What We're Reading http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120012205&ft=1&f=120012205 NPR staff picks of standout books — with candid reactions from our reporters, hosts and critics. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:04:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif What We're Reading http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120012205&ft=1&f=120012205 What We're Reading, April 26 - May 2 The biography of a cigar worker turned respected baseball executive, a petite book of poetry perfect for the season, a huge chronicle of a cook and his vegetable patch, and a mother's day gift book that celebrates moms as fashion plates. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135745234/what-were-reading-april-26-may-2?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135745234/what-were-reading-april-26-may-2?ft=1&f=120012205 The biography of a cigar worker turned respected baseball executive, a petite book of poetry perfect for the season, a huge chronicle of a cook and his vegetable patch, and a mother's day gift book that celebrates moms as fashion plates.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 19 - 25 Gwyneth Paltrow cooks and tells family stories; a sumptuous illustrated biography of Diana Vreeland now in paperback; a comprehensive Latin American poetry anthology; an expose of working at the mall. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135545537/what-were-reading-april-19-25?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135545537/what-were-reading-april-19-25?ft=1&f=120012205 Gwyneth Paltrow cooks and tells family stories; a sumptuous illustrated biography of Diana Vreeland now in paperback; a comprehensive Latin American poetry anthology; an expose of working at the mall.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 12-18 A retelling of the famous Johnny Appleseed myth; a devastating memoir about the birth of the organic farming movement and its effect on a homesteading family; an attempt to discover the secrets of <em>Little House on the Prarie</em>; and an NPR contributor's struggle with the recession and its aftermath. Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135326866/what-were-reading-april-12-18?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135326866/what-were-reading-april-12-18?ft=1&f=120012205 A retelling of the famous Johnny Appleseed myth; a devastating memoir about the birth of the organic farming movement and its effect on a homesteading family; an attempt to discover the secrets of Little House on the Prarie; and an NPR contributor's struggle with the recession and its aftermath.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 5-11 The life of French chanteuse Edith Piaf; Tina Fey's hilarious book of zingers; the untold story of Julia and Paul Child in the OSS; and a quiet meditation on the desert wilderness from 10,000 feet above sea level. Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135152062/what-were-reading-april-5-11?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/135152062/what-were-reading-april-5-11?ft=1&f=120012205 The life of French chanteuse Edith Piaf; Tina Fey's hilarious book of zingers; the untold story of Julia and Paul Child in the OSS; and a quiet meditation on the desert wilderness from 10,000 feet above sea level.

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]]> What We're Reading, March 29-April 4 A memoir of living in close quarters with Susan Sontag; a novel set in the world of Alfred Hitchcock's <em>Psycho;</em> and a young-adult novel that covers the very adult themes of labor camps in 1941 Lithuania. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134952430/what-were-reading-march-29-april-4?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134952430/what-were-reading-march-29-april-4?ft=1&f=120012205 A memoir of living in close quarters with Susan Sontag; a novel set in the world of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho; and a young-adult novel that covers the very adult themes of labor camps in 1941 Lithuania.

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]]> What We're Reading, March 22-28 Sarah Vowell takes on the American occupation of Hawaii, author Katharine Greider dives into New York history through the lens of her crumbling Manhattan row house, and Lisa Abend follows the apprentices toiling away in the molecular gastronomy labs of Ferran Adria's elBulli. Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134739484/what-were-reading-march-22-28?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134739484/what-were-reading-march-22-28?ft=1&f=120012205 Sarah Vowell takes on the American occupation of Hawaii, author Katharine Greider dives into New York history through the lens of her crumbling Manhattan row house, and Lisa Abend follows the apprentices toiling away in the molecular gastronomy labs of Ferran Adria's elBulli.

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]]> What We're Reading, March 15-21 Tea Obreht makes her sparkling debut with the folkloric <em>Tiger's Wife</em>, and another new author, Cara Hoffman, holds her own with the creepy but elegant <em>So Much Pretty. </em>A Jay-Z biography falls short, but Jonathan Coe's humorous novel about Internet loneliness is an acerbic glimpse of modern times. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134544775/what-were-reading-march-15-21?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134544775/what-were-reading-march-15-21?ft=1&f=120012205 Tea Obreht makes her sparkling debut with the folkloric Tiger's Wife, and another new author, Cara Hoffman, holds her own with the creepy but elegant So Much Pretty. A Jay-Z biography falls short, but Jonathan Coe's humorous novel about Internet loneliness is an acerbic glimpse of modern times.

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]]> What We're Reading, March 8-14 David Brooks' <em>The Social Animal </em>combines neuroscience with philosophy to uncover the secrets of happiness. <em>The Longevity Project draws </em>long-life lessons from an 80-year study of 1,528 10-year-olds. Finally, an all-black crew explores whiteness on an expedition to – where else? – Antarctica in the wickedly satirical <em>Pym. </em> Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:43:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134336354/what-were-reading-march-8-14?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/134336354/what-were-reading-march-8-14?ft=1&f=120012205 David Brooks' The Social Animal combines neuroscience with philosophy to uncover the secrets of happiness. The Longevity Project draws long-life lessons from an 80-year study of 1,528 10-year-olds. Finally, an all-black crew explores whiteness on an expedition to – where else? – Antarctica in the wickedly satirical Pym.

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]]> What We're Reading: May 25-31 Maureen Corrigan hails the "genius" of Stieg Larsson's vision, as revealed in his final "Girl Who" mystery. Is <em>Anthropology of an American Girl</em> the next <em>Catcher in the Rye</em>? Neda Ulaby says no. And novelist Aimee Bender evokes the taste of love in <em>The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.</em> Tue, 25 May 2010 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127095843&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127095843&ft=1&f=120012205 Maureen Corrigan hails the "genius" of Stieg Larsson's vision, as revealed in his final "Girl Who" mystery. Is Anthropology of an American Girl the next Catcher in the Rye? Neda Ulaby says no. And novelist Aimee Bender evokes the taste of love in The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.

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]]> What We're Reading, May 11-17 Martin Amis' newest is part <em>Decameron,</em> part <em>Big Chill,</em> as twenty-somethings in an Italian castle navigate the sexual revolution. Laura Bush navigates her way from Midland, Texas, to a life in the White House. A miraculously preserved 18th-century rabbi reanimates <em>(oy gevalt!)</em> in Memphis. And civil rights legend Andrew Young passes life lessons to his godson. Tue, 11 May 2010 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126676466&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126676466&ft=1&f=120012205 Martin Amis' newest is part Decameron, part Big Chill, as twenty-somethings in an Italian castle navigate the sexual revolution. Laura Bush navigates her way from Midland, Texas, to a life in the White House. A miraculously preserved 18th-century rabbi reanimates (oy gevalt!) in Memphis. And civil rights legend Andrew Young passes life lessons to his godson.

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]]> What We're Reading, May 4-10 It's Jesus versus his evil twin (really) in Philip Pullman's newest. Fierce will and family love take the first lady's brother from the South Side to the Ivy League in a surprisingly affecting memoir. A big novel of a <em>Big Love</em>-style family, in <em>The Lonely Polygamist.</em> And Chelsea Handler goes off in <em>Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.</em> Tue, 04 May 2010 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/126485011/what-were-reading-may-4-10?ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/126485011/what-were-reading-may-4-10?ft=1&f=120012205 It's Jesus versus his evil twin (really) in Philip Pullman's newest. Fierce will and family love take the first lady's brother from the South Side to the Ivy League in a surprisingly affecting memoir. A big novel of a Big Love-style family, in The Lonely Polygamist. And Chelsea Handler goes off in Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 27-May 3 Isabel Allende's vivid new novel takes us to 18th century New Orleans; a brilliantly exuberant literary treasure hunt dives into the Philippines' past and present; and Scott Simon reviews a taut, crosscutting portrait of Martin Luther King, James Earl Ray and the massive manhunt that captured King's killer. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126289836&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126289836&ft=1&f=120012205 Isabel Allende's vivid new novel takes us to 18th century New Orleans; a brilliantly exuberant literary treasure hunt dives into the Philippines' past and present; and Scott Simon reviews a taut, crosscutting portrait of Martin Luther King, James Earl Ray and the massive manhunt that captured King's killer.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 20-26 A novel skewers New York's Internet-media nexus; a <em>New York Times</em> health editor examines the ways "Grown-Up" minds are superior to young brains; a reporter visits the small Dominican town that churns out big-league baseball stars. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126117993&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126117993&ft=1&f=120012205 A novel skewers New York's Internet-media nexus; a New York Times health editor examines the ways "Grown-Up" minds are superior to young brains; a reporter visits the small Dominican town that churns out big-league baseball stars.

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]]> What We're Reading, April 13-19 Another animal fable from <em>Life of Pi</em> author Yann Martel; <em>New Yorker</em> editor David Remnick shows how President Barack Obama's life intersects with the story of race in America; and permissive parents cope with sex, drugs and a rebellious teen in Anne Lamott's <em>Imperfect Birds.</em> Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125880908&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125880908&ft=1&f=120012205 Another animal fable from Life of Pi author Yann Martel; New Yorker editor David Remnick shows how President Barack Obama's life intersects with the story of race in America; and permissive parents cope with sex, drugs and a rebellious teen in Anne Lamott's Imperfect Birds.

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]]> What We're Reading, March 30-April 5 A new comedy from Ian McEwan; the true-life adventures of the Victorian Brit who stole the secrets of tea from China; a Kenyan contemporary of Obama's father remembers the Mau Mau rebellion; and a new Russian master spins surprising fictional gold from the Godot-like tale of Soviet citizens waiting in an endless line. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125265599&ft=1&f=120012205 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125265599&ft=1&f=120012205 A new comedy from Ian McEwan; the true-life adventures of the Victorian Brit who stole the secrets of tea from China; a Kenyan contemporary of Obama's father remembers the Mau Mau rebellion; and a new Russian master spins surprising fictional gold from the Godot-like tale of Soviet citizens waiting in an endless line.

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