Sticks? Yes. Stones? Of course.

Words, I’ve heard, will never hurt me, though.

But if you’ve ever been asked, “Perhaps you’d like to try that in a larger size?” while clothes shopping, you know words sting just fine all on their own.

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The danger, power and allure of language is part of the charm of “Guilty by Definition,” the debut mystery by Susie Dent, who has written two previous nonfiction books about language and words.

Set in Oxford, England, at the editorial offices of the fictional Clarendon English Dictionary, the novel’s plot revolves around a long-unsolved cold case that begins to heat up after the arrival of a new editor and the revelation of some buried secrets.

Mixing arcane dictionary entries, puzzling messages and centuries-old literary mysteries, it’s just the kind of diverting read for book nerds who need a break or puzzle fiends who want to put their English Lit knowledge to the test.

In short, it’s a book for people who love books.

The novel got me thinking about books related to other literary pursuits. For obvious reasons, I’m interested in books about writing and editing. Earlier this year, I was excited to pick up “Toni At Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship,” Dana A. Williams’ engaging study of Toni Morrison’s work as an editor at Random House, where she worked on books by Angela Davis,  Gayl Jones, Muhammad Ali, Lucille Clifton and many others.

A few months back, I read Robert Gottlieb’s 2016 memoir, “Avid Reader,” about his nearly 70-year career, which included time as editor-in-chief at Simon & Schuster, editor of the New Yorker and a notable run at Knopf, as well as work as a critic and author. Over the years, he edited books by John le Carré, Doris Lessing, V.S. Naipaul, Michael Crichton, Bill Clinton, Katharine Graham, Lauren Bacall, Charles Portis, Nora Ephron – who moved in with Gottlieb’s family with her kids following the breakup of her marriage – and of course, Toni Morrison.

“We were meant for each other,” writes Gottlieb, describing how he and Morrison were in sync when discussing the work. “Our only real disagreements have to do with commas, since she hates them and I love them. I put them in, she takes them out, and we trade.”

Gottlieb’s book is a delight, rich with stories about his work, other interests and insane workload – along with the odd bit of punctuation gossip. (And even though the book is packed with stories about the writers he knew, you still get the sense he didn’t share every dishy tale he could have.)

If you’ve never seen it, you should also check out the documentary “Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb,” which provides a glimpse into the working life of Gottlieb and “The Power Broker” author Robert Caro – and their friendly frustration with each other’s inability to do exactly what the other wanted across five decades. (Plus, you get a look at Gottlieb’s plastic handbag collection, which is fun.)

Caro’s own 2019 memoir, “Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing,” is fascinating – and not just because it includes a terrific photo of an exuberant young Caro posing in shirtsleeves in front of his research. But don’t just listen to me, here’s some of the blurb on the back about the author’s work chronicling the life of Lyndon Johnson: “Caro has forever changed the way we think, and read, American history.” That’s the opinion of books contributor Michael Schaub, who was unaware his blurb was on the back cover until I mentioned it.

What other books to suggest for the word-curious? I read A. Scott Berg’s “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius” about the editor of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe years ago, and that has long been considered a classic about the world of editing. (The stories about Perkins dealing with unruly boxfuls of Wolfe’s pages and shaping them into something publishable are memorable.) Sara B. Franklin’s biography of publishing legend Judith Jones, “The Editor,” is another good choice. And Diana Athill’s “Stet: An Editor’s Life” is on my TBR pile for the next time I need editorial inspiration.

Here’s an upcoming title for any book lover you know. “Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books” by Hwang Bo-Reum, the author of “Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop,” and translated by Shanna Tan.

Arriving in stores Dec. 2, these essays are short, charming and relatable, with the persuasively titled chapter “Read Short Books” followed immediately by the equally compelling “Read Big Books.”

Moreover, the book includes this passage, which made at least one reader feel seen: “How many of us can remember a book we’ve read last week, not to mention a year ago? I’d struggle to even recall the title, as if my memory is shrouded by thick fog. Is reading a waste of time? The thought fills me with dread.”

Reading, dread and forgetfulness? I’m sold.

Looking ahead, I’ll also mention that “The Old Drift” author Namwali Serpell has a book on Toni Morrison’s work coming in January, while in the following month, Oliver James’s “Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok” chronicles the books that helped him overcome illiteracy.

And what are you reading?

Watching the 2025 National Book Awards

On Wednesday, the brightest lights of the literary world got dressed up for the 2025 National Book Awards gala while some of us watched from home in our sweats.

MC’d by Jeff Hiller with music from Corinne Bailey Rae, the event featured powerful speeches from winners and presenters who spoke passionately about events in Gaza, the treatment of refugees and bullying fascists.

“It’s very difficult to think in celebratory terms about a book that was written in response to a genocide,” said Omar El Akkad, who won the nonfiction prize for “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”

Roxane Gay and George Saunders received lifetime achievement awards, and winners were announced in five categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated and Young People’s Literature.

Saunders accepted the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and was kind, generous and funny, speaking out against bullies in favor of literature, which he says provides readers the ability to see life more clearly.

“Writing has come to seem to me to be a secret, truth-seeking, anti-suffering practice, which is a pretty great blessing to take away from a life in this craft,” he said.

The 2025 National Book Award Winners

Fiction:

Rabih Alameddine, “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)”

Nonfiction:

Omar El Akkad, “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”

Poetry:

Patricia Smith, “The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems”

Translated Literature:

Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Robin Myers, “We Are Green and Trembling”

Young People’s Literature:

Daniel Nayeri, “The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story”

To watch a recording of the event, go to www.nationalbook.org/awards2025

The week’s bestsellers

The top-selling books at your local independent bookstores.