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Illinois Set to Become First State to End Book Bans

The state of Illinois is creating a bill that would impose monetary punishments on institutions that uphold book bans. Book banning is only getting worse. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign a bill that would punish publicly funded institutions, such as libraries and schools, for attempting to impose censorship. This is a prominent step in the fight against book bans, and will make Illinois the first U.S. state to enact such a law. The bill would block essential state funding for p
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Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll Tina Turner Dies at 83

Legendary singer Tina Turner passed away peacefully at 83 at her residence in Switzerland. Legendary rock ‘n’ roll singer Tina Turner passed away peacefully Wednesday in her Switzerland home after battling a long illness. She was 83. The global superstar was best known for her iconic R&B hits, skyrocketing to fame with her single ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ in 1984. Through the 1980s, Turner won several Grammy awards as she cranked out chart-toppers like ‘The Best,’ ‘Private Dancer,’ and ‘
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Books on Tiananmen Square Removed From Hong Kong Public Libraries

Books related to the Tiananmen Square Massacre and pro-democracy protests have been removed from Hong Kong libraries. Public libraries in Hong Kong have removed books and documentaries relating to the Tiananmen Square massacre, Hong Kong protest movements, and other politically sensitive subjects ahead of the 34th anniversary of the 1989 killings. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday that “public libraries needed to ensure books don’t violate local laws” and “spread any kind of
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British Music Icon Dua Lipa Unveils New Book Club

Service95 founder Dua Lipa announced the launch of her Book Club, kicking off with a thrilling debut novel by Douglas Stuart. Famed British singer, songwriter and model Dua Lipa announced the launch of Service95’s Book Club earlier this week. Founded in February 2022, Service95 is Dua’s brainchild, what she calls “the ultimate cultural concierge.” Service95 is a weekly newsletter spotlighting culture, travel and the arts, bringing the reader unique conversations and stories on politics, social
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Bookstore Frenzy and More Book Bans, Plus Snazzy Book Awards!

Bookstr News is back with another roundup of all the biggest news this week from the bookish world! It’s April already? Well, we’re not fooling around with the news this week. In case you aren’t familiar with Bookstr News, this is where we round up the latest news for you from the book world, and let me tell you, there’s always news to update you on. Let’s dive straight into it! Bookstores are really going through it right now… From fostering a safe space for the Asian-American community to b
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End of an Era: Eastwind Books Shuttering After 41 Years

One of the nation’s oldest Asian-American bookstores is permanently shutting its doors. As April inches closer, Eastwind Books of Berkeley will see its last month in operation after 41 years of business in Berkeley California. The quaint bookstore, standing proudly at 2066 University Ave., will shut its doors on April 30 this year after the owners concluded this was the best decision for them. Harvey and Beatrice Dong, now in their 70s, were faced with several dilemmas leading up to this deci
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This Author Has the Craziest Technology Setup You’ve Ever Seen!

Here’s how this author writes his books without actually writing them! Have you ever wondered how authors go about writing their books? You might think: at their desk with a laptop in front of them, maybe a notebook and pen on the side. But one author has a non-traditional approach unlike anything you might have imagined. Edward Savio doesn’t actually sit down to write his books. Most of the time, he’s neither sitting, nor writing. Instead, he’s speaking out loud in his basement, with his micr
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Bookstr News Presents Oscar Winners, Book Ban Pushback, and Oprah’s Big 100!

Another week, another episode of Bookstr News! Dive right into some exciting and wholesome moments from the book world this week. Hi! We’re back with more Bookstr News this week. If you’re wondering what Bookstr News is, it’s our weekly roundup of bookish news to keep you updated on all things from the book world! From pop culture to politics to feel-good stories, we have an interesting mix of stories for you every week. OK, we know this isn’t bookish news but we wanted to show some appreciati
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FBI Spies on Chicago Bookstore for ‘Violent Extremism’

According to a 30-page document from the FBI, this Chicago Bookstore is a hotbed for extremist activities. Though, there’s little evidence to back such claims. Chicago has a lot of cool bookstores. Most of them have cute aesthetics, a generous selection of books, and, occasionally, a coffee shop within. And one bookstore apparently houses “violent extremists,” or at least that’s what the FBI has claimed per a new report. In a 30-page document obtained by Unicorn Riot, the FBI reported that Pil
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13 Kickass South Asian Female Authors You Need to Read

For Women’s History Month, we made it our mission to highlight voices from different backgrounds. Let’s dive into South Asian Female Authors! Every day is a great day to read literature by female authors, and this Women’s History Month we’re highlighting some of our favorites! This list is by no means exhaustive; there are plenty of South Asian female authors who aren’t mentioned here but whose works are equally incredible. Starting this list off with the renowned Jhumpa Lahiri, whose award-wi
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South Asian Excellence with Our Bookstagrammer of the Week: @browngirlbookshelf

Calling all South Asian Book Lovers! Meet Mishika and Sri, the duo behind @browngirlbookshelf. From book recommendations to new cookbooks to snazzy giveaways, they’ve got you covered on any South Asian reads you’re looking for. For many of us, the literary world is our quiet enclave away from the rest of the world, an escape from reality. We get lost in our books and characters that may or may not exist in real life, characters within whom we find comfort, resemblance and love. But for some of
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USC Professor Book Plagiarism Uncovered by LA Times Investigation

Famed oncologist Dr. David Agus has recalled all sales of his new book amid a plagiarism scandal following an investigation by the LA Times. March 7, 2023 would have marked the release date of Dr. David Agus’ new health book, The Book of Animal Secrets: Nature’s Lessons for a Long and Happy Life. However, an investigation by the LA Times, released last week, upended all the fanfare surrounding Agus’ new books after uncovering almost 100 separate instances of plagiarism. It was announced March
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AI Copyrights? Racist James Bond? New Grinch Content? All This and More, This Week on Bookstr News!

As if last week’s book editing debacle wasn’t enough, this week is packed with more edits! Plus AI-generated novels? But it’s not all bad on Bookstr News! Read about it! Hello again! We’re back with another episode of Bookstr News! What’s Bookstr News, you ask? Well, we are talking news from the book world — everything from missing romance authors to Florida’s many (many, many, many) book bans! There’s something of interest for everyone, from all of us here at Bookstr. We’re bringing you an int
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What James Daunt Gets Right About Being a Bookseller

There’s a reason why Barnes & Noble is thriving as a chain bookseller, and it’s all because of one man: James Daunt. For the last 30 years or so, James Daunt has seen it all in the book world — the rise and fall of bookstore chains, the demise of independent bookstores, and the limited success of online booksellers. What he’s done with this observation is curate the perfect recipe for success for bookstore chains, handpicking his ingredients from personal experience as an independent bookseller
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Dr. Seuss’ ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ Is Getting a Sequel

The Grinch is finally back in the literary world, this time with a new take on celebrating Christmas. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming sequel! It’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, especially when How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is getting a sequel later this year! The 1957 children’s book by Dr. Seuss will be followed by How the Grinch Lost Christmas!, set to be released September 5 this year. The book is being written by Alastair Heim and illustrated by Aristides
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Original Roald Dahl Books to be Published Alongside Revised Versions

Following a week of criticism and backlash, Roald Dahl’s books will be published in both the original form as well as a separate, altered version of the books. Following heavy criticism surrounding the decision to alter children’s books by Roald Dahl, Puffin books will publish both the original version as well as a separate, altered version of the books. According to a statement from Penguin Random House, whose children’s imprint publisher Puffin Books publishes Roald Dahl’s children books, T
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The Life and Legacy of Toni Morrison

Undoubtedly one of the most brilliant writers of this era, Toni Morrison leaves behind an unparalleled legacy. To perfectly encapsulate the greatness of an author like Toni Morrison is a challenge in itself. The impact she had — on the literary world, on Black literature and on the political and landscape across America — is almost unparalleled. We may never again have a literary giant like Toni Morrison, but that we had her is itself one of the biggest blessings of the literary world. Toni Mo
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12 Quotes by Influential Black Authors

In honor of Black History Month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite quotes by Black authors. Some, if not all these authors, you will recognize! Whether they were assigned reading in high school or part of your TBR list now, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the work from these black authors. In addition to being brilliant writers, many of these authors drew their inspiration from their work outside of writing; Zora Neale Hurston, for example, was also a filmmaker, while Maya Angelo
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Why ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Will Always Be a Classic

More than 60 years after being published, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is one of the most eyeopening books you’ll ever read. Here’s why. Every era has a handful of books that perfectly captures the socio-political climate of the time. Those books are more than just page-turners; they’re the type of books that completely change your perspective on certain people and places. They make you reconsider what you’ve been taught, and perhaps sending you into a bit of an existential crisis too. Tha
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Salman Rushdie Gives First Interview Since 2022 Stabbing

The acclaimed author opens up about the attack last year and talks about his latest novel, ‘Victory City’. Famed British-Indian author Salman Rushdie has given his first interview since being brutally stabbed in August 2022 at a literary event in New York City. Speaking in an exclusive interview with The New Yorker, Rushdie said he was “lucky” to have survived the assassination attempt and emphasized his gratitude to all those who have helped him thus far. “At some point, I’d like to go back