It’s been warm enough that we’ve been taking the Corgis to the dog park, and they come back covered head to floof in mud. Bless their little hearts. At least they have a great time. Giving Corgis baths is labor intensive, so I have at least 1 ½ hours of uninterrupted audiobook listening. Recently, I’ve been loving some books on the funny side of things. But before we get to those, it’s time for bookish goods!
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Bookish Goods
Digital Artwork Neon Pink Cat wearing Glasses Reading a book by Made On Windsor
This reading cat is fantastic! Everything about it—the colors, the glasses, the book—perfection. $3
New Releases
My Side of the River: A Memoir by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez
As a teenager, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez became the sole provider for her younger brother when both of her parents were deported back to Mexico. Determined to make it work, Camarillo Gutierrez moved Heaven and Earth to make sure her brother was looked after and could pursue his dreams.
Beverly Hills Spy: The Double-Agent War Hero Who Helped Japan Attack Pearl Harbor by Ronald Drabkin
As a WWI hero, Frederick Rutland fought for England in the Royal Air Force. Years later, he became a spy for Imperial Japan during WWII to fund his incredibly lavish lifestyle in Hollywood. Based on recently declassified documents, Ronald Drabkin gives a look into Rutland’s fascinating double life.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby
From the first essay that I listened to Irby read, I knew she was going to be one of my favorite writers. Her essays are hilarious but still filled with more serious topics, like growing up with a disabled mom and a dad who died far too soon. Yes, Irby uses humor to cope with the difficult things, but she also uses humor to express the bright spots in her life. She describes meeting her wife and falling in love with such tenderness and laugh-out-loud anecdotes.
Sh*t, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West
I love movies and TV. There’s just something about watching a story that taps into universal feelings that we all hold close to our chest. But I also love essays, so when I heard Lindy West had an essay collection all about modern cinema, I downloaded that audiobook so fast. And Sh*t, Actually is a delight. West is known for her over-the-top way of expressing herself, which lends itself to writing about movies. I laughed so much. I can’t recommend it enough if you just need something ridiculous (in the absolute best possible way) to read/listen to as a pick-me-up.
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