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Seafaring Must-Reads for a Swashbuckling Summer

By Emily Temple on

“Down dropped the breeze, the sails dropped down, / ‘Twas sad as sad could be; / And we did speak only to break / The silence of the sea.” –- The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Samuel Taylor Coleridge). If you’re planning on spending some time on the open water this summer — or, more likely, if you only wish you were, you’re in luck. After all, you can get a taste of sea salt air from your living room… if you choose the right book. To that end, Flavorwire asked Ethan Rutherford, whose own excellent debut collection, The Peripatetic Coffin, is a perfect nautical summer read, awash with sailboats, ships and futuristic whales, to pick his favorite seafaring reads for summer or any time. … Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for May

By Emily Temple on

Another month, another pile of books accumulating on your bedside table, threatening to spill over while you sleep. This list will not help with that. But in case, despite all else, you’re looking for a read or two to keep you up late (the better to keep an eye on that rickety pile), this month will treat you well. Read on to discover short stories and sophomore novels galore, all guaranteed to prove companionable in this sweetest of… Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads For April

By Emily Temple on

Dear reader, we made it. Spring has taken its sweet time, but at long last we’re looking forward to weeks and weeks of nice weather — all the better for outdoors reading and breaks in sunny nooks. This month, we’re diving into works by new writers, established masters, and everyone in between. But will we be able to breathe again after reading the new David Sedaris collection? Check out the ten books we’re most excited about reading this… Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for March

By Emily Temple on

If it’s anything, March is a month of transition — that liminal space between February’s harsh cold shoulder and April’s underhanded promise of spring. So why not weather the awkward weeks reading? Luckily, this March boasts a spectacular spate of new books, from essential reissues of forgotten classics to sparkling debut novels to new forms from modern masters. Click through for ten of our must-reads for the month… Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for February

By Emily Temple on

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s getting cold out there. February is our traditional hibernation time, so as far as we’re concerned, for the next month we’ll be eschewing nightlife and staying inside with various hot beverages and various room-temperature books. This month, we’re looking forward to blistering essays, masterful short stories, incredible debut novels, and a posthumous book from Maurice Sendak. Sounds good right? But as we all know, February’s a short month, so you’d better get cracking. Let us know what you’re most excited to read over the next few weeks in the comments. … Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for January

By Emily Temple on

It’s a brand new year, so why not start it off right with some brand new reads? If you’re anything like us, your resolution list is largely book-related, so now that your hangover’s gone, it’s time to get cracking. We’ve already taken an early look at our most anticipated reads for the year as a whole, but after the jump, we delve a little deeper into January’s fine offerings. Keep warm and keep your resolve this month with short story collections, debut novels, and series-ending fantasy galore — check out the books we’re most looking forward to reading over the next few weeks after the jump, and let us know which ones look best to you in the comments. … Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads For December

By Emily Temple on

2012 has been a pretty great year for book lovers — and despite its bad reputation, even December is shaping up to be a pretty solid month for new releases. Click through for our… Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for November

By Emily Temple on

With the power outages and public transport shutdowns in NYC surrounding this week’s hurricane, we’ve spent a lot of time over the past few days curled up reading by candlelight. If you too have used the bad weather as an excuse to tear through your to-read pile, you’re in luck — November is full of opportunities to replenish it. This month, we have a lot of short stories on our plate, in addition to meditations on the hallucinatory and a posthumous collection of essays from one of our very favorite people. Click through to see the books on our must-read list for November, and let us know which ones will be keeping you inside this month in the comments. … Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for October

By Emily Temple on

As we’ve already pointed out, fall is always a big season for books, and this particular fall is just about as big as they get. As the weather starts to get chilly in earnest, warm up with short stories, nonfiction, and novels from shining new literary stars, established literary giants, and everything in between. In fact, we’re so excited about the pickings this month that we could almost double our regular list — we won’t, but keep an eye out for the honorable mentions at the end. Click through to read over the brand spanking new books we’re most excited about this month, and let us know which one you’re eyeing to go with that mug of tea in the comments. … Read More

Books

10 New Must-Reads for August

By Emily Temple on

Another month, another stack of books in our must read pile. For fiction addicts, we have an unusual amount of non-fiction on our list this month — maybe it’s an aftereffect of so much delicious (but oh so sugary) beach reading, or maybe it’s just that we can’t resist subjects as compelling as George Orwell’s diaries, Paul Auster’s memoir, and D.T. Max’s biography of David Foster Wallace. But don’t worry, we have plenty of novels and short stories this month as well, for a well-rounded month full of fine literature, fascinating lives, and some hilarious missives to boot. Click through to check out our list of the books we’re most excited about this August, and let us know which ones you’ve been itching to read in the comments. … Read More