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Big Books of the Week

Game On: Tempting Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich (Atria) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart (Random; LJ starred review)

Miss Moriarty, I Presume (Lady Sherlock, Bk. 6) by Sherry Thomas (Berkley)

Still Life by Sarah Winman (Putnam)

The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom (Harper)

These books and others publishing the week of Nov 1st, 2021 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Four LibraryReads and eight Indie Next picks publish this week:

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (Tordotcom; LJ starred review)

“An Edwardian baronet mistakenly becomes the bureaucratic liaison to a hidden magical society in this trilogy starter. Features great character development and a strong story line weaving fantasy, mystery, and a study in manners, all with a twist of humor. For fans of Zen Cho and V.E. Schwab."—Courtenay Reece, Millville Public Library, Millville, NJ

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“What could be better than a secret magical society in Edwardian England combined with mystery, intrigue, and romance? Turns out, nothing at all! Fans of Red, White & Royal Blue and Witchmark will absolutely enjoy this debut from Freya Marske.”—Max Ruthless, Foggy Pine Books, Boone, NC

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris (Morrow)

“All is not as it first seems in this thriller set in present-day Atlanta. In-house attorney Ellice is suddenly elevated to corporate general counsel after her boss’s death, but things don’t add up. A beautifully written, entertaining mystery with on-target social commentary about workplace politics and racial and sexual discrimination. For fans of Hank Phillippi Ryan, Attica Locke, and S. A. Cosby.”—Nina Radakovich, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, Atlanta, GA

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“This fast-paced legal thriller hooked me from page one. I so enjoyed having a kick-ass protagonist in a legal thriller that also touches on the challenges of Black women in the male dominated corporate law firm environment.”—Lia Lent, WordsWorth Books, Little Rock, AR

The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams (Berkley; LJ starred review)

“Absolutely loved the body-positive message of this fun romance between a lifestyle web reviewer and the fitness coach she’s supposed to be evaluating. Wonderful, well-written characters make this a winner. For fans of Olivia Dade and Kate Clayborn.”—Rebecca Moe, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, NY

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu (Avon)

“Jas is lost and working in her family's donut shop. When she accidentally follows her crush on Instagram, things start to change. An all-around good book that touches on family dynamics, friendships, and issues faced by recent college grads. For fans of Get a Life, Chloe Brown and The Friend Zone.”—Suzy Card, Grapevine Library, Grapevine, TX

Six additional Indie Next picks publish this week:

Win Me Something by Kyle Lucia Wu (Tin House: Norton)

“Such a thoughtful, gentle, totally immersive debut about a universally fascinating profession: nannying for the super-rich. Willa’s yearning to belong and find her footing in a world that frequently misunderstands and typecasts her reads as tender and true.”—Kristen Iskandrian, Thank You Books, Birmingham, AL

The Interim by Wolfgang Hilbig, trans. by Isabel Fargo Cole (Two Lines Press: Ingram)

“A transcendent reading experience about a German culture cleaved in two, and a man trying to find his way through the middle. A masterpiece of one of European literature’s finest authors.”—Matt Keliher, SubText Books, St. Paul, MN

Pity the Beast by Robin McLean (And Other Stories)

“An epic Western adventure that subverts any and all preconceived notions of the genre. McLean twists the sharpest edges of gender, philosophy, and the landscape itself into a compassionate meditation on what it means to survive.”—Josie Smith, Madison Street Books, Chicago, IL

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart (Random; LJ starred review)

“Extraordinary. I love every word Shteyngart’s ever written, and this is his best novel by an upstate country mile. I said I never wanted to read a 2020 pandemic novel, but I was wrong. I needed to read one — this one.”—Chris Lee, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI

Blue-Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu (Soho Press)

“Kalki is said to be the tenth human incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu but, despite his blue skin, even he isn’t sure he believes it. A wholly original coming-of-age story told with warmth and compassion.”—Audrey Beatty, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury, CT

Still Life by Sarah Winman (Putnam)

“This is one of those books that captured my heart and would not let go — the characters will stay with you for a long time. A makeshift family story covering several decades is beautifully developed and oh so funny and tender.”—Jude Sales, Readers’ Books, Sonoma, CA

In the Media

The People "Picks" book of the week is Carry the Dog by Stephanie Gangi (Algonquin: Workman). Also getting attention are 100 Things We've Lost to the Internet by Pamela Paul (Crown), and The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries and Heroic Science Behind the Race to the Coronavirus Vaccine by Brendan Borrell (Mariner Books).

A “Star Picks" section highlights Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney (Farrar; LJ starred review), The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little, Brown), and Straight Dope by Tommy Swerdlow (Stark House Press). The “Picks” section highlights Army of Thieves, based on a story and characters by Zach Snyder, on Netflix. 

The cover feature showcases Angelina Jolie, Know Your Rights and Claim Them: A Guide for Youth (Zest Books), on her kids, helping others, and her new movie, The Eternals. Plus, Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, Italian American: Red Sauce Classics and New Essentials: A Cookbook, written with Jamie Feldmar (Clarkson Potter), shares a recipe.

Reviews

NPR reviews Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA by Tim Mak (Dutton): “might be the final blow in terms of exposing the organization's rotten core and showing how a boundless love for money and power — as well as nepotism, fraud, and corruption — have been eating away at the NRA's foundations for a long time.” And, Win Me Something by Kyle Lucia Wu (Tin House: Norton): “Wu perfectly captures the feeling of being young and unmoored in a large city, unable to find close friends and still carrying a dull pain from a childhood that was neither really happy nor unhappy.” And, As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall (Morrow): “Ultimately, As the Wicked Watch is an impressive debut — a moving take on familiar but urgent problems and society's indifference.”

USA Today reviews Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart (Random; LJ starred review), giving it 3.5 out of 4 stars: “Shteyngart still manages to thread his trademark witticisms throughout while addressing social issues that require immediate attention including police brutality, diaspora and sexual orientation. Fittingly, a Chekhov play serves as a coda to Shteyngart’s virtuoso performance about the human condition.”

The NYT reviews 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai Weiwei, trans. by Allan H. Barr (Crown; LJ starred review): “During his months in detention, Ai became determined to leave a trace; regret about the unbridgeable gap between himself and his late father, and the fear that his young son might never know who his father really is, gave rise to the idea of a book.”

The Washington Post reviews Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds by Huma Abedin (Scribner): “Her overarching efforts to be loyal, modest and supportive to her husband and others, her insistent efforts to be a backstage player to some of the nation’s most powerful players, came at her own peril — and potentially that of so many others. The memoir is candid yet soaked in denial, a cautionary tale of orthodox Good Girlism.” And, Noël Coward on (and in) Theatre by Noël Coward, ed. by Barry Day (Knopf): “Coward’s knowledge of and reverence for theatrical tradition was matched by his regard for talent in whatever form it took; it’s this openness that saves him from sounding like an out-of-touch curmudgeon.”

The Guardian reviews The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by Paul McCartney (Liverlight: Norton): “Neither lyrics nor commentary will be studied quite as closely as the pictures of Paul looking fabulous for more than 50 years, posing for pre-digital selfies with everyone from the Maharishi to Auntie Jin. In the end, we would as soon look at rock stars as listen to them, and this is as much a picture book as anything.”

Briefly Noted

The Polari Prize winners are announced, including A Dutiful Boy: A Memoir of Secrets, Lies and Family Love by Mohsin Zaidi (Square Peg), and No Modernism Without Lesbians by Diana Souhami (Head of Zeus). 

The 2021 Chelsey Award nominees are announced.

The NYT features Emily Ratajkowski, and her book of essays My Body (Metropolitan). 

LA Times talks with Sam Quinones, The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth (Bloomsbury; LJ starred review), about ”the current state of addiction…and why he remains hopeful.”  LA Times also has a feature and interview with Cassandra Peterson, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark (Hachette).

Entertainment Weekly talks with N.K. Jemisin, Far Sector, illus. by Jamal Campbell (DC Comics), about how the “Green Lantern comic taught her to think visually.”

USA Today has a feature on Kal Penn’s new memoir, You Can't Be Serious (Gallery), which publishes this week. People also has a feature on Penn.

Entertainment Weekly has an interview with Emma Straub about her forthcoming time-travel novel, This Time Tomorrow (Riverhead), which publishes May 2022. 

Lithub teases forthcoming sci-fi novel, Canary, from Neil Young. No publication date has been announced.  

USA Today shares details from Brian Cox’s forthcoming memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat (Grand Central), due out in January.

Slate interviews Professor Emily J.M. Knox about Toni Morrison's Beloved, and its "place in the history of book-banning and book-challenging in American schools." 

Jeanette Winterson is named new writer in residence for November at Substack. The Bookseller reports. 

The Washington Post discusses audiobooks, “best narrators, best listening speeds and why we like them to begin with.”

The Atlantic's Books Briefing explores how "talking to strangers Is good for you."

The Washington Post considers several recently published books and asks, “What do we owe animals?”

T&C suggests "How To Read the Outlander Books In Order."

Salon shares 11 facts about Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire.

USA Today picks five books for the week.

CrimeReads suggests 10 books out this week.

LA Times suggests “11 books to add to your reading list next month.”

Vogue's gift guide features "14 Books for the Fashion Lover on Your List."

Vanity Fair has "8 Books We Couldn’t Put Down This Month."

“Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who described the ‘flow’ of human creativity, dies at 87.” The Washington Post has an obituary.

Authors On Air

NPR’s Morning Edition talks with Steven V. Roberts, Cokie: A Life Well Lived, about the life of his late wife, Cokie Roberts.

NPR’s Book of the Day features The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson (Celadon: Macmillan). Also, Zakiya Dalila Harris and Oliver Jeffers discuss different kinds of hauntings.

CBS Sunday Morning has an interview with Huma Abedin, about her new memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds (Scribner), and overcoming her husband's betrayals. Also, Kal Penn, You Can't Be Serious (Gallery), talks about his unlikely stardom.  

NPR’s Consider This, discusses ‘Final Girls’ with Grady Hendrix, The Final Girl Support Group (Berkley; LJ starred review). 

Huma Abedin, Both/And : A Life in Many Worlds (Scribner), will visit Stephen Colbert tonight. 

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