This Week In Books
January 28, 2024 Edition
It is–*checks calendar*–still January. This interminable month is giving “always winter, never Christmas” vibes. Zero stars, not recommended. Would not winter again. Anyway, point is: make it stop. But do you know what we don’t want to stop? The bookish shenanigans! And we’ve got some good stuff for you this week:
Swifties Gonna Sleuth: This month Penguin Random House released Argylle, a comedic spy thriller written under the pseudonym Elly Conway. The book, which seems to be a tie-in for the movie releasing next month, has been stirring quite the controversy. Internet sleuths are on the case, hunting for the true identity of Elly Conway–with Taylor Swift holding the top guess (Swift’s penchant for argyle sweaters and Scottish Fold cats being among a number of important clues). PRH may or may not have even played along while promoting the book. However, the film’s director, Matthew Vaughn, has denied that Swift is Elly Conway (without actually revealing who penned the novel). Is Taylor Swift the real author? Almost certainly, no. Is it dangerous to dangle that sweet nugget of hot gossip in front of her rabid fans and then yank it away? Yes. It would seem that publishing fell victim to one of the world’s classic blunders, the most famous of which is, '”Never start a land war in Asia.” However, only slightly less well-known (but equally disastrous) is this: '”Never mess with Swifties.”
Ripley Approves Of All Things Ripley: Netflix has adapted The Talented Mr. Ripley for television. The 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith follows down and out grifter, Tom Ripley, as he befriends, murders, and assumes the identity of a wealthy acquaintance. Our Ripley – the full-time mascot and part-time demogorgon – is feverishly taking notes from the master of charm and deceit. Be afraid! Also, Andrew Scott (Moriarty from Sherlock) as Tom Ripley gives me chills.
Clever Mom: As every mother of a kindergartener can agree, we desperately want our kids to read and read well, but the early reader books we have to listen to aren’t exactly…riveting. But one clever mom figured out the best work around I have ever heard: she brings her son to work with her at a nursing home and he reads to the elderly after school. Increased reading skills: check! Cuteness overload: check! Service to the elderly patch: Obtained! All of that accomplished while also not listening to Dick and Jane a million times: Well played, Mom, well played!
A Gathering of Ghosts: They are rarely seen or documented, but they sure do make a great story. No, I’m not talking about ghost stories–I’m talking about ghost writers. That mysterious group of authors who pen celebrity books–memoirs, novels, (dare I suggest Argylle?) or picture books. Ghostwriters are given the impossible task of writing a book in someone else’s voice, but rarely get the recognition, respect, or royalties they deserve. However they did get some press when the New York Times covered a ghostwriters convention in New York City this week. It’s about time ghostwriters unite! But the question really is, what do we call them? There’s a “murder of crows,” a “pride of lions,” and a “parliament of owls.” But what do you call a gathering of ghostwriters? I humbly submit that, henceforth, they shall be referred to as an “asylum of writers.” Because no one who is actually sane commits to the writer’s life.
Killers Of The Flower Moon: Every author daydreams of their book being made into a movie, but David Grann has recently enjoyed the ultimate thrill of witnessing his book Killers of The Flower Moon being adapted by none other than Martin Scorsese. This week Grann spoke to People Magazine about what it was like to see his story come alive on screen. Exploring a little known chapter of American history, the story covers a series of murders of the Osage people in 1920s Oklahoma. With Killers of The Flower Moon, Scorsese and Lily Gladstone are both nominated for Oscars, but Leo Decaprio isn’t–which is probably good because every time he wins an award he starts dating a younger woman. Save Gen Z! No more awards for Leo!
Speaking Of Gen Z, They Are Bringing Sexy Back (to the library): The Guardian recently pointed out that the cool kids now hang out at the library. Libraries have become a welcoming place for this newest adult generation to study, a cool place to hang with friends, an entrance to the dating scene, and (probably most importantly) a pretty backdrop for their BookTok accounts. Listen, I know we’ve all felt hopeless at times about the fate of all those Zoomers, but this gives me hope. Yes, they are livestreaming from the library (ssshhhh!), but they also are tapping into the desire for something real and substantial in this world. And what other place combines the imaginary world and real life better than the library? Maybe they have their heads screwed on straight after all. At the very least, our grandchildren will be tech savvy and literate.
Meanwhile In The UK: In the US we continue to bicker about taking books out of school libraries, but across the pond Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, is advocating for the presence of school libraries. Fourteen percent of UK primary schools don’t even have a library, with the number decreasing year over year in secondary schools. Pullman says, “The school library is without question the most important room in the entire school, because it contains–or used to contain, or should contain–books that are not required for examination purposes. Books that no one might expect to find. Books on every subject under the sun. Books that some teachers don’t even know are there.” If we keep polarizing one the most crucial places of children’s development the only things that will remain in libraries are Zoomers. And TikTok.
RIP Beatrix Potter: The New York Times ran an obituary for Beatrix Potter as part of a series called Overlooked, which honors important people who the Times never acknowledged upon their death. Potter lived a life of quiet determination unusual for a woman of her time. She championed her books and insisted that she remain in charge of her own licensing. Though initially rejected by publishers, The Tale of Peter Rabbit went on to sell over 46 million copies, becoming one of the best-selling books in history. This week Ariel Lawhon wrote about why she chooses real-life subversive women as the subject matter for her books. Well, you can’t get more subversive than Beatrix Potter. Through the popularity of one mischievous rabbit she paved the garden path for future women to manage their own intellectual property (ahem, Taylor Swift). We here at The Book Tide salute you, Ms. Potter, and your refusal to take no for an answer.
Butcher Paper Road Map: Ashley Elston, author of First Lie Wins, spoke with The New York Times on her novel approach to writing her books: butcher paper. Elston meticulously plots out her books on a six foot stretch of butcher paper with color coded post it notes. Here she is discussing that process on Instagram:
What looks like madness to me turned out to be an instant bestseller for her. First Lie Win was the Reese’s Book Club pick for January and made The NYT bestseller list in its first week and has remained there ever since. Have you read it yet?
Hugo Awards Controversy: The prestigious Hugo Awards is drawing fire this week for conspicuous disqualifications on its awards ballots. Certain books which should have moved forward in the voting process were mysteriously disqualified including RF Kuang’s Babel, Xiran Jay Zh’s Iron Widow, and Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. The industry is wondering if this is a form of censorship because the awards were hosted in China. The question is did these authors somehow run afoul of China’s good opinion or did the committee self-censor so as not to offend their host? That’s a lot of geo-political waters to wade into on a happy little book newsletter but I think we all ought to protest by going out to buy Babel and Iron Widow, and watch Sandman tonight for good measure. Nothing says “keep your dumb award” like a nice fat royalty check for deserving authors.
Apples Never Fall: Peacock released a teaser for their new adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s latest novel, Apples Never Fall. Moriarty is the master of revealing the absolute darkness and utter beauty of human nature simultaneously. Everything she writes turns into gold, or rather silver - as in the silver screen. And we can’t get enough! All hail Queen Moriarty!
Instagram of the Week: This week we are delighted to bring you this little shot of pure joy in the form of a forthcoming new novel from our very own
. October cannot come soon enough.
Catch Up with
over at I’m So Glad You Asked.See what
is up to at I Will Tell You This.
Incredible news Marybeth!! Congratulations! 🎉👏🏻💃🏻
Ripley is precious!🩷 And thank you for such a great post.