Ah, the 20s. The famous decade in a woman’s life in which the best advice you will receive is always contradictory. Don’t take life too seriously, but get yourself together. You’re not a child anymore, but don’t pretend to be an adult. It’s completely okay to have no idea what direction your life is headed, but make sure to start building a foundation for your career. It can be your roaring 20s, the defining decade, and the dreaded, but exciting end to your girlhood.
When all these puzzle pieces of advice become too overwhelming, turning to books, stories real and imaginary, can provide a sense of comfort. Here are three must-read books, both empowering and comforting, for women heading into their 20s.
1. Dolly Alderton’s memoir, “Everything I Know About Love,” is a gripping, perspective-changing narrative about her search for love in this complex world. It follows her from her younger years through her 30s. That enchanting nature of what it feels like to fall in love for the first time, which naturally is followed by a soul-crushing heartbreak, is depicted through the eyes of Alderton.
The book emphasizes different types of love, particularly the security and tenderness that can come from friendships with other women. Alderton writes, “Nearly everything I know about love, I’ve learnt from my long-term friendships with women.” “Everything I Know About Love” is an endearing novel depicting a chaotic life full of tragedy, humor, a lost sense of direction, and of course, boundless love. For those feeling as though their life lacks structure, or feel as though they are falling behind their peers, this book leaves readers with the reassuring sense they are exactly where they need to be on their journey.
2. “Lessons in Chemistry,” Bonnie Garmus’ novel set in the 1960s in sunny Southern California, tells the story of Elizabeth Zott. Zott is an incredibly intelligent and confident female lead. She is a scientist at heart and in nature, working at the Hastings Research Institute in the beginning of the novel. The story is set in a time where the typical place for a woman at a research facility is as a secretary.
Her colleagues make cruel remarks and doubt her abilities as a woman in science. While Zott is a self-assured lead who fights against the system, she constantly finds herself being reduced to her gender and nothing more, facing consistent discrimination. This is a must-read for women entering their 20s as they embark into the workforce. Although comedic at times, the novel is a reminder of those who came before us fighting for women’s rights in the workplace.
3. Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” tells the story of the March sisters. The four girls each have vastly different personalities and ambitions. Although the story is based in the late 1860s, CQed many of the struggles it depicts for women still hold in the modern day. Society has evolved a great deal since then, but women today still struggle with societal pressure to have both a family and a career. Women are often told that to do it well, they must settle for one or the other.
Wild and adventurous Jo, the second eldest sister, pursues a career as a writer. She is full of love and personality but is not necessarily seeking a marriage. The eldest daughter, Meg, has fine tastes and dreams of being a mother and wife. Jo and Meg have contradictory dreams, but the novel emphasizes that one path is not more important or worthy than the other, a critical lesson for women as they transition from girlhood to adulthood.
These three books emphasize different elements of a young woman’s life: the search for love, ambitions for professional success and the struggle of balancing both simultaneously. They show that from the 1860s to today, women’s inherent and internal difficulties have remained the same, despite changing attitudes and regulations. When one comes face to face with these obstacles, it can feel isolating and as if they are the first to be there. These books provide a sense of comfort, direction and empowerment for young women, showing them that they are not alone in their feelings.
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