You Must Read This http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5432412&ft=1&f=5432412 Each week "You Must Read This" presents conversations with writers about the books they love to read and recommend. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif You Must Read This http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5432412&ft=1&f=5432412 Ghost Ships, Murders, Bird Attacks: Stories To Keep You Awake Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, <em>Don't Look Now, </em>while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them. Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/177638074/ghost-ships-murders-bird-attacks-stories-to-keep-you-awake?ft=1&f=5432412 Author Ethan Rutherford started reading Daphne du Maurier's collection of stories, Don't Look Now, while it was still light out and didn't move from his chair until dark. Each one features characters who endure the strange and the extreme, and who are forever changed by the events that befall them.

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]]> A Chatty, Pensive, 'Rude As A Goat's Beard' Child Soldier Ahmadou Kourouma<em>'s Allah Is Not Obliged </em>recounts the story of a child soldier in Liberia. Author A. Igoni Barrett says in this book, horror and humor become bedfellows, making for a heartbreaking yet laughter-filled read. Sun, 05 May 2013 05:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/176598231/a-chatty-pensive-rude-as-a-goats-beard-child-soldier?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/05/176598231/a-chatty-pensive-rude-as-a-goats-beard-child-soldier?ft=1&f=5432412 Ahmadou Kourouma's Allah Is Not Obliged recounts the story of a child soldier in Liberia. Author A. Igoni Barrett says in this book, horror and humor become bedfellows, making for a heartbreaking yet laughter-filled read.

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]]> Dreaming Of Justice: Hardscrabble Lives In Hallucinatory Prose Tomás Rivera's <em>... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him </em>is the account of a boy bearing witness to the injustices faced by migrant workers in the mid-20th century. Author Alex Espinoza says this book showed him that storytelling doesn't have to be private, it can be revolutionary. Sun, 14 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/176915605/dreaming-of-justice-hardscrabble-lives-in-hallucinatory-prose?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/176915605/dreaming-of-justice-hardscrabble-lives-in-hallucinatory-prose?ft=1&f=5432412 Tomás Rivera's ... And the Earth Did Not Devour Him is the account of a boy bearing witness to the injustices faced by migrant workers in the mid-20th century. Author Alex Espinoza says this book showed him that storytelling doesn't have to be private, it can be revolutionary.

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]]> In A Vivid Memoir Of Life In Pakistan, A Vortex Of Tragedies Sara Suleri Goodyear's heartbreaking memoir,<em> Meatless Days, </em>describes growing up in post-colonial Pakistan with an elegiac immediacy. Author Rajesh Parameswaran says the book does justice to the way memory actually lives in the mind. Sun, 07 Apr 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/07/176053587/in-a-vivid-memoir-of-life-in-pakistan-a-vortex-of-tragedies?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/07/176053587/in-a-vivid-memoir-of-life-in-pakistan-a-vortex-of-tragedies?ft=1&f=5432412 Sara Suleri Goodyear's heartbreaking memoir, Meatless Days, describes growing up in post-colonial Pakistan with an elegiac immediacy. Author Rajesh Parameswaran says the book does justice to the way memory actually lives in the mind.

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]]> In Alice McDermott's 'Charming Billy,' Love Turns To Grief In this novel about sadness and delusion, critic Harold Augenbraum says, "love ... tatters its own lovers." What's your favorite tragic novel? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/31/175359065/in-alice-mcdermotts-charming-billy-love-turns-to-grief?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/31/175359065/in-alice-mcdermotts-charming-billy-love-turns-to-grief?ft=1&f=5432412 In this novel about sadness and delusion, critic Harold Augenbraum says, "love ... tatters its own lovers." What's your favorite tragic novel? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> 'The Quick And The Dead': Parables Of Doom And Merry Rapture Joy Williams' <em>The Quick and the Dead, </em>about three motherless girls traveling through the desert, left author Domenica Ruta with more questions than answers. Do you have a favorite book that left you confused — in a good way? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/17/173229587/the-quick-and-the-dead-parables-of-doom-and-merry-rapture?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/17/173229587/the-quick-and-the-dead-parables-of-doom-and-merry-rapture?ft=1&f=5432412 Joy Williams' The Quick and the Dead, about three motherless girls traveling through the desert, left author Domenica Ruta with more questions than answers. Do you have a favorite book that left you confused — in a good way? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Darkness Visible: 'He Died With His Eyes Open' Is A Crime Novel Like No Other Derek Raymond has been called the father of British noir. But author A.L. Kennedy says <em>He Died With His Eyes Open </em>is a crime novel so far beyond noir that there isn't even a word for that kind of darkness. Is there a book you find deeply disturbing but still love? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:21:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/171992883/darkness-visible-he-died-with-his-eyes-open-is-a-crime-novel-like-no-other?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/171992883/darkness-visible-he-died-with-his-eyes-open-is-a-crime-novel-like-no-other?ft=1&f=5432412 Derek Raymond has been called the father of British noir. But author A.L. Kennedy says He Died With His Eyes Open is a crime novel so far beyond noir that there isn't even a word for that kind of darkness. Is there a book you find deeply disturbing but still love? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> On The 50th Anniversary Of Sylvia Plath's Death, A Look At Her Beginning Poet and critic Craig Morgan Teicher says <em>The Colossus</em>, Plath's first book of poetry (and the only one published in her lifetime),<em></em> shows us glimpses of the poet she would later become. Do you have a favorite Plath poem? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/11/171186656/on-the-50th-anniversary-of-sylvia-plaths-death-a-look-at-her-beginning?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/11/171186656/on-the-50th-anniversary-of-sylvia-plaths-death-a-look-at-her-beginning?ft=1&f=5432412 Poet and critic Craig Morgan Teicher says The Colossus, Plath's first book of poetry (and the only one published in her lifetime), shows us glimpses of the poet she would later become. Do you have a favorite Plath poem? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> The Splendor Of Suffering In 'The Lonely Passion Of Judith Hearne' Brian Moore's<em> The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne,</em> a book about an alcoholic looking for love,<em> </em>is the novel that author Ann Leary always turns to when she's depressed. What books do you read when you're sad? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/10/171280997/brian-moore-s-the-lonely-passion-of-judith-hearne?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/10/171280997/brian-moore-s-the-lonely-passion-of-judith-hearne?ft=1&f=5432412 Brian Moore's The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, a book about an alcoholic looking for love, is the novel that author Ann Leary always turns to when she's depressed. What books do you read when you're sad? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> War Writ Small: Of Pushcarts And Peashooters Jean Merrill's classic children's book <em>The Pushcart War </em>explores war, peace and pushcarts on the streets of New York. Author Adam Mansbach writes that the story still resonates. Do you have a favorite children's book that deals with heavy themes? Tell us in the comments. Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/31/166176781/war-writ-small-of-pushcarts-and-peashooters?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/31/166176781/war-writ-small-of-pushcarts-and-peashooters?ft=1&f=5432412 Jean Merrill's classic children's book The Pushcart War explores war, peace and pushcarts on the streets of New York. Author Adam Mansbach writes that the story still resonates. Do you have a favorite children's book that deals with heavy themes? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Urban Oases: Getting Lost in 'Invisible Cities' Marco Polo sits in the garden of Kublai Khan and weaves tales of spider cities, gold cities and dream cities. Author Eric Weiner explains why the best travel book he has ever read isn't about a real place. What's your favorite book about an imaginary journey? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/21/161712231/urban-oases-getting-lost-in-invisible-cities?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/21/161712231/urban-oases-getting-lost-in-invisible-cities?ft=1&f=5432412 Marco Polo sits in the garden of Kublai Khan and weaves tales of spider cities, gold cities and dream cities. Author Eric Weiner explains why the best travel book he has ever read isn't about a real place. What's your favorite book about an imaginary journey? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Fiction Truer Than Fact: A Haunting Autobiographical Novel Leonard Michaels' <em>Sylvia,</em> an account of a violent and tumultuous love affair,<em> </em>began as an autobiographical essay and then grew into a novel. Author Sarah Manguso writes that despite all of its particularities, the story could really be about anyone. What are some novels that you can relate to? Sun, 20 Jan 2013 06:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/20/169713851/fiction-truer-than-fact-a-haunting-autobiographical-novel?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/20/169713851/fiction-truer-than-fact-a-haunting-autobiographical-novel?ft=1&f=5432412 Leonard Michaels' Sylvia, an account of a violent and tumultuous love affair, began as an autobiographical essay and then grew into a novel. Author Sarah Manguso writes that despite all of its particularities, the story could really be about anyone. What are some novels that you can relate to?

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]]> Adjust Your Vision: Tolstoy's Last And Darkest Novel <em>Resurrection</em>, Tolstory's last and perhaps least-read novel, is also his most bleak. Author George Saunders writes that it opened his eyes to the plight of the disenfranchised — in Tolstoy's Russia and the modern world. What book opened your eyes to the suffering of others? Tell us in the comments. Sun, 06 Jan 2013 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/06/168651740/adjust-your-vision-tolstoys-last-and-darkest-novel?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/06/168651740/adjust-your-vision-tolstoys-last-and-darkest-novel?ft=1&f=5432412 Resurrection, Tolstory's last and perhaps least-read novel, is also his most bleak. Author George Saunders writes that it opened his eyes to the plight of the disenfranchised — in Tolstoy's Russia and the modern world. What book opened your eyes to the suffering of others? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> Depression-Era Evil: Horror In A Haunted Land <em>The Night of the Hunter</em> is a much-loved film, but author Julia Keller says the book it is based on is even better — a forgotten masterpiece. Do you have a favorite book that became a movie? Tell us in the comments. <strong> </strong> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/01/161408688/depression-era-evil-gothic-horror-in-a-haunted-land?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/01/161408688/depression-era-evil-gothic-horror-in-a-haunted-land?ft=1&f=5432412 The Night of the Hunter is a much-loved film, but author Julia Keller says the book it is based on is even better — a forgotten masterpiece. Do you have a favorite book that became a movie? Tell us in the comments.

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]]> A Gruesome 'Sabbath': Roth's Vile, Brilliant Masterpiece Philip Roth recently announced that he had written his last novel. Author Matthew Specktor explains why <em>Sabbath's Theater, </em>released in 1995, is not only Roth's most disgusting novel but also his best. Do you have a favorite book that breaks all the rules? Tell us in the comments. Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:54:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/03/166009066/a-gruesome-sabbath-roths-vile-brilliant-masterpiece?ft=1&f=5432412 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/03/166009066/a-gruesome-sabbath-roths-vile-brilliant-masterpiece?ft=1&f=5432412 Philip Roth recently announced that he had written his last novel. Author Matthew Specktor explains why Sabbath's Theater, released in 1995, is not only Roth's most disgusting novel but also his best. Do you have a favorite book that breaks all the rules? Tell us in the comments.

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