PG-13: Risky Reads http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=153588024&ft=1&f=153588024 At 13, you crave the adult stuff — the drama, the<strong> </strong>relationships, the mind-blowing ideas — even if you're not ready for adulthood. "PG-13" presents authors discussing the books that transformed and matured their teenage minds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 26 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif PG-13: Risky Reads http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=153588024&ft=1&f=153588024 'Portnoy's Complaint': A Surprisingly Therapeutic Birthday Present When author Lucas Mann turned 13, his father gave him a copy of <em>Portnoy's Complaint, </em>a novel <em>The New Yorker</em> dubbed "one of the dirtiest books ever published." Mann says the book taught him that life is painful, sometimes gross, and often funny. Sun, 26 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186264309/portnoys-complaint-a-surprisingly-therapeutic-birthday-present?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186264309/portnoys-complaint-a-surprisingly-therapeutic-birthday-present?ft=1&f=153588024 When author Lucas Mann turned 13, his father gave him a copy of Portnoy's Complaint, a novel The New Yorker dubbed "one of the dirtiest books ever published." Mann says the book taught him that life is painful, sometimes gross, and often funny.

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]]> Beyond Teen Spirit: Learning From Kurt Cobain's Mistakes Author Nicole J. Georges discovered Michael Azerrad's <em>Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana</em> when she was 13. The book became the heart map for her teenage angst. What book helped you find yourself? Sun, 24 Mar 2013 06:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174773830/beyond-teen-spirit-learning-from-kurt-cobains-mistakes?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/24/174773830/beyond-teen-spirit-learning-from-kurt-cobains-mistakes?ft=1&f=153588024 Author Nicole J. Georges discovered Michael Azerrad's Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana when she was 13. The book became the heart map for her teenage angst. What book helped you find yourself?

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]]> These 'Great Tales Of Terror' Live Up To Their Promise <em>Washington Post</em> book critic Michael Dirda remembers finding a worn copy of the anthology <em>Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural </em>in the library as a young boy. He found the stories revelatory. Is there a scary story that made an impression on you when you were his age? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 24 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172709795/these-great-tales-of-terror-live-up-to-their-promise?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/24/172709795/these-great-tales-of-terror-live-up-to-their-promise?ft=1&f=153588024 Washington Post book critic Michael Dirda remembers finding a worn copy of the anthology Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural in the library as a young boy. He found the stories revelatory. Is there a scary story that made an impression on you when you were his age? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Rich Kids, Greasers And The Life-Changing Power Of 'The Outsiders' When author Ally Carter found out that S.E. Hinton had been a teenager when she wrote<em> The Outsiders</em>, something inside her clicked. It was the first moment she realized she could be a writer. Is there a book that has inspired you to write? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/28/151966146/rich-kids-greasers-and-the-life-changing-power-of-the-outsiders?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/28/151966146/rich-kids-greasers-and-the-life-changing-power-of-the-outsiders?ft=1&f=153588024 When author Ally Carter found out that S.E. Hinton had been a teenager when she wrote The Outsiders, something inside her clicked. It was the first moment she realized she could be a writer. Is there a book that has inspired you to write? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> 'Emmanuelle' And The Seductive Power Of Words Author Teddy Wayne writes that the 1967 French novel <em>Emmanuelle</em> taught him not only about good sex, but also about good writing. Sun, 27 Jan 2013 05:34:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/166946695/emmanuelle?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/166946695/emmanuelle?ft=1&f=153588024 Author Teddy Wayne writes that the 1967 French novel Emmanuelle taught him not only about good sex, but also about good writing.

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]]> Daughter Of The Storm: An Iranian Literary Revolution As a young girl reeling from the revolution in Iran in 1979, author Roya Hakakian discovered the great Persian poet Ahmad Shamlou. His poems made her realize the importance of breaking from tradition. Has a poem ever changed your thinking this way? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 13 Jan 2013 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/13/169128069/daughter-of-the-storm-an-iranian-literary-revolution?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/13/169128069/daughter-of-the-storm-an-iranian-literary-revolution?ft=1&f=153588024 As a young girl reeling from the revolution in Iran in 1979, author Roya Hakakian discovered the great Persian poet Ahmad Shamlou. His poems made her realize the importance of breaking from tradition. Has a poem ever changed your thinking this way? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> A Literary Sex Education In Mumbai Harold Robbins' 1966 novel <em>The Adventurers </em>featured the lethal and stunning man of mystery, Dax. Author Manil Suri writes that Robbins' novel was his first glimpse into an adult world. What was your first "adult" novel? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/07/167451720/a-literary-sex-education-in-mumbai?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/07/167451720/a-literary-sex-education-in-mumbai?ft=1&f=153588024 Harold Robbins' 1966 novel The Adventurers featured the lethal and stunning man of mystery, Dax. Author Manil Suri writes that Robbins' novel was his first glimpse into an adult world. What was your first "adult" novel? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> A Dangerous World Of Hackers And Ninjas William Gibson's <em>Neuromancer</em> is a hacker classic. Author Nick Harkaway says it's also a door to a greater world. Is there a book that took you outside of your comfort zone? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/31/166478553/a-dangerous-world-of-hackers-and-ninjas?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/31/166478553/a-dangerous-world-of-hackers-and-ninjas?ft=1&f=153588024 William Gibson's Neuromancer is a hacker classic. Author Nick Harkaway says it's also a door to a greater world. Is there a book that took you outside of your comfort zone? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Teenage Disconnect And 'The Virgin Suicides' <em>The Virgin Suicides </em>takes teenage angst to the extreme<em></em>. Writer, blogger and professional teenager Tavi Gevinson explains why it's a book she can't put down, year after adolescent year. Wed, 26 Dec 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/26/163570963/teenage-disconnect-and-the-virgin-suicides?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/26/163570963/teenage-disconnect-and-the-virgin-suicides?ft=1&f=153588024 The Virgin Suicides takes teenage angst to the extreme. Writer, blogger and professional teenager Tavi Gevinson explains why it's a book she can't put down, year after adolescent year.

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]]> Fatal Attraction: My Heart Was Stolen By A Ninja Assassin Elektra Natchios is the ultimate comic book heroine — sexy, smart and completely lethal. But author Sean Howe explains how a grim prequel destroyed his idealized vision of the sultry assassin. Have you ever read a prequel that ruined the book? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/10/166478681/fatal-attraction-my-heart-was-stolen-by-a-ninja-assassin?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/10/166478681/fatal-attraction-my-heart-was-stolen-by-a-ninja-assassin?ft=1&f=153588024 Elektra Natchios is the ultimate comic book heroine — sexy, smart and completely lethal. But author Sean Howe explains how a grim prequel destroyed his idealized vision of the sultry assassin. Have you ever read a prequel that ruined the book? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Feminism Turns Fatal In A 1970s Classic <em></em>Lois Duncan's 1979 novel, <em>Daughters of Eve,</em> takes revenge to a whole new level. Author Mary Stewart Atwell explains why this classic novel is still relevant. Do you have a favorite story of revenge that goes too far? Tell us in the comments. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/162632367/feminism-turns-fatal-in-a-1970s-classic?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/05/162632367/feminism-turns-fatal-in-a-1970s-classic?ft=1&f=153588024 Lois Duncan's 1979 novel, Daughters of Eve, takes revenge to a whole new level. Author Mary Stewart Atwell explains why this classic novel is still relevant. Do you have a favorite story of revenge that goes too far? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> I Found My Inner Beat Poet On 'Coney Island' For Alan Shapiro, reading Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poems was like an discovering an alternate universe.<em> A Coney Island of the Mind</em> elevated him out of the staid world of his parents and changed his sense of self forever. Is there a book that shook your convictions? Tell us about it in the comments. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/12/150959895/i-found-my-inner-beat-poet-on-coney-island?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/12/150959895/i-found-my-inner-beat-poet-on-coney-island?ft=1&f=153588024 For Alan Shapiro, reading Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poems was like an discovering an alternate universe. A Coney Island of the Mind elevated him out of the staid world of his parents and changed his sense of self forever. Is there a book that shook your convictions? Tell us about it in the comments.

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]]> Reading 'Dune,' My Junior-High Survival Guide The cult favorite 1965 novel <em>Dune</em> was a classic of sci-fi literature. But author Leigh Bardugo says that when she was 12, <em>Dune</em> wasn't just an escape — it changed her world. Has a book ever opened your eyes to an alternate reality? Tell us in the comments. Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/07/155105702/reading-dune-my-junior-high-survival-guide?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/07/155105702/reading-dune-my-junior-high-survival-guide?ft=1&f=153588024 The cult favorite 1965 novel Dune was a classic of sci-fi literature. But author Leigh Bardugo says that when she was 12, Dune wasn't just an escape — it changed her world. Has a book ever opened your eyes to an alternate reality? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Possessed By 'The Exorcist': Are You Terrified Yet? The classic horror novel <em>The Exorcist</em> inspired an even creepier movie, but author Mark Danielewski says after he saw the film, it changed the book in his mind forever. Has a movie ever overtaken its literary counterpart in your imagination? Tell us in the comments. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/25/163620999/possession-banishing-the-exorcists-demons?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/25/163620999/possession-banishing-the-exorcists-demons?ft=1&f=153588024 The classic horror novel The Exorcist inspired an even creepier movie, but author Mark Danielewski says after he saw the film, it changed the book in his mind forever. Has a movie ever overtaken its literary counterpart in your imagination? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Love And Death At The Toss Of A Die The hero of <em>The Dice Man </em>decides to live his life by chance; murder, adultery and an escape from a mental hospital ensue. Novelist Sheila Heti explains how at age 13 she also began living by the die. Has a book ever changed the way you live your life? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/22/162239639/love-and-death-at-the-toss-of-a-die?ft=1&f=153588024 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/22/162239639/love-and-death-at-the-toss-of-a-die?ft=1&f=153588024 The hero of The Dice Man decides to live his life by chance; murder, adultery and an escape from a mental hospital ensue. Novelist Sheila Heti explains how at age 13 she also began living by the die. Has a book ever changed the way you live your life? Tell us in the comments.

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