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.
It’s true—I’m a sucker for a frontlist book list. I love seeing all of the new books about to hit shelves. It’s easy to find oneself bedazzled by the shiny new covers at local bookstores’ front tables, but we can’t forget about the top-tier unread backlist books that are stacked on our TBRs at home. There are all sorts of stories to explore, like grief memoirs, books about food, and family-related tales. Here are a few of my favorites that are definitely must-reads.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
In this gorgeous memoir, Michelle Zauner shares her experience growing up as the only Asian American kid in her community. Zauner grew up in Oregon with a white American father and a Korean mother, which has always made her feel not part of either world. When her mother dies, she finds herself in an Asian grocery store, reminded of her mother and crying in the aisles. Beautifully written and full of quick wit and insight, Crying in H Mart has continued to draw readers in over the years. I still see it about every week on TikTok as new readers discover Zauner’s story for the first time.
Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl
On the way back from a writer’s workshop this summer, a friend turned on a podcast and out came the voice of Ruth Reichl. I gushed to my friend about Save Me the Plums, a huge favorite of mine. The last editor of Gourmet Magazine, Reichl writes about her time at the magazine, which was an institution of food writing for decades. Reichl describes how she became the editor, the steep learning curve that she found herself on, and the wild ride that was Gourmet’s last years. As a sucker for anything that sits at the intersection of food and publishing, I adored reading about Reichl’s experience.
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
I was wearing a Jesmyn Ward t-shirt the other day, and someone asked me if her memoir was just as good as her novels. I gave a resounding YES. In her memoir, Men We Reaped, Jesmyn Ward alternates between writing chapters about her childhood growing up in the Mississippi Delta region and the stories of five men in her life who died too young, including her brother. With each new man we meet, Ward describes their vibrant personalities, family histories, hopes, and dreams. Each of these men’s lives ended too soon because of the systemic racism they experienced and the long lasting effects of intergenerational trauma. But her portrait of these men also includes a lot of joy, the happy memories Ward grabs and holds onto tightly through her writing.
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You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
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