November brings six new titles including a hidden gem by Don DeLillo

Six new books hit shelves across the United States in November.

The lineup spans fiction, history, and memoir, featuring authors such as Louise Kennedy, Mary Beth Keane, Matt O'Hara, Daisy Johnson, Tahmima Anam, and a writer known as Cleo Birdwell.

Louise Kennedy returns with 'Stations,' the second novel from the Northern Irish author. Her debut, 'Trespasses,' focused on the consequences of young love. In her new work, the characters face complications rooted in their family histories rather than religious differences. Kennedy told NPR in 2022 that picking up writing after thirty years in the kitchen felt strangely liberating.

Mary Beth Keane releases 'Whale Harbor,' a novel about an Irish father and his sons. The story covers years, oceans, and continents. Maureen Corrigan, a book critic for Fresh Air, compared Keane's style to Ann Patchett. She noted that Keane takes domestic tales and expands them into universal stories. Keane's 2019 book, 'Ask Again, Yes,' received similar praise for its modest yet powerful narrative scope.

Matt O'Hara, a history professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, publishes 'The Flying Death.' The book traces the history of curare, a poison used in Amazonian blowdarts. O'Hara details how researchers in the 1930s sought to turn this lethal mixture into medicine. The quest spanned continents and created rivalries among scientists. The book also examines the impact on the indigenous tribes whose knowledge was central to the discovery.

Daisy Johnson, the British author who became the youngest Booker Prize finalist in 2018, releases 'Long Wave.' The novel continues her theme of foreboding atmospheres and mythic elements. The story centers on women dealing with family bonds that feel both fragile and dangerous. Johnson has already published a novel and a short story collection since her debut, 'Everything Under.'

Tahmima Anam's 'Uprising' is set on a river island in Bangladesh. The narrative follows women trapped in a life of prostitution under the control of a cruel madam. Rising waters from climate change further isolate the island. The story is told largely from the perspective of the children born to these women and their customers. The arrival of a new girl on the island begins to shift the status quo.

The list includes 'Amazons: An Intimate Memoir by the First Woman Ever to Play in the National Hockey League.' This title was originally published more than forty years ago. It was written by Don DeLillo under the pseudonym Cleo Birdwell. DeLillo did not publicly acknowledge the book until 2020. He approved a republication earlier this year. The only preface he provided was a business card with the statement: 'I don't want to talk about it.'