Harry Potter Tours to be Replaced with LGBTQ History Walks in Edinburgh

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Hello and welcome to Today in Books, where we bring you daily updates on literary news covering politics, culture, media, and more.

Oprah Winfrey Picks Ocean Vuong
Oprah Winfrey revealed that she has chosen Ocean Vuong’s latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, as her newest book club selection. She described the book, which tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a 19-year-old man grappling with mental health issues and an elderly woman with dementia, as “poetic literature” (not surprising as Vuong is a renowned poet) and praised it as “some of the most beautiful writing I’ve experienced.” Although already highly anticipated, The Emperor of Gladness received a somewhat cryptic review from the NOW. While a nod from Winfrey is undoubtedly a significant achievement, it remains to be seen how it will be received by the trendy audience that propelled Vuong to Literary It-Boy status back in 2019 with the release of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous. This is a development worth keeping an eye on.

Brooms Down, Fangs Out
Cynthia Erivo is gearing up to take on 23 roles in a new one-woman production of Dracula slated to hit London’s West End next year. Despite her success in Wicked, it’s her recent portrayal of identical quintuplets in the latest season of Poker Face that has me excited about the potential of this new project. This will mark Erivo’s return to the stage since her Tony Award-winning performance as Celie in The Color Purple concluded in 2017. The upcoming Dracula adaptation comes from the same team behind Succession star Sarah Snook’s highly acclaimed one-woman show of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Walking the Talk
In light of J.K. Rowling’s stance on trans rights, Edinburgh-based tour company Street Historians is swapping its popular Harry Potter tours for LGBTQ+ history walks during Pride Month. Founder Fraser Horn expressed concerns about the growing negativity surrounding the series and stressed the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for marginalized groups. The fate of the Harry Potter tours post-Pride remains uncertain as the Street Historians are currently engaged in internal deliberations. Horn acknowledged the conflicting feelings between the series’ legacy and Rowling’s controversial statements, noting the difficulty in justifying continued support. Let’s hope this change becomes permanent.

Introducing a Book Fantasy League
Ever wondered what a fantasy league for books would entail? Sharifah Williams and Professor Laura McGrath joined me and Jeff O’Neal on today’s Book Riot Podcast episode to discuss rules, strategies, and draft teams for upcoming 2025 book releases. It’s a fun and chaotic endeavor, and yes, you can assemble your own team.

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