January 2001

Dolly Parton -- Sarah Bardeen, an editor at Listen.com, reviews the latest album by Dolly Parton. It's called Little Sparrow. (4:00)

Little Sparrow, by Dolly Parton is on Sugar Hill/Blue Eye records. Also see http://www.Listen.com.

The Bonesetter's Daughter -- Book reviewer Alan Cheuse brings us his thoughts on a new novel by Amy Tan. It's called The Bonesetter's Daughter. (2:00)

The Bonesetter's Daughter is published by Putnam.

Erykah Badu -- Music critic Tom Moon reviews the soulful sounds of Erykah Badu. Her music is a mix of 70's soul and modern hip hop. Moon says that on this record, through improvisation, Badu has found a way to make hip hop regain it's spontaneity. (3:00)

The CD is called Mama's Gun, by Erykah Badu, on Motown records. See http://www.erykahbadu.com

Adoption Rules -- Linda talks with Joan Hollinger, Professor of Law at Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley, and editor of the textbook Adoption Law and Practice, about the crazy quilt of state laws concerning adoption. In the case of the twins, a couple from Britain took babies from California to Arkansas because of a loophole in the law there. (5:15)

Adoption Law and Practice, is published by the Matthew Bender Company.

The Biographer's Tale -- Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by A.S. Byatt, entitled The Biographer's Tale. It's about a studious, young English graduate student named Phineas Nanson. (2:00)

The Biographer's Tale, by A.S. Byatt is published by Knopf.

Kingdom of Shadows -- Alan Furst specializes in atmospheric spy thrillers set during the Nazi occupation of Europe. Paris in the spring of 1938 is the dateline of his latest book. Alan Cheuse has a review of Kingdom of Shadows. (2:00)

Kingdom of Shadows, by Alan Furst is published by Random House.

Arhoolie Records -- Music critic Meredith Ochs listens to 40 years of recordings by Chris Strachwitz. Forty years ago Strachwitz started on a journey to record great American music. His focus was on roots music; folk, blues, cajun, and zydeco. He liked to record the artists in their homes, beneath pine trees, and in other natural settings. Meredith Ochs says that this five CD collection tells the story of a great American journey. (6:00)

The five CD set is Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection, The Journey of Chris Strachwitz. See http://www.arhoolie.com.

Off Keck Road -- Mona Simpson is the author of three, large sprawling novels, one of which, Anywhere But Here, found its way to the movie screen. Her new book, Off Keck Road, is a slender novel that our reviewer Alan Cheuse says has reach beyond its length. (1:45)

Off Keck Road, is published by Knopf.

Ian Pooley -- Charles de Ledesma reviews the new CD from Ian Pooley called Since Then. Pooley is a techno-house musician from Germany, who has been getting a lot of attention for his particular brand of dance music, which is easy listening, light and breezy.(3:15)

Since Then, by Alan Pooley is on the BMG-V2 label.

Bob the Builder -- The number one song in Britain is sung by a cartoon character, his name is Bob the Builder and his show appears on the BBC. The song shot to the top of the charts in Britain during the holiday, surpassing Scottish boy-band Westlife and Eminem's Stan. The cartoon series -- and the song -- will be coming to the States next month. Linda talks with David Sinclair, pop music critic for the Times of London, about the sensation created by the Bob the Builder. (3:30) Bob the Builder is written by Paul Joyce, voiced by actor Neil Morrissey. The Audio CD is Bob the Builder, from BBC Worldwide Music; ASIN: B00005244T Catalogue Number: WMSS60372.

Soul Mountain -- Chinese novelist, playwright, and critic Gao Xingjian won this year's Nobel prize for literature, the first Chinese writer ever to do so. Book reviewer Alan Cheuse notes that in the wake of that prestigious award, Gao's 1990 novel Soul Mountain has been published here, translated by Australian academic Mabel Lee. (2:00)

Soul Mountain is published by Harper Collins.

The Sevens -- Noah Adams talks with members of The Sevens, who call themselves a "Celtic groove band." They play for dances and occasional concerts in New England. Members are Sarah Blair, Mark Roberts, Liza Constable, Mark Hellenberg, Stuart Kenney. They traveled to Vermont Public Radio's studio in Colchester for this interview. We hear a bit of contra dance music and complete versions of I Truly Understand, and Miss Otis Regrets. (22:00)

The group's CD is The Sevens, on Newgrange Records, available at http://www.efolkmusic.com.

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