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'House Girl' Ties Past To Present In Tale Of Art And Slavery()
February 10, 2013 "Mister hit Josephine with the palm of his hand across her left cheek and it was then she knew she would run." So begins Tara Conklin's debut novel, The House Girl, which links the stories of an artistically talented 19th-century slave and an ambitious 21st-century lawyer.
Small Objects Reveal 'The Real Jane Austen' ()
February 10, 2013 In her new book, The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things, author Paula Byrne shows how everyday objects helped shape Austen's life and literature. One example, a topaz cross, a cherished gift to Austen from her brother, plays an important role in Mansfield Park.
An 'Autopsy' Of Detroit Finds Resilience In A Struggling City()
February 11, 2013 To some, Detroit may be a symbol of urban decay; but to journalist Charlie LeDuff, it's home. In Detroit: An American Autopsy, he says the city's heart beats on. "We're still here trying to reconstruct the great thing we once had," he tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies.
Food
An Italian-Inspired Valentine's Feast From 'Nigellissima'()
February 12, 2013 Before the roses and the romance, Valentine's Day commemorated the Roman Saint Valentine — Valentinus, in Latin. And in her new cookbook, Nigellissima: Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes, chef Nigella Lawson offers up simple recipes that celebrate the cuisine of the country Saint Valentine called home.
Poetry
In A North Vietnamese Prison, Sharing Poems With 'Taps On The Walls'()
February 12, 2013 As a prisoner of war in the "Hanoi Hilton," Air Force fighter pilot John Borling spent years composing and memorizing poetry that he tapped to fellow prisoners, like the future Sen. John McCain, using a special code.
'Dead Sea Scrolls' Live On In Debate And Discovery()
February 13, 2013 In a new book, The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography, religious scholar and author John J. Collins tells the history of the scrolls and the controversies they have prompted, and explores the questions they ask and answer about Judeo-Christian history.
Wisdom Watch
Life's Traumas Won't Stop Kenyan Author Ngugi()
February 13, 2013 One of Kenya's most famous citizens is author and professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o. His criticism of that nation's post-colonial government led to his arrest and eventual exile. But he says he can't be knocked down. Host Michel Martin talks with Ngugi about his new memoir, In the House of the Interpreter.
'Klansville, U.S.A.' Chronicles The Rise And Fall Of The KKK()
February 14, 2013 Author and sociologist David Cunningham speaks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the origins of cross burnings and white hoods, and why North Carolina had more Klan members during the height of the civil rights movement than all other Southern states combined.
First Reads
Questions For Alaya Dawn Johnson, Author Of 'The Summer Prince'()
February 15, 2013 Alaya Dawn Johnson answers a few questions about her new YA novel, The Summer Prince — an NPR Books Exclusive First Read.
Author Katherine Bouton Opens Up About Going Deaf()
February 15, 2013 After going deaf at the age of 30, writer Katherine Bouton's entire life changed. In her new book, "Shouting Won't Help," Bouton shares how she came to terms with hearing loss, and why more attention needs to be paid to a condition that affects nearly 50 million Americans.
Books
Uncovering A Dead Father's Secrets In 'After Visiting Friends'()
February 16, 2013 Michael Hainey was 6 years old when he was told his father had died after "visiting friends." As he grew up, he began to suspect that the phrase was a euphemism.
'Nothing Gold' Stays Long In Appalachia()
February 16, 2013 Weekend Edition Saturday Scott Simon talks to author Ron Rash, an Appalachian ballad writer of a kind who writes pointed, fierce, funny and tightly packed stories about people on the run, betting their all and trying to get through lonely nights. His new collection of short stories set in Appalachia is called Nothing Gold Can Stay.
'Noble Savages': A Journey To Break The Mold Of Anthropology()
February 16, 2013 In 1964, Napoleon Chagnon did what few other anthropologists had ever done: He went to the Amazon to study an isolated tribe. His findings cast him out from his profession as a heretic.
'Above All Things' Tells The Story Of A Mountain, A Marriage()
February 17, 2013 George Mallory, famed mountaineer, perished in his attempt to be the first man to summit Mount Everest. Tanis Rideout's debut novel combines the tale of that famous climb with the lesser-known story of George's wife, Ruth.
Control The Chaos With 'Secrets Of Happy Families'()
February 17, 2013 What makes some families stronger, more harmonious, and just plain happier than others? To find out, Bruce Feiler asked parents and experts from a wide variety of fields for advice that parents could apply to improve life at home.
