Well, it’s the time of year when many people are buying presents for other people (or themselves, you’ve been very good this year, get two). And so I wanted to offer a list of some of my favorite books that I’ve read this past year, in case those were helpful suggestions. I am limiting myself to books I’ve read that are currently out for that reason (nothing that I read to blurb, that hasn’t hit the shelves, in other words.)
Before I get started, let me remind you that I wrote a book that came out this year, A Sleight of Shadows. I think it makes an excellent gift. Let me also remind you that I keep a storefront of all the books I talk about in this newsletter here, with the usual and ongoing disclaimer that those are affiliate links, and if you order the books through them, I may receive a small amount of money.
Okay, in no particular order, here goes:
Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George by James Lapine. Here are some things I love: Stephen Sondheim, oral histories, behind the scenes glimpses. You get them all here. I found this to be incredibly interesting, and incredibly moving.
The English Understand Wool by Helen DeWitt. Short and sharp and utterly delightful.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. A modern Gothic, with an excellently creepy house, which also asks the important question of why that house is so creepy in the first place. Harrow just keeps getting better.
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