The Corgis are OBSESSED with playing with their friends, running back and forth in endless games of fetch. They came home the other day covered in red clay mud, and I had to ask Gwen — after her third scrub and rinse — were you trying to naturally dye your hair? Dylan, the precious angel that he is, didn’t require nearly as much washing, but he does get a round of conditioner. I think he understands that it takes a little bit of work to look so adorably floofy. Meanwhile, I’ve been looking into small press books, and thinking about how many of my favorite books are from indie or university presses. So today I’m recommending a couple of those. But first, new books!
Bookish Goods
READ WITH PRIDE – Bookish Tee by CidneyDraws
Pride is still going strong! Here is such an adorable tee, perfect for library trips or excursions to the bookstore. $18+
New Releases
Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me by Aisha Harris
Aisha Harris, a host of NPR’s hit podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, shares how her love of pop culture shaped who she is today. Growing up as a Black girl in the ’90s, Harris brings nostalgia and cultural criticism together in her essays.
50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to the United States Through Pie by Stacey Mei Yan Fong
Loving pies is practically a required American trait. Writer Stacey Mei Yan Fong explores America’s connection with pies, taking a reader on a tour of the country through one of our favorite foods.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
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Riot Recommendations
Black in the Middle: An Anthology of the Black Midwest edited by Terrion L. Williamson
In this anthology from Midwestern indie press Belt Publishing, Williamson has brought together Black writers from around the Midwest, Rust Belt, and the Great Plains. Some of the writers share their experiences living in Midwestern cities. Others share what it’s like being from the country. But whatever part of the region that they are from, each writer has a story to tell. Some pieces focus on cultural commentary, pushing back against cultural narratives that erase the Black experience from the Midwest. Some contributors share personal essays about their specific lived experience. This is a fascinating read full of so many new-to-me writers!
Midwest Futures by Phil Christman
Also from Belt Publishing, Midwest Futures examines what the future holds for the region. Originally home to vast swaths of farmland and hundreds of factories, the Midwest is now struggling. Factories are closing and farming has become more and more monopolized. Christman takes a look into the heart of the Midwest and its possible futures. He explores Midwestern culture and identity, its past and how its history impacts its present and future. The book is made up of several essays, each looking at the region from a different angle, and together creating a complete picture.
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