Know What's Happening in Books
Know What's Happening in Books
George Saunders pulls back the curtain on the making of his new novel Vigil
In a Substack post, Saunders details the drafting workflow, research methods, and revision cycles that shaped Vigil. He shares concrete examples of his writing schedule, the software tools he uses, and the feedback loops that guide his revisions, aiming to demystify the novel‑craft process.
Around 10,000 UK authors have jointly released an empty volume titled *Don’t Steal This Book* to protest the use of their works in training AI systems. The book, containing only a roster of contributors, will be distributed at the London Book Fair to pressure lawmakers ahead of a review of copyright reforms. Organisers argue the proposed legal changes would effectively legalise the wholesale appropriation of creative content by AI firms. The stunt underscores growing tension between the publishing sector and the tech industry over intellectual‑property rights.
"The comment section in Huffington Post is notoriously harsh, and conventional wisdom says to avoid reading it. I write to understand, but I publish to be part of a larger conversation. Therefore, I want to listen—mostly—to what readers say. And,...
Japanese director Kei Ishikawa’s new film adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel “A Pale View of Hills,” which the Nobel laureate has long described as technically unsophisticated. The movie foregrounds Etsuko’s daughter Niki, a journalist who records her mother’s recollections, while...
Jill Biden is set to release her second memoir, *View from the East Wing*, on June 2, 2026, published by Gallery Books, with an audiobook narrated by Biden herself. The book offers a candid look at her tenure as First...
all that grows: nature and writing by Clara Obligado.🌱 all that grows: nature and writing is the English-language translation of Todo lo que crece: naturaleza y escritura by the Argentinian author Clara Obligado. The book chronicles the author's upbringing in Argentina,...
If you can change your mind, you can change your life. Nir Eyal spent 5+ years studying the neuroscience of beliefs and how to turn limiting beliefs into liberating beliefs. Here are 10 key lessons from @nireyal's new book "Beyond Belief": https://t.co/uMe2tBIn6q
Joyce Carol Oates, a six‑decade literary titan and four‑time Pulitzer finalist, remains active on X, offering candid commentary on culture and creativity. In a recent i‑D interview, she shared practical advice ranging from job hunting to overcoming writer’s block, even...
Roberto Bolaño’s introduction to *Distant Star* deliberately withholds any actual poems, replacing them with paraphrased descriptions and sky‑writing fragments. The narrator recounts three brief verses by the mysterious Ruiz‑Tagle, then shifts to the surreal aerial messages of Carlos Wieder, a...
Dan Simmons, the celebrated author behind the genre‑spanning Hyperion Cantos and more than 30 novels, died at 77 after suffering a stroke. His work traversed science fiction, horror, fantasy, crime and historical fiction, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success....
German publisher Kehrer has issued two photo‑centric volumes that juxtapose Germany’s cultural heritage with contemporary social realities. "Goethe is Back" pairs black‑and‑white images of sites linked to Johann Goethe with essays that argue for his ongoing relevance, while Bettina Flitner’s...
The Forever Workshop hosted a panel of literary editors from The Sun, Ploughshares, and Okay Donkey to dissect story pacing. Senior editor Derek Askey, poet‑editor Rachel Dillon, and fiction editor Steve Chang shared actionable techniques for moving narratives forward. Participants...
Cambridge University Press has released *Elizabeth Bowen in Context*, an edited collection that assembles newly sourced essays, letters, and criticism on the Anglo‑Irish novelist. The volume, edited by Allan Hepburn, brings together contributions that probe Bowen’s engagement with technology, comedy,...
Bleeding Hearts #2, written by Deniz Camp and illustrated by Stipan Morian, earns a 9.5/10 rating for its daring narrative pivot. The issue abandons the series’ initial focus on zombie society and instead follows a pregnant mother fighting to protect...
"This Brutal Moon" concludes Bethany Jacobs' Kindom Trilogy, a multi‑planetary space‑opera that follows the Jeveni laborers' revolt against a corrupt tripartite Kindom. The narrative centers on characters like Chono and Six, whose personal moral choices drive the political intrigue. Jacobs...
British novelist Will Self, 63, is battling secondary myelofibrosis, a blood cancer. He is halfway through his 64th year while completing a new work titled "The Quantity Theory of Morality," positioned as a sequel to his 1991 debut. The book...
The essay intertwines a personal bout of gout with the craft of literary translation, illustrating how chronic pain shapes the translator’s voice. It surveys gout’s medical profile—affecting 1‑2% of adults, driven largely by genetics, and disproportionately impacting men, post‑menopausal women,...
London Mining Network’s third Resisting Mining Book Club of 2026 will feature Bitopi Dutta discussing her 2023 Routledge India title, *Mining, Displacement, and Matriliny in Meghalaya: Gendered Transitions*. The book examines how development‑induced displacement from mining reshapes gender relations in...
Author Jami Attenberg announces a one‑hour Zoom workshop on May 9 to guide writers through nonfiction proposal development, with flexible Q&A. She will also appear at the New Orleans Book Festival on March 14 to discuss the pros and cons of publishing on...
Romulus and Zai Whitaker have released *The Book of Indian Snakes*, a colour‑rich guide that confronts long‑standing myths and highlights snakes’ role in natural rodent control. The volume notes that India now hosts roughly 368 snake species, with over 100...
Lee Freeman-Shor and Clare Flynn Levy team up to write another great book for stock pickers. Sample chapter in the post 👇👇 https://t.co/T2sOEitRVD
The Teacher’s Noble Heart, the fifth entry in Susanne Dunlap’s Double‑Dilemma Romance series, is published by Sharon Clayton. Set in Regency Cornwall, it follows governess Miss Wilkins and quarry captain James Pentarrant as their spirited rivalry evolves into unexpected love, while...
Editor Ailbhe Malone embarked on a multi‑stop press tour to promote the short‑story collection Banshee, juggling a launch party, media appearances, and a podcast recording while traveling with only hand luggage. She detailed a streamlined wardrobe and makeup routine, highlighting...
Julian Brave NoiseCat, an Oakland‑raised writer, journalist and the first Indigenous North American filmmaker nominated for an Oscar, released his debut book *We Survived the Night*. The work weaves memoir, Indigenous myth, oral tradition and reportage to portray contemporary Indigenous...
In this episode, Barnes & Noble bookseller Isabel McConville chats with debut novelist Caitlin Breeze about her new fantasy novel, *The Fox Hunt*. Breeze shares the emotional journey of seeing her manuscript become a physical book, the collaborative design process...
Entrepreneur and author Seth Godin announces his upcoming book, “The Knot: Problems Can Be Solved,” slated for September release. The book aims to shift readers from feeling stuck to actively solving problems, offering a portable bundle of ideas that spark...
The article examines the evolution of dangerous female characters in literature, from early one‑dimensional villains like the Wicked Queen to modern, trauma‑driven antiheroes such as Cersei Lannister and Annie Wilkes. It highlights a poll of bestselling authors who name their...
Tom Junod’s new memoir, *In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man*, delves into his tumultuous relationship with his charismatic father, a post‑war handbag salesman whose larger‑than‑life persona embodied mid‑century notions of...
Patricia Finn’s debut, *The Golden Boy*, follows disgraced TV executive Stafford Hopkins, exiled to Maui after a failed gamble, as he wrestles with his philosophical ego and a haunting past. The narrative pivots when a letter summons him back to...
Philosopher Kathleen Stock’s new book, Do Not Go Gentle, argues against state‑sanctioned assisted dying, targeting the UK’s pending end‑of‑life bill. She warns that legalising euthanasia creates a slippery‑slope, citing expansions in Canada and the Benelux that now cover non‑terminal and...
The 2026 Stella Prize longlist, announced today, features 12 works by Australian women and non‑binary writers across poetry, memoir, fiction, non‑fiction and graphic novels. The prize received 212 entries, and each longlisted author will receive $2,000, with the ultimate winner...
Lea Page recounts a harrowing comment she received after publishing a Huffington Post piece on empathy, illustrating how women often endure gendered harassment online. Instead of silencing herself, she reclaimed the insult “sea hag,” turning it into a personal brand...
The Hindu on Books is a weekly newsletter delivering curated book reviews, reading recommendations, and author interviews. Launched in 2022, it aggregates a rich archive of literary coverage, including prize announcements, festival previews, and cultural commentary. The newsletter highlights Indian...
The London Book Fair’s final day on March 12, 2026 features a packed agenda targeting the most pressing industry challenges. Sessions cover indie publishing cost pressures, AI‑driven author‑rights threats, and the growing influence of Black and Latin American literature. Panels on...
A panel at the London Book Fair highlighted the gender gap in nonfiction publishing, citing that women account for only 26.5 % of newspaper reviews, 33.3 % of major nonfiction prize wins, and earn 36 % less than male peers. Despite overall nonfiction...
Full Set, an independent book publisher, has teamed with Fuller, a global newsroom focused on women and gender‑diverse voices, to release a series of long‑form journalism essays in ebook, audiobook and paperback formats. The pilot launches in Spring 2026 with three...
In this episode, host Thomas interviews author and marketer Laurie Christine about why many reader magnets fail and how to make them work. Laurie explains common mistakes such as using a first‑draft short story or not promoting the magnet, and...
Douglas Haynes’s new book *Teaching Toward Slow Hope* argues that the prevailing transactional model of higher education undermines student agency and well‑being. Drawing on place‑based learning experiments at regional colleges, the book showcases how community, collaboration and a slower, reflective...
Antony Beevor’s new biography, *Rasputin: And the Downfall of the Romanovs*, separates the Siberian mystic’s legend from fact, showing his real influence was largely symbolic. Rasputin’s charisma won Empress Alexandra’s trust, especially after allegedly easing her son Alexei’s haemophilia crises, which...
Publisher Lynn Gaspard reflects on Saqi Books' 40‑year legacy as Middle East conflict escalates. She argues that independent presses preserve nuanced narratives that mainstream headlines erase, turning cookbooks, memoirs, and scholarship into lasting testimony. While commercial returns are modest, the...
Tiffany Crum’s debut, *This Story Might Save Your Life*, landed with Flatiron Books in March 2026, entering a market eager for genre‑blending narratives. Drawing on her film background, Crum delivers cinematic pacing around a podcast‑centric premise that feels instantly contemporary....
Ivonne Hoyos’s debut novel *Wooden Dolls Game* introduces handcrafted wooden dolls that conceal a time‑travel ability, anchoring a speculative premise in a modest Santa Ana household. Twins Mary Jane and Antonia Crowell are split by a trivial dispute over a pink bedroom,...
In this episode, Tom Griffiths discusses his new book, *The Laws of Thought*, which argues that cognition can be understood through three complementary pillars: logic, probability theory, and neural networks. He explains how logic provides deductive certainty, probability theory extends...
Hot off the press from @Pogue . Great to see the Steve Jobs back cover image by 📸 Doug Menuez. https://t.co/5TcVubxye6 https://t.co/LhrSI8PnyH
It is a mistake to confuse the banal with bureaucracy. Try this: 1. Read "The Hunger Artist" by Franz Kafka. 2. Then, read The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. "The Hunger Artist" is the far superior work, by the way.
Anika Jade Levy’s debut novel Flat Earth (2025), released by Catapult, satirizes the disaffected white‑girl archetype that dominates contemporary art‑world narratives. The book’s clipped, emotion‑less prose mirrors the numbness of modern digital culture, weaving references to QAnon, fertility anxieties, and...
When the Oxford children's dictionary discarded dozens of nature-words—"dandelion," "fern," "starling"—as irrelevant to children's imagination and replaced them with words like "broadband" and "cut-and-paste," this inspired act of resistance was born: https://t.co/Is4zFAQqc6
Senior lawyer K.K. Venugopal’s memoir, *An Accidental Lawyer—My Adventures in Law and Life*, was highlighted by The Hindu’s N. Ram as an effort to “come to terms with himself.” The book mixes personal anecdotes, family stories, and reflections on landmark...
Sarah Wilson’s latest post highlights a community‑sourced list of speculative‑fiction titles, now available as a downloadable PDF. The list was originally shared in a Substack thread where subscribers exchanged recommendations, and subscriber GeeBee (Georgie) compiled the suggestions into a single...
Stacia Stark’s debut novel *We Who Will Die* thrusts readers into a Roman‑inspired vampire empire where humans fight to the death in the Sundering arena. Protagonist Arvelle Dacien enters the trials with a single mission: assassinate the emperor. The story...
NYU Law’s public affairs director Michael Orey released a satirical novel, *Dean’s List*, that lampoons the obsession with rankings and fundraising in elite law schools. The 321‑page book follows a fictional dean at a made‑up Brown‑affiliated law school as he...
