Dec 15 Here’s a dozen books from 2023 you should read, critics say By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport, Alison Thoet As the year comes to a close, we’re sitting down with book critics to discuss some of the best books released in 2023. NPR’s Fresh Air book critic Maureen Corrigan and New York Times books editor Gilbert Cruz share their… Continue reading
Dec 14 Watch 7:24 Rush frontman Geddy Lee reflects on his music and life in a new memoir By Lisa Desjardins, Courtney Norris, Ethan Dodd The Canadian band Rush achieved big success across 40 years, from the 70s into the 2000s, driven by musicianship and eclectic, lyrical content. After the death of drummer Neil Peart in 2020, singer and bass guitarist Geddy Lee stepped away… Continue watching
Nov 26 Paul Lynch wins Booker Prize with ‘Prophet Song,’ novel set in dystopian version of Ireland By Jill Lawless, Associated Press Irish writer Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize for fiction on Sunday with what judges called a “soul-shattering” novel about a woman’s struggle to protect her family as Ireland collapses into totalitarianism and war. Continue reading
Nov 10 Watch 7:45 ‘Invisible Generals’ chronicles little-known history of 1st Black U.S. generals By Geoff Bennett, Stephanie Kotuby, Satvi Sunkara A new book explores and honors the legacy of two exceptional American veterans whose contributions have gone largely unknown, until now. In “Invisible Generals,” author Doug Melville recounts his family history and tells the barrier-breaking stories of the country’s first… Continue watching
Nov 06 Watch 6:21 New book ‘This is War’ offers unique lens on the impact of war By Amna Nawaz, Teresa Cebrián Aranda Corinne Dufka spent more than two decades documenting human rights abuses when she led the West Africa division at Human Rights Watch. In the 1980s and ‘90s, she covered some of the world's most brutal conflicts as a war photographer. Continue watching
Aug 16 Watch 7:49 ‘The War Came to Us’ offers reporter’s perspective on Ukraine’s fight against Russia By Nick Schifrin, Teresa Cebrian Aranda, Nana Adwoa Antwi-Boasiako It's been nearly 18 months since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of people have died as the brutal war grinds on. But even before the total invasion, this war has been going on for nearly… Continue watching
Aug 08 Watch 7:05 James McBride discusses the themes in his new novel, ‘The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store’ By Jeffrey Brown, Lena I. Jackson The National Book Award-winning author James McBride has a new novel out, "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store." Like much of McBride’s work, it’s rooted in race, religion and personal history. Jeffrey Brown turns the page for our arts and… Continue watching
Jun 23 Watch 8:13 Critics share their picks for this summer’s most anticipated reads By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport, Alison Thoet It's summertime and the reading is easy. At least, we hope you’ll all get the time to enjoy books during vacation and travel. Jeffrey Brown is here to help and speaks to two big-time readers who offer some guidance. It’s… Continue watching
Jun 23 8 books to read this summer By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport, Alison Thoet A roundup of favorite books to read this summer from NPR book critic Maureen Corrigan and New York Times books editor Gilbert Cruz. Continue reading
Jun 13 Watch 5:34 The legacy of Pulitzer-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy By Geoff Bennett Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy died Tuesday at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Throughout his long career, he wrote novels that could be bleak and violent but that were also hailed for his beautiful prose. Some of his… Continue watching