Pop Culture 101: Time-Travel Through the Decades with 7 Nonfiction Reads

September 14 2020
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I consider history to be one of my great loves in life, and I have American Girl dolls to thank for that! Playing with Molly in particular sparked my interest in World War II, which inspired me to look up propaganda and thus become immersed in the world of cultural history. One of my favorite parts about studying popular culture is uncovering the origin stories of how cultural phenomena came to be, as well as analyzing the political and social landscapes that influenced their creation. These seven titles take a look at the biggest cultural phenomena of a respective decade and their lasting influence on popular culture—illustrating the historical moments that brought them into existence and to the forefront.

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

Barnum
by Robert Wilson

1870s

P.T. Barnum has seen a return to cultural relevance as of late; although the traveling circus that once bore his name became defunct in 2017, that same year saw the release of the wildly successful The Greatest Showman, with Hugh Jackman dazzling moviegoers with his depiction of Barnum.

Robert Wilson’s Barnum takes a deeper dive into the life and times of P.T. Barnum, looking both beyond his glorification in The Greatest Showman and his reputation as a deceitful “humbug” to bring forth a fuller picture of his life. Wilson takes readers through Barnum’s multifaceted career as operator of the American Museum, politician and temperance advocate, and ultimately founder of “The Greatest Show on Earth”—and by doing so, allows readers to see Barnum’s tremendous impact on popular culture.

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Barnum
Robert Wilson

“Robert Wilson’s Barnum, the first full-dress biography in twenty years, eschews clichés for a more nuanced story…It is a life for our times, and the biography Barnum deserves.” —The Wall Street Journal

P.T. Barnum is the greatest showman the world has ever seen. As a creator of the Barnum & Baily Circus and a champion of wonder, joy, trickery, and “humbug,” he was the founding father of American entertainment—and as Robert Wilson argues, one of the most important figures in American history.

Nearly 125 years after his death, the name P.T. Barnum still inspires wonder. Robert Wilson’s vivid new biography captures the full genius, infamy, and allure of the ebullient showman, who, from birth to death, repeatedly reinvented himself. He learned as a young man how to wow crowds, and built a fortune that placed him among the first millionaires in the United States. He also suffered tragedy, bankruptcy, and fires that destroyed his life’s work, yet willed himself to recover and succeed again. As an entertainer, Barnum courted controversy throughout his life—yet he was also a man of strong convictions, guided in his work not by a desire to deceive, but an eagerness to thrill and bring joy to his audiences. He almost certainly never uttered the infamous line, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” instead taking pride in giving crowds their money’s worth and more.

Robert Wilson, editor of The American Scholar, tells a gripping story in Barnum, one that’s imbued with the same buoyant spirit as the man himself. In this “engaging, insightful, and richly researched new biography” (New York Journal of Books), Wilson adeptly makes the case for P.T. Barnum’s place among the icons of American history, as a figure who represented, and indeed created, a distinctly American sense of optimism, industriousness, humor, and relentless energy.

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Disney’s Land
by Richard Snow

1950s

There is (almost) nothing more interesting to me than Disney history. The expansiveness of the Disney canon, its pervasiveness in childhood culture, and the difficulty distinguishing myth and fact about Walt Disney and other key figures in Disney lore keep attracting me to this subsection of historical study.

In Disney’s Land, popular historian Richard Snow takes on the monumental task of writing the history of the Disneyland theme park, from conception and creation to its disastrous opening day and subsequent legacy. Snow discusses the lack of support Disney initially received for his idea (even his brother and his wife were not in favor of him opening the park); how he acquired the initial funds to open the park, and the building of Disneyland, which was completed in a year and a day. Disney’s Land is an excellent reminder that the history behind the creation of something so legendary can be even more interesting than its myths.

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Disney’s Land
Richard Snow

A propulsive history chronicling the conception and creation of Disneyland, the masterpiece California theme park, as told like never before by popular historian Richard Snow.

One day in the early 1950s, Walt Disney stood looking over 240 acres of farmland in Anaheim, California, and imagined building a park where people “could live among Mickey Mouse and Snow White in a world still powered by steam and fire for a day or a week or (if the visitor is slightly mad) forever.” Despite his wealth and fame, exactly no one wanted Disney to build such a park. Not his brother Roy, who ran the company’s finances; not the bankers; and not his wife, Lillian. Amusement parks at that time, such as Coney Island, were a generally despised business, sagging and sordid remnants of bygone days. Disney was told that he would only be heading toward financial ruin.

But Walt persevered, initially financing the park against his own life insurance policy and later with sponsorship from ABC and the sale of thousands and thousands of Davy Crockett coonskin caps. Disney assembled a talented team of engineers, architects, artists, animators, landscapers, and even a retired admiral to transform his ideas into a soaring yet soothing wonderland of a park. The catch was that they had only a year and a day in which to build it.

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened its gates…and the first day was a disaster. Disney was nearly suicidal with grief that he had failed on a grand scale. But the curious masses kept coming, and the rest is entertainment history. Eight hundred million visitors have flocked to the park since then. In Disney’s Land, Richard Snow brilliantly presents the entire spectacular story, a wild ride from vision to realization, and an epic of innovation and error that reflects the uniqueness of the man determined to build “the happiest place on earth” with a watchmaker’s precision, an artist’s conviction, and the desperate, high-hearted recklessness of a riverboat gambler.

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Space Odyssey
by Michael Benson

1960s

I am not a movie person, but there is one movie that I make a point to watch every year, and that is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Every time I watch it, I am consistently blown away by both the sweeping visuals of outer space and Stanley Kubrick’s exacting attention to detail. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the HAL-9000 is one of the greatest—if not the greatest—movie villains of all time.

Michael Benson’s Space Odyssey takes readers from the film’s genesis to its legacy today, detailing Kubrick’s goals to make a first-rate science fiction film after his Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove; his collaboration with author Arthur C. Clarke, and the pioneering of special effects. Space Odyssey also includes several previously unpublished interviews and photographs that provide a comprehensive glimpse at the making of 2001: A Space Odyssey, giving fans such as me and movie buffs alike an even greater appreciation for the legendary film.

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Space Odyssey
Michael Benson

The definitive story of the making of 2001: A Space Odyssey, acclaimed today as one of the greatest films ever made, and of director Stanley Kubrick and writer Arthur C. Clarke—“a tremendous explication of a tremendous film….Breathtaking” (The Washington Post).

Fifty years ago a strikingly original film had its premiere. Still acclaimed as one of the most remarkable and important motion pictures ever made, 2001: A Space Odyssey depicted the first contacts between humanity and extraterrestrial intelligence. The movie was the product of a singular collaboration between Stanley Kubrick and science fiction visionary Arthur C. Clarke. Fresh off the success of his cold war satire Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick wanted to make the first truly first-rate science fiction film. Drawing from Clarke’s ideas and with one of the author’s short stories as the initial inspiration, their bold vision benefited from pioneering special effects that still look extraordinary today, even in an age of computer-generated images.

In Space Odyssey, author, artist, and award-winning filmmaker Michael Benson “delivers expert inside stuff” (San Francisco Chronicle) from his extensive research of Kubrick’s and Clarke’s archives. He has had the cooperation of Kubrick’s widow, Christiane, and interviewed most of the key people still alive who worked on the film. Drawing also from other previously unpublished interviews, Space Odyssey provides a 360-degree view of the film from its genesis to its legacy, including many previously untold stories. And it features dozens of photos from the making of the film, most never previously published.

“At last! The dense, intense, detailed, and authoritative saga of the making of the greatest motion picture I’ve ever seenMichael Benson has done the Cosmos a great service” (Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks).

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Sunny Days
by David Kamp

1970s

It is rare to come across one who was not influenced by some sort of educational children’s television program during their childhood. Whether they learned the preamble to the U.S. Constitution through Schoolhouse Rock! or how to be a good neighbor through Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, these programs have taught millions of youths, and in the process transformed television and childhoods forever.

What most don’t know about, however, are the origins to these beloved programs. In Sunny Days, David Kamp takes us to the beginnings of Sesame Street, which started as an experiment to see if television could better prepare disadvantaged preschoolers for kindergarten, and examines the cultural and political landscape that allowed it and other educational children’s shows to thrive. Through rigorous research and interviews with figures from Sesame Street, Free to Be...You and Me, and The Electric Company, Sunny Days sheds light on how these revolutionary television programs became staples in American childhood culture.

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Sunny Days
David Kamp

From bestselling writer David Kamp, the engrossing, behind-the-scenes story of the cultural heroes who created the beloved children’s TV programs Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Free to Be...You and Me, and Schoolhouse Rock!—which collectively transformed American childhood for the better, teaching kids about diversity, the ABCs, and feminism through a fun, funky 1970s lens.

With a foreword by Questlove

In 1970, on a soundstage on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, a group of men, women, and Muppets of various ages and colors worked doggedly to finish the first season of a children’s TV program that was not yet assured a second season: Sesame Street. They were conducting an experiment to see if television could be used to better prepare disadvantaged preschoolers for kindergarten. What they didn’t know then was that they were starting a cultural revolution that would affect all American kids. In Sunny Days, bestselling author David Kamp captures the unique political and social moment that gave us not only Sesame Street, but also Fred Rogers’s gentle yet brave Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; Marlo Thomas’s unabashed gender-politics primer Free to Be...You and Me; Schoolhouse Rock!, an infectious series of educational shorts dreamed up by Madison Avenue admen; and more, including The Electric Company and ZOOM. It was a unique time when an uncommon number of media professionals and thought leaders leveraged their influence to help children learn—and, just as notably, a time of unprecedented buy-in from American parents.

Kamp conducted rigorous research and interviewed such Sesame Street figures as Joan Ganz Cooney, Lloyd Morrisett, Sonia Manzano, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Bob McGrath, and Frank Oz, along with Free to Be’s Marlo Thomas and The Electric Company’s Rita Moreno—and in Sunny Days, he explains how these and other like-minded individuals found their way into children’s television not for fame or money, but to make a difference.

Fun, fascinating, and a masterful work of cultural history, Sunny Days captures a wondrous period in the US when a determined few proved that, with persistence and effort, they could change the lives of millions. It’s both a rollicking ride through a turbulent time and a joyful testament to what Americans are capable of at their best.

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As You Wish
by Cary Elwes

1980s

I must admit the first time I ever saw The Princess Bride, I did not get what the hype was about. My middle school self thought it was “just okay.” However, upon a rewatch two years later, I found this film’s magic, rooted in undeniable silliness, fun, and iconic lines. Any previous dislike I had of this film seemed inconceivable.

As You Wish is the perfect behind-the-scenes look at this beloved classic, written by the man who portrayed Westley himself. The book’s brand-new stories and pictures from the making of The Princess Bride, as well as interviews with Elwes’s costars, will give casual fans and devout followers a greater appreciation for one of the most popular American movies of all time.

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As You Wish
Cary Elwes

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes the New York Times bestselling account of the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets and backstage stories.

With a foreword by Rob Reiner and a limited edition original poster by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film.

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Seinfeldia
by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

1990s

How did a show about a New York comedian talking with his friends inspire forty million viewers to tune in weekly and ultimately create massive waves through popular culture? In Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong first takes us to the origins of the television phenomenon—a Korean deli where up-and-coming stand-up comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David dreamed up a TV show about their everyday occurrences based in their observational comedic roots. Television executives were skeptical but took a chance—and it took off.

Seinfeldia goes behind the scenes and looks at the makings of still-relevant episodes, dishes out show trivia and gossip, and reveals what the actors have been up to since the show ended. For fans of Seinfeld and those who want to learn more about how the show still has staying power, Seinfeldia is your go-to guide. If you can’t get enough Seinfeld, do not fret, because Jerry Seinfeld’s memoir and first book in twenty-five years, Is This Anything?, will be releasing on October 6!

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Seinfeldia
Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

The New York Times bestseller about two guys who went out for coffee and dreamed up Seinfeld—“A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better understanding of how television series are made” (Booklist, starred review).

Comedians Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld never thought anyone would watch their sitcom about a New York comedian sitting around talking to his friends. But against all odds, viewers did watch—first a few and then many, until nine years later nearly forty million Americans were tuning in weekly. Fussy Jerry, neurotic George, eccentric Kramer, and imperious Elaine—people embraced them with love.

Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s intimate history is full of gossipy details, show trivia, and insights into how famous episodes came to be. Armstrong celebrates the creators and fans of this American television phenomenon, bringing readers into the writers’ room and into a world of devotees for whom it never stopped being relevant. Seinfeld created a strange new reality, one where years after the show had ended the Soup Nazi still spends his days saying “No soup for you!”, Joe Davola gets questioned every day about his sanity, and Kenny Kramer makes his living giving tours of New York sites from the show.

Seinfeldia is an outrageous cultural history. Dwight Garner of The New York Times Book Review wrote: “Armstrong has an eye for detail….Perhaps the highest praise I can give Seinfeldia is that it made me want to buy a loaf of marbled rye and start watching again, from the beginning.”

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Bowie's Bookshelf
by John O'Connell

Every decade because it transcends time

With a career that spanned a little over half a century and an artistic influence that left an indelible mark on popular culture, it is safe to say that David Bowie is timeless. For an artist who adopted several unique personas such as Major Tom, Ziggy Stardust, and the Thin White Duke, I have often wondered where Bowie drew his inspiration from.

Unbeknownst to some, David Bowie was quite the bibliophile, with books serving as a guiding force in his artistic endeavors. Just over two years before he died, he released a list of the 100 most influential books he read, ranging from classics such as The Iliad and Lady Chatterley’s Lover to obscure cartoons and satirical magazines. In Bowie’s Bookshelf, music journalist John O’Connell breaks down every book on the famed rock star’s list in a short essay, analyzing how each title found its way into Bowie’s enduring art.

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Bowie's Bookshelf
John O'Connell

Named one of Entertainment Weekly’s 12 biggest music memoirs this fall. “An artful and wildly enthralling path for Bowie fans in particular and book lovers in general.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The only art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from.” ―David Bowie

Three years before David Bowie died, he shared a list of 100 books that changed his life. His choices span fiction and nonfiction, literary and irreverent, and include timeless classics alongside eyebrow-raising obscurities.

In 100 short essays, music journalist John O’Connell studies each book on Bowie’s list and contextualizes it in the artist’s life and work. How did the power imbued in a single suit of armor in The Iliad impact a man who loved costumes, shifting identity, and the siren song of the alter-ego? How did The Gnostic Gospels inform Bowie’s own hazy personal cosmology? How did the poems of T.S. Eliot and Frank O’Hara, the fiction of Vladimir Nabokov and Anthony Burgess, the comics of The Beano and The Viz, and the groundbreaking politics of James Baldwin influence Bowie’s lyrics, his sound, his artistic outlook? How did the 100 books on this list influence one of the most influential artists of a generation?

Heartfelt, analytical, and totally original, Bowie’s Bookshelf is one part epic reading guide and one part biography of a music legend.

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Book Sommelier: 6 Full-Bodied Reads Described Like Fine Wines

August 26 2020
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Welcome to the Get Literary Vineyard, where books are enjoyed like a glass of fine wine. Here you will find aged classics and new favorites, all full-bodied and filled to the brim with rich prose. Whether you seek a thrilling taste or lean toward a more relaxing experience, we have titles to suit any palette. Get your wine and reading glasses ready!

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

Flowers in the Attic
by V.C. Andrews

A chilling and mysterious taste infused with melodrama that keeps you coming back for more. Leaves a dusty, labyrinthine mouth-feel. Vintage yet enduring; a cult classic.

via GIPHY

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The Winemaker's Wife
by Kristin Harmel

A champagne with a core of French resistance. Lush taste containing a hint of spicy betrayal. Cross-generational overtones and hopeful undertones.

via GIPHY

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The Winemaker's Wife
Kristin Harmel

The author of the “engrossing” (People) international bestseller The Room on Rue Amélie returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of France during the darkest days of World War II, perfect for fans of Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, the French-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate.

When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the vineyard that ties them together.

New York, 2019: Recently divorced, Liv Kent is at rock bottom when her feisty, eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.

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The Old Man and the Sea
by Ernest Hemingway

Aged well, with a salty, fishy aftertaste, and subtle Biblical notes. Full-bodied and earthy; structure consists of loneliness, struggle, and bad luck. Further tasting reveals bursts of pride and determination. Best enjoyed on a skiff in the ocean.

via GIPHY

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The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway’s most beloved and popular novel ever, with millions of copies sold—now featuring early drafts and supplementary material as well as a personal foreword by the only living son of the author, Patrick Hemingway, and an introduction by the author’s grandson Seán Hemingway.

The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream.

Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novel confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

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The Rules of Magic
by Alice Hoffman

A strong body built from a cursed legacy. Submitting to your forbidden reflections will give way to an intoxicating aroma, reminiscent of your desires. Notes of courage, coming of age, and herbs.

via GIPHY

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The Rules of Magic
Alice Hoffman

An instant New York Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick from beloved author Alice Hoffman—the spellbinding prequel to Practical Magic.

Find your magic.

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Yet, the children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the memorable aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.

Alice Hoffman delivers “fairy-tale promise with real-life struggle” (The New York Times Book Review) in a story how the only remedy for being human is to be true to yourself. Thrilling and exquisite, real and fantastical, The Rules of Magic is “irresistible…the kind of book you race through, then pause at the last forty pages, savoring your final moments with the characters” (USA TODAY, 4/4 stars).

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This Tender Land
by William Kent Krueger

Vivid and atmospheric; mineral flavors of the Mississippi River. Youthful, with a strong structured current. Large concentrations of adventure, hope, and heart.

via GIPHY

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This Tender Land
William Kent Krueger

For fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing, “a gripping, poignant tale swathed in both mythical and mystical overtones” (Bob Drury, New York Times bestselling author) that follows four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression, from the New York Times bestselling author of Ordinary Grace.

1932, Minnesota—the Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will fly into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an en­thralling, big-hearted epic that is “more than a simple journey; it is a deeply satisfying odyssey, a quest in search of self and home” (Booklist).

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An Elegant Woman
by Martha McPhee

Clear reflection, reminiscent of jewels. Aroma consists of old paper, dusty boxes, and a vintage trunk. Best enjoyed when waxing nostalgic with your family.

via GIPHY

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An Elegant Woman
Martha McPhee

For fans of Mary Beth Keane and Jennifer Egan, this powerful, moving multigenerational saga from National Book Award finalist Martha McPhee—ten years in the making—explores one family’s story against the sweep of 20th century American history.

Drawn from the author’s own family history, An Elegant Woman is a story of discovery and reinvention, following four generations of women in one American family. As Isadora, a novelist, and two of her sisters sift through the artifacts of their forebears’ lives, trying to decide what to salvage and what to toss, the narrative shifts to a winter day in 1910 at a train station in Ohio. Two girls wait in the winter cold with their mother—the mercurial Glenna Stewart—to depart for a new life in the West. As Glenna campaigns in Montana for women’s suffrage and teaches in one-room schoolhouses, Tommy takes care of her little sister, Katherine: trapping animals, begging, keeping house, cooking, while Katherine goes to school. When Katherine graduates, Tommy makes a decision that will change the course of both of their lives.

A profound meditation on memory, history, and legacy, An Elegant Woman follows one woman over the course of the 20th century, taking the reader from a drought-stricken farm in Montana to a yellow Victorian in Maine; from the halls of a psychiatric hospital in London to a wedding gown fitting at Bergdorf Goodman; from a house in small town Ohio to a family reunion at a sweltering New Jersey pig roast. Framed by Isadora’s efforts to retell her grandmother’s journey—and understand her own—the novel is an evocative exploration of the stories we tell ourselves, and what we leave out.

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation
by Ottessa Moshfegh

Luxurious taste, like vanity in a bottle. Behind a cloyingly sweet aroma you’ll find evidence of gloom and detachment. Contains a foggy hue, a strong medicinal presence, and high acidity.

via GIPHY

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9 Uplifting Books by My Favorite YouTubers

July 24 2020
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Up until 2018, I didn’t consider myself much of a fan of any YouTuber. Sure, I was aware of users nigahiga and Fred, as their videos were staples of early 2010s popular culture, but my early interactions with YouTube were few and far between, limited to the occasional binge of WatchMojo Top 10 videos.

My relationship with YouTube changed when I studied abroad in the fall of 2018. I bonded with my floormates over the expose The Mind of Jake Paul, which Shane Dawson had produced on Jake Paul and Team 10. As we all watched the videos, I found myself increasingly fascinated by YouTube culture and amazed by the power a YouTuber can have to bring people together. After the series ended, I began spending more time on YouTube, and soon started subscribing to YouTubers.

Much like my favorite YouTubers’s channels, their books—whether heartfelt memoirs or thought-provoking fiction—are sure to be uplifting and create a sense of community.

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

Sorted
by Jackson Bird

Jackson Bird’s YouTube channel is geared toward LGBTQ+ nerds, in which he primarily produces videos on LGBTQ+ life, books, and waffles. In his videos, Jackson is candid about his experiences as a trans, bisexual man, discussing topics such as transition updates, how to change your name and gender markers on official documents, and trans male visibility in the media.

Jackson brings the same candid energy to Sorted, taking us through his life as he protests against wearing a dress to the Daddy-Daughter Dance in favor of a suit; attempts to figure out how to have a chest binder delivered to his NYU dorm room; and takes shots of testosterone and undergoes top surgery. Through the book, Bird takes the time to clearly explain trans terminology and facts concerning gender and sexuality.

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Sorted
Jackson Bird

An unflinching and endearing memoir from LGBTQ+ advocate Jackson Bird about how, through a childhood of gender mishaps and an awkward adolescence, he finally sorted things out and came out as a transgender man in his mid-twenties.

When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and having been raised a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn’t share this thought with anyone because he didn’t think he could share it with anyone. Growing up in Texas in the 1990s, he had no transgender role models. He barely remembers meeting anyone who was openly gay, let alone being taught that transgender people existed outside of punchlines.

Today, Jackson is a writer, YouTuber, and LGBTQ+ advocate living openly and happily as a transgender man. So how did he get here? In this remarkable, educational, and uplifting memoir, Jackson chronicles the ups and downs of growing up gender confused. Illuminated by journal entries spanning childhood to adolescence to today, he candidly recalls the challenges he faced while trying to sort out his gender and sexuality, and worrying about how to interact with the world. With warmth and wit, Jackson also recounts how he navigated the many obstacles and quirks of his transition––like figuring out how to have a chest binder delivered to his NYU dorm room and having an emotional breakdown at a Harry Potter fan convention. From his first shot of testosterone to his eventual top surgery, Jackson lets you in on every part of his journey—taking the time to explain trans terminology and little-known facts about gender and identity along the way. Through his captivating prose, Bird not only sheds light on the many facets of a transgender life, but also demonstrates the power and beauty in being yourself, even when you’re not sure who “yourself” is.

Part memoir, part educational guide, Sorted is a frank, humorous narrative of growing up with some unintended baggage.

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The Ideal Planner
by Emma Chamberlain

Emma Chamberlain has taken YouTube by storm with her unique editing style and her candid videos covering topics such as mental health and her daily routine. Her ambition is also remarkable. She’s only 19 years old, yet she’s already created the podcast Stupid Genius and runs a coffee company when not producing videos.

If you find that you’re just as busy as Emma, then The Ideal Planner is, well, ideal for you! The planner is distinct in that there are no dates, so you can just fill it in whenever, in case you happen to skip days here and there. Additionally, The Ideal Planner contains journal pages, mood boards, and puzzles, serving as an all-in-one journal, scrapbook, and planner. It comes out on August 18 so mark your…planners…

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The Ideal Planner
Emma Chamberlain

From the internet phenomenon whose aesthetic has influenced millions of young people around the world comes an undated planner to help you keep your life in order your way.

Emma Chamberlain is a lot of things. The Atlantic calls her “The Most Important YouTuber Today.” W Magazine calls her “The Most Interesting Girl on YouTube.” But what does she call herself? A girl in desperate need of The Ideal Planner!

Until now, it seemed like every planner was for “that perfect girl.” But what if you’re just muddling through? What if you’re kind of weird, a little obsessed, definitely silly, love art and fashion, and sometimes accidentally skip days or weeks or months in your planner but don’t want those pages to go to waste? Emma looked everywhere but could not find such a planner. So she decided to make one herself and share it with the world.

With guided journal pages, custom mood boards, puzzles, games, lists, corny quotes, cool designs, and silly messages from Emma, it’s a diary, scrapbook, guided journal, coloring book, and planner all in one. And because you fill in the dates you want, it never becomes outdated.

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By | July 24, 2020

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Axiom’s End
by Lindsay Ellis

Lindsay Ellis’s channel focuses on video essays on topics ranging from Disney movies to product placement, with her latest one covering the protest music of the Bush era. Also, her three-part docuseries The Hobbit Duology earned her a nomination in the 2019 Hugo Awards category of the Best Related Work.

Axiom’s End is not the traditional “YouTuber book,” as it is a science fiction novel Lindsay began working on ten years ago before she rose to YouTube stardom. In the fall of 2007, protagonist Cora Sabino is attempting to stay out of the spotlight her whistleblower father created after he revealed that the U.S. government had made contact with an extraterrestrial presence. As Cora further gathers information about this alien existence, she realizes that the best way to uncover the truth is to not act as a whistleblower herself, but as an intermediary between mankind and the extraterrestrial.

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Axiom’s End
Lindsay Ellis

Lindsay Ellis’s channel focuses on video essays on topics ranging from Disney movies to product placement, with her latest one covering the protest music of the Bush era. Also, her three-part docuseries The Hobbit Duology earned her a nomination in the 2019 Hugo Awards category of the Best Related Work. Axiom’s End is not the traditional “YouTuber book,” as it is a science fiction novel Lindsay began working on ten years ago before she rose to YouTube stardom. In the fall of 2007, protagonist Cora Sabino is attempting to stay out of the spotlight her whistleblower father created after he revealed that the U.S. government had made contact with an extraterrestrial presence. As Cora further gathers information about this alien existence, she realizes that the best way to uncover the truth is to not act as a whistleblower herself, but as an intermediary between mankind and the extraterrestrial.

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9 Uplifting Books by My Favorite YouTubers

By | July 24, 2020

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A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor
by Hank Green

At this point, Hank Green and his brother, John, are practically YouTube royalty. The two catapulted to fame in YouTube’s early days with their Vlogbrothers channel, and have since co-founded VidCon, a conference featuring YouTube’s most popular creators, as well as Crash Course, the educational channel now ubiquitous in classrooms.

Until recently, John was the sole Green brother who wrote books, having penned YA classics such as The Fault in Our Stars. However, 2018 saw the release of Hank’s first book, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, a science fiction novel about a woman named April May who receives viral acclaim on social media after discovering an unknown alien robot presence. This year its highly anticipated sequel was published, out now! A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor sees friends Andy, Maya, and Miranda reeling from the disappearance of both the robots and April May, and expands upon its predecessor’s commentary of how we treat the unknown.

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A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor
Hank Green

At this point, Hank Green and his brother, John, are practically YouTube royalty. The two catapulted to fame in YouTube’s early days with their Vlogbrothers channel, and have since co-founded VidCon, a conference featuring YouTube’s most popular creators, as well as Crash Course, the educational channel now ubiquitous in classrooms. Until recently, John was the sole Green brother who wrote books, having penned YA classics such as The Fault in Our Stars. However, 2018 saw the release of Hank’s first book, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, a science fiction novel about a woman named April May who receives viral acclaim on social media after discovering an unknown alien robot presence. This year its highly anticipated sequel was published, out now! A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor sees friends Andy, Maya, and Miranda reeling from the disappearance of both the robots and April May, and expands upon its predecessor’s commentary of how we treat the unknown.

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By | July 24, 2020

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Dandelion
by Gabbie Hanna

With over six million subscribers, Gabbie Hanna is one of the most popular comedians on YouTube, most noted for her storytime and DIY videos. She has recently begun developing her singing career too, releasing the Billboard-charting album 2WayMirror last year and Bad Karma this year.

Dandelion, named from a single released on Bad Karma, is Gabbie’s second illustrated poetry collection, coming out on October 13. Expanding upon themes written in her bestselling Adultolescence in 2017, Dandelion is a deeper look into Gabbie’s life. It contains personal essays and drawings that depict stories from her childhood, past relationships, mental health struggles, and ultimately her self-acceptance.

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Dandelion
Gabbie Hanna

New York Times bestselling author Gabbie Hanna delivers everything from curious musings to gut-wrenching confessionals in her long-awaited sophomore collection of illustrated poetry.

This edition includes a collection of uncomfortably honest personal essays about Gabbie’s childhood and relationships.

In this visually thrilling installment of the inner-workings of Gabbie’s mind, we’re taken on a journey of self-loathing, self-reflection, and ultimately, self-acceptance through deeply metaphorical imagery, chilling twists on child-like rhymes, and popular turns of phrase turned on their heads. Through raw, provocative tidbits, Dandelion explores what it means to struggle with a declining mental health in a world where mental health is both stigmatized and trivialized. The poems range from topics of rage and despair to downright silliness, so if you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, just laugh until you cry.

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By | July 24, 2020

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The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
by Issa Rae

Before Issa Rae produced and starred in the HBO hit series Insecure, she was the mastermind behind the viral YouTube comedy series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. The series served as the thematic origins for Insecure, showcasing the main character J’s struggles in everyday situations, from navigating the workplace to relationships.

Issa takes her signature refreshingly relatable brand of comedy to her bestselling book The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Filled with even more of her awkward moments, from catfishing in the early days of the Internet to her thoughts on public displays of affection, each essay is sure to make you laugh.

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The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
Issa Rae

The “brilliantly wry” (Lena Dunham) and “lovably awkward” (Mindy Kaling) New York Times bestseller from the creator of HBO’s Insecure.

In this universally accessible New York Times bestseller named for her wildly popular web series, Issa Rae—“a singular voice with the verve and vivacity of uncorked champagne” (Kirkus Reviews)—waxes humorously on what it’s like to be unabashedly awkward in a world that regards introverts as hapless misfits and black as cool.

I’m awkward—and black. Someone once told me those were the two worst things anyone could be. That someone was right. Where do I start?

Being an introvert (as well as “funny,” according to the Los Angeles Times) in a world that glorifies cool isn’t easy. But when Issa Rae, the creator of the Shorty Award-winning hit series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, is that introvert—whether she’s navigating love, the workplace, friendships, or “rapping”—it sure is entertaining. Now, in this New York Times bestselling debut collection written in her witty and self-deprecating voice, Rae covers everything from cybersexing in the early days of the Internet to deflecting unsolicited comments on weight gain, from navigating the perils of eating out alone and public displays of affection to learning to accept yourself—natural hair and all.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl is a book no one—awkward or cool, black, white, or other—will want to miss.

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You’re Not Special
by Meghan Rienks

Meghan Rienks began her channel in 2010, promising her audience “weird and awkward” beauty tutorial videos. Today she is one of the most popular lifestyle YouTubers, discussing topics such as makeup, beauty, and mental health with her over two million subscribers. She also hosts a call-in advice podcast called Don’t Blame Me! and has starred in the movie The Honor List and the Hulu show Freakish.

Like Meghan’s YouTube channel, You’re Not Special is very approachable; she describes it as a self-help book from the perspective of a friend or an older sister you can trust. From her worst dates to her struggles with mental health, she is here to tell you that you may not be special in the problems you face, but you are also not alone.

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You’re Not Special
Meghan Rienks

In her first-ever (sort of) memoir, the beloved actor and YouTube sensation gets personal about everything from mental health to drunken debaucheries.

As an only child raised in a town of less than 8,000 people and without a Starbucks in sight, Meghan Rienks has always been pretty good at entertaining herself. Then one day—cue the dramatic voiceover—her life changed forever.

On June 12th, 2010, Meghan was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Mono is basically just a really bad case of the flu, right? Wrong. To a party crazed sixteen-year-old, mono is social suicide. More than anything, it’s just plain boring. So, Meghan opened up her 2009 MacBook, used the webcam for something other than a bad Andy Warhol–style photobooth session, and recorded her first YouTube video. Since then, Meghan has shared the ups and downs of her life with the internet, documenting her teenage years for the whole world to see.

Now that she’s (mostly) through her awkward stage, Meghan’s here to tell you that it gets better. You’re not alone in the thoughts you think. Sometimes a bad hair day feels worse than a punch in the gut and asking a boy out seems about as difficult as achieving that perfect dewy glow. But despite what you’ve been told, your problems are not unique, your struggles have taken form in everybody else’s life too, and somebody else has felt the way you feel right at this very moment.

You’re not special. But you’re also not alone on the bumpy road to adulthood.

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By | July 24, 2020

Our 28 Most Anticipated Reads of Summer 2020

By Get Literary | May 19, 2020

Our 11 Most Anticipated New Reads of May 2020

By Get Literary | April 27, 2020

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How to Be a Bawse
by Lilly Singh

Lilly Singh began her YouTube channel ||Superwoman|| in 2010, wanting to make entertaining videos as a means of combating her depression. Her skits depicting everyday scenarios skyrocketed her popularity; her most popular video, “Three Girls, One Elevator,” has garnered over 45 million views. She has also made history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ individual and first person of Indian descent to host a late-night talk show on a major American network.

How to Be a Bawse is Lilly’s guide to conquering life and loving yourself unapologetically. She discusses fifty lessons she’s learned to reach her goals, including scheduling time to be creative and surrounding herself with people who know more than she does. Lilly’s bold voice propels this self-help book, inspiring readers to do the hard work necessary to attain success.

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How to Be a Bawse
Lilly Singh

Never Have I Ever begins with Devi wanting to change her image and appear less nerdy and more cool among her high school friends. She devises a “rebrand” plan for herself and her friends to enhance their social status, by selecting “attainable yet status-enhancing people” for them to date. Devi is determined that by dating people above their social strata, they will become cooler by association. So we think she could learn a thing or two from Lilly Singh’s How to Be a Bawse. Like Devi, growing up, Lilly was an awkward South Asian girl trying to find her place in the world. Lilly was able to play on her strengths of humor, intellect, and dazzling personality to develop her online persona as a YouTuber. Lilly Singh is a true BAWSE, as she displays in her collection of inspirational essays, and Devi could be too if she could learn to embrace her true self instead of trying to morph into someone she thinks would make her more popular. Because as Devi tries to shift into this alternate persona, she burns some bridges and risks losing her friends. via GIPHY

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By | July 24, 2020

Never Have I Ever…Loved a Show This Much!

By Saimah Haque | May 14, 2020

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The Hidden Power of F*cking Up
by The Try Guys

Ever since I watched “Keith Eats Everything at Olive Garden,” I have been hooked on the Try Guys. Whether they’re photoshopping one another in crazy scenarios, or attempting to replicate a celebrity’s makeup, their exuberance and positivity make the Try Guys my favorite YouTube channel.

What appeals to audiences about the Try Guys is their willingness to try anything; in fact, they are built on fearlessness, having left their jobs at BuzzFeed to start an independent company and channel. In The Hidden Power of F*cking Up, Keith, Ned, Zach, and Eugene talk about overcoming fears in their own lives and give practical advice to readers. From becoming (mostly) vegan to developing closer relationships with family, the Try Guys show that it is when we embrace embarrassment and overcome self-doubt that we gain the courage to try anything.

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The Hidden Power of F*cking Up
The Try Guys

Ever since I watched “Keith Eats Everything at Olive Garden,” I have been hooked on the Try Guys. Whether they’re photoshopping one another in crazy scenarios, or attempting to replicate a celebrity’s makeup, their exuberance and positivity make the Try Guys my favorite YouTube channel. What appeals to audiences about the Try Guys is their willingness to try anything; in fact, they are built on fearlessness, having left their jobs at BuzzFeed to start an independent company and channel. In The Hidden Power of F*cking Up, Keith, Ned, Zach, and Eugene talk about overcoming fears in their own lives and give practical advice to readers. From becoming (mostly) vegan to developing closer relationships with family, the Try Guys show that it is when we embrace embarrassment and overcome self-doubt that we gain the courage to try anything.

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By | July 24, 2020

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8 Books Matched to My Favorite Reality TV Competition Shows

July 10 2020
Share 8 Books Matched to My Favorite Reality TV Competition Shows

There’s just something about reality shows that draws me in and does not let me go until the season finale. Whether it’s the spirit of competition, an intriguing premise that I need to see play out, or an unforgettable cast, nine times out of ten if I start a new TV show, it is a reality series.

If you’re a fan of reality shows like me, this list is the definitive guide for what to add to your TBR based on your favorite show. Whether you’ve just gotten hooked on a new TV series or just finished one and are now looking for a book to fill the reality show-shaped void in your heart, here are eight must-reads—perfect companions to your favorite shows!

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

Follow Me
by Kathleen Barber

The Circle

The Circle is next on my to-watch list because of its focus on presentation through social media, and because my friend highly touted the show after he watched it all in two days. On The Circle, contestants are isolated in individual apartments and can only talk to one another via an app that allows them to portray themselves in any fashion they’d like. Contestants then rate one another, with the highest contestants becoming “Influencers,” while the lowest rated are eliminated.

Similar to The Circle, Kathleen Barber’s Follow Me focuses on social media curation through Audrey, an Instagram influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. However, Follow Me takes on a thrilling twist when one of Audrey’s followers is no longer content to follow her life from a distance, and seeks to make her his and his alone.

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Follow Me
Kathleen Barber

From the author of Truth Be Told (formerly titled Are You Sleeping)—now an Apple TV series of the same name—comes a cautionary tale of oversharing in the social media age for fans of Jessica Knoll and Caroline Kepnes’s You.

Everyone wants new followers…until they follow you home.

Audrey Miller has an enviable new job at the Smithsonian, a body by reformer Pilates, an apartment door with a broken lock, and hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers to bear witness to it all. Having just moved to Washington, DC, Audrey busies herself impressing her new boss, interacting with her online fan base, and staving off a creepy upstairs neighbor with the help of the only two people she knows in town: an ex-boyfriend she can’t stay away from and a sorority sister with a high-powered job and a mysterious past.

But Audrey’s faulty door may be the least of her security concerns. Unbeknownst to her, her move has brought her within striking distance of someone who’s obsessively followed her social media presence for years—from her first WordPress blog to her most recent Instagram Story. No longer content to simply follow her carefully curated life from a distance, he consults the dark web for advice on how to make Audrey his and his alone. In his quest to win her heart, nothing is off-limits—and nothing is private.

With “compelling, suspenseful” (Liz Nugent) prose, Kathleen Barber’s electrifying new thriller will have you scrambling to cover your webcam and digital footprints.

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Little Beach Street Bakery
by Jenny Colgan

The Great British Bake Off

It’s no secret that The Great British Bake Off has developed a devout following. Its endless charm and the miraculous baked goods the competitors put forth make Bake Off as irresistible as Paul’s bread lion from Season 6.

If you’re looking to recreate the delight of Bake Off without making a cookie chandelier, Jenny Colgan’s Little Beach Street Bakery is the perfect cozy British read. Heartbroken after her failed relationship, Polly Waterford ends up on the Cornish coast and turns to baking to distract herself from her troubles. Soon, Polly’s hobby becomes her passion, and she begins to find hope for the future as her recipes evolve. An added bonus: Little Beach Street Bakery includes seven recipes!

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Little Beach Street Bakery
Jenny Colgan

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Into the Jungle
by Erica Ferencik

Survivor

Survivor in my household is practically a religion; every Wednesday during this past epic season, we would make pizza and eat it as the drama unfolded. What makes Survivor so popular and memorable (it just finished its 40th season!) is its constant ability to evolve, as well as the psychological thrills it delivers.

Erica Ferencik’s Into the Jungle is very much the Survivor of books. This suspenseful story centers around Lily Bushwold, who follows her newfound love, Omar, into the Bolivian jungle after his nephew is killed by a jaguar. From anacondas and giant spiders to poachers and missionaries, Lily’s navigation of the jungle provides ever-greater challenges—and her quest to survive will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

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Into the Jungle
Erica Ferencik

In thishypnotic, violent, unsparing” (A.J. Banner, USA TODAY bestselling author) thriller from the author of the “haunting, twisting thrill ride” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) The River at Night, a young woman leaves behind everything she knows to take on the Bolivian jungle, but her excursion abroad quickly turns into a fight for her life.

Lily Bushwold thought she’d found the antidote to endless foster care and group homes: a teaching job in Bolivia. As soon as she could steal enough cash for the plane, she was on it.

When the gig falls through, world-weary Lily decides to stay in Bolivia when an intense passion finds her in the form she least expected: Omar, a savvy, handsome local man who’d abandoned his life as a hunter in Ayachero—a remote jungle village—to try his hand at city life.

When Omar learns that a jaguar has killed his four-year-old nephew in Ayachero, he gives Lily a choice: Stay alone in the unforgiving city, or travel to the last in a string of ever-more-isolated river towns in the jungles of Bolivia. Thirty-foot anaconda? Puppy-sized spiders? Vengeful shamans with unspeakable powers? Lovestruck Lily is oblivious. She follows Omar to this ruthless new world of lawless poachers, bullheaded missionaries, and desperate indigenous tribes driven to the brink of extinction. To survive, Lily must navigate the jungle—its wonders as well as its terrors—using only her wits and resilience.

“Gripping, breathtaking, and exquisitely told—Into the Jungle pulls you into another world, returning you forever transformed” (Wendy Walker, USA TODAY bestselling author).

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Perfect Tunes
by Emily Gould

The Masked Singer

Elaborate costumes and extravagant performances have made The Masked Singer one of the most iconic contemporary escapist television shows. In addition to these spectacular features, the element that keeps viewers coming back to The Masked Singer is mystery, as fans try to guess who’s beneath the Fox or the Monster mask.

Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould ties together the music and intrigue that make The Masked Singer reverberate with audiences. In this novel, Marie, the teenage daughter of former musician Laura, begins to ask questions about her father that Laura does not want to answer, since she seeks to block out her past. Although Laura attempts to shut out thoughts of what could have been, Marie, as well as Laura’s friend-turned-musician, give Laura hope that she could still make her dreams a reality.

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Perfect Tunes
Emily Gould

Perfect Tunes is an intoxicating blend of music, love, and family from one of the essential writers of the internet generation.” —STEPHANIE DANLER

Perfect Tunes is a zippy and profound story of love, loss, heredity, and par­enthood. I gulped it down, as will all mothers, New Yorkers, music fans, and lovers of quick-moving novels that are both funny and deep. I loved every page.” —EMMA STRAUB

Perfect Tunes is mind-blowing….Full of unspeakable insights, or at least I thought they were unspeakable, but there they are. Now I want everyone I know to read this book and talk about it with me.” —ELIF BATUMAN

Have you ever wondered what your mother was like before she became your mother, and what she gave up in order to have you?

It’s the early days of the new millennium, and Laura has arrived in New York City’s East Village in the hopes of recording her first album. A songwriter with a one-of-a-kind talent, she’s just beginning to book gigs with her beautiful best friend when she falls hard for a troubled but magnetic musician whose star is on the rise. Their time together is stormy and short-lived—but will reverberate for the rest of Laura’s life.

Fifteen years later, Laura’s teenage daughter, Marie, is asking questions about her father, questions that Laura does not want to answer. Laura has built a stable life in Brooklyn that bears little resemblance to the one she envisioned when she left Ohio all those years ago, and she’s taken pains to close the door on what was and what might have been. But neither her best friend, now a famous musician who relies on Laura’s songwriting skills, nor her depressed and searching daughter will let her give up on her dreams.

Funny, wise, and tenderhearted, Perfect Tunes explores the fault lines in our most important relationships, and asks whether dreams deferred can ever be reclaimed. It is a delightful and poignant tale of music and motherhood, ambition and com­promise—of life, in all its dissonance and harmony.

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The Little Book of Feng Shui
by Katina Z Jones

Interior Design Masters

One show that I have watched and rewatched this year is Interior Design Masters, a British program which pits ten amateur interior designers against each other for the opportunity to win a major design contract. What I especially enjoy about this show is its ability to educate its viewers about interior design not just in the home, but in spaces such as hotels, hair salons, restaurants, and even university dorms.

Interior Design Masters also does an excellent job of showing viewers that design can, and should, go above and beyond aesthetics. Katina Z. Jones explores this idea by discussing feng shui, the practice of creating a balanced, harmonious environment. In The Little Book of Feng Shui, Jones provides advice on how to best achieve harmony in any space—from utilizing specific colors to rearranging furniture.

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The Little Book of Feng Shui
Katina Z Jones

Start living a calmer, more balanced life with this all-in-one feng shui guide that explains the benefits that this energy healing technique can have on your mind, body, and spirit.

Harness the ancient healing power of feng shui! Declutter your life, identify your qi, and reclaim your space with a brand-new perspective. Just by simply choosing specific colors and positioning your furniture in various places, you can take control of your space and your life.

Feng shui is an ancient science involving the art of placement that can bring clarity to your life by showing you how to declutter your space and find the right energy flow that works to create a soothing environment and bring you joy. In The Little Book of Feng Shui, you can learn the basics of this practice, along with its history and how to balance and harmonize with the energies in any given space—in your home, workplace, or outdoor area.

This beautiful and insightful book promotes healing through the choices you make for the spaces you inhabit and helps you learn how to heal yourself and live a happy, balanced life.

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Dear Emmie Blue
by Lia Louis

Love Is Blind

As soon as I heard the premise for Love Is Blind, I jumped on the bandwagon real fast, finishing the show in a matter of days. Love Is Blind is one of those shows where I was amazed at every turn, from proposals mere days after a couple met and wedding day drama to the tell-all cast reunion.

If you have been as much of a fan as I was of Love Is Blind’s sheer unpredictability, then Dear Emmie Blue is the book for you! Emmie has her future vested on Lucas, a boy who found a note she sent via balloon 14 years ago when she was a teen. Now she is convinced Lucas will ask her to marry him, and has all but neglected her life outside their relationship. However, Emmie soon realizes that life (and love) never go exactly according to plan.…

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Dear Emmie Blue
Lia Louis

“A delightful story about how the things we imagine to be best for us usually aren’t. The reason you will love Dear Emmie Blue is because you’ve probably *lived* Dear Emmie Blue, in some small part of your own journey to adulthood.” Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

In this charming and poignant novel, teenager Emmie Blue releases a balloon with her email address and a big secret into the sky, only to fall head-over-heels for the boy who finds it; now, fourteen years later, the one thing Emmie has been counting on is gone for good, and everything she planned is up in the air.

At sixteen, Emmie Blue stood in the fields of her school and released a red balloon into the sky. Attached was her name, her email address…and a secret she desperately wanted to be free of. Weeks later, on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau discovered the balloon and immediately emailed the attached addressed, sparking an intense friendship between the two teens.

Now, fourteen years later, Emmie is hiding the fact that she’s desperately in love with Lucas. She has pinned all her hopes on him and waits patiently for him to finally admit that she’s the one for him. So dedicated to her love for Lucas, Emmie has all but neglected her life outside of this relationship—she’s given up the search for her absentee father, no longer tries to build bridges with her distant mother, and lives as a lodger to an old lady she barely knows after being laid off from her job. And when Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask her, she’s convinced this is the moment he’ll reveal his feelings for her. But nothing in life ever quite goes as planned, does it?

Emmie Blue is about to learn everything she thinks she knows about life (and love) is just that: what she thinks she knows. Is there such thing as meant to be? Or is it true when they say that life is what happens when you are busy making other plans? A story filled with heart and humor, Dear Emmie Blue is perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Evvie Drake Starts Over.

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The Women in Black
by Madeleine St John

Project Runway

While new fashion shows have been cropping up left and right, Project Runway is the legendary original, its status cemented by iconic catchphrases (“Thank you Mood!”) and memorable challenges (remember the unconventional materials one?). Project Runway’s staying power and the fashion shows that have recently emerged illustrate how fashion must captivate audiences.

Fashion’s power to bring people together is explored in Madeleine St John’s The Women in Black. This uplifting novel follows Patty, Fay, Magda, and Lisa, four women working at Goode’s department store. The quad become close as they sell ladies’ dresses during the busy summer season, with their friendship ultimately changing one another’s lives for the better.

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The Women in Black
Madeleine St John

“The book I most often give as a gift to cheer people up.” —Hilary Mantel

A delightful debut novel set in a department store in Sydney in the 1950s.

The women in black, so named for the black frocks they wear while working at Goode’s department store, are busy selling ladies’ dresses during the holiday rush. But they somehow find time to pursue other goals…

Patty, in her mid-thirties, has been working at Goode’s for years. Her husband, Frank, eats a steak for dinner every night, watches a few minutes of TV, and then turns in. Patty yearns for a baby, but Frank is always too tired for that kind of thing.

Sweet, unlucky Fay wants to settle down with a nice man, but somehow nice men don’t see her as marriage material.

Glamorous Magda runs the high-end gowns department. A Slovenian émigré, Magda is cultured and continental and hopes to open her own boutique one day.

Lisa, a clever and shy teenager, takes a job at Goode’s during her school break. Lisa wants to go to university and dreams of becoming a poet, but her father objects to both notions.

By the time the last marked-down dress is sold, all of their lives will be forever changed.

A pitch-perfect comedy of manners set during a pivotal era, and perfect for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Women in Black conjures the energy of a city on the cusp of change and is a testament to the timeless importance of female friendship.

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The Well-Gardened Mind
by Sue Stuart-Smith

The Big Flower Fight

The Big Flower Fight, also known as my latest binge watch, is a British competition show on Netflix where florists, artists, and designers compete to create the most showstopping floral installations. The memorable cast and their unbelievable talent, as well as the abundance of knowledge the show provides, have made me want to learn more about gardening.

Lucky for me, Sue Stuart-Smith’s The Well-Gardened Mind is the exact complement I need! A psychiatrist and gardener, Stuart-Smith makes a compelling case for how gardening is advantageous in promoting mental health, and uses historical examples and case studies to make her point. If you’re as inspired by the contestants’ green thumbs on The Big Flower Fight as I am, The Well-Gardened Mind is the perfect book to add to your TBR!

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The Well-Gardened Mind
Sue Stuart-Smith

A distinguished psychiatrist and avid gardener offers an inspiring and consoling work about the healing effects of gardening and its ability to decrease stress and foster mental well-being in our everyday lives.

The garden is often seen as a refuge, a place to forget worldly cares, removed from the “real” life that lies outside. But when we get our hands in the earth we connect with the cycle of life in nature through which destruction and decay are followed by regrowth and renewal. Gardening is one of the quintessential nurturing activities and yet we understand so little about it. The Well-Gardened Mind provides a new perspective on the power of gardening to change people’s lives. Here, Sue Stuart-Smith investigates the many ways in which mind and garden can interact and explores how the process of tending a plot can be a way of sustaining an innermost self.

Stuart-Smith’s own love of gardening developed as she studied to become a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. From her grandfather’s return from World War I to Freud’s obsession with flowers to case histories with her own patients to progressive gardening programs in such places as Rikers Island prison in New York City, Stuart-Smith weaves thoughtful yet powerful examples to argue that gardening is much more important to our cognition than we think. Recent research is showing how green nature has direct antidepressant effects on humans. Essential and pragmatic, The Well-Gardened Mind is a book for gardeners and the perfect read for people seeking healthier mental lives.

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6 Must-Read Memoirs by LGBTQ+ Authors

June 1 2020
Share 6 Must-Read Memoirs by LGBTQ+ Authors

June is finally here, signifying the beginning of Pride Month! Traditionally, Pride Month is marked with colorful celebrations, including parades and parties. However, equally important, if not more so, Pride is a time for self-reflection, identity affirmation, and educating oneself about past and present LGBTQ+ struggles, as well as acting toward a more inclusive future.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, many Pride celebrations have been canceled. Although these events are a cornerstone of June, there are still plenty of ways to acknowledge Pride without going out. Namely, listening to music, watching apt television and movies, and reading books produced by LGBTQ+ individuals are excellent ways to celebrate the month.

As a bibliophile and member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have been actively trying to cultivate a bookshelf befitting Pride. I love reading nonfiction books, so naturally I gravitated toward memoirs written by LGBTQ+ authors.

The memoirs recommended here are honest, raw, touching, and humorous accounts that cover not just the LGBTQ+ experience, but themes of race, class, growing up, seeking purpose, finding love, and discovering what it means to be human. These books are an excellent starting point if you are looking for a literary means to celebrate and recognize Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community.

This post was originally published on GetLiterary.com.

I Can't Date Jesus
by Michael Arceneaux

I can say with certainty that there are a slim number of books that have made me laugh out loud, and I Can’t Date Jesus is one of them. Michael Arceneaux’s first book is an essay collection covering topics such as his status as a “recovering Catholic,” his passion for Beyoncé, his dating experiences, and growing up black in working-class Houston, Texas. Arceneaux delivers equal parts wisdom (“If I was on the road to acceptance of self, I should not have been so eager to chase after a man who was traveling in a completely different direction than I was”) and humor (“If you want to learn how to give up on humanity, ride the bus in LA”). He also fulfills his mission—outlined in the book’s epilogue—to make people laugh and think. Arceneaux’s voice is a standout, and I greatly look forward to reading his newest book, I Don’t Want to Die Poor, which came out on April 7.

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I Can't Date Jesus
Michael Arceneaux

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Unbecoming
by Anuradha Bhagwati

When describing her social justice efforts, former U.S. Marine Captain Anuradha Bhagwati states, “When people tell our stories for us, we often lose control of the narrative, and too often, we never get it back.” Unbecoming is Bhagwati’s reclamation of her narrative, as she chronicles her journey from the Marines to social activism.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, she defies the path they’ve laid out for her by dropping out of graduate school to join the Marines. Her G.I. Jane–inspired dreams are challenged: as a bisexual woman of color, Bhagwati is continually confronted with racism, sexism, misogyny, and injustice. Post-Marines, she depicts how her struggles with PTSD and the VA drive her toward social activism and yoga; forming the organization Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN); and teaching yoga classes to veterans.

Unbecoming is an impassioned account of the individual power that comes from taking control of your personal story, as well as of the historic changes that happen when a group comes together to reclaim their collective narrative.

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Unbecoming
Anuradha Bhagwati

Brimming “with the ebullient Bhagwati’s fierce humanism, seething humor, and change-maker righteousness,” (Shelf Awareness) a raw, unflinching memoir by a former US Marine Captain chronicling her journey from dutiful daughter of immigrants to radical activist fighting for historic policy reform.

After a lifetime of buckling to the demands of her strict Indian parents, Anuradha Bhagwati abandons grad school in the Ivy League to join the Marines—the fiercest, most violent, most masculine branch of the military—determined to prove herself there in ways she couldn’t before.

Yet once training begins, Anuradha’s GI Jane fantasy is punctured. As a bisexual woman of color in the military, she faces underestimation at every stage, confronting misogyny, racism, sexual violence, and astonishing injustice perpetrated by those in power. Pushing herself beyond her limits, she also wrestles with what drove her to pursue such punishment in the first place.

Once her service concludes in 2004, Anuradha courageously vows to take to task the very leaders and traditions that cast such a dark cloud over her time in the Marines. Her efforts result in historic change, including the lifting of the ban on women from pursuing combat roles in the military.

“Bhagwati’s fight is both incensing and inspiring” (Booklist) in this tale of heroic resilience and grapples with the timely question of what, exactly, America stands for, showing how one woman learned to believe in herself in spite of everything.

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6 Must-Read Memoirs by LGBTQ+ Authors

By | June 1, 2020

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Sorted
by Jackson Bird

In Sorted, part memoir, part educational guide, YouTuber and LGBTQ+ activist Jackson Bird candidly details his life growing up gender-confused in Texas in the 1990s. Through anecdotes and journal entries, Bird takes us through his life as he protests wearing a dress to the Daddy-Daughter Dance in favor of a suit, attempts to figure out how to have a chest binder delivered to his NYU dorm room, and experiences taking shots of testosterone and undergoing top surgery. Through the book, the author takes the time to explain trans terminology and facts concerning gender and sexuality, as well as makes numerous Harry Potter references. Sorted shines as both an honest (and often humorous) memoir and a bridge-building resource, and, perhaps, just as importantly, Bird recognizes that his is not the definitive narrative about the transgender community, and that there are so many more stories to be written and read.

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Sorted
Jackson Bird

An unflinching and endearing memoir from LGBTQ+ advocate Jackson Bird about how, through a childhood of gender mishaps and an awkward adolescence, he finally sorted things out and came out as a transgender man in his mid-twenties.

When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and having been raised a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn’t share this thought with anyone because he didn’t think he could share it with anyone. Growing up in Texas in the 1990s, he had no transgender role models. He barely remembers meeting anyone who was openly gay, let alone being taught that transgender people existed outside of punchlines.

Today, Jackson is a writer, YouTuber, and LGBTQ+ advocate living openly and happily as a transgender man. So how did he get here? In this remarkable, educational, and uplifting memoir, Jackson chronicles the ups and downs of growing up gender confused. Illuminated by journal entries spanning childhood to adolescence to today, he candidly recalls the challenges he faced while trying to sort out his gender and sexuality, and worrying about how to interact with the world. With warmth and wit, Jackson also recounts how he navigated the many obstacles and quirks of his transition––like figuring out how to have a chest binder delivered to his NYU dorm room and having an emotional breakdown at a Harry Potter fan convention. From his first shot of testosterone to his eventual top surgery, Jackson lets you in on every part of his journey—taking the time to explain trans terminology and little-known facts about gender and identity along the way. Through his captivating prose, Bird not only sheds light on the many facets of a transgender life, but also demonstrates the power and beauty in being yourself, even when you’re not sure who “yourself” is.

Part memoir, part educational guide, Sorted is a frank, humorous narrative of growing up with some unintended baggage.

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Karamo
by Karamo Brown

I absolutely love Queer Eye, and I remember, as I watched it, being attracted to the role that Karamo Brown played within the Fab Five. His sage advice and ability to empathetically listen to everyone’s plight made me think “I want to be like him,” and “Gee, I wish Karamo could just follow me around all day and give me advice.” When his book came out, I was ecstatic and not sure if it could live up to my hype. However, it does: which I found out when I read it all one afternoon in four hours. In this memoir, Karamo opens up about his past struggles with abuse, addiction, colorism, and coming to grips with his sexuality. Karamo is about as sincere and open as a memoir can get; not to mention, it provides some excellent words of wisdom. This quote from Karamo’s grandmother is officially my motto for Pride: “If they don’t want to come in my house, I’ll close the door and be happy in my own home.”

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Karamo
Karamo Brown

An insightful, inspiring, “candid and warm” (Booklist) memoir from Karamo Brown—beloved culture expert from Netflix’s Queer Eye—as he shares his story for the first time, exploring how the challenges in his own life have allowed him to forever transform the lives of those in need.

When Karamo Brown first auditioned for the casting directors of Queer Eye, he knew he wouldn’t win the role of culture expert by discussing art and theater. Instead he decided to redefine what “culture” could—and should—mean for the show. He took a risk and declared, “I am culture.”

After all, Karamo believes culture is how people feel about themselves and others, how they relate to the world around them, and how their shared labels, burdens, and experiences affect their daily lives in ways both subtle and profound. Seen through this lens, Karamo is culture: his family is Jamaican and Cuban; he was raised in the South in predominantly white neighborhoods and attended an HBCU (Historically Black College/University); he was trained as a social worker and psychotherapist; he overcame personal issues of colorism, physical and emotional abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, and public infamy; he is a proud and dedicated gay single father of two boys, one biological and one adopted.

In “this soul-soothing memoir” (O, The Oprah Magazine), Karamo reflects on his lifelong education. It comprises every adversity he has overcome, as well as the lessons he has learned along the way. It is only by exploring our difficulties and having the hard conversations—with ourselves and one another—that we are able to adjust our mind-sets, heal emotionally, and move forward to live our best lives.

“During every episode of Queer Eye, there’s at least one touching moment where Karamo Brown drops some serious wisdom about self-love and makes everybody cry. His moving memoir about overcoming adversity captures that feeling in book form” (HelloGiggles).

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Redefining Realness
by Janet Mock

Redefining Realness charts Mock’s experiences growing up multiracial, poor, and trans in Hawaii. Her navigation of her gender identity takes place primarily in her teenage years without parental guidance: she begins transitioning during high school, takes estrogen without doctor supervision, and flies across the world at eighteen for sex reassignment surgery. As Mock makes the move from Honolulu to New York City to attend graduate school and launch her career, she remains secretive about her past, not wanting to be associated with stereotypes surrounding the transgender community. However, she comes to realize that by sharing her story, she can embolden and give hope to her community, which prompts her to come out on the pages of Marie Claire in 2011.

In the book’s introduction, Mock states “We need stories of hope and possibility, stories that reflect the reality of our lived experiences.” Redefining Realness succeeds in this mission, with the author’s voice serving as a necessary beacon of hope for an oftentimes underrepresented and underserved community.

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Redefining Realness
Janet Mock

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Over the Top
by Jonathan Van Ness

I couldn’t just include one memoir from the Queer Eye cast! Van Ness has not always been the positive, effervescent ray of sunshine he is today. In Over the Top, he describes his struggles toward self-love and acceptance, from being bullied in childhood for his nonconformity, to his struggles with addiction, abuse, and the stigma he faces as an HIV+ individual. Heartfelt, raw, and humorous, Over the Top is at once an illuminating memoir and candid guide to practicing self-love—a reminder, in the words of JVN, that “you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’re strong, and you’ve got this.”

P.S.: If you want to get an extra boost of JVN from this Over the Top experience, I recommend listening to the JVN-narrated audiobook.

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Over the Top
Jonathan Van Ness

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