Books

Treating 'Imaginary Illness' In 'Is It All In Your Head?'

8:05am January 22, 2017

Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan about her new book Is It All In Your Head? O'Sullivan chronicles the stories of patients she's diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders.

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Arts

A Couple Faces Collapse In Dark 'Futures'

7:00am January 22, 2017

by Jean Zimmerman

Anna Pitoniak's novel follows Evan and Julia, newly-minted Yale graduates trying — and finding it difficult — to make new lives for themselves in New York City on the eve of the crash of 2008.

Gorey Details: Neil Patrick Harris plays the evil, vainglorious Count Olaf to the hilt in the Netflix black comedy series.

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Arts

'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' Is All About Olaf

1:40am January 22, 2017

by Glen Weldon

Unlike the 2004 Jim Carrey film, the Netflix series nails the darkly whimsical tone of the children's books on which it's based; Neil Patrick Harris is a big reason for that.

Dark at the Crossing, by Elliot Ackerman

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Arts

A Failed Revolution And A Failed Marriage In 'Dark At The Crossing'

2:27pm January 21, 2017

by NPR Staff

Elliot Ackerman's new novel Dark at the Crossing follows an Iraqi man who tries to cross into Syria to fight Bashar al-Assad, but gets caught up with a charismatic Syrian exile and his troubled wife.

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Arts

'Human Acts' Tries To Reconcile Bloody Human Impulses

12:00pm January 21, 2017

by Annalisa Quinn

In Han Kang's sharp, almost painfully sensitive new novel, set during and after South Korea's 1980 Gwangju student uprising, people spill blood — but they also brave death to donate it.

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Arts

Not My Job: Author Daniel Handler Gets Quizzed On Baggage Handlers

10:32am January 21, 2017

Lemony Snicket, aka Daniel Handler, is the author behind "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "All the Wrong Questions." He'll answer three questions about the people who handle our luggage.

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Books

Artists Produce Great Works — And Great Romances

8:46am January 21, 2017

Catherine Lacey and Forsyth Harmon talk with Scott Simon about some of the 20th century's greatest artists and their love lives. Their new book is called The Art of the Affair.

Trump's Inauguration Sets Up Uncertain Future For Conservative Movement

4:28pm January 20, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Sam Tanenhaus, author of The Death of Conservatism, about what Donald Trump's inauguration means for the future of the conservative movement.

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Arts

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

2:44pm January 20, 2017

Smith's latest book, Swing Time, tells the story of two girls who dream of being dancers, but only one has the talent to do so. Originally broadcast Nov. 21, 2016.

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Arts

'Martians Abroad' Is An Optimistic Glance Into Humanity's Future

7:00am January 19, 2017

by Jason Heller

Carrie Vaughn — known for her Kitty Norville urban fantasies — ventures offworld with Martians Abroad, a high-school adventure that pays fun, thoughtful homage to Robert Heinlein's "juveniles."