Sponsored by Of Bears and Ballots by Heather Lende, from Algonquin Books.
New York Times bestselling author Heather Lende was one of the many women inspired to run for political office recently. And she won! As an assembly member for the tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines, Alaska, Lende shows us how both the lofty ideals of our republic and the polarizing politics of our time play out—including a recall campaign targeting her— in one small town. Charming and honest, Of Bears and Ballots is an inspirational tale about what living in a community really means, and what we owe one another. Now in paperback.
HALLO, welcome to your week, which, if you live in the United States, will hopefully be culminating in a three day weekend (MORE READING) and if you do not, I hope you enjoy your healthcare.
I just started reading The Secret Life of Groceries, which is really good, but I keep getting distracted by new releases! And this week’s are no exception. I remain in awe of those who decide to put thoughts to paper, pitch it, get rejected, pitch more, write a finished draft, and get it out in the world. It is a tremendous undertaking and it happens all the time. A+ WORK, EVERYONE. Here are your new release highlights for the week:
My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir by Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, Katherine Moore
Remember Katherine Johnson, the amazing central character of Hidden Figures?? She wrote a book! It’s about her path from growing up in the mountains of West Virginia to becoming a “human computer” for NASA. An AMAZING human computer. Her story “is centered around the basic tenets of her life—no one is better than you, education is paramount, and asking questions can break barriers.” Ngl, the asking questions one made me tear up. I love questions. She seems like such a fantastic person and I’m so glad she got to tell her own story.
King Richard: Nixon and Watergate: An American Tragedy by Michael Dobbs
Wow, remember when everyone was like, boy, Nixon sure was the worst? I’m not saying he wasn’t real bad, but boy. Things have happened. ANYWAY, 1) I love this cover, 2) ever since the movie Dick, I have been interested in Watergate (what a great movie), 3) this was on some “most anticipated” lists for 2021, so if you’re like, “WOW, cannot wait to learn more about mid-20th century American political scandals” then do I have a new release for you.
Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance by Moya Bailey
Bailey, who coined the term “misogynoir,” defines it as “the ways anti-Black and misogynistic representation shape broader ideas about Black women, particularly in visual culture and digital spaces.” Here, she focuses on the many ways Black women resist misogynoir on YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr, and other platforms. It “highlights Black women’s remarkable efforts to disrupt mainstream narratives, subvert negative stereotypes, and reclaim their lives.” Sounds amazing.
Don’t forget our soon-to-be-ending iPad giveaway, for the chance to win an iPad Mini. For more nonfiction new releases, check out the For Real podcast which I co-host with the excellent Kim here at Book Riot. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @itsalicetime. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.