Paperback Picks
As a month most commonly associated with fireworks, Jet Skis and blockbuster action movies, July often gets a bad reputation as all brawn and no brain. But the bookish among us know July is a stellar season for finding bargains on the paperback new release shelves.
Some of last yearâs very best books are seeing paperback releases this month, meaning theyâre the perfect size to tuck into a tote for an afternoon on the water. Here are just a few of the highlights.
âThe Librarianistâ by Patrick deWitt (Ecco, $18.99). The latest novel from celebrated Oregonian author Patrick deWitt centers on Bob Comet, a man who has devoted his entire life to literature and reading. When he volunteers at a senior center, Cometâs past, present and future collide in a collection of anecdotes that build into the life story of a gentle reader.
âWhen Crack Was Kingâ by Donovan X. Ramsey (One World, $19.99). Donovan X. Ramseyâs investigative history, which was featured on best books of 2023 lists from New York Public Library, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and many more bookish outlets, explores the history of the crack epidemic from the perspective of four Americans whose lives were touched by addiction. Ramsey draws a straight line from the decade after the Civil Rights Movement to Ronald Reaganâs failed war on drugs to one of the most misunderstood public health crises in American history.
âWitch Kingâ by Martha Wells (Tor, $18.99). Over the past few years, the novellas in Martha Wellsâ science-fiction series “The Murderbot Diaries” have quietly evolved from cult classics to genuine bestsellers with a rabid and growing fan base. This stand-alone fantasy novel about a demon who opposes the rise of a malevolent magical empire is darker and more complex than the “Murderbot” series, but Wellsâ subversive politics and devotion to depicting a broad spectrum of sexuality and gender connect the books thematically.
âAll the Sinners Bleedâ by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books, $18.99). Cosby is the latest breakout star author of the mystery genre, garnering commercial and critical success and earning praise from both Barack Obama and Stephen King. His latest thriller pits Charon Countyâs first Black sheriff against a serial killer who may have deep roots in the rural Virginia county, revealing dark secrets in a community thatâs been rocked by emboldened far-right white supremacists.
âThe Long Run: A Creative Inquiryâ by Stacey DâErasmo (Graywolf Press, $17). In an effort to understand what it takes to build a lifetime of creativity, Stacey DâErasmo interviewed writers including Samuel R. Delany, musicians such as Steve Earle, and a host of painters, designers, actors and other artists. These deep conversations about sustaining the spark of inspiration for the long haul will inspire both lifelong artists and people just starting out on their first creative endeavor.
âThe Ornithologistâs Field Guide to Loveâ by India Holton (Berkley, $19). Dueling bird experts spar as they try to uncover the truth behind a legendary magical bird in this lively romance novel. NPR raves that âamid all the outrageous and camp fun,â of India Holtonâs latest book, she âsucceeds in building a genuine love story â between two people who have kept the world at a distance for years but somehow find a home within each other. â
âDoom Guy: Life in First Personâ by John Romero (Abrams, $17.99). John Romero is the man behind some of the biggest names in video game history: Quake, Wolfenstein 3-D, and, especially, the first-person shooter known as Doom. His memoir puts readers in his shoes as he helped to transform video games from the stolid era of Pong into the dynamic, cinematic pastime that has captured the worldâs attention.
âThe Summer of Yesâ by Courtney Walsh (Thomas Nelson, $17.99). A lowly office worker gets run over by one of New York Cityâs most legendary â and feared â businesswomen, forming an unlikely friendship between the two very different women in this breezy summer romance. Can a poor, young office drone teach a wealthy power suit-wearing executive how to stop leaning in and start living it up, simply by saying yes after a lifetime of refusing joy?
“The Book of Eve” by Meg Clothier (Wildfire, 17.95). For generations, literary experts have been befuddled and enchanted by the Voynich Manuscript, a rare and beautiful book written in a strange, undecipherable language. Meg Clothierâs novel centers on nuns in Renaissance-era Florence who must protect the mysterious manuscript from religious zealots who seek to destroy it.
