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 February staff picks 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.
Let us know what you’ve been into recently in the comments!
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
James by Percival Everett
From the publisher: “An incomparable adventure story, it is a vignette of a turbulent, yet hopeful epoch in American history, defining the experience of a nation in voices often satirical, but always authentic.”
From the publisher: “A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place…Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.”
—Linda, Director of Development
All Fours by Miranda July
From the publisher: “The New York Times bestselling author returns with an irreverently sexy, tender, hilarious and surprising novel about a woman upending her life…Miranda July’s second novel confirms the brilliance of her unique approach to fiction. With July’s wry voice, perfect comic timing, unabashed curiosity about human intimacy, and palpable delight in pushing boundaries, All Fours tells the story of one woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom. Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic, and domestic life of a forty-five-year-old female artist, All Fours transcends expectation while excavating our beliefs about life lived as a woman. Once again, July hijacks the familiar and turns it into something new and thrillingly, profoundly alive.”
—Carol, Storyteller
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
From the publisher: “Winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke Awards: This record-breaking novel follows a warship trapped in a human body on a quest for revenge. A must read for fans of Ursula K. Le Guin and James S. A. Corey. On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren—a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance.”
—Allison, Program Director
Authority and Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
The second and third books respectively in the Southern Reach Series.
“After the disastrous twelfth expedition chronicled in Annihilation, the Southern Reach—the secret agency that monitors these expeditions—is in disarray. In Authority, John Rodriguez, aka ‘Control,’ is the team’s newly appointed head. From a series of interrogations, a cache of hidden notes, and hours of profoundly troubling video footage, the secrets of Area X begin to reveal themselves—and what they expose pushes Control to confront disturbing truths about both himself and the agency he’s promised to serve. And the consequences will spread much further than that.”
“It is winter in Area X in Acceptance. A new team embarks across the border on a mission to find a member of a previous expedition who may have been left behind. As they press deeper into the unknown—navigating new terrain and new challenges—the threat to the outside world becomes more daunting. The mysteries of Area X may have been solved, but their consequences and implications are no less profound—or terrifying.”
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Barrier by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Marcos MartÃn and Muntsa Vicente
From the publisher: “An unconventional drama about violence, language and illegal immigration.”
“A fascinating mix of topical immigration issues, drug cartels and something wholly unexpected. 10 out of 10.” —NEWSARAMA”
Learn more and order Barrier here!
—Isabel, Storyteller
Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield
From the publisher: “A moving love story that spans decades in an instant—from marriage, children, skydiving, and the infinite moments that make a life together.”
“Bright Half Life, a sixty-five minute chronicle of a deeply committed lesbian relationship, is contemporary as a play could be but the theme is classic and timeless. Legal gay marriage has occupied merely a nanosecond of our existence, but the presentation of the highs and lows of coupledom, as exampled in this piece, defy the ages.” —Huffington Post
—Isabel, Storyteller
The Champagne Letters by Kate MacIntosh
Come for the gorgeous cover, stay for the story of an original girl boss. More from the publisher: “Perfect for fans of bubbly wine and Kristin Harmel, this historical fiction novel follows Mme. Clicquot as she builds her legacy, and the modern divorcée who looks to her letters for inspiration.”
“Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France…she must set herself apart quickly and permanently if she, and her business, are to survive. In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris…But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What would the widow do?”
—Annie, Education Associate
Cloud Tectonics by José Rivera
From the publisher: “During a record-breaking Los Angeles deluge, a man gives shelter to a beautiful, pregnant hitch-hiker who is searching for the father of her child.”
“Rivera has successfully mixed two styles in which he previously dabbled, realism and magic realism, to produce a naturalistic play interlaced with symbols and magical occurrences. In doing so, he has found a voice to probe the mystery of the kind of love that stops your heart as surely as it does your sense of time and space. And he does it without goo.” —Laurie Winer, Los Angeles Times
—Isabel, Storyteller
Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley adapted and directed by Christopher McElroen
From the publisher: “‘Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?’ This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflow crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.”
—Isabel, Storyteller
Emmett’s Photo by Nikki Carpenter
From the playwright: “Emmett’s Photo is a gripping and evocative reimagining of the critical moments leading up to John H. Johnson’s historic decision to publish a photo of Emmett Till, the slain teen whose death galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. Set in 1955, within the bustling office of the Negro Digest Publishing Company, this play delves into the intense and emotional deliberations that unfolded behind closed doors…What starts as a routine day in the office swiftly transforms into a pivotal moment that could alter the course of history.”
We are thrilled to host playwright Nikki Carpenter and her cast for a live reading of Emmett’s Photo on February 27 at 6:00 pm CT. The reading will be followed by a discussion with Carpenter and the cast. Learn more and get your tickets here.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
EUSEXUA by FKA twigs
From Rough Trade: “FKA twigs releases her highly-anticipated third studio album, EUSEXUA via Young Recordings. Eusexua is a state of being. A feeling of momentary transcendence often evoked by art, music, sex, and unity. Eusexua can be followed by a state of bliss and feelings of limitless possibility. Also used to refer to: ‘The pinnacle of Human Experience.’ It is united through any moment in which we are fully embodying ourselves, present in the moment, disconnected from technology, synthesized with those around us. It was moments of Eusexua that birthed EUSEXUA the album, as twigs cites her late nights in the underground techno scene of Prague.”
—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate
Fat Ham by James Ijames
From the publisher: “Juicy—a young, queer, Southern man, who is grappling with questions of identity—is visited by the ghost of his father (Pap) at his mother’s wedding/family barbecue. Pap demands that Juicy avenge his recent murder. How will Juicy, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man, trying to break a cycle of trauma and toxic masculinity, avenge his father’s premature death? Fat Ham reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece in startling and hilarious ways amidst the backdrop of a family barbeque in the American South. Winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.”
—Isabel, Storyteller
The Hits Keep Coming by Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
From the producer: “Rick Estrin and his musically fearless Nightcats are modern blues at its most potent, with ten sparkling new originals ranging from from crisp, hooky retro-rock to intense, noirish blues, along with sublime interpretations of Muddy Waters’ ‘Diamonds At Your Feet’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Everybody Knows.’ The songwriting is quick-witted throughout, and the band’s ensemble playing is infectious and jaw-dropping.”
—Annie, Education Associate
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
From the publisher: “Willis Wu doesn’t perceive himself as the protagonist in his own life: he’s merely Generic Asian Man. Sometimes he gets to be Background Oriental Making a Weird Face or even Disgraced Son, but always he is relegated to a prop…but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy—the most respected role that anyone who looks like him can attain. Or is it? After stumbling into the spotlight, Willis finds himself launched into a wider world than he’s ever known, discovering not only the secret history of Chinatown, but the buried legacy of his own family. Infinitely inventive and deeply personal, exploring the themes of pop culture, assimilation, and immigration—Interior Chinatown is Charles Yu’s most moving, daring, and masterful novel yet.
—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
I, human, don’t believe that there are Three Laws of AI yet, but there should be.
From the publisher: “This classic science fiction masterwork by Isaac Asimov weaves stories about robots, humanity, and the deep questions of existence into a novel of shocking intelligence and heart. I, Robot, the first and most widely read book in Asimov’s Robot series, forever changed the world’s perception of artificial intelligence. Here are stories of robots gone mad, of mind-reading robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world—all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asimov’s trademark.”
—Christopher, Director of Operations
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
From the publisher: “A lone human ambassador is sent to the icebound planet of Winter, a world without sexual prejudice, where the inhabitants’ gender is fluid. His goal is to facilitate Winter’s inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the strange, intriguing culture he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.”
It also serves as the inspiration for the 6th Annual John Estey Student Writing Competion! The prompt this year is a quote of Le Guin’s from this book: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” You can learn more about the competition here.
—Annie, Education Associate
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson, illustration by Nico Leon
From the publisher: “A new, alternate universe saga starring the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, written by Amy Jo Johnson—the original Pink Ranger herself! In the wake of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers success against the foes came an unthinkable tragedy—one that pushed them all in separate ways. Reunited 22 years later, they discover some shocking news—Jason, the rogue Red Ranger, is missing, nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the former Pink Ranger is burdened by the aftermath of their final battle with Zedd and Rita, including the effect on Trini’s mysterious niece, Selena. What deeply personal request does Selena hold for her, and what will it take for the remaining Rangers to find Jason?”
—Annie, Education Associate
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
From the publisher: “A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley…By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future. An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.”
—Courtney, Assistant Director of Education
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst, Jr.
An anthology of spooky short stories all written by indigenous authors!
More from the publisher: “These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.”
—Hunter, Storyteller
Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays by Steve Martin
From the publisher: “Steve Martin is one of America’s most treasured actors, having appeared in some of the most popular moves of our time. He is also an accomplished screenwriter who has in the past few years turned his hand to writing plays. The results, collected here, hilariously explore serious questions of love, happiness and the meaning of life; they are rich with equal parts of pain and slapstick humour, torment and wit.”
—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate
Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve L. Ewing
From the publisher: “If all children could just get an education, the logic goes, they would have the same opportunities later in life. But this historical tour de force makes it clear that the opposite is true: The U.S. school system has played an instrumental role in creating and upholding racial hierarchies…By demonstrating that it’s in the DNA of American schools to serve as an effective and underacknowledged mechanism maintaining inequality in this country today, Ewing makes the case that we need a profound reevaluation of what schools are supposed to do, and for whom.”
We are honored to host Ewing for the launch of her book on February 10. This program is sold out, however, we plan to record it and make it available on our YouTube channel as well as the AWM Podcast Network. Be sure to subscribe so you are notified when new content is uploaded!
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff
From the publisher: “When a beloved actress is cast in a feminist adaptation of a Fitzgerald classic, she finds herself the victim in a deadly game of revenge in which everyone, on screen and off, is playing a part…A twisty, thought-provoking novel of construction and deconstruction in conversation with the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and told through the lens of the film industry, Sweet Fury is an incisive and bold critique of America’s deep-rooted misogyny. With this novel, Bischoff examines the narratives we tell ourselves, and what happens when we co-opt others into those stories; and she probes the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator and the true meaning of justice.”
—Linda, Director of Development
Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt by Orisanmi Burton
From the publisher: “With this book, Orisanmi Burton explores what he terms the Long Attica Revolt, a criminalized tradition of Black radicalism that propelled rebellions in New York prisons during the 1970s…Burton goes beyond the state records that other histories have relied on for the story of Attica and expands that archive, drawing on oral history and applying Black radical theory in ways that center the intellectual and political goals of the incarcerated people who led the struggle. Packed with little-known insights from the prison movement, the Black Panther Party, and the Black Liberation Army, Tip of the Spear promises to transform our understanding of prisons—not only as sites of race war and class war, of counterinsurgency and genocide, but also as sources of defiant Black life, revolutionary consciousness, and abolitionist possibility.”
—Cassidy, Guest Services Manager
Twin Peaks created by Mark Frost and David Lynch
From Rotten Tomatoes: “A crime drama mixed with healthy doses of the surreal, this series is about FBI Agent Dale Cooper, who travels to the small logging town of Twin Peaks to solve the murder of seemingly innocent high schooler Laura Palmer. Almost nothing is as it seems, however, and the show’s sometimes eerie visuals, oddball characters and wild dream sequences drive the point home.”
—Isabel, Storyteller
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl screenplay by Mark Burton, story by Nick Park and Mark Burton
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Aardman’s four-time Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy Award-nominated Merlin Crossingham return with a brand new epic adventure, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. In this next installment, Gromit’s concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a ‘smart’ gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it emerges that a vengeful figure from the past might be masterminding things, it falls to Gromit to battle sinister forces and save his master…or Wallace may never be able to invent again!”
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
We Could Be Heroes by Philip Ellis
From the publisher: “Patrick’s acting career is on the rise, and the superhero movie he’s filming might put him on the map. Meanwhile, Will, a secondhand bookseller and part-time drag queen, is just trying to live his best life. After a chance encounter on a particularly chaotic night, a curious friendship sparks between the two men. At least, that’s what they tell each other… Superheroes don’t date drag queens, after all. When reality crashes into the fantasy world they’ve built together, Will has to make a choice between the man of his dreams and being true to himself. Can Patrick be the hero Will’s been waiting for, or will Will be the one to save Patrick after all? Uproarious and touching, We Could Be Heroes is an ode to queer joy and a romance that just might save the world.”
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
Years by Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
I was saddened to learn that Sarah Shook & The Disarmers are embarking on their farewell tour from February through June, marking the end of a decade together as they move on to new projects and fresh music. I’ve been a huge fan since 2018, when I first heard Years, their second album on Chicago’s Bloodshot Records. Seeing them perform songs from it in a packed house at the label’s office was unforgettable.
Blending country-punk grit with twang, the Disarmers’ albums—from 2015’s Sidelong to 2024’s Revelations—showcase River Shook’s badass songwriting. As they turn the page on this chapter, they’ve launched a YouTube channel, offering behind-the-song deep dives and sharing songwriting tips honed over their 30-year journey.
—Karie, Director of Marketing
Visit our Reading Recommendations page for more book lists.