The 'Young Black Man' Who Reluctantly Became An NRA-Certified Instructor
RJ Young developed an interest in guns in order to bond with his white father-in-law. The experience is chronicled is his new book, Let It Bang.
Books
In 'Scribe,' A World Haunted By Absences
Alyson Hagy's new dystopian novel paints an America torn apart by war and plague, leaving little of the past intact. It's a lean, hungry book that draws on Appalachian folk myths, mercilessly told.
'Unsheltered' Tackles The Unhealed Divisions In America
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Barbara Kingsolver about her novel "Unsheltered," where a dilapidated Victorian house, family fortunes in decline and the pressures of middle age all converge.
'The Ravenmaster' Is Definitely (There) For The Birds
Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, England will fall. Luckily, ravenmaster Chris Skaife is there to care for them, and he's got a new book about these extraordinary birds.
'The Witch Elm' Starts Slow, Then Sucks You In
Tana French's new standalone novel packs a lot of character and background information into the first few chapters, but the atmosphere and dialogue will keep you turning pages as the mystery unfolds.
For October, 3 Romances To Keep You On The Path To Happily Ever After
A good romance is an easy read, but a tough emotional journey for the characters. This month, we're showcasing three books that'll keep you flipping pages through all the highs and lows along the way.
Mystery Of A Massive Library Fire Remains Unsolved After More Than 30 Years
On April 29, 1986, fire tore through Los Angeles' Central Library — more than one million books were damaged or destroyed. Susan Orlean tells the story of the suspected arson in The Library Book.
'Heavy': Kiese Laymon's Memoir Examines How People Absorb Trauma
NPR's Scott Simon talks to Kiese Laymon about his relationship with his mother as well as his addiction to food and gambling. Both are documented in his new book, "Heavy: An American Memoir."
Difference Beats At The Heart Of 'White Dancing Elephants'
Chaya Bhuvaneswar's new collection can be a hard read at times — she doesn't shy away from the difficulties of the immigrant experience in America. But these stories also offer a core of hope.
In 'Gmorning, Gnight!' Jonny Sun And Lin-Manuel Miranda Craft A Peppy Pick-Me-Up
What if, instead of reaching compulsively for your phone for comfort and distraction, you could pick up a book? That's what Lin-Manuel Miranda and illustrator Jonny Sun aimed for in their new book.