Lawrence Wright wishes his new book weren't so on point

Also this week: Why we swim, Southern vampires, critics' pics and more [A deserted street in San Francisco, March 2020]( Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images At the beginning of his new novel The End of October, Lawrence Wright writes: "Dear Reader, The events depicted in The End of October were meant to serve as a cautionary tale. But real life doesn't always wait for warnings." The book is about a mysterious virus that starts in Asia, sweeps across continents, cripples the health care system, wrecks the economy, and kills people worldwide. "It's creepy. It's weird," he tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly. "In some ways I'm keeping score for myself: You know, what did I get right and what did I get wrong? On the other hand, I'm pretty sick of the coincidences and I hope it doesn't turn out as badly as I forecast." [Check out that conversation here.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Epidemics and Society, by Frank M. Snowden]( Right now the novel coronavirus is reshaping our lives in every possible way -- but as Frank M. Snowden explores in his new Epidemics and Society, disease outbreaks have been transforming society for centuries. [He tells NPR's Steve Inskeep]( that pandemics can serve as "looking glasses in which societies see their own reflection." And, he says, "we're waiting to see whether, in fact, part of the coronavirus' impact will be to encourage us to take a closer look at our society, to right some of those inequities ... that enabled our vulnerabilities to be exploited by this virus." [Why We Swim, by Bonnie Tsui]( Alright, enough about pandemics -- let's dive into something different. Why We Swim, by Bonnie Tsui, takes readers from ponds to pools, from surfers to racers to survivors of icy currents to answer the question in the title. Tsui grew up swimming; [she tells NPR's Scott Simon]( that she always felt more comfortable and happy in the water. "I mean, there's just this sense of magic that you get from being in the water and buoyancy that you just don't have on land." [Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, by Margaret Sidney]( With no new books coming in and no trips to the library, our kids' books columnist Juanita Giles was stumped -- how to keep her kids reading? She tried some classics: Frankenstein. "My son wasn't ready for it ... Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? Not quite yet. The Picture of Dorian Gray? Very nearly ready for it (not really). 1984? They don't get it. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich? They have no frame of reference." So she dug even deeper into the bookshelves, for her own favorite childhood reads, like Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. Success! "My kids are as drawn to this story as I was as a child." [Read more here.]( [The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, by Grady Hendrix]( Grady Hendrix's new novel stars a group of determined women who confront a supernatural threat in their community — and while vampires aren't real (as far as we know), Hendrix [tells me]( The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires has its roots in his own real life. "Getting some blood on the page is the only way I know how to write, so all my books are really personal," he says. "This one's set in the neighborhood where I grew up ... Fortunately I've fictionalized everything pretty heavily so no one had too many problems." Finally this week -- critic Nicholas Cannariato says the new memoir from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood regular Officer Clemmons is "[full of resonant moments and artistic insights]( Fresh Air's Maureen Corrigan calls Phuc Tran's memoir Sigh, Gone "[a congenial read for our chaotic time]( And we'll finish off the week with a happy ending -- Alisha Rai's new Girl Gone Viral, which critic Denny S. Bryce praises as "[a fun, addictive romance]( and when the layers kick in, it's a page-turner you won't put down." [Officer Clemons, by Dr. Francois S. Clemmons]( [Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran]( [Girl Gone Viral, by Alisha Rai]( Hope you're staying well and reading whatever makes you happy! -- Petra --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [books@npr.org](mailto:books@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Pop Culture, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Books emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](