A poor mother and daughter in London fatefully decide to take in boarders in the wake of World War I. Sarah Waters' The Paying Guests debuts at No. 12.
Debuting at No. 14., Lawrence Wright's Thirteen Days in September presents an account of the 1978 Camp David conference during which Jimmy Carter convinced Israel and Egypt to sign a peace treaty.
Jo Nesbo's 2013 thriller, The Redeemer, has maverick detective Harry Hole searching the darkest corners of the former Yugoslavia. It appears at No. 14.
In her latest collection, Margaret Atwood takes on death, dreadfulness and the use of fantasy. Though these stories are strange and wild, they all somehow ring true.
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize, honoring writers who use literature to further social justice, has recognized Bob Shacochis and Karima Bennoune. Also: Sub Pop has published some grunge-worthy haiku.
Robert Peace, a 30-year-old African-American, was a Yale University graduate and an almost straight-A student in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He also dealt marijuana.
The 24 writers chosen will set out on long-distance train rides — and write along the way. Also: Neil Gaiman tells a tale about Terry Pratchett, who isn't quite the kindly elf you might think he is.
Beth Cato's debut novel takes on the problems and limitations of the steampunk genre with an appealing heroine and a thoughtful meditation on what heroism really means. Plus, mechanical animals!