Category: Today In Books

Sponsored by Kingsbane by Claire Legrand

ACLU Calls On Prison System To End Its Book Ban

Paul Butler, Georgetown University criminal law professor and former federal prosecutor, found out his book Chokehold: Policing Black Men is banned in Arizona state prisons. “Sykes said the ACLU plans to sue the corrections system if their written request to reverse the banning of ‘Chokehold’ isn’t implemented or if the prison system fails to respond, and he said the ban was unconstitutional.” Read the full story here.

Napoleon Dynamite Gets Comic Book Sequel!

Vote for Pedro! Impeach Pedro–er, what?! The IDW comic book limited series finds “Pedro’s reign as student body president threatened when he’s accused of having cheated in the election, pushing Napoleon and Deb to have to uncover the truth to clear Pedro’s name before it’s too late.” You can read the four-issue series starting in September and get more info here.

Thomas Cromwell Trilogy Will Be Completed!

Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror & the Light will publish in the U.S. on March 10, 2020 completing the Thomas Cromwell trilogy. Being that the first two novels in the series, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, each won the Man Booker Prize expectations are hiiiiigh. And fans are super excited.

Sponsored by Flatiron Books

Never-Before-Seen Look At Hagrid’s Motorbike Ride!

If you weren’t already planning a trip this summer to Universal Orlando, you may be after you see Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. It’s a roller coaster, but it’s Universal so it’s really an experience–check it out here!

The ’90s Crushes Reawakenings Continue

And I like it! Pacey–er, Joshua Jackson has joined Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington in Hulu’s adaptation of Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere. This is a chef’s-kiss novel with chef’s-kiss casting that I can’t wait for.

Finally, Berkley. Finally.

Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has acquired its first queer female romance: Something To Talk About by Meryl Wilsner. For all the deets on this hopefully-releasing-in-2020 romance click here.

Sponsored by Kawaii Craft Life by Sosae Caetano and Dennis Caetano

Cease & Desist Over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wonder Woman

Devil’s Due published a new comic, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez & The Freedom Force: New Party, Who Dis?, with a limited variant cover that got DC comics saying no-no. And by no-no I mean a cease and desist letter because the cover, by artist Carla Cohen, looks too much like Wonder Woman for DC’s liking. Whoever got their hands on one already is most likely going to have a valuable issue. You can check out the cover, and full story, here.

Sarah Jessica Parker Fighting Library Budget Cuts In NYC

The book-loving actress is hoping to stop a looming budget cut that would affect libraries in New York’s five boroughs. Summoning Carrie Bradshaw, and that terrible post-it breakup, Sarah Jessica Parker sent out an emailing urging “people to post sticky notes about why they love their libraries on the investinlibraries.org website.” More here.

Marie Kondo Has Been Writing

Marie Kondo found the time to write (Hopefully while ignoring all the racist backlash over *checks notes* helping people who wanted to get organize get organized.) not one, but two new books! Here’s her Instagram announcement where she is once again wearing a blouse I covet.

Win a waterproof Kindle Paperwhite! Just click here or the image below to enter. Good luck!

Scientists Making Comic Books About Scientists

“To have a comic that is about an actual person that’s doing actual science that may look like them—I think that can be incredibly powerful.” So says Jaye Gardiner, one of the cofounders of JKX Comics, a group of scientists who taught themselves how to use design software in order to make such comics.

Happy Anniversary, Subway Book Review!

Do you follow Subway Book Review on Instagram? The account has been around for five years, showcasing subway readers and their books. Check out the anniversary party they held on the G train.

If George R. R. Martin Were Done With The Books, He’d Tell You

A rumor originating in Russia was making the rounds. According to the tall tale, George R. R. Martin has finished writing his final Game of Thrones book, but made a deal with HBO to hold off publication until after the television series wraps. But settle down, everyone; the man himself debunked the rumor.

Sponsored by The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, from Gallery Books

Romeo And Juliet Hip-Hop Movie Musical!

Queen Latifah and Will Smith are producing a Romeo And Juliet hip-hop movie musical for Netflix that will be set in today’s N.Y. and follow a Brooklyn waitress and wealthy heir musician–why don’t I have this RIGHT NOW!

New China Tariffs May Come For Books

If you haven’t been following closely with the Trump administrations trade war with China–no judgement, there is so much to follow!–this bit may be of interest: “books are among the $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that face a potential 25% tariff following the failure of the U.S. and China to reach a new trade agreement.” More information here.

From Vampire To Batman?

Matt Reeves is working on The Batman and sources say Robert Pattison is the top choice, and in final negotiations, to play Batman. Opine away.

Sponsored by Challenged Accepted!, the new comedy memoir from “The Funniest Woman on Instagram” Celeste Barber.

Stephen King Defends GOT

Seems all the criticism from fans of the final season of Game of Thrones was getting to Stephen King so he took to Twitter to say he’s loved the season and that perhaps people are just upset to see it end at all. (Spoilers obviously)

More YA Graphic Memoirs And Nonfiction

We’re getting a new independent publishing house that will focus on graphic memoirs/nonfiction for young adults: Street Noise Books. You’re gonna want to click here to hear about the upcoming titles (they sound fantastic) and get a peek at gorgeous illustrations! Seriously, sign me up for all of them.

Hello, New Nancy Drew

We have our first look at the new Nancy Drew adaptation coming to The CW in this trailer and it looks like she got the Riverdale treatment.

Sponsored by our $100 Amazon gift card giveaway! Enter here and win $100 to spend on YA lit!

Bills Proposed To Require Librarians In Public Schools

Michigan currently ranks 47th for its student-to-school librarian ratio and 5th worst for literacy in the nation. This is why three bills have been introduced that would require all Michigan public schools to have a library and certified librarian along with a student supervisor if the librarian is absent. You can learn more here.

2019 Anthony Award Nominations 🔪

The 2019 Anthony Award nominations have been announced for Best Novel, Best First Novel, Best Paperback Original Novel, Best Short Story, and Best Critical Or Nonfiction Work. And it’s a mighty fine list with fantastic crime reads on it. Congrats to all the authors, books, and everyone who worked hard to put those criminal gems out into the world.

Issa Rae To Adapt Silver Sparrow

Issa Rae, author and creator of HBO’s Insecure, has optioned Tayari Jone’s novel Silver Sparrow for film and there are not enough muppet arms in the world for this news. The novel I recommend the most is Silver Sparrow, about two young girls in the ’80s who become friends, but only one of them knows they’re really sisters. Good luck reading the first line of the book and not devouring it afterwards.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Alfred A. Knopf, publisher of Exhalation by Ted Chiang.

Stan Lee’s Former Manager Charged With Elder Abuse

Keya Morgan, a former manager of Stan Lee’s, has been charged with 5 counts of elder abuse “including felony allegations of theft, embezzlement, forgery or fraud against an elder adult, and false imprisonment of an elder adult.” Back in June, Lee’s daughter and lawyer had filed a restraining order against Morgan.

Where’d You Go Bernadette Trailer

The trailer for the adaptation of Maria Semple’s novel–starring Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, Zoe Chao, and Laurence Fishburne–is here! Not sure if we haven’t been hearing a lot about this one because it’s getting lost in *gestures wildly at all the world fires* or it’s not getting the promotional push? Either way, great book and cast so I’m looking forward to its August 16th theatrical release.

Libro.fm Launches Kids, YA, and Kiss Club

Libro.fm–like Audible but you’re purchasing your audiobooks through independent bookstores you designate–has three new book clubs. Kids Book Club (starting June 1st with 10 kids audiobooks each month $10 or less each), YA Book Club (starting June 1st with 10 YA audiobooks each month $10 or less each), and Kiss Club (Featured monthly romance audiobooks for $3.99). Learn more here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by St. Martin’s Griffin.

Chelsea Manning Announces Memoir

Chelsea Manning, who spent 7 years of her 35 year sentence in prison for leaking 720,000 classified military documents to WikiLeaks, announced she’s writing a memoir. However, the memoir won’t focus on her trial as “she compared her memoir to Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, about the author’s 1,100 mile hike along the Pacific Crest trail.”

The British Book Awards Winners

The eight categories, and overall winner, of the British Book Awards have been announced! Sally Rooney took top prize with book of the year for Normal People and Michelle Obama’s Becoming won for Nonfiction and Audiobook! Check out all the winners here.

In Death Series Will Celebrate 50th Book Milestone

That 50 isn’t a typo! J.D. Robb’s (Nora Roberts) In Death series–a futuristic detective series set in N.Y.–will see the 50th book in the series publish in February 2020. So if you’ve ever wanted a real book marathon challenge here ya go!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Somewhere Only We Know from Maurene Goo and Fierce Reads.

Fruit Causes Library Evacuation

The University of Canberra library in Australia was evacuated and fire and rescue were called over “a strong smell of gas.” After searching the building the smell culprit was discovered to be a durian. And this is the second mass evacuation caused by a fruit in Australia this year. Back in my day kids just pulled the fire alarm when they hadn’t studied for a test.

Where My Horror Fans At?

The winners for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards were announced in 11 categories ranging from Superior Achievement in a Novel to Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection. Congrats to all the winners and nominees, which you can check out here.

Huge Disparities In State Prisons’ Reading Material Availability

This is a really-worth-your-time article based on an Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of 12 state prisons’ book catalogues that not only shows huge disparities in materials available but also alternative forms of rehabilitation for non-violent prisoners, and how books contribute to lower recidivism rates–studies included.