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Buzzy novels, compulsively readable memoirs, and a few guilty pleasures.
This season, you have no excuse for being without something good to read. Offerings include explosive novels, revealing memoirs, brilliant biographies, and everything in between. No matter what you like to read, there's a title coming out this fall that's sure to be just what you're looking for.
Andrew Sean Greer follows up his Pulitzer Prize-winning Less. with this story about the same character, Arthur Less, whose now-comfortable life falls into disarray—and whose next steps lead him on an eventful roadtrip (accompanied, much to our delight, by a black pug) that proves you can't outrun your problems, but you can make them fascinating on the page.
Maggie O'Farrell returns with another captivating work of historical fiction, imagining the life of duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici. Lucrezia, the third daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence, was married to King Philip's son, Prince Alfonso d'Este, after the death of her sister (who was supposed to marry Alfonso). Now, she must navigate an unfamiliar court and fight for her survival.
In the 1970s, having decided to write a play together, Andy Warhol and Truman Capote recorded their private conversations in hopes of turning that banter between friends into something meant for the stage. But it didn't happen until now. Rob Roth, having uncovered 80 hours of tape of the men talking, has turned their conversations into a play (it was at American Repertory Theater in 2017), which is now available as a book. It's as cutting, smart, and funny as you'd expect considering the players, and is a must for any Capote completist or Warhol wonk.
Is everything we think we know about one of the most famous murder cases in history wrong? In this new look at the original "trial of the century," Greg King and Penny Wilson take a fresh look at what really happened with Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb kidnapped and killed a teenager in 1924, revealing new dimensions to the horrifying crime and offering evidence that what we think we've known all along might not have been the entire story.
A companion piece to the Vision and Virtuosity exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London, this tribute to the work of Tiffany & Co celebrates more than 180 years of brilliant jewelry, iconic advertising, and whimsical window displays, and shares the true stories behind some of the brand's most memorable moments. A must for anyone who's ever dreamed in Tiffany blue.
It isn't every double homicide that captures the attention of a nation, but when Reverend Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills, a married congregant, were found murdered on a lover's lane in New Jersey in 1922, the case was catnip for both the public and the tabloid press. Joe Pompeo's Blood & Ink tracks not only the story of the gruesome, mysterious killing but also the way the story helped create the American love affair with money and murder.
Before she became one of the most iconic First Ladies in American history, and arguably the most fashionable, Jacqueline Bouvier was a student at Vassar College who possessed a deep passion for literature and culture. In September 1949, she moved to postwar Paris for a study abroad program to pursue her academic career, and while living in the city of light, Bouvier fell in love with a talented writer, experienced the dawn of a political movement, and faced an intellectual and aesthetic awakening. In this coming-of-age novel, Ann Mah imagines what life was like for Bouvier prior to her time in the White House.
Little Shop of Horrors didn't begin the way you think. The original musical—recently revived Off Broadway—was based on a 1960 film by cult-movie impresario Roger Corman, and the 1986 film version was adapted from that. It's confusing, but what else would you expect from a story about a boy and his bloodthirsty plant? In Adam Abraham's new book, the history of the show and its wild success is told by the people who were actually there, and bolstered by first-time access to the papers of Howard Ashman, one of the musical's creators. It's a must-read for any fan of musical theater, horror, or horticulture.
There's more to every Broadway show that just what an audience sees on stage—and no hit demonstrates that better than Pippin. In her revealing new book, T&C contributor Elysa Gardner marks the 50th anniversary of the influential musical with a deep dive into how it got made, the clashing personalities behind it, and what really went on behind the curtain. It's a dishy, fascinating look at how creative powerhouses can change the world, and the dirty work it can take to produce truly meaningful art.
The Rothschild family is one of the world's great dynasties—but never before have the lives of the family's women been explored in such intelligent, entertaining detail as in Natalie Livingstone's new must read. This tale of Rothschild women and the power they've wielded and they adventures they undertook—drag racing in the streets of New York City, anyone?—sheds a fascinating light on a group of people blessed (and, OK, sometimes cursed) with a famous name but who've previously flown beneath the radar.
They don't make lives like Nancy Olson Livingston's anymore. She earned an Oscar nomination for Sunset Boulevard, married at least one mastermind (Alan Jay Lerner, who dedicated his My Fair Lady to her), and survived Hollywood's Golden Age with the battle scars (and stories) to prove it. Her memoir is a charming, revealing look at a life lived in and out of the spotlight, including brushes—pleasant and, sometimes even more fun, not—with the likes of Billy Wilder, Marilyn Monroe, and Frank Sinatra.
Tony Award winner Derek McLane and Eila Mell know there's more to a Broadway hit than just an actor's performance. In this new book, the pair—with help from friends including Kenny Leon, Ethan Hawke, Lynn Nottage, and John Leguizamo—explore the power of design on stage and remind us of all the different skills it takes to bring truly powerful theater to life.
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Maggie Haberman's anticipated biography of America's 45th president looks not only at the man that Trump is and the world he's impacted, but also dives into his history, family, and most intimate relationships. It's a deeply researched work from a writer who's covered the subject like no other, and will be essential reading for anyone hoping to understand America today—or what it might look like tomorrow.
Gary Goldstein's new novel explores what it means to find your family—and considers the importance of telling the truth at any cost. The story follows Nate Cronin, a 30-year-old whose father has just died, as he discovers that the parents he thought he understood might have been more complicated than he ever knew.
The work of artists including Andy Warhol, Isamu Noguchi, Faith Ringgold, Merce Cunningham, Diane Arbus, and more are included in this incredible time capsule—a companion to an exhibition at New York City's Jewish Museum through January 2023—charts the inspiration and impact of the New York City art scene between 1962 and 1964.
Alex Hitz's genius doesn't stay only in the kitchen. In this new book, the acclaimed chef and host shares more than 100 of his recipes—from gazpacho to Key lime mousse—as well as tips on creating your own menus, setting the perfect table, tackling tricky seating and so much more.
The life and work of Maya Ruiz-Picasso was the subject of a hit show in Paris earlier this year, and now this book—which includes not only works by Ruiz-Picasso's father with her as a subject, but also pieces they made together—is available far and wide.
Before the major Alex Katz exhibition Gathering opens in October at the Guggenheim in New York City, fans of the great American painter can indulge in this stunning new book which looks at his long interest in dance as well as his work alongside masters of the form, including Paul Taylor.
Hotels, high rises, mansions—Richard Mishaan has seen them all. The in-demand designer has worked on stunning projects both residential and commercial around the world, and in this gorgeous new book shares not only some of his most impressive projects but also notes on his process, making this book a delightful blend of eye candy and inspiration that'll be at home on any design aficionado's coffee table.
Misty Copeland, the first African American principal ballerina at the American Ballet, will tell you that success is a joint effort. Throughout her rise to the top, Copeland had the support of her mentor Raven Wilkinson, a former ballerina of the 1950s who broke through glass ceilings as Black woman. The Wind at My Back is a beautiful memoir that captures the friendship between Copeland and Wilkinson, and shares the impact that their stories continue to have on the world of dance.
A must-read for any lover of art, Pulitzer Prize winner Jerry Saltz’s Art is Life documents a tumultuous history of the art world across two decades. Through the use of surveys, Saltz’s chronicles a variety of perspectives and illustrates how incredible artists have used their work to create a continuous dialogue with culture.
George Saunders returns to the short story form with his new collection, Liberation Day. Five of the stories have been published before, and four are new. "I’ve found these last few years riveting and strangely clarifying," Saunders said in a statement announcing the collection. "Everything that’s always been happening to people on earth now seems to be happening... faster. I tried to get some of that percussive energy into Liberation Day, as well as some of the joy of being alive in such a strange, transitional, dangerous moment." He succeeds in channeling this energy.
When Frankie met Zeke, they were two teenage misfits who both happened to be talented artists. Upon creating a project together, sparks flew and the romance between them was undeniable. But the art that they created changed their lives forever. In this coming-of-age story written by Kevin Wilson, explore young love and the power of art.
Celeste Ng's first novel since Little Fires Everywhere is finally here. Our Missing Hearts is a speculative fiction tale about 12-year-old Bird Gardner who sets out to find his mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet whose work has been banned. It's set in America that isn't quite ours, but isn't quite not ours, either. Ng touches on the timely issues of banned books, and how art can create change. "Can we actually make a difference? How can we teach our children to make the world better when we ourselves have failed to do so?" Ng writes of why she was inspired to write this story.
The first of a new two-volume series (the second, Stella, will be out in December) from the beloved and acclaimed Cormac McCarthy, this novel follows a diver in 1980s Mississippi whose work leads him to pulling up the remains of a plane crash—well, except for the mysterious pieces that are missing. McCarthy's novel follows the diver, Bobby Western, as he grapples with his work, the situation it has put him in, and the trip across the South that brings it all to a boiling point.
It's London in 1926, and the queen of Soho's nightclubs is Nellie Coker—an ambitious mother of six. Coker, inspired by real-life "Night Club Queen" Kate Meyrick, is a compelling character, and it's easy to get sucked into the world she lives in. The plot is about various characters who try to usurp Nellie's control, and various mysteries weave their way through the story. It's best to go into Shrines of Gaiety not knowing much—except that you're in for a fantastic story.
Award-winning author Elizabeth McCracken tells the story of a writer burdened with the recent passing of her mother. The writer, who is also the narrator of The Hero of This Book, embarks on a trip to her late mother’s favorite city, London. During her journey, the narrator reflects on the past, wonders about the future, and tries to figure out whether creating a chronicle of her mother’s life is an act of betrayal, knowing that her mother was a very private person.
Roland Baines's life has been tainted with historical tragedy— from living through the Suez Crisis to the current pandemic. Lessons follows Baines through decades as he discovers ways to persevere with the help of music, literature, and love, and begs the reader to ask the question, “How do global events beyond our control shape our lives and our memories?" Inherently timely, Lessons provides an essential reflection on history and humanity.
In this follow up to the bestselling memoir Becoming, former First Lady Michelle Obama takes a head-on look at the troubles that plague the modern world and offers sensible (and possible) advice for maneuvering them. This isn't woo-woo self help, but instead a thoughtful, straightforward take on how to handle life's twists and turns with grace, humor, and strength—or at least as much as we can muster. Read more about Michelle Obama's books here.
A story of risk, reward, power, money, celebrity, and the fate of modern media so delicious that it could be pulled straight from a Sunday-night prestige drama–no wonder, it's the no-hold-barred history of HBO. In this fascinating look at one of the defining entertainment juggernauts of our time, John Koblin and Felix Gillette get to the heart of what made HBO the towering success it became, how that success was almost thwarted by the very people who built it, and what the future holds for one of the most recognizable brands in culture.
Cultural historian Nathalia Holt focuses on five women who shaped the Central Intelligence Agency: Adelaide Hawkins, Mary Hutchison, Eloise Page, Elizabeth Sudmeier, and Jane Burrell. Holt focuses on each of their careers, and through their stories, she paints a portrait of what it meant to be a woman working in intelligence in the early days of the CIA, and the Cold War.
The heroine of Elizabeth Strout's bestselling My Name is Lucy Barton is back on the page in this new novel, which follows her from New York City to a small house in Maine, where she's fated to spend lockdown with her ex-husband—for better or worse. Strout's singular writing and unforgettable characters are a fine match for a story about a modern moment, and the ways in which people do their best to muddle through.
Clint Hill, a secret service agent, was assigned to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's protection detail after President John F. Kennedy's election, and stayed by her side from 1960 through 1964—including on the fateful day in Dallas. After retiring from the Secret Service in 1975, he began a new career as a writer and public speaker, and his newest focuses on rare or never-before-seen photos of Jackie Kennedy. Read more here.
The late Bunny Mellon was particularly allergic to the spotlight, which was unfortunate given her noteworthy contributions to the realms of design, gardening, and philanthropy —not to mention her close connections to some of the world's best-known people. This new biography from Mac Griswold gets to the heart of who Mellon truly was, how she built the incredible life she did, and why her legacy has (sorry, Bunny!) made her an ongoing subject of fascination for so many of us.
Peter Beard was a world famous artist, international playboy, and daredevil. For this new biography, his longtime friend Graham Boynton interviewed hundreds of Beard's friends to paint a portrait of a complicated, talented man whose life overlapped with the likes of Jackie Kennedy and Andy Warhol, and whose mysterious death in 2020 helped make the man into a myth.
Zahra and Maryam have been best friends since their childhood growing up in Karachi, Pakistan. At what point does a lifelong friendship fall apart? Per the publisher, "Thought-provoking, compassionate, and full of unexpected turns, Best of Friends offers a riveting take on an age-old question: Does principle or loyalty make for the better friend?"
N.K. Jemisin's The City We Became, was an award-winning fantasy about a battle for the soul New York City, and felt like a salve when it came out at the height of the pandemic. Now, the anticipated sequel is here, a fantastical story of protecting New York from the very real forces that seek to destroy it—xenophobia, populism, and more. Read The City We Became, then don't miss the sequel.
The Complicities revolves around Suzanne, whose husband Alan is sent to prison for decades of financial fraud. Suzanne files for divorce, and tries to rebuild her life win a Massachusetts beach town. But when Alan is released early, and the people whose lives he ruined demand restitution, Suzanne must grapple with what it means to be complicit.
Richard Osman's delightful Thursday Murder Club series wraps up with The Bullet that Missed. Set at a retirement village, a group of elderly folks are confronted with a decades-old cold case that has suddenly become hot. It's charming and, as always, will leave you guessing the murderer until the very end.
Louise Kennedy's debut novel Trespasses follows a young Catholic woman who has an affair with a married Protestant lawyer in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. While you may have read a Protestant-Catholic ill-fated love story before, you have yet to read a book like Trespasses. It was released in the UK earlier this year, and one review (that convinced us) reads, "Trespasses is a novel distinguished by a quality rare in fiction at any time: a sense of utter conviction. It is a story told with such compulsive attention to the textures of its world that every page feels like a moral and intellectual event."
Bobby Finger, perhaps best known for hosting the popular podcast "Who? Weekly," makes his fiction debut with The Old Place, about two older women in a rural Texas town—one who is keeping a decade-old secret that threatens to emerge. As Finger tweeted, "It's about old people, dead people, lost people, gay people, and potato salad." If that alone doesn't make you want to read it, let us tell you: It's a heartwarming tale of friendship and what happens when we stop carrying secrets that have weighed us down for years.
The latest project from filmmaker Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy) isn't on the big screen, but instead on the printed page. This tribute to Feig's love of a good cocktail (or two, or...) shares not only 125 recipes for his favorite drinks (and those of his famous friends) but also tips for throwing the perfect cocktail party and stories from his own star-studded life. We'll drink to that.
It's Christmastime in upstate New York, and siblings Henry, Kate, and Martin (and their spouses) are spending the holiday together without their mother for the first time. Set over the course of three days, Flight is a portrait of a family in grief, and how to move forward when a family's anchor is gone. In addition, the siblings have to decide what to do with their only piece of inheritance—their mother's house in Florida—and tensions rise throughout the story.
Fall is the time to read a mystery novel, and Anthony Horowitz consistently delivers a great whodunnit. In The Twist of a Knife, the fourth book in a series that features a fictionalized version of the author himself, he must solve the murder of a critic who absolutely destroyed his new play—because he's the prime suspect. While you know he's going to work it out, you have no clue how—and that's what makes his storytelling so compelling.
The highs and lows of life as a celebrity art forger are front and center in Tony Tetro's engrossing, delicious memoir about his life behind a paintbrush. The artist—who made headlines when some of his works were discovered in King Charles III's collection—recounts the hard living, fast cars, and big money that came from knocking off Chagall, Dalí, and Picasso,