5 Classic Books Written by Women Every Girl Should Read

There has never been a shortage of good women writers but sometimes the best in women's literature can go overlooked, especially when the classics that have been around for a few hundred years. And while I could dedicate an entire post to just one of Jane Austen's books, there are definitely other literary classics written by women that are worthy of being mentioned. You probably have heard of some of these (or perhaps all of them) and may have read them once already, but sometimes once isn't enough. After all, they're classics for a reason.

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I know. It's Jane Austen. But I have to include at least one and Northanger Abbey is one of the lesser known, perhaps because it's one of Austen's gutsier, more satirical works. Young Catherine loves gothic novels and becomes so obsessed with them that she imagines the mysterious Northanger Abbey is home to secrets and even murder. Or is it only her imagination? Ooohhh...spooky. Well, not really. But it is a fun read, and if you're over Austen's more popular novels Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey is a nice departure from the romance.

• The Awakening by Kate Chopin

This is one of the lesser known books I'm including in my list, but it is perhaps one of the most compelling. I first read it in a composition course while I was in high school and then again in an American Literature class in college. Edna is a Southern housewife living in Louisiana with her husband and young son in the late 1800s. She has wealth, security and everything a woman could want...except for independence. Edna, depressed and desperate for a way out of the confines that kept women socially and emotionally trapped, starts to live her life on her own terms. Emotional, beautifully written, and even tragic, The Awakening shows the light and dark sides of female empowerment.

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This is one you may have read, but though I had seen numerous TV and film adaptations of it, I didn't read it until about six months ago. Jane Eyre is a British orphan who attends a boarding school for disadvantaged girls and eventually finds work as a governess at the home of the stern but misunderstood Mr. Rochester. Good and kind Jane gets the opportunity to love a man, something she never dreamed was possible. Though it definitely has its romantic moments, Jane Eyre more than anything is a young woman's story, personal and intimate as if it were a real girl's biography. 

• Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

This book is hard to follow at times because it can be difficult to differentiate between the present and past. Mrs. Dalloway is a middle aged wife and mother who, like Edna in The Awakening, is unhappy with her present situation. Dalloway, throughout the course of a day, reflects on her past experiences that all have their share of intrigue. With her distinct writing style and perspective, Virginia Woolf created a story that has lasted years after it was written. If you like Mrs Dalloway or Virginia's Woolf's other works, watch The Hours, a movie that tells three different but connected stories based on Virginia Woolf's life and Mrs Dalloway. 

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Did you know Frankenstein was written by a woman? I didn't until about two years ago when I read it for a romantic prose course. Perhaps that's because the story is about a male scientist and the "man-monster" he creates, but the lessons are universal and relevant for both genders and every generation. If all of the books on this list are classics, then perhaps this one is the "most classic." Another reason to read this one: it's actually fairly short and readable. You could read it in few hours or a few days easily.

What are your favorite books written by women? Also, what books are you reading right now? Let me know with your comments below. :)