Two exceptional novellas and a new fall release
Plus graphic novels to add to your TBR, bookish adaptations, and all about curio fiction
Hey, readers!
This week I was feeling myself slipping back into a bit of a reading slump, and I just didn’t want to pick up the books I was reading. So I abandoned them and instead checked out two short books recently recommended by trusted readers at a recent Patreon Biblio Brunch. I absolutely adored them both! I finished two books and two days and they were among my favorite books of the month.
I’m glad I’m starting this week back in a reading groove because we have a hectic stretch coming up. We’re closing on the sale of our house on Tuesday, flying to D.C. Wednesday, and Louise turns one on Friday. Hopefully I’ll be able to find the right book to keep up my momentum through all of it!
This week in books.
This week I read…
Assembly by Natasha Brown. A super slim book that packs a punch, this novella was exactly what I needed when I picked it up. The story is narrated by a Black British woman who’s on her way to a garden party at her white aristocratic boyfriend’s ancestral estate. Because this book is so short and so perfectly paced, that’s really all I want to say about it. Brown skillfully reveals more about the narrator—who she is, what she wants—as she considers her role at this party and in this society. It’s a searing indictment of race and class relations in Britain, but it’s also gorgeously intimate and personal. I can’t recommend this one highly enough. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky. The best way I can describe this book is as a darkly humorous fairytale about motherhood. Our narrator is Tiny, who finds herself pregnant and is sure that the being growing inside her is an owl-baby. Her husband, on the other hand, thinks she is delusional and is thrilled about their expanding family. When Tiny’s Chouette is born, she’s different—fragile and violent—and Tiny has to decide if she can become the mother Chouette needs. The metaphors are brilliant, the humor is dark, and the writing is startling. I loved it, and if you liked The Need or Night Bitch, this book might be for you too. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
Now I’m reading…
The Cloisters by Katy Hall. I picked up this upcoming release because the cover and the premise scream fall reading. Ann Stilwell arrives for an internship at The Cloisters (the isolated medieval museum at the very top of Washington Heights in NYC) and finds herself immersed in a project researching the history of divination and the art of tarot. We know from the opening prologue that things have gone very wrong for Ann, but so far the mystery isn’t compelling to me so much as the rich descriptions of the museum itself. Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm
If you are an international reader or just prefer UK covers, you can also order books through my Blackwell’s affiliate page!
Links I love.
Novel Pairings was included in this amazing compilation of book podcasts alongside some of my personal favorites and others I’m eager to try.
15 new books coming out in October
I love this description of curio fiction—books grounded in reality with just one fantastical twist.
There are so many book to screen adaptations releasing this season. Check out this list to plan your streaming schedule.
I always enjoy adding some nonfiction into my fall reading and these books that complicate our understanding of history sound fascinating.
20 must-read genre-blending literary fiction books
Graphic novels are so wide ranging—here are four coming out this fall.
End notes.
Four things making me happy this week:
We hosted a small birthday party for Louise and it was so fun to see her surrounded by friends and family. She was so-so on the cake, but she looooved her balloons.
Book club discussions. This past week I got to talk about Persuasion with the Novel Pairings Classics Club and The Good Lord Bird with the FictionMatters Book Club. One of our Classics Club members said she believes “it takes a village to read a book,” and I absolutely love that sentiment. I get so much more out of my reading experience with these incredibly smart groups of readers.
My new Sezane sweater. I’ve refrained from purchasing their knits before because they’re mostly mohair which, while beautiful, is itchy. For that price point, I need something to be cute and comfortable enough to wear frequently. I am obsessed with this cotton Henley sweater and know I’m going to wear it constantly this fall.
Fall mix. The front office at my former school used to put out little bowls of candy corn mixed with salted peanuts and now I like to have it on hand at home every October. I know people have strong feelings about candy corn but the sweet and salty of it all is extremely delicious.
Love getting the FictionMatters newsletter in your inbox every week?
Support my work, keep the newsletter running, and get bonus monthly emails by becoming a paying subscriber!
Readers, I hope you finished a book you loved this week. 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!
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. That’s a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!
Happy reading!
Sara
What a great roundup - thanks!
I totally agree about The Cloisters. I said in my review that I was all in for the atmosphere and setting but the mystery isn’t compelling. I was pleasantly surprised how much the setting carried me though!