Now that we have had some warmer weather, the Corgis have taken to frapping around the yard again. There are few things that they love more than playing fetch endlessly. And with so many stunning audiobooks at my disposal, everybody wins! It’s that time of year when I begin thinking that, sure, it would be nice to see spring again. So this week, I’m sharing a couple of my favorite collections of nature writing. But first, bookish goods!
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Bookish Goods
Flowers and Mushroom Forest – Engraved Hardwood Bookmarks by Dark Rim Shop
Since today is all about nature books, I thought that these adorable bookmarks would be perfect. I especially love the mushroom ones. I’m so grateful mushrooms are having a moment. $20
New Releases
Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir by Ai Weiwei with Elettra Stamboulis, Illustrated by Gianluca Costantini
Ai Weiwei grew up in exile during the Cultural Revolution, and the first comics he ever read were government propaganda. But the form, the use of art in storytelling, stayed with him all of these years. Now, he tells his own story through graphic art, using the Chinese zodiac as inspiration.
Errand Into the Maze: The Life and Works of Martha Graham by Deborah Jowitt
Martha Graham was declared the “Dancer of the Century” by Time magazine for her innovative choreography and understanding of the emotional life of the body. With this new detailed biography, readers will see Martha Graham’s life and work in a way they never have before.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Today is all about nature writing, with one old favorite and one new one.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
There’s a reason this book is much beloved. The way Kimmerer writes about the natural world just sweeps you off your feet. You are there in the water with her, trying to save her pond from being reclaimed by the land, or you are right beside her as she leads dozens of students out into nature on a guided hike. Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, also discusses her Native Nation’s culture around plants and the traditional practices she was taught by her elders that help care for the land. She investigates these traditions and discusses how these practices work from a scientist’s perspective.
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
Essayist Margaret Renkl is back with a beautiful book all about a year in her backyard. Each week, she writes about her world as she sees it. Maybe she writes about the many birds who come to eat from her bird feeders. Or maybe she tells us about the tadpoles that she kept in a tank, going so far as to order them special plants. The book itself, the physical object in your hands, is stunning. Her husband, Billy Renkl, has created vibrant, full-color illustrations for each chapter. And if you’re an audiobook fan, you’ll love her performance, complete with her beautiful Southern accent describing the plants and animals with which she shares her home.
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