NPR's Book of the Day 'What Will People Think?' and 'Climbing in Heels' star women trying to make it big
Jun 6, 2025
Discover two captivating novels that spotlight women in the entertainment industry tackling ambition and societal pressures. One narrative follows Mia, a Palestinian-American juggling standup comedy and family expectations, unearthing secrets from her grandmother's past. The other dives into the experiences of secretaries at a Hollywood agency, navigating sexism while striving for more. These stories weave humor, resilience, and the complexities of identity, offering a fresh perspective on women's challenges and triumphs in a male-dominated landscape.
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Humanizing Palestinian Identity
- Sarah Hamdan intentionally wrote a Palestinian-American protagonist beyond stereotypes of religion and conflict.
- She aimed to portray a complex, joyful character to humanize and diversify Palestinian identity in literature.
Comedy Reveals Cultural Truths
- Comedy serves as a powerful medium to address and reveal cultural stereotypes with humor and vulnerability.
- Stand-up comedy allows characters to connect deeply with audiences through honesty about insecurities.
Layers of Love Explored
- The novel explores multiple types of love, including platonic, romantic, and forbidden, shaped by family expectations.
- Love is portrayed as complex, layered, and a form of personal growth at any age.