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Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The week's bestselling books, June 22
1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Press: $30) An unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond. 2. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (Tor Books: $30) A vampiric tale follows three women across the centuries. 3. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballantine Books: $30) A story of friendship, love and adversity during the 1980s Space Shuttle program. 4. Nightshade by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown & Co.: $30) The bestselling crime writer returns with a new cop on a mission, this time on Catalina Island. 5. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Atria Books: $30) The bond between a group of teens 25 years earlier has a powerful effect on a budding artist. 6. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Berkley: $29) Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of an heiress. 7. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' 8. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books: $30) Worlds collide when a teenager vanishes from her Adirondacks summer camp. 9. The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (S&S/Marysue Rucci Books: $30) A young father grapples with tragedy and the search for redemption. 10. King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar: $29) A man returns to his roots to save his family in this Southern crime epic. … 1. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life. 2. Steve Martin Writes the Written Word by Steve Martin (Grand Central Publishing: $30) A collection of greatest hits from the beloved actor and comedian. 3. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (Penguin: $32) The music producer on how to be a creative person. 4. How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast (Viking: $28) The author's memoir on her intense relationship with her famed mother, writer Erica Jong. 5. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane (W. W. Norton & Co.: $32) The naturalist explores rivers as living beings whose fate is tied with our own. 6. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad (Random House: $30) A guide to the art of journaling, with contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem and others. 7. The #1 Dad Book by James Patterson (Little, Brown & Co.: $25) The bestselling author's tips on being a better father. 8. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press: $45) The Pulitzer-winning biographer explores the life of the celebrated American writer. 9. The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer and John Burgoyne (illustrator) (Scribner: $20) The 'Braiding Sweetgrass' author on gratitude, reciprocity and community, and the lessons to take from the natural world. 10. The Haves and Have-Yachts by Evan Osnos (Scribner: $30) A collection of essays exploring American oligarchy and the culture of excess. … 1. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18) 2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Ecco: $20) 3. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $19) 4. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (Berkley: $19) 5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (HarperOne: $18) 6. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19) 7. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Vintage: $19) 8. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17) 9. Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (Berkley: $20) 10. Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Grove Press: $17) … 1. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20) 2. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12) 3. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21) 4. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18) 5. Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch (Tarcher: $20) 6. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Milkweed Editions: $22) 7. The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (Harper Perennial: $20) 8. Waiting for Britney Spears by Jeff Weiss (MCD: $19) 9. Historic Los Angeles Roadsides by Mimi Slawoff (Reedy Press: $27) 10. Sociopath by Patric Gagne (Simon & Schuster: $20)
Geek Girl Authority
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Book Review: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL
Thank you to Tor Books for sending me a copy of Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil in exchange for an honest review. María, Charlotte and Alice are three women separated by centuries but united by longing, defiance and a burning desire for freedom. In 16th-century Spain, María marries into wealth to gain freedom, only to find herself trapped again until a mysterious widow offers her a dangerous escape. In 19th-century London, Charlotte is exiled for loving the wrong person, until another enigmatic widow reveals a hidden legacy and a new path forward. And in 2019 Boston, Alice awakens as a vampire after a one-night stand, launching her on a desperate quest for answers – and for the woman who turned her life upside down. RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out On June 10 Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Book Review Spanning centuries and continents, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a dark, addictive fever dream. V.E. Schwab's newest book is meant to be savored, even if you want to devour it. While Schwab engages in plenty of modern vampire tropes, this isn't a romantic story. Instead, it's about obsession, power and a hunger for more. She draws on clear inspiration from Interview with the Vampire . As a result, this is a dark, twisted tale full of morally grey and even downright evil characters. Each must address the same questions: If eternity turns you into something inhuman, can you still be good? Or does survival mean surrendering to the monster within? RELATED: Top 10 Vampires From Books, TV and Film It's the different character studies that make Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil so powerful. María, Charlotte and Alice's stories echo each other in a fierce exploration of power, survival and the cost of choosing yourself. Each woman begins the narrative shackled by society, queer women searching for love, recognition and wholeness in a world that denies their existence. In spite of these similarities, however, their stories never get repetitive. Each woman's differences make her stand out from the rest. María is sympathetic, ambitious and ruthless. As the one who lives as a vampire the longest, her transformation is fascinating to watch. Charlotte is relatable but also frustrating, and will likely be the most divisive of the three narrators. And Alice is sweet, with a fierceness hidden beneath her grief. All three stories intertwine with themes of grief, longing and the desire for control. RELATED: 8 Books to Read for Pride 2025 and Beyond As a whole, Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is another stunning work from V.E. Schwab. It's full of female rage and women who refuse to be tamed. Read this one for a story of yearning and hunger that will stay with you long after you finish. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is out now and available from your local independent bookstore or TW: alcohol, animal death, blood, body horror, car accident, child death, classism, confinement, death, death of a parent, domestic abuse, drug use, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, gaslighting, gore, grief, homophobia, injury/injury detail, lesbophobia, mental illness, misogyny, murder, panic attacks/disorders, physical abuse, rape, sexism, sexual harrasment/assault, sexual content, suicide/suicidal thoughts, stalking, torture, toxic relationship, violence, war Book Review: THE FRAGILE THREADS OF POWER
Geek Tyrant
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
James Cameron Confirms His Next Movie Will Be a Fantasy Epic THE DEVILS — GeekTyrant
James Cameron has been burined deep in the world of Pandora for years, but he's announced what his next film project will be. The filmmaker behind Aliens , Titanic , and Avatar announced on Facebook that his next movie after Avatar: Fire and Ash will be an adaptation of The Devils . The Devil's is a brand-new fantasy novel by British author Joe Abercrombie, and Cameron is producing and co-writing the script with Abercrombie himself. The director said: 'I've loved Joe's writing for years, cherishing each new read, throughout the epic cycle of the First Law books, especially Best Served Cold (LOVE IT!), and the Age of Madness trilogy. 'But the freshness of the world and the characters in The Devils finally got me off my butt to buy one of his books and partner with him to bring it to the screen. 'I can't wait to dig into this as I wind down on Avatar: Fire and Ash. It will be a joyful new challenge for me to bring these indelible characters to life.' Abercrombie has built a loyal following in the grimdark fantasy space. His First Law series redefined the genre with its morally compromised antiheroes and sharp, self-aware writing. But, The Devils , which just hit shelves last month via Tor, kicks off a new trilogy, one with a very different premise. Set in a warped version of our own world, The Devils imagines a Europe crawling with unspeakable monsters and under siege by flesh-eating elves. The story centers on Brother Diaz, a weary soldier-priest tasked with assembling a team of both men and monsters to fight back the rising tide of horror. Abercrombie seems just as excited about the team-up, saying: 'I can't think of anyone better to bring this weird and wonderful monster of a book to the screen,' he said in a statement. This isn't the only Abercrombie film adaptation in the works. Best Served Cold , one of his most beloved standalone novels, is currently being developed as a feature film with Rebecca Ferguson set to play the deadly Monza Murcatto. That project is being directed by Deadpool's Tim Miller and is currently in pre-production. Cameron, meanwhile, still has a few stops left on the Avatar train. Fire and Ash , the third installment in his sprawling sci-fi epic, is scheduled to open on December 19th. Two more sequels are planned after that, with tentative release dates in 2029 and 2031. But clearly, the filmmaker is already mapping out his next creative obsession. If The Devils lands with the scope and visual intensity we associate with Cameron, and given the source material, this could be a great new chapter for both the director and modern fantasy cinema. The Devils is available now in print, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Geek Girl Authority
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Book Review: THE INCANDESCENT
Thank you to Tor Books for sending me a copy of The Incandescent in exchange for an honest review. About The Incandescent by Emily Tesh Doctor Walden may be one of the most powerful magicians in England. She spends her days, however, as Director of Magic at Chetwood Academy, corralling chaotic sixth-formers, attending endless meetings and holding back the demonic forces that threaten the school's ancient wards. She's brilliant, composed, and trusted to keep 600 students safe. But demons are cunning, and Walden knows all too well the danger they pose — especially when the greatest threat may be the darkness she carries within. RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on May 6 The Incandescent is a unique work of dark academia that examines an often-unseen side of the story: what the teachers are up to. Emily Tesh does a great job of balancing the administrative side of things with a constantly evolving magical mystery. Walden is a great character to follow through this story. She's fond of her students, and she loves her job. However, she also often finds these teens exasperating, and she's just plain tired. She isn't as old as she makes herself sound — only 37 — but she's weathered years at Chetwood, both as a student and a teacher. Walden's experience as 'academic turned educator turned school management' gives her a unique view of the school she cares so deeply about, unique from other dark academia protagonists. RELATED: Book Review: When Among Crows Because of our narrator, The Incandescent appears as almost a slice-of-life story. A lot of the plot focuses on Walden going about her day, completing tasks she sees as mundane. Getting her students ready for exams, running staff meetings, maintaining the wards that keep demons from emerging to eat everyone — the usual. Narrative Shift The stakes, however, soon get much bigger. Lurking on the borders throughout is an ancient and powerful demon that feeds off of stray magic. This is where things get more interesting. Fans of Tesh's other work know that she isn't afraid to dramatically change gears partway through a narrative. Without giving too much away, the focus shifts to a deeply personal one. Tesh deconstructs Walden's carefully constructed image of professionalism and intellectual brilliance, revealing her capacity for self-deception. Her choices, especially after a near disaster, lead her down a path of errors towards even more danger. Through this narrative shift, Tesh dives into discussions of privilege, bias, systemic prejudice and survivor's guilt. Somehow, it all feels truly natural within the plot she created in the first half of the novel. As a result, she demonstrates the real-world consequences of her characters' actions. While hope and healing are possible, it will always take time. RELATED: Book Review: Shield of Sparrows The Incandescent combines the thrilling energy and high stakes of the fantasy genre with a subtle, literary exploration of personal and professional lives. Tesh blends the fantastical with the ordinary in a way that feels seamless, with a deep appreciation for both realms. Check this one out if you love dark academia, magic and deeply personal stories. The Incandescent comes out on May 13 and is available for preorder from your local independent bookstore or TW: alcohol, blood, body horror, child death, classism, death, death of a parent, fire/fire injury, gore, grief, infidelity, injury/injury detail, murder, self-harm, toxic relationship, violence Book Review: THE RIVER HAS ROOTS
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Epoch Booklist: Recommended Reading for April 25–May 1
This week, we take a contemporary look at C.S. Lewis's writings and delve into an atmospheric work of Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris. Non-Fiction ' By Jeffrey W. Barbeau Theologian Jeffrey Barbeau examines connections linking C.S. Lewis to English Romantic literature and modern theology, all in the hope of gaining a better understanding of Lewis's views on the relationship between truth and personal experience. The result is an engaging journey ranging from British poets to Lewis's autobiographical writings. Impressive as well are the gracious critiques by three scholars of Barbeau's essays, which offer readers a shining example of academic civility at work. IVP Academic, 2025, 176 pages Science Fiction ' By John Scalzi One fine day, the Moon turned into cheese. It happened overnight, perhaps instantaneously. All of a sudden the moon's diameter is 300 miles larger and its albedo higher. It's larger in the sky and bright enough to see during the day. This humorous science fiction novel follows the first lunar month after the Moon becomes effectively green (fresh) cheese. It tracks the madness and downright lunacy that results on Earth. A lighthearted, thought-provoking, and thoroughly entertaining book. Tor Books, 2025, 336 pages Ancient History ' By Josiah Osgood One of today's leading scholars on Ancient Rome takes readers through the final years of the Roman Republic before it became the Roman Empire. In a brilliant narrative, Osgood uses a number of trials involving Marcus Tullius Cicero, as either prosecutor or defender. Written in chronological order, the parallels between Rome's political structure and Cicero's major career cases are striking. Witness, like never before, the rise and fall of some of ancient history's mightiest figures. Related Stories 4/17/2025 4/10/2025 Basic Books, 2025, 384 pages Naval History ' By David R. Leick USS Princeton, CVL-23, known to its crew as the 'Sweet P,' was one of nine World War II light aircraft carriers built on the hulls of ships originally designed as light cruisers. This book is a ship biography of the Princeton, telling the vessel's story from its inception to its loss at the Battle of Leyte. A standard, yet well-presented ship biography, it follows the pattern Edward P. Stafford set in his 1964 work 'The Big E.' This is a book for those interested in WWII-era naval history. Osprey Publishing, 2024, 304 pages Classics ' By Charles Dickens Unlike many other novels, we don't read a Dickens novel; we live inside it, wrapped up in its descriptions and characters. So it is with this story, which is set primarily in London and revolutionary Paris. Released at last from a Paris prison, Dr. Manette joins his angelic daughter Lucie in England. The exiled aristocrat Charles Darnay and drunken lawyer Sydney Carton vie for her affections during this age of turmoil and cruelty. A grand novel of ideas, justice, and redemption. Penguin Classics, 2003, 544 pages For Kids ' By Patricia MacLachlan and Mike Wimmer Every illustration in this book is a gorgeous work of art, but that doesn't overshadow the tender narrative. A young boy describes the cherished places and beloved people in his life. Poignant and delightful, this simple book is a treasure and a delight to read, celebrating the beauty of the natural world and the love of family. Exquisite. HarperCollins, 1994, 32 pages What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
