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 May 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.
Let us know what you’ve been into recently in the comments!
BUST by Zora Howard
It’s been a long time since I’ve been blown away by a script and the production of a play. While the script has not been published, you can experience the wild ride of BUST currently at the Goodman Theatre.
More about the show: “Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when their longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police. Everything goes as you might expect until the unexpected happens. When the incident is posted online, it’s not only hell that breaks loose.”
—Isabel, Storyteller
Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
From the publisher: “Following a near fatal carriage collision, the beautiful young Carmilla is taken in by the narrator Laura and her father. The two young women become strangely attracted to each other, but there seems to be more to Carmilla than meets the eye. After her arrival in the village, local peasants begin to die and Laura falls ill and languishes. What is Carmilla’s true identity, and can she be to blame? A thrilling Victorian tale of horror and mystery and a major influence on Stoker’s Dracula, Carmilla remains one of Sheridan Le Fanu’s most enduring works.”
—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate
Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass by Dave Barry
From the publisher: “How does the son of a Presbyterian minister wind up winning a Pulitzer Prize for writing a wildly inaccurate newspaper column read by millions of people? America’s most beloved wiseass, Dave Barry, finally tells his life story with all the humor you’d expect from a man who made a career out of making fun of pretty much everything…Class Clown isn’t just a memoir; it’s a vibrant celebration of a life rich with humor, absurdity, joy, and sadness. Dave says the most important wisdom imparted by his Midwestern parents was never to take anything too seriously. This laughter-filled book is proof that he learned that lesson well.”
We are thrilled to host Barry later this month for a public program to discuss his memoir and career with Mark Bazer. This event is being held at Chicago Hope Academy (2156 W. Ogden Ave.) on May 15 at 6:00 pm. You can learn more and get your tickets here! This event is part of our new exhibit and programming initiative American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Code Noir: Fictions by Canisia Lubrin
From the publisher: “Winner of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. Canisia Lubrin’s debut fiction is that rare work of art—a brilliant, startlingly original book that combines immense literary and political force. Its structure, deceptively simple, is based on the infamous Code Noir, a set of real historical decrees originally passed in 1685 by King Louis XIV of France defining the conditions of slavery in the French colonial empire. The original code had fifty-nine articles; Code Noir has fifty-nine linked fictions—vivid, unforgettable, multilayered fragments filled with globe-wise characters who desire to live beyond the ruins of the past.”
—Carey, President
Dying for Sex created by Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether
If you think sex and humor can’t go with terminal cancer, you’re wrong— dead wrong.
More from Rotten Tomatoes: “After Molly Kochan receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband to explore the complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life, with her best friend Nikki by her side. Jaunty and sweet but never flippant, Dying for Sex leverages wonderful performances from Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate to present a bittersweet ode to living life to its fullest.”
—Isabel, Storyteller
Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector
First off, I laughed out loud several times while reading this script in public. Secondly, it blows my mind this play was written before the pandemic, and foreshadows so much of the experience we had. Last, this is one of those plays that I can’t wait to see a production because of the marriage of technical elements and humor.
—Isabel, Storyteller
Every Goddamn Day: A Highly Selective, Definitely Opinionated, and Alternatingly Humorous and Heartbreaking Historical Tour of Chicago by Neil Steinberg
From the publisher: “Acerbic Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg takes the story of the city, pares away the dull, eat-your-peas parts, and provides 366 captivating daily readings in what makes Chicago Chicago and America America. It calls upon a wide cast of characters, from Oscar Wilde to Muhammad Ali, from Emma Goldman to Teddy Roosevelt, and from Richard M. Daley to Fred Hampton, to create a compelling narrative that can be read at a sitting or in a yearlong series of daily doses. From New Year’s Day to New Years’ Eve, Steinberg takes us on a vivid and entertaining tour, illuminating the famous, obscure, tragic, and hilarious elements that make each day in Chicago memorable.
—Carol, Assistant Director of Development
The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson-Wheeler
From the publisher: “Freshly twenty-one and sporting a daring new bob, Greta Gatsby—younger sister to the infamous Jay—is looking forward to an idyllic summer at the Gatsby mansion…But death has come to West Egg, and with it, a web of scandal, betrayal, and secrets. Turning sleuth isn’t how Greta meant to spend her summer—but what choice does she have? Deftly subverting romantic notions about money, power, and freedom that still stand today, The Gatsby Gambit is a sparkling homage to, and reinvention of, a world American readers have lionized for generations.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Claire, along with Sash Bischoff (see below), for the next episode of our podcast Nation of Writers. In their latest works, both authors comment and reimagine the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald with modern feminist themes. This episode will be released later this month! Check out the AWM Podcast Network homepage for more information.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Hey, Mary! by Andrew Wheeler, illustrated by Rye Hickman
From the publisher: “Mark is a good Catholic boy. He goes to church, says his prayers, and spends too much time worrying about hell. When Mark realizes he has a crush on another boy in his school, he struggles to reconcile his feelings with his faith as the weight of centuries of shame and judgment—and his fear of his parents’ response—presses on his shoulders. Mark seeks advice from his priest, as well as a local drag performer, but also receives unexpected input from key figures in Catholic history and lore, including Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, St. Sebastian, and Savonarola. Ultimately, only Mark can answer the question: Is it possible for him to be both Catholic and gay?”
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex and Controversy in the 1980s by Paul Elie
From the publisher: “This enthralling group portrait brings to life a moment when popular culture became the site of religious strife—strife that set the stage for some of the most salient political and cultural clashes of our day…The Last Supper explores the bold and unexpected forms an encounter with belief can take. It traces the beginnings of our postsecular age, in which religion is at once surging and in decline. Through a propulsive narrative, it reveals the crypto-religious imagination as complex, credible, daring, and vividly recognizable.”
We are excited to host Elie at the AWM on May 30 at 7:00 pm as part of our new exhibit and programming initiative American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture. This event with Elie is presented in partnership with the Chicago Humanities Festival. You can learn more and get your ticket here!
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
From the publisher: “After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won’t be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.”
—Cristina, Development & Membership Associate
The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women’s Roles in Society by Eleanor Janega
This is an informative and engaging account of medieval ideas about women. Janega contrasts depictions of women from medieval sources, and the classical authors who medieval authors idolized, with the real roles of women in medieval society. Modern readers might be surprised at the similarities between medieval and modern ideas about women, but just as important are Janega’s refutations of modern stereotypes about medieval culture. She presents a full and complex picture of medieval women. I found that this book illuminated my understanding of both medieval culture and women plus it was a super fun read.
—Hunter, Storyteller
A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes
This one has been on my “to-read” list for a few years now, and I can say it definitely did not disappoint. The story follows Jackson, a somewhat simple guy who has his savings stolen by a ring of con artists, and from there things quickly go from bad to worse to way worse. It’s the first in Himes’ Harlem Detectives series, which features detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson. With character names like that, how can one go wrong? It’s a fairly short novel, at about 150 pages. What I really like about it is that Chester Himes takes the “hardboiled” style and makes it his own: there’s a streak of dark humor bordering on the absurd running through the book, but it never becomes comedic to the point of parody.
—Cassidy, Guest Services Manager
Saint Death’s Herald by C. S. E. Cooney
From the publisher: “Lanie Stones is the necromancer that Death has been praying for. Heartbroken, exiled from her homeland as a traitor, Lanie Stones would rather take refuge in good books and delicate pastries than hunt a deathless abomination, but that is the duty she has chosen. The abomination in question happens to be her own great-grandfather, the powerful necromancer Irradiant Stones. Grandpa Rad has escaped from his prison and stolen a body, and is heading to the icy country of Skakhmat where he died, to finish the genocide he started. Fortunately for her, Lanie has her powerful death magic, including the power to sing the restless dead to their eternal slumber; and she has her new family by her side. Grandpa Rad may have finally met his match.”
—Allison, Director of Programs
Severance by Ling Ma
From the publisher: “Maybe it’s the end of the world, but not for Candace Chen, a millennial, first-generation American and office drone meandering her way into adulthood in Ling Ma’s offbeat, wryly funny, apocalyptic satire, Severance…Candace won’t be able to make it on her own forever, though. Enter a group of survivors, led by the power-hungry IT tech Bob. They’re traveling to a place called the Facility, where, Bob promises, they will have everything they need to start society anew. But Candace is carrying a secret she knows Bob will exploit. Should she escape from her rescuers? A send-up and takedown of the rituals, routines, and missed opportunities of contemporary life, Ling Ma’s Severance is a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-adulthood tale, and a hilarious, deadpan satire. Most important, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the connections that drive us to do more than survive.”
—Cristina, Development & Membership Associate
Sinners written and directed by Ryan Coogler
A surreal movie experience, even more so if you have the chance to watch it on IMAX. —Andrea
From Warner Bros: “From Ryan Coogler—director of Black Panther and Creed—and starring Michael B. Jordan comes a new vision of fear: Sinners. Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.”
Can you tell I’ve been on a vampire kick? —Maya
—Andrea and Matt and Maya
The Studio created by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Matt Remick is the newly appointed head of Continental Studios; desperate for celebrity approval, he and his executive team at the movie studio must juggle corporate demands with creative ambitions as they try to keep movies alive and relevant. Savvy enough to impress even the most studious of film buffs, The Studio fights the good fight for a better Hollywood while eliciting huge laughs at its expense.”
—Leslie, Operations Associate
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.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sash, along with Claire Anderson-Wheeler (see above), for the next episode of our podcast Nation of Writers. In their latest works, both authors comment and reimagine the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald with modern feminist themes. This episode will be released later this month! Check out the AWM Podcast Network homepage for more information.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
Thunderbolts* screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo
From the studio: “Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes—Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?”
—Matt, Community Engagement Manager
Witch King by Martha Wells
From the publisher: “After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well. But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence? Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions. He’s not going to like the answers.”
—Allison, Director of Programs
Where the Ashes Are: The Odyssey of a Vietnamese Family by Nguyễn Quí Đức
From the publisher: “Intertwining these three stories, Where the Ashes Are shows us the Vietnam War through a child’s eyes, privation after a Communist takeover, and the struggle of new immigrants. The author, who returned to Vietnam as an American reporter, provides a detailed portrait of the nation as it opened to the West in the early 1990s. Where the Ashes Are closes with Nguyễn’s thoughts on being pulled between his adopted country and his homeland.”
Later this month, I have the pleasure of interviewing acclaimed writers Isabelle Thuy Pelaud and Viet Thanh Nguyen about Nguyễn Quí Đức’s lasting impact on their work and lives, as he inspired them to create the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network. This episode will be released later this month. Check out the AWM Podcast Network homepage for more information.
—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager
10 by SAULT
Since the pandemic, SAULT never fails to deliver a new album right when I need connection, reflection and release.
—Isabel, Storyteller
Visit our Reading Recommendations page for more book lists.