Queens, Kings, and a Full House

Babylonia

by Costanza Casati

From the Jacket

From the author of the bestselling Clytemnestra comes another intoxicating excursion into ancient history, painting the brutal and captivating empire of gods and men, and the one queen destined to rule them all.

A common woman. The governor she married. The king who loved them both.

From the Discussion

"The setting of the ancient empire of Assyria is brilliantly portrayed in all its power and cruelty. And the weaving of the epic of Gilgamesh into the story is very well done. Overall, I highly recommend this book." —Rosanna_H

"The characters were well-developed and layered, adding depth to the narrative...The palace intrigue was particularly captivating and kept me engaged throughout." —Barbara_E

"I believe it would be a good book for book clubs, a lot to discuss." —Paula_Walters

Going Home

by Tom Lamont

"While an initial summary of this novel — three unprepared men and a rabbi come to care for a young orphan — may call to mind a bumbling comedy, Lamont delivers a funny, empathetic, and poignant story of family, friendship, and unconditional love. Going Home unfolds by melding readers to Téo Erskine, his ailing father, Vic, his erstwhile friend, Ben, his somewhat reluctant rabbi, Sibyl, and an utterly endearing child, Joel. The author is so effective at investing the reader in the story and characters that an audible gasp escaped me when one of the characters commits a terrible blunder that threatens to destroy relationships and lives. Going Home is first-rate literary fiction, offering well-defined characters and a propelling plot." —Patricia M. (Brunswick, GA)

"By the last few chapters, I wasn't just rooting for Joel; I was rooting for all of them and couldn't put it down until I knew how it all played out. Definitely a book I will recommend to friends." —Mark S. (Blauvelt, NY)

"I'm still swooning over Tom Lamont's mad writing skills, particularly his ability to swap from one point of view to another while inhabiting each authentically." —Amanda W. (Durham, NC)

Soldiers and Kings

by Jason De León

Anthropologist Jason De León spent seven years with smugglers in Central America, and what he learned about those who cart human cargo beyond borders for profit is that they are intimately acquainted with violence and fear while darting through and around rugged terrains. De León's documentation of their culture—Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling—received the 2024 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Gently, he offers a different perspective on immigration and the role smugglers play beyond the trope of lazy and greedy hustlers. Smugglers, he observes, suffer the wounds of impoverished people from corrupt countries. They have dreams and struggles. They can be silly, and they can be in a rage. Many are lonely.

Two decades ago, the traditional profile of the undocumented migrant to the United States was the Mexican teenager looking for work in San Diego or Los Angeles. He had family in Southern California and once he was established he would send money back home to Mexico. The Central American migrant of today faces a much tougher path.

De León writes, "Cracking down on human smuggling is largely impossible for the simple fact that it is a beast with many heads." ... continued

Review by Valerie Morales

The Work of Heather O'Neill

Novelist, essayist, and contributor to NPR's This American Life, Heather O'Neill is a literary powerhouse in Canada, where she was born and raised and lives today. Her debut novel Lullabies for Little Criminals was published first in the US (Harper Perennial, 2006) before going on to win notable Canadian literary awards Canada Reads and the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, as well as being shortlisted for several international awards, including the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Governor General's Award. Her 2022 novel When We Lost Our Heads was a bestseller and finalist for the Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal.

O'Neill speaks openly now about her difficult childhood in Montreal — her mother decided she wanted to be a punk rocker when she was a child and sent her to live with her father, a janitor with an emotionally unpredictable streak. She saw herself as a poet while her teachers saw her as "this scruffy, neglected kid." In The Capital of Dreams, she weaves stories told by her father, a World War II veteran, into fairytales that blend into the forests of her imaginary Elysia. ... continued

Article by Pei Chen

Wondering what to read this February?

Here are just a few notable selections we think are worth checking out. They include both fiction and nonfiction, and have great potential as book club selections or solo reads.

Reviews of some of these titles are planned for upcoming issues of our digital magazine, and we're excited to cover them for you in the coming weeks. ... continued

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification.

You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions.

Currently, our members are discussing Kate Storey's The Memory Library, Costanza Casati's Babylonia, and Renée Rosen's Let's Call Her Barbie. We feature David Grann's The Wager starting January 30.