Booksology A daily summary of literary headlines at the intersection of today’s books, books, politics, culture, media and more.
What are the most recommended books of the century so far?
If you’re around Portland, or take part in the livebook Riot Podcast event in Powell on Thursday, March 13th, discussing the most recommended books of the century so far. Your $15 will double as credit for your in-store purchases. Jeff and I keep our list secret from each other and can’t wait to share our picks and chat with you. Bring your book-like friends or your entire book club!
Fiction 2025 Penn/Falkner Award finalist
The finalists for the 2025 Penn/Folkner Fiction Awards were announced earlier this week, “Celebrating the best published works by permanent American residents in calendar year.” (All awards must be based on calendar year, full stop.) James of Percival Everett deserves a season of award winning, but is on the nomination list along with two other books I loved. Behind Garth Greenwell’s Indie Darling Small Rain and you are the ocean by Susan Mudi Daraj closing the list. The winners who receive the $15,000 will be announced at a ceremony held on May 15th. Usually I want to see some variations in awards season, but I’m pulling hard to keep up with Everett winning streak.
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Simply fun
This is new. This is an interview with the author conducted by TypewRiter. With the help of pre-computer technology and the good old USPS, Austin Creon and Rossgay discuss the perfect day, stupid writing rituals, artistic lineage and more. Gay is a recent book exploring joy and joy, and is one of my favorite thinkers, because he does something that answers questions about how to give better attention to ideas like this.Writing what I notice helps me think. It’s a pointing version, the writing is. Pointing and thinking to be more accurate. Preciser Still: It’s strange!”
Yes in this creative format, essentially yes and yesLollygagging, visiting, waylaying, teaming, tightening things, sharing food, putting on yard equipment from the clock.“
The complex world of YA books for teens
This is YA specialist Kelly Jensen, a book resident on the complexities of writing YA for teens.
The enduring dissatisfaction in the YA world is that YA books are not published for young teenage readers. In some respects, this is true. Readers just outside the middle school demographics have a lack of compelling books for readers looking for YA books with 13, 14, or 15 characters. Melinda speaks is 14. Monster Steve, 16 years old. Many of the books that have become a hot topic online today and have been talked about for the past 30 years or more are those with older protagonists, sometimes over 18 years old.
