BOOKS

'The Mysteries' marks Bill Watterson's return to publishing.

'Calvin and Hobbes' Creator Bill Watterson Returns With an 'Illustrated Fable for Grown-Ups'

Bill Watterson left the comics pages in 1995. A new fantasy fable marks his return to storytelling after a 28-year sabbatical.

7 Facts About Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'

The first collection of Holmes stories was unwelcome in the Soviet Union, which banned it for 'occultism.'

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this.

Gross Out Your Dinner Guests With ‘The Garbage Pail Kids Cookbook’

“Pizza Snotcorn” and “Poop Cookies” promise to taste delicious, even though they sound disgusting.

The cover art from Little, Brown's first edition of the novel.

8 Facts About Erich Maria Remarque’s ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’

Here are some things you might not have known about the book behind Netflix’s 2022 ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ movie.

Maya Angelou celebrating her 82nd birthday

10 Facts About Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou’s verses are at the very heart of the American experience—yet she didn’t start out as a poet.

‘Jane Austen’s Little Book of Wisdom’ Features Hundreds of the Author’s Most Iconic Quotes

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen book lovers will appreciate this collection of quotes.

Clifford is red for a very specific reason.

11 Facts About Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford's red for a very practical reason.

Woolf photographed by George Charles Beresford, 1902; Virginia (left), Vanessa, and two brothers; a Hogarth Press book jacket designed by Vanessa.

5 Things We Learned From the NYPL’s Virginia Woolf Exhibition

Virginia Woolf loved using purple ink—but only for certain kinds of writing.

Magical Thinking: The New York Public Library Has Acquired Joan Didion’s Papers

One of the 20th century’s great writers will take up residence at the NYPL, with 240 linear feet of material.

These memoirs offer an intimate look at some of your favorite stars.

16 of the Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read in 2023

From Prince Harry's 'Spare' to 'Finding Me' by Viola Davis, the best celebrity memoirs to read this year will be tough to put down.

12 Fascinating Facts About Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison has written some of literature’s most enduring classics, from 'The Bluest Eye' to 'Beloved' and beyond. Here's what you need to know about the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

15 Facts About 'Where's Waldo?'

Spotting the elusive Waldo is an exercise in patience and frustration, even for the most eagle-eyed fans.

If you want a little romance in your next read, look no further than this list.

10 of the Greatest Love Stories in Novels

They may not all have a happy ending, but the passion their pages contain is enough to keep you captivated.

11 Things You Should Know About Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye’

It took Toni Morrison years to write her debut novel—which was initially a flop. Here are some other things you might not know about 'The Bluest Eye.'

An older version of 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'

'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,' may technically be middle-aged now—the frequently banned pre-teen tale by Judy Blume turned 50 in 2020—but its lessons are for the ages.

Ms. Frizzles adventures were no ordinary field trips.

12 Magical Facts About ‘The Magic School Bus’

Who wouldn’t want a teacher like Ms. Frizzle? Take a ride down memory lane with these 12 facts about ‘The Magic School Bus.’

10 Facts About Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’

Readers have swooned over Jamie Fraser’s love for his time-traveling wife Claire since 1991.

Alfred Hitchcock is among the artists whose work is entering the public domain this year.

Works by Hitchcock and Arthur Conan Doyle—and an Early Inspiration for Star Wars—Are Now Part of the Public Domain

And Mickey Mouse could be next.

Jean Seberg holds a copy of J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye.'

10 Fascinating Facts About J.D. Salinger

Acclaimed novelist J.D. Salinger once gave an interview for a high school newspaper, and also drank his own pee, but probably not at the same time.

14 Fascinating Facts About Albert Camus's 'The Stranger'

Albert Camus’s 1942 masterpiece 'The Stranger' has sold more than 6 million copies, but caused trouble for translators.

Celebrate the end of 2022 with these acclaimed book titles.

Mental Floss’s 16 Best Books of 2022

From 'The Candy House' by Jennifer Egan to 'Tracy Flick Can’t Win' by Tom Perrotta, discover the best books of 2022 according to Mental Floss.

6 Novels That Controversially Fictionalized Real Events

In literary history, there is an undeniable thread of novels that make substantial use of real people and situations, often through a veil of changed names.

10 Unusual Libraries From Around the World

While there are many beautiful libraries in the world, there are also a number of more unique ones—from creative architectural wonders to libraries that aren’t housed within buildings at all.

The Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library.

Something Borrowed: The New York Public Library’s Most Checked-Out Books of 2022

Colleen Hoover and Emily Henry fans are out in full force in New York.

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