Photo: The New York Times

Below, our favorite stories of the week. Kindle users, you can also get them as a Readlist.

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1. The Secret Casualties of Iraq’s Abandoned Chemical Weapons

C.J. Chivers | The New York Times | Oct. 14, 2014 | 40 minutes (10,046 words)

A New York Times investigation into the chemical weapons found in Iraq, and the U.S.’s failure to care for soldiers who were exposed to it.

2. The Evans Family is Living in This World

Linda Vaccariello | Cincinnati Magazine | Oct. 1, 2014 | 19 minutes (4,837 words)

A community comes together to help a family after a tragedy.

3. My Terrifying Night With Afghanistan’s Only Female Warlord

Jen Percy | The New Republic | Oct. 14, 2014 | 20 minutes (5,021 words)

A face-to-face encounter with Bibi Ayisha, aka Commander Pigeon. In her 60s, she oversees a militia of fighters from a compound 250 miles north of Kabul.

4. The Contestant

Daniel Alarcón | The California Sunday Magazine | Oct. 5, 2014 | 24 minutes (6,040 words)

Ruth Thalía went on a game show in Lima, Peru, and then disappeared.

5. Reelin’ in the Years

Colin Dickey | Lapham’s Quarterly | Oct. 15, 2014 | 14 minutes (3,514 words)

Reconsidering Virginia Woolf’s time-warping novel Orlando, “the longest and most charming love letter in literature.”