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Award & Banned Books News

Nicole Krauss awarded the 2022 Wingate Prize for her book of essays, To Be a Man (Harper). 

Vox features an article on “how the new banned books panic fits into America’s history of school censorship.”

LeVar Burton appears on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah encouraging the audience to read banned books, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Page to Screen

February 18:

The King’s Man, based on the comic book The Secret Service (later known as Kingsman) by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. Hulu. Reviews | Trailer

Sneakerella, based on the folk tale Cinderella. Disney+. No reviews | Trailer

February 20:

The Walking Dead, based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. AMC. Reviews | Trailer

February 24:

Big Sky, based on The Highway book series by C. J. Box. ABC. Reviews | Trailer

Legacies, based on associated titles. CW. Reviews | Trailer

Reviews

The Washington Post reviews The Duchess Countess by Catherine Ostler (Atria): "For sheer incident and drama, Chudleigh’s story rivals any episode of the popular Regency-era Netflix series. And it’s all true." Also, Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age by Dennis Duncan (Norton; LJ starred revew): "From ancient Egypt to Silicon Valley, Duncan is an ideal tour guide: witty, engaging, knowledgeable and a fount of diverting anecdotes. The book skews toward the literary, but anyone interested in the 2,200-year journey to quickly find what one needs in a book will be enlightened, and will never again take an index for granted. The well-designed book also includes nearly 40 illustrations. As might be expected, the index — created not by the author but by Paula Clarke Bain — is magnificent." Plus, The Mind in Exile: Thomas Mann in Princeton by Stanley Corngold (Princeton): "The picture of Mann that emerges from his book is rich, multilayered and always fascinating." And, more reviews posted today. 

NYT shares short reviews for "New International Fiction, From Ecuador to Zimbabwe" featuring: Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda, trans. by Sarah Booker (Coffee House Pr.), Woman Running in the Mountains by Yuko Tsushima (NYRB Classics), The History of Man by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu (Catalyst), and The Wind Whistling in the Cranes by Lídia Jorge (Liveright).

NPR reviews Pure Colour by Sheila Heti (FSG): “simultaneously wise and silly, moving and inscrutable. It is also indisputably working hard to be new.”

Tor.com reviews A Lullaby for Witches by Hester Fox (Graydon House): “If you’re looking for something light and quick to read and like places like Harlowe House, it might be worth your time. There are lots of gothic, witchy, historical fiction books out there though, and this one is not at the top of the list.” Also, The Thousand Eyes (The Serpent Gates, Bk. 2) by A. K. Larkwood (Tor; LJ starred review): “a sweeping fantasy that focuses on character-driven emotional conflict and hangups. Beyond that, the book drives home the point that even amidst all this disastrously large magic, human connections are what make surviving worth it.”

Datebook shares three reviews of books that “bring chilling focus, dire warning, in wake of China’s Hong Kong crackdown” including: The Impossible City by Karen Cheung (Random; LJ starred review), America Second: How America’s Elites Are Making China Stronger by Isaac Stone Fish (Knopf), and Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow The World by Mark L. Clifford (St. Martin’s). 

Book Marks lists "The Best Reviewed Book of the Week."

Briefly Noted

Philipp Dettmer talks with The Washington Post about his book Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive (Random) and consequences that come with misunderstanding our own immune systems.

Eva Jurczyk, The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections (Poisoned Pen Press), chats with The Rumpus Book Club about the structure of her book and “art capers.”

Marlon James, author of Moon Witch, Spider King (Riverhead), tells NYT "how he spends his Sundays."

Gretchen Felker-Martin discusses “writing TERFS as a Trans Author” in their new book Manhunt (Tor Nightfire: Macmillan) with Autostraddle. 

Alaa Al Aswany, author of The Republic of False Truths (Knopf), remains a “defiant” exiled Egyptian in conversation with CBC. 

Entertainment Weekly gives a first look at Erica Ridley’s newest book Nobody’s Princess (Hachette). Also, an interview with Kamila Shamsie and a cover reveal for her upcoming book Best of Friends.

Tor.com shares an excerpt from The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (Tor Books: Macmillan).

The Boston Review explores “Edith Wharton’s Ghosts.”

NYPL provides “Nine New Books on Feminism.”

Esquire shares a list of 2022 fantasy novels recommended by Marlon James, author of Moon Witch, Spider King (Riverhead).

Book Riot lists “The Best LGBTQ Books of 2021, According to American Librarians” and “12 Fascinating Near-Future Science Fiction Books.”

Lit Hub offers "7 Novels Told From Both Members of a Couple" and a reading list about "The Power of Music in Fiction."

NYT highlights "New in Paperback" features: Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler (Catapult), All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (Penguin Random House; LJ starred review), No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood (Riverhead), and other books.

Authors on Air

Brené Brown talks to Jason Reynolds, Ain't Burned All the Bright, illus. by Jason Griffin (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books: S. & S.) about “where he draws inspiration for his characters” in an interview for her Unlocking Us podcast.

Julia May Jonas, author of Vladimir (Avid Reader: S. & S.), explains why she “didn’t name her main character” and more on The Maris Review podcast.

Alexander Zaitchik, Owning the Sun: A People's History of Monopoly Medicine from Aspirin to Covid-19 Vaccines (Counterpoint), talks about "the fight to produce lifesaving medicines" with Andrew Keen for the Keen On podcast.

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s book State of Terror, co-written with Louise Penny (S. & S.: St. Martin’s) will be adapted into a film, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Town & Country Magazine announces that Rosie Leslie and Theo James will star in the adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler's Wife (Scribner).

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Enjoy the long weekend. There will be no Book Pulse on Monday.