{"book":{"book":"Ply","author":"Hernan Diaz","publicationYear":2026,"description":"Ply is a novel set in a future where traditional institutions have completely fallen apart. While the narrative initially appears to center around societal systems and community, it ultimately reveals itself to be an exploration of the self. The story follows a protagonist known as a 'pincher,' someone who steals electricity from the power grid to sell on the black market. Her illicit line of work eventually leads her to develop an invention with the power to drastically alter her reality. Throughout the book, themes of technology, the phenomenon of rewilding, and the nature of the United States are deeply examined. Ultimately, the novel offers an intricate look at selfhood within a fractured world.","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"}}