As a Winnipegger without a car, I’m more than used to the many shortcomings of the city’s active transportation network. While there have been great improvements to bike lanes and sidewalks over the past years, there are still many occasions when, to avoid construction, snow/ice/water, uneven slabs, cracks and holes, and even parked cars, I’ve had to venture onto the street.
Ken Wilson, a Regina-based writer and academic, is also an urban walker familiar with the hazards of walking where pedestrians are not meant to go. His new book, Walking the Bypass: Notes on Place From the Side of the Road documents his experience of walking along the particularly pedestrian-unfriendly Regina Bypass.
But rather than grumble about the city’s car-centric culture, Wilson uses these walks to try to understand this new highway around Regina and reflect on the changes to the land since the arrival of settlers in the late 19th century. A departure from the podcast’s usual fare, our read this month was recommended by WPL’s current writer-in-residence, Ariel Gordon, who will be joining us as a guest on this episode.
This one won’t be out until April, so while you’re waiting, why not listen to our latest episode on The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, which has the distinction of being the only book two of our panelists did not finish. You’ll have to listen to find out why. And until next time, make sure you find… time to read.
That’s right. All three are considered classics and are also widely regarded as being virtually unreadable.
And yet, here we are. This month the “Time to Read” crew are tackling Tolkien’s legendarium, the background text for all of his fantasy writing. “One book to rule them all”, as it very much were. To be fair, it is not actually a single story, nor can we be certain that the version that was published was really what Tolkien intended.
Let me explain:
Most of us associate Tolkien’s name with his two best known works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Both these stories take place towards the end of the “third age” in a world known as “Middle Earth”. Long before Tolkien ever dreamt up the furry footed Hobbits, he was dreaming up myths and legends to provide a rich back story to his imaginary world. He first started writing the stories that would become The Silmarillion in 1914 when he was in hospital after returning from WWI. He continued to revise and add to his mythology throughout his entire life, never actually getting it published in his lifetime. After Tolkien’s death in 1973 his son Christopher took on the tedious task of going through his father’s papers and assembling as best he could the various stories, poems, sketches, and songs into a readable and publishable form. He hired Canadian scholar and writer Guy Gavriel Kay to work with him and together they cobbled together The Silmarillion and published it in 1977. Several other volumes in the history of “Middle Earth” followed, with the last being The Fall of Gondolinin 2018. Christopher Tolkien spent his entire adult life assembling and editing his father’s works, and if he hadn’t died in January 2020 at age 95 I’m sure he’d still be at it.
The version that was published in 1977 and the one that (I hope) we are all reading this month is in five parts. The first two are two different takes on Middle Earth’s creation story. The next section is Quenta Silmarillion (elvish for ‘The Tale of the Silmarils’). It chronicles the various comings and goings of elves and men in the “first age” as well what happens to three magical gems (The titular Simarlis). The following section, Akallabêth (Numerorian for ‘The Downfallen’), jumps hundreds of years to the “second age” and the Fall of Numenor. It is the story of what happens when humans try to snag immortality from the gods. Spoiler: it doesn’t end well for the humans. And if you’ve made it this far you get a sort of reward with the final section Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, which is pretty much just a summary of The Lord of the Rings, in case you had forgot why you picked this book up in the first place.
The Time to Read crew are grateful to have guest panelist, Erik Mann, join us for this one. He suggested this month’s read so we will look to him as the Noldor looked to the light of the two trees of Valinor for direction and hope (or something).
This episode will be ready on Friday, March 6. In the meantime, why not check out one of our older episodes at wpl-podcast.winnipeg.ca? In our most recent one we discuss The Postcard by Anne Berest.
And until next time, fellow adventurers, remember: Ná lúme parmaen! (Elvish for “It is TIME TO READ)
-Trevor
Who doesn’t love a good fantasy map? Middle-Earth composite by Escape_Forward found in the LOTR subreddit
Around this time of year, Winnipeg Public Library staff have a few traditions we take part in. One of the most loved is to send well wishes for the holidays from each branch to all our co-workers across the system. Another one is compiling this staff picks list. We ask for books in any genre that staff read this past year.
If you’re interested in catching up on previous years, here are our staff picks for 2023 and 2024.
Keep reading to find out what library staff have enjoyed this year.
Aiden says that reading The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes is like “finding treasure that’s washed up in a forgotten corner of a sewer and being astounded as each sparkling jewel and glittering gem is disinterred from the muck” and suggests you read it as well.
Anjelica could not put down Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang – a highly engaging and well-paced thriller.
Amber’s top read of the year was Atmosphereby Taylor Jenkins Reid – a perfect love story set in the 1970s with astronauts!
Amy devoured Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – a sweet, twisty sci-fi with an adorable little alien guy and a very hopeful tone
Christopher loves how each chapter in Strange Pictures by Uketsu stands alone yet leaves unsettling questions that slowly thread into a larger mystery. With deceptively simple images – it is minimalist storytelling that hits hard.
It is always hard to pick just one book out of the many great books we come across at the library, and so Conar suggests a series: Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series.
Daniel nominates Bukowski’s Broken Family Band by A.W. Glen. It’s written by a fellow Winnipegger and includes lots of shoutouts and honorable mentions of local landmarks.
If you enjoy funny, exciting, and compulsively readable books, check out Dennis’s pick- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, and if you enjoy it, there’s more in the series!
Dennis also suggests Children of Timeby Adrian Tchaikovsky. This intelligent and intriguing space opera stayed in his thoughts for quite a while after reading.
Eric suggests Lilith’s Brood – a trilogy collection which includes Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago by Octavia E. Butler, especially since it, like all great sci-fi, asks questions about the human experience through a lens of the weird and (sometimes not so) wonderful.
Florence’s pick is Here One Moment, by Liane Moriarity and don’t just read the summary, as it turns out to be not at all what you expect. Moriarity’s plotting and pacing are breathtakingly good.
Check out Hope’s number one comic pick – the Monstressseries by Marjorie Liu is available on Hoopla.
Ask Karli for her suggestion and she will say it’sThe Killer Questionwhich is full of colourful, unique characters, humour, secrets, and, of course, murder.
Keith’s pick is The Hunger We Pass Downby Jen Sookfong Lee about the demons passed down through five generations of women.
Kim N. enjoyedThe Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci – the first in the Atlee Pine thriller series.
Lauren’s pick for this year is The Perfect Marriageby Jeneva Rose which she couldn’t put down and it can be followed up with the sequel The Perfect Divorce.
Libby was delighted by The Bittlemoresby Jann Arden after it was recommended by her parents. It is a touch fantastical, centered around female characters, and set in rural Canada.
Madeleine’s pick is horror graphic novel Gyoby Junji Ito.
Meg’s recommendation is The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C. L. Miller – a fast-paced, scavenger-hunt-style mystery which follows a recently divorced former antique hunter who is forced to face her past and regain her confidence.
Monica recommends A Rip Through Time by Kelly Armstrong – perfect if you enjoy a strong female lead, time travel, and many interesting facts about Victorian England.
Randy read and very much enjoyed The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi – it’s a good read, well written, and should appeal to a wide audience.
Shelanda nominates The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen for a Hunger Games meets Greek mythology romance fantasy mashup.
Chair of Tearsby Gerald Vizenor submitted by Stephen is an amazing metaphorical novel about academia from an Indigenous perspective
If you are seeking something thought-provoking Sydney’s favourite was If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga. This book stays with you and is relevant to ongoing conversations about identity and belonging.
Vicki’s top read is The Wedding People by Alison Espach. It was well-written, entertaining, and insightful, and as soon as it was done, you’ll want to read another just like it.
Non-fiction
Casper offers the bookEat Like a Fish by Bren Smith to anyone needing a bit of environmental hope in these days of climate crisis and food shortages.
Ellen liked the creative non-fiction book Animaby Kapka Kassabova so much she is going to buy a copy for her dad for Christmas.
Eric urges us to go to Hoopla and listen to the eAudiobook How To Lose the Hounds by Celeste Winston. It’s a history of Black resistance to slavery, and as slavery evolved into the modern-day prison-industrial complex, how Black resistance evolved along with it.
Joel recommends Mohammed El-Kurd’s Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal as he found this book particularly impactful because the author lives the stories he is telling.
Jordan’s top pick of 2025 is Omar El Akkad’s award-winning One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Informative, vulnerable, and deeply cathartic, El Akkad’s writing has become her new touchstone for superb non-fiction and fiction alike.
Follow Jordan’s advice and read The Radium Girls by Kate Moore. This book didn’t shy away from the details of what happened to each woman as the radium wreaked havoc on their bodies and the never-ending court battles they faced.
Kelly suggests everyone check out the memoir Joyrideby Susan Orleans.
Rook enjoyed The Once and Future Sexby Eleanor Janega, which holds valuable insights into why modern misconceptions of gender roles came about and highlights how false the idea of strict gender roles is.
Sidney had been looking forward to Fun Home by Allison Bechdel and it truly exceeded all expectations.
Music aficionado Steven loved Michel Faber’s book Listen– it even changed his mind on how he thinks about the music he enjoys!
Trevor just started The Uncool by Cameron Crowe, and it is quickly becoming his favourite book of the year. This memoir is very funny, and he weaves a beautiful portrait of his relationship with his mother throughout the book.
For Younger Readers
Kaitlin didn’t want to overthink it and her first instinct was to suggest the beautifully illustrated Sunflower Seeds by Ellen Heck.
Tobias enjoyed The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman, a middle years novel about a journey aboard a sentient steam locomotive to rescue endangered animals.
But, we get so few listener recommendations (hint hint), so I owed it to them to not pass this one off so quickly. It didn’t take long before I was intrigued. This did not seem like your average Holocaust historical fiction novel. In this book, a woman is sent a mysterious postcard with four names on it – her grandfather, grandmother, aunt, and uncle – who were all killed at Auschwitz. And this postcard is the impetus for delving into the family’s history.
This best-selling book was a finalist for the prestigious Prix Goncourt and has received much critical acclaim. A review in The Guardian says “it combines the heft of lived experience with the drive of narrative fiction”.
Will this be added to the “yet another WWII book pile” or will it transcend its popular genre? You’ll have to wait until February to find out. Until then, why not check out our latest episode on Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards. Suffice to say, we all loved it. As a bonus, we also talk about our 2024 reading resolutions and set ourselves new resolutions for 2025. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!
And until next time, make sure you find….time to read!
Has anyone seen the new show “Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter”? After a few episodes, the online knitting community is positively buzzing about it. Everyone is hoping for future seasons, but many viewers are disappointed that the show doesn’t appropriately display the rich history, artistry, and technical skills of knitting (and crochet, since the show highlights both). Let’s join the conversation, keeping things positive and focusing on the fibre arts.
Knitting and crochet can be incredibly complex, using various techniques that require a great deal of skill and practice. They can also be great ways to relax, keep your hands busy, learn a new skill, practice skills passed down in your family, make a handmade gift, choose slow or mindful fashion – the list goes on. Realistically, your knitting or crochet journey is probably a combination of these, and there is no wrong answer. Both of these fibre arts offer so much to learn and enjoy, and the online discussion shows just how personal they are to so many of us and how they bring us together.
Based on the show and the online discussion, here are some books to learn more and inspire your knitting or crochet practice.
This is such a beautiful book to honour Fair Isle knitting. The first section is an introduction to the Shetland Islands, the sheep, the wool, and the care that is put into making the yarn. From there, it has pages of colour combinations and sample swatches, then stunning patterns that show true artistry and technical skill.
The show has generated a lot of talk about chunky yarn, so here is one of the many great books we have that offer patterns for bulky and chunky yarns. Check out page 151 for a great tip on how to use a crochet hook to cable when working with large needles.
This incredible book combines Olsen’s personal experience learning to knit, how it connected her to community, the history of the Coast Salish knitting, and the famous Cowichan Sweater. She also shares seven modern patterns of her own design, and they are stunning. This book perfectly shows how knitting has a rich history and still brings us together.
There are so many beautiful, wearable patterns in this book! Every project is made from or inspired by the granny square, and they are all so fun. There isn’t a bathing suit pattern, but you can make “Fresh as a Daisy Shorts” on page 78.
Like the slow food movement, this book encourages knitters to consider every aspect of the craft, such as creating their own yarn, to better understand how to handle handspun yarn. For example, the Grow cable pullover pattern on page 53 tells you to take your time when knitting to “allow yourself to focus on the simple joy of movement and the happiness of moments spent with beautiful wool.”
“It starts with a rumble, a heartbeat, a powwow on a gym floor…” Kyle Edwards
Lace up your skates and hit the ice with the St. Croix Tigers. No one can remember the last time they won a game, and rumours are swirling that their league is going to drop them at the end of this season. Despite not knowing what winning feels like, Tomahawk “Tommy” Shields and his best friend Clinton Whiteway are “halfway hopeful” at the outset of their first home game of the season against the St. Norbert Bullfrogs.
So opens Small Ceremonies, the debut novel from Kyle Edwards. A writer from the Lake Manitoba First Nation and a member of the Ebb and Flow First Nation, Edwards graduated from Ryerson University and has written for Native News Online, ProPublica, and Maclean’s magazine.
The novel follows Tommy and Clinton through their school year and we become familiar with their families, their community, and what it means to grow up indigenous in Winnipeg.
I’m still grappling with the fact that the main character’s last name is “Shields” and the title of Carol Shields’ first novel was also Small Ceremonies. These are the things that keep me up at night.
WPL nominated Small Ceremonies for the Dublin Literary Award in 2026, so it will be very interesting to see if it makes the shortlist. Nominations are submitted by public libraries worldwide – over 400 library systems in 177 countries are invited to nominate books each year.
I can only imagine that one of the few things more exciting than getting nominated for a major literary award is to be featured on WPL’s monthly bookclub podcast, Time to Read. Well Kyle, this is your lucky month! We will be reading Small Ceremonies in December and our discussion will be available on Friday, January 2. It’s also our New Year’s episode so we will check in to see how the panel did on their 2025 reading resolutions and find out what is in store for 2026.
This blog is inspired by our cats, Seven and Star. Our Tuxedo cat, Seven, was found hiding under a car near 7-11 at 1:30 am when she was about 5 months old. The kitten followed my daughter home. We located the owner; however, they couldn’t keep her and asked if we could take her, so we did. At the time, we were already temporarily looking after our youngest daughter’s Tuxedo cat, Star, so we thought that two cats were better than one, and for us, it was.
Who knew these cats would bring me so much joy? I think that Seven even has my husband wrapped around her little paw.
The WPL has many interesting books for cat lovers, including those for practicalities, like building a winter playground or keeping an indoor cat occupied. Many writers have been inspired by felines, including Kafka, Buchowski, and Hemingway, to name a few.
Nowhere is the love of cats more apparent than at La Finca de Martha, a thirty-minute drive from Havana, where first Gellhorn and Hemingway, and then Hemingway and his second wife, Mary, had a home. The cats are buried near the pool, and their five headstones remain.
So, if you like historical fiction, you might find Love and Ruin by Paula McLain right up your alley. The bestselling author of The Paris Wife explores the stormy relationship between Gellhorn and Hemingway. Martha Gellhorn, one of the most prolific war correspondents of the 20th Century, and Hemingway were both sent to cover the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and this book examines that relationship.
Mornings without Mii by Mayumi Inaba is a tender book, poetic, beautifully written, and bittersweet. Inaba finds a kitten high up in a hole in a chain link fence. The kitten’s mewing had been carried by the wind on a river near her home. It’s the bittersweet story of someone who loses their beloved cat after twenty years.
An oldie, but goodie is Cat’s Eye by Canada’s National Treasure, Margaret Atwood. The library often gets folks looking for clear writing, and this is a classic. Atwood possibly draws on her childhood experiences in Northern Quebec as well as Southern Ontario. Newcomers learning English as an additional language might find this a good choice.
If you are looking for Atwood’s newest title, Book of Lives A Memoir of Sorts, the library has this autobiography in various formats, although there might be a bit of a wait.
This book examines cat behaviour and was listed in the Fall Hotlist of 2024 and is translated from French. It is fascinating and describes a range of different disorders and possible solutions. I created a sensory box for Seven, and after looking at many of these books, I’ve got some ideas about how to jazz it up a little. For example, adding mouse-like toys to the sensory box, and the occasional baked mouse treat, as can be found in…
This is a fun read, with beautiful illustrations, and filled with ideas. In addition to the mouse treats, it has simple ideas like using a sliding box with treats inside.
Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd, who is a Canadian author, bonus! Purr has some fascinating chapters that include interesting ideas on training and play, as well as scent training.
I think cats are experts at changing the rules. If you’re looking for a survival guide against authoritarian regimes, check out Lesson from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart “Brittlestar” Reynolds.
Filled with eleven chapters that take inspiration from pussycats. The first of Reynolds’ chapters is entitled Staying Nimble and Unpredictable because, according to the author, cats are experts at doing the unexpected in the face of authoritarian rule. This book is hilarious and again has fantastic illustrations
The premise of We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida is that there is a clinic in Kyoto that prescribes patients a cat for their ailments. Each short story begins with a beautiful illustration of the particular cat chosen for that individual and their condition.
The cat encyclopedia : the definitive visual guide by Kim Dennis-Bryan is also a must for cat lovers. This guide goes into famous cat owners and has beautiful and terribly cute photos and descriptions of the various breeds. It also has a chapter on famous folks and their kitties.
I have heard that a cat’s true personality doesn’t appear for about three months, and this was the case for both of our cats. Thankfully, they both have revealed their personalities, found their furever homes, and get to visit each other often.
Every November, as we pin on a poppy, we take a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made for our freedom. But this year, and as we look ahead to 2025, our contemplation takes on an even deeper significance. We just marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II—a watershed moment in global history, and several books have arrived at the library dealing with the last months of the Second World War and the beginning of the post-war era.
Reading the stories of those who lived through the war—whether as soldiers, nurses, code-breakers, or civilians—is one of the many ways we can contribute to the act of remembrance.
The Spring of 1945 saw some of the most violent and desperate battles in Europe, and Canadians fought alongside the Western Allies all the way into Nazi Germany to bring about the final victory. Last voices of the second world war by Marie-Louise Deruaz is a souvenir catalogue from the Canadian War Museum that gives a voice to the last surviving veterans of the war, and their loved ones. The book is filled with stories of Canadian veterans and their families, who lived through the life-changing events of the war and experienced its profound, lasting effects. It also sheds new light on the challenges, rewards and legacy of military service, which shaped the lives of these individuals and the generations that followed in profound and unexpected ways.
1945 : a visual history by Anthony Richards tells the story of this momentous year through the unique collections of the Imperial War Museum, using personal testimony and rarely seen illustrations consider the wide-ranging experiences of those historic 12 months. From continued fighting through north-west Europe, South East Asia and the Pacific to the liberation of the concentration camps, while encompassing the post-war desire for reconstruction, repatriation and justice.
The war in Europe ended in May 1945, but the Pacific War, with the Allies fighting Japan, carried on for several months with no quick end in sight. Then on the morning of August 6, 1945, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was struck by the world’s first atomic bomb. Then, just three days later, when Japan showed no sign of surrender, the United States took aim at Nagasaki. The Japanese government formally surrendered less than a month later, ending the Second World War and signaling the beginning of the atomic age.
The Hiroshima men: the quest to build the atomic bomb, and the fateful decision to use it by Iain MacGregor recounts the development, deployment, and aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, tracing its origins through World War II geopolitics and scientific breakthroughs while highlighting perspectives from American military leaders, Japanese civilians, and postwar chroniclers of the bomb’s devastating impact.
In the second volume of his prize-worthy two-book series on the atomic bombings of Japan, Nagasaki : the last witnesses, author Mordechai Shetfall has spent years personally interviewing hibakusha – the Japanese word for atomic bomb survivors, telling the tale of the people on the ground who witnessed the event, based on years of irreplicable personal interviews.
The library has also recently received excellent reads about other conflicts in which Canada was involved. In Till we meet again : a Canadian in the First World War by Brandon Marriott, the First World War comes to life in unprecedented detail, drawing on Lester’s letters as well as meticulous historical research. An incredibly evocative and action-filled story of one ordinary homesteader from British Columbia’s fight in the First World War, rich and raw with remarkable detail.
It seems hard to believe for 21st-century Canadians that 5 years after the end of the largest conflict in human history, Canada was again embroiled in a new war in Asia: the Korean War. Korea was the battleground for the first hot war of the Cold War. It was also Canada’s most significant engagement of the twentieth century after the two World Wars. Canada and the Korean War : histories and legacies of a Cold War conflict gathers leading Canadian and international scholars to explore the key themes and battles of a seminal yet understudied conflict. From 1950 to 1953, more than 30,000 Canadian military personnel served in the Korean War theatre, and “peacetime” defense spending reached an unprecedented level.
What books on WWII or Remembrance Day have deeply impacted you?
Next month, the Time to Read podcast is going dark with S.A. Cosby’s mystery thriller Razorblade Tears. This book falls into the “Southern noir” genre; a type of crime fiction set in the American South that deals with themes related to poverty, racism, and violence.
Set in rural Virginia, this book follows aging ex-cons Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee. When their sons are killed – an interracial gay couple with a baby daughter – the two men go on a quest for revenge, confronting their own prejudices along the way.
This book was shortlisted for and won a bunch of awards and has a slew of great reviews. Kirkus called it a “bloody good yarn”, Booklist Online notes its “powerful blend of pulsing action”, and The New York Times called this “a brawling, go-for-baroque pulpfest”.
After a couple of mediocre picks, I have high hopes for this one. Described as a “literary action thriller”, this book seems like it’s got something all three of us will enjoy. Will I be right? You’ll have to wait until December 5th to find out. For now, why not check out our latest episode on the standalone fantasy Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang? We have feelings about it.
And until next time, make sure you find….time to read!
‘Tis the season for spooky stories! I love horror, and like most horror readers, I have read a Stephen King book or two (or twenty). I love his books (see the end for my top 5 King books), but I always want to find different authors to read, and so many horror book lists are populated with 75% Stephen King novels; he is the King of Horror after all. I’m going to help you by giving you my horror recommendations that aren’t Stephen King novels.
This Young Adult novel has much that I love in a scary story: isolationist horror, queer characters, actual life-or-death stakes, and spooky history. Charity Curtis works at Camp Mirror Lake, a camp designed to give guests the thrill of living in a horror movie in a full-contact terror game. But during the last weekend of the season, some staffers go missing and one turns up dead. Charity, her co-workers, her best friend, and her girlfriend must figure out what is going on. Is the killer real? Why are they attacking the staff? What it has to do with the deadly history of Camp Mirror Lake? If you like isolationist horror, where characters are stranded far from civilization with someone (or something) trying to get them, this could be the perfect book for you.
I’ve been a fan of Abby Howard’s funny online comics for a while, mainly those that focus on her cat Spoons, so imagine my surprise when I picked up this graphic novel horror anthology and found out she was the author and illustrator! The illustrations are all black and white, and there isn’t a lot of gore, but the five stories still pack a punch with the supernatural spookiness: a little girl meets a strange boy who lives in the sea; a family cares for a carnivorous beast living in the lake by their home; an older woman is visited by a corpse in her bayou home and strikes up a conversation, and more. Sometimes bittersweet and always scary, these stories will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book.
You’ve likely heard about, if not seen, the movie. An apocalyptic story where people worldwide start seeing something that causes them to lose their sanity or lose their lives. The only way to stay safe is by wearing a blindfold when outside. This story follows Malorie, a woman expecting a baby on the day the world goes to hell. The story goes back and forth between Malorie in the immediate aftermath of the apocalypse, finding shelter and friends, and Malorie in the future, alone save for two young children, trying to take them to a promised safe community. I’d seen the movie, so thought I wouldn’t get much out of this book. But once I started, I couldn’t put it down. There are changes from the book to the film that make it feel like a whole new experience, even having seen the movie. And good news, if you like this book, you can pick up the sequel, Malorie, or read more of Josh Malerman’s novels.
Some more isolationist horror for you! What can I say, I love horror stories where you don’t wonder “why don’t they just leave?/call the cops?/go find help?” The SS Arcadia disappeared after broadcasting a confusing emergency message. 60 years later, the wreck has finally been found and Cove and her dive team are the first to visit the ship. They hope to figure out what caused the sinking, but as they explore the ship, they catch glimpses of movement, hear strange noises, and see strange writing on the walls. Soon, they realize the answer might be more horrifying than they thought. The novel switches from the dive to the last few days on the Arcadia, as things go from bad to bizarre for the crew and her passengers. There’s a very claustrophobic feeling, especially when the dive team is swimming through the ship. The narrative adds to the tension by reminding us how much air the team has and how long it will take them to surface; worse, panicking uses up air. The more we learn about the ship’s last days, the more we realize it was no mere accident that led the ship to its watery grave, and Cove and her dive team are in very real danger.
Okay, this might be bending the rules a bit: Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son, but he’s an author in his own right and has a unique writing style all his own. His collection of four short stories present tales of regular Americans experiencing the unexplained and horrifying. Nails rain down (literally) from the sky; a camera takes pictures and erases memories; a parachuter’s jump goes wrong when he gets stuck on a cloud; a mall security guard slowly loses his sanity after stopping a mass shooting. These stories are populated with unique characters with distinctive voices and backstories that really pull you into their lives as the horror unfolds around them. There aren’t a lot of tropes or cliches in these stories; you won’t know what you’re going to get until you’ve reached the last page, and then you’ll be left thinking “How did he come up with that?!”
If you’re curious, here are my top 5 Stephen King books:
Readers' Salon 
