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In that spirit, I will list my favorites from this year and make some suggestions from other authors you might enjoy. Sort of like a “greatest hits” of my reading life, I have some titles I have just loved. And I will even add some at the end that I haven’t read yet, but that I suspect I will also enjoy because who couldn’t use a few more? My list cannot be exhaustive of course, but I hope it will serve as a solid starting point for those interested in getting more nonfiction into their reading lives....

I found her by reading the massive collection my mom hid in boxes and under her bed. But for those without a romance expert for a mother, her backlog can be daunting. Remember when I said she wrote more than 225 books? Here is one of many possible pathways for readers and the romance-novel curious for working your way through her prolific collection. Where to Start With the Best Nora Roberts Books: Contemporary Suspense There are two places I see to start with Nora Roberts....

Witchy romance novels are often set in our own world, suggesting that just past what we can see is an enchanting world of curses and spells. The enticing possibility of magic feels more real with an actual chill in the air. The magic systems and ideas shared in contemporary witch romances are often inspired by folk witches, fairy tales, and witches in the media: a cup of Baba Yaga, a dash of Sabrina, and a pinch of folk tradition....

I’ve noticed that the Halloween-themed Free Association Fridays have all been rather weighted toward the fantasy side of things (aside: sci-fi authors, get it together. I want some ghosts in space! And space witches other than the ones I wrote!). So this time around, it’s all Sci-Fi, or at least Sci-Fantasy, for our slightly horror-tastic offerings.

An epitaph is a piece of writing used on a headstone or monument to memorialize someone. (Not to be confused with epigraph, which is a quotation used to introduce a piece of writing, like at the beginning of a book.) Despite the fact that authors are literally known for using words, it’s surprising how many have headstones without an epitaph. Like, Ernest Hemingway, really? He seemed to bloviate on and on, yet his headstone contains only his name and dates....

Of course, it’s not that easy nor as clear-cut. What does it mean to be the longest YA book series? Is it the most volumes in a series? Or is it the highest number of pages? This attempts to look at two of these questions: the longest running in terms of volumes, as well as the longest running in terms of pages. To make these determinations required setting a few parameters....

For example, one historical fiction YA that completely won me over recently was a book by Ruta Sepetys called The Fountains of Silence. The story, with had elements of romance and pure drama woven in with true to the past historical elements, is set in a post-war Spain, specifically in Madrid, in 1957. What I loved about this book and the way it lured me with its story, was the writing and the fact that I could tell that while the author incorporated some fictional characters, she definitely researched the history of Spain at the time and made sure the character’s experiences and life mirrored what people would’ve gone through at the time....

For multiple generations of artists, writers, songwriters, and TV and movie producers, To Kill A Mockingbird was absolute cultural gold. When considering the many explanations of pop culture and how we define it, there’s a common requirement: for a piece of work to take part in the pop culture of a generation (or multiple generations), there needs to be a language that a significant portion of the population understands. For Harper Lee’s work, it seems that the three characters Atticus Finch, Scout, and Boo Radley have gone down in cultural history....

The movie was notable for several other reasons: it was the first female-led superhero film in a decade, the first to be directed by a woman, and the second movie ever directed by a woman with a budget of more than $100 million. But perhaps most notably, it was also the first post-Nolan DC film to not suck. A superhero is only as good as her villains, so since the sequel is still four long months away, let’s take a look at the villains Diana Prince has squared off against in her nearly 80-year history....

Whether you’re a first time YA reader or hoping to discover some underrated gems, this guide to the best books for teens by age will help anyone, from the average readers to adults who help readers find books. The best children’s books by age guide went up to 8th grade, or around ages 12 to 14. This guide will go from 9th grade through 12th. These are some of the best books you can read when it comes to YA lit....

The awards ceremony was opened and hosted by Padma Lakshmi, an award-winning producer of the Hulu docuseries Taste the Nation and a New York Times bestselling author. In her remarks, she took the opportunity to address the ongoing book banning efforts. “Today, books like mine are under attack…The main books targeted discussed LGBTQ+ themes or characters, have protagonists of color, address issues of race and racism, or all three…this rise in book banning isn’t simply from a few concerned parents....

Publishing is like a monster that goes to sleep in December and then wakes up ready to breathe out all the books again in January. Which is awesome for readers who start the year off determined to read more books this year! This January was no exception and not only did crime publishers put out some great books but I also read some excellent backlist titles that if you haven’t gotten to yet, you should....

Libraries have been collecting fines since at least the late 1800s, originally using them to generate revenue for the library and also, in an example of strict father morality, to punish those who cannot adhere to arbitrary timelines. When researching for this article, I was surprised to learn that research on going fine-free has been published since as far back as the 1970s. Similar to other movements involved with equality and equity, it took several decades — and in this case, a global pandemic — to put the idea across the finish line....

1. Discuss Duplicates BEFORE You Combine Collections The biggest issue you’ll run into when combining two robust book collections is space. Getting rid of duplicates is a fraught but unavoidable problem. In addition to being necessary for your space needs, it’s a statement of commitment. By getting rid of your copy of American Gods, you’re declaring that you believe you’ll have access to your partner’s for the foreseeable future. Obviously, there’s a problem when it comes to deciding whose copy must go....

This comes in the wake of global protests against the homicide of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, MN. Just Mercy was adapted from the book of the same name by Bryan Stevenson, which won the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction, among other awards. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall and was recently awarded the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award....

At the Wolf’s Table is the internationally bestselling novel based on the untold true story of the women conscripted to be Hitler’s food tasters, from Rosella Postorino. Germany, 1943: Twenty-six-year-old Rosa’s parents are gone, and her husband’s fighting in WWII. Impoverished and alone, she decides to leave war-torn Berlin for the countryside. But one morning, the SS come and say she’s been conscripted to be one of Hitler’s tasters: each day, she and nine other women go to his headquarters to eat his meals before he does....

Is it just Disney we have to thank for this? Or is there something more to fairytales that fuels their longevity? Merriam Webster defines a fairytale as “a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins).” Sounds a little ridiculous, yes? But I hypothesize that unlike other types of stories, fairytales told to our children have a specific purpose that won’t shed away with time....

From June to December 2021 alone, there were 155 recorded book censorship attempts in U.S. libraries. Even then, that’s only the number of cases directly reported to the American Library Association, so the actual number is likely much higher. But like the COVID-19 virus, literary censorship is not only a problem in America — it’s also happening in other parts of the world. Book Censorship in Asia China and Hong Kong In China, it is known fact that materials, includes books, that criticize the Chinese Communist Party are always banned....

A gorgeously illustrated collection of twelve original stories by the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood and The Night Country. Journey into the Hinterland, a brutal and beautiful world where a young woman spends a night with Death, brides are wed to a mysterious house in the trees, and an enchantress is killed twice—and still lives. Perfect for new readers and dedicated fans alike, Tales from the Hinterland will include gorgeous illustrations by Jim Tierney, foil stamping, two-color interior printing, and two-color printed endpapers....