logo
The week's bestselling books, April 20

The week's bestselling books, April 20

1. James by Percival Everett (Doubleday: $28) An action-packed reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'
2. Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead Books: $28) An accomplished actor grapples with the varied roles she plays in her personal life.
3. All Fours by Miranda July (Riverhead Books: $29) A woman upends her domestic life.
4. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Simon & Schuster: $29) A love triangle unearths dangerous secrets.
5. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Pantheon: $29) A woman fights for freedom in a near-future where even dreams are under surveillance.
6. Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Forever: $28) After one perfect date, a couple navigates family crises and long distances.
7. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Knopf: $32) The story of four women and their loves, longings and desires.
8. Isola by Allegra Goodman (The Dial Press: $29) A French noblewoman is marooned on an island.
9. The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt & Co.: $29) An unexpected wedding guest gets surprise help.
10. Playground by Richard Powers (W.W. Norton & Co.: $30) The Pacific Ocean-set novel explores one of the last wild places.

1. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Hay House: $30) How to stop wasting energy on things you can't control.
2. Who Is Government? Michael Lewis, editor (Riverhead Books: $30) A civics lesson from a team of writers and storytellers.
3. Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $30) A call to renew a politics of plenty and abandon the chosen scarcities that have deformed American life.
4. Everything Is Tuberculosis (signed edition) by John Green (Crash Course Books: $28). The deeply human story of the fight against the world's deadliest infectious disease.
5. Becoming HER by Monica Yates (Post Hill Press: $29) A guide to embracing your feminine energy.
6. Fight by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes (William Morrow: $32) An inside look at the Biden, Harris and Trump camps during the 2024 battle for the White House.
7. Transcend by Faisal Hoque (Post Hill Press: $30) An exploration of artificial intelligence and the possibilities and dangers it brings.
8. Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus and Dan Ozzi (Dey Street Books: $33) A memoir from the vocalist, bassist and founding member of pop-punk band Blink-182.
9. Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Flatiron Books: $33) An insider's chronicle of working at Facebook.
10. Miracles and Wonder by Elaine Pagels (Doubleday: $30) The scholar provides a new account of the life of Jesus.

1. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster: $19)
2. Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Vintage: $18)
3. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial: $22)
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Vintage: $19)
5. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Transit Books: $17)
6. Good Material by Dolly Alderton (Vintage: $18)
7. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Vintage: $18)
8. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (Ballantine: $20)
9. North Woods by Daniel Mason (Random House Trade Paperbacks: $18)
10. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper Perennial: $19)

1. The Wager by David Grann (Vintage: $21)
2. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder (Crown: $12)
3. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel (Vintage: $18)
4. Eve by Cat Bohannon (Vintage: $20)
5. All About Love by bell hooks (Morrow: $17)
6. Work That's Worth It by Georgi Enthoven (River Grove Books: $20)
7. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (TarcherPerigee: $20)
8. The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk (Penguin: $19)
9. Cuba by Ada Ferrer (Scribner: $21)
10. Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley (Picador: $18)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Machine Gun Kelly claims he turned down an audition for Sinners – here's why
Machine Gun Kelly claims he turned down an audition for Sinners – here's why

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Machine Gun Kelly claims he turned down an audition for Sinners – here's why

Machine Gun Kelly has claimed he turned down an audition for box office smash Sinners. The 35-year-old singer said that he was supposed to be in the 2025 thriller movie, directed by Ryan Coogler, during Thursday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show. 'The vampire, they had me set up to do the audition, it's [for] the one that's in the house, so he's the second vampire,' he explained. He then cited the reason why he turned the opportunity down, claiming: 'In the audition, he has to say the 'n-word' and I wouldn't do it.' Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, auditioned for Bert, who gets turned into a vampire by Remmick (played by Jack O'Connell) in Sinners. Bert's wife, Joan, also gets bitten by Remmick and becomes a vampire. Ultimately, the role of Bert went to Peter Dreimanis. During The Pat McAfee Show, the 'Wild Boy' singer said that he's always had an interest in acting. 'I had a lot of aspirations to be in movies, but it just hasn't panned out that way,' Kelly said. 'I'm on universal time, though, so we'll see.' He described what universal timing meant, noting that the acting opportunities will come when it's right for him. 'The angels will put something in the works,' he added. 'Whenever they feel like it.' However, he acknowledged that he doesn't want to wait too long to book another movie role. 'I'd like to be in cinema while I still look young. I'd really like to be recruited into a movie while I still got looks,' Kelly quipped. Kelly started acting in 2014, with his first role in the romantic drama Beyond the Lights, where he played rapper Kid Culprit. However, he later noted that when in the acting business, he wants to go by his birth name, Colson Baker, which is what he did in the Western film, The Last Sun. 'I think it's more just out of respect for the art​​,' he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 about dropping his stage name for movie roles. Referring to the American painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, he said: 'If you're looking at a Basquiat piece and you have feelings about him personally, is that fair to the art because of how you feel about him personally?" 'There's music and then there's movies. I don't feel like being Inception in a person,' he added, referring to the 2010 Christopher Nolan film. 'Like there's a character inside of a character inside of a character inside of a character. I'd rather it just be me playing a character in one world and then me playing a character in another world.'

If You've Ever Fallen for a Disaster, Dinner in America Will Hit Too Hard
If You've Ever Fallen for a Disaster, Dinner in America Will Hit Too Hard

CNET

time5 hours ago

  • CNET

If You've Ever Fallen for a Disaster, Dinner in America Will Hit Too Hard

Tired of the same old romantic comedy formula? Dinner in America blows it all up with a Molotov cocktail of punk rock, awkward chemistry, and emotional chaos. Forget the candlelit dinners and grand airport chases. This under-the-radar cult hit delivers a romance that's jagged, messy, loud-and all the better for it. At its core, Dinner in America is about two misfits who collide in suburbia and stumble into something that looks a lot like love (if love came with band posters and burned cereal). The film thrives on its raw, unapologetic energy, with every moment underscored by a gritty soundtrack that doesn't just set the tone, it is the tone. Leading the charge is "Watermelon," a DIY punk anthem created by the movie's unlikely couple, Simon and Patty. It's a can't-miss hit that you'll never stop thinking about. If you're over glossy love stories and want something real, offbeat, and brimming with heart, this is the anti-rom-com you've been waiting for. Dinner in America doesn't just make you believe in unconventional love, it makes you want to shout it from a garage rooftop with an amp cranked to 11. The song is infectious, hypnotic and has been used in thousands of videos, from aesthetic edits to funny or dramatic montages. And if it's got you curious, that's a good thing. This movie is the antidote to the typical rom-com -- it's a misfit-centric flick that you'll appreciate no matter your tastes. In fact, Dinner in America is the Valentine's Day flick that should be on your watch list this year, whether you're celebrating with a partner, BFF or going it alone. It's a film that thrives on chaos, energy and unapologetic individuality. It's one of the few romantic movies out there that captures the defiant spirit of punk rock while allowing for those mushy, gushy moments perfect for the most lovey-dovey day of the year. Directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier, Dinner in America is an anarchic love story disguised as a coming-of-age film. It follows Simon (played by Kyle Gallner from Smile), a pyromaniac masked rocker, and Patty (played by Emily Skeggs), a socially awkward misfit who finds solace in music. Their unlikely romance unfolds over the course of a journey through the Midwest, as they challenge authority and find a sense of belonging in each other. Simon has a bad habit of starting fires wherever he goes. Arrow Films Despite rave reviews from critics and a successful festival run, Dinner in America didn't quite break through to the mainstream when it debuted. But thanks to its soundtrack going viral and the continued appreciation for indie movies, more people are discovering the absolutely heart-melting romantic overtones at the heart of it. Beyond the music, the movie is all about its leads. Simon isn't your typical brooding love interest. He's aggressive, brash, and seemingly incapable of compassion. Patty, on the other hand, is naive but resilient, an outcast who initially seems like she's just a side character in Simon's world. Yet as they crash through suburban backyards, run from cops, and form an unexpected musical partnership, their relationship becomes something raw and beautifully real. The kicker? You probably know someone just like them. And they may have faded into the background for you. Here, they're alive and in screaming color, just like their love story. Patty and Simon's odd-ball relationship leads to wild shenanigans. Arrow Films The chemistry between Gallner and Skeggs is electric in a way that's rarely captured on screen, and that's part of what makes Dinner in America feel so believable. Patty doesn't just idolize Simon as the frontman of her favorite band (which she doesn't know at first). She sees a vulnerable and kind man who's slowly becoming her real friend, and eventual boyfriend. Simon, despite his anger at the world, recognizes Patty's potential and encourages her to embrace her voice, not her "weirdness," and not the awkwardness she displays to the world. Before he knows it, he's completely smitten with her. Dinner in America isn't the first time an indie movie has found a second life through social media. We've seen films like Jennifer's Body and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World gain cult status years after their release, thanks to online fandoms rediscovering their brilliance. Sometimes, the best films just need time (and a killer song) to find their audience. There's something undeniably special about Dinner in America. It's unpredictable, loud and bursting with heart. It's the kind of film that doesn't just tell a story; it makes you feel something visceral. If you've ever felt like an outsider, if you've ever been drawn to music as a form of self-expression, or if you just like movies that break the mold, this one's for you. Dinner in America is currently streaming free on Hulu and available to rent on Apple TV or Prime cult love story that proves chemistry doesn't care about social norms.

Bruce Springsteen almost drove his band to quit while making ‘Born to Run'
Bruce Springsteen almost drove his band to quit while making ‘Born to Run'

New York Post

time6 hours ago

  • New York Post

Bruce Springsteen almost drove his band to quit while making ‘Born to Run'

The infamous sax solo Clarence Clemons plays on Bruce Springsteen's rock classic 'Born To Run' is so vibrant and exhilarating that it seems like a moment of pure inspiration on Clemons' part. In truth, as Peter Ames Carlin lays out in his new book, 'Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run,' (Doubleday, August 5), it was the exact opposite. I came together note by meticulous note in a studio session that set new records for frustration. 7 'Born To Run' features an iconic Clarence Clemons sax solo that was crafted by Bruce Springsteen singing — and changing — it note by note to Clemons. Advertisement Springsteen's songwriting mastery was developed through an obsessive process that found him toiling over ideas, lyrics, and concepts virtually non-stop. 'If you saw Bruce offstage, at home, or on the road in 1973 or 1974, you wouldn't have to look very far to find his songwriting notebook,' Carlin writes. 'He usually kept it within reach and always had a song, or more likely several songs, working at the same time.' The 1975 album 'Born to Run,' Springsteen's third, came to life over many months of tortured labor by Springsteen, a perfectionist whose process at the time could best be described as demented exhaustion. Advertisement To arrive at the familiar version of the title track, Springsteen tried just about every musical idea he had ever heard, played, or thought about including a string section, women singers backing up the chorus, and even a disco portion. For the song's infamous sax solo, Springsteen worked with Clemons by singing his vision for the solo note by note, having Clemons play it, then changing one note, having Clemons play it again, and so on. This went on for hours, throughout the night. 'He spent ages working on it with Clemons, eight, ten, maybe twelve hours, playing the same notes over and over again, Bruce looking for a slightly different feel, a slightly different tone, a tiny adjustment to the rhythm of this passage, this pair of notes, this portion of that note,' writes Carlin. Springsteen's obsession with the details in the music, however, was nothing compared to how he labored over the song's lyrics, constantly re-writing, seeking a different tone, a new phrase, anything that would help him make 'Born To Run' as great as he knew it could be. Advertisement 7 Bruce Springsteen's perfectionism sent his band (above) storming out of the studio as he threatened to scrap 'Born To Run.' Instead it was released and made rock history. Photograph by Barry Schneier 'Sometimes he'd be in the midst of a take, sing a few lines of a verse, shake it off, then take his notebook to a folding chair,' Carlin writes. 'He'd find a pen, open the book, look at the page, and just…think. He'd be there for a while. An hour, two hours, maybe more.' That time proved to be worth it, because the song was improving dramatically as it went. Springsteen's longtime fans would hardly recognize the early versions of the song. At one point, it sounded like a musical salute to 'Mad Max.' Advertisement 'A song that had started as a nearly surrealistic portrait of a world gone mad — racers run down by their own cars, the highway buckling beneath their mag wheels, the thrill-kill junkies gunning down soldiers 'just for the noise/Not even for the kicks' — had been remade into a vibrant highway saga that, while heavily symbolic, could be recognized as existing on the modern Jersey Shore,' Carlin writes. 7 Both Newsweek (above) and Time put Bruce Springsteen on their covers after the album dropped. Given all this, the album's recording process almost crumbled under the weight of Springsteen's relentless perfectionism. Stephen Appel, Springsteen's road manager at the time, describes a scene of pure chaos. 'You're working and it sounds great and so you start to think you have it right, but Bruce says, 'Nope, it's s–t,'' says Appel in the book. 'And then you work for hours to change it. And then that's done, and Bruce says, 'You know what? Maybe it was better before, because now this sounds like s**t.' And you would do that for ten to fifteen hours a day.' When the album was finally complete, it was played for executives at Columbia, including Walter Yetnikoff, who had just been placed in charge of all of CBS' record labels. (Columbia was owned by CBS at the time.) 7 The record's reception blew everyone away. After he heard the entire album, Yetnikoff was asked what he thought and replied, 'It's like f—ing.' Advertisement Despite this rave review, when Springsteen the perfectionist heard the album's final mix for the first time, he had a very different reaction. As the music played, Springsteen started adding self-deprecating commentary. 'Oh, well, if I'm going to sing something I guess I should oversing it, that's great,' Springsteen said. 'Oh, and here comes the saxophone, that's gotta be a Bruce Springsteen record, nothing clichéd about that.' 7 'Born To Run' was born at a rented bungalow (above) on West End Court in Long Branch, NJ, where The Boss still visits today. LoC Advertisement When the record was done playing, Springsteen said, 'I dunno, man, maybe we should just scrap it. Toss this s–t and start over.' Hearing that, Clemons, known as 'The Big Man' at a towering 6'5', stood up and walked out of the room without saying a word. Every member of the band and crew followed. Of course, the record was not scrapped. Given that Springsteen's first two albums had not sold well, Columbia executives ordered 100,000 copies printed — a number that, at the time, indicated the label had low expectations — and were shocked when pre-orders hit three times that. 7 Despite his initial misgivings, Springsteen says he's 'very, very fond' of the album. Redferns Advertisement The album became a #1 hit, and would dominate American rock radio for decades to come. Both Time and Newsweek, two of the biggest magazines in the country at a time when that meant something, put him on the cover in the same week. Interviewing Springsteen in 2024, Carlin found, unsurprisingly, that his view of the album had changed. 'I'm very, very fond of it,' Springsteen, now 75 years old, says in the book. 'And on its anniversaries, I get in a car and I play it from start to finish, right? I just drive around listening.' Advertisement 7 A new book gives an authorized look at the album's recording. On these jaunts, Springsteen makes sure he ends up on West End Court in Long Branch, New Jersey, just outside the rented bungalow where he first put thoughts for the song to paper. 'I get there right before the end, right before [the album's last song] 'Jungleland,'' says Springsteen. 'And I park there. I sit by the curb and I let 'Jungleland' play, all the way through.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store