May 26, 2012
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Tom Perrotta is the author of several novels, including Election and Little Children.
Examining 'The Leftovers,' After The Rapture
()What if the rapture actually occurred? That's the plot of Tom Perrotta's novel The Leftovers, which examines the aftermath of an unexplained rapturelike event in which millions of people around the globe inexplicably disappear into thin air.
Recent Interviews
Music Interviews
How Wes Anderson Soundtracks His Movies
May 24, 2012 You might not recognize the name Randall Poster, but you're likely familiar with his work. Poster picks out and licenses music used in commercials, TV and film. He's worked closely with director Wes Anderson on films like Rushmore and Moonrise Kingdom.
Digital Life
Keeping Your Kids Safe Online: It's 'Common Sense'
May 24, 2012 Parents should be paying very close attention to the digital media their children are using, says child advocate James Steyer. "Young people in particular often self-reveal before they self-reflect," he says. "There is no eraser button today for youthful indiscretion."
Fitness & Nutrition
Happy Feet: Tips For Healthier Running
May 23, 2012 Have you thought about switching to barefoot running? New York Times exercise columnist Gretchen Reynolds did — and promptly injured herself. She details what she did wrong — and how to keep your own feet healthy — in her new book, The First 20 Minutes.
Music Interviews
Jeremy Denk: Playing Ligeti With A Dash Of Humor
May 23, 2012 The pianist's new album features some of the most difficult etudes ever written for solo piano by the Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti. "Ligeti took the piano to places it had never been before," he says, "and makes demands of the pianist and the mind that had never been made before."
Theater
David Alan Grier's 'Sporting Life' On Broadway
May 22, 2012 The stand-up comedian and star of In Living Color was recently nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Sporting Life in the opera Porgy and Bess. "I think the character of Sporting Life is a salesman so he has to be flamboyant, the life of the party," he says.
Recent Reviews And Commentaries
Music Reviews
James Burton: The Teen Who Invented American Guitar
May 25, 2012 You've heard guitarist James Burton even if you don't know it. Ever since he was 15, he's been recording behind a bewildering number of artists, from Ricky Nelson to Ray Charles. He also managed to put out some records on his own. Rock historian Ed Ward shares his story.
Movie Reviews
A Wes Anderson 'Kingdom' Full Of Beautiful Imagery
May 25, 2012 Wes Anderson's latest film is the story of a 12-year-old girl and boy who merge their imaginative worlds on an island off the coast of New England. Critic David Edelstein says Moonrise Kingdom will appeal to Anderson's longtime fans as well as anyone who appreciates good cinematography and design.
Music
Remembering Baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
May 23, 2012 The classical music world lost one of its legendary figures last week. The German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau died ten days short of his 87th birthday. He was one of the most recorded classical singers in recording history. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz was one of his admirers.
Book Reviews
'Right-Hand': A Lush Prequel To 'Mason's Retreat'
May 22, 2012 In The Right-Hand Shore, Christopher Tilghman returns to the racially charged landscape and the crumbling plantations of his book Mason's Retreat. Fresh Air critic Maureen Corrigan calls the prequel "the real deal."
Music Reviews
John Fullbright: How To Connect 'From The Ground Up'
May 21, 2012 It's a good sign when you get 11 songs into an album and the quality remains high.
