This debut novel bowled me over with its intriguing and moving premise, its magical realism, and its vivid prose--which moved between literary formality and a vernacular infused with folk sayings and lyrics, depending on the voice of the character. The saga of the Laurent family is sometimes shocking, sometimes wrenching, but never dull; ultimately, it's a story of America.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE 2025
'Compelling . . . I raced through this multi-generational, magical realistic story' DAILY MAIL
'A page-turning, rollicking novel . . . From the first page, I was spellbound' NATHAN HARRIS, New York Times bestselling author of THE SWEETNESS OF WATER
The Devil first visits Yetunde aboard a slave ship heading to America. Her home burned to ash, she lies shackled in the belly of the ship with only her dead sister's spirit for company. Worse, she has a caught the eye of a white man. To survive the hell that…
This blend of historical fiction and magical realism set in the pre-literate empire of Tonga is deeply immersive. Though there are dozens of characters, Johnson delineates each one well, using subtleties in their interactions to reveal nuances. The non-linear story of the ongoing warfare among the Tongans and their satellites may include mythical elements, but it also deals poignantly with issues of environmental devastation and resource depletion that trouble our modern world. The book maintains a steady pace despite its length, ever drawing the reader onward.
From the author of The Orphan Master's Son, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and Fortune Smiles, winner of the US National Book Award, an epic masterpiece named one of 'Ten Best Books of 2025' by the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post
'Awesome... This astonishing novel, at once so primeval and so sophisticated, pulses with the same hopes and terrors that first pricked our imaginations around a fire as the sun set - a tapestry of South Pacific myth, archetypal quest, political allegory, environmental jeremiad and feminist revision that feels both ancient and impossibly relevant.' Washington Post
Fugelsang revisits the scriptures and Bible stories frequently used by politicians to promote an agenda that actually runs counter to Christ's teachings. In each chapter, Fugelsang introduces a popular claim, cites the passages that supposedly support the claim, then refutes that interpretation using quotes from Jesus or religious scholars. Moreover, he presents the material in an entertaining fashion, using humor and pop culture references to make it relevant. This book was enlightening and inspiring and helped to clarify my understanding of the historical context of the Bible.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred-a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who'll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist.
For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and…
In this follow-up to Smithy, the beloved ASL-using chimpanzee becomes a subject at a medical testing laboratory run by a cruel and arrogant scientist. While his human friends try valiantly to protect Smithy from harm and provide him with chances to use his language skills, the phantom of Trevor Hall continues to cause them trouble. When the media learns of Smithy's alleged ability to communicate with ghosts, he becomes a public sensation--but will his new fame set him free or seal his fate?
Webster weaves together questions about science and the supernatural, truth and fiction, and despair and hope in a spooky and surprising story.
