Freebird's May 2023 book drive: Westerns

May's book bundle for incarcerated readers takes on the Western--but not your dad's Zane Grey
$30 purchases three books (42% off retail)* 

Following our campaign (collecting 415 books!) that focused on staying fit, physically and mentally, we delve into a genre that incarcerated readers always desire but that Books Through Bars almost never gets donated: the Western.  That might be a reflection of where we are located and the fact New York book consumers do not make up the usual demographic for tales of derring do on the high prairie. But the fact remains that classics by Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour, and William Johnstone are in almost as high demand for escapism as genre fiction from Stephen King, John Grisham, and Clive Cussler.  

Rather than picking from the above writers' backlist, which can contain some very problematic depictions of indigenous peoples, we chose a variety of titles that represent different interpretations of the American West, both modern and mythic. Percival Everett's fiction is finally getting its due in the book press, and Half an Inch of Water demonstrates his range--not to mention his ability to blast through being pigeon holed as a writer. Here is a chronicle of the West that need not strictly be of the white experience. While Anna North reevaluates the myth of the Old West through the lens of women gunslingers in Outlawed. A bestseller and book club at publication, Outlawed is a rollicking story of the Hole in the Wall Gang that is "a provocative blend of alt-history and feminist consciousness" (Washington Post). Rounding these out is Ghosts of the Old West: an exploration of the myths that power all good Westerns, especially as they relate to other worldly elements.

*Each purchased bundle will be delivered directly to Books Through Bars so that they can fulfill requests from incarcerated readers.  If you wish to purchase one of these titles for yourself, you can go to https://bookshop.org/shop/FreebirdBooks.

On Sale

On Sale

Outlawed/Half an Inch of Water/Ghosts of the Old West

$51.00 $30.00

Freebird's May 2023 focuses on three titles-- $30 helps purchase for incarcerated readers copies of Outlawed by Anna North; Half an Inch of Water by Percival Everett; and Ghosts of the Old West by Earl Murray

Please note that when Square processes your order they describe it as a "digital delivery". That does not refer to way the books will be delivered to incarcerated readers. Your purchase will go towards NYC Books Through Bars fulfilling requests with physical copies of the aforementioned titles.

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