Kat Tang on her novel 'Five-Star Stranger'
In Kat Tang's new novel, a man-for-hire on a Rental App pretends to be a fiancé, a father, a mourner at a funeral. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Tang about "Five-Star Stranger."
Books
On the centennial of his birth, James Baldwin remains relevant today
Baldwin is heralded for being everything from an orator, activist and fashion icon. None of that would be true if he weren't a writer first. We asked fans to break down what made his writing work.
Reflections on James Baldwin's magnificent life from those who knew him
Writer James Baldwin is remembered by his family, a scholar, a journalist and a playwright on his 100th birthday.
Remembering writer Gail Lumet Buckley
The daughter of singer Lena Horne, Buckley who chronicled her family's history from enslavement to becoming a part of the Black bourgeoisie. She died July 18. Originally broadcast in 1986.
Celebrating James Baldwin, on what would have been his 100th birthday
One of the most influential writers to emerge during the civil rights era, Baldwin, who died in 1987, spoke to Terry Gross in 1986 about growing up in Harlem and his decision to move to France.
From 'E.T.' to 'Blade Runner,' how the summer of 1982 changed cinema forever
In 1982, eight science fiction films were released within eight weeks of each other. In The Future Was Now, Chris Nashawaty chronicles how those movies shaped the genre and the movie industry.
'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature
For some authors, finding their book on a "banned" list can feel almost like an accolade, putting them right there with classics like The Bluest Eye and To Kill a Mockingbird. But the reality is, most banned books never get the kind of recognition or readership that the most famous ones do.
This year’s longlist for the Booker Prize is here
Longtime writers Claire Messud, Percival Everett, and Richard Powers join along with 3 debut novelists.
Blindsided by 'The Most': This is a superb novel of a marriage at its breakpoint
The story takes place in Newark, over the course of a single day in 1957, which we experience from the two spouses' alternating points of view. Jessica Anthony's novel deserves to become a classic.
A bookstore named for James Baldwin is counting down to his 100th birthday
James Baldwin died in 1987. Baldwin & Co. is a Black-owned bookstore and community hub in New Orleans. "His literature, his perspective, his insight ... have changed my life," says owner DJ Johnson.