{"id":199696,"date":"2025-10-14T15:40:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T15:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/199696\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T15:40:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T15:40:14","slug":"october-stacks-books-events-and-author-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/199696\/","title":{"rendered":"October Stacks: Books, events, and author spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

New chapters for shorter days<\/p>\n

Oct. 13 \u2014Welcome to the October issue of Stacks, the monthly newsletter about Atlanta\u2019s literary scene. We publish on the second Sunday of every month, but we are sending this time on Monday, after a\u00a0busier-than-usual weekend at Atlanta Pride.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf42\u00a0October has arrived with cooler mornings and a particular quality of light that makes the indoors seem ever so appealing. The urgency of summer fades, replaced by a slower rhythm of pumpkin spice lattes and evenings that invite you to cozy up next to a warm fire. It\u2019s the month of carved pumpkins glowing on front steps, ghost stories that make you laugh for hours, and the autumn nostalgia atmosphere that naturally lends itself to reading.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc7b In this edition, we take a look at books that have a haunting yet nostalgic history, upcoming literary events, ghosts of famous literature and their integral influence on the arts, and an awesome author spotlight!<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf1f\u00a0Rough Draft\u2019s Cathy Cobbs also got the chance to speak\u00a0with author John Grisham,<\/a>\u00a0who is the opening night speaker at the Book Festival of the MJCCA, which begins on Oct. 22.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce7 Thanks for reading, and please don\u2019t hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback! Also, if you enjoy Stacks, please forward it to a friend and\u00a0encourage them to subscribe using this link.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

-Caroline, Sarah and Madeleine<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Via Adobe Stock<\/p>\n

Books That Haunt Us<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc94 \u201cAtonement\u201d by Ian McEwan<\/p>\n

The novel begins with a single, devastating falsehood that lingers throughout and calls into question what truth even means and how easily it can be misrepresented. Briony\u2019s lie doesn\u2019t just alter Robbie and Cecilia\u2019s lives; it haunts them, leaving them searching for reason amidst confusion and betrayal. The past echoes and whispers, constantly in the background. Briony\u2019s quest for \u201catonement\u201d becomes a kind of haunting; she\u2019s pursued by the ghost of her own guilt. Trapped in an endless loop of confession, she rewrites and rewrites a novel to make sense of her shame and remorse. She summons the dead, trying to speak to them through fiction. But can words resurrect the truth? The final twist in\u00a0Atonement\u00a0packs the cruelest punch of all: the revelation that the author\u2019s final atonement is only an illusion. I\u2019ve tried to put my finger on what\u2019s so haunting about this story, and I\u2019ve realized it\u2019s the could\u2019ve-been that will forever leave me wondering. \u2013 Caroline<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf92 \u201cThe Things They Carried\u201d by Tim O\u2019Brien<\/p>\n

In the novel, the memories are the ghosts. Taking place during the Vietnam War, it describes soldiers who carry not only guns and letters but also memories. Memories of Kiowa and Lavender linger, their deaths replaying endlessly and guilt manifesting in each soldier\u2019s haunted mind. However, the heaviest things they carried were the ones no one could explain\u2014like a land that speaks back and hides enemy soldiers behind every curve. The soldiers came home, but they never really left the jungle. The war followed them into their dreams and into their silence. They struggled to talk about their experiences, and at times it felt like no one wanted to listen until the silence began to fester. In this way, O\u2019Brien gets to the real purpose of writing stories: to release the silence. However,\u00a0The Things They Carried\u00a0is also an attempt to preserve the memories of real people. In literature, they come alive again, and he can talk to them. They keep on living in this way. \u2013 Caroline<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfae \u201cTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow\u201d by Gabrielle Zevin<\/p>\n

This novel, centered around video games and creativity, leaves a lasting message about the isolation of grief. Sam Masur and Sadie Green have been friends since they first met as kids in the hospital\u2014Sam there for an injured leg and Sadie visiting. Their friendship lasts through thick and thin, with many struggles along the way pushing them apart, but they always find their way back to each other. As they enter adulthood, Sam and Sadie become business partners on their shared video game project with their other close friend, Max Watanabe. Max is not just a friend but practically family\u2014and, for Sadie, a romantic interest as well. When Max passes away suddenly in a tragic accident, Sam and Sadie struggle to go on, ultimately icing each other out. They struggle to connect again for years, separated by the strong barrier of grief between them. Eventually, Sam and Sadie reconnect, but this time they have to rebuild with grief embedded in them. This story haunts me as it beautifully captures the essence of how grief has a mind of its own and sometimes blinds you from seeing what you need most. \u2013 Madeleine<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f \u201cWhere the Crawdads Sing\u201d by Delia Owens<\/p>\n

In this novel, Owens underscores how we can hide the ghosts of our pasts, but they will always come back to haunt us. Kya Clark, more commonly known as the \u201cmarsh girl,\u201d was left to raise herself in the wild starting at the age of ten after she was abandoned by her abusive father. Kya goes on to learn to provide for herself and eventually becomes enamored with a local boy named Chase Andrews, who has an abusive past like her father. When Chase is found dead, the mysterious \u201cmarsh girl\u201d is everyone\u2019s first suspect. Kya is put on trial and eventually found not guilty, but it is later suggested at the end of the novel that she did take part in his murder. To me, the novel really highlights that as much as Kya wants to escape her past and move on with her life, she never truly can. The ghosts of her past keep coming back to haunt her\u2014whether it\u2019s her dad in the form of Chase or how Chase\u2019s death haunts her guilt and conscience. This novel made me think a lot about how we are the product of the impressions others have made on us and how these impressions continue to haunt us. One thing to say, though: this book made a lasting impression on me and will definitely continue to haunt my thoughts for years to come. \u2013 Madeleine\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83e\uddb4 \u201cThe Lovely Bones\u201d by Alice Sebold\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Lovely Bones\u00a0opens with the voice of fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon as she narrates her own murder from heaven, pulling readers into a world suspended between life and loss. I remember feeling that ache in my chest when her father refuses to give up, standing outside in the snow with a baseball bat, convinced the killer is still close. The image of her little sister breaking into the murderer\u2019s house years later still makes my heart race. Sebold captures grief in all its messy shapes\u2014anger, guilt, numbness\u2014and somehow makes it luminous. What haunts me most is how Susie lingers as a ghost, watching over her family and hoping the people she loves find a way to keep living. \u2013 Sarah<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc63 \u201cThe Road\u201d by Cormac McCarthy<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never forget the feeling of finishing\u00a0The Road\u00a0and sitting there in silence. McCarthy tells the story of a father and his son as they navigate an abandoned and desolate world: no sunlight, no laughter, no names. The landscape feels lifeless, yet somehow alive with dread. As I read, I found myself holding my breath at moments of victory\u2014when they discover a hidden bunker stocked with canned peaches or when the father manages to start a fire in the cold. Those brief moments of safety feel like almost holy miracles. What haunts me most isn\u2019t the apocalypse itself but rather the tenderness of the father-son relationship. The father\u2019s love for his son is fierce and fragile all at once, leaving you quiet, haunted by the question of what you\u2019d do to protect the last bit of light in your life. \u2013 Sarah<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Chamblee\u2019s Storybook Charm<\/p>\n

SPONSORED BY DECIDE DEKALB<\/p>\n

\u2728\u00a0Chamblee\u00a0offers a city brimming with taste, heritage, and connection. Culinary traditions from around the world meet on every corner, while coffee shops provide a cozy retreat to recharge.<\/p>\n

Families spend time in parks, where green spaces and outdoor activities create lasting memories. Entertainment draws the community together through events, music, and celebrations that inspire. Maomi Bookstore and Wild Aster Books is a local favorite, a place where stories captivate the community.<\/p>\n

\u279e\u00a0In Chamblee, fun, food, and family blend into unforgettable experiences.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cLiterary Witches\u201d Via The Marginalian\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reclaiming the Witch: Power, myth, and women in literature<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf0a \u201cCirce\u201d by Madeline Miller<\/p>\n

This novel gives the witch archetype new emotional and feminist depth. Madeline Miller allows Circe to tell her own story and reclaim her narrative from the myths that demonized her. Her banishment to the island of Aeaea isolates Circe, and her magic grows from this solitude and self-discovery. So, her witchcraft is really a language of resilience. Unlike the static, cursed witches of folklore, Circe changes emotionally, morally, and spiritually. Her immortality doesn\u2019t trap her; it forces her to grow. Circe doesn\u2019t seek power over others. Instead, she seeks knowledge of the natural world, her emotions, and her limits. Every spell she crafts is deeply personal. What\u2019s more, Circe\u2019s power doesn\u2019t vanish when she becomes a mother; it deepens. Her witchcraft begins to stem from a fierce, protective care for her child, and her spells turn into safeguards against the gods\u2019 cruelty. In the end, Circe chooses mortality, breaking a usual stereotype and siding with humanity over eternity.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf19 \u201cPractical Magic\u201d by Alice Hoffman<\/p>\n

You might recognize this title from the movie, and if so, you know Hoffman brings magic down to earth. The Owens women bake, garden, fall in love, and grieve in a small American town, proving that magic can exist in ordinary life. Magic in Practical Magic isn\u2019t solitary but communal. The Owens women draw strength from each other, rewriting the archetype of the lone, isolated witch into one rooted in connection and love. Spells in Practical Magic aren\u2019t flashy or dark, but subtle metaphors for human emotion. Magic reflects their inner world. Ultimately, Practical Magic restores tenderness to the figure of the witch.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd6f\ufe0f \u201cThe Scarlet Letter\u201d by Nathaniel Hawthorne<\/p>\n

Found in any great English class, you may remember The Scarlet Letter and its emphasis on Romanticism\u2014but more importantly, how romantic ideals are used to comment on women\u2019s roles in society. The Scarlet Letter is set in Puritan New England, where citizens pride themselves on their lack of greed and want for worldly pleasures. In reality, though, this Puritan society is extremely corrupt, with statesmen indulging in the finest goods with zero consequences, while women are held accountable for even the smallest wrongdoing. The townspeople are wary of any slight misconduct from women, as they believe it to be part of dangerous witchcraft\u2014especially when it comes to Mistress Hibbins. Mistress Hibbins often holds her rumored \u201cwitch meetings,\u201d which are never outright portrayed in the novel but seem to be mere gatherings of independent women in the forest to perform witch-like rituals. This in itself is enough for society to label it as sin, although there is no direct harm. Overall, Hawthorne highlights the importance of witches in Puritan society and how quickly people will ignorantly use women as scapegoats.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf0c \u201cA Wrinkle in Time\u201d by Madeleine L\u2019Engle<\/p>\n

A Wrinkle in Time puts a new spin on the darkness typically associated with witchcraft and magic. Witches\u2014often associated with evil and historically linked to women\u2019s wrongdoings\u2014are framed in a much more positive light in this novel about cosmic balance. Madeleine L\u2019Engle introduces three witches in her novel: Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit. These three witches are associated with ever-flowing knowledge, which is especially relevant in their names. They provide a source of guidance throughout the novel and display immense intelligence in their demeanor. Witches are often seen as the antagonists, but in this story, the witches are the ones fighting off evil and doing their best to better their world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Literary Events\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u270a\ud83c\udffe\u00a0On Mon., Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., join writer, fashion editor, and activist\u00a0Michaela Angela Davis\u00a0in conversation with\u00a0Charles M. Blow\u00a0at the\u00a0Georgia Center for the Book\u00a0at the\u00a0Decatur Library\u00a0for a discussion of Davis\u2019s new memoir, \u201cTenderheaded.\u201d In this powerful and deeply personal work, Davis\u2014VIBE\u2019s founding fashion editor and a CNN correspondent\u2014reflects on race, identity, and the legacy of Black media, celebrating its cultural impact while confronting the forces that have shaped and erased it.\u00a0This event is free and open to the public; registration is requested but not required.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf0\u00a0On Tues., Oct.14 at 7 p.m.,\u00a0journalist\u00a0Tom Johnson\u00a0visits the\u00a0Atlanta History Center\u00a0to discuss his new book \u201cDriven: A Life in Public Service and Journalism, from LBJ to CNN.\u201d Johnson has held many impressive positions in the journalism field, serving as both the chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Times and CNN, making him a role model to many. His new book chronicles eyewitness events of many key points in American history.\u00a0Tickets are free to the public.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf3f\u00a0On Wed., Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.,\u00a0A Cappella Books\u00a0hosts artist\u00a0Ann Litrel\u00a0and science journalist\u00a0Charles Seabrook\u00a0in conversation with award-winning reporter and environmentalist Sally Sears at the Georgia Center for the Book for a discussion of their new book, \u201c35 Natural Wonders of Georgia to See Before You Die.\u201d This illustrated guide celebrates Georgia\u2019s most breathtaking landscapes\u2014from the Okefenokee Swamp to Brasstown Bald\u2014through art, storytelling, and science.\u00a0This event is free and open to the public; registration is preferred but not required.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdc\u00a0On Sun., Oct. 19 at 5 p.m.,\u00a0A Cappella Books\u00a0welcomes\u00a0Miriam Udel\u00a0as she discusses her latest work, \u201cModern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children\u2019s Literature\u201d. Udel uses her knowledge as a scholar of the Yiddish language as she explores the history and future of Yiddish in her newest book. Udel emphasizes in her work the historical importance Yiddish children\u2019s literature has had on the perception of the Jewish community and its relative importance.\u00a0This event is free and open to the public; copies of the book will be available for purchase.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfac\u00a0On Thurs., Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., join award-winning creator and producer\u00a0Shonda Rhimes\u00a0at the\u00a0First Baptist Church of Decatur\u00a0for a special event celebrating the 10th anniversary of her New York Times bestselling memoir, \u201cYear of Yes.\u201d In this expanded edition, Rhimes, creator of Grey\u2019s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton, shares new stories and reflections on growth, courage, and the transformative power of saying \u201cyes.\u201d In conversation with special guests, Rhimes will revisit the year that changed her life and explore what it means to keep embracing joy and possibility a decade later.\u00a0Tickets are non-refundable.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc8c\u00a0On Sun., Oct. 26 at 4:30 p.m., join debut novelist\u00a0Margaret Hutton\u00a0in conversation with Atlanta literary advocate\u00a0Alison Law\u00a0at\u00a0A Cappella Books\u00a0for a discussion of Hutton\u2019s powerful new novel, \u201cIf You Leave.\u201d Set against the backdrop of World War II and the decades that follow, the book traces the intertwined lives of three women, Audrey, Lucille, and Lake, as they navigate motherhood, art, love, and the lingering pull of the past.\u00a0This event is free and open to the public.<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f\u00a0On Thurs., Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., join former White House press secretary\u00a0Karine Jean-Pierre\u00a0in conversation with\u00a0Pamela Kirkland, host of GPB\u2019s Morning Edition, at\u00a0Wild Heaven Garden Club\u00a0for a discussion of Jean-Pierre\u2019s new book, \u201cIndependent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.\u201d In this urgent and revelatory work, Jean-Pierre draws on her experiences serving under Presidents Obama and Biden to examine America\u2019s fractured two-party system and make a powerful case for political independence and individual conscience.\u00a0Tickets are non-refundable; signed book bundles may be picked up in-store after the event.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2696\ufe0f\u00a0On Mon., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., join the\u00a0Atlanta History Center\u00a0as they welcome best-selling author\u00a0Jeffrey Rosen\u00a0to share his newest work, \u201cThe Pursuit of Happiness\u201d. In this new historical text, Rosen takes a deep dive into the differing interpretations of the Constitution expressed by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, and how these opposing views have lasted over 250 years. Rosen expresses how debates over the Constitution continue as a lively discussion among presidents all the way from Washington to Trump.\u00a0Tickets are $12 for not yet members and $6 for members.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa4\u00a0On Wed., Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., CNN\u2019s\u00a0Abby Phillip\u00a0visits the\u00a0Atlanta History Center\u00a0in conversation with celebrated civil and human rights advocate Ambassador\u00a0Andrew Young. Listen as Phillip and Young explore Phillip\u2019s newest work, unpacking the influence of Jesse Jackson\u2019s political campaigns and how they fostered change for Black political power. With Phillip\u2019s\u00a0background in expert reporting and Young\u2019s extensive and impressive political background, the event promises a riveting experience for the audience.\u00a0Tickets are $12 for not-yet members and $6 for members.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd4a\u00a0On Thurs., Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., the\u00a0Atlanta History Center\u00a0hosts sports history professor\u00a0Johnny Smith\u00a0as he discusses his latest work, \u201cThe Fight of His Life\u201d. Smith uses his research in sports history to explore the influence renowned boxer Joe Louis had not only on sports but also on societal and political change. The book celebrates the life and work of Joe Louis as well as all the lessons he taught.\u00a0Tickets are $12 for not-yet members and $6 for members.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Local Author Spotlight: Anna Sonoda\u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcd6\u00a0Anna Sonoda, LCSW, is a Decatur-based author, therapist, and mother of five whose work bridges the worlds of psychology, prevention, and storytelling. A graduate of the University of Georgia and Emory University, Sonoda spent years as a licensed clinical social worker. Her early career included working directly with convicted offenders\u2014a rare and invaluable vantage point that shaped her life\u2019s mission: to help families recognize the earliest signs of grooming before harm occurs.<\/p>\n

That expertise inspired her to create \u201cWait, That\u2019s Weird!,\u201d a forthcoming children\u2019s book, co-written and illustrated by her middle-school-aged daughter. Designed to help families recognize the subtle signs of grooming, the book gives parents and kids the tools and language to talk about safety with confidence and compassion. Through her work, she continues to champion family-centered education that replaces fear with empowerment to reflect how lifesaving conversations can begin with a simple story shared at home.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New chapters for shorter days Oct. 13 \u2014Welcome to the October issue of Stacks, the monthly newsletter about…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":199697,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[457,96,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-199696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-books","tag-books","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=199696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/199696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/199697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=199696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=199696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=199696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}