Here we are back again with my next round of ACL picks from Libro.fm. The ACL program allows special access to a number of new or upcoming releases on audio and I always manage to find a few I want each month. So today we’re talking about what I’m picked up in September and October, and let’s get to it.
September
Rebel Folklore by Icy Sedgwick
I just wasn’t feeling the selections in September so this was the only one I ended up picking up. I love these kinds of books, I’ve read so many of them on different topics. They’re the kind of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls but for adults books—a short piece on the person/figure/story and then usually a beautiful illustration. I’ve seen a couple of the illustrations online and I might borrow a copy of this from the library so I can see the art alongside the stories, but I also might just trawl through Instagram to see some of it. Right now I’m planning to save this for non-fiction November as a bit of a palate cleanser between some more intense books, but my TBR for that is also already ridiculous so we’ll see.
October
Black Grief/White Grievance by Juliet Hooker
October’s picks have made that non-fiction November TBR even longer, though we’ll see if I get to these ones. I picked this one because I’ve experienced a lot of grief in my life and I find books about it both incredibly interesting and sometimes comforting. I’m honestly not sure what direction this book is going to go in with ‘the politics of loss’ subtitle, but I think it sounds really interesting.
The Darkened Light of Faith by Melvin L. Rogers
This is another one about politics and race. I think my interest in these two were definitely inspired by how much I enjoyed Killing the Black Body on audio back in August. I’m not very politically minded, especially not US politics, so I find listening to the audio makes that side of things more interesting and easier to understand than trying to read it. I’m usually the opposite, but as long as I like the narrator, I think this will be a good listen.
Our Voices From The Heart by Professor Megan Davis and Patricia Anderson, AO
I was so excited when I saw this one pop up. I’m not 100% on this, but I really hope this is a worldwide option for the ACL program and not just a region specific one. In a few days Australia is finally voting in a referendum for The Voice to Parliament, which would set up a permanent advisory body to the Australia Parliament and Government created by and for First Nations people. I know I literally just said I wasn’t politically minded, but this is something that matters to me. This book is telling the story of the beginning of the campaign and how it reached where it is now. This one is just under 2 hours and I’ve already started listening to it, so I’ll have some thoughts about it soon.
So clearly non-fiction is my jam right now, but that’s all from me today. Hopefully I’ll read some of these during November and I’ll be able to share my thoughts soon.
Earl Grey Books 