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'Laser Writer II' hides a dark corporate fairytale under its rosy nostalgia

5:00am October 24, 2021

by Heller McAlpin

The writer and artist Tamara Shopsin takes a fond look at the past in her new novel, set at the famous Manhattan computer repair store Tekserve in the days before Apple and its Genius Bars took over.

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Arts

Katie Couric goes behind the scenes in the cutthroat world of morning TV news

7:47pm October 23, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with the veteran broadcast journalist and former Today show anchor about her new memoir, Going There, which chronicles her decades in TV news as well as her personal life.

Jeff Tweedy, Nick Offerman and George Saunders at Glacier National Park.

Nick Offerman on why he finds solace in the outdoors

1:29pm October 23, 2021

by Scott Simon

The actor and author has a new book, Where the Deer and the Antelope Play. He talks with NPR's Scott Simon about why walking in the woods makes him feel better and how to experience nature in a city.

Nothing but Blackened Teeth, by Cassandra Khaw

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Arts

'Nothing but Blackened Teeth' is a real spooky trip

7:00am October 23, 2021

by Jessica P. Wick

In Cassandra Khaw's new novella, five friends with a lot of history and a habit of ghost-hunting together decide to go on one last trip to celebrate a wedding — and naturally, things get out of hand.

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Arts

'Monster in the Middle' muses on the complex nature of romantic love

5:00am October 23, 2021

by Carole V. Bell

Tiphanie Yanique's sophomore novel follows two lovers — the American Fly and Stela, who's from the Caribbean, as they make their way towards a lasting relationship despite their differences.

Lenny Kravitz's memoir, 'Let Love Rule,' chronicles the making of a rock star

1:22pm October 22, 2021

by Sam Briger

Kravitz's memoir follows his childhood and early career. Still touring in his 50s, Kravitz says, "I'm going to continue doing this as long as I can." Originally broadcast Oct. 6, 2020.

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Books

Review: 'Dune' may be on HBO Max, but it's one film you want to see on a big screen

4:56pm October 21, 2021

by Bob Mondello

Denis Villeneuve's Dune — based on Frank Herbert's bestselling sci-fi novel — arrives in cinemas and on home screens starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya.

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Arts

'Orwell's Roses' centers on the tensions between beauty and labor, joy and suffering

6:31am October 21, 2021

by Ilana Masad

Rebecca Solnit's latest is a deeply political collection of interlinked essays, of which George Orwell is a part but not the whole; one of its joys is its unexpected turns from one topic to the next.

Children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney poses in front of two of his illustrations in 2016, at the City Hall in Philadelphia.

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Arts

Jerry Pinkney, the beloved, award-winning children's book illustrator, has died at 81

6:59pm October 20, 2021

by Neda Ulaby

The Caldecott Medal winner died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was known for illustrating over 100 books for readers of all ages, including The Lion and the Mouse and Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Books
Arts

Remembering Gary Paulsen, author of 'Dogsled' and 'Hatchet'

2:09pm October 20, 2021

by Terry Gross

The Newbery award-winning author, who died Oct. 13, wrote over 200 books, many of which were tales of adventure aimed at young adults. In 1994, Paulsen talked about Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race.

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