Category: Today In Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Wishtree by Katherine Applegate.

Mouse Books

A Chicago company condenses literature into a book the size of a smartphone. After their successful 2017 Kickstarter campaign they are back for another round: “$15 will get you all three volumes from the first theme of 2019 (“Service”), while $50 gets you an entire year’s haul (12 total volumes, plus some extras for friends and family). You can also stock up on old volumes, including a boxed set ‘micro library’ that includes every book they’ve printed to date.”

The Drama Book Shop Will Live On

After a big rent hike, the bookshop was going to close but Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail (Hamilton director), Jeffrey Seller (Hamilton lead producer), and James L. Nederlander (Hamilton landlord) purchased the bookshop. The 100-year-old store will be finding a new home soon, with affordable rent.

Captain Marvel Is Almost Here

And there is not only a new special look trailer BUT you can purchase your tickets now! Our excitement cannot be contained!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by our Unusual Suspects giveaway of $100 to the bookstore of your choice!

To Kill A Mockingbird Is A Huge Hit

On Broadway, that is. Aaron Sorkin’s adaption of Harper Lee’s novel has become the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history. Want to know how much it’s grossed? $1.702 million. I know! And now a new block of tickets have been released through November 1 because no one is gonna stop this money train!

Speaking Of Broadway

First came the biography, then came the play, then came love. Jasmine Cephas Jones and Anthony Ramos, original cast members from Hamilton are engaged and yes, we are hoping for a bookish wedding that we are all invited to.

Since I Already Have An Adaptation Theme Going

Tons of congrats to all the adaption winners from last night’s Golden Globe awards. Sandra Oh with a seriously deserved win for Best Actress in Killing Eve, the fantastic Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse winning for best animated feature, Queen Regina King for supporting actress in If Beale Street Could Talk… You can check out the entire list here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet.

The Return of the Ring

Did you know that Michelle Yeoh used her own emerald ring in the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians? Well, she broke it out again for the Golden Globes red carpet.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All

There are 85 libraries in the Los Angeles County library system, and this couple is making a hobby out of visiting all of them. As of this writing, they’ve got 45 down. #RelationshipGoals

These Beetles Have a Lot to Live Up To

Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. They’re Game of Thrones dragons. But now, they’re also real-life beetles. Entomologist Brett Ratcliffe named his new discoveries Gymnetis drogoni, Gymnetis rhaegali, and Gymnetis viserioni as an homage to one of his favorite series, but also as a way of bringing attention to the discoveries yet to be made in the insect world.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Similars by Rebecca Hanover.

Boxes Of Tissues Will Be Needed

If crying while reading The Notebook and crying in the theater while watching the adaptation wasn’t enough tear shedding for you: Good news, soon you’ll be able to cry to the musical adaptation. Sing through those tears–or something. Ingrid Michaelson will be composing the music, we’ll have to wait for casting news.

Batwoman Hopefully Coming To The CW

The adaptation starring Roby Rose has gotten a pilot pickup from the network, and Emmy-winning David Nutter will direct. I know there’s a whole process to making television shows but I’d like this on my TV now, please and thank you.

London’s Feminist Library Saved

“Founded in 1975 during the second wave of the women’s liberation movement, the archive brings together an extensive collection of feminist literature and ‘herstories’ and is one of only three such facilities in the UK.” But redevelopment plans had threatened the volunteer-run charity. Thankfully, supporters raised £35,000, which will allow them to move to a new space in Peckham.

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The Future That Liberals Want

Inge Ginsberg is a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor who turns her poems into heavy metal songs. Yes, that awesome sentence you just read is real and you can read more about Ginsberg, including watching a video, here. Oh, and a quote: “I can’t sing. I can’t carry a tune. So heavy metal works because I just have to say the words,” she said.

In Book Announcement We Are Most Excited For

Karamo Brown, star of the new Queer Eye on Netflix, has landed himself a memoir deal. Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope will be “insightful, candid, and inspiring”–which we already knew because it’s why we love Brown.

The Punisher Season 2

While it seems most Marvel and Netflix news lately have been cancellations, here instead is a season 2 announcement: The Punisher’s second season will be streaming on Netflix on January 18th, and here’s the trailer.

Just for Book Riot readers: sign up for an Audible account, and get two audiobooks free!

Thinking Of Owning A Bookstore And Living In Minnesota?

Common Good Books in St Paul, MN is for sale by owner. Garrison Keillor wrote in a mass email, “And now I’m leaving town and am busy writing a book of my own so it’s time to turn over the business to someone else.” Being that he was recently fired from MPR for sexual harassment accusations let me put out into the universe that there can never be too many feminist bookstores.

Alice Shalvi Donates Archives To National Library

Israel Prize laureate, feminist activist, and social advocate Alice Shalvi has donated her archive to the National Library of Israel, including letters written by the family during Nazi Germany. “As a true trailblazer in terms of the struggle for gender equality, Jewish education for women and many other areas of social activism, her influence over the course of many decades continues to be felt from the political sphere to education and religion.”

Netflix Plea

The streaming company would like people to stop doing the Bird Box challenge in hopes of sparing you a trip to the hospital. It all started with the Bird Box adaptation getting tons of views, and then people creating a meme where they try to do things blindfolded like in the movie. Basically, people gonna people, and you can see their videos here.

Sponsored by The One You Fight For by Roni Loren

Bird Box Was Good To Netflix

Netflix may be all hush-hush with their numbers but they find their voice when it comes to tooting their horn, and this time they tooted that Bird Box, adapted from Josh Malerman’s novel, had the most first week views of any Netflix film.

Barack Obama’s Year In Books

Here is Barack Obama’s end of year list of his favorite movies, songs, and most importantly books! Smart man that he is he listed Michelle Obama‘s memoir first.

Under-Sung Literary Obituaries

The Millions rounded up literary figures who passed away in 2018 that didn’t get much attention but should have. Maybe you’ll find your next favorite read on the list–I’m going to start with Ntozake Shange.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Book Riot’s 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2018 Giveaway.

Iceland With The Holiday Win

Jólabókaflóð is the Icelandic holiday tradition where, basically, you gift and receive books and then immediately go read said books. I am declaring that this tradition needs to be adopted everywhere ASAP. To read more about the details of the tradition–starting with the Iceland Publishers Association sending a catalogue of new books to every home–read here and be jealous.

An Imaginative Coloring Book That Donates Proceeds

So there are some awful things happening right now, and finding ways to help when you feel helpless is always the way to go, so we found this: Coloring Without Borders. It’s a bilingual children’s book illustrated by more than 80 artists that lets kids finish the drawings by using their imagination. And the proceeds go to Families Belong Together coalition. Go here for all the info and to see some gorgeous pages. (PS: perfect for adults to use their imagination and color too!)

Katherine Johnson Releasing Autobiography In 2019

Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson will be out next year for young readers. Johnson, who is a hundred years old, was one of NASA’s pioneering mathematicians and a huge reason Apollo 11 got to the moon. If you saw the film Hidden Figures she was played by Taraji P Henson. I’m gonna be first in line for this book!

This edition of Today In Books is sponsored by Inspirational Books Publishing.

Look For More Outlander In 2019

Author Diana Gabaldon revealed on Twitter that she’s got two more Outlander books in the pipeline. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone will bring the total volumes to nine in 2019, and book ten will follow sometime after.

Alice Walker Doubles Down

Remember that time a beloved author praised an antisemitic crackpot in the pages of a major newspaper? If you were expecting any apologies or promises to reexamine thinking, Alice Walker would like you to know that you are asking too much from 2018. She published a statement reiterating her admiration for the recommended author. Ick(e) indeed.

Second-Grader’s Book Accepted Into the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress does not accept every single book ever published in America. But it has acknowledged Kayla & Kyle The Walking Dictionaries: Election Day, a vocabulary-building book by seven-year-old Nicholas Buamah. Way to go, Nicholas!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Book Riot’s 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2018 Giveaway. Click here to enter.

A Holiday Treat

If you’re a fan of A Christmas Carol, here is Charles Dickens’ great-great-great-granddaughter reading an excerpt from a signed, first edition copy. You know it’s old and rare when the gloves come out!

NOS4A2 Adaptation Is Clearly Here To Give Nightmares

The first-look photo from AMC’s adaptation of Joe Hill’s NOS4A2 is here and I’m scared. Zachary Quinto plays Charlie Manx, the evil dude who steals children because he’s evil, dude, and you won’t even recognize Quinto! I loved this book and I’m already terrified of the adaptation, coming the summer of 2019. Hold me!

Looking For What To Watch On Christmas?

The Guardian has rounded up book-to-TV adaptations for you to watch.