9 new books we recommend this week
“Culture — The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K- Pop,” by Martin Puchner ( Norton):
In his latest book, Puchner, a Harvard literature professor, delves into the charged debate over cultural appropriation, arguing, through an elegant historical survey, that culture has always evolved by borrowing from the past and from encounters with other people and places.
“The Worst Woman in London,” by Julia Bennet ( Selfpublished): In this delicious, angsty historical romance, Fran is divorcing her scoundrel of a husband despite the costs — and then she falls for his best friend. Bennet concocts a classic romance mood, with spectacular sex even when ( or because?) the participants are conflicted.
“Our Share of Night,” by Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan Mcdowell ( Hogarth):
This dazzling, epic narrative
— a bewitching brew of mystery and myth, peopled by mediums who can summon “the Darkness” — explores a secret society of wealthy occultists seeking to preserve consciousness after death.
“Someone Else’s Shoes,” by Jojo Moyes ( Pamela Dorman):
Instead of “Trading Places,” Moyes delivers “trading gym bags” in her latest entertaining romp of a novel. A printing executive at a dead- end job accidentally grabs the belongings of a wealthy, pampered second wife — and, as they say, chaos ensues. Lessons about priorities and love do too. “A Hacker’s Mind — How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back,” by Bruce Schneier ( Norton): Schneier argues that anybody who manipulates a system for benefit is a hacker, and says social elites are some of the biggest hackers there are. He will make you rethink your assumptions, if he doesn’t induce paranoia.
“The Chinse Groove,” by Kathryn Ma ( Counterpoint): A comedic take on the trials of immigration, Ma’s latest novel follows a Chinese man who is woefully unprepared for his move to America, but who powers through thanks to his belief that generosity and connection always exist among his fellow countrymen.
“Hungry Ghosts,” by Kevin Jared Hosein ( Ecco):
Hosein’s lush novel takes place on a sugar estate in 1940s Trinidad, where five families squeeze together in a single barracks while the wealthy owner and his wife live in luxury. Their disparate lives become entangled when the owner goes missing.
“Abyss,” by Pilar Quintana, translated by Lisa Dillman ( World Editions):
This novel’s 8- year- old narrator lives in an apartment so overgrown with plants she calls it “the jungle.” Her fertile imagination keeps her company after a rift between her parents upends their family life.
“Voyager — Constellations of Memory,” by Nona Fernández, translated by Natasha Wimmer ( Graywolf): Fernández blends the personal and political in her book- length essay, exploring her mother’s illness along with the violent story of her country, Chile, while drawing connections between lost memories, black holes and history’s “ghosts.”