I’m constantly scanning the bookish horizons to see what’s coming my way, especially now that summer reading season is right around the corner.
I’ve noticed something interesting about this year’s new releases: we’re seeing an unusual number of books from authors writing outside their typical genres. Novelists are writing essays, memoirists are writing stories—sometimes for the first time ever, sometimes for the first time in many years.
Jeffrey Eugenides started the trend in late 2017; the rest of these are 2018 releases. Some I’ve read and enjoyed; others are on my nightstand or wish list. I’d love to hear your thoughts in comments: tell me what you plan to read from this list, and what titles would you add to it?
Feel Free: Essays
What Are We Doing Here?: Essays
Look Alive Out There: Essays
I Am, I Am, I Am
Florida
You Think It, I’ll Say It: Stories
Awayland: Stories
Calypso
Fresh Complaint: Stories
What titles would YOU add to this list?
P.S. 10 engaging audiobooks read by their authors, and 8 novels that are delightfully self-aware about the writing process.
9 comments
I just started the Look Alive Out There yesterday and it’s great so far! Really captures the ridiculousness of NYC with humor and relatability.
I’m also planning to read You Think It, I’ll Say It, Florida, and I Am, I Am, I Am.
Didn’t realize there was a new Sedaris…I love dark, so may have to listen to that on audio!
I will read Florida only because I love the state. I was in the minority, but Fates and Furies was a big old miss for me! I am very excited for Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection. She is one of my go-to authors.
I have read Fresh Complaint and Feel Free and loved them.
Hated/very very strongly disliked Fates and Furies but read every horrible word til the last page just to see if something in the end made me understand all the rave reviews…it didn’t and I kicked myself for not putting it down earlier. Very few books have given me that reaction so I don’t think I will pick up her latest!
Could you please send me the reading Journal? I always wanted something like this an yours looks so pretty
I attempted “What are we doing here?” and got about 1/3 through before giving up….with the intention of coming back later…I hope(!). I found it to be a challenging read (I’ve never had to look up so many words while reading in my first language!) and I plan to try the audio version. Since they were mostly speeches, that may be a better format for these pieces (they were tough!).
I love this topic, but did anyone else think, yuck, all essays and short stories? (Probably just me being narrow minded about my reading…)
It’s not just you. Essays and short stories seem to me like taking vitamins. Having said that, I did add I Am, I Am, I Am to my to-read list. And I really liked Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, which I read last year after seeing it recommended by Anne.
I always enjoy David Sedaris books, along with his pieces for NPR’s This American Life! Such dark, witty humor makes for a really interesting perspective. I’m glad to see a lot of authors choosing the short story form, it’s one of my favorite styles to consume!!
Eva | http://www.shessobright.com
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