10 New Books to Read in October
Creepy and cozy new releases include a collection of ghost stories, a history of women in the CIA and a memoir from a million-dollar-winning Jeopardy contestant.
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The nights are growing longer, the weather is turning colder and the season of ghouls and goblins is approaching fast. It’s the perfect time to curl up with a ghostly tale or a follow-up to a well-known childhood witch story. Here are ten new books we’re excited about this month.
The following information is provided courtesy of the Arlington Public Library.
Fiction
Glory Be
By Danielle Arceneaux
After church on Sundays, Glory sets up shop at her usual table in a coffeehouse to crunch the numbers on her bookie operation. When she’s talking to a police officer who’s called away to a crime, she tags along, only to discover the body of her best friend, activist nun Amity Gay. The police rule the death a suicide, but Glory doesn’t buy it and with her lawyer daughter, she’s digging deep into the dark underbelly of Layfette, Louisiana to find justice. A fun start to a new mystery series. // Available October 5. Library catalog link here.
After the Forest
By Kell Woods
In a small village devastated by war, Greta bakes gingerbread. The recipe is irresistible – she got it from the grimoire of a sweets-obsessed witch who tried to murder her and her brother Hans when they were children. No one remembers that part, but they remember the bit where Greta killed someone. In a time of prejudice and superstition, rumors are starting to swirl that Greta herself might be a witch in this deeply layered look at Hansel and Gretl and what happens after “happily ever after.” // Available October 3. Library catalog link here.
The House of Doors
By Tan Twan Eng
In 1921, Famed author, Somerset Maugham visited Malaysia, a trip which inspired much of his short story collection, “The Casuarina Tree.” In this lush novel, Eng imagines Maugham’s sojourn with the conservative British expat community in Penang and the secrets they’re keeping just under the surface, as they chafe against societal restraints while still desperate to keep up appearances. Like his previous two novels, this has already been long-listed for the Booker Prize. // Available October 17. Library catalog link here.
Night Side of the River: Ghost Storie
By Jeanette Winterson
There are many ways to be haunted in Winterson’s latest collection of ghost stories, from spectral gamekeepers in gothic manor houses to apps that communicate with the dead. In between the chilling and provocative tales are essays about Winterson’s own experiences with the supernatural. // Available October 24. Library catalog link here.
Nonfiction
In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life
By Amy Schneider
In eighth grade, Schneider was voted “most likely to appear on Jeopardy.” Decades later, she walked off the gameshow with more than a million dollars after a 40-game winning streak. Each chapter starts with a question, from “When did you know you were Trans” to “What’s the greatest animated television show of all time?” and explores her life of curiosity and learning. There’s not a lot about her stint on Jeopardy, but there is a lot to learn and enjoy in this memoir about being yourself. // Available October 3. Library catalog link here.
Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business
By Roxane Gay
A collection of Gay’s essays, op-eds, advice columns, and cultural commentary from the past decade highlights the author’s fearlessness in approaching her topics. From celebrity profiles to debating the role of police at Pride, even her older pieces still resonate. This collection will both delight fans and introduce her voice to new readers // Available October 10. Library catalog link here.
The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA
By Liza Mundy
The CIA has always employed women, but initially the agency rarely used them outside typing and filing jobs. Those who made it to the field often had their accomplishments overlooked. At the same time, the women at Langley were building the agency’s critical archives and proving the importance of data analysis. Mundy points to several instances where women were ignored at the agency with disastrous consequences – notably a group of women warned about the threat of Al-Queda long before 9/11. A suspenseful and vivid read. // Available October 17. Library catalog link here.
Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods
By Sarah Lohman
The Ark of Taste, a project by Slow Food International, identifies over five thousand flavors and food items that are in danger of extinction. Hundreds of these are in the US. Food historian Lohman travels the country to explore eight of them with an emphasis on Indigenous food traditions, including wild rice and Hawaiian Legacy sugarcane,. Each chapter ends with a recipe. // Available October 24. Library catalog link here.
Middle Grade
Sparkle
By Lakita Wilson
Social media influencer and aspiring actress Sparkle Moore hopes to land a role in the spring play – the last one to be directed by her school’s legendary drama teacher. At the same time, her mother is excited when Sparkle gets cast in a shampoo commercial, but the discovery of bald patches on her head lead to an alopecia diagnosis that she fears will ruin everything. A heartfelt and relatable narrative of a juggling school, friendships, and social pressure. // Available October 24. Library catalog link here.
Teen
Bad Medicine
By Christopher Twin
Scary stories told around a campfire get a chilling new look in this graphic novel. A group of Cree teens try to outdo each other as they tell tales based on Cree folklore, but also the darker realities of life. From shapeshifters to the large number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, these stories will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the final page. // Available October 24. Library catalog link here.
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