Sponsored by Gallery Books
This instant New York Times bestseller from the author of The Summer Guests is set on the Isle of Palms and offers “magical depictions of the lowcountry and the charms of her characters” (Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author) in a breathtaking novel that recounts one family’s summer of forging new beginnings against the enduring beauty and resilience of the natural world.
Hello, book friends! It’s a little rainy and cool here in Maine as I write this, which is a nice break from the blazing heatwave we’ve had. My cats are no longer puddles of fur on the floor. We are now halfway through an amazing month of new releases. As much as I read, I still wish I could get more reading done (said every book lover ever.) There’s still so many titles that have come out the last few weeks that I haven’t wrapped my brain around yet. One slightly older book I am reading right now, because so many people said I absolutely must, is Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller. I had never heard of David Starr Jordan, but let me tell you, this story is BANANAPANTS.
Moving on to today’s books: I’m looking forward to a lot of today’s new releases, such as The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia Waite, Nonbinary: A Memoir by Genesis P-Orridge, and The Maidens by Alex Michaelides. And speaking of today’s great books, for this week’s episode of All the Books! Tirzah and I discussed some of the wonderful books that we’ve read, such as Bath Haus, Blood Like Magic, The Tangleroot Palace, and more.
And now, it’s time for everyone’s favorite gameshow: AHHHHHH MY TBR! Here are today’s contestants:
The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee
Jonathan Lee’s last novel was a look at the true story of a bombing at a hotel in 1984, and now he has once again written a fantastic novel based on true events. This is an account of the life and death of Andrew Haswell Green. Green was a New York City lawyer and civic planner, who is considered to have been integral to the founding of Central Park, the New York Public Library, the Bronx Zoo, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lee has artfully written a compelling story of the man’s life in two parts: the story of a poor, quiet young man who grows into a quiet, esteemed gentleman; and the story of a man whose death made him more famous in his time than any of his works while he was alive, and the case to solve his murder.
Backlist bump: High Dive by Jonathan Lee
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
Books that take a deep dive into words and language are always such an epic nerdpurr and this one is no exception! Montell is a writer and host of The Dirty Word, a web series about language, gender, and pop culture. Cultish is her examination of language used by and about cultish organizations, and how that language commands power. Montell researched such notorious cults and cult leaders as Heaven’s Gate and Jonestown, and also investigated how the words and language often used by cults, what people sometimes think is “brainwashing”, is also used in organizations such as tech start-ups and SoulCycle. Why do these words make people more susceptible to outside influence? Who is more susceptible to cultish language? Get ready to stay up all night reading because this book is FASCINATING.
Backlist bump: Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell
Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua
And last, but not least, a fun debut YA fantasy in with a sort of magical Prince and the Pauper storyline about twin sisters—written by twin sisters! Princess Rani wants nothing more than to get away from her life at the palace. Ria is a street urchin who must break the law just to stay alive. When the two meet by chance, they immediately recognize that they are identical, and decide to swap places. But each sister’s dwelling comes with dangers, and as they both realize what it is they want for their futures, they will have to battle for their lives to achieve it. This is the first in a trilogy, and I can’t wait for the second one!
Backlist bump: Hunted by the Sky (The Wrath of Ambar) by Tanaz Bhathena
Thank you, as always, for joining me each week as I rave about books! I am wishing the best for all of you in whatever situation you find yourself in now. – XO, Liberty