Arts & Life

Books
Arts

A Dizzying, Fictional 'History' Draws On Bob Marley's Life

10:23am November 06, 2014

by Rosecrans Baldwin

Marlon James' A Brief History Of Seven Killings is a novel based on a real-life assassination attempt on Bob Marley. Its hefty cast and sprawling plot make for a demanding yet rewarding read.

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Daniel Handler, the man "often mistaken" for Lemony Snicket, will nevertheless have a hand in the development of the show.

Books
Arts

Book News: Netflix To Film Series From Lemony Snicket's 'Unfortunate Events'

10:07am November 06, 2014

by Colin Dwyer

The streaming service reportedly plans to adapt A Series of Unfortunate Events into a TV show. In news of another stream, the Globe Theatre has put dozens of its Shakespeare productions online.

Books
Arts

Frankly, Bascombe's Return Has Some Problems

10:03am November 06, 2014

by Michael Schaub

Richard Ford's signature character returns in Let Me Be Frank With You; reviewer Michael Schaub praises Ford's writing, but says despite moments of beauty and insight, some of it feels phoned in.

Eliza Coupe as Nina and Jay Harrington as Phil in USA's Benched.

Arts

Documents, Not Institutions: On 'Benched' And Not Sweating The Future

9:42am November 06, 2014

by Linda Holmes

A solid new USA comedy serves as a reminder that it's important to support the things you like, whether they're odds-on blockbuster favorites or not.

Jon Stewart (from left) and Stephen Colbert hosted live editions of their programs, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, on Tuesday.

'Daily Show', 'Colbert' Strain To Lampoon Democratic Losses

3:17am November 06, 2014

by Eric Deggans

Both comedy shows aired live, election-themed episodes Tuesday. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans says the broadcasts showed the limits of news-tinged satire on the political scene.

Books
Arts

How Thousands Of Nazis Were 'Rewarded' With Life In The U.S.

7:27pm November 05, 2014

After World War II, thousands of Nazis became informants in the Cold War against the Soviet Union — and then got entry into the U.S. Eric Lichtblau's new book, The Nazi Next Door, tells the story.

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Tourists take photos and listen to an audio tour in front of El Greco's 'The Disrobing of Christ' inside Toledo's cathedral.

400 Years After Death, El Greco Receives Celebration He Sought

6:44pm November 05, 2014

by Sean Carberry

The painter had mixed fortunes in life, but his works are receiving the royal treatment in Crete and Spain on the 400th anniversary of his death.

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Arts

'Interstellar': A Good Old-Fashioned Chunk Of Sci-Fi Silliness

3:10pm November 05, 2014

by David Edelstein

Christopher Nolan's film stars Matthew McConaughey as an astronaut who takes his ship through a wormhole to another galaxy to find a home for earth's inhabitants. It's cool, awe-inspiring and goofy.

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Stressed About Holiday Cooking? Take Our Survey, And We'll Help

1:01pm November 05, 2014

by Maria Godoy

NPR is planning our holiday food coverage, and we want to know what you would find useful. What sorts of tips and tricks are you looking for? Fill out our survey and let us know.

Arts

Sandwich Monday: The Baco

1:00pm November 05, 2014

by Ian Chillag

For this week's Sandwich Monday, we try a Baco — not the bacon bit, but the bao-taco hybrid from Saucy Porka in Chicago.