Bookbits for 4 June 2025

Happy Pride Month everyone!

– And if you think “why do we still need Pride Month?” read the story of what happened to our Amsterdam store’s window display. Also, for example, this crackdown on LGBTQIA+ books in Russia.

– Awards! May was awards-heavy, as you can check out in this separate post including the International Booker Prize winner as well as the Pulitzers. Not included in that post was the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize (for young writers), The Coin by Yasmin Zaher, and all the Edgar Awards winners (for mystery fiction).

– Events: ABC has officially partnered up with the John Adams Institute! (Full details to come in a separate post.) On 17 June they will host a panel discussion on Who Owns the Future? with authors Ruha Benjamin, Marietje Schaake, and Robin Aïsha Pocornie. Also, at our Amsterdam store, please join the Queer Open Mic Night on 4 June, and the book launch of Nikkie Trott‘s Sacred Business.

– Lists! 6 Comics That Call Readers to Action, 5 Books That Serve Serious Eat the Right Energy, and The 5 Best Food Scenes in Literature (for after the revolution the earlier lists began).

– Interview! The Guardian talks to Ocean Vuong to celebrate the release of his new novel The Emperor of Gladness. They also talk to freshly-minted International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq.

– Since we’re almost halfway through the year (…) the New York Times thought it was a good plan to celebrate their Best Books of 2025 (So Far).

– Do we really need more male novelists? An interesting take/reaction to the news that a new publisher is to be establised that focuses on publishing “overlooked men’s stories”. I think I must agree with Sheena Patel’s response there.

– Tochi Onyebuchi fans take note: ReacterSFF is serializing his latest novel Harmattan Season on their site!