Arts

Carrie Fisher Draws From Her Personal Journals In 'The Princess Diarist'

12:13pm November 23, 2016

Carrie Fisher is very much an open book about the crazy ups and downs in her life. The actress best known as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films has a new book on her start in show business.

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Books
Arts

Sweetly Familiar Fantasy With A Twist In 'Of Fire And Stars'

7:00am November 23, 2016

by Caitlyn Paxson

Audrey Coulthurst's tale of a princess who falls in love with her intended prince's sister will remind you of fantasy novels you loved as a child — all teen angst, horses and reluctant love.

Stephen Agyei (left) and Roy Wood Jr. talk about what it takes to make it in comedy.

Arts

To Make It In Comedy You Have To Bet On Yourself

4:39pm November 22, 2016

by NPR Staff

Stephen Agyei is a Denver-based comedian who's ready to quit his day job and take his comedy full time. The Daily Show's Roy Wood Jr.'s advice? Move to a coast.

How Past Presidents Approached Time-Honored Tradition Of Political Satire

4:39pm November 22, 2016

by Elizabeth Blair

American humorists have a long history of satirizing its leaders. From essays to cartoons to TV, Presidents get poked at and most just take it because it comes with being the most powerful person in the country. President-elect Donald Trump appears to be having a hard time — even now that he has won — with Saturday Night Live.

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After Rough Starts, These Fall TV Shows Have Found Their Legs

4:39pm November 22, 2016

by Eric Deggans

As the fall TV season continues, a handful of shows have gone from bad to good, and some from good to great. Often it's hard to judge at the beginning of a season how good a show will be because critics just have a pilot to consider. Some shows take time to develop.

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Daily Show host Trevor Noah was born in South Africa and speaks six languages.

Books
Arts

Trevor Noah Says He Grew Up 'In The Shadow Of A Giant' (His Mom)

4:37pm November 22, 2016

The Daily Show host revisits his childhood in apartheid-era South Africa in his new memoir, Born a Crime. Noah says writing the book helped him see that his mother was the real hero of his story.

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Zadie Smith has written several novels, including On Beauty, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005.

Books
Arts

Novelist Zadie Smith On Historical Nostalgia And The Nature Of Talent

1:11pm November 22, 2016

Her new book, Swing Time, tells the story of two girls who dream of being dancers, but only one has the talent to do so. Smith says talent is the most unfair of gifts; you either have it or you don't.

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Moonglow by Michael Chabon (Raquel Zaldivar/NPR)

Books
Arts

The Amazing Adventures Of Michael Chabon's Sort-Of-Grandpa In 'Moonglow'

7:11am November 22, 2016

by Heller McAlpin

Moonglow is a playful, fictional take on the family memoir. Set in 1990, it stars young author "Mike" Chabon, who's visiting his dying grandfather. Grandpa, it turns out, has led a remarkable life.

In The Groove: Vinyl Gets A Black Friday Boost

7:00am November 22, 2016

by Eddie Garcia

It's that magical time of year again, when consumers leave the dinner table and head to the stores. Beyond the discounted TV's and gadgets on Black Friday, there's a celebration going on at your local record store.

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A student reads aloud from Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, or Cien Años de Soledad, in Bogota, Colombia.

A Clear Message From Colombian Police: Don't Mess With '100 Years Of Solitude'

5:31pm November 21, 2016

by NPR Staff

In 2015, a first edition copy of Gabriel García Márquez's classic was stolen from a Bogota book fair. Many cases in that city go unsolved, but local law enforcement went all out to find the book.