What a week for books! Read on to get the scoop on my fave “book” stories from the week.
The National Book Awards
Held on Wednesday night (and hosted by THE Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow), this ceremony revealed the five winners from a field of 50 finalists. For book nerds like me, it’s on par with Oscar night. Special props this year to nonfiction winner, Sarah M. Broom who not only wrote an amazing book (The Yellow House), she also slayed when it came to fashion. Who says you can’t look fabulous at an awards event for books. Pic below!
The other four winners were:
Fiction: Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Young People’s Literature: 1919: The Year that Changed America by Martin W. Sandler
Best Translated Book: Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming by Laszlo Krasznahorkai
Poetry: Sight Lines by Arthur Sze
Levar had some amazing quotes, so I’ll share my fave here:
“Never forget what you do is essential to humanity…reading is indeed a radical act of humanity."
Printed Books FTW!
Preach, Rory! Remember when there were articles upon articles saying eReaders and eBooks were going to make the printed, physical book a thing of the past? Book nerds like us sniffed every book we read like it was our last (well, THIS book nerd did) and poured out some merlot for the dearly departed Borders and Waldenbooks. Well, readers, against all odds physical books persevered and actually outsell eBooks! I mean, I know I buy a lot of books but it couldn’t have been just me contributing to the cause. Yay, printed books!
Trump Trumps a Florida Library
The Columbia Journalism Review sent author Rebeca Renner to Citrus County, Florida, to follow up on the story that the country commissioners denied the library funds for a digital subscription to The New York Times citing the paper as a purveyor of “fake news.” Google the viral video to see/hear their comments. Readers across the country were up in arms, but to get the perspective of the people on the ground (e.g. residents of Citrus County), check out this follow-up article. Suffice it to say, I truly hope the commissioners change their minds. Access to all points of view is the very definition of what a library is all about.
RILEY KEOUGH, ELVIS' GRANDDAUGHTER (!!!) CAST AS DAISY JONES!
I know I’m all-cap-screaming but OMG! Our book spirit actress/producer/director/author/lifestyle guru Reese Witherspoon snapped up the rights to this book before it was even released. They started casting the Amazon series and quite possibly pulled off the most amazing casting possible. I know I put it in the headline, but it bears repeating: Elvis’ granddaughter will be playing Daisy Jones! I cannot wait! I adored this book. Now, who will play Billy? Let’s cast him in the comments! I’ll start: Ryan Gosling. Also, if Stevie Nicks doesn’t make a cameo I will be crushed.
Bringing Sizzle to the Small Screen
Does your bucket list include a visit to The Ripped Bodice Romance Bookstore in Culver City, California? All romance readers’ bucket lists SHOULD! Sisters and co-owners Leah and Bea Koch just signed a deal with Sony Pictures TV to develop projects based on romance books (Beverly Jenkin’s Forbidden is one of the books optioned). Remember the days when no one would think of putting a romance book on the screen?! I do and I’m so thrilled that things have changed. Thanks, ladies!
COVER OF THE WEEK:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.
To be honest, I hadn't heard a thing about this book, but the cover reeled me in and I had to buy it. Thankfully, it seems to be pretty popular and is also nominated for Best Debut in the Goodreads Choice Awards. Did you read this? If you did, tell me what you thought!
