The WLT staff has compiled a brand new list of book recommendations for the month of October. Check out our WLT bookshop for new literary suggestions from your friendly WLT staff every month: https://bookshop.org/shop/WLT
The Third Pole by Mark Synnott
Recommended by WLT Executive Director Becka Oliver: “It’s a bit of a wild-card pick for me this month, coming off of a vacation to Alaska where I picked up this riveting nonfiction book when I was visiting my cousin who is on a mountain climbing-related reading tour. Part mystery (the search for the body of one of the early British climbers on Everest and the camera that could change accepted history about who reached the summit first) and part adventure story (the author’s own pursuit of the summit and what pushing yourself to the limit of endurance– both physically and mentally– looks like), I could NOT put this book down. I especially loved the history lesson on Everest and the expeditions, from the very early ones to today, with lots of geopolitical intrigue mixed in. It’s a great read.”
Bright Dead Things by Ada Limón
Recommended by WLT Program Director Sam Babiak: “I’m currently rereading Ada Limón’s Bright Dead Things and I can’t recommend it enough. Limón’s poetry is riddled with powerful and complex truths, but it’s also perfectly accessible. Whether you’re a poetry lover or not, there is lots to learn in these pages. In truth, her poems made me want to become a poet and I return to this book when I need inspiration. Grappling with topics like grief, death, femininity, and identity, anyone interested in the power of poetry should read this award-winning collection.”
Doom Patrol: Book One by Grant Morrison
Recommended by WLT Member Services / Digital Content Manager Evan Parks: “For October, I know I wanted to share something a little strange, and what’s better than the World’s Strangest Heroes? In Doom Patrol (also a great series on HBO Max), we follow a group of misfits that can only be called superheroes in the most generous meaning of the word. You have a bank robbery that needs stopping? Call the Justice League. There’s a dadaist group of supervillains out to capture the city of Paris in a painting? Call the Doom Patrol.”
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Recommended by WLT Office Coordinator Austen Schreib: “am hesitant to talk about the plot of this novel for risks of spoiling it, but if you are a fan of mixing fantasy and mystery, this is the pick for you! Clarke reveals information within her story at the perfect times to keep you invested from cover to cover. The leading character has such a tender narrative that is sure to pull on your heart. Piranesi has superb pacing that will make you eager to read it in one sitting, and a haunting story that will have you thinking about it long after you are finished.”
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Recommended by WLT Social Media and Marketing Intern Emma Conatser: “Yaa Gyasi’s sophomore novel is an entrancing work of literary prowess. From Ghana to Alabama and Southern California, Gyasi weaves a compelling tale of resilience in the face of tragedy. If you’re looking for a sweeping epic of a read this October–particularly if you’re a fan of Gyasi’s Homegoing— you’ll love Transcendent Kingdom!”
Read one of our recommendations? Leave a comment and tell us what you thought! And if you’re ever looking for more reading material, don’t forget to check out the WLT Bookshop for craft and business of writing book recommendations from WLT instructors or more monthly picks to keep up with what the WLT staff is reading.
