The Feminist Know-It-All: You know her. You can’t stand her. Good thing she’s not here! Instead, this column by gender and women’s studies librarian Karla Strand will amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.
Hello, feminist reader friends! Each month, I provide Ms. readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups. The aims of these lists are threefold:
- I want to do my part in the disruption of what has been the acceptable “norm” in the book world for far too long—white, cis, heterosexual, male;
- I want to amplify indie publishers and amazing works by writers who are women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, APIA/AAPI, international, queer, trans, nonbinary, disabled, fat, immigrant, Muslim, neurodivergent, sex-positive or of other historically marginalized identities—you know, the rest of us; and
- I want to challenge and encourage you all to buy, borrow and read them!
Here we are in July, and I have no idea how I got here…
This month, I first want to thank Violet Pandya, who has been the GWSL+Ms. intern for the past year. During her time in the position, Violet provided substantial support and insight for this column. Her internship has come to an end, but I’m so grateful for the time she spent working with me in this capacity.
Second, I want to point out a big difference in this month’s column. I’ve only included 10 books—ten!
After over eight years of writing this column, this is the fewest number of books I’ve included in a single list (outside of a possible December). The lower number is in no way indicative of fewer choices of amazing new releases. On the contrary, it remains very challenging to narrow down the titles to include.
To give you a peek behind the curtain: I’m sent hundreds of emails each month from publishers, publicists and authors asking me to consider their books for the column. Some of those send me print or digital copies, often whether I ask for them or not. For July’s list, I literally considered (not read, considered) over 200 books this month. I received 18 of July’s titles in print, another 18 as PDFs and 78 as pre-approved NetGalley links. And July isn’t even a heavy publishing month by comparison.
It is the best example ever of, “Be careful what you wish for.”
Don’t get me wrong, I love this work! I’m just trying a variety of ways to make the workload a bit more manageable.
Dear feminist reader friends, I don’t ask you for much. But now, I want to hear from you.
Do you prefer more titles with less descriptive summaries? Or fewer titles with more thoughtful annotations? Is there anything else I can do to improve the columns?
If I don’t hear from you, I will just keep on keepin’ on, but I’d prefer to give you what you want. So, go to my website and use my contact form to send me some feedback, please!
And until next month, I hope you enjoy these 10 titles as much as I did.
Horizon Hong Kong: Selected Stories
By Xu Xi. Gaudy Boy. Out July 1.
This eclectic collection of stories showcases Xu Xi’s masterful depictions of people’s experiences in Hong Kong and the diaspora. From family and migration to historical examinations and speculative futurisms, Xu Xi provides reflective and engaging stories.
*
Good Morning Means I Love You: A Novel
By Kendra Allen. Ecco. Out July 7.
Kendra Allen’s first novel centers on a Black family composed of two men, a woman and their children. Bold, electric and thoughtfully told, the book explores themes of motherhood, autonomy, polyamory, gender roles, mental health and intimacy.
*
The Weight of One Pomegranate
By Brynne Rebele-Henry. Soho Teen. Out July 7.
Being a fan of Brynne Rebele-Henry’s previous work, I was eager to get my hands on her latest, and wasn’t disappointed! Focused on a tenacious and thoughtful teen exploring her identity and her sister’s death, this novel sensitively and realistically reflects on love, loss, friendship, family and coming of age.
*
Time Also Will Make It Interesting: Selected Journals
Written by Red Jordan Arobateau. Edited by Cameron Awkward-Rich. Nightboat Books. Out June 9.
I was thrilled to see this book of writings and art by Red Jordan Arobateau being published by Nightboat. I didn’t know Red personally, but those who did remember his candor, grit and vision. With an exceptional introductory note by the editor, Cameron Awkward-Rich, this first-of-its-kind volume is part life writing, part history, part fantasy and all Red.
*
Beirut Fragments: A War Memoir
By Jean Said Makdisi. Outsider Editions. Out July 14.
First published in 1990, this powerful memoir is now being reissued for a new generation of readers at another particularly poignant time in our history. Born in Jerusalem, Makdisi lived in Beirut from the early 1970s through the civil war and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and provides a nuanced, layered look into life during war.
*
Inside the Body of Black Feminism: Science, Race, Culture
By Samantha Pinto. Duke University Press. Out July 14.
For readers looking for an academic text, pick up Dr. Samantha Pinto’s latest, in which she offers a unique perspective on Black feminist political imagination by examining the inner workings of the Black feminine body. Pinto offers valuable new insights into Black feminist thought, health and embodiment by exploring the material and metaphorical treatments of Black women’s blood, bones, brains, guts, hearts and wombs.
*
Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists’ Adventures into the Unknown
By Roberta Kwok. Sourcebooks. Out July 21.
In my continuing efforts to (re)educate myself in “science,” I appreciated the accessibility and thoughtfulness of Roberta Kwok’s debut book. Not only does Kwok explore some fascinating research and groundbreaking discoveries, but she also delves into the unexpected and imperfect processes of the scientists behind them.
*
Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir
By Edna Bonhomme. Haymarket Books. Out July 21.
In this diasporic memoir, Edna Bonhomme shares her experiences with education, migration, debt, medical racism and the carceral system through the lens of Black left feminist internationalism. From Haiti to Harlem, Egypt to Germany, Bonhomme explores how healing from the legacies of colonialism, ongoing violence and racial capitalism must include resistance, reparations and reconciliation.
*
The Night Hunter
By Natalie Moss. Berkley. Out July 28.
I love South Africa, so when I read this debut thriller by Filipina-South African Natalie Moss, I soaked in her evocative descriptions of the bushveld and the wonder–and potential dangers–of its game and wild beauty. This gripping story of sisters facing a challenging past, new secrets and an unknown future had me on the edge of my seat.
*
The Winds of Maracaibo: A Novel
Written by María Elena Morán. Translated by Madeline Jones. Knopf. Out July 28.
Venezuela has been on my mind and in my heart since the recent earthquake, especially after reading the first novel by María Elena Morán to be translated into English. Focused on a woman’s fight to get her daughter back from the ex who stole her away to America, this captivating story is one of migration, courage, family, survival and home.
Ensure work like this article continues
At Ms., we believe the stories that shape women’s lives deserve serious, sustained coverage. That’s why, since 1972, we’ve reported on gender, politics, democracy, reproductive freedom, economic justice and culture long before the mainstream press caught up. Our journalism remains independent because it is funded by readers—not advertisers, corporations or billionaires. If this story mattered to you, please consider supporting Ms. by making a tax-deductible donation, becoming a member to receive a magazine subscription, or gifting a membership to a friend. Your support helps ensure that feminist journalism not only survives, but thrives.
