10 New Books for November
This month, we’ve got our eyes on Didion and Babitz, Cher, and eight other titles by writers on and of the West.
AN IMAGE OF MY NAME ENTERS AMERICA: ESSAYS, BY LUCY IVES
Ives’s essays address everything from her early obsession with My Little Pony to the American West and her uncle’s suicide. She thoughtfully brings together reflections about identity, family, and our current culture, offering nuanced thoughts on pain and fear and how they can transform into possibility and healing. The result is a powerful blend of memoir and criticism that leaves a lasting impression. Graywolf Press, October 15
BIG BREATH IN, BY JOHN STRALEY
Delphine is a retired marine biologist who witnesses a violent confrontation between a man and his girlfriend. After learning that the woman and her child have gone missing, she pursues the case and plunges into the darkest recesses of society. Straley’s novel is an engaging piece of crime fiction with an eclectic group of characters, including a retired PI who soon becomes critical to Delphine’s hope of solving the mystery. Soho Crime, November 12
CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT, BY BILL ZEHME WITH MIKE THOMAS
Zehme had been working on this biography of legendary late-night talk show host Johnny Carson for over a decade when he died, in 2023. Now journalist Thomas, who had been Zehme’s research assistant, has finalized the project, which moves from Carson’s beginnings in Nebraska to his transformational role in American popular culture, while also tracing its subject’s complex and turbulent personal life. Simon & Schuster, November 5
CHER: THE MEMOIR, PART ONE, BY CHER
In the first installment of her two-part memoir, Cher tells the story of her early life and relationship with her mother, culminating with her marriage to Sonny Bono, which made the couple one of the most famous celebrity pairs of all time. There is much more to come in part two, but this is a bold start. Dey Street Books, November 19
DIDION AND BABITZ, BY LILI ANOLIK
Joan Didion and Eve Babitz—both of whom died in late 2021—were in some ways two sides of the same Los Angeles coin, and they intersected as friends and occasional competitors, their relationship complicated by parallel endeavors but strikingly different styles. In this dual biography, Anolik decodes the lives of the elusive Didion and the outrageous Babitz, revealing new sides of each. Scribner, November 12
FROM UNDER THE TRUCK: A MEMOIR, BY JOSH BROLIN
Actor, producer, and director Brolin presents a moving glimpse of his unconventional childhood in Paso Robles and his rise to stardom in Hollywood. With raw transparency, he reflects on events such as the loss of his mother and his iconic role in The Goonies. His memoir is affecting and compelling, for fans and nonfans alike. Harper, November 19
GHOSTS OF WAIKĪKĪ, BY JENNIFER K. MORITA
In Morita’s debut novel, journalist Maya Wong returns to her native Hawaiʻi after her newspaper shuts down and takes a ghostwriting gig—much to her family’s chagrin. Soon, she finds herself piecing together clues to absolve a man she believes is innocent. The result is a gripping mystery, involving not only her investigation but also simmering tensions between locals and outsiders. Crooked Lane Books, November 19
THE MAGNIFICENT RUINS, BY NAYANTARA ROY
Lila De is an American book editor who suddenly inherits her family’s estate in Kolkata—despite her long estrangement from the place. When she travels to claim her property, she finds the house teeming with secrets and untold stories, many involving her extended family, who still live there. Roy’s novel portrays Lila’s acclimatization to this life and the new sense of belonging she finds in her old home. Algonquin Books, November 12
POWER METAL: THE RACE FOR THE RESOURCES THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE, BY VINCE BEISER
A society powered by clean energy has long been a dream for the future. Yet in these pages, Beiser pulls back the curtain to reveal the global race for lithium, copper, cobalt, and other metals that is damaging the planet and endangering lives. Throughout the book, he portrays various individuals, from millionaires to miners, to expose the underside of the clean-energy ideal. Riverhead Books, November 19
TRIAL BY FIRE, BY DANIELLE STEEL
At the center of Steel’s new novel is Dahlia de Beaumont, who has endured more than her share of hardships. In her early 20s, she lost her parents and became the sole owner of the family business. Later, she suffered the loss of her husband, which left her to raise four children on her own. Now in her mid-50s, she finds her routines again upended by an unexpected brush fire in Napa Valley, which affects her in ways she never could have predicted. This is a touching story of new beginnings and a second chance at love. Delacorte Press, November 19
Ajay Orona is an associate editor at Alta Journal. He earned a master’s degree from USC Annenberg’s School of Journalism in 2021 and was honored with an Outstanding Specialized Journalism (The Arts) Scholar Award. His writing has appeared in Los Angeles Review of Books, Ampersand, and GeekOut.
Jessica Blough is a freelance writer. A former associate editor at Alta Journal, Blough is a graduate of Tufts University where she was editor in chief of the Tufts Daily.
Elizabeth Casillas is an assistant editor at Alta Journal. A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, she has previously written for the Poly Post and Enspire Magazine.
14 New Books for September
15 New Books for August
New Releases for July
Upcoming Releases: Moderation and Cozy Dystopias
