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In 'A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens,' debt takes on many meanings
Hugo Contreras, the protagonist of Raul Palma's new novel, is a babaláwo; he can cleanse evil spirits. Except he doesn't really believe in the whole …
2 years, 8 months ago
In 'Differ We Must,' NPR's Steve Inskeep examines Abraham Lincoln's disagreements
Abraham Lincoln's leadership is often remembered for reaching across the aisle – he tried to find compromises even in the most divisive times. But as…
2 years, 8 months ago
'The Coming Wave' and 'Artificial' offer different perspectives on AI
Today's episode is all about artificial intelligence and its ever-growing role in our society. First, NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with tech entreprene…
2 years, 8 months ago
In 'The List,' an allegation of sexual misconduct wreaks havoc on a relationship
Ola and Michael are, by all means, a power couple. They're both high-profile journalists, engaged to be married in a month, who wake up one morning t…
2 years, 8 months ago
'The House of Doors' is a novel about romance, secrecy and colonialism in Malaysia
The new novel by Tan Twan Eng, The House of Doors, is a project of historical fiction immersed in the culturally rich island of Penang in the 1920s. …
2 years, 8 months ago
In 'Sparks,' Ian Johnson highlights China's 'grassroots historians'
Since being named general secretary of China's ruling Communist Party, Xi Jinping has exerted his power to control historical narratives in China. Bu…
2 years, 8 months ago
Jhumpa Lahiri questions Italian identity in 'Roman Stories'
Roman Stories, the new collection of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, captures the tensions of a rapidly-changing Rome, Italy. In today's episode, Lah…
2 years, 8 months ago
Books about Olympic rowers and J. Robert Oppenheimer re-examine American history
Today's episode is about two books that examine the United States' relationship with other countries during contentious moments in history. First, He…
2 years, 8 months ago
After three decades, John Grisham follows 'The Firm' with 'The Exchange'
We can't do a week about books turned into films without speaking with John Grisham. In today's episode, the author of The Pelican Brief and The Inno…
2 years, 8 months ago
'The Color Purple' is about the bonding of women
The Color Purple is about the survival of Black women in a male-dominated world. Author Alice Walker said that she just wrote what happens in the rea…
2 years, 8 months ago