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.
There are few things more engrossing than falling into a hefty biography. When I was a kid, my parents taught me history through the lives of the people who lived it. Through the books we read, we traveled around the world learning about ancient pharaohs, military generals, and classical painters. There was just something captivating about learning about history this way that made it come alive to me. I’ve loved biographies ever since. By reading a well-researched book about someone’s life, you get to understand them and that moment in history in such great detail.
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow
Renowned biographer Ron Chernow is back with another tome chronicling the life of a major American historical figure. But instead of a famous general or a founding father, Chernow is looking at literary icon Mark Twain. Twain made a name for himself as a funny, charming, and unforgettable writer. So it’s no surprise that he became America’s first celebrity author. But before he wrote under the pen name of Mark Twain, there was Samuel Clemens, a young man born in a two-room cabin in Missouri. From an early age, Clemens dreamed of adventures beyond anything he’d ever known. One day, he left everything he’d ever known, headed to the Nevada territory, and found a job as a journalist, launching his writing career.
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris
Octavia Butler made a name for herself as the first Black woman to consistently write science fiction. Her works The Parable of the Sower and Kindred (and more!) stand as some of the greatest science fiction novels of all time. Biographer Susana M. Morris gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at Butler’s life, reminding readers of the context of Butler’s work. Butler lived through incredible times, seeing the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, women’s rights, disability justice, and LGBTQ+ activism rise up around her. Whether you are a long-time Butler fan or are new to her work, Positive Obsession is a must-read biography of the year.
Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline
Black transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson is known as a legendary figure in American history. Rumor has it that she even threw the first brick at Stonewall. But how many of us know the true story of Johnson’s life? Tourmaline fills in Johnson’s story, giving readers the details of Johnson’s young life, how she came to live on the streets of New York City, and the powerful activist that she became.
For more real-life stories, check out these books about non-marriage and these essays and memoirs from the LGBTQ+ community.
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