BOOKS

Alfred Hitchcock is among the artists whose work is entering the public domain this year.

Works by Hitchcock and Arthur Conan Doyle—and an Early Inspiration for Star Wars—Are Now Part of the Public Domain

And Mickey Mouse could be next.

Jean Seberg holds a copy of J.D. Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye.'

10 Fascinating Facts About J.D. Salinger

Acclaimed novelist J.D. Salinger once gave an interview for a high school newspaper, and also drank his own pee, but probably not at the same time.

14 Fascinating Facts About Albert Camus's 'The Stranger'

Albert Camus’s 1942 masterpiece 'The Stranger' has sold more than 6 million copies, but caused trouble for translators.

Celebrate the end of 2022 with these acclaimed book titles.

Mental Floss’s 16 Best Books of 2022

From 'The Candy House' by Jennifer Egan to 'Tracy Flick Can’t Win' by Tom Perrotta, discover the best books of 2022 according to Mental Floss.

6 Novels That Controversially Fictionalized Real Events

In literary history, there is an undeniable thread of novels that make substantial use of real people and situations, often through a veil of changed names.

10 Unusual Libraries From Around the World

While there are many beautiful libraries in the world, there are also a number of more unique ones—from creative architectural wonders to libraries that aren’t housed within buildings at all.

The Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library.

Something Borrowed: The New York Public Library’s Most Checked-Out Books of 2022

Colleen Hoover and Emily Henry fans are out in full force in New York.

Charles Dickens wrote more merry tales than just 'A Christmas Carol.'

4 Dickens Christmas Stories You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Such was the success of 'A Christmas Carol' that the four festive stories Dickens published after it—some overlooked classics, others critical flops and missteps—have since largely become eclipsed by their better-known predecessor.

Getting snowed in with these books wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

11 Wintry Books To Read Under Your Warmest Blanket

Get snowed in with the best books to read in winter, including “Snowblind” by Ragnar Jónasson, Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” and other great reads.

Our Vault is full of great last-minute gift finds, from books to games, and more.

Love Mental Floss? Right Now You Can Get Merch From Our Store Vault for 90 Percent Off

For a limited time, you can save 90 percent on products from the Mental Floss Store Vault with this promo code.

10 Differences Between ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Book and Movie

‘The Wizard of Oz’ is one of the most famous films of all time—but it differs quite a bit from the novel on which it was based. From the color of the coveted slippers to a one-eyed Wicked Witch, here are 10 key differences.

Taylor Swift, BTS, and The Roots are among the artists who have made literary references in their songs.

11 Hit Songs That Reference Great Works of Literature

Everyone from Lana Del Rey to BTS to The Cure has slipped literary references into their songs.

Use these tips to keep your books looking good as new.

13 Tips From a Rare Books Expert to Keep Your Books Looking Great

There's the one place you should never pull on a book—and some things you should never put in them.

Sci-fi literature and short stories inspired these bright ideas.

11 Scientific Advancements Inspired by Sci-Fi Stories

These sci-fi tales have gone beyond predicting technological advancements to directly inspiring scientific progress, from robotics to rocketry and everything in between.

8 Facts About ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover,’ D.H. Lawrence’s Most Scandalous Novel

The story behind the publication of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ is almost as dramatic as the novel itself.

Thomas Hardy and his beloved English countryside.

12 Facts About Author Thomas Hardy

'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' author Thomas Hardy is best known for his novels of rural realism, but he started out as an architect.

Haruki Murakami's love of music is evident throughout his body of work.

7 Haruki Murakami Novels and Short Stories Named for Songs

Music plays a big role in his books, but the references are not always as obvious as they may appear.

Author Jesmyn Ward's 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' won the National Book Award in 2017.

14 National Book Award Winners You Should Read

The National Book Award in Fiction has recognized the best the world of literature has to offer—and we've rounded up some standouts.

How many of these books are on your shelf?

5 Millennial-Approved Young Adult Book Series That Are Still Going Strong

A number of Millennials’ favorite YA book series are still going or about to enjoy a reboot; here are five familiar titles to look out for.

11 of Kurt Vonnegut’s Most Memorable Quotes

The words of the free-thinking, veteran skeptic, humanist humorist live on.

Swimming, Scotch, and Jazz: Kurt Vonnegut’s Daily Routine During His Teaching Stint at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop

“I numb my twanging intellect with several belts of Scotch and water.” —Kurt Vonnegut during his Iowa Writers’ Workshop era.

14 Fascinating Facts About Kurt Vonnegut

No, Kurt Vonnegut was not frat bros with Dr. Seuss. But the world-renowned author did love watching “Cheers.”

8 Tips For Overcoming ‘Reader‘s Block’

How to ignore the distractions and get your nose back in a book.

Dobby gains his freedom in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002).

Conservationists Ask People to Stop Leaving Socks at Dobby’s Seaside Grave in Wales

The harbor porpoises that live near Dobby’s Pembrokeshire grave site don’t love socks as much as the Harry Potter house elf did.

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