Bluebird, Bluebird 

Hooray! I can whole-heartedly recommend this mystery/thriller about a black Texas Ranger working a suspicious case in East Texas. The book takes on many big American problems, so it is both timely and wildly entertaining.

The Art of Death: Writing the Final Story 

I love everything this woman writes. This small book is part of a series in which different writers are asked to tackle Big Ideas. Edwidge draws from literature and life to make order out of her mother’s death and death in general. The book is so smart and oddly soothing. Recommended for anyone who may someday die.

Glass Houses 

This is the 13th Chief Inspector Gamache mystery, but it’s the first one I’ve read — proving that you can start anywhere in this series and throughly enjoy it. There’s a reason this series, set in Montreal and the tiny village of Three Pines, continues to grow in popularity with each book.

The Last Ballad 

What sets this historical tale of injustice and courage apart is its main character, Ella May, a woman with human foibles but a heroine just the same. The multi-layered story, based on actual events in 1929, is told from several viewpoints, but Ella remains the focal point of this dramatic account of one community in the Appalachian foothills of North Carolina. Perfect for book clubs.

Little Fires Everywhere 

There’s a reason everyone’s using the fire emoji when they tweet about this family drama set in a wealthy suburb — and it’s not just the title. What a page-turner!

(Read more about it here.)

The Book of Separation 

If you loved Mirvis’ Modern Love essay “Finding God in a Hot Slice of Pizza,” you’ll love this whole book — a brave and elegant memoir about ending a relationship with not just a spouse, but a religion and a way of life.

Ranger Games: A Story of Soldiers, Family and an Inexplicable Crime 

An intriguing true tale about a bank robbery committed by a group of Army Rangers, one of whom is the 19-year-old cousin of the author. I think the bottom line is this: we ask the people who fight our wars to do terrible things. Do we then get to ask how they got to be so terrible?

Books for Living: Some Thoughts on Reading, Reflecting, and Embracing Life 

This love letter to books reminds us that usually the most satisfying reading we do is not when we’re reading the Best Book Ever or the hot new book everyone’s talking about, but the exact right book at exactly the right moment: the book that cheered you on, that salved a broken heart, that got you up off the mat, that changed your mind.

The Twelve-Mile Straight 

Twins — one black, one white — are born to a Georgia sharecropper’s daughter. Who’s the father? This and other secrets drive local families to go to any lengths to cover up their actions in this page-turner of an epic story, surprisingly relevant today.

Dinner at the Center of the Earth 

I am hypnotically obssessed with this novel. Englander’s best work yet is certain to be a serious contender for the Pulitzer.

(See Nathan Englander right here at Parnassus TONIGHT!)

Lightning Men 

Mullen’s latest historical mystery, set in the racially charged atmosphere of 1960s Atlanta, is both timely and entertaining.

Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories 

The stories in this collection — all of them! — manage some sort of delightful alchemy. In just a few pages, they are immediately engrossing but also manage to build worlds as rich as Howey creates in his novels. Savor this collection. You won’t see the universe the same way again.

The Tiger’s Daughter

Rapturous! Enthralling! Bewitching! How many words of praise do I need to get you to pick up this book and have one of the best experiences of your life? The Tiger’s Daughter is a lusciously imagined epistalory fantasy that blends the feeling of divine myth with characters that you can’t help but feel are real. I could not have hoped for a better book than this.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel

Two orphans with artistic souls survive poverty in Montreal during the Great Depression. Separated as teenagers, they spiral into a dark underworld but are eventually reunited to revisit a shared childhood dream. I was enchanted by this novel from the moment I started it. O’Neill’s writing is whimsical and haunting — the most cinematic reading experience I’ve had in a long while.

Made for Love

This has got to be one of the most absurd books I have ever read in my entire life. Imagine if Stefan the NYC correspondent from Saturday Night Live wrote a novel — and turned out to be an immensely talented and insightful writer. If that idea makes you chuckle and feel a bit curious, you need to pick up this book.

Catapult: Stories 

Striking, perfect fiction from one of the most exciting voices in literature today. Readers of Joy Williams and Flannery O’Connor will be delighted by the stories in Catapult.

The Complete Ballet: A Fictional Essay in Five Acts 

The Complete Ballet reads like a gracefully choreographed dance. It leaps between truth and fiction, romance and crime, grabbing the reader by the hand and leading you gracefully onto the stage and into literary meditation. John Haskell is a master.

What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel about Everything 

Rob Bell is a public theologian who writes brilliantly and accessibly about why there is no such thing as a simple read of the Biblical text. He explores the context behind such sacred text, creating a mesh of Biblical studies, mysticism, and humor — and a breath of fresh air for those of us who live in the Bible Belt.

A Bigger Table

This is radical Christianity, looking for the similarities that unite us rather than the differences that can tear us apart. Super-relevant in this political climate.

The Door 

The New York Review of Books classics series is full of hidden gems, and Szabo, the most translated Hungarian novelist, was chosen for the series for great reason. The Door reads like a fever dream — a shadow of a shadow that reveals more about our own lives than any of us would like to admit. It’s a flat-out brilliant novel. Don’t miss it.

Leaves of Grass 

I set out to cover this reading gap in my life and am extremely happy I did. To truly understand how free-verse poetry works, in all its difficulty and grace, you must start with the timeless and beautiful Leaves of Grass.

Where I’m Calling From 

Often minimalist and brief, Carver’s stories come from the bitter and beautiful mess of our own human existence. Raymond Carver is an American giant, his work is a true gift, and Where I’m Calling From is the perfect way to step in.

How to Make Friends with a Ghost 

The perfect picture book for October doubles as a sweet book about friendship.

Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow 

Remember Peter Pan’s energetic shadow? Smoot may have him beat. Smoot has had a dull life until one day, he pops free from his human. Then as any rebellious shadow would do, he goes on adventures and gets in a little bit of trouble.

Fall Ball 

Bobby and his friends love to play outside in the crisp weather after school with Sparky the dog, but it gets dark so quickly! Thankfully, Bobby has cozy pajamas and a warm meal waiting at home where he can cuddle with mom and dad and watch football on TV before bed.

Wishtree 

This beautiful story is told from the point of view of a tree! Red became a “wishtree” long ago, when someone tied a wish written on a scrap of fabric to one of his branches. Shortly before Wishing Day this year, however, someone carves the word “LEAVE” into his trunk, and it’s clear the message is aimed at the family who lives nearby. Despite the Don’t talk to people rule, Red decides to get involved in the lives of two of the children who live near him.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

This is a lovely family story about five quirky siblings and their parents in Harlem. One day they find out their landlord won’t be renewing their lease, so they devise all sorts of ways to try to convince him to let them stay. The only trouble is, they don’t really know anything at all about him, other than that he’s cranky and reclusive. As their various plans fall apart, they learn more about Mr. Beiderman and his past.

The War I Finally Won

The sequel to The War That Saved My Life is finally here! The rest of Ada’s story — her battle with the past and courage in village life during WWII — is worth the wait!

(Read Rae Ann’s interview with the author here.)

The Notations of Cooper Cameron

Cooper Cameron struggles to please everyone in his life after the death of his grandfather. This book portrays mental illnesses extremely well while also showing how difficult it is for people with mental illnesses to maintain the life they had. This is a must-read for anyone who loved Out of My Mind and Wonder.

Swing It, Sunny 

In this sequel to Sunny Side Up, adjustment to a new family situation is difficult, but friends, 70s TV, and a new hobby help Sunny stay Sunny-side up!

All’s Faire in Middle School

If ever there was a book that captures that nauseating, constantly unsure, terrified feeling of being in middle school, this is it. Set against the backdrop of the Florida Renaissance Faire, this graphic novel is just plain fun, tender, and wise. Fans of Roller Girl will not be disappointed by Jamieson’s sophomore novel!

Wicked Like a Wildfire 

‘Tis the season for witchy stories. Fans of Practical Magic and gorgeous (I do mean GORGEOUS) writing will love Popović’s debut, set against the lush backdrop of Montenegro. Family secrets abound!

Genuine Fraud 

This twisty tale ranks among the cleverest and most thought-provoking novels I’ve read all year. E. Lockhart engages wholeheartedly with the trope of the social-climbing orphan while simultaneously using it as a lens to explore issues of gender expectations and class. Did I mention it’s also a gripping page-turner with a narrator whose voice leaps off the page from the get-go? Jule may be a genuine fraud, but Genuine Fraud is a genuinely great read.

13 Minutes 

Natasha was dead for thirteen minutes, but she doesn’t remember how she ended up in the icy lake. Now her best friends are acting strangely, sending cryptic texts to each other that seem to link them to what happened. A psychological thriller full of twists and high-stakes drama. You won’t know who to believe.

Moxie

One of the best books of the year. Never has a novel tackled sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and dubious authority figures so head-on in a high school setting. Your blood will boil but your heart will ultimately soar, making you want to pass it on to everyone you know.

Jane, Unlimited 

This is one of the most intriguing and enthralling books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Kristin Cashore lives up to all expectations with her witty, clever story of making choices with no idea where they might lead. (And of course there are those fabulous umbrellas.)

 The First Editions Club: October Selection

Leonardo Da Vinci

ParnassusNext — October Selection

All the Wind in the World 

Longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature

Here’s what the book-flap says: “Keep your eyes open . . . your head down . . . and your love secret. Sarah Jac Crow and James Holt have fallen in love working in the endless fields that span a bone-dry Southwest in the near-future–a land that’s a little bit magical, deeply dangerous, and bursting with secrets. To protect themselves, they’ve learned to work hard and — above all — keep their love hidden from the people who might use it against them. Then, just when Sarah Jac and James have settled in and begun saving money for the home they dream of near the coast, a horrible accident sends them on the run. With no choice but to start over on a new, possibly cursed ranch, the delicate balance of their lives begins to give way — and they may have to pay a frighteningly high price for their love.”

Sounds amazing, right? Your heart will be in your throat as you read, and you won’t want to put it down. We can’t wait for you to discover our favorite YA book of October!

Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s  selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. You’re billed just for the cost of each book (+ shipping). Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Choose 3, 6, or 12 months for yourself, or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader.

Every year in the September meetings of the Parnassus Book Club, I remind people of the upcoming Southern Festival of Books (October 13-15 this year!) and what a wonderful weekend it is, full of author talks, panel discussions, music, and children’s events. I especially like to make sure they’re familiar with Coffee with Authors, always a highlight of the festival. Held on Saturday morning from 9:30-11 a.m., it has for the past few years featured three or four authors in a panel, facilitated by Parnassus’ own Mary Laura Philpott — a writer herself, co-host of A Word on Words on Nashville Public Television, and editor of all that you read here on Musing. It’s a do-not-miss in my book.

In its earliest days, this morning event was a breakfast with an audience of book clubs, hosted by the Women’s National Book Association. Over the years such notable authors as Elizabeth Strout, Tom Franklin, Lee Smith, Melanie Benjamin, Lily King, Tom Perrotta , Ann Patchett, and Helen Simonson have been featured, among many others. Now it has morphed into an official festival event for a broader audience of readers, sponsored by both the WNBA and Humanities Tennessee. For the past three years, Mary Laura has created a delightful synergy, a fun atmosphere, and an informative conversation, and this year will be better than ever with visiting writers Claire Cameron (The Last Neanderthal), Wiley Cash (The Last Ballad), Nicole Krauss (Forest Dark), and Stephanie Powell Watts (No One is Coming to Save Us).

Coffee with Authors is always free, but reservations are advised, taken by email to Lee Fairbend: LFairbend@comcast.net. Come — and bring your book club!

— Kathy

Parnassus Book Club

October — The Risen by Ron Rash

Are you a member of our store book club? Would you like to be? Parnassus Book Club and Classics Club meetings are free and open to anyone. Buy the book, read along, and join the discussion!

Also: The Southern Festival of Books is almost upon us! Having a hard time waiting? Our friends at Chapter 16 are featuring lots of festival-related book coverage these days. Make sure you’re subscribed to Musing, too, so you don’t miss all that’s coming up here — including more festival previews!

Speaking of events: Have you SEEN the lineup for the Salon@615 series this fall?? There are still tickets available for these remaining events — get ’em while you can!

Oct. 17 – John and Hank Green
Oct. 18 – Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor of Welcome to Night Vale
Oct. 26 – Billy Collins
Nov. 1 – John Boyne
Nov. 3 – Tamora Pierce
Nov. 6 – Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis
Nov. 11 – Elizabeth Gilbert
Nov. 14 – Dan Rather

See you soon!