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C Pam Zhang: Powell’s Q&A: C Pam Zhang, author of ‘Land of Milk and Honey’ (0 comment)

Describe your latest book/project/work. Land of Milk and Honey is about the search for pleasure at the end of the world. A smog has descended and killed all food crops when an American chef is lured to a secret colony of the wealthy at the border of Italy. It’s the story of how one woman comes alive again to food, to her body, to her own source...

Kirsten Berg: Rare Book Room Dispatch: Concerning Witches and Apparitions (0 comment)
Bry H.: Books to Read for Orange Shirt Day (0 comment)

What No One Tells You A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood

Alexandra Sacks, Catherine Birndorf

This book gives a most welcome dose of healthy psychological support during pregnancy and postpartum! Even though it was published shortly before COVID-19 lockdowns, it addresses many emotional complexities that often aren't acknowledged in popular pregnancy guides.
Recommended by Ruth J.

Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam

Andrew X. Pham

Gritty and emotional, this travelogue/immigration tale had me transfixed. Pham skillfully narrates his family's story both settling in the US and in leaving war-torn Vietnam. His bicycle tour through 1990s Vietnam is a fantastic (and scary!) experience no tourist could have while he seeks a deeper understanding of "home."
Recommended by Ruth J.

Parisian

Isabella Hammad

This beautiful debut novel may be my favorite this year! It tells the story of Palestine's changes in WWI through the life of the cosmopolitan Midhat Kamal. Language lovers, take note! French and Arabic are abundant in the text and layer an already sweeping story with rich imagery.
Recommended by Ruth J.

Like a Mother A Feminist Journey Through the Science & Culture of Pregnancy

Angela Garbes

Angela Garbes asks the reader, what if we actually listened to mothers? What if we actually devoted research dollars and prioritized their care? This book was a bold and easy-to-read analysis of experiences facing those who are pregnant, were pregnant, or want to be. The book is a wonderful expansion of the author's massively popular online article on breastfeeding in The Stranger.
Recommended by Ruth J.

Dear Scarlet The Story of My Postpartum Depression

Teresa Wong

It is so good to continue to hear honest, healing stories of pregnancy and early motherhood. It's not all blue skies all the time and you can take courage from another woman's courage and keep moving forward. Teresa is funny and to the point in this graphic memoir! Some may not be able to relate to having so many resources (human and financial) to meet their needs, but for me that doesn't diminish the impact of her perseverance through postpartum... (read more)
Recommended by Ruth J.

Kid Gloves

Lucy Knisley

Finally, a smart graphic novel covering a wide range of modern maternity experience! Readers will also learn a little about medical and reproductive history, but the joy for me is in seeing the very real experiences of infertility, miscarriage, morning sickness, and birth represented plainly. This easy-to-read, delightfully illustrated novel left me feeling understood.
Recommended by Ruth J.