Books

The cover of Washington Black by Esi Edugyan.

Books
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Novelist Esi Edugyan On Black Genius And What Comes After Slavery

6:13am October 16, 2018

by Steve Inskeep

The author of Man Booker Prize finalist Washington Black began her new book on a plantation in 1830s Barbados. "I really have no idea where my story is going at the outset of it," she says.

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Phoebe Robinson hosts the podcast 2 Dope Queens.

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Phoebe Robinson: There's No Excuse For The Lack Of Diversity In Comedy

1:26pm October 15, 2018

by Terry Gross

"There are so many talented, amazing people and if you're not booking them, it's either out of laziness or the fact you really don't care," says the co-host of the 2 Dope Queens podcast.

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Novelist Esi Edugyan On Depicting The 'Forgotten Figures' Of Scientific History

1:23pm October 15, 2018

by Sam Briger

Edugyan's latest novel, Washington Black, tells the story of a boy who escapes slavery and embarks on a voyage of scientific discovery. It has been shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize.

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Cover detail of Esi Edugyan's Washington Black.

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'Washington Black' Is A Soaring Tale Of Enslavement And Escape

1:22pm October 15, 2018

by Maureen Corrigan

Esi Edugyan's new novel centers on a boy who escapes slavery via hot air balloon — before crashing down to hard historical realities. Critic Maureen Corrigan calls Washington Black "a wonder."

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Getting 'The Band' Together: Questions For Nicholas Eames

12:48pm October 15, 2018

by Jason Heller

Author Nicholas Eames's series The Band is a joyous mashup of classic rock and fantasy tropes — because if there were monsters, why wouldn't there be bands of celebrity mercenaries to slay them?

Sen. Ben Sasse walks to the Senate chamber for a series of roll call votes regarding the 2018 buget on Capitol Hill on Oct. 18, 2017.

In 'Them,' Sen. Sasse Aims To Find Ways To Move America Beyond Divisive Politics

12:04pm October 15, 2018

by Michael Schaub

Them doesn't read like a campaign book — there's no humble-bragging about accomplishments. Sasse instead focuses on building relationships, but doesn't go deep enough or propose tangible solutions.

Firearms are exhibited at the annual NRA convention in Dallas this past May. RJ Young's book Let It Bang examines the NRA's relationship with race through his personal, unexpected interest in guns.

The 'Young Black Man' Who Reluctantly Became An NRA-Certified Instructor

6:09pm October 14, 2018

by Shereen Marisol Meraji

RJ Young developed an interest in guns in order to bond with his white father-in-law. The experience is chronicled is his new book, Let It Bang.

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Arts

In 'Scribe,' A World Haunted By Absences

10:00am October 14, 2018

by Jason Sheehan

Alyson Hagy's new dystopian novel paints an America torn apart by war and plague, leaving little of the past intact. It's a lean, hungry book that draws on Appalachian folk myths, mercilessly told.

Books

'Unsheltered' Tackles The Unhealed Divisions In America

8:00am October 14, 2018

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Barbara Kingsolver about her novel "Unsheltered," where a dilapidated Victorian house, family fortunes in decline and the pressures of middle age all converge.

Watch out for Merlina — she'll steal your lunch with no regrets.

'The Ravenmaster' Is Definitely (There) For The Birds

8:00am October 14, 2018

by Petra Mayer

Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, England will fall. Luckily, ravenmaster Chris Skaife is there to care for them, and he's got a new book about these extraordinary birds.

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