booksWednesday, July 22, 2026

A 10,000-book apartment and a forgotten genocide novel

Today's book world is split between a quirky human-interest story and a serious literary exploration of historical trauma. The New York Times profiles a scholar living with 10,000 books in a tiny studio, while Joost Hiltermann's novel about the Anfal genocide gets a thoughtful review. Meanwhile, a 104-year-old author's Guinness record and a thriller adaptation keep the lighter side moving.

Sources

+11

Space and memory

Two very different stories about what books carry: physical weight and historical weight.

#01www.nytimes.comJul 22

Too Many Books?

Mendel Uminer's 10,000-book collection in a 600-square-foot Manhattan studio is the kind of extreme bibliophilia that makes for great copy. The NYT piece leans into the absurdity, books blocking windows, sleeping on a floor mattress, but also touches on the landlord's objections, which gives it a real-world edge.

2 min readRead original

#02asianreviewofbooks.comJul 22

“The Resurrected” by Joost Hiltermann

Joost Hiltermann's novel 'The Resurrected' tackles the 1988 Anfal genocide against Iraqi Kurds, a subject that doesn't get nearly enough literary attention. The review on Asian Review of Books positions it as both a historical reckoning and a narrative achievement, which makes this worth a look for readers interested in serious political fiction.

by Alan Ali SaeedRead original

Bestsellers and adaptations

The commercial side of books keeps churning with record-holders and screen deals.

#03parade.comJul 22

1993 No. 1 Bestseller, Written by a 104-Year-Old, Became a Guinness World Record Holder

A 104-year-old author snagged a Guinness World Record with a 1993 bestseller. The Parade piece is light but the fact itself is a fun conversation starter, proof that age is no barrier to publishing success.

#04parade.comJul 22

Best-Selling 2019 Thriller Novel, Ranked Among 'Most Read Books,' Is Being Made Into a Movie

Another best-selling thriller is getting a movie adaptation. The Parade article doesn't name the title in the snippet, but the hook is clear: if you liked the twisty debut, you'll want to watch for casting news.

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