Arts

Is Author Philip Roth's Book Collection What Newark Public Library Needs?

6:36pm December 15, 2016

by Noel King

Acclaimed author Philip Roth has chosen to donate his personal book collection to the struggling Newark Public Library. But some question whether books are what make a library relevant in 2016.

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In 1972, NPR invited listeners to write ads for things that brighten everyday life, like clouds and taking a walk. It was so nice, we're doing it twice: Submit your best ad and it might get produced.

Arts

Ads For Nicer Living: Make Your Pitch For What Makes Life Better

6:36pm December 15, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

In 1972, NPR invited listeners to write ads for things that brighten everyday life, like clouds and love letters. It was so nice, we're doing it twice: Submit your best ad and it might get produced.

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Felicity Jones plays Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Arts

'Rogue One' Is 'A Star Wars Story' With Fewer Stars And A Lot More Wars

5:00pm December 15, 2016

by Chris Klimek

A footnote in the Star Wars saga gets its own movie — a tense, grubby, effective tale of interstellar combat that skimps on the series' mythic overtones.

(L-R) Helen Mirren as Brigitte, Keira Knightley as Amy and Jacob Latimore as Raffi in Collateral Beauty.

Arts

In 'Collateral Beauty,' Will Smith Meets Love, Time, Death — And A Terrible Script

5:00pm December 15, 2016

by Scott Tobias

An ad exec (Will Smith) mourning the death of his daughter meets actors portraying abstract concepts in this absurd, disingenuous film which lays bare Hollywood's inability to grapple with grief.

Denzel Washington as Troy Maxson and Viola Davis as Rose Maxson in Fences

Arts

'Fences': A Major American Play Finally Makes It To Screen; It Was Worth The Wait

5:00pm December 15, 2016

by Andrew Lapin

Director/star Denzel Washington faithfully adapts August Wilson's searing, Pulitzer-winning play. The brilliant result is "moviemaking as public service," says critic Andrew Lapin.

Prescriptions for opioid painkillers increased, and so did incidents of opioid addiction.

'Drug Dealer, M.D.': Misunderstandings And Good Intentions Fueled Opioid Epidemic

3:51pm December 15, 2016

Psychiatrist Anna Lembke says the medical establishment and drugmakers began telling doctors in the 1980s that opioids were effective treatment for chronic pain. "That was patently false," she says.

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The inimitable charms of cumulus clouds — one of life's little pleasures, as highlighted by NPR listeners in our 1972 "Ads For Nicer Living" project.

Arts

Ads For Nicer Living: Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

2:13pm December 15, 2016

by NPR Staff

NPR is inviting listeners to write ads for life's little joys. Find answers to frequently asked questions about the project, and submit your script for an ad here. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2017.

UNCSA's Production of 'The Nutcracker' Turns 50

10:57am December 15, 2016

by David Ford

The UNC School of the Arts is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its ballet "The Nutcracker."

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At Olsen Fish Co. in Minneapolis, workers make lutefisk out of dried ling cod brought in from Norway.

What's A Holiday Without Lutefisk And A Little White Lye?

10:32am December 15, 2016

by Tove K. Danovich

The whitefish is famous for being repulsive — and divisive. But Scandinavian-Americans in the Midwest consider their seasonal smelly-jelly feast to be an important link to their Viking ancestors.

Postelection Solidarity: A Woman Cooks For Her LGBTQ Community

6:55pm December 14, 2016

by Marissa Higgins

When people feel isolated, a home-cooked meal can be a reminder they're not alone. So one New Yorker offered to cook and deliver meals for free to LGBTQ people in her area. The idea quickly caught on.