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Though the writing sometimes appears to be unpolished, Lee offers some interesting commentary on life. These essays may appeal to readers interested in writing and mental health.
Tillet writes a necessary account of how Walker’s centering the lives of Black women has transformed literature. Accessibly written, this book will engage both longtime fans and those new to Walker’s writing.
A must for better understanding queer culture, especially the contributions of Black and Latinx trans people to pop culture at large.
PREMIUM
Let Me Tell You What I Mean
This volume could be read in one sitting or one vignette at a time, as Didion’s perceptive voice connects the essays beautifully, but each one can stand equally well on its own terms. For both fans of Didion and those new to her work entirely, this collection is an essential investment.
Greene’s life story is both interesting and fascinating, and this balanced account offers the best reading of how his personal life infused and enriched his work.
First and foremost, this book is for anyone who has ever taught Shakespeare to young students. It’s too short, but perhaps that makes it more likely to be read.
A masterful biography that will especially interest literary scholars.
A wonderful, thought-provoking collection of essays that highlight the various experiences of immigrants, people of color, and women in the American South. Recommended for public and academic libraries.
Deliriously fast-paced and erudite, this is highly recommended for all literature, poetry, and women’s studies collections.
A major biography of a major, and appealing, literary figure, this study will jump off the shelves.
Translated novels first written in French, Farsi, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean comprise the best world literature published in 2020.
Belonging and acceptance, ecological disaster, Shakespeare's child. The best literary fiction published in 2020.
Ably edited by Schumacher, this book provides a wealth of source material for researchers on Ginsberg’s life and work during this period.
There is something for everybody here, and since the writings are short, it is a perfect companion for moments of waiting. Because all of Brevity’s essays, and some additional resources, are free online, the anthology makes a useful tool for both teaching flash nonfiction and learning how to write it.
Two forthcoming collections is this series focusing on the postwar era (1945–2000) and essays of the 21st century will ensure this is the most comprehensive set of American essay writing to date. For readers fascinated by the sheer scope, variety, and art of the essay.
Exceptionally well-researched and detailed, this is a definitive portrait of Rich that will be welcomed by aspiring writers and poets, Rich scholars, and devotees of 20th-century American poetry.
A notable volume from a widely appreciated author recommended for all humor, journalism, and Southern literature collections.
Filled with Butler’s voice, photos of lists, notebooks, and other ephemera, this volume outlines a life map, a model, a vision of possibilities that is sure to inspire budding writers to, as Butler did, imagine a world that is different and make a place for themselves in it. Also a must-read for Butler fans.
Recommended for bibliophiles and readers curious about the works and authors behind the books they love.
This fascinating anthology is a must for all collections.
PREMIUM
The Language of Thieves: My Family’s Obsession with a Secret Code the Nazis Tried To Eliminate
A puzzling family mystery uncovers a forgotten language and its ties to Nazi Germany in this probing literary history that will attract linguistics enthusiasts.
PREMIUM
Suppose a Sentence
Dillon’s riffs on his chosen sentences are often impressionistic, meandering, and thin, resulting in a text riddled with misconceptions, albeit from an especially energetic, literary mind.
PREMIUM
The Best of Me
This collection of favorite and beloved writings by an author with legions of fans is warm, witty, and guaranteed to please longtime and new readers alike.
PREMIUM
Lot Six: A Memoir
Highly recommended; this revealing memoir takes us beyond the facts of Adjmi’s life to probe his quest for identity and his rise as a prominent playwright and author.
Among the first anthologies of its kind, this thoughtful and engaging compilation is recommended for readers seeking understanding and connection and a more empathetic and less materialistic post–COVID-19 world.
Readers not obsessed with Murakami or translating may find themselves periodically overwhelmed by the minutiae, but anyone who cares about the process of translating and the variables involved will be richly rewarded. Recommend for academic and public libraries with robust Japanese literature collections
Jenkins is a sincere writer, and his ability to make it feel as if he is talking to you directly will both attract longtime fans and engage new readers.
A worthy addition to the ongoing effort to publish all of Hemingway’s letters, this volume will be welcomed by scholars, students, and general readers with a more than casual interest in the man and his work.
Smith demonstrates once again that she is a powerful albeit quiet voice for our challenging times. Highly Recommended.
With a journalist’s perspective and a penchant for wit and storytelling, Steinberg crafts a compelling narrative of his quest to find love and to write postdivorce.
A feast of entertaining (and often scary) reads. Highly recommended for those interested in literature of the horror and supernatural variety.
Highly recommended for Texas history and poetry collections, and for all memoir readers.
Wilson is the perfect choice to write about this complicated soul, showing how reading Dickens, one emerges with a new appreciation of the people one encounters. Even 150 years after his death, Dickens’s life and works continue to fascinate.
An essential, scholarly volume for academic and larger public library collections devoted to the literary traditions and history of African American women throughout U.S. history.
Essential for Borges’s legions of fans, as well as those who enjoy literary memoirs by experimental writers whose works play a bit more loosely with the facts.
Faulkner once famously said, “The past is not dead. In fact, it’s not even past,” and this exceptional study by Gorra lends credence to these words. A worthy addition to Faulkner studies, and for larger Southern literature and Civil War collections.
PREMIUM
Tomboyland
Readers of all kinds will wish to sit down with this tomboy, not just those interested in issues of androgyny. Recommended.
“How does one say/ what if/ without reproach?” asks Rankine, and proceeds to show us. In the end it is “just us” wanting “justice,” which will require whiteness to be visible and interrogated. A must-read to add to the conversation on racism, antiracism, and white fragility.
A successful reminder of how time-honored literature evokes insight into our present reality and why the classics should be read more and often.
The focus throughout this illuminating and invaluable study is on secular modern Jewish writers from Central and Eastern Europe and their descendants. For all Jewish literature collections, and for informed general readers interested in modern Jewish secular literary culture.
Essential for biography and literary collections; a sheer joy to read for its portrayal of the amazing life of the first “poet of the people.” [See Prepub Alert, 12/9/19.]
Some readers are spending their time in lockdown reading formidable classics. Yet for anyone not quite ready to dig into Ulysses, the works of Jane Austen are always a good idea.
These writings will appeal to a broad range of readers and even stand up (pun intended) against the most well-fortified sensibilities. Men possessing low tolerance to alienation, however, are warned.
Like Roth, Taylor is a terrific raconteur, and readers are likely to be as entertained by his opinions as those of the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. An eloquent and touching account that should appeal to all who appreciate the value of true friendship.
Anyone who has faced physical challenges is sure to find wisdom in Brown’s words as well as the universal truths she shares.
Recommended for all libraries with substantial collections of African American and contemporary American literature.
Pulling together many threads of the Dante’s story, Raffa offers an engaging, informative, and original account of the material culture of the poet’s epic body of work. Highly recommended.
A lighthearted read for all fans of French literature.
Emotions of sorrow, anger, and anxiety loom large in Khakpour’s inner and outer experiences in America, but the humor in her reflections keep this book immune from wallowing. A triumphant entry in the personal essay canon.
A thought-provoking, albeit uneven, compilation with varied insights into grief, mourning, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Recommended where literary anthologies are popular.
An interesting look at how two remarkable men, who came of age in Paris during the 1920s, developed a sympathy for the common man and a hatred of injustice. Recommended for general readers.
PREMIUM
My Life as a Villainess: Essays
Fans of Lippman’s novels (The Lady in the Lake) and her Twitter followers will gobble up this short collection and beg for more nonfiction from this gifted storyteller. [See Prepub Alert, 11/11/19.]
Doherty’s overall galvanizing look at a little-explored conjunction of critical feminist voices should incite provocative historical context to current-day discussions around the need for more support of women’s intellectual work.
Literary historians, as well as general readers up on the major events in recent British history, will be well served by this valiant debut about bold women whose struggles continue to resonate today.
Placing Cummings in the context of the “War Poets,” Rosenblitt breathes new life back into poems too often anthologized and too little read. Highly recommended.
As a succinct introduction to women nature writers, this elegant compilation should have a broad reach and inspire readers to seek out more about the authors featured.
Preciado engages complex ideas from a number of ancient and modern-day philosophers and theorists, which might challenge the uninitiated, but the dreamlike quality of the work is sure to resonate with readers of the great French writers Jean Genet and Albert Camus. Highly recommended.
Overall, a useful option for its target audience: students. The entries will be accessible to high schoolers, and possibly younger students, as well as college-level readers, who will learn much from the coverage of varied genres, from mystery, romance, and horror, influenced by African American writers.
Genre fans are sure to be curious about this rare window into the lives of their favorite authors, as will anyone who enjoys compelling, candid tales.
Toss out your old editions, this is the one you’ll want to own.
One can say many things about crime fiction, and throughout this thoughtful, well-crafted piece of literary history, Lee succeeds in telling the story straight.
A can’t-miss title for those interested in Twain’s life and especially his views on religion and imperialism.
While there’s little comfort to be found in these tales that ruthlessly dissect human nature, this anthology is not without its charms, especially as found in the whimsical illustrations and witty, honest prose.
A sheer delight for Irby’s legions of fans. For those new to her work, or who enjoy Jenny Lawson, Roxane Gay, Jenny Slate, or Nora Ephron, this should be obtained immediately.
PREMIUM
This Is Shakespeare
Smith wears her learning lightly and writes in an accessible, conversational style, making this an excellent work for those eager to brush up their Shakespeare, forsooth.
Nicosia provides a detailed, well-documented account of what is loosely referred to in Kerouac circles as “The Kerouac Estate Controversy.” While a fascinating read, this will not win everyone over to Nicosia’s viewpoint. Sampas’s death in 2017 perhaps offered some hope that the controversy would smolder, but this publication promises to fan the flames.
Rollyson’s astute analysis makes not only for a good story but also a welcome addition to Faulkner studies.
Replete with editor Hamilton’s masterly and well-researched footnotes, this will be an indispensable gloss to the reading and interpretation of The Dolphin.
A truly innovative approach to understanding the author-reader connection; for the lit-crit crowd looking to affirm Ferrante’s reinvention of the future of the novel; these fragments of Ferrante ultimately cohere into a full, absorbing portrait of an enduring author
A truly innovative approach to understanding the author-reader connection made all the more compelling for having one of the 20th century’s greatest literary works at its core.
Raphel’s approach is reminiscent of Mary Roach’s work, and even cruciverbalists well versed in their hobby’s history will discover something illuminating here. Nonpuzzling readers may discover a new hobby.
This practical guide to technique and intimate look into George’s writing life wisely reminds readers and students that writing is a job and should be scheduled as such. The anecdotal material and reading lists offer penetrating looks into the author’s sensibilities.
Despite its flaws, this important and very personal take on Whitman’s lasting influence as “America’s Poet” should be a worthwhile addition to libraries with strong poetry or LGBTQ collections.
PREMIUM
Incidental Inventions
In prose that provokes and transforms, evoking wonder and tension in the most gratifying sense, these fragments of Ferrante ultimately cohere into a full, absorbing portrait of an enduring author.
For anyone who appreciates great literature (especially the wonderful fiction of Stone), this is required reading.
Though long overdue, this satisfying offering comes at a time when women are working harder than ever to secure their rightful place in the literary canon. Recommended enthusiasts of lit crit, feminist studies, and publishing.
PREMIUM
Elena Ferrante’s Key Words
An exceptional companion to the source material, particularly for the lit-crit crowd looking to affirm Ferrante’s reinvention of the future of the novel. [Note: Beginning in Feb. 2020, HBO continues its popular miniseries adapting the “Neapolitan Novels,” now in its second season.
For archivists, students, and fans of Warhol’s life and art.
Recommended for nonscholarly but informed readers who appreciate the discovery of authors worth knowing. For all public library collections.
While the translation is intermittently turgid and labored, this nonetheless mostly fluid and serviceable volume from a writer little known to American readers is sure to enhance collections of Eastern European literature.
Palahniuk readers--and writers at any career level--likely will devour this vivid and instructive behind-the-scenes tour.
Essential for followers of Genet, inquisitive general readers, and enthusiasts of 20th-century avant-garde French writing.
Each work shines in its own way throughout this new compilation, which upholds the standards set by preceding volumes in the series beautifully. Required reading for students, writers, and seekers of fine literature.
Nicolson’s gifts, both as a writer and a scholar, shine brightly, offering readers a thrilling glimpse into the marvelous work that is the “making of poetry.” Interspersed throughout are beautiful and simple woodcuts by artist Tom Hammick that may inspire readers to take up a pen and do a little making of their own. Highly recommended for all libraries.
The compelling, eminently readable, novel-like style of Ackmann’s writing makes this new take on the poet’s artistic and personal growth highly recommended for both scholars and casual readers long captivated by the “Belle of Amherst.”
A fine narrative of how the best writers express the deepest secrets of the heart.
Leduc persuasively illustrates the power of stories to affect reality in this painstakingly researched and provocative study that invites us to consider our favorite folktales from another angle.
A delightful entry for lovers of literature and literary criticism.
All who pick up this book, from Morrison devotees to newcomers, will discover lessons in the literature to apply to their own lives. They will also feel inspired and wish to be part of a Toni Morrison Book Club of their own.
Readers of William S. Burroughs and Beat literature, as well as experiential journals from Djuna Barnes, Paul Bowles, and Hunter S. Thompson will find here much to endure and enjoy.
PREMIUM
Dante
While not for beginners, Took’s biography is deeply enriching for those who have some grounding in Dante, for whom this is an essential resource.
Chock-full of approachable and engaging critical analyses, this work will pique the curiosity of both Shakespeareans and anyone interested in American culture.
Dig in for music history, trailblazing animators, and incisive critiques of film and TV. The best arts titles published in 2019.
PREMIUM
James Baldwin: Living in Fire
A clear, incisive writer, Mullen succeeds with providing a fresh perspective on an author he so obviously admires. Recommended for readers seeking a broader understanding of the opinions of one of the great writers of the 20th century.
High school and college students will find excellent examples of how to study the geographical components of literature, while book clubs will discover fresh approaches to old and new classics.
The strong writing, creative genre use, and authentic voice add up to some high-impact essays.
PREMIUM
Little Weirds
This volume mixes the oddball self-examination of Jenny Lawson with moments of poetic insight. Recommended for lovers of fizzy memoirs.
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