The Author of THE HELP is Back
Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
The Help Author’s Second Novel is Nigh
When The Help and its adaptation were released to much fanfare, I largely ignored it. It was incredibly popular but it wasn’t for me. I’m certain plenty of readers who applauded the book back then cringe when they see the title today–Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel became an example of white people portraying Black people poorly, even harmfully. Well, some 15 years later, Stockett is back with a new book. If anyone has ever bemoaned Stockett’s plight or worried that cancel culture “got her,” I’m here to report, courtesy of The New York Times, that the co-founder of a major publisher worked with her on her 800-page manuscript for years without a contract. To me, Stockett is a prime example of how publishing has historically uplifted white authors writing marginalized characters while hesitating to invest in own voices books. This NYT piece is mostly about Stockett finding the task of writing her follow-up daunting, but with the mega-bucks I predict will be thrown at marketing the book and knowing what I know about our current climate, I’m sure it’ll do just fine.
In India, Book Festivals are Where It’s At
If you’re thinking of visiting India, consider timing it around one of their book festivals because they sound pretty epic, but maybe brush up on the country’s languages. Indians and, particularly, India’s youth are keeping book festivals booming and showing an increasing interest in reading books in their mother tongue. Where these festivals once primarily showcased English-language literature, they’re now highlighting authors writing in languages like Telugu and Malayalam. The festivals, which are often free, give these younger generations of Indians the opportunity to hear from and speak to prominent and bestselling authors from across the globe. Panel participants and organizers shared about volunteers clearing trash from a beach to hold the Kerala festival, participants wanting to make their reading more inclusive, and memes leading to big sales for regional writers. It warms the heart.
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Major Writing Program Loses Federal Funding
The University of Iowa International Writing Program has been notified that it will lose federal funding that supports its summer youth program, distance learning courses, Emerging Voices Mentorship Program, and other programs. In their notification to the IWP, the U.S. Department of State wrote that the awards no longer aligned “with agency priorities and national interest.” IWP participants Han Kang, Orhan Pamuk, and Mo Yan have won the Nobel Prize in Literature. It’s more than disheartening to watch as valuable and enriching programs that work to bridge gaps between cultures and places are stripped of their ability to continue the good work. I know this can’t be anything but rhetorical in 2025, but if that’s not in the national interest, what is?
What to Read for Women’s History Month
Hey, historical fiction girlies–we got you this Women’s History Month. Read a great selection of books, including a posthumously-published memoir by Josephine Baker and a classic by Maxine Hong Kingston. Also, it’s not too late to participate in this year’s Read Harder Challenge, and this list helps you complete various challenge tasks!
What are you reading? Let us know in the comments!
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