Sponsored by Afterlife by Julia Alvarez, now available from Algonquin Books.
Afterlife is the first adult novel in almost fifteen years from Julia Alvarez, the internationally bestselling author In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. This deeply moving and ultimately hopeful novel tells the story of Antonia Vega, an immigrant writer whose life is upended: She has just retired from teaching college when her beloved husband Sam suddenly dies. Then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and a pregnant, undocumented teenager arrives on Antonia’s doorstep. Antonia has always sought direction in literature, but now she finds the world demands more of her than words. What do we owe those in crisis? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another?
It’s Monday again, like it has been every seven days for a zillion weeks now. That means it’s time to talk books! It was a beautiful sunny Sunday here in Maine this past weekend, so I read several horror stories while swinging in my hammock. I like to read scary books on beautiful days, because for some reason, things seem less scary when it’s sunny out. (No, I haven’t seen Midsommer.) I hope it was at least lovely where you were too. And once again, there’s not much going on in the book world right now other than delays and cancelations, but I do have a few exciting things to tell you.
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, eventually. I’ll see you again on Thursday. – xoxo, Liberty
Here’s Monday’s trivia question: What poem starts with “For all averred, I had killed the bird that made the breeze to blow?” (Scroll to the bottom for the answer.)
Deals, Reels, and Squeals!
Kasi Lemmons will direct the adaptation of Maaza Mengiste’s Shadow King.
Michelle Obama will be reading stories on Mondays that will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Here’s the first trailer for NBC’s Brave New World adaptation.
Artemis Fowl is coming to Disney+ in June.
Author medina announced her upcoming middle grade novel.
The graphic novel Dan and Sam by Mark Watson and Oliver Harud is getting the adaptation treatment.
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 Cold Millions by Jess Walter (Harper, October 6)
I wasn’t expecting to learn about a new Jess Walter novel when I checked the catalogs the other day, but here we are! The author of Beautiful Ruins and many other amazing books returns this fall with a novel set at the turn of the 20th century about two adventure-seeking brothers. I look forward to checking it out!
What I’m reading this week:
Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar
Coyote Rage by Owl Goingback
Sea Wife: A Novel by Amity Gaige
The Swamp by Yoshiharu Tsuge
The Plague Stones by James Brodgen
Pun of the week:
Why did Adele cross the road? To say hello from the other side.
Here’s a cat picture:
And this is funny.
Happy things:
Here are a few things I enjoy that I thought you might like as well:
- Purrli: This website makes the relaxing sounds of a cat purring.
- Here are livestreams of animals. I particularly enjoy the bat one.
- And more cute animal pictures.
- Music Catch, one of my favorite desktop games. I also still play Lemonade Stand occasionally.
- Disney Emoji Blitz!
Trivia answer: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
You made it to the bottom! Thanks for reading! – xo, L