Virtual Book Club: Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer ... By Neema Avashia

Join us for this month's book club! Our 79th book is Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain place by Neema Avashia.

BOOK:
Another Appalachia examines both the roots and the resonance of Avashia’s identity as a queer desi Appalachian woman, while encouraging readers to envision more complex versions of both Appalachia and the nation as a whole. With lyric and narrative explorations of foodways, religion, sports, standards of beauty, social media, gun culture, and more, Another Appalachia mixes nostalgia and humor, sadness and sweetness, personal reflection and universal questions. When Neema Avashia tells people where she’s from, their response is nearly always a disbelieving “There are Indian people in West Virginia?” A queer Asian American teacher and writer, Avashia fits few Appalachian stereotypes. But the lessons she learned in childhood about race and class, gender and sexuality continue to inform the way she moves through the world today: how she loves, how she teaches, how she advocates, how she struggles.

CONTENT NOTES*:
Graphic
Racism, xenophobia, racial slurs

Moderate
Gun violence, homophobia, alcoholism

Minor
Cancer, suicide, mental illness

*Content warnings pulled from Storygraph. If any were missed, please message Maura and they will amend the event page!

LOCATION: our homes

ACCESS:
Since this discussion will take place over zoom, live captioning/transcription is available through zoom and will be enabled. Send other accessibility questions or requests to Maura and they will work with you to find a solution/accommodation.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION FOR COVER PHOTO: book cover of Indian family of 11 people, 4 adults and 7 children, in front of a large wooden structure.