And that’s a question I’ve been thinking about even more lately. Indeed, I’m starting to think the original masters (not counting Tolstoy or Margaret Mitchell, of course) of the historically hefty novel, Uris and James Michener, are dying slow, torturous second deaths. Uris died in 2003 and Michener in 1997, and while much of their huge catalogs is still in print, these novels seem to be sliding slowly off the radar of most readers....
Since authors are constantly promoting themselves and need all the goodwill they can get, they’ll almost never say it and try very hard not to show it. They’ll just gripe about it with their writer friends later. And they’ll definitely tell me when I ask for an article and offer anonymity. 1. “How much money do you make?” Almost every author I spoke to about this article included this in their most-hated list....
Which is why scary books about people out in the woods are so effective for me. I don’t want to be out there, but I love reading about other people doing it. One of my favorite camping horror stories — which is unfortunately no longer in print — is The Summer is Ended and We Are Not Yet Saved by Joey Comeau. It was expanded from the original novella Bible Camp Bloodbath....
Figuring by Maria Popova (Canongate) This is one book I had been eagerly anticipating. From the creator of my absolute favorite site, Brain Pickings, comes this singular book on intellectual history. Shining light on some of the forgotten heroes of art, history, and literature, Popova provides phenomenal insight into humanity’s journey through time. Cherry by Nico Walker (Jonathan Cape) Nico served as a medic on more than 250 missions in Iraq and is currently serving two more years in prison for bank robbery....
The sequel to ISAN, the 2019 Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal Winner in Science Fiction/Fantasy. “Captivating from the very beginning, this sci-fi novel explores issues of autonomy and survival in a world where there are few remaining citizens after meteors crashed into Earth … this thrilling dystopian drama has a splash of romance and tons of action.” ~School Library Journal ALLIANCES ARE FORMING. THE RESISTANCE IS GROWING. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE....
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the high school days of Saved by the Bell and Sweet Valley High that never, in actuality, were, then you might be interested in these character crossovers. The students at SVU and Bayside had more in common than they knew. Kelly Kapowski & Jessica Wakefield Their beauty, perkiness, and appeal make them instant soul sisters. Both captained their cheerleading squads and went out for prom queen, homecoming queen, and any other crown-bestowing activity they could charm their way into....
Time capsule. A reflection of who I am as a person and author. My comfort zone. My life, my livelihood, my beautiful mind! My escape room. A world of unlimited discovery and potential. Eclectic, messy, approachable—just like me. Truly, for all of us bookworms, a personal library is more than a room, a collection, or something pretty to look at—it’s the heart of our homes. And our books—with the exception of ebooks and audiobooks—are tangible objects that deserve a thoughtful space of their own....
Of course, eventually, you have to pay the credit card bill. Yikes. How can you possibly let your comics geek flag fly on the shoestring that results from your winter gift giving occasion/extravaganza? If T-shirts and hoodies and even socks are out of price range unless something you already have disintegrates (and even when that does happen…well, if your closet is anything like mine, it’s admittedly self-delusional to justify another Star Wars shirt); if jewelry is a definitely no; if prints are out of reach…How do you decorate that new computer?...
My feminism is showing here, too, as most of the memoirs I’ve read about leaving faith communities were written by women whose actions were motivated by gender inequities, both perceived and prescribed. In fact, now that I think about it, I’m not sure I know of a “losing my religion” memoir written by a man, though I know they must be out there, so if you have one to recommend, please holler back in the comments....
“The written word endures” (or, in the more snooty Latin “Litera Scripta Manet”) and boy, does it. I can only imagine that when the National Archives picked this particular phrase for their motto, they imagined the ways in which documents hang on long after the people who made them vanish. If there’s one thing to be said for bureaucracy, it’s that it creates paperwork and paperwork contains more stories than we give it credit for....
Like in Saga Vol. 2 when Alana reads a novel and then pleads/begs/tries to bribe a coworker into reading it so she can have someone to discuss it with—we’ve all done that, right? I was already in love with this graphic novel thanks to the great story, fantastic characters, and awesome art, then came Alana’s passionate I-love-this-book scene which made me want to hug the comic. And I did. I won’t say more for those who haven’t read it (even though it isn’t a spoiler per say) but she does end up reading it to someone in another fantastic scene and the author of that novel might also be a future character....
Full disclosure, folks: I am not addicted to drugs. To be honest, I’m not addicted to anything – not even in a cutesy “EXCEPT FOR SHOES AMIRITE LADIES” kind of way. I consider myself lucky in that respect, and I certainly don’t claim to understand the disease of addiction from a first-hand perspective. It is true that I’ve known and been personally affected by several people over the years in various contexts who have struggled with different degrees of drug addiction....
Happy National Coming Out Day! Whether you’re out, not out, or just figuring things out, your identity matters and deserves to be recognized, which is why books with diverse representation are super important. And not just books that are about coming out, but all kinds of books! I’m especially eager for genre fiction that centers queer people in the narrative without making the issue of their sexual orientations or coming out experiences the hinge of the story....
Maybe it’s because I lack control over the narrative. The big baddie has been designed and planned out; there is little left up to the imagination on how things sound or look. It’s probably why I love horror novels, my second favorite genre right after romance. And while I love being creeped out by the likes of King and Barker, I tend to prefer my horror mixed with a little bit of humor....
Welcome to our first episode! I brought on Jenn Northington to be my guest host for our kickoff event because, to be frank, no one knows books like Jenn knows books. She is our Events Director here at Book Riot, cohost of the Bookrageous podcast, part-time bookseller at Word, and member of five book groups. Find her on Twitter @jennIRL. This episode is sponsored by Entry Island by Peter May and Killer Run by Lynn Cahoon....
After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and the time to repay the debt has come. We have 10 copies of Legendary by Stephanie Garber to give away to 10 Riot readers!...
In Jazz Age Montreal, an underground Vault imprisons living memories. Known as Mems, theses physical clones of other people are doomed to experience a single memory over and over. Lacking thoughts of their own, Mems expire inside the Vault. That is, except for one 19-year-old Mem—Dolores Extract n. 1—who shocks the world with the capacity to make her own memories. With the help of the doctor who created her, Dolores is released from captivity and establishes an independent life until she is suddenly summoned back to the Vault....
It’s 1949. When war veteran Aloysius Archer is released from Carderock Prison, he’s sent to Poca City on parole with a short list of do’s and a much longer list of don’ts. But the small town quickly proves more complicated and dangerous than Archer’s years serving in the war or his time in jail. When a murder takes place right under Archer’s nose, police suspicions rise against the ex-convict, and Archer realizes that the crime could send him right back to prison ....
