"New Phone, Coup Dis?" (with Stacey Abrams!)

The New Tsar by Steven Lee Myers offers a detailed exploration of Vladimir Putin's leadership, from his early life and KGB career to his consolidation of power and international policies. The book provides insights into Putin's methods of governance, his impact on Russia's economy and society, and his assertive foreign policy, including interventions in Ukraine and Syria.

Published in 1959, 'Naked Lunch' is a highly symbolic and surreal novel that follows the character William Lee, a heroin addict, as he navigates through various locations including New York, Mexico, and the fictional city of Interzone. The book is structured as a series of non-chronological 'routines' that blur the lines between reality and fantasy. It critiques societal norms, drug culture, and the mechanisms of control, using vivid and often disturbing imagery. The novel was the subject of obscenity trials due to its explicit content but was ultimately cleared of charges, recognizing its literary and social importance.

In this book, Peter Pomerantsev recounts his experiences working in the Russian TV industry, where he encountered a world of professional killers, Kremlin puppet-masters, suicidal supermodels, and oligarch revolutionaries. The book is a kaleidoscopic series of anecdotes and vignettes that reveal the corruption, decadence, and rapid changes in post-Soviet Russia. Pomerantsev's observations highlight the subtle yet powerful form of dictatorship that has emerged under the Putin regime, challenging the West with its unique blend of illusion, glamor, and authoritarian control.

A Prayer for Owen Meany, written by John Irving, is a novel that follows the lives of two childhood friends, Owen Meany and John Wheelwright, growing up in the fictional town of Gravesend, New Hampshire, in the 1950s and 1960s. Owen, despite his small stature and high-pitched voice, possesses extraordinary spiritual strength and wisdom. After accidentally killing John's mother with a foul ball during a Little League game, Owen becomes convinced he is God's instrument and destined for a higher purpose. The novel explores themes of faith, destiny, and the socio-political upheavals of America during the 1960s, including the Vietnam War. As the story unfolds, Owen's unwavering faith guides him through various challenges, ultimately leading to a heroic and tragic conclusion that deeply affects John and the community of Gravesend.