What Caught My Eye Online #61

Romance covers, Argentinian novels, new thrillers, and more

Photo by ASTERISK KWON on Unsplash

Welcome to this week’s roundup! Here’s what I’ve been loving lately:

• Free coffee. A parent group at one of the schools where I work treated all staff to free coffee the other day. I love coffee and free things, so imagine my joy when the two are combined. I wish someone delivered an iced Americano to my desk every morning.

• My school’s multicultural art night. Last Friday, I attended a multicultural fair at one of my schools. I enjoy these events each year, and this one was the most well-attended of them all, I think. It’s always life-giving to see students who might not always get the recognition they deserve singing, dancing, and sharing about their home countries.

And now for this week’s links!

• I enjoyed this thoughtful video essay from Jack Edwards about the recent cartoonification of romance book covers. Since this trend has become more common, many students have asked us to purchase adult romance titles that are way too steamy for a school library.

• SheReads suggests books to help readers discover lesser-known women’s history through fiction. Harlem Rhapsody sounds great. (In case you missed it, I shared 25 of my favorite women writers in last Saturday’s post.)

• Claudia Piñeiro has been on my TBR for a while now. She recommends five contemporary Argentinian novels for Five Books.

• Shelf Awareness has an interesting interview with Rebecca Romney, author of the new book Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend. It was fun to get a peek into the world of rare book dealing. (You might have to scroll down a bit to see the interview.)

• Kelly Jensen reminds us that knowing how to identify credible sources is more important than ever. (Side note: This is one reason why school libraries and librarians are vital to students’ media literacy.)

• After I finish a couple of the books I’m currently reading, I want to pick up a good thriller. Here are some coming out soon. Creep sounds especially good.

• CrimeReads has more suggestions. Here are seven essential domestic thrillers.

• It’s the 20th anniversary of Kazuo Ishiguro’s wonderful novel Never Let Me Go. The Guardian profiles him here.

• Publishers Weekly looks at some of the books behind the 2025 Academy Award nominations.

• NPR interviews Zadie Smith.

• Would you like to read a novel set in a strange and unsettling town that will haunt you? Here are eight recommendations!

• These seven novels explore friendship in all its messy, complex beauty.

• I loved Scaachi Koul’s first essay collection, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter. I’m excited to pick up her new release, Sucker Punch. The author talks with NPR.

• Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead is one of my all-time favorite books. Martin Scorsese will be adapting it (and the other books in the series).

• Fast Company looks at graphic novels and how they’re changing children’s relationship with books (in a good way).

• This is an interesting essay about how mystery books can serve as respite for someone struggling with anxious thoughts.

• Many universities are unraveling their DEI programs, even though they don’t have to. The fact that so many people are threatened by the words diversity, equity, and inclusion is appalling.

• I might be the last person to know this, but you can stream a lot of great documentaries for free on the PBS American Experience YouTube channel. I love their president series.

• I haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but I’m excited to hear Amy Poehler on Conan O’Brien’s podcast.

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What caught your eye this past week? What have you been loving lately? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading!