Author: Jamie Canaves

Addressing Racist History, LSU Renames Library

Louisiana State University’s library, named after Troy H. Middleton a former university president, has removed his name and a bust of him from the library after a petition circulated pointing out Middleton’s own correspondence, housed in the LSU archives, state his racism towards Black students. “Although the petition had advocated renaming the library after Pinkie Gordon Lane, LSU’s first black female Ph.D. graduate, and the public had suggested a number of other names, the building is now called simply LSU Library.”

Pro-Democracy Books Removed In Chinese-Ruled Hong Kong

The public libraries in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong no longer carry books by pro-democracy authors. In light of a new national security law, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department says the books are being reviewed for violation of this law. “’The national security law … imposes a mainland-style censorship regime upon this international financial city,’ [Joshua] Wong tweeted on Saturday, adding his titles ‘are now prone to book censorship.’”

Did You Know About Black Josei Press?

Jamila Rowser, comic book creator and editor, took her love of Josei manga (Japanese comics marketed to older teens and young women), and her mission to showcase more Black and Brown women creators, and created Black Josei Press: “I have a deep love for the comics and want to do what I can to help more Black women see themselves in comics and the industry.” Here she talks about the company and the two upcoming titles: The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town and Egungun.

7-Year-Old Raises Thousands For Book & Crayon Donations

After asking her mother why brown people weren’t shown in film and books as often as “peach people,” Madison Wilson started a crowdfunding page with the goal of donating diverse books and Crayola’s Colors of the World crayon boxes to classroom libraries. So far she’s raised $7,000, with every $2,500 allowing her to donate 15 books and 25 crayon boxes per classroom.

Excellent

Gabrielle Union’s I’ll Have Another production company has teamed up with Freida Pinto’s production company Freebird Films Entertainment to bring us a series based on Tanisha C. Ford‘s memoir Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion. “In her book, Ford uses fashion as a through-line for time and identity — afros and dashikis, go-go boots and hotpants of the ’60s, hip hop’s baggy jeans and bamboo earrings, and the #BlackLivesMatter-inspired hoodies of today.”

Scribd Adds 1,000 Magazines

Scribd, the U.S. e-book and audiobook subscription service, has expanded its magazine collection to 1,000+ ‘premium’ magazines from over 25 countries. Scribd CEO Trip Adler: “Over the last two years, we have seen the number of hours spent reading magazine articles increase by more than 50%.”

Restraining Order Removed From Mary L. Trump’s Tell-All

In court ruling whiplash: A day after judge Hal B. Greenwald ordered a temporary restraining order on Mary L. Trump’s tell-all book, the Second Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court ruled to vacate the order. Meaning Simon & Schuster can continue with plans to publish Trump’s nieces book Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man.

James Patterson’s Big Audible Deal

Mystery and thriller author James Patterson has signed a multi-project development deal (including first-look) with Audible. The first Audible Original to release has a hell of a narrating cast: Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) and Nathalie Emmanuel (Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral) narrate The Coldest Case: A Black Book Drama. And you can look forward to adult, YA, and middle grade titles.

Yes, We’re Gonna Go Your Way

Lenny Kravitz’s memoir, Let Love Rule, will publish on October 6th and focus on the musician’s life, from birth through age 25: “That journey, full of adventure, was where I found myself and my voice. Through that experience, love was the force that paved the way and love became my message.” And he’ll be narrating the audiobook.

Book-Themed Mask Sales To Benefit Charitable Foundation

Want the masks you wear to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 to be bookish and for a portion of the sales go to a charitable book foundation? The American Booksellers Association and Out of Print (owned by Penguin Random House) have joined together in selling book-themed masks with a portion of each sale going to Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which helps bookstores impacted by the pandemic. Choose from 7 different styles, including of course “book nerd.”

$6.2 Million Rare Book Collection Donated And To Go Digital

Florence Fearrington donated her $6.2 million dollar rare book collection (almost 4,000 books and objects) to Chapel Hill University Libraries, University of North Carolina. “‘Florence has established a meaningful legacy based on her passion for our natural world, the book arts and Carolina’s Libraries,’ said Elaine L. Westbrooks, vice provost for University Libraries and University Librarian.” Not only will the collection soon be available for in person student, faculty, and patrons but it will also be digitized and made available online.

Sir Patrick Stewart Will Grace Us With His Memoir

With Star Trek: Picard currently on hiatus from filming due to the pandemic, Patrick Stewart finds himself with the time to write his memoir: “I am 80 in a little over two weeks’ time. I have just treated myself to a gorgeous office chair. And…I have the time.” This man is a treasure and I can’t wait to read his life stories.

Florida Man Axes Online Learning

A line-item veto by Governor DeSantis in Florida demolishes funding for online learning and information access.

Bookstore Removes J.K. Rowling’s Books From Shelves

Left Banks Books in St. Louis, MO, will no longer have shelf space for J.K. Rowling’s books after her continued verbal attacks on transgender people. “‘It’s a time when there’s so much hate in the world, and she’s using her platform to endorse that,’ Kleindienst said. ‘Transgender people are one of the most vulnerable populations.'”

Amazing!

Brit Bennett’s recent release The Vanishing Half–about identical Black twins who take different paths in life, one passing as white– has sold the rights to HBO for a limited series. HBO won in what is claimed to have been an auction with 17 bidders! And yes, this book–and her previous The Mothers–are totally worth fighting over.

So Fun!

Need some fun activities for the kiddos during July? The Story Pirates and Random House Children’s Books have partnered to create Story Pirates Creator Camp! “Each week of our July camp will feature virtual visits from best-selling children’s book authors and illustrators, interactive livestream activities led by the Story Pirates, and a curated book bundle of select titles from the guest authors!” The lineup is amazing and even includes Winnie Cooper (you have to be an old to know this)!

Beyoncé Coming To Disney+ Inspired By Lion King

Inspired by The Lion King–Beyoncé voiced Nala in the 2019 remake–Black Is King, a new visual album from Beyoncé, will stream on Disney+ July 31, 2020. And we have a trailer!

As We Wish

For charity, a bunch of celebrities have been filming a low-budget recreation of The Princess Bride film, based on William Goldman‘s novel. You can catch Rob Reiner–who directed the original film–as the grandfather, Josh Gad as the “no kissing” grandson, and so many celebrities (!!) cast for all the other roles on Quibi (short-form mobile video platform). “This version of The Princess Bride will start airing chapter by chapter every day for two weeks on Quibi starting on Monday June 29.”

Fall Book Release Calendar Is Gonna Be Banana-Pants

Fall is usually a time for a lot of book releases but two events this year are going to make it an explosion of book releases: the November US presidential election, and the pandemic. In order to avoid getting lost during the election season, books will release early fall, and now many that were pushed back during the early pandemic months have been rescheduled for early fall. So “yay” for so many books, but really it means it is going to be difficult for book lovers to hear about all of the releases and get their hands on all the ones they want to read.

Sally Rooney Will Have Another Hulu Adaptation

Hulu’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People has clearly gotten enough love from viewers that the streamer has decided to adapt Rooney’s first novel Conversations With Friends. The 12-episode half-hour season will follow a love triangle where two college students in Dublin end up in a weird relationship with an older married couple.

New Podcast Discusses Octavia Butler’s Two Parable Novels

In celebration of Octavia Butler, Adrienne Maree Brown and Toshi Reagon have created a new podcast to take a deep dive into Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, “to examine the books in light of the current state of the world.” You can listen to the first episode now.

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight Adaptation

Prominent Productions’ producer Autumn Bailey-Ford has secured the film rights for Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal’s NAACP Image Award nominee novel I’m Not Dying With You Tonight. Kimberly Jones: “Exploring the ‘why’ involved in civil unrest is non-negotiable in this era and I’m Not Dying With You Tonight is a piece of work that can open the portal to that conversation. I think it was destined to be released in this medium.”

Magic School Bus’ Ms Frizzle Cast

The Magic School Bus, a book series that was also a cartoon series in the ’90s, has cast its Ms Frizzle for the upcoming live-action film: Elizabeth Banks will play the magical elementary school teacher. Here’s hoping Lily Tomlin, who voiced the cartoon character, will have a surprise role in the film.

Gorgeous

If you need a break from coloring books and puzzles here’s a beautiful paper doll set to download and print of Noemí Taboada, the main character in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s suspenseful Mexican Gothic. You get the main Noemí doll and four outfits to change her into.

This Sounds Awesome!

As a huge fan of genre blending, this upcoming graphic novel sounds amazing: The Science of Ghosts is a whodunnit mystery, horror, and a love story. Created by Lilah Sturges (Lumberjanes) and Alitha E. Martinez (Black Panther: World of Wakanda), the graphic novel will star Joy Ravenna, a transgender parapsychologist and will incorporate “psychology, dream logic, the symbolism of ghost narratives, and queer love stories.” Yes, want. Now. (But we have to wait until 2021.)