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Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
The NYT Selects the Year’s Best Books So Far
I had to check my calendar for the date before clocking that the NYT Book Review staff acknowledged that their selection of the best books of the year so far is being released but a third of the way into the year. The list hints at what might appear on the section’s end-of-year list, so let’s get into it with some highlights that floated to the top of the so-far. Who’s surprised that Tayari Jones’ Kin gets the very first mention? Not I. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this book and, halfway through it myself, I understand why. I also see one of my most anticipated books, This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin, and my most recent TBR addition, Yesteryear (A tradwife tossed back to the mid-19th century? I’m already laughing). All of the books have a header suggesting the kind of reader who might be interested in each title. Kin, for example, is listed under “I want a lush historical novel about sisterhood,” to better help you figure out what to pick up next. Find the full list here.
The Best Indie Bookstores in the U.S.
In case you’ve ever wanted to tour the States with a literary focus, Condé Nast Traveler pulled together a list of 20 beloved bookstores across the nation in celebration of National Independent Bookstore Day. I immediately looked up my current home state of North Carolina and learned about a bookstore I hadn’t heard of (I’m still rather new here), the adorably named Duck’s Cottage in Duck, North Carolina. I’ll be paying a visit next time I’m in the Outer Banks. The Last Bookstore in my “hometown” of Los Angeles also made the list. I second that this space is a stunner worth checking out, but be prepared to deal with Downtown L.A.’s less fun parking situation. Look up your closest independent bookstore highlighted on the list and add the more distant ones to your own bookish destinations itinerary. The stores are even accompanied by reading recommendations.
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Oprah Moves to Wondery
Wondery now has exclusive distribution and advertising rights to The Oprah Podcast, which is moving up to two episodes each week, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Amazon podcast studio has also gained rights to Oprah’s Book Club and The Oprah Winfrey show library. This summer, The Oprah Podcast will be available on Amazon-affiliated platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Audible, and Wondery can choose to further integrate Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s Favorite Things across Amazon.
The Best Books of April, BIPOC Edition
Some excellent books bloomed at the bookstores this month and we’ve got a roundup of the latest and greatest in BIPOC books. “In these BIPOC releases, we get a tale of early 2000s Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez, two timelines in a gothic Japan, a steamy romance with an artist, and more.” Check out the list of April’s best BIPOC books!
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