2018 Tournament of Books Shortlist
The Tournament of Books announced this year’s shortlist, judges, commentators, and Zombie poll for the 14th edition of the literary event. The shortlist is comprised of 18 books TOB “believe to be some of the most interesting works of fiction published last year.” These include The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker, Dear Cyborgs by Eugene Lim, and Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. The TOB is calling for Zombie votes (before midnight ET, January 10, 2018) to put your favorite book back on the list.
Two Dying Memoirists Write About Their Final Days; Their Spouses Fall In Love With Each Other
Start placing your bets for a book/movie deal around this story. The Washington Post wrote a touching piece about John Duberstein and Lucy Kalanithi–husband of The Bright Hour author and wife of the When Breath Becomes Air author, respectively–and how they fell in love with each after their spouses died. Paul Kalanithi and Nina Riggs both passed away from cancer in their late 30s, and both wrote critically-acclaimed memoirs about their final days. The story of how their spouses met and fell in love is the stuff of pure kismet.
The Strand Owner Dies At 89
Fred Bass, the owner of New York City’s Strand Book Store, died this morning surrounded by loved ones. Bass began working in the store his father founded, and acquiring books for The Strand at age 13. He made it the epic bookstore it is today. Read about his life and legacy here.
Time’s running out! We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter.
Today in Books is sponsored by Park Row Books, publisher of Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.
Meet Ginny Moon. She’s mostly your average teenager—she plays flute in the school band, has weekly basketball practice and reads Robert Frost poems for English class. But Ginny is autistic. And so what’s important to her might seem a bit…different.
Full of great big heart and unexpected humor, Ludwig’s debut introduces the lovable, wholly original Ginny Moon who discovers a new meaning of family on her unconventional journey home.