This week’s book recommendations take you on a captivating journey through rural landscapes and historical reckonings. Our list features seven new titles that explore everything from the quiet introspection of life at a remote Australian convent, as in Charlotte Wood’s "Stone Yard Devotional," to the raw struggles of two brothers in rural Montana in Callan Wink’s "Beartooth." You'll also traverse the backroads of Indiana in Bob Johnson’s evocative short stories, witness the uprising of the German peasantry in Lyndal Roper’s thrilling historical account "Summer of Fire and Blood," learn about the man behind "Saturday Night Live" in Susan Morrison’s biography "Lorne," delve into the politically charged world of presidential clemency in Jeffrey Toobin’s "The Pardon," and finally, explore the modern trials of the Catholic Church in Philip Shenon’s "Jesus Wept." As one review aptly puts it, Wood’s novel is "an extended meditative vigil ... where no one of these paths is holier than another," inviting readers to consider forgiveness, regret, and the human quest for holiness.

Here are the key points to remember:

• Charlotte Wood – Stone Yard Devotional (Riverhead, $28): A somber and exquisite novel about a 60-something atheist who retreats from her busy conservation career in Sydney to a rural convent, prompting reflections on atonement and grace.
• Bob Johnson – The Continental Divide: Stories (Cornerstone, Paperback, $24.95): A debut collection of gripping, interconnected short stories set in a rural Indiana hamlet, lauded for its "inventive, assured writing."
• Callan Wink – Beartooth (Spiegel & Grau, $28): A raw, contemporary Western narrative about two brothers scrambling to survive in rural Montana, praised as "original and impressive" by critics.
• Lyndal Roper – Summer of Fire and Blood: The German Peasants’ War (Basic Books, $35): An engaging history that re-centers the voices of the peasantry during Europe’s greatest pre-revolutionary uprising.
• Susan Morrison – Lorne: The Man Who Invented 'Saturday Night Live' (Random House, $36): A thorough biography celebrating Lorne Michaels as America’s comedic impresario, blending journalistic depth with entertaining insights.
• Jeffrey Toobin – The Pardon: The Politics of Presidential Mercy (Simon & Schuster, $29.99): A timely exploration of executive clemency, using Gerald Ford’s controversial pardon of Richard Nixon as a focal point.
• Philip Shenon – Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church (Knopf, $35): A detailed account of the modern Catholic Church, charting its challenges from World War II to the present.

Happy reading, and enjoy exploring these diverse perspectives on life, history, and society!
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