Featured Selections from AWM Team: July 2025
American Writers Museum's July Entertainment Picks
The American Writers Museum has curated a captivating list of books, films, shows, plays, albums, and games for your entertainment this July. With a strong emphasis on supporting independent bookstores, their recommendations are a must-read for literature enthusiasts.
One of the highlighted books is All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall. This post-glacial dystopian story takes place in a flooded New York City, where a family lives on the roof of the American Museum of Natural History, struggling to survive and preserve human history.
Another intriguing book is Hey You Assholes by Kyle Seibel, a debut short story collection that delves into the lives of societal misfits. This thought-provoking read is sure to resonate with many readers.
For those who prefer novels, The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis offers a gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and murder within a Gilded Age mansion. On the other hand, The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong tells the heartwarming story of a young man who becomes the caretaker of an elderly widow and develops a life-altering bond with her.
If historical fiction is more your style, Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang is a historical fantasy epic that grapples with student revolutions, colonial resistance, and the use of language and translation as the dominating tool of the British Empire.
For a change of pace, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is a book about a young escape artist and magician who teams up with his cousin to create comic book tales during the Golden Age of comic books.
For those interested in non-fiction, The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took Measure of the Stars by Dava Sobel is a fascinating account of the women who worked at the Harvard College Observatory and made significant discoveries in astronomy.
In the realm of theatre, Death Becomes Her is a Broadway musical about two women who have a grudge that lasts eternity after one steals the other's fiance. Tom at the Farm is a play about an urban ad executive who travels to the country to attend his lover's funeral and meets his mother-in-law and her son, neither of whom know him.
For television enthusiasts, The Bear is a TV show about a young chef who runs his family sandwich shop in Chicago after a heartbreaking death in his family. Resident Alien is a series about an alien disguised as a doctor in a small town. Phineas and Ferb is a television show about two brothers inventing unique things.
For those who prefer the written word, Valleyesque is a short story collection by Fernando A. Flores. For music lovers, Life Behind Bars by Vandoliers is the first album by the band since their singer came out as a trans woman.
The American Writers Museum also encourages support for local bookstores. They recommend checking out Thug Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F-ck, a cookbook promoting healthy eating, and Hearts of Oak by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, an album that received universal acclaim from music critics.
Lastly, the museum offers special events such as the Member Typewriter Tour, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at interactive typewriters and their role in writing history. They also participate in community offerings like free admission days and literary-related local events.
For more detailed monthly picks and recommendations, visit the American Writers Museum's website, where they regularly update their staff picks, presenting a curated mix of literary and cultural entertainment aligned with their mission to celebrate American writing.
These July entertainment picks from the American Writers Museum extend beyond books, showcasing various forms of art that cater to diverse tastes. One such form is the realm of music, with Life Behind Bars by Vandoliers captivating music lovers as the first album from the band since their singer came out as a trans woman. Similarly, for those who appreciate culinary explorations, Thug Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F-ck stands out as a must-read cookbook promoting healthy and delicious meals.
