Oct 25 Watch 9:32 Tom Hanks on the ‘high wire act’ of writing By PBS NewsHour Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks is crossing over into the world of literature with a new collection of short stories that explore how people seek connections with others. The first-time author sits down with Jeffrey Brown to discuss his book, “Uncommon… Continue watching
Sep 24 Author Angie Thomas sheds light on ‘private, hidden conversations’ about race, says former professor By artsdesk The founder of the creative writing program that inspired author Angie Thomas to write “The Hate U Give” remembers how the book started. Continue reading
Jun 29 Arundhati Roy: ‘In the air in India now is pure terror’ By Elizabeth Flock As Hindu nationalism grows in India, and "beef lynchings" becoming more commonplace, Arundhati Roy's new novel "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness" explores what it means to live in a climate of fear. Continue reading
Apr 12 Watch 6:18 This ‘Refugee’ author explains what it’s like to live between worlds By PBS NewsHour What does the word "refugee" mean to the author of a short story collection called "The Refugees"? They “are the unwanted," says Viet Thanh Nguyen, who claims his own identity among them. Nguyen joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss his stories… Continue watching
Nov 25 Watch 5:08 Michael Chabon blends fact and fiction to create ‘a truth’ By PBS NewsHour In his new book, “Moonglow: A Novel,” Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon blurs the line between truth and fiction, placing historical figures and true stories in a world of fantasy. He delves into a tale about war, family and technology… Continue watching
Jan 01 Watch 5:21 Obsession starts the story for this National Book Award winner By PBS NewsHour Continue watching
Nov 03 Watch Why novelist John Irving’s latest protagonist is a fiction writer By PBS NewsHour In novelist John Irving’s new book, “Avenue of Mysteries,” a poor child in Mexico picks up books from out of the trash and grows up to be a prominent American writer. Irving joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss what distinguishes his… Continue watching
Mar 12 National Book Critics Awards to be announced tonight; see the finalists By Victoria Fleischer The winners of this year’s National Book Critics Circle awards, one of the most prestigious literary prizes in America, will be announced tonight at the New School in New York City. Continue reading
Mar 02 Watch 5:33 Unsolved crimes that obsess police inspire writer Richard Price By PBS NewsHour Richard Price’s new book, “The Whites,” centers around the criminals who get away and the police who get obsessed with catching them. Price, who has written eight novels and for the TV show “The Wire,” talks with Jeffrey Brown about… Continue watching
Nov 24 Watch Writer Phil Klay returns to war and the strangeness of coming home for ‘Redeployment’ By PBS NewsHour “Redeployment,” a collection of stories about the Iraq War and the struggles veterans face when they return, was this year’s winner of the National Book Award for Fiction. Jeffrey Brown interviews writer and Marine Corps veteran Phil Klay about writing… Continue watching