of VA I thought it was an interesting topic that I wanted to read up on. I also wanted to read the book before watching the movie.

Would you recommend: I enjoyed the book. I would recommend it, but it isn't for everyone. I think people with a math/science background or someone interested in the space race would find the book interesting.

Title: Hidden Figures
Author: Margot Lee Shetterly
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): March Group Read
Would you recommend: Yes. It's an important story that needed to be told.

Title: The Spy
Author: Paulo Coelho
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I was curious to know something more about Mata Hari
Would you recommend: eh, I don't know. It's an okay book and a quick read, but it lacks some depth in my opinion.

Title: I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
Author: Malala Yousafzai
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I've read about her in magazines, and I wanted to know more of her story.
Would you recommend: Absolutely. She is passionate about the right for women to be free and for everyone (boys and girls) to get an education.

Finished two books so far about interesting women:
Maude
by Donna Mabry

Why I chose the book? Maybe a bit embarrassing, but it was available free thru Amazon prime and had good reviews...
Would I recommend it? Yes. The book tells the story of the author's grandmother who lived through various personal tragedies and difficult times. She made mistakes along the way but always took responsibility and persevered. A dying breed...

Second Book: Three Sisters, Three Queens
by: Philippa Gregory

Why I selected this woman (Margaret Stuart, sister to Henry the 8th): Basically, I love reading historical novels and have read many books set in this time period and by this author. This is the latest book by Ms Gregory that I haven't read, and when I visited the library during my visit to NY and this was on the recommended shelf, I grabbed it...

Would I recommend it? I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of the others by this author. Despite the title, the book is really only about one sister/queen, so although expecting to hear from the perspective of the other sister queens (her younger sister Mary, who was queen of France for a short time and her sister-in-law Catherine of Aragon, Henry's first queen of England...) that didn't materialize. Also, the book seemed a bit repetitive, and the character immature and obnoxious. Maybe she really was, I have no idea...

Title: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Author: Margot Lee Shetterly
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I wanted to participate in the Group Read, and I really liked the movie! I decided to go with the audiobook when I saw it was read by Robin Miles, whose performances I've enjoyed in several other books, as well.
Would you recommend: I definitely would! I've been surprised by the number of people I've seen who didn't like it. I would particularly recommend the audiobook, which was great for listening to while getting other tasks done; it didn't require 100% concentration and made data entry go much faster, ha.

Title:Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Author:Margot Lee Shetterly
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I chose this as it was part of the group read, and also it was on my list for sometime.
Would you recommend: Of course, it was interesting to know this story, and it much be something everyone should read...

Title: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
Author: by Margot Lee Shetterly
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I was shocked and amazed (but not really) that this story wasn't told in schools. They dealt with racial indignity, faced real feminist issues AND kept their dignity. They were highly intelligent and absolutely fearless. I want to make sure all young women know about these women.
Would you recommend: Yes!

I seem to be going for a different approach with this one, but I'm choosing a fictional woman.

Title: The Scarlet Letter
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I chose this book because Hester Prynne has often been considered such a strong female character, and it is a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.
Would you recommend: Maybe. I liked the story itself, but I found the writing dry.

I seem to be going for a different approach with this one, but I'm choosing a fictional woman.

Title: The Scarlet Letter
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I chose this book because Hester Prynne has often been considered such a strong female character, and it is a book I've been meaning to read for a long time.
Would you recommend: Maybe. I liked the story itself, but I found the writing dry.

I actually read this book for a prompt for another challenge, but thought it fit well here. I finished it on March 16.

Adding the book that I read for the actual prompt itself too:
Title: Her Dark Curiosity
Author: Megan Shepherd
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I read the first book in this series last year, and I thought the main character was a very interesting, compelling female protagonist. She was different from other YA main characters.
Would you recommend: Yes, definitely

Title: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

Author: Karen Abbott

Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): Women who risk everything for their country, knowing they'll get nothing (except a possible death sentence) in return, no glory, no honour and no recognition in history, are the most interesting set of women I can imagine. I wanted to read more about them, about what they did and how they did it. Also, women in my country are still fighting for the right to defend our country and our people (my country doesn't allow women in combat roles) - and have to face the constant whine of "but a battlefield is no place for women". So the book felt relevant ...

Would you recommend: Yes, definitely! I loved this book; it felt more like a thriller novel than non-fiction documenting the lives of 4 long-dead women. Also, this is a story that needs telling.

Title: The Princess Diarist
Author: Carrie Fisher
Why I selected this book: I've been a fan of Star Wars and with Carrie's passing i just thought it was the right one to read.
Would I recommend this book: Yes! It was a great read. She really had a talent for writing. The best part were the poems that were included.

Title: Hidden Figures
Author: Margot Lee Shetterly
Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): Chosen as the group book read for March
Would you recommend: Yes, I enjoyed learning about a topic I previously knew nothing about. Good balance throughout of factual information and storytelling.

Title: Lab Girl

Author: Hope Jahren

Why I chose this book: For starters, it's been on my to-read list for ages. But it was put there in the first place because I'm fascinated by science in general and growing things in particular. Jahren is a wonderful storyteller, liberally sprinkling her story with information about plants and how they grow.

Would you recommend: Yes!! I originally gave this book four stars but upon reflection I'm going to change that to five. One of the things that, to me anyway, makes a book a "five star" is that it stays with you...and Lab Girl has stayed with me. :)

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
By Margot Lee Shetterly
I chose this book because it was the book club read for March, and I was very interested in learning more about this!
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This is a story that everyone should hear.

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny

Author: Holly Madison

Why you selected this particular woman (or group of women): I wanted to read something about a woman who was very different from me and this author definitely fit that category. Some may not consider Holly to be interesting but her lifestyle and life choices are so different from mine which is what drew me to this book.

Would you recommend: No, the writing was terrible and the story dragged on. I got a little bored with the whole "I have done nothing wrong, nothing is my fault, I am a great person and everyone else is terrible" motif.