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Lit Hub Daily

May 9, 2025

TODAY: In 1860, J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, is born.

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Joy Harjo writes about the aftermath of her mother’s death, with illustrations by Dana Tiger. | Lit Hub Poetry

Tramaine Suubi recommends fourteen books on Black motherhood by Black daughters, including Toi Derricotte, Toni Morrison, Deesha Philyaw, and more. | Lit Hub Reading Lists

Abigail Leonard explores the intersections of traditional and modern motherhood in Kenya. | Lit Hub History

“You truly cannot separate the personal experience of having this disease from the social experience of it.” Gavin J. Grant and Anne Ursu on chronic illness, writing, and family. | Lit Hub In Conversation

Daniel Kehlmann’s The Director, Amanda Hess’s Second Life, and Florence Knapp’s The Names all feature among the best reviewed books of the week. | Book Marks

“A world without hope is a world on the brink. And we are teetering.” On finding something like hope in Pope Leo. | Lit Hub Religion

Amie Souza Reilly reflects on “the art monster,” fairytales, and women’s loneliness. | Lit Hub Craft

Patrick Dougher remembers his punk rock stint working at The Strand in the 80s. | Lit Hub Memoir

“From this boredom, words flow. I can’t stop them.” Craig Mod praises the creative power of going for a walk. | Lit Hub Craft

“How the fuck did it come to this?” Read from John Tottenham’s new novel, Service. | Lit Hub Fiction

READ THE DAD ROCK THAT MADE ME A WOMAN

“If you've ever felt a song look right through you before you could see yourself, this book is for you.” –Sasha Geffen, author of Glitter Up the Dark: How Pop Music Broke the Binary

Out Now

“Even George W. Bush liked libraries.” Nitish Pahwa examines Trump’s assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services. | Slate

Lindsey Adler remembers the life and legacy of Melody Beattie, who (literally) wrote the book on codependency. | The Cut

Pete Wells considers revered cookbook author Marcella Hazan’s culinary legacy. | The New York Times

Lara-Nour Walton reports on the NYPD’s most recent mass arrest of student protesters at Columbia. | The Nation

Zahid Rafiq and Nafeesa Syeed discuss writing beyond bodies and capturing the cadence of a language. | Public Books

Robert D. Zaretsky explores the history of swooning over great art. | Aeon

ON MUSCLE BY BONNIE TSUI

A mind-expanding exploration of muscle—from our ancient obsession with the ideal human form to the modern science of this amazing and adaptable tissue—that will change the way you think about what moves us through the world.

Read Now

“ACHINGLY BEAUTIFUL.” –THE BOSTON GLOBE

A young, gay Black man must confront his painful past—and his deepest desires around gender, love, and sex. “Gorgeous.” –Publishers Weekly

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