Better Than the Movie: A Podcast About Books

This episode we're talking independently released books from Black female authors that run the gamut from romance to urban to work memoir to YA(ish). But first...the news! Articles discussed linked below:Nappily Ever After on Netflix: https://shadowandact.com/netflix-unveils-poster-announces-premiere-date-for-film-adaptation-of-nappily-ever-after-starring-sanaa-lathan/ Victoria Christopher Murray + TD Jakes collaboration:https://shadowandact.com/lifetime-partners-with-robin-roberts-for-original-movies-including-a-mahalia-jackson-film-orders-seven-deadly-sins-anthology-from-t-d-jakes This Anna March malarkey: http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-ca-jc-anna-march/  Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited and its relationship to publishing: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/07/amazon-kindle-unlimited-self-publishing/565664/

Hey hey! This episode is a special one because we got to talk about and to one of our favorite writers, Rachel Howzell Hall. We speak about her creative process, the dearth of Black female crime writers, and her love of Prince!Links to news discussed in show:Lambda Literary Awardshttps://themillions.com/2018/06/2018-lambda-literary-awards-honor-lgbtq-literature.htmlLaundromat Bookshttp://www.dailylocal.com/general-news/20180519/nonprofit-creates-libraries-at-laundromats18 Black Music Month Readshttps://bookriot.com/2018/06/07/must-read-books-about-black-music/

A note from Jeanette: So guys...mea culpa, this show should have been out a couple of weeks ago, but I got slammed with life, which delayed the editing. So some of the things discussed herein are old news, but our takes are still pretty fresh, so yanno, balance. ;-) Today's show is pretty special. If you have been rocking with us from the beginning, you'll remember our very first episode was about the books of one Eric Jerome Dickey. Well friends, our little show has come full circle because we were afforded the opportunity to have a conversation with Mr. Dickey. We played it cool, but we were pretty excited! Hope you enjoy listening.News stories discussed in the show:FOLD Human Lit Library: http://thefoldcanada.org/Pulitzer Winners: http://www.pulitzer.org/news/announcement-2018-pulitzer-prize-winnersGSK Killer Caught: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellefabio/2018/04/25/true-crime-author-michelle-mcnamaras-legacy-sealed-with-arrest-in-golden-state-killer-case/#78495d32378a8 Books You Should Read in April: http://www.vulture.com/2018/04/best-new-books-april-2018.htmlUniversal Fan Con: https://www.theroot.com/it-be-your-own-people-on-universal-fancon-and-the-perv-1825481924

This week we're discussing Gabrielle Union's memoir We're Going to Need More Wine. Articles discussed in news are below:Junot Diaz on the legacy of childhood trauma: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/16/the-silence-the-legacy-of-childhood-traumaNew Generations of Black bookstores: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/76545-a-new-generation-of-african-american-owned-bookstores.htmlBlack bookstores directory: https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.phpLaurie Hernandez's upcoming book: http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/04/laurie_hernandez_shes_got_this_picture_book_1.htmlAspen Words Literary Prize: http://www.aspenwords.org/programs/literary-prize/RWA and the RITAs clusterfuck: https://www.rwa.org/p/bl/et/blogid=20&blogaid=2170

We're finally talking about An American Marriage by Tayari Jones! But first, we discuss this article in The Atlantic in which Tayari talks about writing a feminist article from a man's point of view: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/03/by-heart-tayari-jones/556010/

This week we're discussing Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere, but first...the news! Articles discussed below:Prize for Thrillers with No Violence Against Women?https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/26/staunch-prize-launched-for-thrillers-that-avoid-sexual-violence-against-womenhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/31/staunch-prize-thrillers-no-violence-against-women-sophie-hannah?CMP=twt_books_b-gdnbooksHow to Make Money Self-Publishing Short Romance Novels on Amazon: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2018/02/make-money-writing-romance-novels.html 15 New Theatre-Related Reads Out This Spring: http://www.playbill.com/article/15-new-theatre-related-reads-out-this-springLupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira are adapting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah for TV: https://www.avclub.com/lupita-nyongo-and-danai-gurira-are-adapting-chimamanda-1823405299  Thread bout there being more black book reviewers: https://twitter.com/brownbookworm/status/968614017790021635

In this episode we talk about a hodgepodge of items, culminating in a little rant about piracy & An American Marriage. Items discussed in this week's show:Jesmyn Ward's Two Book Deal: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/76000-s-s-signs-jesmyn-ward-to-two-book-deal.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=9a5d492df5-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-9a5d492df5-305326373Tayari Jones' BIG news: http://www.oprah.com/inspiration/an-american-marriage-by-tayari-jones-oprahs-book-club-2018

Oh hai. It us. We back. Kickin' mad shit in ya ear for the new year. (I'm sorry for that.) We're talking reading, writing, and podcasting goals for 2018 in addition to the news stories below...No more library fines for most young readers in L.A. CountyWHAT TO READ WHEN 2018 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER Fred Bass, Who Made the Strand Bookstore a Mecca, Dies at 89Jacqueline Woodson has been named National Ambassador for Young People’s LiteratureLast of Philly's Black Owned Bookstores Making a Comeback

This week we’re discussion Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward, but first the news! Links to stories discussed below: Updated: Did This Book Buy Its Way Onto The New York Times Bestseller List?: http://www.pajiba.com/book_reviews/did-this-book-buy-its-way-onto-the-new-york-times-bestseller-list.php Are Book Blurbs Helpful or Harmful?: http://themillions.com/2017/09/book-blurbs-helpful-harmful.html National Book Awards Fiction Longlist: https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-national-book-awards-longlist-fiction-2017 ***** BTTM on Social: www.twitter.com/BetterThanTM www.facebook.com/BetterThantheMovie

It’s been a minute, but we back with the jumpoff. This week we’re talking villains. But first…the news! Links to articles discussed below: New Books in August 2017: http://blog.mahoganybooks.com/new-books-in-august-2017/ LeVar Burton Sued for Using His Reading Rainbow Catchphrase on His Podcast http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/levar-burton-sued-for-using-his-reading-rainbow-catchphrase.html?utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1 Ava DuVernay, Charles D. King’s Macro & Victoria Mahoney To Adapt Octavia E. Butler’s Sci-Fi Novel ‘Dawn’ For TV http://deadline.com/2017/08/ava-duvernay-octavia-butler-dawn-tv-series-victoria-mahoney-macro-1202145539/ The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter http://www.vulture.com/2017/08/the-toxic-drama-of-ya-twitter.html?utm_campaign=vulture&utm_source=tw&utm_medium=s1

We're discussing books set out West! Articles discussed in news: Tahmeka’s Literary Heart and Literary Brain Have A Conversation http://www.documentjournal.com/article/junot-diaz-and-toni-morrison
 A Joy Luck Club TV Show http://blog.angryasianman.com/2017/05/a-joy-luck-club-television-series-is-in.html
 Well Read Black Girl Conference Kickstarter http://www.themillions.com/2017/06/well-read-well-written.html
 Why Literary Journals Don’t Pay http://www.themillions.com/2017/05/why-literary-journals-dont-pay.html ***** BTTM on Social: www.twitter.com/BetterThanTM www.facebook.com/BetterThantheMovie Google Voice: 210-618-2886

After a lengthy hiatus we're back talkin' books. Join us as we discuss Kimani coming to an end and what's currently on our TBR lists.

This week Jeanette and Tahmeka are discussing the world of indie publishing and highlighting some folks for y’all to check out. Articles Discussed in News: Books for Girls, About Girls https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/17/childrens-books-for-girls-publishers-writers-gender-imbalance Big Little LIes http://www.avclub.com/article/murder-only-one-big-little-lies-many-mysteries-252304 Kerry Washington, Warner Bros. to Adapt 'The Mothers': http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-kerry-washington-adapt-mothers-984828?utm_source=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral Chimamanda and the Trans Community http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-adichie-transgender-20170313-story.html Her New Book: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/books/chimamanda-ngozi-adiche-dear-ijeawele.html Books N Bros’ 11-year-old founder wants to help boys love reading at an age when they often don’t: http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/books-n-bros-11-year-old-founder-wants-help-boys-love-reading-age-when-they-often-don-t#stream/0 Authors Highlighted: Constance Burris: https://www.amazon.com/Constance-Burris/e/B00P42MYIU  Renaldo Christopher: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Renaldo+Christopher&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Renaldo+Christopher&sort=relevancerank DL White: https://www.amazon.com/DL-White/e/B00RM4Q3J4 Alexandra Warren: https://www.amazon.com/Alexandra-Warren/e/B00U6XWUYA Love Belvin: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Belvin/e/B00CZDLZO0 Té Russ: https://www.amazon.com/T%C3%A9-Russ/e/B008HSBE34 Danielle Allen: https://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Allen/e/B00JT0JUZS Indie Love in the A Event Info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indie-love-in-the-atl-2017-tickets-28541142325 

This week we’re discussing The Mothers by Brit Bennett.

It’s Jeanette & Tahmeka, talking’ books.News discussed this episode:Hilary Banks- Sweet Blackberry: http://www.sweetblackberry.org/ Author of An Untamed State Pulls Book From S&S: https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarrylee/roxane-gay-pulls-book-from-simon-schuster-in-response-to-mil?utm_term=.euQj3qgm2#.ogOaJ2RNpPaul Beatty Is Not New to This: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/22/paul-beatty-trumps-america-has-always-existed?CMP=share_btn_fbSilent Book Club https://www.pw.org/content/dear_readers_you_are_not_alone Marley Dias: 12-Year-Old Founder Of #1000BlackGirlBooks Gets A Scholastic Book Deal: https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/stories/marley-dias-12-year-old-founder-of-1000blackgirlbooks-gets-a-scholastic-book-deal

This week we’re talking Zadie Smith’s Swing Time.Articles discussed in news section:John Lewis Book Sales: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bookmark/trump-tweet-sends-john-lewis-book-sales-soaring-964415?utm_source=twitterObama’s Secret to Surviving The White House: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/books/obamas-secret-to-surviving-the-white-house-years-books.htmlWhite Lady Anger: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/12/the-secret-lives-of-the-amir-sisters-by-nadiya-hussain-review-what-the-bake-off-winner-did-nextNational Book Critics Circle Awards: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/arts/zadie-smith-and-michael-chabon-among-national-book-critics-circle-finalists.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur&_r=0

We're back! And talkin' books... Articles discussed in news section below: Simon & Schuster + That Milo Dudeguy: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-yiannopoulos-book-deal-20170104-story.html The Millions Most Anticipated of 2017: http://www.themillions.com/2017/01/most-anticipated-the-great-2017-book-preview.html In 2017, publishing really needs a blockbuster: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-publishing-2017-story.html

Friend of the show Ashley stops by to give us some recommendations on (mostly) nonfiction titles regarding race relations. White Rage - Carol Anderson: http://amzn.to/2fznsAg More Beautiful and More Terrible - Imani Perry: http://amzn.to/2fNrIRQ The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander: http://amzn.to/2fNoLk2 Southern Horrors and Other Writings; The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells - Ida B. Wells & Jacqueline Jones Royster : http://amzn.to/2fVAxbB Sara Baartman and the Hottentot Venus: A Ghost Story and a Biography - Clifton Crais and Pamela Scully: http://amzn.to/2ePOseO The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration - isabel Wilkerson: http://amzn.to/2ftZyY8 Men We Reaped - Jesmyn Ward: http://amzn.to/2eH6Zww Passing - Nella Larsen: http://amzn.to/2ey2eC4 Stories discussed in news: Claudia Rankine using MacArthur Genius grant to create an institute to study whiteness & its influence on culture: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/19/claudia-rankine-macarthur-genius-grant-exploring-whiteness Paul Beatty Wins Man Booker Prize With ‘The Sellout’: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/business/media/paul-beatty-wins-man-booker-prize-with-the-sellout.html?_r=0 Take a look: A 'Reading Rainbow' in the digital age: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/80774b3a6e1a4f058cc8e2c7f98a397a/take-look-reading-rainbow-digital-age Papercuts: A Party Game for the Rude and Well-Read: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/electriclit/papercuts-a-party-game-for-the-rude-and-well-read

This is a new episode of Better Than the Movie. Stories discussed in news: Lil Wayne Memoir: http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/lil-wayne-rikers-island-journal.html?mid=twitter_vulture There’s a Word for Buying Books and Not Reading Them: http://www.ozy.com/acumen/theres-a-word-for-buying-books-and-not-reading-them/71898?utm_source=MF&utm_medium=pp&utm_campaign=pp Amazon Prime Members Can Read All They Want For Free: http://www.brit.co/score-amazon-prime-members-can-read-all-they-want-for-free/?utm_content=buffer3d909&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Sarah Jessica Parker and Ta-Nehisi Coates, on New Literary Paths: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/t-magazine/entertainment/sarah-jessica-parker-sjp-hogarth-tanehisi-coates-black-panther.html?_r=0 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Says Her Feminism Is Different Than Beyoncé's Feminism, But Both Women Are Doing It Right: https://www.bustle.com/articles/188446-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-says-her-feminism-is-different-than-beyoncs-feminism-but-both-women-are-doing Read a chilling excerpt from the Black Lives Matter-inspired YA novel The Hate U Give: http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/12/the-hate-u-give-black-lives-matter-excerpt?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter

You get two episodes this week! In Tahmeka's absence, I spoke with Brandon Taylor, a PhD candidate in biochemistry and an avid reader, to get some recommendations. What follows is a discussion that includes the aforementioned recommendations as well as random musings about things that are literary adjacent. Brandon's Recommendations: Swallowed By The Cold - Jensen Beach: http://amzn.to/2eeQ96P Arcade - Drew Nellins Smith: http://amzn.to/2dnImkm Boy Erased - Garrard Conley: http://amzn.to/2e16kGa The Narrow Door - Paul Lisicky: http://amzn.to/2ebC6zI The Border Of Paradise - Esme Weijun Wang: http://amzn.to/2dKiIHx Private Citizens - Tommy Tulathimutte: http://amzn.to/2ept68X Disgruntled - Asali Solomon: http://amzn.to/2dKgsQu Ladivine - Marie Ndiaye: http://amzn.to/2ehJyfw Dinosaurs On Other Planets - Danielle McLaughlin: http://amzn.to/2e14uVN

This week we’re reading an idiot & discussing “diversity”. Stories Discussed in News Section: Claudia Rankine Leads This Year’s Class of MacArthur Genius Grant Recipients: http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/heres-2016s-macarthur-genius-grant-recipients.html?mid=twitter_vulture What I Pledge Allegiance To (Kiese Laymon essay): http://www.thefader.com/2016/09/19/my-mississippi-pledge-kiese-laymon Who gets to write what: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/opinion/sunday/who-gets-to-write-what.html?_r=2

This week we’re discussing the brilliantly written and curated The Fire Next Time. But first…the news! And we also have a special guest in the Honeycomb Hideout—Brooklynn (Tahmeka’s daughter) drops in to give us some kid lit picks! Articles discussed in news: What Makes a Reader Stop Reading a Book: http://writerswrite.co.za/what-makes-readers-stop-reading-a-book Simone Biles Autobiography Deal: http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/simone-biles-inks-autobiography-deal-with-zondervan/124630 Lit Spins Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/797728319/lit-spins-the-first-ever-book-vinyl-subscription-b?ref=project_tweet Five queer black female authors you need to be familiar with: http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/09/5-queer-black-female-authors-who-will-blow-your-mind-wide-open/?utm_content=bufferf2180&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer No, the Internet has not killed the printed book, most people still prefer them: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/03/business/no-the-internet-has-not-killed-the-printed-book-most-people-still-prefer-them.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad&_r=0 St. Martin’s Press Acquires New Nick Cannon Novel: https://blackpageturners.com/2016/09/12/between-the-lines-st-martins-press-acquires-new-nick-cannon-novel/ Brooklynn’s picks: Roller Girl - Victoria Jameson Pack of Dorks - Beth Vrabel The Missing Pieces of Me - Jean Van Leeuwin Who is Malala Yousafazi? - Dinah Brown Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson

We're coming to you live from Rocky Mountain High on this episode. WE visited a few of the local Denver bookstores and discuss our thoughts about them. This week we’re also tackling the complicated feelings that come along with wanting to support indie booksellers, but ultimately succumbing to the low low prices of The Man (aka Amazon) along with our usual assessment of lit news and other minutiae. Articles discussed in news section below: Stop telling black people not to self publish: http://justinaireland.com/dammit-this-is-a-blog/2016/8/17/stop-telling-black-people-to-self-publish 
 Save Langston Hughes’ Harlem Home: http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/19/news/economy/langston-hughes-harlem-home/index.html?sr=twCNN081916langston-hughes-harlem-home1248PMStoryLink&linkId=27831546 
 Publisher delays YA novel amid row over invented black 'street dialect': https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/16/delays-ya-row-over-invented-black-vernacular-when-we-was-fierce

What Pres. Obama is reading this summer: http://time.com/4450367/president-obama-summer-reading-list-2016/?xid=tcoshare

We are honored to have author Trisha R. Thomas on the show this week to talk about her latest novel Postcards From Venus which will be released on August 16, 2016. Tahmeka speaks with Trisha about her writing process, the Nappily Ever After book series and her thoughts and views on the state of the literary world in general. Show begins with the usual News You Can Use segment and we also have a brief chat about "hypebeasting" in the literary world.. Articles discussed in news section below: Oprah’s Book Club Pick http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/08/04/behind-oprahs-book-club-pick-of-the-underground-railroad/ Slave Narrative https://twitter.com/NewRepublic/status/760800087173918720 Jonathan Franzen and His Negro Friend http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/interrogation/2016/07/a_conversation_with_novelist_jonathan_franzen.html Read Books, Live Longer http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/read-books-live-longer/?_r=0

Hodgepodge show. We're just yapping away. New stories covered in News You Can Use below... The Author of An Untamed State and Black Panther http://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/22/roxane-gay-black-panther?xid=entertainment-weekly_socialflow_twitter Spoilers Make Stories Better http://www.bustle.com/articles/173878-reading-book-spoilers-makes-stories-better-study-says Beauty and Books—Barnes & Noble http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Barnes-Noble-Beauty-Store-Glossary-41955146?campaign=sugar_social_button_m#photo-41955146 Ben Winters Responds http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/07/06/the_new_york_times_piece_on_ben_h_winters_new_book_totally_ignores_sci_fi.html http://lithub.com/why-not-use-this-moment-to-celebrate-writers-of-color/ When We Was Fierce https://campbele.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/review-when-we-was-fierce/ http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/

Wow! This is Episode Fifty! I don't even think we realized it as we recorded. This week's show begins on a bit of a somber note as we reflect on the senseless violence witnessed within recent days. Episode's main topic is the memory Every Little Step by Robert Barisford Brown aka The Kang of R&B. News stories discussed during episode below: The Great Second-Half 2016 Book Preview: http://www.themillions.com/2016/07/most-anticipated-the-great-second-half-2016-book-preview.html Marvel’s New Iron Man Is a Black Woman: http://time.com/4394478/iron-man-riri-williams-tony-stark/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter Chimamanda’s Had a Baby: http://jezebel.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-quietly-gave-birth-refused-to-1783171806 Audible Channels (wtf is it?): https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/07/audible-channels-audio-shows-subscription/ Brave New World of White Man Doing What Octavia Butler Did Decades Ago: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/books/ben-winters-underground-airlines.html?_r=1

SURPRISE! It's a really freaking long bonus episode about Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing.

We're back, you guys! Did you miss us? This week we're talking about alllllllll of the news stories we've missed while on hiatus. Ok not all of them, but a lot of em. All articles discussed below: 15 Books By Black Authors To Dive Into This Summer http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/06/15-new-books-by-black-authors-to-dive-into-this-summer/ Bobby Brown Every Little Step I Take http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2016/06/10/bobby-brown-laments-his-mistakes-whitney-bobbi-kristina-memoir/85707484/ LitHub Launches Book Marks http://electricliterature.com/lit-hub-launches-book-marks-a-rotten-tomatoes-for-books/ Does Literary Criticism Have A Grade Inflation Problem? https://newrepublic.com/article/134060/literary-criticism-grade-inflation-problem Akosua Adoma Owusu Options Film Rights to Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche’s “On Monday Of Last Week” http://shadowandact.com/2016/06/09/akosua-adoma-owusu-and-obibini-pictures-options-film-adaptation-rights-for-chimamanda-ngozi-adichies-story-on-monday-of-last-week/ Trisha R. Thomas (FOH episode) Has A New Book Coming https://www.instagram.com/p/BGPvQL3uotQ/ Beyonce Is Not Shining A Light On African Literature- It’s The Other Way Around https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/jun/08/beyonce-lemonade-african-literature-warsan-shire?CMP=twt_books_b-gdnbooks

You thought we wasn't when we was? Shooooot. Just because we are a literary podcast, don't think we aren't discussing Lemonade like everyone else, ha! We discuss the work on a granular level as well as delve into the idea that Black art is often seen as autobiographical, instead of works of imagination. Articles discussed in news section: Why publishers are betting big on debut novelists: http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/02/debut-novel-millions Oprah Winfrey to star in “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” film adaptation: http://buzz.blog.ajc.com/2016/05/02/oprah-winfrey-to-star-in-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-film-adaptation/ A Reading List For Beyonce: http://bookriot.com/2016/05/02/a-reading-list-for-beyonces-lemonade/ What to read after watching Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’: http://fusion.net/story/295105/beyonce-lemonade-required-reading/?utm_campaign=FusionPop&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social

This week's show is all about our trip to NY to see a couple of Broadway plays based on two literary works-- Hamilton by Ron Chernow and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Tahmeka also walks us through the #Hamiltome. But first, the news: Are Most Romance Novels Badly Written?: http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/apr/18/romance-novels-badly-written-curtis-sittenfeld-eligible-pride-and-prejudice?CMP=twt_books_b-gdnbooks Rachel Dolezal’s Got a Book Deal: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/13/rachel-dolezal-signs-publishing-deal-book-race-black-white 2016 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced: http://www.pulitzer.org/article/2016-pulitzer-prizes http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hamilton-wins-2016-pulitzer-prize-884618?utm_source=twitter

Movie Adaptation of An Untamed State: http://deadline.com/2016/03/gugu-mbatha-raw-to-star-gina-prince-bythewood-to-helm-an-untamed-state-1201724469/ James Patterson’s Money Grab: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/business/media/james-patterson-has-a-big-plan-for-small-books.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur&_r=0 10 Books Every Young Black Woman Should Read to Slay (LOL): http://www.lifehack.org/381194/10-books-every-young-black-women-needs-read-order-slay

Show's a bit different this week. Tahmeka's traveling for work, so I'm (Jeanette) manning it solo. I'm speaking with Léonicka Valcius about Canadian literature, working for Scholastic Book Fair and also the Festival of Literary Diversity that we talked about briefly in the last show. Léonicka also provides a reading list of excellent Canadian books/authors to check out. Show rounds out with a solo "What Are You Reading?" because I'm newly obsessed with Rachel Howzell Hall and needed to fangirl.

This week's episode finds us discussing books that have been recently released or forthcoming in the spring. We also briefly discuss the Festival of Diverse Literature that's taking place in Brampton, Ontario Canada in May. Goodreads list of books here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/97553.Better_Than_the_Movie_Spring_Book_Round_up

This week's show finds us discussing the best-selling guide to getting and keepin' a man--Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey. We break it down to the most ridiculous points and lose our composure quite a few times as we give this book the close reading it never even deserved.

This week’s episodes about…well, nothing. HA! We’re discussing a smattering of literary related articles. Links below: Junot: http://www.openculture.com/2015/02/junot-diazs-syllabi-for-his-mit-writing-classes.html Books we should be reading for BHM: http://www.bustle.com/articles/137942-12-lesser-known-black-authors-we-should-all-be-reading-this-black-history-month-and-beyond Amazon becoming the new Borders: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/69313-amazon-may-open-400-bookstores.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=138de93053-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-138de93053-305326373 Ebook sales falling: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/03/ebook-sales-falling-for-the-first-time-finds-new-report?CMP=twt_books_b-gdnbooks Denene Milner gets her own imprint on Agate Bolden Publishing: https://twitter.com/AgatePublishing/status/696815298452811776 NYT longform article abt Chris Jackson’s black literary movement: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/magazine/how-chris-jackson-is-building-a-black-literary-movement.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur That silly ass BR formation reading list: http://bookriot.com/2016/02/08/reading-list-beyonces-formation/ http://justinaireland.com/dammit-this-is-a-blog/

It's our one year anniversary...well almost! We're coming in a couple days early, but it's all good. : ) This week we're discussing the sanitization of slavery children's books, Jeanette has a wee bit of a rant about some literary related things that have been annoying her and we end with talking about some of our favorite episodes of this podcast and our hopes for its future. Links to articles discussed below: A Fine Dessert/A birthday cake for Mr. Washington Childrens books sanitizing slavery Shitbacle: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/smiling-slaves-post-fine-dessert-world/ BookRiot Black Editors Piece: http://bookriot.com/2016/01/18/diversity-myth-black-editors-gone/ Hamilton Book: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/new-book-taking-readers-inside-broadways-hamilton-now-available-for-pre-order-364102 Article that sparked J’s diversity rant: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/new-year-new-reading-resolutions/#continue_reading_post

New year, same us! We're back discussing Lauren Francis Sharma's novel, Til the Well Runs Dry, but first some lit news. Links discussed below...Barnes and Noble applied for liquor license: http://the-digital-reader.com/2015/12/25/bn-applies-for-a-liquor-licence/Minx Malone interview (not so much for the romance aspect of it, but the othering bit she speaks about in the 4th question/answer): http://indiereader.com/2016/01/36575/Damn, You're Not Reading Any Books by White Men This Year? That's So Freakin Brave and Cool from Jezebel: m/damn-youre-not-reading-any-books-by-white-men-this-yea-1751094468

I think the title says it all. :) We begin the show with Lit News business as usual and continue on to talk about our favorite reads of the year. Articles discussed in Lit News: New Marlon James Novel is African Game Of Thrones: http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/marlon-jamess-new-book-will-be-an-african-got.html# 15 Powerful Works of Fiction Pubbed by Black Authors in 2015: http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/12/_15_powerful_works_of_fiction_published_by_black_authors_in_2015.html World’s First MA in Black literature offered: http://www.theleopard.co.uk/worlds-first-ma-in-black-literature-is-launched-by-goldsmiths/ U.S. School stops teaching Huck Finn Because the N word: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/14/school-stops-teaching-huckleberry-finn-community-costs-n-word More Books, Fewer Guns BookRiot piece: http://bookriot.com/2015/12/14/more-books-fewer-guns/

This week's show is all about saying yes. We're discussing Shonda Rhimes' The Year of Yes. Links to articles discussed in this week's Lit News here: Misty Copeland to Write a Health and Fitness Book: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/misty-copeland-to-write-book-on-health-and-fitness/?_r=0 Maya Angelou Documentary Kickstarter: http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/maya-angelou-documentary-featured-on-kickstarter/113069 Flatiron to Pub Oprah’s Memoir, host her new imprint http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/68844-flatiron-to-pub-oprah-s-memoir-host-her-new-imprint.html Marlon James "Black authors pander to white women": http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/nov/30/marlon-james-writers-of-colour-pander-white-woman-man-booker-event-brief-history-seven-killings?CMP=twt_gu White Men Are the Minority on This Year’s BIggest Year End Book Lists: http://flavorwire.com/549755/white-men-are-the-minority-on-this-years-biggest-book-lists Goodreads Best of 2015: http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebolini/the-best-books-of-2015-according-to-goodreads?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Books%20126&utm_content=Books%20126+CID_795f4e44e4917ae538fa4b9895341376&utm_source=BuzzFeed%20Newsletters&utm_term=and%20picked%20the%20best%20of%20the%20best#4ldqpis

After an unplanned hiatus, we're back and talkin' smack! Ok...not really, I just couldn't resist the rhyme. The main theme of this week's show is novels featuring mother/daughter relationships. Before we dig in, however, we discuss a variety of literary related items as well as give some updates regarding the future of Better Than the Movie. Articles Discussed: American Writers Museum to Open in Chicago in 2017: http://bit.ly/1MjfPcS NaNoWriMo article: http://huff.to/1HRuux7 Amazon Article: http://huff.to/1PxgxXI Clarissa Article: http://huff.to/1SULFiz List of Books From Episode: God Help The Child - Toni Morrison White Oleander - Janet Fitch Breath, Eyes, Memory - Edwidge Danticat Claire of the Sea Light - Edwidge Danticat The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison The Darkest Child - Delores Phillips The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd The Almost Moon - Alice Sebold Where the Heart Is - Billie Letts Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells Carrie - Stephen King Where’d You Go Bernadette - Maria Semple 72 Hour Hold - Bebe Moore Campbell Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates Girl In Translation - Jean Kwok Third Girl From the Left - Martha Southgate The Center of Everything - Laura Moriarty Mama - Terry McMillan

This week we're talking what makes a book good to us. Feel free to talk back via email (betterthanthemovie@gmail.com) or Google voice (210-816-2886) to let us know what draws you in! Articles discussed in news section: Marlon James Wins the Man Booker Prize! http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34527496 Marlon James recommends 5 Jamaican Novels http://lithub.com/marlon-james-five-jamaican-novels-you-should-read/ Kirkus Award winners http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/yanagihara-coates-and-muoz-ryan-win-kirkus-prizes/?ribbon-ad-idx=7&rref=books&module=Ribbon&version=origin®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Books&pgtype=article Angela Flournoy nom or 2015 National Book Award http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2015.html#.ViVXvFUViko PW Annual Salary Survey http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/68405-publishing-industry-salary-survey-2015-a-younger-workforce-still-predominantly-white.html

Technical difficulties tried to hold us down, but still we rise. While we get sorted, enjoy this mini-sode where we talk about the show in general.

News we discuss this week: - Meg Rosoff and her incredible wrongness regarding diversity in literature - Amy Schumer--The Nine Million Dollar Woman - Quvenzhané Wallis's six-figure book deal Then, the show is dedicated to the discussion of the beautifully written Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta.

This week we have a special guest in the honeycomb hideout, one of our favorite listeners--Valerie (aka @Vivaciously_Val on Le Twitter)! She's here to kick off our listener recommendations segment with a treasure trove of AMAZING books to read. For the unabridged list of all the novels she named, shoot us an email at betterthanthemovie@gmail.com! We also talk www.recoveringtheclassics.com briefly.

This is a new episode of the Better Than the Movie Podcast.

This week we cover a cornucopia of topics! From discussing the impact of Jackie Collins on the literary world to Grace Jones' memoir to writing from the outside, our news section is brimming with content. Links to articles discussed below. Our main segment is about upcoming books that we're anticipating reading. As always we end the show with our What Are You Reading? segment and introduce a new reader interactive segment. Articles discussed on today's show: RIP Jackie Collins: http://www.people.com/article/jackie-collins-dead Literary Map: http://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/map-of-literature#.xeJQGGrddy From the Outside: http://www.lspark.com/news/from-the-outside/ Grace Jones' Memoir: http://www.timeout.com/london/music/grace-jones-autobiography-extract-rihanna-miley-gaga-kanye ​Girl Have You Read?!: www.girlhaveyouread.com Amazon Article: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/67986-20-years-of-amazon-com-bookselling.html#path/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/67986-20-years-of-amazon-com-bookselling.html Oyster Article: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/68130-oyster-is-shutting-down-operations.html#path/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/68130-oyster-is-shutting-down-operations.html Fall Books: Love Love: http://amzn.to/1iKijqQ Negroland: http://amzn.to/1L1ZBaG Ghost Summer: http://amzn.to/1iKiouP The Story of My Teeth: http://amzn.to/1L1ZEDa The Sparrow Sisters: http://amzn.to/1NIqi35 The Queen of the Night: http://amzn.to/1L1ZKuE

WE BACK! : ) This week we're discussing the amazing article written by Jenny Zhang in response to the Yellowface/nom de plume debacle in the Best American Poetry 2015 anthology: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennybagel/they-pretend-to-be-us-while-pretending-we-dont-exist#.ys3Vww1YYD We're also discussing a hood lit novel. Yep, that's right. Our friends Ashley and Sarah join us to discuss a novel titled My Bitch, Yo Bitch, Everybody's Bitch. We wrap up the show with our What Are You Reading? segment.

This week's episode we're discussing quite a few hot topics. The show begins with a discussion of Ashley Ford's List of 9 Books to Add to the Modern Brown Girl Literary Canon. We were super impressed by the variety and thoughtfulness of the selections. (http://www.elle.com/culture/books/g26694/selections-from-the-modern-brown-girl-canon/) We also discuss a new comic Raising Dion (www.raisingdion.com) which is about a single mother raising a young boy who is discovered to have superpowers. The premise of this comic is super interesting and the youtube trailer is quite adorable(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW9EIxEqrJw). The majority of the show is spent discussion Jennifer Weiner's latest "Who Do You Love". We round out the show with a Self Pubbed Spotlight--highlighting books from authors Delaney Diamond and Quanie Miller.

This week's show is a hodgepodge of topics and eventually ends up with our lamentations about our writing woes (real issues, not the Wheelchair Jimmy definition.) Articles discussed are linked below: Reading for pleasure builds empathy and improves wellbeing: http://readingagency.org.uk/news/media/reading-for-pleasure-builds-empathy-and-improves-wellbeing-research-from-the-reading-agency-finds.html Man admits to dumping thousands of books onto highway: http://jezebel.com/man-admits-to-dumping-thousands-of-books-onto-highway-1724331038?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow Mat Johnson's Loving Day being adapted into Showtime comedy series: http://deadline.com/2015/08/mat-johnson-loving-day-showtime-comedy-racial-identity-1201500174/

In this week's episode we discuss: - NYT Obituary for Dr. Julian Bond. RIP: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/17/us/julian-bond-former-naacp-chairman-and-civil-rights-leader-dies-at-75.html?_r=1 - An interview between Dolen Perkins-Valdez and Lauren Francis- Sharma about the power of the American story: http://www.salon.com/2015/07/24/the_power_of_the_american_story_i_want_to_read_something_that_reaches_inside_me_and_rips_me_up_and_puts_me_back_together/ - The Iowa Barber offering haircuts for the price of a book being read to him: http://m.globegazette.com/ap/state/article_c208d548-72ab-51c4-b54c-c13e90dad31f.html?mobile_touch=true - And wrap up with a throwback to Episode Fifteen with books on books on books part deux!

Been gone for a minute now we're back at the jump off. We're back with an extra jam packed show this week to make up for our absence. We're talking Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me and some of the criticism it has received about the perceived lack of content regarding Black women. Then we talk about a Michigan bookstore that has decided to offer refunds to anyone who bought Go Set a Watchman and was less than impressed. The bulk of the episode is dedicated to discussing Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. Show wraps up with What Are You Reading? Oh! And we also announce a contest to win a Kindle! Check it out!