A new Franzen novel, a Sebald biography, and more books to read in October

The fall book season marches on with another Jonathan Franzen doorstopper, Eugene Lim’s inventive new novel, and Nina Simone's Gum from Bad Seed Warren Ellis

Books News Writers
A new Franzen novel, a Sebald biography, and more books to read in October
Graphic: Natalie Peeples

Every month, a deluge of new books comes flooding out from big publishers, indie houses, and self-publishing platforms. So every month, The A.V. Club narrows down the endless options to five of the books we’re most excited about.

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More in October
Cover image: Bloomsbury Graphic Natalie Peeples

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (October 5, Henry Holt); The Storyteller: Tales Of Life And Music by Dave Grohl (October 5, Harper Collins); I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins (October 5, Riverhead); The Swank Hotel by Lucy Corin (October 5, Graywolf); Fight Night by Miriam Toews (October 5, Bloomsbury); A Time Outside This Time by Amitava Kumar (October 5, Knopf); Night Train by A.L. Snijders (October 5, New Directions); Major Labels: A History Of Popular Music In Seven Genres by Kelefa Sanneh (October 5, Penguin); Underneath by Lily Hoang (October 11, Red Hen); One Friday In April: A Story Of Suicide And Survival by Donald Antrim (October 12, W.W. Norton); On Animals by Susan Orlean (October 12, Avid Reader); Life Sciences by Joy Sorman (October 12, Restless); How High? That High by Diane Williams (October 12, Soho); The Boys: A Memoir Of Hollywood And Family by Ron and Clint Howard (October 12, William Morrow); Silverview by John le Carré (October 12, Viking); The Loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian Kang (October 12, Crown); The Child by Kjersti A. Skomsvold (October 12, Open Letter); LaserWriter II by Tamara Shopsin (October 19, MCD x FSG); People Want To Live by Farah Ali (October 26, McSweeney’s); Lemon by Yeo-sun Kwon (October 26, Other Press)

10 Comments

  • kendull-av says:

    Oh good, it’s not the bad Warren Ellis. Was worried there.

  • dollymix-av says:

    Sebald is such a unique writer with an almost otherworldly authorial voice that I worry a little whether he’d seem more ordinary after reading a biography of him. Anyway, I’ve still got plenty of his stuff to read and would happily reread any of his novels, so I’ll hold off for now.

  • fronzel-neekburm-av says:

    No mention of my most anticipated book: Fan-Fiction by Brent Spiner. it tells the story of a young actor named Brent Spiner that needs to solve a murder. 

  • jhelterskelter-av says:

    So we’ve gone from Kinja not showing us links to where folks replied to Kinja not notifying us when we get our precious stars? Jesus Christ.

  • beadgirl-av says:

    Even my love of books cannot overcome my hatred of slideshows. Please at least keep them confined to movies and tv!

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