At the National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on November 20, the National Book Foundation will present its lifetime achievement award to author Barbara Kingsolver and the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community to W. Paul Coates, publisher, community activist, and founder of Black Classic Press and BCP Digital Printing.

(Photo: Evan Kafka)

Kingsolver will be presented with the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by Sam Stoloff, president & principal of the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. The Foundation noted that Kingsolver's "extensive oeuvre includes works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, investigative journalism, and science writing. Her most recent novel, Demon Copperhead, won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was named an Oprah Book Club selection." Her works include eight other novels, The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams, Pigs in Heaven, The Poisonwood Bible, Prodigal Summer, The Lacuna, Flight Behavior, and Unsheltered; the children's book, Coyote's Wild Home, co-authored with Lily Kingsolver; the short-story collection Homeland; the poetry collections Another America (Otra America) and How to Fly (In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons); the essay collections High Tide in Tucson and Small Wonder; and the nonfiction works Last Stand: America's Virgin Lands, with photographer Annie Griffiths Belt, Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, co-written with Steven L. Hopp, Camille Kingsolver, and Lily Hopp Kingsolver.

David Steinberger, chair of the board of directors of the National Book Foundation, said, "Spanning genres, Barbara Kingsolver's exceptional writing and authenticity, on and off of the page, has inspired generations of writers and readers. Kingsolver's books--which have been translated into dozens of languages--have had a vast impact on the national and global literary landscape."

Ruth Dickey, executive director of the National Book Foundation, added, "Barbara Kingsolver's writing embraces the personal and the political, examining complex issues of social justice, exalting the natural world, and exploring progressive social change with care and specificity. For Kingsolver, writing is a tool for community activism--a way of shining a light on some of the most intricate environmental and social injustices of our time, and an art form through which she can share stories of her beloved Appalachia with the world. We have all benefited from her brilliance."

(Photo: Rosalyn Coates)

The winner of the Literarian Award, W. Paul Coates, was cited in particular for Black Classic Press, which since 1978 "has published remarkable, and often out of print, works by and about people of the Black diaspora.... [He is] a lifelong advocate for celebrating the life of Black writers and bolstering their literary legacies." The Award will be presented by his son Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power, The Water Dancer, and Between the World and Me, which won the National Book Award in 2015.

David Steinberger said, "Over the course of his career, W. Paul Coates has recovered and discovered countless essential works of Black literature, and readers everywhere have reaped the benefits of his passion and care for the written word. Since the 1970s, Coates has modeled what it means to be a community-focused independent publisher and tireless advocate for Black diasporic writers and books. The Foundation is proud to count him among the former members of our Board of Directors."

Ruth Dickey added, "As a librarian, publisher, and community activist, W. Paul Coates has been instrumental in preserving the legacy of remarkable writers and elevating works that have shaped our personal and collective understanding of the Black experience within the borders of the United States and around the globe. Coates has demonstrated for more than 40 years the importance of reading the past and nourishing the creative imagination of present and future writers of the Black diaspora."

After leading the local chapter of the Black Panther Party for several years in Baltimore, Md., Coates established the George Jackson Prison Movement--a prison literacy program to provide incarcerated readers access to progressive Afrocentric literature. The movement led to the opening of the Black Book bookstore in Coates' basement, which evolved into the Black Classic Press and later inspired the development of BCP Digital Printing. As founder and publisher of Black Classic Press, Coates has published original works by Yosef Ben-Jochannan, John Henrik Clarke, John G. Jackson, Walter Mosley, and many others, in addition to reissuing titles by Amiri Baraka, Edward Blyden, Amy Jacques Garvey, Larry Neal, J.A. Rogers, Bobby Seale, Carter Woodson, and W.E.B. Du Bois, among many others.

Welcome to Jess Mayfield, who has joined Shelf Awareness as sales & marketing assistant!

A born-and-raised Seattleite, Jess has been toying with the written-word since before she could hold a pen, and knew from a young age that working in the publishing industry in some capacity was her calling. Like many of her colleagues, she found her footing in independent bookselling before joining the Shelf team, first at Village Books in Bellingham, Wash., and then Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle. In 2022, she obtained a BA in Creative Writing from Western Washington University, TA'ing and bussing tables along the way. Recently, she's found her way back to Seattle and is establishing roots in their bustling literary community. The first book she truly fell in love with was Camus' The Stranger. When she's off-the-clock, she can be found with her nose in a memoir or short story collection, trying out a new restaurant, or re-watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the hundredth time.

Montgomery & Taggert, a "Small Town Romance Bookshop," will host its grand opening on September 21 at 26 Water Street in Chester, Conn. The store has launched a $30,000 Indiegogo campaign to assist with start-up costs, with more than $12,000 raised thus far.

Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, co-owner of the business with Elizabeth Tucker, told Zip06, "We are actually the first romance-themed bookstore in the state of Connecticut. Our shop has an immersive and romantic vibe. Everywhere you look, you'll see something different. It's something I have always felt is a fun genre, and it really has a lot of overlap with other genres, too. There are sci-fi romance novels, fantasy romance, historical romance--you name it. We'll find a way to find a book for everyone no matter what your preference is. And we'll be happy to put in orders for books if we don't have it."

The bookstore's name was inspired by two of the families in Jude Deveraux's novels. "She's someone Elizabeth and I both really enjoy and respect as an author. We thought it was representative of the roots of the romance genre," Borgnis-Tobin said.

The genesis of Montgomery & Taggert occurred almost a decade ago, when Borgnis-Tobin befriended Tucker, who was her co-worker at the Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton. The two stayed in touch when Tucker left the library to pursue a different career. About six months ago, they began to talk seriously about teaming up together to open a store, Zip06 noted.

"Things moved pretty quickly once we started daydreaming and doing research," Borgnis-Tobin recalled, adding that the partnership between the owners is a major factor in making it happen: "She's so well read and knows so much about the genre and is just such a great person. This is very much a partnership with Elizabeth."

Community interest has also played a critical early role. "I've been really heartened by the recognition we've received from the Chester community and the interest they've shown us," Borgnis-Tobin said.

Bobby Tichenor, co-founder and longtime owner of Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, Ore., died last week at age 80.

Tichenor founded the store with her original business partner, Susan Bloom, in 1978, when Tichenor was a student at Lewis & Clark Law School. Her second partner was Gloria Borg Olds. Initially the store opened across the street from its current location, where it's been since 1983.

When the store turned 40 in 2018, Tichenor said it has thrived in large part because of a customer base that appreciates the value of supporting an independent neighborhood business. "We have always envisioned Annie Bloom's as a place of both retreat and gathering; available for support or solitude. People have fallen in love and found open hearts and minds when in need. There is very little turnover in staff and many have been around for many years. A more diverse and wonderful group could not be found. It is truly a family."

On Facebook on Saturday, the Annie Bloom's family posted in part that since founding the store, Tichenor "has been sharing her love of books with the Multnomah Village community... Annie Bloom's is what it is because of a lot of people, but none more than Bobby.

"In Bobby's honor, our window display currently houses a collage with pictures of her, a few of her staff favorites through the years, and a gorgeous flower wreath with colors that just feel like Bobby. When you're in the Village, come on by and take a look! And if one of her favorites in the display calls to you, we'd be honored to grab it for you to peruse. We would love to know people are continuing to discover and connect with Bobby's favorite books. 46 years of books finding their readers because of Bobby--what an incredible legacy. We'll proudly carry it on for many years to come."

Congratulations to Commonplace Reader, Yardley, Pa., which will celebrate its fifth anniversary this coming Saturday, September 14, with a variety of festivities, including kids activities, a jazz combo, voter registration on the porch, a gelato truck, giveaways, and more. 

"It has been a fast-moving five years," owner Elizabeth Young told Patch. "We find good books for every one of our readers, book clubbers, and customers of all ages," adding that a big attraction of the bookstore is the book clubs and adult events. "We have fun at book clubs; we may not always agree but we respect other's opinions and always learn something when we get together to discuss this month's title.... The best comment heard in a book club meeting is: I never would have picked this book up and read it, but now I am glad I did." 

Adult learning is also major focus for Commonplace, which is why it partners with the Peace Center, AAMBC, Reading Furiously (a local publisher), Bucks County Community College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and others.

"Teaching and reading to kids are the two most important parts of our work at the
Bookstore," Young said. "We help parents, children and grandparents make good book selections so that kids and grownups can read together. Exploring and learning from a book is the best gift you can give your children. We are just one part of a team to help make this happen." Commonplace Reader also includes a toy store.

Barnes & Noble has chosen Colored Television by Danzy Senna (Riverhead Books) as its September national book club pick. In a live virtual event, on Tuesday, October 1, at 3 p.m. Eastern, Senna will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, category manager for fiction at B&N, and Miwa Messer, producer and host of Poured Over, the Barnes & Noble podcast.

Smyth commented: "A new Danzy Senna novel is always a gift, and I could not be more excited to put forward her latest, Colored Television, as our September Book Club pick. This rich, dark comedy tells the story of Jane, a hopeful 'second time' novelist who pivots to the small screen in Los Angeles when her manuscript is rejected. Senna seamlessly weaves sharp satire into impactful discussions of representation, ownership of intellectual property, struggles of a working artist, realities of a long-term marriage, and getting by versus selling out. I raced through this book because I had to know how Jane was going to get herself out of the messes she created. I am really looking forward to being a part of all the conversations this laugh-out-loud story is sure to spark with our Book Club readers."

Senna said, "This is a novel that seems especially fun to read in the company of others--and I hope it will inspire spirited discussions among readers from all walks of life--conversations about money and Hollywood and art and race and the elusive middle-class American dream."

For more information, click here.

"Today's special... and so are you!" That was the bookseller dog-inspired sidewalk chalkboard message posted on Facebook by Epilogue Books, Rockford, Mich., which noted: "Tommy loves every one of you! The rest of us think you're pretty amazing too! (Thanks for another great sign, Jewell!)"

Mindfulness for Life by Willem Kuyken (Guilford Press).

Today:
Good Morning America: Venus Williams, author of Strive: 8 Steps to Find Your Awesome (Amistad, $29.99, 9780063278233). She will also appear tomorrow on the View.

The View: Nancy Pelosi, author of The Art of Power: My Story as America's First Woman Speaker of the House (Simon & Schuster, $30, 9781668048047).

NPR's Here & Now will begin airing a multi-part series about Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild (The New Press, $30.99, 9781620976463).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Lauren Sánchez, author of The Fly Who Flew to Space (The Collective Book Studio, $19.95, 9781685550639).

Today Show: Dan Slepian, author of The Sing Sing Files: One Journalist, Six Innocent Men, and a Twenty-Year Fight for Justice (Celadon Books, $30, 9781250897701).

CBS Mornings: Jayson Tatum, co-author of Baby Dunks-a-Lot: A Picture Book (Abrams Books for Young Readers, $19.99, 9781419771460).

Drew Barrymore Show: Valerie Bertinelli, author of Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share (Harvest, $35, 9780063244726).

A trailer has been released for Nickel Boys, the film adaptation of Colson Whitehead's 2019 novel that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, Deadline reported. Directed by RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening), the movie stars Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
 
The screenplay for Nickel Boys was written by Ross & Joslyn Barnes. Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, David Levine and Joslyn Barnes produced, with Brad Pitt, Gabby Shepard, Emily Wolfe, Kenneth Yu, and Chadwick Prichard serving as executive producers. Set to open the New York Film Festival, the film will hit select theaters on October 25.

Finalists have been selected for the 2024 McIlvanney Prize, honoring the best Scottish crime book. The winner will be announced September 13 during the Bloody Scotland, Scotland's international crime writing festival.

The finalists:
A Divine Fury by D.V. Bishop
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
Past Lying by Val McDermid
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee
A Spy Like Me by Kim Sherwood

Australian author and physician Melanie Cheng's third title, The Burrow, is an exquisite gem about a damaged family suffering in the aftermath of tragedy. Though her book is dominated by grief, Cheng is an expertly balanced storyteller, leavening the mourning with unexpected laughter, comforting cuddles, surprising grace, and the human need to win the love of grumpy (furry) creatures.

Jin and Amy Lee, and their 10-year-old daughter, Lucie, live in metropolitan Melbourne. In the midst of Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns, emergency doctor Jin is an essential worker. He met Amy when they were both beginning their medical careers, but Amy has since become a published writer. She works from home, watching over Lucie, who continues her schooling online. Four years ago, the family was a quartet--until baby Ruby drowned at just six months old.

Despite the lockdown, the household is about to grow. First, there is the rabbit: "For sale: nine-week-old fawn-coloured male mini lop in search of his forever home." Jin and Amy "caved in to [Lucie's] pleading": "how could they even contemplate depriving the poor child of a pet, after everything she had endured?" One week later, Amy's estranged mother, Pauline, arrives with a broken wrist, sent by her medical team because she shouldn't be alone and the "hospital isn't exactly the safest place for an older person to be." At least the granny flat in the backyard is finished and Pauline can have a space of her own. Only Lucie seems to welcome her, introducing her to "this bunny with no name." Within minutes, he's named Fiver, inspired by one of Watership Down's heroes: Fiver is "a little bit magical," Pauline explains. The chosen moniker proves prescient: over the next few weeks, despite so much (more) hurting, the promise of healing begins to root and tentatively grow.

Cheng writes with superb, often wrenching, clarity: "she was in the habit of pretending"; "not caring was a kind of superpower"; "The extraordinary things about her were invisible--her memory, her vocabulary, her appetite for the macabre." In depicting the family that Jin Lee and Amy née Fitzgerald create, Cheng's own mixed-race Australian Chinese identity deftly reveals multicultural insights--about the number four (homophone for "death" in Mandarin), immigrant challenges, generational discomforts, the neither/nor of being in-between. As the lockdown slowly eases, alterations and adaptations are inevitable. Cheng empathically tracks a family finally learning to live with death. --Terry Hong

Shelf Talker: Melanie Cheng's exquisite novel about a grieving family is a superb balance of unexpected laughter, surprising grace, and the ubiquitous human need for furry love.

The following were the most popular book club books during August based on votes from book club readers in more than 88,000 book clubs registered at Bookmovement.com:

1. The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah (HarperCollins)
2. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Doubleday)
3. First Lie Wins: A Novel by Ashley Elston (Pamela Dorman Books)
4. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (Riverhead Books)
5. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese (Grove Press)
6. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Crown)
7. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper)
8. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Catapult)
9. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (Atria)
10. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods (One More Chapter)

Rising Stars:
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar (Dana Marton)
The God of the Woods: A Novel by Liz Moore (Riverhead Books)