Hi, 

Can you feel it? Fall, or cozy book season, is just a few days away. 

Oh, I know we can pick up a book at any moment, in any season. But the promise of fall is that the sun won’t lure you away right up until bedtime, leaving you feeling like you didn’t pack enough in, like there was juuust one more thing you could have done. Nope, fall says, take it easy. Get ready to hibernate. 

I have about three years’ worth of specifically autumn books I’ve picked up, imagining myself with time for at least one chapter each night — long enough for a piping hot beverage to cool for a few sips and then bed. Sweet, sweet bed. On time. With deep sleep. 🛌

The brutal truth is, as I romanticize this literary scenario, I scroll. I scroll through summer, I scroll through fall, winter, and spring. I don’t like the dumb name this habit has, revenge scrolling, because why would I want to take something out on myself? Or my day? Silly. It’s just a bad habit. One I should break already. How about this — do it with me.

Marisa Lagos, filling in for Press Play’s Madeleine Brand, talked about fall book picks with Joumana Khatib, editor at the New York Times Book Review, and David Ulin, professor of English at USC, editor of the literary journal Air/Light. They discussed books about long COVID-induced insanity, true crime, and a mother speaking to her son from the afterlife. I mean, if that chilling juiciness isn’t enough to make you throw your phone into the farthest hamper in your house (on silent, no less), I don’t know what is! 

Wait, before you do that, give the interview a listen. It’s a quick 15 minutes. You got this. And a good night to us all. 

Picking a bookmark, 

Connie Alvarez
Your KCRW Insider
P.S. Already have a book on deck? Do share. I’m going with something from my old pile. Oh, and please help monitor the butterflies (below). 

Pay to Publish: The Academic Scam Costing Taxpayers Billions

Dr. Michael Wilkes shares his opinion about academic publishing. Scientists rely on journals to advance their careers, but the process often means waiting months for unpaid peer reviews, then paying publishers thousands in fees to release their work. Those same journals then sell access back to universities, fueling an $11 billion industry. Critics say the system disadvantages less wealthy researchers. See this and more of Dr. Michael Wilkes' opinions when you subscribe to his weekly newsletter.

Pressure on Immigrants’ Pocketbooks

A survey by The Rent Brigade found immigrant workers in Los Angeles saw their weekly earnings drop 62% this summer, from $800 to $300, after ICE raids left many too afraid to go to work. Of the 120 day laborers, vendors, and service workers surveyed, 28% reported owing more than one month’s rent, and one in eight said their landlord threatened to call ICE — an illegal act under California Civil Code 1940.3. Advocates are pushing for an eviction moratorium, saying residents shouldn’t have to choose between safety and housing.

Documenting the Vanishing Monarchs

Monarch Butterflies are on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss (loss of milkweed) and climate change, among other reasons. But there’s an app that can help track their migration patterns, which in turn helps scientists save them. They’re calling for your help by snapping photos of them when you see them and uploading them to the free iNaturalist app.

Putting Your Garden to Work in the Kitchen

KCRW’s Evan Kleiman chats with Kevin West, longtime Southern California preserver and cook. He returns with The Cook’s Garden: A Gardener’s Guide to Selecting, Growing, and Savoring the Tastiest Vegetables of Each Season. The book blends gardening know-how with a cook’s perspective, showing how varietal character shapes flavor in the kitchen. West emphasizes planting with time in mind, not just space, and sees gardening as both a daily practice and an act of resilience.

The Other Art Fair Returns September 25th–28th

The Other Art Fair Los Angeles returns to Barker Hangar for their biggest fair yet. More than 150 emerging artists will have works for sale that you can take home the same day. Choose from thousands of original works and prints, with prices starting at just $100. Opening Night kicks off with a complimentary, hand-crafted whisky cocktail (for those who are 21+) & whisky tastings. KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox will be spinning tunes on Friday night. Each day includes interactive installations, live aura portraits, a kids create section, food trucks, and the Fair bar. It has all the makings of a perfect day out in LA. Say goodbye to your plain white walls and fall in love with something new. Tickets are available now.

Furry Celebs in Topanga

A female black bear known as BB-14 and her three cubs have become unexpected residents of Topanga Canyon, sparking both fascination and concern. Locals share daily bear sightings on social media, but experts warn that feeding the animals could lead to dangerous encounters — and potentially their removal. Now, the community faces difficult questions about coexistence, from costly bearproof trash cans to debates over how to slow traffic for wildlife safety.