Arts

NPR's Bob Mondello says David Fincher's screen adaptation of the marriage-in-trouble thriller Gone Girl offers all the twists and jolts of the original novel, but gets a little pulpy toward the end.

A mother talks to her daughter about how hard it was to make ends meet raising a child alone in the '90s, through the good times and the bad.

Italo Calvino's Into the War and Philip K. Dick's We Can Remember It for You Wholesale, two posthumously published books of short fiction, contrast greatly but deliver stimulating reading experiences.

Bolivar liberated six countries from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. A new film about his life features epic battles, rousing speeches and stunning landscapes in the spirit of Braveheart.

Today it's all about banjo, bass, Bluegrass, brothers, the Blue Ridge, and books. That's right, and we'll kick things off with the music. The Kruger Brothers are gearing up for a world premiere for banjo, bass, guitar and string quartet. It's called Lucid Dreamer and if you think that's a thought-provoking title, wait till you hear Jens and Joel share their thoughts on music and music-making. Then it's the New York Times bestseller and PEN/Faulkner Award Finalist, Serena.  Beauty and violence, passion and rage, cruelty and love, it's a tough balancing act, but award-winning author Ron Rash gets it just right, and he's here to share with Bethany Chafin. Then Bethany is back with the Triad Story Exchange and Story Slams emcee Joel Richards. There's a Grand Slam event coming up in Greensboro, so polish up your delivery and get set for great story-telling. And author Terry Kay has a great story for us. It's the inspiration behind his award-winning book, and Emmy Award-winning movie To Dance With the White Dog. It's the centerpiece at this year's Blue Ridge Read in Alleghany County.

On this week's show, we talk about how The Equalizer fits into the arc of Denzel Washington's long and full career, and we consider absurdist sitcoms as Gilligan's Island turns 50.

The winningly sweet, wacky (and now Emmy-winning) cartoon follows a family and their struggling seaside burger joint. NPR's Audie Cornish talks to creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard.

Audie Cornish talks to Sally Singer of Vogue.com about the latest from the world's runways. She's been attending Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, Paris and London.