| USA TODAY
Priyanka Chopra Jonas fought for involvement in ‘The White Tiger’
When Priyanka Chopra Jonas heard that one of her favorite books was being made into a film, she said she knew she needed to get involved to follow her dream of telling more stories from South Asia. (January 21th)
AP
In search of something good to read? USA TODAY’s Barbara VanDenburgh scans the shelves for this week’s hottest book releases.
1. “The Four Winds,” by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press, fiction, on February 2)
What it is: From the author of “The Great Alone” comes a new epic novel of hope and sacrifice set in the scene of the Great Depression. In 1934, in Texas, Elsa Martinelli must travel west in search of a better and increasingly difficult future.
The buzz: A ★★★ ½ review (in four) for USA TODAY calls this “epic and exciting, an emotional story of suffering and love that will likely lead to a film adaptation”.
2. “The Low Desert: Gangster Stories,” by Tod Goldberg (counterpoint, fiction, on sale on February 2)
What it is: A collection of 12 elegant contemporary crime stories that exemplify art, sometimes tragically and darkly comic, set in the landscape of the California Interior Empire.
The buzz: “These spare slices of literary noir are the work of a master storyteller,” says a starred critic in Publisher Weekly.
3. “Mike Nichols: A Life,” by Mark Harris (Penguin Press, non-fiction, available February 2)
What it is: The acclaimed film writer Harris, with in-depth research and vivid details, writes a comprehensive biography of one of America’s most brilliant creative forces, the Oscar-winning director of “The Graduate”.
The buzz: Publishers Weekly calls this “a balanced and readable report with the joy of a complex man”.
‘Shady Baby’: Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade write a children’s book inspired by their 2-year-old daughter
4. “The Removed,” by Brandon Hobson (Ecco, fiction, on February 2)
What it is: Filled with history and Cherokee folklore, Hobson’s latest finds the fractured Echota family settling the score with the death of their son, who died 15 years ago in a police shooting.
The buzz: A ★★★ ½ rating for USA TODAY says the National Book Award finalist “wrote a subtle and powerful novel”.
5. “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019,” edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain (One World, non-fiction, on sale on February 2)
What it is: The authors of “How to Be an Antiracist” and “Set the World on Fire” edit this story from the African-American community of 90 writers, which includes historical essays, short stories and personal vignettes.
The buzz: “An impeccable, epic and essential vision of American history as a whole and a testament to the resilience of blacks,” says Kirkus Reviews.
‘Overwhelming demand’: Amanda Gorman’s next books mark the printing of one million copies each