[The arrival of summer means a lot of good things, but high on the list for this AmericanStudier is the chance to read for pleasure, preferably on a beach blanket with a view of the crashing surf. For this year’s annual Beach Reads series, I’ll highlight recent or forthcoming books by colleagues and friends. Add your Beach Read ideas and nominations for a crowd-sourced weekend post that’ll always keep toes in the sand!]
It’s
pretty rare to find a creative writer who is genuinely equally adept at both
poetry and fiction—not just at writing them, that is, but at producing stunning
works in both genres. Which makes it pretty cool that I’ve had the chance to
work in the Fitchburg State University English Studies Department with two such
multitalented writers: my past colleague Ian Williams, on whom more in a couple
days; and my current colleague DeMisty
D. Bellinger. DeMisty’s first two poetry collections, Rubbing
Elbows (2017) and Peculiar
Heritage (2021), were quite different from each other, and already
reflected a writer and voice that could take readers on multilayered journeys
across history, culture, identity, and more. But her most recent book, her
debut novel New to Liberty
(2022), represents another striking and significant step in this evolving
and inspiring career. You won’t better a better book to bring in your book bag
this summer, I promise!
Next Beach
Reads tomorrow,
Ben
PS. What
do you think? Beach Reads you’d nominate?
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