Books

Scratched: A Memoir of Perfectionism, by Elizabeth Tallent

Books
Arts

Stymied By Perfectionism, 'Scratched' Author Struggles To Break Free

1:20pm March 03, 2020

by Maureen Corrigan

Elizabeth Tallent's profound memoir explores writer's block and the allure of perfectionism. After her third short story collection came out in 1993, she didn't publish another book for 22 years.

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'The Power Notebooks' Daringly Explores Contradictions In Lives Of Women

7:37am March 03, 2020

by Heller McAlpin

Katie Roiphe's journal-like entries are a series of brief-but-potent meditations on women, autonomy, independence, and power — on "women strong in public, weak in private" — including herself.

Cover detail of The Second Chance Club, by Jason Hardy

Books
Arts

Former Parole Officer Reflects On His Time Supervising 'The Second Chance Club'

2:37pm March 02, 2020

by Dave Davies

As a parole officer in New Orleans, Jason Hardy was responsible for 220 individuals — four times the recommended caseload. He says the parole and probation system fails the most vulnerable.

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The Mirror and the Light, by Hilary Mantel

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Arts

'The Mirror & The Light' Is A Triumphant End To A Spellbinding Story

9:52am March 02, 2020

by Genevieve Valentine

In this new novel, Hilary Mantel brings her award-winning trilogy on the life of Tudor politician Thomas Cromwell to an end. And even though readers know how this story will end, it's still gripping.

Books

Erik Larson's Latest Book Focuses On Winston Churchill During The Blitz

6:18am March 02, 2020

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Erik Larson about his latest book: The Splendid and the Vile. Larson's past books have often focused on less famous characters at the edge of history.

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Books

Celebrating 116 Years Since The Birth Of Dr. Seuss

6:12am March 02, 2020

Theodor Seuss Geisel, commonly known by his pen name Dr. Seuss, was born on March 2, 1904. We pay tribute to the author of The Cat in the Hat and so many more children's favorite books.

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Arts

'Scratched' Spotlights The Value Of A Less Orderly Approach, Harm Of Perfectionism

3:13pm March 01, 2020

by Lily Meyer

Elizabeth Tallent writes: "For the sake of perfection, I took a voice, my own, and twisted until mischance and error and experiment were wrung from it, and with them any chance of aliveness."

Books

'Manhattan Is A Lenape Word,' And Other Poems Looking At Native Americans' Struggles

11:47am March 01, 2020

NPR's Leila Fadel talks with author and poet Natalie Diaz about her new book, Postcolonial Love Poems.

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Arts

Louise Erdrich's Grandfather Inspired Her New 'Night Watchman'

8:21am February 29, 2020

by Scott Simon

Erdrich's new novel, set in the 1950s, follows a Native American tribe fighting for their rights as the U.S. Congress prepares to terminate their nation-to-nation treaties and land ownership rights.

James McBride is also the author of The Color of Water and won the National Book Award for Fiction for The Good Lord Bird. He's shown above in Paris on Sept. 23, 2015.

Books
Arts

James McBride's Advice For New Writers: 'A Simple Story Is The Best Story'

8:21am February 29, 2020

by Scott Simon

The National Book Award-winning author has a new novel called Deacon King Kong. It's set in a Brooklyn housing project in 1969. "Time and place is really crucial to good storytelling," he says.

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