The Week's 5 Best Stories From NPR Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100876926&ft=1&f=100876926 This week, our Summer Books series continues with young adult fiction and a roundup of what to look forward to. Plus, what kids are reading, graphic novels of animal noir, and a meditation on Kafka, Orwell, and the recent surveillance revelations. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:51:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg The Week's 5 Best Stories From NPR Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100876926&ft=1&f=100876926 yes What Kids Are Reading, In School And Out Some experts are concerned that both in-school assignments and the books kids read for pleasure may not be challenging them enough. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/11/190669029/what-kids-are-reading-in-school-and-out?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/11/190669029/what-kids-are-reading-in-school-and-out?ft=1&f=100876926 Some experts are concerned that both in-school assignments and the books kids read for pleasure may not be challenging them enough. 469 no Some experts are concerned that both in-school assignments and the books kids read for pleasure may not be challenging them enough.

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]]> School's Out: 5 Great Summer Reads For Teens NPR Books is replete with readers of grown-up books, but editor Petra Mayer prefers a good YA novel any day. She picks five (well, really six) of her favorite summer YA reads, from first love in 1980s Omaha to far-future Brazil and beyond. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190371764/schools-out-5-great-summer-reads-for-teens?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190371764/schools-out-5-great-summer-reads-for-teens?ft=1&f=100876926 NPR Books is replete with readers of grown-up books, but editor Petra Mayer prefers a good YA novel any day. She picks five (well, really six) of her favorite summer YA reads, from first love in 1980s Omaha to far-future Brazil and beyond. no NPR Books is replete with readers of grown-up books, but editor Petra Mayer prefers a good YA novel any day. She picks five (well, really six) of her favorite summer YA reads, from first love in 1980s Omaha to far-future Brazil and beyond.

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]]> Sneak Preview: 5 Books To Look Forward To This Summer NPR's Barrie Hardymon has been scanning the catalogs all year, searching for the summer's best books. Her five favorites range from young-adult fiction to a memoir about cheese. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/189562531/sneak-preview-5-books-to-look-forward-to-this-summer?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/189562531/sneak-preview-5-books-to-look-forward-to-this-summer?ft=1&f=100876926 NPR's Barrie Hardymon has been scanning the catalogs all year, searching for the summer's best books. Her five favorites range from young-adult fiction to a memoir about cheese. no NPR's Barrie Hardymon has been scanning the catalogs all year, searching for the summer's best books. Her five favorites range from young-adult fiction to a memoir about cheese.

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]]> Badger, Bunny And Black-Cat Blues: 3 Tales Of Animal Noir Writer Jody Arlington picks three hot summer graphic-novel reads. The twist? They all star anthropomorphic animals: Doughty badger detective LeBrock, hard-boiled cat detective John Blacksad and resistance rabbit Hardin dodge assassins, steal secrets and track down the missing just like their human counterparts. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189300048/badger-bunny-and-black-cat-blues-3-tales-of-animal-noir?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189300048/badger-bunny-and-black-cat-blues-3-tales-of-animal-noir?ft=1&f=100876926 Writer Jody Arlington picks three hot summer graphic-novel reads. The twist? They all star anthropomorphic animals: Doughty badger detective LeBrock, hard-boiled cat detective John Blacksad and resistance rabbit Hardin dodge assassins, steal secrets and track down the missing just like their human counterparts. no Writer Jody Arlington picks three hot summer graphic-novel reads. The twist? They all star anthropomorphic animals: Doughty badger detective LeBrock, hard-boiled cat detective John Blacksad and resistance rabbit Hardin dodge assassins, steal secrets and track down the missing just like their human counterparts.

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]]> Our Surveillance Society: What Orwell And Kafka Might Say Revelations that the federal government is collecting massive amounts of data about telephone calls and Internet traffic has some people nervous that George Orwell's vision of Big Brother constantly watching them has come true. Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/08/189792140/our-surveillance-society-what-orwell-and-kafka-might-say?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/08/189792140/our-surveillance-society-what-orwell-and-kafka-might-say?ft=1&f=100876926 Revelations that the federal government is collecting massive amounts of data about telephone calls and Internet traffic has some people nervous that George Orwell's vision of Big Brother constantly watching them has come true. no Revelations that the federal government is collecting massive amounts of data about telephone calls and Internet traffic has some people nervous that George Orwell's vision of Big Brother constantly watching them has come true.

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]]> Female Perspectives: Five Novels That Bring Outsiders In For readers in search of tales that step outside familiar viewpoints, these authors unravel conflict, religion, race and love — from new and different angles. In these novels, a child from the slums, an executed zealot, a reluctant immigrant, a guilty survivor and a suffering mother take center stage. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/06/187587041/female-perspectives-five-novels-that-bring-outsiders-in?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/06/187587041/female-perspectives-five-novels-that-bring-outsiders-in?ft=1&f=100876926 For readers in search of tales that step outside familiar viewpoints, these authors unravel conflict, religion, race and love — from new and different angles. In these novels, a child from the slums, an executed zealot, a reluctant immigrant, a guilty survivor and a suffering mother take center stage. no For readers in search of tales that step outside familiar viewpoints, these authors unravel conflict, religion, race and love — from new and different angles. In these novels, a child from the slums, an executed zealot, a reluctant immigrant, a guilty survivor and a suffering mother take center stage.

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]]> Start Storing Up: Indie Booksellers Pick Summer's Best Reads NPR's Susan Stamberg asked three of our go-to independent booksellers to help fill our beach bags with good books. The result is a reading list that's all about youth and ritual. Tue, 04 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/04/187601740/start-storing-up-indie-booksellers-pick-summers-best-reads?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/04/187601740/start-storing-up-indie-booksellers-pick-summers-best-reads?ft=1&f=100876926 NPR's Susan Stamberg asked three of our go-to independent booksellers to help fill our beach bags with good books. The result is a reading list that's all about youth and ritual. 440 no NPR's Susan Stamberg asked three of our go-to independent booksellers to help fill our beach bags with good books. The result is a reading list that's all about youth and ritual.

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]]> Mapping 'The World' Of A Remote Afghan Village Journalist Anna Badkhen chronicles life in a small Afghan village in her new book, <em>The World Is A Carpet</em>. A village of 240 people, Oqa survives on an old-time tradition of carpet weaving. Residents earn about 40 cents a day for carpets that eventually sell for $5,000 to $20,000 abroad. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187074398/mapping-the-world-of-a-remote-afghan-village?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187074398/mapping-the-world-of-a-remote-afghan-village?ft=1&f=100876926 Journalist Anna Badkhen chronicles life in a small Afghan village in her new book, <em>The World Is A Carpet</em>. A village of 240 people, Oqa survives on an old-time tradition of carpet weaving. Residents earn about 40 cents a day for carpets that eventually sell for $5,000 to $20,000 abroad. 335 no Journalist Anna Badkhen chronicles life in a small Afghan village in her new book, The World Is A Carpet. A village of 240 people, Oqa survives on an old-time tradition of carpet weaving. Residents earn about 40 cents a day for carpets that eventually sell for $5,000 to $20,000 abroad.

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]]> Arthur Geisert's 'Thunderstorm' Celebrates Life On The Prairie The award-winning children's book author has written more than two dozen books set in the American heartland. He's most famous for his intricate illustrations of the Midwest — sprawling prairie, family farms and his signature mischievous pigs. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/186284737/arthur-geiserts-thunderstorm-celebrates-life-on-the-prairie?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/186284737/arthur-geiserts-thunderstorm-celebrates-life-on-the-prairie?ft=1&f=100876926 The award-winning children's book author has written more than two dozen books set in the American heartland. He's most famous for his intricate illustrations of the Midwest — sprawling prairie, family farms and his signature mischievous pigs. 314 no The award-winning children's book author has written more than two dozen books set in the American heartland. He's most famous for his intricate illustrations of the Midwest — sprawling prairie, family farms and his signature mischievous pigs.

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]]> Donald Justice's 'Collected Poems' Offer Refuge From The Rain Justice's poems are not interested in making us feel comfortable or special. Yet author Mary Szybist says there is something about them that she finds profoundly consoling. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187354106/donald-justices-collected-poems-offer-refuge-from-the-rain?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187354106/donald-justices-collected-poems-offer-refuge-from-the-rain?ft=1&f=100876926 Justice's poems are not interested in making us feel comfortable or special. Yet author Mary Szybist says there is something about them that she finds profoundly consoling. no Justice's poems are not interested in making us feel comfortable or special. Yet author Mary Szybist says there is something about them that she finds profoundly consoling.

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]]> Moments Of Truth: 6 Memoirs Written With Heart Vacations are where we do some of our most serious thinking, but when it comes to summer reading, we often reach for mindless reads. This year, beautifully written memoirs — about unspeakable loss, motherhood and the process of healing — offer substantial stories that tear at the heart. Thu, 30 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/187103809/moments-of-truth-6-memoirs-written-with-heart?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/187103809/moments-of-truth-6-memoirs-written-with-heart?ft=1&f=100876926 Vacations are where we do some of our most serious thinking, but when it comes to summer reading, we often reach for mindless reads. This year, beautifully written memoirs — about unspeakable loss, motherhood and the process of healing — offer substantial stories that tear at the heart. no Vacations are where we do some of our most serious thinking, but when it comes to summer reading, we often reach for mindless reads. This year, beautifully written memoirs — about unspeakable loss, motherhood and the process of healing — offer substantial stories that tear at the heart.

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]]> Exclusive First Read: 'TransAtlantic' By Colum McCann Read an exclusive excerpt of Colum McCann's new novel, <em>TransAtlantic. </em>It's a series of braided stories about the deep and complex ties between America and Ireland, centering on Dubliner Lily Duggan, who emigrates in search of a better life. Wed, 29 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/29/186902137/exclusive-first-read-transatlantic-by-colum-mccann?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/29/186902137/exclusive-first-read-transatlantic-by-colum-mccann?ft=1&f=100876926 Read an exclusive excerpt of Colum McCann's new novel, <em>TransAtlantic. </em>It's a series of braided stories about the deep and complex ties between America and Ireland, centering on Dubliner Lily Duggan, who emigrates in search of a better life. 0 no Read an exclusive excerpt of Colum McCann's new novel, TransAtlantic. It's a series of braided stories about the deep and complex ties between America and Ireland, centering on Dubliner Lily Duggan, who emigrates in search of a better life.

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]]> Stephen King On Growing Up, Believing In God And Getting Scared "The more carny it got, the better I liked it," King says of his new thriller,<em> <em>Joyland.</em> </em>The book, set in a North Carolina amusement park in 1973, is part horror novel and part supernatural thriller. King talks with <em>Fresh Air</em>'s Terry Gross about his career writing horror, and about what scares him now. Tue, 28 May 2013 14:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/28/184827647/stephen-king-on-growing-up-believing-in-god-and-getting-scared?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/28/184827647/stephen-king-on-growing-up-believing-in-god-and-getting-scared?ft=1&f=100876926 "The more carny it got, the better I liked it," King says of his new thriller,<em> <em>Joyland.</em> </em>The book, set in a North Carolina amusement park in 1973, is part horror novel and part supernatural thriller. King talks with <em>Fresh Air</em>'s Terry Gross about his career writing horror, and about what scares him now. 2448 no "The more carny it got, the better I liked it," King says of his new thriller, Joyland. The book, set in a North Carolina amusement park in 1973, is part horror novel and part supernatural thriller. King talks with Fresh Air's Terry Gross about his career writing horror, and about what scares him now.

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]]> 'The Son': A Texas Saga With Guilt And Gore To Go Around Philipp Meyer's second novel is a centuries-spanning family saga that chronicles the growth of Texas. Many hands are bloodied in the novel's conflicts: between settlers and Native Americans, between Texan ranchers and Mexicans, and finally, between ranchers and the oil men who take over the land. Tue, 28 May 2013 03:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/28/186469381/the-son-a-texas-saga-with-guilt-and-gore-to-go-around?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/28/186469381/the-son-a-texas-saga-with-guilt-and-gore-to-go-around?ft=1&f=100876926 Philipp Meyer's second novel is a centuries-spanning family saga that chronicles the growth of Texas. Many hands are bloodied in the novel's conflicts: between settlers and Native Americans, between Texan ranchers and Mexicans, and finally, between ranchers and the oil men who take over the land. 320 no Philipp Meyer's second novel is a centuries-spanning family saga that chronicles the growth of Texas. Many hands are bloodied in the novel's conflicts: between settlers and Native Americans, between Texan ranchers and Mexicans, and finally, between ranchers and the oil men who take over the land.

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]]> Gateway Arch 'Biography' Reveals Complex History Of An American Icon The gleaming stainless steel arch in St. Louis is, officially, a monument to westward expansion. But in <em>The Gateway Arch: A Biography,</em> Tracy Campbell argues that the monument's meaning is more complicated. He tells NPR about the controversies, the clout and the costs behind the 630-foot structure. Sat, 25 May 2013 05:55:37 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/185773695/gateway-arch-biography-reveals-complex-history-of-an-american-icon?ft=1&f=100876926 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/185773695/gateway-arch-biography-reveals-complex-history-of-an-american-icon?ft=1&f=100876926 The gleaming stainless steel arch in St. Louis is, officially, a monument to westward expansion. But in <em>The Gateway Arch: A Biography,</em> Tracy Campbell argues that the monument's meaning is more complicated. He tells NPR about the controversies, the clout and the costs behind the 630-foot structure. 365 no The gleaming stainless steel arch in St. Louis is, officially, a monument to westward expansion. But in The Gateway Arch: A Biography, Tracy Campbell argues that the monument's meaning is more complicated. He tells NPR about the controversies, the clout and the costs behind the 630-foot structure.

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