Hello, book lovers! Women are taking center stage this week — as they should. It is Women’s History Month after all. Between inspiring interviews with powerhouses like Alicia Keys and Amanda Gorman, and exploring the vast array of writing from women across the globe, it’s hard not to feel empowered by the incredible accomplishments of so many fantastic ladies.
But before we dive into this week’s news, we wanted to highlight two women who have had a positive impact on their community during the pandemic: Kristina Scorpo and Pamela Addison. After losing their husbands to COVID, these women started the Facebook group “Young Widows and Widowers of COVID-19,” connecting hundreds of young people who have lost their spouses and reminding them “You are not alone.” Read more about their story here.
And now, here’s an exciting mix of stories from the book world.
Amanda Gorman and Alicia Keys in Conversation at TIME’s “Voices of the Future” Women’s Summit: Gorman, who, since performing at President Biden’s inauguration in January, has skyrocketed into the limelight, shares her experience with Keys, who also achieved similar success at a young age. In this interview, they discuss the process of creating, inspiration and the impact of their work. — TIME
Following the Footsteps of Oprah and Reese, More Actresses, Fashion Models and Influencers Are Changing the Book Club Biz: Joining “a blooming ecosystem of book clubs,” are celebrities like Kaia Gerber, Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski. “A generation after Oprah’s Book Club changed the publishing industry,” these “fresh-faced mega-influencers [are] using Instagram to share literary life with millions of eyeballs,” which is excellent news for the book world! — The New York Times
Talia Hibbert’s Act Your Age, Eve Brown Is the Definition of Romantic Comedy: The youngest Brown sister, Eve, takes center stage in Hibbert’s third entry in her bestselling Brown Sisters series. “Each of the books in the … series explodes with a distinct personality, and this one is honest fun.” It’ll have readers laughing out loud as they fall head over heels (or over the hood of a car) in love with Hibbert’s “annoyingly cute couple.” — BookTrib
Three Years and 199 Writers Later, London-Based Journalist Has Learned So Much From the Voices of Women Around the World: In June of 2018, Sophie Baggott “set out to read writing by a woman from every country in the world,” but she had no idea how much the journey would surprise, challenge and, after spending a year in quarantine, sustain her. Although “there were many different routes to each of the 199 writers,” what’s stuck with Baggott is “the sheer resilience of women in all corners of the world” and the universality of many women’s issues. — The Guardian
12 Genre-Bending Reads for Anyone Who Has Finished Behind Her Eyes on Netflix: Sarah Pinborough’s psychological thriller surprised the literary world upon its release in 2017. Now, the Netflix series has grabbed the attention of new fans with its similar approach to blending genres. These 12 books are perfect for any reader looking to mix up their TBR pile or fans of the Netflix series itching to experience something similarly thrilling. — Bustle
J.T. Ellison Invites Readers to a Deadly Destination Wedding in Her Latest Psychological Thriller, Her Dark Lies: Traveling to a secluded island off the Italian mainland, the much-anticipated nuptials of Claire, a painter, and Jack, the son of a computer magnate, hang in the balance as things begin to go awry. And it would appear that the sudden spell of bad weather and a ruined wedding dress are just the tip of the iceberg. With Ellison’s “exceptional storytelling talent,” readers are bound to gasp as this group’s web of lies untangles. — BookTrib
How Literature Works: Neuroscience Explains 8 Reoccuring Story Elements: Aristotle hypothesized that story elements such as the almighty plot twist “could plug into our imagination, our emotions, and other parts of our psyche, troubleshooting and even improving our mental function.” Turns out he was right. “These literary inventions can alleviate grief, improve your problem-solving skills” and spark joy among other things.
— Smithsonian Mag
Trapped Behind Enemy Lines, CIA Agent Must Shield His Identity in Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Beirut Protocol: Rosenberg, whose “penchant for predicting world events in the storylines of his international thrillers,” has been called “a modern-day Nostradamus.” In this fast-paced, military thriller, and “the fourth foray of his Marcus Ryker series,” Ryker must protect the identities of his team after they’re all captured. In his most dangerous mission yet, so much more than their own lives are at stake. — BookTrib
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Viet Thanh Nguyen Confronts Colonialism in His Latest Spy Thriller: A sequel to The Sympathizer, which won the 2016 Pulitzer, Nguyen’s The Committed follows a double agent working as “both a South Vietnamese communist spy and an American CIA Operative” through Paris in the 1980s. In this Q&A, the author discussed his novel in addition to a variety of subjects, including “the current uptick in violence against Asian Americans.”— Electric Literature
New Romance Moments Like This Showcases Hawaii, Heart and an Inspired Pair of Authors: Author Anna Gomez, formerly known as Christine Brae, has teamed up with actor Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected) for a new romance series set against the unparalleled beauty of Hawaii. In the first novel, Moments Like This, this hot new writing team “craft a spectacular journey that is sure to satisfy readers’ wanderlust” while also delivering “an interesting secondary story that is steeped in Hawaiian culture.” — BookTrib
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