Fiction · Nonfiction · Every month

Dom’s
Book Club.

Two books worth your time—chosen by a reader who is always looking for the next good one.

October 2026

This month’s picks.

Each October, I like to choose something spooky for the fiction selection. This year, it’s Stephen King’s Misery.

Fiction

Misery

by Stephen King

My October tradition is to select something scary for the book club, and this year I’m going with Misery by Stephen King.

There are no haunted hotels here, no supernatural monsters, and nothing hiding under the bed. King doesn’t need any of that. He gives us Annie Wilkes—and she’s more than enough.

After novelist Paul Sheldon is badly injured in a car accident, he’s rescued by Annie, a former nurse who also describes herself as his “number one fan.” That should make you shudder to begin with.

Unfortunately, she’s not at all happy with what Paul has done to her favorite character. What follows is one of King’s most claustrophobic and disturbing stories, as Paul realizes that his rescuer is actually his captor—and that keeping her happy may be his only chance of staying alive.

I’ve always thought Misery works because its horror feels frighteningly possible. Annie isn’t some supernatural creature. She’s a human being who is unpredictable, obsessive, and completely in control.

And as a writer myself, there’s another layer of terror here. Most authors are thrilled when someone becomes deeply invested in their characters. Annie Wilkes makes you reconsider just how deeply invested you’d like them to become.

It’s a fascinating story about writers, readers, obsession, and the strange relationship between an author and the people who love their work.

For an October read, this one’s a no-brainer. Just be thankful Annie Wilkes isn’t in your book club.

Find the book ↗

Nonfiction

In Search of Time

The Science of a Curious Dimension

by Dan Falk

For October’s nonfiction selection, I’m recommending In Search of Time: The Science of a Curious Dimension by Dan Falk.

Fair warning: this one will not be everyone’s cup of tea. But I’m reading it now, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride.

Falk takes on something we experience every moment of our lives but rarely stop to think about: time itself. What exactly is it? Why does it seem to move in only one direction? Does the past still exist somewhere? And could time travel ever be more than a wonderfully useful idea for science-fiction writers?

Along the way, Falk explores physics, astronomy, philosophy, history, and even the way our brains perceive the passage of time. Some of the concepts require a little concentration—I occasionally find myself stopping to let an idea sink in—but that’s part of the fun.

This isn’t a breezy read, but it’s not a textbook, either. It’s written for curious nonscientists who enjoy wrestling with big questions.

And there may be no bigger question than this: What exactly is this thing called time that governs every moment of our existence?

Find the book ↗

Find your next
good read.

Happy reading!