Street Smarts
In Southern California, the car is king, and traffic is queen. In this final round, every answer is a common phrase or proper name that contain a type of roadway.
Arts & Life
'Black Snow' Is A Lyrical Landscape Of Hope And Menace
Former Dublin newsman Paul Lynch's new novel follows an Irish farmer in 1945, struggling against adversity. Critic Alan Cheuse says Lynch's prose is so gorgeous, it makes him want to give up writing.
'Millionaire' Tracks One Man's Fruitful Obsession With The Bard Of Avon
Andrea Mays' new book digs into the history of Washington, D.C.'s Folger Shakespeare Library, the legacy of oilman Henry Clay Folger — who, like William Shakespeare, found his greatest fame in death.
Misadventures And Absurdist Charm Take Root In 'George Orwell's House'
In Andrew Ervin's comic novel, a disillusioned advertising executive rents the cottage once inhabited by dystopian author George Orwell. Critic Maureen Corrigan says the funny book has a serious core.
A Fortune In Folios: One Man's Hunt For Shakespeare's First Editions
Henry Folger once spent nearly a year's salary on a William Shakespeare first folio. In The Millionaire and the Bard, Andrea Mays chronicles his obsession with collecting the playwright's work.
In 'Paddy Buckley' Suffering Through Four Last Days With Dark Comedy
Jeremy Massey's debut novel centers on an undertaker with magical abilities — like communicating with dogs and flies. Critic Jason Sheehan says Massey has an eye for black humor.
'Nimona' Shifts Shape And Takes Names — In Sensible Armor, Of Course
Comics creator Noelle Stevenson has written for Boom! Studios and Marvel's new female Thor. Her webcomic Nimona, about a young shapeshifter with a streak of villainy, has just been released as a book.
Puerto Rico Wants To Grow Your Next Cup Of Specialty Coffee
More than a century ago, Puerto Rico used to produce world-class coffee. Now farmers there are trying to rebuild the industry by focusing on growing higher-quality beans, which command higher prices.
Whitney Museum's New Building Opens Doors (And Walls) To Outside World
For decades, the museum was housed in a concrete fortress with few windows. Its new home offers striking views of the Manhattan skyline, but critics say the design draws attention away from the art.
Tom Brokaw Reflects On Cancer, 'Nightly News' And His 'Lucky Life'
The former NBC anchorman says his multiple myeloma diagnosis two years ago made him "more conscious of the fact that the days are more numbered." His new memoir is A Lucky Life Interrupted.