Books

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Faith, Sex And The South Intersect In 'Virgin'

7:00am November 01, 2016

by Heller McAlpin

April Ayers Lawson's debut story collection features young, often sheltered characters struggling with intimacy in a world where ordinary uncertainties are amplified by a fundamentalist upbringing.

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How Does Christoph Niemann Make Art Look Effortless? With A Lot Of Work

6:21pm October 31, 2016

by NPR Staff

The artist and illustrator says that behind every fun, whimsical sketch there are "100 very boring, unsexy steps." Niemann describes his creative process in his new book Sunday Sketching.

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3 Romances To Light Up Your Diwali

4:47pm October 31, 2016

by Sonali Dev

We're celebrating Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with three books sure to strike a spark of romance in your heart, no matter how long and dark the nights are getting.

"It's easier to sort of face the hard things in your life when you're not alone," says hospice chaplain Kerry Egan. "That's a big part of what a chaplain does, is she stays with you."

Hospice Chaplain Reflects On Life, Death And The 'Strength Of The Human Soul'

4:08pm October 31, 2016

Kerry Egan's job is to help dying people accept their own mortality. It's profoundly sad, but it's also rewarding. "I'm constantly reminded of ... how much love people have for each other," she says.

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Marvel Recognizes Young Black Women As 'Ironheart' Prepares To Don Tony Stark's Suit

8:44am October 30, 2016

Rachel Martin speaks with Ariell Johnson, a black women to own a comic book store, about landing a Marvel cover alongside Ironheart — the newest Iron Man suit occupant, 15-year-old Riri Williams.

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Film Critic Delves Into 60-Year 'Biography' Of Television

8:38am October 30, 2016

NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with David Thomson, author of "Television: A Biography" about TV's vast landscape and key moments in the medium's history.

Actor/comic Joel McHale speaks at a Los Angeles event in 2015.

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In 'Thanks For The Money,' Comedian Joel McHale Lampoons Celebrity Memoirs

8:29am October 30, 2016

by NPR Staff

McHale says the problem with the genre is a lot of celebrities don't have enough of a story to fill an entire book. ("My life certainly didn't.") So in Thanks for the Money, he makes stuff up.

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A Harrowing Tale Of Cold War Escape And Suppression In 'The Tunnels'

8:53am October 29, 2016

by NPR Staff

A new book explores a time in the early 1960s when two groups of diggers built tunnels under the Berlin Wall that were filmed and financed by U.S. television networks.

Table Manners by Jeremiah Tower (Raquel Zaldivar/NPR)

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Arts

In 'Table Manners,' A Rather Mannered Plea For Etiquette

7:00am October 29, 2016

by Annalisa Quinn

Renowned chef Jeremiah Tower focuses on the consumption rather than the preparation of food in Table Manners. The book leans fussy and prim, turning a blind eye to hosts and hostesses short on cash.

Anthony Bourdain spent decades in the restaurant business before discovering that he had a gift for writing and storytelling. His new cookbook, Appetites, features food he cooks for his 9-year-old daughter.

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In 'Appetites,' Bourdain Pleases The Toughest Food Critic (His 9-Year-Old)

7:33am October 28, 2016

Anthony Bourdain's new cookbook features comfort food he cooks for his young daughter. "She's who I need to please, and if she's not happy, I'm not happy," he says.

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