Manhattan Moon

September 11: “And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes — a fresh, green breast of the new world…”

Burial Rites

In Hannah Kent’s stark debut, Icelandic murderer Agnes awaits execution on a family’s remote farm, and finds redemption in revealing her complex reasons for killing her former master.