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True Story

Nonfiction Books You Won’t Want to Miss

A new week means a whole new round of books! I spend a ridiculous amount of time scouring through book catalogs, listening to bookish podcasts, and reading author newsletters, always looking for new-to-me books. This helps me figure out what books I’m most excited to pick up.

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This year, we’ve seen a wide range of history, science, and memoirs hit the shelves. With so many new books hitting shelves, it can be easy to miss one. So later in the newsletter, I’ll be sharing some 2023 titles that you may have missed. But first, let’s check out 2024 titles and bookish goods!

Bookish Goods

a photo of a bookmark with a clay model of tea cup, books, and a clock.

Cozy Warm Aesthetic Tea Bookmark by BookmarksBySoleiaV

I have fallen down the clay modeling rabbit hole of TikTok and was delighted by this little cozy tea time bookmark. $27

New Releases

a graphic of the cover of Another Word for Love: A Memoir by Carvell Wallace

Another Word for Love: A Memoir by Carvell Wallace

Award-winning journalist Carvell Wallace has spent his career looking outward, profiling others, and reporting on events happening in the world around him. But now, Wallace turns his writing to himself. In Another Word for Love, Wallace describes what it’s like to grow up Black and queer in America. With this portrait of his own life, Wallace finds beauty in the simple things and shows gratitude for the people who made him who he is today.

a graphic of the cover of Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

The author of Midnight in Chernobyl, Adam Higginbotham, returns to write about another disaster, but this time, it’s in America. Higginbotham delves into the history of the shuttle program that led to the disaster on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger fell apart and killed all on board. His in-depth look gives readers a new perspective on one of the worst disasters in the history of space exploration.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

audiobook version of the cover of Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear by Erica Berry, Performed by Lessa Lamb

Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear by Erica Berry, Performed by Lessa Lamb

Sometimes, the very concept of a book catches my eye and I have to read it ASAP. That’s what happened with Wolfish, a book where Erica Berry delves into societal ideas around wolves. What do wolves symbolize to human civilization? How has that perception impacted society today? These are just a couple of the big questions that Berry examines. Lessa Lamb deftly performs the audio edition, making the listening experience fly by, even in sections that I imagine might be a little dry to read in print. I loved every second of Lamb’s performance.

a graphic of the cover of Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business by Roxane Gay

Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business by Roxane Gay

Opinions collects the work of Roxane Gay, and includes celebrity profiles, advice columns, cultural criticism, and opinion pieces. I have enjoyed Gay’s writing since I first read her essay collection Bad Feminist. But it can be hard to keep up with all of her pieces that have been published in different outlets over a decade. But now, the best of her published writing from across the internet is all in one place! She interviews artists like Janelle Monáe and writes about the legacy of Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of Black Panther. She strikes a beautiful balance of vulnerability and relatability, writing essays that have just the right amount of personal touch. This collection is perfect for stolen moments at holiday parties or family dinners.

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