Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 NPR's brings you news about books and authors along with our picks for great reads. Interviews, reviews, the NPR Bestseller Lists, New in Paperback and much more. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sat, 25 May 2013 17:39:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Books http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032&ft=1&f=1032 A Lost And Found 'Wonder': Pearl S. Buck's Final Novel Before her death in 1973, Pearl S. Buck wrote one final novel. But<em> The Eternal Wonder</em> languished in a Texas storage unit for decades until its discovery last fall. Sat, 25 May 2013 17:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186318860/a-lost-and-found-wonder-pearl-s-bucks-final-novel?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186318860/a-lost-and-found-wonder-pearl-s-bucks-final-novel?ft=1&f=1032 Before her death in 1973, Pearl S. Buck wrote one final novel. But The Eternal Wonder languished in a Texas storage unit for decades until its discovery last fall.

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]]> Transcending Hardships By Saving Others In 'Constellation' In his debut novel, <em>A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, </em>Anthony Marra takes readers to the war-torn republic of Chechnya. People disappear, informers betray and those with humanity endure great hardships. Sat, 25 May 2013 17:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186090241/a-literary-tale-of-chechnya-the-horror-and-whimsy?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186090241/a-literary-tale-of-chechnya-the-horror-and-whimsy?ft=1&f=1032 In his debut novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Anthony Marra takes readers to the war-torn republic of Chechnya. People disappear, informers betray and those with humanity endure great hardships.

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]]> Three-Minute Fiction Readings: 'Geometry' And 'Snowflake' NPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read <em>Snowflake</em> by Winona Wendth of Lancaster, Mass., and <em>Geometry</em> by Eugenie Montague of Los Angeles. Sat, 25 May 2013 07:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186337329/three-minute-fiction-readings-geometry-and-snowflake?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186337329/three-minute-fiction-readings-geometry-and-snowflake?ft=1&f=1032 NPR's Bob Mondello and Susan Stamberg read excerpts of two of the best submissions for Round 11 of our short story contest. They read Snowflake by Winona Wendth of Lancaster, Mass., and Geometry by Eugenie Montague of Los Angeles.

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]]> 'Steal The Menu': A Chronicle Of A Career In Food Coverage When Raymond Sokolov began writing about food, it was considered a specialty portfolio. Today, celebrity chefs abound in the U.S. and Britain, with cookbooks, TV shows and groupies. Host Scott Simon speaks with Sokolov about his new book, <em>Steal the Menu: A Memoir of Forty Years in Food</em>. Sat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186560434/steal-the-menu-a-chronicle-of-a-career-in-food-coverage?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186560434/steal-the-menu-a-chronicle-of-a-career-in-food-coverage?ft=1&f=1032 When Raymond Sokolov began writing about food, it was considered a specialty portfolio. Today, celebrity chefs abound in the U.S. and Britain, with cookbooks, TV shows and groupies. Host Scott Simon speaks with Sokolov about his new book, Steal the Menu: A Memoir of Forty Years in Food.

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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=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/185773695/gateway-arch-biography-reveals-complex-history-of-an-american-icon?ft=1&f=1032 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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]]> Prepare For Takeoff With 'Cockpit Confidential' In his new book, pilot and columnist Patrick Smith explains why you have to turn off your cellphone for takeoff and landing, and why your ideas about autopilot are probably all wrong. He wants people to "re-appreciate the act of air travel. It's not as horrible as everybody thinks it is." Sat, 25 May 2013 05:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/181650172/prepare-for-takeoff-with-cockpit-confidential?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/181650172/prepare-for-takeoff-with-cockpit-confidential?ft=1&f=1032 In his new book, pilot and columnist Patrick Smith explains why you have to turn off your cellphone for takeoff and landing, and why your ideas about autopilot are probably all wrong. He wants people to "re-appreciate the act of air travel. It's not as horrible as everybody thinks it is."

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]]> Snowflake She found the photograph early in the day, while she was cleaning for spring, pulling a winter's collection of domestic detritus out from under the bed. Ticket stubs, grimy grocery notes, coffee-stained lined paper, and dead pens. Their life: movies, food, and books. Sat, 25 May 2013 07:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186300580/snowflake?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/25/186300580/snowflake?ft=1&f=1032 She found the photograph early in the day, while she was cleaning for spring, pulling a winter's collection of domestic detritus out from under the bed. Ticket stubs, grimy grocery notes, coffee-stained lined paper, and dead pens. Their life: movies, food, and books.

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]]> A Race Against Time To Find WWI's Last 'Doughboys' In 2003, Richard Rubin set out to talk to every American veteran of World War I he could find. With help from the French, he tracked down dozens of centenarian vets and recorded their stories in a new book called <em>The Last of the Doughboys</em>. Fri, 24 May 2013 16:39:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186454356/a-race-against-time-to-find-wwis-last-american-doughboys?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/24/186454356/a-race-against-time-to-find-wwis-last-american-doughboys?ft=1&f=1032 In 2003, Richard Rubin set out to talk to every American veteran of World War I he could find. With help from the French, he tracked down dozens of centenarian vets and recorded their stories in a new book called The Last of the Doughboys.

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]]> NPR Bestsellers: Week Of May 23, 2013 The lists are compiled from weekly surveys of close to 500 independent bookstores nationwide. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 The lists are compiled from weekly surveys of close to 500 independent bookstores nationwide.

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]]> NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Fiction, Week Of May 23, 2013 Symbologist Robert Langdon faces a Dante-themed riddle in Dan Brown's <em>Inferno</em>. It debuts at No. 1. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/hardcover-fiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/hardcover-fiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 Symbologist Robert Langdon faces a Dante-themed riddle in Dan Brown's Inferno. It debuts at No. 1.

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]]> NPR Bestsellers: Hardcover Nonfiction, Week Of May 23, 2013 <em>The Guns at Last Light</em> concludes Rick Atkinson's World War II trilogy. It debuts at No. 4. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/hardcover-nonfiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/hardcover-nonfiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 The Guns at Last Light concludes Rick Atkinson's World War II trilogy. It debuts at No. 4.

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]]> NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Fiction, Week Of May 23, 2013 At No. 13, a pilot fights to survive after a devastating pandemic in Peter Heller's <em>The</em> <em>Dog Stars.</em> Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/paperback-fiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/paperback-fiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 At No. 13, a pilot fights to survive after a devastating pandemic in Peter Heller's The Dog Stars.

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]]> NPR Bestsellers: Paperback Nonfiction, Week Of May 23, 2013 An expanded edition of <em>Wreck This Journal</em> encourages creative destruction. It debuts at No. 14. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/paperback-nonfiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/books/bestsellers/paperback-nonfiction/2013/week21/?ft=1&f=1032 An expanded edition of Wreck This Journal encourages creative destruction. It debuts at No. 14.

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]]> Book News: Judge's Comments Bruising To Apple's Price-Fixing Case Also: Mary Karr on addiction and David Foster Wallace; Maria Semple calls Jonathan Franzen her "big daddy." Fri, 24 May 2013 07:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186350004/book-news-judge-s-comments-bruising-to-apple-s-price-fixing-case?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/23/186350004/book-news-judge-s-comments-bruising-to-apple-s-price-fixing-case?ft=1&f=1032 Also: Mary Karr on addiction and David Foster Wallace; Maria Semple calls Jonathan Franzen her "big daddy."

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]]> June Kids' Book Club Pick: 'The One And Only Ivan' In June, NPR's Backseat Book Club will read Katherine Applegate's tale of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a shopping mall. Ivan enjoys watching TV and painting, but a newcomer to the mall — a baby elephant — forces Ivan to face his own past. Thu, 23 May 2013 15:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186296142/june-kids-book-club-pick-the-one-and-only-ivan?ft=1&f=1032 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186296142/june-kids-book-club-pick-the-one-and-only-ivan?ft=1&f=1032 In June, NPR's Backseat Book Club will read Katherine Applegate's tale of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a shopping mall. Ivan enjoys watching TV and painting, but a newcomer to the mall — a baby elephant — forces Ivan to face his own past.

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