Books

Pastor's Daughter Taps Into The 'Spicy Stuff' To Help Save Marriages

9:35am July 19, 2015

by NPR Staff

DiShan Washington, former wife of a pastor, is a writer of what she calls "Christian erotica." She talks with NPR's Rachel Martin about trying to help Christians approach sex with a more open mind.

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A Lane cake is a layered sponge cake filled with a rich mixture of egg yolks, butter, sugar, raisins and whiskey and topped with boiled icing.

What Ever Happened To The Boozy Cake In 'To Kill A Mockingbird'?

8:45am July 19, 2015

by Meredith Bethune

In Harper Lee's classic first novel, Scout Finch's neighbor is known for her Lane cakes. But it's now hard to find this Southern layered sponge cake filled with raisins and whiskey anywhere.

Birds, Bees And The Power Of Sex Appeal: The Ribald Lives Of Flowers

6:33pm July 18, 2015

by NPR Staff

They're billboards for sexual favors, says ecologist Stephen Buchmann. But get your minds out of the dirt: We're talking pollination — and it's played a surprising role in global trade and history.

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Books
Arts

Contriving Characters From Celebrity Culture For 'Lizzie Pepper'

10:33am July 18, 2015

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author and celebrity ghostwriter Hilary Liftin about her new novel, Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper. Liftin describes the process of pulling fiction from the tabloids.

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Books
Arts

In Monroeville, Ala., The Shock And Disillusion Of 'Watchman'

10:33am July 18, 2015

by Kyle Gassiott

The critics have already weighed in on Go Set A Watchman. Now regular readers have had a chance to assess Harper Lee's new book. We hear reactions from Lee's home state of Alabama.

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Books

NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Week Of July 16, 2015

6:25am July 18, 2015

Counter-terrorism operative Scot Harvath returns in Brad Thor's Code of Conduct, debuting at No. 9.

Books
Arts

A Striking Image Becomes A Gory Graphic Novel In 'Divine'

5:52pm July 17, 2015

by Etelka Lehoczky

A famous photo of a child soldier brazenly smoking was the inspiration for this new graphic novel. But critic Etelka Lehoczky says the book lacks dimensional characters.

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Week Of July 16, 2015

4:03pm July 17, 2015

The lists are compiled from weekly surveys of close to 500 independent bookstores nationwide.

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Nonfiction, Week Of July 16, 2015

4:03pm July 17, 2015

Rinker Buck undertakes a 2,000 mile journey in a covered wagon in The Oregon Trail, which appears at No. 8.

Books

NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of July 16, 2015

4:03pm July 17, 2015

At No. 6, Think Like A Freak is a handbook to making smarter, harder and better decisions.