BOOKS

Woolf photographed by George Charles Beresford, 1902; Virginia (left), Vanessa, and two brothers; a Hogarth Press book jacket designed by Vanessa.

5 Things We Learned From the NYPL’s Virginia Woolf Exhibition

Virginia Woolf loved using purple ink—but only for certain kinds of writing.

Magical Thinking: The New York Public Library Has Acquired Joan Didion’s Papers

One of the 20th century’s great writers will take up residence at the NYPL, with 240 linear feet of material.

These memoirs offer an intimate look at some of your favorite stars.

16 of the Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read in 2023

From Prince Harry's 'Spare' to 'Finding Me' by Viola Davis, the best celebrity memoirs to read this year will be tough to put down.

12 Fascinating Facts About Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison has written some of literature’s most enduring classics, from 'The Bluest Eye' to 'Beloved' and beyond. Here's what you need to know about the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

15 Facts About 'Where's Waldo?'

Spotting the elusive Waldo is an exercise in patience and frustration, even for the most eagle-eyed fans.

If you want a little romance in your next read, look no further than this list.

10 of the Greatest Love Stories in Novels

They may not all have a happy ending, but the passion their pages contain is enough to keep you captivated.

11 Things You Should Know About Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye’

It took Toni Morrison years to write her debut novel—which was initially a flop. Here are some other things you might not know about 'The Bluest Eye.'

An older version of 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'

'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,' may technically be middle-aged now—the frequently banned pre-teen tale by Judy Blume turned 50 in 2020—but its lessons are for the ages.

Ms. Frizzles adventures were no ordinary field trips.

12 Magical Facts About ‘The Magic School Bus’

Who wouldn’t want a teacher like Ms. Frizzle? Take a ride down memory lane with these 12 facts about ‘The Magic School Bus.’

10 Facts About Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’

Readers have swooned over Jamie Fraser’s love for his time-traveling wife Claire since 1991.

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.

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