The election is understandably still on everyone’s mind. But there was some interesting literature news peppered into all the politics last week. Here’s our weekly roundup of what went down in the world of books:
Apple Revolutionizes StoryTime
Bedtime has never looked so electronic! This week, Apple launched a new app called iBooks StoryTime that allows parents to download and read children’s books on their TV. Not only are the pictures and words large enough for young eyes to see, but it’s also interactive: some books have sound effects and highlighted words. The whole app also has a Read Aloud function, which means that on certain books, pages will flip automatically when you’re done reading the words. The app is free, and gives parents an interesting new option for how to read with – and connect to – their children. Download your favorite kids books today and get ready for story time to become a totally new experience.
Emma Watson Leaves Free Books around NYC
Not only is Emma Watson playing book-loving Belle on the big screen in Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast, she even loves books in real life, too. On Wednesday, November 9, Watson worked with the organization Books on the Subway to distribute copies of Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Mom all around New York subway stations. She tucked the books into benches or on poles, with a handwritten note by Watson herself. In addition to being a book fairy, Watson also runs her own online book club, called Our Shared Shelf, which is currently reading Angelou’s memoir. Congrats to all the lucky readers who found one of Watson’s copies!
Books that Help Explain Trump’s Presidential Win
No matter which way you fall politically, Trump’s win this week was probably a surprise. The New York Times recently ran an article that dove deeper into that win, using six books to describe why it may have happened in the first place. Included in them is Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance, which came out in June, a memoir that explores the reality of today’s rural America. Vance also gave an interesting interview in The American Conservative in July, where he dove deeper into why Trump appealed to so many voters. For anyone seeking a little bit of clarity, Vance’s book – and any of the other NYT reads – give some great insight into one of the most contentious elections of our time.