Category: Today In Books

Game of Thrones Book Coauthors Respond to Book Boycott and Racism Accusations

Authors Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García Jr. have responded to the boycotts and uproar over their past controversial remarks. With the upcoming release of their book The Rise of the Dragon, the first volume of a visual history of the Targaryen family from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series, past controversial remarks have come to the surface. Antonsson has been accused of making several racist remarks about the casting choices for House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. For instance, of Toussaint’s casting as Corlys on House of the Dragon, Antonsson wrote that the actor was “miscast,” adding, “There are no Black Valyrians and there should not be any in the show.” Antonsson responded that it bothers her to be “labeled a racist” when she says her focus “has been solely on the world building.” She added that she has no issue with inclusive casting but strongly believes “diversity should not trump story.”

Oprah Daily Reveals the Cover of Rachel Heng’s The Great Reclamation

Oprah Daily has the exclusive cover reveal of Rachel Heng’s new novel The Great Reclamation. For her latest novel, Heng, author of Suicide Club, looks back at the history of Singapore after the collapse of British rule. Heng says she infused speculative elements into her story to “approach history with a slant.” The Great Reclamation is out from Riverhead Books on March 28, 2023.

Announcing the Nominees for the 2021 Shirley Jackson Awards

The nominees for the 2021 Shirley Jackson Awards have been announced! The awards aim to recognize “outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic.” This year, winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony hosted by Elizabeth Hand and Paul Tremblay. The ceremony takes place on October 29th at the Boston Book Festival, presented in partnership with Readercon. 

A Guide to U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón

Meet the new U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón. This primer will introduce you to her work, including the best poems in her poetry collections.

Al Pacino is Reportedly Writing His First Memoir

According to an anonymous source, Al Pacino is in talks to sell his first memoir to Penguin Press. The book is reportedly being handled by the same team who published Will Smith’s Will last year. Few details are known about the project so far, but CAA will be repping Pacino in the deal. Reps for Pacino, CAA, and Penguin have yet to comment.

Jada Pinkett Smith Writing Book Covering Complicated Marriage to Will Smith

Actress and Red Table Talk host Jada Pinkett Smith will be publishing a currently untitled memoir in 2023. Per the Associated Press, the upcoming memoir will cover her “lessons learned in the course of a difficult but riveting journey.” Among topics to be included in the memoir are Pinkett Smith’s upbringing in Baltimore, her friendship with rapper Tupac Shakur, her courtship with Will Smith, her experiences as a mother of three, and of course the complicated details of her marriage to Smith. A Dey Street synopsis of the book calls Pinkett Smith’s life “a rollercoaster ride from the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of personal rediscovery and the celebration of authentic feminine power.”

Michigan Library Could Close After Town Votes to Defund It Over LGBTQ-Themed Books

A library in Jamestown Township, Michigan could close after the town votes to take away funding over five books with LGBTQ+ themes. The books are The Breakaways, two books from the Heartstopper series, Kiss Number 8, and Spinning. A group called the Jamestown Conservatives recently led a successful drive to remove the books from shelves and defund the library for carrying them. “These books and lifestyle choices are destructive and wrong,” said one Jamestown resident. Meanwhile, library board president Larry Walton called the situation heartbreaking, adding, “I feel like we’ve kind of stepped back in time, talking about book banning.” Voters will be asked to decide on the fate of the library in November.

French Author Annie Ernaux Announced as Winner of 2022 Nobel Prize

The Swedish Academy has awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature to acclaimed and beloved French writer Annie Ernaux.

Celeste Ng Discusses New Book on Late Night with Seth Meyers

Last night, Celeste Ng was a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers. The author discussed what it was like to watch Little Fires Everywhere become a television show. And of course, Ng dove into a discussion about her newest book Our Missing Hearts. Ng talked about how her son inspired the book, how the book reflects on America’s issue with violence against Asians, and the importance of optimism. Our Missing Hearts is now available in bookstores everywhere.

The Wonder Starring Florence Pugh Releases First Trailer

Netflix’s feature film adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder, directed by Sebastián Lelia and starring Florence Pugh, has released its first trailer. In the movie, Pugh plays an English nurse who is sent to Ireland to observe a girl who claims she has not eaten in four months. The cast also includes Ciarán Hinds, Niamh Algar, Brían F O’Byrne, Elaine Cassidy and her daughter, Kíla Lord Cassidy. The Wonder releases on Netflix on November 16th.

Paramount+ Shares First Look at The Flatshare

Paramount+ has shared a first look at the adaptation of their new drama series The Flatshare, based on the bestselling novel by Beth O’Leary. The series stars Jessica Brown Findlay as Tiffany “Tiffy” Moore and Anthony Welsh as Leon Twomey. The series is set to be released in 2023.

Finalists Announced for 2022 National Book Awards

The 2022 National Book Awards finalists were announced for the award’s five categories. Find out which books made it.

Bono Announces Surrender Book Tour

U2 lead singer Bono is preparing to tour to promote his upcoming memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. “In these shows I’ve got some stories to sing, and some songs to tell,” Bono said in a statement. “Plus I want to have some fun presenting my ME-moir, Surrender, which is really more of a WE-moir if I think of all the people who helped me get from there to here.” Surrender releases on November 1, 2022, the day before his 14-date tour kicks off in New York City. Tickets for the tour are on sale October 7th.

The Rings of Power Season 2 Starts Production in the U.K.

Amazon’s The Rings of Power has started filming its next season at Bray Studios, just outside London. The first season was filmed in New Zealand over a stretch of 18 months, but for the second season, Amazon is moving production to the United Kingdom. Production has also announced that a new character will be joining the ensemble cast. That character is Círdan, one of the oldest and wisest of the elves. Casting for Círdan has yet to be announced.

AMC Releases Teaser Trailer for Mayfair Witches Series

Following the premiere of its series adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, AMC has released the teaser trailer for its next Anne Rice adaptation: Mayfair Witches. The series will star Alexandra Daddario, Harry Hamlin, and Annabeth Gish. Jack Huston was also recently added to the cast to play the shape-shifting Lasher. Mayfair Witches premieres on AMC+ in early 2023.

Riot Roundup: The Best Books We Read July-September 2022

Rioters share the great books they’ve read last quarter, from new releases and upcoming reads to backlist picks.

2 Men Targeted A School Librarian and They’re Not Facing Any Consequences

After middle school librarian Amanda Jones spoke out against book censorship at a school board meeting in Livingston Parish, Louisiana this past July, she received death threats and harassing messages. At the meeting, Jones said, “While book challenges are often done with the best intentions, and in the name of age appropriateness, they often target marginalized communities such as BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] and the LBGTQ community. They also target books on sexual health and reproduction.” By the next day, conservatives started claiming that Jones was trying to provide sexually explicit materials to children. Michael Lunsford, the executive director of right-wing nonprofit Citizens for a New Louisiana, and Ryan Thames, who runs a politically conservative Facebook page called Bayou State of Mind, both spoke out against Jones on Facebook. Their statements claimed that Jones was advocating pornography in libraries and teaching children sexual acts.

In August, Jones filed a lawsuit against Lunsford and Thames, seeking damages and asking a judge to bar them from posting about her on Facebook. But last week, Judge Erika Sledge dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that Lunsford and Thames were merely stating their opinion. In response to the ruling, Jones said, “I’ve lost all faith in the judicial system. The judge’s ruling has opened the door. People are definitely going to feel more empowered to harass educators online.”

Black Stars Reimagine Iconic Hollywood Movie Moments in New Photo Book

In the new book Black Hollywood: Reimagining Iconic Movie Moments by Carell Augustus, over 65 black actors are reimagining iconic Hollywood movie moments. With this book, Augustus aims to reinvigorate readers’ appreciation of the past while also asking questions about representation in media. Augustus told Entertainment Weekly, “[Black people] understand the power of seeing someone who looks like you doing something incredible, and being recognized for it. Black Hollywood is not just a book for Black people, it’s a book for all people about Black people. About the dreams we were never told we could achieve. About the places we were never told we could go. And now, finally, about how we can get there.” Black Hollywood hits shelves on October 4th.

Wakanda Forever Trailer Reveals the New Black Panther

Today, Marvel released the full trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and the new trailer reveals the new Black Panther who will replace King T’Challa, following the untimely death of Chadwick Boseman. The trailer gives fans their first look at the new Black Panther in their full costume, and it seems to confirm that a woman will be taking up the mantle of the iconic superhero. While the identity of the new Black Panther has not been revealed, many fans speculate that it will be Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister. We’ll know for sure on November 11th, when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever finally hits theaters.

October 2022 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

New month, new October horoscopes and book recommendations! Check out titles from Celeste Ng, Veronica Roth, and more.

National Literacy Trust and Enterprise Give 25,000 Copies of Henry’s First Novel to Children 

As part of Enterprise’s Road Forward, a $55 million fund from the philanthropic Enterprise Holdings Foundation to support social and racial equity projects across the world, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the National Literacy Trust are giving away 25,000 copies of Sir Lenny Henry’s first novel, The Boy With Wings, to 5th and 6th graders across the UK. The books will arrive at the beginning of UK’s Black History Month in October, and the partnership hopes this effort boosts rates of reading for pleasure as well as offer representation for Black kids with important messages about race, inclusion, and diversity.

How Writing Has Spread Across the World, from 3000 BCE to This Year: An Animated Map

Historical map animator Ollie Bye, created a map which shows the spread of writing across the world from the oldest known writing systems in Mesopotamia, between 3400 and 3100 BCE, and Egypt, around 3250 BCE through today. The map illustrates all known writing systems over the whole of the past five millennia, not just those used today.

Andrews McMeel Publishing Teams up With the Academy of American Poets to Release 100 Poems That Matter

In partnership with the Academy of American Poets, Andrews McMeel Publishing will release 100 Poems That Matter on December 6, 2022. The anthology will examine universal themes of love, loss, and the experiences that define us. 100 Poems That Matter aims to encourages us to bring a deeper sense of honesty into our lives, invite readers into poetry, and prompt reflection. 

Who “Parental Rights” Groups Leave Out

Although groups like “Moms for Liberty” say that they are fighting for “parents’ rights” by trying to remove books from schools and claim to speak for all parents, less than 1% of Florida parents chose to opt their children out of access to their choice of school library books.

Hulu Nabs True Crime Drama Under the Bridge

Hulu has given a series order to Under the Bridge, based on Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 true crime book. The eight-episode drama series will follow the story of the 1997 murder of Canadian teenager Reena Virk. Quinn Shephard, the writer and director of Hulu’s feature film Not Okay, will adapt the book and executive produce. Liz Tigelaar (Little Fires Everywhere) and Samir Mehta (Tell Me Lies) will serve as showrunners, and Geeta Vasant Patel (House of the Dragon, Dead to Me) is set to direct. 

Carmen Maria Machado in New Shudder Documentary Queer for Fear

Carmen Maria Machado, author of In the Dream House, announced on Instagram that she is a part of of Shudder’s new documentary series, Queer for Fear. Machado wrote, “I am in the new @shudder documentary QUEER FOR FEAR being a hot fat femme d*ke goth queen wearing my @bethditto blood-drop dress and being a spooky bitch. After I gave this interview I lost my voice for a week.” The four-part documentary series looks at the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the horror and thriller genres. The first episode was released on September 30, 2022.

Alice Braga and Jimmi Simpson Join Joel Edgerton In Apple TV+ Series Dark Matter

Alice Braga (Queen of the South) and Jimmi Simpson (Pachinko) will be joining as leads opposite Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly in Dark Matter, an adaptation of Blake Crouch’s acclaimed sci-fi novel. The nine-episode series will air on Apple TV+, written and showrun by Crouch, and executive produced by Edgerton, Matt Tolmach, and David Manpearl for Matt Tolmach Productions.

10 Book Festivals Announced for 2023

It’s never too early to see what book festivals have been announced for 2023! Here are 10 confirmed general, YA, and children’s book festivals.

Zimbabwean Author Tsitsi Dangarembga Found Guilty of Inciting Violence

Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga was given a suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of inciting violence by staging a peaceful protest calling for political reform. The author, along with co-accused Julie Barnes, was convicted of participating in a public gathering with intent to incite public violence. Both of the accused were also each fined 70,000 Zimbabwe dollars. Their six-month jail term was suspended for the next five years under the condition that the two do not commit a similar offense. Dangarembga told reporters outside the court, “We are in a situation where media freedom is not encouraged and those like myself and Julie, my co-accused, who wish to promote freedom of the media, are found to have committed a crime… We do intend to appeal the conviction.”

San Francisco’s Longest Running Literary Book Festival, Litquake, Hopes to Take It to Next Level

Litquake 2022, San Francisco’s longest running literary book festival, is happening from Thursday, October 6th through Saturday, October 22nd. The programming will feature 150 authors participating in 55 events at unique venues across the Bay Area. This year, Litquake is looking to elevate the experience by staging events in grand or unusual places. For instance, check out Exalted Verse, a poetry reading taking place at San Francisco’s “gothic and gorgeous” Grace Cathedral. Tickets for all events are available at litquake.org.

Here’s the Cover Reveal of Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro’s The Sun and the Star

The cover and release date has been revealed for the upcoming Nico di Angelo adventure from Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro. The book will tell the story of Will and Nico on a mission to help save Bob the Titan, who sacrificed himself to save Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase in the Heroes of Olympus series. The Sun and the Star will be out in the US and the UK on May 2, 2023.

Who “Parental Rights Groups” Leave Out

Groups like Moms for Liberty claim that they are fighting for parental rights by banning books. But whose rights are they really protecting?

She Is A Haunting is the Atmospheric Horror Debut from Trang Thanh Tran

Tor has shared the cover and an excerpt from Trang Thanh Tran’s atmospheric horror debut She Is a Haunting. In the YA horror novel, a “house with a terrifying appetite haunts a broken family in this atmospheric horror, perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic.” The novel is coming out on February 28th, 2023 in both the US and UK from Bloomsbury YA.

Malala Teams With Don’t Look Up Director Adam McKay for Disorientation Adaptation

Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai is producing a film adaptation of Elaine Hsieh Chou’s acclaimed book Disorientation. Disorientation is a part Malala’s overall programming deal with Apple TV+ through her production banner Extracurricular. Adam McKay’s Hyperobject Industries is attached to produce. A director is not yet attached to the project.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Focuses on Expansion

After two years of pandemic closures, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is back and looking to expand. Founded in 1935, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest and largest non-profit theaters in the country, and now it’s entering its “recovery season,” according to new artistic director Nataki Garrett. Garrett is looking to the theater’s future, focusing on putting on stage both new works and new approaches to older works. But not everyone is on board with the changes. “My concern is that they have decided to essentially remake the OSF into something it wasn’t,” said Herbert Rothschild, a longtime OSF subscriber and local columnist, told NPR. “If so, I think they’re going to drive it into the ground.”

Great New Queer Horror to Read This Fall

If you’re ready for some scares then these new queer horror novels are for you. Haunted houses, dark secrets, and monstrous creatures abound!

Here’s A First Look At His Dark Materials: Season 3

In its upcoming third season, His Dark Materials, HBO’s TV series adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy series, is about to dig into the third novel in the trilogy The Amber Spyglass. Ahead of the premiere, HBO has released first-look images of the His Dark Materials final season. Images include James McAvoy’s return as Lord Asriel, the series’ take on angels in their physical forms, and more. “Season 3 is wild. It’s 100 percent the weirdest thing I’ve ever shot in my entire life,” said Dafne Keen, who stars as Lyra Belacqua. “We’ve done so many weird locations and just surreal scenes where you’re talking about angels and God and the most random things ever. It was wild to film it and all the set dressing and everything was insane. If the other two [seasons] were already very fantastic, this one was a whole other level of that.” His Dark Materials returns to HBO this December.

Rachel Howzell Hall Announces New Fantasy Novel

Rachel Howzell Hall, the New York Times bestselling author of And Now She’s Gone and These Toxic Things, is trying out a new genre for her upcoming novel: fantasy. In a tweet, the author announced her novel The Last One and shared the book’s cover. “So pretty, don’t you agree?” Howzell Hall wrote. “Feels good to stretch my muscles. Okay, more like build, tear, gird, break… Fantasy is NO JOKE but I’m having fun, learning things, leaning into my experience as a gamer and doing the thing. Can’t wait to share it with you!” The Last One comes out in fall 2023.

Marvel’s Blade Loses Director Bassam Tariq Two Months Ahead of Production

Bassam Tariq has exited his role as director of Marvel Studios’ Blade, just two months ahead of production. The film, which was set to start production in November, will star Mahershala Ali as the iconic vampire slayer Blade. The cast also includes Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre. Sources say that Tariq will remain attached to the project as an executive producer. “It’s been an honor working with the wonderful folks at Marvel. We were able to put together a killer cast and crew. Eager to see where the next director takes the film,” Tariq said in a statement. It’s unclear how Tariq’s exit from the project will affect the production timeline. Blade is scheduled for a November 2023 release.

This New App Wants to Help You Find Your Next Read

In July, an app called Tertulia was launched, promising streamlined book discovery. How does it stack up against existing bookish apps?