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At the dawn of time, Erf and his three amphibious friends, Figwillop, KWAAAH, and the Booper, take their first nervous steps out of the ocean, the beginning of an adventure into the primordial world. As they explore the exciting new lands beyond the shore, they discover that the prehistoric jungle is home to the mighty and terrifying Colossux. What follows is an evolutionary fable of love and loyalty for readers of all ages!
Hello, book lovers! It’s Liberty Hardy again, sitting in today at the last minute for Katie McLain. I cannot do the spectacular job that she does, but I will get close, since much of this has been cribbed from her notes, LOL.
I have some bookish news and lists for you today, to keep you up-to-date on the happenings in library land, and some useful resources for keeping up with upcoming releases. So buckle in!
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
- A Michigan woman was facing jail time for failing to return two library books because the world is ridiculous. (SPOILER: The charges were dropped.)
- ALA turns to Congress as Macmillan ignores public call to reverse library eBook embargo.
- Plus a list of libraries currently participating in the boycott of Macmillan eBooks.
- How the Chicago Public School strike affected school librarians.
- The Grand Rapids Public Library is heat-treating all of its returned materials to prevent the spread of bedbugs.
Worth Reading
- Publisher’s Weekly shares an editorial about why libraries are choosing to boycott Macmillan eBooks.
- Confirming what librarians already knew, this study finds that libraries are getting less bang for more buck out of their eBooks.
- A look at unauthorized practice of law in the library, and considerations for librarians facing legal questions from patrons.
- Our libraries feel like home.
Book Adaptations in the News
- Lady Gaga to star in Ridley Scott’s Gucci murder movie, and yes, this is actually based on a book: The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden.
- Tembi Locke’s memoir From Scratch is being adapted as a limited series, starring Zoe Saldana and executive produced by Tembi Locke’s sister, the award-winning crime author, Attica Locke.
- Netflix is adapting Jennifer Mathieu’s feminist YA novel Moxie, as well as Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.
- Neil Gaiman announces that there will be a second season of The Sandman on Netflix, although Season 1 is still a ways away.
- Here’s the first look at HBO’s adaptation of Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country.
- Netflix has already renewed The Witcher for a second season.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar will star in a limited series adaptation of Sometimes I Lie, based on the novel by Alice Fenney.
- The pilot of the adaptation of The Peripheral by William Gibson has been picked up for a series.
- Monsterland, the upcoming series based on the short stories from Nathan Ballingrud’s collection, North American Lake Monsters.
- There’s a musical adaptation of Chelsea Clinton’s children’s book She Persisted debuting off-Broadway.
- There’s a musical adaptation of Scotland, PA, the amazing movie of Macbeth set in a 1970s fast food restaurant.
Books & Authors in the News
- Author Ernest J. Gaines, author of A Lesson Before Dying, dies at age 86.
- Backlash and support aimed at the diverse books program in Loudoun County (VA) public schools.
- Not surprisingly, the Department of Justice is trying to figure out who the anonymous author is who wrote A Warning.
- Author E. Jean Carroll, who made headlines when she accused Trump of sexual assault, sues the President for defamation.
- Oprah selects Olive, Again as her next book club title.
- Reese Witherspoon selects Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes for her November book club pick.
- How Carmen Maria Machado wrote the best memoir of the year.
- Best-selling romance author Sarah MacLean has partnered with Jordandené to create a merchandise line aimed at feminist romance readers. The official collection will be released in February 2020, but you can check out part of the collection here!
Award News
- Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann won 2019 Goldsmiths Prize.
- Goodreads Choice Awards semifinals are live! Start voting!
- Finalists for the Southern Book Prize.
- Shortlist for the Reading Women award.
- Richard Ford is set to receive the Hadada prize from The Paris Review, but multiple authors have questioned this decision since Ford once spit in Colson Whitehead’s face over a bad review.
- A roundup of the major 2019 SFF award winners.
Pop Cultured
- Here’s the first trailer for Megan Abbott’s Dare Me, debuting on the USA Network.
- Here’s a trailer for Wendy, the “wildly re-imagined” story of Peter Pan.
- And here’s the trailer for the new adaptations of A Christmas Carol.
- And have you seen the trailer for the horror-style remake of The Invisible Man? (TW for abusive relationships.)
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- Check out this map that charts out the wide world of literature – it’s GORGEOUS!
- How to survive a horror novel.
- Harry Potter’s childhood home from Godric’s Hollow is available on Airbnb. Start booking now!
Seen on Book Riot
- The economic case for supporting libraries.
- Trends in YA since the 2016 election and what they say about society.
- Readers are more satisfied with their lives than nonreaders.
- What happened to adult coloring books?
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in LibraryReads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Thanks for joining me today! And thanks to Katie for letting me push the buttons on the motherboard.
–Liberty, @franzencomesalive on Instagram