New Nonfiction: December 2022

Let me preface by admitting that I started this list because I love reading. I read quite a lot (too much to the disapproval of a sister trying to coax me into watching a film!) Recently I’ve loved the books you can read in a day, the nonfiction released in November, and even the trending BookTok titles you can find all over the internet.

Outside of writing monthly reviews, I’ve been on the hunt for new titles to devour, and have I got a feast for your December!

Queens of the Age of Chivalry: England’s Medieval Queens by Alison Weir

Now, Alison Weir, you have been on my reading radar since I watched one of your famous zoom lectures. One can always count on Weir to provide a rich historical examination of Tudor England. In her new book, Queens of the Age of Chivalry, she explores five Tudor queens. This age was dominated by social and economic upheaval, where courtly romances and military nobility sought to oust the monarchy. Weir’s work is set to explore the Black Death, the Hundred Years War, and the Peasants’ Revolt. Each of these shines a scholarly feminist lens upon European royalty.

Weightless: Making Space for My Resilient Body and Soul by Evette Dionne

This unique book tackles fatphobia and racism in a fascinating and unapologetic way. It follows the navigation of acceptance as Dionne battles expectations of size, race, and gender. With Dionne a National Book Award nominee, this story is set to defy expectations and societal boundaries that fought to imprison her. I simply cannot wait to see how Dionne transforms how modern women undergo bodily acceptance.

Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed, and the Fight for the Future of Meat by Chloe Sorvino

This is set to be a shocking, journalistic exposé of the meat industry in the United States. Sorvino exposes the weaknesses of the meat industry and what this means for the future of food. By engaging with ideas of corporate greed and marxism, this book contains new data previously hidden by companies to protect their profit. As a vegan, I think understanding where our food comes from is so important.

Hatching: Experiments in Motherhood and Technology by Jenni Quilter

Since the first test-tube baby was born in 1978 via vitro-fertilisation, the transformation of medicine and fertility has disregarded a vital conversation. Our understanding of motherhood and the female body is still a battleground between conservative values and misogyny. So, Quilter explores the side of medicine and pregnancy. This book is set to question how we define parenthood and pregnancy, and what this means for our future. Now, Quilter has several books under her arm (not literally!) I’ve had my eye on her work since she was a finalist for the 2014 AICA Award for Best Criticism. I have no doubt her writer’s voice is strong enough to start a conversation about medicine and womanhood.

The Tudors in Love: Passion and Politics in the Age of England’s Most Famous Dynasty by Sarah Gristwood

From the author whose work has exposed the rich love affairs of the Tudor dynasty, comes another instalment of courtly romance, politics, and diplomacy. The turbulent drama of this era has captivated scholars and readers for centuries. Was it dreamy? Steamy? Or was it all a nightmare?

The relationship between romance and politics marred the Tudor dynasty. Gristwood explores the codes of desire and power, love and lust, and obsession and revulsion, which shaped this era.

The Unofficial Ghibli Cookbook by Thibaud Villanova

From the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli comes 40 delicious dishes. These meals, snacks, and drinks are as dreamy as the animated worlds from which they come. Think the steamed bun from Spirited Away. Uniquely, imagine the bacon from Howl’s Moving Castle (without Calcifer wishing you’d burn it this time!)

I must confess, these books were essential to the end of 2022. There are so many other creative nonfiction books that went into this. Notably, nonfiction you can read in a day or titles from our yearly nonfiction review. Just wait and see what I have in store for January 2023!

Therefore, I’ve added some links to our monthly newsletter which you can sign up for here. As a bonus, you’ll get access to new and upcoming books as well as what we recommend for you!