The Algonquin Reader: Fall 2018

This is a fantastic sampler of books that are being published by Algonquin. Included is an excerpt from new book by B. A. Shapiro whose new novel is about post Impressionist Art, the Barnes Foundation and Paris in the 1920s. I am quite excited about this one as I have been a frequent visitor to Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation and have taken a class on Contemporary Art.

There is another fictional story set in the world of art, Heather Rose's The Museum of Modern Love. This is about the artist Marina Abramovic.

There is also Mesha Maren's debut novel which takes place in West Virginia. It is a book which explores the meaning of home. The novel was written when the author lived in a one-room cabin in the state.

Also included are a short story collection by D. Wystan Owen and books by Gina Wohlsdorf and Tim Johnston. (Ms. Wohlsdorf's novel, Blood Highway is a thriller while Tim Johnston is a crime story.)

Of note is that the sampler includes essays with the authors. These may serve to whet your appetite for reading their works even more.

So...lots of good suggestions for reading as we move toward fall's shorter days.

Thanks for this sampler NetGalley and the publisher.

My favorite aspect of the Algonquin Reader is the essays by the authors. An excerpt of the actual book is lovely, but the way an author writes about that book has a visceral impact on me. I have a weak spot for beautifully constructed sentences, especially those that convey the very personal process of birthing a book. Including the author essays is nothing less than genius, and doing so put several books (and authors!) on my radar that previously hadn't been.

I adore samplers and “The Algonquin Reader Fall 2018” is a superior example, with a sneak peek at Algonquin’s forthcoming autumn fiction. You’ll learn the inspiration behind each of the six books through original author essays, followed by a short preview of each novel. Featured books are:

The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro
Sugar Run by Mesha Maren
Other People's Love Affairs: Stories by D. Wystan Owen
The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose
Blood Highway by Gina Wohlsdorf
The Current by Tim Johnston

Highly recommended!

Pub Date 31 Jul 2018

Thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#TheAlgonquinReader #NetGalley

I have been looking forward to The Current and Sugar Run so I was thrilled when I was able to get a sneak peek of the novels. Thank you for putting together these excerpts and sharing them with the world!