Author: Kim Ukura

Hello and happy Friday, fellow nonfiction nerds! There’s been some big nonfiction books adjacent news breaking this week — a former California police officer has been identified as the Golden State killer. He was arrested on Wednesday, based on new DNA evidence. The recently-published true crime book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark chronicled journalist Michelle McNamara’s search for the Golden State Killer before her death in 2016. Exciting!

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Sponsored by How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee

From the author of The Queen of the Night, an essay collection exploring his education as a man, writer, and activist—and how we form our identities in life and in art. As a novelist, Alexander Chee has been described as “masterful” by Roxane Gay, “incomparable” by Junot Díaz, and “incendiary” by The New York Times. With How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, his first collection of nonfiction, he’s sure to secure his place as one of the finest essayists of his generation as well.

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Beyond that, this week’s newsletter has new books, some sales numbers for the James Comey blockbuster, and news about musicians who are writing memoirs. Let’s get going!

New Books!

The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke – The subtitle of this book is what convinced me I needed to read it. What would be better than a book of “stoned sloths, lovelorn hippos, and other tales from the wild side of wildlife”? Lucy Cooke is a great person to share those stories too – she has an MA in zoology from the University of Oxford and is a National Geographic explorer.

Born With Wings by Daisy Kahn – Daisy Kahn, a women’s rights activist, grew up in a progressive Sunni Muslim family in India. She came to the United States to finish high school and, after a period of questioning her faith, she returned to Islam and married the imam of a mosque in New York. The book is about her spiritual journey as well as her current mission to empower Muslim women and challenge ideas about what it means to be Muslim.

God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright – There’s something really funny to me about the idea that Lawrence Wright would go from writing about Scientologists to writing about Texas. This book is an exploration of the “history, culture and politics” of Texas, looking into the stereotypes and misconceptions many people have about the state. I think this one will be interesting.

Need more new books? In last week’s episode of For Real, Alice and I talked about The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte, The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson, The War on Neighborhoods by Ryan Lugalia Hollon and Daniel Cooper, and The Opposite of Hate by Sally Kohn.

A Higher Loyalty Rolls On

It seems that James Comey’s media tour is doing what it’s supposed to do – sell a bunch of copies of his book, A Higher Loyalty. In the first week, the book has sold 600,000 copies.

For comparison, the New York Times reports that Hillary Clinton’s memoir, What Happened, sold 300,00 copies in its first week on sale, while Michael Wolff’s White House exploration Fire and Fury sold “just” (air quotes mine!) 200,000 hardcover copies in its first week. Fire and Fury has sold more than two million copies in total.

The book has been getting so much buzz that Amazon has limited reviews to Amazon customers who they know have purchased the book through the site because of “unusual review behavior” on the book. And Comey’s book tour is going strong – no doubt this book is going to break all sorts of sales records.

Musicians Making Memoirs

Prince’s official memoir will be published before the end of the year! The musician signed a deal to produce a memoir – and reportedly handwrote more than 50 pages – before he died in 2016. Prince’s agent announced this week that the memoir will be out in 2018.

Mariah Carey is also writing a memoir! The book will include mentions of her 2001 diagnosis for bipolar disorder, which she recently revealed to People magazine.

Around the Riot

And finally, I’ve got a few recent Book Riot posts I wanted to bring to your attention:

• Alice and I were guests on last week’s episode of Get Booked, Book Riot’s book recommendation podcast where we talked almost exclusively about nonfiction. It was a lot of fun!
• Katie rounded up 50 must-read true crime books, many of which I can heartily endorse.
• Daisy recommends a number of interesting books about the women of Golden Age musicals including Debbie Reynolds, Lena Horne, and Ginger Rogers.
• Yash has some fun nonfiction pairings for new and upcoming young adult books – great picks if you’re a reader who likes to alternate between the serious and the swoony.

Don’t forget, Book Riot has an awesome giveaway going on right now – follow this link to be entered in a drawing for 15 of the year’s best mystery/thrillers!

Find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Happy reading!

It’s been a big week of news in the world of books, especially when it comes to nonfiction! This week’s newsletter is going to go a little off format, focusing on two big stories – the Pulitzer Prize winners, and the publication of James Comey’s memoir, A Higher Loyalty. Let’s dive in!

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Sponsored by With One Shot by Dorothy Marcic.

The killer was behind bars—a woman who had confessed to the cold-blooded murder of her husband. But Dorothy Marcic suspected a more sinister tale at the heart of her beloved uncle’s violent death. And nothing would stop her from getting to the truth.

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The Pulitzer Prizes!

The Pulitzer Prizes, awarded each year in Journalism and Letters, Drama and Music, are some of my favorite prizes to nerd out about. This year’s winners in nonfiction are all books that I’m interested in picking up:

• History – The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea by Jack E. Davis (Someone needs to write a post about books on the waters of America… it’s a thing!)
• Biography – Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder (After winning a National Book Critics Circle Award, this one is looking like a contender for… more awards? I’m psyched to read it with my book club later this year.)
• General Nonfiction – Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr. (Yes, excellent, this is a book we needed to recognize this year.)

As I think I’ve mentioned before, take some time to check out the winners in the journalism categories. The Public Service award went to the work by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Ronan Farrow for their investigations into sexual harassment in Hollywood (that’s going to be a book!). I’m also excited to explore the work of the Feature Writing winner, Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, and the finalists, John Woodrow Cox and Norimitsu Onishi.

James Comey Tells All… Too Late?

At the beginning of the year, I thought the publication of Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff would be the biggest nonfiction release of the year. But I forgot about the publication of A Higher Loyalty, a memoir from former FBI Director James Comey that was release this week. And Lordy, it’s been quite a show.

In February, the book’s publisher, Flatiron Books, announced that they were going to move up the release date from May to April because of “demand of the former FBI director to be heard amid an urgent conversation” about the FBI. They also reported that the first printing of the book was 850,000 copies, more than five times the initial printing of Fire and Fury. People were ready for this book to be big!

Early copies of the book were pretty tightly controlled, but after an embargo was lifted last week there were a blitz of stories highlighting some of the most salacious details in the book. NPR’s Ron Elving said Comey describes an “unethical, and untethered” president. Michiko Kakutani returned to the New York Times to review the book, calling it “absorbing,” and highlighting the differences it shows between Comey and the president. And of course, President Trump couldn’t stay off Twitter, spending several days lashing out at Comey and others as news about the book continued to come out.

Despite the flurry of press, and Comey’s flurried press tour on just about every major news network, what I’ve seen about the book has been a lot of fluff and not much substance. In the Washington Post, Carlos Lozada asks whether Comey lives up to the standards of ethical leadership that he espouses (spoiler alert… maybe not). Sure, Comey has a lot of negative things to say about the president… but did we really expect that he wouldn’t? I tend to agree with this analysis by Jamil Smith in Rolling Stone: “It is fascinating, indeed, that Comey rediscovered his ability to effectively rebuke the president only after publishers came calling.”

My favorite anecdote about the book release is one reported by CNN – booksellers in Washington D.C. expected huge crowds for the publication of the book on Tuesday, but just got a bunch of journalists and cameras instead. Whomp whomp.

Bookish Deals and Giveaways

Whew! That was a lot. Just a few quick ebook deals to conclude this newsletter:

• The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck for $3.99
• The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements by Sam Kean for $3.99
• Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine by Sarah Lohman for $1.99

And don’t forget, Book Riot has an awesome giveaway going on right now – follow this link to be entered in a drawing for 15 of the year’s best mystery/thrillers!

Find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Happy reading!

I don’t know about you, but April always feels like the month of the year where the world of books first goes from exciting to overwhelming. My “books to watch for” list suddenly seems too long, my library holds start coming in at a furious pace, and my bookshelves seem to shudder under the weight of the books I’ve bought since the new year… #bookpeopleproblems

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Sponsored by The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara K. Lipska

As a deadly cancer spread inside her brain, leading neuroscientist Barbara Lipska was plunged into madness—only to miraculously survive with her memories intact.  In the tradition of My Stroke of Insight and Brain on Fire, this powerful memoir recounts her ordeal, and explains its unforgettable lessons about the brain and mind.

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To keep you all in the same state of (mostly joyous) book overwhelm as I am, this week’s newsletter is going to be entirely devoted to new books coming out in early April. Here are eight that I would dearly love to Drop Everything And Read.

The Recovering by Leslie Jamison – This book is my most-anticipated book of April, and most anticipated book of the year. In the book, Jamison writes about her own experiences with alcoholism, partnered with an exploration of addiction stories and the recovery movement. If this is near as good as The Empathy Exams, it’ll be stellar.

The Opposite of Hate by Sally Kohn – As a current CNN (and former Fox News) commentator, Sally Kohn has butted heads with colleagues on divisive issues while still remaining friendly. That makes her an excellent person to explore the science, psychology, sociology surrounding hatred.

The Library by Stuart Kells – Who doesn’t love a library? This book is a tourist-y look at libraries around the world, and the stories of their creators, collections, and secrets. Given that it’s National Library Week, this one seems like an especially great book to pick up ASAP.

The Trauma Cleaner by Sarah Krasnostein – Books about strange jobs is one of my genre kryptonites, so of course I am intrigued by the story of “one woman’s extraordinary life in the business of death, decay, and disaster.”

The Displaced, edited by Viet Thanh Nguyen – This collection of essays by refugee writers seems especially timely right now. The contributors are from all over the world – Mexico, Bosnia, Iran, Afghanistan, Soviet Ukraine, Hungary, Chile, Ethiopia, and others – and offer personal stories about what it means to be seeking home.

The Hope Circuit by Martin E.P. Seligman – This book is a memoir by the founder of the Positive Psychology movement, exploring why he chose to study optimism, the stories behind some major psychological finds, and his personal struggle with depression. Sounds fascinating!

Sharp by Michelle Dean – This book is a mix between biography, literary criticism, and cultural history, looking at 10 women who are united by the idea of being sharp, or being able to “cut to the quick with precision of thought and wit.” Her list of subjects, which includes Joan Didion, Dorothy Parker, and Nora Ephron, looks so good!

Can’t Help Myself by Meredith Goldstein – A memoir about an advice columnist who can’t seem to get her life together might sound cliche, but I think this book sounds charming. In this memoir, Goldstein writes about her reservations about marriage and family, and the way the community around her daily column comes together in the face of tragic news.

Topple Your Digital TBR

Finally, I’ve got some Kindle deals that you don’t want to miss this month.

Want to read more Kelly Corrigan after finishing her awesome new book, Tell Me More? Her previous book, The Middle Place, is on sale for $2.99

Learn more about Zimbabwe with Peter Godwin’s excellent memoir When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by $2.99.

If chunky history is your jam, then be sure to snag Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage, a ultimate story of Lewis and Clark, for $3.99.

And as if all that great nonfiction isn’t enough, Book Riot is doing another giveaway – follow this link to be entered in a drawing for 15 of the year’s best mystery/thrillers!

Find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Happy reading!

Hello, fellow humans! This week’s newsletter is my quarterly-ish update on some of the great nonfiction books that have come out in paperback in the last few months.

I think I’ve mentioned before how about paperback is my preferred reading format. I still love physical books, but hardcovers are both expensive and heavy to carry around. I think a trade paperback is the perfect way to read, so I’m always looking for the moment when a book I’ve been coveting finally releases in paperback. Here are 16 that I think are worth your dollars and attention:

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Sponsored by THE MANSON WOMEN AND ME by Nikki Meredith published by Citadel Press.

Journalist Nikki Meredith writes of her experience visiting Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel in prison…As Meredith got to know Krenwinkel and Van Houten over the years, she increasingly came to wonder how seemingly normal people can come to commit such vicious, barbaric acts.  Meredith asks the questions that have nagged many of us for years—how does this happen?

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Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge – A look at American gun violence through stories of the 10 children killed in a single 24-hour period. This one is incredible.

The Unsettlers by Mark Sundeen – A work of immersive journalism about people in “search through the simple life in today’s America.”

Storm in a Teacup by Helen Czerski – An introduction to the world of physics told through everyday life like popping popcorn and fridge magnets.

The One-Cent Magenta by James Barron – “Inside the quest to own the most valuable stamp in the world.”

Word by Word by Kory Stamper – The secret life of dictionaries as told by a lexicographer and editor for Merriam-Webster!

American Hookup by Lisa Wade – An analysis of hookup culture on college campuses, tied to a broader history of sexuality, higher education and feminism.

All the Lives I Want by Alana Massey – “Essays about my best friends who happen to be famous strangers.”

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann – An investigation into the historical murders of members of the Osage Nation, and the early story of the FBI.

Age of Anger by Pankaj Mishra – An attempt to explain the current wave of “paranoid hatreds” that have become nearly everyday occurrences in the modern world.

Somebody with a Little Hammer by Mary Gaitskill – A wide-ranging essay collection that includes political adultery, Björk, and porn star Linda Lovelace.

Love and Trouble by Claire Dederer – A middle-aged mother reflecting on how the emotional intensity of her teenage years mimics her emotional experience now.

The Home that Was Our Country Alia Malek – A history of Syria told through the stories of people who lived in the same apartment building as the author’s grandparents.

The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel – “The extraordinary story of the last hermit” and a meditation on the value and difficulty of solitude in the modern world.

Radium Girls by Kate Moore – The true story of hundreds of girls who toiled in factories painting radium on clock dials, before anyone knew radium could cause immeasurable harm.

Cannibalism by Bill Schutt – A history of cannibalism and the role it plays in evolution and human history.

Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life Yiyun Li – A love letter to books written over two years where the author was battling suicidal depression.

Over at Book Riot…

Steph shared six words of narrative journalism that challenge long-held beliefs. I’ve only read one book on the list – Being Mortal by Atul Gawande – but the rest also sound fascinating!

My For Real podcast co-host, Alice, suggests five books about overcoming obstacles. So inspiring!

I also loved Lisa’s post of books by disabled people to tell their own stories. She makes some great points about what it means for abled people to speak on behalf of the disabled, and encourages readers to listen better.

Love cosmetics? Hattie has seven makeup books for cosmetics geeks. This is… not me, but this is a fun list anyway.

ALSO! Book Riot is hiring an Advertising Sales Manager. We strongly encourage women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color to apply. To view position description and apply, go here.

And that’s all for this week! Find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and co-hosting the For Real podcast here at Book Riot. Happy reading!

Happy almost-April, nonfiction nerds. March is my least favorite month of the year, so I am incredibly happy that we’ll be turning another page on the calendar soon. This week I’ve got some new books, some award winners, and more news about memoirs that I missed last week. Let’s dive in!

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Sponsored by Flatiron Books

A memoir of the truths learned in life through crafting — Alanna Okun knows knows that even when we can’t control anything else, we can at least control the sticks, string, and fabric right in front of us.

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New Books!

Dear Madam President by Jennifer Palmieri – As communications director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Jennifer Palmieri had a direct view of the challenges faced by the first female candidate for this position. Although Clinton lost, Palmieri argues that the campaign made it possible for the country to start seeing what it might look like for a woman to serve as President, and offers inspiration and advice for women looking to succeed in any field. I’m not sure if this book would have made it to the top of my list, but I heard Palmieri interviewed on one of my favorite podcasts, It’s Been a Minute on NPR, and she was excellent – warm, funny, honest, and realistic in a way I found really engaging.

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton – In 1985, 29-year-old Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with two counts of murder in Alabama, crimes he didn’t commit but was found guilty of anyway. Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution, and spent 30 years on death row until he was released in 2015 (thanks to the work of another name to know – Bryan Stevenson, lawyer and author of Just Mercy). This book is a memoir of his time in prison, and “shows how you can take away a man’s freedom, but you can’t take away his imagination, humor or joy.”

Failing Up by Leslie Odom Jr. – Aaron Burr’s writing a memoir! Kidding, of course. Leslie Odom Jr. became a household name among theater nerds in 2015 when he originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton. In this book, Odom reflects on his path to Broadway and “asks the questions that will help you unlock your true potential and achieve your goals even when they seem impossible.” The audiobook for this one is set to be out April 10 – I’ll be waiting for that!

Women Winning Awards = Woo!

All of this year’s winners in the competitive categories of the National Book Critics Circle awards were written by women! I want to read every single one of the nonfiction winners right now:

• General Nonfiction – The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGerald
• Biography – Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser
• Autobiography – Nine Continents: A Memoir in and Out of China by Xiaolu Guo
• Criticism – You Play the Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Train Wrecks, and Other Mixed Messages by Carina Chocano

Another awards longlist worth perusing is the finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. Awards are given in 10 categories, including Current Interest, Biography, History, and Science and Technology. The winners will be announced on April 20.

Not Done Talking About Memoirs

Right after I submitted last weeks newsletter, two more memoir-related stories popped up in my feed.

By Jiyang Chen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

The family of fashion and society photographer Bill Cunningham, who passed away in 2016, has discovered a written memoir in his archive. According to the New York Times, “it’s not clear when Mr. Cunningham wrote the memoir … though multiple drafts of certain sections also found in the archive suggest he revised it.” The book, titled Fashion Climbing, is set to be published in September.

Over at Book Riot, Steph wrote a great piece on stunt memoirs that shook up their authors’ life for just one year. I love a good stunt memoir, but even I’ve only read six of the 10 she suggests. It’s a good list!

Cheap Kindle Deals!

This week, I’ve pulled together some Kindle deals in biographies (but get ‘em fast – it looks like these may end on April 1):

• Ashley’s War by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon for $1.99
• Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman for $2.99
• The Creation of Anne Boleyn by Susan Bordo for $2.99

Have a stellar weekend! As always, find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and happy reading! – Kim

As I started to pull together this week’s newsletter, I discovered that most of the books and news I wanted to share with you all fit into a theme – memoirs! Rather than fight fate, I decided to go all in with an all memoirs edition of True Story. Let’s get started!

New Memoirs

The Gospel of Trees by Apricot Irving – Apricot Irving grew up as the daughter of a missionary in Haiti, an agronomist who shared the “gospel of trees” to anyone who would listen. This is a coming-of-age memoir about a young woman trying to understand the demands of her faith, the choices of her family, and “the complicated legacy of those who wish to improve the world.”

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Sponsored by Prometheus Books

Combining refreshing candor with self-deprecating wit, this inspiring memoir encourages readers to reach their aspirations despite seemingly impossible odds. Disarmed is the moving story of a young American who volunteered to fight in the Israel Defense Forces, lost his arm in combat, and then returned to the battlefield as the world’s only one-armed Special Forces sharpshooter.

Izzy Ezagui wrote Disarmed with fellow millennials in mind–not necessarily those with military ambitions, but everyone facing life’s battles. His message is universal: if a self-described “nerd” like him can accomplish what he did; anyone can become a hero in their own life.

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Would You Rather? by Katie Heaney – In her first book of essays, Katie Heaney wrote about being in her mid 20s and never having been on a second date. In this book, she writes about realizing, in her late 20s, that she’s gay, and then entering into her first serious relationship with another woman.

 

I Found My Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice –This book is a memoir about a marriage and the friendships that can help save a marriage. Ruth Fitzmaurice’s husband, Simon, has ALS, and can only communicate with his eyes. To help her cope with this impossible situation, Fitzmaurice regularly swims in the ocean with a group of friends who call themselves the “Tragic Wives’ Swimming Club” and battle the waves as a way of fighting through challenges.

Memoir News 

Malala Yousafzai is writing a new book! Five years after the publication of her memoir, I Am Malala, the young Nobel Laureate is publishing a new book on displacement and “what it means to lose your home, your community, and the only world you’ve ever known.” The book will include her experiences, as well as those of other young refugees. We Are Displaced will be out September 4.

Lisa Brennan-Jobs, daughter of Steve Jobs, is writing a memoir about “her childhood and her turbulent relationship with the legendary Apple cofounder.” I think this one sounds fascinating, and honestly? I’m much more likely to pick up this book than a straight Jobs biography. Small Fry will also be out on September 4.

Bustle has a collection of 11 new memoirs we’ll all be talking about this spring. While the title on the list that’s going to get the most buzz is James Comey’s A Higher Loyalty (April 17), there are a bunch of others on that list that seem exciting. Grow your TBR, friends!

This isn’t explicitly books related, but I want to call your attention to it anyway. On March 8, International Women’s Day, the New York Times launched a project to write obituaries for women in history “who left indelible marks but were nonetheless overlooked.” They’ve shared some amazing stories so far, and while it’s certainly not the only fix needed to address the lack of women’s stories, it’s a really encouraging step. And if you want a bookish connection, I’d suggest finding Marilyn Johnson’s The Dead Beat, a memoir of her time as an obituary writer.

Over at Book Riot, Danika wrote a bit about the five most outrageously fake memoirs ever written, based on a dig through Wikipedia’s list of fake memoirs and journals. Read the post, and then head to Wikipedia – they’re both a fun dive into lies and lying liars who write books.

Memoir Deals and Steals

And finally, a few memoirs you can find for cheap this month on Amazon:

• In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White for $1.99
• This Is Just My Face by Gabourey Sidibe for $2.99 (this is a steal!)
• The Spider and the Fly by Claudia Rowe for $1.99
• Love, Loss and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi for $1.99

That’s all for this week! As always, find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and happy reading! – Kim

My plan was to make this week’s newsletter entirely about all of the awesome new books that are coming out in early March. But then there was some significant news about Sherman Alexie, the allegations against him, and his awards prospects that feels important to open True Story with this week.

Late last Friday, the American Library Association announced that Alexie had declined the Carnegie Medal that he was awarded for his memoir You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me. Rather than recognize one of the other finalists – The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg or Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann – the ALA has elected not to award the nonfiction medal this year. Shortly after, Alexie’s publisher announced that they’d be delaying the paperback edition indefinitely at Alexie’s request.

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Sponsored by She Caused a Riot by Hannah Jewell

When you hear about a woman who was 100% pure and good, you’re missing the best chapters of her life’s story.

She Caused a Riot is an empowering, no-holds-barred look into the epic adventures and dangerous exploits of 100 inspiring women who were too brave, too brilliant, too unconventional, too political, too poor, not ladylike enough and not white enough to be recognized by their contemporaries.

From 3rd-century Syrian queen Zenobia to 20th-century Nigerian women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, these are women who gave absolutely zero f**ks, and will inspire a courageous new movement of women to do the same.

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Like many others, I wasn’t especially impressed with Alexie’s initial statement about the allegations of sexual harassment. Although I don’t know what kind of “atonement scale” we should be looking at for all of this, I do think these are some good, concrete steps to take as part of an effort to step back and consider the consequences of his treatment of women and his standing in the literary community.

New Books!

And with that, I’m glad to be moving on to something more fun – new books! These eight books on my radar have all been published in late February or early March.

Broad Band by Claire Evans – I am all in for books on the contributions of women to the major scientific and technological advances of our time. Broad Band is “the untold story of the women who made the Internet” and has such an awesome cover.

Ask Me About My Uterus by Abby Norman – Norman chronicles the quest to discover the cause of her chronic, serious, life-plan-altering pain (endometriosis) and explores the historical, sociocultural and political context that fails to take women’s pain seriously.

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper – A look at Black women’s anger and how it fuels the impact of awesome women like Serena Williams, Beyoncé, and Michelle Obama. “This book argues that ultimately feminism, friendship, and faith in one’s own superpowers are all we really need to turn things right side up again.”

Soon by Andrew Santella – The subtitle for this one – “an overdue history of procrastination, from Leonardo and Darwin to you and me” – really makes me laugh. In the book, Santella offers a defense of procrastination, looking to science and history to explain why we do it and and why we shouldn’t feel bad.

Stealing the Show by Joy Press – A cultural journalist looks as the rise of female showrunners behind popular television series (think Shonda Rhimes, Tina Fey, and Mindy Kaling), and what it took to get here.

Too Afraid to Cry by Ali Cobby Eckermann – “Stolen from her family as an infant, a prize-winning poet recounts her arduous journey to reconnect with the Aboriginal culture of her birth.”

The Last Wild Men of Borneo by Carl Hoffman – Two modern adventurers sought a treasure possessed by the legendary ‘Wild Men of Borneo.’ One found riches. The other vanished forever into an endless jungle.” Dun dun dun!

Shrewed by Elizabeth Renzetti – Based on decades of writing and reporting, this book is “a book about feminism’s crossroads,” exploring everything from why public spaces are inhospitable to women, and how Carrie Fisher is connected to Mary Wollstonecraft. I’m in!

And that’s all for this week! As always, find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and happy reading! – Kim

I hope you’ll forgive me if I open this newsletter with a bit of self-promotion. This week, the nonfiction podcast I am co-hosting with fellow Rioter Alice Burton officially launched!

For Real will be coming out every other week, and focused on nonfiction book recommendations from a variety of angles. In our first episode we talk new books, recommendations for International Women’s Day, some fiction/nonfiction pairings, and what we’re reading right now.

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Sponsored by YOUR STORY IS YOUR POWER by Elle Luna and Susie Herrick. Published by Workman Publishing.

On the heels of International Women’s Day, the celebration of strong women is at an all-time high and women everywhere are sharing their stories. Your Story Is Your Poweris the tool you need to understand and express your own personal story. Elle Luna, bestselling author of The Crossroads of Should and Must, team up with psychotherapist Susie Herrick, to present an inspiring and practical hands-on guide that will show you how to uncover your own story in order to live a more confident, unapologetic life. Beautifully illustrated throughout, Your Story Is Your Power is a personal, thoughtful, motivating book to help you take control of your future.

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You can hear me say “super excited” enough times to warrant a drinking game, and accidentally throw some shade at Ken Burns, while Alice talks vaginas and Lord Byron – it’s very on-brand for us. I hope you’ll click through and give it a listen, or subscribe using your favorite podcast app!

Sherman Alexie and Sexual Harassment

Over the last couple of weeks, the #MeToo movement has finally arrived in the world of publishing. There are a lot of authors who have been called out in a variety of ways, but the one most relevant to this newsletter is Sherman Alexie. Initially, Alexie was anonymously accused of various harassing behaviors, then issued a strange statement in response. This week, NPR published a story in which several accusers went on the record about Alexie’s behavior, while others spoke anonymously sharing very similar experiences:

The women reported behavior ranging from inappropriate comments both in private and in public, to flirting that veered suddenly into sexual territory, unwanted sexual advances and consensual sexual relations that ended abruptly. The women said Alexie had traded on his literary celebrity to lure them into uncomfortable sexual situations.

I don’t have much commentary to add to this, other than it’s another story that just makes me really sad. I do wonder how this news will affect the immediate sales and long-term regard for his memoir, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, which up until now has been widely praised. Before these stories emerged, I would have pegged it as a front-runner for many of the year’s big awards – it was already awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction from the American Library Association. Now? I’m not sure what might happen. This book and author may be a good test case for whether, in the long run, these kinds of accusations will have consequences. More to come, I am sure.

Nonfiction Over at Book Riot

Although the first week of March is a big one for new books, I’m going to wait to jump into March’s buzziest titles until next week. This week, I want to highlight some of my favorite recent nonfiction posts that we’ve been publishing over on Book Riot:

Ashley wonders if we are done with sweary self-help books yet. My guess is no… but I can see why she’s over it.

Ann writes about coziness concepts beyond hygge – ikigai, lagom, and more.

Want brief nonfiction to read over lunch? Emily suggests some short memoirs, available online, that will fit the bill.

Calling out sexism in the tech industry was, I think, one of the early pushes in the current #MeToo movement. Sophia recommends five books about women in tech to give you an overview of what’s happening there. I’ll add a personal endorsement to Reset by Ellen Pao, that one is excellent.

Looking for an essay anthology to round out your Read Harder list? I wrote up some of my favorites!

President’s Day is over, but presidential biographies are always in style. Kate recommends 44 of them to add to your reading list.

Celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday, a little late at this point, with these books Aimee recommends.

Sad that the Winter Olympics are over? Emma suggested these books to get psyched about the Games, but they’re still good now.

Re-live the 1990s with these awesome books about 90s scandals that Elizabeth rounded up.

That’s it for this week, fellow readers. Don’t forget! There are just a few days left for you to head over to our Instagram account and enter to win $500 in Penguin Clothbound classics!

As always, find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and happy reading! – Kim

Hello and happy March! As you are reading this newsletter I am sitting by the pool in Mexico, hopefully with a margarita and a book in hand. I don’t know what book — I’ve been so indecisive about what to pack — but hopefully it is good!

Upcoming Books News!

I wouldn’t normally lead off a newsletter with announcements about upcoming books, but there have been three of them in the last few weeks that all made me cheer a little bit.

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Sponsored by Everything is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wachs

One phone call. That’s all it took to change Stephanie Wittels Wachs’ life forever. Her brother Harris, a star in the comedy world known for his work on shows like Parks and Recreation, had died of a heroin overdose.

In beautiful, unsentimental, and surprisingly funny prose, Stephanie Wittels Wachs alternates between her brother’s struggle with addiction, and the first year after his death, in all its emotional devastation. This compelling portrait of a comedic genius and a profound exploration of the love between siblings is A Year of Magical Thinking for a new generation of readers. It will make you laugh, cry, and wonder if that possum on the fence is really your brother’s spirit animal.

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First up, Michelle Obama’s memoir is coming this November! The First Lady of my heart announced the book, Becoming, on Twitter, and said writing the book has been a “deeply personal experience. I talk about my roots and how a girl from the South Side found her voice.” The book will hit shelves on November 13.

Second, Doris Kearns Goodwin will have a new book out in September, Leadership, that will “remind readers that career politicians can become great presidents.” The book will focus on four presidents that she’s already written about – Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Franklin Roosevelt.

Finally, Dessa, a Minneapolis-based rapper/singer, will publish a book of essays. My Own Devices will feature “true stories from the road on music, science and senseless love.” I was lucky enough to see Dessa speak at a podcast recording here in the Twin Cities, and I can affirm that she’s an excellent storyteller. Can’t wait!

New Books!

The last Tuesday of February was a big one for exciting nonfiction, with six books that were on my radar. So many books, so little time…

Eat the Apple by Matt Young – “A daring, twisted, and darkly hilarious story of American youth and masculinity in an age of continuous war.” Young joined the Marine Corps as an 18-year-old, and chronicles his experience through three deployments in Iraq through a “kaleidoscopic array of literary forms.”

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara – This is a posthumously published book about one journalists’ search for a notorious California serial rapist who committed 50 sexual assaults over more than a decade. It’s gotten a lot of buzz because of McNarama’s famous husband, Patton Oswalt, but early buzz is that the book stands on its own.

Don’t Call Me Princess by Peggy Orenstein – This is the first collection of essays from the author of two other great books on girls and culture (Girls and Sex and Cinderella Ate My Daughter). These essays are drawn from her body of writing, and includes a new introduction and personal reflection on each essay.

Invisible by Michele Lent Hirsch – This book looks at a story that hasn’t been told much, about young women navigating serious health issues during the prime of their lives. The book, anchored by Lent Hirsch’s personal experience, also explores how health issues can amplify the other pressures women face at work and in life.

Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker – This book got some buzz earlier this year when Bill Gates declared it his new favorite book of all time. Following up on his previous writing, Pinker makes a case for “reason, science, humanism and progress” in a time when the world feels like it’s falling apart.

There Are No Dead Here by Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno – This is another big picture book told through particular stories, this time a look at the rise of paramilitary groups in Colombia through three ordinary Colombians, an activist, a journalist, and an investigator.

Adaptation News!

Red alert for the next best news ever! Lupita Nyong’o has signed on to star in the film adaptation of Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime. Nyong’o will play Noah’s mom, Patricia, who was an important figure in his early years before tragedy struck the family.

This one doesn’t come from a book, but it sounds super fun. Tessa Thompson will play Doris Payne, a woman “who gained notoriety for her luxury jewelry heists from stores around the world.” Payne was the subject of a documentary in 2013, The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne.

And that’s all for this week. As always, find me on Twitter @kimthedork, and happy reading! – Kim

Happy last weekend of February, dear readers! This week’s newsletter is a bit of a mishmash – some adaptation news, some upcoming book announcements, and a couple of buzzy nonfiction titles out this week.

Before we get going, a quick reminder to hop over to our Instagram account for the chance to win $500 in Penguin Clothbound classics – I’m super jealous I can’t enter this one myself!

For All You High School Theater Geeks

I’ve you’ve been watching the Olympics as much as I have, then you’ve almost certainly seen the trailer for Rise, a new NBC series debuting in a few weeks. The show is based on an excellent 2013 book, Drama High by Michael Sokolove, which profiles a drama director at a high school in a blue collar Pennsylvania town. I really loved the way the book made an argument for the importance of the arts for all students, and it felt like a real privilege to get to know the teacher at the center of the book, Lou Volpe. I’m a little skeptical about casting Josh Radnor (Ted from How I Met Your Mother) in the leading role, but everything else about this show has me EXTREMELY excited.

John Lewis Writing a New Book

Congressman John Lewis will be writing another multi-part graphic novel, Run, which will pick up where March left off. March told the story of Lewis’ childhood through his work as a student leader during the marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Run will continue in 1966 as Lewis separated from the group he was leading and found other ways to support the Civil Rights movement.

From Political Reporting to Memoir

I very much enjoyed this essay by reporter Amy Chozick about her process of shifting from life as a political reporter to life as a memoirist, and the role that books played for her. During a nine-month writing sabbatical, Chozick split her time between writing, revising, and reading, everything from memoirs to novels. This essay did what it was supposed to do – get my excited to pick up her memoir, Chasing Hillary, when it comes out in April.

Marie Kondo is Coming to Netflix

And speaking of adaptations… Netflix is adding an eight-episode series featuring minimalist organizer Marie Kondo (author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up). According to a report in Vulture, Kondo will be “bringing her KonMarie Method to people who are ‘at a crossroads’ in life, and in need of some sparks of joy. There will be transformations. There will be a lot of decluttering, and each episode will bring Kondo one step closer to her endgame ‘to organize the world.’” I can’t decide what I think of this.

New Books Out This Week!

The big nonfiction release of this week was Educated by Tara Westover, a memoir about “a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.” Get a peek at the book in this interview Westover did with Bustle, book excerpt in Vogue, and essay in TIME.

The other major release that, frankly, hasn’t been getting nearly as much buzz as I expected, is What Are We Doing Here?, a collection of essays by the great Marilynne Robinson. In the collection, Robinson “trains her incisive mind on our modern political climate and the mysteries of faith.” The New York Times called the book “a dense, eccentric book of profound and generous gifts,” which is one of those phrases that sounds great but doesn’t say much. Robinson published an essay of the same name as the book in the New York Review last year, which might give you a sense of whether the book is up your alley.

That’s it for the week! Check in with me on Twitter or by email, kim@riotnewmedia.com, and until next week, happy reading! – Kim