Want to get the latest book news delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up for our daily Book Pulse newsletter.

Awards & News

Oprah picks Familiaris by David Wroblewski (Blackstone) for her 106th book club. It is the follow-up to Wroblewski’s 2008 bestselling The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. LJ interviewed Wroblewski for Day of Dialog in May; access the recording of the discussion by registering for Day of Dialog online.

Ted Chiang wins the PEN/Bernard and Ann Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story.

Christina Morina wins the German Nonfiction Prize. Publishing Perspectives has details. 

Author events at the Free Library of Philadelphia are in turmoil after staff terminations, Publishers Weekly reports. WHYY also has coverage. 

Reviews

NYT reviews Gretel and the Great War by Adam Ehrlich Sachs (FSG Originals): “Throughout, we feel the author’s personal stake in this narrative. Like Thomas Bernhard before him, Sachs is a very funny writer unafraid of italics and exclamation marks, which he marshals against the absurdity of the world”; and three historical fiction books: The Blue Maiden by Anna Noyes (Grove), The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore (Random), and The Murder of Mr. Ma by SJ Rozan & John Shen Yen Nee (Soho Crime; LJ starred review).

Washington Post reviews Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers (Dey Street: LJ starred review): “Powers proves an adroit codebreaker for the uniquely complex cross-pollination of romantic ennui, class consciousness, spiritual striving and occasional narcissism that characterizes the full sweep of the Joni Mitchell enterprise.”

Briefly Noted

LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley), the top holds title of the week.

LJ has new prepub alerts.

USA Today suggests 11 LGBTQIA+ books for Pride. 

The Atlantic shares “What to Read When You Have Only Half an Hour.”

Claire Dederer considers the work of Laurie Colwin at The Millions.

Rufi Thorpe tells Bustle about the research process for her new book, Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Morrow), including a deep dive into OnlyFans. 

Maureen Sun, The Sisters K (Unnamed Pr.), answers 10 questions at Poets & Writers. 

Ali Velshi discusses his new book, Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (St. Martin’s), with Salon.

Reactor has an interview with Mac Crane, Aubrey Wood, and Chana Porter—three finalists for the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction.

Katie Ledecky, Just Add Water: My Swimming Life (S. & S.), tells People she is ready to make her fourth Olympics.

Vogue highlights the new photo book How Directors Dress (A24). 

V.E. Schwab has signed on to a two-book million contract with Tor. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil will publish in  June 2025, ABC News reports.

Sylvester Stallone’s forthcoming memoir The Steps, will be published by Morrow in 2025; Deadline has the news. 

Voracious sets a fall 2025 publication date for “two books exploring the creative genius of Quentin Tarantino.” Deadline has details.

LitHub announces the guest editors and covers for the Best American Series 2024.

Griffin Dunne, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir (Penguin Pr.), takes Elle’s “Shelf Life” literary questionnaire. 

CrimeReads explores the murderous appeal of the Pacific Northwest. 

Authors on Air

Questlove talks about Hip-Hop Is History (AUWA), with NPR’s Fresh Air.

LitHub recommends new literary podcasts. 

NPR considers how Hulu’s Queenie expands and enhances the world of the novel by Candice Carty-Williams. 

T&C teases the development of a new Crazy Rich Asians TV series based on the books by Kevin Kwan.

T&C shares updates on Netflix’s forthcoming three-part series adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery. 

PBS Canvas reports on the $3.9 million sale of the Crosby-Schøyen Codex, one of the oldest surviving books.

Want to get the latest book news delivered to your inbox each day? Sign up for our daily Book Pulse newsletter.