She sees life through the lens of books in 'Checkout 19'
The protagonist of Clare-Louise Bennett's novel is a determinedly unfixed and unrooted person who marks time through which writers she has read.
Books
'New York Times' writer Frank Bruni on what losing eyesight taught him about life
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Frank Bruni about his new book The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found, a memoir about the author partially losing his eyesight.
A woman finds as many constraints in America as at home in India in 'Border Less'
The character in Namrata Poddar's novel works in a call center and dreams of a new life in the U.S. but once there, she and other emigrants feel "othered" at work and in daily life.
'What My Bones Know' is Stephanie Foo's memoir on living with complex PTSD
Sarah McCammon speaks with author and journalist Stephanie Foo about her new book, "What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma."
Beyoncé collaborator Warsan Shire releases her first full collection of poetry
Warsan Shire's poetry rocketed into public view when she collaborated with Beyoncé on the visual album "Lemonade." Sarah McCammon asks Shire about her first full collection of poetry.
'Checkout 19' encapsulates a lifelong love affair with the magic of books
An English schoolgirl discovers the power of reading, writing and imagination in the new novel, "Checkout 19." Scott Simon speaks with author Claire-Louise Bennett about her story.
Frederick Douglass biographer traces the rise of a legendary abolitionist and orator
David Blight's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography traced Douglass' path from slavery to abolitionist and inspired HBO's documentary, Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches. Originally broadcast in 2018.
'Very Funny Ladies' sketches out the history of women cartoonists at 'The New Yorker'
Liza Donnelly has had a long career writing and drawing cartoons for The New Yorker. In her latest book, she continues her examination of the history of women cartoonists and the storied magazine.
Are we ready for COVID-19 as a central theme in literature?
Reading about plagues or COVID-19 over the last two years was not an entertaining idea for many. But the pandemic has had an impact on literature — and people may be ready for it to enter the canon.
The world's insect population is in decline — and that's bad news for humans
Environmental writer Oliver Milman says habitat loss, pesticides and climate change are killing off insects worldwide, which, in turn, threatens humans. His new book is The Insect Crisis.