archive
Author Interviews
George Saunders On Absurdism And Ventriloquism In 'Tenth Of December'
January 20, 2013 George Saunders has long been praised in literary circles for his short stories that deftly combine the absurd with the mundane. But now the author has caught mainstream attention with his newest collection, Tenth of December.
Author Interviews
Connecting With Nature To Reclaim Our Natural 'Birthright'
January 20, 2013 Modern society has become adversarial in its relationship to nature, Yale scholar Stephen Kellert argues, having greatly undervalued the natural world beyond its narrow utilty. In his new book Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern World, he tells stories of the environment's effect on us, and ours on it.
Sunday Puzzle
The Names Of The Game
January 20, 2013 You will be given the first names of two famous people, past or present. The first person's last name, when you drop the initial letter, becomes the second person's last name. For example, given "Harold" and "Kingsley," the answer would be "Harold Ramis" and "Kingsley Amis."
Author Interviews
Presidents Use Bully Pulpit To Shape American Language In 'Words'
January 20, 2013 In Words From the White House, linguist Paul Dickson looks at the ways presidents have used the office to create and shape American language. Presidents, Dickson says, must be eloquent and spontaneous, but they also need to communicate in a way that gives listeners something to latch onto.
You Must Read This
Fiction Truer Than Fact: A Haunting Autobiographical Novel
January 20, 2013 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?
Monkey See
Our Royalty: Bangs Aren't All Michelle Obama And Kate Middleton Have In Common
January 20, 2013 Michelle Obama's bangs recently caused a stir, and so did Kate Middleton's. But surprisingly enough, some of the conflicting, complex expectations of first ladies aren't all that different from those of modern royalty.
Author Interviews
'All We Know': Three Remarkable But Forgotten Lives
January 19, 2013 Just nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award, Lisa Cohen's biography All We Know: Three Lives follows the stories of three women of the early 20th century. "I wanted to write a book that wasn't just about one great person," Cohen says, "but about a kind of collectivity."
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
Melinda Gates Plays Not My Job
January 19, 2013 The co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plays a game called "But I meant well, your Majesty." Three questions about gifts given to Queen Elizabeth II.
Poetry
U.K. Asks Students To Learn Poetry 'By Heart,' Not By Rote
January 19, 2013 Poetry By Heart is a new program in which students memorize two of 130 poems and recite them in a contest. Poet Jean Sprackland, who helped compile the list, says memorizing a poem makes it "something that lives with you forever."
Books
'Art Of Betrayal': A History Of MI6 That Reads Like A Spy Novel
January 19, 2013 MI6 may be the world's most legendary secret service, but fiction and film can't uncover its actual history. For that, you need BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera and his new book, The Art of Betrayal: The Secret History of MI6.
Author Interviews
Former Sox Manager Reflects On Turbulent Tenure
January 19, 2013 Terry Francona led the Boston Red Sox to victory in the 2004 and 2007 World Series, but was let go after the team's late-season tailspin in 2011. Francona talks about the book he co-wrote with Dan Shaughnessy, Francona: The Red Sox Years.
Author Interviews
After 30 Years, Neil Jordan Returns To 'The Past'
January 19, 2013 The Ireland native is best known as a filmmaker — he directed The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire and the Showtime series The Borgias — but he began his career as a writer. His 1980 novel, The Past, has been reissued in the United States.
Monkey See
A Memorized Poem 'Lives With You Forever,' So Choose Carefully
January 19, 2013 As poet Jean Sprackland told NPR's Scott Simon, a poem you learn by heart becomes a part of you. In that case, choosing what works to memorize is a big decision. We have 10 suggestions, based on the Poetry By Heart anthology; what would you recommend?
The Salt
Inaugural Balls Where Food Isn't An Afterthought
January 19, 2013 Gearing up for inaugural weekend balls often means getting ready to stand in lots of lines for some not-so-awesome food. But if you want to say goodbye to the rubber chicken brigade, these foodcentric inaugural balls might be a better bet.
Monkey See
I've Heard That Somewhere: 'Glee' Covers 'Baby Got Back,' And It Sounds ... Familiar
January 18, 2013 Glee is taking a lot of heat for repurposing a cover version of "Baby Got Back" without crediting the arranger. In a social media world, it's the kind of move that has extra risks.
