Why am I passionate about this?

As a child, I gobbled up Grimm’s fairytales, but I always wondered: Why do the princesses get such a terrible deal? This question gnawed at me. So, when I grew up and became an author, I wrote The Princess and the Prick to set the world right. Feminism can be such a terribly serious topic, but sexism is ridiculous! So, let's laugh at it! The books I've recommended are all short and brilliantly funny. They make fantastic gifts and will have everyone laughing at the patriarchy in no time. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.


I wrote

The Princess and the Prick

By Walburga Appleseed,

Book cover of The Princess and the Prick

What is my book about?

This is a book of beloved childhood classics–but definitely not as you remember them!

I wrote this book because I…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Trouble with Women

Walburga Appleseed Why did I love this book?

I could not stop laughing! This is one of the cleverest, funniest books I have ever read. I buy it in batches and gift it to all my friends.

It is a *very sarcastic*, highly illustrated book about women’s history, explaining exactly why women’s brains are quite so tiny and why men with beards are all geniuses.

By Jacky Fleming,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Trouble with Women as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Perfect for fans of Kate Beaton, Lena Dunham, and Caitlin Moran, The Trouble with Women is a feminist's brilliant, tongue-in-cheek, hysterical look at women's "issues," "frailties," and "failures" in our not-so-distant history.

Ever noticed that women don't feature much in history books, and wondered why? Then this is the book for you. In The Trouble with Women, feminist artist Jacky Fleming illustrates how the opinions of supposed male geniuses, such as Charles Darwin (who believed that women have smaller brains than men) and John Ruskin (who believed that women's main function was to praise men), have shaped the fate of…


Book cover of Men to Avoid in Art and Life

Walburga Appleseed Why did I love this book?

Mansplaining is as old as the world, and we have the paintings to prove it! I loved discovering this great gift book in which the authors pair famous paintings with speech bubbles to drive home their point of modern-day sexism.

It has made me look at old paintings in a different way and wonder what the people in there are REALLY thinking.

By Nicole Tersigni,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Men to Avoid in Art and Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Men to Avoid in Art and Life pairs classical fine art with modern captions that epitomize the spirit of mansplaining.

This hilarious book perfectly captures those relatable moments when a man explains to a woman a subject about which he knows considerably less than she does.

Situations include men sharing keen insight on the female anatomy, an eloquent defense of catcalling, or offering sage advice about horseback riding to the woman who owns the horse.

* These less qualified men of antiquity dish out mediocrity as if it's pure genius
* For the women who have endured overbearing men over…


Book cover of 100 Nasty Women of History: Brilliant, badass and completely fearless women everyone should know

Walburga Appleseed Why did I love this book?

Where are all the women in history? Here they are! In her hilarious book, Hannah Jewell sets the world to right by introducing us to 100 incredible women from all over the world and all time periods.

I thought I knew a fair amount about historical women, but turns out I didn’t! I knew hardly any of the women featured in this book, which really tells us all we need to know about the state of the world (and male historians).

I found Hannah’s writing so entertaining it felt more like listening to a really fun, knowledgeable friend than reading biographies. A great gift for anyone who ever wonders: "But-where have all the women gone?"

By Hannah Jewell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked 100 Nasty Women of History as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Vital reading' STYLIST

'...hooting with laughter - what a swashbuckler that Hannah Jewell is' MARINA HYDE

'Because 100 Nasty Women is so easy to read and witty, I didn't expect it to be the life changing, important book that I'm discovering it to be' PHILIPPA PERRY

'A fantastic addition to your feminist library and historical knowledge.' ANN SHEN, author of Bad Girls Throughout History

* * * * * *

100 fascinating and brilliantly written stories about history's bravest, baddest but little known 'nasty' women from across the world.

These are the women who were deemed too nasty for their…


Book cover of Zeus Is A Dick

Walburga Appleseed Why did I love this book?

This is a deep dive into the mad world of the Greek myths but FUN. Who knew that Zeus was the proud inventor of the first golden shower? (Is anyone surprised?)

This book made me laugh a lot and taught me much about the sexist madness that are the Greek myths in general, and poor old Zeus in particular.

By Susie Donkin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Zeus Is A Dick as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the beginning, everything was fine.* And then along came Zeus.

*more or less

Ahh Greek myths. Those glorious tales of heroism, honour and... petty squabbles, soap-opera drama and more weird sex than Fifty Shades of Grey could shake a stick at!

It's about time we stopped respecting myths and started laughing at them. Did you know Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, was born of some discarded genitals? Or that Hera threw her own son off a mountain because he was ugly? Or that Apollo once kidnapped a boat full of people while pretending to be a dolphin?

And…


Book cover of Demented

Walburga Appleseed Why did I love this book?

I get this book for every single one of my female friends when they get close to middle-age. Are we maybe confused about the world because we’re growing old, or has the world never made any sense, but we were too busy being young and didn’t notice? And why can we suddenly not see any of it properly anyway?

In true Jacky Fleming style, this little gem is both hilarious and painfully true. It makes me howl with laughter every time I read it.

By Jacky Fleming,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Demented as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Have the inevitable signs of ageing taken you completely by surprise? Do 'Friends Reunited' emails from primary school acquaintances precipitate an instant mid-life crisis? Has your computer introduced levels of frustration into your life that you never dreamed were possible? Does the sound of orchestrated easy-listening music while you're on hold for half an hour drive you to despair? Then this demented cartoon narrative may help slightly, although how I can't imagine. This work is an absolute must for the middle-aged but immature woman and her bewildered partner - or anyone obsessed with looking on the internet at properties for…


Explore my book 😀

The Princess and the Prick

By Walburga Appleseed,

Book cover of The Princess and the Prick

What is my book about?

This is a book of beloved childhood classics–but definitely not as you remember them!

I wrote this book because I wanted to poke fun at the sexism in many fairytales, children's books, and myths. The result is a collection of tiny, shiny pieces of micro-fiction retellings in which the princesses and heroines finally get their say. It’s very short, easy to read, and thought-provoking: an ideal gift for the feminist (or should-be feminist!) in your life and to spark laughter and conversation with friends.

Book cover of The Trouble with Women
Book cover of Men to Avoid in Art and Life
Book cover of 100 Nasty Women of History: Brilliant, badass and completely fearless women everyone should know

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Christmas Actually

By Lisa Darcy,

Book cover of Christmas Actually

Lisa Darcy Author Of The Pact

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Cat lover Traveler Reader Amateur tennis player Foodie

Lisa's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Every picture tells a story, but it’s not always the one we expect or remember. Christmas Actually is a festive drama about family and forgiveness and a snapshot of modern family life, addressing Instagram to motherhood and everything in between.

Why Christmas? My publisher wanted my new novel to have a festive theme, specifically set in Australia–sun, surf, sunburn, and prawns. Christmas in Australia is very different from Christmas in the UK, USA, and Canada. We typically wear shorts and t-shirts, eat salad and seafood for Christmas lunch, and play beach cricket in the afternoon. Despite the season, conflicts, secrets,…

Christmas Actually

By Lisa Darcy,

What is this book about?

Time spent with family can be challenging, especially at Christmas actually…

Kate Cavendish is stuck in a rut. That is until a former colleague contacts her and offers her a chance to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a successful photographer.

With her focus pulled in all directions by her children, her pregnant sister, her newly-dating mother, and the niggling worry that her husband might be having an affair, Kate is filled with self-doubt.

Then as the countdown to Christmas begins, and memories of her own childhood resurface, Kate’s anxiety deepens – both personally and professionally. Can she move on…


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