Our 5 Reading Recommendations for an Inspiring Summer  

With the days getting longer and summer setting in, what could be better than treating yourself to a true mental break? It just so happens that reading opens the door to reflection and escape. Autobiographical novels, graphic novels, documentary comics, essays… We’ve put together a selection of our top recommendations to help you unwind, reflect, and—quite simply—find inspiration. Enjoy them to your heart’s content!

1. Take a journey into the history of women… who dare to travel!

“Women, Too, Are Travelers” by journalist Lucie Azema is an essay that might just inspire you and make you want to travel around the world. Why is travel synonymous with unprecedented emancipation for women? How has the concept of adventure been shaped by a male-dominated imagination? And do women face specific obstacles as they explore the world?

Through an analysis that combines history, sociology, and personal accounts, the author reveals how the Penelopes of yesterday can become the Odysseuses of today. An invitation to set sail for the open sea.

2. Discover the “Hidden Figures of History”: women who left a mark far beyond their own time.

Let yourself be swept away by the combination of Matel Muller’s illustrations and José-Louis Bocquet’s story. This book sheds light on the lives of women who have shaped humanity, yet are all too often overlooked in history books. Thanks to the meticulous research by the authors of these novels, readers are immersed in animated biopics of Olympe de Gouges, Alice Guy, Josephine Baker, Kiki de Montparnasse, and Anita Conti. Powerful stories that invite you to (re)discover the past!

3. Immerse yourself in a powerful, intergenerational story told from a woman’s perspective.

In *Reaching the Dawn*, novelist Diglee immerses us in the flow of memories and the traces left behind by the women in her family. Her approach—looking back in order to better find herself—is sure to move you. Part a portrait of powerful women and part an ode to freedom, Diglee engages in a dialogue with both her ancestors and her living relatives, revealing the hidden legacies we are sometimes unaware of. An intimate yet universal novel.

4. Meet “Les Femmes du Lien,” the essential workers who are there for us every day.

While caregiving professions have been in the spotlight during the COVID-19 crisis, who are the women who actually work in these fields? Through authentic portraits, photojournalist Vincent Jarrousseau immerses us in the daily lives of these professionals: home health aides, family care workers, and social care assistants. A vivid and essential documentary comic that shines a light on lives that are all too often overlooked.

5. Dare to dream of a new world with a voice that inspires.

“The Inventory of Dreams” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the brilliant Nigerian writer, is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the driving forces behind emancipation. The book follows the life stories of four women: three are affluent Nigerians living in the United States, while the fourth is Guinean and works as a housekeeper in a luxury hotel. It chronicles their friendship and their aspirations, as well as the pressures of tradition and the role of the family back home.

Twelve years after her last book, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers us a vibrant invitation to introspection, urging us to examine our dreams and the limitations that sometimes shape them. An essential read for drawing inspiration and envisioning a more just and bold future.

So take advantage of these books to recharge and broaden your horizons this summer!