Written more than 1,000 years ago during the height of the Heian period (794–1185), The Tale of Genji was penned by Murasaki Shikibu while she served as a lady-in-waiting at the Japanese court. The manuscript, whose most recent English translation spans 1,300 pages, follows the tender, charismatic Prince Genji, tracing his life and many romantic pursuits against the backdrop of 11th-century Japan. Read more
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What follows is a list of road trip stories, fiction and nonfiction, that have moved and inspired us in the years since “On the Road” appeared in 1957. All were written in a spirit of enlightened inquiry. Some are introspective; others have the pedal pushed fully to the floor. Some are primarily about running away; others are about rushing toward. When needed, they’ve braced our lapsing morale. Read more
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Park’s delightful tales, which are driven by provocative ideas, strange occurrences, and gripping plots, pay tribute to the legacy of Kurt Vonnegut in the best ways. This pitch-perfect collection will linger in readers’ minds for a long time. Read more
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A mathematician by training, he acquired a devoted following with songs that set sardonic lyrics to music that was often maddeningly cheerful. Read more
A girl marked for death must fight and steal to stay alive, learning from the most frightening man she knows – her father. An adaptation of Jordan Harper’s award-winning novel. Watch trailer
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Sitting on the beach at St Margaret’s Bay near Dover, Mermaid Cottage comes with a £1.75 million price tag. Read more
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Docile dogs and aloof cats have long been fixtures of independent bookstores, as ubiquitous as free bookmarks. For the most part, they serve as quiet mascots — steadfast and loyal, deigning to have their heads patted or ears scratched while humans tend to the business of words. Now, thanks to social media, many stores have put themselves on the map with the help of little creatures, including some unlikely stars (bearded dragon, anyone?). The pairing makes sense: Books and animals both provide joy, companionship and windows into other worlds. The former are, admittedly, a lot tidier. Read more
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Adapted from the Esi Edugyan novel, this Hulu series follows a child who escapes slavery and embarks on a life of swashbuckling adventure. Read more Watch trailer
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Philosopher St. Augustine is believed to have said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” That was all the way back in the 4th century, before he or anyone could know that today’s travelers would be accruing air miles to turn pages in the literal sense, too. Taking notes from the creative ways brands and celebrities alike have tapped into the astronomical rise of reading, luxury hotels are launching literary offerings for book-minded boarders. Read more
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How Chuck Tingle went legit. Read more
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