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Books We Love: Great books about identity and culture
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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Books We Love: Great books about identity and culture

The latest edition of NPR's Books We Love project rounded up hundreds of book recommendations from critics, writers and NPR journalists to try to give you just the read you're looking for. Today, we're giving recommendations for our favorite books about identity and culture.

Books We Love: Great books about identity and culture

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Is there tea left in the kettle for 'Downton Abbey: A New Era'?

Harry Hadden-Paton, Laura Carmichael, Tuppence Middleton and Allen Leech star in Downton Abbey: A New Era. Focus Features hide caption

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Is there tea left in the kettle for 'Downton Abbey: A New Era'?

Downton Abbey is back again. Three years after the 2019 movie that extended the popular TV series, the Crawleys are once again dealing with the clash of the old ways and the new ways. This time, the interloper is early Hollywood. While a director, a crew, and a bunch of actors descend upon the estate for filming, the story also travels to the south of France for a story that might reveal secrets from the Dowager Countess' past.

Is there tea left in the kettle for 'Downton Abbey: A New Era'?

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Kendrick Lamar looks inward on 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

Kendrick Lamar returns with his latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Kendrick Lamar looks inward on 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

It's been five years since Kendrick Lamar released his last album, DAMN. Since then, he's won a Pulitzer Prize, been nominated for an Oscar, and become a parent. His new double-length album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, is anything but a breezy victory lap. Lamar examines generational trauma, sexual politics, and his own attempts to grow amid high expectations and heavy introspection.

Kendrick Lamar looks inward on 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

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Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn play Frances and Nick in Conversations with Friends. Hulu hide caption

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Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

Irish writer Sally Rooney's book Normal People was adapted into a Hulu series in 2020. Now, her first novel Conversations with Friends gets its own Hulu adaptation. It tells the story of two college friends and exes (Alison Oliver and Sasha Lane) who meet a married couple (Joe Alwyn and Jemima Kirke) and get very deeply entangled with them, which makes everything very complicated.

Secrets and lies and 'Conversations with Friends'

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'The Flight Attendant' takes off once again

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'The Flight Attendant' takes off once again

A woman wakes up after a night of partying and realizes something is very, very wrong. That's the premise of the HBO Max series The Flight Attendant. It's a taut, darkly funny thriller starring Kaley Cuoco of The Big Bang Theory as a woman in search of some answers about the present that also might shed light on the past. In this encore episode, we're revisiting our conversation about The Flight Attendant, which recently returned for a second season.

'The Flight Attendant' takes off once again

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Eurovision serves up lavish spectacle — and a big win for Ukraine

Members of the band Kalush Orchestra perform on behalf of Ukraine during the final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Eurovision serves up lavish spectacle — and a big win for Ukraine

The 66th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Italy over the weekend. Every year, dozens of countries face off in a competition full of pageantry, strobe lights, and sparkles. But Eurovision isn't just a talent search. It's also a lavish spectacle that attempts to unify the world in song. This year's winner was Kalush Orchestra, from Ukraine.

Eurovision serves up lavish spectacle — and a big win for Ukraine

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'Heartstopper' is bursting with young queer love, cartoon hearts and fireworks

Kit Connor plays Nick in Netflix's Heartstopper. Netflix hide caption

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'Heartstopper' is bursting with young queer love, cartoon hearts and fireworks

The Netflix series Heartstopper is a new romcom for soft hearts everywhere. Based on Alice Oseman's graphic novels, the show follows Charlie and Nick, who are young and navigating the hallways of high school. When the two meet, they instantly take a shine to each other and go from rugby teammates to good friends to something more.

'Heartstopper' is bursting with young queer love, cartoon hearts and fireworks

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Bad Bunny unleashes a genre-smashing summer blockbuster

Bad Bunny performs onstage in Miami during "The Last Tour Of The World" on April 1, 2022. AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Bad Bunny unleashes a genre-smashing summer blockbuster

Bad Bunny is one of the world's biggest pop stars and a multimedia superstar. Now, the Puerto Rican singer is back with a new record called Un Verano Sin Ti, or A Summer Without You. It's a 23-song, double-length album that sprawls across many genres, including pop, trap, reggaeton and much more — and features musical guests galore.

Bad Bunny unleashes a genre-smashing summer blockbuster

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'We Own This City' has a modern-day conversation with 'The Wire'

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'We Own This City' has a modern-day conversation with 'The Wire'

HBO's We Own This City zeroes in on rampant corruption and abuse within Baltimore's criminal justice system. It features drug dealers, civilians and the police officers who recklessly target them both. There's also politicians and federal agents with competing interests and egos. If this sounds like The Wire, they do share some DNA: David Simon and George Pelecanos are its creators. And while a few Wire-verse alumni appear, is this series more than just a rewiring of Baltimore politics?

'We Own This City' has a modern-day conversation with 'The Wire'

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Books We Love: Recommendations for nonfiction
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Books We Love: Recommendations for nonfiction

NPR's annual Books We Love project rounded up hundreds of books that scratch whatever your reading itch might be. Today, we're going to talk about some of the nonfiction we loved.

Books We Love: Recommendations for nonfiction

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'American Song Contest' attempts to duplicate the magic of Eurovision

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'American Song Contest' attempts to duplicate the magic of Eurovision

Hosted by Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg, NBC's American Song Contest is a singing competition that tries to duplicate the Eurovision formula by having each entry represent their home state or territory.

'American Song Contest' attempts to duplicate the magic of Eurovision

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What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, reading and listening

Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver on The Other Two, which was renewed for a third season this past fall. Greg Endries /HBO Max hide caption

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What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, reading and listening

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: vintage reads, Elden Ring and something to scratch the Schitt's Creek itch.

'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' serves horror energy

Xochitl Gomez, Benedict Wong, and Benedict Cumberbatch star in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness. Marvel Studios hide caption

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'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' serves horror energy

In Marvel's Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Benedict Cumberbatch returns as a powerful sorcerer who must protect Earth from mystical menaces. The new film finds Doctor Strange battling an unexpected nemesis as he comes to the aid of America Chavez, played by Xochitl Gomez, who has the power to travel across alternate universes. Directed by Sam Raimi, the film also stars Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, and Rachel McAdams.

'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' serves horror energy

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