Books keep me from teetering into utter despair
Vol. 2 Issue 26
"I was burning through books every day -- stories about people and places I'd never heard of. They were perhaps the only thing that kept me from teetering into utter despair." --Sarah J. Maas, "A Court of Mist and Fury"
BOOK NEWS & NOTES
Hayden's next gig: Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, who was unceremoniously fired in an email by President Donald Trump, has landed a new job. Hayden will become a senior fellow at the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, where she will advise on efforts to advance public knowledge through libraries and archives. (The Associated Press)
Lies, deceit and desperation: Fans of the book and/or movie "The Salt Path" by Raynor Winn, which is about a couple who lose everything and decide to take a 630-mile journey along the South West Coast Path in England, are in for some difficult news. According to an exposé by Chloe Hadjimatheou, the bestselling memoir is less honest than once believed. (The Observer)
Top sci-fi/fantasy titles: The shortlist for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction was announced, and it's filled with imaginative fiction with great titles like "Remember You Will Die" and "Archangels of Funk." (New York Public Library)
What a combo: HarperCollins will soon publish an audio edition of the picture book "Hansel and Gretel," a reimagining of the Brothers Grimm fairytale. And, the book, which features artwork by the late Caldecott Medal-winning author Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are"), will be narrated by none other than bestselling horror novelist and short story writer Stephen King ("Never Flinch"). The recording will be available for download on Sept. 2. (HarperCollins Publishers)
Our top beach reads: Looking for a book to toss into your beach bag this summer? Here's what other Moonlighters are reading:
* "Long Live Evil" by Sarah Rees Brennan
* "By Any Other Name" by Jodi Picoult
* "Great Big Beautiful Life" by Emily Henry
* "Summer Light on Nantucket" by Nancy Thayer
* "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by V.E. Schwab
Book review guidelines: Our book review guidelines have been posted on Substack. Although we currently have four members who review books, any Moonlight Reader Society subscriber may participate. Just send an email and in the body share your name and home address, the book’s title, the rating and a 25-word review. No AI-written submissions, please. If your review is accepted and published, your subscription will be upgraded to paid status for 1 year. You'll also be added to our reviewer list to receive advanced review copies and bookish gifts.
My July bookmark for fiction:
This bookmark reminds me that there are whole worlds to be found within the pages of a book. And when reality gets me down, it’s nice to escape to one of those worlds.
Bookmark love: What's between your pages? Take a photo of your bookmark or placeholder and let me know why you love it. I may share your image/thoughts in a future issue.
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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
READER POLL
LAST WEEK’S POLL
ODDLY TITLED TOMES
25-WORD REVIEWS
Rating System:
* * * * * One of the best books I've read in a while
* * * * A wonderful book, recommended
* * * Good book, worth the read
* * This book was fine, but not my favorite
* This book wasn't for me
What's not to love about a Halloween cookbook that offers simple, fun recipes for black cat hot chocolate bombs, DIY candy eyes and mummy pie? --Jade Walker
Rating: * * * * stars
A provocative memoir detailing Ilhan's experiences from Somali war refugee to Congresswoman. Ilhan is unapologetic in her faith, leadership and commitment to America's democratic principles. --Nikki Clark
Rating: * * * * stars
LITERARY HOLIDAYS
July is: Read an Almanac Month
July 30 is Paperback Book Day
WRITER BIRTHDAYS
July 11 - Nadeem Aslam, Harold Bloom, Jhumpa Lahiri, Marie Lu, J.R. Morgan, Patricia Polacco, Cordwainer Smith and E.B. White
July 12 - Joan Bauer, Pierre Berton, Delia Ephron and Donald E. Westlake
July 13 - Isaac Babel, Marcia Brown, Ashley Bryan, John Clare, Dave Garroway, Earl Lovelace, Loren Pope, Wole Soyinka, David Storey and George Weller
July 14 - John Chancellor, Leon Garfield, Susan Howatch and Irving Stone
July 15 - Clive Cussler, Lydia Davis, Walter D. Edmonds, Arianna Huffington, Hammond Innes, Doppo Kunikida, Clement Clarke Moore, Iris Murdoch and Richard Russo
July 16 - Anatole Broyard, Arthur Bowie Chrisman, Shirley Hughes, Tony Kushner, Kathleen Norris, Robert Sheckley, Sheri S. Tepper, Tom Terrell, Ida B. Wells and Susan Wheeler
July 17 - Mark Bowden, Chris Crutcher, Arthur Frommer, Erle Stanley Gardner, Hermann Huppen, Karla Kuskin, Robert R. McCammon, Suzanne Moore, LaVyrle Spencer and J. Michael Straczynski
July 18 - Jeanne Córdova, Joseph Ellis, Elizabeth Gilbert, Elizabeth Jennings, Margaret Laurence, Alan Morrison, Clifford Odets, William Makepeace Thackeray, Hunter S. Thompson and Jessamyn West
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
FMI: Click here.
RECOMMENDED NEWSLETTERS ON SUBSTACK
MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Thanks to Tomert, The Associated Press, The Observer, the New York Public Library, Beta Film, YouTube, Harper Collins Publishers, Unite Against Book Bans, The Written Word, Holidays Calendar, National Today, National Day Calendar, A Wandering Scribbler, Good Good Good, Writers Write, Keeping Up With the Penguins, Brainy Quote, The Literary Lifestyle, Wikipedia, the American Library Association, Something to Eat and Something to Read, Canva and Deposit Photos for art and story suggestions.
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