New Arrivals for the Week of January 20

Awarded the Nobel "for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life," the latest novel from the author of The Vegetarian follows a perilous journey to save a pet bird, uncovering a hidden chapter of Korean history and lost voices. "Indelible. . . a meticulously rendered portrait of friendship, mother-daughter love, and hope in the face of profound loss,” declared Publishers Weekly in its starred review. “Kang is at the top of her game."

The latest from the National Book Award-nominated author of Fieldwork is a “sharp-witted and weighty” novel about a celebrated actress who, after escaping a chaotic Thanksgiving morning, sets out to confront her past and the daunting role ahead. “Mona's thoughts are laced with scathing humor and piercing insight into the actor's craft, resulting in a surprisingly moving exploration of the courage required to play life's many roles,” remarked Publishers Weekly. “Berlinski deserves a standing ovation for this bravura performance.”

Fans of the Empyrean series and newcomers to romantasy alike will find themselves hooked by the pulse-pounding third installment of this “hotter than dragon fire” series. Violet’s journey to find allies and uncover a dangerous secret delivers “extreme adventure, absurdly high stakes, and wildly hot sex,” according to Cosmopolitan.

Step into the world of 1960s Paris ballet with the 2014 Nobel laureate’s "pithy and introspective" novella about a young dancer and single mother haunted by her past. “Modiano delivers wondrous images of the tricks memory plays, sharply translated by Polizzotti,” remarked Publishers Weekly. “Readers will savor this wistful narrative."

The latest novel from the filmmaker, actor, and Yellow Earth author offers “an electrifying and convincing chronicle” of the cultural erasure and resistance faced by Native American students at the Carlisle Industrial School in 1890. “Readers will carry this with them for a long time,” declared Publishers Weekly.

The latest from the Last Resort author follows a New York couple whose summer vacation in Copenhagen goes sideways. “Fascinating,” hailed Publishers Weekly in its starred review. “The revelations, when they come, are satisfying, and meaty considerations of ethics and truth round out the novel's entertaining depiction of an American innocent abroad and his European Svengali.”

Inspired by the author’s own experiences, this coming of age story is set in early 1990s Glasgow, where a young man recovering from chronic illness grapples with isolation while finding hope through music. “You don't have to be an indie-pop fan to appreciate this compassionate, sweet, beautifully written novel,” declared Kirkus in its starred review. “Murdoch proves he's as good a novelist as he is a musician.”

The acclaimed actor and wellness brand founder continues her advocacy work with a frank, funny, and informative guide to menopause and aging. Using humor, wisdom, and expert advice, this book provides an empowering resource for women tackling this transformative life stage head-on.

In a groundbreaking history, a civil war expert re-examines a controversial episode “in this vivid and intricate history,” according to The NY Times. “Gen. William T. Sherman’s 1864 march across Georgia to subdue the Confederate state’s civilian population is recast as a liberation movement in which half a million enslaved people rushed to join or take refugee with the Union forces — not all of whom were happy to receive them.”

From a runaway ice cream truck driver in gang territory to a terminal patient in Alaska finding new purpose, this Edgar winner’s “narrators are far from perfect; they're messy, problematic and human, and all the more interesting for their contradictions,” observed the LA Times. “Save Me, Stranger is the kind of collection whose stories stick around even after they're done, inviting you to sit with the questions they raise, the discomfort they provoke and the beauty on which they shine a light."