Before I talk about the books I’m loving this month, I’ve decided to do a one-year-art-challenge culminating with a tiny art gallery of free tiny art at Nowhere so if you want to send me a tiny art piece (postcard sized or smaller, please) over the next year I’ll make sure it finds its way to a stranger who needs it. Here’s a link to details and an address.
And now…BOOKS.
Lots of great new releases this month that I enjoyed. First up is Colored Television by Danzy Senna, a dark comedy about second acts, creative appropriation, and the racial identity–industrial complex. Part satire, part thriller.
It had me on the edge of my seat and if you’re a member of the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club we’ll be mailing a gorgeous copy right to your door.
Also loved WILLIAM by Mason Coile…psychological horror meets cyber noir in this deliciously scary one-sitting read. You know what’s creepier than dolls? Dolls that are also robots who haunt you with AI. And if you’re a member of the Nightmares from Nowhere Book Club William is on his way. Not literally, thank god. Avoid having terrifying AI robots mailed directly to you, if possible.
And if you need more books to get you through September, here are a few new releases I enjoyed:
The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk – The Nobelist’s latest masterwork, set in a sanitarium on the eve of World War I, probes the horrors that lie beneath our most hallowed ideas. Weird, but good.
What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley – I picked this one up because I liked the cover and then later found out it was the 11th in a series. I’m an idiot. But now I want to go read the other 10 Flavia de Luce books.
Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken – A reimagining of the life of Alice Kyteler, the first woman in Ireland to be condemned for witchcraft. Historical fiction continues to fascinate me and to remind me how much we suck sometimes.
The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods – Is it magic or murder? A historical fiction gothic mystery set at a home for unwed mothers in 1894 Minneapolis.
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell – A speculative novel set in a world where white people no longer exist where a professor his estranged daughter travel across a truly “post-racial” America in search of answers.
Hard Copy by Fien Veldman – Look, I’ll be honest. With that title and the tagline of “GIRL MEETS PRINTER” I was expecting some weird smut like in that documentary where that lady has sex with the Eiffel Tower. (Have you seen that??) Anyway this was not that. But still interesting.
Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik – A great short story collection from Naomi Novik, who i love.
The Devil at his Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty by Valerie Bauerlein – This one actually came out last month but I couldn’t get a hand on a copy until now and I devoured it. A fantastic true-crime book.
And how about you? Any new books speaking to you or calling to you?
(Have you seen that??)
Yes. Yes, I have. Thank you for reminding me of that. I thought my brain had hidden that documentary away. Apparently not.
The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman. It’s a fun read about moms and daughters and the things we do for love. Hilarious and set in 1960s rural Tennessee.
So excited to read Colored Television. Thanks for selecting it!
You will love Flavia de Luce and her escapades! Alan Bradley is a brilliant writer.
The Flavia de Luce books are a must read! Wonderfully written and such an enjoyable character
I LOVE the Flavia de Luce series – I didn’t even realize there was a new one out!! Worth reading all of them.
Flavia is my favorite mystery heroine Jenny, you will adore the whole series! Thanks for letting us know a new one has been released
Have you heard about Art Drop Day? It’s the first Tuesday in September and people hide art all over and post clues on social media. It’s very fun. People go crazy for it in Denver. Here’s the Denver page, but it’s not just here. You could start it up in your town! https://www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/programs/art-drop-day
The Four Chickens of the Asquawkalypse by Heath Carra
is the most wild and entertaining book I read this summer. Told from the viewpoint of Fool’s Goldie, the lowest chicken in the flock pecking order, this book has a goth punk poultry band, unicorns, physics, metaphysics, pottery, predators and so much more. A bit of Book of the Dun Cow, crossed with The Mouse and his Child, but flavoured with Tom Robbins and some serious psychedelia. Highly recommend. The author also has a pottery studio and makes amazing mugs and other cool stuff.
OMG, Elizabeth Bennet captains a Longwing?????? Jenny, thank you SO DAMN MUCH for the link to Naomi’s stories. I re-read the Temeraire novels at least once if not twice every year, and while I’m glad she didn’t grind the series into the ground like some other authors are wont to do, she definitely left me wanting more. I cannot WAIT to dig into this book!!!!
I was an ARC reader for Hexes Go Well With Tequila by Leanna Ehrsam (debut novel). It comes out September 24th. It’s the perfect Spooky Season read. Black Cats, Magic, and a guy who looks like the Brawny Man.
The new Bobiverse book by Dennis E. Taylor drops tomorrow. I’m soooo excited!
Ooo, I did a whole series of tiny drawings with the hope of selling them. Didn’t sell one. Expect to get a whole lot of really bad tiny drawings in the not so distant future.
The September House by Carissa Orlando! So GOOD!
(Ooh, I liked that one. ~ Jenny)
oooh, the Flavia DeLuce books are one of my FAVORITE series! I’m so excited for a new one! She’s a character that I’d think you would absolutely adore.
And new Naomi Novak… lucky day!!
The Flavia de Luce books are a hoot! Must read!
I cannot recommend the Flavia de Luce books highly enough! Very engaging lead character and intriguing mysteries with a soupçon of science…
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. It was amazing! Paramount made a mini series out of it but I haven’t seen it. The book is always better anyway 😉
Read all of Flavia! She’s delightful and the series is brilliant
The Devil at His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein is amazing!!!
Thank you to those that sent me things from a last post. I LOVE THEM! I loved Good Mourning by Elizabeth Meyer and Weyward by Emilia Hart
My copy of Colored Television just arrived yesterday and I’m really looking forward to getting into that, Bury Your Gays, a Sorceress Comes to Call, and Nicked this month. My most notable recent read was Moonbound by Robin Sloan- it’s technically in his “Penumbraverse” but only very loosely as it’s set 11,000(!) years in the future. It’s very strange and I’m not sure I can adequately describe it (a bit like someone did mushrooms threw a bunch of classic stories in a blender with some far-future solar punk), but it’s so damn charming and it just sweeps you along, and I loved it.
Just checked out the September book recommendations—what a fantastic lineup! I’m especially excited about the historical fiction and memoirs; they look like perfect fall reads.
I admire the initiative of creating a one-year art challenge to spread joy through tiny art pieces, as it beautifully complements the love for books and the power of creativity to connect us with others.
The words of encouragement and support that you have supplied me with are extremely meaningful to me, and I would like you to know that they mean the world to me. They have a great lot of importance to me as responsibilities
This is such a thoughtful and inspiring post! I love the idea of the tiny art gallery, and I’m excited to see what kind of amazing creations people will share.
Your book recommendations are spot on. I’m particularly interested in Colored Television and William. I’m also a big fan of historical fiction and true crime, so I’ll definitely check out The Mesmerist and The Devil at his Elbow.
Keep up the great work, Jenny! Your enthusiasm for reading is contagious.
khalidelarbi
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I really enjoyed this post because it shows how workouts don’t always need fancy equipment or complicated programs. Using cards with simple moves like push-ups, sit-ups, and squats makes fitness feel more accessible to everyone, even for people at home. The idea of tracking time is also a great way to stay motivated without stressing too much about perfection. I think I’ll try this method to add variety to my own workouts. Thanks for the inspiration! surfing in taghazout
The mention of Danzy Senna’s Colored Television got me hooked immediately! I love that it’s described as a dark comedy mixed with thriller elements
‘William by Mason Coile’ really gave me the creeps