A Dozen Fantastic Fiction Recommendations for October

Tuesday October 2nd is one of the biggest publishing days of the year, if not the biggest, with hundreds of new titles hitting the shelves. None of us have time to read all of them, not even to read about them; so here, for your reading pleasure are half a dozen of the most notable, plus another half dozen publishing later in October. These are selected from more than 100 previewed October titles that members can view in full here.

Oops! Just realized that one of the dozen below is nonfiction - The End of Your Life Book Club. That's what comes of writing blog posts late at night! In fact, we're currently discussing this very book in BookBrowse's book club - please do join the discussion!

Enjoy!

Davina, BookBrowse editor

Live by Night by Dennis Lehane Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by William Morrow Combining edgy suspense and the vivid period detail that made The Given Day a smashing success, award-winning author Dennis Lehane delivers a masterful epic of Prohibition-era America told through the story of a charismatic young gangster on his rise through the glitz and violence of the Roaring 20s. Full description & reviews

Son by Lois Lowry Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry's epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil. Full description & reviews

The Round House by Louis Erdrich Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by Harper The Round House, the second installment of Louise Erdrich's trilogy that began with The Plague of Doves, continues with her exploration of a North Dakotan Ojibwe community, this time revisiting Judge Antone Bazil Coutts and his family in a lively yet reflective narration by his thirteen-year old son, Joe. Full description & reviews

It's Fine By Me by Per Petterson Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by Graywolf Press An engaging coming-of-age tale in which Per Petterson returns to the character of teenager Arvid Jansen previously seen in I Curse the River of Time and In the Wake, but from a fresh perspective. Full description & reviews

Blasphemy: New and Selected Stories by Sherman Alexie Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by Grove Press A bold and irreverent observer of life among Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, the daring, versatile, funny, and outrageous Alexie showcases all his talents in his newest collection, Blasphemy, where he unites fifteen beloved classics with fifteen new stories in one sweeping anthology for devoted fans and first-time readers. Full description & reviews

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe Publish Date: Oct 2, 2012 Published by Knopf Memoir We're currently discussing this book - please do join in at bookbrowse.com/booktalk! The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a "book club" that brings them together as her life comes to a close. A profoundly moving testament to the power of love between a child and parent, and the power of reading in our lives. Full description & reviews

[More]