Books

Carey Mulligan plays Bathsheba Everdene in a new film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's 1874 novel, Far From the Madding Crowd.

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Arts

Carey Mulligan Returns To Period Drama For A Thomas Hardy Classic

1:54pm May 01, 2015

by NPR Staff

The actress spent years avoiding the genre for fear of getting pigeonholed, but she says she made an exception for Far From the Madding Crowd because of Hardy's modern, forward-thinking heroine.

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Free Comic Book Day: A Guide To The Heroes, Musicians And Mutants

12:39pm May 01, 2015

by Glen Weldon

Glen Weldon reviews the 50 comics available at participating comics shops for 2015's Free Comic Book Day, coming May 2 — what to pick up free, skip, and buy while you're in the shop.

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A drawing of two clinking martini glasses.

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Pop Culture Happy Hour: Free Comic Book Day And Rabbit Holes

12:08pm May 01, 2015

by Linda Holmes

On this week's show, we talk about lots and lots of comics in preparation for Free Comic Book Day, and we go down a few pop culture rabbit holes.

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Veterinarian Vint Virga says that animals in zoos, like this lion, need to have a bit of control over their environment.

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Arts

Cat PDA Vs. Human PDA, And Other Animal Behavior Explained

10:43am May 01, 2015

Veterinarian Vint Virga works with pets and zoo animals on behavior disorders. He talks about how house cats are more fulfilled when they forage for food, and how to show animals affection.

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What's Mittens Thinking? Make 'Sense' Of Your Cat's Behavior

10:42am May 01, 2015

Kitties don't play — they hunt. And their aloof appearance has evolutionary roots. A new book explains cats' mysterious nature and how their relationship with humans has changed over the years.

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Books
Arts

When It Comes To Furry Muses, Cats Are For Brevity And Dogs Are For Books

10:42am May 01, 2015

by Jasmine Garsd

The Internet is the undisputed territory of cats, and dog books are more popular than their feline counterparts. Francesco Marciuliano plays to both animals' strengths in his best-selling collections.

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President Obama announced an initiative to give e-books to low-income students while visiting the Anacostia Library in Washington on Thursday.

The Plan To Give E-Books To Poor Kids

8:19pm April 30, 2015

by Cory Turner

Today, President Obama announced a massive effort with major publishers to make thousands of e-book titles free for low-income kids.

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This pair of Charlie Hebdo covers from 2012 pokes fun at the magazine's "irresponsible" approach to humor.

Dozens Of Writers Join Protest Of Free Speech Award For 'Charlie Hebdo'

4:13pm April 30, 2015

by Petra Mayer

Nearly 150 writers have now signed an open letter that condemns the attacks on the French satirical magazine, but questions whether it deserves a free speech prize for its willingness to offend.

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Arts

Rome's Might Meets The Arabian Nights In 'Ember In The Ashes'

3:44pm April 30, 2015

by Amal El-Mohtar

First-time novelist Sabaa Tahir creates Capital Letter Fantasy in An Ember in the Ashes, with rebel Scholars battling an ancient, brutal Empire. Critic Amal El-Mohtar calls it "frequently riveting."

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of April 30, 2015

11:56am April 30, 2015

Anne-Marie O'Connor tells the story behind Gustav Klimt's 1907 masterpiece in The Lady in Gold. It appears at No. 14.