Books on Gender Violence

“The Ship Cemetery” tells a brilliant story that addresses love and friendship as a contrast to violence in all its manifestations. The plot, which has overtones of a coming-of-age novel, adventure and mystery, will captivate readers of all ages. When sixteen-year-old David returns to his father’s hometown, where he used to enjoy summer vacations as a child, he is faced with a transformed environment. With his parents divorced and a difficult school year on his back, the prospect of being bored on the Galician coast is not attractive to him, despite his father’s insistence.

However, everything changes when he meets Lucía, a young woman who has just left a toxic and violent relationship. An almost instantaneous complicity arises between them. Together, they will discover an ancient secret kept in the town for decades, revealing the foundations of a corrupt network that threatens to devastate the resources and balance of the town and its inhabitants.

“The Ship Graveyard” is presented as an exciting story that addresses themes of love and friendship, highlighting the importance of dignity and resistance against any form of abuse. Furthermore, the novel serves as a strong call against sexist violence.

Publisher: Siruela

“The Handmaid’s Tale” is a dystopian work by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. Set in a distant future in the United States, now known as the Republic of Gilead, the novel offers a bleak look at a totalitarian society. in which women’s rights have been brutally suppressed.

The story is told from the perspective of Offred, a woman who has been turned into a “maid” and assigned to a commander’s house to procreate with him and his wife. In this oppressive world, women have been divided into different classes according to their function: the wives of commanders, the maids assigned for reproduction, the Marthas who take care of domestic tasks and the Aunts, in charge of indoctrinating and controlling the women. women.

Through Offred’s voice, Atwood explores themes such as oppression, government control over women’s bodies, loss of identity, and individual resistance. The narrative is haunting and captivating, with meticulous prose that immerses the reader in the claustrophobic and bleak world of Gilead.

In addition to being a critique of totalitarian regimes and patriarchy, “The Handmaid’s Tale” also offers a reflection on the power of memory and the importance of resistance in the face of oppression. Through Offred’s story, Atwood reminds us of the fragility of human rights and the need to fight for justice and freedom.

“That’s not love!” by Marina Marroquí is a captivating work that bravely and sincerely addresses the issue of gender violence in couples from the perspective of a young woman named Lucía. The novel, published in 2019, delves into the emotional and psychological intricacies of a relationship marked by control, manipulation and violence.

Which makes “That’s not love!” Especially impactful is its ability to demystify the idea of ​​abuse as a clear and obvious situation, showing how it can silently infiltrate a person’s life and affect their self-esteem and self-perception.

In addition to presenting a compelling story, the novel also offers a deep reflection on society’s role in perpetuating and normalizing gender violence, as well as the importance of empathy and support for victims.

In short, “That’s not love!” is a powerful and moving work that sheds light on a painful but omnipresent reality in our contemporary society. Through an insightful and emotionally resonant narrative, Marina Marroquí invites us to question our perceptions of love and violence, and reminds us of the importance of listening to and believing those who suffer in silence.

The women who star in this book, published in Italian in 2012, are strong women, who fight, who sometimes lose but who never give up. In front of them, their husbands, lovers, companions, reveal themselves as adolescents who refuse to grow up and confuse passion with possession.

In the eight stories that make it up, tough and capable of both moving and outrage, we find, for example, Marina, a newlywed who refuses to denounce the husband who beats and humiliates her daily; Francesca, who at just thirteen years old is raped by four schoolmates who will be acquitted by justice and public opinion; or Alessandra, who decides not to give birth to the child resulting from sexual violence.

Dacia Maraini speaks of a world divided between those who consider the other as someone to be respected and those who consider them an object to be possessed and enslaved. This is a book of denunciation that reveals even what women victims of violence are silent about or do not want to see.

As the author states, “it reveals the dark side of a deeply rooted cultural model that leads man to believe that he possesses the one he loves.”

It is a youth work written by Nando López that addresses highly relevant topics such as identity, personal acceptance and the fight against discrimination. Published in 2012, this novel has become essential reading for teenagers and young adults.

The plot follows the life of Amalia, a young transgender woman who struggles to find her identity in a world that is often hostile towards gender diversity. Amalia faces challenges both at home and at school, where a lack of understanding and acceptance leads her to hide her true identity under a façade of conformity.

However, when Amalia discovers a mysterious message in the school bathroom that seems to offer her an opportunity to be herself, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will lead her to confront her fears and challenge the expectations imposed by society.

Furthermore, the novel not only focuses on Amalia’s individual struggle, but also examines how the support of friends, family, and allies can make a difference in the life of a person facing discrimination and rejection.

In short, “The Sleeper” is a moving and powerful work that offers an intimate look at the experience of a young transgender woman as she struggles to find her place in the world. With an emotional narrative and well-developed characters, Nando López invites us to reflect on the importance of acceptance and inclusion in our society.

“One among many” is a novel that immerses us in the daily life of Amanda, an ordinary woman who lives in Madrid. The plot revolves around Amanda’s experiences and reflections as she faces a series of unusual situations that challenge her perception of reality.

Amanda leads a seemingly monotonous life, working as a secretary and sharing an apartment with her mother, a domineering and controlling woman. However, his world changes when he begins to receive mysterious phone calls from a man who identifies himself as God. These calls trigger a series of events that shake Amanda’s peace of mind and force her to question her own existence.

As the story progresses, Amanda embarks on a journey of self-discovery, exploring her deepest desires, fears, and longings for human connection. He encounters quirky characters who represent different aspects of his own psyche, such as a man who collects other people’s memories and a woman who lives in a fantasy world.

Juan José Millás’ narrative is introspective and surreal, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in Amanda’s mind and accompany her in her search for meaning and belonging. Through a skillful and evocative writing style, the novel addresses universal themes such as loneliness, identity, desire, and the search for happiness in an increasingly bewildering world.

“The Crystal Cage” is a novel written by the Swedish author Camilla Läckberg. The story follows Faye, an apparently perfect woman who, after years of submissiveness and mistreatment by her husband, decides to take control of her life.

After being menystinguda and menyspreat for years, Faye plans an elaborate revenge against her husband and all those who have hurt her. The plot unfolds in an atmosphere of suspense and psychological thriller, exploring fears of domestic violence, the struggle for power and the search for personal justice.

As Faye executes the story, the reader is transported to an exciting journey full of unexpected turns that challenge the conventions of the genre. With a skillful narrative and complex character construction, “La gàbia de cristall” offers a penetrating look at the human mind and the motivations behind our darkest acts.

“River Butterflies” is a novel written by Pilar Mateos. The story focuses on a group of characters living in a small village by the river.

Through their intertwined lives, the author explores themes such as friendship, love, loss, and the passage of time. The plot unfolds in a lyrical and evocative manner, with detailed descriptions of the natural environment surrounding the characters.

As the chapters progress, the secrets and hidden emotions of the protagonists come to light, revealing the complexities of their relationships and personal struggles.

“River Butterflies” combines elements of magical realism and costumbrist narrative, offering a deep reflection on the human condition and the connection with nature. With poetic prose and rich, nuanced character development, the novel invites the reader to immerse themselves in a world full of beauty and melancholy.