Emma Watson has been a key feminist icon ever since she delivered a speech launching the HeForShe campaign to the United Nations in September of 2014. She recently tweeted that she has been interested in starting a feminist book club where she and her fans can share and discuss books on equality. She reached out and asked fans for ideas on what to name the book club, admitting that her ideas, Feminist Book Club and Emma Watson Book Club, were not inspiring enough for her taste. After hundreds of fans tweeted ideas, Watson decided on Our Shared Shelf, a name given to her by Twitter user @emilyfabb.
Upon settling on a name, Watson has set up a public Goodreads page for Our Shared Self where she plans to share one book at the beginning of each month, give members the chance to read it, then ask questions to get a discussion going. The first book is My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem.
On the page, Watson said that she wanted to start a book club after reading an overwhelming amount of feminist literature that she felt should be shared. Watson has opened her arms to anyone who would like to join, stating, “Everyone is welcome. I would be honored!”
Cover image courtesy of The Wrap.
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