Books

Books
Arts

'To Name the Bigger Lie' is an investigation of the nature of truth

7:43am June 14, 2023

by Kristen Martin

Sarah Viren's memoir, drawing from two life episodes, has the page-turning quality of a thriller. But instead of solving mysteries, she untangles philosophical tensions in pursuit of what is real.

Books

A rare collection of American literature will be auctioned off at Christie's

5:12am June 14, 2023

Bruce Lisman is selling a trove of 18th and 19th-century American books and rarities. His collection offers a rare look into the foundations of American literature.

Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to ban book bans

5:12am June 14, 2023

by Alex Degman

In Illinois, there's now a ban on banning books. Schools or libraries that do so could end up losing state funds.

Cormac McCarthy attends the New York premiere of The Road, the film adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, in 2009.

Cormac McCarthy, American novelist of the stark and dark, dies at 89

6:05pm June 13, 2023

by Wade Goodwyn

The author of The Road, Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men embodied a strong Southwestern sensibility, writing often about men grappling with the existence of evil.

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In 'Loot,' Tipu's Tiger tells a story of war, art and love

4:21pm June 13, 2023

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks to Tania James about her new novel, Loot. The plot travels from India to Europe, touching on war, immigration, love and art.

The Catholic Church profited from slavery — 'The 272' explains how

1:27pm June 13, 2023

by Terry Gross

"You don't hear about enslaved people at Mass or in Sunday school," says Rachel Swarns. Her new book tells the story of 272 enslaved people sold in 1838 to help save what is now Georgetown University.

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Paul McCartney's photos of early Beatlemania are in a book and on display in London

11:41am June 13, 2023

by Steve Inskeep

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Paul McCartney about his book of photographs from the time the Beatles first visited the United States.

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Elizabeth Gilbert is delaying publication of The Snow Forest, a novel set in Russia, after receiving an outpouring of "anger, sorrow, disappointment and pain" from Ukrainian readers who object to releasing any work about Russia. Here, in this photo from September 2010, Gilbert arrives at the European premiere of the film Eat, Pray, Love in Leicester Square, London.

Elizabeth Gilbert halts release of a new book after outcry over its Russian setting

4:27pm June 12, 2023

by Jonathan Franklin

The Snow Forest by the author of Eat, Pray, Love was set to be released in February 2024, exactly two years after Russia invaded Ukraine. The backlash included hundreds of negative GoodReads reviews.

Books
Arts

Central Park birder Christian Cooper on being 'a Black man in the natural world'

1:32pm June 12, 2023

by Terry Gross

Cooper was birdwatching in Central Park in 2020 when a white woman falsely accused him of threatening her. His book chronicles life as a Black birder, gay activist and Marvel comics writer and editor.

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5 mysteries and thrillers heading into summer

Books
Arts

5 new mysteries and thrillers for the start of summer

9:59am June 12, 2023

by Bethanne Patrick

These new releases might take you from Europe to Africa to the Middle East to Russia and the United States — without leaving your hammock.