Ann Patchett's Blog, page 9

Do You Remember: 38 Picks for September

If you watched Ann on the first Laydown Diaries episode of September, you already know that this month is a doozy when it comes to new releases. Perhaps that’s why our staff has recommended a whopping thirty-eight books for you to peruse! Literary fiction, mystery, fantasy, romance, essays, graphic novels, and more are represented in this month’s roundup. Heck, even renter-friendly home repair has a place in September’s picks! Readers of all genres and subjects will find a new book to delight in. Happy reading!

FICTIONRecommended by Elyse The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel

By James McBride

Jewish immigrants come to America and settle with African Americans living in Pottstown, PA. Relationships are formed and tested, and bonds are strengthened over the years. A story of humanity, community, secrets, and justice. A MUST READ!

Recommended by Cat The Great Transition: A Novel

By Nick Fuller Googins

In the near future the world has come together to reverse the climate crisis. Larch and Kristina, two heroes in the fight to save the world, and their daughter Emi now live in Greenland when Kristina disappears. Larch and Emi go in search of her in this hopeful, contemplative book about what it means to come together as a collective and all the ways we can create a future with the people we love.

Recommended by Cheryl The Fraud: A Novel

By Zadie Smith

This historical novel is about a famous Victorian London fraud trial. Woven into this scandal of a resurrected heir is the competitive friendship of authors Dickens and William Ainsworth. One was famous and the other wrote bland fiction as history. The main character is a female observer who wrestles with her own views of the rights of women, slavery and the Civil War. Clever and loaded with interesting trivia.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Invisible Hour: A Novel

By Alice Hoffman

Mia runs away from the Community where she was raised for a better life like the ones portrayed in her beloved books. Her love for the The Scarlet Letter and its author catapults her through time to her true self.

Recommended by Sarah The Sea Elephants: A Novel

By Shastri Akella

A powerful, emotional, and at times disturbing story of a young gay man growing up in India. The incorporation of Indian myths and legends was the beautiful thread that tied the story together. Check the content warnings before picking this one up, but if it’s for you, you’ll be treated to a profound debut.

Recommended by Rachel Learned by Heart

By Emma Donoghue

York, 19th century, all girls boarding school where two students begin to toe the lines between friendship and love. Learned by Heart is inspired by real life Anne Lister, aka Gentleman Jack, but our main character is Eliza Raine, Anne’s first love. You will feel the pains and longings of girlhood but simultaneously fear the dark future in Eliza’s letters. This novel sits heavy on my heart and will for all of time.

Recommended by Cheryl Salthouse Place

By Jamie Lee Sogn

Two young women plan to reunite to talk about the drowning of their best friend a decade earlier. One disappears before the meeting. This psychological thriller involves a women’s retreat center and unreliable childhood recollections. This is a debut novel that you will not be able to put down.

Recommended by Aly Others Were Emeralds: A Novel

By Lang Leav

Lang Leav weaves a story just as emotional and beautiful as her poetry in this novel about a young woman growing up and creating art in small-town Australia. She captures all of the messy feelings and actions that come with human connections of any kind, as we watch Ai grapple with who she wants to be and what the world has made her.

Recommended by Kathy Flags on the Bayou

By James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke considers this his finest work. I tend to agree. His creation of such multi-faceted characters and depiction of the Louisiana setting are so well done, and the story itself is so compelling. Add this one to the pile of beloved Civil War novels.

Recommended by Patsy The Bee Sting: A Novel

By Paul Murray

Fortunes have turned for the Barnes family in post-economic crash Ireland. Father Dickie builds a bunker, Imelda sells her valuables, Cass endangers her dreams of university in Dublin, and PJ plots to run away with his gaming friends. Fans of Jonathan Franzen and author Murray’s Skippy Dies will love digging in to this witty and well-observed tragicomic family saga.

Recommended by Ashby Terrace Story: A Novel

By Hilary Leichter

Terrace stories are little fables, little lies. Edward and his family find magic when Stephanie, who has the power to create and manipulate physical space and time, visits. Like a surrealist Dali painting, there are connections between characters with different rooms in their minds. Readers must confront the question: Does one person’s happiness exist because it has been taken away from someone else?

Recommended by Cheryl Beyond That, the Sea: A Novel

By Laura Spence-Ash

An 11 year old girl is sent from London to America in 1940 to safely wait out the war. She enjoys those 5 years in Boston and summers in Maine becoming a member of the family. At this point it seems like a beach read, but so much changes once she returns to London. For decades she straddled where her home was. This story is about love, family and forgiveness.

Recommended by Rachel Masters of Death: A Novel

By Olivie Blake

Masters of Death is Olivie Blake’s masterpiece. The set-up is simple: vampire real estate agent must sell a haunted house, but the execution is genius. I’m baffled by how she turns this premise into devastating literature. The ensemble cast has complex relationships and heartbreaking backstories that jump off of the page. This book is not just for fantasy fans, but for any mortal who ponders death.

Recommended by Ashby The Blonde Identity: A Novel

By Ally Carter

Imagine waking up in the middle of a snowy street in Paris with no idea who you are but everyone is trying to kill you, except an agent named Sawyer. Can he be trusted? Why is everyone out for you? Because you have an identical twin Alex who possesses a flash stick with critical information. A page-turner, on-the-edge-of-your-seat book reminiscent of 007 with chases and save-the-world showdowns.

Recommended by Cheryl The Peacock and the Sparrow: A Novel

By I.S. Berry

Hard-boiled spy novel is written by a female former CIA officer. Gritty and authentic. Hope there is another from Berry.

Recommended by Tara Between Us: A Novel

By Mhairi McFarlane

I had such a hard time putting this book down. The angst the main character, Roisin, was going through felt so visceral. While this is a romance, parts of the book read like a mystery with you trying to put the pieces together alongside our heroine. If you’re a fan of Sophie Kinsella or Beth O’Leary, you HAVE to read this.

Recommended by Katie Accidentally in Love

By Danielle Jackson

Danielle Jackson cranks the heat all the way up with one of my most anticipated releases of the summer. An opposites-attract romance so sizzling with tension you’ll need to find the closest pool to cool off. Loved it!

Recommended by Jennifer My Roommate Is a Vampire

By Jenna Levine

A perfectly fun and funny romance for the incoming fall season, My Roommate is a Vampire features an endearingly out-of-date vampire and his bohemian artsy roommate.

Recommended by Sydney Study for Obedience: A novel

By Sarah Bernstein

Told by an unnamed narrator with the most exquisitely-written stream of consciousness, Study for Obedience is a short book that requires slow reading. The plot is deceptively simple: our female protagonist goes to stay with her newly divorced brother, who leaves town shortly after her arrival. Stuck in a country where she doesn’t speak the language, the town ostracizes her for reoccurring, unexplainable disasters.

Recommended by Katie The Weaver and the Witch Queen

By Genevieve Gornichec

If you loved Gornichec’s first book, The Witch’s Heart (spoiler alert – I did. Very much.), this new tale steeped in Viking and Norse mythology is a perfect fall pick. Two women – one desperate to find her sister, the other a great witch destined to become the next Queen of Norway, intertwine over the course of their lives. Brutal and unrelenting, this is a powerful story of survival and female friendship.

Recommended by RJ Thornhedge

By T. Kingfisher

This novella-length twist on Sleeping Beauty features immensely lovable characters, an ever-growing sense of dread, and the heartbreaking weight of time and isolation. For anyone who can’t get enough retellings, this is your next quick read.

Recommended by Lauren Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1)

By Rebecca Yarros

I still can’t put Fourth Wing down! Dragons, special powers, spicy love interests and a powerful heroine. Luckily the second book comes out in November so I can stop rereading the first!

NONFICTION & POETRYRecommended by Ann Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma

By Claire Dederer

What happens to your love of a film or a book or a painting when you find out later that the person who made the art is in fact a monster? This is where the book starts but it is so much more than that. ESSENTIAL.

Recommended by Ann The Deadline: Essays

By Jill Lepore

A collection of Lepore’s essays, mostly published in the New Yorker, is a treasure trove of intelligence, storytelling, research and compassion. Think of it as a big book of fairy tales for adults. You’ll want to dip in and out of this forever.

Recommended by Lindsay Thin Skin: Essays

By Jenn Shapland

When Jenn Shapland was diagnosed with literal “thin skin,” she began thinking about the barriers between her and her environment–the result is this stunning collection of essays about art, capitalism, climate change, and how we care for one another on this earth. A perfect read for fans of Jenny Odell or Margaret Renkl.

Recommended by Sissy Congratulations, The Best Is Over!: Essays

By R. Eric Thomas

Like David Sedaris, Thomas is still hilarious but gets deeper and more introspective with each work. I really connected with this book as I faced the same feelings in my thirties… was I really an adult? What on earth was I going to achieve in my life?!?! If you need a lift, this will do it.

Recommended by Chelsea White House by the Sea: A Century of the Kennedys at Hyannis Port

By Kate Storey

Told through the viewpoint of their vacation home in Hyannis Port, White House by the Sea is an incredibly readable history of the Kennedy family. The evolution of the small town is interwoven with the famous family, and no Kennedy drama, triumph, or era is overlooked. This is perfect if you want to transport yourself to the Cape for a bit more summertime.

Recommended by Lindsay Information Desk: An Epic (Penguin Poets)

By Robyn Schiff

Reading this collection is like walking through a museum with your smartest friend, who also happens to speak fluently in poetry. If you’re like me and you love to read every placard in an art museum, nerd out on obscure historical facts, and wish you could write this beautifully about cockroaches and wasps, Robyn Schiff’s Information Desk is for you.

Recommended by Ashby Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie

By Karen Pierce, John Curran (Foreword by)

I cannot get enough Agatha Christie. Having grown up on her murders and consumed any books about her, this cookbook was délicieuse as Poirot would say… Insight into the times, how foods fit her plots, recipes and even full meals. Pierce’s extensive research makes it more than a cookbook, and I imagine myself at a large dinner party with a poisoned roast leg of lamb.

Recommended by Chelsea Parenting Advice to Ignore in Art and Life

By Nicole Tersigni

The perfect combination of cringey parenting advice and ridiculous art, this is the perfect gift for new parents. I alternated between rolling my eyes and laughing out loud.

Recommended by Jake When the Game Was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season

By Rich Cohen

When The Game Was War proposes that 1987-88 was the single greatest season in NBA history. Lending equal attention to the showtime Los Angeles Lakers, bad boy Detroit Pistons, old school Boston Celtics, and the up-and-coming Chicago Bulls, Rich Cohen crafts a meticulously researched, deeply impassioned, and incredibly entertaining account of one of the most exciting periods in basketball history.

Recommended by Katie Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair

By Mercury Stardust

While I like to think I bring a lot to the table, I am not a fix-it gay. I leave that to my wife. But I have enjoyed Mercury Stardust’s quick, renter-friendly hacks for home repair. Plus that LAUGH! It’s literal perfection. This is the perfect gift for a newly minted grown-up in their first apartment or a seasoned home-owner looking for a great how-to.

Recommended by Heath Washington’s Gay General: The Legends and Loves of Baron von Steuben

By Josh Trujillo, Levi Hastings (Illustrator)

Did you know that if it weren’t for a gay man, America might have lost the Revolutionary War to the British? That same man also wrote the original soldier training manual that the U.S. military still uses parts of today. I had never heard of Baron von Steuben until I read this book, and the graphic novel format really brought him to life for me.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Sarah All This Could Be Different: A Novel

By Sarah Thankam Mathews

I’d been meaning to get to this book for a year now, and I’m so glad I did! It definitely falls into the “trainwreck millennial” category, but it also beautifully captures the queer, first-generation immigrant experience. It will resonate with everyone who has ever felt they have more questions than answers about where their life is heading.

Recommended by Jake Five Decembers

By James Kestrel

An Edgar Award winner, Five Decembers is a pulpy crime story, a WW2 epic, a twisty mystery, and a tragic romance all rolled into one. Following a Hawaii detective tracking a killer across the Pacific in the looming shadow of the attack on Pearl Harbor, this is an epic in every sense of the word. Masterfully written and incredibly difficult to put down, Five Decembers is one of the best crime novels I’ve ever read.

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

By Laurence Leamer

A fascinating look at Capote’s friendships and eventual falling out with the American and European jet set of the 50’s and 60’s. Reading this was like having a Slim Aarons’s photo come to life, and it was a pleasure to dive into this world. The new installment of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is based on this book, so be sure and read this before you watch the show.

Recommended by Hannah P. The Hurting Kind

By Ada Limón

Limón’s poetry tears right into your heart and pours the light in. Divided into four seasons, this lyrical collection draws from vivid observations on the natural world and makes revelatory connections to grief, heritage, and the human experience. If you’re in need of tender poems that make you feel present and thankful for life, this is the book for you.

First Editions Club: September Selection Wednesday’s Child: Stories

By Yiyun Li

 

I don’t usually use these letters to list biographical information, but in this case there are some things worth mentioning. Yiyun Li was born in Beijing. She was a math prodigy. She did her year of military service in the Chinese army before getting her Bachelor of Science at Peking University. She came to the United States in 1996 to study immunology at the University of Iowa. She enrolled in some writing courses to improve her English, and then transferred to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she graduated with an MFA in fiction and creative nonfiction.

It’s astonishing to think about that journey—the Chinese army, math, immunology, writing. It makes me feel lucky every time I open one of her books. Of all the things she could have done, she chose to write.

Because Li is the dear friend of my dear friend Elizabeth McCracken, I’ve been reading her books since the beginning of her career, and since the beginning I have marveled at her power and range. Her work has moved me, informed me, and, at times, scared me to death. I loved her last novel, The Book of Goose, which won the PEN/Faulkner, and her first book, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, which won the PEN/Hemingway. I loved the ones in between.

Which brings us to Wednesday’s Child, a collection of stories fourteen years in the making. When a writer like Li waits fourteen years to put together a book, it’s intentional. She didn’t wait until she had enough
stories, she waited until she had the right stories. Wednesday’s Child is like a clear lake under the brightest sky. It is both deep and wide, a window into so many worlds. It is a work of extraordinary power and beauty. I hope you love it as much as I do.

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.

Join the Guild: A Guide to Fall Fantasy

Though the temperatures in Nashville may be hovering around ninety degrees, still there lingers a hint of autumn in the air. A chill approaches that brings with it a turning of the page, a step away from the beach reads of summer and towards the sensational spooky reads of fall foliage, dark magic, and other worlds. 

Whether or not Fantasy is your go-to genre, cooler weather brings the desire to curl up inside with a cinnamon scented candle and lose yourself in a good story. Fantasy novels are a portal to new realms, and Parnassus is here to guide you in this journey of genre with recommendations and a brand new book club! 

Launching this fall, Parnassus will host the Fantasy Readers Guild, a book club for readers who prefer their pages dipped in magic. The club will be hosted by booksellers and long-time fantasy aficionados Rachel and Jenny! All are welcome to join the guild.* Keep readings for more details and book recommendations, and join the mailing list here! 

OUR FIRST BOOK CLUB PICK

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1)

By Rebecca Yarros

If you are one of the few people left in the world who has not read this yet, now is the time! Dragons, war college, disability rep, and a slow burn enemies to lovers romance for the ages. And if you’ve already read this one, then mark your calendars! The Fantasy Readers Guild will meet on September 24th to discuss it for our first meeting. 

FOR MORE DRAGONS

A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos)

By Samantha Shannon

If you are like us, after reading Fourth Wing you are ravenous for anything about dragons. Luckily Samantha Shannon, the Queen of Dragons,  just released A Day of Fallen Night this year. If you haven’t read Priory of the Orange Tree, don’t worry: this is a prequel story so you can read it first. We also have signed copies!

DYSTOPIAN FANTASY

Immortal Longings (Flesh & False Gods #1)

By Chloe Gong

Young adult author Chloe Gong made her adult fantasy debut this year with Immortal Longings. Similar to Fourth Wing, Immortal Longings has some dystopian vibes with gritty characters and a tough-as-nails world. Typical of Gong, Immortal Longings is action packed and character-driven. You won’t be able to put this one down!

ALTERNATE HISTORY

Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution

By R. F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang described Babel as her “love-hate letter to academia” and there’s just no better way to describe this one. Babel explores all the terrors of colonization and the British empire with one little twist: magic is real. It may be over 500 pages and full of footnotes, but the prose, plot, and characters will drive you to read this in a weekend or less. Also the perfect place to dip your toe in if you’re not typically a fantasy fan. Now out in paperback!

URBAN FANTASY

Masters of Death: A Novel

By Olivie Blake

Olivie Blake is the master of genre-bending genius. In Masters of Death, a vampire real estate agent must sell a haunted house, and then things just keep going wrong until the entire universe hangs on a mystery game of gambling between Death, the King of Demons, and our lovable ensemble of main characters. To top it off, it’s all told out of order and every other line will make your heart stop. (Plus, queer friends to lovers, a second chance romance, and starcrossed soulmates.) 

HIGH FANTASY

Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel

By Brandon Sanderson

Prolific and epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson introduces us to a retelling of the infamous Princess Bride that he wrote for his wife during 2020. Set in the Cosmere universe, we meet a heroine who leaves her ordinary life to save her forbidden love. Brandon Sanderson is the king of worldbuilding and you won’t be disappointed with this one. 

DARK FANTASY

The Foxglove King (The Nightshade Crown #1)

By Hannah Whitten

Local author Hannah Whitten writes a compelling new fantasy series about a young woman who has dark and dangerous powers. Full of court intrigue and forbidden romance, The Foxglove King is a powerful start to a compelling series. We can’t wait till the sequel comes out in 2024!

COMING SOON

The Fragile Threads of Power

By V. E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab returns to the famous story and characters of the A Darker Shade of Magic series. The last book, A Conjuring of Light, left us equal parts happy and destroyed, and The Fragile Threads of Power picks up seven years later with new intrigue, new characters, and much more to lose. 

There are still some tickets left for our event with V.E. Schwab in partnership with the Nashville Public Library on October 5th!

Sword Catcher

By Cassandra Clare

Our second book club pick, Sword Catcher, is not only Cassandra Clare’s first adult fantasy work, but is her first book outside of the Shadowhunters universe. Clare does what she does best, but for an adult audience: these are characters that you will love despite their chaos, and this is a world that you will want to escape to over and over again. Since finishing it, I have reread my favorite parts several times. We can’t wait to talk about it in-store on November 26th!

There are still some tickets left for our event with Cassandra Clare in partnership with the Nashville Public Library on October 11th!

Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2)

By Rebecca Yarros

If you’re still stuck in that Fourth Wing reading slump after finishing all of our recommendations, then it seems like you need to place a pre-order! The good news is you won’t have to wait long for the sequel. Iron Flame comes out this November and is the second installment in a series of five planned novels within this world of war and dragons. 

Once you’ve picked a book, find a cozy spot and start turning pages to help us summon the autumnal spirit of wonder. And don’t forget to join the Fantasy Readers Guild! 

 

*Please note that this group is intended for those 18 and up. Most of this book club’s selections include violent and mature themes due to the nature of Fantasy and Sci-Fi as a genre.

The Shop Dog Diaries: Opie Works From Home

Shop Dog Opie here. You may know me from my book recommendations on Musing, or maybe you’ve seen me in the shop. My portrait hangs alongside Sparky’s in the hallway. I think that sort of makes us the honorary managers of the young reader departments here at Parnassus.

I’ve joined the new work from home craze a bit this year. Since I have more time on my hands on the days I cut out my commute, I decided to pick up another task at the bookstore. I gave it a lot of thought. Should I make my own “New to You” videos? Help the book buyers order books for the store? Take over ordering office supplies (specifically dog treats)?

Then one day I’m sitting by Sarah, our Marketing Manager, when she’s on TikTok uploading a video of Ann, Sparky’s mom.

“Hold up,” I barked. “What’s that?”

That, my friends, was when Sarah introduced me to #BookTok. A new world opened up to me. I mean, book recommendations that come with actual tears over a book? I could use more crying in my life. It opens up the pores, you know, makes your fur look younger. So I started reading some #BookTok books. I’m now a huge fan of Young Adult novels.

Opie and Rae Ann

That’s when I knew what my new role at the store would be! I would join the ParnassusNext selection team. Only one hurdle stood in my way. Rae Ann, the Director of Young Readers. But everybody knows Rae Ann is putty in my paw. One ask of anything, and she’s yes, Opie. Thank you, Opie. The question was only half out of my mouth before she said yes.

So now I add to my WFH schedule: reading upcoming YA novels and meeting with Rae Ann, Chelsea, and Aly on Wednesday afternoons to pick our favorite YA book of the month. 

There’s one more thing I brought to the group. You may know that every month since it started, ParnassusNext members get a signed first edition YA novel selected by the team (that now includes me) and a beautiful keepsake card, designed by our amazing graphic designer. I came up with the idea to switch out the card for a cool sticker starting next month. Everybody likes stickers, right?

Let me tell you what we’ve selected for the rest of the year! You ready?

In September, we have Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson. It’s about a group of Indigenous teens who work in a pizza place. Pizza! They’re trying to find their missing friend and keep the pizza place from being sold. I love it.

Opie takes a selfie while working at home

In October, it’s All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters. It’s a gothic tale of murder and secrets set in a college in East Tennessee. Erica’s book will launch at Parnassus on October 18th. When she walks in, I’ll be wondering, did she make all this up? Or is some of it true? I’ll ask her. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

In November, we go to Egypt in Isabel Ibanez’s What The River Knows. Our main character is looking for treasure in a pharaoh’s tomb. I like to dig up buried treasure myself. I got some tips on assessing an excavation site before you start digging from this one. It’s a fun adventure.

In December, we’ll finish the year with Betting On You by Lynn Painter. It’s a rom-com about two teens who do NOT have a meet cute, but end up as co-workers later. LOL. I’m just chuckling thinking about the dialogue.

I do what I can to contribute to the ParnassusNext team on my WFH days. I hope you like the books we picked for the rest of the year. If you’re not a ParnassusNext subscriber now, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a new YA book each month.

Happy reading!

Shop Dog Opie, YA fan and ParnassusNext team member

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.

Authors IRL: Meet Shastri Akella, Author of The Sea Elephants

Every now and then, a story both vibrant and haunting comes along and completely captures your attention. These stories are not light and breezy. They describe the beautiful and dark truths of life with equal reverence and attention to detail. They are painfully honest about the realities we would rather not face, but still take great care in plucking moments of joy and peace from the everyday. The Kite Runner, A Burning, and Shuggie Bain come to mind when I think of such stories, and now, The Sea Elephants joins their ranks.

In The Sea Elephants, Shastri Akella combines elements both ancient and modern to tell a deep, powerful, and poignant story of a young, queer boy coming of age in India. Art and found family are the heroes of this story, along with our protagonist, Shagun. There is a significant gap in the Western literary canon when it comes to South Asian myth, tradition, and queerness, which makes this book even more vital. It is a stunning, mesmerizing debut novel. I hope you’ll enjoy getting to learn more about Shastri. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time you’ll see his name.

— Sarah Arnold, Marketing Director at Parnassus Books

Shastri Akella

I’ve been listening to: The Schitt’s Creek cover of “Simply the Best” because my heart melts every time I remember Patrick singing it or David dancing to the Tina Turner original.

I love to watch: The horror genre that’s produced some thought-provoking work recently. His House, about two refugees who relocate from South Sudan to London, depicts survivor guilt through the lens of dreamlike, uncanny sequences drawn from African folklore.

Something I saw online that made me laugh, cry, or think: Kunkush the cat made me laugh, cry, and think, all in 2 minutes. The video traces an Iraqi family’s separation from and reunion with their beloved pet.

A creator who’s doing something I admire: Saim Sadiq. His film Joyland, set in Pakistan, has a trans character playing one of two leads. It also shows, with restraint and a tragic tenderness, South Asian middle class dynamics and how it effects women.

A book I recently recommended to someone else: Sarah Matthew’s All This Could Be Different for how seamlessly it blends empathy with intelligence and wit with poignance, all with a queer South Asian lead.

If I could teleport anywhere in the world right now, I’d go to: Ireland, specifically County Derry where a vampire, Abhartach (which, interestingly, translates to ‘dwarf’) is supposedly buried upside down. One of the two heroes of my next novel is an Irish vampire.

I wish I knew more about: How to paint; visual art, particularly the canvases of Salman Toor, connects to something larger than myself, so I wish I could practice this powerful, sublime medium.

My favorite thing about bookstores: They build communities: through books, readings, and warm passionate booksellers. When I came out and was isolated for a time from my biological family, Center for Fiction in Brooklyn gave me a sense of community with their shelf full of books by queer writers, curated by bookseller Alana and the conversation they hosted between Garth Greenwell Andrea Lawlor fort the launch of his collection, Cleanness.

The Sea Elephants is on shelves now!

I Will Read to You: 16 Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

It’s been a big month in literary fiction (Tom Lake! Do Tell!), but the new releases for the young and young at heart can’t be ignored. They are simply too cute, too heartwarming, too charming. Find a book for the young reader in your life, or find your own inner child with this month’s picks!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann I Will Read to You

By Gideon Sterer, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

This truly original picture book turns the tables on reading aloud at bedtime. A heartwarming story paired with delightful illustrations.

Recommended by Ashby The Thing at 52

By Ross Montgomery, Richard Johnson (Illustrator)

With themes of friendship, kindness and loneliness, this picture book is perfect to share with anyone a bit nervous about change. A girl sees “the thing” next door and brings it a flower since it seems lonely, but it has to leave, and she has to face the loss.

Recommended by Rae Ann When Rubin Plays

By Gracey Zhang

A young boy learning to play the violin goes into the forest to practice. Soon an audience of cats enjoy his music in this delightful book.

Recommended by Chelsea Baller Ina

By Liz Casal

Meet Ina! Whether she’s in the ballet studio or on the basketball court, she gives it her very best. This rhyming story celebrates the kid with multiple interests and a dynamic personality.

Recommended by Jake I Want to Be Spaghetti!

By Kiera Wright-Ruiz, Claudia Lam (Illustrator)

A ramen packet desperately wants to be the much more celebrated spaghetti. But after being purchased and prepared, the ramen realizes it’s perfect exactly the way it is. This picture book is fully of gorgeous illustrations, excellent humor, and a heartwarming tale of acceptance.

Recommended by Rae Ann If You Get Lost

By Nikki Loftin, Deborah Marcero (Illustrator)

A stuffed bunny comes to life after getting lost on a family camping trip, then makes its way back to a child in this beautifully illustrated story.

Recommended by Jenness Witch & Wombat

By Ashley Belote

A young witch receives a wombat instead of a cat – will she still be able to participate in her witchy activities? A vibrant and charming tale of being accepted for who you are and the magic of friendship.

Recommended by Patsy Maurice

By Jessixa Bagley

Maurice is a once-famous accordion-playing dog who lives in Paris. Times change, he grows older, and finds joy in his bird friends. For visitors to France and lovers of Madeline, this gorgeous watercolor book is a keeper.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Chelsea The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale

By Jon Klassen

A fun, odd little book about a girl who runs away and finds the perfect companion in a disembodied skull. Klassen’s careful words and beautifully lit illustrations are truly perfect. If you have a child (or adult) in your life who loves all things spooky, this is the perfect book for them.

Recommended by Aly We Still Belong

By Christine Day

In this beautiful and charming book about one girl and her family on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, readers are treated to a realistic look at Wesley’s everyday life and how loving herself and her community creates the biggest change.

Recommended by Katie The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet

By Jake Maia Arlow

A sweet baby gay who finds out she has Crohn’s Disease? It’s me! It’s me! While I was diagnosed later in life, I found myself wanting to wrap Al up in the biggest hug possible. While you can’t always promise a person that it gets better, you can make sure they feel seen and loved on their journey. I hope every young person with chronic illness snags a copy of this book and feels just that.

Recommended by Rae Ann Gnome and Rat: (A Graphic Novel)

By Lauren Stohler

Beginning readers who like graphic novels will love Gnome and Rat! They’re best friends who live in a forest and go on adventures with Gnome’s hat.

Recommended by Lily, age 8 The Chaos Monster (Secrets of the Sky #1)

By Sayantani DasGupta

I love this book so much! I like it because (a) the book involves twins and (b) it’s got lots of animals and a magical world. This book was amazing! I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read it!

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Chelsea The Honeys

By Ryan La Sala

Mars returns to a bucolic summer camp to investigate his twin sister’s death where she was in the highly-coveted cabin H. Things go from strange to worse quickly as Mars ingratiates himself into his sister’s cabinmates’ clique, the Honeys. The opening of this book is one of the most shocking first chapters I’ve read, and I empathized with Mars’s grief. New in paperback, its movie adaptation is also in production!

Recommended by Rcahel Any Way the Wind Blows (Simon Snow Trilogy #3)

By Rainbow Rowell

A beautiful conclusion to a trilogy that will live in my heart forever. Simon and Baz’s journey evolves from forced enemies to lovers to growing through their mental health struggles together. I’d give my kidney for another book in their story, but I’ll stick with rereading this at every opportunity!

Sprout Book Club: August Selection I Will Read to You

By Gideon Sterer, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

The August 2023 Sprout Book Club selection is I Will Read to You by Gideon Sterer and Charles Santoso. This is a delightful picture book about bedtime stories and thinking of others. A boy asks his mom who reads the monsters to sleep in the forest. They venture out to read to his new friends and return home for their own storytime. 

Early praise for the book:

“A story about caring for the unseen and the power of books to unite and soothe….Will have young readers eagerly wondering about what goes bump in the night.” – Kirkus

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: August Selection We Still Belong

By Christine Day

The August 2023 Spark Book Club selection is We Still Belong by Christine Day. A girl’s plans for Indigenous Peoples’ Day (including asking her crush to the dance) don’t go as planned, until she is surrounded by her family and friends at the intertribal powwow. 

Early Sparks for the novel:

“This story, which weaves diversity into the supporting cast, incorporates layers of Native identity throughout, as Wesley connects with a new friend who is a young Native activist, learning more about Christopher Columbus. A rich, captivating story that will resonate with readers.” – Kirkus (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: August Selection Bring Me Your Midnight

By Rachel Griffin

The August 2023 ParnassusNext selection is Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin. Tana Fairchild lives on the island of the Witchery. Each month, the islanders release their powers into the ocean during the full moon. When she misses the ceremony, she puts herself and her family in danger. A new friend, who claims to live on a hidden side of the island, offers to help her use her powers in a new way. She must decide between loyalty to all she’s known and a new path.

Early praise for the novel:

“Griffin crafts a richly detailed world that leaves vivid sensory impressions… A subtly magical and romantic story of personal growth.”— Kirkus 

“Ethereal worldbuilding and affecting allegories championing environmental stewardship, honesty, pride, and self-expression further enrich Griffin’s feel-good tale.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Join us for an event with Rachel Griffin at Parnassus on August 8th @ 6:30 pm. Register here.

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.

Cherry-picked: New Reads for August

It’s a new month, and that means new reads! The booksellers here at Parnassus love picking out books we think you will love, and we think we have done an exceptional job this month. So without further ado, read on for 29 recommendations for your next read!

FICTIONRecommended by Everyone! Tom Lake

By Ann Patchett

Are we biased towards loving Ann’s books? Sure. We’ll own up to it. But y’all, Tom Lake is a masterpiece. Cat calls it “that rare novel that does so many things to absolute perfection.” Katie says it’s a “moving novel from one of the greatest writers of our time.” Some other words our staff used to describe it: magnificent, vibrant, marvelous, pure delight, exquisite, magical, instant classic. But if you don’t want to take our word for it, check out these incredible reviews from Kirkus, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and the Wall Street Journal.

Ann is on tour! Check out all the cities she’ll be visiting here.

Recommended by Everyone! Do Tell: A Novel

By Lindsay Lynch

Speaking of books by our fellow Parnassians, we all love Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch! Sarah calls it “engaging and immersive.” RJ says the book is “full of finely crafted historical details and fascinating characters.” Perhaps Cheryl put it best: “This novel is like discovering an old black and white movie gem on TV.”

Lindsay will be joining Ann on select tour stops! See the details here.

Recommended by Lindsay Mrs. S

By K. Patrick

A queer love story set at an English boarding school? I’m absolutely in. K. Patrick’s Mrs. S is a luscious read, filled with gorgeous prose and plenty of forbidden yearning.

Recommended by Jake Silver Nitrate

By Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silver Nitrate follows a sound editor and a fading actor working to restore a long lost cult horror film, one which just so happens to be a Nazi occultist experiment. But when the supernatural elements of the film start bleeding into their real lives, the pair must solve the mystery of what’s really going on before it’s too late. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is always excellent and this is some of her best work yet.

Recommended by Jennifer Immortal Longings (Flesh & False Gods #1)

By Chloe Gong

Chloe Gong’s adult fantasy debut, Immortal Longings is an action-packed marriage of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra and The Hunger Games. Meet and fall in love with a cast of morally grey characters as they fight to the death for change and revolution. This book will have you on the edge of your seat.

Recommended by Cat After the Funeral and Other Stories

By Tessa Hadley

Tessa Hadley is a master at prying into the depths of everyday relationships and unspooling the consequences of her characters’ actions. This showcases those strengths and manages to be thought provoking and fresh. Her characters in each story take immediate shape within a matter of sentences and I couldn’t put this collection down.

Recommended by Kathy Lady Tan’s Circle of Women: A Novel

By Lisa See

How can this be a captivating novel about a woman physician in 15th century China? Lisa See draws you in with the creating of the character Lady Tan Yunxian and her learning to be a woman as well as a woman-doctor. This is a woman’s book, no question about it, also un-put-downable. I loved it!

Recommended by Hannah P. Cutting Teeth: A Novel

By Chandler Baker

Biting seems like normal behavior in a preschool classroom—until a teacher is found dead and the only witnesses/suspects are the adorable and bloodthirsty children. More than just a murder mystery or a tale of childhood vampirism, this clever and wild novel reflects on the sacrifices of motherhood and the ways that kids can drain us.

Recommended by Sissy Time’s Mouth: A Novel

By Edan Lepucki

While Lepucki pulls the past into her novel, there’s nothing sweet or sentimental about her writing. Generational trauma chases her characters as they run from one another, and collide with one another. She’s a master of creating a beautiful setting that can hold deep darkness. While one child runs from pain and forms a cult, another child runs from the cult to free himself from pain. Gripping!

Recommended by Katie To Have and to Heist

By Sara Desai

To Have and to Heist is a wild ride from start to finish. Think Oceans 11 with serious screwball romantic comedy energy. Desai is known for loveable, awkward leads caught in the crosshairs of cultural expectations and hijinks. This newest book is sexy and laugh out loud funny.

Recommended by RJ Camp Damascus

By Chuck Tingle

Chuck Tingle’s traditional publishing debut brings all the chills of a classic summer horror blockbuster while reckoning with the very real horrors of queer religious abuse. Rose, a young autistic woman, must uncover the secrets of her isolated church’s suspiciously “successful” gay conversion camp after learning her own connection to the camp goes deeper than she ever knew.

Recommended by Heath Speech Team: A Novel

By Tim Murphy

Now well into their 40s, former members of the high school speech team decide to confront their coach who made disparaging and lasting comments to each of them. This is about the power of words and how they can affect us, but there are also some hilarious moments. Come for the totally rad 80’s references and stay for the heart.

Recommended by Maddie  Ripe: A Novel

By Sarah Rose Etter

Ripe is a gut punch. In it, we follow Cassie as she struggles in a demanding and demoralizing Silicon Valley tech job and goes through her days constantly accompanied by a floating black hole that follows her at all times (yeah, seriously). This book is brilliantly intriguing from the first page. It is smart, it is poignant, and in the best way possible, it is weird.

Recommended by Aly The Apology

By Jimin Han

Jeongha is dead. At age 105 she was hit by a bus, and that’s where our story begins. In this beautiful and fantastical tale of what women are willing to do for their families, whether right or wrong, we see just how vulnerable the strongest among us are when it comes to love.

Recommended by Ashby The Housekeepers

By Alex Hay

Who doesn’t love a heist novel? Even better when it includes a female gang and is set in Edwardian England. Mrs. King, gang leader, grew up in a world of con artists but became the respectable housekeeper of one of the grandest homes in Mayfair with countless treasures. After she is fired, she plans her revenge.

Recommended by Rachel Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution

By R. F. Kuang

You’ve heard of modern day classics, but have you read a novel that seems to have existed for centuries before? Babel has been lying in wait, watching the world with a sharp eye before determining the exact time to make her violent entrance, and oh, how glad I am to hold this book in my hands. Reading may reveal many terrors that you have aided in creating. You won’t be ready, but you must read.

Recommended by Cheryl The Bookbinder: A Novel

By Pip Williams

It is WWI and twins Peg and Maude work for Oxford University Press binding reissues of classics. The twins have been on their own since age 16 but live on a boat with kind neighbors. Peg yearns to go to college and become a writer but feels she must look after her sister with her different abilities. The chapters are named by the book that they are binding. It is a joy to read as a bibliophile.

Recommended by Sissy The Beast You Are: Stories

By Paul Tremblay

I rarely choose short story collections, but the spooky ones get me every time. Tremblay has several distinct, frightening tales in here, but they are interrelated in theme, time, and even characters. A must read for those who love a little fear!

Recommended by Rachel Wolfsong (Green Creek #1)

By TJ Klune

Magical forest with gay werewolves whose yearning spans literal decades. My heart skipped so many beats while watching Ox and Joe fall in love and deal with the consequences of caring so deeply for someone in a world full of many dangers.

Recommended by Katie Tastes Like Shakkar: A Novel (If Shakespeare Were an Auntie #2)

By Nisha Sharma

This chaotic enemies-to-lovers is perfectly sweet and absolutely spicy. Bobbi Kaur, a wedding planner determined to prove her worth to her family, is forced to work with her nemesis, the hottest chef in town, “Bunty” Paddy. Not just colleagues, they also happen to be the MOH and BM in the wedding. Add a sprinkle of sabotage and a dose of sexual tension and it gets hotter than a kitchen fire real quick.

Recommended by Chelsea The Militia House: A Novel

By John Milas

This debut horror, set in 2010 Afghanistan during the war, focuses on Corporal Loyette, who is questioning both his dull assignment and his motivation for enlisting. After a visit to a “haunted” Soviet-era militia house, the line between the real and surreal starts to blur, making Loyette even more unmoored. Perfectly paced and full of visceral detail, The Militia House is a fantastic addition to the horror canon.

Recommended by Rachel The Centre

By Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

How far is society willing to go for advancement? The Centre ponders this question amid the backdrop of gothic horror, obsessive female friendship, secret societies, and an ending to match Ari Aster’s Misdsommar. No line is left uncrossed.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Ashby Baking Yesteryear: The Best Recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s

By B. Dylan Hollis

This baking blast from the past is written by an unemployed piano player turned funny TikTok phenom. His specialty? Vintage recipes. He selected 101 recipes from the 1900s to the 1980s. I read it like a book, enjoying the stories and background. Sample recipes: peanut butter styrofoams, Velveeta fudge, candle salad, the Robert Redford, pork cake, the Watergate AND Spaghettios Jell-o mold.

Recommended by Chelsea When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era

By Donovan X. Ramsey

An incredibly well-written debut, When Crack Was King mixes history with anecdotes of four people whose lives were touched by crack. His writing does what the best nonfiction does: examines history and encourages the reader to fully examine and understand the legacy of that history. Thoroughly researched yet accessible and engrossing, this is my favorite nonfiction book of the year.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Chelsea Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family

By Robert Kolker

This came out in 2020, and I absolutely did not have the bandwidth to read it then. I revisited it this month via audiobook. Hidden Valley Road‘s focus is the Galvin family where six of the twelve children developed schizophrenia by the mid 1970s. Kolker expertly weaves together the strands of history of the Galvins, the disease, and the treatment of mental health in the United States into a compelling narrative.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Fortunes of Jaded Women: A Novel

By Carolyn Huynh

I loved this amazing novel about a family of estranged women and the psychic prediction that brings them together again. Now out in paperback!

Recommended by Ashby Cinnamon and Gunpowder: A Novel

By Eli Brown

Why should pirates eat bad food? Pirate, Mad Hannah Mabbot kidnaps chef Owen Wedgwood. She tells him he will be spared by making an exquisite meal each Sunday. Owen works miracles with what he scavenges on board. He wows her with bread, keeping the sourdough starter safe under his shirt during a battle. Entertaining characters like Mr. Apples, a pirate who knits. And there is love…

Recommended by Lindsay Glaciers

By Alexis M. Smith, Maris Kriezman (Foreword by)

Whenever I talk about my love for tiny books, I’m usually thinking about Alexis M. Smith’s Glaciers. Written in short vignettes, it follows one day in the life of Isabel, who works repairing library books. The vignettes are deceptively ordinary–childhood memories, meditations on beloved articles of clothing or objects–but over the course of 110 pages, they accumulate into something truly beautiful and profound.

First Editions Club: August Selection The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel

By James McBride

Before becoming one of the most celebrated writers of our time, James McBride was a celebrated saxophone player. Once you know this, you can see it everywhere in his work. He doesn’t just write novels and nonfiction (his brilliant memoir, The Color of Water, has sold over two million copies), he writes music, and while The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store isn’t a novel about music, it is certainly a novel informed by music. McBride has an ability to take a complex line of narrative out farther than you might think possible, then reel it in with all the spontaneity and structural underpinnings of jazz. His stories, characters and language refuse to lie flat on the page. They exist as life and sound. How can something be both free and mathematical? It helps if you’re James McBride.

James McBride is a writer and a musician and a hundred other things besides. He’s also Black and Jewish. His mother, whose parents owned a grocery store in Georgia, was an immigrant from Poland, his father a minister in Harlem. (Again, if you haven’t read The Color of Water, you must.) The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store springs from the intersection of those two communities, and McBride proves himself to be fluid in both languages. The storylines are opposing one minute and harmonizing the next. What unites them is the common humanity, the loving, damaged, striving nature of human existence, or, to put it another way, the enormous heart in life. The heart is why I love this book so much.

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.

Stealing Our Hearts: An Interview with Sara Desai

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai is the perfect rom-com caper and one of the most enjoyable summer releases that I’ve read. It had me asking some deeply important questions. If my best friend was accused of stealing a diamond necklace, who would I assemble to exonerate her? Naturally my wife will fill the role of the mysterious con-woman (although in her defense she isn’t really a liar, she just has a face most people trust). I will also happily have Rihanna play the role of our team’s hacker. Her performance in Ocean’s 8 is unparalleled. And clearly one of the shop dogs (probably, Roxy) will be the pretty face. I’m still mulling over the rest of my team and I’m certain once you crack open this delicious summer read you’ll be asking yourself the same hard-hitting questions.We were so excited to interview Sara and equally excited for To Have and To Heist to be the Between the Covers Romance Book Club’s August pick! Desai brings us the experiences of many young, second generation Indian Americans — pressure to live up to familial expectations, to be successful, and, of course, to get married. Expertly weaving these experiences into a laugh-out loud-romance, Desai’s To Have and To Heist is the fun, heart-racing, summer romance adventure that we all deserve. Enjoy!—Katie Garaby, Parnassus bookseller and host of Between the Covers

Sara Desai

Katie Garaby: Sara! Thank you so much for being willing to chat with me. I am a HUGE fan. When I read To Have and To Heist earlier this year (perks of being a bookseller) I could not stop evangelizing. It was my first five-star read of the year and I am so excited for it to be our August Between the Covers pick. Tell me a little bit about this most recent project. Is it a mystery with a romance plotline? Is it a romance with a mystery plotline? How would you describe it?

Sara Desai: I would describe it as a romcom caper with the focus more on the caper than the romance but it still has a romance arc and a HEA/HFN ending.

KG: To Have and To Heist gives major screw-ball comedy meets Ocean’s Eleven vibes. It is just so much fun! What about a heist felt like the perfect setting for this most recent project?

SD: There are so many moving parts to a heist which means there are so many things that can go wrong and you can always have fun with your characters when things go sideways. The book starts out with Simi going to check on her elderly neighbor and walking into a nightmare involving a naked octogenarian and a bottle of bleach!

KG: Your books do such an incredible job discussing heavier topics like cross-cultural differences and familial pressure, but you do it with such humor and love. Do you feel pressure to put your culture at the forefront? Or is it a privilege to highlight these stories?

SD: It has been wonderful to see the shift toward diversity in romance and I have welcomed the opportunity to share different aspects of the South Asian culture in my stories.

KG: Side characters can really make or break a book. In both the romance and mystery genres, we often see them as a segue into the next book. This rag-tag crew is an absolute delight. Truly some of my favorites. If you were going to stage a heist, who would you want by your side, real or fictional?

SD: Putting together a heist crew isn’t easy and it depends entirely on what you want to steal! I would want an experienced crew to maximize my chances of success (unlike my misfits in To Have and To Heist). My dream crew would include Danny Ocean from Ocean’s Eleven (professional thief with lots of experience leading a heist crew), Lizbeth Salander from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (remorseless, relentless, experienced with weapons and has tech and hacking skills), Baby from Baby Driver (best driver there is), and Jack Wilder from Now You See Me (illusionist, pick pocket and lock picker).

KG: Our heroine, Simi Chopra, is having more than just a bad day. She is striking out left and right. Tell me what you like to do when you are having a particularly bad day. How do you switch things up to try and turn things around?

SD: I’ll usually get out of the house and go for a hike or a drive or get out on the water in my kayak. Usually, a change of scenery is enough to help me reset and put everything in perspective. If that doesn’t work, it’s time for ice cream and romcoms.

KG: We know that the romance market is heavily saturated with white/het/cis authors and because of that, I think it’s important to lift up queer and BIPOC authors. Who is a queer and/or BIPOC author that you are excited about and want to make sure we are reading?

SD: I just finished reading an early copy of Trisha Das’ Never Meant to Stay, which was absolutely delightful. It’s about a high-end wedding photographer who goes to stay with family friends in Delhi and finds the love and family she has been missing all her life. I also had the chance to read Noreen Mughees’ charming debut, The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed, which is a wonderful second chance romance chock full of Bollywood-style
drama.

KG:  And finally, we always like to finish up with this question: What is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

SD: I love independent bookstores for several reasons. First, they are always in unique spaces—whether it’s a historic building or a cozy corner, every indie bookstore offers a new experience. Second, they are integrated into the fabric of the community, showcasing local books and making it possible for readers connect with their favorite authors. Third, the staff are readers themselves and genuinely love books. And finally…cats. When I see a cat walking around, I know I’ve found my perfect bookstore!

To Have and To Heist is on our shelves now! Grab your copy and join the Between the Covers meeting in-store on August 16 at 7:15pm!

Surrealism and Sub-Genres: An Interview with Sarah Rose Etter

One of the biggest joys of being a bookseller (and there are many), is getting to spend my days gushing to customers about my favorite books. Perhaps my favorite type of book to pitch to customers are the ones with out-of-the-box, absurdist premises — the books that, upon hearing the plot synopsis, gets people to squint their eyes and tilt their head to the side a little bit. These books are my favorite to pitch because, if I’m doing my job well, I’m able to overcome that initial perplexed reaction and  get the customer to see why this book has me so excited, and then they walk away just as excited about it as I am.

As soon as I started reading Sarah Rose Etter’s latest novel, Ripe, I knew it was going to be one of those books. In it, we follow Cassie as she struggles in a demanding and demoralizing Silicon Valley tech job and goes through her days constantly accompanied by a floating black hole that follows her at all times. (This is about the part in the conversation where I’d expect you to give me that squinty-eye look.)

Ripe is brilliantly intriguing from the very first page. It is smart, it is poignant, and in the best way possible, it is weird. It was a great joy for me to be able to ask Sarah some questions about this novel;  I hope you all enjoy this interview with her!

— Maddie Grimes, Parnassus bookseller

Sarah Rose Etter | Photo by Lee Jameson

Maddie Grimes: In my mind, Ripe falls into my favorite sub-genre, what I refer to as “unhinged women’s fiction.” With books like yours, and other authors like Mona Awad and Ottessa Moshfegh, what is it about using imagery that is bizarre or grotesque that lets you tell your story in a way that realistic fiction or a more straight-forward narrative would not?

Sarah Rose Etter: For me, the surrealism is a place for the reader to meet me in a new way. The black hole in Ripe might represent grief to me, depression to the main character Cassie, and something entirely different, like anxiety, to the reader. I always want to leave some space for the reader to project onto so the book takes on another dimension. It’s also a way of taking these universal feelings — like grief and love and despair — and putting them in a new context so we might look at them in a different way, or find a new way to understand each other. A lot of this is what makes surrealism so effective in visual art, too — you have the artist’s intent, sure, but that’s almost secondary to the experience of the viewer and their interpretation.

MG: I’m super interested to know about the early developmental stages of crafting this novel. When you thought of the idea for Ripe, did you always know your main character would have a black hole companion When did that particular idea strike, and how did you land on it?

SRE: I wrote this novel shortly after my father died suddenly of a heart attack and we went into COVID lockdown. So it really is the product of so much grief and so much loneliness and uncertainty about the future. The black hole, for me, became an obsession because I wanted to understand my grief, and I wanted to understand life and death. So I found myself really drawn to black holes, whether as a portal to another dimension or as a path to obliteration. They really work as a metaphor for death — they suggest an afterlife or nothing at all comes after this. And that obsession just bled into the book.

MG: I enjoyed every moment I spent reading Ripe, and a big part of that was the unique way you formatted each chapter to begin with its own dictionary-like definition. For me, it added a perfect element of fun and whimsy into a story that was, for the most part, strikingly heavy. Did this structure change anything about your writing process? 

SRE: Chalk that up to my writer OCD — everything in a novel needs to be structured and balanced or I go a little insane. The definitions really started as a way to try to mirror the way we remember things — how if we hear a certain song or smell a certain cologne, we might get immediately transported back into a memory. I wanted a way to recreate that in the text — it was a way to give Cassie enough backstory without being boring, I hope, but it also helped me structure the story as I was writing it.

MG: Like your main character, you’ve worked in Silicon Valley. How much of Cassie’s experiences (both professional and black-hole related) are based on your own life?

SRE: There’s a really great bit in Is Mother Dead by Vidgis Hjorth that I feel very tied to –

“The relationship of a work of art to reality is uninteresting, the work’s relationship to the truth is crucial; the true value of the work doesn’t lie in its relationship to a so-called reality, but in its effect on the observer.”

This has been such a helpful way of thinking about Ripe — there is a piece of my life in all of my work, but I think it’s much more important that the book be true than real. And I do think the book is true, in that sense.

MG: Talk about a cover! I know every book’s publishing process is unique, so how much input did you get to have in your cover design, and how did you end up lucking out so hard with the cover of my absolute dreams?

SRE: I got really lucky with this cover — the team at Scribner has always understood this novel and they didn’t try to soften it up at all. As we went through ideas for cover art, I’d sent over a ton of the artwork I’d looked at as I was writing Ripe, and they plucked this image out of the bunch. As soon as I saw it paired with that font, I knew we were cooking, honey! I fell in love with Angela Faustina’s work during COVID while I was writing the book so it feels very kismet that it ended up on the cover.

MG: During your drafting process, were you reading any other books or consuming any media that you found to be helpful creative inspiration? How much of your writing is inspired by other art and how much is inspired by real-life encounters?

SRE: I was definitely reading the unhinged girl classics – The Bell Jar, Play It As It Lays, Problems by Jade Sharma. I was also watching I May Destroy You a lot — I felt so drawn to the structure, how it wasn’t afraid to be bleak, the multiple endings. It just felt exquisitely done. I was really obsessed with that show.

In terms of visual art, I was definitely watching The Color of Pomegranates, which is incredible. But I also spent a lot of time digging through the online archives of the museums, looking for pomegranate and black hole artwork when I wasn’t writing.

MG: We always like to finish up with this question: What is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

SRE: I honestly wouldn’t have a career without indie bookstores and indie booksellers. Without their dedication to my work, I never would have made it anywhere. I know this is going to sound dramatic, but I genuinely believe indie bookstores sort of saved my life. If they hadn’t been so passionate about selling The Book of X, I never would have gotten an agent or worked on Ripe during the hardest time in my life. And Ripe was a project that kept me going when I was at such a low point. All of that to say, indie bookstores and booksellers are the one of the biggest reasons I can keep writing books. I love y’all.

Ripe is on our shelves now! Grab a copy in-store or online.

Dog Days of Summer: 12 New Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

It is somehow already July, and we here at Parnassus are making the most of the summer by soaking up the sun with some good books (when we aren’t hanging out with the shop pups at the store, of course). Perhaps that’s why this month’s picks seem to revolve around summer fun and furry friends. Snuggle a shop dog, then pop to the pool with a great new read!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann I Have Seven Dogs

By Molly Horan, Dana Wulfekotte (Illustrator)

Zoe wants a dog, but can’t have one in her apartment. She solves this problem by making friends with the dogs in her neighborhood. Now she doesn’t have just one dog, but seven! This is a sweet story about community and friendship.

Recommended by Chelsea Our Pool

By Lucy Ruth Cummins

A delightful homage to the neighborhood swim spot, Our Pool is the perfect summertime read! The onomatopoeias, bright colors, and strong lines will draw readers in and keep them rapt as the narrator delights in sharing about their day at the pool.

Recommended by Aly Mr. S: A First Day of School Book

By Monica Arnaldo

This kindergarten class arrives to their first day of school only to find that their teacher might be a sandwich. The perfect back to school book that shows great teachers can surprise you.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Ice Cream Vanishes

By Julia Sarcone-Roach

Squirrel is an expert at making snacks disappear. When he finds an ice cream truck, he believes his talent turns to magic. I’m also an expert in making ice cream disappear. I love this funny book!

Recommended by Sarah Boop!

By Bea Birdsong, Linzie Hunter (Illustrator)

There are so many snoots to boop! Floofy snoots, smooshy snoots, and every kind of snoot in between. I love this adorable, interactive story!

Recommended by Chelsea Why Did the Monster Cross the Road?

By R. L. Stine, Marc Brown (Illustrator)

When one monster is sad, their best friend tries to cheer them up with laughter! Each joke got progressively funnier until I was wiping tears away by the end. This is a great read aloud to have little ones giggling.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann The Summer of June

By Jamie Sumner

June Delancey starts her summer by shaving her head, hoping to leave anxiety behind and be fierce. She spends her days in the library where she meets a new friend, battles the head librarian, and starts a secret project. Now in paperback and perfect for summer reading!

Recommended by Chelsea How to Catch a Polar Bear

By Stacy DeKeyser

Nick’s summer in 1948 takes a turn when his best friends decide to work a paper route together, leaving him out on his own. When a polar bear escapes from the zoo, Nick decides to be close to the action and volunteers to help his uncle with his custard cart at the zoo. More hijinks ensue involving monkeys, a rival custard stand, and the Fourth of July! This hilarious historical novel is the perfect summer read.

Recommended by Aly How to Stay Invisible

By Maggie C. Rudd

Raymond is suddenly on his own. His already flighty parents have left him and his dog behind, but that won’t stop him from trying to survive. This beautifully written story is regrettably realistic as Raymond continues to go to school and make friends while struggling to keep his life a secret from the adults who could help or harm him. If you loved Hatchet, you need to read this.

Recommended by Ashby The Jules Verne Prophecy

By Larry Schwarz, Iva-Marie Palmer

A treasure hunt in Paris? YES! An old bookshop? YES! Famous for Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, Jules Verne has left a mysterious book to provide Owen and his friends, Nas and Rose, clues. This is the first in a new series. Cannot wait for more!

Sprout Book Club: July Selection In the Night Garden

By Carin Berger

The July 2023 Sprout Book Club selection is In the Night Garden by Carin Berger. A black cat leads us on a nighttime journey filled with stars, bats, and nighttime creatures. Beautiful collage art illuminates this fun bedtime story.

Early praise for the book:

“Nighttime is the right time for young readers thanks to this perfect amalgamation of soothing text and image.” – Kirkus, starred review

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: July Selection How to Stay Invisible

By Maggie C. Rudd

The July 2023 Spark Book Club selection is How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd. After Raymond’s parents abandon him, he moves into the forest near his school with his dog. It’s hard to trust anyone with his secret. But when a wolf attacks, he must find help. Fans of Hatchet will enjoy this story of resilience and learning to trust again.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“An exceptional story of courage.” – Kirkus, 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: July Selection House Party

By justin a. reynolds

The July 2023 ParnassusNext selection is House Party, edited by justin a. reynolds. Told in interconnected stories by ten critically acclaimed YA authors, this epic house party takes place over a few hours.

Early praise for the novel:

“A lively narrative that shows the power of friendship and connection.” —Kirkus 

“This energizing collaboration hits every plot beat without pause.” –Publishers Weekly

Join us for a free event with justin a. reynolds at Parnassus Books on July 13 th at 6:30 pm. Register here !

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.

New Staff Picks? Do Tell! 30 Fresh Reads for July

We missed recommending books to you on the Laydown Diaries this week! We feel bad about it. Sure, the 4th of July fell on a Tuesday this year, and there wasn’t much we could do about that. But book recs are kind of our thing, and we don’t want to leave you hanging, so here’s an extra special batch of staff picks for you to peruse. What makes this month’s picks special, you might ask? Well, you may have heard us talking about a little book called Do Tell once or twice (or a couple thousand times) since Lindsay announced that she sold her debut novel to Doubleday last year. And here it is! In the flesh! This month’s First Editions Club pick! We truly couldn’t be more proud of Lindsay. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page for a word from Ann about the book. We’re so excited for it to hit shelves on July 11!

FICTIONRecommended by Heather Truly, Darkly, Deeply

By Victoria Selman

A young girl, her mom, a boyfriend – he’s a serial killer, maybe, but does everyone have a role in the gruesome murders? I love a good thriller, and this is one of the best I’ve read. I could not put it down! A perfect read to take you out of your surroundings; it will make you begin to question what you really know.

Recommended by Sarah Lucky Red: A Novel

By Claudia Cravens

A queer, feminist take on the classic Western novel? Count me in! Bridget, penniless and alone, crosses the American prairies and happens upon Dodge City, where she takes up residence in a brothel in order to survive. What follows is a gorgeously written, deeply human, and completely immersive story about queer womanhood, friendship, and freedom. I loved every page.

Recommended by Ashby The Beach at Summerly: A Novel

By Beatriz Williams

Williams’ historical fiction grabs me early and holds me the entire novel. Contrasting characters and times, Olive and Emilia, 1946 and 1954. The two experienced war differently. Emilia helps capture a Soviet spy who’s giving atomic secrets from Summerly. What did Emilia do the summer of 1946? What are the consequences in 1954?

Recommended by Jordan You Were Always Mine: A Novel

By Christine Pride, Jo Piazza

How do you define motherhood, love, and family? From the dynamic duo of authors who tackled important topics of racism and complex relationships in We Are Not Like Them, comes an equally thought-provoking novel great for book clubs and discussions.

Recommended by Cheryl The Spectacular: A Novel

By Fiona Davis

The author again uses little known NYC history in her novel of 1956. Being a Rockette is not as glamorous as it is hard teamwork. Add a decades old illusive bomber and you have a mystery. It is an exciting read of what it is like to be a single woman in the arts. Fiona Davis has given us another bite of the Big Apple!

Recommended by Jake Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird: Stories

By Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses (Translated by)

This short story collection from the author of Tender Is the Flesh is short, dark, and deeply compelling gothic horror. Equal parts strange, funny, disturbing, and unforgettable, Bazterrica is spearheading the new Latin American genre fiction boom, and Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird is some of her best work yet.

Recommended by Patsy Mr Kato Plays Family: A Novel

By Milena Michiko Flašar, Caroline Froh (Translated by)

Mr. Kato, recently retired, is at loose ends wondering what to do with himself. He falls into a new job, playing roles for a company that provides family and acquaintances for clients who need them for various occasions. By taking on these character roles, Mr. Kato finds ways to reconnect with his own family, be more spontaneous, and be a better human. A delight!

Recommended by Heath Return to Valetto: A Novel

By Dominic Smith

An American widower visits his eccentric aunts and grandmother in their family’s medieval villa in a nearly abandoned Italian village, and drama ensues. A life-altering family secret from WWII comes to surface, and the family must learn how to reconcile with the past. This is Beautiful Ruins adjacent, and the descriptions of scenery, food, and wine made me feel like I was in Italy.

Recommended by Chelsea Lone Women: A Novel

By Victor LaValle

The less you know about this book before you read it, the better. So I’ll keep this short. In 1914 a woman travels to Montana to lay claim to a homestead, and along with her she brings a steamer trunk. When the trunk opens, people disappear. That’s all you need to know.

Recommended by Maddie The Rachel Incident: A novel

By Caroline O’Donoghue

I flew through this book. The Rachel Incident is perfect for fans of Sally Rooney (me). It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever been a new adult wondering what exactly it is they’re supposed to be doing with their life (me). It’s perfect for people who love the feeling of looking up from the last page of a book feeling like they’ve just read about and gotten to know real people with real, complicated emotions (me).

Recommended by Ashby Zero Days

By Ruth Ware

Ware writes a roller coaster: a steep climb by a quick fall, then another, then another… and the plot? A mystery inside a mystery inside a mystery. Clients pay Jack and her husband Gabe to see if they can break in. After a successful raid, Jack arrives home to find Gabe murdered and she is the main suspect. On the run, Jack is determined to clear herself. The many twists and turns keep you in the thick of it.

Recommended by Rachel Pure Colour: A NovelBy Sheila Heti

In Pure Color, the main character Mira spends a third of the novel as a leaf. Yes, a leaf. And yet this book has an entire cosmos contained within its pages. Read with a pen in hand and a forest overhead and you may just find yourself somewhere divine.

Recommended by Sissy What Remains

By Wendy Walker

A detective who hasn’t fired a gun in years just happens to be in a store when shots are fired inside. Her swift actions put in motion a terrifying and fast-paced search for the reason why – AND there is another danger lurking just out of sight.

Recommended by Heath The Only One Left: A Novel

By Riley Sager

A Gilded Age mansion on a cliff. Check. A Lizzie Borden type character that supposedly murdered her family in said mansion on a cliff fifty years ago. Check. Gothic, atmospheric vibes. Check. If there is such a thing as a gothic beach read, this is it.

Recommended by Katie Business or Pleasure

By Rachel Lynn Solomon

Y’all, the “teach me” trope is one of my absolute favorites and it’s so hard to do well. Unless you are Rachel Lynn Solomon and you actually never miss and your books are perfect. Seriously, this book is the equivalent of a favorite show that I want to watch to over and over again and I think you are going to love it

Recommended by Kathy The Half Moon: A Novel

By Mary Beth Keane

The charming, gregarious bartender and his hard-working lawyer wife confront their issues of infertility, in-laws, and dreams deferred. How close should friendships be, outside your marriage? What happens when things don’t work out as you and your spouse have planned? This story will strike a chord with a lot of readers.

Recommended by Hannah P Maddalena and the Dark: A Novel

By Julia Fine

In 1717 Venice two teenage girls at an elite music school are connected by dark desire and even darker magic. If your idea of a good time includes atmospheric historical fiction, sapphic obsession, twisty fairytales, and dark academia, then you’ll find it all here in this slow-burn, symphonic, fever dream of a novel.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Andy Golf Architecture for Normal People: Sharpening Your Course Design Eye to Make Golf (Slightly) Less Maddening

By Geoff Shackelford

Geoff Shackelford is one of the country’s experts on golf design. He takes the reader through golf architecture in reader-friendly, humorous manner while imparting why understanding golf design can improve one’s score and appreciation for the game. This book will help golfers of all skill levels become keener observers while getting more joy out of playing any course.

Recommended by Sarah  People’s Plaza: Sixty-Two Days of Nonviolent Resistance

By Justin Jones, William J. Barber (Foreword by)

Justin Jones became a household name in April when he and another Black lawmaker were expelled from the TN state legislature in April following a gun reform protest. But what you may not know is just how long Justin has been an integral part of social justice movements in Nashville. In this book, he tells the moving, eye-opening story of the 62-day-long sit-in he helped organize after the murder of George Floyd.

Recommended by Ashby What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds

By Jennifer Ackerman

Owls are magical. Ackerman’s book teaches us a lot about owls, but there is even more we don’t know. For example, a bird’s auditory system never ages or owls perform advanced mathematical computations to capture their prey. Ackerman states a generalization that the book proves: “Owls change lives, and the effort to make sense of them shapes how we experience the world, heightens the wonder.

Recommended by Sydney The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

By Michael Finkel

Stéphane Breitwieser stole more than a billion dollars worth of art masterpieces between the years of 1995 and 2001. Most art robbers’ motivation comes from the possible monetary profit, but Breitwieser had a simple desire: to curate his personal art collection with treasured works—coming from over 172 European museums! This book takes an intimate look at his life while examining the psychology behind his art theft.

Recommended by Sissy Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It

By Greg Marshall

Fans of David Sedaris and R. Eric Thomas will love this memoir of a man who loved creating, acting, and writing from a young age. The family is hilarious, and I loved that his being gay was no big deal at all – just a part of a moving story filled with both touching and awkward moments.

Recommended by Jenness 100 Places to See After You Die: A Travel Guide to the Afterlife

By Ken Jennings

It’s a travel guide to the underworld(s)! A funny and fascinating navigation through the afterlife realms – both glorious and torturous – of religion, mythology, and popular culture. Ken Jennings is the witty, intelligent tour guide of the hereafter you didn’t know you needed.

Recommended by Katie Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down The Last Remaining Lesbian Bars In America

By Krista Burton

I’m in the “mom era” of my illustrious queer life, so lesbian bars feel like a distant memory for me. But cracking open this book I felt such a deep nostalgia for my twenties and the lesbian bars that shaped me. Part traveloge, part memoir, Burton does a fantastic job transporting you to the last remaining lesbian bars and feeling like you too just had a fancy drink named after sexual innuendo.

Recommended by Jennifer A Most Tolerant Little Town: The Explosive Beginning of School Desegregation

By Rachel Louise Martin

Rachel Martin crafts a provocative journey through the story of Tennessee’s first desegregated school. From unlikely local heroes to explosive results, this true story will inspire and empower you to make this world a better place for all.

Recommended by Jake The Last Action Heroes: The Triumphs, Flops, and Feuds of Hollywood’s Kings of Carnage

By Nick de Semlyen

Exploring the box office juggernaut action films of the 80’s and 90’s, Nick de Semlyen’s The Last Action Heroes is a well-researched and effortlessly readable look at a very particular moment in Hollywood history. Much like the films it covers, this book is incredibly entertaining and showcases many a magnificent marvel of machismo, both on the screen and off.

CLASSICS & BACKLISTRecommended by Lindsay City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940’s

By Otto Friedrich

City of Nets is a wonderfully gossipy year-by-year account of 1940s Hollywood. I would give anything to know just how many Hollywood novels and podcasts have sprung from this book–I used it to research Do Tell, and I know both Anthony Marra and Karina Longworth have cited it as a favorite!

Recommended by Chelsea Feed (Newsflesh #1)

By Mira Grant

Humans made viruses that cured the common cold and cancer but caused the dead to not stay dead. Twenty years later, journalists Shaun and Georgia Mason are invited to cover the presidential campaign, and they uncover a sinister secret. While Feed presents itself as a zombie novel, it’s really about journalism, truth, and the right to know the truth. This is the first of the Newsflesh trilogy.

Recommended by Lindsay Play It As It Lays: A Novel (FSG Classics)

By Joan Didion, David Thomson (Introduction by)

If you can’t travel to LA for a stay at the Chateau Marmont this summer, may I recommend putting on a Lana del Rey album and reading Joan Didion’s Play It as It Lays? You, too, can have Main Character Syndrome if you just throw on a big pair of sunglasses, find a spot by the pool, and immerse yourself in the devastating and glamorous world of 1960s Hollywood with this incredible classic.

First Editions Club: July Selection Do Tell: A Novel

By Lindsay Lynch

If there is a single uniting factor at Parnassus Books, it’s our love of Lindsay Lynch, and our collective joy at the publication of her first novel, Do Tell. Lindsay came to the store not long after graduating from college. She started as a bookseller and kept getting promoted, so that by the time she left us for the MFA program at the University of Wyoming, she was both Completely Indispensable and Universally Loved.

We kept in touch. Years later, when we had an opening for a buyer at the store, we asked Lindsay if she wanted to come back. She’d finished her Masters and was living in D.C. by then. She came back. We were thrilled.

What does this have to do with Do Tell? A lot, because those of us at Parnassus have seen the rising arc of her career. We watched the enormous effort she put into her writing from the very beginning. We saw her face rejection and meet it with more enormous effort. We were there for the revisions, the  triumph (an agent!), and even more triumph (a book deal with Doubleday!) We saw her through bad covers and so-so titles, all the way to a great cover and a great title, one befitting a great novel about a second-string actress turned first-rate gossip columnist in the golden age of Hollywood. Edie O’Dare is not Lindsay, but she has a lot of Lindsay’s resourcefulness, wit and intelligence. Edie was going to make it no matter what, and when she needed to readjust her plans, that’s what she did.

Do Tell is a testament to sticking to your dreams and having steel in your spine. It’s also a good reminder that great writers are the people who do a great amount of work. I could not love this book, or this author, more.

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.

Do Tell will be released on July 11. Pre-order a signed/personalized copy now!See Lindsay on tour!

July 11 in Nashville, TN: Launch party for Do Tell at Parnassus Books, in conversation with Ann Patchett! In store, 6:30 PM. (This event is FULL but you can sign up for the waitlist!)

July 12 in Washington, DC: Do Tell at Politics and Prose, in conversation with Lily Meyer. In store, 7:00 PM.

July 13 in Brooklyn, NY: Do Tell at Books Are Magic, in conversation with Anthony Marra. In store, 7:00 PM.

July 19 in Chattanooga, TN: Do Tell at The Book & Cover, in conversation with Blaes Green. In store, 7:00 PM.

August 17 in Atlanta, GA: In conversation with Ann Patchett for Tom Lake & Do Tell, hosted by A Cappella Books. The Carter Center, 7:00 PM.

August 18 in Memphis, TN: In conversation with Ann Patchett for Tom Lake & Do Tell at novel. In store, ticketed, 6:00 PM.

August 19 in Jackson, MS: Mississippi Book Festival, in conversation with Ann Patchett for Tom Lake & Do Tell.

August 20 in Oxford, MS: In conversation with Ann Patchett for Tom Lake & Do Tell at Square Books. In store, 4:00 PM.