book club Archives » Nova News

29Apr By Ana ValdezNo Comments

The possible 5 best fiction books of the last 20 years

‘The Overstory’ by Richard Powers In Powers’ book we see the scientific insights of Suzanne Simard about the underground networks that connect trees. He dives into how different families grow up in various ecosystems and how their choices impact both the forests and the people living in them. Whether he’s telling the sad tale of the American chestnut or showcasing the frustrations of modern activists fighting climate change, Powers brings a bunch of connected stories together. He really shifts the perspective so you can feel the long history of trees that make human life possible. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt By the end of his story, Theo the main character reflects, "I add my own love to the legacy of those who've treasured beautiful things," finding little joys amidst his sadnes...

Donleavy Writes One of the Funniest Books Ever

19Apr By Noah BennettNo Comments

Books & Media

Donleavy Writes One of the Funniest Books Ever

The Irish Sense of Humor “The Unexpurgated Code” is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. While it’s not as well-known as it once was, it’s found relevance again, and let’s be honest, the world could use it. This book is a real pick-me-up, almost like a shot of joy for your spirit. The table of contents is wonderfully haphazard, even better than some entire books. Here are just a few of the 270 topics Donleavy dives into:“Regarding the Responsibility for Venereal Disease,” “Regarding the Enhancement of Your Background,” “Regarding Being Inappropriately Dressed During an Emergency,” “Regarding Your Saliva Hitting Someone Else,” “Regarding Polluting the Sidewalk,” “Regarding Spewing Insults at the Powerful,” “Regarding the Process of Exorcism,” and “Regarding the Close Approach of a UFO...

10Apr By Ana ValdezNo Comments

Books & Media

Best Book Towns in Europe

Redu, Belgium In a charming little village tucked away in the hills of Belgium, Redu is celebrating its 41st birthday as the second book town since 1984. This cozy spot is filled with the lovely scent of old books. Every year, they throw a big book festival with about 30 bookstores that attracts hundreds of folks who come to soak in the culture, history, stunning buildings, and beautiful nature. Just recently, Redu along with nearby towns of Lesse and Séchery made it onto the list of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia” in July 2024. Wigtown, Scotland Sitting on a hillside with views of the ocean and surrounded by rocky shores, woodlands, and forests, Wigtown is celebrating 20 years as Scotland’s Book Town. With over 250,000 books on offer, both old and new, Wigtown was one of the fir...

6Apr By Noah BennettNo Comments

Books & Media

Book about “John & Paul” comes out

Beatlemania - John & Paul In our world, when we chat about music, we often get stuck on things like sales numbers, streaming stats, and how songs rank on charts. But honestly, that’s not the best way to really get or talk about music.Ian Leslie’s book “John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs” isn’t about that at all. Instead, it dives into how two incredibly talented guys helped each other out, pushed each other, taught each other, and learned from one another.Looking back at famous composer duos before John Lennon and Paul McCartney—like Rodgers and Hart or Bacharach and David—you’d usually see one person making the music while the other worked on the lyrics. But John and Paul flipped that script; they both pitched in on the music and the words. Right from the start, they agreed to...

29Mar By Riley QuinnNo Comments

Books & Media

Michael Caine writes "Don't look back"

Michael Caine the Writer Michael Caine knows a thing or two about success. With a crazy film career that has spanned over 70 years, he’s bagged two Academy Awards. On top of that, he’s dipped his toes into the restaurant game and even penned a few books.In his latest book, "Don’t Look Back, You’ll Trip Over: My Guide to Life," the 91-year-old touches on a bunch of topics, from how he got his start in acting to how a director, Christopher Nolan, picked him for his Batman trilogy.Caine figured out pretty early on that no matter how hard he worked, there would always be folks who were better and some who weren't as talented in the acting world."Jealousy is a nasty thing that can really drag people down," he says. "If you start thinking, 'I need to be better than him as an actor,' you’re...

BookTok reviews "Sunrise on the Reaping"

23Mar By Noah BennettNo Comments

Books & Media

BookTok reviews "Sunrise on the Reaping"

BookTok likes "Sunrise on the Reaping" Suzanne Collins has just dropped her new prequel to the Hunger Games series called Sunrise on the Reaping and fans have been buzzing about it since it came out. It’s the first new entry since 2020's The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. People are surprised by some of the plot twists and are watching the films on their laptops getting all emotional during scenes that hit differently now that they've read the prequel. Now I know it’s easy to poke fun at BookTok if you’re not into it but I bring up these quick reactions to show how much has changed since Collins released the first Hunger Games book back in September 2008 which was just a couple months before Barack Obama got elected. There was no TikTok or Instagram back then and Twitter and Tumblr were s...

Women Writers Discuss the Power of Stories

9Mar By Maya HuangNo Comments

Books & Media

Women Writers Discuss the Power of Stories

The impact of storytelling and why reading and readers matter Last month a popular literary event brought together four Asian women authors: Gong Ji-yeong from South Korea Li Zishu from Malaysia and Qiao Ye and Liao Jing from China. This event organized by the Beijing October Arts and Literature Publishing House attracted over 1.4 million viewers through its live online broadcast. In a two-hour chat they dove into topics like how to start a writing career the link between writing and reality and the messages writers share through their work. Qiao who won China's top literary award the Mao Dun Literary Prize in 2023 for her novel Bao Shui (Precious Water) says she kicked off her writing journey while teaching in a small village in Henan province. "When I was about 20 I felt lonely and unsat...