%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
7 Historical Horror Books to Read, Recommended by Author Alma Katsu
Ahead of the release of 'The Fervor,' Alma Katsu's supernatural reimaging of Japanese internment, here are her favorite historical horror novels
LITERATURE
The World's Favorite Book Genres, Mapped
From horror to romance, these are the popular genres book lovers are searching for in different countries around the world.
16 Must-Visit Indie Bookstores Owned by Writers
Judy Blume, Louise Erdrich, and many other authors also have ‘independent bookstore owner’ on their résumés.
Sex Symbol: How Antinous Became a Gay Code Word in the Victorian Era
The Greek youth Antinous drowned in the Nile—but he would go on to have one of the most remarkable afterlives in history.
11 Things You Should Know About Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde’s poems, speeches, and books helped write the future of feminism. Here are some facts about the woman behind the work.
6 Stories About Hunter S. Thompson That Are Totally Untrue
Author Hunter S. Thompson is renowned for popularizing the gonzo journalism movement—but it's not always easy to separate fact from fiction.
How Did ‘The Gilded Age’ Get Its Name?
The time period that inspired HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ was opulent—but its golden veneer masked something less glamorous.
How 5 Famous Authors Dealt With Writer's Block
Everyone from Stephen King to Leo Tolstoy has fallen victim to writer's block. Here's how a few other famous authors got over it.
The USPS Is Releasing a The Giving Tree Stamp, and Critics of the Book Aren’t Pleased
‘The Giving Tree’ has long been one of Shel Silverstein’s most polarizing works. Its Forever Stamp has critics, too.
20 Essential Books by Indigenous Authors
Add these essential non-fiction books, novels, essays, and poetry by leading Indigenous authors to your TBR pile.
Our 40 Favorite Stories of 2021
From Universal Orlando's wild (and usually inoperable) 'Jaws' ride of the '90s to the very real—and very captive—tiger shark that threw up a human arm and sparked a 1935 murder investigation, the Mental Floss team is sharing some of our favorite stories f
The New York Public Library's Most Checked-Out Books of 2021
When the New York Public Library reopened its branches this year, these were the books people checked out.
The Strange Literary Puzzle Only Four People Have Ever Solved
If you spend time scrolling TikTok, you've probably come across videos about the 1934 book 'Cain's Jawbone,' literary puzzle so difficult only four people have ever figured it out.
7 Books by L.M. Montgomery That Aren’t Anne of Green Gables
L.M. Montgomery's 'Anne of Green Gables' is a classic, but that's not the author's only notable work. Here are seven other titles by Montgomery that you should read.
8 Facts About On the Road
'On the Road,' Jack Kerouac’s stream-of-consciousness travelogue, charts the adventures of Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty as they road trip across the United States. Here’s what you should know.
7 Fantastic Facts About Terry Pratchett
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Terry Pratchett’s first novel, here are some things you might not know about the architect of Discworld.
11 Books to Read After The Handmaid’s Tale
If you've finished Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid’s Tale' and are looking for what to read next, we've got 11 titles that should be in your TBR pile.
Bookversal Website Helps You Find More Diverse Children’s Books
The best children’s books are whichever ones your kid loves and relates to—Bookversal can help you find them.
The Strange History of the Worst Sentence in English Literature
"It was a dark and stormy night" has become so ingrained in our literary culture that we rarely give much thought to its origins.
7 “Deliciously Scary” Books, Recommended by Erik Larson
‘The Devil in the White City’ author Erik Larson loves to be spooked—here are some scary stories that do just that.
6 Atmospheric Horror Novels to Read, Recommended by Author Grady Hendrix
Author Grady Hendrix shared six of his favorite atmospheric horror novels that any fan of the genre should pick up this Halloween season.
8 Books That Won the Newbery Medal
More than 100 books have won the Newbery Medal, the top award for distinguished works of children's literature.
12 Inspiring Quotes About Books and Reading
Profound quotes about books and reading from the likes of Toni Morrison, Jane Austen, George R.R. Martin, Salman Rushdie, and more of your favorite authors.
9 Books Hunter S. Thompson Never Published
Hunter S. Thompson's career is marked with plenty of hits—but it's the works that never saw the light of day that might be even more interesting.