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In the new speculative novel 'Weepers,' mourning is outsourced to professionals
In Peter Mendelsund's novel Weepers, many in the world are concerned they'll be replaced by smart machines. But a cowboy poet named Ed has found work in the American Southwest. He's a professional we…
Published on 5 months, 1 week ago
Ten years later, Ta-Nehisi Coates says 'Between the World and Me' is no longer his
Ten years ago, Ta-Nehisi Coates published Between the World and Me, written as a letter to his then-15-year-old son. The book was released shortly after a shooting at Mother Emanuel church in Charles…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Kevin Kwan explores race and identity in 'Sex and Vanity' and 'Lies and Weddings'
Today's encore episode features two interviews with Kevin Kwan, author of the Crazy Rich Asians series. First, former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro spoke to the writer in 2020 about Sex and Vanity, ex…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
In Emma Straub's novel 'All Adults Here,' family is messy
Author Emma Straub has written a book about family dynamics and the mess and love that comes with them in All Adults Here. It's no secret that families are complicated. Straub argues a lot of our fam…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
In 'Lessons in Chemistry' a chemist is the star of... a cooking show?
Bonnie Garmus' novel Lessons in Chemistry got a lot of buzz when it was first released in 2022. Elizabeth Zott is a talented chemist but because it's the 1960s, she faces sexism in her quest to work …
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
'The Rachel Incident' looks back on early-20s friendships, love and mistakes
The novel The Rachel Incident is rooted around a wonderful, messy friendship. Rachel and James live together, party, and get themselves into a peculiar situation with an older married couple. In toda…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Emily Henry's 'Funny Story' centers a new character in rom-com tropes
Two childhood best friends realize they're in love and break up with their significant others to be together – that's a classic romantic-comedy storyline. But in her book, Funny Story, author Emily H…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago
New books by Damon Young and Dennard Dayle take different routes to humor
Today on the show, two new books take different routes to humor. First, writer Damon Young is out with an anthology of comedic essays called That's How They Get You. Young says he reached out to peop…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago
'The Pretender' centers on a real peasant who learns he is heir to England's throne
In 1483, a 10-year-old peasant named John Collan is visited by a stranger who shares a life-changing piece of information. John isn't the son of a farmer, but the Duke of Clarence – and it's time for…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago
In 'The Science of Revenge,' an expert explains why humans are hardwired for payback
In his new book, The Science of Revenge, James Kimmel Jr. argues that there is a human desire to get even – and it might even be an addiction. Kimmel Jr., a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, …
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago