Mona Eltahawy

This thought-provoking book shares the personal stories of individuals who have had abortions, collected by a doctor who herself provides the service. Through a diverse range of ages, races, socioeconomic factors and experiences, the book seeks to humanize the issue and combat negative myths surrounding it. At a time where reproductive rights are at risk, it reminds us of the importance of empathy and motivating advocacy. Recommended for those looking for eye-opening, compelling stories that break down stigmas and promote understanding.

"Free Women of Spain" is a powerful study of the Mujeres Libres, a group of courageous women who organized for community, education, and equality during the Spanish Revolution. With over 20,000 women mobilized, Martha Ackelsberg intertwines interviews with the women themselves and analysis connecting them with modern feminist movements. This comprehensive study is a must-read for those interested in the history of women's activism.

Explore the radical social transformation of black intimate life in early 20th century Philadelphia and New York with Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments. Author Saidiya Hartman examines the sweeping changes that challenged traditional Victorian beliefs about courtship, love, and marriage. Through the stories of young black women who desired a different existence than domestic service and respectable poverty, Hartman shows how they shaped a cultural movement that transformed the urban landscape. This deeply researched and beautifully written book recovers their radical aspirations and insurgent desires.

Elegies: a collection of poignant and timely poems that reflect on the difficulties of living in a modern world, written over seven years during World War II, the Spanish Civil War, and the beginnings of the Cold War. These poems offer no easy answers, only a powerful reflection on the human experience in a time of great conflict and upheaval.

"Left of Karl Marx" by Carole Boyce Davies explores the life and legacy of Claudia Jones, an Afro-Caribbean radical intellectual and feminist who expanded Marxism-Leninism to incorporate gender and race in her activism. Jones was a prolific writer, speaker, and community organizer who faced persecution for her communist beliefs. Despite her struggles, Jones founded a London-based newspaper and the Caribbean Carnival, which remains a vibrant annual festival. This book contextualizes Jones within Caribbean intellectual traditions, black U.S. feminism, and the history of communism, providing insight into a powerful figure often overlooked by historians.

A powerful autobiographical novel about a gay Arab man navigating cultural identity through love and writing. Spanning two decades and three countries, the story traces his journey from a lower-class neighborhood in Morocco to Paris and Cairo. Raw and poignant, this book is an incantation and a love letter, and a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Arab world.

A genre-defining masterpiece about five wildly different women who find each other as lovers, friends, and family during the Uruguayan dictatorship. In a political climate where homosexuality is dangerous, these "cantoras" discover an isolated sanctuary where they can live authentically. Over 35 years, their lives move back and forth between their sanctuary and Montevideo. A breathtaking portrait of queer love, community, forgotten history, and the strength of the human spirit.