UNP staff members are always reading new books, both within our list and outside of what we publish. Here are some of the titles where our noses have been buried.
“Currently I am reading My Katherine Mansfield Project by Kirsty Gunn, a blend of memoir, biography, and essay that is focused on the modernist Katherine Mansfield and the meaning of home. The evocative descriptions of windy Wellington and the damp, chilly days Gunn spends reflecting on writing and memory are perfect for October nights.” -Clare Jones
“This month I listened to Belle Burden’s memoir, Strangers, while commuting between Omaha and Lincoln. In the memoir, Burden revisits her marriage after her husband of twenty years announced that he was leaving her in the early days of the pandemic.”-Sarah Kee
“I’m finally reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, just before the movie premieres. (Thanks, Sarah!)” -Rosemary Sekora
“I’m reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger, a gift from our beloved Taylor Martin (thanks, Taylor!). I picked it up because Mr. McCarthy presented himself to me in a couple of ways recently—I listened to an episode of my favorite book podcast on their reading of The Road. I also noticed a statement on social media from Knopf declaring that neither The Passenger nor Stella Maris, the second volume, were written by AI. McCarthy didn’t like being the center of attention, so had he been alive to hear that, he would likely have given a soft chuckle gone on his merry, masterful way. It follows Bobby Western, a salvage diver who discovers nine bodies still buckled in their seats of a sunken jet, the tenth passenger missing. Haunted by what may have happened there and by his own battle with loss, the novel covers themes of “morality and science, the legacy of sin, and the madness that is human consciousness. McCarthy has always been one of my favorite American writers, so I’m grateful to have one last book of his to read after I finish this one.” -Taylor Gilreath
“This month I finally read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. I’ve been meaning to get to this one for years, and the stars finally aligned for this spooky season. I love Shirley Jackson’s writing and found this to be quite the page turner. I’m a scaredy cat, so it doesn’t take much to freak me out, but for what it’s worth I found this to be very creepy and thrilling. I’m excited to now watch some of the movie/TV adaptations that have been made over the years.” -Madison Wigley
“I just finished Louise Penny’s Glass Houses, book #13 in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. The mystery of this novel starts on November 1st, the night of the annual Halloween Party in the bistro of the fictional village of Three Pines. A cloaked figure shows up to the party, unannounced, without moving or speaking to the guests. My favorite aspects of the books in this series are how atmospheric the descriptions are, especially as they relate to the changing seasons. I time my reading of the next in the series based on what time of year the story takes place, because of how it seems to enhance my enjoyment of every season. The first in the series is entitled Still Life. October and November are the ideal months to read this book, if you’re looking to try this series out.” -Lacey Losh
