Books Briefing: September Books

Plus: Sally Rooney talks about her new novel, the week's latest releases and more.

Hi readers,

Here's your weekly catch-up on everything you need to know going on in the book world.

The news:

  • September is nearly upon us, which is good news for book lovers: Here are 19 to watch for next month.
  • We profile Sally Rooney ahead of her new novel, "Beautiful World, Where Are You," out next week. "It was with this book that I sat down and thought, wait a minute, what is a novel?" Rooney says. "I seem to be writing them, but what are they?"
  • Conflicts over race, culture and inclusion have roiled the Romance Writers of America, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and other groups devoted to books and literature.
  • In "The Sisters of Auschwitz," a best seller in the Netherlands for more than two years, Roxane van Iperen writes about how two Dutch Jewish sisters staged their own form of resistance during World War II — a kind of cultural defiance that we don't tend to hear much about in Holocaust histories.
  • Fiction out today: "Three Rooms," by Jo Hamya; "A Slow Fire Burning," by Paula Hawkins.
  • Nonfiction out today: "The Afghanistan Papers," by Craig M. Whitlock; "The Gambler Wife," by Andrew D. Kaufman; "The Sisters of Auschwitz," by Roxane van Iperen.

The critics:

  • Dwight Garner reviews "The Magician," Colm Toíbin's "symphonic and moving novel" about the German author Thomas Mann. "Like its subject, it's somber, yet it's also prickly and strange," Garner says, "sometimes all at the same time."
  • Jennifer Szalai writes about "The Failed Promise," Robert S. Levine's new book about Reconstruction and Andrew Johnson's impeachment, which looks closely at the perspective of Frederick Douglass and other Black leaders.
  • And John Williams takes up Robert Olen Butler's novel "Late City," the sentimental story of a man on his deathbed discovering new truths about his life.

That's all for now. Please stay in touch and let me know what you think — whether it's about this newsletter, our reviews, our podcast, our literary calendar, our Instagram or what you're reading. We on the Books desk read all of it, and I'll make every effort to write back. You can reach me at books@nytimes.com.

All my best,

Joumana Khatib

Books at The New York Times

Subscribe Today

We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Book Your Calendar Here: 2021's Major Literary Events

Don't forget that The New York Times Book Review has curated a calendar of must-know literary events, including new books, festivals, film adaptations and more.

Add to your calendar on Google or iOS.

Love this email? Forward to a friend.

Want this email? Sign-up here.

Have a suggestion for this email? Then send us a note at books@nytimes.com.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Books from The New York Times.

To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

twitter

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

No comments:

Post a Comment

Banana Republic Is Collaborating With a Major Fashion Label

A Note From Jenny Hollander, MC's Digital Director | Kate Middleton Just Put Her New Curtain Bangs on Full Display | A...

Search This Blog

Pages