Category: Today In Books

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Today In Books

GAME OF THRONES Spinoff Shuts Down Writers Room for Strike: Today in Books

New Butterflies Named After Sauron from Lord of the Rings

A new genus of butterfly has been named after Sauron, the villain of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings. An international team of scientists have identified two species in the new genus — Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera — which are named for their distinctive markings, orange wings with eye-like spots. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien described Sauron as a disembodied, all-seeing eye “rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat’s, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing.”

Zimbabwe Author Tsitsi Dangarembga Has Conviction for Protest Overturned

Zimbabwean author and activist Tsitsi Dangarembga has had her conviction for inciting violence by staging a peaceful protest overturned. Critically-acclaimed author Dangarembga was fined in September 2022 for staging a protest calling for political reform with fellow activist Julie Barnes. On Monday, the high court in Harare overturned the verdict. Dangarembga’s lawyer Chris Mhike said the court did not find evidence of any wrongdoing: “Eventually, justice prevailed in this case. It is most unfortunate that it took so long for Tsitsi and Julie to be set free. Be that as it may, this vindication from the high court is most welcome.”

Game of Thrones Spinoff Shuts Down Writers Room for Strike

The recently-announced Game of Thrones spinoff series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight has shut down its writers room due to the writers strike. Author George R.R. Martin confirmed the shutdown in a blog post on Monday, writing that “[showrunner] Ira Parker and his incredible staff of young talents are on the picket lines.” The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon is still moving forward, as the scripts for the second season have already been written.

Why Are Algorithms Still So Bad at Recommending Books?

Machine learning and AI have grown leaps and bounds — so why are algorithmically generated book recommendations still so bad?

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Is Taylor Swift Releasing a Memoir This Summer? Fans Think So: Today in Books

Jennette McCurdy Announces New Book Club

Jennette McCurdy, bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died, has announced a new book club that she will facilitate on her Instagram account. McCurdy wrote, “I’ll pick one fiction & one non-fiction book each month, post about them, and then eagerly await comments and thoughts from you guys after you read them.” McCurdy’s picks for May are The Anti-Cool Girl by Rosie Waterland and Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls. If you read along, McCurdy encourages her followers to comment on her post to share their thoughts. She also asks people to tag her in any story posts about the books.

Marvel Shuts Down Production on Blade Due to Writers Strike

Marvel Studios is shutting down preproduction on its vampire thriller Blade. The project, starring Mahershala Ali, was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. Blade is the first tentpole movie impacted by the strike, which began this past Tuesday. The studio says it will restart production once the strike is over.

Is Taylor Swift Releasing a Memoir This Summer? Fans Think So

Swifties and people all over BookTok are pretty sure Taylor Swift is planning to release a memoir this summer. The theories all started with a TikTok video shared by the owner of the independent bookstore Good Neighbor Bookstore. While the original video was quickly deleted at the request of the publisher, Swiftie fan accounts captured and shared the video. The original post lays out some compelling evidence: there is an unnamed nonfiction book coming out on Sunday, July 9. This release date is two days after the announced release date for Taylor’s version of Speak Now. Fans think Swift herself has also released hints of the book’s release on her Instagram account. But is Taylor Swift releasing a memoir? We’ll find out on June 13th, when the title is announced.

12 Book Clubs’ Excellent Picks for May 2023

Check out what all the online book clubs are reading in May, from dystopian fiction to historical fiction set in old Hollywood.

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Melinda French Gates Hopes New Book Imprint Will Open People’s Eyes on Gender Equity: Today in Books

Kamilah Cole Reveals Cover of New YA Fantasy So Let Them Burn

Kamilah Cole has shared the cover of her debut YA fantasy novel So Let Them Burn on Instagram. “When I saw this cover, with art by @tajfrancis and design by @jennykimuradesign, I actually cried,” Cole wrote. “Faron’s face. The city hidden in the smoke. The dragons. The swirling power. The tease of her armor. It’s everything I could have wanted and more.” Cole’s Jamaican-inspired fantasy is described as perfect for fans of Iron Widow and The Priory of the Orange Tree. It’s out from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on January 16, 2024.

Melinda French Gates Hopes New Book Imprint Will “Open People’s Eyes” on Gender Equity

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates hopes that her new book imprint, Moment of Lift Books, can help others gain a new perspective on gender equity and “what it’s really going to take” to get there. French Gates’s imprint was created in partnership with Flatiron Books and shares a name with French Gates’s book, Moment of Lift.The imprint’s first release is Radical Inclusion by David Moinina Sengeh, which French Gates believes is “the perfect place to start.”

A Romance-Themed Bookshop is Coming to Downtown Belfast, ME

A new bookstore is opening in Belfast, Maine, and it specializes in romance novels. Grump & Sunshine Books, owned by Cassidy Gintz, is aiming to open at 159 High Street in Belfast in late May. The shop will carry mainstream romance writers as well as more obscure titles. When choosing her inventory for the store, Gintz says she “really tried to dig deep into smaller voices and authors that I love that you wouldn’t necessarily see in, say, a Barnes & Noble, authors that maybe don’t get featured quite as much. I’m definitely trying to focus on giving authors a brick-and-mortar platform that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.” You can follow Grump & Sunshine on TikTok to get all the updates on the store’s opening.

8 Books About Exercise for All Bodies

Bodies you don’t see when it comes to exercise: fat bodies, disabled bodies, senior bodies, pregnant bodies. These books show ’em.

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Halle Bailey’s LITTLE MERMAID Doll Becomes Instant Bestseller: Today in Books

Chelsea Handler Pushes Back Against Florida Book Banning in TikTok Video

In a video shared on Instagram and TikTok, comedian Chelsea Handler is pushing back against book banning in Florida. The video, entitled, “Florida, Get Your Shit Together,” shows Handler telling viewers, “Let’s show our support and solidarity to our teachers who have to continue to put up with your shitty kids and now a government who wants to put them in jail for having kids read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

Halle Bailey’s New Little Mermaid Doll Becomes Instant Bestseller on Amazon

A doll based on Halle Bailey’s character from the highly-anticipated film The Little Mermaid is extremely popular on Amazon. The doll was released on April 23 and immediately had an extensive waitlist due to high demand for the item. Bailey had previously shared the doll with fans in a video posted to her Instagram in early March. “The little girl in me is pinching herself right now,” Bailey said. “I have my own Little Mermaid Ariel doll.” The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26.

One of the United States’s Oldest Asian American Bookstores Closes

Eastwind Books in Berkley, California is closing. Local residents mourn the loss of one of the oldest Asian American bookstores in the U.S. and the community it created. In April, owners Harvey Dong and Beatrice “Bea” Dong announced that the store would be closing due to the rising costs of business and the need to take care of elderly parents. Still, while the brick-and-mortar shop may be closing, Eastwind will continue to sell books online. Additionally, its non-profit arm, Eastwind Books Multicultural Services, will still be partnering with libraries and organizations for events.

10 Great New YA Books to Read in May

From engaging YA stories that offer some incisive social commentary to swoony romcoms to horror, there’s a lot going on in May.

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Junji Ito Hopes to Create Horror Manga So Creepy AI Tools Can’t Match It: Today in Books

Library Funding is on the Line as Book Battles Intensify

As libraries are facing more and more bans on books — most with LGBTQ themes or discussing race and racism, funding for these libraries is also being put into question. Under a new “administrative rule” enacted by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in Missouri, libraries would lose state funding if they give minors books parents don’t want them to read, don’t keep “age-inappropriate” books away from minors, or fail to publicize how they select books and how parents can challenge those book selections. Librarians are unsure of how this rule would be enacted, but it makes many of them feel uncertain about the future. “I think we’re all just in shock,” says Otter Bowman, a library associate at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Mo. “It’s not clear-cut at all how in the world this is going to work, and there’s so much that could go wrong…I could go home thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, I just cost my library $160,000,’ because that’s the amount of state aid we would lose if we violated the rule.”

Junji Ito Hopes to Create Horror Manga So Creepy AI Tools Can’t Match It

In a recent interview with the Japanese video game website 4Gamer, horror manga writer and artist Junji Ito expressed concern that manga will eventually be drawn with AI tech. To combat that fear, Ito says he has to create horror so unexpected and scary that AI won’t be able to match it. “It’s like something that you didn’t think you were afraid of before suddenly becomes scary,” Ito explains. “I once drew a manga called Uzumaki. The swirl pattern that exists naturally and fear are connected, and the swirl pattern that was casually seen until then becomes scary. In this way, I would like to create a story in which the unexpected becomes frightening before AI.”

Illustrated Children’s Biography of King Charles Hits No 1 on UK Book Charts Ahead of Coronation

Ahead of King Charles’s coronation on May 6, a children’s biography about the king has hit number one on UK book charts. The nonfiction book, illustrated by Matt Hunt, is the first of the Little People, Big Dreams series to reach the top of book charts. But not everyone is excited about the success of the book. After the book’s publication in April, one Glasgow bookstore boycotted the book. And actor Samuel West tweeted, “Kids, you too can be a King if you work hard enough. Adding this title to the Little People, Big Dreams stable certainly puts the achievements of Rosa Parks and Malala Yousafzai in perspective.” The book is expected to stay on top of the charts for several weeks after the king’s coronation.

What is Literary Fiction, Anyway?

We know what genres are. At least, maybe we do. So what the heck is literary fiction? Is it a genre? No genre?

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Illinois Set to Become the First State to End Book Bans: Today in Books

Christina Hendricks to Star in XYZ Films Thriller Reckoner

Christina Hendricks is attached to star in the upcoming psychological thriller Reckoner, based on the short story by the late Rachel Ingalls. The story will be adapted for the screen by Nissar Modi, who will also be stepping behind the camera for his directorial debut. The project will be produced by XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures. Hendricks will play a rich woman whose affluent way of life is threatened when she encounters a young man with connections to a dark secret from her past. Nissar Modi called the story a “haunting tale of guilt, obsession and revenge.”

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in Talks to Star in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet Adaptation

Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are in talks to star in an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao. O’Farrell and Zhao will write the screen adaptation together. Liza Marshall of Hera Pictures and Pippa Harris and Sam Mendes are producing the film on behalf of Neal Street. Nic Gonda will be executive producing on behalf of Book of Shadows. 

Illinois Set to Become the First State to End Book Bans

Illinois might become the first state to punish public institutions for banning books. Democratic Governor JB Pritzker says he supports a House bill that would withhold state funding from any of Illinois’ 1,600 public or school libraries that remove books from their shelves. “In Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it and lead with it,” Pritzker said. “Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many.” The House bill passed the state Senate 39 to 19 on Wednesday. Pritzker is now expected to sign the legislation.

Today is the First National Black Authors Day!

This May 4th is the first National Black Authors Day! The day’s founder spoke to us about the day’s purpose and how it came to be.

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Taika Waititi to Direct KLARA AND THE SUN Adaptation: Today in Books

Sweet Tooth Renewed for a Third and Final Season at Netflix

Netflix has handed out a third and final season renewal to Sweet Tooth, the series based on the DC comics. Production on the third season has already been completed in New Zealand. According to showrunner and creator Jim Mickle, “Season three is an Arctic story with exciting new adventures and what we hope will be a satisfying conclusion to this epic tale. Gus is going to see a side of the world and humanity that he didn’t see in season one or two.”

Taika Waititi to Direct Klara and the Sun Adaptation

Oscar winner Taika Waititi is in negotiations to direct an adaptation of Klara and the Sun, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. The project is currently in development for Sony’s 3000 Pictures, with Dahvi Waller writing the original draft of the screenplay. David Heyman is attached to produce the film for Heyday Films, and Garrett Basch and Waititi are also in negotiations to produce. Waiti is also currently working on a new Star Wars film, and his next film, Next Goal Wins starring Michael Fassbender, will be out in the fall.

Independent Bookstore Day 2023 Thrived on Passport Promotions

Last weekend, independent bookstores across the country celebrated Independent Bookstore Day. Many included special “passport” promotions to really drive customers to visit multiple bookstores. In Seattle, the passport includes 27 bookstores and allows visitors 10 days (up until May 8) to visit them all. Those who collect a stamp from every store will receive a 25% discount at every shop. For people who collect at least 5 stamps, they will receive a 25% discount at one store of their choosing. To see what other cities and bookstore communities did for their IBD passports, check out the full article on Publishers Weekly.

What Are the Actual Reading Trends for Gen Z?

Fact: No one reads more diversely than Gen Z. Here are the latest stats on Gen Z’s reading habits and preferences.

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Book Banning and Racism are the Themes of New Spider-Man Sequel from Jason Reynolds: Today in Books

Oprah Winfrey Chooses Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water for Her Book Club

Oprah Winfrey has chosen her next book club pick — and it’s Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water. This is Verghese’s first novel since 2009’s Cutting for Stone. “This is one of the top five books I’ve read in my lifetime. And I’ve been reading since I was 3,” Winfrey said in a statement. “It’s epic. It’s transportive. Many moments during the read I had to stop and remember to breathe. I couldn’t put the book down until the very last page — it was unputdownable!”

Book Banning and Racism are the Themes of New Spider-Man Sequel from Jason Reynolds

Speaking with NPR’s Morning Edition, author Jason Reynolds explained that his new Spider-Man sequel would focus on issues of book banning and racism. The sequel to Reynold’s Miles Morales: Spider-Man is called Miles Morales Suspended. This novel sees Morales get suspended from school after a disagreement with his history teacher. “When it came time to write this book, the only thing that I could think about was what’s happening when it comes to censorship and banning and challenging of the books that so many of us write for young people,” Reynolds told Morning Edition. “Specifically, for a lot of us, it doesn’t always feel like you’re banning the book itself. Sometimes it feels like you’re banning the people that those books are about, that you’re saying that those lives are lives that should only exist in the shadows.” You can listen to the full interview on NPR’s website. Miles Morales Suspended is out today from Simon & Schuster.

This San Francisco Bookstore is Throwing A Keg Party — And You’re Invited!

San Francisco’s beloved bookstore Booksmith is throwing its first-ever keg party — and you’re invited! The party will include plenty of books, beer, and live music. There will also be a zine table and tarot readings. $12 gets you into the party and gets you a cup to fill with beer (for as long as it lasts) from the Fort Point Beer Company. The event is sponsored by Fort Point and Quiet Lightning. Join in on the fun on Saturday, May 27, from 3-8 p.m.

12 of the Best Summer Reading Programs of 2023

From local challenges with prizes to online programs, these are the best summer reading programs 2023 has to offer kids!

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Stephen King is Not Going to Leave Twitter: Today in Books

Unseen Gabriel García Márquez Novel to be Published Next Year

On Friday, Penguin Random House announced that an unpublished Gabriel García Márquez novel will be published across Latin America in 2024. The never-before-seen book is entitled En Agosto Nos Vemos, or We’ll See Each Other in August. “We’ll See Each Other in August was the result of a last effort to continue creating against the wind and tide. Reading it once again almost 10 years after his death we discovered that the text had many and very enjoyable merits and nothing to prevent enjoying the most outstanding of Gabo’s work: his capacity for invention, the poetry of language, the captivating narrative, his understanding of the human being and his affection for his experiences and misadventures, especially in love, possibly the main theme of all his work,” Marquez’s children Rodrigo and Gonzalo García Barcha said in a press release. An English edition of the novel has not yet been announced.

Stephen King is Not Going to Leave Twitter

Best-selling author Stephen King says he has no plans to leave Twitter, despite the way the social media platform has changed under the ownership of Elon Musk. “The thing is, if everybody who doesn’t approve of the way things are going, if we all leave, then it’s just like walking off the field,” King said. “No, I can’t see myself leaving Twitter…They don’t get to scare me away and to cheer and say, ‘Well, we got rid of Stephen King from Twitter.’ So, yeah, I’m going to stay.” King still does not plan to pay for the Twitter Blue subscription.

Dancers Celebrated Dance Day x Independent Bookstore Day in Bookshops Across Canada

This year, International Dance Day and Independent Bookstore day fell on the same day, April 29, and six dancers across Canada celebrated both in bookstores. CBC interviewed each dancer and recorded them performing in bookshops across Canada, from Vancouver to Montreal. The dancers also performed different styles of dance, such as hoop dancing and hip hop.

May 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

Your May 2023 horoscopes are here just in time to help you choose what newly released book to take to the beach.

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New Trailer Sees Michelle Yeoh Star in Kenneth Branagh’s Next Hercule Poirot Mystery: Today in Books

Here’s the Cover Reveal of Kate Anderson’s Book Here Lies Olive

The Nerd Daily has revealed the cover of Kate Anderson’s upcoming novel Here Lies Olive. The book follows the story of 16-year-old Olive who summons a ghost to find out more about what happens after death. But once the ghost is summoned, Olive will have to help him find his way back to his unmarked grave before he loses who he is and becomes a danger to Olive and everyone she loves. Here Lies Olive is out on October 24 from Flux Books.

New Trailer Sees Michelle Yeoh Star in Kenneth Branagh’s Next Hercule Poirot Mystery

Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh is leading the star-studded cast in the new trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s next Hercule Poirot Mystery. The film, A Haunting in Venice, is based on Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party. The film also stars Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Kelly Reilly, and Jamie Dornan. Branagh will also reprise his role as Hercule Poirot. The murder mystery will release on September 15.

Boyfriend Creates Bookstore at Home for Sick Girlfriend

When TikToker Lizzy (@bumblebeezus) got sick and couldn’t go to the bookstore with her boyfriend, her boyfriend made a bookstore for her at home. In a TikTok video, Lizzy shares the book display her boyfriend made for her. “I didn’t know he had my wishlist,” Lizzy said. “But he bought some of the books and created a shop display for me.” Viewers were moved by the gesture. The video ended with Lizzy and her boyfriend reading books together.

Have Powers, Will (Time) Travel: Superheroes and the Urge to Change the Past

Why is time travel so popular in superhero stories? From past to present, we dive in.