A tour of a liturgical year in the life of a gardener invites readers to dwell in two sets of seasons as a way of drawing nearer to eternity.

Priests Alex Sosler and Gary Ball tackle competing visions of what art is, and what it’s for. Review by Najma Zahira

On Big Ugly, North Carolina band Fust are homesick for a home that no longer exists. Review by Joseph Collum

A new book on the Coptic Orthodox practices of Lent sheds light on the deep hunger we all feel—even when we are surrounded by good things. Review by Bree Snow

A new novella from the peerless A. G. Mojtabai tackles an underrepresented group: those who are growing old. Review by John Wilson

A.G. Mojtabai masterfully uses the visible and tangible to tell a story that makes the reality of the invisible and intangible impossible to miss. Review by Mark Clemens

Poet Kaveh Akbar’s first novel is a touching, funny, and profound exploration of getting what we need but don’t deserve. Review by Sarah Clark

Stein introduces his readers to ten caretakers of dying traditions and celebrates their rituals with the affection of rich detail. Review by Elise Tegegne

Sally Thomas’s debut short story collection deals with the many faces of grief, yet places them all solidly where they belong: in the midst of life. Review by Drea Jenkins