By Sophie
Apparently today marks the exact mid-point of the half-decade: from tomorrow, we will officially be closer to 2050 than to 2000. Hope that factoid helps cool your brains in this warm weather!
– Awards! Dutch author Yael van der Wouden won this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction with The Safekeep. Amazing! The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction went to The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke.
– LitHub has an interesting take on the relevance, to this day, of John le Carré’s books. “He is not an idealist – he knows these men and women are doomed – but an existentialist who dramatizes the necessity of individual struggle.”
– Graham Norton walks The Guardian through the books of his life, including The Bell Jar and Daniel Martin.
– Summer Reading! The Guardian asked some big name authors for their favorite holiday reading, and the resulting list is eclectic (also, for a little Dutch twist, both Yael van der Wouden and Rutger Bregman contributed). BookTrib. also has a list of books of literary travelers to inspire you. Perhaps some of their books will tick one of our ABC Summer Bingo categories?
– Awards II! The Orwell Prizes were handed out on June 25th (his birthday): Looking at Women Looking at War was awarded posthumously to Victoria Amelina in the Political Writing category, and Heart, be at Peace by Donal Ryan won in the Political Fiction category. And my annual literary pilgrimage can finally begin: the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize shortlist has been announced!
– Interview! The New York Times has a large spread on Abby Jimenez, bakery-owner first, best-selling romance novelist next (please note, you’ll need to log in to read it). Publishers Weekly talks to R. F. Kuang about her upcoming, rather breathlessly awaited, book Katabasis, as well as to Rory Power on the release of her new YA book (with ominous cover) Kill Creatures.
– Lists! Upworthy has 14 books that will rewire your brain, BookRiot highlights 7 new book-to-screen adaptations in July, and BookTrib. has 10 books with completely unique magic systems.
– And finally, NPR staffers pick their favorite fiction and non-fiction books of the year so far. Happy reading!
