The other day, I began looking through my nonfiction bookshelf. It was like visiting with friends I hadn’t talked to in years. I remember where I was and what I was doing when I first read each book. That’s a book lover for you — always connecting with the books in their life. So this week, we’re taking a look at some of my backlist favorites, two of the books I’ve recommended ten times over.
But first, let’s chat about new books and a reminder that Book Riot’s editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required!
Bookish Goods
Bookshop Ghosts Illustration Art Print by Art of Stephanie Marie
Look, it was incredibly difficult to decide which print from this store to feature. There are so many bookstore ghost prints! I saw a reviewer say that they chose a series of the prints for their nursery. Just warms my ghost-loving heart. $20
New Releases
Sing a Black Girl’s Song: The Unpublished Work of Ntozake Shange by Ntozake Shange, Edited by Imani Perry
This collection of unpublished work by the incredible Ntozake Shange was put together by Imani Perry, the National Book Award-winning author of South to America. In this never-before-seen work, we get a different look at Shange’s perspective on the world.
Larry McMurtry: A Life by Tracy Daugherty
Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry wrote dozens and dozens of books in his lifetime. Now we get a look at the man behind the books and how the life he lived informed his writing. This biography is perfect for Western novel lovers.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly
I first read Rage Becomes Her a few years ago, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. In Rage Becomes Her, Chemaly looks at different aspects of women’s rage and how it has been treated throughout history. Each chapter discusses a different aspect of women’s anger —how it affects women’s health, how angry women have been treated throughout history, etc. Her writing is so clearly organized and well-researched; there’s something new to learn on every page.
Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman
Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman is a hefty book, but well worth the time of sitting down with it for hours. This book is a history of the ACT UP movement, centering itself in New York City. Schulman breaks down the information by topic, walking readers through the complex organization and reviewing the different challenges they faced during the height of the AIDS crisis. I was incredibly impressed by the amount of detail. And even though it’s a hefty book, I became engrossed from the first chapter.
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