5 “Canon” Novels by Women You Have to Read

In honor of National Women’s Month, I wanted to compile a list of 5 “canon” novels written by women that I think everyone should read.

Honestly, I find it difficult to define what belongs or doesn’t belong in the literary canon. I don’t know if people even still care about that kind of stuff. But from my experience, I feel like the traditional literary canon is composed of deceased white males (don’t at me). Not that I don’t enjoy the novels written by men, but most of my favorite books have female authors. Is that a coincidence? Maybe.

Many of the books on my list have been read countless times by countless people, but I think that is what makes them really great works. So, even if you don’t like to read, give these amazing novels a shot.

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1. The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

This is the most “modern” novel in my list, but arguably the one I think about quite frequently.

I read The Hundred Secret Senses for the first time in middle school. I’m pretty sure I was in eighth grade. That is probably a little young to be reading such a robust book; but, I was hooked–line and sinker. Not only was I fascinated with Tan’s writing style, but the way she wove Chinese culture into American lifestyle was something I found extremely relatable.

I’m not Chinese, but I could relate to Olivia (the main narrator) and her distress about Asian culture–especially with her Chinese-born half-sister, Kwan. Olivia was caught in-between these two identities; I resonated with that. I still do.

2. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Prior to reading this novel, I had it in my “to-read” list for years.

I was immediately captivated by the synopsis of the book because it’s so mysterious–like, why is our hero (Maxim de Winter) a widower? What happened to his wife, Rebecca?

Even though this book was in my list of books to read, I actually didn’t pick it up until I was in college. I read it because it was required reading for one of my literature classes. Good thing I was motivated to read it, huh? Anyway, this book met all of my expectations–and exceeded them, actually.

Least to say, this novel is juicy. You have to read it yourself to know what I mean.

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

This is my most read novel on this list. And every time I read it, I fall in love with it all over again.

I still remember the first time I opened this book up. I was shocked by two things: the writing style and Jane (the main character/narrator). Compared to other “classics” I’ve read, Jane Eyre stands out because the way Brontë writes is so personable. What makes it such is the fact that it’s written in first-person.

Not only is the novel so easy to read, but I also love Jane so much. She has spunk and doesn’t let people walk all over her. Due to this, Jane is probably my favorite heroine of all time.

4. Persuasion by Jane Austen

I feel like it would be the expected thing to put Pride and Prejudice in my list since it’s everyone’s favorite Austen novel. However, I want to be a little different.

Persuasion was my first Austen novel, and I really enjoyed it. One of the reasons why I liked it so much was because the heroine–Anne–is much older than traditional unmarried women of this 19th century time. She’s 27 and fears that she’ll never find love, which is quite relatable.

I’m not going to spoil whether she does or doesn’t find love, but I will say that there are some pretty swoon-worthy moments.

5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

My first exposure to Angelou was in middle school.

I remember we read an excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in the eighth grade. At the time, her words were powerful but I didn’t have the full capacity to really understand her story. When I read the whole autobiography in college, her words wrecked me.

From the moment Angelou is sent to live with her grandmother as a child to the moment this book ends during her teenage years, I was at a loss for words. The things she experienced were so riveting. I can’t imagine going through what she did.

Angelou’s life was so difficult, but the lessons she learned will go on to inspire generations to come.