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'The End of Drum-Time' captures a complicated love story in an Arctic community
Hanna Pylväinen's new novel, The End of Drum-Time, opens with the ground quite literally shaking beneath a Lutheran congregation. It sets the tone fo…
3 years, 2 months ago
'The House of Eve' explores Black motherhood and associated stigma in the 1950s
In the 1950s, pregnancy and adoption were topics often clouded in shame, secrecy – or both. That's certainly true for Eleanor and Ruby, the two prota…
3 years, 2 months ago
'The Ransomware Hunting Team' tracks the rise of cybercrime and the fight to solve it
Here & Now's Scott Tong describes ransomware as "a high-tech version of kidnapping." It's when a computer or tech system is hacked and money is deman…
3 years, 2 months ago
'What Napoleon Could Not Do' occupies the space between African and American identity
There are three central characters in DK Nnuro's new novel, What Napoleon Could Not Do. Belinda and Jacob are Ghanaian siblings who aspire to move to…
3 years, 2 months ago
Two YA novels create well-rounded portraits of Black characters coming of age
Today's episode covers two YA novels centered around Black youth and the portrayals they receive – or don't – in coming-of-age literature. First, NPR…
3 years, 2 months ago
In 'The World And All That It Holds,' two soldiers fall in love during World War I
The World And All That It Holds starts off in Sarajevo, in 1914, when shots ring out and World War I begins. It changes the course of protagonist Raf…
3 years, 2 months ago
In 'And Finally,' a neurosurgeon comes to terms with his own cancer diagnosis
Early on in today's episode, NPR's Scott Simon asks Dr. Henry Marsh a question – how could a medical professional miss the signs that they themselves…
3 years, 2 months ago
NBA dreams come true in 'The Sense of Wonder.' But at what cost?
Won Lee, the protagonist of the novel The Sense of Wonder, is the only Asian American player in the NBA. But as was true for real-life basketball sta…
3 years, 2 months ago
Through short stories, 'The Faraway World' encompasses the Latin American diaspora
Patricia Engel's new collection of short stories, The Faraway World, reaches into the lives of imaginary characters scattered throughout Latin Americ…
3 years, 2 months ago
Two novels take a closer look at class and gender in Indian society
Today's episode features two books that examine wealth – or lack thereof – and gender in India. First, Deepti Kapoor chats with NPR's Scott Simon abo…
3 years, 2 months ago