So, I’m not averse to a little retail therapy, as the saying goes, and given the week that just transpired, I decided to do exactly that. And it’s pretty standard that my kind of retail therapy is, well, books. Books comfort me. I like to be surrounded by them. Obviously, I also like to read them because, that’s the point. (Except when they’re just there in a tower, an obesisk of unread books, serving as a totem to whatever STORY GOD you worship.)
And I thought, hey, maybe you want some books, too. It won’t fix anything, not out there, not in the world. But maybe books fix a little something inside ourselves. One brick returned to a crumbling wall.
As such, hey, I’mma give some books away.
See, I have an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) of The Staircase in the Woods and I’d sure like to send it to one of you.
And I’ll send some other books, too. Whatever I have lying around. Might be some random stuff — I’ll definitely throw in a copy of Gentle Writing Advice and You Can Do Anything, Magic Skeleton, but also some other fictiony bits too. Not sure what I’ve got on the shelves but expect a box of books to come your way if you win.
I’ll sign ’em! Personalize ’em too if you want.
The way to enter is easy: just go into the comments below, and leave a comment with a book recommendation. You must leave the title and author name, at least. You’re free, but not required, to also leave more of a comment as to why you liked it or whatever. It’ll be nice to share the book love.
Share some book love, maybe get some books.
I pay shipping, you pay nothing.
Caveat here is, it’s open to US folks only. I know, I want to do international, but the shipping is high, and the chance to lose a package is also higher than domestic, and that would be sad for everyone. So, US only, I’m afraid.
I’ll run this till Friday, November 15th, 9AM EST. I’ll pick a winner randomly, and will send the books out in the following week.
Sound fair?
COOL.
All right. You know the drill. Get to the comments. Leave a book recommendation (title, author), you might get some cool books (including Staircase!) from yours truly.
Okay bye.
Stefanie Silvestri says:
The book I recommend is The Exorcist’s House Genesis
November 10, 2024 — 6:47 AM
Alex says:
I’m going to recommend Libriomancer by Jim C Hines.
Urban fantasy where books are literal magic. I especially love the bibliography at the back of each book in the series that says which books were made up and which ones are real books you can go read with your actual eyeballs.
November 10, 2024 — 4:56 PM
Fred Sandal says:
The Narrow Road Between Desires, by Patrick Rothfuss for its fantastic truths.
November 10, 2024 — 7:44 AM
Steph says:
I just reread Paul Tremblay’s Head Full of Ghosts. Loved it just as much the second time.
November 11, 2024 — 5:04 PM
Chris P. Clay says:
I have 2 recommends, because I can’t decide on just one. The first is Skull Session by Daniel Hecht. I read it many years ago and I still think about it. Creepy, dark and an interesting peek into what it’s like to have Tourette’s Syndrome. (Think it might be time for a reread.) The second book is Dandelion by Alex Bledsoe. He is a local author to me which is part of why I picked it up. It’s also horror-my favorite genre. This book is an interesting take on demonic possession and pot culture. It’s creepy, clever and humorous in parts. BTW: Saw you, Kevin Hearne and Delilah Dawson recently at an event held in Madison, WI and Mystery to Me. It was an awesome chat!
November 10, 2024 — 7:51 AM
Margo H. says:
I’m also a local and I was at that reading too. SO MUCH FUN! I love Alex Bledsoe’s writing and have read both his Tufa and Eddie LaCrosse series but just haven’t gotten to Dandelion yet (though I own it). I saw him speak and read out at the Mt. Horeb library one cold winter’s night shortly after Dandelion came out. Thanks for reminding me about it and now I’m going to have to dig it out and read it.
November 11, 2024 — 8:55 AM
Glenn says:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. About a unique coffee shop that allows patrons to travel through time. I found this book, and the entire series heartwarming, poignant . . . incredibly uplifting.
November 10, 2024 — 7:52 AM
Rob Gavin says:
I just finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Kline and I cannot recommend that series enough!
November 11, 2024 — 7:53 PM
shad says:
Ocean’s Godori, by Elaine U. Cho.
On a side note, I only recently picked up any of your works, that being “Wanderers”. I tend to gravitate towards SciFi/Fantasy and really enjoy dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction. “Wanderers” was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to exploring more of your work.
November 10, 2024 — 8:38 AM
Wendy says:
The Hybrid Helix series by JCM Berne is a lot of fun. They are fast-paced, funny space operas a fun main character p and world building.
November 10, 2024 — 8:58 AM
Bill Gauthier says:
I’m joining the chorus that’s been singing the praises of Gabino Iglesias’s HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN. I couldn’t put it down. It’s heartbreaking and scary and surprising.
November 10, 2024 — 9:06 AM
Arianna SunBear says:
A pleasure reading your blog posts as always!
My go for reading and rereading: Timothy Gawne’s The Old Guy/Cybertank series. Especially relevant right now: Volume 3: “Neoliberal Economists Must Die!”
November 10, 2024 — 9:07 AM
Sandra Tokarski says:
Thanks to all who posted! I now have a whole new list of books to look for.
These are nonfiction books that I have read and reread many times:
The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin
Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth by William Bryant Logan
Life on the Ice by Roff Smith
I have just finished The Last of the Doughboys: The Forgotten Generation and Their Forgotten World War, by Richard Rubin. It is excellent and thought provoking.
Thank you again, Chuck, for your good words which will help us as we muddle through the coming years.
November 10, 2024 — 9:13 AM
Betsy says:
Wow—I haven’t read THE SONGLINES since college, but now I am going to scout out my copy…it had an enormous impact on me as a young person. Thanks for the reminder!
November 10, 2024 — 9:59 AM
Sharon Key says:
Anything by Freida McFadden. Everything I’ve read by her is excellent.
November 11, 2024 — 6:07 PM
Tammy says:
Thanks for the chance to win, Chuck! OK, I’ve read some amazing books this year but at the moment my favorite is ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS by Rob Hart.
November 10, 2024 — 9:15 AM
Joe says:
Here are two I don’t see mentioned nearly often enough:
1. The Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kirstein. For some reason these remind me a little of Earthsea, a little of Pern, while being their own thing entirely. The Steerswoman is the first, and there are three more (plus I think she’s working on a new one).
2. The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. Three words: Jesuits! In! Spaaaaace!
November 10, 2024 — 9:16 AM
Nicole Wheeler says:
I guess it’s polarizing but I loved Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera ♀️
November 11, 2024 — 4:57 PM
Guinotte Wise says:
You must leave the title and author name, at least. You’re free, but not required, to also leave more of a comment as to why you liked it:
November 10, 2024 — 10:23 AM
Monkey says:
Just read Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher. So good!
November 10, 2024 — 11:41 AM
Guinotte Wise says:
Sorry, didn’t mean to leave Chuck’s rules/regs on book giveaway, that was a reminder for me and then, oops, oh well–didn’t hurt anything. GW Anyway my book rec is this: The House Across The Way by Marc Pietrzykowski. Good book by poet/professor/novelist; starts out “Before it exploded, the house at 24 Oktell St…” Oh, and it’s a talking house.
November 10, 2024 — 10:33 AM
Cynthia Baute says:
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera was one of my favorites of the year. It was very engaging and I enjoyed the suspense.
November 10, 2024 — 11:08 AM
Kris Silva says:
I loved every story in the Indigenous anthology NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT (ed. by Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst Jr). Lots of new-to-me horror authors and a deep dive into lore I didn’t know.
November 10, 2024 — 12:17 PM
Cat Fleming says:
If you want to be stabbed in the gut by what our future might look like, especially now… I just read Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Beautiful writing. So so anguishing. But if you want to get away from reality and immerse yourself in another culture complete with its mythology, The Night Tiger by Yangtze Choo. It’s a delightful mystery and a quick read.
November 10, 2024 — 12:27 PM
Budd Trippet says:
Battleship Leviathan by Craig Martelle. The first book in a Military SciFi series. He is a fine author with many series and also some fine collaborations. He had 20 years of experience in the Marine Corps and his books have authenticity. He also writes young adult books, thrillers and much more. I liked the dialog and action in the Leviathan series.
November 10, 2024 — 1:04 PM
Marina says:
Trying to get through Shelly’s Frankenstein right now and also reading Gris Grimley’s Frankenstein alongside it. The monster’s point of view softened my heart ❤️
November 11, 2024 — 5:12 PM
Rosie says:
Hi Chuck,
First I wanted to thank you for posting about the Ashland library horror auction last month – I ended up winning 3 of them and it was one of the highlights of my year. Never would have found it without you!
I’d like to recommend a lesser known horror book called Blood Covenant by Alan Baxter. I found it on the talking scared podcast and it ended up being a 5 star read for me. I found it super spooky and loved the characters especially the kid.
November 10, 2024 — 1:09 PM
Malek says:
Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and the rest of her Wayfarers series. Such great characters!
November 10, 2024 — 1:14 PM
Philly Iglehart says:
So good!
November 11, 2024 — 8:29 PM
Sharon McCreary says:
“State of Terror” by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny. Holy shamoley, what a week to have been reading this particular book. Although it’s a thriller with political and international intrigue, it’s also a commentary on what thin-skinned, would-be autocrat former US president might do if allowed to settle his own scores–with the help of right-wing extremists embedded in the government. Yikes. It was a coincidence that I chose to start reading this book just days before the 2024 election. I finished it last night and it felt extra-harrowing.
“The End of Men” by Christina Sweeney-Baird. I needed something big to occupy my attention while recovering from a recent major surgery (still am), so the first book I chose to read post-anesthesia-haze was “Wayward.” That was immensely satisfying. Someone online said that since I enjoyed “Wanderers” and “Wayward,” I should consider another look at a similar topic, Sweeney-Baird’s “The End of Men.” I’m still thinking about it and the female-centric world the story posited.
November 10, 2024 — 1:16 PM
Tanya says:
Long time, first time. Every time I see your name in my inbox, I feel a little better about the world. Okay, my recommendation is The Nix by Nathan Hill. Very, very funny and not political, thank Christ.
November 10, 2024 — 1:20 PM
Hannah says:
The Silver in the Bone duology by Alexandra Bracken! It’s Arthurian legend meets Indiana Jones and the writing is /excellent/.
November 10, 2024 — 1:40 PM
Melissa Railey says:
I really love recommending books and read a ton so I’m going to limit these to horror and fantasy. Some of my favorites I read this year include: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner (great fantasy with unique characters and a quest!); The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (think Sliders but the you in a parallel universe has to be dead); The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal (locked room mystery on a cruise ship in space); The Other People by C.J. Tudor (narrated by Richard Armitage); Mister Lullaby & The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert; The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy is a chill, cozy fantasy for relaxing; An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir will rip your heart out more than once; The Spite House by Johnny Compton for a haunted house horror. Keep reading!
November 10, 2024 — 1:43 PM
HalfshellVenus says:
“The Final Girl Support Group,” by Grady Hendrix. Fantastic satire on horror-movie heroines and the movies they star in.
November 10, 2024 — 1:45 PM
David Patneaude says:
Book recommendation: The Reformatory, by Tananarive Due
November 10, 2024 — 2:28 PM
earthquakeswage4537aafff says:
I’m here for the books! Just finished When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It’s about death and about finding meaning in life. It is sad and also lovely. Another rec: Anything by Christopher Moore, but my fave is Lamb.
November 10, 2024 — 5:07 PM
Whitney Stowe says:
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It’ll fix you right up.
November 10, 2024 — 6:12 PM
Catharine Ray says:
My book recommendation is the Girl Genius series by Kaja and Phil Foglio.
Steampunk, mad scientist hilarity.
November 10, 2024 — 6:16 PM
Mae Reale says:
I finished The Playground by Richard Powers last month and cannot get it out of my head. Fantastical, intricate, and thought-provoking.
November 10, 2024 — 6:28 PM
Marsha J Seas says:
I just feel like everyone should re-read 1984 by George Orwell, A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury as preparation for what’s coming…
you, Wendig!!
November 10, 2024 — 6:39 PM
Marsha J Seas says:
Oh good grief that was supposed to “<3 you, Wendig" LOL
November 10, 2024 — 6:40 PM
Kim Nelson says:
THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET by Catriona Ward. I was kept guessing (and terrified) through the very last page.
November 10, 2024 — 7:08 PM
Patrick Raring says:
I’ve always love escaping reality with you, Chuck. Whether it’s to a galaxy far, far away or avoiding a plague and an even more twisted version of someone (can Drumpf die the same way Creel did? I mean, not as one of the last humans but just, ya know, dead.).
My recommendation to you and all is Red Rising. Also great escapism with violence, intrigue, and empowering the lower class.
Stay strong, everyone.
November 10, 2024 — 8:42 PM
Michele Pulver says:
Just finished When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi. It is about death and about finding meaning and purpose in life. It is lovely and sad and uplifting.
November 10, 2024 — 8:46 PM
Nicholas Brandt says:
I’d imagine there will be a lot of horror recs here, and I’m totally here for that.
If this wasn’t Mr. Wendig’s page, I’d recommend Gentle Writing Advice because we all could probably use a little calm in our existence right now.
As such, I’m going to go slightly weird and recommend Before and Laughter by Jimmy Carr, part bio, part self help book, definitely give me food for thought as well as some laughs. (In case you need that right now. YMMV.)
November 10, 2024 — 9:53 PM
Laura Robinson says:
Your book, Chuck Wendig, “Black River Orchard”, contains a strong thread of mystery, disgusting horribly creepy scenes of distorted human forms and the warped personalities of the people in charge of the town.
As a person who lives locally, you really added to the story, for me, by including some very fun place names we actually have in Bucks County, PA. I wish I knew more about the businessmen in town to figure out who those bad, bad leaders were. Thank you for creeping me out and stretching my imagination more than any other writer has been able to recently.
To learn about the namesakes of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the art scene and the powerful people around 1505, read “Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling” by Ross King. At first it is hard to follow because each person has several names and the author uses any of the 3-5 names to refer to the same person but after a while he settles down to one name per person, introduces more and more characters and includes a lot of information about their personalities, artistic abilities and money handling skills (or not). This book covers an important and amazing period of history in Italy. The world building is outstanding and to know it was a real world is almost overwhelming.
November 11, 2024 — 3:53 AM
Sue Kay says:
Ascension: A Novel by Nicholas Binge. A doomed mission, isolation, monsters, the paranormal & the divine?! It’s got everything you need to block out the…well, everything. For a little while at least. Love your work. Love your site. Thanks for spreading some book love!
November 11, 2024 — 7:25 AM
Linda Carey says:
I love Soulless by Gail Carriger, the first in the parasol Protectorate series.
November 11, 2024 — 7:25 AM
katherineholom9332 says:
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Between Earth and Sky trilogy) and Son of the Poisoned Rose by Jonathan Maberry (Kagen the Damned trilogy)
November 11, 2024 — 8:13 AM
Jenni Halpin says:
Top of my current recommendations is “The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain” by Sofia Samatar. (Beautiful, forceful, worth lingering over.)
I’m also comfort-reading Sue Bender’s “Everyday Sacred” and seeing on my shelves “The Louder I Will Sing” by Lee Lawrence.
November 11, 2024 — 8:30 AM
Jenni Creekmur says:
My go to recommendation when I’m not bound by any other parameter (genre, etc.) is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. This is the book that made me fall back in love with reading as an adult. Now, I take every opportunity that I can to read.
November 11, 2024 — 9:01 AM
Margo H. says:
FEVER HOUSE and its follow up book THE DEVIL BY NAME by Keith Rosson.
I have been raving about these 2 books almost to the same degree of lunatic fangirl raving that I forced everyone to listen to after I first read Wanderers and then again when I reread Wanderers and read Wayward. Reading Rosson’s books cemented my belief that my favorite kind of horror is apocalyptic horror. Huh, imagine that.
November 11, 2024 — 9:02 AM
Megan B. says:
Hi, all! I’m listening to a collection of essays called The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green right now and it’s a small balm for the soul during these troubled times. Despite everything, I have still somehow found myself smiling while folding laundry and walking to and from the office, looking at the world with a renewed sense of wonder.
November 11, 2024 — 9:59 AM
Gregory Lincoln says:
Hi, I think you might dig the books a coworker or mine wrote over the last five years. His name is Cody Lakin and the titles are the Family Condition and the Aching Plane. The first is a family gothic drama with monsters and the second is a cosmic existential horror. He’s put in the work on the craft of wiring and they are well worth your time
November 11, 2024 — 10:11 AM
Garth Upshaw says:
OMG, still reeling. I just read Without a Map, by Merideth Hall. So so so good.
November 11, 2024 — 10:20 AM
Brett Jamen says:
I have been trying to find books that lean more to comedy or feel-good, rather than doom and gloom (have enough of that in real life). I would highly recommend the Dortmunder novels by Donald Westlake. Bumbling thieves where nothing ever goes right. You might even be able to catch the movie based on the first novel, The Hot Rock, with Robert Redford on TMC.
I also REALLY enjoyed Starter Villain by John Scalzi. Good goofy fun.
November 11, 2024 — 10:58 AM
Jennifer Probst says:
I can’t wait to read your new book!! I finished We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer and it was fantastic. So unique and twisty and one of those books I keep thinking about. Also really enjoyed an old school Bentley Little book for October called The Store. His books are always a fun ride! Wrote down some great books for my TBR thanks!
November 11, 2024 — 11:28 AM
D.L. Bailey says:
Hey Chuck. Books comfort me, too. One thing I discovered is that horror comes in a whole lot of flavors and some of it is neatly packaged with a pretty bow. My recommendation is Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan. I don’t think she expected her love story to have the horror overtones it had for me but she threw in the element of dementia and that resonated in a big way. So, it’s not firmly in your wheelhouse but it helped me get through this election cycle.
November 11, 2024 — 11:41 AM
John Monahan says:
I have to recommend The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross. It’s an incredibly fun romp in his world of a British ministry fighting to hold off the Elder Gods. And it’s the first in the series of The Laundry Files. So if you like that one, there’s a bunch more.
November 11, 2024 — 12:12 PM
Eric Neyer says:
Dhalgren, by Samuel Delany. This book made a huge impression on me as a 16-year-old in suburban Kansas. Postmodern apocalyptic queer polyamory and so far out!
November 11, 2024 — 3:00 PM