5 books not to miss: Catherine E. McKinley's ‘The African Lookbook,’ ‘The Doctors Blackwell'
In search of something good to read? USA TODAY's Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases.
1. “The African Lookbook,” by Catherine E. McKinley (Bloomsbury, nonfiction, on sale Jan. 19)
What it’s about: The curator draws on her collection of historical and contemporary photographs of African girls and women for a striking visual history spanning decades.
The buzz: “Packed with arresting images and incisive analysis, this well-conceived survey tells a powerful story of African liberation,” says Publishers Weekly.
2. “The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women – and Women to Medicine,” by Janice P. Nimura (Norton, nonfiction, on sale Jan. 19)
What it’s about: A fascinating dual biography of two sisters who rejected the “ordinary” womanhood of the 1800s to become doctors and establish the first hospital run for and by women.
The buzz: “The sisters were complicated, and theirs is not a warm and fuzzy story. But it is inspiring. Their bravery and independence were nothing short of astonishing,” says a ★★★ (out of four) review for USA TODAY.
3. “Bad Medicine: Catching New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher,” by Charlotte Bismuth (Atria/One Signal, nonfiction, on sale Jan. 19)
What it’s about: A former prosecutor recounts the stunning criminal case and landmark trial of an infamous pill-pushing New York doctor who traded dangerous prescriptions for cash.
The buzz: “A gripping read tailor-made for the silver screen,” says Kirkus Reviews.
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4. "Remote Control," by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor/Forge, fiction, on sale Jan. 19)
What it’s about: An alien artifact turns a young girl into death’s adopted daughter, granting her the power to take away life in this sci-fi tale of community and female empowerment.
The buzz: “Readers will be blown away,” says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.
5. “Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World,” by Simon Winchester (Harper, nonfiction, on sale Jan. 19)
What it’s about: An examination of humanity’s relationship with land ownership through history, and how and why we acquire and care for it.
The buzz: Publishers Weekly calls it “an entertaining and erudite roundup of humanity’s ever-evolving relationship with terra firma.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 books not to miss: 'African Lookbook,' 'Doctors Blackwell'