Arts Nov 13 Why a library fire feels like an ‘attack on humanity’ In April 1986, fire raged through the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles, damaging or destroying more than a million books. Journalist and author Susan Orlean resurrects this nearly forgotten story in “The Library Book,” which also explores the emotional…
Nation Nov 12 New film ‘Boy Erased’ explores the ‘self-hatred’ dealt by gay conversion programs “Boy Erased,” a new film based on a memoir by Garrard Conley, tells the story of a young man who is forced by his parents to attend a gay conversion therapy program. Jeffrey Brown speaks to Conley about how his…
Nation Nov 05 In ‘These Truths,’ historian Jill Lepore weaves in underappreciated political stories A new, single volume of history sets out to explore the experiment in government that is the United States. Jeffrey Brown sits down with award-winning Harvard historian Jill Lepore, author of “These Truths: A History of the United States,” to…
Nation Nov 02 This festival aims to bridge the urban-rural political divide ‘in a time of rot’ A food and arts festival in central Wisconsin has grand ambitions. “Fermentation Fest” celebrates art, farming and all things fermented. But in addition to serving up sauerkraut and kombucha, festival organizers from The Wormfarm Institute also hope it provides…
Arts Oct 31 ‘American Wolf’ author Nate Blakeslee answers your questions Nate Blakeslee, author of our October pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer questions from readers, plus Jeff announces November’s book.
Nation Oct 26 For Hilary Swank, a ‘vulnerable’ role as the daughter of an Alzheimer’s patient The new film “What They Had” explores the painful journey of a family coping with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Its accomplished cast includes Blythe Danner as an ailing mother and Hilary Swank as the daughter who comes home to care for…
Arts Oct 24 Octavio Solis on growing up a ‘skinny brown kid’ on the U.S.-Mexico border As politicians spar over immigration, playwright Octavio Solis recounts his childhood as a “skinny brown kid” in El Paso in his memoir “Retablos”. Solis says that though he was in the U.S. legally, Border Patrol would ask him to recite…
Arts Oct 19 ‘Beautiful Boy’ resonates for a country gripped by addiction A harrowing, timely film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this fall opens around the country today. "Beautiful Boy" chronicles meth addiction and recovery through the eyes of a father and his afflicted son. Jeffrey Brown speaks…
Arts Oct 16 For these Native American artists, business opportunities arrive by bus On South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, a substantial number of Native households earn income by creating and selling art. But many of these residents lack access to the transportation and financing that would enable them to market and grow their…
Arts Oct 15 ’22 July’ explores the deadliest attacks in Norway since WW2 The film “22 July” is a dramatization of the 2011 massacre at a Norwegian summer camp. A right-wing fanatic killed 77 people. Jeffrey Brown talks with British director Paul Greengrass about the film, the country’s reaction to the massacre and…