Daniela Catrileo: Chilco
A lyrical reckoning with land, love, and loss, Daniela Catrileo's debut novel Chilco, translated by Jacob Edelstein, is unsettling, beautiful, and full of quiet rage.
Mark Hussey: Mrs. Dalloway: Biography of a Novel
Mrs. Dalloway turns 100 this year, and to celebrate, I had the opportunity to read Mark Hussey’s Mrs. Dalloway: Biography of a Novel, a fascinating exploration of the novel’s creation, reception, and lasting impact. Here are my thoughts.
Leif Enger: I Cheerfully Refuse
I Cheerfully Refuse, by Leif Enger, is a dystopian novel set in a future America where a soft-spoken narrator navigates a world unraveling under the weight of despair and fractured human connections. While the novel offers a chilling glimpse into a familiar dystopia, I found myself struggling with its episodic nature and predictable emotional arcs. Read my full review to find out more about what worked for me—and what didn’t.
Andrew Krivak: The Bear
Andrew Krivak’s The Bear is a quiet, elegiac novel about the last two humans on earth—and what endures when everything else is gone. A tender story of survival, grief, and reverence for the natural world. Here are some of my thoughts.
Jean Echenoz: Command Performance
Jean Echenoz’s Command Performance is a noir-tinged, absurdist romp -- full of wit, detours, and dead ends. But does its playful subversion delight or exhaust? I found myself teetering on the edge of both. Read my review here.
Pat Barker: The Voyage Home
Here's hoping that the latest in Pat Barker's series following the Trojan War, The Voyage Home, is not the last!
Jacqueline Holland: The God of Endings
If you're looking for a great Novembery book, I recommend Jacqueline Holland's The God of Endings.
Scholastique Mukasonga: Sister Deborah
One of my most anticipated releases of the year is Scholastique Mukasonga's Sister Deborah, translated by Mark Polizzotti.
Bruna Dantas Lobato: Blue Light Hours
Bruna Dantas Lobato's Blue Light Hours, a novel about a young woman moving from Brazil to study in the United States and her relationships with her mom who stayed behind, is out today.
Mark Haber: Lesser Ruins
Mark Haber's third novel, Lesser Ruins, is out today. It's one of the best novels of the year.