AWM Staff Picks: October 2025

Animal Stories by Kate Zambreno

From the publisher: “From a writer who has ‘invented a new form’ (Annie Ernaux), an exploration of mortality, alienation, boredom, surveillance, and how we regard ourselves among the animals… Amid excursions with their young children, Zambreno turns to Garry Winogrand’s photographs and John Berger’s writings on animals, reshaping the spectator as the subject to decode our complex ‘zoo feelings’—what we project, and what we refuse to see. Then, in the ‘Kafka system’ that dovetails with these zoo studies, Zambreno thinks through the notebooks and animal stories of a writer known for playing at the threshold between species, continuing their investigation into the false divide between human and animal. Drawing on forms including reports, essays, journals, and stories, Zambreno renders visible the enclosures we construct and the ones we occupy ourselves.”

—Andrew, Institutional Giving Manager

Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You Too, August Wilson) by Rachel Lynett

From the publisher: “What does it mean to be safe when you’re a person of color in the United States? If you were given the chance to leave and create a utopia, would you? Is utopia possible with all of our subconscious bias? Rachel Lynett’s highly satirical and funny play is set in the fictional world following a second Civil War. Bronx Bay, an all-Black state (and neighborhood), is established in order to protect ‘Blackness.’ When Jules’s new partner, Yael, moves into town, community members argue over whether Yael, who is Dominican, can stay. Questions of safety and protection surround both Jules and Yael as the utopia of Bronx Bay confronts within itself where the line is when it comes to defining who is Black and who gets left out in the process.”

—Matt, Community Engagement Manager

The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter

Sarah Rose Etter’s debut, The Book of X, is a remarkable work of experimental fiction teeming with body horror and the uncanny. Etter’s command of the genre earned The Book of X the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award. I re-read We Have Always Lived in the Castle every fall, and Etter shows a similar command of eerie settings and the feminine gothic. The Book of X follows Cassie, a girl born with her stomach in a knot, as she attends high school and comes of age on her family’s meat farm. Though Etter has a fascinating command of the surreal, Cassie’s changing relationship to femininity and the male gaze are all too real for any woman who has grown up in America.

—Sydney, Curatorial Assistant

Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade

From the publisher: “Drawing on never-before-seen interviews, a richly researched, sweeping examination of one of the most influential and mythologized literary figures of the 20th century and her partner’s emergence from the shadows after her death, in the decades-long fight to ensure her legacy…Pushing beyond the conventions of literary biography, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife is a bold, innovative examination of the nature of legacy and memory itself, in which Wade uncovers the origins of Stein’s radical writing and reveals new depths to the storied relationship that made it possible.”

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Wade on the latest episode of our podcast Nation of Writers. We spoke about her research and writing process, Stein’s writing, and Stein’s complicated legacy. You can listen to the episode here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

From the publisher: “First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a ‘haunting’; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.”

—Annie, Education Associate

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

From the publisher: “Healer Anja regularly drinks poison. Not to die, but to save—seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on. But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her. Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick. Or it might be the thing that kills them all.

—Allison, Director of Programs

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

I am happy I went into this book blindly, because the twists and turns were so much more enjoyable! So here is a little excerpt of what the book is about, without giving too much away:

“In 1714 France, Addie LaRue makes a fateful choice to escape a life of confinement: she makes a deal with a mysterious being, trading her soul for the promise of immortality. Through centuries, Addie moves around the world, blending into the shadows of history. Her existence is one filled with fleeting relationships, artistic endeavors, and a longing to make her existence mean something despite her curse. For nearly three hundred years, Addie is unable to leave a mark on the world, destined to live a life of forgotten connections. But in modern-day New York, everything shifts when she meets Henry in a dimly lit bookstore.”

—Andrea, Education Program Coordinator

Jennifer’s Body screenplay by Diablo Cody

This is another piece of media I return to every October! It is one of my favorite horror movies, largely because of its writing. Though Megan Fox plays a demon-possessed succubus, Jennifer’s Body is as much of a campy romp and comedy as it is a horror flick. Jennifer’s Body screams early 2000s nostalgia in the best way. While the film was met with mixed reviews upon its initial release, it has garnered a cult following, including among queer women. For a bonus recommendation, Carmen Maria Machado writes a prolific essay about Jennifer’s Body in the anthology It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror.

—Sydney, Curatorial Assistant

Joyride by Susan Orlean

From the publisher: “From the beloved New Yorker writer Susan Orlean, bestselling author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book and hailed as ‘a national treasure’ by The Washington Post, Joyride is a masterful memoir of finding her creative calling and purpose that invites us to approach life with wonder, curiosity, and an irrepressible sense of delight…Infused with Orlean’s signature warmth and wit, Joyride is a must-read for anyone who hungers to start, build, and sustain a creative life. Orlean inspires us to seek out daily inspiration and rediscover the marvels that surround us.”

We are honored to host Orlean for a program later this month to discuss her new memoir. She will be at the American Writers Museum on October 24 at 6:00 pm. Books will be available for purchase and Orlean will sign them following the program. Learn more and get your tickets here!

—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager

Long Story Short created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

From IMDB: “A dysfunctional family’s shared history, inside jokes, and old wounds are explored in this adult animated comedy spanning multiple years.”

—Andrew, Institutional Giving Manager

The Lost Boys screenplay by Janice Fischer, James Jeremias, and Jeffrey Boam

From IMDB: “When a recently divorced mother and her two teenage boys move to a coastal town to stay with her father, it doesn’t take long for the brothers to realize the area is a haven for something much more sinister than party-going surfers.”

—Annie, Education Associate

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

From the publisher: “The critically acclaimed cult novelist makes visceral the terrors of life in Jim Crow America and its lingering effects in this brilliant and wondrous work of the imagination that melds historical fiction, pulp noir, and Lovecraftian horror and fantasy…A chimerical blend of magic, power, hope, and freedom that stretches across time, touching diverse members of two black families, Lovecraft Country is a devastating kaleidoscopic portrait of racism—the terrifying specter that continues to haunt us today.”

We recently had the honor of hosting Ruff and fellow horror writers Tanarive Due and Juan Martinez for a program to discuss the connection between horror writing and religion. This program is part of our American Prophets exhibit and initiative. You will be able to view this program or listen to it as an episode of our podcast later this month. Stay tuned!

—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager

One Battle After Another screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson

From IMDB: “When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.”

—Maya, Marketing & Creative Associate

Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive

Grace Flahive envisions an all-LGBTQ+ retirement community in a not-too-distant future when Florida is halfway underwater. Despite exploring the fears we all have about climate change and mortality, Palm Meridian is teeming with queer joy and community. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, protagonist Hannah decides to throw one last party, inviting her lost and only love, Sophie. Alternating between present and past tenses with a high-energy 24 hours and an emotional reflection of a life well-lived, Palm Meridian has stuck with me as sweetly as South Florida air. This novel is a gorgeous reminder that we need not always fear what comes after.

—Sydney, Curatorial Assistant

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut

I found it interesting to read his first novel partially just from a “craft” point-of-view, because his style hasn’t quite come into its own yet but all the hallmarks of it are there in an earlier stage of development. I will say it took me a minute to get into, but I really enjoyed it once I did, and the story still feels contemporary.

—Cassidy, Guest Services Manager

Playground by Richard Powers

From the publisher: “Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel…They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away. Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.”

—Christopher, Director of Operations

Practical Magic screenplay by Robin Swicord, Akiva Goldsman, and Adam Brooks

From IMDB: “Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.”

—Matt, Community Engagement Manager

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

From the publisher: “A gripping, page-turning ‘masterpiece’ set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as he’s sent to a segregated reform school that is a chamber of terrors where he sees the horrors of racism and injustice, for the living, and the dead…a work of historical fiction written as only American Book Award–winning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.”

We recently had the honor of hosting Due and fellow horror writers Matt Ruff and Juan Martinez for a program to discuss the connection between horror writing and religion. This program is part of our American Prophets exhibit and initiative. You will be able to view this program or listen to it as an episode of our podcast later this month. Stay tuned!

—Nate, Content & Exhibits Manager

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

From the publisher: “Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women’s book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town.”

“This funny and fresh take on a classic tale manages to comment on gender roles, racial disparities, and white privilege all while creeping me all the way out. So good.” —Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl

—Annie, Education Associate

Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck

This is an all-time Spider-Man story. It’s pretty self-contained, so readers can enjoy it without feeling like they’re missing out on a larger context or story. I recall being pretty scared by it as a kid; the art is very intense and expressionist, and there’s a good building of suspense throughout the story. Might not be for those who are really afraid of spiders.

—Cassidy, Guest Services Manager

The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings by Edgar Allan Poe

From the publisher: “Readers will recognize their favorite horror stories in the collection The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings. Edgar Allen Poe was a master of suspense, horror, and mystery, and his stories, while truly terrifying, are also delightfully entertaining. Also included in this collection are the following stories: ‘Angel Of The Odd,’ ‘Berenice,’ ‘The Black Cat,’ ‘Bon-Bon,’ ‘The Business Man,’ ‘Eleonora,’ ‘The Imp Of The Perverse,’ ‘Morella,’ ‘The Oblong Box,’ and ‘William Wilson.'”

—Annie, Education Associate

That’s Showbiz Baby! by Jade

From Pitchfork: “Finally liberated from the strictures of chart-topping girl group Little Mix, Jade Thirlwall cuts loose on a solo debut that revels in the glee of self-reinvention.”

—Courtney, Assistant Director of Education