Read with Jenna selected Barbara Kingsolver’s Partita for October 2026.
Partita
An unexpected call from an old lover sends Livia Cable back through memories of her years as a gifted young pianist. Moving between her rural present and her conservatory past, Barbara Kingsolver examines ambition, class, lost possibilities, and the enduring pull of music.
About this month’s pick
Livia Cable has settled into a quiet rural life when a call from a former lover reopens the past. As she considers seeing him again, she revisits the young musician she once was and the relationship that redirected her future. Kingsolver brings music, class, and thwarted ambition into a story about the choices that continue to shape a life.
Selection: October 2026 · Read with Jenna
Source: TODAY’s official Read with Jenna selection list
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