Author Meng Jin On 'Little Gods'
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with author Meng Jin about her debut novel Little Gods, about a 17-year-old whose journey to China reveals the life of her mother, a former physicist who died in America.
Books
Living An Everyday Life Amidst The Disruptors In 'Uncanny Valley'
Anna Wiener's new memoir chronicles the time she spent working in Silicon Valley tech startups. She says industry narratives tend to be about genius and innovation — not ordinary employees.
Brash, Bizarre 'Oligarchy' Is An Unflinching Look At Troubled Young Women
Scarlett Thomas' novel, set among wealthy girls at a British boarding school, is an audacious examination of disordered eating and social competition that turns dark when one of the girls drowns.
On Jan. 11, Rapper Noname Wants You To Register For A Library Card
The independent artist started a book club with the intention of promoting works by authors of color; now she's encouraging community engagement, too.
Pakistani Author Comes Under Fire For Satirical Novel After Urdu Edition Is Published
Copies of a new Urdu edition of Mohammed Hanif's 2008 novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, were seized Monday. Rights groups say it's another sign that freedom of expression is threatened in Pakistan.
Romance Writers Of America Leadership Resigns
The president and executive director of Romance Writers of America stepped down Thursday. The powerful trade organization has been roiled by weeks of controversy over treatment of writers of color.
'Creatures' Examines The Heartbreak Of Being Human
Crissy Van Meter's debut novel is so assured, it's hard to believe it's a debut. It's the story of a young woman dealing with her mother and her difficult family history on the eve of her wedding.
'The Gimmicks' Has Heart, But A Few Too Many Gimmicks
Chris McCormick's new novel layers the glitz and artifice of pro wrestling over a wrenching tale of two Armenian cousins whose involvement with a militant Armenian liberation group goes badly awry.
'American Oligarchs' Reveals How Trump, Kushner Families Learned To Work The System
Author Andrea Bernstein says Donald Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have benefited from family connections — and the influence of money in politics.
The Plain Janes Are Back
The Plain Janes were the heroes of two acclaimed comic books published in 2007 and 2008. The female high schoolers stood apart from male-centric comics of their time. Now they're back in book form.