Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Here are the biggest headlines from last weekFrom Amazon’s picks for the best books of 2026 so far, to the winners of this year’s Nebula Awards, and much more.
Amazon’s list of the best books of the year so far
I want to say that Amazon’s list of the best books of the year so far Strong because it’s kind of like that. It has an overall roundup of the top 20 books across all genres, then expanded lists of different genres, such as biographies and memoirs, children’s books, literature and fiction, romance, and more. This year, they have also added a book club section.
What keeps me from calling this list completely comprehensive is its apparent lack of diversity. In the top 20 overall list, there are only two lists by writers of color—relatives By Tayari Jones and night things By Eli Raphael—and expanded lists by genre don’t seem to be doing much better. It is absolutely absurd to think about 2026. On one hand, I look at Jones relatives It was named book of the year on several lists.
What the most popular book clubs are reading right now
Book clubs are really in their groove right now, and I can’t complain. There are the common, the niche, the famous and the small, and Jamie Canaves has all the scoop on what some of the biggest book clubs are reading this month. The selections are a good mix of new 2026 It books (like john’s john by Douglas Stuart, which was selected by Roxane Gay’s Book Club) and backlist titles (e.g. emperor of happiness By Ocean Vuong, selected by book influencer Jack Edwards’ book club, Inklings).
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The winners of the 61st Nebula Awards have been announced
Nebula Awards of the Year Something added with the introduction of two award categories: poetry and comedy. I have to admit that I’m a little surprised that the comic category has just been added, especially given the abundance of amazing science fiction and fantasy comics that come out every year. That said, the poetry category is pleasantly unpredictable.
As far as winners go, one of my favorite books from last year—by Stephen Graham Jones buffalo hunter hunter-Won the Nebula Award for Novel. For the Novella Award, I’m Not Surprised to See Amal Al-Mohtar the river has roots As the winner. I haven’t read it, but I have This is how you lose the war of timeWhich I liked very much. It even had a viral moment on Twitter. Good time.
House lawmakers vote to gain power to appoint Librarian of Congress
In the latest part of America is fighting for its eternal soul In news (because that’s what Trump’s second term demands), House lawmakers just passed a bill yesterday that prevents the President from appointing the Librarian of Congress. This comes a year after Trump fired him The person holding that position, the pioneer Dr. Carla Hayden. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it needs significant bipartisan support to make it through. If the Senate votes for itThis would mean that the leaders of the House and Senate would have the power to appoint the heads of the Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office.
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