Hi, nerd friends! Did you get Presidents’ Day off? I didn’t, alas. If you did, I hope you enjoyed the time off…and if you didn’t, the Stack will provide you with some fine entertainment to make up for it.
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
Bookish Goods
Comic Book Fleece Ear Flap Hat by SnugglyComforts
Doesn’t this look nice and warm! Sure wish I’d bought it before a bunch of snow fell in my area… $33
New Releases
Status Royale Volume One by Ru Xu
Vell and her friend Jun used to have a great time playing Status Royale, a VR sport. But when Jun ghosts her, Vell is determined to get even by forming a new Status Royale team with which to beat him…but Jun is an expert at the game, and it will take more than Vell’s anger to bring him down!
Conan the Barbarian: Bound in Black Stone Volume One by Jim Zub and Roberto de la Torre
If you were ever curious about what Conan the Barbarian was like before he became, well, Conan the Barbarian, here is your answer! This comic joins a young Conan as he is about to embark on his legendary career, revealing all of the hopes and doubts he harbored before battle.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Today’s Riot Rec theme is: sports! I’ve highlighted some of the popular sports (football, soccer, etc.) before. Now let’s give a little love to the more obscure ones, like…
Sumo by Thien Pham
After failing at his dream of playing pro football, Scott decides to try his hand at sumo wrestling, the national sport of Japan. In this new environment, Scott is able to reinvent himself and find the success he has always wanted!
Love and War by Andrew Wheeler, Guillermo Saavedra, and Killian Ng
Domo is doing his best to become captain of Aster Academy’s tug-of-war team, but he’s got two (well, three) problems. One, his rival Jocasta is just as determined to make captain. And two, he can’t decide which of his fellow teammates he wants to go out with: he likes both Emil and Gabriel! What’s an award-winning athlete to do?
Hang tough, dear readers! The week will be over before you know it!
~Eileen