Books

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding

9:54am December 15, 2023

by Andrew Limbong

Illinois made a splashy announcement with their new law intended to protect libraries from book challenges by withholding funding. Other states are closely watching to see if they will follow along.

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Christian Wiman is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry and prose. He's been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and served as editor of POETRY magazine.

After 18 years living with cancer, a poet offers 'Fifty Entries Against Despair'

1:34pm December 13, 2023

by Terry Gross

Christian Wiman says he's no longer afraid of dying. "When death hangs over you for a while, you start to forget about it," he says. Wiman's new book is Zero at the Bone.

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Cover of the paperback edition of Erasure.

Books
Arts

Advice from a critic: Read 'Erasure' before seeing 'American Fiction'

1:43pm December 12, 2023

by Carole V. Bell

With the first Percival Everett-inspired screen adaptation American Fiction coming to theaters starting on Dec. 15, we're taking a moment to revisit his provocative and affecting satirical novel.

Books

As the planet warms, a naturalist documents change

9:06am December 12, 2023

by Brian Mann

South African naturalist Adam Welz's new book, The End of Eden, examines how networks of life are unraveling as climate change escalates.

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Books
Arts

How American Girl dolls became a part of American culture

6:29pm December 11, 2023

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks about their new book Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl.

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Books
Arts

3 coffee table books featuring gardens recall the beauty in our endangered world

5:55pm December 11, 2023

by Heller McAlpin

All three of these books would make great gifts for gardeners and armchair oglers alike, and may tempt you to book a garden tour — or maybe even plant some bulbs and seeds yourself.

This 1946 file photo shows mystery novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler.

Books
Arts

An unpublished poem by 'The Big Sleep' author Raymond Chandler is going to print

4:33pm December 11, 2023

by Joe Hernandez

Strand Magazine announced that its latest issue will include a poem by the author written around 1955 that shows his "softer, sensitive side."

Books
Arts

In Booker-winning 'Prophet Song,' the world ends slowly and then all at once

11:38am December 11, 2023

by Kristen Martin

The relentless bleakness of Paul Lynch's novel make it almost unbearable to read at times — yet its plausibility, and echoes of real events happening long after, keeps the reader from looking away.

Books

Peter Breslow's memoir follows his 40 years around the world as an NPR producer

8:13am December 10, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to former NPR producer Peter Breslow about his new memoir, "Outtakes: Stumbling Around the World for NPR."

Books

NPR staffers share their fiction picks from Books We Love

7:55am December 10, 2023

Four NPR staffers recommend fiction from our Books We Love list: "Land of Milk and Honey," "Western Lane, " "The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece," and "The Covenant of Water."