Meet the Newmans is a novel set in 1964 that follows a real-life family playing a TV family. It’s about our authentic selves versus our public selves within the framework of the rise of second wave feminism. It also deals with queer identity. The Newmans, father Del, mother Dinah, and sons Guy and Shep, are a real life family who also play a sanitized version of themselves on TV. They are the perfect White, middle … Continue reading Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven →
I don’t know why, but I am a total sucker for books about Arctic and Antarctic exploration. Bring me your frostbite, your scurvy, your long marches, and, above all, bring me my warmest pajamas and a hot cup of tea and we have what I consider to be the perfect ingredients for a cosy night in. The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration (1897ish – 1922ish) and the many efforts to locate the Northwest Passage in … Continue reading Kickass Women in History: Arnarulunnguaq →
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Niven, a novel about America’s favorite TV family, whose perfect façade cracks, for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. “I loved Meet the Newmans!” —Judy Blume, #1 New York Times bestselling author “[A] witty and moving novel.” —People For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s Favorite Family. Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play … Continue reading Meet the Newmans →
In 1921, four men and one woman ventured deep into the Arctic. Two years later, only one returned. When 23-year-old Inuit Ada Blackjack signed on as a seamstress for a top-secret Arctic expedition, her goal was simple: earn money and find a husband. But her terrifying experiences — both in the wild and back in civilization — comprise one of the most amazing untold adventures of the 20th century. Based on a wealth of unpublished … Continue reading Ada Blackjack →
by Carrie S · Jul 16, 2025 at 2:00 am ·
Comments Off on After Dark at the Movies: The Damned
This piece of literary mayhem is exclusive to Smart Bitches After Dark, but fret not. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you! Have a look at our membership options, and come join the fun! If you want to have a little extra fun, be a little more yourself, and be part of keeping the site open for everyone in the future, we can’t wait to see you in our new subscription-based section … Continue reading After Dark at the Movies: The Damned →
This month’s Kickass Woman in History is Ada Blackjack, an Inupiat woman who survived two years on Wrangel Island, much of it completely on her own with the notable exception of a cat. Her story exemplifies the brutal choices that impoverished mothers have had to make throughout history in order to care for their children. It’s also a story about resilience and resourcefulness on the part of a woman who would have greatly preferred to … Continue reading Kickass Women in History: Ada Blackjack →
