Matt Hay gradually went deaf. But music helped him partially hear again
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks to author Matt Hay, who has struggled with his hearing since he was a kid, about his new book Soundtrack of Silence.
Books
'Lunar New Year Love Story' celebrates true love, honors immigrant struggles
This YA graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham attains epic dimensions in capturing the complex, bittersweet journeys of its characters.
A federal case against book restrictions in Florida schools is going forward
A judge ruled there's a viable argument that removing certain books is unconstitutional. Free speech advocates, a publisher, authors and parents say the restrictions violate the First Amendment.
How E.J. Koh drew on her own family members' experiences to write 'The Liberators'
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with author E.J. Koh about her novel, The Liberators. In just over 200 pages, the story covers generations, wars and geopolitical upheaval.
'The Fetishist' examines racial and sexual politics
Katherine Min's well-crafted posthumous novel is inspired by Lolita -- but with an Asian fetishist as Humbert Humbert and the objects of his objectification given voice.
'Sex With a Brain Injury' reveals how concussions can test relationships
Annie Liontas experienced three brain injuries in the span of one year, which led to dizziness, memory fog and anger — and impacted Liontas' marriage and sex life.
Meet trailblazing foreign correspondent Maggie Higgins in the book 'Fierce Ambition'
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks to author Jennet Conant about her new book Fierce Ambition, a biography about Pulitzer prize winning war correspondent Maggie Higgins.
NPR staffers pick their favorite food books from the 2023 Books We Love list
From NPR's Books We Love list, our staff recommends the cookbooks "Ed Mitchell's Barbeque," "Invitation to a Banquet," "The Secret of Cooking," "The Migrant Chef," and "Asada."
Alvaro Enrigue's novel imagines the clash of two great empires in the 16th century
The Spanish and the Aztecs don't know what to make of each other in Alvaro Enrigue's new novel, "You Dreamed of Empires." He talks with NPR's Scott Simon about getting into a 16th-century mindframe.
Renowned author and former state poet laureate Fred Chappell dies at 87
Chappell grew up in the mill town of Canton in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. In a documentary about his life, “Fred Chappell: I Am One of You Forever,” he said he carried the mountains with him whenever he went.
He spent most of his career in Greensboro, writing and teaching in the graduate-level creative writing program he helped build.