- 2019 Mar 19
The First 'Good' Witch?
The author of "Finding Dorothy" explores the power of Glinda.
- 2019 Jan 25
Fiction Can Help Us Deal With Trump
How can anyone maintain sanity in an era of nonstop depressing news? The answer may lie in reading fiction.
- 2019 Jan 18
Company Censorship Threatens Publishing
When states suppress ideas, we condemn it. What should we do when corporations do the same?
- 2019 Jan 17
The Most Boring Trend in Literature
The book market is flush with psychopathic she-beasts and irredeemably miserable vipers—a cliché that needs to go.
Reading Proust in the Gulag
Josef Czapski's lectures on Marcel Proust provide a glimpse into what it means to turn to art and literature at a time when mortality is on your mind.
- 2019 Jan 14
It Isn’t All Amazon’s Fault
The bookselling behemoth is making life harder for writers, but so is the public perception that art doesn’t need to be paid for.
Books to Read During Dry January
Whether you're sober for a month or for the foreseeable future, these books make for essential reading.
- 2019 Jan 09
I'll Keep Those Joyless Books, Thanks
What we gain from keeping books in the age of Marie Kondo—and why it doesn’t need to be "joy."
- 2019 Jan 08
What Last Year's Bestsellers Mean
A look at seven publishing industry–related insights revealed by last year's top 100 bestselling books.
Challenges for Small Literary Journals
Editors of literary magazines and journals consider how small publications can find support and reach audiences.
- 2019 Jan 07
Smashwords CEO's 2019 Book Biz Forecast
Mark Coker's annual publishing predictions include criticisms of Amazon's relations with the book business and self-publishers and more.
When Conspiracy Fiction Becomes Reality
Conspiracy fiction once helped authors tell the truth. Now it’s a weapon for liars, writes thriller author Alan Glynn.
- 2018 Dec 13
'We Need Writers Now More Than Ever'
PEN America president and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jennifer Egan pens a letter on our democracy's dependency on writers.
- 2018 Dec 07
Can We Still Talk About Books?
The world's on fire. So what's the role of literature in a year when every week brought a new atrocity?
- 2018 Dec 03
The Ethics of Amazon Video
Should an Amazon boycott include its original series? A look at the "sinister truth" about the company’s streaming service.
- 2018 Nov 30
Cracking the 'NYT' Bestseller List Code
A data scientist thinks he knows how to get on the 'New York Times' list: "Write a mystery, romance, or memoir. And publish in February."
- 2018 Nov 28
Is Literary Glory Worth Chasing?
Is writing worth it? Does it make any sense at all to pursue literary glory? Are the writers we praise really the best anyway?
- 2018 Nov 26
'Garp' Never Should Have Been Timeless
John Irving writes that 'The World According to Garp' showed a divisive historical moment he thought would never come again.
- 2018 Nov 20
'NYT' Names 100 Notable Books of 2018
The editors of 'The New York Times Book Review' select 100 of the year's notable fiction, poetry, and nonfiction titles.
- 2018 Nov 16
In Defense of Puns
From the beginning, punning has been considered the lowest form of wit—when, in fact, it is among the highest.
- 2018 Nov 09
Can a Non-Reader Ask Her Kids to Read?
A former 'Cosmopolitan' editor on knowing the importance of reading to your children—and how few books she's read herself in recent years.
- 2018 Nov 06
A Reader Speaks Her Mind
A blog post discusses the ways that YA can isolate teens.
- 2018 Nov 05
What to Read When the World Is Ending
A list of books the editors of 'The Rumpus' think are especially appropriate to read in this fraught political moment.
- 2018 Oct 26
Women's Anger In Writing Workshops
"The writing is too angry, and it made me lose sympathy for you." How men try to police women's anger even in their essays.
- 2018 Oct 25
Why Translation Deserves Scrutiny
Literature in translation has never been a priority in the English-speaking world. So is translation a discipline or a cause?
- 2018 Oct 15
A Century of Books: The 1900s
Ten books that defined the first decade of the 20th Century, the first entry in a new series from 'Literary Hub.'
- 2018 Oct 01
How Doctors Use Poetry
A Harvard medical student describes how poetry helps him fulfill his Hippocratic oath.
- 2018 Sep 27
Do We Need Banned Books Week?
'Washington Post' book critic Ron Charles asks if the "shrill and inaccurate" annual celebration still needs to exist.
- 2018 Sep 25
All the Rage In Books By Women
Rebecca Solnit takes a look at three new releases and asks what a literature that embraces female anger can achieve.
Memory Tricks for Authors
How does one become one of those writers who remember everything? An advice columnist attempts an answer.
- 2018 Sep 21
23 Lit Adaptations to Watch this Fall
'Literary Hub' rounds up the movies and TV shows with literary origins to check out this season.
- 2018 Sep 19
Reading to Escape Depression
"What I wanted from Barthes," Brian Dillon writes, "was a passage out of the dismal place in which I found myself in my teens."
- 2018 Sep 11
Understanding Appalachia Through Reading
How to take a fresh look at an often misunderstood region of America by reading the right books about it.
- 2018 Aug 20
Barack Obama's Summer Reading List
The former president’s summer reading list, up on his Facebook page now, is a model of diverse voices and concerns.
- 2018 Aug 06
The Way We Read Now
'The Great American Read' shows that storytelling moves us far more than literary quality, Adam Kirsch argues in the 'Wall Street Journal.'
- 2018 Aug 03
Read Ancient Poetry Right Now
There is nothing like ancient poetry for making you reassess your priorities. It is surprisingly adept at cutting through the noise of modern life.
- 2018 Aug 02
Literary FOMO at Goodreads
The website induces a specific kind of fear of missing out—an envy that makes the internet feel like a maelstrom of other people's intellectual prowess.
- 2018 Jul 31
Why Doctors Should Read Fiction
Could a simple literary exercise make physicians more caring when working with their patients?
- 2018 Jul 25
The Best Notes In Old Books
'Atlas Obscura' rounds up marginalia found by its readers, from painful spoilers to such trenchant criticism as “P.S. This book blows!”
- 2018 Jul 16
Airbnb's Reading Retreats
After scouring all 50 states, a writer found one Airbnb worthy of the most majestic of reading retreats in each.
- 2018 Jun 27
A Bibliophile's Daughter Turns Detective
A bibliophile tries to understand her father through his favorite Swedish mystery books.
- 2018 Jun 20
Queer Stories Where Nobody Suffers
Books and films about LGBTQ characters often focus on trauma. Shouldn’t they get a happy ending too?
- 2018 Jun 18
Men Reviewing Men
A male book critic asks why he was never asked to write about a female author—and takes a long look at why he went along with it.
- 2018 May 31
Hey, Audible: Don't Ape Amazon Books
Audible is getting even deeper into the theater producing business—but it shouldn't be taking its cues from its bookselling sister.
- 2018 May 11
#MeToo In Book World Isn't New
The #MeToo movement hit literature hard this week. It’s not the first time—and the allegations against Junot Díaz are just the tip of the iceberg.
- 2018 Apr 27
How To Love How-To Essays
Why do literary instruction manuals hold so much appeal? Good question. Here's how to answer it.
- 2018 Apr 11
#MisandryInPublishing Isn't a Thing
There's no female conspiracy in publishing, Lauren Spieller writes—your book might just not be good.
- 2018 Mar 12
Tackling the Door-Stoppers in a TBR Pile
'Book Riot' offers five tips on how you can finally get cracking on the long books in your to-be-read shelf.
- 2018 Mar 02
The UNM Press 'Debacle'
A complicated back-and-forth at the University of New Mexico Press is damaging the reputation of the state, writes Lois Rudnick.
- 2018 Feb 23
A Literary Look at What’s In the Bag
Writer Kaitlin Phillips shares her favorite books, pairing them with this season’s most covetable pocketbooks.
- 2018 Feb 22
In Praise of Negative Reviews
Reviewers and critics were once feared as "persons of dangerous acerbity," and it might be time to make that the case again.
- 2018 Feb 21
The Nine Circles of Linguistic Hell
A list of Dante's nine circles of hell, reimagined for linguistic transgressions. (Autocorrect? That's Limbo.)
In Praise of Unfinished Novels
Some novels left unfinished by authorial death are also some of those writers' most interesting works.
- 2018 Feb 16
All Men, All the Time
A former literary editor for 'Esquire' remembers the publishing and media worlds before the #metoo movement.
The Bright Future of Queer Lit
Sure, 'A Little Life' is popular, but if you’re looking for nuance and depth and even a little hope, don’t snub a good YA novel.
- 2018 Feb 15
A Romance Writer's Guide to Hot Consent
The debate within romance over how to handle the question of consent is much more nuanced than outsiders ever seem to grasp.
- 2018 Feb 14
What to Do With Those Books
Suggestions for how to deal with books written by authors who have been accused of assault, racism, or other inappropriate or illegal behaviors.
Make a Book Fort of Your Life
Why you should surround yourself with more books than you'll ever have time to read. (An overstuffed bookcase says good things about your mind.)
Literature's 30 Worst Couples
For Valentine's Day, a list of the worst lovers in all of literature. (Oedipus and Jocasta, shocking approximately no one, make the cut.)
- 2018 Feb 13
Young Women's Love Stories Are Serious
Why do young women continue to feel embarrassed about writing “feminine” fiction? It's time we take their stories seriously.
A Guide to Speed-Dating Romance Novels
How to find the perfect romance novel for you, whether you're a history nerd or a reality TV buff.
- 2018 Feb 02
A Psychic Tells Publishing's Future
What's the future of books? A psychic at Mystic Journey Bookstore in Venice tells us straight.
- 2018 Feb 01
Anne of Green Gables and ADD?
A writer suggests an ADD diagnoses for Anne of Green Gables.
- 2018 Jan 29
Making the Case for the 'Subway Read'
With beach reads, cabin reads and airplane reads established things, Adam Sternbergh asks in the 'NY Times,' why subway reads aren't on that list.
- 2018 Jan 08
Michael Wolff: The Boswell We Deserve?
Wolff's brand of reporting might be ugly—prioritizing access over accountability—but it may be the perfect match for the Trump era.
The Guts Behind 'Fire and Fury'
Why is Michael Wolff's book having such an impact? Because Wolff had the gumption to throw decorum away and torch his access.
- 2018 Jan 04
Censorship and Fairy Tales
A writer argues against impulses to ban fairy tales.
- 2018 Jan 03
Words of the Year
What language can possibly be used to capture the upside-down world of 2017? (Hint: think hashtags.)
- 2017 Dec 21
The Scrooges of the Trump Era
Could the three ghosts of Christmas even save them? Why ‘A Christmas Carol’ is especially poignant in 2017.
- 2017 Dec 19
The Harry Potter Merch Trap
A mother has some criticisms over the abundance of Harry Potter merchandise.
- 2017 Dec 08
When Bad Men Define Good Art
We talk about separating art from artist, but many of the accused abusers aren’t creators—they’re gatekeepers.
- 2017 Dec 07
In Praise of Newt Scamander
An article praises how Newt Scamander subverts gender expectations.
- 2017 Dec 05
The Best Book Covers of 2017
People say you shouldn’t judge books by their covers, but Bookish didn't get the memo and rounded up a number of the year's best.
- 2017 Dec 01
A Small and Indie Press Gift Guide
Rounding up a number of books, old and new, from small and indie presses that would make great gifts this holiday season.
- 2017 Nov 02
How Long Is Writing Supposed to Take?
Some books take years to write, others months. Can we learn to accept the inefficiency and unpredictability of writing?
- 2017 Oct 24
Weighing In
An opinion piece on the Kirkus's decision to remove the star from "American Heart."
- 2017 Oct 17
An Article on 'Mockingbird' Removal
A writer criticizes the decision to remove "To Kill a Mockingbird" from classrooms.
- 2017 Sep 07
The Restrictions of Reading Levels
An article argues against the labeling of books with reading levels.
- 2017 Aug 03
We Need Diverse Reviewers
We need diverse books, Bix Gabriel writes. But just as important are diverse reviewers to shape the critical conversation.
- 2017 Aug 01
How to Get Boys Reading?
Daniel Handler suggests that books featuring more honest depictions of sex may get more teenage boys reading.
- 2017 Jul 21
Five Things to Never Use as Bookmarks
A used bookstore buyer reveals the top worst items to use as reading placeholders, including money.
- 2017 Jul 19
Expert: Publishers Must Adapt or Die
Former book publisher and Guinness World Records senior v-p Nadine Causey says publishers must embrace disruption to survive.
- 2017 Jul 17
A Guide to What to Read Next
Learn about one bookworm's process for how to pick a new book from her reading list.
- 2017 Jul 06
A Call to End Gendered Books
A writer expresses frustration with gendered children's books.
- 2017 Jun 29
Room for Improvement
An author voices some concern over the lack of diversity in his daughter's required leading list.
- 2017 Jun 23
Writers Looking for Forever Home
These various types of writers need homes. Browse their adoption listings and see if this is the writer for you!
- 2017 Jun 21
Sexism in the Beach Read
Why did publishers decide that only women take books on vacation, and why are totally normal books about girls billed as "beach reads?"
- 2017 Jun 15
How to Live With Critics
Whether you're an artist or the president, disdain for critics is perennially popular. There's a danger in that, writes Adam Kirsch.
- 2017 Jun 13
Flash Fiction's Advantages
Brevity may be the soul of wit, but it’s not intrinsic to good storytelling. So why does the shortest fiction work so well?
- 2017 Jun 02
In Defense of Amazon's Bookstores
Alexander Chernev, for 'Fortune,' presents five arguments for why Amazon should keep opening brick-and-mortar bookstores.
Why All Poems Are Political
Unregulated and innately radical, poetry is an urgent expression of freedom, Kathleep Ossip writes at 'Electric Literature.'
- 2017 May 29
What Maya Angelou Taught Me
"It wasn’t until Maya Angelou died that the full story of her life opened up to me, and helped me open up my own," Kyla Marshell writes.
- 2017 May 25
Censorship and 'Thirteen Reasons Why'
An article discusses recent controversies surrounding "Thirteen Reasons Why."
- 2017 May 23
Yes, We Need 'Little Women'
A writer speaks in favor of the new adaptation of "Little Women."
- 2017 May 19
Reviving an Out of Print Book
One author's book went out of print, but he has a plan to revive it—without his publisher's help.
- 2017 May 15
Canada and Cultural Appropriation
The battle over appropriation in art and literature continues in Canada, and Giller Prize–winning author André Alexis weighs in.
- 2017 May 08
The Borrowed Words of Ivanka Trump
A writer wonders if the inspirational quotes in Trump's new book, 'Women Who Work,' function as their own versions of alternative facts.
Make Contributors’ Notes Great Again
The final section in most literary magazines, filled with quasi-biographical statements, often contain some egregious proclamations.
- 2017 May 02
I Was a Seventh-Grade Book Censor
A writer reflects on a time when, as a middle schooler, she asked her mother to ban her from reading 'Brave New World.'
- 2017 Apr 28
12 Unforgettable Forests in Literature
The forest as enchanted space, oasis from civilization, and expression of the mind: a reading list for Arbor Day 2017.
