Book buzz: Chaos Walking movie, Lena Dunham

Book buzz: Chaos Walking movie, Lena Dunham

By Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY

Here's a look at what's buzzing in the books world today:

--Plenty of cake: Anna Quindlen's birthday was to be marked by Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake â€" that's the title of her new book of essays, at least. The Pulitzer-winning writer, who took over publisher Random House's Twitter feed @atrandom yesterday to field questions and chat with fans, talks to NPR about everything from recently leaving the Catholic church to raising feminist sons.

--New "it" girl: The entertainment world has been buzzing about HBO's Girls creator and star Lena Dunham. She shares her reading habits ("I loved my Kindle, but then I broke it, so I am back to my first love, paperbacks,") with The New York Times.

--By the numbers: Want some bookish trivia? Publishers Weekly lists 100 books that begin with The Man Who… , while Vulture ranks all 62 Stephen King books. Read USA TODAY's Brian Truitt's review of King's newest, The Wind Through the Keyhole, part of the Dark Tower series.

--Searching for the next 'Hunger Games': Academy Award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has been hired to adapt the first book in the young adult dystopian series Chaos Walking for Lionsgate. The book is about an infection called the Noise, which makes all thought audible. "Privacy vanishes, chaos ensues, and a corrupt autocrat threatens to take control," Deadline reports. Sound as compelling as kids killing kids for sport? (Via Galleycat)

Watch a reading flash mob in St. Louis from World Book Night: