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True Story

Nonfiction Books to Pick You Up After a Reading Slump

This week's new nonfiction and two books to help when you find yourself in a reading slump.

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Kendra Winchester

Contributing Editor

Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.

View All posts by Kendra Winchester

Have you ever found yourself in a reading slump? I certainly have. There’s just something so frustrating to be in that head space where nothing I read seems to work for me. To help myself out whenever this happens, I keep a stash of books I think I’m all but guaranteed to like. In today’s newsletter, we’re talking about two books that helped pull me out of a slump and return me to my usual reading groove. But first, let’s jump into bookish goods!

Bookish Goods

a photo of a print of a black woman wearing a long pale gown. She's sitting on a chaise and reading.

Woman Reading Print by AdrexArtGallery

Just a stunning print that must-have for any bookish art lover. $7

New Releases

a graphic of the cover of Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence by Sara Imari Walker

Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life’s Emergence by Sara Imari Walker

Physicist and astrobiologist Sara Imari Walker tackles some of our biggest questions: What is life and what is the origin of it? Walker proposes a whole new paradigm for how we understand life and what that new understanding might mean for humanity.

a graphic of the cover of Leaving Biddle City by Marianne Chan

Leaving Biddle City by Marianne Chan

Inspired by her life, Marianne Chan’s Leaving Biddle City follows a Filapina American speaker growing up in the Midwest. There’s themes around coming-of-age, racial identity, and isolation. As it explores these ideas, it asks readers to rethink how they view themselves and the places they come from.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

a graphic of the cover of Cultish by Amanda Montell

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

I always love a good cult book, and Amanda Montell’s is one of the best. Only, it’s not about one cult. It’s about the language of cults and how everyday exposure to this language influences how people view the world. Through her skill at narrative storytelling and incredible research, Montell takes us deep into the influence of cults and the words that help build them.

A graphic of the cover of In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

In the Dream House is a Book Riot favorite for a reason. Machado writes about her relationship with her girlfriend. As her girlfriend becomes more and more controlling and abusive, Machado realizes she needs to leave the relationship. The book is made up of chapters that each start “The Dream House as . . .”  This experimental structure lends itself to the story and the unique narrative that Machado is weaving in this memoir.

That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, 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 on Book Riot.

Happy reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

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