‘It's not as well known as some of her other books, but Janet Malcolm's The Purloined Clinic has many great things, including her long early piece on family therapy. Olivia Manning's series of novels about the Second World War, the Balkan Trilogy and the Levant Trilogy, have a wonderful documentary quality as well as several totally memorable characters. And I still think about Micheline Lee's gripping, Dostoyevskian novel The Healing Party, which Black Inc. published last year.’ —Chris, Senior Publisher

 

‘Harry Potter!! Or anything written by JK Rowling’ —Kim, Office Manager

‘Why I Am Not a Feminist by Jessa Crispin: As a 29 year old female raised by a feminist, naturally I identify with the label. BUT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING JESSA IS SAYING! We have entered a wave of female empowerment that's great for middle-class white women who want to choose their professional lifestyles, who can choose to go to work and outsource the menial jobs. But what about all the other women who don't fit into that demographic? What about the disenfranchised? What about the women who stuck doing our menial work? Are they really benefiting from this current 'future is female' movement? If anything, Why I Am Not a Feminist makes you think deeply, and there's nothing wrong with that.’ —Patrizia, Marketing & Publicity Manager

‘Anna Goldsworthy's Unfinished Business: Sex, freedom and misogyny is a powerful essay, produced during the time when this country was, remarkably, governed by a woman. Framed by Julia Gillard's Misogyny Speech, Unfinished Business speaks to the lived realities of today's women, from politics to pop culture, and from sexuality to social media. In the brave new world of Trump, Goldsworthy's words are more vital than ever.’ —Sophie, Direct Sales and Subscriptions

‘Why I am Not a Feminist, by Jessa Crispin, is - despite the title - the best work of feminism I have read in a long time. Its energy and ferocity are perfect to shake up the conversation. It will certainly have its critics, but this deliciously elegant gripe about popular feminism was music to my ears. And most importantly it moves the discussion towards actual systemic change.’ —Sophy, Publisher

‘It's hard to choose one favourite book by a woman, but one that's at the top of my list is Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, set in Nigeria in the 1960s. One of my favourite Black Inc. books is Kate Jennings' Snake, a fierce, taught and unflinching novella. Jennings' prose crackles off the page. I'm also looking forward to the rerelease of Jennings' volume of poetry Come To Me My Melancholy Baby, coming out in August 2017.’ —Elisabeth, Sales Director

‘I’m going to recommend some of my favourite reads by women that I’ve read this year (I could write pages otherswise). Heartburn by Nora Ephron, an autobiographical novel about a pregnant woman discovering her husband is in love with somebody else, is unexpectedly hilarious and delightful. Crazy, Busy, Guilty by Lauren Sams is, for somebody without children, absolutely terrifying. I also laughed embarrassingly loud in public several times.’ —Phoebe, Digital Manager

‘Woman of Substances by Jenny Valentish: Ok, so I'm cheating because it's not out till June but I've just smashed through the manuscript and I'm still picking myself up off the floor. Jenny Valentish has bravely shared her journey into addiction and treatment, and it is one helluva a piece of writing: searingly honest, insightful and healing, assertive and courageous, and fiercely true. Even better, the book focuses on the female experience so a perfect choice for IWD.’ —Kate, Head of Marketing & Publicity