The backlist: Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
For fans of the Saint of Bright Doors and The Kite Runner, Exit West is an exquisitely told story that propels us into a future in which changing countries is as easy as opening a door.
The backlist: A Disability History of the United States
A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nielsen is a groundbreaking history of the United States through the lens of disability. Sweeping in scope—from before 1492 to the present—this brief introduction to disability history offers readers a solid foundation on which to build their knowledge. Nielsen tells the stories of disabled people through deep research in primary sources with a historian’s eye for trends.
The backlist: Of cancer journals and checklist manifestos
While it might seem odd to say that Lorde and Gawande are in conversation with each other, Lorde‘s and Gawande’s approaches to the system they critique offer parallel and sometimes intersecting perspectives. Furthermore, Lorde has something to offer Gawande. Whereas Lorde’s focus is more on the emotional journey of a patient in treatment, Gawande’s approach is far more focused on the technical aspects. I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more emotion penetrate the clinical nature of his approach.
The backlist: Brotherhood
Brotherhood is my favorite Star Wars book so far, and I read my fair share of Star Wars books last year to prepare for the Acolyte.
This book is sure to become a classic among Star Wars fans. I can’t wait for Chen’s next foray into a galaxy far, far away.
The backlist: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
You should read the Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi if you:
Think Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) was the true hero of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Observe Talk Like a Pirate Day every year.
Are a woman over 40 who craves adventure, especially if you’re a mom!
Love SA Chakraborty’s City of Brass and The Daevabad Trilogy
Love cozy vibes where a story with even the highest stakes (death and eternal damnation) is still lots of fun.
Backlists, baby!
I love a good backlist book. And I am not alone! In We need to talk about the backlist, Thad McIlroy reported that backlist books represent about 2/3 of what readers buy. Since 2020, some publishers have reported increased backlist sales. Although McIllroy doesn’t get into the reason for that increase, I would argue that financial uncertainty and a need for comfort drove readers not just to the backlist books, but to the library backlists specifically. That’s where I get most of my backlist reading.