Long reads, essays, podcasts and other recommended content

[Carol]

Whether you're completing challenges, expanding your reading to include more LGBTQ stories and authors, or simply looking for good reads, here's a link to BookRiot's Alphabet of Queer Books: LGBTQ Book Recs from A-Z, which includes nonfiction as well as a range of genres. (includes male authors)

https://bookriot.com/alphabet-of-quee...

[Carol]

Just in time for #WiT month, The Guardian published this article 29 July focused on the readership of works translated from languages other than English into English. There's a lot in it to discuss, and a couple of interesting data points around which the article is framed.

1. "...sales of translated fiction increased 22% last year , compared to 2021 – and that it is most popular among readers under 35, who account for almost 50% of translated fiction sales. This is much higher than the 31% share of overall fiction sales bought by these readers – and the figures have grown year on year.

and
2. [Fiametta] Rocco points out that young people “don’t seem to be reading the languages that were classically regarded as the drivers of the canon”, that is, western European languages. Of the 2m books of translated fiction sold in Britain last year, she tells me, “the single most popular language – just under half a million volumes – was Japanese” (not including manga), “followed by South Korean”.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

I'd love to hear what resonates with, or troubles, other members. Does the data around an age gap in readers of translated fiction surprise you or validate something you'd already observed?

[Carol]

Book Riot published, "9 Body Horror Novels by Women About Losing Control." The term, "body horror" got my attention in the same way, "new adult" got my attention when I encountered it for the first time last week. Here's how they describe it:

"From a young age, women’s bodies are often commodified and sexualized, becoming a spectacle or privilege for others to look at, comment on, and touch without permission. Many women have to think through how their body will be perceived, what their clothes and makeup and hair say about them, and who might react to those things before going out into the world. Every blemish is a betrayal. Every choice is scrutinized. With pregnancy, birth control, and puberty, no matter who you are, you know what it’s like to not be in control of what your body is doing.

If you can relate to this feeling, no matter who you are, check out these nine body horror novels written by women...

The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung (#WiT)
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel
Queen of Teeth by Hailey Piper
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

https://bookriot.com/body-horror-nove...

if you've read and recommend any of them, let us know.

[Alwynne]

Carol wrote: "Book Riot published, "9 Body Horror Novels by Women About Losing Control." The term, "body horror" got my attention in the same way, "new adult" got my attention when I encountered it for the first..."

Thanks Carol, I've read the Chung and the Armfield both worth trying. Mona Awad's Rouge explores similar themes.

[Carol]

Alwynne wrote: "Carol wrote: "Book Riot published, "9 Body Horror Novels by Women About Losing Control." The term, "body horror" got my attention in the same way, "new adult" got my attention when I encountered it..."

Thank you!

[Carol]

From LitHub, an article by Marion Gibson: "How Witches Shifted from Daily Healers to Heretics and Dangerous Women Under Christian Rule" Her book Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials was just released in the US, so LitHub giving her this real estate no doubt is part of the promotional plan, but since I requested her book as one of my Christmas presents and it arrived last week, I don't object to being a cog in the marketing wheel.

https://lithub.com/how-witches-shifte...

[Carol]

Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post last week. Even if American politics isn't your thing, it's worth reading for her exquisite writing.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...

[GailW]

Carol wrote: "Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post last week. Even if American politics isn't your thing, it's worth reading for her exquisite w..."

Thank you for sharing. I subscribe to the Washington Post and missed this! (Some days I protect myself by sticking my head in the sand. Not very effective...).

I hate to admit that I have never read any of her books. Just put three on my TBR and bought one.

[Carol]

Gail W wrote: "Carol wrote: "Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post last week. Even if American politics isn't your thing, it's worth reading for h..."

Understood - I've got the opposite complaint, which is I don't want news delivered "for me". I want to see all of the content and decide for myself what to read. *grumble* *grumble*

Danticat is a really interesting author. Definitely LitFic. I've read one book that I thought was fine (Krik? Krak), but not compelling; another touched me more deeply. I think it was Breath, Eyes, Memory. She's written a lot, a whole lot, though, so I think it's worth sampling several from your library and seeing what hits. You won't have wasted any time even if you don't complete something (although if memory serves, you're a completist, so no risk there lol).

[Ozsaur]

Edwidge Danicat - considering how much she's written, may I suggest her as a contestant for Author Focus next year?

[GailW]

Ozsaur wrote: "Edwidge Danicat - considering how much she's written, may I suggest her as a contestant for Author Focus next year?"

You've got my vote!

[Ozsaur]

Thanks Gail!

[Carol]

Recommended Reading: LitHub published a charming and insightful interview with Jamaica Kincaid, "Trees of Life and Knowledge: Jamaica Kincaid on Colonialism, Gardening and Worshipping her Plants."

https://lithub.com/trees-of-life-and-...

[Carol]

Audible plans to start using AI voices to narrate books. https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

I know. I know. It means that humans won't be getting paid as frequently to narrate audiobooks. But this is an ideal use of AI, from my perspective, particularly if it brings down the price of audiobooks, including allowing libraries to purchase more licenses for the price they're paying today, or expands the availability of backlist titles on audio. Fewer negotiations with talent. Faster production (no need to haggle over a production schedule with talent). What will be interesting is if they try to get the pitch and pacing of AI narrators to match certain highly popular talent, to a point where those folks successfully sue to stop soundalikes.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

[Carol]

LitHub published its 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 and it's a great source of titles you might not have bumped in to because they lack the marketing $$ of the Big 5 publishers and their imprints. (It includes male authors.) Maybe you'll find a gift or two, or a couple of titles to add to your own holiday list if someone asks you what you'd like to receive.

https://lithub.com/100-notable-small-...

My find was, Accidental Shepherd: How a California Girl Rescued an Ancient Mountain Farm in Norway by Liese Greensfelder