Books

Books

A Holiday Treat: The Reading Of 'The Night Before Christmas'

6:53am December 23, 2016

Each year, The Night Before Christmas, introduces children to the white-bearded old man in the red suit. People who work behind the scenes at NPR read an abridged version of this holiday classic.

"Anger isn't something that is solely a rural, American, white guy emotion," says novelist Nickolas Butler. Below, he and Jennifer Haigh recommend books about a range of American experiences.

Still Puzzled By The Election? Authors Prescribe Fiction For Better Understanding

6:39pm December 22, 2016

by Lynn Neary

"There is no better way to see through somebody else's eyes than by reading fiction," says novelist Jennifer Haigh.

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Books

'My Drunk Kitchen' YouTube Star Pens Essays About Her Past In 'Buffering'

6:28am December 22, 2016

Rachel Martin talks to Hannah Hart about her YouTube series My Drunk Kitchen and about her book Buffering. Hart got famous for getting drunk and recording herself cooking a grilled cheese sandwich.

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Arts

'Certain Dark Things' Takes Vampire Story In New Direction

4:43pm December 21, 2016

Silvia Moreno-Garcia took the genre of vampire novels to a different place this fall with the release of her book, Certain Dark Things. Set in modern day Mexico, the story tackles themes of immigration and otherness.

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Review: 'House Of Lords And Commons,' Ishion Hutchinson

4:43pm December 21, 2016

Poetry critic Tess Taylor reviews House of Lords and Commons by Ishion Hutchinson.

In 'Way Of The Strangers,' Wood Explores Why Young People Embrace ISIS

7:59am December 19, 2016

by Rachel Martin

Reporter Graeme Wood has spent years interviewing members of ISIS — trying to understand what they want. His new book is called: The Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State.

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2016 Book Recommendations, Tailored For Your Gifting Needs

8:46am December 18, 2016

NPR's Barrie Hardymon recommends her favorite books for these long winter days. She speaks with NPR's Ailsa Chang about her picks for 2016.

'Hidden Figures,' 'The Glass Universe,' And Why Science Needs History

6:59am December 18, 2016

by Genevieve Valentine

Women's contributions to scientific progress are often ignored — but two new books, Dava Sobel's The Glass Universe and Margot Lee Shetterly's Hidden Figures are out to remedy that oversight.

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Arts

'Christmas Days' Is A Feast Of Stories — And Food

9:14am December 17, 2016

by NPR Staff

For author Jeanette Winterson, Christmas is as much about food as it is about storytelling. So her new book Christmas Days combines stories with favorite recipes from her friends and family.

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Arts

They Told Us So: Fantagraphics Turns 40

7:00am December 17, 2016

by Etelka Lehoczky

Fantagraphics is the publisher that brought literary respectability to comics. Their mammoth 40th anniversary volume, We Told You So, tends towards self-congratulation — but deservedly so.