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Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Last week involved way too many patrons yelling at staff members about mask policies. Let’s hope this week is more pleasant.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Oxford University Press is closing its printing arm after centuries of publishing.
The hardcover version of Dave Eggers’ next novel will only be available in indie bookstores, although the paperback version will be made universally available.
New & Upcoming Titles
Take a peek at the virtual galley guide for the 2021 ALA annual conference.
Tiffany Haddish is being offered up to $3 million for her next book.
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd teases the possibility of a memoir.
Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s former aide, is writing a memoir.
Paris Hilton has sold a memoir.
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, New York Times, and USA Today.
June picks from CBC, Crime Reads (psychological thrillers), Seattle Times (mystery/thrillers), and Tor.com (fantasy, genre-bending novels).
Summer reading picks from AARP (nonfiction), Esquire, LitHub, Parade (LGBTQ, beach reads), Popsugar, Town & Country, and Vulture.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
The Other Black Girl – Zakiya Dalila Harris (The Guardian, NPR, Vox, Washington Post)
¡Hola Papi!: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons – John Paul Brammer (New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post)
Dear Senthuran: A Black Spirit Memoir – Akwaeke Emezi (New York Times, NPR)
The Chosen and the Beautiful – Nghi Vo (NPR)
RA/Genre Resources
Readalikes for The President’s Daughter by James Patterson & Bill Clinton.
A list of author Cameron Lund’s favorite romance tropes, along with title recommendations for each.
Is science fiction just fairy tales?
The western and speculative fiction.
What’s in a genre name? The trouble with “Asian fantasy.”
On the Riot
Amazon’s best books of 2021, so far.
A guide to discovering new authors.
Recommendations for books based totally on vibes.
How to navigate the world of literature for grownups.
All Things Comics
Jameela Jamil is playing a supervillain in the upcoming She-Hulk series on Disney+.
The Eisner Award nominations have been announced.
Lord of the Rings is going to be adapted as an anime feature.
The best comics to read in June.
On the Riot
4 YA and middle grade graphic novels featuring some of your favorite superheroes.
7 horror comics to give you chills.
7 of the best YA comics to stack ASAP.
5 romantic manga that mystery and thriller readers will enjoy.
Audiophilia
Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, and Soneela Nankani have been named as the newest Golden Voice Narrators from AudioFile magazine.
In addition, here are 10 romance listens from the newly-inducted Soneela Nankani.
Black narrators you should be listening to.
On the Riot
6 more of the best audiobooks by women for Caribbean Heritage Month.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
22 beautiful and inclusive kids’ books for Pride Month.
Here’s a Twitter thread of recommended middle grade horror novels.
21 YA books spotlighting interracial love.
Adults
A reading list about Palestinian and the struggle for liberation.
What to read when you want to celebrate Pride.
9 books by trans authors changing literature today.
Books for, by, and about Black British LGBTQ+ people.
14 LGBTQ+ books by Indian authors.
24 queer crime novels to read all year long.
5 horror novels that move beyond the “bury your gays” trope.
48 books by Indigenous writers to understand residential schools.
10 must-read books by Caribbean authors to add to your bookshelf.
5 paranormal romance novels with angels.
7 dark, monstrous books by marginalized writers.
Comedic romance novels that deliver the laughs.
Books about people reading books.
A reading list for when you just need a good cry.
On the evolution of female-driven gothic narratives.
All 408 books in Rory Gilmore’s reading list.
20 best poetry books of all time.
On the Riot
12 coding books for kids who love computers.
8 books about gender fluidity for young readers.
8 great books for the littlest Washingtonians.
4 YA books about fake dating, the LGBTQ+ edition.
5 YA books with crucial sibling relationships by authors of color.
10 delicious books about food, with a side of romance.
8 romantic novels about couples who don’t stay together.
8 crime novels with a dash of romance.
6 rockstar romances to vibe with before your next concert.
Illustrated nonfiction books to feed your sense of wonder.
The best English learning books for ESL readers.
6 nonfiction books about amazing real-life Sherlocks.
5 comforting books about friendship breakups.
7 books to help you understand what’s happening in Ireland.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Peace out folks, and stay cool. I’ll see you on Friday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.