Books

Books
Arts

'A Passage North' Is A Quiet Elegy For Lives Lost To Civil War

5:00am July 14, 2021

by Jenny Bhatt

In his second novel, Anuk Arudpragasam returns to the subject of Sri Lanka's civil war — this time to examine the ways people live amidst the aftermath of war, and to memorialize the lives lost.

Reporters Reveal 'Ugly Truth' Of How Facebook Enables Hate Groups And Disinformation

4:50pm July 13, 2021

by Terry Gross

In a new book, Cecilia Kang and Sheera Frenkel say Facebook failed in its effort to combat disinformation. "Facebook knew the potential for explosive violence was very real [on Jan 6]," Kang says.

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Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness, Kristen Radtke

Loneliness Is A Communal Experience In 'Seek You'

11:15am July 13, 2021

by Gabino Iglesias

Kristen Radtke's Seek You looks at isolation as a problem — and investigates where it comes from, how it shapes us, and why we should battle against it.

Revenge, Red Smoke And Rubber Trees: A Vietnam Ghost Story

4:25pm July 12, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Violet Kupersmith about Build Your House Around My Body. It's the story of a woman's disappearance in Vietnam, populated by vengeful — but not always scary — ghosts.

Books
Arts

'Startup Wife' Satirizes Tech Culture And Boardroom Sexism — From Experience

12:21pm July 12, 2021

by Terry Gross

Tahmima Anam's new novel is about a married couple who found a tech startup. The platform's success turns the husband into a messiah figure — even though it was his wife who designed it.

Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light: Essays, Helen Ellis

Books
Arts

'Bring Your Baggage And Don't Pack Light' Is A Baker's Dozen Of Sharply Funny Essays

7:05am July 12, 2021

by Heller McAlpin

Helen Ellis, author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code, is back with her third book in five years — in which the connection with her longtime, close-knit female friends features prominently.

Books

The Novel, 'The Vixen,' Explores The Moral Ambiguity Of 1950s America

6:07am July 12, 2021

NPR's Sacha Pfeiffer talks to Francine Prose about her latest book, The Vixen, which is loosely based on Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, suspected spies for Russia who were executed in 1953.

Books
Arts

Author Rae Nudson On Beauty Culture

5:23pm July 11, 2021

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with Rae Nudson about her new book All Made Up: The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture, From Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian.

Books

Graphic Novel 'Seek You' Illustrates The Loneliness Of Modern Life, Pre-Pandemic

9:36am July 11, 2021

Kristen Radke's second graphic memoir explores isolation and the craving for human connection. Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with her about "Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness."

Books

In New Novel, A Woman Goes "Wayward" In A Mid-Life Crisis Sparked By 2016's Election

9:38am July 10, 2021

Scott Simon speaks with author Dana Spiotta about her latest novel, "Wayward."