Serious Music by Percival Everett

Serious music by Percival Everett, 304 pages. This will be published on March 2, 2027.

Arthur is an African American music major and aspiring composer when circumstances lead him and his friends to serve in WWI. He returns to New York and Washington DC, where he uses his musical talents to fight racial injustice in unvonventional ways. This is standard Percival Everett, with plenty of "what might have been" alternate history and satirized people and institutions. It's not necessary to understand music theory to enjoy the book, but an appreciation for it definitely helps us understand Arthur and how he sees the world.

This was pretty good, at times beautifully written. The first third or so of the book is one of the best WWI narratives I've read (which admiitedly is not many). I'm definitely glad that I read it, though I found it really similar James and some other things I've read. If you like this one or James, I recommend a Everett's collection of western short stories Half and Inch of Water, which is sadly overlooked.

Japanese Gothic

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker, 352 pages

In one house, 150 years apart, two young adults are living through their own horror stories. In 1877, Sen is a young female samurai, hiding from the imperial forces when her father takes a monstrous turn, placing her between the danger of her father and the soldiers, either one of whom could kill her whole family. In 2026, Lee has retreated to the same house with no recollection of why or how he killed his roommate, but sure that his father's new home will provide sanctuary from investigators half a world away. When the two meet, they discover that they may be able to help each other, whether it's through searching the archives to find out how and when Sen's family died or helping Lee sort through his untrustworthy memory.

The idea of this book is really interesting, and I thought it played out well. It was definitely atmospheric and creepy at times, and there was true horror as the falsehoods were stripped away. I don't know that it's the best example of the horror genre, as the plot beats were a bit too predictable, but it was definitely an enjoyable read.

The 10:12

The 10:12 by Anna Maloney, 320 pages

Retired art professor Claire was on the titular train between Manchester and London when it was hijacked by a group of armed men. When she encounters one of the hijackers near the restroom, she's faced with a choice: stand by passively or fight back. Claire chose to fight, and for the first half of the book, we have a fast-paced thriller akin to Speed in a train. But once the train reaches London, the pace slows down as Claire navigates the legal proceedings afterward in which she is seen as both a hero and a villain, depending on who's talking. It's an interesting way of presenting a hijack story, and one that I'm not sure I fully enjoyed, especially with the rapid slowdown. Meh.

This book will be published Oct. 20, 2026.

Fallow

 Fallow by Sarah Anderson, 336 pages

Natalie hates working, so when a nurse at the blood bank mentions an experimental job opportunity to be a corporate surrogate with large compensation, she is thrilled. The contract is "simple", Natalie must deliver 7 babies in 10 years for high level women at The Company, so they can have the benefits of motherhood without pregnancy interrupting their work. The benefits seem endless, as Natalie gets to live in a luxury condo with a chef, a housekeeper, a personal trainer and premium healthcare, all provided by the company. In addition, she receives bonus compensation for certain things, like having a natural birth. Between pregnancies, she enjoys her time off and spends the money she earns on things like luxury coats and spa trips. Natalie finally likes working. During her last pregnancy, almost at the finish line of her contract, an unexpected employee issue arises, and everything falls apart. There is really not much else I can say without spoiling it. 

This book is divided into three parts, and I was so invested in the first two parts. The third part is where things started to put me off a bit, as it takes a strange turn and it feels like a completely different book and a completely different main character. The third part was still engaging, and I would still recommend this book, just not what I expected. 

Cultish

 

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell, 310 pages

When he was a young man, Amanda Montell's father escaped from a cult. Growing up hearing his stories instilled in her an above average interest in cults, an interest she channeled into research on what makes a cult, where they draw their power, and what kinds of things unite them. What she found at the key to manufacturing the kind of intense communities and us-vs-them attitudes common in cults is language. She explores not only the kinds of huge and dangerous cults people think of when they hear the word (Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, Scientology, etc), but also the much more normalized organizations that use the exact same tricks of language (MLM schemes, "cult" fitness studies, Instagram spiritualists), giving a very clear picture of how exactly these linguistic traps work, and making it very obvious how easily anyone could fall into a cultish situation. 

I found this book insightful, thoroughly researched, and well-presented. I noted a few times when I was listening that some of the things she describes are also true of literally any close community, but Montell herself is also good at noticing such things and approaching them with nuance. The book is funny and consumable, while still treating serious tragedies with a sense of gravity and respect. I consider myself thoroughly impressed. 

 

Maus I

 

Maus: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman, 159 pages.

I read Spiegelman's famous graphic novel for the first time recently, and despite hearing plenty about it still found myself described. The comic weaves together his father's experiences during the holocaust with their troubled relationship in the present day, in a way that make both feel eminently personal. Spiegelman doesn't shy away from anyone's flaws, nor does he shy away from the multitude of small, everyday horrors of the holocaust. I'm glad I finally got around to reading this modern classic, and will definitely pick up the second half of the story soon.

Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It By Bob Boilen

Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It

, 288 pages

The author, a music journalist for NPR, interviews various musicians about how they got interested in music and found their respective styles. I give it an emphatic “meh”. It felt like reading a podcast, and I’m curious why the author created it in this format. It might have been more interesting if the artists included had appealed to a wider range of audiences, and hadn’t been so NPR-coded.

The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World by Virginia Postrel

The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World by Virginia Postrel, 320 pages

This is nonfiction, a combination of textile history and journalism(ish) regarding how textiles are changing in the present day. The author selects advances in chemistry, commerce, mathematics, and engineering that were driven by economic demand for better textiles. For instance, much of the math that would one day be applied to computer science began as patterns for weaving, and the consumer desire for bright colors that wouldn’t fade with washing led to advances in ancient chemistry.

This was a fun audiobook! It was episodic and the right balance of light-hearted and interesting, which made it ideal for listening while doing chores, etc. I recommend if you’re casually interested in textiles, or enjoy reading Popular Science or Popular Mechanics.

The Undressed Art: Why We Draw by Peter Steinhart

The Undressed Art: Why We Draw by Peter Steinhart, 272 pages

A patron recommended this collection of essays to me a while back. These are reflective musings on how drawing makes us feel, what it does to our brains, and the experiences of people who draw and are drawn.

I give TUA:WWD an emphatic “Sure it’s pretty good, check it out if that’s the kind of thing you like”. I found the most interesting bit to be about how the business of modelling for artists has changed over the years.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

 Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (2011), 512 pages

I started this book many years ago and had a hard time getting into it. Mostly because the first long bit was not particularly revelatory and information I was already familiar with. For reasons unknown (as I was absent that meeting), my book club chose this book for October. So, I have now officially read the whole thing. This book is paradoxically both brief and expansive. You really can't sum up all of humankind in 500 pages, but the author does give you a lot to think about and makes interesting connections on how Sapiens went from foragers to empire builders. It is a fascinating read as it touches upon Sapiens' ability to imagine, develop religion, explore, innovate and potentially self-destruct. I would be curious (and maybe Harari has already written about this) about the author's thoughts in today's current clients. I know he has written a second book and perhaps I will read it, but that came out in 2015 and a lot has already changed.