It’s a gorgeous day here in South Carolina. The Corgis spent their time toasting their hammies in the warm sunshine and rolling in the patches of clover that have popped up like quilt patches across the yard. We are in the last couple weeks before the sweltering summer heat hits, and the Corgis are here for it. I’ve started bringing out the raspberry iced tea recipes, preparing for watermelon, and anticipating this region’s incredible crop of peaches. Summer is beautiful. So let’s jump into some summer reading options!
Before that, here’s a reminder to check out First Edition, the new podcast started by Book Riot co-founder Jeff O’Neal. It explores the wide bookish world, with interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Subscribe to First Edition on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your podcatcher of choice.
Bookish Goods
Library Due Date Cards Kindle by The Sparkle Case
As a former circulation assistant who worked at a library that still used these due date cards, I love this Kindle case idea. $27
New Releases
Thinning Blood: A Memoir of Family, Myth, and Identity by Leah Myers
Because of the colonialist invention of blood quantum, Leah Myers might be the last member in her family to be recognized as a member of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe by the U.S. government. Myers examines ideas around indigeneity and what it means to actually belong to a Native Nation.
Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism by Brooke Kroeger
Brooke Kroeger looks at the lives of women journalists, including figures like Nellie Bly, Ida Tarbell, and Ida B. Wells. Women have always been involved in the reporting of the news and high-profile investigations. Kroeger highlights these women and encourages others to read their work.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom
In 2019, Sarah M. Broom won the National Book Award for The Yellow House, which follows the story of her family and their connection to New Orleans. She describes her family’s history through the Yellow House, her childhood home that her mother owned for decades. We learn about Broom’s family history and the history of New Orleans. Through her vibrant and engrossing writing, you come to love her family and the Yellow House. This book is such a beautiful work of nonfiction, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People by Erica Abrams Locklear
As an Appalachian book lover who adores food writing, I was so thrilled to learn about Erica Abrams Locklear’s book on Appalachian Cuisine. Locklear examines the history of Appalachian food, its influences, and what it looks like today. I loved the way that she delved into the creativity of Appalachian cooks and the stigma against Appalachian food. She discusses chefs like Ashleigh Shanti and Sean Brock, both of whom have a national presence and discuss Appalachian food in all of its historical complexities. This book is perfect for folks with a love of American cuisine and the incredible food it brings to the table.
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