Sponsored by Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir by Anonymous, published by HMH Books.
Becoming Duchess Goldblatt is two stories: that of the reclusive real-life writer who created a fictional character out of loneliness and thin air, and that of the magical Duchess Goldblatt herself, a bright light in the darkness of social media. Fans around the world are drawn to Her Grace’s voice, her wit, her life-affirming love for all humanity, and the fun and friendship of the community that’s sprung up around her.
Helloooo, nonfiction fan. Very excited to talk about some new releases this week, as we’ve got some great ones. We’re more than halfway through 2020! Let’s celebrate with books:
Say It Louder!: Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy by Tiffany D. Cross. Political analyst Cross looks at the role Black Americans play and have played in American politics, how they have been shut out from the voting process, and how they have been critical to particular electoral wins (ex: the 2018 Democrats’ blue Wave). She examines “how America’s composition was designed to exclude Black voters, but paradoxically would likely cease to exist without them.”
The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands by Jon Billman. When people vanish into the wilderness, what happens? From Search & Rescue to bloodhound handlers, river divers, detectives, and more, this book looks closely at cases of people who have gone missing, and those who search for them. Billman centers his narrative around the case of Jacob Gray and his father, who left everything in his life to search for his son. This is being compared to Into the Wild a lot, so if you like that, give this a look.
The End of White Politics: How to Heal Our Liberal Divide by Zerlina Maxwell. Author Maxwell worked on two presidential campaigns and now works as a political analyst. “In 2020, after the Democratic Party’s most historically diverse pool of presidential candidates finally dwindled down to Joe Biden, once again an older white man, Maxwell has posed the ultimate question: what now, liberals?” She urges progressives to empower marginalized groups, lean into identity politics (using the actual definition), and try to level the playing field for all.
Lady Romeo: The Radical and Revolutionary Life of Charlotte Cushman, America’s First Celebrity by Tana Wojczuk. Haven’t heard of Charlotte Cushman? Great, ok, so — it’s the 1830s in America, and this actress comes on the scene. She played both men and women, famously playing Romeo opposite her sister in Romeo and Juliet, she was in relationships with other women (hey-o), used her fame to promote the works of African American/Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis, and generally lived a very dramatic life.
How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats by Andrew Marttila. Look. We’re stuck at home. We’re all photographing our cats. And maybe we need some tips. Marttila talks photography basics, photographing your very special cat with your phone, with a regular camera (haha do people own those?), how to edit your photos, and how to best share them. If you’re really bored and want to up your game here, this is pretty ideal.
Hokay, happy July! If you want the full list of new releases, don’t forget to sign up for Book Riot Insiders because it has the sweet New Release Index. 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.