NORFOLK, VA — The award-winning novelist and author of “Moby Dick,” Herman Melville once said, “To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.” The quote resonates with more upcoming authors like Kaylah Moseley-Pressley (KP), a senior at Norfolk State University. Moseley-Pressley wrote her first book, “Ain’t Nobody But You,” on January 24. … Continue reading
November 19, 2020—Charlottesville, Va.—A program of Virginia Humanities, the Virginia Festival of the Book announced plans for the 27th annual Festival, which will take place virtually, March 13-26, 2021. In response to COVID-19, the 2021 Festival will take place over an elongated period of time—two weeks—and will continue its commitment to connecting people and ideas … Continue reading
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 9 p.m. Time magazine is disputing President Donald Trump’s account of how he rejected the magazine’s request for an interview and photo sessions ahead of its “Person of the Year” issue. In a Friday evening tweet, Trump says the magazine informed … Continue reading
By BARRY WILNER, AP Sports Writer Karen Chen’s autobiography just hit the book shelves. Imagine what she can write about if she wins an Olympic medal in February. The defending U.S. women’s figure skating champion authored the book “Finding the Edge” with the help of Natalie England over the past few months. Chen calls it a … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Disney’s $4 billion deal for Lucasfilm and “Star Wars” just keeps getting better for the House of Mouse. The company is banking on the latest installments, “The Last Jedi” in December and a Han Solo movie in May, to drive people to theaters. But that’s far from the end of money-making … Continue reading
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An African-American novelist praised for her raw and powerful depictions of poor African-Americans confronting racial and economic inequalities in the rural South said Wednesday that winning a MacArthur fellowship gives her time and freedom. “I think those are the two most important gifts you can give to an artist,” Jesmyn … Continue reading
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An African-American novelist praised for her raw and powerful depictions of poor African-Americans confronting racial and economic inequalities in the rural South said Wednesday that winning a MacArthur fellowship gives her time and freedom. “I think those are the two most important gifts you can give to an artist,” Jesmyn Ward … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Hillary Clinton’s “What Happened” had a big debut. Clinton’s book about her stunning loss in 2016 to Donald Trump sold more than 300,000 copies in the combined formats of hardcover, e-book and audio, Simon & Schuster told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The book’s hardcover sales of 168,000 was the highest … Continue reading
“Bluebird, Bluebird: a Novel” (Mullholland Books), by Attica Locke Attica Locke’s incisive look at racial issues reaches another milestone in the gripping “Bluebird, Bluebird.” Locke unflinchingly illustrates the intersection of race and justice as seen in an insular community in East Texas. The author packs the excellent novel with believable characters whose motives often are … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — American author George Saunders is favorite to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for fiction with his novel of the afterlife, “Lincoln in the Bardo.” British bookmakers Ladbrokes and William Hill made Saunders the front-runner among six finalists announced Wednesday for the 50,000-pound ($66,000) prize. The novel is set in a Washington … Continue reading
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard University is hosting a talk by an author who co-wrote a book discussing racial differences in intelligence and touched off a boisterous protest earlier this year in Vermont. Political scientist Charles Murray, co-author of 1994’s “The Bell Curve,” has said his views are misunderstood. He says he hopes Wednesday evening’s … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Ron Howard is taking command of the Han Solo “Star Wars” spinoff after the surprise departure of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Lucasfilm announced their replacement director Thursday, two days after Lord and Miller left the project over creative differences. Howard gives the reeling production a veteran hand in the … Continue reading
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — From the squiggly, pink handrails outside the entrance to the front hall decorated with scenes from “And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street” — a real street just blocks away — the new Amazing World of Dr. Seuss museum says, “You’re off to Great Places!” Walking into the … Continue reading
“Wonder Woman ” has been the subject of so much superfluous fuss, it’d be easy to forget that behind all of the hand-wringing and both symbolic and real pressure to succeed there’s actually a movie meant to entertain. Yet, like the heroine at its center, “Wonder Woman” the movie rises with powerful grace above the … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local): 4:40 p.m. President Donald Trump has responded with a direct “no, no” to a question about whether he asked former FBI Director James Comey to shelve an investigation into his former national security adviser. Trump also was questioned Thursday over revelations that he … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 