Gwen’s birthday is this week, and I can’t believe that she’s 2 already! Gwen used to be such a tiny creature. I remember when she first came home and was so tiny, so small. Honestly, she was a bit of a terror, destroying every rug and piece of paper in her path. She’s such a troublemaker. She’s still a snuggle bug, even making me contort my arms in different ways if I’m trying to read or write something. Now, she and Dylan are such hams, always requiring everyone to make them the center of attention. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Audiobooks have been an important tool in reading books when Gwen insists I drop everything to give her scritches. So today, I’m talking about audiobooks for Disability Pride Month!
Before that, make sure to check out Book Riot’s newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O’Neal explores the wide bookish world. Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot’s editors pick the “it” book of the month.
Bookish Goods
Read Books Drink Wine by ViviatHomeStudio
My in-person book club leans heavily towards nonfiction (no surprise there), and this sticker definitely describes us. And I’m not sad about it. $4
New Releases
Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health by Anupam B. Jena, M.D., Ph.D. and Christopher Worsham, M.D.
Dr. Jena and Dr. Worsham tell anecdotes from the American contemporary healthcare system, including the good and the bad. While the public often possesses a simplistic view of how healthcare works, the reality is much different. The entire system is influenced by logistics, cultural norms, and the messy world of insurance.
Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death by Laura Cumming
Cumming returns to 17th century Holland to give readers an inside look at the legendary art scene of that period. Donna Tartt fans might remember the artist Carel Fabritius, who painted the famous masterpiece The Goldfinch. Cumming follows the ramifications of the killing of Fabritius, which changes the landscape of high art during the time period.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
El Deafo by Cece Bell, Performed by a Full Ensemble
Cece Bell writes her memoir in the form of a graphic novel for kids. In it, she illustrates herself and the people around her as bunnies — so cute! Bell tells the story of her younger self, and we see Cece contract an illness in childhood, which causes her to lose most of her hearing. The story follows Cece through elementary and middle school as she makes friends and adapts to the various new technologies that help her hear teachers and the other people around her. I’m always looking for more books about disability for kids, so I adored this book. It’s such a great way to introduce children to what it’s like to grow up Deaf. The ensemble provides a chorus of voices for Cece and the other people in her life. And creative editing helps listeners follow along with the story.
The Perseverance by Raymond Antrobus, Performed by the Author
There’s a certain magic that happens when you listen to a poet perform their own work. Deaf British Jamaican poet Raymond Antrobus narrates his poetry collection, adding brief introductions to some of the poems that describe his use of illustrations of British Sign Language (BSL) in his poetry. Much of Antrobus’ poetry centers around his Deaf and biracial identity, and listeners can hear the emotion hanging on every word. With Antrobus’ attention to detail and moving performance, The Perseverance is a powerful Deaf poetry collection that is equally as impactful on audio.
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