And we're back! Happy new year, readers. On this week’s episode, Gilbert Cruz and Joumana Khatib talk about some of the upcoming books they’re most anticipating over the next several months.

Books discussed on this episode:

"Stone Yard Devotional," by Charlotte Wood

"Aflame: Learning from Silence," by Pico Iyer

"Onyx Storm," by Rebecca Yarros

"Glyph," by Ali Smith

"The Dream Hotel," by Laila Lalami

"The Colony," by Annika Norlin

"We Do Not Part," by Han Kang

"Playworld," by Adam Ross

"Death of the Author," by Nnedi Okorafor

"The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary," by Susannah Cahalan

"Tilt," by Emma Pattee

"Dream Count," by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

"Hope: The Autobiography," by Pope Francis

"Jesus Wept: Seven Popes and the Battle for the Soul of the Catholic Church," by Philip Shenon

"The Antidote," by Karen Russell

"Source Code: My Beginnings," by Bill Gates

"Great Big Beautiful Life," by Emily Henry

"Sunrise on the Reaping," by Suzanne Collins

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The Book Review podcast is off for the holidays, but please enjoy this episode of the The New York Times's Culture Desk show from earlier this fall.

In 2004, Susanna Clarke published her debut novel, the sprawling 800-page historical fantasy “Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.” It was a sensation. Clarke sold millions of copies, won literary awards and landed on best-seller lists.

After just one book, Clarke was regarded as one of Britain’s greatest fantasy novelists. It would be 16 years before she resurfaced with her second novel, “Piranesi.”

So, where did she go? And what is she doing now?

On the 20th anniversary of her masterpiece, the Times reporter Alexandra Alter visited Clarke at her limestone cottage in England’s Peak District to discuss her winding path to literary stardom and, above all else, her complex relationship with magic.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.