{"book":{"book":"Ply","author":"Hernan Diaz","publicationYear":2026,"description":"Ply is set in a future where societal institutions have collapsed. While it initially presents as a story concerning broader systems and community, it ultimately focuses on an exploration of the self. The narrative follows a protagonist known as a \"pincher,\" who illegally siphons electricity from the power grid to sell on the black market. Her illicit work eventually leads to an invention capable of drastically altering her reality. Through this speculative world, the novel investigates how technology shapes our understanding of the United States. It also touches on themes such as rewilding and the evolution of personal selfhood.","image":"https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2160x2160+0+0/resize/3000/quality/66/format/jpg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F49%2Fab%2F9104e39b4e628a1207829dd626f6%2Ff224825c-0fd8-45fb-b58d-65bc7ae021fb.jpg","date":"2026-10-15"}}