Ann Patchett's Blog, page 16

April Showers and Books to Devour: 26 New Reads for Your TBR

If April showers are keeping you inside and on the hunt for a good book to pass the time, you’ve come to the right place! The past few weeks have brought us so many fantastic new releases across all genres. From family sagas to sci-fi thrillers to graphic histories, this month’s staff picks have just what you need to wait out the rain. Without further ado…

FICTIONRecommended by Ann The Candy House: A Novel

By Jennifer Egan

Truly, this is one of the great books of our time, and much too ambitious and far reaching to be neatly folded into a couple of sentences. Trust me on this one. This should be Egan’s second Pulitzer.

The Candy House is our First Editions Club pick this month! Scroll down to read Ann’s letter to our FEC members and to learn more about the club!

Recommended by Karen Fencing with the King: A Novel

By Diana Abu-Jaber

Diana Abu-Jabar has pulled threads from her own family history to write this engaging novel set in 1990s Jordan. Amani accompanies her father’s return to Jordan after years of living in the U.S. to find that the family, and in particular the uncle she has always loved and admired, is not quite what she thought they were.

Recommended by Lindsay Four Treasures of the Sky: A Novel

By Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Bold and breathtaking, Four Treasures of the Sky redefines the American Western novel. Jenny Tinghui Zhang’s debut spans from China to Idaho, following the journey of Daiyu, a young Chinese girl kidnapped from her home and sent overseas to America. This is the kind of historical fiction that prompts us to reevaluate what we know of this country’s history and leaves us better for having done so.

Recommended by Karen Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel

By Bonnie Garmus

This debut was a delight from start to finish. Elizabeth Zott was born just a decade too soon to forge the career in science she was destined for, so when she stumbled into a job as the host of a 1960s TV cooking show, she could not help but bring chemistry into her recipes. This book is filled with fabulous characters and is alternately touching and laugh-out-loud funny.

Recommended by Lindsay Sea of Tranquility: A novel

By Emily St. John Mandel

As a card-carrying Emily St. John Mandel superfan, I’m incredibly biased, but I loved Sea of Tranquility. At this point, I just want to know if there’s any genre that Mandel can’t pull off. In Sea of Tranquility, Mandel seamlessly moves between historical fiction, contemporary realism, and sci-fi. This gorgeous novel is the perfect culmination of her talents.

Recommended by Chelsea Like a Sister

By Kellye Garrett

No one seems to question the narrative when her estranged, reality-star half sister is found dead, so Lena decides to do it herself, tracking down her sister’s friends, flings, and even family. Garrett has created one of my favorite protagonists in Lena, and Lena’s wry observations about fame and family are extremely insightful and entertaining.

Recommended by Kathy The Golden Couple: A Novel

By Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

An unfaithful couple who seem to have everything turns to an unlicensed, unconventional therapist to save their marriage. Trouble ensues…..

Recommended by Ashby The League of Gentlewomen Witches (Dangerous Damsels #2)

By India Holton

The follow-up to The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. What a follow-up it is! Witches! Pirates! Adventure! Romance! Flying houses. Spells. A magical amulet that everyone wants to steal. In the middle of it all, the witch and the pirate fall for each other, literally and figuratively. Holton’s imagination makes for a delightful escape. So different and such fun! Unlike anything I have read before.

Recommended by Ben The Temps

By Andrew DeYoung

At once a commentary on the young working generation and a gripping survival thriller, I’ll bet every millennial will identify with at least one character. Self-aware and fast-paced, feminist and prescient, DeYoung’s blend of capitalist critique, bureaucratic satire, and zombie mayhem stayed with me long after reading it. Fans of Dave Eggers will be delighted with this confident new voice.

Recommended by Sissy Let’s Not Do That Again: A Novel

By Grant Ginder

Hilarious novel about a candidate for Senate and her adult children in Paris and NYC. Do not be the last person to read this! You will feel so left out!

Recommended by Ashby Under Lock & Skeleton Key: A Secret Staircase Mystery

By Gigi Pandian

The main character’s name is Tempest so you KNOW it’s gonna be good. Her family owns the coolest construction company ever – Secret Staircase Construction. Think sliding bookcases and HIDDEN READING NOOKS! Tempest is faced with a murder to solve which makes her wonder if the family curse is a real thing…a page-turner AND you will want to see if there is a Nashville construction company that installs secret passages.

Recommended by RJ Dead Collections: A Novel

By Isaac Fellman

Dead Collections is both one of the strangest and most romantic explorations of queer identity I’ve ever read. A vampiric archivist and the widow of a famous science fiction showrunner each struggle to find a way forward in a life (or undeath) that hasn’t turned out the way they expected. Deeply introspective with an edge of supernatural mystery, this book has stuck with me long after I put it down.

Recommended by Sissy Sari, Not Sari

By Sonya Singh

I never read romances – I’m more of a thriller reader. The title caught my attention (hilarious) and I had to dive in. Singh has a sharp wit, and an Indian wedding is such a fun setting. Spring is coming and I needed a smart read that would make me smile.

Recommended by Jenness The Book of Cold Cases

By Simone St. James

A young true-crime blogger still coping with childhood trauma meets the woman at the heart of a 40 year old cold case who is finally ready to tell the truth. The story unfolds briskly, flowing smoothly between decades. Filled with intriguing characters, dysfunctional families, a little social commentary, and ghosts (real or imagined), this book doesn’t disappoint.

Recommended by Sissy The Long Weekend: A Novel

By Gilly Macmillan

We are in rural Scotland, and there’s too much champagne, no cell signal, secrets, RAIN, wellies, a cool converted barn/lodge that’s cozy BUT THERE IS DANGER EVERYWHERE. I loved this thriller.

Recommended by RJ The Chosen and the Beautiful

By Nghi Vo

This haunting take on The Great Gatsby had me spellbound from beginning to end. Luxurious prose, emotionally charged social commentary, and unique twists on familiar characters make for a dark and dreamlike story that’s both strange and familiar at once. Out in paperback now!

Recommended by Alethea Ash Tuesday

By Ariadne Blayde

This debut novel follows a group of ghost tour guides in the month leading up to Mardi Gras. Full disclosure: I designed the book cover and layout. I was drawn to the project because I enjoy all things spooky. It became my favorite book of 2022 because its misfit characters felt like dear old friends by the time I reached the last page.

Recommended by Hannah Reminders of Him

By Colleen Hoover

There isn’t another writer like Colleen Hoover. Everything she writes is packed with captivating prose and tons of emotion, and this novel is no exception. Kenna’s steadfast selflessness in the face of unspeakable adversity is as admirable as her situation is nuanced. Though this is shelved as a romance, it’s really a story of family, forgiveness, grief, and love. It’s heartfelt, emotional, and truly unforgettable.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Lindsay Heaven Is a Place on Earth: Searching for an American Utopia

By Adrian Shirk

For anyone who’s ever been fascinated by the idea of utopias—especially given the state of the world over the last few weeks/months/years—Adrian Shirk has written a beautiful book about just that. Heaven Is a Place on Earth is a remarkable examination of utopias in America, unearthing the often-problematic history behind them. With a blend of personal essay and researched history, this book is not to be missed.

Recommended by Ashby The Wok: Recipes and Techniques

By J. Kenji López-Alt

His first cookbook, The Food Lab, explained the science behind cooking. This cookbook will change your approach to using the wok: keep it on the stove. He focuses on the science, making you appreciate FAST, delicious cooking. My pantry had the sauce staples required but a trip to the Asian grocery (K & S on Charlotte Pike) is an adventure for sauces and some of the best and cheapest produce around. Wok on!

Recommended by SydneyI n the Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing

By Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein (Translator)

This genius collection, coming from one of the most beloved novelists of our time, explores the dichotomy between reading and writing. It’s Elena Ferrante, need I say anything else?

Recommended by Cheryl Lessons From The Edge: A Memoir

By Marie Yovanovitch

Marie Yovanovitch, former Ambassador to Ukraine, was a key figure in Trump’s impeachment trial. She was dedicated to the US showing integrity wherever she was stationed. As she also served in Russia and Kyrgyzstan, there were moments when it felt like the book was a thriller! I could not stop reading. It is important to understanding what is happening today.

Recommended by Ashby Alfred HITCHCOCK: Master of Suspense (NBM Comics Biographies)

By Noel Simsolo, Dominique He (Illustrator)

Who can deny the thrill of Hitchcock’s cinematic masterpieces? Both the work and the man are intriguing. He said, “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” He CREATED suspense, the feeling that grows in the pit of your stomach and makes your palms sweaty as you watch. The music builds it. The actions build it. The camera angles build it. This graphic novel explores the man as well as his work.

Recommended by Sydney How to Take Over the World: Practical Schemes and Scientific Solutions for the Aspiring Supervillain

By Ryan North

In this book, Ryan North presents hilarious hypotheticals with detailed research. No need to actually become a supervillain, but I loved learning about these outlandish, yet somehow feasible possibilities. A fascinating (and humorous) deep-dive into science, technology, and history.

Recommended by Jordan Never Simple: A Memoir

By Liz Scheier

In this beautifully tragic memoir, Scheier recalls growing up alongside her mother’s continuous struggles with mental illness and addiction, and having to be the adult they both needed when she was just a child. Fans of other dysfunctional family memoirs such as The Glass Castle and Educated will not be able to put this one down.

Recommended by Ashby Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball

By Jon Chad

Remember “Pinball Wizard” by The Who? Remember going to the arcade with a roll of quarters? Pinball dates back to Louis XIV. A graphic novel detailing the history of pinball seems the perfect fit. Remember the bells and whistles? Hitting the button at just the right moment to send the ball back up to earn more points? The machines that were named after bands or TV shows: Kiss, Dukes of Hazzard, Happy Days, Motley Crue…

First Editions Club: April Selection The Candy House: A Novel

By Jennifer Egan

 

Dear friends,

One of the wonderful things about my reading life is that I get books before other people do. Books come to me months and months in advance of publication, often without cover art or jacket copy (which, if it’s there, I try to ignore). Books come to me well before they’ve been reviewed. No one I know is talking about them because no one I know has read them yet. What this means is that I get to experience a book without knowing what’s coming next. No one has tried to take something wildly, necessarily complicated and turn it
into something simple and easy digested. The book is still its deeply imagined and far-reaching self.

This was how I first read Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House, and I hope this will be the way you read it, too. Start now, because very soon everyone will be talking about it, and you’ll be so lucky to have entered into it knowing nothing. It is a book so startling and important, so funny–wise–terrifying–eye-opening–hopeful, I could hardly believe it.

I hope that TIME magazine puts Jennifer Egan on the cover and hails her as the greatest novelist of our age, because she is, and this is her greatest novel. We are so, so lucky that she signed these first editions for Parnassus.

Enjoy.

Ann Patchett

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Ann and Madeline Miller Celebrate 10 Years of the First Editions Club

When we thought about how we wanted to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Parnassus First Editions Club, we started looking back over all the wonderful books and authors who’ve made the club what it is. We’ve had some stunning luck choosing prize winners over the years, but the book that set everything in motion was the very first novel we ever picked, and the very first one Madeline Miller ever wrote, The Song of Achilles. We loved it then and we love it now, and ten years later the choice seems nothing short of brilliant—the book is still an enormous bestseller!

So who better to reminisce and celebrate with than Madeline Miller herself? We had a joyful conversation about reading and writing, bookstores and book tours, the past and the future. Thank you, Madeline, for coming to Parnassus all those years ago, and thank you for this special gift for our tenth anniversary.

— Ann Patchett

Enjoy this conversation between Madeline Miller and Ann Patchett!

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Didion, Turtles, and Midlife Musings: An Interview with Mary Laura Philpott

In the simplest terms, to read a Mary Laura Philpott essay is to feel seen. She has an uncanny ability to transform the feelings you can’t quite articulate, the ones just far enough out of reach to put your finger on, into a captivating and comforting portrait of life, with a healthy dose of humor to boot! Her upcoming book, Bomb Shelter, is a memoir-in-essays about a particularly trying period of life for this “anxious optimist,” a time when she struggled with vexing questions such as: How do we reconcile our protective instincts with reality? How do we find meaning and joy in our everyday lives when so little is within our control? And why the heck would a turtle keep knocking on the front door? Musing editor Sarah Arnold caught up with Mary Laura (the founding editor of Musing!) via email in advance of Bomb Shelter‘s release.

Sarah Arnold: First of all, congratulations! I Miss You When I Blink was such a fantastic debut, and I loved Bomb Shelter just as much (even more?). Was the writing process different this time around? Did you feel more confident?

Mary Laura Philpott: Thank you! It was somewhat different, yes. I mean, on a day-to-day level, it looked the same: sitting in front of a screen, drafting, deleting, revising. But with I Miss You When I Blink, the themes and larger story arc became clear only as I was going along. With Bomb Shelter, I knew the story I wanted to tell from the outset. I had more of a big-picture map in my head in terms of where it would begin, where it would end, and what questions I was going to grapple with along the way.

Mary Laura Philpott

SA: What will readers learn about you in Bomb Shelter that they didn’t in IMYWIB ?

MLP: This story finds the me-character in a different phase of living. Blink was mostly set in my 30s and Bomb Shelter is anchored in my mid-forties, so there’s almost a decade of difference in terms of life territory. So I suppose readers are seeing that me-character deal with new things: midlife, letting go as children leave the nest, facing the reality of aging not only in my parents but also in my own human body, and also just reckoning with what our world looks and feels like these days.

(I know this “me-character” term I’m using here is weird, by the way. I’ve been trying to figure out how to talk about me, the author, and “me,” the person in the book, in a way that’s not confusing. I, the writer, am a real person living right now, the show-runner crafting this story. The me-character exists within the world of that story, so she’s a little different in the mind of each reader — made up of the little bits of my real life I’ve told in these pages, plus the life experiences and assumptions readers bring to flesh her out as a person in their heads. You know what I mean?)

What interests me even more is what readers will learn about themselves or think about differently in their own lives after this reading experience. On the surface, it’s a book about my life, but on another level it’s also a book about being a person, a larger story about how we keep going and finding not only meaning but hope and joy and even humor as the world keeps tossing surprises into our paths.

SA: I understand that Bomb Shelter isn ’ t really a “ sequel, ” but you do reward readers who were with you for I Miss You When I Blink with some familiar references. There ’ s a piece in Bomb Shelter that includes a powerful callback to that prior title. When I first read it, I had to take a few minutes to let it sink in before continuing to read!

MLP: Believe me, I had to take a few minutes to process it when it happened, too. I was sitting on our sofa with my husband, John, one night and it suddenly clicked in my head what that “I miss you when I blink” phrase might have actually meant all those years ago, and I was like, “OH MY GOD.” It still gives me chills.

SA: You tackle themes of anxiety, loss, and change in such a vulnerable way, yet you manage to be laugh-out-loud funny at the same time. The number of times I wrote “LOL” in the margins of the manuscript is pretty high for such an emotional book. What role does humor play for you when you’re writing about difficult topics?

MLP: I love that you wrote in the margins! In my reading life, I tend to alternate a heavy book with a lighter book and kind of mix up the laughter and tears that way, but my very favorite reading experience is the kind where one book lights up the whole emotional circuit board and blends light and dark together. That’s what I’m going for in my writing and what comes most naturally to me. My worldview reflects that mix: Life is so funny. Life is so sad. Life is so amazing. All those things are true. The absurd and the profound are all tangled up together.

I interviewed Nick Hornby once and asked a similar question. He said he can’t write “300 pages of no funny,” even if it’s 300 pages of a relatively serious story, because, to him, there’s no stretch of life that’s utterly humorless. Even dark humor is humor. It’s true.

SA: We have to talk about Frank. Would you tell everyone the story of how the cover of your book came to be?

MLP: Frank is the wild Eastern box turtle who lives in my yard. As far as I know, he has lived there his whole life — turtles never voluntarily leave the territory where they were born — and he might be older than me. We see him every spring, summer, and fall, and then in winter, he goes under the leaves and hides. I first shared a couple of Frank stories in the New York Times (including the story of how he used to knock on our front door!), and that’s how Frank came to have a bit of a following; but I left things out of those essays then, other details from my life at the time that I can include now in Bomb Shelter. Although Frank has just a couple of cameos in the book, his appearances are meaningful, and I really wanted him to be on the cover. Thank goodness he came out of hibernation just in time for the cover shoot. Otherwise we would have had to use a non-Frank turtle model, and it just wouldn’t have been the same.

Frank is photographed by Mary Laura in her backyard

SA: So much of this book is about being a parent and the challenges and triumphs that come with it. I, a 23-year-old, very much childless person still found it wonderfully relatable. What do you think it is about Bomb Shelter that makes it so engaging and accessible for folks in all stages of life? Was that a goal you set intentionally?

MLP: Oh, I’m so glad! That reminds me of something Wendy Sheanin, VP of independent retail sales at Simon & Schuster, said when she first read Bomb Shelter: “This is a book for anyone with a beating heart.” I really hoped that would be the case. I mean, that’s what any good book should do –– find some universal chord that resonates with a variety of readers, right? I loved The Martian, but I’m not an astronaut.

SA: You quote the late Joan Didion in the epigraph. Why? And how does Didion inspire your writing?

MLP: I admire Joan Didion’s essays so much, but it was her memoir that was on my mind as I wrote Bomb Shelter. I remember when The Year of Magical Thinking came out, that sentence was on the back cover: “You sit down to dinner, and life as you know it ends.” In her case, she meant it literally. Her beloved husband John Dunne died at the dinner table. That memoir was all about what the next 12 months felt like for her. But what’s beautiful about the way she worded it is that, as you mentioned earlier, it could be relatable to anyone. “You sit down to dinner” — some mundane, everyday moment — and “life as you know it ends” — a monumental change happens at the same time.

The biggest before-and-after moment in Bomb Shelter, the one that really sets the clock ticking at the beginning, is the morning I found my son unconscious, having a seizure on the bathroom floor. His life didn’t end in that moment, thank God, but my emotional life as I knew it, as a mother and person, did. Bomb Shelter is full of other juxtaposed mundane/monumental moments, as is life generally, I think.

I love Didion’s book for how it dwells so fully in an encapsulated bubble of time, that one year. Even when she’s rewinding time to tell a story from the past or spooling ahead to imagine the future, it’s all through the lens of this strange in-between time. That was one of my goals in Bomb Shelter as well, to capture two years of this in-between, now-what feeling, even as I brought in stories from the past and thoughts about the future. Bomb Shelter is about learning to let go and move forward in an uncertain world, so I needed it to begin and end within that period of uncertainty.

SA: “The Great Fortune of Ordinary Sadness” is one of my favorite essay-chapters in the book. After the past couple of years, I think we’re all feeling a little more grateful for the ordinary things. How did the pandemic influence the making of this book?

MLP: The beginning of Bomb Shelter is set in the past, and as the book goes on, it catches up to the present tense of when I finished it. When the pandemic started in 2020, I wondered if I could possibly leave it out of the book; it obviously wasn’t part of my original plan. Strangely, it actually worked within the emotional arc of the Bomb Shelter story. Just as my children were getting close to leaving the nest and I was sort of insanely and desperately wishing I could hold onto them and keep them safe forever, along came lockdown and I got my wish: They were back home, around the clock. It gave me a chance to process that extra time with them as a miraculous gift but also as something that never should have happened. As much as I dreaded letting them go, I realized that their going was the more natural order of things. I think it made me more ready to face their nest-leaving.

(That said, because the pandemic comes up toward the end, it takes up minimal space. Bomb Shelter isn’t what I’d call a pandemic book.)

SA: You’re going on tour (and kicking things off here in Nashville)! What has it been like planning a book tour during the pandemic?

MLP: Everyone involved in planning a book tour right now should get a raise. Falon Kirby at Simon & Schuster — along with the rest of the Bomb Squad (that’s what we call this book team) — has gone so far above and beyond in making these plans. And booksellers everywhere have worked so hard to adjust their operations again and again over the past two years. It’s an absolute joy to be headed out to bookstores again!

I’ll be going all over the country in April and beyond, but it all starts here in Nashville with a special preview on Sunday afternoon, April 10*. (The book isn’t officially out until April 12.) It’s totally free to attend, but I’d love folks to consider making a donation of any size to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I’m so happy that Parnassus is donating a portion of book sales from the event that day, too. That means the world to me, for reasons that will become clear when people read Bomb Shelter. I’m so grateful to Karen and Elyse and RJ and everyone at Parnassus for making this happen.

SA: What is the main thing you hope readers will take away from Bomb Shelter ?

MLP: I want people to feel they’ve been given a great story, and to come away with the sense that while they were engaged with that story, they were experiencing some real human connection. Part of what that me-character is going through in Bomb Shelter is panic over realizing that we cannot protect the ones we love forever; but where the book lands is with a sense of peace that there’s so much else we can do. Love is never futile — and there’s cause for joy and laughter all around us. I hope this book leaves people feeling good, like their efforts in this world have meaning.

*Our in-person event with Mary Laura is currently full, but you can register for the waitlist here. (We’d also love for you to consider making a donation to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.) We have two other options for you to celebrate the release of Bomb Shelter!

First, you can join us for a virtual event with Mary Laura in conversation with Kimberly Williams Paisley on Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00pm CDT. Get your tickets here! Second, you can stop by Parnassus on Independent Bookstore Day on April 30th, where Mary Laura will be joining us for a signing line at 11:00am! Come say hi to Mary Laura, shop IBD exclusives, and help us celebrate our 10th Independent Bookstore Day!

As always, you can pre-order a signed or personalized copy of Bomb Shelter to pick up at the store or to be shipped anywhere in the world!

Authors IRL: Meet Jenny Tinghui Zhang

Can I tell you a story? In 2017, I upended my life in Nashville to move to Laramie, Wyoming so I could study for my MFA in Fiction. I was a little surprised when I learned that I would be in a cohort of only four writers. Lucky for me, one of those writers was Jenny Tinghui Zhang. I first got to know Jenny for her nonfiction—her gorgeous essays have appeared in places like Catapult and The Cut—but it wasn’t until we were almost halfway through the MFA program that she confessed to me she’d been writing a novel.

Lucky for all of us, that novel turned out to be Four Treasures of the Sky. Jenny’s spectacular debut spans from China to Idaho, following the journey of Daiyu, a young Chinese girl kidnapped from her home and sent overseas to America. Bold and breathtaking, Four Treasures of the Sky redefines the American Western novel. Daiyu’s story might be set in the nineteenth century, but it resonates so strongly with today’s world. This is the kind of historical fiction that prompts us to reevaluate what we know of this country’s history and leaves us better for having done so. 

I’m back in Nashville now, working as the book buyer for Parnassus (hi y’all!). One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing the writers that I came across in grad school publish their first books—books that I get to stock on our shelves, write staff recommendations for, and talk to readers about.

It’s been such an honor to know Jenny and her work over the past few years. Now you can get to know her as well, and, if you can, I hope you’ll join us on April 4 for an in-store event. Topics of conversation include but are not limited to: writing historical fiction, our favorite karaoke songs, and K-drama recommendations.

— Lindsay Lynch, Parnassus book buyer

Get to know Jenny Tinghui Zhang as she answers our Authors In Real Life questionnaire!

Jenny Tinghui Zhang

I’ve been listening to: A cafe music-style rendition of songs from Studio Ghibli films (the album is called “Cafe Music ~Studio Ghibli Jazz & Bossa~”) and the new Charli XCX album. 

I love to watch: I have always loved horror movies, but it has been difficult to put myself in that headspace during the past two years. Instead, I have veered towards K-Dramas and cozy content lately–I think because they feel very soothing and healing to me. (For K-Drama newbies, I highly recommend Crash Landing on You!) When I’m in need of a good laugh, I rewatch old Run BTS episodes. 

Something I saw online that made me laugh, cry, or think: Jason Brown’s free skate at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Allow me to nerd out for a moment: figure skating has been all about who can jump the most quads for quite some while now, and many bemoan the loss of artistry in favor of athleticism. Jason Brown came to the competition with a program that had no quads, likely knowing that this would not put him on the podium, but his program was one of the most exquisite and moving programs at the competition because you can tell he simply loves what he does so much. It was really emotional for me to watch someone commit themselves to their art purely because they love it so, not necessarily because it will win them gold. 

A creator who’s doing something I admire: I think Chanel Miller is just so wonderful.

A book I recently recommended to someone else: Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey. 

Something I started doing during the pandemic: Running…a lot. I used to frequent my local gym, but wasn’t able to go back once the pandemic started. I find myself tensing a lot throughout the day, whether it’s my shoulders rising to meet my ears, or my brow furrowing, or my lips pursing. Running seems to dislodge that tension as well as all the thoughts colliding in my head. It’s nice to be able to physically discard in this way. 

If I could teleport anywhere in the world right now, I’d go to: Straight to my grandparents’ apartment in Changchun. Before the pandemic, I visited them in China every year, so it has been difficult not seeing them for 2.5 years now. I know they are hurting from it–I am, too. 

I wish I knew more about: Languages. I’m so in awe of people who are fluent in multiple languages.

My favorite thing about bookstores: The sense of comfort they provide. No matter where I am, I know that the bookstore will be a place of safety. It’s like having a home in every city.

Four Treasures of the Sky will be released on April 5. Join us on Monday, April 4 at 6:30pm for an in-store event (and early access to the book!) with Jenny in conversation with our own Lindsay Lynch. Registration is required. Sign up here!

The Shop Dog Diaires: Lavinia’s Life of Fire

In life there is opportunity. The question is whether or not you take it. On March 15, Pat Martin will publish his first cookbook, Life of Fire: Mastering the Arts of Pit-Cooked Barbecue, the Grill, and the Smokehouse, which he wrote with a fellow named Nick Fauchald. We, the shop dogs of Parnassus, are extremely interested in barbecue. We are especially interested in Martin’s Barbecue, and the barbecue sandwiches that come from Martin’s Barbecue sister restaurant, Hugh Baby’s. But while the other shop dogs dare only to dream about barbecue while snuffling around in their beds for the last crumbs of a hard biscuit, I take action. I go to Heather, my shop person, and whine until she realizes we need to interview Pat Martin for the Shop Dog Diaries.

Heather and I sometimes drive to Hugh Baby’s after work and we split a barbecue sandwich in the car. If that’s not living I don’t know what is. I have been with Heather for fourteen years now, so let’s just say we understand each other. She knows the questions I have about barbecue and grilling and meat. Andy, shop person to boss dog Opie, also has intelligent questions. Sparky’s shop person Ann has no questions about barbecue. She is an idiot but she knows how to type.

Lavinia meets her hero, Pat Martin

We are very excited when Mr. Martin, an extremely busy man, comes to the store to sit  with us. To the shop people he smells like any other human, but to me he smells like paradise: high notes of wood smoke and tangy sauce above a strong foundation of slow-cooked meat. He is a major deity to dogs and humans throughout middle Tennessee, and yet he comports himself in a manner both friendly and attentive. He rubs my ears as he speaks. Did you get that? Pat Martin, pit master, Rubs. My. Ears.

We start at the beginning, asking him what meat is best.

“For barbecue,” he tells us, “you want muscle fiber and collagen to cook at a low heat. For grilling it’s the opposite—leaner cuts of meat cooked at a higher temperature.” By leaner, he means less collagen, not less fat. I agree with this. For pork he likes the Boston butt. Like me, he likes ribs of both pork and beef. He’s a big fan of the Santa Maria tri-tip, which he says is the perfect cut for the grill.

At the mention of the Santa Maria tri-tip, Andy lights up like a Christmas tree. Turns out he’s been waiting his whole life to have a meaningful conversation about the Santa Maria tri-tip. I understand this.

Heather asks what to do if you already have a gas grill. Mr. Martin tells it to her straight. “Hire a contractor to take it away. Gas grill companies have done a really good job making us forget how easy it is to grill. It takes fifteen minutes to build a fire. You always hear it takes too long. It doesn’t take too long.” Mr. Martin believes in approaching food with simplicity and then diving deep. This is what his wonderful book is all about: straightforward excellence born of time and knowledge, freshness and quality. His recipe for cooking a whole hog is thirty-three pages long, as well it should be.

Pat Martin in the smokehouse

Everything Mr. Martin serves is prepared on site that day, not just the barbecue. This kindness extends to grinding up the meat for the Hugh Baby’s hamburgers and making the ranch dressing. There are no microwaves in his restaurants, no freezers. I marvel. It would be the honor of any dog’s life to sleep at his feet at night, to get up in the morning and dig and dig in the yard until I have made a pit worthy of fire. And so I want to know, does he have dogs?

“Always,” he says. “There have been so many great dogs in my life.” For a moment we are all quiet, remembering the great dogs that came before. Mr. Martin has two dogs now, Max and Chloe, one who is smart and one who has a great personality.

But can they come to work with you?

He nods, and my heart nearly explodes with joy. “At the office, people bring their dogs if they’re well behaved.”

Look at me! I scream inside. I am so well behaved! The next thing I know he’s talking about how he believes in bones for dogs, not unsafe little chicken bones but real bones, big ones that can keep a dog busy for hours. He says they’re developing a new dog biscuit, and that the shop dogs of the Martin’s Barbecue office get to test them for flavor and quality.

At Parnassus we sell books, the flat, dried out pulp of trees. Not barbecue. Not biscuits. Suddenly I wonder what I’m doing with my life.

But Mr. Martin is here because he has a book, a truly great book, and without this bookstore job we never would have met. He says he’ll remember me. He says he’ll bring me test biscuits. He rubs my ears again. Decent man that he is, he does not ask for my resume, because then I would have to make a very painful choice between Heather and Mr. Martin, between Parnassus Books and a lifetime of Martin’s barbecue.

Please, don’t ask.

Pre-order Life of Fire. Come to the riveting event in which Andy will be in conversation with Mr. Martin on March 15th, the day of publication. This is the manual for what is possible in life, and once we all have copies, dogs and people everywhere will rejoice.

Join us at the store on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30pm for our event with Pat Martin! Registration is required. Click here to register.

Life of Fire: Mastering the Arts of Pit-Cooked Barbecue, the Grill, and the Smokehouse: A Cookbook

By Pat Martin, Nick Fauchald

Lavinia: Life of Fire

In life there is opportunity. The question is whether or not you take it. On March 15, Pat Martin will publish his first cookbook, Life of Fire: Mastering the Arts of Pit-Cooked Barbecue, the Grill, and the Smokehouse, which he wrote with a fellow named Nick Fauchald. We, the shop dogs of Parnassus, are extremely interested in barbecue. We are especially interested in Martin’s Barbecue, and the barbecue sandwiches that come from Martin’s Barbecue sister restaurant, Hugh Baby’s. But while the other shop dogs dare only to dream about barbecue while snuffling around in their beds for the last crumbs of a hard biscuit, I take action. I go to Heather, my shop person, and whine until she realizes we need to interview Pat Martin for the Shop Dog Diaries.

Heather and I sometimes drive to Hugh Baby’s after work and we split a barbecue sandwich in the car. If that’s not living I don’t know what is. I have been with Heather for fourteen years now, so let’s just say we understand each other. She knows the questions I have about barbecue and grilling and meat. Andy, shop person to boss dog Opie, also has intelligent questions. Sparky’s shop person Ann has no questions about barbecue. She is an idiot but she knows how to type.

Lavinia meets her hero, Pat Martin

We are very excited when Mr. Martin, an extremely busy man, comes to the store to sit  with us. To the shop people he smells like any other human, but to me he smells like paradise: high notes of wood smoke and tangy sauce above a strong foundation of slow-cooked meat. He is a major deity to dogs and humans throughout middle Tennessee, and yet he comports himself in a manner both friendly and attentive. He rubs my ears as he speaks. Did you get that? Pat Martin, pit master, Rubs. My. Ears.

We start at the beginning, asking him what meat is best.

“For barbecue,” he tells us, “you want muscle fiber and collagen to cook at a low heat. For grilling it’s the opposite—leaner cuts of meat cooked at a higher temperature.” By leaner, he means less collagen, not less fat. I agree with this. For pork he likes the Boston butt. Like me, he likes ribs of both pork and beef. He’s a big fan of the Santa Maria tri-tip, which he says is the perfect cut for the grill.

At the mention of the Santa Maria tri-tip, Andy lights up like a Christmas tree. Turns out he’s been waiting his whole life to have a meaningful conversation about the Santa Maria tri-tip. I understand this.

Heather asks what to do if you already have a gas grill. Mr. Martin tells it to her straight. “Hire a contractor to take it away. Gas grill companies have done a really good job making us forget how easy it is to grill. It takes fifteen minutes to build a fire. You always hear it takes too long. It doesn’t take too long.” Mr. Martin believes in approaching food with simplicity and then diving deep. This is what his wonderful book is all about: straightforward excellence born of time and knowledge, freshness and quality. His recipe for cooking a whole hog is thirty-three pages long, as well it should be.

Pat Martin in the smokehouse

Everything Mr. Martin serves is prepared on site that day, not just the barbecue. This kindness extends to grinding up the meat for the Hugh Baby’s hamburgers and making the ranch dressing. There are no microwaves in his restaurants, no freezers. I marvel. It would be the honor of any dog’s life to sleep at his feet at night, to get up in the morning and dig and dig in the yard until I have made a pit worthy of fire. And so I want to know, does he have dogs?

“Always,” he says. “There have been so many great dogs in my life.” For a moment we are all quiet, remembering the great dogs that came before. Mr. Martin has two dogs now, Max and Chloe, one who is smart and one who has a great personality.

But can they come to work with you?

He nods, and my heart nearly explodes with joy. “At the office, people bring their dogs if they’re well behaved.”

Look at me! I scream inside. I am so well behaved! The next thing I know he’s talking about how he believes in bones for dogs, not unsafe little chicken bones but real bones, big ones that can keep a dog busy for hours. He says they’re developing a new dog biscuit, and that the shop dogs of the Martin’s Barbecue office get to test them for flavor and quality.

At Parnassus we sell books, the flat, dried out pulp of trees. Not barbecue. Not biscuits. Suddenly I wonder what I’m doing with my life.

But Mr. Martin is here because he has a book, a truly great book, and without this bookstore job we never would have met. He says he’ll remember me. He says he’ll bring me test biscuits. He rubs my ears again. Decent man that he is, he does not ask for my resume, because then I would have to make a very painful choice between Heather and Mr. Martin, between Parnassus Books and a lifetime of Martin’s barbecue.

Please, don’t ask.

Pre-order Life of Fire. Come to the riveting event in which Andy will be in conversation with Mr. Martin on March 15th, the day of publication. This is the manual for what is possible in life, and once we all have copies, dogs and people everywhere will rejoice.

Join us at the store on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30pm for our event with Pat Martin! Registration is required. Click here to register.

Life of Fire: Mastering the Arts of Pit-Cooked Barbecue, the Grill, and the Smokehouse: A Cookbook

By Pat Martin, Nick Fauchald

Spring is Sprouting: 13 New Reads for the Young and Young at Heart (Plus a Special Announcement!)

Can you feel it? Spring is finally in the air! Pretty soon the trees will be covered in green leaves, the flowers will be blooming, and (surprise!) the literary garden of Parnassus will be growing a brand-new subscription box! Sprout Book Club is a monthly picture book subscription box curated by our expert children’s booksellers. Each month you will receive a first edition hardcover picture book! Our first selection, I’d Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog by Philip C. Stead, won’t go out to our members until April, but you can sign up for an ongoing monthly membership or a 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscription now! We know, it’s going to be hard to wait for a whole month, so we have some great new staff picks for you in the meantime. Without further ado…

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann Me and Ms. Too

By Laura Ruby, Dung Ho (Illustrator)

Molly loved her favorite librarian, Ms. Too, until their relationship changed. A lovely and entertaining book about blended families.

Recommended by Chelsea Out of a Jar

By Deborah Marcero, Deborah Marcero (Illustrator)

Llewellyn doesn’t like to feel his feelings, so he puts them in jars until he realizes he doesn’t feel anything at all. The illustrations are captivating and perfectly accompany Llewellyn’s journey. This is a good reminder for us all that feelings can be overwhelming but that’s okay.

Recommended by Rae Ann Somewhere in the Bayou

By Jerome Pumphrey, Jarrett Pumphrey

Four animals attempting to cross a stream are surprised when their log has a tail. Their journey is met with various results in this beautifully illustrated picture book by the Pumphrey brothers.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae AnnT he Aquanaut: A Graphic Novel

By Dan Santat

When an aquanaut breaks into the marine research center where Sofia’s uncle works, she’s shocked to find the suit is manned by goofy sea creatures. They may have a plan to save the park’s sea creatures in this delightful graphic novel.

Recommended by Ashby Dear Student

By Elly Swartz

Middle school. When your BFF moves and your dad leaves for the Peace Corps and YOU have social anxiety, it can be really hard. Autumn navigates the challenges and takes on the role of advice columnist. It’s an awful lot to manage but an awful lot you can relate to whether you are headed to middle school or already there!

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Jennifer All My Rage: A Novel

By Sabaa Tahir

Author of the the popular fantasy series An Ember in Ashes, Tahir takes a different approach to storytelling by examining our world. Following the lives of Pakistani immigrants in America, we see pain and suffering but also abundant strength, hope, and love. This book is an immediate all-time favorite; I will definitely be introducing this one to my students!

Recommended by Chelsea The Rumor Game

By Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra

Set at an elite prep school outside Washington DC, The Rumor Game chronicles the consequences of rumors, social media, and revenge. Each chapter had me rooting for a different character, and the twists were unexpected and delicious. A must read for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale.

Recommended by Hannah Loveless

By Alice Oseman

Georgia feels left out: she’s never had a crush, been in love, or been kissed when everyone else around her has. She’s never felt drawn to romantic relationships like her peers – so what does that mean? This is a beautiful story of a girl navigating her asexuality, and it’s a great reminder that platonic love/friendships can easily be just as (if not more!) magical as romantic love.

Recommended by Jennifer Gallant

By V. E. Schwab

Famous for her Darker Shade of Magic series and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, Schwab strikes again with this unforgettable ghost story. Olivia is an orphan with a haunted past that reaches out to her from beyond the grave. This eerie tale is one of reconciliation, resilience, and, most of all, finding family and belonging in surprising places.

Gallant is our March ParnassusNext pick! Scroll down to read more about it.

Recommended by Ashby Girl on Fire

By Alicia Keys, Brittney Williams (Illustrator), Andrew Weiner

Alicia Keys graphic! Tell me more… A compelling character, Lolo Wright, faced with challenges and decisions but given special powers. Makes for intensity and drama. And it is Alicia Keys who is inspiring with both her music and actions.

Recommended by Sarah Ophelia After All

By Racquel Marie

I absolutely loved the representation in all its forms in this book. The cast of characters is so loveable, and Ophelia’s experience of discovering her sexuality is written in a completely authentic, heartfelt way. Fans of Kacen Callender will love it!

Recommended Aly Float

By Kate Marchant

Waverly is used to inhospitable environments: Alaska, her ultra-competitive school, at home or work with her brainy parents. A summer in Florida with her eccentric aunt should be no different, right? If only the house was less cozy, the kids less inviting, and the boy next door less insanely cute. This summer, anything could happen, so prepare to ride the waves.

Spark Book Club: March Selection Falling Short

By Ernesto Cisneros

The March 2022 Spark Book Club selection is Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros.

Isaac and Marco are next-door neighbors and best friends. From their first day of sixth grade, Marco dreams of making the basketball team and Isaac wants to improve his grades. They use their unique skills to keep each other from falling short in this funny story about sports and life.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Cisneros’ touching sophomore novel is an ideal pick for sports fans and will reel in reluctant readers.” –Kirkus, starred review

“Told through animated alternating first-person chapters, Cisneros’s story not only captures the anxiety—and at times, humor—of trying to measure up to expectations, it also tackles delicate subject matter, such as parental absence and alcohol reliance, with profound sensitivity and nuance. A narrative slam dunk for fans of Donna Barba Higuera and Meg Medina.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: March Selection Gallant

By V. E. Schwab

The March 2022 ParnassusNext selection is Gallant by V. E. Schwab. Olivia Prior has always lived at the Merilance School for Girls. It’s filled with ghouls only she can see. Her mother’s journal has one ominous instruction: stay away from the family estate, Gallant. When an invitation arrives from an uncle she’s never met, Olivia rejects her mother’s directive and sets out to find a new life. The family estate is not what she expected, and the ghouls have not been left behind. V. E. Schwab spins a horror-infused tale of secrets in this standalone YA novel.

Early praise for the novel:

“Will hook readers with its gripping worldbuilding, well-rounded characters, and fantastic horror.” – Kirkus, starred review

“Evocative prose, eerie b&w artwork by Šumberac, and superbly rendered characters (most of whom cue as white) elevate this affective, bone-chilling standalone from Schwab (the City of Ghosts series), which fuses Shirley Jackson’s gothic horror sensibilities with the warmth and dark whimsy of Neil Gaiman.” – Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Comfort in Chaos: 25 New Reads for March

Hi, friends. Just when we thought the world couldn’t get any stranger… As you can probably imagine, we bookworms have turned to the written word for solace in these unpredictable times, and we’ve rounded up 25 new titles for your consideration. We hope they bring you rest and reprieve. This list doesn’t contain books about what is currently happening in Europe, but if you’re looking to understand more about Ukraine and Russia, we’d recommend picking up The Future is History by Masha Gessen and The Gates of Europe by Serhii Plohky. As always, take care & read on.

FICTIONRecommended by Lindsay Checkout 19: A Novel

By Claire-Louise Bennett

If an immaculately written, mostly plotless book of careful observations about the contemporary world sounds like your idea of a good time, then, wow, I am excited to introduce you to the work of Claire-Louise Bennett! I’ve been a fan since her debut Pond came out in 2016 and am happy to say that her latest, Checkout 19, is just as gorgeous.

Recommended by Ben Nobody’s Magic

By Destiny O. Birdsong

In this sexy, gritty, unapologetic debut novel, Birdsong embodies three black women from Shreveport, Louisiana who each have albinism. Their unique struggles, defining decisions, and hard-earned self-actualization kept me glued to the pages. The region is vividly portrayed, the dialogue so startlingly real I thought the characters were sitting right next to me. Read it now; it’ll be talked about all year.

Recommended by Andy The Berlin Exchange: A Novel

By Joseph Kanon

Joseph Kanon, author of Istanbul Passage and The Good German is one of the true masters of this genre. Historical accuracy coupled with suspenseful story telling resonates throughout his work. A prisoner swap in Berlin at the height of the Cold War sets the stage for this thrilling espionage tale.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Unsinkable Greta James: A Novel

By Jennifer E. Smith

A singer-songwriter is forced to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father after her mother’s unexpected death. The strained relationship with her father over her music career, specifically a now-famous song she wrote about him, makes things awkward on the ship. A cast of characters from Greta’s childhood and a cute author on board may band together to show Greta a way back to her music career and her relationship with her dad.

Recommended by Sissy Manhunt

By Gretchen Felker-Martin

This is the best horror of the year, in my opinion. An illness changes the Earth’s men into beasts, leaving women and the trans community struggling to adapt to a violent new reality. Felker-Martin explores the new sexism that arises with warring factions and heartfelt characters. The story’s so great I found myself forgetting to breathe.

Recommended by RJ A River Enchanted: A Novel (Elements of Cadence #1)

By Rebecca Ross

A River Enchanted is a gorgeous Scotland-inspired fantasy set on an island where the wind carries gossip, music holds power, and a centuries-old feud is carved directly into the earth. Beautiful prose, mysterious disappearances, and multiple romances make this a read perfect for those looking to be utterly transported.

Recommended by Ben Pure Colour: A Novel

By Sheila Heti

This weird and wonderful novel is told by Mira as she grieves for her father and falls in love with her friend, Annie. Set in a “first draft” of Creation, people are descended from birds, fish, bears, and Mira spends an extended period of time as a leaf on a tree. Elliptical as myth, it explores relational depths through ecological and theological lenses, scattering tiny truths within its wise vignettes along the way.

Recommended by Sarah The Verifiers

By Jane Pek

This is both a twisting locked-room mystery and an insightful social commentary on the complexities of our data-driven world. I quickly became invested in Claudia’s life and the puzzle she’s trying to solve. It was a refreshing and captivating read!

Recommended by Ashby George Orwell’s 1984: The Graphic Novel

By Matyáš Namai (Illustrator), George Orwell

In much the same way that Maus is haunting yet relevant as much now as ever, 1984 is too. Namai’s art is stark yet powerful. Having read the book long ago, and again a few years ago, this graphic version made me think again, deeper, and even more critically about how prescient Orwell was for his time and forever.

Recommended by Patsy Vladimir: A Novel

By Julia May Jonas

This biting debut novel follows a 58 year-old English professor in an open marriage as she develops a crush on a younger new hire while her husband faces repercussions of his decades of relationships with students. It’s a provocative study on the changing attitudes towards power, authority, & aging, studded with literary references, one that might result from a Zoe Heller, Philip Roth and Stephen King collaboration.

Recommended by Ben Chilean Poet: A Novel

By Alejandro Zambra, Megan McDowell (Translated by)

As funny as it is perceptive, Zambra’s latest follows Gonzalo, an aspiring poet, and Vicente, his stepson who may have more poetic talent than him. With utterly fantastic sentences, he combs the quagmires of romance; the bonds between fathers and sons, friends and lovers; the inexplicable quest to create lasting art. As a poet who has lived in Chile, this book has everything for me: humor, insight, life.

Recommended by Chelsea Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

By Ashley Herring Blake

Delilah Green is called back to her hometown to photograph her estranged stepsister’s wedding and maybe accidentally fall in love with her stepsister’s best friend. Ashley Herring Blake’s adult debut is the best of the romance genre with fleshed out characters, emotional growth, and just enough spice. Plus readers may recognize a certain bookstore’s cameo appearance!

Recommended by Ashby A Perfect Equation (The Secret Scientists of London #2)

By Elizabeth Everett

The second in The Secret Scientists of London series. Brilliant Victorian female scientists. And throw in romance…for strong-headed, determined women. Funny characters with interesting stories. And then there is love. Easily imagined as a film. Make Austen’s Emma a scientist and you will have some idea of what you are in for with this one!

Recommended by Aly New Animal

By Ella Baxter

After a sudden death rocks Amelia’s world, she’s desperate to do anything besides grieve, even if it means running away to her estranged father’s house and disappearing into a new identity that brings out the worst in herself.

Recommended by Marcia A Flicker in the Dark: A Novel

By Stacy Willingham

I picked up this debut novel on a whim and didn’t put it down until I finished it. And I do mean, I DID NOT PUT IT DOWN. Read it at stoplights, in the school pick up line, and while cooking dinner. A psychological thriller with more plots twists than I expected. I’m anxiously awaiting her next book!

Recommended by Erin Meet Me in the Margins

By Melissa Ferguson

Imagine You’ve Got Mail set in a publishing house in Nashville, add in some of your favorite spots around town, and you’ve got this sweet rom com full of Southern charm. (And no, I’m not just a fan because Parnassus gets name-checked. Twice. But clearly, the author has good taste, right?!)

Recommended by Ashby The Forest

By Thomas Ott

Ott manages a complex story in 25 images. Scratchboard – starting with black and scratching away to create images – seems fitting for the story of a boy in a forest facing fear and choosing his path. No words but the story is apparent through Ott’s black and white images. I am both mystified and drawn in by Ott’s way of telling a story.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Karen Exit/In: Nashville’s Music Forum, Fifty years and Counting

By Chris Cobb

I was in high school the first time I went to a show at the Exit/In when a childhood friend’s mother sang there. Since then I’ve seen so many great shows there. There is a special place in Nashville’s heart for this storied club. It is a touchstone for so many entertainers and bands that have gone on to greatness. So pleased Chris Cobb put together this amazing collection of essays and photos.

Recommended by Andy From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life

By Arthur C. Brooks

From Strength to Strength is a roadmap for finding purpose, meaning, and success as we age, from bestselling author, Harvard professor, and The Atlantic’s happiness columnist Arthur Brooks. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as dozens of interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks shows us that true life success is well within our reach.

Recommended by Jennifer This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us

By Cole Arthur Riley

Written by the mind behind @BlackLiturgies on Instagram, This Here Flesh unites the spiritual with the real. Inspired by three generations of Black American family history, Riley inspires us to believe in the divine dignity of every human being, including ourselves. This is a truly inspiring work!

Recommended by Sydney The Nineties: A Book

By Chuck Klosterman

I was born in 1998, so my memories of the twentieth century mainly consist of old cartoons and Lisa Frank sticker books. The Nineties offers a deep-dive encompassing the decade’s political ambivalence, cultural coolness, and how the Internet really has changed everything. My favorite Klosterman collection to date!

Recommended by Chelsea Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment, and the Courts to Set Him Free

By Sarah Weinman

A story so compelling that it reads like fiction, Scoundrel tells how Edgar Smith, convicted murderer, was able to befriend and write his way into a book deal and his freedom, only to murder again. Weinman has established herself as an acclaimed crime writer, and this proves that she can cast a critical eye at society and its short memory of violence towards women.

Recommended by Kathy The Hag: The Life, Times, and Music of Merle Haggard

By Marc Eliot

An absolute must-read for any Merle Haggard fan. There’s stuff in here that few know about The Hag….

Recommended by Sydney Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir

By Bob Odenkirk

As the title suggests, this memoir follows Bob Odenkirk’s career transition from comedy to drama in the entertainment industry. Odenkirk earned a special place in my heart after I binge-watched Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul over the pandemic. Funny and familiar, if you’ve enjoyed Odenkirk’s work in the past, pick this up!

First Editions Club: March Selection Groundskeeping: A novel

By Lee Cole

 

Dear friends,

Is there anything better than a good campus novel? I always love the atmosphere of old buildings, long walks across the quad, sprawling conversations about dead philosophers or classical literature, and, of course, the drama. Because we all know what happens when you isolate a group of intellectuals and creatives in one place for months on end: drama.

Enter Lee Cole’s stunning debut, Groundskeeping. Set on a university campus in Kentucky, Groundskeeping follows Owen, a wayward twentysomething trying to get his life settled by taking a job as a groundskeeper in exchange for a free creative writing class. Moving between the social circles of his fellow groundskeepers, the faculty and graduate students in his classes, and his far-right-leaning family, Owen searches for his own identity both as a person and as a writer. But when he begins a covert relationship with the visiting author on campus, things get much more complicated.

Told with an empathic heart and a keen observational eye, Groundskeeping has certainly earned a spot in the canon of campus novels. It’s also one of the best coming-of-age stories I’ve read in a long time. I’d stick it on the shelf somewhere between John Williams’s Stoner and Lily King’s Writers and Lovers. Lee Cole is one of the most exciting new voices of 2022, and I’m so excited to share his book with you.

Yours in reading,

Lindsay Lynch

Don’t miss our in-store event with Lee Cole on Thursday, March 3 at 6:30pm! He will be in conversation with our own Lindsay Lynch. Registration is required.

Kiese Laymon: An Appreciation

Our friends at The Porch, a Nashville-based literary arts nonprofit, are hosting their annual fundraiser on March 10, featuring award-winning author Kiese Laymon in conversation with author and speaker Danté Stewart, as well as a short performance by Allison Moorer. Laymon, one of the most important Black Southern voices of our time, is the author of three books: Heavy, a memoir; the essay collection How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America; and Long Division, a novel. He’ll also be giving a reading in Nashville on March 10 at 5:30 pm, which is free and open to the public, and can be registered for here. In advance of Laymon’s visit to Nashville, Porch codirector Susannah Felts asked a few friends of The Porch to share thoughts about Laymon’s unique voice and vision. Here’s what they had to say:

Ciona Rouse, poet:

I lie less because of reading Kiese Laymon. At least, I try. I mean, I don’t have a habit of lying, but I’m fairly well practiced at euphemisms and avoiding hard truths on the page and in conversations. More often than not, I’m direct and speak from my most honest self, but sometimes lying’s just easier. See, look at me: even this whole paragraph attempts to clean up my initial confession and make it all more palatable.

But Kiese Laymon doesn’t do this.

I first encountered Long Division, his fiction—the genre in which he trained. Even then, he guides us through his fantastic tale of two Citys with the kind of truth Lucille Clifton said is essential to writing. The kind that has nothing to do with facts and everything to do with true humanity. And he executes these truths with such exquisite sentences. Laymon inspires me for more than his truth, however. It’s the way he’s willing to see and re-see, revise, constantly grow. It’s the way he’s generous with his knowledge. The way he writes into Black past, present and future. The way he gets giddy over reading Morrison, Baldwin, Natasha Trethewey and Robert Jones, Jr. It’s the way he speaks of the South, to the South and somehow still believes in the South. How lucky we are to be alive and witness his art at such a time as this when seeing, revision, generosity, joy and truth may be some of our deepest human needs.

Adia Victoria, songwriter, musician and writer:

Belonging to every Black Southerner, regardless of its claiming or otherwise, is the ability to hear meaning in the unsaid, infer from the repressed and stretch beyond intended meaning the form of American English. In the pure politics disguised as mere spirituals, our ancestors indicted the violence of their soul plunder. From under the exacting eye of whiteness, they passed unseen in field songs the very path to freedom.

The Blues of our foremothers took rhetorical knife to the twin oppressions of Jim Crow sadism and the echoing misogynoir of the Black Southern church. Should this sung renunciation of her oppressors be called into question, the Blueswoman’s miming-with-a-wink of “primitive” performance allowed for her plausible deniability. She knew the true power of the Blues was to expose as it embraced–expression of the Southern Black subjective subverting the dominant culture it runs alongside is the work of the Blues.

In works like Heavy and How to Kill Yourself and Others Slowly in America, Kiese Laymon does the blueswork of interrogating and fraying the pat definitions of Black Southern masculinity, maternal love, the church, belonging. Kiese’s writing is proof of the power and danger of Black private memory; his writing deconstructs it as it clarifies. In his hand, language becomes a system of inquiry into the unnumbered paradoxes existing just below the “resolved” and “absolute.” His writing gives to the passed over and long-denied the breadth and depth of Blues expression.

With the humor and skill of a true Blues scholar, Kiese explores the paradox of pain and pleasure in being young, gifted, Southern and Black.

Kashif Andrew Graham, writer:

I think that I am most enraptured by Kiese Laymon’s philosophy of revision. When he bought back the rights to Long Division, he was essentially saying to the publishing houses—you don’t have the final say. But this was not a diss. It was an expression of his core belief that we should never become ossified. And if we are thinking deeply about our lives and our work, we will disagree with our former selves. We will need to restate, omit, offer addenda. This doesn’t mean that there is anything ‘wrong’ with what we wrote or said; it just means that we desire to say something different now, with new information and time. Kiese Laymon talks about revision as humility. In like manner, I think about revision as bridging the gap between what you said, and what you wish to say, which requires humility. In the Black church, we often talk about ‘doing your first works over’. That is revision. Making edits to life. Sending a letter of apology. Telling someone that they were wrong. Admitting that you really don’t know.

Jessica Pearson, Porch board president and publishing professional:

I can say with absolute certainty that I have never read anything like Heavy by Kiese Laymon. It is tempting to put writers into a box of surrogate voices that help us make sense of who they are and what they might be trying to say. But mark my words, Kiese is Kiese. And there is no one else saying what he’s saying. This might be the bravest book I have ever read. It is brave because it centers itself in the tension, it is not afraid to confront the duality of life and experiences. It is hard to sit with Kiese’s unflinching honesty about what a lifetime of secrets, what an amoral national history, what addiction and shame, love and pain can do to a Black body. But it is necessary, it is vital, it should be required that we sit with Kiese and bear witness to his unflinching honesty. I beg you to read this book.

You can purchase Kiese’s books from Parnassus below:

Heavy: An American Memoir

By Kiese Laymon

 

How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays

By Kiese Laymon

 

Long Division: A Novel

By Kiese Laymon

Cozy Up with 13 New Reads for the Young and Young at Heart

What do dancing duos, a recycling romance, and Mamma Mia! have in common? They’re all featured in this month’s staff picks! We have a wide variety of offerings, so sit back, relax, and liven up the cold and rainy days with these fun, February reads!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann If You Miss Me

By Jocelyn Li Langrand

Charlie and her grandma love to dance. When they’re apart, they know they dance under the same moon. When life changes, Charlie gets a reminder that the ones we love are always with us.

Recommended by Rae Ann Dream Street

By Tricia Elam Walker, Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)

This author-illustrator duo are cousins. This book Is a beautiful tribute to the street where they grew up, an uplifting portrait of community and encouragement.

Recommended by Chelsea I Love You Because I Love You

By Muon Thi Van, Jessica Love (Illustrator)

A simple call-and-response text structure highlights beautiful, diverse illustrations of people bonding over simple activities. Each page was a delight to read and explore.

Recommended by Aly Where Is Bina Bear?

By Mike Curato

Where is Bina Bear hiding at this party? More importantly WHY is Bina Bear hiding at this party? This adorable book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about how just being there can make you the best friend of all.

Recommended by Chelsea Milk and Juice: A Recycling Romance

By Meredith Crandall Brown

Milk and Juice fall in love but are separated when Juice runs out and is recycled. Both never stop searching for each other through their various recycled plastic forms. With a happy ending followed by facts about recycling, this delightful read is the perfect gift for environmentally conscious readers.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Ashby Never After: The Stolen Slippers (The Chronicles of Never After #2)

By Melissa de la Cruz

In Book #2 of the Never After series, De La Cruz turns a fairy tale upside down. The evil stepsisters aren’t evil! Cinderella isn’t a goody two-shoes! Filomena and her friends track down the slippers but she and one of the evil stepsisters are thrown into a dungeon. Find out if there is a “happily ever after” ending. Fun adventures with friends and fairy tales!

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Rae Ann Ain’t Burned All the Bright

By Jason Reynolds, Jason Griffin (Illustrator)

A magnificent combination of words and art.

Recommended by Chelsea This Woven Kingdom

By Tahereh Mafi

Mafi has woven a beautiful fantasy novel inspired by an epic Persian poem. Each word seems carefully placed, and the result is moving, rich prose that draws readers in. You’ll be drawn in by the language and you’ll stay for political intrigue, magical elements, and forbidden romance.

Recommended by Chelsea The Red Palace

By June Hur

A historical political mystery with just a touch of romance, June Hur’s new novel follows Hyeon, a palace nurse who reluctantly teams up with a police investigator to examine grisly murders at her old nursing school. Full of historical detail and page-turning suspense, this is truly unlike any book I’ve read in the past few years.

Recommended by Aly Lawless Spaces

By Corey Ann Haydu

This novel in verse tells the story of Mimi, a teenage girl who desperately wants someone to notice the real her, outside of her perfect internet persona. She finds help navigating what it means to be a young woman from an unlikely source: her family’s archival poetry.

Recommended by Chelsea When You Get the Chance: A Novel

By Emma Lord

Millie’s summer is turned upside down when she finds her father’s old Livejournal that hints at her absent mother’s identity. Already obsessed with Mamma Mia! and all things Broadway, Millie tracks down three women and wedges herself into their lives. With a great cast of secondary characters and a slow-burn romance, Millie’s journey of self-discovery and growth is a delightful read.

Spark Book Club: February Selection A Comb of Wishes

By Lisa Stringfellow

The February 2022 Spark Book Club selection is A Comb of Wishes by Lisa Stringfellow.

Kela lives in the Caribbean islands. One day while diving she finds an ancient-looking comb in a coral cave. The treasure is in a protected area, but Kela can’t resist removing the artifact and bringing it home. A mermaid out for revenge exchanges a wish with Kela to get her treasure back in this tale full of folklore and spine-tingling adventure.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Stringfellow weaves an enchanting tale of loss, longing, and discovery infused with Caribbean folklore. Readers will be captivated by Kela’s story and become invested in her journey as she tries to deal with the grief of losing her mother as well as regret for her past actions.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Imbued with a magic that felt as real as the concrete and beloved world in which it is set, this story moves with a plot that is both surefooted and wild, both inexorable and surprising, both cerebral and emotional. I loved it so much.” -Kelly Barnhill, author of the Newbery-winning novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: February Selection I Must Betray You

By Ruta Sepetys

The February 2022 ParnassusNext selection is I Must Betray You by master storyteller and Parnassus favorite Ruta Sepetys. This historical thriller takes us to 1989 Romania. Seventeen-year-old aspiring writer, Cristian, is blackmailed into working for the secret police as an informant. Can he keep his family safe by following his assignment and also join the revolution brewing in his country? This page turning novel shines a light on a little-known piece of history and highlights the flame of the human spirit.

Early praise for the novel:

“Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart, craft, and insight in a way very few writers can. Compulsively readable and brilliant.” –Kirkus, starred review

Sepetys (The Fountains of Silence) unveils the culture of constant surveillance in communist Romania through an ominously suspenseful historical novel set at the brink of revolution. – Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.