By Hillel Italie AP National Writer Thais Perkins is the owner of Reverie Books in Austin, Texas, and the parent of a middle school student and high school student. Among the books she is eager to have in her store, and in the schools, is an expanded edition of “The 1619 Project”. “My store is […]
Author Archives: Hillel Italie
AP National Writer
Posted inBooks
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation forms book publisher with Random House
This combination photo shows the logo for a new imprint for Roc Lit 101, left, and Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, who is starting the imprint with Random House. (AP Photo) By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A decade after publishing his memoir “Decoded,” Jay-Z is forming a more lasting partnership […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Walter Mosley to Receive Honorary National Book Award
Author Walter Mosley attends the 2018 National Art Awards in New York on Oct. 22, 2018. Mosley, who is among the most acclaimed crime novelists of his time, is receiving an honorary National Book Award. He will formally receive the medal during a Nov. 18 ceremony that will be held online because of the coronavirus […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Civil Rights Activist Ruby Bridges Writes Children’s Book
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges has written a children’s book with a candid telling of the past and positive message for the future, inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests. Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, announced Friday that Bridges’ “This Is […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media
Winfrey Picks Ta-Nehisi Coates Novel for her Book Club
By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Ta-Nehisi Coates’ first novel, “The Water Dancer,” has been a long and eventful journey. Begun a decade ago, his chronicle of a slave with an extraordinary memory who joins the Underground Railroad is the result of countless drafts, a shift from multiple narrators to a […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, National News
We Remember: Toni Morrison Dies at 88
By HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, a pioneer and reigning giant of modern literature whose imaginative power in “Beloved,” ”Sula” and other works transformed American letters by dramatizing the pursuit of freedom within the boundaries of race, has died at age 88. Publisher Alfred A. Knopf announced […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media
Michelle Obama’s Memoir Sells More Than 725,000 Copies
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — First day sales for Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” topped 725,000 copies, making it one of the year’s biggest debuts. Crown Publishing told The Associated Press on Friday that the figures include sales and pre-orders for the former first lady’s memoir include hardcover, audio and e-books editions for […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media
Michelle Obama Memoir is Next Pick for Winfrey Book Club
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Michelle Obama’s “Becoming,” already expected to sell millions of copies, now has the official backing of Oprah Winfrey. “This book is everything you wanted to know and so much you didn’t even know you wanted to know. I believe it’s going to spark within you the […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, National News, NEWS
Michelle Obama Book Tour is Reaching High
By Hillel Italie, AP National Writer Check out the upcoming events at Chicago’s United Center and you’ll see Bulls games, Blackhawks games and concerts by Fleetwood Mac, Nicki Minaj and Cher, among others. And former first lady Michelle Obama, to launch her book tour in November. This cover image released by Crown shows “Becoming,” by Michelle […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Media
Tayari Jones and Tommy Orange Among Book Award Finalists
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tayari Jones’ “An American Marriage” and Tommy Orange’s “There, There,” two of the year’s most talked-about novels, are on the fiction longlist for the National Book Awards. Other books announced Friday by the National Book Foundation include Lauren Groff’s “Florida,” Brandon Hobson’s “Where the Dead […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Winfrey Picks Novel ‘An American Marriage’ for Book Club
NEW YORK (AP) — Tayari Jones, whose novel “An American Marriage” has been chosen for Oprah Winfrey’s book club, will always remember that phone call from last October. She was driving in Las Vegas, expecting to hear from books editor Leigh Haber of Winfrey’s magazine, “O,” for which Jones has written reviews. This cover image […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jacqueline Woodson Named ‘Young People’s Literature’ Ambassador
NEW YORK (AP) — Jacqueline Woodson, the country’s next National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, originally had someone else in mind for the job. “It’s funny, because I called him (current ambassador Gene Luen Yang) awhile back to suggest another person,” the award-winning author told The Associated Press during a recent telephone interview. “And he […]