No one belongs here more than you. Stories by Miranda July (Scribner, $23)
It’s as though an actual cover image would betray the book’s arty ambition or whatever—that would be giving in to mere buyer enticement. Can’t squander Miranda July’s hipster cred that way! So this cover wants to have it both ways: Its somber genericness signals its defiance of commercial manipulation, while at the same time indulging in commercial manipulation since, in a society that’s internalized its counterculture, appearing to not be all that interested in selling your product is the best way to get a certain strata of people to buy it. Hey, I picked the damn thing up. Didn’t buy it, though. - Scott Dickensheets