Learning about Ukraine and Russia from fiction and nonfiction

Plus books at the intersection of Black feminist thought, culture and politics [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Meghan Collins Sullivan This week, we bring you five books from Black feminists who are some of the most astute observers and theorists of American mass culture right now — and also take a look at a number of books that help readers get a handle on the history of Ukraine-Russia relations. [titles of books about Ukraine]( Catie Dull/NPR We’re about a month into Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine. Some bookstores have taken note that there’s been increased demand for titles related to Russia and its relationship with Ukraine. If you want to learn more but aren't not sure what to reach for first, [here's a handful of books about Ukraine that can help guide you.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Yevgenia Belorusets is a writer and photographer living in Kyiv.]( Olga Tsybulska./One Direction NPR culture desk reporter Andrew Limbong [was able to catch the author of one of these books]( as she took shelter in Kyiv. Yevgenia Belorusets, artist and author of Lucky Breaks (just released in the U.S. in March), stayed in the capital city with her parents, who refused to leave. Lucky Breaks, a collection of short fiction, depicts women affected by war. Each story is sparse, and they bend and blend reality with folklore and absurdism to truly depict these women who are lost, confused, and are living in a confusing version of reality. "When I was writing that book, I didn't know that I will become one of those characters," [Belorusets told NPR.]( [covers of books written by Madeleine Albright]( Meghan Collins Sullivan/NPR Meanwhile, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright died last week at the age of 84. But her legacy lives on — not only in the history she made as the first woman to hold the post, but also in her teachings. Albright wrote several books: She reflected not only on her upbringing and personal history, but also on everything from Russian President Putin to former U.S. President Trump, to totalitarianism and fascism and, of course, diplomacy. [Here’s a look.]( February was Black History Month and March Women’s History Month. [So we took a look at the conversation around Black women, feminism and culture right now]( – which is wide ranging and essential. [covers of books written by and about Black women]( [covers of "Lifetime Passes" and "Flung out of Space"]( And this week our critic Etelka Lehoczky [interviewed Mariko Tamaki, creator and curator of LGBTQ graphic novels]( for our series Creators on the Cusp. She's won the Eisner Award, the Caldecott Honor and a slew of other awards for graphic novels such as This One Summer (co-written with her cousin, Jillian Tamaki) and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. On a different note, we also took a peek at [some new YA fantasies]( and [some great nonfiction translations]( coming our way this spring. Looking for more suggestions on what to read now? There’s always [Books We Love,]( our interactive reading guide to help you find your next great read. And you can find more of our author interviews on books ranging from history to YA romance on our podcast, [Book of the Day.]( Hope you find time to sit down with a good book this week! — Meghan --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [books@npr.org](mailto:books@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Pop Culture, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Books emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]