AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 6:57 a.m. EST

Shelley Read's debut novel 'Go as a River' becomes a global sensation

NEW YORK (AP) — Author Shelley Read is amazed by the global success of her debut novel, “Go as a River.” Before its U.S. release, the book secured over 30 translations. Published in 2023, it has sold more than a million copies and is being adapted into a film. The novel spans from the 1940s to the 1970s, focusing on a Colorado farm girl’s romance with an Indigenous man. Read, a longtime educator, began writing the book after retiring. Despite initial rejections, her manuscript found a home with Spiegel & Grau. Read is now working on her second novel.

New Carnegie Medal winners Megha Majumdar and Yiyun Li love libraries

NEW YORK (AP) — Novelist Megha Majumdar has won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction for her book “A Guardian and a Thief.” The American Library Association announced the award on Tuesday. Majumdar shares the honor with Yiyun Li, who won for her memoir “Things in Nature Merely Grow.” Both authors will receive $5,000 and be honored in June in Chicago. Majumdar is an immigrant from India and appreciates libraries as spaces for solitude and community. Li is originally from Beijing and discovered her love for libraries in the U.S. and now teaches at Princeton University.

Traoré joins West Ham and says movie taught him about passion of the club's fans

LONDON (AP) — Spain winger Adama Traoré has joined West Ham from Fulham and says a movie about his new team taught him about the passion of its fans. Traoré says “it’s a massive club, a massive fanbase. I’ve been watching since I was young, when I watched a film about West Ham. I know about the fans and how much passion they have.” Traoré was likely talking about Green Street, a fictional 2005 movie that explored the culture of hooliganism in English soccer through a fan group linked to West Ham. Traoré will be united again with West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo. They previously worked together at Wolverhampton.

Chanel couture gets a breath of fresh air and stars. Armani revamps

PARIS (AP) — Fashion powerhouse Chanel stacked the Paris front row like a movie premiere Tuesday, with stars from Nicole Kidman to Dua Lipa to Penélope Cruz, then handed the spotlight to its new designer, Matthieu Blazy, for his much-anticipated couture debut. Inside the Grand Palais, the set was a dream-garden of candy-colored trees and giant pink-and-red mushrooms — a surreal antidote to the gray Paris day outside, and to the heavier mood of the world beyond the doors. Then came the clothes, and the message landed fast: lightness.

Ralph Fiennes, star of stage and screen, makes opera debut in Paris directing `Eugene Onegin'

PARIS (AP) — Ralph Fiennes made his opera directing debut with Tchaikovsky's “Eugene Onegin” at the Paris Opera. Known for his cinematic background, Fiennes uses lighting to focus on one-on-one interactions. The opera, based on Pushkin's novel, stars Boris Pinkhasovich, Ruzan Mantashyan and Bogdan Volkov. All 11 performances are sold out, with a broadcast scheduled for Feb. 9. Fiennes, who has a history with Pushkin's work, decided to set the opera in the 1830s. He aims to avoid cliched opera acting, focusing on character interaction.

A historic house in Serbia's capital hangs on with intimate theatrical productions

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A small villa in central Belgrade is keeping a piece of the Serbian capital’s history intact as everything around it has transformed. Villa owners have opened its doors as a theater called Takovska17. The 19th century house has become a venue for plays and movie making rather than bowing to Belgrade's relentless construction. Built by a prominent family, the house at 17 Takovska street is listed as a protected heritage site. The setting has drawn several independent theater productions that interact with small audiences. Takovska17 has been such a success that there often is a waiting list for tickets.

Philip Glass cancels Kennedy Center symphony premiere in protest of Trump's leadership

NEW YORK (AP) — Prize-winning composer Philip Glass has canceled the world premiere of his symphony about Abraham Lincoln at the Kennedy Center. Glass' Symphony No. 15, titled "Lincoln," was set to be conducted by Grammy winner Karen Kamensek on June 12 and 13. Glass stated that the Kennedy Center's current values conflict with the symphony's message. His decision is part of a broader trend of artists withdrawing from the venue. President Donald Trump's influence over the center, including plans to rename it the Trump Kennedy Center, has sparked controversy and led to multiple cancellations.

Neil Young's gift to Greenland: Free access to his entire music catalog

NEW YORK (AP) — Neil Young is offering free access to his entire music catalog to residents of Greenland. He announced this on his blog on Tuesday in a bid to ease stress amid tensions involving the U.S. and NATO. Young's offer lasts a year with possible renewal and requires a Greenland-based cellphone. This gesture contrasts with his recent decision to remove his music from Amazon Music. Young criticized its founder Jeff Bezos for supporting U.S. President Donald Trump. Young has a history of clashing with streaming platforms including Spotify over issues like misinformation and audio quality. His hits include “Rockin' in the Free World” and “Heart of Gold.”

Antoine Fuqua's ‘Troublemaker' lets Nelson Mandela speak for himself

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Antoine Fuqua's new documentary, “Troublemaker,” explores Nelson Mandela's life beyond his iconic status. Premiering Tuesday at the Sundance Film Festival, the film reveals Mandela as a rebel, at least at first. Fuqua uses Mandela’s voice from over 70 hours of recordings to tell the story of the fight against apartheid. He collaborated with Mac Maharaj, an anti-apartheid activist who helped smuggle Mandela’s writings out of prison. Fuqua traveled across South Africa, visiting key locations in Mandela’s life, and learned about the resilience and optimism of those who fought for justice.