Escape into the Lives of Newton's Famous Females

March is National Women’s History Month, so for this week’s Great Escape we’re going to encourage you to enjoy the work of some famous Newton women.

Whether you prefer your escapism between the pages of a great biography/autobiography or on DVD, the following suggestions should provide some inspiration.

Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire by Eileen Blumenthal and Julie Taymor – While lately she has been in the news for her disassociation from “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark,” Newton native Taymor has a lengthy and prestigious career as a Broadway and film director, producer, and writer. 

Amazon.com says of Blumenthal’s work on Playing with Fire, “…her lengthy critical assessment of this inspired artist's work combines interviews with the director with a cogent analysis of her intellectual development and cultural sources.”

Pitching My Tent by Anita Diamant – Acclaimed Newton author Diamant gained national attention with her New York Times Bestseller The Red Tent.  But before that, she wrote numerous newspaper and magazine articles about her own life.

“This collection, culled from those publications and years, turns out to be a sort of diary," says Diamant of her own work.  “It includes musings about the contents of my refrigerator as well as reflections about the most important decisions of my life. To divorce and marry again. To have a child. To live a Jewish life.”

“All About Eve” starring Bette Davis –Davis is a Massachusetts native who went to high school in Newton. In 1950, the film “All About Eve” won the Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Davis herself was nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of Broadway actress Margo Channing, who uttered the oft-used phrase, “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!”

These books and DVD are available or can be ordered from the , Newtonville Books, and online.