Reviews+

CrimeReads lists the best crime novels of the year (so far). The Society of Authors’ Awards 2023 are announced. New title Bestsellers include Ruth Ware's Zero Days, Riley Sager's The Only One Left, and Chris Paul's Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court. Jada Pinkett Smith's memoir, Worthy, will publish in October. Brigittte Bardot is featured in a new photo book, Being Bardot. NYT features a roundtable of translators in conversation, and an essay by Emily Wilson, whose new translation of Homer’s The Iliad publishes in September. The new literary documentary, In the Company of Rose, about Rose Styron, earns good marks from the LA Times. 

The multi-award-winning author of The Beast You Are: Stories tells LJ of his love for the short story format and why he thinks “write what you know” is “terrible writing advice.”

Bryce’s biographical historical novel The Other Princess is based on Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a real-life Yoruba princess who became a ward and goddaughter of Queen Victoria.

A new national NPR/Ipsos poll reveals that 52% of Republicans are opposed to banning books from schools, whereas book bans are supported by 5% of Democrats, 16% of Independents, and 35% of Republicans. Paige Cowan-Hall has won the Women’s Prize Trust 2023 Discoveries Prize for her yet-to-be-published historical fiction novel Marooned. The Society of Authors announced this year’s Authors’ Awards shortlists across 11 categories. Donna Tartt’s agent has debunked the rumor that she is releasing a new novel in June 2023.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai leads library holds this week. New editions of Roald Dahl’s children’s books stir controversy. Four LibraryReads and five Indie Next picks publish this week. The Authors’ Club announces the longlist for the Best First Novel Award 2023, and the 2021 Endeavour Award finalists are announced. Martina Fačková receives the 2022 Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist. Gillian Flynn launches her new imprint with Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy. Plus, All Quiet on the Western Front, based on the book by Erich Maria Remarque, won 7 BAFTA awards, including best picture.

The Society of Authors Translation Prize winners are announced. Stephanie Meyer plans two more “Twilight” books. Interviews arrive with Davon Loeb, Joseph Kakwinokanasum, Gayle Brandeis, Rebecca Kaiser Gibson, Malcolm Harris, Ibram X. Kendi, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Jack Parlett, Carmela Ciuraru, and Courtney Maum. 

Carolina De Robertis wins the  John Dos Passos Prize. The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize longlist is out. The Authors Guild is supporting an antitrust action against Google. Interviews feature Hua Hsu, Pamela Anderson, Davon Loeb, Eleanor Shearer, Rebecca Rukeyser, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Vauhini Vara, Angie Cruz, Aubrey Gordon, Margaret Heffernan, and Zachary Shore. There is adaptation news for Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us and Stephen King’s short story “Children of the Corn.”

A veteran journalist, Denise Crittendon has been writing for so long that she sometimes wonders if she has ink in her blood. Her career includes two major metropolitan daily newspapers and stints as editor-in-chief of two magazines, one national and one based in her hometown, Detroit. Kristi Chadwick, LJ’s co-columnist for SFF, talks with her about writing, reading, and the SFF genre.

Lauren Kung Jessen is a mixed-race Chinese American writer with a fondness for witty, flirtatious dialogue and making meals with too many steps but lots of flavor. She is fascinated by myths and superstitions and how ideas, beliefs, traditions, and stories evolve over time. LJ reviewer Eve Stano, talked with Kung Jessen about books, the Chinese zodiac, and more.