Books: Jhumpa Lahiri, Stephen King and more

JHUMPA LAHIRI
Book release Sept. 24 • local appearance Oct. 9
Lahiri's first book, a collection of stories, won the Pulitzer Prize. Her second book, a novel, was named one of the best of the year by multiple publications, including the New York Times. Her third book — stories again — won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. Small wonder that there's great anticipation for her new novel, "The Lowland" (Alfred A. Knopf). Set in America and India, it is the story of two brothers, one quiet and dutiful, one political and rebellious. Lahiri will be in conversation with Louise Erdrich on Oct. 9, and that is going to be one hot ticket to get.
7 p.m. Oct. 9, St Paul's Episcopal Church, 1917 Logan Av. S., Mpls., hosted by Birchbark Books. Tickets required.
Also:
"Someone," by Alice McDermott. Her first book in seven years is a novel about an unremarkable woman. But in the hands of McDermott — who won the National Book Award for "Charming Billy" and has been a Pulitzer finalist three times — the book is anything but ordinary. (Sept. 10, Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Appearing 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Weyerhaueser Chapel, Macalester College.)
"Stealing Sugar From the Castle: Selected and New Poems 1950-2013," by Robert Bly. This new collection is a worthy cap to Bly's long and storied career. Incorporating some very early, unpublished poems all the way up to selections from his most recent collection, 2011's "Talking Into the Ear of a Donkey," the book draws on 15 collections and allows readers to see his evolution. (Sept. 16, W.W. Norton.)
"Bleeding Edge," by Thomas Pynchon. National Book Award winner Pynchon's latest is a murder mystery set in pre-9/ 11 2001. (Sept. 17, Penguin Press.)
"Doctor Sleep," by Stephen King. This sequel to "The Shining" has Dan Torrance — now much older — teaming up with a little girl to save the world from paranormals. (Sept. 24, Scribner.)
"The Signature of All Things," by Elizabeth Gilbert. After her remarkable success as a memoirist, Gilbert returns to her first love, fiction, with an historical novel about a young woman in 19th century Philadelphia who becomes a botanist and travels the world. (Oct. 1, Viking.)
"Quiet Dell," by Jayne Anne Phillips. Set in the 1930s, this novel about a murderer who preys on widows is based on true-life events. (Oct. 15, Scribner,)
"The Valley of Amazement" by Amy Tan. An epic novel about two Chinese women, spanning 40 years and two continents. (Nov. 5, Ecco Press. Appearing 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Minneapolis Central Library.)
Also mark your calendar: This fall sees a wealth of notable writers with new books visiting the Twin Cities, including Pulitzer winners Paul Harding (Sept. 10, the Loft) and Tracy Kidder (Sept. 12, Mankato State); Edwidge Danticat (Sept. 25, Fitzgerald Theater); Margaret Atwood (Oct. 1, Fitzgerald Theater); Garrison Keillor (Oct. 1, Common Good Books, and Nov. 3, Barnes & Noble Galleria); George Saunders (Oct. 10-11, Hopkins Center for the Arts), and Nikki Giovanni (Dec. 12, Minneapolis Central Library).