Currently, my favorite Black history books are books that talk about womanism (Black feminism), Black LGBTQ+ identities, and the sociological impact of racism and anti-Blackness. It’s one thing to learn heroes, which we should strive to educate ourselves on. But it’s critical to seek more insight into how Black people navigate in society as it relates to pop culture, activism, and identity intersections. Here are 12 additional titles to add to your bookshelf....

But I still find myself wanting to read spooky books in October. Over the years, I’ve managed to find some not-so-scary reads to scratch that itch. If you’re the same, I’ve ranked these 13 horror reads for the squeamish by their scare level. The more ghosts the scarier, but none of these should leave you in a cold sweat. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende A classic work of magical realism, The House of Spirits makes a perfect October book for readers who don’t like horror....

As I was researching poems for this list, I found that I knew exactly what I didn’t like in an erotic poem. Descriptions of throbbing veins and the curve of her creamy white neck, for example, do not move me. This means that if you love phallic symbols and lingering contemplations of white ladies’ necks, you’re not going to see very much of that here. Sorry. I landed on these 13 erotic poems that I think are genuinely sexy for one reason or another....

Not only do wall book racks serve a practical purpose, but they can also be a lovely piece of decor to brighten up your living space. The ones I’ve found and highlighted here come in a wide variety of styles, so hopefully you can find the perfect fit to match whatever aesthetic you’re going for. If you don’t have a ton of free wall space, no worries there either, as there are plenty of options below that are fairly compact....

For this list, I used the definition of Western Africa that includes: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. I tried to include at least one book from every country, where I could. Keep in mind that I have only included translated works in my consideration, so books that were originally written in English wouldn’t be eligible — this took away from my inclusion of many Ghanian books such as Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo or The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah; as well as many Nigerian books, including the classic Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, or Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinka....

Holiday romance books are an instant emotional booster for me. Even if I am in a bad mood or feeling down, reading a holiday romance perks my spirits back up. So whether you enjoy something light or something a bit more complex, you will find a holiday romance story the fits you just right. Here are some new holiday romance novel releases that debuted in 2020 to extend your post-Christmas reading....

Or if you have a big stack to donate, try reading this article about places that accept book donations. Seriously, any way we can give back to our communities and the world is what we need more of in this life. But without further ado, here are 15 book charities to inspire hope this holiday season: 1. World Literacy Foundation Their mission is to eradicate world poverty through literacy. They believe that young people deserve the opportunity to acquire literacy and reading skills to reach their full potential....

We’ve already shared some books by Muslims to read during Ramadan and 30 books for the 30 days. But, too often, UK Muslim authors fall under the radar and don’t get the visibility or attention they deserve and need. If you’re looking to diversify and expand your #MuslimShelfSpace this Ramadan, here are just a handful of books by UK Muslim authors to include on your TBR. The Things I Would Tell You: British Muslim Women Write edited by Sabrina Mahfouz Selected by Emma Watson for her feminist book club earlier this year, this is a groundbreaking collection of short stories, essays, plays, and poems from Muslim women across the UK....

Many of Chile’s most well-known writers of modern times wrote their works outside of Chile, due to a long period of self-imposed “exiles” amidst the repression and danger under dictator Augusto Pinochet. And so, quite a few of the books on this list deal with Chile under that dictatorship, its impact, and its lingering trauma. Not all the books or stories take place in Chile itself, as many of these writers dealt with the experience of being an expat in other countries, still representing their home but far from its borders....

I’ve found that most crime readers are also fans of crime films/TV series so with that in mind I thought I’d do a list of “if you liked that try this.” You can use it either way and find a book based on a film or show you liked or find a new show or film to watch based on a book you enjoyed. Or just add it all to your to-watch and to-read lists because why not?...

How Do Free Bookstores Work? Each store has their own strategy for surviving without selling their books. For some, it’s just a bonus part of their business or existing nonprofit: a bookcase in the corner of a food kitchen, or just one area of a traditional bookstore. Most rely on volunteers for labor and donations for books, but that still leaves the question of rent, which is why many share space with other organizations....

Here are two more books on craft that can get that pen to paper. And fingers to the keyboard. And thumbs to the phone screen. And voice to the mic. You/Poet by Rayna Hutchison and Samuel Blake This book’s subtitle reads “Learn The Art. Speak Your Truth. Share Your Voice.” That’s empowerment right on the cover. Part I offers really short chapters packed with the basics of traditional poetry and contemporary poetry....

Although there are tremendous YA memoirs for teens, so too are there awesome adult memoirs perfect for teen readers. They either tell gripping personal stories from the author’s younger years or their coming-of-age, or they share stories that haven’t yet been seen in YA but connect with adolescent readers. A memoir, being a first-person narrative from a specific period of time in an individual’s life or covering a particular experience within their life, connects with YA readers in particular because of the immediacy of the storytelling....

Bah Humbug Sweatshirt Bah Humbug your way through the holidays with this Scrooge sweatshirt from Letty and Izzy Co. All I Want For Christmas Is Books Sweatshirt Is there anything truer that this sweatshirt from Bibi Tee Shop? All I want for Christmas is books, too. Mr. Grinch Sweatshirt You’ve gotta love a classic. And this simple Grinch design from Ellen Art Boutique is as classic as it comes. Book Stack Sweatshirt Stacks on stacks on book sweatshirts!...

These ten books, from memoirs to YA romcoms, are only a very small sampling of that, but I think they’ll give you a good idea of what’s in store. And you certainly can’t go wrong adding any of these books to your TBR list even as you search out more great reads coming out this year. It’s a fine year for LGBTQ books, my friends. These ten titles are proof of that....

The author trusts the reader to take a leap into what is impossible in our world, and suspend disbelief. Thus they’ve created a believable world where the impossible is possible. You just have to make the jump. Let the record also stand that these books can be light and whimsical, or dark and moody. I’m all for more fantasy comedies, and for less gatekeeping. Children’s fantasy overall tends to be more fun, because authors are more willing to entertain the kids....

In this memoir-in-essays full of spot-on observations about home, work, and creative life, acclaimed essayist Mary Laura Philpott takes on the conflicting pressures of modern adulthood with wit and heart. She offers up her own stories to show that identity crises don’t happen just once or only at midlife; reassures us that small, recurring personal re-inventions are both normal and necessary; and advises that if you’re going to faint, you should get low to the ground first....

Find below 20 incredible sets of crystal bookends. It’s always worth double-checking the listings for crystal bookends if you’re in the market—some can be small, while others might be surprisingly big and take up more space than anticipated (though maybe that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since you can hold up more books). You’ll also want to decide between natural gems and polished gems—one will have raw edges and appear “imperfect,” while the other will be smoothed....

The Best Clarice Lispector Quotes “Everything in the world began with a yes. One molecule said yes to another molecule and life was born.” —The Hour of the Star, translated by Benjamin Moser “The world’s continual breathing is what we hear and call silence.” —The Passion According to G.H., translated by Idra Novey “Who has not asked himself at some time or other: am I a monster or is this what it means to be a person?...

Well, luckily, the internet is just chock-full of creative ideas for homemade gifts and many would be the perfect thing to bring a little cheer to the readers in your life during this holiday season. From stocking stuffers to keepsakes, we’ve got a list of DIY gifts for book lovers that will bring a smile to your loved one’s face! Bookmarks Bookmarks are great stocking stuffers, easy and quick to make, and you ALWAYS need one!...