Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Silicon Valley' And 'Bob's Burgers'
This week, the roundtable discusses the HBO comedy Silicon Valley and Stephen Thompson sits down with Bob's Burgers creator Loren Bouchard.
Books
Mother And Daughter Come Together At The Card Table In 'The Bridge Ladies'
Betsy Lerner writes about joining her 83-year-old mother's weekly bridge club in her new book, which critic Maureen Corrigan calls a "smart and colorful memoir."
3 Generations Of Trauma Haunt 'Ladivine'
Marie NDiaye's unflinching new novel handles heavyweight emotions — guilt, shame, grief, cruelty — with sharp-edged writing and clear-eyed courage. It's an intense read, but an engrossing one.
Questlove On Prince, Doo-Wop And The Food Equivalent Of The 'Mona Lisa'
In his new book, somethingtofoodabout, The Roots' drummer discusses the artistry involved in creating a great meal. "I'm more obsessed with the journey ... than the destination," Questlove says.
'Plain Houses' Is A Spellbinding Story Of Witchcraft And Disobedience
Julia Franks' debut novel is set in Depression-era North Carolina, where young farm wife Irenie is sneaking off to the woods for moments away from her husband — who's convinced his wife is a witch.
'Sleeping Giants' Kicks Off A New Series In Style
Sylvain Neuvel's debut begins with a young girl who falls into a hole in the ground and is found soon after, sitting on a 20-foot-long mechanical hand. And that's just the (finger) tip of the iceberg.
Meryl Streep's First Acting Gig: Becoming Pretty And Popular In High School
In a new biography called Her Again, author Michael Schulman says that at 14, Streep decided to reinvent herself — and before she was an Oscar winner, she was homecoming queen.
'Alter Egos' Dissects Hillary Clinton's Tenure As Obama's Secretary Of State
Mark Landler of The New York Times discusses Clinton and Obama's contrasting views on America's role in the world. Clinton, Landler says, was often the hawk, more willing to intervene with force.
In The Lines Of Ocean Vuong, Echoes Of His Family's Past In Vietnam
Award-winning poet Ocean Vuong speaks about his new book Night Sky with Exit Wounds, which weaves growing up in America with his family's memories of a war-torn Vietnam.
'Wake Up You!' Explores The Transitional, Post-War Rock 'N' Roll Of Nigeria
In the 1970s, a crop of young rock bands with "a new sense of fury and fuzz" arose in the aftermath of the country's civil war, says historian Uchenna Ikonne.