Category: Today In Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Dynamic Dames by Sloan De Forest.

Activist In The U.S. Arrested After Reading Poem

Thirty-six hours after reading Dear America, a poem critical of the U.S.’s immigration policy, student activist Jose Bello was arrested. The ACLU has filed a court petition wanting a valid reason for his arrest stating, “the arrest violates the first amendment because ICE agents targeted activists who publicly criticised its immigration enforcement practices.”

#BookstoresAgainstBorders Fundraiser

Gretchen Treu, co-owner of the Madison, Wisconsin indie bookstore A Room of One’s Own, is leading the fundraising campaign #BookstoresAgainstBorders and asking fellow Indie bookstores to join by donating a percentage of July 5th weekend sales to the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services. RAICES is “a Texas-based organization that provides low-to-no-cost legal services to the people who are incarcerated in the immigrant camps run by the U.S. Border Patrol.” You can also donate directly at the fundraiser page here.

Idris Elba On Playing James Bond After The Racist Backlash

In a new Vanity Fair interview, Idris Elba talked about how the racist backlash over the idea of him playing James Bond impacted his view of the role: “And it really turns out to be the color of my skin. And then if I get it and it didn’t work, or it did work, would it be because of the color of my skin? That’s a difficult position to put myself into when I don’t need to.” You can read more on that bit here and for the full article here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Sourcebooks.

Mr. Sandman, Bring Me A Netflix Series

Neil Gaiman has another adaptation on the way, this time for his Vertigo comic book series Sandman. A very-long-in-the-making adaptation considering adaptation deals started in the ’90s but nothing had ever fully materialized. Until, hopefully, now with news that Netflix has signed on to create a television series.

2019 Locus Award Winners

2019 Locus Awards announced the winners for 16 categories including sci-fi, fantasy, horror, novella, and first novel. Congrats to some awesome books–including a bunch of Rioter favorites! You can certainly find your next awesome read on this list.

Margaret Atwood Collector’s Editions

On August 22nd the British publishing company Virago will be publishing collector’s editions for four of Margaret Atwood’s novels: The Blind Assassin; Cat’s Eye; The Robber Bride; Alias Grace. You can check out the new covers here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Penguin Teen.

Podcasts Plus Poetry

It’s no coincidence that podcasts and poetry are both flourishing right now. Why do the two go together so well? Read on to find out, and get some listening recommendations while you’re at it.

That Time A Shape-Shifting Villain Stuffed Herself Down Batman’s Throat

Batman: The Animated Series was many a child’s introduction to comic book superheroes. And if you think it had a lot of body horror, sequel series Batman: Beyond has something to say: “Hold my beer.”

In Other Comics News

Here’s a post on io9 contextualizing a blog post by writer and artist Sina Grace, who reveals some of the struggles he experienced over the course of working with Marvel on Iceman.  The news that a major comics publisher doesn’t support its marginalized creators in meaningfully concrete ways isn’t surprising, but it’s disappointing nonetheless.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James.

Station Eleven and Made For Love Getting Series Adaptations

Made for Love by Alissa Nutting will be adapted into a 10-episode, half-hour comedy and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel will be adapted into a limited series with 10 episodes. Both will air on WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming platform.

Organization Making Affordable Braille Books For Kids

Here’s a nice profile on Seedlings Braille Books for Children, an organization that prints, binds, and ships braille books at affordable prices. Check it out here.

You Can Color Frank Zappa

The Zappa estate has authorized The Frank Zappa Coloring Book, which will have 72 illustrations you can color related to the late musician. It’ll hit stores November 5th and you can check out some of the pages here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Some Like it Scandalous by Maya Rodale.

NYPL Will Display Rare Declaration of Independence For 2 Days

A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, that is written in Thomas Jefferson’s hand, will be on display July 1st and 2nd at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The exhibition will be free and you can check out all the details, including facts about the manuscript, here.

Avengers: Endgame Re-released In Theaters

Seems Avengers: Endgame isn’t happy just missing Avatar’s box office record so it’s coming back to theaters again today for fans who may have missed it, or just want to watch it again with its bonus content. This seems like cheating but whatevs there’s new material for fans to see and select theaters have cool posters to give out–plus, it’s super hot out and theaters have awesome air conditioners.

Poetic Google Doodle

Google made a doodle for the 185th anniversary of Polish Romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz’s publication of Pan Tadeusz.   You can check it out, and the history, here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs, the new book from New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe. On sale now from Henry Holt.

Joe Hill Overseeing New Line Of DC Horror Comics

Joe Hill is overseeing a “pop-up line” of new limited series horror comics for DC under his Hill House line. And the lineup, starting this fall, sounds amazing: “Basketful of Heads, written by Hill and illustrated by Leomacs; The Dollhouse Family, written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Peter Gross; The Low, Low Woods, written by Carmen Maria Machado and illustrated by Dani; Daphne Byrne, written by Laura Marks and illustrated by Kelley Jones; and Plunge, written by Hill with an artist to be revealed at a later date.”

Scribd Introduced Snapshots

Scribd, the subscription reading platform, is now offering Snapshots of nonfiction titles for those who don’t have the time to read the full book. Basically, it’s a summarized version giving you what Scribd’s in-house editorial content team has decided is the most important information to know. You can learn more here.

OITNB Final Season Trailer

Orange Is The New Black, Netflix’s popular show based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, returns July 26th for its 7th and final season. You can check out the emotional–of course with some laughs–trailer here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Regency romance author Janna MacGregor.

Librarians Protest CIA Recruiting At ALA Conference

The CIA is among hundreds of exhibits at the American Library Association’s (ALA) annual conference. This year, a group of librarians protested stating, “Everything they stand for is a violation of the values of librarianship, so we protested.” You can read their full statement, more on the protest, and ALA’s decision not to ban the CIA here.

Highlights Takes A Stand For Kids

Highlights magazine played “What Wrong?” outside of their pages and made a public statement against the separation of immigrant children from their families and the current living conditions during detainment. You can read their letter here.

Prom Adaptation Has Awesome Casting

Not only is the hot Broadway play Prom getting a YA book adaptation in September but it’s also getting a Netflix film adaptation by Ryan Murphy. And the cast is fire: Keegan-Michael Key, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Ariana Grande, Awkwafina, and Andrew Rannells. Excited for the book (that cover!) and the film!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Waterhouse Press.

ALA Votes To Remove Dewey’s Name From Award

The ALA (American Library Association) voted to change the annual Melvil Dewey Award name because Melvil Dewey was anti-Semitic, racist, and a misogynist. You can read more about the decision, medal, and Dewey–yes, the decimal system guy–here.

Marvel Unveiled Stage Plays Aimed At Young Audiences

Marvel partnered with the Concord Theatricals company to create stage plays starring their superheroes set in contemporary situations young readers can relate to. The goal is for the plays to be easy to produce for educational institutions–for a fee of course. Check out the play covers for the plays starring Ms. Marvel, Thor, and Squirrel Girl, and learn more here.

The Most Read Books For The Goodreads Reading Challenge

If you set yourself a yearly reading goal you may be one of millions of users who keeps track using the Goodreads Reading Challenge. They just released the most read books so far–overall, nonfiction, and classics–from everyone’s challenges and hello, Michelle Obama taking #1! You can see all the books here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Libro.fm

Pennywise In Every Shot Of CHEERS Opening

For your nightmares: Jesse McLaren edited Pennywise, from Stephen King’s IT, into every opening shot of Cheers and it’s terrifyingly awesome. You can see it here.

Red Sonja Gets New Director!

Jill Soloway, creator of Transparent, will now be directing and writing the film adaptation of Red Sonja, the Marvel character created in 1973 by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. Soloway will be the first nonbinary director for a comic film adaptation of this scale. Read more details here.

New Oxford Professor Of Poetry

In equally exciting and depressing news: Alice Oswald has become the first woman to serve as Oxford professor of poetry, which she won by a substantial margin. The position was established–wait for it… over 300 years ago. Learn more about Oswald, her poetry, AND the position’s past scandals here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Libro.fm

Lots Happening Over At DC

…and we don’t just mean the District of Columbia where ALA conference attendees are currently having the best time. No, we’re talking about Detective Comics, where groundbreaking imprint Vertigo is no more. Imprints Ink and Zoom have also been shuttered in a surprise consolidation plan. But a day later, at the aforementioned librarian summit, DC announced a slew of new titles. We’ll keep you posted?

Book Critical Of Mass Incarceration Un-Banned In Prisons

Arizona corrections officials had prohibited prisoners from reading Chokehold: Policing Black Men by former federal prosecutor Paul Butler. That ban has now been reversed.

This Is Fantastic (And Tampon Taxes Are Not)

So in Germany, tampons and other sanitary products are taxed at a rate of 19%. The justification? They’re luxury goods. Meanwhile, books are taxed at a rate of 7%. Founders of a sanitary product company looked at this situation and decided to publish a book…containing tampons.