EYDER PERALTA, HOST:
Here's some unsolicited advice. Skip all the holiday parties this winter and read a book instead. And great news, NPR's Books We Love has tons of recommendations, including these fiction reads from some of our coworkers.
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RACHEL TREISMAN, BYLINE: Hi. My name is Rachel Treisman, and I'm a general assignment reporter. One of my favorite books this year was "Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy. A dad and his three teen and preteen kids are the last people on a rapidly sinking research island off of Antarctica. They're getting ready to evacuate when a mysterious woman washes ashore in a storm. As the family nurses her back to health, relationships form, dynamics shift, and before long, everyone is suspicious of each other. "Wild Dark Shore" is a mystery thriller packed with plot twists and turns that make it really hard to put down. But when you finally do, you'll keep thinking about it and the bigger questions that it tackles so beautifully about love and loss and resilience in the face of climate change.
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REBECCA HERSHER, BYLINE: Hi. I'm Rebecca Hersher. I'm a reporter on NPR's climate desk, and the book I'm recommending is "Death Of The Author" by Nnedi Okorafor. It's really two stories. One of the stories is basically a fictionalization of the author's own life. It's about a writer who's working through her relationships with her family members. She's dealing with sudden fame. She's trying to figure out what that means for her in terms of, like, creativity and privacy. The other story in this book, though, is about robots in postapocalyptic Nigeria. And honestly, it was my favorite part of the book. It could be a stand-alone story, but the book is even better than that because it's interwoven with this storyline about the author. And then when you get to the end, there's a huge twist, which I won't give away.
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MATTEEN MOKALLA, BYLINE: My name is Matteen Mokalla. I am the deputy chief of the culture hub here at NPR. The book that I love is "You Must Take Part In Revolution" by the journalist Melissa Chan and the artist Badiucao, who is sometimes known as China's Banksy. It's about what individuals are willing to do for the cause of freedom, real, bona fide, genuine freedom. The story takes place in the near future, where a techno authoritarian China is clashing with the United States that's ruled by the far right. Caught in the middle are these three friends who we first meet in Hong Kong. The graphic novel is full of this striking imagery - two words for you, exploding pigeons - and really thought-provoking prose. It can read grim sometimes. But as one of the characters says, take a deep breath and dream of the light.
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KATIE DAUGERT, BYLINE: Hi. I'm Katie Daugert, and I work with the research archives and data strategy team. The book I'm recommending is "Isola" by Allegra Goodman.
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DAUGERT: It's a historical fiction novel based on the true story of a 16th century French noblewoman. She's taken against her wishes to New France by her guardian. Upon arrival, she is cruelly cast out from the group of settlers as a punishment for falling in love, and she must attempt to survive on a small, remote island. As a castaway, her entire existence hinges on her natural environment - finding food, water and shelter, and most importantly, not becoming a meal for polar bears. "Isola" is a harrowing page-turner, along the lines of the classic shipwreck story, "Robinson Crusoe." It's a great book to read in cold weather, especially if you want to feel extra appreciative of staying cozy and warm indoors.
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SARAH HANDEL, BYLINE: Hey. This is Sarah Handel. I'm an editor at All Things Considered, and the book I'm recommending is "Wreck" by Catherine Newman. I am a woman of a certain age (laughter), and if you haven't yet reached that stage of life when your body starts falling apart, it might sound terrifying. "Wreck" reveals the truth. It can be, but it can also be filled with warmth. It can be a time to lean into your people and to throw your hands up as each new indignity presents itself, which it inevitably will. That's how Rocky, the main character, deals with it.
Rocky's obsessed with news of a terrible accident in her community and she's also navigating the Byzantine medical system with a sort of mysterious ailment. All of that could bring her down and, honestly, could make for a real downer of a book. But Rocky really lingers in the beauty of her life, too, from the fragrance of her grown daughter's hair to the smug satisfaction she takes turning foraged grapes into sparkling jars of jelly. As a whole, "Wreck" is both a bomb and a wry smile because it's only life after all. And I say that with full credit to the Indigo Girls.
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INDIGO GIRLS: (Singing) I'm trying to tell you something about my life.
PERALTA: Those recommendations again - "Wreck," "Isola," "You Must Take Part In Revolution," Death Of The Author" and "Wild Dark Shore." And for the full list of Books We Love, visit npr.org/bestbooks.
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INDIGO GIRLS: (Singing) It's only life after all, yeah. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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