Dylan and Gwen had a big adventure this weekend as they went hiking with their dad. They didn’t seem to mind the rain. There were too many puddles to sit in and tiny turtles to meet. What a day! While the Corgis have been off galavanting through the forest, I’ve been dipping in and out of anthologies. So today, we’re looking at new releases I’m excited about and some old favorites.There’s something about an anthology that captures my imagination as I read several writers that have different takes on the same topic or theme.
But first, let me ask you a question: What do S.A. Cosby, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah Bakewell, and Yahdon Israel have in common? They’ve been guests on Book Riot’s newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot’s editors pick the “it” book of the month.
Bookish Goods
Bookworm Glass Cup by Forgiven Fabrication
It’s HOT this summer, and us bookworms still need our swag! Here is an adorable glass perfect for your next afternoon reading a new-to-you book while relaxing on the deck. $25
New Releases
How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill edited by Jericho Brown
Poet Jericho Brown has brought together 30 Black writers to share their insights on the craft of writing. Contributors include Nikki Giovanni, Tayari Jones, and Jacqueline Woodson.
Evidence of Things Seen: True Crime in an Era of Reckoning by Sarah Weinman
True Crime reporter Sarah Weinman has pulled together an anthology where writers investigate the very nature of true crime storytelling. They ask big questions like, “Why is America obsessed with crime stories?” and “What does that say about our culture?”
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay
Back in 2018, Roxane Gay edited an anthology of stories of people who have experienced sexual assault. The essays feature people from all paths of life, and each writer has their own unique story to tell. The contributors include Gabrielle Union, Brandon Taylor, Amy Jo Burns, and Lyz Lenz. When this came out, more and more people were stepping up and telling their #MeToo stories, giving voice to the reality that people live with the long-term effects of sexual assault every day. On the audiobook, each contributor reads their own essay, adding a deeply personal touch to the audio edition.
What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence edited by Michele Filgate
To date, What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About remains one of the best written anthologies that I’ve ever read. Across the board, these essays have incredible prose and ask the reader to reexamine their assumption about the mother-child relationship and the many dynamics at play. Some of the writers have great relationships with their mothers, but most don’t, and are constantly working to process their childhood and set boundaries as adults in the present.
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