Sponsored by The Loft’s Wordplay, May 2-8, 2021.
The Loft’s Wordplay, presented by St. Catherine University and Star Tribune, is a week-long, free, and virtual celebration of the year in books (May 2-8). Each day will host a morning session for youth, including visits from Chelsea Clinton, Marjorie Liu, and Jon Klassen. Then an afternoon session with international authors including Helen Oyeyemi, Sofia Segovia, and Rivers Solomon. Finally, evening conversations between authors including Alison Bechdel, Cheryl Strayed, Hanif Abdurraqib, Kazim Ali, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Dean Koontz, and Donika Kelly on themes of climate change, black ambition, native voices, the patriarchy, and more.
Happy Thursday, kittens. I hope you are all as well and safe as you can be. How many of you have been taking advantage of all the virtual book events are being offered right now? I am so into them, I watch one almost every day. Recently, I’ve seen talks with Kelly Link, Kevin Brockmeier, Patrick Radden Keefe, and Anand Giridharadas. It’s exciting because I can see/participate in events I wouldn’t have been able to normally, because of location. I’m going to be part of another one soon, this time with Rafe Posey on May 18th! I hope that virtual events are something that continue after we go back to “normal’. If you haven’t checked any out, I suggest visiting the website of your favorite bookstore or favorite authors to see what’s going on.
Moving on to today’s newsletter: I have exciting book news for you, plus there’s adaptation news and book talk, and I’ve included a picture of one of my ridiculous orange monsters, some trivia, and more! Whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I hope you good bob and we same place again very now. I’ll see you again on Monday. – xoxo, Liberty, Your Friendly Neighborhood Velocireader™
Trivia question time! Ruth Rendell wrote books under what pen name? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
 |
Ava DuVernay is adapting the Wings of Fire books by Tui T. Sutherland as an animated series for Netflix.
Dakota Johnson will star in a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
Here’s the cover reveal of Saad Z. Hossain’s Kundo Wakes Up.
Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones fame has written her first comic book!
Here’s the cover reveal of Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn.
Dove Cameron and Jordan Fisher will star in the adaptation of Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith.
Here are the winners of the 36th annual Whiting awards.
Disney is launching its Hyperion Avenue imprint.
Here’s the cover reveal of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci Todd and Christian Robinson.
A new documentary about Patricia Highsmith is on the way.
Here’s the first look at Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins.
You can buy (me) Agatha Christie’s home for £2.75m.
The winners of the 2020 L.A. Times Book Prizes have been announced.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR! (It will now be books I loved on Mondays and books I’m excited to read on Thursdays. YAY, BOOKS!)
Excited to read:
The Peculiarities by David Liss (Tachyon Publications, September 7)
I read A Conspiracy of Paper a long time ago, but must admit to not having read any other Liss books. However, between that wild cover (BUNNY!) and this description—”…absurdist comedic romp combines strange bedfellows with murderous creatures, resulting in an unexpectedly delightful consequences.”—I want to read it so bad! It’s about a young boy in Victorian times whose brother might be sinister, whose best friend has died under mysterious circumstances, and who thinks the rumors of “peculiarities” living in the London fog might actually be true. I am hoping for something like Natasha Pulley or Sarah Perry when I read it. It sounds great!
What I’m reading this week.
 |
The Perishing by Natashia Deón
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
The Pessimists by Bethany Ball
The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Alison Heller
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno
Song stuck in my head:
The Trapeze Swinger by Iron & Wine. Every few months, I circle back to this song and listen to it on repeat for days. It’s over nine minutes long and is an incredible story that makes me want to cry every time, but in a way that I enjoy. (Also, I’m still really into listening to songs I loved when I was young. You can listen to a lot of them in this playlist I made!)
And this is funny:
Best editor’s note is best.
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- The Chase: Somehow, I have gone many years without hearing of this game show, but now I am all in. It’s a quiz show in which contestants go up a man with an IQ of 155, who is referred to as “The Beast.” (He is a formidable man, yes, but his nickname is actually a literal translation of his surname ‘Labbett.’) I hate all the fake posturing and insults, but I love the trivia questions, because I love learning things in small, easily ingestible bits. The first two seasons are currently streaming on Netflix, and you can catch a new season on ABC starting June 6th.
- My Noise: A very comprehensive catalog of sounds to liven up the background noise or lull you to sleep.
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
And here’s a cat picture!
 |
Maybe this giant cat will shrink in the wash.
Trivia answer: Barbara Vine.
You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L