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The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books This week: Meg Wolitzer's latest, Charles Frazier returns to the Civil War, the pressures of being the only black person in the room, a new Macbeth, and marriage-saving tips from a divorce lawyer.
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The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

This week: Meg Wolitzer, Charles Frazier, Jo Nesbo, Nafissa Thompson-Spires and James Sexton.
Stephen And Owen King On The Horror Of A World Without Women In 'Sleeping Beauties'
Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR

Stephen And Owen King On The Horror Of A World Without Women In 'Sleeping Beauties'

What if every woman on earth went to sleep and never woke up, leaving only men to run things? That's the horror at the center of Sleeping Beauties, the new novel from Stephen King and his son Owen.

Stephen And Owen King On The Horror Of A World Without Women In 'Sleeping Beauties'

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A Modern Collaboration With Mark Twain In 'Prince Oleomargarine'

The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine is based on notes for a story Mark Twain told his young daughters, about magical seeds and talking animals. Erin Stead hide caption

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Erin Stead

A Modern Collaboration With Mark Twain In 'Prince Oleomargarine'

Authors Philip and Erin Stead have turned 16 pages of Mark Twain's notes — on a serial bedtime story he wove for his daughters — into a new children's book, The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine.

A Modern Collaboration With Mark Twain In 'Prince Oleomargarine'

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A Former Speechwriter Looks Back On His 'Hopey, Changey' Years With Obama

President Barack Obama speaks at the 2014 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. Speechwriter David Litt, who helped craft the president's comedy routine that night, says, "Some of the joke is always that it's the president telling a joke." Olivier Douliery/Getty Images hide caption

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Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

A Former Speechwriter Looks Back On His 'Hopey, Changey' Years With Obama

Fresh Air

David Litt says writing speeches and jokes for former President Obama was often a delicate task: "There's a whole industry of people trying to take your words out of context."

A Former Speechwriter Looks Back On His 'Hopey, Changey' Years With Obama

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'Unforgivable Love' Resets Steamy 'Dangerous Liaisons' In 1940s Harlem
Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR

'Unforgivable Love' Resets Steamy 'Dangerous Liaisons' In 1940s Harlem

The retelling of the 1782 French novel has just as much betrayal and bed-hopping as the original, but in a new locale. Author Sophfronia Scott explains why Harlem — and how she writes good sex scenes.

'Unforgivable Love' Resets Steamy 'Dangerous Liaisons' In 1940s Harlem

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Finally, A Book Of Poetry For Kids Who Are 'Just No Good At Rhyming'
Christina Ascani/NPR

Poetry

Finally, A Book Of Poetry For Kids Who Are 'Just No Good At Rhyming'

Chris Harris had never written a children's book before — but he wanted to write something special for his kids. His new collection of short-form poems is silly, surprising and full of wordplay.

Finally, A Book Of Poetry For Kids Who Are 'Just No Good At Rhyming'

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'The Autobiography Of Gucci Mane': A Story Of Rap And Rebirth

"It's just truth," Gucci Mane says of his new book. "It's the underdog story because I been jumping hurdles my whole life." Cameron Kirkland/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Cameron Kirkland/Courtesy of the artist

'The Autobiography Of Gucci Mane': A Story Of Rap And Rebirth

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to rapper about his new book, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane. It traces his life as an artist who forged an unlikely path to stardom and personal rebirth.

'The Autobiography Of Gucci Mane': A Story Of Rap And Rebirth

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Silicon Valley's Ellen Pao Tackles Sex Discrimination, Workplace Diversity In Memoir

Ellen Pao is a tech investor, co-founder of inclusion nonprofit Project Include, and former Reddit CEO. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

All Tech Considered

Silicon Valley's Ellen Pao Tackles Sex Discrimination, Workplace Diversity In Memoir

The tech investor dives into the lawsuit that thrust her into the national spotlight and the workplace conditions that prompted it. She says firms are largely applying "tepid diversity solutions."

Silicon Valley's Ellen Pao Tackles Sex Discrimination, Workplace Diversity In Memoir

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'School For Good And Evil' Is A Kids' Fantasy Series For The Fake News Era

'School For Good And Evil' Is A Kids' Fantasy Series For The Fake News Era

"Good and evil — they mix in the world," says author Soman Chainani. "Both sides claim to be good, both sides claim to be telling the truth." His latest in the series is called Quests for Glory.

'School For Good And Evil' Is A Kids' Fantasy Series For The Fake News Era

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Clinton Won't Rule Out Questioning 2016 Election, But Says No Clear Means To Do So

Hillary Clinton outside the Fresh Air studio in Philadelphia on Sept. 14. Courtesy of Jessica Kourkounis hide caption

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Courtesy of Jessica Kourkounis

Clinton Won't Rule Out Questioning 2016 Election, But Says No Clear Means To Do So

Fresh Air

Hillary Clinton tells Fresh Air the mechanism for such a challenge does not exist in the U.S. "and usually we don't need it." She also says she is "optimistic about our country, but I am not naive."

Clinton Won't Rule Out Questioning 2016 Election, But Says No Clear Means To Do So

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Author Attica Locke: In America, We Walk 'Side By Side' With Our Past

Attica Locke is the author of Black Water Rising, The Cutting Season and Pleasantville, and has written for the Fox drama, Empire. Ulf Andersen/Getty Images hide caption

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Author Attica Locke: In America, We Walk 'Side By Side' With Our Past

Locke's novel Bluebird, Bluebird is set in Texas where her family roots stretch back to slavery. The family didn't go north during the Great Migration, she explains: "We said: No, Texas is ours, too."

Author Attica Locke: In America, We Walk 'Side By Side' With Our Past

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Reporter Katy Tur Shares Her 'Front-Row' View Of The Trump Campaign

Katy Tur is now an anchor for MSNBC and a reporter for NBC News. Elena Seibert/Harper Collins hide caption

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Elena Seibert/Harper Collins

Reporter Katy Tur Shares Her 'Front-Row' View Of The Trump Campaign

Fresh Air

Tur was at a rally in South Carolina when Trump called her name and pointed at her from the podium. Then, she says, "The entire place turns and they roar as one ... like a giant, unchained animal."

Reporter Katy Tur Shares Her 'Front-Row' View Of The Trump Campaign

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