- 2019 Sep 04
From the New York Times
NYTBR editor Pamela Paul says, “To raise a lifelong literature lover, make it fun, not work.”
- 2019 Apr 16
'Wonky Donkey' Author Controversy
The author of the "Wonky Donkey" is facing criticism.
- 2019 Feb 01
Don’t @ Me, Reader
Authors have a good case against people who bad-mouth their books on Twitter, then drag them into the conversation.
- 2019 Jan 31
Presidential Hopefuls In Iowa City
Caucus season is open, and with it comes a slew of 2020 presidential candidates heading to Iowa City for book readings.
William Goldman's Mournful Kids' Book
Taking a look at the late author's strange, sad, captivating children's book about a girl and her blanket.
Neil Gaiman, Writing Teacher
The novelist, comics author, and screenwriter discusses revisiting his collaboration with Terry Pratchett and his new storytelling masterclass.
- 2019 Jan 30
Google Won't Tell Re: 'Shitty Media Men'
After Stephen Elliott requested the personal information of contributors to the list, for trial purposes, from Google, the company refused.
- 2019 Jan 29
Lord of the Binges
Anyone can binge-watch the 'Lord of the Rings' movies. The real challenge in our distracted age? Reading the book in a day.
Ursula K. Le Guin’s Daily Routine
Somehow, the literary great managed to write all of her classic works between 7:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. each day—or so she says.
Tracy K. Smith’s Work Diary
The "nonstop rush" of a poet laureate is not all iambic pentameter and chamomile tea.
The Surreal Leonora Carrington Museum
The sculptor, writer, and feminist pioneer who defied categorization has a museum to herself in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
- 2019 Jan 28
Writers Resist Populism in Europe
Thirty European writers and intellectuals signed a manifesto, published on Friday in 'Libération,' the French daily, warning of peril in Europe.
Calvin Trillin's New Play of True Love
The 'New Yorker' writer and newly-minted playwright on loving, being a good man, and his new play, 'About Alice.'
- 2019 Jan 25
Where to Start with Russell Baker
The columnist and humorist died on Monday. Here’s a look back at six of his most acclaimed—and beloved—books.
Translating Humor
Top translators share stories about the joys and challenges of translating humor, from puns to satire to creative curses.
- 2019 Jan 24
John Ashbery Heads to Harvard
The late poet left behind an eclectic personal library of some 5,000 volumes, which will now be getting space on the shelves at his alma mater.
Assessing the Other Bezos's Books
MacKenzie Bezos, soon-to-be-divorced wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, writes about the plight of the introverted wife in her novels.
- 2019 Jan 23
Russell Baker Dies at 93
The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of the “Observer” column, once one of America’s best-known writers, died on Monday at his home in Virginia.
To Mangle a 'Mockingbird'
What should English teachers do after decades of teaching Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in the wrong way?
- 2019 Jan 18
Mary Oliver on Grief and Loss
The late poet's hallmarks were reverence for the natural world and her frank, but comforting, descriptions of mourning.
- 2019 Jan 16
The Truth in 'Merchants of Truth'
What the criticism surrounding Jill Abramson's new book tells us about publishing’s fact-checking problem.
The Prince of Punching Up
Stephen King saved a newspaper with a tweet when he heard it was closing its books section—and when he takes on Trump, he doesn’t hold back.
Why Lit Teachers Turned Against Author
Since 1940s, among professors of literature, attributing significance to authors' intentions has been taboo and déclassé.
News on Machado's Next Book
Carmen Maria Machado reveals the first details of her anticipated memoir 'In the Dream House.'
- 2019 Jan 15
Scholar Newly Translates Hebrew Bible
For 24 years, literary scholar Robert Alter has been working on a new 3,000 translation of the Hebrew Bible by hand. And he's finally done.
Author Praises Pardon for Groveland Four
Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize–winning book 'Devil in the Grove,' about the four falsely-accused men, helped set the pardon in motion.
Leslie Jamison's Next Book
The author of 'The Recovering' previews her new book, 'Make It Scream, Make It Burn,' in a new essay.
- 2019 Jan 14
Haruki Murakami Knows You Need Magic
The Japanese novelist, talking cat enthusiast, and weird ear chronicler turned 70 this weekend. Here's some of his best writing advice.
- 2019 Jan 11
When 'Cat Person' Went Viral
For a few hours after the short story went viral, author Kristen Roupenian learned exactly what the world thought when it read what she'd written.
- 2019 Jan 10
Ishmael Reed's Anti-'Hamilton' Play
In 'The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda,' Reed revives an old debate over Hamilton’s slave-owning past and more.
James Baldwin Writes About Love
Baldwin wrote on how emotional connection could help heal America’s racial divides—but also on the bonds that held black people together.
- 2019 Jan 09
Franzen's Stance on Climate Action
Jonathan Franzen talks birds (of course), climate failure, and how to find meaning in dark times.
On Reading Novels That Upset You
Virginia Woolf? Snob! Richard Wright? Sexist! Dostoyevsky? Anti-Semite! Or were they? On how to read works with difficult themes.
- 2019 Jan 08
The Last Great Literary Painter
The legacy of Eugène Delacroix, who worked in “a kind of furious rivalry with the written word.”
Tolkien's Art, Here and Back Again
The largest J.R.R. Tolkien exhibit in generations is coming to the U.S. this month.
- 2019 Jan 07
How To Read More In 2019
Track your reads. Set a goal. Read over coffee. Here are some of the best contemporary authors' tips for turning reading back into a habit.
- 2019 Jan 04
New Book from Author Who Stalked Critic
Author Kathleen Hale, who stalked a Goodreads reviewer, will release a new essay collection called ‘Kathleen Hale is a Crazy Stalker."
When Song Lyrics Become Literature
From Pet Shop Boys to Kate Bush, pop stars are publishing their songs as books. What do their words reveal about them?
- 2019 Jan 03
Lana Del Rey Is a Poet Now
While teasing the upcoming release of a new song Tuesday night, the singer revealed she’s working on publishing a poetry collection.
The 133-Hour Audiobook Narrator Speaks
Edoardo Ballerini, who has recorded more than 250 titles, argues that audiobooks are an art form in their own right.
- 2019 Jan 02
2018 Was a Great Year—for Poetry
American poetry is having a renaissance—or something like it. Here are nine powerful poetry collections released last year.
- 2018 Dec 21
The Year's Most Inspiring Books by Women
'Slay in Your Lane,' 'Women & Power,' and 'Becoming' are some of the most empowering books by female authors of 2018.
2018 Was One for the (Library) Books
Check out a list of the top 10 books on libraries and technology publishing in 2018, according to a librarian.
- 2018 Dec 20
Michael Chabon's Warning to Writers
The Pulitzer-winning novelist advises young writers to "just put that phone away" and avoid the seduction of distraction.
The Trauma Behind 'A Christmas Carol'
A new report explores Charles Dickens' painful childhood, an obsession with Christmas, and dark truths behind his famed tale.
Introducing 'Cli-Fi,' A Growing Genre
Scientific and environmental writers are reaching new horizons as interest in cli-fi, or climate fiction, rises.
The Best Romance Novels of 2018
A romance writer selects her favorite books in the genre from the past year, including 'Tempest' by Beverly Jenkins.
- 2018 Dec 19
Books for 'Mary Poppins Returns' Fans
As the new film opens this week, here are some related stories, including Valerie Lawson's ‘Mary Poppins, She Wrote.'
- 2018 Dec 18
'By the Book' Gone Wrong
Last week, the 'New York Times' published an unqualified recommendation from author Alice Walker for an anti-Semitic book, 'Tablet' argues.
Poetry Plagiarism Sparks Debate
Some poets are wondering out loud or online whether a certain type of poem, the "after poem," is sometimes used as cover for laziness or theft.
- 2018 Dec 17
John Casey Accused of Sexual Misconduct
The writer and veteran English professor at the University of Virginia is retiring following an internal investigation.
Ma Jian, Dissident Chinese Novelist
Ma, an exiled Chinese novelist who lives in London, finds echoes of Mao, and Orwell, in his works.
Cazzie David Is Writing a Book
The 24-year-old daughter of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' actor Larry David has announced her debut book.
How James Baldwin Became a Hero
History changed around Baldwin, and as it did, he went from being a literary critic to a civil rights icon during his own lifetime.
- 2018 Dec 14
Wait Wait...for NPR Host Peter Sagal
A "classic midlife crisis" has led to obsessive running, a new marriage, and a new book for the 'Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!' host.
- 2018 Dec 13
Robert Caro Reflects on His Career
Caro's next book isn’t his fifth and final volume on Lyndon Johnson or like anything he has done before. It's a book of self-reflections.
Sigrid Nunez Is Finally a Literary Star
With 'The Friend,' the author of eight books over 23 years became an overnight sensation.
Darwin's Granddad's Plant Sex Poetry
Charles Darwin’s grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was famous for his poems on plant sex, and influenced his grandson's vision of nature.
- 2018 Dec 12
World's Highest-Paid Authors 2018
Thanks to 'Fire and Fury,' Michael Wolff placed seventh among publishing’s top moneymakers this year.
- 2018 Dec 11
David Sedaris’s Back Pages
The writer’s archive, which has just been bought by Yale, includes his voluminous diaries and other private handmade books.
Novelist and Amazon 'Seasonal Associate'
Author Heiki Geissler writes about the view from inside an Amazon warehouse as an author whose books might be there, too.
Women Rewriting the West
A roundup of works by women writers that subvert the toxic tropes of the Western.
- 2018 Dec 10
'Christmas Prince' Writer's Rise to Fame
Karen Schaler, the screenwriter behind Netflix's holiday hit, tells her publishing backstory.
'Into the Wild' Musical Spurs Lawsuit
Jon Krakauer has withdrawn permission for playwrights to use his name and the book's title, according to a new report.
- 2018 Dec 07
Poet's Debut Canceled Over Plagiarism
Several authors have accused Ailey O’Toole of using their poems to write her own, including the Pushcart-nominated "Gun Metal."
In Fiction, It Was the Year of the Woman
In 2018, there has been a grassroots pushback against hot-take nonfiction—one led, of course, by women.
James Joyce's Glasses Fetch $19,000
The eyeglasses worn by the author while he was writing 'Ulysses' sold at auction on Tuesday in Dublin.
GRRM's Latest Work Is...A Pizza Video
George R.R. Martin has taken time out of his writing schedule to laud New York pizza in a video from Penguin Random House.
- 2018 Dec 06
'Desert Solitaire,' 50 Years Later
Amy Irvine, the author of 'Desert Cabal,' discusses what it means to write about public lands in the shadow of Edward Abbey's classic.
The Best Book Covers of 2018
From Fatimah Asghar's poetry collection 'If They Come For Us' to Madeline Miller's novel 'Circe,' a list of striking covers from this year's crop of books.
- 2018 Dec 04
Milo Yiannopoulos Has Gone Broke
The author and alt-right pundit is more than $2 million in debt," according to documents secured by the 'Guardian.'
Glory Edim Turns Books Into Community
The founder of Well-Read Black Girl celebrates the literary voices of black women, from recognized novelists to lesser known authors.
Why Doesn’t America Love the Novella?
Overseas, short novels are celebrated, but here, authors are often pushed to expand. What's the deal?
- 2018 Dec 03
Danielle Steel Speaks
The bestselling living author discusses writing 174 books and raising nine kids in a new interview.
- 2018 Nov 30
Black Male Writers for Our Time
A group of African-American men are writing books that are essential to how we understand our country and its place in the world right now.
N.K. Jemisin Fights for Planet Earth
The acclaimed contemporary science fiction and fantasy author made history this year. Now she's trying to make the future.
- 2018 Nov 29
Lit Group Faces Backlash
Mystery Writers of America is under fire for honoring Linda Farstein, formerly a prosecutor overseeing the Central Park Five case.
Waterstones Book of the Year Announced
Sally Rooney is the youngest winner of Waterstones' book of the year award with 'Normal People.'
Occupational Hazards of Writing Fiction
One writer explains what happens when works of fiction come under the scrutiny of authors' family and friends.
- 2018 Nov 28
Roz Chast in Full View
The 'New Yorker' cartoonist, the subject of a new retrospective, talks about her start as an artist, why she loves crafting, and what she hates drawing most.
Translators on the Art of Translation
Rounding up what a few practitioners of the craft of translating had to say about its quirks and complexities.
- 2018 Nov 27
Emily Dickinson: Children's Poet?
The marketing of Emily Dickinson's work as children's poetry.
The Fourth Doctor Writes a Novel
Actor Tom Baker, who played the fourth Doctor Who in the popular British series, is writing a novel about the character.
How to Write a Female Serial Killer
Oyinkan Braithwaite walks readers through how she conceptualized the eponymous character in her debut novel, 'My Sister, the Serial Killer.'
- 2018 Nov 26
The 2018 Millions Gift Guide
The internet is bursting with gift guides, but here’s a list of suggestions specifically for the readers and writers in your life.
- 2018 Nov 21
When Halldór Laxness Was Almost Deported
The Icelandic writer was once almost forced to leave the United States. Here's how that happened, and why he didn't.
Why Thoreau Did Yoga
Henry David Thoreau headed to Walden Pond, the place he made famous, thanks to Indian philosophy.
A Visual Map of Knausgaard's Struggle
A geologist reconstructs Karl Ove Knausgaard's My Struggle series as a timeline, book-by-book.
- 2018 Nov 20
Poland's Pre-Eminent Novelist
A leading light of Polish literature, Olga Tokarczuk has this year taken the English-speaking world by storm.
- 2018 Nov 19
William Goldman Dies at 87
The author wrote 'The Princess Bride' and the Oscar-winning screenplays for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men.”
Junot Diaz Cleared by Pulitzer Board
Author Junot Díaz will stay on the Pulitzer Board after a law firm's investigation of sexual misconduct “did not find evidence warranting removal.”
- 2018 Nov 16
The Long-Lived 'Gashlycrumb Tinies'
E is for Edward Gorey, who wrote a gory masterpiece. Here's how it became recognized as just that.
- 2018 Nov 14
Milan Kundera May Regain Czech Passport
The Czech prime minister has proposed renewing the exiled writer’s citizenship decades after the communist regime removed it.
Advice from 5 Under 35
The National Book Award's 5 Under 35 honorees give out some free advice about how to write your second book.
Hemingway's Fishing Trip Letter Sells
The author’s account of the giant marlin he caught in 1935—believed to have inspired 'The Old Man and the Sea'—sold for $28,000.
Ursula K. Le Guin, Matron of Music
From pop to metal, bands cite the author's themes as an influence. But why has she inspired so many musicians?
- 2018 Nov 09
Julie Chen's Book Tour Cancelled
The longtime CBS star was set to promote her new book on the network's news shows, but husband Les Moonves's firing has put a stop to it.
- 2018 Nov 08
J.K. Rowling Sues Former Employee
The author has launched a £24,000 legal claim against a former personal assistant for allegedly using her money to go on shopping sprees.
- 2018 Nov 07
Writers: No More Detained Children
Margaret Atwood, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Valeria Luiselli, and others pen an open letter decrying "concentration camps for kids."
- 2018 Nov 06
Murakami Finds His Library
Haruki Murakami is planning an archive at his Japanese alma mater that will include drafts, translation work, and his collection of music.