What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask The term "book ban" is used a lot in media and elsewhere when addressing the rise in challenges to certain books being allowed in schools and public libraries. But is it more political hyperbole or a censorship alarm bell? Elizabeth Blair
A young girl grapples with life post World War I in 'Gretel and the Great War' NPR's Scott Simon talks with author Adam Ehrlich Sachs about his new novel "Gretel and the Great War." The book follows a young girl in Vienna at the end of World War I.
A surprising genre of romance novels is gaining popularity Love is on the ice — and off the ice! And maybe a loose tooth to go along with it. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Washington Post reporter Rachel Kurzius about the popularity of hockey romance novels. Scott Simon
'Orphan Bachelors' memoir explores the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act Fae Myenne Ng wrote about her family and the elderly men who populated San Francisco's Chinatown when she was growing up. All were impacted by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
MSNBC host Ali Velshi chronicles his ancestors’ migrations across three continents In his memoir, Small Acts of Courage, Velshi traces his family’s journey, from India to South Africa — where his grandfather crossed paths with Mahatma Gandhi — to Kenya, Canada and the U.S. Dave Davies
What's it like to live in a vacation spot when tourists leave? 'Wait' offers a window Set during a uniquely stressful summer for one Nantucket family, Gabriella Burnham's second novel highlights the strong bonds between a mom and her daughters. Heller McAlpin
A German novel about a tortured love affair wins 2024 International Booker Prize Jenny Erpenbeck's novel, translated by Michael Hofmann, follows a couple in 1980s East Berlin and their tumultuous relationship, while Germany undergoes its own political transformation. Andrew Limbong
Horror icon Stephen King doubts it's possible to 'gross out' the American public NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with author Stephen King about his new collections of short stories, You Like It Darker. Courtney Dorning
Years ago, a psychic told Kristen Wiig to move to LA. She left the next day The SNL alum co-stars with Carol Burnett in Palm Royale, an Apple TV+ series about a former pageant queen who wants to break into high society. Wiig says the show was a chance to work with "a legend." Ann Marie Baldonado
With age and sobriety, Michael McDonald is ready to get personal McDonald says that earlier in his career, he tended to avoid writing about himself directly in songs. He opens up about his life and career in the memoir, What a Fool Believes. Tonya Mosley
