Category: Today In Books

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

Han Kang’s Next Novel Won’t Be Printed Until 2114

Han Kang has joined artist Katie Paterson’s Future Library project: Patterson has chosen an artist a year, since 2014, for work for her project, which won’t be seen by the author until 2114 when it’ll be printed using trees also planted in 2014 around Oslo. Art be arting! Gotta say, as cool as this sounds, I’m a bit bummed because I love Kang’s work and I will not be alive in 2114. Other authors who have previously been selected are Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell, Elif Shafak, and Sjón.

Claims That Ex Members Of Nobel Literature Are Returning “Was Erroneous”

Quick recap: the Nobel literature prize body had members quit amid a sex-abuse scandal and the prize was cancelled. Recently the Svenska Dagbladet daily newspaper reported that three members who quit were returning, but former members have already “dismissed reports they were returning to the Swedish Academy.”

There’s A New Sherlock In Town

The first Japanese series to premiere on HBO Go is officially here and it’s Miss Sherlock. And yes, it’s a gender bent Sherlock adaptation. Being that Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock series is my favorite Sherlock, this is a must-watch for me so gotta go make popcorn byyyeeeeee! (Watch the trailer here)

And have the need to opine? Come tell us about your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by CubHouse, an imprint of Lion Forge.

Indie Bookstore Fights Back

James Jenkins and husband Ryan Cagle, co-founders of Valancourt Books, have filed a lawsuit in federal court, “arguing that the Copyright Office’s demand violates the publisher’s right to free speech and its right to ‘just compensation’ for taken property.” The independent, print-on-demand publisher specializes in reprinting long-lost works, including queer literature. But the U.S. Copyright Office demanded one copy of 240 different books from the publisher’s collection for free. “If we don’t send the books, the Copyright Office says they will fine us out of existence,” said Jenkins.

A Harry Potter-Themed Mixology Course

Please, someone in New York, attend the Harry Potter-themed mixology class for me. The Cauldron, a pop-up bar and mixology course, is opening in NYC in September. The Kickstarter-funded London pop-up was so successful back in March, that the organizers took it to the states. Here’s hoping it spreads across the country.

The Guardian’s “Unimpressive” Alt Nobel Coverage

The Guardian has come under fire for its coverage of the alternative Nobel Prize in Literature shortlist released this week. Two women–Maryse Condé and Kim Thúy–and two men–Haruki Murakami and Neil Gaiman–are on the shortlist. But The Guardian focused on the two men, pushing the women to the bottom of the piece and mentioning them as “completing the shortlist.” The New Academy Prize in Literature was created in the wake of a sex abuse scandal that postponed the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2018.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Flatiron Books, publishers of 13 Minutes by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pinborough.

First Trailer For Elena Ferrante Adaptation

HBO released its first official teaser trailer for the series adaptation of My Brilliant Friend, the first book in Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. The story follows friends Elena and Lila as they try to make their way out of a rough Naples neighborhood and restrictive home lives. Watch the teaser.

Traditional Publishers Are Selling Way More Nonfic

Forbes reported that “adult non-fiction revenues are soaring above fiction revenues and have been widening the gap for the past five years.” This, with a note that these numbers only account for traditionally published books, leaving out fiction and non-fiction from indie self-publishing. In other words, these numbers do not signal the death of adult fiction.

3 Members Return To Nobel Prize Body

Three members who quit the Swedish Academy (the Nobel literature prize body) amid a sex-abuse scandal are returning. Sara Danius, Kjell Espmark, and Peter Englund will rejoin the body, saying differences with a member aren’t as important as the Academy itself. Espmark said they’re ready to help out with the election of new board members.

And don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of books from Season 2 of Recommended, in honor of the upcoming third season of the podcast! Click here to enter.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Kensington Publishing Corp., bringing you Wedding the Widow by Jenna Jaxon.

J. R. R. Tolkien’s Last Posthumous Publication

Christopher Tolkien, age 93, has finally reached the end of his project to put out his father’s unpublished work. Tomorrow, the Middle-earth quest tale The Fall of Gondolin will see the light. Papa Tolkien worked on this story on and off from 1917 to 1951, and the many versions are collected in this new book.

Barnes & Noble Drama

Lots of ugly stuff is coming to light as former Barnes & Noble CEO Demos Parneros goes after the company in federal court. He’s saying—among other complaints—that his firing put Barnes & Noble in breach of contract. In response, Barnes & Noble is alleging Parneros engaged in “sexual harassment, bullying behavior and other violations of company policies.”

Alt Nobel Shortlist Revealed

As Rioter Erika Harlitz-Kern reports, the Alternative Nobel Prize in Literature nominees have been whittled down to four: Haruki Murakami (Japan), Kim Thúy (Canada), Maryse Condé (France/Guadeloupe), and Neil Gaiman (United Kingdom). Their fates are now in the hands of a jury of four. The New Academy will present the award to the winner on December 9. On December 10, The New Academy will dissolve itself. What a time to be alive.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Flatiron Books, publishers of Mirage by Somaiya Daud.

Men Rec Men And No One Is Surprised

As with men on dating apps, male authors are more likely to recommend books by male authors. Four times more likely, according to an analysis of the New York Times‘ “By the Book” column. UC Berkeley Assistant Professor David Bamman was inspired to perform the analysis by a satisfying Twitter thread on the subject from Fates and Furies author Lauren Groff and Little Fires Everywhere author Celeste Ng. The findings showed recommendations for 48.9% women/51.1% from women authors interviewed, and recommendations for 20.8% women/79.2% men from male authors interviewed.

Is Social Media Influencing Book Cover Design?

The Guardian took a look at the influence social media, and particularly Instagram, might have on book cover design. They’ve almost become an accessory in some cases,” said Rachel Willey, the designer behind Patricia Lockwood’s Priestdaddy and Melissa Broder’s The Pisces (both A+ book covers BTW). The piece examined covers of yesterday and today, and how publishers and even the fashion world are jumping on a surge in fascination with book aesthetics.

Amazon’s Prime Book Box Made Available Nationwide

The service, which was announced back in May, delivers children’s books to subscribers’ doorsteps monthly. For $23, subscribers (who have to be Prime members) receive two hardcover books or four board books. The books are either chosen by Amazon, or by the subscriber from a curated list of titles.

And don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of books from Season 2 of Recommended, in honor of the upcoming third season of the podcast! Click here to enter.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Swoon Reads — publishing the latest and greatest in YA fiction recommended by readers like you.

First Look At Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House

Feast your eyes on the first images from Netflix’s series adaptation of the Shirley Jackson classic, The Haunting of Hill House. Mike Flanagan, also working on the big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep, is directing. The series makes its seasonally-appropriate debut on October 12.

“At Any Rate, The Trip Has Been Wonderful.”

Neil Simon died at the age of 91. A prolific writer, Simon penned more than 30 plays and screenplays, including The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park, and he won three Tony Awards. He died of complications from pneumonia surrounded by family.

Oh You Beautiful Bookstore You

Take a virtual tour of Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal. This is the magical bookstore said to have inspired J.K. Rowling when she was writing the first Harry Potter book. One can never moon over too many bookstore photos, or plan an overseas trip too early. :wink wink nudge nudge: But maybe off-season to avoid those lines…

And don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of books from Season 2 of Recommended, in honor of the upcoming third season of the podcast! Click here to enter.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by the #1 NYT bestselling author of Blood Bond Saga Part One, Helen Hardt.

Want A Bedtime Story? There’s a Hotline!

Necessary 2018 Reminder: The Toronto Public Library is always ready to tuck you into bed at night with just one phone call. Call the “Dial-A-Story” line to hear a story. And, of course this gets better, you can choose from sixteen languages. In case you’re wondering: It is read by a human voice, not a robot, so no AI nightmares will follow.

Three Libraries Make Time’s World’s Greatest Places List

If you’re looking for places to pack your bags and visit, Time has got you covered. And we’re delighted to spot some libraries on the list! Tianjin Binhai Library: Which has had “more than 1.8 million visitors since it opened in October 2017.” Austin Central Library: Which also has a butterfly garden (packing my bags!) and a “technology petting zoo,” which lets you try out upcoming technology–and is not what I first thought it meant. Al-Qarawiyyin Library: One of the world’s oldest libraries only recently restored and now accessible to the public.

For Behind-The-Scenes Bibliophile Fans

If you’re wondering how the adaptation of Penelope Fitzgerald’s novella The Bookshop got all the books for the bookshop’s set here you go!

And remember we are giving away a stack of 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Libby, the one-tap reading app from your library and OverDrive.

Another Win For Little Free Libraries

The Guardian took a look at how Little Free Libraries have benefited the Leeds community. Artist and Little Free Librarian Carry Franklin described the libraries as “big, solid gestures of love, sharing and hopefulness … the antithesis to the kind of politics that’s going on now.” Leeds boasts 19 LFLs now, including boxes in less well-off areas.

“An Appalling Piece Of Work”

Ever wonder what it’s like behind the scenes of book publishing? Well, here’s a look at an author-copy-editor dynamic gone wrong. As you can tell from V.S. Naipaul’s scathing letter, the author was not well pleased with the extensive revisions to the manuscript of A Turn in the South. “It is such an appalling piece of work that I feel I have to write about it,” wrote Naipaul. Ouch.

Omarosa’s White House Tell-All Moves 33,483 Print Copies In First Week

Some follow-up: as expected, sales of Omarosa Manigault Newman’s Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House are healthy despite warnings of legal action from Trump’s camp. The White House tell-all sold 33,484 copies in its first week on sale, and it was #2 on PW’s hardcover nonfiction list for the week.

And don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of books from Season 2 of Recommended, in honor of the upcoming third season of the podcast! Click here to enter.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Penguin Random House Library Marketing.

“It’s Blazin’ Up In My Kitchen”

Get ready to cook with Snoop. Snoop Dogg will publish From Crook to Cook, with recipes ranging from lobster thermidor to gin and juice. Rioters want to know: will another green garnish replace parsley? Now go watch Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, and pick up his cookbook in October.

3 New Harry Potter Books Incoming

We’re getting three new Harry Potter books. These will not (thankfully) be new stories to expand upon the canon. The three books are Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts, sure to be a fave, out October 23; Harry Potter: Creatures: A Paper Scene Book, out October 2; and, Harry Potter: Imagining Hogwarts: A Beginner’s Guide to Moviemaking, out October 16. Can you tell it’s almost gift-giving season?

New Details From The Scary Stories Adaptation

We got new details about Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The live-action film will reportedly follow a young girl haunted by her mother’s disappearance. She and her friends pull a Halloween prank that goes wrong, which might be the work of a vengeful spirit out to get the teens through her scary stories. :Ready to be creeped out:

And don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of books from Season 2 of Recommended, in honor of the upcoming third season of the podcast! Click here to enter.

This edition of Today In Books is sponsored by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

NYPL in Instaland

As Rioter Anthony Karcz reports, “Today marks the launch of ‘Insta Novels,’ a NYPL program that utilizes Instagram Stories to convert classic novels into animated, interactive, social media events. In cooperation with Mother New York, the project found artists who have a strong Instagram presence to provide original illustrations and animations for three classic works. These animations are added to the text and the text itself is cut up into regular chunks of content (you readers may know them as ‘pages’).” The first work of literature to get the Insta treatment is Alice in Wonderland.

Mrs. Fletcher Is Coming to HBO

Emmy nominee Kathryn Hahn is playing the title role in HBO’s adaptation of Tom Perrotta’s novel Mrs. Fletcher. There’s no information yet about when we might see this story of an empty-nester reinventing herself. But while you’re waiting, you can watch The Leftovers, another Perrotta adaptation (or you can just rewatch Hahn’s arc as Bobby Newport’s campaign manager on “Park and Recreation” because good grief was that amazing).

Kevin Kwan Is Technically AWOL

Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan is being called out by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence for failing to report for compulsory military service. He left Singapore as a child, but was still required to enlist for two years of military duty upon turning eighteen. Now 44, Kwan lives in the US and faces a fine and jail time should he return to Singapore.