pandemic reading from NYT

 

New York Times pandemic book lists (published 10/29/2021)

To no one’s surprise, 2020 was the best year for print sales in a decade.

Authors and publishers are finally catching up, as the pandemic and its attendant feelings of loneliness and isolation have started showing up in novels.

The coronavirus is the coda to Sally Rooney’s newest novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You,” out last month. And it’s the backbone of two forthcoming books: “The Sentence,” by Louise Erdrich, and Gary Shteyngart’s “Our Country Friends.”

The Times book critic Molly Young called Shteyngart’s book “the first great Covid-19 novel.” It tells the tale of seven friends (and a nemesis) who gather at a Hudson Valley estate to wait out the pandemic.

In today’s newsletter are four other recommendations for pandemic reads from Molly as well as Dwight Garner, a Times book critic. We’ve also readers’ suggestions, after nearly 400 people shared the books that helped them get through the pandemic.

From the critics

“The Chuckling Fingers,” by Mabel Seeley: Escapism alert! This is the book equivalent of hot cocoa. Mabel Seeley is a somewhat-forgotten writer of mysteries from the 1940s, and her best work (this one) has been reissued. Read if you like Agatha Christie, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, secluded lake houses and whodunits. — Molly Young

“The Hot Zone,” by Richard Preston: Not in the mood for comfort reading? Scare the daylights out of yourself with this account of the Ebola virus. Stephen King called it ‘One of the most horrifying things I’ve ever read’ — and who am I to argue? You may wish to wear gloves to prevent chapping your fingers from page-turning at warp speed. — Molly Young

“Year of Plagues: A Memoir of 2020v,” by Fred D’Aguiar: D’Aguiar is a poet who was born in London to Guyanese parents. His memoir is about how he learned he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer, and having to cope with his treatments while also dealing with the era of Covid. His memoir is funny; it’s warm; it’s unnerving; It’s a poet’s book, too, a storm of language. — Dwight Garner

If you’re in the mood for a sweeping, authoritative and prescient thriller (and who isn’t?) about viruses and their potential impacts, I suggest Lawrence Wright’s “The End of October,” which came out in the first flush months of Covid panic. It’s about a world in shock and ruin because of a virus similar to Covid-19. It reads like a rocket, and it is scary, scary, scary. — Dwight Garner

From NYT readers

Plague and lockdown stories

“I’ve read many post-apocalyptic books since the pandemic started. The outcome in these books is always more horrific than what we were going through. I was always left feeling relieved at how our world has coped compared to the world in the novels.” — DiAne Thomas Gordon, Memphis

“A Journal of the Plague Year,” by Daniel Defoe: Whether it’s 1665 or 2021, heroes and villains always emerge during a crisis. Essential workers (whether grave diggers or grocery store employees) will always bear the weight of our collective indifference. And the wealthy will usually escape the worst of any plague (unless their servants bring it into the house). — Shalynn Womack, 63, Nashville “Heaven’s Coast,” by Mark Doty: Doty’s tremendous writing on the grief surrounding the death of his longtime partner in the middle of the AIDS crisis helped me begin the process of understanding the tremendous loss of Abby, my girlfriend of eight years, and how to remember her. — Logan B., 26, Houston Early in the pandemic, “Love in the Time of Cholera,” by Gabriel García Márquez, lifted me out of my world of hand washing and sanitizing, and reminded me life (and love) go on even during difficult times, under difficult circumstances. My parents and grandparents are no longer here to tell their stories of endurance and recovery. I needed to hear someone’s story. — Sarah Smith, 63, New Orleans “The Great Influenza,” by John M. Barry: Too much of history was repeating itself in my city, and I had to stop frequently (and occasionally cry) as I read about what happened in 1918 and imagined what could happen in 2020. — Ian Korn, 38, Brooklyn, N.Y. “A Gentleman in Moscow,” by Amor Towles: It’s about a Russian aristocrat placed under house arrest in the Metropol Hotel who must learn to craft a rich, new life within the confines of the hotel. What has stuck with me is Count Rostov’s philosophy regarding the limitations placed on his previously unfettered life.— Heather Schwartz, 52, Delaware County, N.Y. Weirdly enough, “The Stand,” by Stephen King. As horrible as dealing with Covid has been, the devastating nature of the virus in the book made me feel like we got lucky in comparison. People might be resistant to get the vaccine, but at least our scientists survived long enough to create one. — Mia Wilson, Baltimore

Human resilience and spirituality

“Reading has become a much-needed escape for me during the pandemic. It gives me a little break from my bad habit of doom-scrolling. It allows my mind to exist in a different reality for a finite amount of time.” — Steph Hart, 32, Nashville

“Parable of the Talents,” by Octavia Butler: It reminded me of the resiliency of humanity, and how even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, goodness and idealism can win out. — Corey Pajka, 38, Brooklyn, N.Y. “The Count of Monte Cristo,” by Alexandre Dumas: It showed the resilience and determination of a man who was forced into isolation for long periods of time. — Shankar Swamy, Weston, Fla. “The Bible”: I read it most days. It has the answer to life’s problems. It gives Hope. — David Welford, 75, New Zealand “The Lord of the Rings,” by J. R. R. Tolkien: “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” — Erika Kinkead, East Palestine, Ohio

Escapism and old favorites

“I found myself drawn to historical fiction about the Tudor era. I saw so many similarities to our own time! A charismatic and problematic political figure? A mysterious plague-like illness killing people? And yet, those people survived.”— Heather, 37, Houston

I’ve slowly been working my way through the “Harry Potter” series for the first time. I’m so glad I’ve saved it until now. It’s such a lovely, lighthearted escape from everything that is going on in the world. That’s all I need right now. — Brook, 42, Sydney, Australia I needed escape. I needed mystery. I needed wonderful characters. I found all that in the Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache novels! I’m just about to start her newest one. I can’t wait! — Lyn Banghart, 72, Easton, Md. I always loved Agatha Christie’s mysteries, so I decided to read them all again. It’s like spending time with a treasured old friend. — Barbara Sloan, Conway, S.C. “The Magic Mountain,” by Thomas Mann. I have read this book at least once a decade throughout my adult life, and it always resonates in a different way. But this time, during the initial lockdown here in Italy where I live, the book’s portrayal of the distortion of time corresponded perfectly with the way I felt. — Gail Roberts, 59, Rome

 

world spiritual beliefs

 

The next Books & Beyond meeting will be on Tuesday, November 30th at 6:30pm in the Library’s conference room.  As usual, if you’d like to attend via Zoom, please register with your email address and I’ll send the link out the morning of the meeting: https://emmetoneal.libnet.info/event/4597975. 

The topic will be American masters and there is no parameters for what that American has mastered!  Novels, plays, music, painting, architecture, essays, photography…the sky is the limit and you get to chose how far you rise!  

If that seems overwhelming, have a look at some suggestions on the Shelf Care page of the website (BAB is the 5th row down): https://oneallibrary.org/adults---reading-recommendations

The topic selections for the 2022 BAB meetings are ready to whet your reading appetite!

January 25 - Author Study: Stephen King
February 22 - Ancient Civilizations
March 29 - Academy Award-winning Films
April 26 - National Parks/World Heritage Sites
May 24 – Audiobooks
June 28 - Man Booker Prize-winners
July 19 - Reader's Choice
August 30 - Women In Translation month
September 27 - Banned Books
October 25 – Trivia
November 29 - Biography/Autobiography
December 27 - Reader's Choice

BAB met last night to discuss world spiritual beliefs.

TheWay of Fire and Ice: The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism by Ryan Smith

The Way of Fire and Ice reimagines Norse Paganism with mystical practices and rituals for today's world as well as tips for building community and resisting fascism. This approach to working with Norse deities and beliefs is a living, adaptable tradition, representing a strong alternative to the reconstructionist perspectives of Asatru and Heathenry.

Vikings (1958)

Viking Prince Einar (Kirk Douglas) doesn't know it, but his most fearsome enemy, the slave Eric (Tony Curtis), is actually his half brother. Their feud only intensifies when Einar kidnaps Princess Morgana (Janet Leigh), the intended bride of the brutal King Aella (Frank Thring). Einar intends to make the beautiful girl his own. Unfortunately for him, Morgana has eyes only for Eric -- leading to much bloodshed and the capture of their father, King Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine).

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus’s insights and advice—on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others—have made the Meditations required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style. For anyone who struggles to reconcile the demands of leadership with a concern for personal integrity and spiritual well-being, the Meditations remains as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago.

Alan Watts

“Perhaps the foremost interpreter of Eastern disciplines for the contemporary West, Alan Watts had the rare gift of ‘writing beautifully the un-writable’. Watts begins with scholarship and intellect and proceeds with art and eloquence to the frontiers of the spirit. A fascinating entry into the deepest ways of knowing.”  — LA Times

Where the Lightning Strikes: The Lives of American Indian Sacred Places by Peter Nabakov

For thousands of years , Native Americans have told stories about the powers of revered landscapes and sought spiritual direction at mysterious places in their homelands. In this important book, respected scholar and anthropologist Peter Nabokov writes of a wide range of sacred places in Native America. From the “high country” of California to Tennessee’s Tellico Valley, from the Black Hills of South Dakota to Rainbow Canyon in Arizona, each chapter delves into the relationship between Indian cultures and their environments and describes the myths and legends, practices, and rituals that sustained them.

Venus and Aphrodite: A Biography of Desire by Bettany Hughes (not available in JCLC, click here to request from Interlibrary Loan)

Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, rising out of a froth of white foam. But long before the Ancient Greeks conceived of this voluptuous blonde, she existed as an early spirit of fertility on the shores of Cyprus -- and thousands of years before that, as a ferocious warrior-goddess in the Middle East. Proving that this fabled figure is so much more than an avatar of commercialized romance, historian Bettany Hughes reveals the remarkable lifestory of one of antiquity's most potent myths.

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty

Fascinated by our pervasive fear of dead bodies, mortician Caitlin Doughty embarks on a global expedition to discover how other cultures care for the dead. From Zoroastrian sky burials to wish-granting Bolivian skulls, she investigates the world’s funerary customs and expands our sense of what it means to treat the dead with dignity.

The Dawn of Belief: Religion in the Upper Paleolithic of Southwestern Europe by Bruce Dickson (not available in JCLC, click here to request from Interlibrary Loan)

Hunter-gatherers of the Upper Paleolithic period of the late Pleistocene epoch in western Europe left a legacy of cave paintings and material remains that have long fascinated modern man. This book draws on theories derived from cultural anthropology and cognitive archaeology to propose a reconstruction of the religious life of those people based on the patterning and provenience of their artifacts.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

In this documentary, filmmaker Werner Herzog and a small crew are given a rare chance to film inside France's Chauvet Cave, where the walls are covered with the world's oldest surviving paintings. To preserve the art, people are allowed to enter the site for only two weeks a year. Examining the 30,000-year-old drawings, Herzog discusses how the artwork represents humanity's earliest dreams with scientists and art scholars conducting research at Chauvet.

Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal

With the attention of a documentary filmmaker, de Kerangal follows Paula’s, an art student, apprenticeship, punctuated by brushstrokes, hard work, sleepless nights, sore muscles, and long, festive evenings. After completing her studies at the Institute, Paula continues to practice her art in Paris, in Moscow, then in Italy on the sets of great films, all as if rehearsing for a grand finale: a job working on Lascaux IV, a facsimile reproduction of the world’s most famous paleolithic cave art and the apotheosis of human cultural expression.

No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh

The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it. In No Mud, No Lotus, Thich Nhat Hanh offers practices and inspiration transforming suffering and finding true joy.

No Man is an Island by Thomas Merton (not available within the JCLC, click here to request through Interlibrary Loan.)

A recapitulation of his earlier work Seeds of Contemplation, this collection of sixteen essays plumbs aspects of human spirituality. Merton addresses those in search of enduring values, fulfillment, and salvation in prose that is, as always, inspiring and compassionate.

Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk by J. Dana Trent

Saffron Cross is the intriguing memoir of the relationship between Dana, a Baptist minister, and Fred, a devout Hindu and former monk. The two meet on eHarmony and begin a fascinating, sometimes daunting but ultimately inspiring journey of interfaith relationship and marriage.

The Source by James Michener

In his signature style of grand storytelling, James A. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the Holy Land. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, Michener vividly re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people—from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: to make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end.

Great World Religions: Christianity by The Great Courses

In this lecture series, you'll consider fundamental issues including Christianity's birth and expansion across the Mediterranean world, the development of its doctrine, its transformation after Christianity became the imperial religion of Rome, its many and deep connections to Western culture, and the tensions within Christianity today.

Great World Religions: Hinduism by The Great Courses

In this 12-lecture series, you'll encounter a religion that is perhaps the most diverse of all; one that worships more gods and goddesses than any other, and one that rejects the notion that there is only one path to the divine. These lectures provide a window into the roots of, perhaps, all religions.

Gnosticism: From Nag Hammad’I to the Gospel of Judas by The Great Courses

This fascinating 24-lecture course is a richly detailed guide to the theology, sacred writings, rituals, and outstanding human figures of the Gnostic movements. What we call "Gnosticism" comprised a number of related religious ideologies and movements, all of which sought "gnosis," or immediate, direct, and intimate knowledge of God. The Gnostics had many scriptures, but unlike the holy texts of other religions, Gnostic scriptures were often modified over time. Gnostic cosmology was extraordinarily intricate and multidimensional, but religious myth was simply a means to the ultimate end of gnosis.

The Celtic World by The Great Courses

In The Celtic World, discover the incredible story of the Celtic-speaking peoples, whose art, language, and culture once spread from Ireland to Austria. This series of 24 enlightening lectures explains the traditional historical view of who the Celts were, then contrasts it with brand-new evidence from DNA analysis and archeology that totally changes our perspective on where the Celts came from. European history and culture have been profoundly affected by the Celts, from the myth of King Arthur to the very map of the United Kingdom, where the English confronted the peoples of the "Celtic Fringe."

The Nag Hammadi Scriptures

The renowned library of Gnostic manuscripts discovered in Egypt in 1945, which rivaled the Dead Sea Scrolls find in significance. It includes the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the recently discovered Gospel of Judas, as well as other Gnostic gospels and sacred texts.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

My Favorite Murder – Cadaver recovery divers
https://myfavoritemurder.com/291-welcome-to-the-comfort-zone/
My Favorite Murder is the hit true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Since its inception in early 2016, the show has broken download records and sparked an enthusiastic, interactive “Murderino” fan base who come out in droves for their sold-out worldwide tours.

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Corinne May Botz (not available within the JCLC, click here to request through Interlibrary Loan.

The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death offers readers an extraordinary glimpse into the mind of a master criminal investigator. Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy grandmother, founded the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard in 1936 and was later appointed captain in the New Hampshire police. In the 1940s and 1950s she built dollhouse crime scenes based on real cases in order to train detectives to assess visual evidence. Still used in forensic training today, the eighteen Nutshell dioramas, on a scale of 1:12, display an astounding level of detail: pencils write, window shades move, whistles blow, and clues to the crimes are revealed to those who study the scenes carefully.

18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb
Official biographer Bruce Goldfarb delves into Frances Glessner Lee's journey from grandmother without a college degree to leading the scientific investigation of unexpected death out of the dark confines of centuries-old techniques and into the light of the modern day. Lee developed a system that used the Nutshells dioramas to train law enforcement officers to investigate violent crimes, and her methods are still used today.

 

 

squid game

If you're feeling bereft because there are no more episodes since you binged them all in one go, try one of these!

(descriptions from www.lifehacker.com)

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

One of the most influential books of the modern age, Lord of the Flies is the Rosetta Stone for stories like Squid Game, exploring how easily humans (in this case, tiny ones) can descend into savagery. While being evacuated during wartime, a plane carrying schoolboys crashes on a remote island. Without contact with the outside world or adult supervision, the boys form their own society, one initially based on rules and cooperation. As time goes on and rescue fails to arrive, however, the imprint of civilization begins to fade and things take a turn for the dark and horrifying. Unlike Squid Game, Golding isn’t concerned with economics, but he is concerned with the fundamental nature of humanity and the group dynamics of desperation.

Battle Royale by Kōshun Takami

A crueler, darker Lord of the Flies in many ways, the crucial element Kōshun Takami adds to his debut novel is structure. Instead of crashing in the wilderness, the junior high kids in Battle Royale are brought there by the state, forced to fight each other to the death as part of a research project-slash-totalitarian show of force. The kids are given random weapons, survival kits, and compliance collars that will detonate if 24 hours pass without a death, killing everyone. As in Squid Game, some of the kids comply immediately and enthusiastically, launching an all-out assault on their peers. Others try to preserve some semblance of their humanity and seek a way to fight back. The parallels are clear, and the relationships that develop over the course of the battle are every bit as intense—and heartbreaking.

The Plotters by Un-Su Kim

Un-Su Kim’s 2019 novel is also set in modern-day South Korea, albeit a much darker one. Reseng is a contract killer who has spent his life murdering people according to the orders of the unseen “plotters” who call the shots, but when a colleague is unceremoniously murdered, he begins to question his place in the world. It turns out the Plotters are basically this universe’s VIPs, the wealthy and powerful who assume they can point at the things they wish to command; Reseng soon realizes he’s playing a rigged game, and always has been. The universe of The Plotters isn’t game-oriented in any way, and yet there’s a similar restrictive structure to Reseng’s life, and a similar rage against the machine that will remind you of Gi-hun. (If you’re looking for more South Korean sci-fi weirdness from the author, his deeply strange novel The Cabinet dropped last week in translation, and is a similarly unsettling readalike.)

Gateway by Frederik Pohl

Frederick Pohl’s 1977 Hugo, Locus, and Nebula Award-winning sci-fi novel might not seem like a natural pivot for a fan of Squid Game, but it’s a perfect fit if you look at it from the right angle. In a future where the wealthy can live more or less forever thanks to healthcare far beyond the means of the vast majority of people, the desperate (which is basically everyone else) travel to Gateway to take their chances by piloting one of a fleet of derelict alien ships left rotting on the asteroid. No one understands the controls or navigation systems, so people form crews and activate the vessels, risking horrifying death on their travels (your chances of popping up inside a supernova aren’t exactly zero) in the hope of discovering something valuable. Not unlike on that certain 456 people on an island near South Korea, people strategize and scheme in a deadly game that ends in incredible wealth—or death.

The Long Walk by Stephen King

If Squid Game were just one game stretched to a punishing extreme, you might have The Long Walk. The first novel Stephen King ever wrote, it was eventually published years into his career under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman. In a dystopian future, The Long Walk is the most popular game show on TV: 100 teenagers must walk continuously until only one is left standing. If they fall below a certain pace, they are warned...and eventually shot; the winner gets cash and a prize of their choice. As the Walk stretches out over days and days, the grueling nature of the game slowly grinds everyone down, stripping them of their humanity and their hope, until they’re all like Sang-woo at the end: Eager for it all to be over.

Hit by Delilah S. Dawson

In the future, a corporation pays off the US’s debt and essentially owns the government—and by extension, the indebted citizens toiling away in a bleak, broken economy. When your debts come due your life is forfeit—but some are offered an out: If they agree to work as assassins and murder 10 other debtors, they can walk away scot-free. Teenage Patsy chooses to do the dirty work to pay her mother’s astronomical healthcare bills, and the story gets crazy pretty fast—but though violent and fast-paced, the novel somehow still has time for a romantic subplot and a slow-burn revelation about what’s really going on. The theme of debt’s power to destroy our humanity and rob us of our freedom will resonate with fans of Squid Game, and Patsy’s determination to murder her way to freedom while retaining her dignity and humanity makes for a compelling tale of physical and spiritual survival.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

If you’re looking for a story about a group of people engaged in violent combat while a team of dedicated professionals tweaks their environment for dramatic effect, this iconic sci-fi series is probably already at the top of your list. Every year a boy and girl from each of the 12 districts of Panem are selected to be Tributes in the Hunger Games as punishment for an attempted rebellion that happened generations ago. The children are pitted against each other in a sprawling, technologically advanced arena, where they fight to the death while the elites watch in delight and celebrate the winners as celebrities. It’s dark and action-packed, and elevated by heroine Katniss Everdeen’s intelligent approach her situation—and her rage over what’s been done to her, which fans of Squid Game will find familiar.

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver’s 2014 novel has been adapted into a streaming series as well, but you should definitely read the source material. The tiny town of Carp, New York doesn’t offer much hope to it residents—but an underground game offers a way out in the form of a $67,000 prize. Panic is a series of increasingly dangerous challenges—the first is a 40-foot leap into a lake in total darkness, and things get much nastier quickly—overseen by two anonymous judges. The contestants’ desperation to break free from their bleak circumstances is palpable, and as the plot twists out of control, things spiral into a state literary scientists call bonkers. The ending may be a little happier than many of these stories, but the theme questioning whether it’s worth betting your life against enough money to change it is all too familiar.

Docile by K.M. Szpara

If you found the themes of debt, wealth disparity, and desperation compelling in Squid Game, this novel is your jam. In a slightly more horrifying future America, debt has become a burden handed down from generation to generation, with most people indebted to the super-wealthy. In order to pay off what you owe, you can volunteer to become a slave to whoever owns your family’s debt for a specific period of time. Most slaves opt to take a drug called Dociline that makes them calm and fogs their pain and suffering—because the wealthy VIPs are not often kind, nor gentle. Like Squid Game, Docile makes the subtext of debt and capitalist oppression into text, making it clear how our relationship to money increasingly defines our humanity.

Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji by Nobuyuki Kumoto

Just like Squid Game’s Gi-hun, Kaiji Itō is a gambling addict who lives in perpetual poverty and shame. One day he’s tricked by a loan shark into participating in a deadly, high-stakes gambling event based on the game Rock, Paper, Scissors; the loan shark assumes he won’t make it out alive. But he emerges victorious, which leads him to complete in more and more dangerous gambles. The way Kaiji’s fortunes bounce wildly between temporary triumph and miserable defeat—at one point he finds himself in a labor camp to pay off his debt, a process that will take decades—mimics the experience of any habitual gambler, and the deadly nature of his bets definitely has the same dark, desperate vibe Squid Game gives off in spades.

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

A kind-of hybrid between a novel and a short story collection, Haunted tells the story of 17 aspiring writers who agree to be locked inside an abandoned theater for three months in order to isolate them and ostensibly inspire them to write their novels. Alternating between the stories they write (including “Guts,” one of the most distressing, visceral reading experiences ever put to paper) and the things that happen to them inside the retreat, the parallels between the theater and the Squid Game complex become clearer as the story progresses. Seeking heightened drama and stakes in the hopes of gaining reality-TV fame and literary success, each participant sabotages an aspect of the retreat until the group has descended into bloody violence and body horror. Just like Squid Game, there’s a moment when the writers can choose to turn away from the madness—and instead, they choose violence.

 

fall into reading

Let's manifest those cool nights, perfect for curling up with a good book, a hot cup of cocoa, and snacking on something tasty. From rom-coms featuring witches to compelling cozy mysteries, these reads are the perfect picks for autumn.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

After an awful breakup, Lila Macapagal moves back home to Shady Palms and begins helping out at her aunt’s struggling restaurant. But when Lila’s ex-boyfriend — who’s also a food critic — drops dead while eating at the restaurant, Lila becomes the prime suspect and takes on the investigation herself.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Searching for something a little spookier to celebrate the end of summer? This riveting gothic novel fits the bill. Biographer Margaret Lea is surprised when she receives a letter from aging author Vida Winter, who says she’s ready to tell her own story — her true story — at last. But when Margaret arrives at Vida’s Yorkshire estate, she’s told a strange tale filled with madness and ghosts.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Just how bad can a curse really be when it’s cast with an orchard hayrid­e–scented candle? Nine years after hexing her ex-boyfriend Rhys, witch Vivienne Jones is about to find out. When Rhys returns home to Graves Glen, Georgia, a string of bad luck follows him around and begins to threaten the town, prompting Rhys and Vivi to join forces and find a way to break the curse.

Autumn by Ali Smith

The first book in Ali Smith’s Seasonal quartet and a Booker Prize Finalist, Autumn follows the unlikely and extraordinary friendship between 101-year-old Daniel Gluck and his 32-year-old neighbor, art lecturer Elisabeth Demand. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as a “multifaceted meditation on aging, art, love, and affection,” this powerful and poignant novel is a fitting read for fall.

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper

Lana Harper’s adult debut is a charming rom-com that’s the perfect Halloween read. After spending years away from Thistle Grove, witch Emmy Harlow returns home for Gauntlet of the Grove, a magical tournament held every 50 years. The Harlows have long been the arbiters of the competition, but remaining unbiased starts to get tricky.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

This beloved novel from a bestselling author follows the Owens sisters — Gillian and Sally — who are raised by their eccentric aunts after being orphaned at a young age. Both sisters leave town and their aunts behind, but trouble eventually brings them back together.

September by Rosamunde Pilcher

When a lavish dance is planned for September in honor of a young woman’s 21st birthday, the celebration brings together a wealth of friends and family. The novel tracks the four months leading up to the event, giving readers a glimpse into the life of Violet Aird and the many people she cares for. The compelling cast of characters and Scottish Highlands setting will keep readers engaged.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

The Waverley sisters and their magical gifts return in First Frost, which takes place 10 years after Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells (but can also be read as a standalone). Set in Bascom, North Carolina, in October, the novel follows Claire, whose successful candy business isn’t without its challenges, and Sydney, who longs for another child while raising her teenage daughter, Bay.

Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams

With a small-town setting, close-knit friendships, and a hint of romance, this cozy mystery is the perfect read for a fall evening. The latest in Ellery Adam’s The Secret, Book & Scone Society series, Ink and Shadows follows bookstore owner Nora Pennington as she finds herself pulled into yet another mystery.

Autumn Light by Pico Iyer

In this stirring memoir, subtitled “Season of Fire and Farewells,” Pico Iyer travels to Japan after the death of his father-in-law. There, he reflects on aging and mortality, as well as grief and family. A starred review from Publishers Weekly praises the poignant work as “an engrossing narrative, a moving meditation on loss, and an evocative, lyrical portrait of Japanese society.”

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

From the bestselling author of The Nightingale, Magic Hour is an emotional look at love and family. When a young girl emerges from the woods one day in October, chief of police Ellie Barton calls on her sister, a child psychiatrist, to help — despite their differences. When Julia arrives backs to her western Washington hometown, she’s determined to connect with the child, whom she names Alice. 

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

A scarf serves as the link between two women living 100 years apart in this moving exploration of grief, love, and resilience. In New York in 1911, as she mourns the death of the man she loved, nurse Clara Wood helps a patient whose marigold scarf draws her interest. In 2011, a photograph forces widow Taryn Michaels to relive her own loss and the survivor’s guilt that she’s long felt.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, her mother and four aunts waste no time in helping her hide the evidence. But their well-intentioned efforts end with the body being shipped in a cake cooler to the California wedding the Chan family is working. Things only get worse for Meddy when her ex-boyfriend turns out to be a part-owner of the resort where the wedding is taking place. 

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

The first in a series, this historical mystery brings 1920s Bombay to life and follows solicitor Perveen Mistry, one of India’s first female lawyers.

Hired by Zoey Castile

Aiden Rios is a paid escort. He’s sexy and makes his women feel like queens – that’s his job, after all. He never expected to fall for anyone, much less a woman like Faith Abigail Charles, the good-girl daughter of a mayoral candidate. The attraction between them is off the charts — but their relationship could end in scandal.

Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr

Kelly Matlock comes to the small town of Virgin River in the fall to rest and recuperate from a stress-related collapse while at work. The quaint town is getting a little too restful when she meets widower and single parent Lief Holbrook. The man is drop-dead gorgeous and just what her heart needs, but is his baggage too much for her to handle?

Falling for Autumn by Sherelle Green

Two wounded souls fall in love in this tender, slow-burn romance. For Autumn Dupree, after surviving a childhood of trauma and hardship, there’s no such thing as a happy ending. Never mind the attraction she feels for Ajay Reed, the best man at her sister’s wedding. Determined to win her over, can Ajay prove to Autumn that true love exists?

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

American heiress Lillian Bowman doesn’t like the insufferable (but maddeningly attractive) Lord Westcliff. Marcus is everything she despises about English aristocrats. However, that doesn’t stop the two of them from falling into a passionate autumn kiss that leads to a destination neither expected.

Deception by Selena Montgomery

Professional poker player Fin Borders teams up with undercover FBI agent Caleb Matthews to find a killer in this sexy romantic thriller. Open this book for the taunt and engaging mystery. Keep reading for the explosive chemistry between Fin and Caleb that culminates in a steamy encounter on a bed of fallen leaves.