Here’s a rundown on six of the hottest new books.
‘The Water Dancer’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates
(One World, $28, fiction)
What it’s about: The National Book Award-winning author of “Between the World and Me” makes his fiction debut with a magical story told in soaring prose. Hiram Walker is born into slavery on a plantation and sold away from his mother. Blessed with the gift of perfect photographic recall, a near-drowning floods him with images of his ancestors — and a yearning to escape.
The buzz: “One of the best books I have ever read,” Oprah Winfrey said in making it the inaugural selection of the latest iteration of the new “Oprah’s Book Club” show, which premieres Nov. 1 on Apple TV+. Coates has a ticketed speaking appearance at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Chicago Humanities Festival at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s UIC Dorin Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
‘The Dutch House’ by Ann Patchett
(Harper, $27.99, fiction)
What it’s about: A doomed house, distant father and wicked stepmother forge an unbreakable bond between two siblings, who have only each other when all else is lost. Patchett (“Commonwealth,” “State of Wonder”) spins the story into a dark fairy tale of sorts about the nature of inheritance and forgiveness.
The buzz: “Patchett’s storytelling abilities shine in this gratifying novel, particularly as she moves toward the surprising and delightful conclusion,” The Associated Press says.
‘Queen Meryl’ by Erin Carlson
(Hachette, $24.99, nonfiction)
What it’s about: This biography affirms Meryl Streep as the greatest actress of her generation — maybe of either gender, maybe of any generation. “Most of all, she represents a meaningful goal for women: the courage to shed fear and inhibition and live a big, bold, authentic life,” Erin Carlson writes.
The buzz: “A serious but playful account of Streep’s career and enough private moments to back up the actress’ reputation as a generous colleague and a devoted wife and mother of four,” the AP writes.
‘Inside Out’ by Demi Moore
(Harper, $27.99, nonfiction)
What it’s about: The actress intimately charts her life — from the insecurities of childhood through addiction and skyrocketing fame to motherhood. Her story is equal parts adversity and resilience, told with candor.
The buzz: The book has been kept tightly guarded, but according to the publisher, Moore writes openly about her tumultuous relationship with her mother, from whom she was long estranged, and her three marriages.
‘Know My Name’ by Chanel Miller
(Viking, $28, nonfiction)
What it’s about: We knew her as Emily Doe — the young woman sexually assaulted by Brock Turner at Stanford. She reclaims her identity in a powerful memoir that challenges the systems and prejudices that hold women accountable for their own sexual assaults.
The buzz: “Miller’s memoir is an intensely specific account of the impact those 20 minutes had on her life and on the lives of those closest to her,” a USA Today review said. “She writes exquisitely of her pain, makes us feel every fragment of it, but also expounds on the kindnesses that nourished her spirit along the way.”
‘Blood in the Water’ by Jack Flynn
(Minotaur, $27.99, fiction)
What it’s about: Nothing moves through Boston Harbor without the say-so of harbormaster Cormack O’Connell. He’s dirty, but he’s also tipping the authorities off to illegal arms shipments and possible terrorist activity, and a Homeland Security agent comes to his aid when the international Salvadoran gang known as MS-13 comes after him to seize control of the waterfront rackets.
The buzz: “Flynn does a fine job developing complex characters while keeping the tension high in this fast-paced yarn of intrigue, violence and personal betrayals,” The Associated Press writes. “This debut by a Boston lawyer who has worked pro bono for the wrongly convicted is likely to have readers looking forward to a planned sequel.”