What Caught My Eye Online #18
Tommy Orange, great American novels, audiobook recs, and more
I have so much great stuff to share this week. Let’s jump in!
Kelly Jensen of Literary Activism talked about how state book awards were banned in an Illinois school district. I mean, they do sound pretty scandalous:
“The Rebecca Caudill Awards are selected by fourth through eighth grade students across the state annually. The books which earn the coveted honor are selected based on both their literary excellence and their appeal to the middle age reading demographic. The award helps to encourage reading for pleasure among tweens and young teens, to develop a statewide list of excellent literature for this age group, and to help develop cooperation and collaboration among schools and libraries statewide.”
In happier book news, the American Library Association shared a letter from the Vet Voice Foundation that was sent to eight school boards and three county boards in Virginia, a state that has seen a lot of book banning and challenges. I was moved when I read it. Standing up against book bans has to involve all of us, not just library workers and teachers. Part of the letter reads:
“As service members, we pledged our lives to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath is sacrosanct, embodying our dedication to the liberties that have long set our nation apart, including the freedom of speech and the unfettered right to access information. When books are banned, and voices are silenced, it is not just an attack on these rights but a direct affront to the very essence of democracy and the freedoms for which we, as veterans, have served to protect.”
Here’s a beautiful story about Tommy Orange visiting a high school classroom that had read his masterful novel, There There. Orange’s book is a tough read, featuring characters struggling with addiction, poverty, and violence, yet many of the students were able to relate and see themselves reflected. This piece reminded me about the power of stories and how essential it is that young people have access to them.
“It’s not often that an author walks into a room full of readers, let alone teenagers, who talk about characters born in his imagination as if they’re living, breathing human beings. And it’s equally rare for students to spend time with an author whose fictional world feels like a refuge. Of all the classroom visits he’s made since There There came out in 2018, the one at Millennium Art Academy earlier this month was, Orange said later, ‘the most intense connection I’ve ever experienced.’”
Speaking of Tommy Orange, he talks about his new book, Wandering Stars, here.
The new Great American Novels list from the Atlantic has been getting a lot of buzz. I liked this thoughtful commentary from Sara Hildreth (a.k.a. Fiction Matters) in which she wonders what a great American novel actually entails.
If you’re an audiobook fan, check out this list from Kirkus sharing 20 audiobook recommendations.
I love a good cult story, and CrimeReads suggests six of them.
CrimeReads also has a new interview with Tana French.
This book list includes some good suggestions for novels about women who are figuring out who they are.
March continues to bless us with a long list of new book releases.
Goodreads shares the 58 biggest books of spring, according to readers.
Beloved author Lauren Groff is opening an indie bookstore in Florida.
Here’s an excellent profile of Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of Abbott Elementary, one of my favorite TV shows.
I’ve been a Modern Proper fan for a long time now. I made their Cabbage and Sausage Sheet Pan recipe for dinner the other night, and it was delicious, especially the yummy sauce.
What’s caught your eye lately?
I’m going to try that recipe. Thank you! Love the recs