Books

NPR Book Reviews

Warm Glow And Clear Flow — A Poet Pines, Charms
Known as a cultural critic, Clive James is gaining deserved recognition as a poet. Lucid and fun, these poems touch on literary life, mortality, religion — and unrequited love for the stars of women's tennis.
Ex-CIA Operative Discusses 'The Devil We Know'
In his new book, The Devil We Know, former CIA operative Robert Baer argues that Iran is an up-and-coming — and often misunderstood — superpower, with strong influences throughout the Middle East.
War On Terror In A Graphic-Novel Narrative
In this horror story, the terror is real. After 9/11: America's War on Terror (2001 - ) uses the tools of visual storytelling to unravel the tangled tale of U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Writers Chronicle American Story 'State By State'
During the Great Depression, the federal government employed 6,000 writers and researchers to fan out across the nation to create a historical document of the country's diversity. Fifty writers were recently deployed for a modern-day duplication of the original project.
Imagining The Life Of The President's Wife
American Wife follows the life of a demure school librarian who becomes first lady of the United States. The novel, inspired by the life of Laura Bush, is the third from Curtis Sittenfeld.
'Grapes Of Wrath' And The Politics of Book Burning
The Steinbeck classic was banned and burned in a number of cities, including Kern County, Calif. — the endpoint of the Joad family's fictional migration West. Rick Wartzman, the author of Obscene In The Extreme, says the ban was politically motivated.
Buddhism And The Zen Of Punk Rock
Buddhism is finding a large following among fans of punk rock. What could the two possibly have in common? Rebellion and a sense of individual responsibility, according to ordained Zen master and bona fide punk rocker Brad Warner.
'Great Outdoor Fight' Flows From Web To Page
Chris Onstad's web-comic Achewood may be modeled on stuffed animals, but it's anything but cuddly. The new print compilation of the strip highlights The Great Outdoor Fight — featuring three days, three acres and 3,000 men.
A Portrait Of The U.S., 'State By State'
Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey talk to host Andrea Seabrook about their new compilation, State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America. The book is inspired by the Depression-era Federal Writers' Project, which sent the great authors of the day out on the road to write a series of travel guides.
Hollywood Bad Boy Eszterhas Writes About Faith
Joe Eszterhas was one of the dirtiest, drinkingest writers in Hollywood. He wrote films like Show Girls, Jagged Edge, Basic Instinct and Music Box. After he was diagnosed with throat cancer, he turned himself over to God. He writes about his journey in a new memoir.
Comic Portrays French Trader Who Caused Collapse
Jerome Kerviel, the young French trader who caused the biggest banking collapse in French history, is the subject of a new fictionalized memoir in comic book form.
Diahann Carroll Talks Of Love, Life And Those Legs
In her new memoir The Legs Are The Last To Go, actress Diahann Carroll talks about her glamorous career and lifestyle — and simplifying. But she says, "Stepping away from glamour is not an easy thing to do."
When Audio Books Jar The Ear
Many times, voice actors hired to record audio books complement the material. But sometimes, when narrators turn to bombast or bad accents, they are a distraction, commentator Nate DiMeo says.
'Anna K.,' From Russia To Queens — With Love
Modernizing a familiar novel is a literary parlor trick. Crafting a fresh, moving interpretation of one of literature's great narratives is an achievement. Irina Reyn's What Happened To Anna K. is unquestionably a case of the latter.
Hooman Majd, Considering The Iranian 'Paradox'
When President Ahmadinejad of Iran spoke at the UN this week, his translator was Hooman Majd. But Majd isn't a professional translator. He's a writer, and his new book is called The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran.

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