Sponsored by The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, new from Algonquin Books.
Deeply personal and stunningly moving, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s #ownvoices novel, The Mountains Sing, has become one of this year’s most anticipated books with Book Riot, the New York Times, Washington Post, Amazon, and many more picking it as a must-read. Set against the backdrop of the Việt Nam War, this multigenerational story is vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Việt Nam. The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope.
Happy Monday, readers. It’s Week 2 of self-quarantine. It’s a scary time, and it isn’t easy, but I have seen so many wonderful posts on social media that let me know we’re going to be okay. You’re all so creative, and it seems like a lot of you are getting more reading done. I was having trouble concentrating at first, but now I am sopping up books with my brain-bread like whoa.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot going on in the book world as far as news right now, but here’s where you can learn more about COVID-19 Updates from the Bookish World. We’ll continue to update it regularly.
Whatever you are doing or watching or reading this week, I am sending you virtual hugs. Please try and enjoy the rest of your week as best you can, and remember to stay inside and wash your hands. We’re going to be okay. I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty
Here’s Monday’s trivia question: What juvenile edition of this 1961 best seller was called The Great Adventure of Michelangelo? (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reels, and Squeals!
Gabby Rivera’s debut novel Juliet Takes a Breath is being adapted into a graphic novel.
The Warmth of Other Suns author Isabel Wilkerson’s new book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, will be out in August.
A library in Pennsylvania created a digital Hogwarts escape room.
Frankie Shaw will direct the adaptation of T Kira Madden’s Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls.
Here’s the cover reveal of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab.
And here’s the cover reveal for Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR!
Excited to read:
The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire by Chloe Hooper (Seven Stories Press, June 2)
Written prior to the devastating fires of 2019, this true crime recounts fires in Australia in 2009. This is the story of the hunt for the man who started the fires. It has been out in Australia for a couple years, and I know a few people who have read it and say it’s remarkable and riveting. I am so ready to read it when it comes out in the US later this year!
What I’m reading this week:
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
The Shadows by Alex North
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
This Is Major: Notes on Diana Ross, Dark Girls, and Being Dope by Shayla Lawson
Bones: Inside and Out by Roy A. Meals
Pun of the week:
I just found out I’m colorblind. The diagnosis came completely out of the purple. (It’s more like a bad joke this week.)
Here’s a cat picture:
Millay is in self-quarantine.
And this is funny.
Give this woman a Pulitzer.
Trivia answer: The Agony and the Ecstasy.
You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L