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Exit West's Mohsin Hamid on Immigrants and Children's Literature
Posted by Cybil on March 07, 2017
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Since his debut novel, Moth Smoke, in 2000, Mohsin Hamid has proved to be one of the most acute chroniclers of the schisms of our globalized world. The Reluctant Fundamentalist and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia only confirmed his ability to capture the post-9/11 millennium in nervy, inventive prose.
His latest, Exit West, breaks new ground: In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers, Saeed and Nadia, plot their escape through hidden doors that magically transport them to the West. And so begins a long, treacherous journey through a world divided between light and dark, rich and poor, "natives" and refugees—a dystopian fable for our times. The following is an excerpt from our full interview that appears in our March newsletter.
Goodreads: This is a very different book from your other novels, with its unnamed city and fantastical elements. How did you conceive of it this way?
Mohsin Hamid: Well, I think I've been building toward writing a novel about migration my whole life. I moved to California when I was three, back to Pakistan when I was nine, to America at 18, and then at 30 to the U.K. and back to Pakistan. So it's a big part of who I am.
When I moved back to Pakistan seven years ago, I saw this pent-up desire of people to get out. I think all of these things—my own personal life story as well as the political backdrop of fear and animosity toward migrants—congealed into the impulse for this novel. As usual, I struggled with the question, How do I tell a story like this? The answer I came up with was inspired by children's literature. The relationship between the narrator and the reader in a children's book is quite interesting—you can talk about stuff that hasn't happened yet, you can zoom into seemingly unrelated territories. There's an intimacy and a kind of warmth in that way of telling stories.
Another part of it was that living in Pakistan the last seven years, I realized that so many readers don't approach literature with the same background as me, which of course should have been obvious. And I thought, Am I writing books that require a sort of decoding apparatus on the part of the reader that maybe I'm mistakenly assuming they have? I wanted to write a book that builds its own decoding system into it.
GR: One of the most powerful themes of this book is how migration transforms both Nadia and Saeed and their relationship to each other. It changes them in profound ways.
MH: Absolutely. One of the things that I've come to believe is the central idea of the novel is the fact that every human being migrates. Even if we don't move geographies, we migrate through time. We leave childhood and can never go back to it. Saeed and Nadia move together, but they also move apart in terms of who they're becoming.
That happens across generations—you see that very often between first- and second-generation immigrants in a country. A gap opens up. You can see it even more when you see people in the United States who are so frightened of migrants even though their own grandparents and great-grandparents came over themselves from Ireland or Germany or Sweden or Italy. Also, it's a painful experience. Imagine what people potentially have to give up—family, loved ones, friends, language, food, music. There must be such an incredible fear or horror to make one give these things up.
Check out more recent blogs:
25 Big Books of Spring
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Posted by Cybil on March 07, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1488907529-1488907529_goodreads_misc.png)
Since his debut novel, Moth Smoke, in 2000, Mohsin Hamid has proved to be one of the most acute chroniclers of the schisms of our globalized world. The Reluctant Fundamentalist and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia only confirmed his ability to capture the post-9/11 millennium in nervy, inventive prose.
His latest, Exit West, breaks new ground: In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers, Saeed and Nadia, plot their escape through hidden doors that magically transport them to the West. And so begins a long, treacherous journey through a world divided between light and dark, rich and poor, "natives" and refugees—a dystopian fable for our times. The following is an excerpt from our full interview that appears in our March newsletter.
Goodreads: This is a very different book from your other novels, with its unnamed city and fantastical elements. How did you conceive of it this way?
Mohsin Hamid: Well, I think I've been building toward writing a novel about migration my whole life. I moved to California when I was three, back to Pakistan when I was nine, to America at 18, and then at 30 to the U.K. and back to Pakistan. So it's a big part of who I am.
When I moved back to Pakistan seven years ago, I saw this pent-up desire of people to get out. I think all of these things—my own personal life story as well as the political backdrop of fear and animosity toward migrants—congealed into the impulse for this novel. As usual, I struggled with the question, How do I tell a story like this? The answer I came up with was inspired by children's literature. The relationship between the narrator and the reader in a children's book is quite interesting—you can talk about stuff that hasn't happened yet, you can zoom into seemingly unrelated territories. There's an intimacy and a kind of warmth in that way of telling stories.
Another part of it was that living in Pakistan the last seven years, I realized that so many readers don't approach literature with the same background as me, which of course should have been obvious. And I thought, Am I writing books that require a sort of decoding apparatus on the part of the reader that maybe I'm mistakenly assuming they have? I wanted to write a book that builds its own decoding system into it.
GR: One of the most powerful themes of this book is how migration transforms both Nadia and Saeed and their relationship to each other. It changes them in profound ways.
MH: Absolutely. One of the things that I've come to believe is the central idea of the novel is the fact that every human being migrates. Even if we don't move geographies, we migrate through time. We leave childhood and can never go back to it. Saeed and Nadia move together, but they also move apart in terms of who they're becoming.
That happens across generations—you see that very often between first- and second-generation immigrants in a country. A gap opens up. You can see it even more when you see people in the United States who are so frightened of migrants even though their own grandparents and great-grandparents came over themselves from Ireland or Germany or Sweden or Italy. Also, it's a painful experience. Imagine what people potentially have to give up—family, loved ones, friends, language, food, music. There must be such an incredible fear or horror to make one give these things up.
Check out more recent blogs:
25 Big Books of Spring
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
25 Big Books of Spring
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on March 07, 2017
As winter slips away, it's time to prepare for a new season of reading—which, to be fair, is every season for us.
Whether you have your sights set on sun-soaked spring breaks or warm afternoons at the park, you might be in the mood for some reading recommendations. (We know you so well, don't we?) Check out some of the great books your fellow Goodreads members have been adding to their Want to Read shelves! What catches your eye?
Fiction
Exit West
by Mohsin Hamid
In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers stumble upon a door that leads to an uncertain future. [Read our interview with Hamid.]
Release date: March 7
The Idiot
by Elif Batuman
Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, embarks on a journey of reinvention as she moves from Harvard to Hungary, from childhood to adulthood.
Release date: March 14
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Playful and heartbreaking, this debut collection of short stories exposes the ties that bind us to each other and to the places we call home.
Release date: April 4
Beartown
by Fredrik Backman
In a small town nestled deep in the forest, a community in crisis looks to junior ice hockey for hope and redemption.
Release date: May 2
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The past catches up with the present as classic film actress Evelyn Hugo recounts the true story of her scandalous life to a struggling reporter.
Release date: June 13
Young Adult
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
During his final year of high school, Sal questions his place with his adoptive gay father and his loving Mexican American family.
Release date: March 27
Strange the Dreamer
by Laini Taylor
Lazlo, war orphan and junior librarian, chases a dream in a mythical world full of ghosts, nightmares, and murdered gods.
Release date: March 28
The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli
Twin sisters sort out their opinions on unrequited love, loneliness, and being a "lovesick mess" in this feel-good take on teen relationships.
Release date: April 11
Flame in the Mist
by Renee Ahdieh
To discover who's trying to kill her, Mariko, the daughter of a prominent samurai, disguises herself as a peasant boy and infiltrates the ranks of a bandit gang.
Release date: May 16
Plus: Look out for highly anticipated sequels from Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, and Jenny Han!
Nonfiction
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
by Michael Finkel
In 1986, Christopher Knight left his home, moved to the forest, and did not talk to another human being for nearly three decades. This is his story.
Release date: March 7
The Best We Could Do
by Thi Bui
A family escapes the fall of South Vietnam and fights to build a new life in this poignant illustrated memoir debut. [Read Bui's book recommendation.s]
Release date: March 7
The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here?
by Lawrence M. Krauss
Reality is "weird, wild, and counterintuitive" in this engaging scientific adventure from the author of A Universe from Nothing.
Release date: March 21
Killers of the Flower Moon
by David Grann
In this true-life murder mystery, the author of The Lost City of Z uncovers the secrets and scandals surrounding the investigation of the Osage Murders in the early 1920s.
Release date: April 18
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
by Roxane Gay
Candid, vulnerable, and powerful, this is a memoir of food, weight, self-image, and self-worth from the author of Bad Feminist.
Release date: June 13
Mystery/Thriller
Say Nothing
by Brad Parks
Judge Scott Sampson's life is perfect…until the day his six-year-old twins are kidnapped, triggering a nail-biting ordeal of blackmail and terror.
Release date: March 7
Never Let You Go
by Chevy Stevens
Eleven years after Lindsey escaped an abusive marriage, her home is invaded and her daughter is stalked. Could it be her ex-husband? [Read Stevens's book recommendations]
Release date: March 14
Into the Water
by Paula Hawkins
A woman turns up dead at the bottom of a river in Beckford…and she's not the first. Secrets long submerged rise to the surface in this follow-up to The Girl on the Train.
Release date: May 2
Historical Fiction
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
by Lisa See
A mother contemplates leaving her remote Chinese village while the daughter she gave away grows up across the ocean in California. [Read our interview with See.]
Release date: March 21
The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn
In 1947, pregnant college student Charlie goes to London to find the cousin she lost during the war. What she finds instead is Eve, a former WWI spy determined to help.
Release date: May 2
Romance
The Thing About Love
by Julie James
On a high-profile undercover sting, FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd work out the kinks of their fiery love/hate relationship.
Release date: April 18
The Deep End
by Kristen Ashley
At the honey club, handsome men commit to fulfilling a woman's every desire. Olivier is unsure of it all, but Amelie thinks she can change his mind.
Release date: April 25
Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Collapsing Empire
by John Scalzi
When faster-than-light travel starts to slip away, a scientist, a captain, and an empress race to prevent all human worlds from being cut off from each other.
Release date: March 21
Red Sister
by Mark Lawrence
Born for killing, eight-year-old Nona Grey comes to terms with her destiny at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school for would-be assassins.
Release date: April 4
American War
by Omar El Akkad
The Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. Forced out of her home, young Sarat becomes an instrument of war in this audacious debut.
Release date: April 4
Borne
by Jeff VanderMeer
In a ruined city littered by discarded experiments and at the whim of a giant bear, Rachel finds Borne. Plant-like at first, he grows, throwing Rachel's fragile existence into chaos.
Release date: April 25
Which book are you most excited to read this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books Goodreads Members Have Read in 2017—So Far
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on March 07, 2017
As winter slips away, it's time to prepare for a new season of reading—which, to be fair, is every season for us.
Whether you have your sights set on sun-soaked spring breaks or warm afternoons at the park, you might be in the mood for some reading recommendations. (We know you so well, don't we?) Check out some of the great books your fellow Goodreads members have been adding to their Want to Read shelves! What catches your eye?
Fiction
by Mohsin Hamid
In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers stumble upon a door that leads to an uncertain future. [Read our interview with Hamid.]
Release date: March 7
by Elif Batuman
Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, embarks on a journey of reinvention as she moves from Harvard to Hungary, from childhood to adulthood.
Release date: March 14
by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Playful and heartbreaking, this debut collection of short stories exposes the ties that bind us to each other and to the places we call home.
Release date: April 4
by Fredrik Backman
In a small town nestled deep in the forest, a community in crisis looks to junior ice hockey for hope and redemption.
Release date: May 2
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The past catches up with the present as classic film actress Evelyn Hugo recounts the true story of her scandalous life to a struggling reporter.
Release date: June 13
Young Adult
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
During his final year of high school, Sal questions his place with his adoptive gay father and his loving Mexican American family.
Release date: March 27
by Laini Taylor
Lazlo, war orphan and junior librarian, chases a dream in a mythical world full of ghosts, nightmares, and murdered gods.
Release date: March 28
by Becky Albertalli
Twin sisters sort out their opinions on unrequited love, loneliness, and being a "lovesick mess" in this feel-good take on teen relationships.
Release date: April 11
by Renee Ahdieh
To discover who's trying to kill her, Mariko, the daughter of a prominent samurai, disguises herself as a peasant boy and infiltrates the ranks of a bandit gang.
Release date: May 16
Plus: Look out for highly anticipated sequels from Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, and Jenny Han!
Nonfiction
by Michael Finkel
In 1986, Christopher Knight left his home, moved to the forest, and did not talk to another human being for nearly three decades. This is his story.
Release date: March 7
by Thi Bui
A family escapes the fall of South Vietnam and fights to build a new life in this poignant illustrated memoir debut. [Read Bui's book recommendation.s]
Release date: March 7
by Lawrence M. Krauss
Reality is "weird, wild, and counterintuitive" in this engaging scientific adventure from the author of A Universe from Nothing.
Release date: March 21
by David Grann
In this true-life murder mystery, the author of The Lost City of Z uncovers the secrets and scandals surrounding the investigation of the Osage Murders in the early 1920s.
Release date: April 18
by Roxane Gay
Candid, vulnerable, and powerful, this is a memoir of food, weight, self-image, and self-worth from the author of Bad Feminist.
Release date: June 13
Mystery/Thriller
by Brad Parks
Judge Scott Sampson's life is perfect…until the day his six-year-old twins are kidnapped, triggering a nail-biting ordeal of blackmail and terror.
Release date: March 7
by Chevy Stevens
Eleven years after Lindsey escaped an abusive marriage, her home is invaded and her daughter is stalked. Could it be her ex-husband? [Read Stevens's book recommendations]
Release date: March 14
by Paula Hawkins
A woman turns up dead at the bottom of a river in Beckford…and she's not the first. Secrets long submerged rise to the surface in this follow-up to The Girl on the Train.
Release date: May 2
Historical Fiction
by Lisa See
A mother contemplates leaving her remote Chinese village while the daughter she gave away grows up across the ocean in California. [Read our interview with See.]
Release date: March 21
by Kate Quinn
In 1947, pregnant college student Charlie goes to London to find the cousin she lost during the war. What she finds instead is Eve, a former WWI spy determined to help.
Release date: May 2
Romance
by Julie James
On a high-profile undercover sting, FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd work out the kinks of their fiery love/hate relationship.
Release date: April 18
by Kristen Ashley
At the honey club, handsome men commit to fulfilling a woman's every desire. Olivier is unsure of it all, but Amelie thinks she can change his mind.
Release date: April 25
Science Fiction and Fantasy
by John Scalzi
When faster-than-light travel starts to slip away, a scientist, a captain, and an empress race to prevent all human worlds from being cut off from each other.
Release date: March 21
by Mark Lawrence
Born for killing, eight-year-old Nona Grey comes to terms with her destiny at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school for would-be assassins.
Release date: April 4
by Omar El Akkad
The Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. Forced out of her home, young Sarat becomes an instrument of war in this audacious debut.
Release date: April 4
by Jeff VanderMeer
In a ruined city littered by discarded experiments and at the whim of a giant bear, Rachel finds Borne. Plant-like at first, he grows, throwing Rachel's fragile existence into chaos.
Release date: April 25
Which book are you most excited to read this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books Goodreads Members Have Read in 2017—So Far
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
The Best Books Goodreads Members Have Read in 2017—So Far
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on March 06, 2017
Here at Goodreads we like to talk about books…a lot. We ask what you're reading every week on Facebook and Twitter, kicking off comment threads that always leave us with a few hundred book recommendations. (This is not an exaggeration.)
Now that we're more than two months into the year, we thought we'd check in with our members to see what books they've enjoyed the most in 2017. We've rounded up some of the most popular answers below. If yours didn't make the list, be sure to add it in the comments!
Do you love talking about books? Then join the conversation!
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1488491456-1488491456_goodreads_misc.png)
Check out more recent blogs:
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Check Out These New Orleans/Mardi Gras Reading Lists
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on March 06, 2017
Here at Goodreads we like to talk about books…a lot. We ask what you're reading every week on Facebook and Twitter, kicking off comment threads that always leave us with a few hundred book recommendations. (This is not an exaggeration.)
Now that we're more than two months into the year, we thought we'd check in with our members to see what books they've enjoyed the most in 2017. We've rounded up some of the most popular answers below. If yours didn't make the list, be sure to add it in the comments!
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![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1488491556-1488491556_goodreads_misc.png)
Check out more recent blogs:
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Check Out These New Orleans/Mardi Gras Reading Lists
Celebrating The Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Posted by Cybil on March 03, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1488566306-1488566306_goodreads_misc.png)
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Posted by Cybil on March 03, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1488566306-1488566306_goodreads_misc.png)
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It's time to celebrate one of our favorite reading traditions: Rereading beloved novels. A month ago, we created your most-wished-for feature: Rereading! In February we rolled out a better way to keep track of the times you've read a book, which means you'll never again miss out on rereads being counted toward your Reading Challenge. More than 2 million books have been marked as 'reread' on Goodreads since then. So, we were curious about what novels you were eager to return to.
The short answer is: Harry Potter (eight of the top 32 reread books are in J.K. Rowling's wizarding universe). The longer answer can be found below where the top 32 books are in order from No. 1 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) to No. 32 (The Little Prince).
To celebrate rereading, we also created the shareable illustrated Oscar Wilde quote at the top of this blog! And if you need any more convincing to dust off a book from your bookshelf, not only does revisiting a favorite book feel like catching up with an old friend, there's also evidence that rereading itself can be good for your mental health.
Here are the 32 most reread books on Goodreads right now:
The short answer is: Harry Potter (eight of the top 32 reread books are in J.K. Rowling's wizarding universe). The longer answer can be found below where the top 32 books are in order from No. 1 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) to No. 32 (The Little Prince).
To celebrate rereading, we also created the shareable illustrated Oscar Wilde quote at the top of this blog! And if you need any more convincing to dust off a book from your bookshelf, not only does revisiting a favorite book feel like catching up with an old friend, there's also evidence that rereading itself can be good for your mental health.
Here are the 32 most reread books on Goodreads right now:
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Today is Read Across America's 20th Anniversary!
Posted by Cybil on March 02, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487725017-1487725017_goodreads_misc.png)
Posted by Cybil on March 02, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487725017-1487725017_goodreads_misc.png)
Today is Read Across America's 20th anniversary. For the last two decades, the program has built a nation of readers and delivered the message that children who read—and are read to—do better in school and in life
The country's largest reading event, held every year on Dr. Seuss's birthday, will be celebrated by more than 45 million students, teachers, and parents today. Past guest readers have included First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Morgan Freeman, and Serena Williams.
Read Across America is a National Education Association project, co-sponsored by Dr. Seuss Enterprises along with 50 national partners including the American Library Association, PTA, NFL Players Association, RIF, YMCA, NAACP, and Youth Service America.
To celebrate Read Across America, check out the NEA educators' recommendations for their favorite books for students, including the following:
Recommended books for elementary school students:
The country's largest reading event, held every year on Dr. Seuss's birthday, will be celebrated by more than 45 million students, teachers, and parents today. Past guest readers have included First Lady Michelle Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Morgan Freeman, and Serena Williams.
Read Across America is a National Education Association project, co-sponsored by Dr. Seuss Enterprises along with 50 national partners including the American Library Association, PTA, NFL Players Association, RIF, YMCA, NAACP, and Youth Service America.
To celebrate Read Across America, check out the NEA educators' recommendations for their favorite books for students, including the following:
Recommended books for elementary school students:
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What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on February 28, 2017
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on February 28, 2017
Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got seven! Bulk up your Want to Read shelf with these brand-new standalone titles.
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
You should read this book if you like: YA fiction, powerful stories inspired by real-world events, the Black Lives Matter movement, books with big movie deals
Huck Out West
Written by Robert Coover
You should read this book if you like: Sequels to American classics, westerns, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Civil War, grand adventure
Till Death
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
You should read this book if you like: Contemporary romance, rugged FBI agents, second-chance love stories, quaint family inns, serial killers on the loose
The Brain Defense: Murder in Manhattan and the Dawn of the Neuroscience in America's Courtrooms
by Kevin Davis
You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, true crime, the intersection of science and criminal justice, courtroom drama, exploration of free will
The Lost Book of the Grail
by Charlie Lovett
You should read this book if you like: Historical fiction, literary mysteries, English history, obsessive bibliophiles, the Holy Grail, old secrets and modern quests
Agents of Dreamland
by Caitlin R. Kiernan
You should read this book if you like: Horror, doomsday cults, dark fantasy and sci-fi, first contact, space-time manipulation, the fate of humanity
Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West
by Tom Clavin
You should read this book if you like: History, frontier justice, the true story of gunfights and feuds in the Wild West, cameos from Billy the Kid, Theodore Roosevelt, and more
BONUS: The wait is over—check out three of the buzziest sequels coming out today!
Into the Fire
by Jeaniene Frost
The final book in the Night Prince paranormal romance series
(Start off the series with Once Burned)
Banana Cream Pie Murder
by Joanne Fluke
The 21st book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes series
(Start off the series with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder)
Lifeblood
by Gena Showalter
The second book in the Everlife YA fantasy series
(Start off the series with Firstlife)
What are you reading this week? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Ready for Mardi Gras? Check Out These New Orleans Reading Lists
Top Seven Big Little Lies Quotes on Goodreads
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
by Angie Thomas
You should read this book if you like: YA fiction, powerful stories inspired by real-world events, the Black Lives Matter movement, books with big movie deals
Written by Robert Coover
You should read this book if you like: Sequels to American classics, westerns, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Civil War, grand adventure
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
You should read this book if you like: Contemporary romance, rugged FBI agents, second-chance love stories, quaint family inns, serial killers on the loose
by Kevin Davis
You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, true crime, the intersection of science and criminal justice, courtroom drama, exploration of free will
by Charlie Lovett
You should read this book if you like: Historical fiction, literary mysteries, English history, obsessive bibliophiles, the Holy Grail, old secrets and modern quests
by Caitlin R. Kiernan
You should read this book if you like: Horror, doomsday cults, dark fantasy and sci-fi, first contact, space-time manipulation, the fate of humanity
by Tom Clavin
You should read this book if you like: History, frontier justice, the true story of gunfights and feuds in the Wild West, cameos from Billy the Kid, Theodore Roosevelt, and more
by Jeaniene Frost
The final book in the Night Prince paranormal romance series
(Start off the series with Once Burned)
by Joanne Fluke
The 21st book in the Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes series
(Start off the series with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder)
by Gena Showalter
The second book in the Everlife YA fantasy series
(Start off the series with Firstlife)
What are you reading this week? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Ready for Mardi Gras? Check Out These New Orleans Reading Lists
Top Seven Big Little Lies Quotes on Goodreads
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
It's Almost Here: The Fantastic Beasts Audiobook (with Eddie Redmayne)
Posted by Cybil on March 01, 2017
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We have fantastic news for those who love the universe of Harry Potter and audiobooks: Fantastic Beasts, narrated by the movie's star Eddie Redmayne, is now available for Audible preorder and will be ready for eager ears on March 14.
For the uninitiated, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first in a set of textbooks at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. In this book, young wizards receive their introduction to magical beasts including the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, and the Hungarian Horntail. This is the first audiobook edition of Scamander's textbook ever to be released.
Want even more audiobook inspiration? Check out Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
(Top image credit: Fantastic Beasts)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by J.K. Rowling and Newt Scamander
This unabridged audiobook runs for two hours. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from the audiobook will go to the nonprofit organizations Comic Relief and Lumos Foundation for their work with young people.
Check out more recent blogs:
Top Seven Big Little Lies Quotes on Goodreads
Get Ready for the Oscars with These Best Picture Adaptations
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1475882176-1475882176_goodreads_misc.jpg)
Posted by Cybil on March 01, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487873573-1487873573_goodreads_misc.png)
![Fantastic Quote](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487873212-1487873212_goodreads_misc.png)
We have fantastic news for those who love the universe of Harry Potter and audiobooks: Fantastic Beasts, narrated by the movie's star Eddie Redmayne, is now available for Audible preorder and will be ready for eager ears on March 14.
For the uninitiated, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first in a set of textbooks at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. In this book, young wizards receive their introduction to magical beasts including the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, and the Hungarian Horntail. This is the first audiobook edition of Scamander's textbook ever to be released.
Want even more audiobook inspiration? Check out Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
(Top image credit: Fantastic Beasts)
by J.K. Rowling and Newt Scamander
This unabridged audiobook runs for two hours. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from the audiobook will go to the nonprofit organizations Comic Relief and Lumos Foundation for their work with young people.
Check out more recent blogs:
Top Seven Big Little Lies Quotes on Goodreads
Get Ready for the Oscars with These Best Picture Adaptations
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1475882176-1475882176_goodreads_misc.jpg)
Ready For Mardi Gras? Check Out These New Orleans Reading Lists
Posted by Cybil on February 27, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487888656-1487888656_goodreads_misc.png)
Laissez les bons temps rouler, my friends! This Tuesday, New Orleans will be celebrating Mardi Gras. But if you can't literally make the festivities in the French Quarter, these books can still take you there. To get you into the spirit of all things Big Easy, here are some great reading lists focused on New Orleans from the Listopia section of Goodreads. Be sure to add them to your Want to Read list.
1) The Best New Orleans Books. This list offers up 283 reading recommendations, including:
Posted by Cybil on February 27, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487888656-1487888656_goodreads_misc.png)
Laissez les bons temps rouler, my friends! This Tuesday, New Orleans will be celebrating Mardi Gras. But if you can't literally make the festivities in the French Quarter, these books can still take you there. To get you into the spirit of all things Big Easy, here are some great reading lists focused on New Orleans from the Listopia section of Goodreads. Be sure to add them to your Want to Read list.
1) The Best New Orleans Books. This list offers up 283 reading recommendations, including:
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Top Seven Big Little Lies Quotes on Goodreads
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on February 24, 2017
Pop open the champagne! Big Little Lies is now a star-studded limited series on HBO.
Of course, before Reese Witherspoon stumbled in Madeline's sky-high heels, Shailene Woodley's Jane met her first Blonde Bob, and Nicole Kidman stepped into Celeste's seemingly perfect life, readers had already fallen for Liane Moriarty's dark and dishy take on schoolyard scandal.
Check out the best quotes from the book—as selected by your fellow Goodreads members! And catch Big Little Lies Sunday nights on HBO. (Watch the trailer here.)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/misc/1368670700-1368670700_goodreads_misc.png)
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What's your favorite Big Little Lies quote? Share it with us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Get Ready for the Oscars with These Best Picture Adaptations
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Whimsy Wins Contest to Design Little Free Libraries
Posted by Hayley Igarashi on February 24, 2017
Pop open the champagne! Big Little Lies is now a star-studded limited series on HBO.
Of course, before Reese Witherspoon stumbled in Madeline's sky-high heels, Shailene Woodley's Jane met her first Blonde Bob, and Nicole Kidman stepped into Celeste's seemingly perfect life, readers had already fallen for Liane Moriarty's dark and dishy take on schoolyard scandal.
Check out the best quotes from the book—as selected by your fellow Goodreads members! And catch Big Little Lies Sunday nights on HBO. (Watch the trailer here.)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/misc/1368670700-1368670700_goodreads_misc.png)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/misc/1368662725-1368662725_goodreads_misc.png)
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What's your favorite Big Little Lies quote? Share it with us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Get Ready for the Oscars with These Best Picture Adaptations
What's New This Week: 7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Whimsy Wins Contest to Design Little Free Libraries
Get Ready for the Oscars with These Best Picture Adaptations
Posted by Cybil on February 23, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487804209-1487804209_goodreads_misc.png)
Get ready for Hollywood's biggest night by curling up with some of its best inspiration! When the 89th Academy Awards get underway this Sunday, four book-to-film adaptations will be among the competition for Best Picture. Check out tinsel town's source material for this year's Best Picture nominees and look through some earlier books that were transformed into Best Picture gold. Be sure to add them to your Want to Read list.
Adaptations Nominated for Best Picture:
Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Other nominations include Octavia Spencer for best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay.
Fences
by August Wilson
Other nominations include Denzel Washington for best actor and Viola Davis for best supporting actress, as well as best adapted screenplay.
Lion (Original title: A Long Way Home)
by Saroo Brierley
Other nominations include Dev Patel for best supporting actor, Nicole Kidman for best supporting actress, and best adapted screenplay.
Arrival (Original title: Stories of Your Life and Others)
by Ted Chiang
Other nominations include Denis Villeneuve for best director, and best adapted screenplay.
Previous Best Picture Winners:
Posted by Cybil on February 23, 2017
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170308161314im_/http://images.gr-assets.com/misc/1487804209-1487804209_goodreads_misc.png)
Get ready for Hollywood's biggest night by curling up with some of its best inspiration! When the 89th Academy Awards get underway this Sunday, four book-to-film adaptations will be among the competition for Best Picture. Check out tinsel town's source material for this year's Best Picture nominees and look through some earlier books that were transformed into Best Picture gold. Be sure to add them to your Want to Read list.
Adaptations Nominated for Best Picture:
by Margot Lee Shetterly
Other nominations include Octavia Spencer for best supporting actress and best adapted screenplay.
by August Wilson
Other nominations include Denzel Washington for best actor and Viola Davis for best supporting actress, as well as best adapted screenplay.
by Saroo Brierley
Other nominations include Dev Patel for best supporting actor, Nicole Kidman for best supporting actress, and best adapted screenplay.
by Ted Chiang
Other nominations include Denis Villeneuve for best director, and best adapted screenplay.
Previous Best Picture Winners:
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