Books

Books
Arts

'Fresh Air' Listens Back To James Baldwin And Documentary Filmmaker Raoul Peck

1:25pm June 12, 2020

by Terry Gross

In 1986, Terry Gross interviewed Baldwin, one of the most influential black writers of the civil rights era. Then, in 2017, she spoke to Peck, director of I Am Not Your Negro, about Baldwin.

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How Taking A Stand For Justice Can Threaten The Careers Of Black Athletes

1:25pm June 12, 2020

by Dave Davies

Howard Bryant, author of The Heritage, discusses the history of social protest among African American athletes, including Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Originally broadcast Jan. 13, 2018.

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'You Exist Too Much' Exists In A Constant State Of Discontent

7:00am June 11, 2020

by Gabino Iglesias

Zaina Arafat's powerful new novel follows a queer Palestinian American woman from adolescence to adulthood, a journey dogged by constant longings for home, for identity, for belonging.

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Arts

'Broken People' Author Sam Lansky Discusses Intimacy, Loneliness In Gay Community

6:26am June 11, 2020

NPR's Noel King talks to author Sam Lansky about his novel, Broken People. Set in Los Angeles, it weaves together themes of isolation, body image and addiction among gay men.

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Books

Tomasz Jedrowski's Debut Novel Tells Teenage Love Story In '80s Poland

4:11pm June 10, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with author Tomasz Jedrowski about his debut novel, Swimming in the Dark, a coming-of-age story based in communist Poland.

J.K. Rowling signs copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007. Many fans say they feel alienated and hurt by her recent comments.

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Opinion: Harry Potter's Magic Fades When His Creator Tweets

1:10pm June 10, 2020

by Mallory Yu

Author J.K. Rowling has been criticized after a series of tweets that many read as transphobic. Rowling's insistence that "sex is real" and immutable has saddened her trans and genderqueer fans.

White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo says the question white people should be asking themselves is not have I been shaped by race, but how have I been shaped by race? Above, protesters demonstrate in New York on June 1.

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'There Is No Neutral': 'Nice White People' Can Still Be Complicit In A Racist Society

8:47am June 10, 2020

by Ari Shapiro

White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo says that the status quo in the United States is racism, and for white people, that's comfortable. "We've got to start making it uncomfortable," she says.

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For June, 3 Romances Where Sisterhood Is The Secret Ingredient

7:00am June 10, 2020

by Maya Rodale

Obviously, the the romantic relationship is at the center of any romance novel — but this month, we're bringing you three books where relationships between female friends are almost as important.

Books
Arts

Author Naoise Dolan Discusses Her Debut Novel

5:06am June 10, 2020

NPR's David Greene speaks with Irish author Naoise Dolan about her novel, Exciting Times.

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Author L.L. McKinney started the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag so authors could publicize racial disparities in book advances.

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#PublishingPaidMe: Authors Share Their Advances To Expose Racial Disparities

10:56am June 09, 2020

by Mary Louise Kelly

Author L.L. McKinney created the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag, where black and white authors are comparing their book advances. "You can now use this to fight for what you are worth," she says.

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