Recently, we’ve discovered a new dog park, and the Corgis took to it immediately. It is huge, with plenty of space for Dylan to play fetch by himself, and for Gwen to make lots of new friends. (They are classic sunshine and grump siblings, for sure.) While I’m endlessly throwing Dylan’s ball and trying to make sure Gwen doesn’t sneak off with her dog friends’ families, I’ve been listening to some memoirs. So that’s what we’re talking about today. But first, Valentine’s and new books!
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s gift, make sure to check out our Tailored Book Recommendations service (TBR). Gift your bookish boo TBR and our professional booknerds will help them achieve their reading goals. Go to mytbr.co/gift.
Bookish Goods
I Love to Read Pen by Sunny River Creations
I ADORE pens, and this one is so unique. I mean, look at how cute this is! It’s the pen I never knew I needed. $23
New Releases
Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein
I’ve been a Peggy Orenstein fan since her book Girls and Sex, so I am always excited for new nonfiction from her. But instead of an essay on gender or surviving breast cancer, this time around we have a book all about knitting. Now I don’t knit, but I do love watching knitting TikToks, so this is definitely right up my alley.
Get Your Mojo Back: Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth by Clio Wood
Ever since one of my best friends told me she was having a baby, I’ve been loving scrolling through endless pregnancy-related Instagram feeds, parenting TikToks, and other random pregnancy content. But now my phone thinks I’M the one that’s pregnant, which is how I discovered this new book! This book approaches the topics of what new parents can expect during the “fourth trimester.” When you first have a baby, your body is so different and everything can feel overwhelming. So author Clio Wood wrote this book to help guide parents to a new sense of normalcy with their bodies.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to Hope by Megan Phelps-Roper
Megan Phelps-Roper was raised in Westboro Baptist Church, which was founded by her grandfather, Fred Phelps. The church became known for their outrageous protests of everything from military funerals to gay pride events. They also rejoiced in natural disasters and devastation from the AIDS crisis. All of this felt normal to Phelps-Roper. What’s more, it felt right. But then, slowly, over the course of years, her mind began to change, and she eventually left the church in 2012. Her memoir describes the isolating nature of her family’s faith, difficulties breaking out of that mindset, and the complicated logistics of trying to leave a place that doesn’t want to let you go.
How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones
I love when poets write prose, and Saeed Jones is no exception. He writes so beautifully, with every sentence, every word, carefully chosen. His memoir follows his life growing up as a gay Black kid in the South, trying to find a place for himself when everyone around him kept telling him everything about him was wrong. He was too Black, too gay, too loud — always too much for the people around him, especially some of his family members. Jones has such a beautiful way of writing about his complex relationships with his mom and his grandmother, two women he loved dearly. It’s so difficult to love your family while also understanding that they don’t love ALL of you, just the parts they like. I can’t do this memoir justice, but let me tell you, if you’re a memoir lover, this one needs to be at the top of your list.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, 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