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Happy Thursday, my bookish friends! I hope you are managing to stay cool in this heat. I have been reading lots of books, watching the Stanley Cup finals, and playing with my growing rock collection. I am super into the sparkly ones. I’m even thinking of asking for a gift certificate to the local rock and mineral store for my birthday this year, instead of my usual bookstore trip. *GASP* WHO AM I?!? I know, I know, but I just need a few more! You know how well I do with moderation, lollllll.
Moving on to today’s newsletter and book talk: I have a lot of fun news, including adaptation deals, book cover reveals, and a look at the latest Dan Chaon novel. (*Muppet arms*) Plus I’ve included a picture of my orange monsters trying to work out quantum physics, some trivia, and more! I love writing these newsletters and I appreciate your support so much. 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 Thursday because of the holiday. Have a safe Fourth of July, if you’re celebrating! – xoxo, Liberty, Your Friendly Neighborhood Velocireader™
Trivia question time! The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson is about what Nobel Prize-winning scientist? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
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John Lithgow will return for the Dexter revival.
Here’s the first look at I’m So (Not) Over You by Kosoko Jackson.
HarperVoyager bought Janelle Monáe’s upcoming collection of Afrofuturistic short stories.
Kyla Zhao’s first novel was announced.
Here’s the cover reveal of Maud Newton’s Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation.
Here’s the cast of the adaptation of No Exit by Taylor Adams so far.
Justine Ireland and Tessa Gratton are coauthoring a YA fantasy duology.
The release date of the new Dune movie has been moved again.
Morgan Jerkins announced a new novel.
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Valerie Perrin’s Fresh Water for Flowers is going to be a TV series.
Asante Blackk is joining Tiffany Haddish in Landscape With Invisible Hand, based on the book by M.T. Anderson.
Antonio Banderas has joined the series adaptation of The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi.
Here are the 2021 Locus Awards winners.
The Ivy and Bean series is getting a Netflix adaptation.
Michael Gray Bulla’s upcoming novel has a new title.
Here’s the trailer for Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Here’s the first look at Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez.
Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot series, Chapelwaite, has a release date.
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Good Omens is getting a second season. I don’t really care what happens next, as long as there is more Michael McKean.
Here’s the cover reveal for The Moth Girl by Heather Kamins.
Matt Bell shared the cover reveal for his craft book Refuse To Be Done.
Penguin Teen announced Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto.
Here’s the new trailer and release date for Apple’s adaptation of Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I don’t care what it’s about, I will watch Lee Pace in anything. #PieGuy4life
A new Exorcist sequel is in the works.
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:
Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon (Henry Holt and Co., April 5, 2022)
HOLY CATSSSSSSSS. I cannot tell you enough how much I love Dan Chaon’s books. This one was just announced a few days ago and I am over the moon about it! It’s about a big-hearted mercenary in future America who gets a call from a woman who says she’s his biological daughter. He thinks it’s suspicious, but agrees to help her anyway. I can’t wait to find out what happens!
If you’ve never read Chaon before, he has incredible story collections, like You Remind Me of Me and Stay Awake, and I also recommend his novels, such as Await Your Reply and Ill Will. He’s one of those authors that all the other authors admire. His writing has a sad, beautiful quality, with a small side of the supernatural. If you like Emily St. John Mandel’s writing, you’ll like Dan Chaon!
What I’m reading this week.
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Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Devil House by John Darnielle
My Annihilation by Fuminori Nakamura, Sam Bett (translator)
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Song stuck in my head:
Happy Birthday by Concrete Blonde. I fell down the Concrete Blonde rabbit hole and haven’t been listening to much else this past week. (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:
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- The Owl House: This is scratching a lot of my Gravity Falls itch, which is helped by the fact that Alex Hirsch does some of the voices.
- Rocks and crystals: I have discovered one of the new things I find relaxing is looking at pictures of rocks and crystals. I bought a guide book but I also go on etsy and look at all the pictures of crystals for sale. They’re so shiny and pretty! I have bought a beautiful celestine rock last week and it’s so cool.
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
And here’s a cat picture!
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Farrokh and Zevon are cheating at Schrödinger’s thought experiment.
Trivia answer: Jennifer Doudna.
You made it to the bottom! High five. Thanks for reading! – xo, L