Category: Today In Books

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Today In Books

HBO Max’s IT Prequel WELCOME TO DERRY Casts Four Actors: Today in Books

James Gunn Says DC/Marvel Crossover “Is More Likely Now” That He’s in Charge

A DC/Marvel movie is not happening any time soon, but writer/director/executive James Gunn says it’s definitely on the table. “I’m certain that’s more likely now that I’m in charge [at DC],” Gunn told Empire magazine. “That’s many years away, though. I think we have to establish what we’re doing [at DC] first. I would be lying to say that we haven’t discussed it. But all discussions have been very, very light and fun.” Gunn has ties to both Marvel and DC. His final Marvel project, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, is out on May 5.

HBO Max’s It Prequel Welcome to Derry Casts Four Actors

HBO Max has cast the first four actors in its It prequel series Welcome to Derry. Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Watchmen), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), and James Remar (Dexter) have all joined the project. Details on what roles they will play will stay under wraps for now. The new series is a prequel to the two recent It films, adapted from Stephen King’s novel. Jason Fuchs, a co-producer of It Chapter Two, is writing the first episode and will serve as co-showrunner with Brad Caleb Kane. Andy Muschietti, who directed the films, will direct several episodes, including the first.

Black-Owned Children’s Bookstore Opening in Downtown Raleigh

The Black-owned children’s bookstore Liberation Station will open in downtown Raleigh this year. This is the bookstore’s first brick-and-mortar location, after five years of pop-up events. Now owner Victoria has announced that Liberation Station Bookstore will get its own physical space at 208 Fayetteville Street. Liberation Station’s mission is to support Black literacy and offer high-quality children’s books written and illustrated by Black and underrepresented authors and illustrators. “I feel so incredibly blessed,” said Scott-Miller. “It makes me feel so full because I never envisioned getting a brick-and-mortar.” Scott-Miller plans to open the store on the week of June 19, Juneteenth.

We Interrupt Your Scrolling to Bring You 10 Analog Horror Books

Love spooky videos of found footage? These analog horror books scratch the same itch, with plenty of scares.

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Read an Excerpt of QUEEN CHARLOTTE by Shonda Rhimes and Julia Quinn: Today in Books

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 Reveals New Character Posters and New Trailer

Ahead of the new Guardians of the Galaxy film’s release, new character posters of the whole crew have been revealed. Guardians also released a new trailer. The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, Maria Bakalova, and Sylvester Stallone. James Gunn is the director and also wrote the screenplay. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 will be in theaters on May 5.       

Read an Excerpt of Queen Charlotte by Shonda Rhimes and Julia Quinn

Queen Charlotte hits shelves on May 9, following the May 4 premiere of Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Ahead of the book’s release, Entertainment Weekly is offering fans a sneak peek at an excerpt from the novel by Shonda Rhimes and Julia Quinn. The series and the novel will track Queen Charlotte’s rise to power and the love story that will spark a major societal shift in the world of Bridgerton. As portrayed in the series and the novel, the fictional Charlotte reflects some historians’ belief that the real Queen Charlotte was of African descent.

Manga Creator Rumiko Takahashi Knighted by France

On Thursday, the French government conferred the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) decoration on manga creator Rumiko Takahashi. Takahashi received the decoration at the French ambassador’s residence in Tokyo. Takahashi is the creator of many celebrated manga titles, including Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, Ranma 1/2, One-Pound Gospel, and Inuyasha.

We Need Better Terms to Describe Romance Novels

One romance reader explores why romance novel descriptions like sweet, clean, hot, and spicy are confusing and, sometimes, offensive.

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Today In Books

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Libro.fm: Today in Books

School Bans Comic Book of Diary of Anne Frank Over “Sexually Explicit” Cartoon Statues

A Florida principal recently removed Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation from the Vero Beach High School library for its depictions of “sexually explicit” statues. The book was removed after a local chapter of the anti-LGBTQ+ group Moms for Liberty (MOL) complained about the book’s images and argued that it was “not a true adaptation of the Holocaust.” Jennifer Pippin, chair of MOL’s Indian River County chapter, complained about a scene in which Anne Frank walks past statues of nude women. “I must admit, every time I see a female nude, I go into ecstasy,” Frank’s words on the statue panel read. “If only I had a girlfriend!” This is a shorter version of the words that appeared in Anne Frank’s diary. Indian River County school district spokesperson Cristen Maddux told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), “[The graphic novel is] not the actual diary of Anne Frank. It’s a fictional novel that has some inappropriate content in it….[It] was removed due to minimization of the Holocaust.”

Geraldine Brooks, Lan Samantha Chang, and Saeed Jones Among This Year’s Winners of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards

Novels by Geraldine Brooks and Lan Samantha Chang and poetry by Saeed Jones are among this year’s winners of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Journalist and activist Charlayne Hunter-Gault was also honored for lifetime achievement. The award is presented to literature “that confronts racism and explores diversity.” Jury chair Henry Louis Gates Jr. said in a statement, “These remarkable books deliver groundbreaking insights on race and diversity…All are capped by the lifetime achievement of Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who remade this country with her courage and her nuanced reporting.”

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Libro.fm

Get ready for Independent Bookstore Day with Libro.fm! Independent Bookstore Day occurs every year on the last Saturday of April. It celebrates local bookstores and the many ways they contribute to their communities. From Monday, April 24th through Sunday, April 30th, the online audiobook retailer will offer a limited-time sale on a wide variety of bestselling books. All purchases support your local bookstore.

Your Study Guide to Light Academia

Love dark academia? We’d love to introduce you to the light academia sub-genre. Find your guide here.

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Emily Henry’s BEACH READ to be Adapted into Feature Film: Today in Books

Interview with the Vampire Will Have A New Claudia in Season 2

Bailey Bass, who played Claudia in the first season of AMC’s adaptation of Interview with the Vampire, will not be returning for season 2. Instead the character will be played by Delainey Hayles. Bass wrote on Instagram, “Due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances I’m unable to return to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire for the second season. Playing Claudia has been a dream role and an incredible ride. I wish Delainey Hayles the best of luck in taking over. I cannot wait to watch.” Production on the second season of Interview with the Vampire is expected to start next week. A premiere date is yet to be announced.

Emily Henry’s Beach Read to be Adapted into Feature Film

Emily Henry’s Beach Read is being adapted into a feature, film with Yulin Kuang attached to direct. Kuang recently adapted another Emily Henry novel, People We Meet on Vacation. Beach Read is a romantic comedy that tells the story of two writers who switch genres for the summer. The book is being adapted for 20th Century Studios. Original Films is producing.

This Book is Gay Author Juno Dawson Says America’s Teens Have Bigger Problems Than Her Book

Juno Dawson, author of This Book is Gay, recently sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss the banning of her book, which is currently the ninth most-banned book in America. This Book is Gay was published in 2014 and was written as a way to offer sexual education to LGBTQ+ youth. However, conservatives have argued that the book’s contents are pornographic. “It was not surprising,” Dawson said of her book being banned. “It was disappointing…But we know why. It’s because the people challenging to ban books in the U.S. became a much more organized campaign.” In response to whether or not the contents of her book could be considered pornographic, Dawson said, “I would challenge anyone to be titillated or aroused by what is essentially a textbook. What I would say, however, is that it’s thorough. We teach young people who are 11, 12, and 13 years old how babies are made. We teach them about sexual intercourse, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections. And that’s great and we should be doing that. But I also think LGBTQ+ people should be taught about sexual relationships.” You can read the full interview at Rolling Stone.

Daisy Jones & the Six is a Rip-Off, But Don’t We Like It That Way?

Television critics have taken issue with the fact that the Daisy Jones & the Six series’ premise is a rip-off of real-life stories, but why?

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Alice Oseman Reveals Plans for Sixth Volume of HEARTSTOPPER: Today in Books

Chloé Zhao to Direct Adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet

Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao is set to direct an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet for Amblin Partners, Hera Pictures, Neal Street Productions, and Book of Shadows. Author O’Farrell will adapt the script with Zhao. It’s unknown whether Hamnet will be Zhao’s next project as she has several currently in the works. After directing Nomadland and Marvel’s Eternals back-to-back, the director took a short break as she looked for her next film.

Viet Thanh Nguyen Discusses Cover of His New Memoir

Viet Thanh Nguyen has written a new memoir, and he reflects on the cover of the book on Literary Hub. “This newest book is titled A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial,” he writes. “The cover design is by Kelly Winton, under the supervision of Gretchen Mergenthaler, the art director for Grove Atlantic, my American publisher. Not surprisingly, there is a face on the cover of the book. I felt a shock of recognition, seeing that face on the cover for the first time.” The cover of A Man of Two Faces is inspired in part by the covers of Invisible Man. It will publish from Grove Press on October 3.

Alice Oseman Reveals Plans for Sixth Volume of Heartstopper

In a video on Instagram posted earlier today, Alice Oseman announced there will be a sixth book in their hit Heartstopper graphic novel series. Originally, volume 5, which is set to release in November, was going to be the last book in the series. But Oseman said they realized that the story would work better across two volumes. They said, “I can take my time with the end of the story, make sure all of the characters get their final moment to shine, and properly explore how Nick and Charlie’s relationship progresses in their final years of school.” You can watch the full video announcement here.

The Racial Slur That Everyone is Okay With (And Why We Shouldn’t Be)

There’s been a push to eliminate offensive words from everyday usage. But there is one word still in rotation. Here’s why it shouldn’t be.

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New ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE Trailer Pits Miles Morales Against Multiverse of Spider-Men: Today in Books

Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall Share the Story Behind Making The Little Mermaid

Entertainment Weekly is doing a deep dive into the new live-action The Little Mermaid. Halle Bailey, who is playing Ariel, Melissa McCarthy, who plays Ursula, and director Rob Marshall have shared details behind the making of the new film. The article also includes exclusive new images from the upcoming film. The Little Mermaid comes to theaters on May 26.

New Across the Spider-Verse Trailer Pits Miles Morales Against Multiverse of Spider-Men

Sony Pictures has released a new Across the Spider-Verse trailer that reveals new details about the highly-anticipated animated Spider-Man sequel. Most importantly, the new trailer features a new character prominently: Oscar Isaac as Spider-Man 2099, AKA Miguel O’Hara. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is set to hit theaters on June 2.

Book Signing Goes Viral After Author Posts Room Full of Empty Chairs

Author Suzanne Young shared a picture of a room full of empty chairs at a Barnes & Noble book signing event last week, and the post has since gone viral. The author, who was promoting her new novel In Nightfall, called her empty book signing a “career low point” and said that she was “crying the entire way home.” Now authors are responding to her post, sharing similar experiences. Young says she has been overwhelmed by the responses. The author tweeted, “Genuinely, I didn’t know how common this was until now. But this outpouring of support has been incredible.”

Welcome to Music and Literature Day!

It’s Music and Literature Day at Book Riot! Press play and dive in.

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Paddington is Back! PADDINGTON IN PERU Begins Filming in July: Today in Books

Chris Evans Says Captain America Return “Doesn’t Quite Feel Right” Yet

Chris Evans might have left the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Endgame, but fans have been asking for the return of Evans’s Steve Rogers. Speaking at the C2E2 fan convention in Chicago, Evans said fans are going to have to wait a bit longer. “It’s tough, because look, I love that role deeply,” Evans said. “He means so much to me, and…I think there’s more Steve Rogers stories to tell, sure. But at the same time, I’m very, very precious with it…it’s like this little shiny thing that I have that I love so much, and I just don’t want to mess up in any way, and I was a part of something that was so special for the special period of time and in a way, it really landed so well…As much as I’m connected to that role and love telling those stories and working with those people, it doesn’t quite feel right right now.” Fans who want to see Evans can check him out in the upcoming Apple action-comedy Ghosted, co-starring Ana de Armas.

Paddington is Back! Paddington in Peru Begins Filming in July

Paddington is back! The long-awaited threequel Paddington in Peru will begin production on July 24. The story for this film comes from Paddington 1 & 2 collaborators Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton with a screenplay by Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont. Dougal Wilson will be making his feature directorial debut. Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh and EVP Global Production Ron Halpern said in a statement earlier today, “We have long been huge admirers of Dougal’s work, his stunning visual creativity, his storytelling, heart, emotion and humour. We are so thrilled that Dougal will be directing the third Paddington film. We look forward to bringing Paddington back to Peru for his next big screen adventure.” 

Jeopardy! Champion Amy Schneider Writing A Book About Her Experiences

Amy Schneider is the most successful woman contestant in Jeopardy! history, and she was the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for, and win, the Tournament of Champions. Now, Schneider is writing a memoir about her experiences. “I shared dozens of 20-second anecdotes about myself on Jeopardy!, but there’s much more to my story, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to share it with the world,” she says. Schneider’s memoir, In the Form of a Question, will be out on October 3.

April 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

New month, new books! Check out our April 2023 Horoscopes for a glance at the month ahead, along with a perfectly paired book recommendation.

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Victor LaValle’s LONE WOMEN Has Been Optioned for TV Adaptation: Today in Books

Camilla Läckberg & Henrik Fexeus Novels Secure Three-Season TV Adaptation At Viaplay

Camilla Läckberg and Henrik Fexeus’ bestselling crime novels are being adapted into a three-season English-language TV series at Viaplay. The adaptation will be based on the books Trapped, Cult and upcoming novel Mirage. “Camilla and Henrik have international followings and their thrilling stories are ideally suited to streaming,” said Filippa Wallestam, Viaplay Group Chief Content Officer. The series will be executive produced by Sara Askelöf for Viaplay Group and sold globally by Viaplay Content Distribution.

Victor LaValle’s Lone Women Has Been Optioned for TV Adaptation

An adaptation of Victor LaValle’s most recent novel Lone Women is in the works. “We sold the rights about six months ago to one of the cool streamers,” LaValle said in an interview with Esquire. “I’m adapting that myself. I’ve written the pilot and we have an amazing director attached to it, plus a wonderful actress to play Adelaide. We’re trying to turn that into a season. Here’s hoping.” Lone Women was just published by One World on March 28 of this year.

Author Clint Smith Reads Poem “All At Once” on The Late Show

Author Clint Smith joined The Late Show last week to read a poem from his new book Above Ground. The Late Show shared the full reading on Twitter this past Thursday. Clint Smith’s poetry collection was published by Little, Brown on March 28. In a tweet, Smith described his new book as “a meditation on family, lineage, and how we hold all the complexities of the world alongside one another. I loved writing this book and am so excited to finally share it with you all.”

Writing for the Bad Faith Reader

Authors and readers are more connected than ever. Here’s how one writer avoids obsessing over the bad faith reader.

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Sony Pictures Animation Releases New SPIDER-VERSE Short Film: Today in Books

Bestselling Author Brandon Sanderson Challenges Audible Over “Poor” Deal Terms

Bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is publicly challenging Audible, claiming the Amazon audiobook platform “treat[s] authors very poorly.” Sanderson has announced that he is releasing four new titles on Spotify and Speechify rather than on Audible. A spokesperson for Audible told Axiom, “We look forward to ongoing dialogue with [Sanderson] on how we can further improve the experience for him and other creators, while bringing his work and others’ to our listeners.” Sanderson says he has received support from other authors and industry group; however, he’s realistic about what he will be able to accomplish. “How does anyone take on Amazon? Right?” Sanderson said. “I don’t want to go to war with Amazon, they would win.”

Sony Pictures Animation Releases New Spider-Verse Short Film

Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks will release a brand new original short film titled The Spider Within. The short film is set within the world of the upcoming film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The Spider Within is part of the new mentorship program LENS (Leading and Empowering New Storytellers), which aims to give leadership opportunities to high-potential candidates from underrepresented groups. Under the guidance of the program, Michelle Raimo Kouyate and David Schulenburg will work together to produce a short film. It will debut exclusively at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this June.

2023 Whiting Award Winners Announced

The 2023 Whiting Award winners were announced at an in-person ceremony held on March 29 in New York City. Winners of the award are given a cash prize of $50,000 and are recognized as emerging talents in their respective categories of drama, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. This year’s winners are: Tommye Blount, Mia Chung, Ama Codjoe, Marcia Douglas, Sidik Fofana, Carribean Fragoza, R. Kikuo Johnson, Linda Kinstler, Stephania Taladrid, and Emma Wippermann. An in-person event, featuring reading from the award winners, was held on March 30 at the Center for Fiction.

8 of the Best Audiobooks from the First Quarter of 2023

Listen your way into some of the best audiobooks from the beginning of 2023. It’s off to a bang!

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Marjorie Taylor Greene Confronted on School Shootings and Book Bans: Today in Books

New Project Seeks to Bring South Asian Literature to Western Readers

The cross-continental South Asian Literature in Translation (SALT) is launching a new project this summer. The project seeks to bring the “extraordinarily rich” literature of south Asia to English-speaking countries. SALT is a multi-year project set up by the University of Chicago, in partnership with the American Literary Translators Association, English PEN, Words Without Borders and the British Council. Daisy Rockwell, translator of the Hindi-language novel Tomb of Sand and a member of SALT’s advisory board, says she expects the impact of the program to be “enormous.” Rockwell says “there is a vibrant translation scene” in south Asia, especially India, but “scarcely any of this work gets published outside the subcontinent.” The SALT project will begin formally in July.

Metro Detroit Man Uncovers One of the Largest and Most Valuable Comic Book Collections in the Country

A Metro Detroit man has uncovered one of the largest and most valuable comic book collections in the country. His father kept his collection secret for over 50 years, but now what was once a source of shame has become a family’s pride. The full story will be featured in an upcoming documentary called Selling Superman.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Confronted on School Shootings and Book Bans

Members of Congress clashed in Washington earlier this week. Florida democrat Jared Moskowitz angrily confronted republican Marjorie Taylor Greene amid national grief and anger following the Nashville elementary school shooting. “There are six people who are dead in that school — including three children — because you guys got rid of the assault weapons ban,” Moskowitz said. “You guys are worried about banning books. Dead kids can’t read.”

10 Swoon-Worthy Bisexual Romance Books

Whatever you’re looking for in your next read, there’s a hopeful tale in each of these bisexual romance books.