Oprah’s Latest Book Club Pick, and More News for Librarians
The outside world is in literal and figurative flames, but I sometimes find it reassuring to remember that the everyday services are still happening inside my library. We’re hiring for open positions, prepping for the rush of summer reading, and trying to manage our increasingly large holds lists for our patrons. And although this post is primarily a roundup of helpful links for library staff, I hope it can also be a little reminder that mundane things are still happening, even when it feels like a dumpster fire outside. Let ordinary things be refreshing.
New & Upcoming Titles
Simon & Schuster are publishing a posthumous book by David McCullough in September.
Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat is publishing a prequel called Vianne.
Oprah selected Dream State by Eric Puchner as her 111th book club pick. A24 is also planning to adapt Dream State for TV.
The best new cozy mysteries according to Goodreads.
Readers Advisory Resources
Where to start with Jane Austen.
Genre-defying historical fiction.
How to use reading appeal factors to find more five-star books.
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Library Updates
A recent study by Little Free Library and the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools demonstrates the benefits of LFLs for book-impoverished communities.
How tariffs will impact book costs for readers.
Amazon is killing a feature that lets users download and back up their Kindle books.
Book Adaptations in the News
Hulu has axed its adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Teton Ridge Entertainment has acquired the rights to Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series.
Award News
The 2025 Southern Book Prize winners have been announced.
The L.A. Times Book Prize finalists have been announced.
And finally, a library-adjacent story that I think is important to share in terms of how to effectively leverage privilege to advocate for change.
Former NFL player Chris Kluwe was arrested during a Huntington Beach (CA) City Council meeting “when he approached council members after making an impassioned speech that likened the MAGA movement to Nazism.” Kluwe was protesting the council’s decision to erect a plaque for the library’s anniversary that included the words “Magical Alluring Galvanizing Adventurous” as an acrostic reference to MAGA. This is a prime example of what John Lewis referred to as “good trouble” — Kluwe made his point effectively, without violence, and leveraged his privilege as a semi-famous cisgender white man even though it led to his arrest. The result? The incident made national news. The council went ahead and approved the plaque anyway, but this was very well done.
