Spring has sprung here in the South, so before the pollen consumes us all, I decided to enjoy my porch while I can. This past week, the Corgis and I have spent a lot of time outside on the porch watching the world go by as I listen to audiobooks. It’s the perfect way to end an evening after a long workday. Today, I’m getting a headstart on Women’s History Month with two of my favorite books on women’s rage. But first, bookish goods!
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Bookish Goods
Set of 3 Mushroom Fungi Wall Shelf by Weeping Druid Designs
Maybe it’s because I’ve been trying to finish decorating my office, but I LOVE these little shelves. They’d be perfect for displaying special editions or little bookish knickknacks. $36
New Releases
American Negra: A Memoir by Natasha S. Alford
Journalist Natasha S. Alford grew up with an African American father and a Puerto Rican mother. She felt caught between worlds. Alford’s memoir follows her journey from her working-class neighborhood to Harvard and beyond.
Carson McCullers: A Life by Mary V. Dearborn
Biographer Mary V. Dearborn tackles the life of Carson McCullers, a celebrated American novelist. McCullers burst onto the scene with her debut novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, establishing herself as one of the most treasured Southern writers of the 20th century.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper
First up, Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper discusses the role of Black women’s anger in American culture. She also gives examples of what role her anger played in her own life and in the lives of Black women icons of popular culture. Her writing is full of the wisdom given to her by older Black women and what she wants to share with the next generation. She also reads the audiobook edition, creating an incredible listening experience as she narrates her writing in such a personal way that invites listeners to just sit down and have a seat as she drops some wisdom on us.
Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger by Soraya Chemaly
In her take on women’s anger, Chemaly looks at different aspects of women’s rage and how it has been treated throughout history. Each chapter examines a different topic around women’s anger — how it affects women’s health, how angry women have been treated throughout history, etc. Her writing is so clear and well-researched; there’s something new to learn in every chapter.
That’s it for this week! 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