Books

Nothing but Blackened Teeth, by Cassandra Khaw

Books
Arts

'Nothing but Blackened Teeth' is a real spooky trip

7:00am October 23, 2021

by Jessica P. Wick

In Cassandra Khaw's new novella, five friends with a lot of history and a habit of ghost-hunting together decide to go on one last trip to celebrate a wedding — and naturally, things get out of hand.

Books
Arts

'Monster in the Middle' muses on the complex nature of romantic love

5:00am October 23, 2021

by Carole V. Bell

Tiphanie Yanique's sophomore novel follows two lovers — the American Fly and Stela, who's from the Caribbean, as they make their way towards a lasting relationship despite their differences.

Lenny Kravitz's memoir, 'Let Love Rule,' chronicles the making of a rock star

1:22pm October 22, 2021

by Sam Briger

Kravitz's memoir follows his childhood and early career. Still touring in his 50s, Kravitz says, "I'm going to continue doing this as long as I can." Originally broadcast Oct. 6, 2020.

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Books

Review: 'Dune' may be on HBO Max, but it's one film you want to see on a big screen

4:56pm October 21, 2021

by Bob Mondello

Denis Villeneuve's Dune — based on Frank Herbert's bestselling sci-fi novel — arrives in cinemas and on home screens starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya.

Books
Arts

'Orwell's Roses' centers on the tensions between beauty and labor, joy and suffering

6:31am October 21, 2021

by Ilana Masad

Rebecca Solnit's latest is a deeply political collection of interlinked essays, of which George Orwell is a part but not the whole; one of its joys is its unexpected turns from one topic to the next.

Children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney poses in front of two of his illustrations in 2016, at the City Hall in Philadelphia.

Books
Arts

Jerry Pinkney, the beloved, award-winning children's book illustrator, has died at 81

6:59pm October 20, 2021

by Neda Ulaby

The Caldecott Medal winner died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was known for illustrating over 100 books for readers of all ages, including The Lion and the Mouse and Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Books
Arts

Remembering Gary Paulsen, author of 'Dogsled' and 'Hatchet'

2:09pm October 20, 2021

by Terry Gross

The Newbery award-winning author, who died Oct. 13, wrote over 200 books, many of which were tales of adventure aimed at young adults. In 1994, Paulsen talked about Alaska's Iditarod dog sled race.

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Gentrifier: A Memoir, by Anne Elizabeth Moore

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Arts

'Gentrifier' crafts a narrative about Detroit in darkly comic vignettes

1:22pm October 20, 2021

by Kristen Martin

Culture critic Anne Elizabeth Moore's project is also an investigation of the costs — monetary, psychological, ethical — of the free house she was given for writing, and an ode to her neighbors.

Books

Author profiles workers who were laid off when their jobs went to Mexico

7:52am October 20, 2021

An Indiana steel plant closed in 2017 and hundreds of jobs went to Mexico. NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Farah Stockman about her book: American Made — What Happens to People when Work Disappears.

Billy Porter attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. "Fabulous and serious can go hand in hand. I am proof positive of that," he says.

Books
Arts

Billy Porter makes peace with himself: 'I set myself free, honey. No more secrets'

4:21pm October 19, 2021

by Terry Gross

Fourteen years after his initial diagnosis, the Pose actor revealed publicly that he is HIV-positive. Porter says being open about his health status felt like a rebirth. His new memoir is Unprotected.

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