July brings a variety of new books, including works by award-winning journalists and renowned novelists. These releases offer different perspectives on ecological concerns and the influence of data in today’s world.
Rachel Aviv: You Won’t Get Free of It: Stories of Mothers and Daughters
Rachel Aviv, a staff writer for the New Yorker and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, presents a collection of stories focusing on mother-daughter relationships. These narratives explore diverse themes, from daughters facing fugue states to immigrant nannies separated from their children. It also includes insights into Alice Munro’s daughter, whose claims of sexual abuse found their way into her mother’s writings.
Daniel Mason: Country People
Daniel Mason returns with ‘Country People,’ a novel set in the New England woods, following his successful ‘North Woods.’ Instead of spanning centuries, Mason narrows his focus to a single year in the life of Miles, a Ph.D. candidate dealing with distractions from both eccentric neighbors and mysterious local tales.
Pamela Colloff: Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice
An investigative journalist, Pamela Colloff, expands her work with ‘Catch the Devil,’ a true crime story set on the Gulf Coast. This book delves deeper into the story of Paul Skalnik, whose false testimonies led to wrongful convictions in Florida. Colloff highlights the troubling nature of his manipulations and the legal system’s willingness to exploit them.
Nathaniel Rich: Cloudthief
Nathaniel Rich, known for his climate-focused reporting, presents ‘Cloudthief.’ This fictional story follows an environmental reporter drawn into a thrilling heist targeting a large data center. Rich combines humor with serious themes like climate change and personal conflicts.
Roopika Risam: Data Empire: The Power of Information
In ‘Data Empire,’ Roopika Risam, a Dartmouth professor, explores the evolution of data collection and its profound impact. She traces the historical journey from early archives to contemporary data systems that shape lives. Risam poses questions on how data once used for remembrance now governs existence.
Sigrid Nuñez: It Will Come Back to You: Stories
Sigrid Nuñez, at 75, releases her first collection of short stories. Known for her simple prose, Nuñez presents stories from various career stages, reflecting her unique voice and ability to capture profound truths through everyday scenes.
Lauren Collins: They Stole a City
Lauren Collins sheds light on a lesser-known historical event in ‘They Stole a City.’ She narrates the 1898 Wilmington coup, led by white supremacists, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Black residents. Collins examines the enduring silence surrounding this event in the historical narrative.
Claire Vaye Watkins: Yellow Pine
In ‘Yellow Pine,’ Claire Vaye Watkins paints a vivid picture of the Mojave Desert. The novel features Rose, a character striving for solitude amidst environmental challenges, rekindled love, and societal turmoil. Watkins illustrates the desert’s resilience intertwined with alarming issues like drought and wildfires.
Colson Whitehead: Cool Machine
Colson Whitehead concludes his Harlem Trilogy with ‘Cool Machine.’ The story revisits Ray Carney, a furniture dealer navigating Harlem through the 1980s. Whitehead explores the neighborhood’s transformations during Reagan’s era while wrapping up his focus on these enduring characters.
Valeria Luiselli: Beginning Middle End
Valeria Luiselli returns with her fourth novel, ‘Beginning Middle End.’ This English-language work explores the journey of a mother-daughter duo in Sicily, tracing personal history and heritage. Luiselli continues her exploration of family dynamics, much like in her earlier novel ‘Lost Children Archive.’
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