Category: Today In Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.

2018 National Book Awards Longlist For Fiction

It’s here! The National Book Foundation announced the 10 books that made it onto the NBA longlist. They include An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Florida by Lauren Groff, and There There by Tommy Orange. Take a look at the full list, and the list of judges, here.

My White Classmates Told Me Black Girls Don’t Read

At Hello Giggles, Genelle Levy wrote on her experiences as a reader and a high-achieving student–one of few black students at a predominantly white private school. It’s an excellent read about coding, especially in regards to intellectual and bookish pursuits. And it’s a reminder of the importance of diverse stories. Give it a read.

Ann Patchett Novel Gets Series Adaptation

In adaptation news, Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder will be adapted into a series. The book follows Dr. Marina Singh who journeys into the Amazon rain forest in search of her missing mentor.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Cost of Betrayal: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason.

Fear Sells More Than 750k Copies

Bob Woodward’s Fear has sold more than 750,000 copies in America in one day, according to the publisher. The White House exposé is getting its ninth printing to meet demand. Barnes & Noble also said Woodward’s book was its fastest-growing adult title since Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman published in July 2014.

First Look At The New Sabrina

Netflix gave us a first look at the new Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and let me tell you, it looks delightfully creepy. Almost American Horror Story-esque. We’ve come a long way from the bright pages of those Archie digests. Give it a watch here, and mark your calendars for October 26.

National Book Award Longlists For Poetry And Nonfiction

The National Book Foundation released the longlists for Poetry and for Nonfiction. In Poetry, works included Eye Level by Jenny Xie and American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes. And in Nonfiction, titles included Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises (and Essays) by Rebecca Solnit and The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby, brought to you by Epic Reads.

Dumplin’ Adaptation Coming to Netflix

Julie Murphy’s young adult novel Dumplin’ will be released on Netflix later this year in movie form. It stars Danielle Macdonald and Jennifer Aniston. But the real thrill: Book Riot darling Dolly Parton is recording brand new takes on songs from her back catalog for the soundtrack.

Classic Novel Vintage Travel Posters

Click through this slideshow of vintage travel posters inspired by classic novels! The poster series is part of PBS’s “The Great American Read” initiative. “Take a cruise on the Pequod” may be my favorite poster slogan out of all of them.

NBA Young People’s Literature Longlist

The National Book Awards release their longlists over the course of a few days, and today we’ve been given the one for Young People’s Literature! Check out the list of nominees here, and do the reading you’ve got to do to prepare for the finalists to be revealed on October 10.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman, published by Ecco.

“Just One More Thing…”

This one sounds like something straight out of Columbo. An Oregon romance writer was charged with murdering her husband, a chef at a Portland culinary school. The June shooting was a mystery with no suspects, until now. Nancy Crampton-Brophy has authored a number of novels, including The Wrong Husband, a suspense romance about a woman escaping an abusive and powerful husband. According to the article, “Police and prosecutors remained silent on possible motive.”

Customer Wins Bookstore For £20

In “living the dream” news, bookstore customer Ceisjan Van Heerden won an indie bookstore in a £20 raffle. He was one of 59 participants vying for Bookends in Cardigan, Wales. The store’s original owner decided to raffle it off rather than sell it when worsening osteoarthritis made him decide on an early retirement. Happily, Bookends owner Paul Morris said of the winner, “[Ceisjan] is a regular customer and I’m really pleased it was him – he wants to run it.”

The Hate U Give Release Date Moves Up 2 Weeks

Edit those calendars! The release date for the adaptation of Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give has been moved up two weeks to October 5. That is, it’s opening in limited release on October 5, and then widening its release on the original October 19 premiere date. So check those showtimes.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by LitHunters Publishing.

A Bittersweet Win For Bourdain

Author, documentarian, and chef Anthony Bourdain was announced as the winner of the non-fiction writing Emmy for his Parts Unknown series. The late Bourdain, who died by suicide at the age of 61 three months ago, had never won the award despite eight nominations. The show’s producer, Lydia Tenaglia, accepted the Emmy on Bourdain’s behalf. The Parts Unknown team won all six Emmys for which the show was nominated.

Princesses of Power!

We got a teaser trailer for the She-Ra reboot from showrunner and Nimona creator Noelle Stevenson! All episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will be available on Netflix on November 16. The cast includes Aimee Carrero voicing Princess Adora. This 80s kid/Stevenson fan is pumped.

Writers’ Cribs

The Paris Review published an illustrated piece on the homes and rooms where writers do their thing. Consider Jane Austen’s tiny desk, James Baldwin’s Côte d’Azur refuge, Virginia Woolf’s Monk’s House shed, and more through these delightful illustrations and factual tidbits.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Beacon Press, publisher of Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers

In I-Always-Forget-It-Was-A-Novel News

The First Wives Club adaptation (second adaptation) has cast its three wives. The 10-episode series, which is based on Olivia Goldsmith’s novel, is written by Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver and will star Ryan Michelle Bathe, Jill Scott, and Michelle Buteau. Remake/reboot fatigue be dammed I am super excited for this women’s revenge adaptation! And, yes, You Don’t Own Me is stuck in my head now.

Cover Reveal For March For Our Lives Upcoming Book

Glimmer Of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement, written by founders of March For Our Lives, will publish on October 16th and here’s a look at the cover. The book is filled with personal essays and follows these young organizers’ work since the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. The authors plan on donating the money from sales to anti–gun violence organizations.

Excited For The Hate U Give Adaptation?!

Here’s a 1st clip reveal of Starr and Maverick. The film, adapted from Angie Thomas’ novel, releases on October 19th so it’s still a bit too early to make popcorn, but it’s almost here!

And come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life with us!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Little, Brown and Company.

Who Loves Free Audiobooks? We Love Free Audiobooks.

Audible announced a new program that gives members two free Audible Originals audiobooks each month. This is in addition to the downloads that come with different membership levels. And this month’s six options include Carey Mulligan’s Girls & Boys, Jane Austen’s Emma, and Sharon Washington’s Feeding the Dragon.

Blake’s Illuminated Books

Bone up on the works of William Blake through an archive that provides open access to much of the artist and poet’s work. This includes high resolution illuminated books, “a series of philosophical, religious, and mythological works composed from about 1788 to 1822.” Also, drawings, paintings, and manuscripts.

“A Sadistic Man”

A newly unearthed memoir by Gwyn Conger Steinbeck, John Steinbeck’s wife, is set to be published for the first time this week. The memoir describes the author as “a sadistic man” and a serial womanizer. “Like so many writers, he had several lives, and in each he was spoilt, and in each he felt he was king,” she wrote.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison from MIRA Books.

Booker Archives Spill The Tea

A coin-toss decision, scathing comments, and more juicy judging tidbits from a new British Library film and an online archive collecting documents, images, and videos from the Man Booker’s history. The archive, which marks the prize’s 50th anniversary, revealed that the winner of the 1976 Booker prize was decided on a coin toss, and how judge Joanna Lumley called one book “over-my-dead-body stuff.”

Keeping It Real

James Beard and duPont-Columbia Award-winning producers The Kitchen Sisters are launching a new series telling “stories of activist archivists, rogue librarians, curators, collectors and historians.” And they’re inviting “keepers” to help create the stories with them through #KeeperoftheDay. The Keepers premiered today on NPR’s Morning Edition with Keepers Of The Underground: The Hiphop Archive At Harvard.

Why We Need Libraries: An Essay in Pictures

Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell created an essay in pictures on why we need our libraries, with words from Gaiman and illustrations from Riddell. “I’m making a plea for people to understand what libraries and librarians are, and to preserve both of these things,” Gaiman writes. Check out the piece.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison from MIRA Books.

New Images From “Captain Marvel”

Carol Danvers fans are celebrating Entertainment Weekly’s publication of exclusive new images from “Captain Marvel”—the currently-filming MCU entry that was set up by an “Infinity War” post-credits scene. The movie is going to take us back to the ’90s, but with more Skrulls than you probably remember from back then. Now when are we going to get a trailer, hmm?

Little Miss Doctor Who

Heretofore, the Doctor Who spins on Roger Hargreaves’ children’s books have all featured Mr. Men. But with Jodie Whitaker’s upcoming debut as the Doctor, we’ll be finally be getting a Time Lord Little Miss book! Dr. Thirteenth will be available in November as a swanky hardcover, and January will see the paperback release.

Stephen Colbert Continues to Love J. R. R. Tolkien

If you follow Stephen Colbert even just casually, you must know that he’s ride or die for J. R. R. Tolkien. That appreciation is on full display in this brief Rolling Stones video. Colbert’s ostensibly there to break down Chance the Rapper’s “Favorite Song” but he spends half the video reciting Lord of the Rings poetry.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Workman Publishing, publisher of The Best Damn Answers to Life’s Hardest Questions by Tess Koman.

Loved Them (?) And Left Them

Travelodge revealed the 20 most-left-behind books at their locations. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale tops the list. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins placed sixth, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn was eighth. Check out the full list here.

Ex Libris Premieres On PBS

Go behind the scenes of the New York Public Library through Ex Libris, Director Frederick Wiseman’s 2017 documentary. The two-hour film premieres on PBS tonight, at 10 p.m. It features librarians, staffers, patrons, Patti Smith, and Elvis Costello, to name a few. So if you’re as intrigued/fascinated/in love with libraries as we are, check it out.

Who Will Be The Next Barefoot Bookseller?

Did you hear about the Maldives bookshop that advertised for a “barefoot bookseller”? Word got around and Ultimate Library, which provides library collections for holiday destinations around the world, is no longer accepting applications for the job, what with the thousands already in their inbox. Philip Blackwell, the company’s founder, reported that the applicants even include a member of the White House press team.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!