Citizen Reading: 9 January 2017
09 January 2017
A weekly selection of reading and book news, sometimes with completely inappropriate commentary.
John Berger, art critic: Obituary; historian Joyce Appleby: Obituary. I'd never heard of Appleby but at least one title of hers that I'd like to see now is 2010's The Relentless Revolution: A History of Capitalism.
This makes me sad: Village Voice writer and civil libertarian Nat Hentoff died. Somewhere I have a picture of me and Nat Hentoff, taken when I was about twelve. I hadn't known who he was, but after meeting him I read his 1976 YA novel This School Is Driving Me Crazy, which I really liked. I should read some Nat Hentoff.
"the top literary stories of 2016."
Always one of my favorite features at The Millions: The great 2017 book preview.
Quartz: How to make 2017 the year you "finally read more books."
Ten things readers should do in 2017.
Here's a different type of resolution: "only listening to and reading old things in 2017."
J.K. Rowling is at work on two new novels.
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale: On Hulu.
Will they stop at nothing? Amazon to open another bookstore in New York City.
USA Today Author of the Year: Colson Whitehead.
Costa Novel Award winner: Sebastian Barry.
International Dublin Literary Award: Longlist.
Golden Globes: Complete list of winners.
NONFICTION BOOK NEWS
Paste magazine: the best nonfiction books of 2016.
The annotated Mein Kampf sold 85,000 copies last year.
Will Schwalbe's "love letter to reading."
A "memoir of taking Christianity to the extreme."
The New York Times: new books on food, including a book about why sugar is bad for you (this book was discussed in a recent NYT podcast as well) and another about how fat really isn't that bad for you; as well as a number of other books about how Americans eat; a book about how Americans tried to stay out of World War I; a history of Siberia (this may have to be one of the first "depressing nonfiction books" that Mr. CR is always accusing me of reading that I bring home for the year); a story of chaos and redemption in the ruins of Somalia; a finance book involving psychology; Laurence Bergreen's new biography of Casanova.
BOOK LISTS
IndieBound: bestselling books the week of Jan. 5.
People Weekly: 11 inspirational books to read this winter.
Flavorwire: Must-read books of January.
Christian Science Monitor: 17 food-related books for winter reading.
The Verge: 16 science fiction and fantasy books you don't want to miss in January.
10 "politically subversive novels veiled in absurdism."
7 books on finance to start your fiscal new year off right.
Entertainment Weekly: 35 most anticipated YA novels of 2017.
Bustle: 7 reasons 2017 "is going to be an incredible year for book lovers."
MY READING NOTES
Didn't have a lot of time for reading this week, sadly. I did look at Potluck Supper with Meeting to Follow, by Andy Sturdevant. This was a mix of essays and line drawings, ostensibly about the Midwest but mainly about Minnesota and very specifically about Minneapolis. It reminded me of Paul Madonna's drawings, and I'd like to explore it more. Just not now.
Oh, and I'm re-reading Poldark. Just because.
AND NOW, YOUR OBLIGATORY NEIL GAIMAN POST
No Internet post this week. But Mr. CR is reading Fortunately, the Milk. I can't drum up the interest to do so. Sigh. Maybe this week.