Books

Levison Wood walked 1,700 miles, from Afghanistan to Bhutan along the Himalayan Mountain range. He says that seeing Everest, the highest mountain in the world was "just magical."

Adventurer Says 'Walking The Himalayas' Wasn't About 'Sticking Flags In Peaks'

9:56am May 29, 2016

by NPR Staff

Levison Wood, who previously walked the length of the Nile River, has now trekked 1,700 miles, from Afghanistan to Bhutan, along the Himalayan mountain range.

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Arts

'Sweetbitter' Is A Savory Saga Of Restaurant Life And Love

9:55am May 29, 2016

by NPR Staff

Oysters, cocaine, fine wine, love triangles: Stephanie Danler's debut novel Sweetbitter follows a year in the life of a young woman working at a top-tier Manhattan restaurant.

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Lonely 'Hope' Appears, But Is Quickly Forgotten

7:00am May 29, 2016

Claire North's moving new novel The Sudden Appearance of Hope centers on a young woman who cannot be remembered; only animals or people with brain damage can recall their interactions with her.

From Alaska To The Himalayas, 'Voyager' Embarks On Self-Discovery

8:15am May 28, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon talks with writer Russell Banks about his new book, "Voyager." It's a collection of travel writing that also reads like a memoir.

Books
Arts

'Sweetbitter' Sings With Innocence And Experience

7:00am May 28, 2016

by Annalisa Quinn

Stephanie Danler's new novel follows a young woman finding herself in the New York City restaurant world. It's voluptuous, ripeness on the verge of rot — but anything more tasteful wouldn't do.

Chef Eddie Huang On Cultural Identity And 'Intestine Sticky Rice Hot Dog'

7:01pm May 27, 2016

by NPR Staff

Huang and his brothers, Evan and Emery, headed to China to reconnect with their culture, to eat lots and lots of food — and to cook. He's documented his travels in his new book, Double Cup Love.

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Moby's new memoir, Porcelain, is a tale of dance clubs, DJs, and New York City in the 1990s.

In 'Porcelain,' Moby Searches For Validation And Finds Unlikely Success

9:00am May 26, 2016

by NPR Staff

The electronic musician's new memoir traces his journey from Connecticut suburbs to New York City raves. It's a tale of dance clubs, DJs and Manhattan in the 1990s full of self-deprecating humor.

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Arts

'Too Tough To Die,' Cass Neary Cuts A Jagged Path Through Crime Fiction

7:00am May 26, 2016

by Jason Heller

This week, the NPR Books Time Machine is rewinding Elizabeth Hand's gritty, punk-inflected Cass Neary mystery series. "Scary Neary" is an aging rocker with addiction issues and a talent for trouble.

'Mirror Test' Reflects On The Consequences Of The Wars In Iraq And Afghanistan

1:31pm May 25, 2016

While serving as a State Department adviser in Iraq and Afghanistan, J. Kael Weston instigated a military mission that resulted the death of 31 service members. His memoir revisits the tragedy of war.

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Arts

4 First-Rate Thrillers Deliver A Summer Of Suspenseful Reading

1:28pm May 25, 2016

by Maureen Corrigan

The suspense stories on Maureen Corrigan's early summer reading list roam from the beaches of Long Island to the Welsh coast, and from the mean streets of Chicago to the alleyways of Berlin.

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