Books Are My People Weekly Newsletter
out today, paperback releases and more!
Let Me Help You Discover Books You Might Not Otherwise Read! You can learn more about me by visiting my introductory post here.
Dear Reader,
I can practically smell Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve been making the same cranberry-blueberry pie for so many years, I don’t even think I need the recipe. Our break is off to a good start; I’ve seen Wicked twice now (I had to go again with my college kid who missed it when we all initially went), my oldest is home from college this week, we got some rain (my favorite!) and I’ve read two books! I hope that whatever you do this week you take some time for yourself to do whatever it is that makes you happy.
The nicest holiday gift you could give me is to rate my show wherever you listen. It takes just a few seconds and helps other people find out about my podcast, and podcast growth motivates me to continue producing new episodes!
Books Are My People paying subscribers exercised their right to vote and selected our February Read With Me pick! Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli. You can join us by upgrading your subscription. (154 pages, published in 2014.)
This week, on episode 136 of Books Are My People, I’m joined by A.D. Rhine - the pseudonym for co-authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. They discuss their latest novel, Daughters of Bronze, a retelling of Homer’s Iliad from the women who were there. And since there are three of us, you get 33.3% more book recommendations! You can listen to it here or wherever you catch your pods.
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray is our Book-to-Film selection for November here on Substack. We’ll be reading the book, watching the Lanthimos film or both (you choose) and then having a discussion at the end of November / beginning of December. Members, I’ve sent you a chat with all the information to sign up. I’ll send out one more reminder about it Friday before I take my December break.
Come join us by upgrading your subscription.
You can pop in for a month and check it out or join for the year at a discount. Refer three friends who sign up and get a month free!
My Giveaway for The New Naturals closes 11/29!
To Enter: Simply make sure you’re following me on Instagram and leave a comment and subscribe to this newsletter.
The best way you can support this newsletter is to click on the books below and purchase them through my Bookshop.org affiliate store. A portion of your spending goes to independent bookstores! A win-win-win! (You win, I win, indie bookstores win!)
Books Out Today: (I’ve starred the ones I’ve read)
Sun City by Tove Jansson translated by Thomas Teal
Want to read about a retirement community in Florida?
Janson describes this world through several of its residents and employees making their way in an America riven by cultural divides and facing the death of its dream, as they confront their own mortality.
This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things by Naomi Wood
For fans of short stories: A woman has an unexpected outburst at a corporate therapy session for working mothers. A couple finds some long-overdue time to rekindle their relationship and make an ill-advised home movie. A pregnant film director plots revenge on the actress who betrayed her. An ex-wife deliberately causes conflict at her ex-husband's wedding.
City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim
Like reading about Russian ballet? A once-famous ballerina faces a final choice--to return to the world of Russian dance that nearly broke her, or to walk away forever--in this incandescent novel of redemption and love.
*Daughters Of Bronze by A. D. Rhine
Love a classic retelling? Daughters of Bronze is the thrilling conclusion to the duology that began with Horses of Fire, and breathes life into the Troy of myth and history. It is an epic of a thousand invisible actions leading to a single moment, adding a refrain of unexpected light to the legend of Troy.
Paperback Release:
The Hunter by Tana French
Crime novel enthusiasts: It's a blazing summer when two men arrive in a small village in the West of Ireland. One of them is coming home. Both of them are coming to get rich. One of them is coming to die. A nuanced, atmospheric tale that explores what we'll do for our loved ones, what we'll do for revenge, and what we sacrifice when the two collide.
I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!
Books Are My People: A Podcast Companion Newsletter
(click here to listen to the most recent episode of my book recommendation podcast.)
And, if you haven't yet, the greatest gift would be to rate my show, wherever you listen!
UPDATED: December - I will be pausing Substack for the month of December in order to recharge. What does this mean for you? If you’re a paying subscriber, you won’t be charged for December. And there will be no paying subscriber activities. For free subscribers, this means no newsletters for the month of December. I WILL still be publishing my book recommendation podcast, Books Are My People during December. And business as usual will resume in January.
I read Horses of Fire last year and am looking forward to Daughters of Bronze. They are fabulous story tellers. Strong sense of place and richly crafted characters. Amazing research! Thanks for bringing them to the show.