What Have We Learned From American Dirt?
Three years after the launch of the controversial book American Dirt, the tale of a Mexican immigrant family, by Jeanine Cummins, a white woman, that created a firestorm over race, identity and Cummins’ right in the first place to write about the plight of marginalized communities, Pamela Paul offers a brilliant perspective in this opinions piece in The New York Times.
Book Adaptations Flood the Oscars:
The nominations for the 95th Academy Awards have been revealed and there are quite a few book-to-film adaptations on the list. Here are some of the standouts:
- All Quiet on the Western Front, which is based on Erich Maria Remarque’s classic 1929 anti-war novel, received nine nominations.
- Women Talking, based on Miriam Toews’ 2019 novel, was also nominated for best picture.
- Blonde, adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’ 2000 novel of the same name, made the Best Actress nomination list thanks to Ana de Armas’ performance.
Rare Shakespeare and Chaucer on Auction:
Fine Books Magazine announced the Potter & Potter Auctions’ February 2023 Fine Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana Sale, which is the company’s first book sale of 2023. Some of the items that are up for grabs include an astonishingly rare copy of Geoffrey Chaucer’s (c. 1340s–1500) The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer Now Newly Imprinted, estimated at estimated at $100,000-125,000; William Shakespeare’s (1564–1616) The Third Part Of Henry The Sixt, With The Death Of The Duke Of Yorke, estimated at $5,000-7,000; Howard Phillips Lovecraft’s (1890–1937) The Shunned House with a preface by Frank Belknap Long Jr., which is estimated at $5,000-7,000; J.R.R. Tolkien’s (1892–1973) The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, estimated at $10,000-15,000.
Authors Guild Backs Antitrust Action Against Google:
Bookseller.com reported that the Authors Guild has given its support to a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice and eight state attorneys-general against Google for “monopolizing multiple digital advertising technology products.”
Book Award Season Kicks Off:
The Mystery Writers of America has announced nominations for the 2023 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, while the longlist for the 2023 PEN Awards also has been revealed. And the Horror Writers Association released their preliminary ballot for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards. Stay tuned for the winners!
Adrienne Warren to Star in “Room” on Broadway:
Deadline reported that Emma Donoghue’s novel Room will make its Broadway premiere this spring with actor Adrienne Warren, who is known for her Tony Award–winning performance in the musical Tina.
Do You Aspire to Be Awkward?:
Check out Amanda Turner’s humorous yet insightful collection of essays, taking readers through some of the author’s most humiliating and awkward life experiences.
