Books

D. Watkins' work has appeared in The Baltimore Sun and Salon. He will start teaching English at Goucher College in the spring.

Baltimore Author Discusses 'Living (And Dying) While Black'

9:01am October 02, 2015

Author D. Watkins says that crack destroyed his East Baltimore neighborhood, and he explains how the real day-to-day of selling drugs is nothing like the movies. His new book is The Beast Side.

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Originating in Mexico City, suadero tacos have gone from a food of the poor to a widely adored filling. These tacos are made from a variety of meats, including suadero, a cut from the lower parts of a cow. The meat is cooked in a griddle-like device calle

'Tacopedia': A Mouth-Watering Tour Of Mexico's Taco Culture

4:38pm October 01, 2015

by Tove Danovich

From the smoked marlin tacos of Baja California to the fried flower tacos of Chiapas, Mexico is home to endless interpretations of this essential dish. A new tome documents this vibrant taco cuisine.

Cover photo of After You, by Jojo Moyes.

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A Broken-Hearted Heroine Picks Up The Pieces In Jojo Moyes' 'After You'

4:08pm October 01, 2015

by Maureen Corrigan

Moyes' follow-up to her 2012 novel Me Before You explores the depths of grief and the paths of resilience. Maureen Corrigan calls After You "an affecting [and] entertaining female adventure tale."

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'Six Of Crows' Is A Well-Turned Heist Tale

4:06pm October 01, 2015

by Jason Sheehan

Leigh Bardugo's latest invites comparison to Ocean's 11, one of the best heist stories ever told. Critic Jason Sheehan says the teenage crows seem too mature, but praises the immersive world-building.

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'The Heart Goes Last' Is A Swiftian Satire Of Imbeciles In The Apocalypse

1:39pm October 01, 2015

by Tasha Robinson

Margaret Atwood's new novel started life as a digital serial about a young couple who join a strange prison-based planned community. But their hapless shallowness makes the book deeply frustrating.

The Tsar of Love and Techno, by Anthony Marra.

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Exclusive First Read: Anthony Marra's 'The Tsar Of Love And Techno'

1:16pm October 01, 2015

by NPR Staff

Read an exclusive excerpt of Anthony Marra's The Tsar of Love and Techno, a collection of nine interconnected stories about the journey of a mysterious painting through modern Russian history.

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Now Is Not The Time For Realistic Fiction, Says Margaret Atwood

11:44am October 01, 2015

by Lynn Neary

The celebrated Canadian author has a new book out, The Heart Goes Last, that began as an experimental digital serial. It's a wacky dystopian satire on economic decline and the private prison industry.

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Sex Advice Columnist Dan Savage Still Fresh After 20 Years

10:11am October 01, 2015

The gay activist, journalist, and sex advice columnist talks about the evolution of readers' questions, and dispels the notion of "normalcy" when it comes to dating.

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Pulling Back The Curtain On DARPA, The Pentagon's 'Brain'

2:05pm September 30, 2015

From stealth technology to GPS to vaccines, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency — or DARPA — has developed some of the most consequential weapons and technology through the ages. Annie Jacobsen, author of the new book "The Pentagon's Brain," talks with Steve Inskeep about the agency's storied past and its intriguing future.

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The Kirkus Prize will announce its winners at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 15.

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In Sophomore Year, Kirkus Prize Features An Eclectic Mix Of Finalists

1:59pm September 30, 2015

by Colin Dwyer

The literary award, launched last year by Kirkus Reviews, lists Ta-Nehisi Coates, Helen Macdonald and Hanya Yanagihara among 18 finalists across three categories. The prize carries a purse of $50,000.