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New Releases: Stacey Abrams’s Newest + Goths in Rome

Greetings, all. I hope wherever you are, you’re taking care of yourself and taking some time out to read things educational but also things that are fun. No one can do all the work all at once. And now! New nonfiction for the week:

Alaric the Goth: An Outsider’s History of the Fall of Rome by Douglas Boin. Look, I’m a sucker for a Roman history, despite still knowing very little about that time period. Alaric was the king of the Visigoths and best known for the sack of Rome in 410 (you know, that one we’re all aware of). Boin examines the relationship between the Goths and Romans from the vantage point of a marginalized people who were tired of being mistreated by the empire. Great stuff.

 

Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose, and the Fight for a Fair America by Stacey Abrams. It’s here! Stacey Abrams’s new book! In this, she lays out a plan to “end voter suppression, empower our citizens, and take back our country.” She argues for the importance of “robust voter protections, an elevation of identity politics, engagement in the census, and a return to moral international leadership.” Gosh, doesn’t that sound nice? I love moral international leadership.

 

Performing Jane: A Cultural History of Jane Austen Fandom by Sarah Glosson. Have you ever hand-sewn a bonnet because of your deep love for Jane Austen, or written a “what if Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet worked as rival pet store owners in the 1980s” piece of fanfic? Well, you are not alone. Austen fans have been around since her work was first published, and if you would like to dive into how she has been celebrated by the people who love her, here’s a new release for you.

 

Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels by Hannah Ross. I do not ride a bicycle. I live in a city and the very idea is terrifying. But! Bicycles made women more independent, more mobile, and encouraged fun things like dress reform (corsets + long skirts do not a safe bicyclist make). Ross is herself, of course, a cyclist, and here highlights not just the history of women and bicycles, but also tells stories of individual women as well as all-female cycling groups.

 

Sweet, Savory, Spicy: Exciting Street Market Food from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and More by Sarah Tiong. Traveling might be hard right now, but you can still eat awesome street food at home. Tiong was a finalist in Masterchef Australia and shares recipes for everything from “Malaysian Chicken Satay to Vietnamese Crispy Spring Rolls (Cha giò) to Hokkien Noodles (Hokkien Mee) to Khmer Beef Curry.” There’s also a whole chapter on sweet, savory, salty, and spicy options for sauce/toppings, and it all sounds both fantastic and delicious.

Stay healthy, stay informed, nonfictionites. As always, you can find me on social media @itsalicetime and co-hosting the For Real podcast with Kim here at Book Riot. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.