This past spring, I traveled around working on my project Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian Literature and writing. I grew up in Northern Appalachia and love sharing books from my home region. And of course, as someone from Southern Ohio, I adore sharing the incredible literature from writers from my home state. So today, I’m featuring a couple memoirs from Ohio writers that definitely are a must-read. But first, bookish goods!
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Bookish Goods
Beautiful Birds Bookmarks by TheFatFinchShop
In honor of Amy Tan’s new book, I thought we’d have some bookmarks celebrating birds today. These are all so cute! $10
New Releases
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
Literary powerhouse Amy Tan made her name with fiction, but this time she’s returning with a new foray into nature writing. Back in 2016, Tan withdrew from much of the world, finding solace in watching the birds that visited her in her backyard. Now, Tan shares that experience of slowing down and learning to better appreciate the world around her.
Water on Fire: A Memoir of War by Tarek El-Ariss
In this sweeping memoir, Tarek El-Ariss chronicles his life as a migrant fleeing war for a more hopeful future. El-Ariss lives through the Lebanese Civil War and immigrates to the US, only to experience xenophobia following the attack on 9/11. Full of heart and resilience, Water on Fire is a must-read memoir.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Rust Belt Femme by Raechel Anne Jolie
Raechel Anne Jolie grew up as a working-class kid on the outskirts of Cleveland. When she was just a girl, her father was hit by a drunk driver, which ended their way of life forever. From there, her childhood was spent moving from home to home, never seeming to stay for long. She finds the alt scene downtown and begins to discover a whole new world that she feels irrevocably drawn to. This tiny memoir is a shining testament to a love of working-class people, the Midwest, and queer culture.
Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome
Brian Broome couldn’t wait to leave northeast Ohio. He spent his childhood as a queer, Black kid never fitting in. But no matter where he moved, he still faced racism and homophobia. He describes how he coped with sex and drugs, always trying to forget the trauma he’d experienced while searching for belonging. Broome’s prose is incredible, with every word chosen for a reason. His memoir is full of heart and a deep sense of longing.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, 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