Books

literary greats

Celebrating Toni Morrison With Thousands of Her Readers

 More than 3,000 people came to St. John the Divine to hear eulogies from Oprah, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and others. By Lila Shapiro
ya twitter

Famous Authors Drag Student in Surreal YA Twitter Controversy

 By Saturday afternoon, many of the authors involved had apologized. By Lila Shapiro
book excerpt

When Carrie Fisher Hung With the SNL Crowd

 Inside the hard-party days that fueled and finished her friendship with John Belushi. By Sheila Weller
  1. literary greats
    Celebrating Toni Morrison With Thousands of Her ReadersMore than 3,000 people came to St. John the Divine to hear eulogies from Oprah, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and others.
    By Lila Shapiro
  2. the grub street diet
    Author Carmen Maria Machado Wants Her Food Spicy and Strong“I like food that kind of kicks me in the teeth.”
    By Chris Crowley
  3. in memoriam
    Read Oprah Winfrey’s Powerful Eulogy for Toni Morrison“The first time I came face to face with Toni Morrison was in Maya Angelou’s backyard… Every time I looked at her, I couldn’t even speak.”
    By Rebecca Alter
  4. party report
    Sarah M. Broom’s National Book Award Speech Will Make You Want to Call Your MomIt cuts right to the heart.
    By Madison Malone Kircher
  5. trailer mix
    Emma Teaser Reminds Us That Laughing at Rich People Is FunWho doesn’t love a good comeuppance?
    By Zoe Haylock
  7. fleabag season 3?
    Let Phoebe Waller-Bridge Play Lyra Belacqua, You Cowards!We have a Pullman superfan in our midst.
    By Zoe Haylock
  8. books
    Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise Among 2019 National Book Award WinnersThe five winners were announced Wednesday night.
    By Zoe Haylock
  9. vulture lists
    Every Stephen King Reference and Easter Egg in Castle Rock Season TwoThe Hulu series brings one of King’s most iconic characters to the town of Castle Rock, but season two’s name-dropping goes well beyond Annie Wilkes.
    By Brian Tallerico
  10. ya twitter
    Famous Authors Drag Student in Surreal YA Twitter ControversyBy Saturday afternoon, many of the authors involved had apologized.
    By Lila Shapiro
  11. one grand books
    Sara Quin’s (of Tegan and Sara) 10 Favorite BooksWhite Teeth, Priestdaddy, and more.
    By Sara Quin
  14. books
    The It’s Garry Shandling’s Show Theme Song Was Written in an ElevatorPlus other highlights from a new book about the late comedian, edited by Judd Apatow.
    By Brian Boone
  15. chat room
    Camgirl Memoirist Isa Mazzei Wants to Take the Shame Out of Sex WorkThe author of Camgirl and the movie Cam talks about vulnerability in front of the camera and on the page.
    By Andy Crump
  16. book excerpt
    When Carrie Fisher Hung With the SNL CrowdInside the hard-party days that fueled and finished her friendship with John Belushi.
    By Sheila Weller
  17. read like the wind
    Vernon Subutex 1, and 9 More Books I Can’t Get Out of My HeadRecommended if you like: The Deuce, Iggy Pop, oversleeping.
    By Molly Young
  18. the resistance
    Welcome Tori Amos to the Resistance With Her Second MemoirHalf celebrity memoir, half reckoning with contemporary politics.
    By Justin Curto
  19. books
    Jenny Slate on How Writing Little Weirds Saved Her LifeThe comedian opens up about her new book, feminism, and writing her own death.
    By Eric Farwell
  20. great adaptations
    Is It Normal to Be This Hot?Sally Rooney’s Normal People is being adapted for TV. Here are the first images.
    By Hannah Gold
  21. from the vault
    Early Lyrics to ‘Purple Rain’ and Other Musical Details From Prince’s New Book“I’m not a politician, I’m a purple musician, / And I only want to set u free.”
    By Justin Curto
  22. vulture guides
    A Guide to the Best Stephen King AudiobooksFeaturing Kathy Bates, Sissy Spacek, Tim Curry, and more.
    By Zach Dionne
  23. hot takes
    All of Prince’s Pop-Culture Hot Takes From His New Book, The Beautiful OnesHe thought we needed a new word for what Beyoncé does.
    By Justin Curto
  26. the politics of fiction
    Alexander Chee on How to Unlearn EverythingWhen it comes to writing the “other,” what questions are we not asking?
    By Alexander Chee
  27. the politics of fiction
    Who Gave You the Right to Tell That Story?Ten authors on the most divisive question in fiction, and the times they wrote outside their own identities.
    By Lila Shapiro
  28. books
    New Elena Ferrante Novel AlertAnd we finally have a title and a publication date for it.
    By Bridget Read
  29. whoops
    Naomi Wolf’s New Book Has Been Canceled, Presumably Over Major ErrorsMonths ago, the author found out during an interview that some of her research was disastrously incorrect.
    By Hannah Gold
  30. pretty in print
    Rihanna Is the Chicest Person Alive and She Made a Book Just to Prove ItThe world is her photo shoot.
    By Zoe Haylock
  31. how mysterious!
    How I Learned to Write Mysteries the Mystic River WayBy deconstructing Dennis Lehane’s best seller, Angie Kim was able to shape her own debut novel.
    By Angie Kim
  32. your childhood
    Natalie Portman Receives a Signed Baby-Sitters Club Book, Loses Mind“I still identify as a Kristy mixed with Stacey and a dash of Dawn.”
    By Halle Kiefer
  33. how mysterious
    The Crimes Never End: A Guide to Mystery’s Biggest, Longest-Lasting FranchisesThe Boxcar Children? Hardy Boys? Women’s Murder Club? Still out there solving.
    By Zach Schonfeld
  34. as told tos
    How to Write Hercule Poirot in 2019Author Sophie Hannah on continuing Agatha Christie’s classic series — and why the detective definitely shouldn’t have a Twitter account.
    As told to Lila Shapiro
  35. books
    Mark Morris, Resident Troublemaker of Dance, on His Spiky New MemoirThe celebrated choreographer can still feel like a charlatan.
    By Aaron Hicklin
  38. the range
    Ronan Farrow’s Audiobook Accents Were Informed by His … Anime Voice Roles?Farrow had small parts in two Studio Ghibli films.
    By Zoe Haylock
  39. book excerpt
    A Guide to Asian Restaurants, by Ali WongAn excerpt from the comedian’s new book, Dear Girls.
    By Ali Wong
  40. how mysterious
    Tana French Is Our Best Living Mystery WriterWith her Dublin Murder Squad series, she has built a world that’s more George R.R. Martin than Agatha Christie — minus the beheadings.
    By Hillary Kelly
  41. appreciations
    Elton John’s Rivalry With Rod Stewart Is the Most Iconic FriendshipWe can all only hope to have a friendship as … invested … as Elton John and Rod Stewart’s.
    By Justin Curto
  42. how mysterious
    One Neat Trick to Writing Great Mystery PlotsThe critic and author of the Charles Lenox series advises doing what Michelangelo did, but backward.
    By Charles Finch
  43. me: elton john
    13 of the Best Celebrity Stories From Elton John’s Name-dropping Memoir, MeFrom trash-talking with Freddie Mercury, to reuniting John and Yoko, and plenty more.
    By Justin Curto
  44. profile
    Andrea Long Chu Wants MoreThe 26-year-old critic argues for a new understanding of gender and desire in her debut book, Females.
    By Lila Shapiro
  45. me: elton john
    Elton John, Turned on by Coke, Liked to Watch Men Have Sex, New Memoir Reveals“I found it was an aphrodisiac, which is strange, because for most people it kills the erection side of things completely.”
    By Justin Curto
  46. succession
    Shiv Definitely Hated Conversations With Friends, Right?Sally Rooney’s debut novel made a surprise cameo in Succession’s finale. But there’s no way Shiv liked it.
    By Sophie Vershbow
  47. me: elton john
    Elton John Describes a Bizarre Lunch With Michael Jackson in New Memoir“He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around.”
    By Justin Curto
  50. books
    Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo Both Win This Year’s Booker PrizeThe rules for the fiction award technically prohibit a tie, but rules are meant to be broken.
    By Halle Kiefer
  51. how mysterious!
    13 Mystery-Writing Tricks Used by Acclaimed NovelistsIncluding the Bullseye Method and the Don Draper Principle.
    By Madison Malone Kircher
  52. new yorker festival 2019
    Liz Phair Just Wants to Live in a Period Drama and Help Cows Build VillagesLet’s get her on The Crown.
    By Justin Curto
  53. new yorker festival 2019
    Nothing Can Get in the Way of Patti Smith Performing ‘People Have the Power’“Wait, I forgot to sing, that’s okay! Come on people, get up!”
    By Justin Curto
  54. true crime
    When True Crime Gets PersonalWhat happens when a true-crime veteran hears from his subjects’ loved ones.
    By Billy Jensen
  55. #metoo
    NBC News Chief Andy Lack Allegedly Preyed on Female EmployeesRonan Farrow’s new book, Catch and Kill, details Lack’s alleged involvement in harassment and cover-ups.
    By Zoe Haylock
  56. awards
    Nobel Prizes in Literature Awarded to Peter Handke and Olga TokarczukTwo laureates were awarded at the same time due to a scandal last year.
    By Zoe Haylock
  57. nancy drew anew
    Nancy Drew Is Not Who You RememberThe redheaded detective is back in a CW reboot, but the mystery remains: is she more than endlessly recyclable IP?
    By Molly Young
  58. new album please
    Breaking: Rihanna Just Acknowledged Her Music CareerAn album is coming. She promises.
    By Zoe Haylock
  59. #metoo
    Ronan Farrow’s New Book Reveals Details About Matt Lauer’s Rape AllegationHis new book, Catch and Kill, includes specifics about the complaint that got Matt Lauer fired.
    By Zoe Haylock
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