May “A God in Ruins” by Kate Atkinson (Little, Brown).

Atkinson follows her stunning “Life After Life” with the story of Teddy as he pursues poetry, fights in World War II as an RAF bomber and experiences life as a husband and father.

“Early Warning” by Jane Smiley (Knopf ).

Smiley publishes the second installment in her trilogy about an Iowa farm family’s journey through the 20th century. “Some Luck” is a necessary primer.

“Seveneves” by Neal Stephenson (Morrow).

An epic about pioneers who escape the end of the world and about their descendants, who find a transformed Earth.

“The House of Owls” by Tony Angell (Yale University Press).

The renowned Seattle-area wildlife artist and naturalist recounts his 25 years of living with, studying and reimagining owls in his art. Copious illustrations.

“Weed the People” by Bruce Barcott (Time Home Entertainment).

Bainbridge author Barcott (“The Measure of a Mountain”) looks at the issues and implications surrounding the legalization of marijuana.

“Rain: A Natural and Cultural History” by Cynthia Barnett (Crown).

The science, natural history and culture of rain on Earth.

“Reagan: the Life” by H.W. Brands (Doubleday).

The first full biography of President Reagan since his death. Brands is a distinguished Texas historian, biographer and author of 2008’s “Traitor to his Class,” a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster).

McCullough tells the story behind the well-known saga of the two young men from Dayton who brought the world into the age of flight, mining a trove of diaries, books and correspondence to chronicle the influences leading to Wilbur and Orville’s accomplishment.