literature

China has added Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' to the required reading list for ninth-grade students, according to a New York Times report. The move is drawing attention to what it signals about the country's approach to literature education and the role of Western classics in Chinese classrooms.

Arizona State University reports that policymakers are increasingly drawing on the humanities to help advance sustainability goals. The piece argues that disciplines like history, philosophy and literature can bridge gaps between scientific data and public values, making environmental policy more effective and socially grounded.

Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow is sharing a talk by Professor John Corbett on Edwin Morgan's Scots translation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, drawn from its 2021 Schools Conference. The item is being circulated around International Translation Day, drawing attention to Morgan's drama translations and their place in Scottish literature.

The Atlantic argues that contemporary literature is increasingly adopting features associated with video games, such as interactive structures, branching narratives, and reader-driven progression. The piece suggests novelists are borrowing game-like techniques to reflect how audiences now consume stories, prompting debate about what this shift means for the future of reading and the traditional novel.

Cisco is reportedly holding talks with pro-Palestine employees after a discrimination complaint against the company collapsed, according to a new report. The discussions reportedly concern how the tech firm handled grievances raised by staff, and the outcome of the complaint's collapse has drawn attention to workplace treatment of employees outspoken on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

A writer has published a new piece called 'Sandpipes and Poised Attack Prose' on the Subspace Wagon blog, sharing it with poetry and writing community groups. The post is tagged with literature and creative writing labels, and it is being circulated among readers interested in poetry and disability arts.

Movie TV Tech Geeks has published a list of eight classic books it argues would translate well into television miniseries, citing To Kill a Mockingbird among the titles. The piece reflects ongoing debate about adapting beloved literature for the screen, as prestige miniseries formats continue to draw audiences and networks seek proven source material.

A running list marking notable people born or died on September 30 across history includes author Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates, born September 30, 1975. The list explicitly notes that Coates is alive and well, distinguishing living figures from historical ones being commemorated on the date. The item highlights how September 30 birthdays and deaths span fields from literature and film to sports and Black history.

Florida's annual list of banned books has sparked renewed discussion across the state and beyond. The publication of the list, which details titles removed from schools and libraries, is drawing attention to ongoing debates over censorship, parental rights, and access to literature in public education.

Writer Nick Cheranich has published a piece exploring Shakespeare through the lens of climate change, featured by the Sierra Club. The essay draws connections between the playwright's works and today's environmental crisis, adding a literary angle to climate conversation.

Students at a South Carolina college are encountering live snakes during their English classes, according to The State newspaper. The unusual teaching method is being used as a way to spark students' curiosity and give them real material to write and think about. The report has drawn attention because of the unexpected pairing of reptiles and literature, with readers reacting to the unconventional approach to classroom learning.

The New York Times has published a review of two short story collections by Japanese author Nao-Cola Yamazaki, 'Don't Laugh at Other People's Sex Lives' and 'Beautiful Distance.' The review examines the two English-language translations, introducing Yamazaki's offbeat, quietly surreal fiction to a wider international readership and assessing how well his peculiar, deadpon stories carry over in translation.

Asia Society's book club is featuring 'Adrift in the South' by Xiao Hai, drawing attention to the Chinese author's work among international readers. The event invites discussion of the book's themes and its place in contemporary Chinese literature, adding to growing global interest in translated fiction from the region.

An essay by physicist and writer Alan Lightman on death and what happens when we die is circulating online, shared via The Marginalian. The piece blends science, philosophy and literature to examine mortality from a physicist's perspective. Readers are engaging with its meditation on consciousness, impermanence and the material nature of life.

JaNay Brown-Wood, a children's book author, is featured in a new interview answering questions about her work and career. The Q&A format piece, published as part of an ongoing series of book interviews with writer Deborah Kalb, discusses her writing and publications. Readers interested in children's literature are following the conversation.

A new book, 'Encountering Henri: The living legacy of Henri Nouwen', edited by Stephen Lazarus, has been reviewed in the Church Times. The collection examines how the late spiritual writer Henri Nouwen continues to influence Christians through the memories and reflections of those who knew him. The review highlights interest in Nouwen's enduring appeal among readers of spiritual literature more than 25 years after his death.

Writer Eli Burnstein examines what Gertrude Stein, T. S. Eliot and Joan Didion really meant with their most famous aphorisms, tracing the origins of some of the most popular phrases in literature in a piece published on Literary Hub. The essay revisits oft-quoted lines and explores how their popular meanings have drifted from what the authors originally intended, prompting discussion among readers interested in literary history and misquotation.