Arts & Life

Arts

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana? A nervy gamble pays off in 'Spencer'

1:20pm November 05, 2021

by Justin Chang

Stewart doesn't go easy on Diana, but there's an underlying compassion that never wavers as we follow the Princess of Wales during an especially miserable stretch of her famously unhappy marriage.

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Arts

British actor Terence Stamp reflects on London in the swinging '60s

1:20pm November 05, 2021

by Terry Gross

Stamp is currently playing the Silver Haired Gentleman in the film Last Night in Soho, which is partly set in 1960s London. It's a period he knows well. Originally broadcast in 2002.

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ABBA, on stage at Paramount Theater in Portland. The group's new album, Voyage is out Nov. 5.

ABBA is back with new music and plans for a high-tech stage show

8:36am November 05, 2021

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson about the first album of new songs in 40 years, and the show that will bring their avatars to the stage.

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Mia (Karen Pittman) is right in the eye of the storm this week, as news about Mitch arrives during the TMS broadcast.

Arts

'Morning Show' recap, Season 2, Episode 8: After a crash, a lot of questions

6:00am November 05, 2021

by Linda Holmes

The show has to chase down what happened to Mitch. Alex and Chip finally come face-to-face again. And Bradley's brother makes trouble.

From Warsaw with Love: Polish Spies, the CIA, and the Forging of an Unlikely Alliance, by John Pomfret

Spies on opposite sides of the Cold War unite in 'From Warsaw With Love'

11:16am November 04, 2021

by Viveca Novak

Reporter John Pomfret interviewed government officials and intelligence operatives and mined declassified files in Poland to write his fascinating story of the Polish-U.S. intelligence relationship.

Books
Arts

The stories in 'Five Tuesdays in Winter' prove Lily King is a star at any length

9:29am November 04, 2021

by Heller McAlpin

Lily King's first story collection demonstrates her range, pulling you in and making you wonder where she's going, whether it's a brutal encounter between former roommates or a sudden act of kindness.

Bassist, songwriter and rapper Divinity Roxx has a new children's album & book project.

After touring with Beyoncé, Divinity Roxx brings positive vibes to children's music

6:57am November 04, 2021

by Elizabeth Blair

Beyoncé's former music director and bassist has a new children's album and book project, which she hopes will instill positivity in young listeners.

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Sonia Sanchez reads from her book Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums during an NPR Music event in 2019.

Books
Arts

For poet Sonia Sanchez — at age 87 — there's more work to be done

5:02am November 04, 2021

by Jeevika Verma

For over 60 years, poet and activist Sonia Sanchez has helped redefine American culture, politics and education. She is this year's winner of the Gish Prize, a $250,000 lifetime achievement honor.

Paul McCartney, shown here in 1963, says the initial rush of Beatlemania "was the fulfillment of all our dreams."

Paul McCartney knew he'd never top The Beatles — and that's just fine with him

5:36pm November 03, 2021

by Terry Gross

The forthcoming documentary Get Back revisits The Beatles' final days together. McCartney says he took the band's breakup hard: "It was quite difficult, because I didn't know what to do at all."

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The How: Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself, Yrsa Daley-Ward

Books
Arts

'The How' is a hopeful meditation on self-worth and healing

12:39pm November 03, 2021

by Nayantara Dutta

Yrsa Daley-Ward has taken Instagram reflections on life to book-form; she offers reminders about personal worth — affirmations and mindfulness exercises on self-love, growth and healing.