The Most Anticipated Reads of 2026!

Summary

All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: The Most Anticipated Reads of 2026!

Air Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Alison Stewart
Featured Guest: Jordan Loft, All Of It and Get Lit Producer

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Overview

This episode of All Of It dives into one of New York’s favorite topics: books! Host Alison Stewart, joined by producer Jordan Loft, discusses some of 2026's most anticipated titles, reading goals for the year, and trends in the literary world. Listeners call in with their own eagerly awaited releases and reading aspirations. The episode culminates in the announcement of the new "Get Lit with All Of It" newsletter for book lovers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting Reading Goals for 2026

• Jordan’s Goals:

  • Read more translated fiction: “Every time I do, I find it transportative. I find it fascinating.” (03:00)
  • Tackle a Revolutionary War biography in honor of the 250th anniversary (03:10)
  • Read every day, even if it’s just two pages, as a calming bedtime ritual and an antidote to phone scrolling (03:20)

• Alison’s Approach:

  • No strict goals this year; instead, she plans to read whatever catches her eye at her local bookstore.
  • “Not everything has to be goal oriented. … I’m going to read whatever catches my eye at my local bookstore.” – Alison Stewart (03:27)

LISTENER ENGAGEMENT

• Listeners are invited to share their own reading goals and recommendations by calling in, highlighting the show's community-driven focus.

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Most Anticipated Books of 2026 (First Half)

Jordan shares her curated list, focusing on the first half of the year.

[05:20] Whidbey by T Kira Madd

• Debut novel from acclaimed memoirist (author of Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls)
• Explores the lives of three women connected to an abusive man, who is found murdered.
• “I’m always excited to read a promising debut novelist. … This one really caught my eye.” – Jordan Loft (05:20)

[06:17] Vigil by George Saunders

• Saunders’s first novel since Lincoln in the Bardo; releases January 27th.
• Short (172 pages), centers on an oil CEO at his deathbed, guided into the afterlife by a spirit named Doll.
• “What I think is really interesting is both of George Saunders’ novels have dealt with the afterlife and death in some way.” – Jordan Loft (07:00)

[07:48] Whistler by Ann Patchett (Listener Recommendation from Ronnie)

• Story of a woman reconnecting with her former stepfather; explores family and healing.
• “Because it’s Ann Patchett, it’s sure to be emotional…an unconventional father-daughter, not really father, stepfather sort of portrait.” – Jordan Loft (08:00)

[09:00] Black Messiahs by Stephen A. Holmes (Listener Joan)

• Historical novel about the 761st all-Black Tank Battalion during WWII.
• Focuses on racism, discrimination, and heroism.

[10:07] How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden (Listener Ryan)

• Financial guidance for women; accessible and humorous; actionable financial strategies.

[11:16] Last Night in Brooklyn by Zochil Gonzalez

• Set in 2007 Fort Greene during Brooklyn’s gentrification, tracking class, family, and neighborhood change.
• “She’s so great in particular in writing about class, and how wealth and the changes in population have really changed the face of Brooklyn.” – Jordan Loft (12:11)

[12:31] American Fantasy by Emma Straub

• Set on a cruise ship for fans of a ‘90s boy band; main character reluctantly attends, develops surprising connections.
• “It sounds like a good movie to me. Let’s get that made.” – Jordan Loft (13:14)

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

[13:26, 29:59]

• Get Lit with All Of It Newsletter launching soon!
  • Includes event updates, book recommendations, participatory elements for readers, and highlights from All of It’s literary conversations.
  • “It’s really just gonna be a great one stop shop for all of the book content we do here on the show, plus some extra recommendations and little goodies.” – Jordan Loft

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Additional Noteworthy Anticipated Titles

[16:22] Kin by Tayari Jones

• Follows two women whose mothers are absent, exploring diverging life paths and friendships.
• “Books about friendship…female friendship is ripe for analysis and great literature.” – Jordan Loft (16:55)
• Notable writing advice: “If you have time to write, write, write on a napkin, write it on a post it. … Don’t just create a time to write because so many people can’t afford to.” – (17:10)

[18:14] Dogs, Boys and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee (Listener Pat)

• Memoir of a woman in dog rescue, fostering 30+ dogs; “life affirming.”

[19:08] Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger (Listener Gladys)

• Lessons for immigrants and all readers about contributing to society.
• Upcoming: Small Acts of Courage by Adi Belchi (paperback, March 2026)

[20:34] None Such by Francis Spufford (Listener Kerry)

• WWII historical novel—London Blitz plus “time-traveling Nazis.”

[21:08] John of John by Douglas Stuart

• Follows a Scottish man returning to his isolated island; explores family, religion, and failure to launch.

[22:18] Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead

• Third in the Harlem Trilogy, set in the 1980s; protagonist Ray Carney tries “one last heist” to help his wife.
• “What a fun trilogy this has been. I’m excited that it’s coming to a conclusion.” – Jordan Loft (22:51)

[23:28] Anti Fascist Dad by Matthew Remsky (April)

• Parenting in today’s political climate; based on Remsky’s podcast.

[24:08] Land by Maggie O’Farrell

• Jordan’s personal pick for “most anticipated.”
• Set in post-Famine Ireland; father-son mapping the country; hints of mysticism.
• “Maggie O’Farrell has such a knack for making historical periods feel almost contemporary and real.” – Jordan Loft (24:45)

[25:40] The Loneliness of Sonya and Sunny by Kira Desai (Text/Listener)

• “A long read, but it’s worth it.” – Jordan Loft (25:57)

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Standout Nonfiction and Memoir

[26:06] London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

• Investigative account of a London teen’s mysterious death; blend of journalism and true crime.
• “He puts on his investigative journalist hat...” – Jordan Loft (26:46)
• Notable: Kids at a book camp recommend Keefe!

[27:13] Ghost Stories: A Memoir by Siri Hustvedt

• Memoir about lifelong partner Paul Auster, grief, and family loss; contains Auster’s final unfinished work.

[28:08] A Kingdom and a Village: A 1000-Year History of Moscow by Simon Morrison

• Deep-dive into Russian history via the city of Moscow, putting current events in context.

[28:58] Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbø

• Standalone thriller set in Minneapolis with dual timelines; combines Nordic noir and American crime.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On reading habits and goals:
  “Not everything has to be goal oriented.” – Alison Stewart (03:27)

• On book discovery:
  “Local bookstores often have really good staff recommendations…They usually know best.” – Jordan Loft (03:55)

• On the appeal of new fiction:
  “I think particularly female friendship is ripe for analysis and great literature.” – Jordan Loft (16:55)

• On writing routines:
  “When you think about only writers, only being people who are doing an MFA program or sitting alone in their office every day, you’re right. You’re leaving out a whole group of people with very interesting perspectives.” – Jordan Loft (17:35)

• On Colson Whitehead’s trilogy:
  “It’s been so delightful to see him do some fun romps through Harlem.” – Jordan Loft (22:52)

• Crowd goes wild:
  [Cheer/celebration effect as the new newsletter is launched] (30:35)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 02:28 | Jordan’s 2026 reading goals and Alison’s approach | | 05:08 | How Jordan selects/makes her “most anticipated” list | | 05:20 | Whidbey by T Kira Madd (novel discussion) | | 06:17 | Vigil by George Saunders | | 07:48 | Whistler by Ann Patchett (listener call: Ronnie) | | 09:00 | Black Messiahs by Stephen A. Holmes (listener: Joan) | | 10:07 | How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden (Ryan) | | 11:16 | Last Night in Brooklyn by Zochil Gonzalez | | 12:31 | American Fantasy by Emma Straub | | 13:26/29:59 | Get Lit with All Of It newsletter announcement | | 16:22 | Kin by Tayari Jones | | 18:14 | Dogs, Boys and Other Things... by Isabel Klee (Pat) | | 19:08 | Be Useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger (Gladys) | | 20:34 | None Such by Francis Spufford (Kerry) | | 21:08 | John of John by Douglas Stuart | | 22:18 | Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead | | 23:28 | Anti Fascist Dad by Matthew Remsky (listener text) | | 24:08 | Land by Maggie O’Farrell (“most anticipated”) | | 25:40 | The Loneliness of Sonya and Sunny by Kira Desai | | 26:06 | London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe | | 27:13 | Ghost Stories by Siri Hustvedt | | 28:08 | A Kingdom and a Village by Simon Morrison | | 28:58 | Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbø |

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Tone and Style

The conversation is energetic, warm, bookish, and full of mutual encouragement and literary enthusiasm. There’s a sense of genuine curiosity and passionate support for authors both famous and emerging, and a celebration of New York’s diverse reading community. Listener participation adds both humor and a sense of shared discovery.

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Conclusion

If you’re looking for new reads, inspiration for your reading practice or just want to hear devoted readers talk thoughtfully about books, this All Of It episode is a smart, joyful, recommendation-packed literary gathering. Don’t forget to sign up for their new newsletter for even more book-centric community and content!

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WWE Studios in soho. Thank you for sharing part of your day with us. I'm really grateful that you are here on today's show. New York City Winter Jazz Fest begins today and we'll bring you some of that music to the airwaves with a live in studio performance from the jazz collective Freedom Riders. We'll also learn about the history and influence of Giant Step with its co founder and CEO Maurice Bernstein and former Giant Step resident DJ Nicodemus. Plus, from Vinegar to Cabbage to Grandma Core, we'll preview some 2026 food trends. That's the plan. So let's get this started with what we are looking forward to reading this year. It's a new year, which means a whole 12 months full of excellent, exciting new books to read, including literary heavy hitters like Colson Whitehead, Elizabeth Strout to Chang Ray Lee. It's a great time to set some reading goals for yourself. According to a YouGov poll released at the end of the year, 40% of Americans didn't read a single book in 2025. Now that's the general public. You dear public radio listeners, you like to read a lot. So joining me now to share some anticipated reads for 2026 is Get lit and All of it producer Jordan Loft. Plus, we have an exciting book announcement we're going to share in just a bit. Hi Jordan.

[C]

Hello listeners.

[B]

Get in on the action. What book are you excited to read this year? What are you reading and loving right now? And what reading goals have you set for 2026? Our phone lines are open. 2124-3396-9221-2433 w n y c so Jordan, you have set reading goals for yourself for for 2026.

[D]

What are they?

[C]

I have. I have three reading goals actually. The first one is to read some more translated fiction. I really enjoy it. Every time I do, I find it transportative. I find it fascinating. And I actually went to McNally Jackson the other day and bought a whole bunch of translated works that were on the New York Times top 100 list from last year. So I'm excited to dive into those. My second goal is to Read one biography of a Revolutionary War figure. It's the 250th anniversary. I haven't read a single biography of any of those presidents. It might be the year I conquer Hamilton. Maybe I should just do it. I don't know. Franklin is also maybe a possibility. Washington. We'll see. I still have to pick. And then my final goal is to read every single day, even if it's just two pages. I find that when I read right before bed, it's such a calming and relaxing way to go to sleep. And sometimes I'm scrolling on my phone too much and I wanna stop that and make sure I read just a little bit every single day.

[D]

Those are good goals.

[C]

Yeah. Do you have any goals, Allison, for the year?

[B]

No.

[C]

I love that not everything has to be goal oriented.

[D]

Yeah, it doesn't. You know, it's. It doesn't feel right for me to have goals this year for me personally. But one thing I am going to do, maybe this is a goal and a half, is I'm going to read whatever catches my eye at my local bookstore.

[C]

Oh, I love that. That's a good goal.

[D]

Yeah, I think that's important because I think that's important for our listeners, that we have that same experience they do when they're roaming around their local bookstore. Like, oh, this catches my eye. I'll read this. I may not like it, but at least I'll try.

[C]

And I also think local bookstores often have really good staff recommendations. I really like looking at what the staff recommends, and a lot of times it's aligned with stuff I've heard just through word of mouth. So I always think that's a good way to find a new book is to see what the staff recommends. They usually know best.

[B]

All right. The list you put together, we should say it only reflects half of the year because there's so much coming out. How did you go about putting this list together?

[C]

Yeah, so I wanted to focus on the first half of the year in part because we don't know everything that's coming out in the fall yet. Sometimes things get announced as a surprise as we get into the year, and also because I want to focus on stuff people can pick up in the next couple months. So I'm sure I'll come back at some point to talk about fall. A very busy season. But I really tried to look at the lists that are out there. A lit hub for anyone who's interested in looking at a big, comprehensive list. They do a really, really good one. I also love to Go to Kirkus Reviews and just see what they've starred upcoming. Kirkus is a really good resource. They pretty much review everything. And then I just look at authors I'm interested in. I do little Google and see like, oh my gosh, this person has a new book coming out that's very exciting. So I sort of went through all that and then sort of ranked them for myself in terms of what books I'm most excited to read this year.

[B]

Okay. On your list you have a debut novel, but this isn't a newly published author. She wrote a memoir called Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls. Tell us about this book that she has written this novel.

[C]

Yes, it's a debut novel, but you're right, she's written a memoir before. It's called Whidbey. It is by T. Kira Madd. And this is a novel about three different women who are each involved in the life, the life of an abusive man. Two of them are women that he abused at some point during their lives, and one of them is his mother. And that man is found murdered. And it's about how the lives of these three women intersect in the course of the investigation. And we find out, you know, if maybe someone, one of these three women, might have been involved in his death or how that affected them. I'm always excited to read a promising debut novelist. I think that's really exciting. And this one really caught my eye. And it should be out, I believe, in March.

[B]

It'll also be interesting because she already.

[D]

Is a published author.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

So she knows what she has to.

[C]

Do in a novel, and that always helps.

[B]

Next on your list, a classic George Saunders.

[C]

Yes. Short story master George Saunders is back. It's his first novel since Lincoln in the Bardo. This new one is out January 27th, so coming out very soon. It is titled Vigil. And I have good news for people who like to read something quickly. It is very short. They're calling it a novel. I might call it a novella since it's clocking in at 172 pages. But it's a story that takes place at the deathbed of a very powerful oil company CEO as he reflects back on his life and his choices. And he is joined by this woman slash spirit named Doll, who has come down from the heavens to guide him to the afterlife. That's her job, but she might find that this job is particularly tricky. And what I think is really interesting is both of George Saunders novels have dealt with the afterlife and death in some way. Lincoln in the Bardo was very much about this, and it seems like he's tackling similar themes in Vigil. So I'm very excited to pick that one up.

[D]

And I think he's gonna be in the area performing at Symphony Space. I believe.

[C]

I believe that he will be here on Pub Day, which is the 27th, a Tuesday. I think he'll be at Symphony Space. That sounds right.

[D]

Let's talk to Ronnie from Monside, New Jersey. Oh, this is on your list, but go for it anyway.

[E]

Ronnie, hi. I just want to say that Ann Patchett is one of my favorite authors, and I saw that she's having a new book coming out in July. I went online to my local library and they already have it on order and I'm the first one on hold.

[B]

Wow.

[D]

I love that. What can you tell us about Ann Patchett's new book?

[C]

Yeah, you went ahead and stole one of my recommendations. I love it. This one is called Whistler. It will be out June 2, and you might be the first one to get to read it if you're first on your library hold list. It's about a woman who is suddenly reunited with the man who was her stepfather when she was much younger. But he was only her stepfather for about a year before he and her mother got divorced. And it's about their reconnection much later in life and going through their past relationship and what, what happened when that marriage dissolved and the events that led up to that. And because it's Aunt Patchett, it's sure to be emotional. And I think she does such a great job at characterization and especially stories about families. So I like that this will be an unconventional father, daughter, not really father, stepfather sort of portrait. It looks really good and there's a beautiful portrait of a horse on the COVID And I have no idea yet how horses will be involved, but I'm excited to find out.

[D]

And I love that she runs a bookstore, Parnesis. Yes, it's amazing. And she's always shouting out other authors, too.

[C]

She does really good book recommendations on her Instagram and TikTok. I always like watching to see what she recommends.

[D]

Let's talk to Joan from Poor Chester. Hi Joan, thanks for making the time to call all of it.

[E]

Thanks so much. And I think I'm your second person on hold, so that's really cool. Calling about a book that is going to be released this year called Black Messiahs. It is a work of historical fiction about the 761st Tank Battalion, an all black tank battalion during World War II. And it is a very compelling story that talks about the battalion and the racism and discrimination that the members of that battalion faced, but they were also critical in rescuing and finding folks in a concentration camp and freeing the prisoners of a concentration camp during World War II. I think it's the first by a writer named Stephen A. Holmes. But again, it's a compelling story and it follows the life of not just the members of the battalion, but also the Jews who were being round up and sent to concentration camps. A truly compelling story.

[B]

Thanks for calling in. Let's talk to Ryan in Manhattan. Hey Ryan.

[F]

Hey, what's up? How's it going?

[B]

Going okay.

[F]

I am here to talk about my best friend's first book ever. It actually comes out next week. It's called how to Be a Rich Old Lady. The author is Amanda Holden. She spent years developing like online courses and financial literacy specifically focused on women. And so she now has brought all of that knowledge together. She's also wildly funny and hilarious and so it's just like super accessible, like easy to understand and easy to action on long term financial guidance and financial strategies so that she, we and everybody else can just be a rich old lady in our futures.

[B]

I love the title.

[C]

I love being Being a rich old lady is sort of genderless. It's just anyone can be a rich old lady. And may we all aspire to be a rich old lady.

[B]

My guest is all of it and Get lit producer Jordan Loft. We're talking about her list of most anticipated books in 2026. Listeners, we want to hear from you. We're what book are you excited to read this year? What are your reading goals? If you have any? What are you reading right now? Give us a call at 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC Next, you have a former get lit author, Zochil Gonzalez.

[C]

She is.

[B]

She's a.

[D]

Her Instagram is amazing.

[B]

She's important things to talk about. Let's just say that. What is she writing about this time?

[C]

Yeah, she's a riot. And she's back with another Brooklyn set tale. Folks might know her as the author of Olga Dreaming and Anita Damonte Laughs Last, which was a Get lit selection a few years ago. Her new one is titled Last Night in Brooklyn. It's set in Fort Greene in 2007 in the midst of rapid gentrification of that neighborhood. And it follows one woman who becomes sort of ensnared and caught between the lives of two different people. Who are her neighbors? One is this person called La Garza, who is an up and coming fashion designer who's hosting fabulous parties at her Fort Greene apartment. And the other is the protagonist's cousin who's a banker who's just moved to the neighborhood and is part of this wave of. Of changing the neighborhood. I think she's so great in particular in writing about class.

[D]

Absolutely.

[C]

And how wealth and the changes in population have really changed the face of Brooklyn since she's been there. She's a Brooklyn native, so I'm really excited for that one and I can't wait for it to come out.

[D]

Yeah, she writes about that a lot in the Atlantic. She's really good at it. Emma Straub. Emma Straub. We love Emma Straub. She has a new book coming out.

[C]

We love Emma Straub. Her new book is called American Fantasy. It is out April 7th. And this one sounds so fun. It is set on a cruise ship and it's a cruise ship designed specifically for fans of a certain like has been boy band from the 90s.

[D]

It is such a smart. It is such a smart plot.

[C]

Yes. So everyone on the boat is obsessed with this boy band except our protagonist Annie, who's there reluctantly with her sister. She's going through a divorce. She's not super happy to be there, but you know, her sister's a huge fan. But soon she finds herself maybe striking up a little friendship with one of the boy band members who might just be looking for a connection of his own. And we'll see what happens from there. I don't know. It sounds like a good movie to me. Let's get that made.

[D]

It does sound like a good movie. So this is the point where we're gonna talk about our special announcement because Emma was also a get lit author.

[C]

She was.

[D]

And Jordan, you have something very exciting to tell our audience about. Go for it.

[C]

Yes. So I am thrilled to tell our audience that we are going to be launching the get lit with all of it newsletter. Woo hoo. This is going to be a newsletter for book lovers of all stripes. I'm so excited to get to invite all of you to sign up. Just to tell you a little bit about what will be in the newsletter. First of all, it'll be your first place to get to know about our get lit events and our authors. So if you're curious about next month's selection, you'll get an email in your inbox about that. You'll get all the information on the events, get ways to sign up for tickets, all of that great get lit updates and including hopefully some special content from each of our get lit authors. We will also feature highlights from some of the best book conversations on our show just in case you missed them. We have so many great authors on the show and I know it can be hard to keep track of all of them. So now they will all be in one place. They'll land in your inbox. You'll get to hear those. We will also have recommendations. We love doing recommendations on the show and we just don't have time to it every week or twice a month. So this is going to be a great place to spotlight what I'm reading, what Allison's reading, what people around WNYC are reading and also hopefully what you guys are reading. There will be a sort of follower participation element. So it's really just gonna be a great one stop shop for all of the book content we do here on the show plus some extra recommendations and little goodies. And we're gonna start with it being twice a month. We'll see how that develops. And if you want to go pre register right now, you won't get the first email yet. It's not quite ready. But if you wanna be one of the first people to sign up, all you have to do is give us your email address and you can find the link to sign [e-mail] getlit where you usually find the tickets for get lit and all that good stuff. That's wnyc.org getlit to sign up for the forthcoming get lit with all of it newsletter.

[B]

We had a special effect ready to go. It was gonna be a big announcement. We'll try it after the break. We'll have more after a quick break. You're listening to ALL OF IT on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Joining me in studio is all of it and get lit producer Jordan Law for talking about her list of most anticipated books of 2026. Listeners, we want to hear from you. We know you like to read. What are you looking forward to reading this year? What are you reading right now? Do you have any goals set? Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC we'll get to more calls in just a moment. But we have a new novel coming out in February. It's a sophomore effort to a novel that came out in 2018 and it was a huge, huge hit.

[C]

Yes, this is the latest from Tehari Jones who is the author of An American Marriage, which people are probably familiar with. It was a huge hit, as you mentioned. Her latest is called Kin. It is out February 24th and it follows two friends, both of whom have lost their mother in some way. They are not growing up with a mother and they end up. They're two women who end up on very different life paths. One finds herself going to Spelman College and ends up ingratiated in this world of wealthy, elite black women who attended this school. And the other is struggling and has a much harder time of it. So it's about their friendship and their lives throughout the course of their diverging paths. And I just love books about friendship. I think particularly female friendship is ripe for analysis and great literature. So I'm really excited to read the next one from her.

[B]

She gave me a great tip. Not a tip, but an observation about writing once that said, you know, a lot of people say you have to write every day. You have to write a thousand words every day. And by saying that, you're eliminating the nurses and the bus drivers who don't have time to write every day. And she doesn't believe in that. She says if you have time to write, write, write on a napkin, write it on a post it. But don't just observe, don't just create a time to write because so many people can't afford to do that.

[C]

Totally. And I think about that always reminds me of Haruki Murakami, who is now a huge Japanese star in the literary world, but was the owner of a bar and just started writing a little bit every night after he closed the bar down and then just became this huge literary star. So you're right. When you think about only writers, only being people who are doing an MFA program or sitting alone in their office every day, you're right. You're leaving out a whole group of people with very interesting perspectives. I think that's really good advice.

[D]

Let's talk to Pat in Maplewood. Hey Pat, thanks for calling all of it.

[E]

Hi, Yes, I am very much looking forward to Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried about by Isabel Klee. She works in the dog rescue world and she herself has fostered over 30 dogs. And she tells the stories of these dogs and she brings them into her home and heals them and finds the help to find their forever homes. And her voice is so lovely and strong and life affirming. I just, I'm really looking forward to this. I think we really need this sort of thing now.

[D]

Thank you so much for calling Life Affirming. I like that. Let's talk to Gladys From Long Island. Hi, Gladys. Thank you so much for taking the time to call all of it.

[G]

Oh, yes, hello. Hello and thank you for taking my call. Well, my goal is actually to try to read at least 20 books this year. Okay, no, no gender here, but I would like to definitely at reading right now be useful by Arnold Schwarzenegger. And I know I probably chopped his name, but it's a great read. It's a small book, but as an immigrant, as you can probably tell from my voice, is really, really a wake up call that we are what keep this country moving. And I thought it would be about something completely different, but really give he tried in this book, I guess to give us a lesson how we all can be useful in many different scenarios of our people's lives. And if I might add, I will this March, I believe the paperback is coming out for Adi Belchi book Small Acts of Courage. I read only the first chapter yet, but it's a wonderful read too.

[D]

Thank you so much for calling. Gladys and Carrie from Greenwich Village. Hey Kerry, thanks for calling all of it.

[E]

Thanks so much. I'd like to recommend Frances Bufford's novel None Such, which is coming out on March 10th. It's set during the London Blitz and is about a young woman who gets embroiled in some rather an iffy night and then has to fight against time traveling Nazis.

[D]

Oh, ooh, that sounds exciting. Thank you so much for calling in. Let's talk about what else is on your list. Let's go over to Scotland.

[C]

Yes, I love to travel to Scotland and I especially love to travel to Scotland via the work of author Douglas Stewart, who I just learned used to be a fashion designer. I had no idea people might know him as the acclaimed author of novels like Shuggie Bain and Young Mungo. They are all set in Scotland. They're all heartfelt and moving. His new one is called John of John. It is out May 5th and it tells the story of a Scottish man who returns to the small island off the coast of Scotland where he's from after a little bit of a failure to launch elsewhere. And he ends up having to grapple with his father, returning to his father, who's a sheep farmer and a preacher, very religious, very different from this man and is dedicated to trying to save his son. And I think that Douglas Stuart is really good at making places feel immersive. You'll really get the sense of this tiny Scottish island just from reading the novel. And his books are always so heartfelt and moving. So I'm really Excited for that one. John of John, out May 5th.

[B]

All right, I want to hear about Colson Whitehead's Harlem trilogy. The third one is coming out this summer. I'm very excited.

[C]

Yes, the third and final installment in the Harlem trilogy from Colson Whitehead. It is called Cool Machine. It is coming out on July 21st, and we're still with our protagonist, the furniture dealer slash fence Ray Carney. But now we're in the 80s, which I'm very excited about. 80s in New York is gonna be really good. And Ray thinks he's retired from the criminal life. He thinks he's done with all of that. But then his wife, his beloved wife, is denied a loan by the bank for her new travel agency that she wants to set up. So Ray decides that he might do one last heist just to try to get her that money.

[B]

Oh, Ray.

[C]

Oh, Ray. But at what cost? Ray, do you really still think that's a good idea after all this? But what a fun trilogy this has been. I'm excited that it's coming to a conclusion. I know. I think Colson Whitehead in the last couple years has been really known for, like, heavy, dark books. So it's been so delightful to see him do some fun romps through Harlem. And I'm excited to see what he'll work on once he's done with the trilogy.

[B]

We got a couple of texts here. This said, loved Cameron Crowe's memoir, the Uncruel. Perfect for music and pop culture fans. Looking forward to the all of it summer reading challenge already. Ah, you've changed the way I read. Love that.

[C]

Oh, I love that.

[B]

It says, I'm excited to read Anti Fascist dad by Matthew Remsky, which comes out in April. Remsky hosts a great podcast by the same name. And as a new dad trying to navigate parenthood at this time, I think it will help a lot. This one says and the Ancestors Sing, a sweeping multi generational novel of sacrifice, survival, and the unbreakable pull of home, set against the rapidly changing backdrop of post cultural revolutionary China.

[C]

Wow, that sounded like a professional description.

[B]

It does sound like a professional description. It's okay if it is. All right, what is your most anticipated novel of the year? The one that has Jordan excited.

[C]

The novel that I am most excited about, mini little drum roll to myself is land by Maggie O'. Farrell. It is out June 2nd. Maggie O' Farrell is the author of Hamnet, which is very much having a moment right now with the film adaptation, which I thought was a very faithful and beautiful adaptation of the book. Which was one of the best books I've ever read. That novel really blew me away. So I'm very excited for Land. This new one is set in Ireland just after the great Famine. And it's about a father and son who are tasked with mapping the whole island of Ireland. And they're almost done with the mission, but one day the father has an unsettling encounter that changes everything. And what I liked about Hamnet is that they were a little bit of mystical elements in it. The protagonist, Agnes has this sort of like, mystical quality to her. And I get the sense that there might be a little bit of mysticism in this new one. And plus, Maggie o' Farrell has such a knack for making historical periods feel almost contemporary and real and like you're living in it. And sometimes historical characters can feel a little stodgy or far away. And her characters feel so human and so relatable. So I'm really, really excited for that one. It is out June 2.

[B]

This text says I'm finally going to catch up on last year with the Loneliness of Sonya and Sunny by Kira Desai and Mother Mary Comes to Me by Ardente Roy. Being an artist and a mother also, reading time is limited, but I love the work of my South Asian sister artists.

[C]

Yes. Big year for, for South Asian women writers. Last year there were a lot of them, including Megha Majumdar's novel, Guardian and A Thief, all very acclaimed books from last year. And the Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is, is a long read, but it's, it's worth it. There's a lot of good stuff in there.

[B]

All right, we're going to go to nonfiction.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You know, I love nonfiction.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And this made me laugh when you wrote this down. It says, Patrick Radden Keefe alert.

[C]

Patrick Radden Keefe alert. There should be a special sound effect just for that. There's a new Patrick Radden Keefe coming out. Yes, there is a new Patrick Radden Keefe. He has worked on this new book called London Falling, A mysterious death in a gilded city and a family search for truth that is out April 7th. And this is the story he's been following for a while of a 19 year old teenager who died after falling from a luxury apartment in London. And his parents decide to sort of investigate for themselves what might have happened and learn of this whole secret sort of underworld life that he was living in London that they knew nothing about. And so Patrick Granden Keefe puts on his, you know, investigative journalist hat.

[B]

Always a good thing.

[C]

Exactly. And goes for it. And I just want to say that I visited a children's book camp for middle schoolers and high schoolers last summer and I asked the kids, like, who would you recommend to come on a radio show? And the first little girl raised her hand and said, I like this author called Patrick Radden Keefe. And I just could not believe my ears. So the kids are all right? If they're reading Patrick Radden Keefe, I think they'll be okay.

[B]

What about a memoir?

[C]

Yeah, this one I'm really excited about, although it does sound very sad and moving. This is from Siri Husvet. It is called Ghost Stories A Memoir. Siri is a novelist and author herself, but she is also the longtime partner of Paul Auster, who died a few years ago. This is a memoir about their life together and also an exploration of grief because as many of our listeners may know, before Paul himself died, his son and granddaughter died in a very tragic incident. So she. He talks about that in this memoir. And this memoir also contains parts of his last unfinished work, which was a work addressed to his grandson. So I think this promises to be very moving portrait of a marriage and grief and also hopefully a portrait of a great New York writer and Paul Auster.

[B]

You have something about history here, and I think it's really important because it's about Russian history.

[C]

It is about Russian history. It is a new book coming out called A Kingdom and a Village, a 1000 year history of Moscow that's by Simon Morrison. It is out March 3rd. And what interests me about this one is I really like looking at the history of one city as a way to understand the history of a place. So it's obviously look at Russian history, but through this very specific lens of Moscow. And of course, considering the war that is going on in Ukraine and other international events, I find it always helpful to understand how we got to a place. And history is the best way to do that often. So I'm really excited about that one that is called A Kingdom and a village.

[D]

1000 year history of Moscow.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

All right.

[B]

One piece of translated fiction.

[D]

I think that's all we have time for.

[C]

All right, all right. You know what? If I have to pick one, I'm gonna go with my heart and I'm gonna say I'm really excited for the new Joe Nespo thriller that comes out in February. He is a Nordic crime writer. Our senior producer, Andrea Duncan Mao, loves that stuff. He is famous for his detective series with a detective named Harry. But this is a standalone mystery set in Minneapolis of all places. It's called Wolf Hour and this features two timelines. In one, a police officer is trying to catch a man he suspects of being a serial killer in Minneapolis. And then years later, a Norwegian crime writer travels to Minneapolis to write a book about this case. But this case might not just be of journalistic interest to him, he might have something else to do with this case. So it's both Nordic and local because it's in Minneapolis and I think it's going to be really fun.

[D]

And before we go, once again, our very exciting announcement that we are going to be starting a Get Lit with all of it newsletter. Jordan, give them the details.

[C]

Yes, it's a new newsletter. It's coming out soon. It'll be updates on our get lit events. It'll be book recommendations, it'll be thoughts about literary trends, what's going on right now, and also hopefully a participation element where you guys get to share your recommendations with us. And the best way to sign up to pre sign up to make sure you get that first email in your inbox is to head to wnyc.org getlit that is wnyc.org getlit all you have to do is give us your email and we'll get you all signed up for the first installment. Oh, and there's the Crowd goes wild.

[D]

The crowd goes wild.

[C]

Thank you.

[D]

Thanks Jordan.

[B]

Thank you.

[H]

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[A]

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