As you read this, the Corgis, my spouse, and I will be on our way to “Mimi and Papaw’s,” as Dylan knows it. He is rarely happier than when he is helping my dad work in the yard. Since Gwen is a pandemic puppy, this is actually her first trip back home to central Appalachia. I’m sure she will adore Kentucky with all of its new smells and intense amount of wildlife. I’m headed back home to attend the Appalachian Studies Conference. So I am sure I will have so many incredible books to tell you about when I get back — stay tuned! In the meantime, we’re going to talk about some new releases in true crime.
But first, bookish goods, and a reminder to check out Book Riot’s newest newsletter, The Deep Dive, full of informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading. Subscribe and choose your membership level today at bookriot.substack.com
Bookish Goods
Book Hair Clip by Britts Highlights
I have not found a hair accessory so charming since…possibly ever! This hair clip is such an adorable way to share your love of literature. $24
New Releases
We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America by Roxanna Asgarian
Investigative journalist Roxanna Asgarian writes about the horrific practice of U.S. officials removing thousands of children of migrants and placing them in the child welfare system with no plan of reunification. Asgarian investigates why these children were removed, detailing the racist practices and assumptions of state agents and child welfare workers.
The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife, and Modern History’s Most Astonishing Murder Ring by Patti McCracken
A midwife in 1920s Hungary was the one to call if a woman had an abusive husband she wanted to escape from…by any means necessary. Just a little bottle of arsenic, and these men disappeared. Patti McCracken investigates this woman’s history of providing these services, and why it took so long for people to catch on.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Enchantment by Katherine May
I really loved May’s book about what she calls “wintering,” a difficult time in our lives when we draw back and rest. She argues that this is a vital part of anyone’s life. It’s a natural “season” that everyone has, but then why do we treat those “wintering” as if they have failed? It’s such a gorgeous book! I pre-ordered Enchantment and was fascinated to learn that this book is completely its own thing. Enchantment is about slowing down and appreciating the natural world. It’s a nature-focused treatise on pausing to smell the roses. I admit, I expected more of Wintering’s vibes, but I now suspect that May wanted Enchantment to be its own thing. So if you’re looking for a quiet book to cozy up with on a warm spring day, I’d definitely recommend this one.
A Measure of Belonging: Twenty-One Writers of Color on the New American South edited by Cinelle Barnes
Here in Spartanburg, South Carolina, we have a wonderful indie press called Hub City Press. It’s a lovely boutique nonprofit press that focuses on Southern and Appalachian literature. One of my favorite books of theirs in recent years is A Measure of Belonging: Twenty-One Writers of Color on the New American South. It’s an anthology of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color from the South writing about their experiences. Authors like Natalia Sylvester, Kiese Laymon, and Aruni Kashyap share their stories. Cinelle Barnes did such a wonderful job putting this collection together. She’s definitely edited a book that I will be gifting to all of my friends for the foreseeable future.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy reading, Friends!
~ Kendra