I really love to hear when people get new books, so I decided I’m going to try to do more posts sharing some of the books that arrive at my house — here’s some of what I found in my mailbox in September.
The News Sorority by Sheila Weller (Sept. 30 from Penguin Press) – After decades of male dominance, three women – Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Christiane Amanpour – have made it into the boys club. Lady journalists being awesome? I’m sold.
Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? by Timothy Verstynen and Bradley Voytek (Sept. 22 from Princeton University Press) – Neuroscientists Verstynen and Voytek look at what the common characteristics of zombies reveal about how their brains work. I’m excited to see how the book combines satire with neuroscience research. This feels like a great read for Halloween.
Lives in Ruins by Marilyn Johnson (Nov. 11 from Harper) – What do archaeologists actually do? Johnson (author of This Book is Overdue!) looks at what it means to be a contemporary archaeologist trying to piece together the past. I love books about weird jobs.
Why Football Matters by Mark Edmundson (Sept. 4 from Penguin Press) – Edmundson, a former high school football player, looks at the way football shapes the men who play it. I’m excited to read this book in conjunction with another recent football book, Against Football by Steve Almond.
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel (Sept. 30 from Henry Holt) – After my success with short stories in Margaret Atwood’s Stone Mattress, I’m excited to try more of the genre. These unsettling stories by Hilary Mantel seem like they’ll be right up my alley. I also adore the cover of this one.
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom (July 29 from Random House) – This book was the September pick for the Riot Read, a monthly surprise book club organized by Book Riot. I don’t know much about this one other than the folks at Book Riot loved it. I’m excited to give it a try!
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I was excited about Hilary Mantel’s new book before, but now that British conservatives are jumping all over her, I know that I have to read it and soon. Good on Mantel for standing up to them!
I saw some headlines about that, but didn’t read any stories — I’m curious!
Your books look great! I’m becoming more and more disenchanted with football so I’ll be interested to see what you have to say about Why Football Matters.
I’m in the middle of News Sorority right now–very good so far!
I love seeing the books people receive! Great stack of titles there!
I got Lives in Ruins, too, and I’m really excited about it! I’ve always been fascinated by archaeology, so I can’t wait to learn more about what life as an archaeologist is really like.
I like archaeology books too. There was a mystery series that I used to adore, the Amelia Peabody books, all about archaeologists.
Lives in Ruins looks awesome. I started college as an Anthropology/Archeology major and even though I didn’t end up going that path I’m still really interested in the field. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a biography of unique jobs book – I’m not sure I even knew it was a thing:0)!
I really enjoyed Lucky Us! Yes, give it a try–hope it works for you. Although I usually avoid short stories like the plague, I’m starting to feel interested in reading the Hilary Mantel collection. I love her Wolf Hall books so much.
I’ve never read the Wolf Hall books, but I’m curious about Mantel and her style, so I think short stories might be the way to go.
Oh I’d actually be interested in the football books! I’ll have to look them both up. I’m assuming by titles that they’re on opposite sides of the fence?
Yes, I think so, although they’re also coming it at from different ways. I think Almond is writing as a frustrated fan, while Edmundson is writing as a former player. I think that’ll definitely impact how they approach the subject.
Yea, it probably will. Almond’s book interests me mostly because it sounds like it speaks to everything that frustrates me about the NFL. The double standards and injustice.
Mmmm, not loving that title for the book about ladies in news. I get that it’s probably ironic, but still, ugh.
Lives in Ruins, hooray! I read it earlier this month and thought it was GREAT. I love reading about weird jobs, and I particularly love archaeologists as a group. They’re awesome.
Yeah, I don’t love the title either. I’m hoping the book is better than that. I’m glad you loved Lives in Ruins — I’m excited about it!
You’ve got some that sound awesome, particularly Lives in Ruins. Can’t wait to see what you think.
I love books about weird jobs to, so Lives in Ruins is a book I’m really looking forward to this fall too! I’m also excited to get to The News Sorority. Looks like it’s going to be a great fall 🙂