Welcome to the weekend, nonfiction friends! My reading mojo from July has continued into the early part of this month, which is a delightful change I am trying to lean into as long as possible.
This week I’m excited to imagine some adaptations for recent true crime, as well as share some great new books out this week!
Bookish Goods
Book Themed Dictionary Prints from CraftCreByMichelle
I love dictionary prints, and this set of book-themed options are a real treat. If this one happens to be sold out, the seller has many other creative options to choose from. $14
New Releases
Farewell Transmission: Notes from Hidden Spaces by WIll McGrath
Farewell Transmission is a small press book of essays about things that are hidden – secret lives, forgotten stories, and unique passions— that can make us feel both connected and alone. The stories in the book come from all over, from rural Namibia to an Elvis festival in rural Canada to a homeless shelter in Arizona and more. Like most essay collections, there are some ups and downs, but overall I found these pieces moving, observant, funny, and always coming from a place of genuine curiosity.
Therapy Isn’t Just for White People by Kiara Imani
In this debut memoir, attorney and radio host Kiara Imani explores her journey to understand racial trauma and its ongoing impacts on Black mental health in America. After learning about the idea of racial trauma in therapy, Imani looks back to her own family history growing up in the south and her professional experiences of being the only Black person in a room. The book ranges through many topics – “career, money, religion, food, health, dating, friendships” and more – to offer another perspective on America’s issues with race.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Late last month, Jenna Bush Hager (Today co-host and founder of Jenna’s Book Club) announced she would be developing an adaptation of Kirk Wallace Johnson’s book The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century.
Johnson is penning the small-screen adaptation, which tells the story of a 2009 burglary from the rare bird collection at the British Natural History Museum.
This week, I want to share a couple of other non-violent, true crime books that I think would make excellent television adaptations:
None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators by Shani Robinson and Anna Simonton
In 2013, 35 Atlanta Public Schools educators were charged with racketeering and conspiracy, which came as a result of being accused of changing answers on their students’ standardized tests. Nearly all of the teachers were Black. Shani Robinson, the youngest teacher charged with a crime, faced up to 25 years in prison. In this book, she partners with journalist Anna Simonton to look at how the Atlanta school system and leaders in the city historically failed Black students, leading directly to the cheating scandal. I can imagine an Orange is the New Black style adaptation for this one.
Duped: Double Lives, False Identities, and the Con Man I Almost Married by Abby Ellin
I’m a sucker for stories about con men and women, which we also know can make great television adaptations. In this book, Abby Ellin writes about her relationship with a man she called the Commander – a whirlwind romance that led to their engagement after just six months. But soon his exotic stories stopped adding up, leading Ellin to discover he’d been lying from the start. The book also explores the art and science of lying and shares stories from other people duped by their romantic partners. I get a lot of Inventing Anna vibes from this one.
For more nonfiction reads, head over to the podcast service of your choice and download For Real, which I co-host with my dear friend Alice. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @kimthedork or send an email to kim@riotnewmedia.com. Happy weekend!