Akwaeke Emezi talks to Elle about their latest book title, ghosts, and getting plot ideas from their dreams.

Thailand is a premiere destination for gender-conforming surgery — a sign that the rest of the world’s healthcare systems are badly broken for trans people.

What is the future of academia, read through the lens of “quit lit”?

“Governmental fiat had the power to turn fable into fact.” The story of the Chagossians, their quest to return home, and the imperial powers arrayed against them.

Malala Yousafzai likes Ms. Marvel.

Sometimes, now and then, I am just very much in the mood for a really good pan of a book.

Elaine Hsieh Chou has had enough of the trope of Asian women in films being nonexistent, slutty, or both. (Her book Disorientation is excellent btw! A rare satire that I enjoyed!)

“I am frightened by my own affection toward Sox.” On the new Lightyear movie, which is pretty good, and the IP dystopia we currently live in, which is real real bad.

Vilissa Thompson on Lizzo’s use and correction of an ableist slur, and how the response to her erased Black disabled people.

Navigating the red carpet as a wheelchair user is an exhausting nightmare.

Thanks to BookTok for getting me more books with sprayed edges. Appreciated.

On resorts.

From all I know of her, Lisa Lucas is a tremendous person, and I loved this article about her work and the broader work of making publishing more inclusive.

This is a story about poop. Well, IBS. Well, bodies.

Here’s what happens during a craniotomy.

Naomi Kanaka explains why literary fiction refuses to write about the labor and financial side of things.

“break my back like a glowstick daddy” Katy Waldman on Kaitlyn Tiffany’s new book about One Direction fandom (which I loved).

Young children explain why their preferred shape of chicken nugget is the best one.

I really enjoyed RRR and was super grateful to this newsletter (the author of which ALSO loved the movie) for unpacking its shortcomings around caste and nationalism.

Here’s what’s going on with the weird fake texts you may be receiving now.

Becca Tilley was nervous about coming out to all of Bachelor Nation. She’s been very touched by the reception she’s gotten.

This is a story about feral peacocks in a Canadian town. Some people are like “yay, feral peacocks!” and other people are like “omg something has to be done about these feral peacocks.”

One big reason your groceries are so expensive? The ocean freight industry is engaged in crazy-making systems of obstruction and price-gouging against truckers.

Marina Warner talks about the work of fairy tales and the work of memoir (and the role of cruelty in each).

I loved this story about the Future Library.

Long live the food-themed romance novel.

Have a glorious weekend, friends. I wish you very much swimming and lots of good books.

The post Not Quite the Millions Book Preview Yet: A Links Round-Up appeared first on Reading the End.

This article on fanfiction’s rebranding in the past few years is excellent, and features Naomi Novik saying many intelligent things.

What it’s like for women who flee North Korea.

The librarians who track down the books their patrons only sort of remember.

Since I began this links round-up, we’ve fortunately moved on from some of the recent Netflix nonsense, and we are now talking about To All the Boys We’ve Loved Before, which is wonderful. But here’s Linda Holmes going deep on the flaws of Netflix’s everyone-knew-it-was-gonna-be-awful Insatiable; and Smart Bitches Trashy Books on Kristan Higgins’s latest. You should also check out this terrific piece where Samantha Puc talks to some fat activists about Insatiable and the harm it does.

The third report on Black Speculative Fiction has come out. LD Lewis has a postmortem.

The Netflix adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is pretty delightful. Maggie Fremont watches it while attempting to make her own potato peel pie.

On language and education as tools of imperialism.

You can have as many problematic faves as you want; just be prepared that some people won’t agree with you. (See also: me on Twitter bitching about Kylo Ren.)

SURPRISE the men interviewed in the New York Times‘s By the Book mention male authors almost four times as often as they mention female authors. Women are close to gender balanced. (This is not a surprise.)

And to close with someone trying to rebrand for bad bad jerkface purposes: Louie CK staged a surprise and unwelcome (to the women present) comeback. “The world can live without the comedic stylings of Louie CK,” says Rebecca Traister. Jaya Saxena asks why these men are so convinced we need them back. Roxane Gay considers sexual assault and redemption.

Happy weekend! I wish you joyous cocktails with friends if your heart desires them, or peaceful reading beneath a weighted blanket if that’s your pleasure. I decline to admit which one of those I will be doing.

The post Rebranding, for Good and Evil: A Links Round-Up appeared first on Reading the End.