The Bay Psalm Book is notable for being the first book printed in the North American British colonies. It was published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1640. For reference, the House of the First Printing Press in the Americas, also established by colonizers, began printing books in Mexico City in 1539. The Bay Psalm Book was an original translation of the Psalms, meant to be used in worship by the 3,500 families living in the Massachusetts Bay Colony....

Mythic, religious, and folkloric traditions directly influence Fantasy as a genre. All three have stories that show magic and war working hand-in-hand. Even in fantastical stories, a culture’s relationship to war appears again and again. Magic, myth, and monsters become tools of war in stories with fantastical elements over time. It is unsurprising, then, that fantasy series are still primarily about war. Although a complete accounting of the global impact of magical wars have defined many academic’s careers, here are some of the western basics....

Lately, when I skim the summaries of new historical fiction books that look interesting, something has stopped me from selecting those books to read. It’s the setting in which these books take place. Not a specific city or country, but World War II (WWII) as a setting. Over the last five to ten years, I have personally noticed a surge in publications of books set during WWII. I may be wrong about this....

Seth On Love In “Round And Round” an exhausted traveler awaits the arrival of his luggage when he spots a bag that ‘must be hers’. There is hope and there is longing. But soon an old man claims it off the carousel, extinguishing our traveler’s hope, leaving him with just longing. Seth has played with similar sentiments in “Unclaimed”, where he describes what netizens might call a “hook-up”. The narrator speaks of a love that cannot be carried forth to the next day....

There’s one girl in the group who is a shivering mess. She’s been screaming a lot. She’s on the edge of panic. And she’s probably the one who is going to survive this. Is that trope just a silly horror film construct? I argue that it isn’t. The man doesn’t fully believe he’s in danger and vulnerable. The damsel does. The damsel doesn’t know she’s in a horror movie until she’s in it, but now she has to learn to adapt to its rules....

With more than 4.25 billion bottles purchased by Americans just last year — followed closely by 3.6 billion by France and 3 billion by Italy — there is no time like the present to learn about the captivating world of wine. Beautifully illustrated with more than 400 stunning photographs and 100 maps, this breathtaking encyclopedia is arranged geographically to highlight the regions and climates that produce the best vintage wines....

Nobbin is now Prince Charming’s assistant, though he’s unable to assist him when things go awry saving Princess Angelica. After that, Sir Roderick thinks the princess needs training and advises the king to send her away to a queen who can educate her. The king has doubts, but the queen suddenly shows up with her son, Figbert. They both torment everyone until, one day, Figbert disappears. Nobbin suspects Sir Roderick....

Fantasy Worlds with dragonsEverything else — Emily R. King (@Emily_R_King) January 27, 2019 Romance The romance is forbidden and off-limits Everything else via GIPHY Historical Fiction This ONE man from the evil side was actually really nice Science Fiction Major confusion because someone meddled with time and space across multiple parallel universes Everything else via GIPHY Graphic Novels Fridging Everything else Memoirs and Biographies My male pain was more important than systemic oppression Everything else...

Michiko Kakutani’s NY Times review of Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe (Note: Kakutani does not use the word “limn” ONCE in this entire review. We could spend the whole post obsessively picking apart whether this means Kakutani secretly liked or unequivocally loathed this book. I KNOW Kakutani using “limn” all the time is secret code for SOMETHING! I KNOW IT!) The result is a soapy, gripping and sometimes glib novel that’s filled with heaps of contrivance and cartoonish antics, but that also stars two characters who attest to Mr....

I’m amazed by authors who’ve made a name for themselves in multiple areas of publishing, and who continue to keep readers on their toes by switching it up! If you like to read widely, then check out these ten authors with tremendous range! Want to explore entry points for a variety of prolific authors? Check out our Reading Pathways archives.

It’s been incredibly interesting to me how the interest in astrology has gained popularity over the years, specifically among Gen Z. And there are so many ways to incorporate astrology, too. There are dating apps, daily journals and workbooks, and social media apps focused on connecting with signs as the core. Whether you are a seasoned astrology practitioner or don’t yet know your sign, these books on astrology are fantastic ways to learn more about the practice or just understand the hype....

The Stuff of Nightmares by Malorie Blackman Kyle and his class get on a train that’s supposed to take them on a school trip – but they soon find themselves on a very different kind of journey when Death begins to stalk the carriages. The children’s fears begin to come to light, each becoming a story of its own in this collection-within-a-novel. Malorie Blackman is best known for her sci-fi and contemporary stories, but in The Stuff of Nightmares, she proves her chops as a horror writer....

If you love the characters… Puddin’ by Julie Murphy Obviously, Willowdean “Dumplin’” Dixon is one of the highlights of Dumplin’—both the book and the movie. And the good news is, she makes another literary appearance in Puddin’, Murphy’s companion novel to Dumplin’. And you might even recognize the starring characters of this novel, as well! Even though Willowdean is more of a secondary character in this book, Millie and Callie’s story of unexpected friendship, body acceptance, and following your dreams should still appeal to any fans wanting more of their Dumplin’ fix....

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield There are books you read and enjoy but, once put away, never think of again. This lush, melancholy story from the banks of the Thames has never left me since I turned the last page. In a tale that feels timeless, a wounded stranger washes up into an ancient inn on a cold winter night. In his arms is a lifeless child, who, against all odds, is later revived....

The Flintstones by Mark Russell, art by Steven Pugh When I was told that The Flintstones was one of the best comics of 2017, I did a double take. The Flintstones? I was intrigued and took a dive into this two volume series. It’s the Flintstones…with a critique of capitalism in society. Barney and Fred are war veterans trying to make it in their world. But they learn the system is not set up for them....

From The Hunger Games to The Hate U Give, political young adult books have been surging in visibility. Some critics, clouded by stereotypes of the category, may dismiss YA as unsubstantial. Yet as protestors in Thailand have shown, the issues addressed in these books are rarely 100% fiction. While history has an eerie way of repeating itself when left unexamined, issues do evolve and transform. So, here are 10 more political YA books that are sure to keep you engaged with the world....

The following are ten poems about drinking. Some poems are about wine, others focus on different liquors as well as poems about non-proof drinks like Coke and Kool Aid. Bottom’s up! Poems About Wine Because nothing goes together quite like poetry and wine. After all, Robert Louis Stevenson once said, “Wine is bottled poetry.” The Soul of Wine by Charles Baudelaire “One night, from bottles, sang the soul of wine: Read more here....

Some of these songs may not have quite enough narrative content for a whole graphic novel, but might make great graphic short stories (anthology, anyone?) or would be fine with a little padding thanks to creative license. I’m convinced that all of these are songs that should be graphic novels, though. And I want to hear what yours are, too. Be sure to tell us in the comments! 11 Songs That Should Be Graphic Novels “Proud Mary” by Ike and Tina Turner It’s important that the graphic novel adaptation of “Proud Mary” is based off of the Ike and Tina Turner version....

For non-Indigenous readers, picking up a memoir by an Indigenous writer is a way to fill in educational gaps. Too often, the publishing world, the media, and culture at large ignore and even suppress the stories of Indigenous people. It’s too easy for the non-Indigenous to think of Indigenous people as existing in the past, in history books, instead living vibrant lives today. Memoirs allow readers to engage with a personal story while broadening their understanding of history, contemporary society, and the wide range of Indigenous experiences....

What’s high fantasy? The term, coined by author Lloyd Alexander in a 1969 address to librarians (and later a 1971 essay) refers to fiction set in a secondary world—not the one we live in. High (or epic) fantasy is often focused on a hero of mysterious pedigree (who often has great talents hidden from everyone, even themselves) and centers on moral themes, mostly the battle between good and evil. It sounds so formulaic when it’s put like that, but then—think of all the great characters’ stories that hang on (and play with) that framework: Yeine!...