Book News & Features

Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud's new book, The Meursault Investigation, reworks Albert Camus' The Stranger.

Books
Arts

Novelist Kamel Daoud, Finding Dignity In The Absurd

6:54pm August 24, 2015

by Robert Siegel

His new novel, The Meursault Investigation, reworks Albert Camus' The Stranger from the point of view of the murdered Arab's brother. He says Camus' vision of the absurd gave him back his dignity

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

'Sad Puppies' Fail To Stuff Ballot Box At Hugo Awards

6:37pm August 24, 2015

by Petra Mayer

The "sad puppies" — a group of disgruntled, mostly white male science fiction authors — struck out at the Hugo Awards over the weekend after trying to stuff the ballot box.

Queue Listen Now

Ms. Marvel, which was not on the Sad Puppies slate, took home this year's Hugo for best graphic story.

Books
Arts

Amid A Hubbub At The Hugos, 'Puppies' See Little Success

6:53pm August 23, 2015

by Colin Dwyer

At science fiction's Hugo Awards, voters largely rejected a slate of nominees pushed by a group called the Sad Puppies. In an unusual end to the controversy, a few categories didn't even get a winner.

Books
Arts

Everyone's Likely To Be Sad At This Year's Hugos

7:03am August 22, 2015

by Tasha Robinson

The Hugo Awards celebrate the best in science fiction and fantasy, but this year they're fraught with controversy after a self-identified conservative coalition organized to dominate the nominations.

Arts

These Books Amp Up The Adrenaline In Summer Reading

10:04am August 20, 2015

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Jonah Ogles, editor of Outside Magazine, about adventure reads — summer books about survival. On his list: a tale of an 11-year-old who survives a plane crash.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

As More Women, Minorities Win Hugos, 'Sad Puppies' Blast Sci-Fi Awards

6:39pm August 19, 2015

by Petra Mayer

The prestigious Hugo Awards, which honor science fiction and fantasy writing, will be held Saturday. Lately, they have been given to more and more women and writers of color as the world of sci-fi opens up — and that's prompted a backlash from a group of mostly white male writers who call themselves the "Sad Puppies."

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

Farewell To The Legendary League Of The Pink Carnation

2:27pm August 17, 2015

by Bobbi Dumas

This week, we're setting the NPR Books Time Machine for the Napoleonic Wars, and Lauren Willig's swashbuckling Pink Carnation series, about florally themed spies battling it out across Europe.

Books
Arts

Love Lines: A Summer Sampler Of Romantic Manga

10:03am August 15, 2015

by Etelka Lehoczky

Our Summer of Love rolls on with a roundup of romance manga. Japanese comic books can be a daunting field to enter — but we've picked three of the sweetest for your summer reading pleasure.

Beverly Jenkins says her mission is to write about the parts of black history you don't learn in school — and wrap them up in a good love story.

Books
Arts

Beverly Jenkins Wraps Bitter History In Sweet Romance

3:55pm August 10, 2015

by Petra Mayer

Beverly Jenkins writes historical romances — about free black towns, lawmen and cowboys and Civil War vets. She says her mission is to illuminate the parts of black history you don't learn in school.

Queue Listen Now

Books
Arts

At Some Stores, Readers Can Go Get A Refund For 'Watchman'

8:02pm August 04, 2015

Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman has sold millions of copies, but some feel it has not lived up to the hype. A bookstore owner in Traverse City, Mich., is giving readers a refund — and an apology.

Queue Listen Now