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Big Books of the Week

A Game Of Fear (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries, 24) by Charles Todd (Morrow) leads holds this week.

Other titles in demand include:

Finlay Donovan Knocks ’Em Dead by Elle Cosimano (Minotaur)

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Ballantine)

The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk, trans. by Jennifer Croft (Riverhead)

Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle (Berkley)

These books and others publishing the week of January 31, 2022, are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet.

Librarians and Booksellers Suggest

Six LibraryReads and 10 Indie Next picks publish this week:

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (Ballantine)

“In this extraordinary debut, two estranged siblings must reunite on the occasion of their mother’s death, opening old wounds and exposing long held secrets. The novel is a rich, woven tapestry of cultures, characters, traditions, and social issues, with several “wow” moments along the way. For fans of The Vanishing Half and Ask Again, Yes.”—Ronni Krasnow, New York Public Library, New York, NY

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont (St. Martin’s)

“An intriguing take on Agatha Christie’s famous 11-day disappearance. In a Christie-esque subplot, Nan manipulates Agatha’s husband to leave her so that Nan can step in, but her plans go further. Interspersed in the story is Nan’s retelling of her own tragic background, and as it unfolds, her true objective comes to light. For fans of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and The Guest Book.”—Maribeth Fisher, Scotch Plains Public Library, Scotch Plains, NJ

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“A fascinating look into the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie in December 1926. Told by her husband’s mistress, it is a story of love, loss, and revenge. You’ll wonder what will happen next when you’re not reading it. Excellent!”—Nona Camuel, CoffeeTree Books, Morehead, KY

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (Avon; LJ starred review)

“Two women get a second chance at romance. Margot and Liv shared a bond and one steamy week back in high school, and ten years later they become roommates by chance. This time, they’re not letting one another go again. For fans of Honey Girl and Boyfriend Material.”—Danielle Hansard, Westland Public Library, Westland, MI

Finlay Donovan Knocks ’Em Dead by Elle Cosimano (Minotaur)

“The second Finlay Donovan installment is just as funny, charming, and over-the-top as the first. Finlay is still a lovable hot mess and her love life hasn't gotten easier. While it's definitely a mystery with some dead bodies, the humor and giant heart of this series prevail. For fans of Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer.”—Rebecca Swanson, Fitchburg Public Library, Fitchburg, WI

Good Girl Complex: An Avalon Bay Novel by Elle Kennedy (St. Martin’s Griffin)

“Mackenzie decamps to a coastal college to fulfill a promise to attend school, even though she’s a successful business owner. Little does she know her boyfriend has already ruffled feathers in town, and local bad boy Cooper plans to break Mac’s heart in revenge. A perfect balance between steamy and adorable; give this new adult romance to readers of Anna Todd.”—Serita Patel, MCMLS-South Regional Library, The Woodlands, TX

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (Anchor)

“The one bright spot in Ray’s rough life is his love of playing the violin that once belonged to his great-ancestor, a slave. The instrument turns out to be a Stradivarius, creating all sorts of problems. This first- rate story offers a probing look at the experience of being a Black musician in the classical music world. Great for book clubs that enjoyed Harlem Shuffle and The Queen’s Gambit.”—Joan Hipp, Florham Park Public Library, Florham Park, NJ

It is also an Indie Next pick:

“One of my new favorite novels. The book tells Ray’s story, a young Black man who just wants to play his violin in a world set to see him fail. You’ll root for Ray, get angry on his behalf, cry with him, and triumph with him.”—Laney Sheehan, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews, Chapel Hill, NC

An additional eight Indie Next picks publish this week:

The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn, trans. by Martin Aitken (New Directions)

“The Employees is haunting, poetic, sterile yet bursting with sensation. A series of reflections on what it means to be human, to spend life working, disconnected from the natural world and others. For those who ask ‘is this all there is?’”—Henry Williams, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC

What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris (Tiny Reparations: PRH)

“What the Fireflies Knew is a fantastic, powerful debut that tackles difficult themes with empathy and respect. KB’s voice is funny and heartbreaking. I expect this to be taught in schools someday alongside Toni Morrison.”—Ellie Eaton, Busboys and Poets, Washington, DC

In the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado (Henry Holt & Co.)

“In the Shadow of the Mountain intertwines the lives of sexual assault survivors with Vasquez-Lavado’s experience leading these survivors to summit Mount Everest. A collective story of perseverance, community, and healing.”—Clancey D'Isa, Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Chicago, IL

The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang (Norton)

“An expertly crafted novel of literary family intrigue. Full of character depth and a mysterious death, The Family Chao is a page-turner on immigration, family turmoil, racism, small-town drama, and revenge. It will keep you guessing.”—Danica Ramgoolam, Townie Books, Crested Butte, CO

Don’t Cry for Me by Daniel Black (Hanover Square Press)

“This book blew me away. Through intimate letters to his son, Jacob reconciles with the man he could have been. Daniel Black creates a stunning work on ancestral heritage, history, family, and the legacy of being a Black man in America.”—Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, MD

Catch the Sparrow: A Search for a Sister and the Truth of Her Murder by Rachel Rear (Bloomsbury)

“Catch the Sparrow did not disappoint! Rachel Rear’s writing in this book is just as captivating as another true crime favorite, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Her gripping story pulled me in and had me hooked from the beginning.”—Bob Lingle, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, Lakewood, NY

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas (Avid Reader Press: S. & S.)

“Vladimir is an audacious story about gender, power, and shame told through the charged voice of an English professor at a small liberal arts college. The personal and political come to an explosive conclusion in this clever debut.”—Linda Kass, Gramercy Books, Bexley, OH

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (Harper Perennial)

“I love the book and its deliciously vivid characters that retell the Gatsby story. I think it should come with a warning though: Readers Beware: This book is impossible to put down.”—Susan Lang, Peregrine Book Company, Prescott, AZ

In the Media

The People “Picks” book of the week is Vladimir by Julia May Jonas (Avid Reader Press: S. & S.). Also getting attention are Easy Street: A Story of Redemption from Myself by Maggie Rowe (Counterpoint), and One Step Too Far (Frankie Elkin, Bk. 2) by Lisa Gardner (Dutton; LJ starred review). A “New in Nonfiction” section highlights Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma by Galit Atlas (Little, Brown Spark), Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight for Fairness by Laura Coates (S. & S.), and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams (Norton). The staff pick is Watch My Smoke: The Eric Dickerson Story by Eric Dickerson and Greg Hanlon (Haymarket). There is also a feature on Grace Cho, whose memoir Tastes Like War: A Memoir (The Feminist Pr. at CUNY) chronicles her mother’s mental schizophrenia.  

Book News and Awards 

The NYT explores efforts to ban books across the U.S.  More coverage on the Maus ban arrives from the LA Times. The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman is currently the #1 bestselling book on Amazon.

Chita Rivera signs with HarperCollins for new memoir, due out in 2023. Deadline reports. 

The 2022 Tähtivaeltaja Award Shortlist is announced. Locus has details.

The 2022 International Prize for Arabic Fiction Longlist is announced. 

Reviews

NYT reviews Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh (Ecco): “Her books might feel traditional if she relied on simple structure, but she likes Altmanesque ways of weaving characters together. In her case, there’s nothing woozy to it. When some of these people collide, the eureka moments feel like car crashes.” And, My Annihilation by Fuminori Nakamura (Soho Crime): “The book brought about a feeling of intense, queasy bafflement. By my own criteria, however, it is a failure, because bafflement is not enough.”

The Washington Post reviews George V: Never a Dull Moment by Jane Ridley (Harper): “a richly detailed and diverting new assessment of his life and reign, thinks that the ‘boring’ label is unfair. [Ridley] concedes that the king’s stiffness and cultivated sang-froid create barriers to understanding him.” And, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World by Eliza Reid (Sourcebooks): “Reid writes in hopes that the rest of the world might see Iceland as a model, and, in addition to agreeing with her, I also recommend her short, well-written, amusing and detailed book.”

NPR reviews Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy—A Polyamory Memoir by Rachel Krantz (Harmony): “Her warm tone throughout, laced with sometimes rueful, sometimes tender humor, helps the reader trust that she’s not working to gratuitously titillate, but to examine sexuality as a vital part of many people’s lives that need not be cloaked in guilt, shame, or embarrassment (unless, of course, those are part of a person’s kink).”

USA Today reviews Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts (Gallery), giving it 3 out of 4 stars: “Lewis-Giggetts delivers a collection of ebullient essays showing how self-care and joy play out in the day-to-day lives of Black people.” Plus, USA Today rounds up February rom-com reviews, highlighting the anthology Black Love Matters: Real Talk on Romance, Being Seen, and Happily Ever Afters by Jessica P. Pryde (Berkley), Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson (Berkley), and more. 

Briefly Noted

The Washington Post has a Q&A with Lan Samantha Chang about her new novel, The Family Chao (Norton), and her homage to Dostoyevsky.

Andrew Cuomo's former Press Secretary Karen Hinton previews her new memoir, Penis Politics (Sartoris Literary Group), in an interview with People.

NYT interviews Gish Jen about her new book, Thank You, Mr. Nixon: Stories  (Knopf), how China has influenced her work, and how she put her new collection together.  

The Guardian highlights Bernardine Evaristo’s new project Black Britain: Writing Black.  

Barnes & Noble CEO touts BookTok for “giving bookshops a boost not seen since Rowling.” The Bookseller has the story. 

The Vox Book Club pick for February is Louise Erdrich’s The Sentence (Harper: Harper Collins; LJ starred review).

NYT critics pick new and old books for “Laziness, Sleuthing and Surfing.”

USA Today picks five books for the week.

CrimeReads suggests 10 books out this week.

LA Times shares 10 books for February.

Vulture has “16 Upcoming Page-to-Screen Adaptations to Add to Your 2022 Reading List.”

The Atlantic lists “Eight Books for Indulging a Bad Mood.”

“Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's library sells for nearly $2.4 million.” USA Today reports.

Authors On Air

NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday talks with Tochi Onyebuchi about his new novel, Goliath (tordotcom).

NPR’s Short Wave discusses Station Eleven on HBO Max, based on the novel by Emily St. John Mandel.

CBS Sunday Morning features Michelle Zauner, Crying in H Mart (Knopf), on grief, writing, and cooking.

Rep. Ro Khanna, Dignity in a Digital Age: Making Tech Work for All of Us (S. & S.), visits Stephen Colbert tonight. Porsha Williams, The Pursuit of Porsha: How I Grew Into My Power and Purpose (Worthy Books), will be on with Kelly Clarkson tomorrow. 

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