NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of September 10, 2015
Amy Poehler offers her humorous take on love, friendship and parenthood in Yes Please, which appears at No. 2.
Books
'Not Funny' Proves Potent On A Tough Subject
Leah Hayes' new graphic novel presents, in simple terms and unassuming pinkish illustrations, the story of two women who decide to get abortions, the choices they make and the steps they go through.
With A Touch Of Snark, 'Harriet Chance' Lays Its Protagonist Bare
The heroine of Jonathan Evison's new novel is 78 years old, chronically drunk and talks to the ghost of her dead husband. Critic Jason Sheehan says the book portrays "darkness with a forced smile."
As A Lyricist And Novelist, The Mountain Goats' Lead Man Writes About Pain
Songwriter John Darnielle talks with Fresh Air about his difficult childhood, finding refuge in music and his novel, Wolf in White Van. Originally broadcast Sept. 17, 2014
A Medal For A King — And For Many Of America's Greatest Living Artists
The 2014 National Medals of Arts and the National Humanities Medals was awarded in tandem Thursday to 21 of the most renowned U.S. artists and patrons. Among the winners was Stephen King.
'Lost Child' Wraps Up Ferrante's Neapolitan Series With 'Perfect Devastation'
Elena Ferrante's edgy "Neapolitan Novels" chronicle a decades-long friendship between two Italian women. Maureen Corrigan says the fourth and final novel, The Story of the Lost Child, is spectacular.
A Gargantuan Error: Quixotic Is Not The Only Word From A Book Character
NPR's Robert Siegel speaks with Bruce Conforth, professor of American culture at the University of Michigan, about words that have entered colloquial language after originating as book characters.
A Master Class In Journalism From A 1930s-Era Workaholic
Joseph Roth was an Austrian reporter whose writing provided a vivid portrait of pre-WWII Europe. Critic Juan Vidal says this newly translated collection of his work shows his intelligence and humor.
Denver's Tattered Cover Bookstore Is Focused On Succession, Not Just Survival
Known for its vast selection and knowledgeable sales staff, it's a Denver institution. Now, after 40 years, the store's longtime owner is making preparations to pass the reins to a new generation.
America's Forgotten History Of Mexican-American 'Repatriation'
With a scarcity of jobs during the Depression, more than a million people of Mexican descent were sent to Mexico. Author Francisco Balderrama estimates that 60 percent were American citizens.