In Beyoncé's 'Formation,' A Glorification Of 'Bama' Blackness
Beyoncé's latest song is for the black Southern woman, says National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, who's from Mississippi. It's a message she needed to hear.
Books
When Caravaggio Plays Quevedo In Tennis, The Court Becomes A Sonnet
"It's a little space, well-measured and precise, in which you have to keep the ball bouncing," says Álvaro Enrigue. His book, Sudden Death, pits the Italian painter against the Spanish poet.
At 82, Broadway 'Master Of Ceremonies' Joel Grey Says, 'Life Seems Full'
Grey explains how he brought his decadent Cabaret character to life on both the stage and screen, and reflects on coming out as gay after years of living closeted. His memoir is Master Of Ceremonies.
What Kids Need From Grown-Ups (But Aren't Getting)
Author Erika Christakis mounts a spirited defense of a four-letter word that, she says, isn't used nearly enough in early classrooms: play.
'Morning Star' Brings 'Red Rising' Trilogy To An End ... Eventually
Pierce Brown finishes his trilogy with a lot of exposition, and a really satisfying bang.
Jhumpa Lahiri Finds Freedom In Italian Memoir: 'No One Expected Me To Do It'
The Interpreter of Maladies author is a successful, Pulitzer Prize-winning English-language writer. But she found writing in Italian gave her true freedom; "Language is a very messy thing," she says.
How Do You Spot A Nonconformist? You Can Start With Their Internet Browser
According to Adam Grant, a person's preferred browser is one way to tell whether they accept or reject the defaults in their life. His new book is called Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World.
Folklore For Hipsters: Fairy Tales Before They Were Cool
Translated from Giambattista Basile's 17th century stories, Tale of Tales — known as the world's first collection of fairy tales — traverses through 50 fantastical adventures.
Man Booker Prize Awardee Recasts Complex 'Merchant of Venice' Character
In "Shylock Is My Name," Howard Jacobson re-imagines one of Shakespeare's most thought-provoking characters. Scott Simon asks Jacobson about it.
Weekend Edition's Scott Simon Will Take A Leave Of Absence
Scott Simon announces a leave of absence to collaborate on a book with Tony Bennett.