Rebecca and Book Riot managing editor Vanessa Diaz discuss the NYT’s 100 books of the 21st century, sexual assault allegations against Neil Gaiman, disturbing revelations about Alice Munro, and more. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. For more industry news, sign up for our Today...

The Best Books of the 21st Century

New York State

In this special episode, Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Gilbert Cruz, editor of The New York Times Book Review, to talk about the construction, philosophy, and end result of The New York Times list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS,...

Building The 100 Best Books of the Century with Gilbert Cruz, Editor of THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and today we’re going a bit eerie with the new releases and recommendations. An odd choice in the summer, perhaps, but the summer slasher is a staple of film — and also, with the current heatwave, we’ve got the horrors of global climate change hanging over us anyway. Something a bit… chilling might be in order. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and definitely read these books in a cold, faintly creepy basement if that’s an option for you.

Horror Stories to Read in Your Basement This Summer

Have you been picking up a book only to put it down? Have you been feeling overwhelmed by the idea of finishing one from cover to cover? Are you counting the number of pages left in the chapter every time you sit down with a book? If you’re doing any of that, and even if you’re not, let books with short chapters come to your sweet rescue.

8 Page-Turning Books With Short Chapters To Keep You Hooked

Lancaster County, PA

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NewsByJoshua

Fans of Frisco's Chicken were left reeling as the beloved Peruvian-style eatery announced the closure of all its locations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The chain, known for its delicious food and strong community values, posted a heartfelt note on its doors, informing customers of the devastating news.

Favorite Chicken Chain Suddenly Closes All Stores, Heartfelt Message Found on Doors

New York City, NY

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Cheryl E Preston

Yesterday was the third time this year that an ad stating Chelsea Clinton lives in a beautiful Virginia home popped up on my laptop. My computer did not warn me this was a dangerous site, so this time, I clicked on the link.

Chelsea Clinton is rumored to be living in Virginia but probably still in NYC

Ohio State

Business Insider

Sen. JD Vance, who went from Trump critic to VP pick, said a dinner with CEOs in 2018 had him rethinking his politics.

JD Vance said a dinner with elite CEOs made him realize he might end up hating what he'd become

Abraham Lincoln was an American hero — but a flawed one. As we celebrate Juneteenth, let’s also acknowledge some ugly truths that reflect the times in which our our 16th president lived.

5 Ugly Abraham Lincoln Facts No One Likes to Talk About

The Forward

If J.D. Vance, the Republican party’s freshly nominated vice-presidential candidate, had been chosen for the position in Yiddish, a lot of people would be shaking (and scratching) their heads, given that his last name in Yiddish — vants — means “bedbug.” Though the phrase “does anyone know the Yiddish for bedbug” is trending online now,...

Why are Yiddish speakers talking about JD Vance and bedbugs?

English is a tricky language, even for those that speak it every day. Its intricacies make it hard to avoid getting certain words and phrases confused. Some words and phrases on this list are so frequently misused you may not have realized you were using them incorrectly. 1: A Lot...

19 Commonly Misused Words That Utterly Annoy Grammar Buffs

Welcome to Today in Books, where we report on literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. You’re expecting this to be a story about the latest TikTok romantasy hit, aren’t you? The clock app may be hogging headlines with stories about dragon riders who do it, but it’s Freida McFadden’s thrillers that are dominating bestseller lists. McFadden, a physician who writes under a pseudonym to protect her relationship with her patients, self-published for a decade before signing a deal with Sourcebooks’s Poisoned Pen Press. Her 23 (!) books have sold more than 6 million copies, making her the fastest-selling thriller writer in the U.S., outpacing heavy hitters James Patterson, David Baldacci, and John Grisham, who all show up beneath her on current sales charts. The New York Times‘s Alexandra Alter details McFadden’s rise in a new profile, which also hints at fascinating tidbits about Sourcebooks’s strategy. Now, my kingdom for a piece about the enduring appeal of the self-pub-to-traditional-deal pipeline.

The Thriller Writer Outselling James Patterson and John Grisham

Since Hillbilly Elegy came out in 2016, I’ve experienced countless people claiming to now “understand” where I come from and what Appalachian people are like. But they don’t think of my childhood watching my dad lose himself while arranging music on his piano or my grandfather tenderly nurturing plants in his ridiculously large garden. Instead, they imagine the stereotypes of J.D. Vance’s version of Appalachia, where the entire region is made up of poor rural white people consumed with violence who have no one to blame but themselves for their life circumstances.

“15 Books About Appalachia to Read Instead of Hillbilly Elegy”

Wyoming State

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WyoFile

Caitlin Tan wanted to breed her childhood horse, JP, because she’s been “amazing” — the type of animal any equestrian would be lucky to have once in a lifetime. Having access to coveted bloodlines increased the allure. Via the Miller Ranch, she could pair her 18-year-old mare with a stud descendent of Playboy’s Buck Fever.

Cream of the crop: a cremello foal is born in Wyoming

A Piece of Travel

English is a tough language to speak, and sometimes, a single word can be challenging through and through. Certain letters and sounds have no business being next to each other. But nevertheless, they sit side-by-side.

24 Words So Many Americans Mispronounce

Virginia State

Virginia Wendy Williams fans, this is your July 2024 update on the former talk show host. Her best friend of 44 years, Regina Schell, has shared recent concerns with TV Show Aces and says she has not seen or talked to Wendy in more than a year.

Wendy Williams fans are worried after her best friend claims not to have heard from her in a year

Denver, CO

David Heitz

A dangerous drug that is being mixed into fentanyl is causing those who inject it to develop a rash of sores that resembles a case of flesh-eating bacteria. People experiencing homelessness around Denver can sometimes be seen with these bloody, weeping wounds. I recently mentioned this phenomenon to a fentanyl user who told me about the xylazine connection.

Denver homeless people suffer sores as xylazine enters fentanyl supply

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

There are certain zodiac signs that most people are careful with because of their fiery and low tolerance levels. You can hardly mess with individuals with such signs without getting a backlash. Whether they are in work environments or family settings, they do not hesitate to set boundaries and protect them.

5 Zodiac Signs You Don't Mess With

Many of us have one or two catchphrases we use often. But some buzzwords make well-versed English speakers cringe. How many of these words and phrases are you guilty of saying?

15 Buzzwords Americans Overuse That Language Enthusiasts Are Tired Of

Pennsylvania State

Bucks County Beacon

With an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, the U.S. experienced another violent episode in its increasingly polarized politics. Former President Trump, who’s about to formally become the GOP nominee for president in the 2024 election, survived the attempted assassination when, initial reports said, a bullet grazed his ear . But one rally attendee was killed , more spectators were injured and the suspected gunman is also dead. The Conversation’s politics editor, Naomi Schalit, spoke with University of Massachusetts, Lowell, scholar Arie Perliger after the event. Perliger offered insight from his study of political violence and assassinations. Given the stark political polarization in the U.S., Perliger said, “it’s not a surprise that eventually people engage in violence.”

‘One Inch from a Potential Civil War’? Trump Shooting a Close Call for American Democracy

War History Online

When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, he had a number of items in his pockets. They have since been preserved by the Library of Congress.

What Were the Items Found in Abraham Lincoln’s Pockets on the Night He Was Assassinated?

NewsBreak

On Feeling Like an Unserious Reader

I was on the Book Riot Podcast this week, subbing in for Jeff and sitting down with Rebecca to discuss the latest in the wonderful world...

On Feeling Like an Unserious Reader

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