Ann Patchett's Blog, page 17

Feb Staff Recs – Kids/YA 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.

Lean into Love: 26 New Reads for February

Happy February, book lovers! It’s the season of love, and in our humble opinion, there’s no better love than the one between a reader and their favorite books. Books hold cherished characters, timeless stories, and endless knowledge. They allow us to step into others’ shoes, explore places we’ve never been, and see the world through a new lens. Simply put, books are essential. You may have heard in the news that some Tennessee school systems think certain books are less essential than others. We couldn’t disagree more. Neither can our friend Katherine Applegate. We hope this month’s staff picks will bring you knowledge, inspiration, and maybe even a new favorite book.

Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.” -Laurie Halse Anderson

FICTIONRecommended by Lindsay Fiona and Jane

By Jean Chen Ho

I’m always an easy sell on stories of female friendship, and Jean Chen Ho’s Fiona and Jane is one of the best. In these interlinked stories, Ho captures the complicated intimacy of women’s relationships–the raw messiness of early adulthood, the unassailable loyalty that comes from years of shared history, no matter how fraught. It was such a gift to have these glimpses into Fiona and Jane’s lives.

Recommended by Elyse Mercy Street: A Novel

By Jennifer Haigh

Storms are raging in the Boston area, literally and figuratively, in this insightful novel that delves into current issues. The opposing passions and intersecting lives of Haigh’s desperate characters create a story that keeps you in its grip until the last page.

Don’t miss our virtual event with Jennifer Haigh in conversation with Jess Walter on Monday, Feb. 7 at 6:00pm CST!

Recommended by Chelsea How High We Go in the Dark: A Novel

By Sequoia Nagamatsu

This incredible novel deals with a plague, but it’s the pandemic novel everyone needs to read. Both the depth and the breadth of this novel are impressive, and chapters are so tender and heartfelt that they truly restored my faith in humanity. This is a novel I will press into the hands of all readers and revisit when I need hope restored.

Recommended by Lindsay Other People’s Clothes: A Novel

By Calla Henkel

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what might happen if two art students studying abroad in the early 2000s got way too into the Amanda Knox case, look no further than Other People’s Clothes. Calla Henkel’s debut novel is one of the most clever and compelling portrayals of toxic female friendship that I’ve ever read. You’ll pick it up for the early aughts nostalgia, but stay for the plot twists.

Recommended by Sydney Recitatif: A Story

By Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison’s classic, empirical short story (originally published in 1983) has finally been released in a well-deserved, stand alone edition. With an introduction from Zadie Smith, Morrison’s enthralling essay is as paramount as ever.

Recommended by Chelsea Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead: A Mystery

By Elle Cosimano

I squealed with glee when I got my hands on this much-anticipated sequel! Finlay is back with even more hijinks and is the same hot mess that I love so much. This is perfect for readers who want some hilarity in their whodunnit.

Recommended by Kathy Tenderness

By Alison Macleod

Centered on D.H. Lawrence and the origin story of his writing of Lady Chatterly’s Lover, this book probes his psyche, sexuality, marriage and politics. It’s juxtaposed with Jackie Kennedy and J.Edgar Hoover’s involvement in the book in the U.S. This book is loaded, delicious, and a treasure!

Recommended by Sarah Brown Girls: A Novel

By Daphne Palasi Andreades

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson will love this lyrical, poetic story told from the collective perspective of a group of friends growing up in Queens. It’s about race, American society, immigration, traditional values, and so much more, and somehow, Andreades is able to explore it all in this slim novel. It’s a stunning debut.

Recommended by Chelsea The Fields: A Novel

By Erin Young

Debut author Erin Young delivers a twisted mystery that involves agricultural terrorism, small town politics, and a young detective who is trying to keep her past buried. This was a dark, wild ride that kept me guessing until the very end.

Recommended by Ben Violeta [English Edition]: A Novel

By Isabel Allende, Frances Riddle (Translated by)

Allende chronicles the remarkable life of a woman born during one pandemic in 1920 and dying during another in 2020. Between those years, she lives a bursting life in cities and countrysides, suffers and thrives, has many loves—sterile, destructive, practical, joyous—survives political turmoil, and seeks the meaning in all of it. The book is addressed to a “Camilo,” but it’s also written for you and me.

Recommended by Sissy The Accomplice: A Novel

By Lisa Lutz

Lutz has such a natural writing style – her dialogue is smooth, and her characters are beautifully drawn and complex. This whodunnit has a plot in the present day and a second mystery from the characters’ college days. I was hooked on the setting, the motives, and the humanity of all involved. I knew someone was guilty but I was so scared to find out who it really was!

Recommended by RJ Love & Other Disasters

By Anita Kelly

This queer romcom features two amateur chefs competing on a reality cooking competition with $100,000 on the line. Well-paced with an excellent balance of drama and hijinks, this story is sweet, spicy, and everything in between.

Recommended by Ben Manywhere: Stories

By Morgan Thomas

These compact, descriptive short stories are deftly ambitious with voice and form as they illuminate the inner lives of queer characters in the south, from the Gulf Coast to Arlington to Louisiana and beyond. Dazzling, structurally confident, and unafraid to takes risks, the most impressive stories in the batch tie ingeniously into the lives of queer people from the past.

Recommended by Aly The Latinist: A Novel

By Mark Prins

Oxford scholar Tessa has devoted everything to her career and her advisor. When it seems she is getting closer to a breakthrough with the mysterious poet who first inspired her, why does the story of Apollo chasing Daphne begin to hit a little too close to home? Beautifully told and eerily realistic, this story will leave you considering the true meaning of poetic justice.

Recommended by Patsy Joan Is Okay: A Novel

By Weike Wang

Chinese-American Joan is a committed teaching physician who is more comfortable around machines than people. Wang’s clever and often unwittingly funny writing delves into the immigrant experience, the multi-layered meanings of home and family, and the role of work in a woman’s life. Joan is a singular character, kin to Olive Kitteridge and Eleanor Oliphant, who is a joy to get to know.

Recommended by Hannah Notes on an Execution: A Novel

By Danya Kukafka

The story of the serial killer is one we all know by heart… but how well do we know the stories of those left in their wake? This breathtaking novel questions our culture’s romanticization of men who kill by following the lives of the women in a killer’s life, those irrevocably changed by his actions. This story belongs not to the inmate on death row, but to these women upstaged by his crimes.

Recommended by Jordan The School for Good Mothers: A Novel

By Jessamine Chan

In this chilling, somewhat dystopian novel, one parenting mistake changes the life of overwhelmed single mother, Frida. After being sent to the school for good mothers for a whole year, will she receive custody of her young daughter again?

NONFICTIONRecommended by Ann The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life

By Mark Epstein, M.D.

Don’t be put off by the title. This book offers an emotion and spiritual tune-up. I found it to be packed with helpful insights. Be prepared to underline.

Recommended by Karen All About Me!

By Mel Brooks

If you grew up with Mel Brooks, you know his voice and can probably read this delightful book with him narrating it in your head. But why not let him actually read his memoir to you? If you want something that will have you laughing out loud you should download this audio today.

We recommend using Libro.fm for audiobooks! Use this link to support Parnassus with every audiobook purchase through Libro.fm.

Recommended by Karen Let Me Tell You What I Mean 

By Joan Didion

The first Didion book I read was The Year of Magical Thinking and I followed up with Blue Nights when it came out. Her recent death prompted me to pick up this most recent collection of essays, which spans five decades and an amazing variety of subjects from Ernest Hemingway to Martha Stewart. There was no one that writes like her. The White Album is next.

Recommended by Jenny Say Yes: Discover the Surprising Life Beyond the Death of a Dream

By Scott Erickson

Artist Scott Erickson (known as @scottthepainter on Instagram) writes on the spiritual journey that takes place when we face the death of a dream. For anyone who has met a low point, Erickson illuminates a path to not only survive but to resurrect. A cross between a spiritual guide and personal growth, Say Yes is a great start to the New Year.

Recommended by Sissy The Eye Test: A Case for Human Creativity in the Age of Analytics

By Chris Jones

Jones, a GREAT storyteller, looks back on a journalism career, revealing a truth he’s learned: analytics are helpful, but human passion, experience, and imagination are what count in the end. Effective specialists learn, watch, then act in a way that elevates society. Formulas help, but are limited because they rely on what’s happened before. When new and crazy things happen, look to the creatives.

Recommended by Ben White Bull (Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry)

By Elizabeth Hughey

Hughey’s collection won a prize I also submitted to, and now I know why I lost: because these pages are incredible. Every word in them was uttered or written by the infamous, racist “Bull” Connor of Birmingham, Alabama. By subverting and repurposing language, unexpected images bloom and beauty is built from the wreckage. As I was reading I kept thinking: How the heck did she do this?!

Recommended by Jordan This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown

By Taylor Harris

When Taylor Harris’ young son woke up one morning showing signs of a mysterious illness and acting out of character, she did not know something big was about to change their lives and their family forever. The Harris family jumps through every hoop imaginable to find support and answers and to advocate for their young Black boy with special needs. This is a memoir of faith, family, and motherhood.

Recommended by Ben A Different Distance: A Renga

By Marilyn Hacker, Karthika Naïr

Written by two poets and friends living in Paris during the COVID-19 lockdown, each poem responds to the preceding one, enlarging the other’s ponderings and vision. These spare, cleaving stanzas land on images that bring interiorities to life, and while there is isolation, longing, disaster, loss, there also exists hope, memory, moments of undeniable beauty and connection.

First Editions Club: February Selection Thank You, Mr. Nixon: Stories

By Gish Jen

Dear friends,

Early in the pandemic (and honestly, even before that), people started asking us to recommend books that wouldn’t destroy them. They weren’t looking for something silly, but they hoped to find respite from the devastations of their day. It’s a reasonable request, but at the same time, the book they had in mind was something of a unicorn: smart, cheerful, funny, upbeat, not silly. Go ahead, make a list.

And then there’s the fact that some very serious things going on in the world require our consideration. Is it okay to only read books about surfing in Malibu, or does that solution wind just up being uncomfortable in an entirely different way?

Enter Gish Jen, a writer who manages to be charming, funny, brilliant and socially responsible all at the same time. Thank You, Mr. Nixon is a collection of stories that reads like an extremely engrossing novel, a novel about U.S.-China relations no less, in which the pages fly, I laughed out loud, and felt that I was suddenly understanding things I’ve never understood before. I was moved and amazed.

Of course, Gish is no stranger to mixing lightness with heft. Her last novel, The Resisters, was about a scrappy young girl baseball prodigy living in a dystopian future of climate disaster, complete government control and an Alexa-like device that monitors your every word and deed. It was incredibly funny.

I don’t think anyone else knows how to do this. It’s just Gish Jen. I am so grateful that she’s here.

Yours in reading,

Ann Patchett

Pre-Order Dreaming: 24 Upcoming Titles for the Young and Young at Heart

Maybe you’re dreaming about warmer weather and summer vacation, but here at Parnassus, we’re dreaming about all the amazing titles for kids and young adults coming out this year! Our booksellers put their heads together to come up with a list of the books we’re most excited for in 2022. You’ll see new books in fan-favorite series as well as up-and-coming authors, and they’re all available for pre-order now. Take a look!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann Music Is a Rainbow

By Bryan Collier

A beautiful new picture book from Bryan Collier about the power of music.

Release date: Jun. 7

Recommended by Chelsea Knight Owl

By Christopher Denise

Just look at the cover! How precious.

Release date: Mar. 15

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann The Lucky Ones

By Linda Williams Jackson

In 1967 Mississippi, Ellis Earl dreams of a home for his family. The award-winning author of Midnight Without a Moon tells a hopeful story inspired by her childhood.

Release date: Apr. 12

Recommended by Rae Ann Forbidden City (City Spies #3)

By James Ponti

I’m excited for a new book in the City Spies series! This story takes place in Beijing’s Olympic Stadium.

Release date: Feb. 1

Recommended by Aly Troublemaker

By John Cho

On the night of the beginning of the LA riots, a young boy makes a dangerous journey across town to prove to his father, as well as himself, that he is not the disappointment he fears he might be.

Release date: Mar. 22

Recommended by Rae Ann The Ogress and the Orphans

By Kelly Barnhill

A new fantasy by the author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon! When an orphan goes missing, the town Ogress is blamed. But who is the real villain???

Release date: Mar. 8

Recommended by Rae Ann A Comb of Wishes

By Lisa Stringfellow

This February Spark Book Club pick features a 12 y/o girl and a mermaid intent on revenge. You’re going to love it!

Release date: Feb. 8

Recommended by Chelsea

Map of Flames (The Forgotten Five, Book 1) (Hardcover)

By Lisa McMann

New series by the author of The Unwanteds featuring superhero children in a heist!

Release date: Feb. 22

Recommended by Rae Ann A Duet For Home

By Karina Yan Glaser

This new book by the author of The Vanderbeekers series takes place in a homeless shelter. It’s a beautiful book of found family and the healing power of music.

Release date: Apr. 5

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Rae Ann I Must Betray You

By Ruta Sepetys

The upcoming book by Ruta Sepetys takes us to 1989 Romania. This historical thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Release date: Feb. 1

Recommended by RJ I Kissed Shara Wheeler: A Novel

By Casey McQuiston

It’s Casey McQuiston’s YA debut. I feel like that speaks for itself.

Release date: May 3

Recommended by Sissy Kings of B’more

By R. Eric Thomas

R. Eric is the funniest man on the internet, and I really enjoyed his memoir. I am so eager to hear him write about the teen years again, only through a fictional lens this time.

Release date: May 31

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.

Release date: Mar. 1

Recommended by RJ Right Where I Left You

By Julian Winters

Julian Winters’s The Summer of Everything was pure, unparalleled delight. Best friends to lovers simply does not get better than that book. I’ve had this one on my TBR since the moment it was announced!

Release date: Mar. 15

Recommended by Chelsea Loveboat Reunion

By Abigail Hing Wen

Very excited for this sequel to Loveboat Taipei and the return of the characters I adored so much.

Release date: Jan. 25

Recommended by RJ A Little Bit Country

By Brian D. Kennedy

This is a country music-flavored queer romcom set in an amusement park inspired by Dollywood. That premise alone won my Nashville heart over in an instant.

Release date: May 31

Recommended by Aly All My Rage: A Novel

By Sabaa Tahir

In a departure from her usual world of fantasy, Tahir explores a world of friendship, family, and forgiveness that is perhaps more volatile because of the truth and familiarity behind it.

Release date: Mar. 1

Recommended by Rae Ann Tokyo Dreaming: A Novel 

By Emiko Jean

The sequel to Tokyo Ever After is coming! I can’t wait to see what happens to this teen turned princess in the next chapter of her story.

Release date: May 31

Recommended by Ashby Sense and Second-Degree Murder 

By Tirzah Price

Jane Austen + mystery = a fun read! In the first book, Lizzie solves a murder while falling for Darcy. This is the second in the series. This time the Dashwood sisters have to solve their father’s murder and avoid the estate being entailed away…

Release date: Apr. 5

Recommended by RJ The Sunbearer Trials 

By Aiden Thomas

Look, I see Aiden Thomas’s name and I pre-order on sight. He could announce a 900 page book about raising slugs and I’d pre-order it. Luckily this one is a high-stakes epic fantasy full of gods and magic that I guarantee is going to take the world by storm.

Release date: Sept. 6

Recommended by Rae Ann The Most Dazzling Girl In Berlin

By Kip Wilson

On the eve of WWII, an orphan in Berlin becomes a cabaret singer. This powerful LGBTQ novel in verse is a must read!

Release date: Mar. 29

Recommended by Aly The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

By Axie Oh

A young girl becomes the accidental sacrifice to a sea god in an attempt to save her brother and their village in what is sure to be a fantasy hit.

Release date: Feb. 22

Spark Book Club: January Selection Hide and Geek

By T. P. Jagger

The January 2022 Spark Book Club selection is Hide and Geek by T. P. Jagger. Four puzzle-solving best friends whose initials happen to spell GEEK are on a treasure hunt to save their town. Their hometown was once the headquarters of a famous toymaker and her factory. Now that factory is scheduled to close and the friends may have to move away and go their separate ways. The GEEKs uncover a series of clues left behind by the toymaker. If they can solve the clues and find her treasure, that may save the factory and their town.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“A snappy mystery that’s full of heart.” – Kirkus

“For fans of the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series, Jagger’s quick-paced debut pays homage to small towns and big riddles.” – Publisher’s Weekly

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: January Selection Anatomy: A Love Story

By Dana Schwartz

The January 2022 ParnassusNext selection is Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz. In 19th century Edinburgh, Hazel Sinnett is a lady whose deepest desire is to be a surgeon. She dons her brother’s clothes and attends classes under his name. Jack Currer is a resurrection man who steals bodies to sell to medical students. When their worlds collide, they join forces to defeat their circumstances. This gothic tale is a magical romance with overtones of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Early praise for the novel:

“Schwartz’s magical novel is at once gripping and tender, and the intricate plot is engrossing as the reader tries to solve the mystery. She doesn’t miss a beat in either the characterization or action, scattering clues with a delicate, precise hand. This is, in the end, the story of the anatomy of the human heart.” – Booklist (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.

Looking Forward: 39 Pre-Orders for Your TBR Pile

Happy 2022, readers! We don’t normally do staff picks in January because not many books come out in the month leading up to the holidays, but we’ve all been through a lot over the past couple of years, and we found ourselves searching for things to look forward to. We figured you might be, too. So this month’s staff picks are dedicated to the books coming out in 2022 that we’re most excited for! We’ve read advance copies of some and are eagerly anticipating others. All of these titles are available for pre-order now, so give yourself something to look forward to. You deserve it!

FICTIONRecommended by Ann Thank You, Mr. Nixon: Stories

By Gish Jen

These connected stories explain the relationship between Chinese and Americans with intelligence, elegant nonchalance, and wicked humor. Gish Jen should have a diplomatic post, or rule the world.

Release date: Feb. 1

Recommended by Ann Horse: A Novel

By Geraldine Brooks

The story of the Lexington, one of the greatest racing horses of all times, goes from pre-Civil War Kentucky to the Smithsonian in present day D.C. Beautifully researched and perfectly written, this book engulfs the reader.

Release date: Jun. 14

Recommended by Ann The Candy House: A Novel

By Jennifer Egan

It’s early to say that this is the novel of the year, but here I am, saying exactly that. Jenny Egan’s brilliance is pyrotechnic, and this book is as complex and masterful and true as anything I can imagine.

Release date: Apr. 5

Recommended by Karen This Time Tomorrow: A Novel

By Emma Straub

Meet Alice. She is celebrating her 40th birthday while dealing with a dying father and an unsatisfying romantic relationship. After a long evening she passes out and wakes up the next morning in her childhood bedroom on her 16th birthday. This is a fresh take in the time travel genre. You won’t want it to end. Emma Straub’s best book to date.

Release date: May 17

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.

Release date: Apr. 5

Recommended by Lindsay Four Treasures of the Sky: A Novel

By Jenny Tinghui Zhang

In 10 years, when Jenny Tinghui Zhang is the most famous author in America, you’ll want to say that you pre-ordered her debut novel, Four Treasures of the Sky. Who doesn’t love bragging rights? Bonus, you get to read the best book of 2022 the week it comes out.

Release date: Apr. 5

Recommended by Rae Ann In the Face of the Sun

By Denny S. Bryce

A woman in 1960s Chicago takes off for Los Angeles to solve a mystery from 1920 Black Hollywood in the upcoming historical novel from Denny Bryce. I can’t wait to read it!

Release date: Apr. 26

Recommended by Lindsay Our Wives Under the Sea

By Julia Armfield

I’ve been watching this book build the most exciting buzz in the UK and waiting (patiently!) for its arrival in the US. Domestic drama? A freak submarine accident? I’m in.

Release date: Jul. 12

Recommended by Elyse Mercy Street: A Novel

By Jennifer Haigh

Storms are raging in the Boston area, both literally and figuratively, in this insightful novel that delves into current issues. The opposing passions and intersecting lives of Haigh’s desperate characters create a story that keeps you in its grip until the last page. A great read!

Release date: Feb. 1

Recommended by Lindsay Woman of Light: A Novel

By Kali Fajardo-Anstine

I get that the word “transportive” is overused in blurbs, but I don’t how else to describe this gorgeous novel from Kali Fajardo-Anstine. I got completely lost in the world of 1930s Denver and fell so love in with every one of these characters.

Release date: Jun. 7

Recommended by Ben Nobody’s Magic

By Destiny O. Birdsong

Birdsong’s triptych novel follows three black women from Shreveport, Louisiana who each have albinism. Yet it’s their unique griefs and struggles, their singular decisions and strivings for self-actualization that had me glued to the pages. The region is vividly portrayed, the voices so startlingly real you’ll think the characters are sitting right next to you. Sexy, gritty, unapologetic, this one will be talked about all year.

Release date: Feb. 8

Recommended by RJ Delilah Green Doesn’t Care

By Ashley Herring Blake

Ashley Herring Blake, not content to simply amaze us with her middle grade and YA titles, is making her adult debut. Reviews are already raving about this heartfelt, steamy queer romance!

Release date: Feb. 22

Recommended by Sissy The Paris Apartment: A Novel

By Lucy Foley

Foley’s last thriller, The Guest List, set on a a stormy island off the coast of Ireland, had me guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to sink into her next setting with a blanket and a glass of wine.

Release date: Feb. 22

Recommended by RJ I’m So (Not) Over You

By Kosoko Jackson

Fake dating + second chance romance = a match made in romcom heaven. One of my most anticipated romances of the year, and we don’t even have much longer to wait!

Release date: Feb. 22

Recommended by Hannah Book Lovers

By Emily Henry

Henry’s much anticipated new rom-com centers around a literary agent and an editor – folks, if you love books about books and/or enjoyed Beach Read or People We Meet on Vacation, this is a must.

Release date: May 3

Recommended by Sydney Lapvona: A Novel

By Ottessa Moshfegh

Profound and peculiar, Ottessa Moshfegh never disappoints me. Her newest novel, written at the height of the pandemic, may be her best work yet.

Release date: Jun. 21

Recommended by Ben The Books of Jacob: A Novel

By Olga Tokarczuk, Jennifer Croft

I often get sucked into literary historical fiction, and I love books that explore religion in nuanced ways. So a sweeping novel about a charismatic 18th-century Polish Jew who converts to both Islam and Catholicism, and is thought to be a heretic one minute and a Messiah the next? Consider me intrigued.

Release date: Feb. 1

Recommended by RJ Siren Queen

By Nghi Vo

I fell in love with Nghi Vo’s writing after recently devouring both of her Singing Hills novellas in a single sitting. This monstrous take on old Hollywood looks just as hard to put down.

Release date: May 10

Recommended by Sissy The Pallbearers Club: A Novel

By Paul Tremblay

Tremblay writes a fabulous thriller – but not the gross-out kind. I always form a deep emotional attachment to his protagonists.

Release date: Jul. 5

Recommended by RJ The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer

By Janelle Monáe

I have been listening to Janelle Monáe’s music for over a decade with a burning question in my mind: Are we ever going to get a book full of her sci-fi stories? The answer is, at long last, yes! Monáe’s bottomless creativity across every medium always amazes me, and I can’t wait to see what form it takes next.

Release date: Apr. 19

Recommended by Marcia One Italian Summer: A Novel

By Rebecca Serle

A gorgeously written story about the loss of a mother and the daughter’s realization (was it a fantasy?) that her mom’s life was much more than she ever considered. After the recent loss of my own mother, this hit exactly as I wanted it to and I could not put it down.

Release date: Mar. 1

Recommended by Sydney Cult Classic: A Novel

By Sloane Crosley

Blending the line between psychological thriller and romantic comedy, I can’t wait to get my hands on this title. If you like Grady Hendrix, give Sloane Crosley a shot!

Release date: Jun. 7

Recommended by Erin The No-Show

By Beth O’Leary

The latest from the author of The Flatshare isn’t a rom-com, no matter what the flap copy tells you. And that’s okay, because it delivers an unexpectedly moving trio of intricately plotted stories that may or may not be related.

Release date: Apr. 26

Recommended by Sissy Tracy Flick Can’t Win: A Novel

By Tom Perrotta

I just miss Tracy Flick from Election, to be honest.

 

Release date: Jun. 7

Recommended by Ben Pure Colour: A Novel

By Sheila Heti

This slim novel is set in a “first draft of Creation” and centers around the bond between Mira and Annie, the former of whom is at one point turned into a leaf on a tree. It looks to be deeply emotional, funny, philosophical, and totally original. I can’t wait to dive into it!

Release date: Feb. 15

Recommended by Sissy How to Sell a Haunted House

By Grady Hendrix

Grady is my favorite hilarious horror writer. I certainly hope the pandemic wanes this summer so he can visit Parnassus!

Release date: Jul. 12

Recommended by RJ A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

By Becky Chambers

A Psalm for the Wild-Built was the serene, gentle, contemplative balm I needed last year (and from the amount of time it’s spent back-ordered, I am far from alone in that.) I am so eager for this sequel to return to the beautiful world Becky Chambers built.

Release date: Jul. 12

Recommended by Chelsea Booth

By Karen Joy Fowler

A family saga set in pre-Civil War America that seems to draw startling comparisons between the past and the present.

Release date: Mar. 8

Recommended by RJ The Spear Cuts Through Water: A Novel

By Simon Jimenez

Simon Jimenez’s debut, The Vanished Birds, has been stuck in my mind since I read it two years ago. It was such an ambitious story, one of the few books I felt the need to truly slow down and savor. His follow up is taking a fantasy direction, and I can’t wait to see how this one unfolds.

Release date: Aug. 30

Recommended by Marcia The Wedding Veil

By Kristy Woodson Harvey

Fans of Woodson Harvey will not be disappointed. Set amongst Biltmore House, a novel that spans four generations and is centered around, you guessed it – a wedding veil! Grab a glass of wine (Biltmore House label would be my suggestion) and settle in for some of her signature romance!

Release date: Mar. 29

Recommended by Ben Tell Me an Ending: A Novel

By Jo Harkin

The word that jumped out to me from the back cover is “memory.” As a poet, I often write about memory, so the thought of following four very different characters as they each decide whether to have a painful event erased or recalled in the search for answers and meaning is a journey I’ll gladly take.

Release date: Mar. 1

NONFICTIONRecommended by Karen Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives

By Mary Laura Philpott

Mary Laura Philpott’s new collection of essays is even better than her first. There are serious topics here, but these personal stories are told with a light touch that highlight her sense of humor and irony.

Release date: Apr. 12

Recommended by Sissy Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times

By Azar Nafisi

Nafisi, who wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran, once walked to our store from her hotel by Vandy. Bear and I drove her back afterwards. Anyone who’s seen the news recently knows why this new book will be a must-read!

Release date: Mar. 8

Recommended by Chelsea Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases

By Paul Holes

From the detective who rocketed to fame during the arrest of the Golden State Killer, this is the perfect read for true crime fans.

Release date: Apr. 26

Recommended by Ashby The Wok: Recipes and Techniques

By J. Kenji López-Alt

His first cookbook, The Food Lab, explained the science behind cooking and included better, simpler ways to do things at home. This cook book should change the way many of us approach using the wok from keeping it in a cabinet to keeping it on the stove. It should be a great way to change up our cooking routines.

Release date: Mar. 8

Recommended by Patsy Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution’s Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction

By David George Haskell

One of Haskell’s finest talents is in encouraging his reader to carefully consider the natural world. His gift lies in awakening our senses to what’s been here since the dawn of creation. In his latest work, he examines sound, its evolution and the loss of natural sound with lyrical prose.

Release date: Mar. 1

Recommended by Sydney In the Margins: On the Pleasures of Reading and Writing

By Elena Ferrante, Ann Goldstein

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?

Release date: Mar. 15

Recommended by Sissy Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole

By Susan Cain

Cain’s book Quiet changed my life. This introvert is eager to hear what she says next.

Release date: Apr. 5

Recommended by Ben The Life and Death of a Minke Whale in the Amazon: Dispatches from the Brazilian Rainforest

By Fábio Zuker, Ezra Fitz (Translator)

Milkweed Editions consistently delivers on genre-bending works that weave together themes of nature, environmentalism, memoir, and sociology. I can already tell these essays will make me feel more connected to the people and land of Brazil, and will give me much to ponder after the pages are through.

Release date: May 10

First Editions Club: January Selection Mouth to Mouth: A Novel

By Antoine Wilson

 

Dear friends,

We’ve made it to 2022. Let’s be honest–it was a bit of a rough year. When our booksellers got together to talk about potential First Edition selections for January, we had a lot of discussions about how to kick off the new year. We read a lot of great books, but, wow, were some of those books depressing! So, you can imagine how delighted I was to come across Antoine Wilson’s Mouth to Mouth. A psychological mystery? Plot twists? Under 200 pages? Count me in.

As a Patricia Highsmith superfan, I’m always drawn to a sleek novel about the harrowing secrets and misdeeds of the upper class–I’m pleased to say that Antoine Wilson absolutely delivers. Mouth to Mouth is a compact tour-de-force featuring an intoxicating antagonist with a level of self-delusion that would make Highsmith proud.

This is the sort of book that you can squirrel away with for an afternoon and forget the outside world. I recommend that you grab your favorite blanket, make a warm beverage, and find a cozy chair. Trust me, you’ll want to prepare to read this fabulous novel in one sitting.

Yours in reading,

Lindsay Lynch

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.

The Shop Dog Diaries: New Year’s Resolutions

We, the Shop Dogs of Parnassus, approach the New Year holding two seemingly contradictory beliefs in our paws:

1) We are perfect.
2) We wish to improve.

It’s like a Zen Koan, right? How can we acknowledge our perfection while still seeking betterment? Because we are dogs, and dogs contain the mysteries of the universe. Because we are Parnassus Shop Dogs, we not only came up with a list of goals, we identified the books that can help us reach those goals. We share this booklist with our human friends in hopes that they, too, will take the opportunity to gaze inward and seek improvement.

A good place for humans to start in the quest for improvement might be a copy of Mat Ward’s excellent book What Dogs Want: An Illustrated Guide for HAPPY Dog Care and Training. We’ve removed the chapters about training for our convenience.

OPIE

My main resolution for the New Year is to get my favorite book Bacon Nation by Peter Kaminsky back into print where it belongs. What sort of world are we living in when “Romeo and Juliet” is still in print and a dog can’t find a copy of Bacon?

Next, I plan to deepen my relationship with my shop person, Andy, by asking him to read The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron and Clint Howard aloud to me at bedtime. I’m hoping we can learn how to be more loving and respectful by studying this other Andy and Opie team.

I also like the idea of Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning by Tom Vanderbilt. Apparently old dogs can learn new tricks, which is not to say you’re going to see me jumping through hula hoops. Marlee can keep her own hula hoops.

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family

By Ron Howard, Clint Howard

Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning

By Tom Vanderbilt

LAVINIA

I am hoping to improve my cooking skills in 2022, and am waiting for spring to try out more recipes from Rodney Scott’s World of Barbecue.  He’s right, you know, every day is a good day. A good day to cook on the grill. Outside. In the sunshine. With smells. And squirrels. And rabbits.

Smokers are something I think I’d like, too. They smell really good and the meat turns out really, really tender. For instruction, I am checking out Adrian Miller’s Black Smoke. I would really like a big plate of brisket for supper….

Hot chicken is a big deal around here, and though I do not understand why on earth you would want to cover up the taste of juicy chicken with hot sauce, to each his own. I am going to see what all this fuss is about and so have picked up The Hot Chicken Project and The Hot Chicken Cookbook.  But now, I am going to take a nap and dream about that brisket…

Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day: A Cookbook

By Rodney Scott, Lolis Eric Elie

Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue

By Adrian Miller

The Hot Chicken Project: Words + Recipes | Obsession + Salvation | Spice + Fire

By Aaron Turner

Hot Chicken Cookbook: The Fiery History & Red-Hot Recipes of Nashville’s Beloved Bird

By Timothy Charles Davis

MARLEE

I am going to do so much in the new year! And I can’t wait! I love New Years!  All of them!

I just bought Jen Hatmaker’s book, 7 Days of Simplicity: A Season of Living Lightly so that I can learn to relax and focus on what is really important (but I can’t take my eyes off those sheep!) and Jane Goodall’s Book of Hope.  I will save the world!And then there’s this book called Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment, by Daniel Kahneman. Turns out that NOISE has detrimental effects on people! Ha! I knew that!  (And you did know that I am deaf, and that is why I am so smart and focused and how I get so much done and I never, ever get distracted?) Anyway, I resolve that in the new year I am going to get people quiet so that they can think!And I am going to work on my agility, and my bomb sniffing skills, and I will learn more tricks! I will do them in the store! I will do Happy New Year tricks! I will do them best! 7 Days of Simplicity: A Season of Living Lightly

By Jen Hatmaker

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times

By Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams

Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment

By Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, Cass R. Sunstein

BARNABUS

I spent the year 2021 being the engine of energy at the bookstore. I chased my tail, flipped my ears, wrestled with Sparky, leapt onto perilous towers of boxes. I have run and gamboled and woofed every day because I am the life of the party, and while it’s been a good job for me, now is the time to add a soupcon of reflection. I have identified some excellent books to help me along the noble path inward.

I will start with How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell. The subtitle of this book is “Resisting the Attention Economy” which is intriguing because I get so much attention and am irresistible.

Then I will read How to Sit, by Thich Nhat Hanh. I already know how to sit but I’m going to read it anyway. I would like to read it while sitting in your lap.

The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron, is an oldy but a goody. It teaches people to be more creative. One way to be creative is to spend more time throwing a ball to your dog.

Upstream is a book of essays by Mary Oliver in which she writes, “Attention is the beginning of devotion.” Hear that, Lindsay? Pay attention to me.

When all of that is done, I’ll take a look at Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard, because detailed observation is never a bad thing.

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy

By Jenny Odell

How to Sit

By Thich Nhat Hanh

The Artist’s Way: 25th Anniversary Edition

By Julia Cameron

Upstream: Selected Essays

By Mary Oliver

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

By Annie Dillard

SPARKY
Sometimes what a dog wants in the future is what a dog had in the past. We used to go on endless hikes in the Warner Parks, but over the years my people have gotten lazy. I’m getting a copy of F. Lynne Bachleda’s terrific book A History of Nashville’s Warner Parks to inspire us to get off the couch and back on the trails as a family.

And since we’re going into the woods, I resolve to learn more about trees. I’m getting the National Audubon  Society’s Trees of North America . My plan is to not pee on any tree I don’t know the name of.

My therapist says I need to calm down about cats, even though the cats are the ones with the problems. The neighbors’ cats should not be allowed to sit on my front porch or at my back door and press their sickening little cat noses against the glass and stare me down until I nearly have a heart attack. I plan to use Walter Chandoha’s hideous book of photographs called Cats as a way of desensitizing myself. One. Cat. A. Day. That’s how I’m going to do this.

Then I’ll finish up with a copy of Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams , even though I know why we sleep. We sleep because hiking and cats are exhausting. A History of Nashville’s Warner Parks

By F. Lynne Bachleda

National Audubon Society Trees of North America

By National Audubon Society

Walter Chandoha. Cats. Photographs 1942-2018

By Susan Michals, Reuel Golden, Walter Chandoha

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

By Matthew Walker, PhD

Happy New Year, dog friends! Happy New Year, people! We love you just the way you are while completely supporting your quest to change.

 

There’s Something for Everyone: Gift Guide No. 4

When we say we can find a book for everyone on your list this holiday season, we really mean it. For the fourth and final installment of the 2021 Gift Guide series, we’ve collected a list of books for the music nerds, history buffs, photography fanatics, cult junkies (yes, it’s a thing — staff-favorite author Susan Orlean knows what I’m talking about) and everyone in between. This list really has it all: short books, long books, historical books, contemporary books, books about art, books about spies, books about Danny Trejo (okay, just the one book about Danny Trejo), things that aren’t even books… you see what we’re trying to say. Take a dive into this eclectic collection!

A note from our online orders staff: Shipping times are longer than usual this holiday season. Our deadline to place a shipping order to arrive in time for Christmas is December 10, but the sooner you place your order, the better. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we catch up on orders!

STOCKING STUFFERSRecommended by Hannah Q-Less: The Crossword Solitaire Game

​If you’re on the hunt for the perfect stocking stuffer, look no further! Q-Less a super simple yet totally addicting little game perfect for all ages. Roll the dice and attempt to create a crossword-style arrangement of words using the letters you rolled… I’ve played at least one round a day ever since I got it – it’s that fun. (Bonus: the creator is local to Nashville!)

Recommended by Sarah Book Darts

These Parnassus book darts are perfect for any reader. You can use them as bookmarks to find your page,or even to mark specific lines that you want to come back to and read over and over again.

FICTIONRecommended by Ben Small Things Like These

By Claire Keegan

As in all great novellas, nothing is wasted in this one. Bill Furlong’s thoughts and experiences in a small Irish town around Christmas Day take on a significance that speaks to any of us, in any town, on any day. The prose is precise and sensory, the dialogue by turns jaunty, dialectal, and revealing of the characters’ inner depths.

Recommended by Kathy The Wright Sister: A Novel

By Patty Dann

Like historical fiction, but books are usually too long? This is the perfect solution! Told in diaries and letters, this little book tells the story almost no one knows – that of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister who was a formidable woman in her own right.

Recommended by Sissy Something New Under the Sun: A Novel

By Alexandra Kleeman

This is Hamlet but all twisted up. Protagonist Hamlin has written a book that’s being turned into a movie, and disaster ensues (on set and globally). The earth is drying up, yet the cameras keep rolling in Hollywood and people keep being terrible. Kleeman’s dialogue is pitch perfect and she’s HILARIOUS.

Recommended by Madeline Villains Duology Boxed Set

By V. E. Schwab

This duology set is perfect for readers who love classic comic book villains and morally gray characters galore! Anyone who loves a good anti-hero story will fall in love with the gritty, dark, and illustrative world that V. E. Schwab paints. The best part of these books: there are no heroes. Jaded morality drives these thrilling narratives. You won’t be able to put it down.

Recommended by Jennifer Sense and Sensibility

By Jane Austen, Marjolein Bastin

As a long time Jane Austen fan, I love this collector’s edition of her timeless work about the Dashwood sisters. Artist Marjorlein depicts beautiful and colorful illustrations to accompany this classic.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Forest of Vanishing Stars: A Novel

By Kristin Harmel

A woman stolen at birth and raised in the forest leads a group of Jewish refugees to safety as WWII erupts around them.

Recommended by Erin A Peculiar Combination: An Electra McDonnell Novel (Electra McDonnell Series #1)

By Ashley Weaver

Weaver has written a pitch-perfect opener for a new historical mystery series set in WWII London. When Ellie and her uncle get picked up after a little late-night larceny, they’re offered a choice: go to prison, or help stop a traitor working with the Germans. I’m already looking forward to the next adventure of Ellie, her family of patriotic crooks, and the upright (and uptight) Major Ramsey.

Recommended by Patsy Fresh Water for Flowers

By Valérie Perrin, Hildegarde Serle

Violette Toussaint is the caretaker of a cemetery in Burgandy who leads a quiet life until a police chief from another town visits to deposit his mother’s ashes. He helps unravel a mystery of Violette’s past while she intersperses tales of the lives of the cemetery’s various inhabitants. This bestselling novel in France and Italy is filled with beautiful moments of hope and happiness.

Recommended by Sissy Northern Spy: A Novel

By Flynn Berry

Two sisters struggle with loyalty as IRA violence escalates in Northern Ireland. I thought this was even better than A Double Life.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Karen Beaumonster: A Memoir

By Jesse Dayton

Jesse Dayton started playing guitar in Beaumont Texas, his hometown when he was a teenager. His long career has run the gambit from session player to front man. Musically you will find Dayton at the intersection of the cowpunk band The Supersuckers and Waylon and Willie. On top of being a great musician he is a fantastic writer too, from screenplays to this wildly entertaining book.

Recommended by Sissy Wholehearted Faith

By Rachel Held Evans, Jeff Chu

When Rachel Held Evans passed, she had a lot of new material already saved up for her next work. Her writing is so precise, and so fresh. You will instantly remember why she speaks for all those disillusioned with the church but still longing for connection. She articulates the questions we are afraid to ask God. I miss her, and cannot wait to give my loved ones this book.

Recommended by Hannah Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism

By Amanda Montell

Have you or someone you know always been intrigued by cults? Folks, this is required reading for the cult-curious and/or for any word & language nerds out there. Cultish is one of those books you read and never forget; you’ll spot those pesky language patterns everywhere.

Recommended by Sarah Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres

By Kelefa Sanneh

This is a fascinating deep dive into the world of musical genres. Sanneh dissects how they add to our individual identities, generate collectivism, and breed exclusivity all at the same time. This would make a perfect holiday gift for the music and history lovers in your life!

Recommended by Sydney Annie Leibovitz: Wonderland

By Annie Leibovitz

The legendary Leibovitz does it again. Through an illustrious body of work, Wonderland showcases how working in the fashion industry has shaped the life, art, and career from one of the most renowned photographers of our time.

Recommended by Madeline Hayao Miyazaki

By Hayao Miyazaki

This treasure of a masterpiece puts together Miyazaki’s work from Studio Ghibli, sharing illustrations and images of his creative process of timeless classics. What once could only be found in Miyzaki’s studio in Japan has been collected in this stunning retrospective in honor of the 2021 inaugural exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

Recommended by Patsy 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet

By Pamela Paul

This slim volume is much more than a list of outdated things such as card catalogs and photo albums. While it gives us a chance to wane nostalgic, it causes us to reflect upon quiet time, communication, and how we choose to exist in the modern world, with all its technological trappings. We may have lost the concepts of not knowing and of being bored; how will we cope with our crowded minds and short attention spans?

Recommended by Sissy Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood

By Danny Trejo, Donal Logue

Trejo may be a familiar face to everyone, but I had no idea about his fascinating life. His detailed descriptions of prison are littered with complex relationships. His battles with addiction and crime lead him in and out of recovery, all while he slowly moves onto the Hollywood scene. This is an uplifting and unbelievable ride filled with suspense, friendships, and redemption. A perfect gift.

Recommended by Andy A History of Nashville’s Warner Parks

By F. Lynne Bachleda

Should be on every Nashvillian’s bookshelf

Recommended by Heath Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era

By Laurence Leamer

This book does two things. One, it gives a fascinating glimpse into New York high society of the 50’s and 60’s. Two, it gives context to Capote’s infamous, unpublished (maybe never even finished) novel, Answered Prayers.

Recommended by Erin Maiden Voyages: Magnificent Ocean Liners and the Women Who Traveled and Worked Aboard Them

By Siân Evans

Millions of women crisscrossed the Atlantic via ocean liners during the first half of the 1900s — glamorous celebrities, émigrés seeking new beginnings, and crew members navigating everything from seasickness to sinking ships. This engaging social history sails the reader into the golden age of transatlantic travel with portraits of the women who helped reshape society on both sides of the ocean.

First Editions Club: December Selection These Precious Days: Essays

By Ann Patchett

 

 

Dear friends,

You may find this whole set-up a bit much: I wrote the book, I picked the book for First Editions Club, and now I’m writing the letter to go inside the book.

Let me explain.

Some months publishers offer us an embarrassment of riches, so many fabulous books that the hardest thing we have to do is choose. Other months are trickier. Historically speaking, December is a tricky month. December leans towards cookbooks, coffee table books, travel books—good choices for gifts but not good choices for our club.

Which got me thinking, what if I published my next book around Thanksgiving? I’ve never picked my books in the past, but if I picked These Precious Days for December, it would seem less like a conflict of interest and more like a means of solving a problem. And anyway, Sparky’s on the cover, so it’s a good-looking book. You can read it gently and then wrap it up and give it to someone else.

Or who knows, maybe you’ll decide to keep it. Either way, I hope you’ll like it. Happy reading, and happy holidays.

Yours,

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.

Holiday Hints for the Young and Young at Heart: Gift Guide No. 3

Shopping for the young readers in our lives can be challenging. The children’s section might seem a little daunting if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. There are so many sections, so many reading levels! Where do you start? Fear not, panicked shopper, because we’ve got you covered. For this third list in our Gift Guide series, our booksellers have gathered all their favorite reads of 2021 for the young and young at heart (if you missed the first two installments of our Gift Guide – Heavy Hitters and the Lighter Side – be sure to check those out too!). Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to see our Spark and ParnassusNext picks for December! Without further ado…

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann It Fell from the Sky

By Terry Fan, Eric Fan

The Fan Brothers’ latest creation about a wonder that falls from the sky is full of whimsy and delight.

Recommended by RJ A House for Every Bird

By Megan Maynor, Kaylani Juanita

An artist is shocked to find the birds in her drawings rebelling against the carefully color-coded houses she designed for them. A fun story full of colorful, quirky birds that demonstrates the importance of actually listening to people instead of making assumptions about them.

Recommended by Heather Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem

By Amanda Gorman, Loren Long

Change Sings is the song of the world I want for my children and grandsons — a world of inclusion, where we see and hear and help one another. It is a prayer for a world in which we work side by side, bringing our unique strengths, abilities and voices to build love.

Recommended by Chelsea Nina: A Story of Nina Simone

By Traci N. Todd, Christian Robinson

A look at the life of Nina Simone, richly illustrated by reader favorite Christian Robinson. The intersection of biography, musicology, and history make this a great gift for all types of readers.

Recommended by RJ Out of Nowhere

By Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

Striking high-contrast illustrations tell a sweet story about two best bug friends who find themselves separated, then reunited. A simple story with simple charm. Sometimes that’s exactly enough.

Recommended by Chelsea Why Can’t Horses Burp?: Curious Questions About Your Favorite Pets

By Nick Crumpton, Lily Snowden-Fine

Do you know why horses can’t burp? I didn’t until I read this book! Perfect for curious readers and horse lovers alike.

Recommended by RJ Trying

By Kobi Yamada, Elise Hurst

As a frustrated young sculptor tries and tries to emulate a master, his failures unfold in a series of soft black-and-white illustrations. A tribute to perseverance that teaches us all that failure is a natural, beautiful part of learning any new skill.

Recommended by Chelsea My First Pop-Up Mythological Monsters

By Owen Davey

Mythological monsters from around the world with a pop-up element. Fun for all ages!

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Ann The Beatryce Prophecy

By Kate DiCamillo, Sophie Blackall

The Beatryce Prophecy is the definition of a modern classic. You turn the pages realizing that people will be moved by Kate DiCamillo’s words and Sophie Blackall’s drawings for generations to come. Brave Beatryce, fierce Answelica and gentle Brother Edik are indelible characters. Buy it in hardback and keep it forever.

Recommended by Rae Ann How to Save a Queendom

By Jessica Lawson

This is an adventure story of a girl, her chicken, and a magic wizard. I love it!

Recommended by RJ Willodeen

By Katherine Applegate

Willodeen must figure out why the adorable hummingbears are disappearing from her village, while also trying to protect the less-cuddly screechers that have been hunted to near extinction. What unfolds is a story about finding the courage to protect nature in all its beautiful, complicated and sometimes smelly glory. Perfect for anyone who needs to find a little more magic in a world that seems to be unraveling.

Recommended by Rae Ann Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown

By Steve Sheinkin

Cold War history for all ages.

Recommended by Aly Everything Awesome About Space and Other Galactic Facts!

By Mike Lowery

All the facts you could possibly want about space, paired with really fun illustrations that will keep kids hooked.

Recommended by Rae Ann Mars Is: Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises

By Suzanne Slade

Photos of Mars take us closer to this intriguing planet and uncover surprises. This book can be read as picture book or serve as a more in-depth exploration for older readers.

Recommended by RJ Trouble in the Stars

By Sarah Prineas

Following an amnesiac shapeshifter as they flee an enemy they don’t even remember, Trouble in the Stars is a unique sci-fi adventure about family and empathy. Trouble’s shapeshifting powers make them a fascinating and entertaining narrator, as each of their forms has its own quirks and senses. Funny, charming and heartfelt from beginning to end.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Macmillan Fairy Tales Collection

By Macmillan Publishers

A beautifully illustrated collection of classic fairy tales

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Rae Ann Tokyo Ever After: A Novel

By Emiko Jean

A girl discovers her father is the crown prince of Japan, but royal life isn’t all she expected.

Recommended by RJ Little Thieves

By Margaret Owen

If you are looking for the perfect YA fantasy novel to gift this season, Little Thieves has everything. Heists, humor, action, romance, curses, and intrigue. What else could you want?

Recommended by Kathy The Fountains of Silence

By Ruta Sepetys

This story of young people in Spain caught in the throes of conflict provides a wonderful introduction to the Spanish Civil War. This one appeals to both adults and young adults wanting to get wrapped up in a compelling story.

Recommended by Chelsea Firekeeper’s Daughter

By Angeline Boulley

This intricate story traces drugs found on Daunis’s reservation. Add in romance, hockey, and the exploration of cultural identity, and you have a layered, compulsive read.

Recommended by RJ The City Beautiful

By Aden Polydoros

This dark, haunting historical blends the best of multiple genres to deliver one of the standout books of the year.

Recommended by Rae Ann Luck of the Titanic

By Stacey Lee

A girl boards the Titanic searching for her brother and a spot in the circus.

Recommended by Chelsea Kate in Waiting

By Becky Albertalli

A sweet coming-of-age story set in a high school theater department. A great gift for fans of contemporary fiction.

Recommended by RJ Rise to the Sun

By Leah Johnson

For anyone who needs some extra summer this holiday season, this heartfelt music festival romance hits all the right notes.

Recommended by Aly Iron Widow

By Xiran Jay Zhao

A girl looking for revenge decides to burn down the patriarchy from the inside. A gorgeous debut by the author and a must-read for any YA fan.

Spark Book Club: December Selection Stuntboy, in the Meantime

By Jason Reynolds, Raúl the Third

The December 2021 Spark Book Club selection is Stuntboy, In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Raúl the Third. Portico Reeves lives in Skylight Gardens, a large apartment building that’s practically a castle. No one in the castle knows Portico is also Stuntboy, a superhero trying to make sure everything in the mean time, sometimes called the Mean Time (of fighting and yelling) turns out okay.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“A boy finds a creative coping mechanism in this original tale that speaks to the heart.” – Kirkus, starred review

“There’s plenty to enjoy about this engaging, high-energy collaboration by Raúl the Third (Strollercoaster) and Reynolds (Stamped)” – Publisher’s 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 December Selection Fools In Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales

By Ashley Herring Blake (Editor), Rebecca Podos (Editor)

The December 2021 ParnassusNext selection is Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos. Fifteen fantastic YA authors bring us stories featuring romance tropes reimagined. From the wild tundra of a fantastical sled race to modern-day superheroes, each story will sweep you off your feet.

Early praise for the novel:

“Fun and frothy, this is a candy box of romantic stories boasting joyful, satisfying conclusions.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“With nonbinary protagonists and an overall strong LGBTQ+ representation, this anthology gives all readers hope that love is out there for everyone.” – Booklist

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.

These Precious Days: Staff Q&A with Ann Patchett

Around book publication time, I start answering a LOT of questions. Often I answer the same questions four or five times a day. So when Sarah asked me what I wanted to do for Musing to acknowledge the fact I have a new book coming out, I asked her if maybe my friends at Parnassus could come up with some different sorts of questions, either about the book or about the zombie apocalypse. Not surprisingly, what they came up with was considerably better than the standard fare. Thanks, team!

Let’s start with some questions about These Precious Days and writing in general!

Heath asks: How was the process different in writing the essays in this book, as compared to the essays in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage?

I wrote most of these essays during the pandemic because I was staying home and not writing a novel. I wasn’t thinking about writing a book. I was thinking about filling up my time.

Kathy asks: Do you enjoy writing the essay or non-fiction more than fiction? Which form requires the most work?

Photo by Heidi Ross

Writing essays is easier for me and often more fun, but writing novels feels like what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. I may be wrong about this. I often wonder why I don’t just stick with the thing that’s fun.

Madeline asks: What are themes that you gravitate towards and unintentionally write about in your essays? 

Death. I don’t mean to write about death but it keeps coming up. The good news is the more time I spend thinking about death, the more beautiful life seems. I think of this as an inadvertently uplifting book.

Shop Dog Barnabus asks: May I eat the book?

Ask your mother. It’s a lot of fiber.

Speaking of Barnabus’ mother, Lindsay asks: Tell me about your research process! How much do you find yourself researching for essays? How does that research compare to your process for novels?

Pretty much no research for these essays because they’re all personal. All I need to do is pay attention. The novels are much more research intensive. That said, I’d love to start writing John McPhee style essays where I do a lot of research into, say, oranges.

Karen asks: Your essays seem to be more and more personal, which I think was something you resisted earlier in your career. Is it becoming easier to write a personally revealing essay for you?

I never wanted my fiction to be personal but by definition, I feel like personal essays should be personal. I think the older I get, the less I worry about those things. My life is pretty quiet, there isn’t a ton to reveal.

Sparky the Muse looking sharp in his sweater

Ashby asks: Which part of the writing process does Sparky participate in the most? Brainstorming, drafting, revising or editing?

Sparky is both my muse and my emotional support animal. You have no idea how hard he has to work. I really should get a second dog so he could rest.

Sydney asks: How many literary projects do you have going on at a time? Are there unfinished and/or abandoned Ann Patchett works floating around in the void somewhere?

I pretty much just work on one thing at a time, except for picture books. I always have picture books floating around and they can get abandoned because of an ill-timed phone call.

Heather asks: Of all your books (knowing that you do not go back and read them again), which is your favorite?

Commonwealth.

Sydney asks: Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome as a writer? If so, how did you overcome it?

Yeah, Lindsay and I were talking about imposter syndrome just the other day. I definitely had it when I was first starting out. After a while it just wears off. You can’t do the same job for this long and continue to feel like an imposter.

Hannah asks: What does your drafting process look like? How do you know when to call an essay finished?

I can rewrite an essay fifty times. The shorter something is, the more likely I am to rewrite it. It’s finished when Maile Meloy and Kate DiCamillo tell me it’s finished.

Let’s move on from writing to some of the other burning questions our booksellers have!

Listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm!

Karen asks: What actress would you choose to read your essays on the audio edition, if you didn’t do it yourself?

Laura Dern!

Heather asks: Who is YOUR favorite author? Favorite book?

I have too many. Sticking to the living, I’m very high on Louise Erdrich, Elizabeth Strout and Colson Whitehead these days.

Chelsea asks: What is your zombie apocalypse plan?

I’m going to use the neighbors’ cats as my first line of defense. They keep eating the birds in our backyard and they make Sparky insane.

But Ann, how could you say no to this sweet face?

Heath asks: Who is your favorite musician/band?

I am presently obsessed with Michael Kiwanuka. He’s pretty much the only person I’m listening to right now.

Shop Dog Marlee asks: Can I sleep at your house? In your bed?

No.

Hannah asks: If you were a dog, what breed would you be and why?

According to Sandy Boynton’s calendar “Every Day’s a Fabulous Holiday“, I was born on Mutt Day. Enough said. (Everyone should have a copy of this calendar. It’s so enlightening.)

Heath asks: What are some of your favorite places in Nashville?

My house, my office, my desk, exactly where I am now.

These Precious Days: Essays

By Ann Patchett

These Precious Days will be released on November 23. All copies purchased at Parnassus will be signed by Ann Patchett! If you’d like Ann to personalize your copy, leave an order comment with the recipient’s name.

Check out Alex Witchel’s rave review of These Precious Days in the New York Times!

The Lighter Side of Life: Gift Guide No. 2

If there’s one question our booksellers were asked more than any other this year, it was, “What do you recommend that won’t bring me down?” We hear you, readers. We’ve all had a tough couple of years, and sometimes a fun, escapist read is just what you need. We’ve compiled a list of the books that have brought us joy and laughs this year for all your gift-giving needs. Maybe a colorful cookbook would do the trick! A humorous hardcover? A book about books is never a blunder. Treat your loved ones (and yourself!) with these lighthearted picks.

FICTIONRecommended by Erin Anxious People: A Novel

By Fredrik Backman

The paperback edition of Backman’s latest is the perfect gift for someone craving a break from too many bleak reads. When a robber bursts in on an apartment open house and takes a group of strangers hostage, everyone learns that first appearances can be deceiving. No one is entirely who they appear to be, and all of them—bank robber included—crave rescue. This novel is surprising, and surprisingly delightful.

Recommended by RJ One Last Stop

By Casey McQuiston

Do you know someone who loved Red, White, and Royal Blue? Statistically, you probably do. Buy this for them next!

Recommended by Chelsea Malibu Rising: A Novel

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising is an engrossing read about siblings, their bond and shared trauma, and the desire to escape it all. Reid masterfully alternates between previous decades and one day in 1983, and her attentiveness to detail and character instantly transports readers.

Recommended by Hannah The Love Hypothesis

By Ali Hazelwood

If you read one rom-com this year, make it this one – it’s an absolutely delightful read! Hazelwood charms with achingly relatable characters, hilarious fake-dating, and two rockstar main characters. It has just the right amount of heart, villain-comeuppance, and witty one liners to make this a perfect binge-worthy romance!

Recommended by Chelsea The Windsor Knot: A Novel (Her Majesty the Queen Investigates #1)

By SJ Bennett

This is the delightful first volume of a new series detailing how Queen Elizabeth II discreetly solves crimes while carrying out her duties as a reigning monarch. If you love royalty and Murder, She Wrote, don’t miss this! Jane Copland’s audio narration makes this a great listen to distract from the everyday.

Recommended by RJ A Spindle Splintered (Fractured Fables)

By Alix E. Harrow

This insightful take on the Sleeping Beauty story packs a lot of character, humor, action, commentary, and multiversal shenanigans into a slim novella package. This is absolutely essential reading for anyone who loves fairytale retellings.

Recommended by Sissy The Postscript Murders

By Elly Griffiths

I love thrillers about books, and in the darkest days of 2020 I needed a few laughs alongside my murder. I had missed DS Harbinder Kaur and was so excited to see her in another novel. Fans of Anthony Horowitz will love this.

Recommended by RJ Act Your Age, Eve Brown: A Novel (The Brown Sisters #3)

By Talia Hibbert

It’s hard to list all the things that make this book funny, warm, and meaningful. It’s an opposites-attract romance about people who aren’t as opposite as they think, and it’s an absolute joy from cover to cover.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Ann Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World

By Todd Doughty, Josie Portillo (Illustrator)

This book of lists lit up all the pleasure centers in my brain. Again and again it reminded me of the beauty and wonder of the world. Pick it up, flip to any page, read. You will be filled with joy.

Recommended by Ann The Book of Delights: Essays

By Ross Gay

Where have I been? This little book that considers the small delights in any given day has been out two years. I read a little bit every night before falling asleep. Sweet dreams.

Recommended by Lindsay Flower Color Theory

By Taylor Putnam, Michael Putnam

Look, it’s a beautiful book of beautifully arranged flowers. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t benefit from a beautiful book of beautifully arranged flowers right now.

Recommended by Rae Ann Reading Is Magic: A Book Log for Families

By Emma Straub

This reading guide is both a book journal and a recommended reading list. Perfect for a family activity! With book recs from indie booksellers all over the US (including me!).

Recommended by Chelsea Bibliophile: Diverse Spines

By Jamise Harper, Jane Mount

The authors state in the foreword that their goal is for readers to find 10 new authors to read; I found so many more. Perfect for readers on your gift list who have already read the big titles of the year.

Recommended by Lindsay David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring in Normandy

By David Hockney, Edith Devaney

I’ve always loved David Hockney’s art, so I was delighted when this charming book of his work during the pandemic came out! In addition to all Hockney’s beautiful drawings of trees, flowers, and French vistas, there are also bonus pictures of Hockney and his cute dog. And you know we love an artist with a cute dog.

Recommended by Andy Planet Golf USA: The Definitive Reference to Great Golf Courses in America, Revised Edition

By Darius Oliver, Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore

Beautiful coffee table book featuring the greatest courses in America.

Recommended by Elyse Baking with Dorie: Sweet, Salty & Simple

By Dorie Greenspan, Mark Weinberg

A perfect gift! Dorie’s recipes are so accessible. She makes us all look like experienced bakers. Plus, the book is just flat-out gorgeous!!

Recommended by Sissy Books Promiscuously Read: Reading as a Way of Life

By Heather Cass White

I do not write. I just read. I often forget that not every person is a reading-obsessed nerd. This book put into words what I’ve never been able to: Reading takes a mind to another place in both literal and figurative ways. I particularly loved the quotes from my favorite authors about how reading transformed their worlds.

Recommended by Patsy Let’s Eat Italy!: Everything You Want to Know About Your Favorite Cuisine

By François-Régis Gaudry

This encyclopedic tome is perfect for italophiles, cooks, and travelers alike. It’s richly illustrated with magnificent drawings à la Cooks Illustrated as well as photos documenting step-by-step instructions of complicated dishes that will make even a beginning cook’s food taste professional. Packed with food history and maps of regional ingredients from artichokes to zuppa (soups) this book is pure delight!

Recommended by Sydney Cooking at Home: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes (And Love My Microwave): A Cookbook

By David Chang, Priya Krishna

Shopping for your culinarily-challenged loved one? This cookbook is ideal in that it focuses less on perfecting recipes, and more on teaching the actual principles of cooking in a comprehensible, digestible (pun-intended) manner.

Recommended by Sissy Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

By Maureen Johnson, Jay Cooper

Just hilarious. Anyone who loved Edward Gorey and reads tons of thrillers would love to get this as a holiday gift.

Heavy Hitters for the Holidays: Gift Guide No. 1

What a year for books! 2021 brought us new releases from some of our favorite authors and introduced us to new, talented writers we can’t get enough of. When it comes to picking out bookish gifts for family and friends, there’s no shortage of incredible titles from this year, so we’ve rounded up some of our top picks from 2021 for this first installment of our Gift Guide. Now, before you start browsing, we have one more recommendation for you: Shop early. Seriously. By now, you’ve probably heard about shipping delays and things stuck on boats, and books are no exception to these widespread issues. There’s no time like the present to snag these popular titles, so come in and see us, or shop from the comfort of your home on our new-and-improved website!

FICTIONRecommended by Ann The Days of Afrekete: A Novel

By Asali Solomon

“I didn’t feel like I was reading this novel — I felt like I was living it.” That was the blurb I wrote for the jacket. It’s true. This book is magic.

Recommended by Ann Five Tuesdays in Winter

By Lily King

Five Tuesdays in Winter moved me, inspired me, thrilled me. It filled up every chamber of my heart. I loved this book.

Recommended by Karen The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

By Dawnie Walton

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, this book may at first seem similar: A dynamic female singer joins forces with a talented musician-songwriter. Keep reading. Opal is a Black rock singer in a time when that was relatively rare and the relationship between her and Nev is complicated. This is a smart, entertaining read.

Recommended by Lindsay Matrix: A Novel

By Lauren Groff

The experience of reading Lauren Groff’s Matrix is what I imagine it’s like to tour the Medieval wing of the Louvre after taking hallucinogens–vividly surreal, a bit disorienting, and overwhelmingly beautiful. I got lost in the story of Marie, a young woman charged with overseeing an abbey in twelfth century England. This novel is every bit as strange and compelling as I’ve come to expect from Lauren Groff.

Recommended by Ben The Prophets

By Robert Jones, Jr.

There’s a reason this made it onto the 2021 National Book Award shortlist for fiction! The subject matter is weighty, but it fits the bill if you’re looking for a novel that is timely, literary, historical, and is seasoned with magical realism. Fans of James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Colson Whitehead, and Yaa Gyasi will find much to admire here.

Recommended by Elyse The Sentence

By Louise Erdrich

The Sentence is timely, passionate, mysterious, and a great read! It has so many twists and turns, but it’s all relevant and cohesive — like so many branches belonging to the same tree. Life is complicated and beautiful — two words I can use to describe the characters and themes of the book. I loved every page!

Recommended by Kathy The Mystery of Mrs. Christie: A Novel

By Marie Benedict

What really happened in the 10 days when Agatha Christie went missing during the height of her popularity? This fictional re-telling tries to answer the question of how much her unfaithful husband was to blame…

Recommended by Ben Cloud Cuckoo Land: A Novel

By Anthony Doerr

Set in multiple centuries, and following five protagonists who are each overlooked in their own ways, Doerr has once again brought his magic to the page—or should I say 600 pages? The writing is imaginative, confident, vivid, and compassionate as he wonders boldly about the connectedness of stories, people, nature. Here’s your invitation to join in this epic tale!

Recommended by Sissy A Slow Fire Burning: A Novel

By Paula Hawkins

I love books about books. Hawkins injects a bit more of her humor into this literary thriller. Her timing is flawless and brings sparks of light into a dark mystery. Several of the characters are so well-drawn that I missed them when they weren’t on the page. There are SO many motives – plagiarism, jealousy, alcoholism, dreams dashed, and futures destroyed. Fans of Elly Griffiths and Anthony Horowitz will love it.

Recommended by Andy Silverview: A Novel

By John le Carré

The master of spy fiction’s last novel. A retired spy is running a bookstore in a small English coastal town and can’t escape the past.

Recommended by Aly Beautiful World, Where Are You: A Novel

By Sally Rooney

Two best friends on the verge of their 30s correspond about their disenchantment with the world around them, while romance offers them both confusion and clarity. As in Normal People, Rooney offers heart-achingly relatable prose to help us rediscover the beauty in existing.

Recommended by Elyse Oh William!: A Novel

By Elizabeth Strout

Strout’s iconic heroine Lucy Barton recounts her complex, tender relationship with William, her first husband–and longtime, on-again-off-again friend and confidante.

Recommended by Andy Harlem Shuffle: A Novel

By Colson Whitehead

Whitehead brings Harlem in the sixties to life in this fantastic crime novel.

Recommended by Patsy Crossroads: A Novel

By Jonathan Franzen

Franzen’s latest tour de force novel introduces the Hildebrandt family in 1970’s suburban Chicago. Pastor father Russ and three children all face dilemmas of being good people versus following their desires while wife Marion comes into her own independence with the burgeoning feminist movement. This book will appeal to anyone alive during the 70’s; those who participated in church youth groups will find hearty laughs.

Recommended by Rae Ann Atomic Love

By Jennie Fields

Atomic Love is a story of espionage, love, and a woman battling danger to make a better tomorrow. The paperback edition will be released on November 30, so pre-order it now!

NONFICTIONRecommended by Ann A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

By George Saunders

Saunders discusses seven Russian stories in order to help us become better readers, better writers, and (amazingly) better people. The seven stories are included. This book is pure joy on paper.

Recommended by Karen Graceland, at Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache from the American South

By Margaret Renkl

Margaret Renkl is my favorite essayist. Every week I look for her column in the opinion pages of the New York Times. In a time when the country has such deep divisions, I can rely on her writing to be all heart, no snark. I’m so proud to have this fellow Nashvillian’s newest collection on my shelf.

Recommended by Andy The Baseball 100

By Joe Posnanski

Veteran sportswriter Joe Posnanski list the 100 greatest baseball players of all time. Guaranteed to start arguments.

Recommended by Chelsea How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America

By Clint Smith

An exploration of how the narrative of slavery has been remembered, or purposefully forgotten, this was the most important book I read all year.

Recommended by Hannah Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir

By Ashley C. Ford

Easily my favorite memoir I’ve ever read. Ford’s gorgeous writing unapologetically reckons with some of the hardest truths life has to offer, and she is masterful in doing so. If there ever was a must-read memoir, I would wager this is it.