Best time to discover new books

Debbie Jacob writes a weekly column for the Newsday

Call this a roundup of book news. There is a lot happening in the publishing world this time of year, and you should know about new book releases as the Christmas holidays approach. Books make great Christmas presents.

We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates – This collection of essays by a renowned contributor to Atlantic monthly magazine, is the book everyone is talking about and reading these days. It’s even one of the top ten best sellers on audible.com. The title essay actually comes from a speech made during the Reconstruction period after the US Civil War. This is a collection of essays about justice and injustice, important topics for these troubled times.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green – Most teenagers who are avid readers are fans of John Green, one of the best Young Adult (YA) writers. Like all of Green’s novels, Turtles All the Way Down addresses the challenges of teenagers being themselves and still finding a way to fit into the crowd. Green’s books make it cool to be quirky, nerdy and downright different. Avid readers love Green. His books, which include Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars will also appeal to reluctant readers.

Grant by Ron Chernow – Bibliophiles who love biographies and relished Chernow’s biography on the West Indian-born, American founding father Alexander Hamilton, which was turned into a musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, will be happy to know that Chernow’s long-awaited biography on Ulysses S Grant is now out. Grant was in charge of the Union’s army during the Civil War. It has become fashionable these days to debunk the myth that Grant was little more than a drunk so it will be interesting to see how Chernow handles Grant’s story.

Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson – Another interesting new biography tackles the fascinating character of the Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo Da Vinci. It’s at the top of many bestseller lists. Famous for his biography of Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein, Isaacson combed through 7,200 pages of Da Vinci’s notes to write this book.

Origin by Dan Brown – Dan Brown captured an audience from his first book, the Da Vinci Code, and he’s kept a loyal following ever since with his books that combine religion and action-packed, scholarly mysteries.

The Ship of the Dead Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 3 by Rick Riordan – Elementary children love Rick Riordan’s books. Riordan combines action-packed stories with mythology and fantasy, and this is his latest series.

A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne – If you’re looking for some entertainment before Game of Thrones returns to television, this could be the series you need to read. Fans of fantasy fiction would know Hearne from his former series entitled the Iron Druid Chronicles. In this series, Hearne invents a whole new mythology. Fantasy that feels like history is in vogue, thanks to Game of Thrones, and this is what Hearne is best at evoking.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Getaway Book 12 by Jeff Kinney – Even the most reluctant reader in elementary school love The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. In Greg’s latest adventure, Greg’s family embarks on a getaway to a tropical island resort. The latest book in the series will be available from tomorrow.

There’s no doubt about it, from now until Christmas is definitely the best time of year to discover new books.