Category: Today In Books

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Today In Books

THE 1619 PROJECT Limited Docuseries Set for January Premiere: Today in Books

PBS Names 12 Books to Read from 2022

Thursday on the PBS News Hour, NPR’s Fresh Air book critic Maureen Corrigan and New York Times books editor Gilbert Cruz joined Jeffrey Brown to discuss their favorite books of the year. Recommendations included Trust by Hernan Diaz, The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, and Stay True by Hua Hsu. You can check out their full list of favorite books from 2022 at PBS’s website.

The 1619 Project Limited Docuseries Set for January Premiere

Disney’s Onyx Collective announced that its upcoming six-part limited docu-series The 1619 Project will premiere on January 26 on Hulu. The 1619 Project is a part of a long-form journalism project developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times to “reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.” The 1619 Project book was released in 2021.

True Crime Blogger Finds Child’s Drawing in Agatha Christie Book

Virginia true crime blogger Alice de Sturler was looking through her used copy of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders when she discovered an unexpected mystery within the pages of the book: a folded paper featuring a child’s drawing in red ink and the note, “To Mum, love from Kit.” de Sturler said, “If the card was meant for me, I would want it back.” And so she started her own investigation into who the card belonged to and how to return it to them. You can read her story here.

AI Isn’t the Threat to High School English. Censorship Is.

Use of AI in English classrooms would be cheating. Our real worry should be on book removal from schools. That, plus book censorship news.

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Akwaeke Emezi Announces New Romance Novel: Today in Books

Henry Cavill Says He Will Not Return as Superman

Actor Henry Cavill announced yesterday that he would not be returning to reprise the role of Superman in future DC films. The news comes after Cavill’s meeting with filmmaker James Gunn and British film producer Peter Safran, the new co-chairmen and chief executive officers of DC Studios. “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman,” Cavill wrote. “After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that.” In a tweet, James Gunn further explained that the studio’s plan for Superman will focus on an earlier part of the superhero’s life, “so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”

Professional Illustrators Unhappy with Tech Worker’s AI-Illustrated Children’s Book

Tech worker Ammaar Reshi has self-published a children’s book using AI illustrations, and professional illustrators are not happy. Children’s author Josie Dom said that she is “concerned that the use of AI in creating stories will create a proliferation of poor-quality stories, both on the writing and the illustration side.” Dom also pointed out that AI platforms often steal from other artists’ work. Other artists and authors have also taken to social media to critique the merits of Reshi’s book. Reshi admits he was not prepared for this amount of backlash. “The thing that upsets me the most is, I totally think it’s very valid that these artists have real concern and have a passionate response and feel threatened,” he said. “I totally understand as an artist if you see this as an existential threat to your livelihood. This makes absolute sense.”

Akwaeke Emezi Announces New Romance Novel

Akwaeke Emezi, author of You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty, has announced their next romance novel, entitled Son of the Morning. The author described the novel as “a Black Southern Gothic speculative romance featuring a woman touched by power, from a clan of matriarchs deep in the american south, and her utterly chaotic love affair with lucifer himself.” Emezi says readers can also expect a lot more sex in this novel. Son of the Morning will be out in 2025.

How Your Book Club Can Fight Against Book Bans and Censorship

Censorship attempts and book bans are at an all time high, but even a handful of people in a book club can make a difference. Here’s how.

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USA TODAY Pauses Best-Seller List, Lays Off Presiding Editor: Today in Books

Crime Author Ann Cleeves Loses Laptop Containing Draft of New Book

Award-winning crime novelist Ann Cleeves is appealing for help after losing a laptop in a Shetland blizzard. The laptop contained a draft of her next book. Cleeves says the computer might have fallen out of her bag as she made her way through Lerwick in Monday’s wintry conditions. By now, Cleeves speculates the laptop might be buried under a foot of snow; however, she is offering a reward for the return of the laptop. So far, Cleeves says she has been flooded with responses since she tweeted about the missing laptop. “People have been amazingly kind, I’ve been getting responses from all over Lerwick,” she said. “But luckily my latest book that I’ve been working on, I had sent it as an email attachment to myself just a couple of days ago so I’ve not lost too much.”

USA Today Pauses Best-Seller List, Lays Off Presiding Editor

USA Today‘s weekly bestseller book list is going on “hiatus for the remainder of the year.” This announcement follows the laying off of USA Today‘s presiding editor Mary Cadden as a part of budget-saving cuts on December 1st. Cadden, the editor who has compiled the bestseller book list since 2008, confirmed the news on Twitter. Cadden tweeted, “I am so proud of my work at USA TODAY, especially covering Books and the USA TODAY Best-Sellers list. I wish the best for my colleagues who are also leaving and those who remain.”

Patmos Library Closes Early Over Safety Concerns

Patmos Library closed early on Monday due to safety concerns. The library in Jamestown Township was recently defunded by voters over LGBTQ books on its shelves. On Facebook, Patmos Library made the announcement that they would be closing early over safety concerns, but they did not detail what those concerns were. Patmos Library had said that they would be running out of funding in September of 2024, and due to lack of funding, they were originally planning to close in 2024.

Quiz: Which 2023 Queer Book Should You Preorder?

Whether you were happy or unhappy with your reading in 2022, this quiz will tell you the best queer book you should preorder for 2023.

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Read A Chapter from Leigh Bardugo’s HELL BENT: Today in Books

Christina Lauren Reveals Cover of Upcoming Novel The True Love Experiment

Romance power duo Christina Lauren is coming out with a new romance novel on May 13th, and the authors took to Instagram to share the cover of their new book. Christina Lauren described The True Love Experiment as “our love letter to romance and fan girls, and finding your joy, and is so sexy and deeply romantic it makes my face hurt from smiling.” You can preorder a copy now, or enter the giveaway on Instagram to get an early copy of the book. Just like their post and share it with a friend.

Element Pictures to Adapt Nicola Dinan’s LGBT Romance Novel Bellies for TV

Element Pictures, the Irish production company behind the Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning hit adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, will be adapting Nicola Dinan’s debut LGBT romance novel Bellies for TV. Dinan’s Bellies, which will be released in 2023, follows two queer students, Tom and Ming, who fall in love while in school together. But their relationship is tested when Ming comes out as trans and decides to transition. Element Pictures’ Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, and Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann said in a statement, “We think the world is hungry for a love story like [Tom and Ming’s] – that authentically allows for the space and complexity of their changing dynamic, both as Ming transitions but also as the two of them grow into adulthood – while still honoring the excitement and intensity of first love. We are delighted to bring their story to the screen and couldn’t be happier that Nicola is adapting herself.”

Read A Chapter from Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent

Hell Bent, the highly anticipated sequel to Leigh Bardugo’s debut adult novel Ninth House, hits shelves on January 10. Ahead of its release, Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive look at Chapter 5 from Hell Bent. You can read the excerpt now, and/or have a listen to a clip from the audiobook, narrated by Lauren Fortgang.

The Most Thought-Provoking Books of the Year, According to the Atlantic

These are the 2022 new releases the Atlantic says “impressed us with their force of ideas…In a phrase, they were good to think with.”

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Announcing the 2023 Tournament of Books: Today in Books

Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle Steps Down

In a December 9th announcement, Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle has stepped down from his position at the head of the publisher. This news comes just weeks after a federal judge blocked the publisher’s attempt to acquire rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. “Following the antitrust decision in the U.S. against the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, I have decided, after nearly 15 years on the Executive Board of Bertelsmann and at the helm of our global publishing business, to hand over the next chapter of Penguin Random House to new leadership,” Dohle said in a statement. “I have led our global book business with great enthusiasm and passion and I am proud of what we have achieved together.” Penguin Random House president and COO Nihar Malaviya will succeed Dohle on an interim basis.

NYC Public Libraries Say Proposed Budget Cuts Might “Push Us Over the Edge”

New York City Public Libraries face potential multi-million-dollar budget cuts as a part of Mayor Eric Adams’ so-called Program to Eliminate the Gap. According to a report released on Thursday, NYC public libraries are looking at total of $13.6 million in reductions for the current fiscal year (ending in June 2023) and $20.5 million in each of the next three fiscal years. Library officials are still calculating exactly how the cuts will affect their services. Linda Johnson, president of the Brooklyn Public Library, says wages and salaries will likely be cut, which will in turn lead to a decreased number of hours the library can remain opened and programs they can offer.

Announcing the 2023 Tournament of Books

Tournament of Books has just announced their 19th edition for the year 2023. For the tournament, two books from the shortlist are read and evaluated by one of the judges on each weekday in March, starting March 8. One of those books is then chosen to advance to the next round. This goes on through the month of March until one book wins. This year’s judges are Abayomi Animashaun, Ahsan Butt, A. Cerisse Cohen, Adam Dalva’s, Nathan Deuel, Summer Farah, Torsa Ghosal, Calvin Kasulke, ML Kejera, Lauren Markham, Christina Orlando, Aminah Mae Safi, Santiago Jose Sanchez, Nicola Twilley, Olivia Waite, Katy Waldman, and Xuan Juliana Wang. You can see the full list of shortlisted books and participate in the tournament’s Zombie Poll here.

These Are Goodreads Users’ Most Anticipated Books of 2023

Here are the 2023 new releases Goodreads users are most excited to get hands their hands on, from romance to horror to nonfiction and more.

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2022 Kids’ Book Choice Awards Announced: Today in Books

Netflix Releases Trailer of The Pale Blue Eye Starring Christian Bale

Netflix has released the trailer for The Pale Blue Eye, starring Christian Bale. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Louis Bayard. Bale plays detective Augustus Landor, who is called in by West Point to investigate a grisly murder. Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling) becomes a potential ally for Landor in the investigation. The Pale Blue Eye will be available on Netflix and in select theaters on January 6.

These Are The 10 Best Romance Novels of 2022, According to Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly has named its top 10 best romance novels of 2022. Their list includes both contemporary romance stories and historical ones that “made us cheer, cry, and swoon the hardest this year.” Included on the list: The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon, Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly, and A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adrianna Herrera. See the full list here.

2022 Kids’ Book Choice Awards Announced

Every Child a Reader, a nonprofit organization providing literacy outreach through the Children’s Book Council, has announced the winners of the 2022 Kids’ Book Choice Awards. The awards are the only national book prize selected by young readers across the country. Winners are chosen in 12 different categories. Some highlights: Teen Book of the Year went to Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo; Book of the Year: 6th to 8th Grade went to Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown by Steve Sheinkin; and Book of the Year: Kindergarten to 2nd Grade went to We All Play: kimêtawânaw, written and illustrated by Julie Fleet. See the full list of winners here.

Easy Bookish Traditions to Start This Holiday Season

If you want to infuse even more bookishness into your holiday celebrations, here are some ideas for new literary traditions!

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James Gunn Shares Statement About Future of DC Studios: Today in Books

Reese Witherspoon to Star in Election Sequel Tracy Flick Can’t Win

Reese Witherspoon is reprising her role as Tracy Flick in Tracy Flick Can’t Win, a sequel to the 1999 comedy Election. Tracy Flick Can’t Win is set to debut on Paramount+, and like Election, it is direction by Alexander Payne. Payne also co-wrote the script with Jim Taylor. Both films are based on the novels by Tom Perrotta. The new movie is already getting good reviews. Molly Young at The New York Times described the follow-up story as “even more piercing than its predecessor” and praised Perrotta’s characters as “exquisitely drawn.” Vox’s Constance Grady calls the movie “a Rorschach test for how we think about women, ambition, and the power dynamics of sex.”

James Gunn Shares Statement About Future of DC Studios

Filmmaker James Gunn has made his first public statement about the future of DC Studios following Gunn and Peter Safran’s takeover of the Warner Bros. Discovery division in October. “We know we are not going to make every single person happy every step of the way, but we can promise everything we do is done in the service of the STORY and in the service of the DC CHARACTERS we know you cherish and we have cherished our whole lives,” Gunn wrote in his Twitter statement. “As for more answers about the future of the DCU, I will sadly have to ask you to wait. We are giving these characters and the stories the time and attention they deserve, and we ourselves still have a lot more questions to ask and answer.” Gunn and Safran are due to present their current plans for the DC Universe across film, television, and gaming next week to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Essay Collection Wins Oddest Book Title of the Year Award

An essay collection about RuPaul’s Drag Race has won the Bookseller/Diagram prize for the oddest book title of the year. The book, RuPedagogies of Realness: Essays on Teaching and Learning with RuPaul’s Drag Race, edited by Lindsay Bryde and Tommy Mayberry, won 39% of the public vote for the prize. There is no prize for the winning author or publisher, but the nominator of the winning book gets a “passable bottle of claret.”

2022 Goodreads Choice Awards Announced

The winners of the 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced, featuring several returning winners and a few landslide hits.

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DARK TOWER Series in the Works from Mike Flanagan: Today in Books

HarperCollins Associate Editor Rachel Kambury Discusses Strike on Print Run Podcast

HarperCollins associate editor and striking HC union member Rachel Kambury is on this week’s episode of publishing podcast Print Run. On the podcast, Kambury discusses her union’s strike, the working conditions that led them to this historic moment, and how this strike might lead to change in the industry. You can listen to the episode for free right now.

Dark Tower Series in the Works from Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep) is developing a TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. Flanagan and his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy have the rights to the books, and Flanagan has written a pilot for what he is calling his “Holy Grail” of TV work. “We view it as a series that’s going at least five seasons,” Flanagan said in an interview with Deadline. “And having lived with this project as long as I have, I have an enormous amount of it worked out in my brain. But I have a pilot script I’m thrilled with and a very detailed outline for the first season and a broader outline for the subsequent seasons.”

TIME Names the Best Fiction Books of 2022

TIME magazine has named its 10 best fiction books of the year. Journalist Annabel Gutterman described the picks as, “stories about friendship and love, growing up and growing older, loss and living, all centered on characters reckoning with how their people do and do not show up for them.” See the full list and see what book made it to the #1 spot for 2022 over at their website.

What Are Mis-, Dis-, and Mal-Information?: This Week’s Book Censorship News

Defining disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation. That, plus this week’s book censorship news.

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Netflix’s SHADOW AND BONE Season 2 Coming in March: Today in Books

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 Not Moving Forward

As new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are in the final stages of prepping their multiyear plan, sources say that Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 will not be moving forward. Jenkins directed and co-wrote the previous two Wonder Woman movies, starring Gal Gadot, that were released in 2017 and 2020. Sources says Jenkins recently submitted her treatment, co-written with Geoff Johns, and that Gunn and Safran, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairs and co-CEOs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, told the filmmaker that the project — as it stands — does not fit in with the studio’s new plans. No decision has been made about next steps.

Del Rey Books Reveals Cover of New Silvia Moreno-Garcia Novel

Del Rey Books has revealed the cover for the latest novel from best-selling author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The author’s newest novel, Silver Nitrate, will hit shelves on July 18, 2023. According to the publisher, the novel is “about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film — and awakens one woman’s hidden powers.” You can preorder the book now.

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone Season 2 Coming in March

Netflix announced today that the second season of Shadow and Bone will be premiering on the streaming service on March 16, 2023. In addition to announcing the release date, Shadow and Bone‘s official Instagram has shared multiple new images from the upcoming season. The second season of Shadow and Bone will likely cover plot points from the second book in Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy, Siege and Storm, while also including plot elements from other stories in the Grishaverse.

Book Riot’s 2023 Read Harder Challenge

It’s December, which means it’s time to start making reading plans for 2023! Here are the 24 tasks for Book Riot’s 2023 Read Harder Challenge. Need suggestions for the tasks? Then make sure you sign up for our Read Harder newsletter to get recommendations for each task delivered straight to your inbox. Those task recommendations will be coming at you starting in the first week in January. We’ll send one email per weekday for each of the 24 tasks.

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Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and More Respond to Debut Author’s Lonely Book Launch: Today in Books

Wiip Snags Rights to The Lemon by S.E. Boyd

Independent studio Wiip, producer of The Mare of Easttown and The Summer I Turned Pretty, has snagged rights to the novel The Lemon. The critically acclaimed novel is written by S.E. Boyd, the pen name for authors Alessandra Lusardi, Kevin Alexander, and Joe Keohane. The story follows the aftermath of the death of John Doe, host of a culinary travel show, who is found dead in a Belfast hotel room in an apparent suicide. As the news of his tragic death breaks, many people, both friends and opportunists, seek to take control of the narrative. Alexander, Keohane and Lusardi will executive produce the television adaptation with Wiip’s Paul Lee, Mark Roybal, and Nate Winslow.  Roybal said in a statement, “The masterminds collectively known as S.E. Boyd — Kevin, Joe and Alessandra — have done the unthinkable in my estimation: they have created a bold, rambunctious, singular voice and a clever plot that never fails to surprise. We can’t wait to see them cook up a show based on their brilliant series.”

Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and More Respond to Debut Author’s Lonely Book Launch

When debut author Chelsea Banning vented on Twitter about her sparsely attended book launch, she had no idea that she would get the attention of some of the world’s most famous authors, including Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and Neil Gaiman. “Terry Pratchett and I did a signing in Manhattan for Good Omens that nobody came to at all. So you are two up on us,” Gaiman wrote to the author. “I have sat lonely at a signing table many times only to have someone approach … and ask me where the bathroom is,” Jodi Picoult wrote. Banning even got the attention of Flava Flav, who tweeted, “Here to hype up ya next signing!” Banning says she has no signings planned at the moment, but she is working on it.

Literary Hub Announces Their 38 Favorite Books of 2022

Literary Hub has announced their 38 favorite books of 2022. The books mentioned come from a wide range of genres. Titles include R.F. Kuang’s Babel, Samantha Allen’s Patricia Wants to Cuddle, Hiroko Oyamada’s Weasels in the Attic, and Maggie O’Farrell’s The Marriage Portrait. Head to their website to check out the full list of favorites.

Best New Baking Cookbooks for Holiday Gifting

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the baker in your life? Check out these new baking cookbooks paired with kitchen tools for gifting.