Books to Inspire and Educate

I have three rather exceptional books to recommend. Well, I thoroughly enjoyed them.These three books are about women who have to overcome huge obstacles in order to fulfil their dreams. The first is a true story and the other two, though fiction, are thoroughly researched and authentic to the time.  All three women are inspirational.

A Different Kind of Daughter

– The Girl Who Hid from the Taliban in Plain Sight

This is the true story of Maria Toorpakai who grew up in the tribal regions of Pakistan. Much of the region was under heavy Taliban influence. Born in 1990 into an educated and liberal family, Maria hated the restrictions on her sex.  A rebel, she burned her clothing, and hacked off her hair. Her parents allowed her wear her brother’s outgrown clothes and she enjoyed the freedom of living as a boy.

Then she discovered she was good at squash. And became the first Pashtun girl to represent her country and become National Champion. But that made her even more of a target for the Taliban.

This is both a harrowing and an inspirational book. And a ‘must read’.

The Physician’s Daughter

Set just after the American Civil War ended, Vita Tenney is dead-set on becoming a doctor. However, her doctor father believes she should get married like every other young woman.

Vita is determined to pursue her dream. She finds a like-minded war veteran, Jacob Culhane. He needs an investor for his business. Together they hatch a plan that will allow both of them to get what they want.

Excellently researched, this is a captivating read. We get an insight into the obstacles facing women at that time. And Jacob’s post-war trauma is sympathetically portrayed.

The Midwife

1838.  The novel moves back and forth between two main characters. After a violent storm, a woman is found naked and nearly dead on the Northumberland Moors. She has no idea of her identity but does know how to deliver babies. Gradually, she rebuilds a life for herself.

In London, Dr Borthwick lives an interesting life. On the one hand, he attends wealthy women who are ‘with child’ and with the help of a midwife delivers their babies.

He also helps out in slums looking after the sick and diseased. But little is known about his private life. And that is how he likes it. Again we get an insight into the social history of the time.

MORE RECOMMENDATIONS

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

If you want some other recommendations, here are links to some other posts on my favourite books. And you can find great book recommendations @fitzysbookworld if you are on instagram.

Three Books For The Holidays

Book Reviews- 6 Books I Loved

Books Can Take You To Other Worlds

Thanks for reading

Hilda xx