Here’s the lowdown on some of the hottest new book releases:
‘The Testaments’ by Margaret Atwood
(Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, fiction, $28.95)
What it’s about: The feminist dystopian classic “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1985) finally has a sequel. Atwood says of the book, “Dear Readers: Everything you’ve ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! The other inspiration is the world we’ve been living in.”
The buzz: “ ‘The Testaments’ is worthy of the literary classic it continues,’ ” a USA Today review says.
‘The Institute’ by Stephen King
(Scribner, fiction, $30)
What it’s about: Twelve-year-old genius Luke Ellis gets whisked away in the middle of the night and taken to the Institute, where psychic kids are being held captive to save the world.
The buzz: “King leans into the theme of ‘great events’ happening with the smallest of decisions as well as the world-changing power of togetherness,” a USA Today reviewer wrote. “And in that case, it’s a frequent lesson he extols that never gets old.”
‘Audience of One’ by James Poniewozik
(Liveright, nonfiction, $27.95)
What it’s about: The New York Times TV critic examines the history of television and American media to explain how Donald Trump mastered the medium to win his base and become our 45th president.
The buzz: “This intelligent eye-opener belongs on the small shelf of valuable books that help explain how Trump created his base,” Kirkus Reviews writes.
‘The Education of an Idealist’ by Samantha Power
(Dey Street, nonfiction, $29.99)
What it’s about: The Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish-American diplomat and human rights advocate traces her journey from immigrant to war correspondent to Cabinet official in a revealing memoir.
The buzz: “Power’s vibrant prose, exuberant storytelling and deep insights into human nature make for a page-turning memoir,” Kirkus Reviews says.
Read more at USA Today.