Prize lists, pairings, and books that got under our skin

Welcome to This Month in Books, a brand new exclusive podcast series for FictionMatters subscribers. In these monthly chats, I’ll be joined by my friend and voracious reader of new releases, Liz Hein. We’ll check in about what’s making news in the literary world and share a handful of books that need to be discussed.

In each episode, Liz and I will discuss trends and important happenings in the world of books. Then we’ll each bring 4 or 5 books we’ve read recently that warrant something deeper than an Instagram caption length review.

I love talking to Liz about books and our hope is that these episodes feel less like a series of reviews and recommendations and more like hanging out with your most bookish friends. After you listen, jump into the comments and tell us about your month in books. What’s catching your attention and what books are demanding to be discussed?

This new monthly series is available to paid subscribers to the FictionMatters newsletter and Patreon members. If you are a Patreon member, you should see this episode in your podcast feed and Patreon app now.

Paid newsletter subscribers, you can listen to this and all FictionMatters Podcast episodes on Spotify by clicking this link.

If you’re considering upgrading to a paid newsletter subscription, here’s a reminder of what you’ll get*:

* Past and future reading guides (biannually) which, this year, included the Paperback Summer Reading Guide and the Fall Fiction Compendium

* Friday Mood Recs posts (weekly) with book recommendation organized around a mood or theme

* In Summation posts (seasonally) with life updates and superlatives for books, products, meals, clothes, and more

* Ranked Reading Recap podcasts (monthly) where I rank every book I read the month prior

* This Month in Books podcasts (monthly) where Liz and I talk about the literary world, share a handful of books, and speculate on what books will generate the most buzz

* Automatic entry into drawings for surprise book boxes (monthly)

*Patreon members, please note that the only perks not also available to patrons are In Summation posts and entries into drawings (per Patreon rules). While Friday Mood Rec posts are not shared on Patreon, you have access to a spreadsheet with all the recommended books, shared in every Monthly Overview.

Thank you so much to all the Patrons paid subscribers who keep FictionMatters running! I truly could not do this without you!

FictionMatters is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What’s new and noteworthy?

* Fiction Matters Fall Fiction Compendium 

* National Book Award Longlist

* Booker Shortlist

* Aspen Prize Long List

* Lauren Groff

Books Discussed

* 14:41 Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

* 14:46  James by Percival Everett

* 14:47 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (UK)

* 14:48 The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands)

* 14:49 My Friends by Hisham Matar

* 14:50 This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud

* 14:57 Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

* 15:47 The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

* 16:16 Held by Anne Michaels (Canada)

* 16:17 Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood 

* 16:44 Melmeth by Sarah Perry

* 17:16  Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood 

* 17:25 The Safekeep by  Yael van der Wouden

* 17:47 Held by Anne Michaels (Canada)

* 17:54 Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

* 18:53 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zelvin

* 20:32 James by Percival Everett 

* 20:53 The Color Purple by Alice Walker

* 20:58 Rabbit is Rich by John Updike

* 21:50 Two Step Devil by J.B Quattro (Liz)

* 26:34 Fire Sermon

* 28:34 The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout (Sara)

* 28:43 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

* 29:11 Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

* 29:12 Oh William by Elizabeth Strout

* 34:30 Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (Liz)

* 37:34 Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

* 38:43 Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken (Sara)

* 42:07 The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

* 42:09 Matrix by Lauren Groff

* 44:05 The Repeat Room by Jesse Ball (Liz)

* 49:26 How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball

* 50:24 Entitlement by Rumaan Alam (Sara)

* 50:41 Leave The World Behind

* 51:30 Trust by Hernan Diaz

* 54:31 Colored Television by Danzy Senna

* 54:39 You’re Dead by Sam Sacks (Liz)

* 59:20 Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin

* 59:23 The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story by Olga Tokarczuk

* 1:01:04 The Garden by Claire Beams 

* 1:01:08 The Illness Lesson by Claire Beams

* 1:02:10 Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

* 1:03:27 Us Fools by Nora Lange

* 1:03:41 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Shop the Books: Amazon | Bookshop | Libro.fm | Blackwell’s

For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!

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Happy reading!

Sara

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