Each Wave Tells A Story In 'Barbarian Days'
A surfing memoir might not be what you'd expect from a seasoned New Yorker reporter, but William Finnegan's new book is a loving look back at his life on the water.
Books
The Waters Of 'Lagoon' Are Choppy But Enthralling
Nnedi Okorafor's new book imagines an alien landing in the waters just off Lagos, Nigeria. Reviewer Amal El-Mohtar calls it chaotic and beautiful, though occasionally dizzyingly difficult to read.
A Lifelong Surfer Explains Why There's No Such Thing As A 'Perfect' Wave
"Waves are not stationary objects in nature. They're not diamonds or roses or something that you just look at," says New Yorker journalist William Finnegan. His new memoir is called Barbarian Days.
Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Romance Novel Special
This week, we dive deeply into the world of romance novels with our special guest, Sarah Wendell of the web site Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.
Savor The Quiet Sweetness Of 'The Blue Girl'
Laurie Foos' gently surreal new novel is set in a small lakeside town where the local mothers bake their secret confessions into moon pies, which they feed to a silent, mysterious blue-skinned girl.
Pastor's Daughter Taps Into The 'Spicy Stuff' To Help Save Marriages
DiShan Washington, former wife of a pastor, is a writer of what she calls "Christian erotica." She talks with NPR's Rachel Martin about trying to help Christians approach sex with a more open mind.
What Ever Happened To The Boozy Cake In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'?
In Harper Lee's classic first novel, Scout Finch's neighbor is known for her Lane cakes. But it's now hard to find this Southern layered sponge cake filled with raisins and whiskey anywhere.
Birds, Bees And The Power Of Sex Appeal: The Ribald Lives Of Flowers
They're billboards for sexual favors, says ecologist Stephen Buchmann. But get your minds out of the dirt: We're talking pollination — and it's played a surprising role in global trade and history.
Contriving Characters From Celebrity Culture For 'Lizzie Pepper'
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author and celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin about her new novel, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper. Liftin describes the process of pulling fiction from the tabloids.
In Monroeville, Ala., The Shock And Disillusion Of 'Watchman'
The critics have already weighed in on Go Set A Watchman. Now regular readers have had a chance to assess Harper Lee's new book. We hear reactions from Lee's home state of Alabama.