Arts & Life

Kenneth Kellogg, Briana Hunter and Aaron Crouch play The Father, The Mother and The Son in the world premiere of Blue at the 2019 Glimmerglass Festival.

New Opera 'Blue' Takes On The Tragedy Of Police Brutality

5:14pm July 21, 2019

by Jeff Lunden

The new opera by Tazewell Thompson and Jeanine Tesori tells the story of a couple in Harlem who are forced to confront their teenage son's sudden death by police violence.

My Ideal Boyfriend is a Croissant, by Laura Dockrill

Books
Arts

In 'My Ideal Boyfriend Is A Croissant', The Heroine Is No Flake

10:00am July 21, 2019

by Alethea Kontis

Laura Dockrill's young adult novel stars a refreshingly direct, unapologetic — and occasionally crass — plus-sized girl who uses her doctor-imposed food diary to record her life and feelings.

'At Dusk' Exposes South Korea Through A Variety Of Lenses

9:08am July 21, 2019

by Gabino Iglesias

Hwang Sok-yong's novel is a perfect slice of Koreana; a touching, somewhat depressive narrative full of nostalgia exposing the underbelly of a nation via the people inhabiting society's bottom rung.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict plays a mother of four moving to Georgia to be closer to her in-laws in Family Reunion.

Arts

Inside 'Family Reunion,' A Sitcom With An All-Black Writers Room

8:00am July 21, 2019

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

Creator Meg DeLoatch conceived her new streaming series, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, around her own family reunion in Georgia. Then Netflix encouraged her to staff up with African Americans.

In Queen of the Sea, 11-year-old Margaret befriends a mysterious visitor to her island home — and learns to play chess.

Books
Arts

In 'Queen Of The Sea,' The Story Rides On Goatback

8:00am July 21, 2019

by Petra Mayer

Dylan Meconis' new graphic novel is set on a mysterious island off the coast of a country that's not quite Tudor England. It's an alternate history, loosely based on the youth of Queen Elizabeth I.

Books
Arts

A Bushel of New Comics Collections Dig Into the Pleasures of Print

7:00am July 21, 2019

by Etelka Lehoczky

Despite what you may have heard, dead-tree publishing isn't dead. In fact, a host of new print magazines are bringing some wild, weird, innovative words and pictures to the alternative comics scene.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau said he approved of the way Game of Thrones killed him off. But the audience at Friday's panel didn't agree.

Arts

Comic-Con 2019, Day 2: The Infamous Coffee Cup

3:00pm July 20, 2019

On the second full day of San Diego Comic-Con, highlights include the last-ever (maybe) Game of Thrones panel and the Eisner Awards, celebrating the best work in comics. (Also, some good cosplay.)

Arts

Not My Job: We Quiz 'Orange Is The New Black' Author On Laundering (Clothes)

2:08pm July 20, 2019

Piper Kerman served time in minimum security prison for money laundering ... but how much does she know about actual laundering? We'll find out.

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Books
Arts

Spirited 'Family Of Origin' Defends The Maligned Millennial

10:00am July 20, 2019

by Lily Meyer

CJ Hauser's new novel centers on two estranged siblings trying to unravel their late father's work with a group of fringe biologists who believe evolution is running backward, away from millenials.

Man, It's A Hot One. Here Are Some Ideas For Staying Distracted From The Heat

8:00am July 20, 2019

When it's super hot, sometimes cold thoughts is all you've got. Three NPR colleagues offer suggestions on what to watch, hear and read to get in a chilled state of mind.