It’s hard to believe that we’ve reached the end of the year, meaning the end of the “best of” book list season. My TBR always grows longer at the end of the year as I see so many new-to-me recommendations from all of my favorite bookish media outlets.
So today, I’m featuring two “best of” anthologies that you may have missed. Plus, I have a couple stellar backlist titles. But first, bookish goods!
The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.
Bookish Goods
Library Card Earrings by RunningFlamingoDsgns
I used to work at a library that used these old-fashioned library cards on top of their digital system. I still have such a soft spot for them! Definitely feeling all of the nostalgia with these. $12
New Releases
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2023 edited by Carl Zimmer
In the next installment of this critically acclaimed anthology series, Carl Zimmer edits the best of Science and Nature writing. Whether it is the newest developments in Alzheimer’s disease research or how cattle avoid the rising number of storms during climate change, these essays reveal the latest evolutions of the natural world.
The Best American Essays 2023 edited by Vivian Gornick
In this collection of the top essays of the year, readers will find a range of authors and topics. One writer meditates on the loss of her husband and the silence that fills her life after he’s gone. In another, a man contemplates his prison sentence and searches for purpose. Whatever the topic, each of these writers highlights the perseverance of the human spirit.
Check out the rest of the books in the series: The Best American Short Stories 2023, The Best American Mystery & Suspense Stories 2023, The Best American Food Writing 2023, & The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2023.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is back with a second book. The Light We Carry is a collection of essays that each expands on her ideas around standing her ground and going high when they go low. She also shares about her family’s experience weathering the pandemic. Her essays are kind, supportive, and encouraging while firmly making her points. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which Obama reads herself. Listening to the audiobook feels like you’re sitting down with her for a cup of coffee while she shares encouraging anecdotes from her own life. So, if you’ve had a rough year (haven’t we all), then this is a perfect holiday gift for yourself.
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby
Hands down, Hannah Gadsby’s Ten Steps to Nanette is one of my favorite memoirs. In it, Gadsby shares what it was like to grow up as a queer, autistic kid in Tasmania, Australia. Gadsby is well-known for her comedy special Nanette, which you can still watch on Netflix. Her memoir expands on the ideas in Nanette and gives us a closer look into how Gadbsy’s life led to her creating this incredible one-woman show. The audiobook is out of this world. It’s hilarious and heartbreaking all in one book.
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