Category: Today In Books

The New York Public Library Announces Best Books of 2022: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 26, 2022

Miranda Lambert is Releasing a Cookbook

Country star Miranda Lambert is releasing her very first cookbook. On Instagram, Lambert announced the title of her upcoming book is Y’All Eat Yet? and ““is a collection of recipes and stories from my pretty bitchin’ kitchen to yours 💕.” Lambert says, “I was blessed to be raised by two generations of hell-raising, hard working women who knew how to make people feel good. This is a look into our lives and the food we’ve made along the way,” she continued in her description of what to expect from her first published work.” The cookbook will be available on April 25th, 2023. It’s available for preorder now.

World Trigger Manga Takes Another 1-Month Break Due to Author’s Health

Daisuke Ashihara’s World Trigger manga announced on its official Twitter that it will take another break in January 2023 due to the author’s poor physical health. World Trigger, the popular manga that has inspired two anime series, is expected to return in the February issue. The manga also took breaks this year in January, May, and July; it took several breaks in 2021 as well.

The New York Public Library Announces Best Books of 2022

The New York Public Library has announced its recommendations for the best books of 2022. On their website, it says, “Our annual recommendations for kids, teens, and adults, curated by our expert librarians, encompass fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, poetry, kids’ books in Spanish, and much more.” Recommendations for this year include: Against Heaven by Kemi Alabi, Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes, The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang, All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir, Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado, and many more. Check out their website for the full list.

Book Ratings Systems Are Not A Solution: This Week’s Book Censorship News

A book rating system is not a solution to book challenges or content. That, plus this week’s book censorship news.

Today In Books

YOU Season 4 Gets Earlier Premiere Date on Netflix: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 25, 2022

Sponsored by Yen On, the Yen Press imprint dedicated to novel lovers!

Pitchfork Announces Their 15 Best Music Books of 2022

Pitchfork has announced their picks for the best music books of 2022. This list of fifteen books was chosen by Pitchfork staffers and contributors. “The best music books, whether they are history, cultural criticism, memoir, or some hybrid of all three, give you new ears with which to listen,” Pitchfork writes. The list includes Joe Coscarelli’s Rap Capital: An Atlanta Story; Shana Goldin-Perschbacher’s Queer Country; Hua Hsu’s Stay True; and Danyel Smith’s Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop.

You Season 4 Gets Earlier Premiere Date on Netflix

The fourth season of Netflix’s highly popular thriller series You will premiere one day earlier than expected. You, based on Caroline Kepnes’s best-selling novel of the same name, will drop the first half of its fourth season on Thursday, February 9th. The second half of the season will premiere one month later, on Thursday, March 9th.

Horror Anthology The White Guy Dies First Coming in Summer 2024

Tor Teen will release the horror anthology The White Guy Dies First in summer 2024. The book, edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker, will feature 13 authors of color writing short stories in which the white guy always dies first. In addition to Benton-Walker, the collection will include stories from Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Kalynn Bayron, Kendare Blake, H.E. Edgmon, Lamar Giles, Chloe Gong, Alexis Henderson, Tiffany D. Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Naseem Jamnia, Mark Oshiro, and Karen Strong.

Why Book Blogs Still Matter in an Age of BookTok

While TikTok might be the leading bookish social media platform, there’s still value for readers and creators in book blogs.

Today In Books

Alice Oseman’s SOLITAIRE is Finally Being Released in the U.S.: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 24, 2022

True Detective Producer Options Rabbit Hutch for TV

Tess Gunty’s National Book Award-winning novel The Rabbit Hutch has been optioned by Fermantle and producer Richard Brown (True Detective) for television. Gunty is also on board as an executive producer. “Tess Gunty has written a wildly inventive and mesmerizing novel populated with irresistible characters, including a heroine for the ages,” Brown said in a statement. “We’re delighted that she has trusted us to adapt it for the screen.”

Alice Oseman’s Solitaire is Finally Being Released in the U.S.

Alice Oseman, the best-selling author of Heartstopper, is finally getting a U.S. release for their book Solitaire, which follows Charlie’s sister Tori. The special U.S. edition features a new cover illustrated by Oseman. There will also be a special Barnes & Noble edition that features a stunning new jacket design by the author. The new edition will also include a Q&A between Alice and their U.S. editor, David Levithan. “Solitaire was the catalyst for so many other wonderful things that have happened in my life. And I look back on the story with fondness,” Alice said in the special Q&A. Preorder now, and the book will be available on May 2nd, 2023.

Epilogue Bookstore and Coffee Shop Starts Free Library for Queer Literature

Epilogue Coffee Shop, a queer, Latine-owned, independent café and bookstore in Chapel Hill, recently opened Reading Rainbows, a free queer book stand. To create the display, Epilogue’s event coordinator Gaby Lori said she repurposed a carousel that formerly featured young adult books. “The idea is that queer youth, or anyone who wants a free queer book, can just pick it up,” Lori said. People can donate to the stand on Epilogue’s website. Patrons can also purchase a book to donate in-person by letting employees know at checkout that the book is for Reading Rainbows.

The Most Popular UK YA Books As Chosen By Students

Teens the world over tend to favor stories with characters they can relate to. Here are the most popular UK YA books chosen by students.

Today In Books

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE to Feature Six Dominant Art Styles: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 23, 2022

Sponsored by Robert Dugoni’s The World Played Chess

James Norton to Star in West End Version of A Little Life

James Norton is set to star in the West End adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s best-selling novel A Little Life.The production will run at the Harold Pinter Theatre from March 25th to June 18th. This is the first English-language production of the novel, which has been adapted by Ivo van Hove and Yanagihara with Koen Tachelet. A Little Life will also be directed by Ivo van Hove.

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse to Feature Six Dominant Art Styles

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, 2023’s highly anticipated follow-up to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, promises to be even more visually stimulating. “The first film had one animation style that dominates the movie. This movie has six,” says returning producer Phil Lord. “So we’re taking those tools…and then growing them further to accommodate the ambition of this movie. Which is to wow you every time you enter a new environment, and also to make sure that the style of the movie reflect the story, and that the images are driven by feelings, as opposed to some egg-headed art project. Which it also is, by the way!” Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse comes to theaters on June 2nd, 2023.

Paul Tremblay Reveals Cover of Short Story Collection The Beast You Are

Horror author Paul Tremblay’s next book will be a novella and a collection of 14 short stories, entitled The Beast You Are. The author took to Instagram to share the cover of his new book with the world. You can preorder the book now, and it will be available everywhere on July 11th, 2023.

The Best Black Friday Deals for Book Lovers 2022

Looking for great deals for the book lovers in your life? Welcome to the annual roundup of great Black Friday deals for book lovers in 2022.

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Brandy to Play Cinderella in THE POCKETWATCH: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 22, 2022

Marvel’s Blade Finds New Director with Yann Demange

Marvel’s new Blade adaptation has found a new director with Yann Demange, who directed the pilot of HBO’s horror series Lovecraft Country. This puts the project back on track after losing its original director Bassam Tariq over creative differences. Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali is attached to star. According to sources, Ali was directly involved in selecting Emmy Award winner Michael Starrbury to write the new Blade feature adaptation. The plan is still to go into production in Atlanta in 2023, with a release date set for September 6th, 2024.

Brandy to Play Cinderella in Descendants Movie The Pocketwatch

Singer and actor Brandy is reprising her role as Cinderella in the upcoming Disney+ film The Pocketwatch, which takes place in the same universe as The Descendants. Rita Ora has also recently joined the cast of The Pocketwatch. She will be playing the Queen of Hearts. The Pocketwatch is directed by Jennifer Phang, written by Dan Frey and Russell Sommer, ad executive produced by Phang, Suzanne Todd, and Gary Marsh.

Lee Herrick Chosen as California Poet Laureate

California governer Gavin Newsom has appointed Fresno-based writer and professor Lee Herrick to be the state’s poet laureate. Herrick is the author of three poetry collections — Scar and Flower, Gardening Secrets of the Dead, and This Many Miles From Desire — as well as publishing in many literary magazines, anthologies, and textbooks. “I am deeply honored, humbled, and excited to be named California Poet Laureate,” Herrick said in a statement. He will serve a two-year term and will receive a stipend from the California Arts Council.

Ellen Wittlinger, Author of Hard-Hitting Queer YA, Has Died

Ellen Wittlinger died November 17, 2022. She was an early writer of queer YA books and broke ground with her hard-hitting realism.

Today In Books

PERCY JACKSON Series Adds Jay Duplass and Timothy Omundson to Cast: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 21, 2022

Tananarive Due Shares Cover Reveal of New Novel

American Book Award-winning author Tananarive Due has revealed the cover of her upcoming novel The Reformatory. The author tweeted, “My upcoming novel, The Reformatory, is about a haunted children’s prison based on the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, FL – where my great-uncle, Robert Stephens, died in the 1930s. A horror novel is gentler than actual history.” The book will be available in June 2023.

Percy Jackson Series Adds Jay Duplass and Timothy Omundson to Cast

Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series has added Jay Duplass and Timothy Omundson to its cast. Duplass will play Hades, the god of the Underworld, and Omundson will play Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths. The actors will appear in guest star roles alongside Walker Scobell as Percy, Aryan Simhadri as Grover, and Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth. Other recently announced additions to the cast include Adam Copeland, Suzanne Cryer, Jessica Parker Kennedy, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Oxford Word of the Year to Face Its First Public Vote

For the first time ever, the Oxford word of the year will be put to a public vote. Voting is now open online and will remain open for the next two weeks. The Oxford University Press (OUP)’s lexicographers have narrowed the choice down to three words, each of which is believed to capture “the mood and ethos of the last year in its own way.” The short-listed words are “goblin mode,” “#IStandWith,” and “metaverse.” Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, said that the decision to make the vote public is in part due to life in a “post-Covid era.” Grathwol said, “Over the past year the world reopened, and it is in that spirit we’re opening up the selection process for the word of the year to language-lovers everywhere. We are all participants in the evolving story of English, and after making it through another hard year we thought word-lovers would appreciate being brought into the process with us.”

Merger of Penguin Random and Simon & Schuster is Dead in the Water

S&S has decided not to extend the deal’s deadline, which prevents PRH from appealing the court’s decision to block the merger.

Today In Books

Winston Duke Reacts to BLACK PANTHER Fans Who Wanted Chadwick Boseman to be Recast: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 20, 2022

Walking Dead Showrunner Angela Kang to Lead Marvel’s Silk

Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang has moved her overall deal from AMC to Amazon and has signed on to oversee Marvel’s Silk: Spider Society. This project is the first in an expected slate of Marvel TV series based on the Sony Pictures universe. Silk is executive produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). “I’m beyond thrilled to be joining the Amazon Studios family for this next chapter of my career,” Kang said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the executive team on diverse, character-forward, watercooler shows for a global audience and am so excited to dive in to my first challenge — bringing Korean American superhero Silk to life on screen.” A release date for Silk has not yet been announced, but the series will air first domestically on MGM+ and then globally on Amazon’s Prime Video platform.

Shakespeare Portrait Said to be Only One Made in His Lifetime on Sale for £10m

A portrait of William Shakespeare is currently on sale for more than £10m and is being displayed in London. The portrait is said to be the only signed and dated image of William Shakespeare created during his lifetime. It was painted by Robert Peake, court painter to King James I, and is signed and dated 1608. The artwork went on display on Wednesday at Grosvenor House hotel in west London.

Winston Duke Reacts to Black Panther Fans Who Wanted Chadwick Boseman to be Recast

Winston Duke has a response for Black Panther fans who wished for the recasting of King T’Challa following the 2020 death of Chadwick Boseman. Duke, who stars as M’Baku in the new film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, said in an interview with Esquire, that these fans “center their own need for a character when none of this would be possible if the people who brought this to life didn’t participate, from behind the scenes to in front of it.” Duke went on to say, “There’s no way that the saga and interpretation of T’Challa, King of Wakanda, will end. He is canon. So trust that it’ll come. But allow this to be a human experience.”

Children’s Author Marcus Sedgwick Dies

Celebrated children’s writer Marcus Sedgwick, who was nominated for more than 30 awards, has passed away unexpectedly. He wrote Midwinterblood among many other beloved books.

Today In Books

Bernie Sanders to Publish Book Outlining Vision for “Political Revolution”: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 19, 2022

Sponsored by Mukana Press: Discovering Africa's rising literary stars

BookTok Erupts Over FBI Takeover of Z-Library

The FBI’s takedown of Z-Library, one of the world’s largest repositories of pirated books and academic papers, has the entire BookTok community talking. “I have never seen authors and readers go head-to-head the way they did that week,” said BookTok content creator Lexi Hardesty, who is also a student at the University of Kentucky. According to Hardesty, some BookTokers were even comparing the shutdown of the Z-Library website to the mythical burning of the library of Alexandria in 48 BCE. On the other hand, authors across BookTok have expressed their relief. “Piracy costs us our sales, specifically for marginalized authors; it adversely impacts public libraries; and it hurts the publishing industry,” said Nisha Sharma, BookToker and author of Dating Dr. Dil. “Essentially when you mourn Z-Library, you are mourning the end of theft.” Following the takedown of Z-Library, the FBI revealed that the people behind the website were two Russian nationals, Anton Napolsky and Valeriia Ermakova. Napolsky and Ermakova have been charged with criminal copyright infringement, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Bernie Sanders to Publish Book Outlining Vision for “Political Revolution”

Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is publishing a book outlining “a vision of what would be possible if the political revolution took place.” Penguin Random House will publish It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism in February 2023. The publisher says that the book will look at what happens if “we would finally recognize that economic rights are human rights, and work to create a society that provides them.”

Kristen Stewart to Make Feature Directorial Debut with The Chronology of Water Adaptation

Kristen Stewart is taking on her first full-length directorial project with the adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir The Chronology Of Water. Stewart also co-wrote the adaptation with Andy Mingo. Imogen Poots will star in the film. “This project has been cooking for five years with the help of Scott Free, whom I could not be more privileged to have as partners and friends,” said Stewart in a statement. “Imogen Poots will carry this movie and the staggering weight of Lidia’s life. She can hold it. I am beyond lucky to have her.”

The Best Books of 2022, According to the Washington Post

The Washington Post‘s Best Books of 2022 has a mix of fiction and nonfiction titles, and are about everything from colonialism to friendship.

Today In Books

Zoë Kravitz Says BIG LITTLE LIES Season 3 Isn’t Happening: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 18, 2022

Sponsored by Dark Horse Manga, English Publisher of Berserk

Michelle Obama Launches Book Tour with Warning to Paparazzi

This week Michelle Obama started her tour to promote her new book The Light We Carry, and she wants photographers and the news media to know that her daughters remain off-limits. Obama says her daughters, who share an apartment in the Los Angeles area, are frequently stalked by the paparazzi. The former first lady told People, “my girls are not asking to be in the limelight. They are not social media stars. They are not looking to be followed by the paparazzi just because their mom wrote a book…And I hope the media hears me when I am saying this.”

Recently Discovered Wind in the Willows Illustration to be Sold at Auction

An original illustration from Kenneth Grahame’s classic The Wind in the Willows was recently discovered hanging in a country house, and now it is being sold at auction. The illustration was done in pencil and ink by EH Shepard, who also illustrated Winnie-the-Pooh. “Drawings such as these rarely come to the market especially having been hidden from view for so long,” said Nicolas Martineau, director at Cheffins. “During his later years Shepard was to witness his drawings, especially those from the Winnie-the-Pooh books, sell for considerable sums of money, yet of the almost 100 books that he illustrated, the drawings for The Wind in the Willows were said to have been Shepard’s favourites.” In 2018, an original map of Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood drawn by Shepard sold at auction for £430,000 ($511,624), setting a world record for a book illustration.

Zoë Kravitz Says Big Little Lies Season 3 Isn’t Happening

Zoê Kravitz, one of the stars of HBO’s Big Little Lies, based on the book of the same name, has confirmed that the series will not be returning in the wake of the director and executive producer’s Jean-Marc Vallée’s death. Kravitz told GQ, “We talked about doing a Season 3 a lot. Unfortunately, Jean-Marc Vallée, our incredible director, passed away this last year. It’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine going on without him. He really was the visionary for that show. Unfortunately, it’s done.”

How to Support the HarperCollins Union During Their Strike

The HarperCollins Union’s demands are for better pay, diversity initiatives, and more security for unionized workers.

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LeVar Burton Narrates New CHRISTMAS CAROL Audiobook: Today in Books

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date November 17, 2022

Sponsored by Strïj Publishing and Orphans of Canland

Mary J. Blige Announces New Children’s Book

Mary J. Blige has written a new children’s book that is available for preorder today. Blige announced the project on Instagram, writing, “Mary Can! is an inspirational and motivating story about a young girl who proves that anyone can make their dreams come true if they just believe in themselves. It’s such a personal story for me, based off my own experiences as a child and even as an adult…My hope with this book is that it instills in kids from an early age that they can do anything they aspire to do. There are no limits to what they can accomplish!” Mary Can! is illustrated by award-winning illustrator Ashley Corrin Webb. The book comes out on March 28th, preorder it here.

LeVar Burton Narrates New Christmas Carol Audiobook

Everyone’s favorite bookish celebrity LeVar Burton has announced that he is narrating a new audiobook version of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. The audiobook is available exclusively from Apple Books. You can download the book for free here.

500 Words Added to the Scrabble Dictionary

500 new words and variations have been added to Scrabble’s official dictionary. Out this month, the seventh edition of The Official Scrabble Player’s Dictionary will add these new words to more than 100,000 words of two to eight letters already included. Now in the dictionary, you’ll see words like stan, sitch, convo, zedonk, dox, and fauxhawk, among many others. According to Merriam-Webster’s editor-at-large, Peter Sokolowski, “fauxhawk” is potentially the highest-scoring word of the new additions. While Sokolowski shared many of the new words with The Associated Press, you’ll have to get the new dictionary if you want to hunt down all 500.

2022 National Book Award Winners Announced

Winners of the 2022 National Book Awards were announced in a live awards ceremony on November 16. Check out the winners and the highlights.