Books

The sun rises over a Tangier boat channel lined with crab shanties, most of which are empty: By this time of day, the island's crabbers have been out in the bay for hours, pulling up their pots.

Books
Arts

'Chesapeake Requiem' Chronicles Life On An Endangered Island

1:15pm August 27, 2018

by Petra Mayer

Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, has been home to a small, self-reliant community of watermen for centuries — and now climate change is threatening to swamp the island and its way of life.

David Bowie performs in character as Ziggy Stardust, in a 1973 show in London.

Books
Arts

Ashes To Ashes, Funk To Funky: Questions For Jason Heller, Author Of 'Strange Stars'

10:00am August 26, 2018

by Petra Mayer

Critic and author Jason Heller's new book traces the considerable influence of David Bowie on the science-fiction inflected music of the 1970s, from "Space Oddity" to the glittery glory of Funkadelic.

Books

'Ninety-Nine Glimpses Of Princess Margaret': The One Who Wouldn't Be Queen

8:46am August 26, 2018

Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, shocked some and charmed others. NPR's Melissa Block speaks with author Craig Brown about his new book, Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret.

Books
Arts

In 'Red, White, Blue,' High Peaks And Low Blows

10:00am August 25, 2018

by Bethanne Patrick

Lea Carpenter's new novel combines literary sensibility with genre readability, for a dark spy thriller about a young woman finding out all kinds of strange truths about her father's past in the CIA.

Jamie Bernstein with playwright Lillian Hellman at Martha's Vineyard. Hellman collaborated with Bernstein on his musical Candide.

Life With Leonard Bernstein

9:08am August 25, 2018

by Tom Huizenga

To mark the centennial of her father's birth, Jamie Bernstein talks frankly about her new memoir, tracking her life as the daughter of the legendary composer.

Singer Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices performs during the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 14, 2017, in Indio, California.

'Closer You Are' Explores How Robert Pollard Changed The Course Of Indie Rock

8:53am August 25, 2018

by Michael Schaub

Matthew Cutter's entertaining new biography of "Uncle Bob" tells the story of the all-American-boy-turned-alternative-rock-god and the influence he and his band Guided by Voices had on modern rock.

A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua (Credit: Emily Bogle/NPR)

Books
Arts

'A River Of Stars' Is An Asian-American, 'Pregnant Thelma & Louise'

8:23am August 25, 2018

by Scott Simon

Vanessa Hua's debut novel follows two women at a secret California maternity center where rich Chinese send expectant mothers to give birth to U.S. citizens. Then they run away.

An illustration of Little Women's Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy by British artist Harold Copping.

Books
Arts

After 150 Years, 'Little Women' Still Resonates

11:21am August 23, 2018

by Ilana Masad

In Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, Anne Boyd Rioux describes how the sisterly bond of the March girls that Louisa May Alcott created many years ago remains a paragon of female friendship and inspiration.

How Are You Going to Save Yourself is author JM Holmes' first story collection.

Books
Arts

'How Are You Going To Save Yourself' Asks The Hard Questions

10:00am August 23, 2018

by Michael Schaub

JM Holmes asks a lot of questions in his debut story collection, a shockingly powerful, gorgeously written book about four African American friends growing up and growing apart.

Books
Arts

'To Be Honest,' This Is A Sweet Book About A Savvy Young Woman

2:06pm August 22, 2018

by Alethea Kontis

Maggie Ann Martin's new novel follows Savannah, who's dealing with her sister's departure for college, her mother's obsession with her weight, and the cute new boy at school.