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Book preview: Acclaimed authors offer fantasy, family drama and more this summer

dailybruin.com 2024/10/6

With an inescapable sun gracing readers, rays of light scintillate upon the latest literary releases.

Bookworms and bibliophiles will thrive as summertide brings a crisp breeze of bewitching stories. From translated works to memoirs rooted in raw honesty, the warm season greets readers with a panoply of tales sure to wander long after the sun sets upon the horizon.

Lay down your burdens and beach towels. Dive into Daily Bruin’s sea of summer book recommendations.

Following her fairytale reimaginings, "A Sorceress Comes to Call" continues T. Kingfisher&squot;s fantastical approaches to literature. (Courtesy of Tor House)
Following her fairytale reimaginings, "A Sorceress Comes to Call" continues T. Kingfisher's fantastical approaches to literature. (Courtesy of Tor House)

“A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is spinning yet another spellbinding story.

Loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “The Goose Girl,” “A Sorceress Comes to Call” will hit bookstores Aug. 6. The novel follows Cordelia, the daughter of a witch who struggles to live under her mother’s controlling grip. When they move into the manor of a merchant and his sister, Cordelia must confront her mother’s malicious intentions and protect the people she has grown to love.

“A Sorceress Comes to Call” is the latest addition to Kingfisher’s growing bibliography. The Hugo Award-winning author has made a name for herself in the speculative fiction world for her genre-bending fantasy and horror works. However, she has also penned a number of fairytale reimaginings, such as the Nebula Award-nominated novella and “Sleeping Beauty” retelling “Thornhedge.”

With its delectably dark premise, “A Sorceress Comes To Call” is sure to enchant readers everywhere.

– Sanjana Chadive

Continuing a harmonious community, "Tell Me Everything" offers similar narratives and familiar characters found in Elizabeth Strout&squot;s previous works. (Courtesy of Random House)
Continuing a harmonious community, "Tell Me Everything" offers similar narratives and familiar characters found in Elizabeth Strout's previous works. (Courtesy of Random House)

“Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout

To understand the meaning of life, readers must begin by sharing their truths.

In Elizabeth Strout’s upcoming novel “Tell Me Everything,” familiar characters will have to reckon with the ebbs and flows of love and friendship as they try to understand the nebulous question of “What does anyone’s life mean?” The book hits bookshelves Aug. 13, two years after the release of Strout’s previous bestselling novel “Lucy by the Sea.” In “Tell Me Everything,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning author promises to weave the lives of past characters Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton and Bob Burgess together in a refreshing way by revisiting the familiar setting of Crosby, Maine found in her previous stories.

Strout will explore Burgess and Barton’s budding in the new tale, using the couple’s frequent walks and introspective conversations to fill the hours when Burgess isn’t attempting to defend a possible murderer in court. Simultaneously, other variables complicate their lives, as Barton continues to live with her ex-husband and strikes up an unlikely friendship with an elderly Kitteridge, reflecting upon life’s significance in the process.

With an author in such command of her storytelling powers, readers are sure to be moved by the ruminations offered in “Tell Me Everything.”

– Reid Sperisen

Bridging themes of friendship and relinquishment, "Mina&squot;s Matchbox" adds to Yoko Ogawa&squot;s exploration of psychological fiction. (Courtesy of Pantheon)
Bridging themes of friendship and relinquishment, "Mina's Matchbox" adds to Yoko Ogawa's exploration of psychological fiction. (Courtesy of Pantheon)

“Mina’s Matchbox” by Yoko Ogawa

Yoko Ogawa is drafting an exemplary literary incantation.

Set to hit the shelves Aug. 13, “Mina’s Matchbox” navigates convoluted familial relationships through the retrospective lens of a 12-year-old. Set in 1970s Japan, the novel follows Tomoko, a daughter whose working-class life and identity are altered after her father’s death. Sent away from her mother, Tomoko goes to live with her estranged aunt and aristocratic family, embarking on a journey to build a new life. When living in her newfound home, the untethered protagonist becomes a protege of her older and enigmatic cousin, Mina, who cultivates a world filled with enchantment for the wanderlust-filled child.

“Mina’s Matchbox” marks Ogawa’s latest book in her accretion of praised prose. The critically acclaimed author and American Book Award recipient has made significant contributions to translated text, bridging Japanese and English literary communities. With “Mina’s Mathbox,” Ogawa continues her legacy as a pinnacle in creating fictional Japanese narratives rooted in literary prowess.

With a bittersweet adroitness, “Mina’s Matchbox” is sure to be an invigorating addition to the bookshelf.

– Eric Sican

Inspired by her time on the comedy-drama "Gilmore Girls," Kelly Bishop&squot;s upcoming memoir explores her role as an actress. (Courtesy of Gallery Books)
Inspired by her time on the comedy-drama "Gilmore Girls," Kelly Bishop's upcoming memoir explores her role as an actress. (Courtesy of Gallery Books)

“The Third Gilmore Girl” by Kelly Bishop

This summer, Kelly Bishop invites longtime fans to revisit the charming set of Stars Hollow.

The actress best known for her role as Emily Gilmore in the hit television series “Gilmore Girls” is set to publish her memoir “The Third Gilmore Girl” on Sept. 17. The book will release just in time for dedicated audience members to settle into their annual viewing of the show. In this anticipated account of one actress’s experience behind the scenes of the beloved comedy-drama, Bishop chronicles her rise to becoming the formidable Gilmore family matriarch. Additionally, “The Third Gilmore Girl” will explore her personal life between sets, as well as other milestones in the actress’s career. The book will span six decades, documenting Bishop’s transition from Broadway to Hollywood and the life lessons she learned over the course of her various roles.

“The Third Gilmore Girl” will delve into the personal and professional challenges Bishop overcame in order to fulfill the role that cemented her legacy. Bishop’s “Gilmore Girls” co-star Lauren Graham praised the memoir while touring for her own book earlier this year. As fans reminisce about the show, “The Third Gilmore Girl” provides new insight into the rich experiences and remarkable relationships that brought the “Gilmore Girls” together.

“The Third Gilmore Girl” is a prime literary transition from summer to fall infused with witty humor and ripe with inspiring revelations.

– Sydney Gaw

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