September is here, bringing four new releases that delve into change, renewal and the stories that challenge how we see ourselves and the world.
Human Nature by by Dr Kate Marvel is a captivating exploration of climate change through nine emotions, blending science, history, and hope. A leading climate scientist, Marvel once resisted her feelings, fearing they compromised objectivity—until she realised emotion is essential to caring for our planet. Each chapter pairs climate science with an emotion: wonder at predictive models, anger at profiteers, love for Earth itself. By embracing the full spectrum of feeling, Marvel shows how strong emotions can fuel strong action. A remarkable, hopeful call to care.
Art on Fire by Yun Ko-eun is a darkly comic satire of the art world. When An Yiji’s stalled career is revived by an invitation to the prestigious Robert Foundation residency in California, she can’t refuse—even though the patron is a pompous dog named Robert. The catch: on the final day, one of her paintings must be burned, chosen by Robert himself. Amid raging wildfires outside, An endures awkward dinners, pushy sponsors, and the looming threat of destruction. She can’t help but wonder: was coming to California a mistake?
Fireweather by Miranda Darling follows Winona Dalloway, a woman whose life is not as it should be. Her husband is no longer her husband, her children are not at home with her, and the city in which she lives is besieged by fires. Black ash falls like snow, songbirds screech like dinosaurs, and the doctors are calling her mad ... In this looking-glass world, Winona is forced to prove she is a sane, rational human being. As the pronouncements of the professionals grow more insistent, so too do the voices crowding inside Winona’s head. She seeks solace in the company of plants and animals, and begins to imagine an entirely other way of being — one that might make whole her broken heart.
In The Gates of Gaza, Amir Tibon tells his family’s harrowing story, describing their terrifying ordeal — and the bravery that led to their rescue — alongside the histories of the place they call home and the systems of power that have kept them and their neighbours in Gaza in harm’s way for decades.
