Lively tales, from the horrors of ‘Leech’ to Ripa’s ‘Live Wire’
In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara VanDenburgh scopes out the shelves for this week’s hottest new book releases. All books are on sale Tuesday. To see what everyone else is reading, check out the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list for
‘Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories’
By Kelly Ripa (Dey Street, nonfiction)
What it’s about: In her debut book, the longtime daytime talk show host shares real-life stories, from the set to her home and everywhere between, to show the real woman off screen.
The buzz: “This banter-filled collection will delight daytime television devotees,” says Publishers Weekly.
‘The Furrows’
By Namwali Serpell (Hogarth, fiction)
What it’s about: When Cassandra was a child, her little brother, Wayne, was lost in an accident and his body was never found. As she grows older, twisted with grief, she starts to see Wayne everywhere. It can’t be him, though – or can it? The buzz: A starred review from Kirkus Reviews calls it “stylistically refreshing and emotionally intense, cementing Serpell’s place among the best writers going.”
‘Stay True’
By Hua Hsu (Doubleday, nonfiction)
What it’s about: In this coming-of-age memoir, New Yorker staff writer Hsu recounts his formative friendship with Ken, a Japanese American with whom the son of Taiwanese immigrants found meaning and belonging before he was senselessly killed.
The buzz: A starred review from Kirkus Reviews calls it “a stunning, intricate memoir about friendship, grief, and memory.” ‘Listen, World!: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman’
By Julia Scheeres and Allison Gilbert (Seal Press, nonfiction)
What it’s about: This rousing biography of an overlooked figure from history tracks Robinson’s journey from cashstrapped divorcee and lowly gold miner to the Oakland Tribune, where she became one of the highest paid and most widely read columnists in the country.
The buzz: “This entertaining account delivers,” says Publishers Weekly.
‘Leech’
By Hiron Ennes (Tordotcom, fiction)
What it’s about: For centuries, the Interprovincial Medical Institute has shaped young minds into doctors – not through schooling, but by parasitically taking them over. When one of their doctors dies, another more dangerous parasite is discovered.
The buzz: “This is a must-read for readers looking for something new from the horror genre,” says a starred review from Publishers Weekly.