'Grief Cottage': A Ghost Story About Loneliness, Loss And Affection
Gail Godwin has a new book out called Grief Cottage. NPR's Scott Simon asks her about it, about getting older and about ghosts.
Books
'White Fur' Is A Fable Of Love, Class, Money And Death
Jardine Libaire's novel — more a series of vignettes — follows two kids from very opposite sides of the tracks who fall hard in love in 1980s New York, and what happens when reality intrudes.
In 'Beyond Respectability,' A History of Black Women As Public Intellectuals
Brittney C. Cooper's history of black women thinkers traces decades of struggle against racism and misogyny. It's a crucial cultural study and a dense, serious read that rewards close attention.
David Sedaris On The Life-Altering And Mundane Pages Of His Old Diaries
Sedaris' Theft by Finding is a collection of excerpts from those diaries. In it, he revisits major turning points, like how he met his longtime boyfriend and his decision to stop drinking.
'The Dispatcher' Is A Short Stroll In A Strange Neighborhood
John Scalzi's new novel — originally an audio book — imagines the implications of a world where 999 out of 1,000 murder victims pop back into existence, naked, confused and safe in their own beds.
'Beren And Lúthien' Reflects Tolkien's Real Life Love Story
J.R.R. Tolkien's son Christopher proves an able guide through Beren and Lúthien, his father's haunting tale of a mortal man who falls in love with the daughter of a disapproving Elven King.
Sen. Al Franken Embraces 'The Funny' Again In New Book
The Minnesota Democrat recounts his journey from Saturday Night Live to the Senate — and explains why comedy works in confirmation hearings: "Comedians kind of get to the point in an effective way."
Sen. Al Franken On Comedy, Trump And The 'Curdling' Of Washington
As a former SNL cast member, Franken tends to see humor in politics. Despite this, he says his gut reaction to the Trump administration isn't levity: "This guy is outside the norm in many ways."
An Illustrated Guide To Master The Elements Of Cooking — Without Recipes
In her new cookbook, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Samin Nosrat says the key to good food is learning to balance those elements when cooking — and to trust your instincts.
In 'Boundless,' The Modern World Is Timeless
Cartoonist Jillian Tamaki's new book is packed with of-the-moment topics — a pyramid skin-care scheme, a porn sitcom, a bedbug battle — but her existential wistfulness raises them to archetype.