Author: Sharifah Williams

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll.

Google Celebrates Mister Rogers With A Doodle

I’d be willing to bet that today’s Google Doodle made more than a few people claim to have something in their eyes. Google celebrated Mister Rogers, and the 51st anniversary of the taping of the very first episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, with an animated Doodle. Give it a watch, go behind the scenes to see how the Doodle was created, and grab a Kleenex.

Not A Good Look

After Yandy announced their “sexy” Handmaid’s Tale costume, we all sat back and waited for the inevitable apology. And here it is. Somehow these “let’s make The Handmaid’s Tale sexy” ideas keep getting approved. People actually decide this is a good idea.

Sorry, Comics Shop Staff

You might want to hold onto that copy of Batman: Damned because DC Comics withdrew a page that showed, for the first time, Batman’s genitals. They’re not visible in the digital editions, which means fans, collectors, etc. are scrambling to get their hands on the last remaining copies of the unaltered issue.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Roar, an imprint of Lion Forge.

The Man Booker Prize Shortlist

The six authors shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize for Fiction are: Anna Burns, Esi Edugyan, Daisy Johnson, Rachel Kushner, Richard Powers, and Robin Robertson. Canadian novelist Esi Edugyan is on the list for Washington Black, and Daisy Johnson, British author of debut novel Everything Under became the youngest author shortlisted for the prize.

More From The World Of Shirley Jackson Adaptations

Entertainment Weekly gave us a look at the film adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Watch Taissa Farmiga as Merricat Blackwood and Crispin Glover as Uncle Julian from Jackson’s eerie tale. The film, directed by Stacie Passon and executive produced by Michael Douglas, premieres this Saturday at the L.A. Film Festival.

Cool Story, Poe

TED-Ed gave us a seasonally-appropriate animated short about Edgar Allen Poe. Learn more about Poe’s life, writing principles and contributions, and the subtext of his macabre stories. Informative and creepy!

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by KENS by Raziel Reid.

Danez Smith Becomes Youngest Forward Prize for Poetry Winner

Danez Smith has become the youngest winner of the Forward Prize for Best Poetry Collection. Smith, who is also the first winner to identify as gender-neutral, won for their collection Don’t Call Us Dead, which confronts race, gender, and being diagnosed HIV-positive. As the winner, Smith will receive a £10,000 award.

Watch The Captain Marvel Trailer

We got an official trailer for Marvel Comics’ Captain Marvel movie. The film, starring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, with Gemma Chan and Djimon Hounsou, arrives in theaters March 8. Watch the action-packed trailer here.

Avatar Gets Live-Action Netflix Series

Avatar is getting a reboot as an all-new live-action series, with The Last Airbender’s co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko signed on to oversee the show. The animated series spawned a comics series, and an M. Night Shyamalan film that was criticized for being whitewashed. The creators have stated that this reboot will star characters of color.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by LibraryReads.

Watch The Full Trailer For Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Poppins is back, and you can see her and her magical carpet bag in the new full trailer for Mary Poppins Returns. Mary is played by Emily Blunt, and expect a star-studded cast that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Meryl Streep, and Dick Van Dyck. Mary Poppins Returns is loosely based on the other seven books in P.L. Travers’ series. The film premieres December 19.

Haruki Murakami Withdraws Alt Nobel Nomination

Haruki Murakami has withdrawn his nomination from the alternative Nobel Prize for Literature. Murakami wrote to the organizers of the New Academy Prize that he would prefer to focus on his writing away from media attention. The Award was organized in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that postponed the 2018 Nobel. That leaves Maryse Condé, Kim Thúy, and Neil Gaiman in the running.

Pennsylvania Ends Prison Book Donations

As Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections pushes to get prisoners to buy into a costly eBook system, the DOC plans to ban free book donations to inmates by mail. The DOC is claiming that book delivery is a “primary avenue for drugs” to enter prisons, tweeting as evidence a letter from an inmate to family members asking for a dictionary.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.

2018 National Book Awards Longlist For Fiction

It’s here! The National Book Foundation announced the 10 books that made it onto the NBA longlist. They include An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Florida by Lauren Groff, and There There by Tommy Orange. Take a look at the full list, and the list of judges, here.

My White Classmates Told Me Black Girls Don’t Read

At Hello Giggles, Genelle Levy wrote on her experiences as a reader and a high-achieving student–one of few black students at a predominantly white private school. It’s an excellent read about coding, especially in regards to intellectual and bookish pursuits. And it’s a reminder of the importance of diverse stories. Give it a read.

Ann Patchett Novel Gets Series Adaptation

In adaptation news, Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder will be adapted into a series. The book follows Dr. Marina Singh who journeys into the Amazon rain forest in search of her missing mentor.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Cost of Betrayal: Three Romantic Suspense Novellas by Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason.

Fear Sells More Than 750k Copies

Bob Woodward’s Fear has sold more than 750,000 copies in America in one day, according to the publisher. The White House exposé is getting its ninth printing to meet demand. Barnes & Noble also said Woodward’s book was its fastest-growing adult title since Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman published in July 2014.

First Look At The New Sabrina

Netflix gave us a first look at the new Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and let me tell you, it looks delightfully creepy. Almost American Horror Story-esque. We’ve come a long way from the bright pages of those Archie digests. Give it a watch here, and mark your calendars for October 26.

National Book Award Longlists For Poetry And Nonfiction

The National Book Foundation released the longlists for Poetry and for Nonfiction. In Poetry, works included Eye Level by Jenny Xie and American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin by Terrance Hayes. And in Nonfiction, titles included Call Them by Their True Names: American Crises (and Essays) by Rebecca Solnit and The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Real Lolita by Sarah Weinman, published by Ecco.

“Just One More Thing…”

This one sounds like something straight out of Columbo. An Oregon romance writer was charged with murdering her husband, a chef at a Portland culinary school. The June shooting was a mystery with no suspects, until now. Nancy Crampton-Brophy has authored a number of novels, including The Wrong Husband, a suspense romance about a woman escaping an abusive and powerful husband. According to the article, “Police and prosecutors remained silent on possible motive.”

Customer Wins Bookstore For £20

In “living the dream” news, bookstore customer Ceisjan Van Heerden won an indie bookstore in a £20 raffle. He was one of 59 participants vying for Bookends in Cardigan, Wales. The store’s original owner decided to raffle it off rather than sell it when worsening osteoarthritis made him decide on an early retirement. Happily, Bookends owner Paul Morris said of the winner, “[Ceisjan] is a regular customer and I’m really pleased it was him – he wants to run it.”

The Hate U Give Release Date Moves Up 2 Weeks

Edit those calendars! The release date for the adaptation of Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give has been moved up two weeks to October 5. That is, it’s opening in limited release on October 5, and then widening its release on the original October 19 premiere date. So check those showtimes.

Don’t forget we’re giving away a 6 month subscription to OwlCrate Jr! Enter here.

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by LitHunters Publishing.

A Bittersweet Win For Bourdain

Author, documentarian, and chef Anthony Bourdain was announced as the winner of the non-fiction writing Emmy for his Parts Unknown series. The late Bourdain, who died by suicide at the age of 61 three months ago, had never won the award despite eight nominations. The show’s producer, Lydia Tenaglia, accepted the Emmy on Bourdain’s behalf. The Parts Unknown team won all six Emmys for which the show was nominated.

Princesses of Power!

We got a teaser trailer for the She-Ra reboot from showrunner and Nimona creator Noelle Stevenson! All episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power will be available on Netflix on November 16. The cast includes Aimee Carrero voicing Princess Adora. This 80s kid/Stevenson fan is pumped.

Writers’ Cribs

The Paris Review published an illustrated piece on the homes and rooms where writers do their thing. Consider Jane Austen’s tiny desk, James Baldwin’s Côte d’Azur refuge, Virginia Woolf’s Monk’s House shed, and more through these delightful illustrations and factual tidbits.

And don’t forget to come share the ins-n-outs of your reading life in our Fall Reader Survey!