Book Riot - The Podcast

Rebecca and Vanessa discuss a so-called exposé of the publishing industry's use of AI and yet another prize-winning story that seems to have been written by AI. They also react to the first trailer for Greta Gerwig's Narnia, news of a James Baldwin biopic, and break down their recent reading. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: The first Narnia trailer AI is already everywhere in publishing Higher Ground is producing a James Baldwin movie Another prize-winning story appears to be written by AI YouTube is looking to expand into audiobooks Black Bag by Luke Kennard The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman "The People Holding Up the Internet" This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Vanessa talk about Anne Carson's Nobel win, the NBA shortlists, Kirkus winners, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Ask us questions for the 15th mailbag! Also vote for Zero to Well-Read in The Signal Awards, in both Best New Podcast and best Arts & Culture Podcast! Discussed in this episode: Anne Carson awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature National Book Award shortlists are out Oprah’s Book Club Announces Its 125th Reading Selection Half (and quarter) star ratings have arrived at Goodreads Is there anything to say about Alix Earle? I do not care for this. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Vanessa talk 15 years of Book Riot for a minute (and bring back the old episode naming for one episode), before going over some new awardees, AI book recs, and more pizza talk then they honestly thought would happen. Discussed in this episode: Ask us questions for the 15th mailbag! Also vote for Zero to Well-Read in The Signal Awards, in both Best New Podcast and best Arts & Culture Podcast! Macarthur genius grants Center for fiction nominees Chatbots giving recs Pizza Hut LFLs I just learned about National Book Tokens. We Should Have National Book Tokens. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca have listened to the first two episodes (chapters?) of Obama's book podcast (audiobook?) and are ready to talk about it. Plus, adaptation news, The Booker Prize shortlist, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Call for questions for our 15th anniversary mailbag! Booker Prize shortlist (would be the 2nd win for Douglas or James; only 4 other authors have achieved this: JM Coetzee, Peter Carey, Hillary Mantel, Margaret Atwood) Meryl Streep cast as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Robert Eggers is directing a Romeo & Juliet adaptation Jonathan Franzen is almost done w/ the script for The Corrections New book from Michelle Zauner in April This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So much book news! Our most anticipated book/guest pairings for Obama's imminent book podcast, NBA fiction longlist continues to be head-scratching, it is remarkable how unremarkable B&N buying another indie is, recent reading, and more. Jeff and Rebecca run down the books that are selling, generating buzz, and otherwise making literary waves right now. Rebecca even impulse purchased something during the show. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: RIP Annie Dillard Guests announced for Obama’s book podcast National Book Award longlists Winners of the 2026 Dayton Literary Peace Prize New Tara Westover memoir next spring Singapore launches 5-year campaign to nurture reading habits Barnes & Noble acquires Joseph-Beth Booksellers The Book Riot Podcast is brought to you by: For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca dive into a busy start to fall in books: 2026 book sales, Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey, Lonesome Dove adaptation news, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: the queer community is having fun with “performative males”  (s/o to Danika) Publishing industry sales up in the first half of 2026 LONESOME DOVE ADAPTATIONNNNNNN Lincoln in the Bardo casting news and more casting news Emily Wilson is writing a whole new translation of The Odyssey Study shows library ebook lending damages industry sales Ron Charles’s response: Libraries Are Not the Problem Google has launched an AI tool for ebook interactivity Nonfiction sales have transformed radically this decade This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca enjoy The Odyssey afterglow, lament AI slop biographies, cover a bunch of adaptation news, recent reading, and much more. Jeff gets off some takes before the show gets going to talk about Amazon’s best-selling books of all-time, a formidable new AI lawsuit, sales of THE ODYSSEY editions, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Discussed in this episode: Emily Wilson’s comments on Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey Book Riot’s best adaptations of the century so far Judge approves settlement in Anthropic copyright case Scammer caught after publishing 5,000 AI slop biographies New Taylor Jenkins Reid novel in March (same day as Percival Everett) Apple already has the rights to adapt Rebecca Yarros’s next (non-Fourth Wing) novel Sony picks up The Silent Patient for fast-tracked adaptation This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices