Welcome to This Month in Books, a brand new exclusive podcast series for FictionMatters subscribers. In these monthly chats, I’ll be joined by my friend and voracious reader of new releases, Liz Hein. We’ll check in about what’s making news in the literary world and share a handful of books that need to be discussed.
In each episode, Liz and I will discuss trends and important happenings in the world of books. Then we’ll each bring 4 or 5 books we’ve read recently that warrant something deeper than an Instagram caption length review.
I love talking to Liz about books and our hope is that these episodes feel less like a series of reviews and recommendations and more like hanging out with your most bookish friends. After you listen, jump into the comments and tell us about your month in books. What’s catching your attention and what books are demanding to be discussed?
This new monthly series is available to paid subscribers to the FictionMatters newsletter and Patreon members. If you are a Patreon member, you should see this episode in your podcast feed and Patreon app now.
Paid newsletter subscribers, you can listen to this and all FictionMatters Podcast episodes on Spotify by clicking this link.
If you’re considering upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription, here’s a reminder of what you’ll get*:
Past and future reading guides (biannually) which, this year, included the Paperback Summer Reading Guide and the Fall Fiction Compendium
Friday Mood Recs posts (weekly) with book recommendation organized around a mood or theme
In Summation posts (seasonally) with life updates and superlatives for books, products, meals, clothes, and more
Ranked Reading Recap podcasts (monthly) where I rank every book I read the month prior
This Month in Books podcasts (monthly) where Liz and I talk about the literary world, share a handful of books, and speculate on what books will generate the most buzz
Automatic entry into drawings for surprise book boxes (monthly)
*Patreon members, please note that the only perks not also available to patrons are In Summation posts and entries into drawings (per Patreon rules). While Friday Mood Rec posts are not shared on Patreon, you have access to a spreadsheet with all the recommended books, shared in every Monthly Overview.
Thank you so much to all the Patrons paid subscribers who keep FictionMatters running! I truly could not do this without you!
What’s new and noteworthy?
Books Discussed
14:41 Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
14:46 James by Percival Everett
14:47 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (UK)
14:48 The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands)
14:50 This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud
14:57 Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
15:47 The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
16:16 Held by Anne Michaels (Canada)
16:17 Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
16:44 Melmeth by Sarah Perry
17:16 Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
17:25 The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
17:47 Held by Anne Michaels (Canada)
17:54 Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
18:53 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zelvin
20:32 James by Percival Everett
20:53 The Color Purple by Alice Walker
20:58 Rabbit is Rich by John Updike
21:50 Two Step Devil by J.B Quattro (Liz)
26:34 Fire Sermon
28:34 The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout (Sara)
28:43 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
29:11 Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
29:12 Oh William by Elizabeth Strout
34:30 Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (Liz)
37:34 Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
38:43 Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken (Sara)
42:07 The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
42:09 Matrix by Lauren Groff
44:05 The Repeat Room by Jesse Ball (Liz)
49:26 How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball
50:24 Entitlement by Rumaan Alam (Sara)
50:41 Leave The World Behind
51:30 Trust by Hernan Diaz
54:31 Colored Television by Danzy Senna
54:39 You’re Dead by Sam Sacks (Liz)
59:20 Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
59:23 The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk
1:01:04 The Garden by Claire Beams
1:01:08 The Illness Lesson by Claire Beams
1:02:10 Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
1:03:27 Us Fools by Nora Lange
1:03:41 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Shop the Books: Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm | Blackwell’s
For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!
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Happy reading!
Sara
Prize lists, pairings, and books that got under our skin