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The week of September 26, 2023 A harvest of great books for Fall
What better thing to talk about at the end of the month than all the great books coming out in the month coming up? Fall is a big season for new books by your favorite and soon-to-be-favorite authors. Read This Next! October is no exception, with books from Erica Waters, Bryan Washington, Margaret Renkl, Jesmyn Ward, and Jason Reynolds. If you start reading now, you may finish in time for Read This Next! November! Read This Next! highlights new books that are receiving exceptional, and exceptionally enthusiastic, buzz from Southern indie booksellers. Each of the selected books has several enthusiastic cheerleaders among Southern indie booksellers. Here’s a glimpse at the some of the future goodness! The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters Family Meal by Bryan Washington There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, Jerome Pumphrey (Illus.) Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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The Caretaker by Ron Rash Adult Fiction, Historical, Literary, Small Town & Rural In The Caretaker, set in 1950s Appalachia, acclaimed Southern author Ron Rash examines the power of love and how it can drive us to reckless actions or can transform us into stronger versions of ourselves. Rash’s title character, Blackburn Gant, will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book and I’m campaigning for a sequel. Reviewed by Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction in Greenville, South Carolina |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Spotlight on: North Woods by Daniel Mason 
“You know, even though I’ve – I love writing about nature, I had previously really mostly written about nature as a kind of setting. And this time around, I thought, I want to write about it as a kind of protagonist. What would it be like to treat it like I treat my human characters? And, of course, all the good stuff that makes up the stories that we want to hear about human characters – all the drama, the sex, the violence, the treason – are ones that we can find in the natural world, as well.” What booksellers are saying about North Woods 
About Daniel Mason Daniel Mason is the author of The Piano Tuner, A Far Country, The Winter Soldier, and A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His work has been translated into twenty-eight languages, adapted for opera and the stage, and awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, the California Book Award, the Northern California Book Award, and a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. His short stories and essays have been awarded two Pushcart Prizes, a National Magazine Award, and an O. Henry Prize. He is an assistant professor in the Stanford University department of psychiatry. |
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Adult Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance Adult Fiction, Historical, Regency, Romance
A September 2023 Read This Next Book! This review is just me screaming to anyone who will listen what an absolute joy it is to read KJ Charles. The newest Doomsday book has us returning once again to Romney Marsh and cheering like crazy for Luke and Rufus to get their well deserved HEA. Hijinks, hilarity and heart stopping charm, Charles is a must read for historical romance lovers. Reviewed by Katie Garaby, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee |
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Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones Adult Nonfiction, Essays, Form, Humor I will forever love Leslie Jones and this book just solidified that for me. It’s equal parts hilarious and touching and there are so many laugh-out-loud moments I could not keep it together. Jones has always been true to herself and who she is and I love the example that she sets in standing up for herself and her coworkers. This book is a true gem by a true gem. Reviewed by Andrea Richardson, Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Virginia |
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Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fiction My favorite aspect of this book is the way magic works in this world. It takes inspiration from paganism and I love how this book shows the real aspects of witchcraft through fantasy. It’s always very refreshing to see a book portray magic in a way that showcases real traditions and spiritual beliefs. I also loved how this book also stayed true to the historical aspects of when it was written. Even though this is a fantasy it’s set in a world that reflects our own and it takes place in the Holy Roman Empire which means that a lot of history is strewn across the book. I also love how the book doesn’t back down from discussing some of the harsh realities that people had to face during the period, especially when it focused on the catholic church and how its reign murdered hundreds of innocent people by burning them at the stake. It criticized the way the church was corrupted at that time by mentioning how paying the church got on out of accusations, and how the people burned at the stake did nothing wrong, other than be accused. This is a topic that is not often talked about in books like these so it was nice to have such information acknowledged. I loved reading about how magic in this world was used. I’m excited to read more from this series and its authors. Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina |
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Dogtown by Katherine Applegate Animals, Children, Dogs, Juvenile Fiction My eight-year-old daughter and I are savoring this sweet book. What a lovely tale of friendship triumphing in the face of competition for scarce resources. Very short chapters, and adorable characters, make this a great confidence booster for a reluctant reader. Wonderful messages about adopting animals into family for life as well. Reviewed by Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina |
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Mall Goth by Kate Leth Comics & Graphic Novels, Coming of Age, Young Adult Fiction A charming YA graphic novel that perfectly captures mid-2000s culture, friendships, and tackles some tough subjects along the way. Leth’s bright art brings the story to life and I loved seeing her become more confident. Reviewed by Caleb Masters, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell Banned Books, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult This is one of my favorite books of all time. Following Simon and his friends, Rowell’s fantasy centers their fight against the Insidious Humdrum, an evil that’s sucking magic out of the world and Simon is prophesied to defeat (and they’re trying to finish their last year of magic school at Watford). Featuring a ghost story, a love story, and an epic arc, this book has everything a book should have! Inviting queer characters to the forefront of the fight, Simon Snow discovers himself and his limitations, tackles his worst fears, copes with the trauma that comes with being Chosen, and falls in love, working through the pitfalls of a relationship built in the rubble of a war. His journey is incredibly poignant for anyone who has had to face their nightmare and came away scarred, only to discover that wasn’t the end of it. A wonderful, approachable, and shockingly personal fantasy trilogy that’s completely different from what you’d expect, Carry On stole my heart from the first page, and I hope it makes your heart sing the way it makes mine. Reviewed by Shae Jordan, Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia |
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Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
[ See the full list ] |
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Parting Thought “Books don’t offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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