Books

Books

In 'Agency,' William Gibson Builds A Bomb That Doesn't Boom (And That's OK)

7:00am January 21, 2020

by Jason Sheehan

Gibson's new novel is a sequel to 2014's The Peripheral, jumping back and forth in time as investigators, military contractors and killers chase down a rogue AI, and tensions flare in the Middle East.

Books
Arts

'The Majesties' Is Disturbing, Yet Shockingly Enjoyable

7:00am January 20, 2020

by Swapna Krishna

Tiffany Tsao's novel explores the dark secrets of the wealthy Chinese-Indonesian Sulinado family, who fall victim to one of their own when daughter Estella poisons the entire clan at a family dinner.

Race
Books

New Children's Book Highlights NC African American Heritage

6:00am January 20, 2020

by Eddie Garcia

A new children's book on North Carolina's African American history has been released.

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Books
Arts

Scott Simon Draws The Mystery Of 'Sunnyside Plaza' From His Own Past

5:04am January 20, 2020

by Noel King

When NPR host Scott Simon was in his teens, he took a job in an assisted living facility in Chicago. "It really opened my eyes into seeing the world differently," he says.

Books

Isabel Allende On 'A Long Petal Of The Sea'

8:15am January 19, 2020

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Isabel Allende about her latest book, a sweeping historical novel titled A Long Petal of the Sea.

Books
Arts

'Cleanness' Revisits Familiar Ground, Beautifully

7:00am January 19, 2020

by Martha Anne Toll

Garth Greenwell's new story collection — like his previous novel — follows young, gay American men teaching English in Bulgaria. It's part heartbreaking, part forward-looking, and all beautiful.

A Very Stable Genius, by Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig

3 Years In, 'A Very Stable Genius' Authors Say Trump Decisions Are 'More Chaotic'

4:41pm January 18, 2020

by Mary Louise Kelly

Reporters Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker tell NPR they wanted to make sense of the rapid churn of Trump-era news. In a new book, they emerge with a portrait of an "undisciplined, impulsive leader."

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Sports
Books

ESPN's Howard Bryant On 'Full Dissidence'

7:55am January 18, 2020

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to ESPN senior writer — and regular Weekend Edition contributor — Howard Bryant about his new book, Full Dissidence: Notes from an Uneven Playing Field.

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Books

Javier Cercas On 'Lord Of All The Dead'

7:55am January 18, 2020

Javier Cercas talks to NPR's Scott Simon about his book about his great uncle who fought and died for Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

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Books
Arts

'Little Gods' Reminds Us Some Questions Are Better Left Unasked

7:00am January 18, 2020

by Gabino Iglesias

Meng Jin's new novel shows us a complex woman through the eyes of her husband, her daughter, and her daughter's nanny — all of whom see different, sometimes contradictory facets of her character.