Books

Books
Arts

In 'Sorrowland,' The Story Gets Lost In The Forest

7:00am May 14, 2021

by Danny Lore

Rivers Solomon's new novel — a gothic thriller about a woman escaping a cult for a wild life in the forest — relies too much on atmospherics, neglecting the basic building blocks of story.

The U.S. Is Headed Away From The Ideals Of Democracy, Says Author Masha Gessen

4:27pm May 13, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks to Masha Gessen, author of Surviving Autocracy, about the state of U.S. democracy, as House Republicans continue to embrace former President Trump's lies about the election.

Lewis' Memoir Describes Being A Teen Mom In College While Raising A Daughter

6:24am May 13, 2021

by Elissa Nadworny

In the new book Pregnant Girl, Nicole Lewis shares her experience as a Black teenage mother and college student fighting for opportunities for herself and her child.

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Reality TV Inspired This Poetic Look At People And The Things They Hoard

5:51am May 13, 2021

by Jeevika Verma

In her latest book of poems, artist Kate Durbin looks at modern consumerism and the way people process trauma and loss through the objects they hoard. Durbin was inspired by the A&E show Hoarders.

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Son of the Storm, by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

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Arts

'Son Of The Storm' Explores Power And Its Transformations

10:11am May 12, 2021

by Fran Wilde

Suyi Davies Okungbowa's new novel seems like a familiar epic fantasy setup-- in fact, it's anything but. Son of the Storm explores power: Who has it, who wants it, and who's shut out from it.

Notes On Grief, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Arts

'Notes On Grief' Makes Visceral The Experience Of Death And Grieving

6:29pm May 11, 2021

by Hope Wabuke

"'After the burial we can begin to heal,'" Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie recounts her mother saying. Perhaps in the reading of this book, so too will the rest of us who lost so much over this past year.

Books
Arts

Novelist Francisco Goldman Revisits His Difficult Childhood In 'Monkey Boy'

1:20pm May 11, 2021

by Dave Davies

The son of a Jewish father and a Guatemalan mother, Goldman grew up mostly in working class suburbs of Boston. His new novel draws on his own experiences, including being physically abused by his dad.

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Books

Jake Tapper's 'The Devil May Dance' Is A Sequel To 'The Hellfire Club'

6:41am May 11, 2021

CNN's Jake Tapper writes fiction when he's not anchoring the news. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Tapper about his historical thriller: The Devil May Dance.

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A Kid's Guide to Fandom, by Amy Ratcliffe

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Arts

Fandom Can Be A Lot Like High School — Here's How To Avoid The Bad Stuff

1:25pm May 09, 2021

by Alan Yu

Finding a supportive fandom — a group of people who love what you love — is a great experience. But some fan communities can be toxic, so here are a few tips for kids looking for fan connections.

A Constitutional Quirk Inspired Stacey Abrams' New Thriller, 'While Justice Sleeps'

9:43am May 09, 2021

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

Article III of the Constitution gives Supreme Court justices lifetime appointments — but doesn't cover what to do if they become incapacitated. For Abrams, that was the spark for an exciting story.