'The Flash' throws off intermittent sparks
The latest DC film seeks to reboot Warners' troubled cinematic universe. The script boasts solid jokes and knowing winks, but flat characterizations keep it from taking off.
Books
'Jeopardy!' host Ken Jennings says afterlife depictions track pop culture's evolution
Jeopardy! champion and host Ken Jennings rose to fame for knowing nearly everything about anything. Now he's written a book on destinations of the afterlife called 100 Places to See After You Die.
Robert Gottlieb, celebrated editor of Toni Morrison and Robert Caro, has died at 92
Gottlieb, whose work helped shape the modern publishing canon, edited fiction by future Nobel laureates, spy novels by John le Carré, essays by Nora Ephron and Caro's nonfiction epics.
Ken Jennings knows about everything. That now includes the afterlife
You might know Ken Jennings as the Jeopardy! genius-turned host. But he's also an author, and a guy who really wants to know stuff.
'An Amerikan Family' traces the legacy of Tupac Shakur's influential family
The late rapper — who was killed at 25 in 1996 — would have turned 52 this year. Santi Elijah Holley's new book follows the Shakur family tree and their work in the Black Liberation Movement.
'To Name the Bigger Lie' is an investigation of the nature of truth
Sarah Viren's memoir, drawing from two life episodes, has the page-turning quality of a thriller. But instead of solving mysteries, she untangles philosophical tensions in pursuit of what is real.
A rare collection of American literature will be auctioned off at Christie's
Bruce Lisman is selling a trove of 18th and 19th-century American books and rarities. His collection offers a rare look into the foundations of American literature.
Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to ban book bans
In Illinois, there's now a ban on banning books. Schools or libraries that do so could end up losing state funds.
Cormac McCarthy, American novelist of the stark and dark, dies at 89
The author of The Road, Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men embodied a strong Southwestern sensibility, writing often about men grappling with the existence of evil.
In 'Loot,' Tipu's Tiger tells a story of war, art and love
NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks to Tania James about her new novel, Loot. The plot travels from India to Europe, touching on war, immigration, love and art.