The Most Popular Book News of the Week

Welcome to the Sunday edition of Today in Books, where we highlight the top stories that caught readers’ attention this week.

Fresh Research Shows Book Bans Boost Readership of Diverse Content
A recent study by researchers from Carnegie Mellon and George Mason University delves into the effects of book bans on the readership of banned books, revealing some unexpected findings. Analyzing data on book circulation from a prominent library supplier to major libraries across the US regarding the most frequently banned titles, the study uncovered the following key points:

– Book bans trigger a 12% increase in the circulation of banned books compared to a control group, suggesting a Streisand Effect rather than deterring readership.
– This surge in readership extends to states without bans, with a slightly lower increase of 11.2%.
– The rise in readership is particularly notable for books addressing themes of race, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues.
– Exposure to banned books introduces new readers to inclusive content, with children reading banned books 19% more frequently than control titles post-banning event.
– The circulation of banned books rises in states with book bans, irrespective of their political leaning.

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Man Listens to “The Great Gatsby” on Repeat for 5 Years
During the early stages of the Covid pandemic, Andrew Clark developed a nightly routine of listening to part of the audiobook version of “The Great Gatsby” narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal before going to sleep. Initially setting a 45-minute sleep timer, he would complete the book every week and then restart the cycle. By 2024, he abandoned the timer and allowed the book to play throughout the night, resulting in him listening to “The Great Gatsby” over 200 times. Clark acknowledges the peculiarity of his choice:

Who selects a bedtime story ritual involving a poignant novel culminating in tragedy, where love remains elusive and the closest character to happiness is a violent racist and habitual adulterer?

However, he has no intention of breaking this routine anytime soon, as “Gatsby” has become intertwined with his identity, prompting him to reflect on how his interpretation of the novel has evolved over time, aging, and repetition.

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