Category: Today In Books

Bye-Bye Superman’s Secret Identity

If you’ve always argued no one would be fooled by a person’s true identity just because they put on glasses, then you’ll love this announcement: Superman Issue #18 had Superman reveal his real identity to the world. And this time it wasn’t a trick or a twist contained to one series, “this will be a permanent decision splashing big ripples across the DC Comics cosmos.”

He Is A Monster

We have a new, still dark, trailer for BBC One’s Dracula–he still wants your blood! The mini-series, obviously based on Bram Stoker’s novel, is created by the team that brought us BBC One’s Sherlock and will premiere on January 1st. It’s Netflix premiere date has yet to be announced.

Trust Exercise To Be Limited Series

To avoid any spoilers I’ll just say that I’m super curious to see how Trust Exercise by Susan Choi will be adapted to a limited series–especially since the author is set to write the adaptation. I felt like this was one of 2019’s titles that people either loved or hated so this is going to be really interesting, and will surely have many many opinionated articles once it’s developed.

From Paper Shortage To Tariffs To Shipping Delays

Publishing has had quite a few hurdles this year, including paper shortages and tariffs, and now at the end of the year, when bookstores rely on all that holiday shopping, there’s a new problem: shipping delays. Because of large shipping volumes and bad weather, there are delays in deliveries, leaving many indie bookstores without the stock they need.

Samantha Irby Interviews Lizzo For Time’s Entertainer Of The Year

The hilarious and amazing author Samantha Irby interviewed Lizzo for Time’s Entertainer of the Year and yes it’s as amazing as you imagine: “Is it even legal to introduce yourself to Lizzo while wearing yoga pants you bought two years ago at Kohl’s?”

More Libraries To Help More People Thanks To Grant

A program that helps people released from prison transition back into society, Fresh Start @ Your Library Program, is being expanded from one library to statewide in New Jersey thanks to a federal grant. Peggy Cadigan: “’We’re a nonthreatening place. We welcome everyone,’ she said. ‘And I think that there’s no stigma attached with going into a local public library. So we think we’re the perfect place because we’re serving everybody from all walks of life.’”

Mental Health Resources At Public Libraries

New York City’s mental health initiative helped New York Public Library branches in offering services like social emotional learning and free mental health first aid training. While these programs and resources are not meant to replace professional treatment there’s a lot of helpful changes happening across the country, including libraries that have hired nurses and psychiatric social workers.

Merriam-Webster’s Words Of The Year

I love data and look forward to the end of year lists like Merriam-Webster’s most looked up words in 2019. The word of the year is “they” which is then followed by words like “quid pro quo” and “impeach”, which are unsurprising, but we also have surprises like “crawdad” thanks to the very popular novel by Delia Owens. Anyhoo, there’s a bunch of words and their meaning and history if you want to nerd out like me.

Atlanta Newspaper Demands Disclaimer On Clint Eastwood Film

Clint Eastwood’s film Richard Jewell, based on the Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, is being accused of going too far with its dramatic license. Kathy Scruggs, a real life journalist who has passed away, is portrayed in the film as trading sex for informational tips. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says there is no evidence this ever happened and wants Warner Bros. to release a statement that they fabricated this along with adding a disclaimer to the film.

Paul McCartney’s Children’s Book At Netflix

High in the Clouds by Paul McCartney, Geoff Dunbar, and Philip Ardagh will be getting the animated feature adaptation treatment on Netflix. The cartoon, about a teen squirrel, will have songs by Paul McCartney who is also wearing the producer hat.

The Best 6 Minutes Of Your Day

It’s the end of the world–er, year and decade, and we could all use a break and six minutes of something funny and lovely and heartfelt. Watch the short film Hair Love about a father learning to do his young daughter’s hair. And there’s of course a book: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, Vashti Harrison (Illustrator).

Book Fairies!

I literally just love getting to shout “Book Fairies!” Inspired by Emma Watson, Amanda Moore leads the Book Fairy brigade in Cincinnati. What does a Book Fairy do exactly? They leave books with ribbons and stickers around for people to find, read, and then to continue the fun by repeating the process. “There are over 9,000 book fairies in 100 countries.” Hand me my wings!

Beyond Book Lending How Libraries Help Communities

As communities change, many libraries are adapting and creating innovative ways to help patrons and their communities. Here’s a look at 5 libraries around the world that are lending clothes, offering a program to read your fine away, delivering books via donkeys and camels, and helping homeless people.

Nationwide Cull Leads To Book Burning

A library in Zhenyuan County, Gansu was seen burning books and according to Chinese media reports the county’s website explains it has been focusing on removing and destroying biased, religious, and illegal books. “The news of the book burning, now deleted from Zhenyuan county’s website, has prompted a wave of criticism from commentators and internet users who were reminded of the Qin dynasty, when books were burned and scholars burned alive as a way to control the populace and prevent criticism of the regime.”

It’s So Shiny!

The trailer AND the gold outfit Wonder Woman wears towards the end of the Wonder Woman 1984 trailer! So many questions and so many thoughts–seriously, how do I get that shiny gold outfit?!–but for now I’m just gonna jam to the awesome music and watch the trailer a few more–twenty, probably twenty–times.

Congrats, LocHal Public Library

World Building of the Year is not the award some bookish folk might think it is. Rather than recognizing excellence in constructing an imaginary world, the prize goes to a real construction project. And at the 2019 World Architecture Festival, a public library won World Building of the Year.

Crisis! on Infinite Earths

The MCU is an unstoppable juggernaut, but nobody does small-screen like DC, which debuts the latest television crossover event on tonight’s “Supergirl.” Read an overview of some of the characters you’ll encounter in the epic adaptation of the 1985 comic book story.

Hang In There, Olga Tokarczuk

It’s Nobel Week in Stockholm, and things aren’t going too smoothly. Laureate in Literature Peter Handke had a prickly press conference, Kosovo is planning to boycott Tuesday’s ceremony, and former permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy Peter Englund is boycotting all Nobel events.

773 Libraries Have Closed In Britain

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (Cipfa) annual survey reports that 773 libraries in the UK–excluding Northern Ireland–have closed in the last decade, 35 in the last year. Conservative government’s restrictive spending and local councils tight budgets are blamed.

When You Misquote Books Publicly, The Authors Will Tell On You

During the Trump impeachment hearings Paul Taylor, Republican lawyer for the Judiciary Committee, quoted two books on impeachment: Neal Katyal’s Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump and To End a Presidency: The Power of Impeachment by Joshua Matz and Laurence Tribe. The problem is he misused both quotes: “’Wow. I just watched Republicans lie about my book,’ Katyal wrote on Twitter. Tribe had a similar complaint: ‘They didn’t just leave out the ellipses from my [book],” they also “deleted my conclusion[.]’”

Jimmy Kimmel Donates Book Proceeds

Jimmy Kimmel’s new children’s book, The Serious Goose, which he wrote and illustrated, is doing more than just delighting children readers: the books proceeds are being donated to children’s hospitals, inspired by the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which saved his son’s life.

Drunk Tom Holland To The Spidey Rescue

Tom Holland had a chat with Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where he discussed his role in the recent situation where Disney and Sony couldn’t come to terms and it looked like Spider-Man’s new film series (starring Holland) would be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It involved a call between a drunk and crying Holland and Disney CEO Bob Iger.

Book Banned

Someone to Run With by David Grossman has been banned in Russia. Attorney Pavel Astakhov, the Russian Federation’s Children’s Rights Commissioner’s reason for the ban is a real head-scratcher: “distribution of this sort of literature with no age restriction increases the rates of teenage pregnancy, single motherhood, and sexually transmitted diseases.”

The Outsider

Stephen King’s latest (or one of) adaptation, The Outsider, will premiere on HBO on January 12th and we now have a trailer! It stars Jason Bateman as the accused killer of a child, except evidence places him in two places at once…

James Patterson Gives Booksellers Holiday Bonus

It’s holiday bonus time and author James Patterson has 500 gifts of $500 each to give to booksellers. The winners, 100 of which are children’s booksellers, were announced after being selected from 2,500 applications.

Harry Potter First Edition Hidden In Plain Sight

Emily Saiban can thank her avid booktube watching for helping make a delightful discovery: Wimbledon Library had a rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. “‘The first thing I noticed was a younger Dumbledore on the back cover’ she explained. ‘Then, I looked on page 53 to see if wand was listed twice on Harry’s school equipment list.’” The book has been in the library for 21 years–in case you wanted to feel old today.

Yes, She Can

Walt Disney Studios dropped a full trailer for the upcoming film Mulan and it looks beautiful and powerful. The film, set to release in March, follows a young woman who masquerades as a man in order to take her ailing warrior father’s position.

NPR’s Book Concierge Is Live

NPR has released this year’s Book Concierge which is 2,000+ books selected by their staff and critics. With a ton of filters, from genres to “the dark side,” it’s an amazing way to find your next read. Or next hundred. Have fun!

In Sad News

Dorothy Catherine “D.C”. Fontana, Star Trek franchise legend, passed away on December 2 at the age of 80. Fontana wrote one of the early episodes of Stark Trek, Charlie X, which went on to become a template for the show’s stories. She also wrote the first time-travel episode for the franchise, and created “the characters of Spock’s parents, the Vulcan Sarek and the human Amanda Grayson.” And those are just a few of the amazing things she’s credited with.

No Time To Die

The latest Bond film has a trailer! Between Phoebe Waller-Bridge fixing the script and Lashana Lynch as a 00 agent I am super excited for No Time To Die! Making all the popcorn.