It’s September, and the weather outside is starting to feel a little autumnal. (At least it is in New York….sometimes after dark, when a breeze picks up.) If you’re looking to get some more reading some this month, we have some recommendations for you, from surreal fiction to a glimpse inside a literary life. Read on, friends…
Daniel Dietz, Rare and Used: Adventures of a Book Scout’s Apprentice
(Sept. 1, Oregon State University Press)
In a recent interview about his new memoir, Daniel Dietz discussed his love of literature. “A book is the most important thing there is,” he said — and this tome chronicles his introduction into the world of rare book selling and his own search for a particular volume of poetry.
Grant Maierhofer, Serotonin
(Sept. 1, Hobby Horse Press)
Zona Motel recently reported on the New York City launch of Grant Maierhofer’s Serotonin, including comments made by Maierhofer about this book’s inspirations — including Nicholson Baker’s nonfiction and the role of antidepressants. This looks to be another innovative literary work from an author whose work eludes easy categorization.
Matthew Neill Null, Floodgate
(Sept. 1, Blair)
We’ve long enjoyed Matthew Neill Null’s work as an author, and we’re thrilled that this month brings with it a new book from him. Floodgate explores the West Virginia landscape at a particular moment in time, and centers around a character whose work could have a massive effect on the world around him. It’s a sweeping look at a moment of historical convergence.
Grace Krilanovich, Acid Green Velvet
(Sept. 8, Two Dollar Radio)
In 2010, Grace Krilanovich’s debut The Orange Eats Creeps absolutely floored us with its tale of vampires living rough in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve been eagerly waiting for her follow-up, and now it’s here, and finds her reworking the western into something beguiling and strange.
Spencer Fleury, The Shitbird
(Sept. 15, Stanchion)
In a recent conversation in these pages, Spencer Fleury described the protagonist of his new novel as someone who is “very good at accumulating nemeses. He’s bad at his job, he runs his mouth too often and to the wrong people, smokes pot surreptitiously (but not surreptitiously enough) and generally gets on everyone’s nerves without even trying.” That sounds like the makings of a compelling character, no?
Nicholas Russell, Observer
(Sept. 15, Ecco)
Earlier this year, we listened to Nicholas Russell discussing weird fiction on the podcast Reading Writers. It was a great conversation and piqued our interest in his debut, a tale of uncanny events taking place in the Nevada desert in the past and present. Since then, our interest has only increased.
Kate Zambreno, Foam
(Sept. 15, Semiotext(e))
Whether they’re writing incisive essays, affecting memoirs, or dynamic fiction, Kate Zambreno has a knack for taking her work in revelatory directions. Here, Zambreno draws inspiration from visual art, leading to a work of what their publisher calls “speculative art essays and textures.”
Lauren Theisen and Emily St. James, Every Time a Bell Rings
(Sept. 29, Hanover Square Press)
Some films are ubiquitous in popular culture, and director Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is near the top of that list. In this new book, Lauren Theisen and Emily St. James offer a deep dive into Capra’s film, approaching it from a host of angles and revealing new facets along the way.
Kyle Winkler, The Ship of Death
(Sept. 29, Avon A)
The uncanny fiction of Kyle Winkler rarely goes where you’d expect. That’s also the case for his new book, The Ship of Death, about a tabletop role-playing game with increasingly bizarre rules and a potential link to another world. You might never play Carcassone the same way again.
Note: all release dates and cover artwork are subject to change.