In 'The Nest,' Adult Siblings Eagerly Await Their Inheritance
NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney about her first novel, The Nest, a hilarious family drama.
Books
'Knockout' Scores A Hit With Humanity And Dark Humor
The characters who populate John Jodzio's new story collection are a long way from respectable — they're junkies, liars, and in one case, a tiger thief. But Jodzio treats them all with compassion.
For A Young Irish Artist And Author, Words Are Anchored In Images
"I see the world and then I describe it," says Sara Baume. Her debut novel, Spill Simmer Falter Wither, is a "very atypical love story" between a troubled man and his adopted one-eyed dog.
'Hong Gildong:' Korea's Classic Swashbuckler Gets A New Translation
A young nobleman leaves home and ends up joining a group of outlaws — sound familiar? No, it's not Robin Hood, it's the iconic Korean hero Hong Gildong, and it's time the rest of the world met him.
'The Rope' Chronicles A Good Death, And A Bad Start
Kanan Makiya's new novel is named for the rope used to execute Saddam Hussein. It follows one Shiite militiaman from the day of Saddam's fall through the tumultuous years that follow.
'Putin Country' Offers A Glimpse Inside 'Real' Russia
Veteran foreign correspondent Anne Garrels takes us deep inside Russia, where citizens struggle with a shaky economy and widespread corruption, but seem supportive of their controversial president.
Battle Hymn At The Dining Table: A Famous Feminist Subjugated Through Food
Julia Ward Howe wrote the Civil War psalm The Battle Hymn of the Republic. She was adrift in a lonely war of her own, against a husband who controlled every aspect of her life, including what she ate.
With Beauty And Wonder, 'The Winged Histories' Soars
Sofia Samatar returns to the world of her award-winning debut, A Stranger in Olondria, with a companion tale of four women caught up in war and turmoil, trying to preserve and pass on their stories.
Have 5 Hours To Spare? See Bolaño's Epic '2666' Onstage
Roberto Bolaño's posthumous novel 2666 weighs in at more than 900 pages — a challenging read, to say the least. Now Chicago's Goodman Theatre has adapted it as a 5 1/2 hour stage production.
Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline
You forget someone's name, or why you ran downstairs. Your brain is getting older, and the connections are weakening. But research shows the middle-aged brain is actually operating at its peak.