| George Saunders has a new book out! So does Karl Ove Knausgaard! And a few lesser-known authors too. Find out more in this week’s The Book Ahead. |
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One of the books highlighted there is Jung Chang’s Fly, Wild Swans. It’s a history (by way of memoir) of modern China. So who better to review it than our correspondent covering China, Emily Feng, who writes, “Chang has a talent for tapping the history of the individual to speak to the broader societal forces at play around them.”
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I got so many emails from you all talking about how The Correspondent inspired you to write letters, that I pivoted my radio piece to be about that. More on that next week! For now here are some notes from a few of you who were really into the book.
Mary K. wrote: “I never have written to any nationally known radio or newspaper or periodical in my 73 years. However, this book brought me to tears by the time I finished it. Yes, it was about grief but more importantly, it was (at least to me) a work about hope, forgiveness, the transitory events – both good and bad – in all our "wild and precious lives." Since I discovered Frankenstein at age 11 and then studied it in college, I have been a fan of the epistolary novel. Evans' use of letters (REAL PAPER LETTERS) is both a charming device and true to the protagonist's career and love of words. As a 73-year-old woman who has taught literature for most of my life and who loves reading, I could relate to Sybil. As a human who has experienced joy, heartache, grief and laughter I would like to thank Virginia Evans for putting some of this human condition into beautiful words.”
Bud H. wrote: “This was one of my favorite reads in 2025, and a great surprise. I started the read skeptical of the premise, but loved the story.”
Liz B. wrote: “I listened to this book, it was FANTASTIC, very well done. It is presented as a play, with different readers reading each character. I believe what hooked me was Sybil's character arc. She is not easy to like at first, but as she began to open herself up to the opportunities being presented to her, I found myself cheering for her! I finished this book on Monday, I started in on Saturday and it continues to sit with me. I have recommended it to my reading friends.”
See you next week!
P.S., if a friend sent you this newsletter and you want to sign up, the place to do it is npr.org/newsletter/books. :)
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