Looking for a really good read for the holidays? Need a perfect gift for a friend? Read on to see books suggested by local authors…
Alma Katsu, author of Red London and The Vanishing Man:
Horror Movie, Paul Tremblay. “Perfect for brainy, literature-loving friends who also like to be scared.”
The Peacock and the Sparrow, I.S. Berry. “This debut has won a bunch of awards, and rightly so.”
The Swimmers, Julie Otsuka. “A great gift for a friend who has lost a parent to dementia.”
John Copenhaver, author of Hall of Mirrors and The Savage Kind:
You Know What You Did, K.T. Nguyen (local author). “Explores the complex dynamics of a Vietnamese immigrant mother-daughter relationship.”
Rough Pages, Lev AC Rosen. “A poignant narrative given today’s resurgence of book bans targeting queer stories.”
Shadow Men: The Tangled Story of Murder, Media, and Privilege That Scandalized Jazz Age America, James Polchin. “Intersections of crime, media sensationalism, and privilege while shedding light on marginalized voices in history.”
Georgina Warren, author of Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers:
A Mole in One, Theresa Lynch. “How a little hero found his place in the world of golf.”
Ghosted: Dating & Other Paramoural Experiences, Jana Eisenstein. One part memoir, one part dating handbook, one part reflection on finding a love that will last.
Matt Fitzsimmons, author of The Slate:
The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward. Described as shocking, immersive, and psychological.
Everybody Knows, Jordan Harper. The New York Times Book Review refers to this mystery as “dazzling.”
Mercury Pictures Presents, Anthony Marra. Epic historical fiction, set in 1940’s fascist Europe.
Alison Bass, author of Rebecca of Ivanhoe:
The Excitements, C.J. Wray. A witty story about two British women veterans of WWII.
James, Percival Everett. On everyone’s list this year: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn reimagined from Jim’s POV.
The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O’Farrell . In 1550 Florence, Duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici makes her way in a troubled court.
Bruce Gregory, author of American Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Practitioners as Change Agents in Foreign Relations:
Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President and Why It Matters, Steven L. Herman. The title says it all.
Phantom Orbit: A Thriller, David Ignatius. “An unsolved puzzle in the writings of the 17th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler.”
Richmond Scott, author of Tripping Toward Mars (reviewed below):
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir. “A sci-fi master who excels at weaving together hard science, drama, and humor.”
The Great White Bard, Farah Karim-Cooper. Written by the director of the Folger.
December Book Reviews
Tripping Toward Mars: A Deep Space Love Odyssey
Fans of smart, satirical, and tech-rich space opera will enjoy this witty, original read. Richmond Scott’s debut novel is set in a not-too-distant future, where NASA missions, billionaire-backed colonization schemes, and messy love triangles collide. Addy Johnson, his wife Bria, and their friends Sally and João a race to Mars, each driven by their own ambitions. A page-turning narrative that balances the absurd, themes of self-discovery and the search for meaning, with quirky characters. Visit richmondscottauthor.com for details.
Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature
Elizabeth Winkler’s page turner might just have you second guessing your favorite English professors. Opening with the case Miss Evelyn May Hopkins, who left her sizable fortune to the Francis Bacon Society to fund a search for the original Shakespeare manuscripts (Hopkins believed they were written by Bacon), Winkler’s book dives into the centuries-old question of Shakespearean authorship with intrepid determination and a zest for an excellent story. Deftly handling historical detail and controversy alike, Winkler takes on several academic debates, arming herself with thorough and compelling research.
If We Were Villains
Fusing dark academia, Shakespearean drama, and campus intrigue, M.L. Rio crafts a tale as twisted as any Shakespearean tragedy. Protagonist Oliver Marks, just released from prison for a crime that is not at all in keeping with his kind and reflective nature, narrates this suspenseful, beautifully emotive narrative. Oliver shares his memory of being a fourth-year theatre student, whose life spirals into chaos when an unexpected casting decision upends the delicate power dynamics of his classmates. As friendships inevitably fracture, tragedy strikes. Rio’s knowledge of theater shines—the book is divided into acts and scenes like a play—including Shakespearean allusions and dialogue styled straight from the First Folio. The unforgettable ending will stay with even the most jaded readers of mysteries and thrillers.
December is for Book Lovers The Phillips Collection Museum Shop
Featuring unique home décor, accessories, toys, puzzles, books, jewelry, art supplies, and more available in person or online. Browse the gift guide: https://shopphillipscollection.org/
Thursday and Saturday Story Time at Solid State Books, H Street
visiting authors, illustrators, and Solid State staff for story time, every Thursday & Saturday at 10:30 am until 11:00 am. On Thursdays stories are for babies & toddlers. On Saturday’s stories are for children, 2-6 years.
Michelle La is Associate Professor of English at George Mason University. Writers of all experience levels are invited to her at the Hill Center for two writing classes, Writing DC and Writing Your Life. Classes provide a ive, fun afternoon of writing practice and neighborhood connection. See the programming calendar at hillcenterdc.org for more details or check out Michelle’s site: writinglostriver.org.
