‘Tis the season for reading! This week we’re taking a deep dive into books. We have recommendations across a variety of genres for your winter list. So, grab your favorite hot beverage, a blanket, and crack open these new titles.
As we approach the holidays, consider giving the gift of GBH to your loved ones. Every GBH Gift Membership helps deliver independent journalism, free educational content for all ages, and stories that reflect real people and communities.
Yours in media,
Elizabeth He, Visual Communications Editor
P.S. For the full printable primetime schedule, visit gbh.org/explore and sign up for GBH Daily for news and a daily reminder of programming you don’t want to miss.
This is a web edition of GBH's The Deep Dive, a weekly newsletter bringing you the best GBH has to offer.
Looking for a New Read?
12 Winter Book Recommendations from GBH Staff (article)
Each season, we touch base with GBH’s resident bibliophiles (too many to count) and ask them to share a book or two that they loved this year. Your next read is just a click away.
New Books That Dance Between Genres (article)
NPR takes a look at new releases that deserve your attention including a feminist history of modern Russia and a candid portrait of Gish Jen’s relationship with her mother – plus, new novels from Philip Pullman and Claire Louise-Bennett. Explore all the possibilities.
8 Novels NPR Staff and Critics Loved in 2025 (article)
Every year, NPR staff and book critics share their favorite titles in our annual Books We Love guide. Here are eight standout fiction picks from this year’s list.
Escape into Novels & Mysteries
The Thursday Murder Club with PBS Books Readers Club (52 min video)
In a quiet retirement village, four unlikely friends meet each week to solve cold cases. But when a brutal murder takes place nearby, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron suddenly find themselves with their very first live investigation. Each brings a unique set of skills to the table, but can this oddball gang catch a killer before it’s too late? Richard Osman discusses his bestselling novel.
The Border Between Us, Coming of Age on the U.S.-Mexico Border (article & 23 min audio)
Under the Radar looks at Rudy Ruiz’s latest novel which includes autobiographical details of growing up – with an American dream – on the border in the 1970s. Learn about Ramón Lopez, his ambitious protagonist.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, a Tangled Love Story (article & 7 min audio)
At nearly 700 pages, this multi-character, multi-stranded novel explores exile and displacement — not only from one’s home, but also from one’s own sense of self. Savor this epic story by Kiran Desai, shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: Mildred Wirt Benson-Inscribed Nancy Drew Books (3 min video)
The story behind the beloved Nancy Drew books holds a mystery worthy of the young sleuth herself ... How much are they worth?
Recipe of the Week
Noodle Kugel from Milk Street’s My Family Recipe (recipe)
When Fairlight de Michele was growing up, her Grandma Erna’s noodle kugel graced most holiday tables. Her grandmother was born in Poland and survived Auschwitz during World War II. After the war, she moved to the U.S., bringing her lokshen (noodle) kugel with her. Years later, Fairlight discovered that family members no longer had the recipe, so she asked Milk Street to replicate the kugel of her childhood. Try this recipe!
Learn Something New
Patchwork Pieces Together Jane Austen’s Personal Life (article)
Some readers might bristle at a biography that proudly takes liberties with facts and chronology, but that artistry is the heart and strength of Kate Evans’ delightful and illuminating work. Dive into this graphic biography of Jane Austen.
And in honor of Austen’s 250th birthday, Callie Crossley explores how six Austen novels still resonate, on Under the Radar.
Boston Public Radio: How Dictionaries Shape Culture (2 hr podcast)
Amherst College’s Ilan Stavans discusses his latest book, Conversations on Dictionaries: The Universe in a Book, and explores the power of dictionaries in shaping culture. Discover the influence behind these mighty tools of language.
The Culture Show: The Evolution of Crossword Puzzles (56 min podcast)
Crossword constructor and writer Natan Last joins us to explore his new book, Across the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of the Crossword Puzzle. He traces the evolution of crosswords from early newspaper amusements to today’s culturally expansive grids. How have these puzzles changed through the years?
Off Topic
- Championship greatness built at Hellenic College. Catch a glimpse of a Boston Celtics practice from the '80s. (45 sec short)
- Get to know David O’Leary, CRB Classical 99.5’s new morning host. (article)
- If you’re hosting friends and family, you may be prepping food or planning seating arrangements, but have you considered prepping your pets? Here’s a vet’s guide to managing your pets during the holidays. (article & 4 min audio)
