Reading, watching, listening, and gaming recommendations from the staff of the American Writers Museum.
We can’t recommend these books, films, shows, plays, albums, and games highly enough! Check back every month for more entertainment recommendations, from classics that we revisit over and over to new favorites. If you’re looking for your next book or movie or show or whatever, you came to the right place.
Many of our April book recommendations are also available on Bookshop.org, which benefits independent bookstores. We also strongly encourage you to support your local bookstore by visiting them in person or ordering online through them directly.
This month at the American Writers Museum! The titles below correspond to upcoming programs, author talks, and events hosted by the AWM. Follow the links to learn more and register to attend, and view all upcoming events here.
Water to Water: Gaza Renga by Marilyn Hacker and Deema K. Shehabi
April 20, 6:00 pm, American Writers Museum
Attend In Person | Watch Online
From the publisher: “[A] stunning sequence of renga… We celebrate these two voices, bleeding in and out of each other, quicksilver, mercurial, eloquent in song and silence, even as they celebrate the human spirit in a ruptured world.” —Mimi Khalvati
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Parks and Rec: The Underdog TV Show That Lit’rally Inspired a Vision for a Better America by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
April 22, 6:00 pm, American Writers Museum
Attend In Person | Watch Online
From the publisher: “A magnificent job of chronicling the unlikely beginnings of the show… You’ll be treated within to all manner of winning anecdotes about the adorable and talented team of champions that made up our cast.” —Nick Offerman, excerpted from the foreword to Parks and Rec.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
New episodes from the AWM Podcast Network! These writers and their works were recently featured on one of our popular podcast series, either as guests and/or subjects. Follow the links to learn more and listen to each episode, and visit the AWM Podcast Network Hub for more.
Sholem Asch: Underworld Trilogy by Sholem Asch, translated by Caraid O’Brien
Listen to Nation of Writers: Sholem Asch here
From the publisher: “This collection plunges into the gritty realities of Jewish life in early 20th-century Eastern Europe. God of Vengeance explores faith and morality within a brothel. Motke Thief portrays a gangster’s rise and fall. The Dead Man delves into the haunting aftermath of war. Translated by Caraid O’Brien, these plays offer a unique glimpse into a lost world, grappling with poverty, corruption, and the search for redemption. Discover these influential works that challenged social norms and continue to resonate today.”
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Street Scriptures: Between God and Hip-Hop by Alejandro Nava
Nation of Writers: Tupac Shakur, new episode coming soon!
From the publisher: “The world of hip-hop is saturated with religion, but rarely is that element given serious consideration. In Street Scriptures, Alejandro Nava focuses our attention on this aspect of the music and culture in a fresh way, combining his profound love of hip-hop, his passion for racial and social justice, and his deep theological knowledge. Street Scriptures offers a refreshingly earnest and beautifully written journey through hip-hop’s deep entanglement with the sacred.”
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Yiddish: A Global Culture by David Mazower
Listen to Nation of Writers: Sholem Asch here
From the publisher: “Yiddish: A Global Culture at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA is the first ever museum to showcase the extraordinary vibrancy and breadth of modern Yiddish culture—its literature, theater, art, music, journalism, politics—from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. This landmark exhibition catalog offers a panoramic view of Yiddish: A Global Culture to the general reader, placing the transnational story of Yiddish within broader world history.”
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
The full list of AWM Staff Picks! Here is what we’ve been into recently. Let us know what writing has captivated you in the comments!
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
From the publisher: “A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montréal turns to a grouchy but charming magician to help save her shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series…Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn’t need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers that he’s more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren’t just for rescue cats…”
—Allison, Director of Programs
Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks
From Pitchfork: “Inspired by an immersion into New York City nightlife, the English songwriter embraces the sounds of dance music on a set of studied, introspective pop songs.”
—Christopher, Director of Operations
Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky
From the publisher: “Deaf Republic opens in an occupied country in a time of political unrest. When soldiers breaking up a protest kill a deaf boy, Petya, the gunshot becomes the last thing the citizens hear—they all have gone deaf, and their dissent becomes coordinated by sign language. The story follows the private lives of townspeople encircled by public violence: a newly married couple, Alfonso and Sonya, expecting a child; the brash Momma Galya, instigating the insurgency from her puppet theater; and Galya’s girls, heroically teaching signing by day and by night luring soldiers one by one to their deaths behind the curtain. At once a love story, an elegy, and an urgent plea, Ilya Kaminsky’s long-awaited Deaf Republic confronts our time’s vicious atrocities and our collective silence in the face of them.”
—Andrew, Institutional Giving Manager
“dirty wedding dress” by Bleachers
Jack Antanoff, known for his production work with megastars such as Taylor Swift and Lorde, performs under the Bleachers moniker. Bleachers have functioned as a band and an independent project of Jack’s since 2014. While Bleachers uses a consistent band of collaborators for touring and recording, it primarily functions as a solo outlet for Jack to explore personal storytelling through songwriting. This has resulted in some of the most honest and heartfelt lyrics I’ve ever heard, including the ones in “dirty wedding dress.”
“dirty wedding dress” is the second single for Bleachers’ forthcoming record, everyone for ten minutes. In his newsletter for fans, Jack revealed that the story behind this song is that of his own wedding to actress Margaret Qualley. During their reception, paparazzi and other onlookers crowded outside (likely hoping to glimpse Taylor Swift, who was in attendance). Jack writes about how this invasion of privacy didn’t bother him. He felt so connected to the people on his side of the doors that it didn’t matter what was happening outside. The lyric “only my people can see me” has become a new mantra for Jack and Bleachers fans, reflecting how Bleachers “isn’t for everyone” (Jack’s words), but that the people who connect with the music do so meaningfully. It is also now a mantra I repeat to myself when I overthink, helping me remember that the opinions of people who truly know me matter far more than strangers’ or those who misunderstand.
—Sydney, Systems Operations Coordinator
The Gastronomical Me by M.F.K. Fisher
From the publisher: “In 1929, a newly married M.F.K. Fisher said goodbye to a milquetoast American culinary upbringing and sailed with her husband to Dijon, where she tasted real French cooking for the first time. The Gastronomical Me is a chronicle of her passionate embrace of a whole new way of eating, drinking, and celebrating the senses. As she recounts memorable meals shared with an assortment of eccentric and fascinating characters, set against a backdrop of mounting pre-war tensions, we witness the formation not only of her taste but of her character and her prodigious talent.”
This book is also featured in our Surprise Bookshelf interactive exhibit! Visit the AWM and see if you can find The Gastronomical Me in the Surprise Bookshelf. Hint: you’ll need to use all your senses…
—Andrew, Institutional Giving Manager
Grand Rapids by Natasha Stagg
Grand Rapids was recommended to me by a friend whose literary opinions I trust, and her suggestion did not disappoint. Natasha Stagg’s second novel distinctly captures the Midwestern suburbs in 2001 through a hazy recollection from its teenage narrator, Tess. Tess moves from Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Grand Rapids to live with her aunt and uncle after losing her mother to cancer. Tess’s grief and the discomfort of her “new normal” brushes against the general discomfort of navigating adolescence.
At times, the story is bleak, understated in its pacing, and cloaked in fog. But this aimlessness feels intentional on Stagg’s part, reflecting Tess’s coming-of-age holistically, including the sad and boring parts. References to music and pop culture (some real, some invented by Stagg) ground the novel in a nostalgic piece of recent American history. With how fast the world can seem to move in 2026, I really enjoyed slowing down with Grand Rapids.
—Sydney, Systems Operations Coordinator
Helen of Nowhere by Makenna Goodman
From the publisher: “In the middle of the countryside, a realtor is showing a disgraced professor around an idyllic house. She speaks not only about the home’s many wonderful qualities but about its previous owner, the mystifying Helen, whose presence still seems to suffuse every fixture. Through hearing stories of Helen’s chosen way of living, the man begins to see that his own story is not actually over—rather, he is being offered a chance to buy his way into the simple life, close to the land, that’s always been out of reach to him. But as evening fades into black, he will learn that the asking price may be much higher, and stranger, than anticipated. Philosophically and formally adventurous, at once intimate and cosmic in scope, Helen of Nowhere asks: What must we give up in exchange for true happiness?”
—Christopher, Director of Operations
Imperfect Women created by Annie Weisman
From the Rotten Tomatoes: “After a murder shatters the lives of three friends, their decades-long bond is tested when an investigation reveals shocking truths.”
Created by Annie Weisman, the series stars Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, Kate Mara, Joel Kinnaman, and Corey Stoll. It is an adaptation of the 2020 novel Imperfect Women by Araminta Hall.
—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate
Indian Country by Shobha Rao
From the publisher: “In this fearless novel from the award-winning author of Girls Burn Brighter, a couple from India—so different from generations of white colonialists who came before them—move to Montana, only to discover how brutal and unforgiving hubris can be… A bold, ambitious, stunningly beautiful yet brutal novel about colonialism, westward expansion, and the ramifications of both still rippling out today, Indian Country is a tour de force modern-day classic.”
—Carol, Assistant Director of Development
Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score
This is the second in her Story Lake series, although it can be read as a stand-alone. The completely charming romantic comedy series—heavy on the comedy—is set in the fictional town of Story Lake, Pennsylvania, which is billed by the author as Schitt’s Creek-crossed with Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. The story is told in alternating POVs from NYC literary agent Zoey Moody and her landlord, lawyer and contractor Gage Bishop. Tropes include small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers, found family, quirky townsfolk, forced proximity, and opposites attract. Interestingly, the author included her own later-in-life ADHD diagnosis by enriching her main character with the prognosis. If you are compiling your beach reads list, put this one on the top (and start with the first in the series, Story of My Life). It’s heartwarming, hilarious, spicy, and a fun, quick read.
—Annie, Administrative Associate
Ripcord by David Lindsay-Abaire
From the publisher: “Set in the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility, this glorious and biting new comedy from [playwright] David Lindsay-Abaire centers around Abby, who takes pride in her residence in one of the most coveted rooms in the rest home. Things turn sour quickly when she must take in Marilyn, a new roommate to share her precious space. In a satirical conflict of territory and control, Lindsay-Abaire spins a benign, typically mundane setting into an absurdist, colorful battleground. This high-stakes comedy examines our expectations of what it means to grow old in twenty-first century America, and what happens when a sense of possession collides with a mania of obsession.”
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
Rooster created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses
Having been a fan of The Office growing up, I was excited to see Steve Carell in a new comedic role. In Rooster, Carrell stars as Greg Russo, an author and divorcee who visits the liberal arts college where his daughter, Katie (Charly Clive), teaches. While helping Katie cope with the ending of her own marriage, Greg accepts a spontaneous writer-in-residence offer from Ludlow College’s eccentric president (John C. McGinley). Carrell’s Greg Russo has the goofy, occasionally second-hand-embarassing charm of Michael Scott. But the script also allows Carrell’s more emotional side to shine through. While the subject matter is not nearly as heavy as Beautiful Boy (2018), Carrell accesses a similar emotional dedication to his onscreen family.
Perhaps my favorite part of the script, though, is its quick pacing and witty commentary on relationship dynamics, academia, and the unique environment of the small liberal arts college. As an alum of a small liberal arts college, I find myself laughing out loud at the occasionally performative political correctness and moments where that veil slips. While the humor pokes fun in this way, it feels responsible and respectful despite the silliness and quirkiness of its characters. I am excited that this show is new and ongoing, so that I can keep developing my thoughts!
—Sydney, Systems Operations Coordinator
Strange Houses / Strange Buildings / Strange Pictures by Uketsu
While stuck in the airport due to a 6-hour delay, I picked up a copy of Uketsu’s Strange Houses at the Hudson News. I devoured the book before my plane even took off and immediately ordered the next two in the series: Strange Buildings and Strange Pictures. Uketsu, a Japanese YouTuber who has successfully kept his identity hidden, crafts a world of horror using text and image in a fascinating way. I’m a huge mystery lover, and these three novels definitely satisfied that itch.
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
From the publisher: “A breathlessly addictive mystery that follows one man’s race to find a killer, with an astonishing time-turning twist that means nothing and no one are quite what they seem. Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked-room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.”
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Visit our Reading Recommendations page for more book lists.