|
|
|
|
The week of December 3, 2024 The comfort of good food.  Raise your hand if the holidays make you hungry! Even people who don’t usually cook find themselves adding the ingredients for sugar cookies and red velvet cake to their shopping carts. Here are some recent cookbooks Southern booksellers are drooling over: Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn A well-researched history of recipes tied to Southern towns and regions. Many of the recipes are not new. The value is in the breadth of communities represented in the biographies and histories. This is a broad and inclusive South with plenty of tempting recipes presented with clear instructions. — Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, Georgia Bodega Bakes by Paola Velez An exciting and creative cookbook filled with classic American treats. These recipes add some uniquely Caribbean flavors to quintessential desserts. I can’t wait to make the Sorrel Snickerdoodles and the OG Chocolate Chip Thick’ems. — Michelle Whittaker, Fonts Books in McLean, Virginia Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi Ottolenghi was once my family’s favorite local cafe. I’ve collected the signed cookbooks for many years, and cooking from them reminds me of my London days. This latest book is a winner, and I’ll recommend it for cozy recipes that feature bold flavors and international influences that reflect the delicious London food scene. — Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Bake Club by Christina Tosi Another social media cookbook crossover, many of the recipes debuted online. Now gathered in a useful collection that focuses on minimal ingredients and basic techniques. The tone is all about having fun and improvising. Recipes are truly accessible, and Bloom knows how to cheerlead cooking. A great gift for new and old cooks.— Jan Blodgett, Main Street Books in Davidson, Georgia Pass the Plate by Carolina Gelen One of the things that Gelen gets absolutely right with this book is textural contrast in the recipes. If you love yogurt sauces, crispy rice and potatoes and fresh herbs, this cookbook should live in your kitchen, as it will in mine! — Julia Paganelli Marin, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas The Trigger Kitchen by Emma Myles You may remember Emma Myles from her three-time Screen Actor’s Guild award-winning role as Leanne Taylor on Orange is the New Black. Turns out she’s not just a great actor but also an activist, fantastic food writer, and recipe developer. What makes this cookbook pop for me is the sincere and sharp writing in the preface and introductions to each yummy offering. It’s food for the heart and the soul. — Kelly Justice, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia Find more cookbooks recommended by booksellers at SBR. You can help! 
Independent bookstores in the South are still struggling in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and now Hurricane Milton. You can help: Donate to Binc; a relief organization for booksellers and comic book sellers. Visit the SIBA Hurricane Relief Resources page to donate directly to store fundraisers. And shop online at a store that has been impacted. Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
|
|
Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
|
|
The Barn by Wright Thompson Adult Nonfiction, History, South, State & Local, United States 
2025 Southern Book Prize Finalist This incredible book connects hundreds of dots, centering the murder of Emmett Till in a stream of events, characters and circumstances going all the way back into prehistory. Wright Thompson grew up in the same Mississippi township as Till’s relatives and Till’s murderers, and he is quick to point out how all the local families, white and black alike, have been connected throughout history. Thompson approaches his topic with the eye of an insider while bringing in all the research one would expect of a journalist. One of his central themes is that the tragedy didn’t have to go down like it did—there were inflection points throughout history that could have sent events in a different direction altogether. Thompson does a masterful job of showing how, one social and economic event at a time, the Mississippi Delta came to be ruled by an insular bunch of poor, desperate, white terrorists, who by their actions destroyed the very place and way of life that they were trying so hard to cling to. The tragedy and the irony that are the hallmarks of the Delta’s history drip from every page. Till’s murder, in Thompson’s you-are-there retelling, wasn’t the result of an incident in a store, but rather a product of a cascade of events and circumstances that left Mississippi with a powerless but violence-prone white population who were desperate to subjugate their Black neighbors as a means of making sure they themselves weren’t at the bottom of the social order. I’m in awe of this book. Vivid storytelling, thorough research and interviews, beautiful prose, insights and turns of phrase that I wanted to share with whoever was nearby—a must-read. Reviewed by Amanda Grell, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas |
|
|
This Motherless Land by Nikki May Adult Fiction, Cultural Heritage First, let me say that I will read anything that Nikki May writes. I enjoy her storytelling immensely. I also admire her for taking on a Mansfield Park retelling, as it is often one of Austen’s least-appreciated novels. Mansfield Park has always intrigued me, and is a novel that reveals more with each re-reading. With that said, I would call This Motherless Land more of a Mansfield Park-inspired story. It is not an exact parallel. In fact, it seems to me to be inspired by a combination of Mansfield Park and the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle. Though, it does examine many of the same themes in Mansfield Park, such as family, greed, love, retribution, and forgiveness. One does not need to have read Mansfield Park to enjoy this novel. May creates empathetic characters, an engaging plot, and just the right amount of suspense. Reviewed by Krista Roach, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bookseller Buzz |
 |
|
The Rivals by Jane Pek 
I’ve always been really interested in the idea of the detective as a character. That there is some unknown, some mystery, some secret, and the detective can put together the clues and uncover the truth. For me, the character of Claudia came first. I had always wanted to write a gay female because growing up, I had never come across these types of characters. I wanted a gay female character who is out there, having adventures, doing these things which are unexpected for someone like her. To be honest, I was hesitant about also making her Asian. When you write a minority character, you worry that everyone will think, “Oh, that’s you.” Those sorts of concerns about being pigeonholed. But ultimately, I had a clear sense about who this character was, and it was that she is a Chinese American, second-generation immigrant, and because of that, she viewed the world in a particular way. Setting it up that way, the way she moves and thinks is necessarily informed by who she is. This isn’t a novel about Asian or lesbian identity, but about someone who possesses these traits, and you therefore see the world from their perspective. ― Jane Pek, Interview, Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network What booksellers are saying about The Rivals 
Jane Pek was born and grew up in Singapore. She holds a BA from Yale University, a JD from the New York University School of Law, and an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College. She is the author of a novel, The Verifiers, and her short fiction has appeared in The Brooklyn Review, Witness, Conjunctions, Literary Hub, and twice in The Best American Short Stories. She currently lives in New York, where she works as a lawyer at a global investment company. |
 |
|
|
I Made It Out of Clay by Beth Kander Adult Fiction, Women When you’re single and turning 40 on your younger sister’s wedding weekend, what would happen if you could take your love life into your own hands … literally? In her adult debut I Made It Out of Clay, award-winning playwright Beth Kander dreams up a charming romantic dramedy that even hearts made out of stone — er, clay — won’t be able to resist, served with a healthy dose of pathos and a twist inspired by Jewish folklore. Reviewed by Emily Liner, Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Memoirs I loved Nichol Chung’s debut memoir, All You Can Ever Know, Know, so I couldn’t wait to read her latest, A Living Remedy. Continuing to explore themes of identity and race, A Living Remedy also delves into themes of grief, class, and our fractured healthcare system up through the days of the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to spare the reader spoilers because I was riveted by Nicole’s experience of growing up, moving across the country from her adoptive parents, and raising a family of her own. Her exquisite writing and tender vulnerability make this a stand-out memoir for me. Highly recommend! Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina |
|
|
Divine Mortals by Amanda Helander Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fiction The divining magic system really got my attention, and the plot twists kept me reading. Mona is the favored mortal of the crow god of love, and has the ability to divine soulmates. She’s also an agoraphobe because she accidentally killed her older brother as a child. (This isn’t a spoiler because it’s in the very first line.) She’s one of the most unlikable characters I’ve read in a while, but I kinda had to keep reading to see how far she would go–lying, cheating, scheming, teasing poor Master Whitman–to hold onto her truths. Reviewed by Candice Conner, The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama |
|
|
Bert, the Bowerbird by Julia Donaldson Animals, Birds, Children, Juvenile Fiction 
A November/December Read This Next! Kids Title Bert the Bowerbird is just the sweetest little guy. All he wants is a wife to share his bower with. But Annette, the bird he’s set his sights on, is demanding, and never satisfied with Bert’s efforts to win her affection. He journeys far and wide to find more offerings for Annette, but always ends up hurt by her lack of interest. Can Bert find a bird who loves him for who he is? With adorable rhymes from Julia Donaldson (author of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom) and gorgeous illustrations by Catherine Rayner, Bert, the Bowerbird is a wonderful tale of bird-based romance and self-acceptance. Don’t settle, Bert!!! Reviewed by Charlie Marks, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia |
|
|
Witchcraft: A Graphic History by Lindsay Squire Comics & Graphic Novels, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology Love love love this book! I absolutely adore the illustrations done by Salsi- they add to the whimsical vibes. This graphic novel was super educational among witchcraft, along with the story of Biddy Early. I would definitely recommend this to all readers. Reviewed by Kenzie Karoly, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
|
Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
|
|
Monster by Walter Dean Myers Banned Books, Law & Crime, Young Adult Fiction I like to imagine a world where this is required reading for high schoolers. Where kids know what is like for their life to be left in the hands of someone who doesn’t understand you and doesn’t try to. This is a hard read, I put it down several times just to breathe, but it is one that will stick me just as Hate U Give and Dear Martin did. Reviewed by Olivia Schaffer, The Bookshelf in Thomasville, Georgia |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
Parting Thought “Let’s be reasonable and add an eighth day to the week that is devoted exclusively to reading.” |
|
Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
You have received this email because you are currently subscribed to receive The Southern Bookseller Review.
Please click @@unsubscribe_url@@ if you no longer wish to receive these communications.