Books by and for independent women

Christmas Gift Guide: Rebel Girls

Whether they worship at the altar of Ari Up, Joan Jett, Courtney Love or Kat Von D, we all know someone with a soft spot for wild women. Keep them sweet this Christmas by treating them to one of our four favourite books for celebrating music’s most defiant dames.

First up is  Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution (£6.49) by Sara Marcus, chronicling the riot grrl movement and featuring everyone from Bikini Kill to Bratmobile via Heavens to Betsy.

We’ll have a full review of this book and an interview with its wonderful author early next year, but in the meantime head over to the Facebook page for the book for links to its numerous rave reviews.

In light of the untimely death of the amazing and innovative Ari Up earlier this year, we thought it only fitting to include Typical Girls? The Story of The Slits (£10.47) in this round-up. Written by How’s Your Dad? author Zoë Howe (who we were lucky enough to have at one of our Lit at Ladyfest Ten events last month), it at last acknowledges the impact and legacy of punk’s provocative first ladies, claiming their rightful place in rock ‘n’ roll history.

A “tribute to the transgressive women of the underground music scene,” Cinderella’s Big Score: Women of the Punk and Indie Underground (£11.69) by Maria Raha features Lydia Lunch, L7, Le Tigre, Poison Ivy and Eve Libertine among many more, as well as rare interviews and photographs.

Now, we know it’s not music-centric like the others, but even so, we couldn’t resist including Shauna Cross‘ Derby Girl (£10.37) in this round-up.  The book that Whip It was based on, it’s a must for all would-be derby dolls and anyone else who has admired the attitude, subculture and sport of roller derby.

After other ideas? Have a nosey through our music section for more rock ‘n’ roll reads (including Jayne County‘s amazing autobiography, Man Enough to be a Woman), or check out our Grrrl Power series for books about heroines from earlier in history.

Jane Bradley