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I have an intense weakness for food writing. I love to explore cuisine through other people’s descriptions of the food they eat. There’s nothing like traveling to a new place through reading, living vicariously as they give me descriptions of the delicious dishes they’re sampling along the way. In that vein, today we’re traveling to Italy. After all, there are few things better than a perfectly crafted pasta dish. But before we jump into today’s recommendations, it’s time for new books!
Bookish Goods
Tea and Books Enamel Pin by Occasionalish
As an avid tea drinker, I love this adorable pin. Plus, it’s designed in beautiful neutral colors. $12
New Releases
We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People by Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson
Originally from a remote village in the Amazon rainforest, as a teenager, Nemonte Nenquimo decides to go to the city to study with a missionary group. But after her ancestors appear to her in a dream, warning her of the devastation to come, Nemonte Nenquimo returns to her people. There, she helps organize against big oil and protect the place that she calls home.
Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung
Iconic trailblazer Connie Chung got her first job at a local TV station in the late 1960s when she was just 21. This sparked her one-of-a-kind career that led to her becoming the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News and the first Asian person to anchor any news program in the U.S.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
One of the first books I have to tell you about is Taste. Tucci is such a fabulous storyteller, so when he goes to tell his own story, I was immediately hooked. He shares the story of his life growing up in an Italian American family, slowing down here and there to describe some of the favorite meals he’s eaten in his life. And if you’re an audiobook fan, Tucci performs his memoir, making it a one-of-a-kind listening experience. The way this man can describe food—my stars! It’s such a great memoir!
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke
Next, I have to tell you about From Scratch. This memoir follows Tembi Locke, a reluctant law student who takes a summer to study art in Italy. She studies art, sure, but she also finds love. Her memoir follows her whirlwind relationship with her husband, a Sicilian chef who moves to America to be with her. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but let’s just say I cried so much while reading this memoir. You can also find the fictionalized mini-series of From Scratch over on Netflix.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles on Book Riot.
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