Footnotes, June 2020: Book links from around the web

At The Reading List, we’re trainspotters when it comes to interesting book links, and here are a number that caught our eye.

Mad respect to AfroLitSans Frontieres, which not only started an international, virtual African literary festival from scratch, then appeared in The New York Times, but also organised a sign-a-thon for African writers in support of Black Lives Matter in the USA.
Speaking of Black Lives Matter in the USA, there are a lot of lists of books to read as you continue (hopefully? hopefully you’ve already started? right?) your anti-racism journey. There’s Ibram X Kendi’s, Victoria Alexander’s, a list from black publishers and booksellers, a list for children and teens, this all-digital book list from Kobo and lots more lists here.
When was the last time you bought a Blackbird Books title? Get inspired, independent African and South African publishing right here.
American YA author Jason Reynolds recorded a brilliant chat with Kojo Nnamdi on racism and the current protests in the USA. Must-listen stuff.
The Caine Prize! The Caine Prize. The AKO Caine Prize. It’s come out of Covid-19 hiding (note: we commend everyone who went or is currently in Covid-19 hiding) and announced its shortlist. We have a close connection with author Rémy Ngamjie; read his shortlisted story, ‘The Neighbourhood Watch’, here. And read all shortlisted stories here. (Holding thumbs, Rémy!)
Barbara Ehrenreich. Barbara Ehrenreich? Barbara Ehrenreich!
Over here, W Ralph Eubanks muses on what befalls literary culture when cities fall silent.
Hey, who wants to know about Marian Keyes’s top recommended books? We sure do.
Lionel Shriver is making everyone’s lives miserable again.
Who the hell invented vinaigrette, anyway?