Sponsored by Erewhon Books / Workman Publishing
On Fragile Waves, debut novel of Astonishing Award Winner E. Lily Yu, is the haunting, lyrical story of a family of dreamers and tale-tellers looking for home in an unwelcoming world. Firuzeh and her brother Nour are children of fire, born in an Afghanistan fractured by war. When their parents decide to leave, they spin fairy tales of their destination, the mythical land and opportunities of Australia. The Seattle Review of Books once said, “[Yu] will undoubtedly produce great works in the years to come.” We believe On Fragile Waves is one of them. Please join us on the journey.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I’ve hit my eleventy-thousandth pandemic mental wall this week, where I feel like I’m wading through a giant puddle of MEH. (Puddle of Meh = Puddle of Mudd’s under-achieving sibling.) Is it election fatigue? Is it pandemic fatigue? Is it why-do-I-have-to-wash-my-hair-again-I-just-washed-it-three-days-ago fatigue? All of the above? I don’t even know anymore.
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
A new study shows that COVID can survive up to 28 days on certain surfaces, BUT there are a number of additional factors that affect this timeline. (So don’t rush to put your returned items in a month-long quarantine just yet.)
Multiple branches of the Cincinnati public library helped provide free COVID testing last week.
The Iowa City Public Library is focusing on DEI and alternatives to police intervention in their new strategic plan.
The Brooklyn Public Library names Cyrée Jarelle Johnson as their first Poet-in-Residence.
Cool Library Updates
Pennsylvania libraries launch “Hear Me Out” to promote civic dialogue in the state.
Cleveland Public Library opens a safe classroom setting for students participating in online learning.
Seriously, camel libraries are underrated.
Worth Reading
Library lockdown success could threaten physical services.
COVID quarantines mean that textbooks are in short supply for college students.
Understanding library eBook lending.
Book Adaptations in the News
Netflix is adapting Rumaan Alam’s new thriller, Leave the World Behind.
Amazon is developing Ken Liu’s story, The Cleaners (with Orlando Bloom), and is also adapting Yōko Ogawa’s novel, The Memory Police.
HBO snagged rights to Ibi Zoboi’s YA novel, Pride.
A first look at The Underground Railroad adaptation.
Trailer for News of the World.
Trailer for The Magic School Bus Rides Again on Netflix.
Books & Authors in the News
Roxane Gay, Stephen King, and N.K. Jemisin are among the 1200+ authors and members of the publishing industry who signed an open letter in support of transgender rights. This is in response to an open letter published in the UK in support of J.K. Rowling.
Another day, another DoJ lawsuit against someone who’s upset the Trump family. This time, the lawsuit is against Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, author of the tell-all book, Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady.
Bette Green, author of Summer of My German Soldier, has died at age 86.
Taye Diggs has released a free children’s book about diversity, acceptance, and anti-bullying…oh, and Baskin Robbins has created three new ice cream flavors to represent several of the characters.
Why a children’s book is becoming a symbol of resistance in Hungary’s fight over LGBTQ rights.
Numbers & Trends
How do readers rate the New York Times best-selling books?
Award News
Louise Glück wins the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature. Here’s where to start with her work.
The 16 winners of the Tournament of Books are facing off this October for the chance to win the ultimate prize: the Super Rooster.
On the Riot
Getting an MLIS while working full time.
Give me a gay section, not gentrified bookshelves.
How the pandemic has changed our reading lives.
When will I stop equating my self worth with the number of books I read?
Take a deep breath and take another step forward. Now go take a nap.
I’ll catch you all next week!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.