Why do these particular stories translate so well from page to screen? Because while we sit and read Shakespeare now, the original intent was for the story to unfold live before an audience. For people to watch the action unfurl in real time and even maybe even participate. The interaction between characters and audience doesn’t, and can’t, happen amidst the pages of a massive tome. A medium that integrates text and visuals though?...

This is primarily a list of the best queer books from the past few years. I’ve included a few from the 1990s and early 2000s, but the majority of these books were published post-2015. I also decided only to include living writers (with one exception), so you’ll notice many queer classics missing from this list. These books reflect a wide range of queer stories. The authors and characters here are of different races, religions, sexualities, genders, ages, abilities, classes, nationalities....

The situation is almost certainly being sensationalized by the media, but it’s hard not to feel a sense of panic. Especially since I am the mother of a 3-month-old living so near the epicenter in Wuhan, China. Already the virus has spread to four continents, and there is still a lot we don’t know about it. I’ve found there are few situations in life where books can’t offer some solace....

I’m inclined to say no. I think all a house needs to be haunted is a lot of unresolved personal dilemmas and a very large, very threatening elephant in the room. For example: repressed societal unrest that claws at the walls of the world to get out; lingering trauma from past experiences that you were either victim or perpetrator of; the unsettled prickliness of living on the edge of a big secret being unveiled....

Harassment, in any form, is not a joke. And when done online, you might not know the identity of the harasser. I hope these five books about online harassment can lessen the burden. And if they are not enough, here’s more help. This is a thought-provoking novel that explores cancel culture and allegations of “reverse racism.” I can’t even begin to imagine the mental health consequences of that. A Burning is an eye-opener into the broken justice system of India....

How about cooking your comics? I mean, I can’t recommend eating actual paper, though as a former toxicology nurse I can assure you it won’t actually kill you. Let’s hold that in reserve for the zombie apocalypse, though, and take a look at some comic- and animation-themed cookbooks that will add some fun and variety to your weekly menus. Go forth! Do noms. We’ll still have to eat when this is all over....

It’s a new year, and that means new perks. We’ve sweetened the current Short Story and Novel levels and introduced a brand new Epic level, and you can try any level out for free for two weeks! The highlight is our new group read, available to all Epic members — and there’s no cap on Epic, so the more the merrier. Each quarter we’ll read a book, voted on by Epic subscribers, that will fulfill at least one task of the 2020 Read Harder Challenge, and cap off our read-along with a live chat....

But if superheroes are a staple of Western comics, what about manga? What forms do superheroes take in that format? While I’d argue that many standard shonen manga protagonists are the equivalent of Western superheroes, that might not be the most satisfactory answer. So instead, I offer up a handful of titles that tackle what has become a globally recognized archetype. Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka Codename: Sailor V by Naoko Takeuchi Naoko Takeuchi is best known for her seminal magical girl series, Sailor Moon....

Below I’ve listed 50 of the best biographies out there. You will find a mix of subjects, including important figures in literature, science, politics, history, art, and more. I’ve tried to keep this list focused on biography only, so there is little in the way of memoir or autobiography. In a couple cases, authors have written about their family members, but for the most part, these are books where the focus is on the biographical subject, not the author....

Brave teens facing impossible odds in two unforgettable debuts and a groundbreaking YA anthology. Fall for a diversity of voices with the latest YA titles from Soho Teen, which span countries, cultures, and experiences. Queer girls will battle anti-gay prejudice, friendships will be forged amidst tense political climates around the globe, love will bloom in every shape and color, and patriarchy will be smashed. Spoilers: These reads will make you fist-pump, laugh out loud, and openly weep....

This was a learning experience for me as well—while I found I knew more of the iconic authors from these countries than some might, I still realized that I knew very little about the literature of some of these countries. For this reason, I focused as much as possible on authors that are more unknown—skipping Milan Kundera, Franz Kafka, and other commonly cited household names. If I knew few of these names, so did many readers, and I wanted to shine a spotlight on the books that readers might not know, rather than ones they will have seen on many other lists....

What is it about A Christmas Carol that continues to captivate audiences? Part is its memorable cadre of characters: Scrooge himself, Tiny Tim, all of those weird and wonderful ghosts. Another ongoing appeal is its suggestion that nobody is beyond hope; that perhaps, with a reminder of who we used to be and a warning of how we might turn out, anyone is capable of redemption. The themes of this story can be seen in other holiday classics like It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and the recent film Last Christmas....

I am no stranger to this, and am constantly testing out new apps to improve my photos, feed, and Instagram Stories. When I was only curating a personal Instagram feed, I didn’t really care to have it look super presentable—it was mine and solely a place to keep memories. It was when I started my Bookstagram almost two years ago that I began to really care and put effort into showcasing my photos and creativity in a presentable and aesthetically pleasing way....

As Wilkerson notes, though, the Indian caste system precedes and parallels the one established in the United States. Article 15 of the Indian Constitution officially abolished caste discrimination in 1949. Yet, similar to the United States, caste continues play a significant role in Indian society today. The books on caste below detail modern expressions of caste in India. Peruse and read to learn more about the caste system that informs Wilkerson’s book....

I remember moderating Marie Lu at the Coral Gables, Miami indie bookstore Books & Books in a live author event back in 2019 for the release of her last book in the Legend series, Rebel, and also that same year for the release of her Batman: Nightwalker graphic novel and book. As I conversed with the author in both instances, what really captured me about her writing process was how she takes these different characters and challenges them in different worlds, all with different personalities and goals in mind, opening them up to great adventures....

Book Riot is teaming up with Wednesday Books to give away a 1-year subscription to OwlCrate. Enter the form here and sign up for the Wednesday Books newsletter for a chance to win! Here’s a little more about Wednesday Books: Serving insatiable readers every day of the week. Sign up to receive our newsletter for the latest Wednesday Books releases, chances to win books, and more! For more AAPI recommendations check out “5 Nonfiction Audiobooks by Asian American Women Writers” and “6 of the Best Audiobooks by Korean American Women Writers....

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Psychic Books: Fiction The Shining by Stephen King You are probably already familiar with the story, but a sampling of psychic fiction would be incomplete without mentioning this, one of Stephen King’s most popular works. In it, a young boy named Danny Torrance realizes that he has psychic abilities called “the Shining.” Will his powers be enough to save him from his murderous father when they are snowed into a haunted hotel with one another?...

Tea has been on a nearly 5,000-year long journey to get to where it is today, starting in China in the year 2737 BCE. Tea is the most popular drink in the world, second only to water! The British drink 100 million cups daily, which is almost 36 billion per year. All of that is just the tip of the tea iceberg. Join me on this deep dive into the history of tea, where it comes from, and its many uses and variations!...

So it was a wonderful delight to come across the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks. In the film, Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his team have a goal of climbing the 14 tallest peaks in the world in seven months. Now, if that seems like a challenge, most climbers take months to cover just one. The film goes back and forth between achieving their goal and Purja’s life and his decision to undertake this quest....