Books We Love is back. Here are some highlights. And, what to expect on Black Friday

Arts & Culture, Books

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Books we love: Staff Favorites

Good morning! Andrew Limbong here, books reporter at NPR. I’m subbing in this newsletter to tell you about Books We Love, our year-end round-up of our favorite reads. The 2024 edition lists more than 350 books. Which just means there’s something for everyone here. Poke around the platform to discover a book for you or someone you love (or are gift-shopping for). And, scroll down for a few of the top staff picks this year. If you want to shout out your favorite, the email is [email protected] and subscribe to NPR’s Book of the Day podcast.

/ NPR

/

NPR

OK, technically, hundreds of the selections in Books We Love are made by staff. That’s kind of the whole shtick! Here are a few 2024 books that got LOTS of votes from our NPR colleagues.

📚 All Fours by Miranda July: Is it just me, or are we hearing a lot more about perimenopause since this novel dropped? It’s about an unnamed artist who leaves her husband and kid to go on a wild trip exploring the edges of her desires. Wailin Wong, host of NPR’s The Indicator podcast, says the protagonist makes choices “that you may find hilarious, relatable, or infuriating, but they are never boring.”
📚 Funny Story by Emily Henry: You’ve probably spotted this book at your local bookstore. If you haven’t perused it yet, it’s a rom-com from one of the reigning champs of the genre. NPR Growth Editor Arielle Retting explains the plot as “The ex of my enemy is my friend, I guess?”
📚 Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar: A debut novel that came out with a splash this year, getting nominated for a National Book Award. It’s about a guy obsessed with death. The book is filled with sadness and anger. But also, every review of the book I’ve read points to how funny it is. NPR Wild Card Editor Dave Blanchard writes, “It could leave you in tears of laughter or of sorrow. Or most likely both.”

These are just a tiny fraction of the hundreds of books recommended by our staffers and critics. Over in the NPR Books newsletter, we’ll be showcasing different genres and categories through the end of the year. Biographies, thrillers, cookbooks and more! Subscribe here if you want to keep the recommendations coming.

Black Friday stories you may have missed

Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images

/

Getty ImagesDeals are the name of the game this holiday season as more people are planning to shop between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, hoping for bargains.

People are expected to spend a record of up to $989 billion this holiday season. Higher prices explain some of the higher spending, but it’s not the whole story. A greater share of people also plan to splurge this holiday season, according to a survey by market research firm Circana. Here’s what to expect from this year’s Black Friday and holiday shopping season.

If you’re looking for some great deals today, try looking beyond the big stores like Amazon, Target or Best Buy. Some of the best sales are hiding in plain sight, if you know where to look. Joanie Demer of the website thekrazycouponlady.com shares her bargain-hunting tips with Morning Edition. 

Music lovers have something to look forward to today. Record stores across the country are offering special releases as part of what they call Record Store Day Black Friday. The billion-dollar vinyl record industry has been growing steadily over the years. Now the manufacturers who press these records face competitors from abroad.

Not into shopping ’till you drop? Ditch the shopping cart and try one of these four ways to observe Black Friday without spending money.

Weekend picks

Nickolai Hammar / NPR

/

NPRIranian dissident filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof speaks with NPR in New York in November 2024.

Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Movies: Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig focuses on a family of four in Tehran that grows increasingly divided over the daughters’ support for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Rasoulof talked with Morning Edition about the making of the new political thriller and how he escaped Iran on foot.
📺 TV: Ted Danson stars in A Man on the Inside as a lonely widower hired by a private investigator to live undercover in a senior living facility to find who stole a precious item.
📚 Books: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new memoir Freedom shines a light on her life and political journey. She is the only woman to lead Germany and is one of the longest-serving leaders in the European Union. She talks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly to discuss her book, feminism, Vladimir Putin and more.
🎵 Music: Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album GNX lays out his agenda: truth-telling and fraud-exposing, going scorched-earth and drawing out the fence-sitters in a culture war he is hell-bent on ending.
🍫 Food: Dubai chocolate is the new craze and it’s not just a phase, with franchises like Baskin-Robbins adding it to their menu. The chocolate bars are like KitKats, but filled with pistachios and aromatic pistachio nougat.

This newsletter was edited by Carol Ritchie.
Copyright 2024 NPR

Horror Revealed as Illinois’ Most Popular Movie Genre

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

New data has revealed the most popular movie genres in America, with horror taking the top spot nationwide.
The research examined the search popularity of terms for different film genres to determine the most popular genre among Americans.
Horror was identified as the most popular movie genre in Illinois.

Millions of Americans love a trip to the movie theater to check out the latest film releases or indulging in cozy movie nights from the comfort of their homes.
That’s why the social casino website Hello Millions conducted a study to determine the most popular movie genres nationwide according to their Google search popularity.
The average number of monthly Google searches over the past 12 months for terms relating to different film genres, such as “thriller movies”, “new horror movies” and “best comedy movies”, were analyzed to calculate the ranking.
In Illinois, Horror was identified as the most popular movie genre, with an average of 250 Google searches per month per 100,000 people. A tradition particularly during the fall months and around Halloween, horror movies are extremely popular with Americans – although they can be polarizing among those too frightened to watch. Some favorites in the US include The Exorcist, The Shining, Scream, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Following in second was Comedy, generating an average of 138 monthly searches per 100,000 people. While comedy movies can be some of the most feel-good watches, they are often considered a guilty pleasure. However, many comedies are beloved by critics and audiences alike, such as Barbie, The Big Lebowski, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Mean Girls.
Third was Romance, which produced 86 searches per 100,000 people on average per month. Romance movies can evoke some of the strongest emotions from viewers. Titanic, When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride, and Roman Holiday are romantic films enjoyed by American cinephiles.
Ranking fourth was Family, with an average monthly Google search volume of 81 per 100,000 people. Family films typically explore wholesome or inspiring themes that are intended to be enjoyed by both children and their parents. Some of the most popular family films include Paddington, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, and The Goonies.
Rounding out the top five was Action, which generated an average of 80 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Many major Hollywood blockbusters are action movies, as their explosive stunts and fight scenes are a huge draw for mainstream audiences. Die Hard, Kill Bill, Aliens, and Raiders of the Lost Ark are among the most popular action films.
The top 10 most popular movie genres in Illinois

Placing sixth was War, with an average of 58 monthly searches per 100,000 people. War movies depict either fictional or real-life wars. Some of the most acclaimed war movies include Apocalypse Now, Inglorious Basterds, Saving Private Ryan, and 1917.
Animation followed in seventh, averaging 56 searches per month per 100,000 people. CGI or hand-drawn animation film is a popular form of storytelling. Many of these films are produced by studios such as Disney Animations, Pixar, Dreamworks, or Studio Ghibli, and some of their most popular films include The Lion King, Toy Story, Shrek, and Spirited Away.
Eighth was Thriller, generating an average of 55 searches per 100,000 people per month. Thriller films typically make for intense viewing experiences and are characterized by suspenseful, exciting, and anxiety-inducing elements. Some of the most popular thrillers include Vertigo, The Silence of the Lambs, Black Swan, and Shutter Island.
Documentary ranked ninth, producing an average of 50 searches per month per 100,000 people. Documentary films are non-fiction works intended to depict real life, often for educational or informative purposes. Night and Fog, Bowling for Columbine, Paris is Burning, and Blackfish are among the most popular documentary films.
Completing the top ten was Sci-Fi which had a monthly average of 40 Google searches per month. The science fiction genre examines speculative and futuristic concepts such as travel through time and space, extraterrestrial life, and advanced science and technology. Popular sci-fi films include The Matrix, Interstellar, Blade Runner, and Back to the Future.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Hello Millions said:
“Film genre popularity is typically shaped by a combination of cultural trends, audience preferences, and societal shifts. For example, rom-coms were extremely popular throughout the ‘90s and early-to-mid-’00s but experienced a major slump before the recent resurgence. On the other hand, movie musicals were popular in the late ‘00s and early 2010s but have declined in popularity in recent years.
“Horror films tend to have more timeless appeal because they often depict a manifestation of enduring societal fears, from supernatural threats to brutal violence to psychological horror, allowing them to stay relevant across generations and time periods. Horror also tends to have a cult following with many people tuning in to every new release. Thriller films may have more longevity due to their often fast-paced nature, shock factor, and intriguing suspense that appeals to a variety of audiences.”
“Action films have been among the most successful films in recent years because of their exciting spectacle. By contrast, drama films may be considered too ‘slow’ or ‘boring’ and therefore have a more niche audience. Ultimately, genre popularity can change depending on the emotional and psychological needs of viewers, but the vast array of film genres in theatres and on streaming services means that there is always something for everyone to watch.”
***

You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project

Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community.A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities.A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
#rcp_user_login_wrap {display: none;}.rcp_form fieldset {padding: 10px !important;}
Register New Account

Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.

—
Photo credit: iStock

Hotels in Spain send message to Irish tourists ahead of introduction of new, ‘Big Brother’ travel rules

Travel

Spanish hoteliers have reassured Irish tourists they will not stop them checking in if they refuse to comply with controversial ‘Big Brother’ demands the country’s government wants to force on holidaymakers. The new Spanish government regulations are due to come into force on Monday (December 2) despite a wave of criticism and promises of legal…