This Week In Books
February 12, 2024 Edition
This newsletter is coming in late, slow, and a tad bit bleary after we here at The Book Tide spent a lovely weekend at a writers retreat with fellow creatives. While our brains and laptops are full of great ideas inspired by our brilliant friends, our bodies are a bit stiff and uncooperative. Below is the group of amazing authors who gathered together at Dread River Distilling in Birmingham Alabama this weekend to write, talk shop, and encourage one another.
Michelle O’s Second Grammy: Michelle Obama added two-time Grammy winner to her resume this week for narration of her book The Light We Carry. She beat out stiff competition including Bernie Sanders, William Shatner, and Meryl Streep. Yes, even Meryl couldn’t beat Michelle. Congrats to our former First Lady.
I Seek A Kind Person: In 1938, discreet advertisements were placed in British newspapers written by Viennese parents seeking safe homes for their children. The Guardian profiled Julian Borger, author of I Seek A Kind Person, whose own father was one of those children. His father was adopted by a Welsh family who responded to the following advertisement, “I seek a kind person who will educate my intelligent boy, aged 11, Viennese of good family.” The farther away we get from WWII, the more we forget the devastation of that war. I cannot imagine what it was like to hang my hope–and the life of my child–on a twenty-word newspaper advertisement beseeching the kindness of strangers. May we all grant such help in someone else’s time of need.
Almost Royal Reversal: As if the Royals weren’t in the news enough this week (we wish you nothing but the best King Charles and Princess Catherine), we bring you the story of how Princess Di almost jilted then-Prince Charles. The book, My Mother And I, is an account of King Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, and of course covers the late Princess Diana. Her romantic tragedy is forever cemented in the hearts and minds of multiple generations and I can’t help but wonder what her fate would have been had she chosen not to go through with the wedding. I’ll never know. But I am looking forward to the Will and Kate era.
Dishing the Dirt On Dickens: The Charles Dickens Museum has come into possession of letters from Georgina Hogarth, Dickens’ housekeeper. Written to a journalist after Dickens’ death, the letters are currently being translated by the museum. They are hoping the correspondence will shed light on an unknown portion of his life. Hogarth–Dickens’ sister-in-law–chose to remain his housekeeper after his divorce from her sister, and then his re-marriage to an 18 year old actress. Hogarth worked for him for decades, raised his children, and became an executor of his estate. All I know is that if my sister chose my ex and his new trophy wife, she might disappear under “mysterious circumstances.”
Are You Prepared For the Storm Of Love Making?: In their book of the same name, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler recount the love, lust, and lives of our former presidents through their personal correspondence. Their intent is to show our leaders to be flesh and blood humans. Presidents: they’re just like us! The title is a direct quote from a letter Woodrow Wilson wrote to his wife, Ellen. But, to answer their question–No, I’m not prepared! Nope. Not even a little bit. Actually, I just threw up in my mouth. Keep your “love storm” to yourself, Sir!
Heeere’s Stanley: In the biography Kubrick: An Odyssey authors Robert Kolker and Nathan Abrams faithfully illuminate the complex career of the famous director. For a full list of book that Kubrick adapted into movies, see this Goodreads list. His most famous adaptation is, of course, The Shining by Stephen King. Kubrick: An Odessey has detailed descriptions of how he brought Stephen King’s horror novel to life. Included is his now infamous mistreatment of Shelley Duvall in the pursuit of his art. Maybe the scariest part about The Shining was the twisted mind of its director?
Anonymously Dark Academia: Most authors claim to be introverts but RuNyx, the shadowy author of the breakout bestseller Gothikana, takes it to a whole new level. She refused to reveal her identity during an interview with the New York Times. Citing a brush with a stalker in her youth, RuNyx goes to epic levels to conceal any and all details about her personal information. She wants to be known only for her writing. Yes! This is brilliant. I’m going full dark from this moment forward. I will be a shadow, a ghost, you will never see me but you will hear me. I will whisper the breaking news of books in newsletter form, appearing mysteriously once a week in your inboxes.
Poor Posture Panic: Shelf Awareness reviewed soon to be released Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America, a book that looks into the origins of our obsession with correcting our posture. Slouching became demonized in the late twentieth century and was thought to cause "tuberculosis, nervous disease, acute mental disorder... and many intestinal disorders." Never fear though, you could always stand up straight to reduce the chance of disease but also display your “health, youthful vitality, upright character, and sexual chasteness.” The obsession with posture spurred a multi-generational movement to improve our lives through our spinal alignment that even continues today in Pilates and yoga. It’s true! There’s nothing like walking as if you have a stick up your butt to preserve your chastity. I know this from experience.
Murder On The Move: Benjamin Stevenson author of Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect gives us a breakdown of the moving murder mystery. Giving a subtle nod to the great Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect is a locked box whodunnit where all the suspects are crime novelists. So they all know how to solve a crime, and commit one too. Stevenson’s previous novel Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone was a bestseller that is in the process of being adapted into a limited HBO series. If everyone around this author turns into a murder suspect, remind me not to go to a writer’s retreat with him.
McWar On Words: Mental floss remembers when McDonald’s went to war with the dictionary–both Oxford and Merriam Webster, when they added the word “McJob” with a disparaging definition of “low-paying and dead end work” to their dictionaries. I’m McOutraged. Anyone should be able to add a disparaging “Mc” to any and all words they choose–McDonalds be McDamned. See? It’s fun.
Deep Dive: See below for all the extra deep cuts of this week’s book news.
Book to Screen Adaptations:
Margot’s Got Money Troubles: this book hasn’t been released yet, but already Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman are attached.
Seven Days In June: a Reese’s Book Club pick.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter: America Ferrera has signed on for her directorial debut
A Gentleman In Moscow: Ewan McGregor stars in this adaptation.
Other News of Note:
Redwood Court is Reese’s Book Club pick for February.
Paula Hawkins author of Girl on The Train has new book out in October.
We called it: House of Flame and Shadow debuts at number one.
Powerpuff Girls are 25 years old and back with three new books.
Emma Hemming Willis will publish a book on caregiving.
130 Year Old Bookstore For Sale in California.
YouTube of the Week: Ten historical libraries you can still visit, including our personal favorite, Trinity College Library in Dublin:
Catch Up with
over at I’m So Glad You Asked.See what
is up to at I Will Tell You This.
A Gentleman in Moscow trailer made my day ✨