family

It's the perennial question: Are we a product of how we were raised or is our identity hard wired by our genetic inheritance? These questions are explored in Sue Halpern’s new novel “What We Leave Behind.” Halpern is the author of seven books of fiction and non-fiction and scholar in residence at Middlebury College.

Gary Shteyngart’s latest novel, “Vera, or Faith,” is set in a near-future America wrestling with authoritarian politics and cultural anxiety. The story is told through the eyes of 10-year-old Vera - a sharp, observant child navigating a fractured family and a society teetering on the edge.

Helen Phillips is one of the most interesting and original writers working today. In her latest novel, “Hum,” she turns her eye to marriage, motherhood, and selfhood in a world compromised by global warming and artificial intelligence.

Film historian Jeremy Arnold’s new book, "Christmas in the Movies: 35 Classics to Celebrate the Season," showcases the very best among this uniquely spirited strain of cinema. Each film is profiled on what makes it a "Christmas movie," along with behind-the-scenes stories of its production, reception, and legacy.

Weike Wang is the author of the novels "Chemistry" and "Joan Is Okay." Her new novel, "Rental House," is a wry, snappy, and insightful story of a married couple vacation with both of their parents. Wang will be at The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, Massachusetts on December 5.

Helen Phillips is one of the most interesting and original writers working today. In her latest novel, “Hum,” she turns her eye to marriage, motherhood, and selfhood in a world compromised by global warming and artificial intelligence.

The band Hello Emerson was founded in Columbus, Ohio by Sam Emerson Bodary in 2015. The band has won attention with erudite chamber-folk compositions that unwind with vivid imagery and responsive empathetic sentiment.On March 29 of this year, the group released their third record, “To Keep Him Here” on indie label Anyway Records. The thematic collection of songs serves as a conduit - channeling the thoughts, questions, ideas, and most of all - emotions surrounding a specific event in Sam Bodary’s life.

Film historian Jeremy Arnold’s new book, "Christmas in the Movies: 35 Classics to Celebrate the Season," showcases the very best among this uniquely spirited strain of cinema. Each film is profiled on what makes it a "Christmas movie," along with behind-the-scenes stories of its production, reception, and legacy.

“Day” is the first novel in a decade from Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham. It’s a family saga set in New York City before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and takes place on three separate days in April, one each in the years 2019-2021.

"The Book of Pet Love & Loss" is a collection of quotations—poignant thoughts and memories discovered in letters, journals, diaries, memoirs, and other original sources—from beloved cultural figures who understood this singular experience so deeply, they felt compelled to write about it.Sara Bader is an editor, writer, and researcher.