De'Shawn Charles Winslow's 6 favorite books about self-identity
The novelist recommends works by Toni Morrison, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, and more

When you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Novelist De'Shawn Charles Winslow is the author of In West Mills, which won a 2020 American Book Award. His second novel, Decent People, is set in 1976 in a segregated North Carolina community rocked by an unsolved triple homicide.
Tar Baby by Toni Morrison (1981)
In Morrison's captivating holiday-season novel, a wealthy couple awaits the homecoming of their only child, Michael, while readers also get to know the unforgettable members of the household staff. Tar Baby shines a bright light on class, trauma, and the nuances of parenthood and marriage. It asks us to not judge people based on what they do or do not have. Buy it here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Paradise by Toni Morrison (1997)
When a group of ostracized women are murdered in their place of peaceful refuge, members of the community are forced to reckon with their traditions and attitudes. This novel, at once magical and heartbreaking, deftly reminds us that, for better or worse, people will unite around a common goal. Buy it here.
After the Parade by Lori Ostlund (2015)
Forty-year-old Aaron just wants to find himself after separating from his longtime partner, and so moves to the queer promised land that is San Francisco. In this heartstring-tugging novel, he meets a new chosen family but also learns that moving can't always heal the past. Buy it here.
Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage (2021)
A young man moves to New York City seeking fun, community, and artistic success, but finds himself in a prison of sorts after meeting a charming man who has it all. Yes, Daddy is an audacious novel that asks us to think closely about what we want and the ways we pursue it. Buy it here.
Revival Season by Monica West (2021)
Fifteen-year-old Miriam Horton just wants to serve her God and her family and be happy, but after witnessing an act of violence, she must reevaluate all she's been taught about the church and the people closest to her. West's beautifully written novel is about patriarchy, family, and forging one's own path. Buy it here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Don't Cry for Me by Daniel Black (2022)
As Jacob's life draws to a close, he is determined to make sure his estranged son knows everything he's been keeping inside. So he writes letters to his son, describing his own childhood, the loved ones who shaped him, the people he gained and lost, and his regrets. A stunning novel that all fathers and father figures should read. Buy it here.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
The genetic secrets of South Korea's female free-divers
Under The Radar Unique physiology of 'real-life mermaid' haenyeo women could help treat chronic diseases
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
Laurence Leamer's 6 favorite books that took courage to write
Feature The author recommends works by George Orwell, Truman Capote and more
-
Amor Towles' 6 favorite books from the 1950s
Feature The author recommends works by Vladimir Nabokov, Jack Kerouac, and more
-
Susan Page's 6 favorite books about historical figures who stood up to authority
Feature The USA Today's Washington bureau chief recommends works by Catherine Clinton, Alexei Navalny, and more
-
Ione Skye's 6 favorite books about love and loss
Feature The actress recommends works by James Baldwin, Nora Ephron, and more
-
Colum McCann's 6 favorite books that take place at sea
Feature The National Book Award-winning author recommends works by Ernest Hemingway, Herman Melville, and more
-
Max Allan Collins’ 6 favorite books that feature private detectives
Feature The mystery writer recommends works by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and more
-
John McWhorter’s 6 favorite books that are rooted in history
Feature The Columbia University professor recommends works by Lyla Sage, Sally Thorne, and more
-
Abdulrazak Gurnah's 6 favorite books about war and colonialism
Feature The Nobel Prize winner recommends works by Michael Ondaatje, Toni Morrison, and more