Cornflakes With John Lennon: And Other Tales From a Rock N’ Roll Life By Robert Hilburn, Out now This book of essays by the former L.A. Times rock critic looks over his career at the musicians and music that shaped rock ‘n’ roll. Read more Read it in print

The Butcher By Philip Carlo, Out Now The author of Gaspipe and Iceman tells the story of Tommy “Karate” Pitera, one of the most feared mob hit men ever, and the DEA agent who hunted him down in 1980s New York. Read more Read it in print

Moores first novel in 15 years is a comingof-age story set in a Midwestern college town, half a continent away from New York but still living in the shadow of 9/11. To Sound in the Know: Known more for her short stories, Moore published her first collection at the age of 26. Read more Read it in print

Better By John O’Brien, Out Aug. 1 A parade of dreamy, hedonistic characters drink, cavort and collide in an L.A. mansion in this posthumously published novel from the author of Leaving Las Vegas. Read more Read it in print

99 Drams of Whiskey By Kate Hopkins, Out Now Booze blogger Hopkins goes on a trip to explore the whiskey made in Ireland, Scotland and the United States while tossing in the history of the water of life along the way. To Sound in the Know: Hopkins blogs about all things alcohol related at The Accidental Hedonist. Shop Class as Soulcraft By Matthew B. Crawford, Out Now The PhD turned bike mechanic pens a quasi-self-help, philosophical polemic on the tangible and psychological value of working with your hands in a world of cubicles and instant-message meetings. To Sound in the Know: While Crawford does run his own small bike shop, he’s also a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. So this grease monkey isn’t all hands. Read more

Please Step Back, By Ben Greenman, Out now The New Yorker editor’s new novel tells the story of Rock Foxx, a singer based loosely on Sly Stone, who goes to San Francisco in the late ’60s and rides the rise and fall of the funk soul scene. Read more Read it in print

New York Press: What are you reading right now? Arthur Phillips: I’m reading William Gaddis’ The Recognitions, mostly because I feel the literary world—bloggers I respect, mostly—has been daring me to for several years now. I’m 600 pages in, and while I get it (I think) and respect it (certainly), I’m afraid that I’m not more than mildly amused. Read more Read it in print

Blue Boy By Rakesh Satyal, Out April 28 An out of place Indian-American boy having trouble fitting into life in Cincinnati (shocking) realizes that his problem isn’t that he’s weird—it’s that he’s the 10th reincarnation of the god Krishnaji.Hilarity ensues. To Sound in the Know: Satyal, when he’s not writing, sings in a cabaret show in Manhattan. Read more Read it in print

The editor of Slate read every single word of the Bible and lived to tell (and write) about it. In his epic quest, Plotz moves from serious explorations (faith vs. works) to whimsical asides (why does God love bald men?) Read more Read it in print

Captain Freedom: A Superhero’s Quest for Truth, Justice and the Celebrity He So Richly Deserves By Gregory Xavier Robillard, Out Feb. 3 It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a satirical debut novel about a waning superhero facing the real and psychological battles of his descent into retirement! To Sound in the Know: Robillard’s faux news piece “Baristas Claim Obama’s Coffee Not Black Enough” recently won HumorFeed’s 4th Annual Satire News Competition. Read more Read it in print