Welcome to BookTrib’s newly revamped newsletter, The Exclamation Point! It combines some of the top stories you’ll find this week on BookTrib.com along with industry stories everyone is talking about, which you used to find in The Pulse. In a nutshell, we’ll be putting, well, an exclamation point on what’s newsworthy and noteworthy in the world of books. We hope you like it and find some great reading ideas within — and, as always, we encourage your feedback!!!
Master Observer of the Modern Relationship
His first book, The Nix, was named #1 Book of the Year by Entertainment Weekly. Now, Nathan Hill has come out with a book that our Editorial Director says is one of the best books he’s ever read. Read BookTrib’s review of Wellness, a witty and poignant look at modern marriage, the often-baffling pursuit of health and happiness, and the stories that bind us together, which just this week was named as Oprah’s book club selection of the month.
Unpublished Capote Work Uncovered
If you thought that everything Truman Capote wrote was published, think again. This week, The Strand is releasing “Another Day in Paradise,” which was found in the archives of the Library of Congress. While Capote achieved literary immortality with his 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s and his true crime masterpiece, In Cold Blood, short stories and novellas established him as a major figure in American literature.
What to Expect From Highly Anticipated “Lessons in Chemistry” Adaptation
For more than a year, Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, has clinched a berth on the New York Times bestseller list. On October 13, the beloved characters will leap off the page and into an Apple TV+ miniseries. Oscar-winner Brie Larson stars as the uncompromising chemist-turned-television-chef Elizabeth Zott, and this will be Ms. Larson’s first starring role in a series in over a decade.
Book Bans Spiked 33%
The number of public school book bans across the country increased by 33 percent in the 2022-23 school year compared to the 2021-22 school year, according to a new PEN America report.
“Banned in the USA: The Mounting Pressure to Censor” highlights the disproportionate number of bans occurring in Florida — where over 40 percent of all book bans took place in the 2022-23 school year — and shows how state legislation and coordinated pressure campaigns from local groups and individuals have driven mass restrictions on access to literature. Since July 2021, the organization has recorded nearly 6,000 instances of banned books. This includes 3,362 book bans affecting 1,557 unique titles during the 2022-23 school year, impacting the work of 1,480 authors, illustrators, and translators.
Amazon Tackles AI by Limiting New Digital Titles
It appears Amazon is making an effort to limit new titles to protect against AI and other abuse. In a Kindle Direct Publishing community page, the company notes that it is “actively monitoring the rapid evolution of generative AI and the impact it is having on reading, writing, and publishing, and … in order to help protect against abuse, [they] are lowering the volume limits … on new title creations.” It added that “very few publishers will be impacted.”
Also Making News This Week
V.E. Schwab’s Next Writing Project and Current Reads
author interview
This fantasy author is a creative force to be reckoned with, as legions of fans flock to bookstores when her newest book arrives. We had the chance to interview Schwab about her upcoming novel, The Fragile Threads of Power, writing across vast timelines and more.
Bestseller Lee Goldberg’s Latest Burns Down the House
author interview
The Big Thrill talked with Goldberg about his latest thriller, Malibu Burning, which follows a relentless arson investigator. As the most devastating firestorms in Los Angeles’ history scorch the hills of Malibu, Walter Sharpe and his wild card of a new partner suspect that someone set the blazes intentionally.
Sheriff Uncovers Deadly Secret in Inspiration for Netflix Series
Western Mystery
In the latest installment of the bestselling Longmire series, Sheriff Walt Longmire uncovers a cold case some people would kill to keep buried forever. The investigation hits very close to home, pushing the fair-minded detective’s ethical boundaries and forcing him to put his life on the line.
Sharp Observations, Wit and Fun Abound in Canine Chronicle As ‘Told to’ TV Personality Bill Boggs
Absurdist Fiction
In the midst of being ensnared in a devious revenge plot, Spike the Wonder Dog manages to unleash his celebrated brand of shrewd social commentary and certifiably funny grievances while romping through all manner of sexy scenarios in the rich and famous playgrounds of Palm Beach, Manhattan, and East Hampton.
Enter to Win These Seven September Book Club Picks
- The Politzer Saga by Linda Broenniman
- Saving Myles by Carl Vonderau
- The Boy from Boadua by Patrick Asare
- U.S. Education is in Trouble, Let’s Fix It! by Richard W. Garrett
- Mothers of the Missing Mermaid by Brandi Bradley
- 1770: Through the Fire by Fiona Cawdron
- Love: A Novel of Grief and Desire by Jefferson R. Blackburn-Smith
AuthorBuzz Giveaway: Coming of Age in 1970s Brooklyn
These Things Happen by Michael Eon
“All literature is gossip.”
— Truman Capote
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