Book News & Features

Atlas Obscura by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras & Ella Morton

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'Atlas Obscura' Tour Of Manhattan Finds Hidden Wonders In A Well-Trodden Place

4:05pm September 21, 2016

by Ari Shapiro

Dylan Thuras, co-author of a new book, takes NPR to a piece of lost subway grandeur, a room of well-groomed dirt and a sonic secret in the middle of Times Square.

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Kirkus Prize Finalists Include Annie Proulx, Sherman Alexie, Jason Reynolds

9:01am September 20, 2016

by Colin Dwyer

But they're not the only ones. Eighteen books got the nod when Kirkus Reviews released shortlists for its literary prize on Tuesday.

Holy ground: Alan Moore standing on the site of his childhood home.

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In 'Jerusalem,' Nothing You've Ever Lost Is Truly Gone

7:49am September 18, 2016

by Petra Mayer

The house Alan Moore was born in was torn down in 1969 — along with most of the rest of his neighborhood. But in his new novel, Jerusalem, the legendary comics creator brings it all back to life.

Fall sports season is kicking off — and we've got some good reads to go with it.

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Off The Campaign Trail, Onto The Gridiron: 5 Sports Books For Fall

7:00am September 18, 2016

by Juan Vidal

If you're tired of political competition, there's always athletic competition. And if your team stinks, we can offer sympathy and a selection of the year's best books about sports to ease the sting.

Jose Vazquez holds a book he found during the D.C. Public Library's banned book scavenger hunt.

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In Banned Books Scavenger Hunt, The Prize Is Literary 'Smut'

8:14pm September 15, 2016

by Lynn Neary

The D.C. public library has hidden books throughout the city in stores, libraries and cafes. They're covered in black dust jackets with labels like FILTHY, TRASHY and PROFANE. Can you find all six?

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Colson Whitehead, John Lewis, Rita Dove Among National Book Award Nominees

10:15am September 15, 2016

by Colin Dwyer

And then there were 40: This week, the National Book Foundation revealed the writers who are still in contention for its literary prize. It capped the rollout Thursday with the fiction nominees.

Oxford English Dictionary Updates With 6 Dahl Words

6:47am September 14, 2016

Children's author Roald Dahl would have turned 100 this week. To celebrate, the OED added 6 words and expressions from Dahl's writing. For example: golden ticket, Oompa Loompa and Scrumdiddlyumptious.

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Six novelists have made it to the short list, the last step in the Man Booker Prize competition. The 2016 finalists are from Britain, the U.S. and Canada.

Man Booker Spotlights Novelists New To The Award's Short List

8:14pm September 13, 2016

by Lynn Neary

Organizers have revealed the six authors still in the British literary competition. It's the first time five of them have been in the last round. The prize is 50,000 pounds and often better sales.

Dictionary Fans Might Squee: OED Adds New Words, Because YOLO

4:29pm September 12, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

A fusty old tome? Fuhgeddaboudit. The Oxford English Dictionary regularly updates to reflect English's evolution. The latest additions include "gender-fluid," "biatch" and a batch of Dahlesque words.

In Raina Telgemeier's new Ghosts, Cat and her little sister Maya move to a new town — and Maya, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, sets her heart on meeting one of the ghosts who supposedly haunt the place.

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'Ghosts' Takes On A Tough Topic For Children

10:10am September 11, 2016

by NPR Staff

Raina Telgemeier's new graphic novel follows teenager Cat and her irrepressible little sister Maya who has cystic fibrosis. The author says she hopes the story opens up conversations about loss.