The Women I Think About at Night

Finnish writer Mia Kankimäki, at age 40, embarks on a journey to follow the paths of historical female explorers and artists. After quitting her publishing job in Helsinki, she travels to destinations in Africa, Asia, and Europe to research the lives of ten pioneering women from the past centuries. Through her research and travels, Kankimäki studies figures like Karen Blixen, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Mary Kingsley - women who defied social expectations to pursue their passions. She retraces their steps, visiting their homes, workplaces, and the landscapes they explored while uncovering details about their lives and work. The narrative alternates between Kankimäki's personal experiences and the historical accounts of these remarkable women. She examines their letters, diaries, and other historical documents while drawing parallels between their challenges and her own modern-day quest. This blend of travelogue, biography, and memoir explores themes of female independence, creative fulfillment, and the universal search for purpose. The book considers how women across different eras navigate societal constraints while pursuing their dreams.

Readers found this travelogue/biography hybrid offered interesting glimpses into historical women travelers, though many felt the author's personal narrative overshadowed the historical elements. Readers appreciated: - Research and details about lesser-known female explorers - Travel descriptions and cultural observations - The concept of finding inspiration in historical women Common criticisms: - Too much focus on the author's personal life/anxieties - Meandering structure that loses focus - Translation feels awkward in places - Historical figures' stories not explored deeply enough Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (100+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Wanted more about the historical women, less about the author's dating life" - Goodreads "Great premise but gets bogged down in personal details" - Amazon "Made me want to learn more about these fascinating women from history" - Goodreads

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🌟 Mia Kankimäki quit her publishing job at age 44 to travel alone through Japan, Kenya, and Italy, following in the footsteps of historical female explorers and artists. 🌏 The book blends travel memoir with biographical research of ten remarkable women from history, including Karen Blixen, Yayoi Kusama, and Victorian-era explorer Mary Kingsley. ✍️ The author wrote the book in Finnish (original title: "Naiset joita ajattelen öisin"), and it became a bestseller in Finland before being translated into English. 🎨 While researching Renaissance artist Artemisia Gentileschi in Florence, Kankimäki lived in the same neighborhood where Artemisia once had her studio 400 years ago. 🌍 The women featured in the book span three continents and four centuries, sharing common threads of defying societal expectations and pursuing their passions despite significant obstacles.