Oh, you women and your little trifles!

You might have heard shouts of indignation emanating from your computer last week over the decidedly penis-heavy Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2009 list. I'll admit I haven't read the majority of books they chose. I love John Cheever and should probably pick up his biography. I'm sure the rest of those dudes are full of awesome. The last thing I want to do is diminish another author's work. I'm in no way saying they are undeserving.

But friend of the blog Moonrat posed a challenge for her readers: post your own list of 2009 favorites by female authors. As a reader and writer of women's fiction (no, not chick lit, you turkeys) how could I not participate?

Here are my picks:

PICKING BONES FROM ASH by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery

REAL LIFE AND LIARS by Kristina Riggle

Okay, so THE HELP and HEDGEHOG were actually published at the end of 2008. But I haven't had the chance to read some of newly-published books like WOLF HALL and THE CHILDREN'S BOOK, and Alice Munro's new collection isn't even out yet, so I decided to make my sample Fall '08 - Fall '09. Cheating? Perhaps. But there you have it.

ETA: Check out this thought-provoking post on women and writing by Marie Mutsuki Mockett.

How about you? Any favorites from the ladyfolk (any genre will do)?