Sponsored by Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group
Marguerite’s a shy twentysomething working to keep up appearances. But something’s been off for a while: everyday noise assaults her senses, coworker chatter works her nerves, and her clueless boyfriend makes her feel like she’s imagining it all. After a road trip ends in disaster, Marguerite searches for answers: Why is she sensitive to everything? Why can’t she make small talk? Why does she feel like she isn’t enough? Then, a miraculous thing happens: Marguerite is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, and starts a three-year journey of acceptance and self-love. Finally she asks the real question: Why doesn’t the world understand autistic people?
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. The world feels like it’s falling apart, but inside my little abode, my husband and I are trying to keep the new kitty from pestering our other kitty to death. Houdini likes to ambush our other cat, Gilbert, and it’s adorable because Houdini just wants to be friends, but Gilbert’s old and cranky and not amused by these youthful antics.
Anyway, on to library stuff!
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
- Library supporters urge action as the Senate recesses without a relief bill.
- The Anne Arundel library system in Maryland scaled back on indoor operations after an increasing number of patrons refused to wear masks.
- (TW: transphobia) Libraries in Ireland have opted to remove the book Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin from its shelves due to an email campaign by anti-trans protesters.
- There’s Little Free Library drama brewing! A resident in Alexandria, Virginia has accused a local bookstore owner of removing quality titles from the neighborhood LFL to stock his bookstore. Grab your popcorn!
- A thirty-year-old stash of beer and gum was found behind a wooden panel in the mystery section at the Walla Walla Public Library.
Cool Library Updates
- San Francisco Public Library announces its 2021 pick for One City, One Book: Know My Name by Chanel Miller.
- Hartford Public Library starts an antiracism book club.
- Community gardens are becoming very popular at public libraries.
- NYPL shared their essential feminist reads.
Worth Reading
- Libraries reopen in COVID-19 hot spots, but are library staff being protected?
- Librarian on a cart: bringing the library to the classroom.
- How public libraries can improve remote learning.
- Virtual book events to keep you and your patrons connected.
Book Adaptations in the News
- Netflix announced Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices, a collection of twelve 5-minute episodes featuring Black celebrities and artists reading aloud children’s books by Black authors.
- Casting updates for Between the World and Me and The Boys.
- There’s an adaptation planned already for Rosie Danan’s upcoming romance novel, The Roommate, which comes out next month.
- Roxane Gay’s graphic novel The Banks is getting a film adaptation.
- The Henna Artist is headed to TV.
- Netflix and Disney are working on a trilogy of interconnected films based on the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine.
- One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus is set for TV.
- Jade City by Fonda Lee is headed to Peacock.
- Apple+ has ordered the first ever animated adaptation of Harriet the Spy.
- The BBC American series, The Watch, which is based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, will debut in January 2021.
- Trailer for The Devil All the Time.
Books & Authors in the News
- Michael Cohen talks about his upcoming tell-all book about Trump, which will be published on September 8th.
- Details about Bob Woodward’s upcoming second book about Trump: Rage.
- Reese Witherspoon picks her first YA selection for her book club: You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson.
- An all-star author lineup is set for a Fahrenheit 451 readathon on August 22nd, which would have been Ray Bradbury’s 100th birthday.
- Hilary Mantel says not to expect any more historical fiction now that her Thomas Cromwell trilogy is complete.
- Six-year-old Alyssa McClelland is a published picture book author with My Big Curly Fro.
Numbers & Trends
- Midnight Sun sells over one million copies in its first week. And not surprisingly, Stephenie Meyer is planning at least two more books in the retold Twilight series.
- Romance sales have seen a big increase during quarantine.
- Mermaid mania is coming around again.
Pop Cultured
- The Star Trek movie by Noah Hawley is on hold for the time being.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- Merriam-Webster launches a new podcast called Word Matters.
- How long do you give a book that you don’t immediately love?
On the Riot
- Welcome back lessons for school librarians struggling through the pandemic.
- Bookish accessories for virtual teaching.
Take a breath and take care of yourselves, folks. I’ll see you next week.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.