12 New Books for November
Here are works by authors on and of the West, including Blind Persistence, Devouring Time, and Self-Portraits Ex Machina, that we’re excited to see published this month.
BLIND PERSISTENCE: THE HISTORY OF THE BEFORE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION, EDITED BY ISHMAEL REED AND JUSTIN DESMANGLES
Founded to champion multicultural literature, which is frequently overlooked by mainstream publishing, the Before Columbus Foundation has shaped contemporary American literature for nearly five decades—most notably through the creation of the American Book Awards in 1978. In Blind Persistence, editors Reed and Desmangles bring together essays by writers including Joy Harjo and Nancy Mercado, tracing the foundation’s origins, its impact, and its vision for the future. Baraka Books, November 1
THE HIDDEN CITY, BY CHARLES FINCH
When a carved emblem, similar to one discovered at a crime scene seven years earlier, turns up at the site of a murder, amateur sleuth Charles Lenox is pulled deeper into a case that takes him from the slums of East London to the halls of Parliament. As he navigates the mystery, he must also field new tensions at home with his wife and the arrival of a distant cousin. Written in Finch’s signature style, The Hidden City is a classic mystery full of humor and wit. Minotaur Books, November 4
DEVOURING TIME: JIM HARRISON, A WRITER'S LIFE, BY TODD GODDARD
In a definitive biography, Goddard offers an intimate portrait of Jim Harrison, one of America’s most iconic writers. Drawing on more than 100 original interviews with friends, colleagues, and family (and extensive archival research), Devouring Time reveals and celebrates the man behind more than 40 playful, irreverent, and deeply human books that continue to shape and inspire generations of readers and writers. Blackstone Publishing, November 4
WORD TIME, BY DEVORAH MAJOR
From former San Francisco poet laureate major, Word Time dives into how language works when connecting words and phrases through meaning and growth, rather than grammar and punctuation. The poems call on centuries of meaning-making, revealing humanity’s resilience and ability to survive. Grounded in the past, the book looks toward a future in which humans have ceased to exist and are only a memory. City Lights Books, November 4
FRONT STREET: RESISTANCE AND REBIRTH IN THE TENT CITIES OF TECHLANDIA, BY BRIAN BARTH
Investigative journalist Barth reported his new book from some of the darkest corners of Silicon Valley, spending hours upon hours with the residents of the biggest homeless encampments in the area. Through three specific sites, in Cupertino, Oakland, and San Jose, Barth illuminates the lives of those who have been pushed out of their homes by tech money and circumstance. We all have something to learn from encampments, Barth argues, even as cities and states try to sweep them away. Astra House, November 11
TERRY DACTYL, BY MATTILDA BERNSTEIN SYCAMORE
In the 1980s, Terry Dactyl made her first home as a trans girl in the Seattle queer scene, before moving to New York City, where she spends her days working at a SoHo gallery and her nights partying. But in 2020, Terry finds herself back in Seattle, the pandemic raging outside her door, uncertain of where her place is and how to find her people. In this novel, the rising tide of gentrification and the public resistance to racism spur her to seek greater community—this time following a path that keeps her where she grew up. Coffee House Press, November 11
LUCKY GIRL, BY ALLIE TAGLE-DOKUS
Thrust into the world of reality television, celebrities, parties, and movies once her talent is discovered in her Massachusetts hometown, young Lucy becomes a child dance star. Leading her through Hollywood after a major competition is celebrity judge Bruise, whose attention gives her fame and access but alienates her from her family and childhood. But when Bruise’s grip on her becomes too tight, and memories of her past come back to haunt her, Lucy must decide whether all the exposure is really worth the cost and determine where she truly feels she can belong. Tin House Books, November 11
WITHOUT CONSENT: A LANDMARK TRIAL AND DECADES-LONG STRUGGLE TO MAKE SPOUSAL RAPE A CRIME, BY SARAH WEINMAN
Marital rape did not become illegal in all 50 states until 1993, 15 years after a little-known court case set off a torrent of activism and advocacy that would spread across the country. In 1978, Greta Rideout took her husband to court in Oregon v. Rideout and lost: He continued to assault her, and she became a representative of the country’s failure to protect women. Journalist Weinman revisits the trial that lit up the nation and eventually brought protections to millions of women that remain today. Ecco, November 11
RESONANT BLUE AND OTHER STORIES, BY MARY VENSEL WHITE
In this collection of 12 stories, White explores turning points in which we reconcile past histories with the present while stepping into an uncertain future. From a woman who leaves everything behind by jumping into the back of a stranger’s pickup to a wife struggling with her husband’s mental illness, these stories follow characters trying to hold their lives together while reaching for something better. Type Eighteen Books, November 11
STICKY TIME, BY ALEX MORENO
Moreno’s poetry collection, Sticky Time, blurs the line between poetry and body horror to explore a year marked by pain, transformation, and unease. Using visceral imagery and surreal language, Moreno maps the body’s reactions at the emotional, physical, and cellular level while probing questions of time, technology, and the self. The result is an arresting, genre-defying book that turns discomfort into revelation. Sunflower Station Press, November 15
SELF-PORTRAITS EX MACHINA, BY DEVI S. LASKAR
In this collection of poetry, Laskar experiments with form and uses lived experience to explore immigration, racism, family folklore, love, and loss. From meditations on English syntax to scenes set at a vacation Bible camp, these poems capture contemporary American life through the lens of a person of color. This is a book that’s equal parts sharp and tender; it’s profoundly aware of the world’s current challenges. Finishing Line Press, November 21
THE SLICKS: ON SYLVIA PLATH AND TAYLOR SWIFT, BY MAGGIE NELSON
Nelson’s The Slicks pairs Sylvia Plath and Taylor Swift in a smart exploration of what it means to be a woman creating under public scrutiny. Nelson examines each icon’s creative drive and cultural influence while confronting the enduring pattern of how powerful women are often mocked, diminished, or dismissed. Blending pop culture and literary criticism, Nelson provides insightful joint portraits of two artists who have defined their generations. Graywolf Press, November 25
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.
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