The Book Review: Zadie Smith’s riveting historical epic

Plus: Read Your Way Through Seoul and tk

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 8, 2023 Illustration by Leigh Guldig Dear fellow readers, Zadie Smith's very Dickensian new novel, "The Fraud," is on our cover this week. This one has a lot of the Book Review's editors talking — and listening, since Smith narrates the audiobook version herself: a treat, given her enthralling voice and abundant talent for mimicry. (If you've never watched this YouTube video of her singing "Lady and the Tramp" with Lady Rizo, give yourself five minutes to remedy that right now, and be prepared to go down a rabbit hole hunting for other clips.) Smith isn't the only major novelist with a new book out; this issue also looks at the latest offerings from Lauren Groff and Stephen King (our guest on this week's podcast), among others. In nonfiction, we consider the extremely different romantic lives of George Orwell and George Eliot, and review a biography of the con man who paved the way for all those "Nigerian prince" email scams. If you have time, tell us what you're reading. (We may publish your response, or feature it in an upcoming newsletter.) You can email me at books@nytimes.com. I read every letter sent. Gregory Cowles Senior Editor, The New York Times Book Review Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Like this email? Sign-up here or forward it to your friends. Have a suggestion or two on how we can improve it? Let us know at newsletters@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. FOR AUDIOBOOK LOVERS Audiobooks Audiobook of the Week: Meryl Streep Would Like to Tell You a Story The actor narrates Ann Patchett's sentimental new novel, "Tom Lake," about a Midwestern family. By Jane Hu AUdiobooks Audiobook of the Week: 'The Ghost Club' Kate Winkler Dawson's audiobook original reveals the origins of a society of occult-obsessed supernaturalists that included Dickens, Doyle, Yeats and more. By Audrey Clare Farley Audiobooks Audiobook of the Week: 'How to Write About Africa' A new recording revisits the late Binyavanga Wainaina's rhetorical strength and disarming humor in a collection of essays, stories and satire. By Dipo Faloyin LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT READ? If you like historical fiction, thrillers, crime novels, romance, horror, science fiction or fantasy, we've got ideas. And there's plenty more: Editors' choice 9 New Books We Recommend This Week Suggested reading from critics and editors at The New York Times. What Book Should You Read Next? Finding a book you'll love can be daunting. Let us help. By The New York Times Books Staff Paperback Row 6 Paperbacks to Read This Week Recommended reading from the Book Review, including titles by Abdulrazak Gurnah, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, Jonathan Escoffery and more. By Shreya Chattopadhyay Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Enjoy all of The New York Times in one subscription — the original reporting and analysis, plus puzzles from Games, recipes from Cooking, product reviews from Wirecutter and sports journalism from The Athletic. Experience it all with a New York Times All Access subscription. THIS WEEK IN THE BOOK REVIEW Raphaelle Macaron Read Your Way Through Seoul Han Kang grew up in Seoul, a city that embraces "thousands of years of turbulence." She recommends reading that draws from the various eras that have made up her hometown. By Han Kang and translated by Jasmine Jeemin Lee Doeun Choi Thrillers Thrillers Spiked With Terror, Dread and Melancholy Three new books come in several shades of fear. By Sarah Lyall Shiva Nallaperumal Poetry He's Worked a Lot of Odd Jobs, and Has the Poems to Prove It In "Fixer," his second collection, the poet Edgar Kunz demonstrates a hard familiarity with the gig economy. By Jeff Gordinier THE BOOK REVIEW PODCAST Stephen King Explains Why He's a Mystery Writer Not So Big on Mystery The author discusses his new novel, "Holly," his views on writing and life, and his own influence on younger generations. And we look at September books. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ETC. Ben Hickey Can You Find These 14 Hidden Children's Book Titles? Looking for a new way to discover books? More than a dozen titles are hidden within this short section of text and the reading list grows as you correctly click on each one. By J. D. Biersdorfer Rebecca Clarke By the Book One Day, Yiyun Li Might Get Around to Reading Roald Dahl "They are meaningful books for my children, but I haven't read them," says the novelist and story writer, whose new book is the collection "Wednesday's Child." Peter Brown/"The Wild Robot Escapes" Essay Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids The books in Peter Brown's "Wild Robot" trilogy were the first to wallop my son with the mix of tragedy and joy that define great art and also real life. By Craig Fehrman RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR COLUMNISTS Crime & Mystery New Novels Brimming With Murder, Jazz and Sumptuous Sweets Our crime columnist recommends four September books. By Sarah Weinman Romance Romance Novels That Celebrate the Hard Work of Love In these books, love is a choice you make over and over, not just on one day in a white dress. By Olivia Waite Science Fiction and Fantasy Witches, Robots and Martial Artists, Ready for Battle New books by Juno Dawson, Emma Mieko Candon and Alexander Darwin. By Amal El-Mohtar BEST SELLERS Inside the best-seller list: How does a best-selling author name her characters? Read all of our lists Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Books from The New York Times. To stop receiving Books, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018