Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 NPR's brings you news about books and authors along with our picks for great reads. Interviews, reviews, the NPR Bestseller Lists, New in Paperback and much more. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 Book News: Stephen King's New Bogeyman? Digital Publishing Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185717055/book-news-stephen-kings-new-bogeyman-digital-publishing?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185717055/book-news-stephen-kings-new-bogeyman-digital-publishing?ft=1&f=1032 Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books.

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]]> American Voices On 'The Unwinding' Of America's Values George Packer's <em>The Unwinding </em>explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=1032 George Packer's The Unwinding explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters.

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]]> Exclusive First Read: 'Big Brother' By Lionel Shriver Read an exclusive excerpt of Lionel Shriver's latest, <em>Big Brother</em>. Shriver is no stranger to controversial topics, from school massacres to the American health care system. <em>Big Brother</em> is a comedic take on obesity and its effect on an Iowa family. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184865323/exclusive-first-read-big-brother-by-lionel-shriver?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184865323/exclusive-first-read-big-brother-by-lionel-shriver?ft=1&f=1032 Read an exclusive excerpt of Lionel Shriver's latest, Big Brother. Shriver is no stranger to controversial topics, from school massacres to the American health care system. Big Brother is a comedic take on obesity and its effect on an Iowa family.

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]]> After Crashing In Canadian 'Abyss,' Four Men Fight To Survive On an icy night in 1984, a commuter plane crashed in the wilderness. Six passengers died, but four survived: the pilot, a politician, a policeman and a prisoner. Carol Shaben's <em>Into the Abyss</em> describes their fight to make it through that frigid night alive. Tue, 21 May 2013 03:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184177321/after-crashing-in-canadian-abyss-four-men-fight-to-survive?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184177321/after-crashing-in-canadian-abyss-four-men-fight-to-survive?ft=1&f=1032 On an icy night in 1984, a commuter plane crashed in the wilderness. Six passengers died, but four survived: the pilot, a politician, a policeman and a prisoner. Carol Shaben's Into the Abyss describes their fight to make it through that frigid night alive.

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]]> Courtside Chemistry: How NBA's Phil Jackson Won 'Eleven Rings' Jackson is famous for his philosophical take on basketball and for the many stars he led to championship triumphs. He taught his players yoga and gave them assigned reading — but also pushed them to intensely practice fundamental skills. His new book looks back on a legendary coaching career. Tue, 21 May 2013 03:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/183974460/courtside-chemistry-how-nbas-phil-jackson-won-eleven-rings?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/183974460/courtside-chemistry-how-nbas-phil-jackson-won-eleven-rings?ft=1&f=1032 Jackson is famous for his philosophical take on basketball and for the many stars he led to championship triumphs. He taught his players yoga and gave them assigned reading — but also pushed them to intensely practice fundamental skills. His new book looks back on a legendary coaching career.

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]]> Black In America: A Story Rendered In Gray Scale Chimamanda Adichie's <em>Americanah</em> is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat. <em> </em> Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183662205/black-in-america-a-story-rendered-in-grayscale?ft=1&f=1032 Chimamanda Adichie's Americanah is about a young Nigerian woman who moves to the U.S. It's a story of relocation, far-flung love and life as an outsider. But reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that despite the author's talent, much of the storytelling feels flat.

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]]> Christine Ha: From MasterChef To Home Kitchen When Christine Ha won <em>MasterChef</em> in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook <em>Recipes from my Home Kitchen</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534668&ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534668&ft=1&f=1032 When Christine Ha won MasterChef in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook Recipes from my Home Kitchen.

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]]> Book News: J.K. Rowling Tells 'Harry Potter' Backstories Quidditch was invented "in a small hotel in Manchester after a row with my then boyfriend," writes the <em>Harry Potter</em> creator. Other book news: Ireland puts an entire short story on a postage stamp; Daniel Handler on Midwestern literature; and the best books coming out this week. Mon, 20 May 2013 07:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185454112/book-news-j-k-rowling-tells-harry-potter-backstories?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185454112/book-news-j-k-rowling-tells-harry-potter-backstories?ft=1&f=1032 Quidditch was invented "in a small hotel in Manchester after a row with my then boyfriend," writes the Harry Potter creator. Other book news: Ireland puts an entire short story on a postage stamp; Daniel Handler on Midwestern literature; and the best books coming out this week.

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]]> May 20-26: A Coup, An Ancient Battle And One Steamy Diary In softcover nonfiction, Jenny Rosenstrach examines dinnertime, Kate Summerscale recounts a scandalous Victorian trial, and John Dramani Mahama looks back on his childhood in Ghana. In fiction, Victor Davis Hanson reimagines an ancient battle, and Marie NDiaye follows three women from Senegal to Europe. Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183938054/may-20-26-a-coup-an-ancient-battle-and-one-steamy-diary?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183938054/may-20-26-a-coup-an-ancient-battle-and-one-steamy-diary?ft=1&f=1032 In softcover nonfiction, Jenny Rosenstrach examines dinnertime, Kate Summerscale recounts a scandalous Victorian trial, and John Dramani Mahama looks back on his childhood in Ghana. In fiction, Victor Davis Hanson reimagines an ancient battle, and Marie NDiaye follows three women from Senegal to Europe.

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]]> Decades Later And Across An Ocean, A Novel Gets Its Due John Williams' <em>Stoner </em>sold just 2,000 copies when it was originally published in 1965. It's now acknowledged as a classic work, is a best-seller across Europe and the No. 1 novel in the Netherlands. Sun, 19 May 2013 16:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184770657/decade-later-and-across-an-ocean-a-novel-gets-its-due?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184770657/decade-later-and-across-an-ocean-a-novel-gets-its-due?ft=1&f=1032 John Williams' Stoner sold just 2,000 copies when it was originally published in 1965. It's now acknowledged as a classic work, is a best-seller across Europe and the No. 1 novel in the Netherlands.

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]]> Unacceptable Anger From 'The Woman Upstairs' "Women's anger is very scary to people," author Claire Messud says. Her new novel, <em>The Woman Upstairs</em>, features a seething main character, a young woman whose anger is unsettling. Sun, 19 May 2013 16:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/183712255/unacceptable-anger-from-the-woman-upstairs?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/183712255/unacceptable-anger-from-the-woman-upstairs?ft=1&f=1032 "Women's anger is very scary to people," author Claire Messud says. Her new novel, The Woman Upstairs, features a seething main character, a young woman whose anger is unsettling.

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]]> Three-Minute Fiction: 'Ten Ring Fingers' And 'Ghost Words' NPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read <em>Ten Ring Fingers</em> by Tamara Breuer of Washington, D.C., and <em>Ghost Words</em> by Matheus Macedo of Winthrop, Mass. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184333695/three-minute-fiction-ten-ring-fingers-and-ghost-words?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184333695/three-minute-fiction-ten-ring-fingers-and-ghost-words?ft=1&f=1032 NPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read Ten Ring Fingers by Tamara Breuer of Washington, D.C., and Ghost Words by Matheus Macedo of Winthrop, Mass.

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]]> Siblings' Separation Haunts In 'Kite Runner' Author's Latest Khaled Hosseini's new novel, like his two earlier works, is set partly in Afghanistan — but this time, political turmoil isn't a major element of the plot. Instead, <em>And The Mountains Echoed </em>is a story of a family's loss that spans decades and continents. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184191561/siblings-separation-haunts-in-kite-runner-authors-latest?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184191561/siblings-separation-haunts-in-kite-runner-authors-latest?ft=1&f=1032 Khaled Hosseini's new novel, like his two earlier works, is set partly in Afghanistan — but this time, political turmoil isn't a major element of the plot. Instead, And The Mountains Echoed is a story of a family's loss that spans decades and continents.

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]]> Stories Of Hope Amid America's 'Unwinding' When the factory she worked at closed down, Tammy Thomas reinvented herself as a community organizer; and when Dean Price's truck stop business went belly up, he became a champion of biofuel. In a new book, George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184480850/stories-of-hope-amid-americas-unwinding?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184480850/stories-of-hope-amid-americas-unwinding?ft=1&f=1032 When the factory she worked at closed down, Tammy Thomas reinvented herself as a community organizer; and when Dean Price's truck stop business went belly up, he became a champion of biofuel. In a new book, George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America.

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]]> Ghost Ships, Murders, Bird Attacks: Stories To Keep You Awake Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, <em>Don't Look Now, </em>while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them. Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=1032 Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, Don't Look Now, while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them.

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