NPR Topics: Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=1008 Art and entertainment commentary plus interviews, book reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, comedy, and visual art. Subscribe to podcasts and follow trends in music, painting, art, architecture, photography, and design. en Copyright 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=1008 New In Paperback, Sept. 6-12 As summer ends, it's time for brainy reads you may have missed in hardcover. <em>Wolf Hall,</em> set in the court of Henry VIII, won the 2009 Booker Prize. Former nun Karen Armstrong takes on the atheists in <em>The Case for God.</em> Barbara Ehrenreich pops the bubble of American optimism with her usual wit -- and more. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706622&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706622&ft=1&f=1008 As summer ends, it's time for brainy reads you may have missed in hardcover. Wolf Hall, set in the court of Henry VIII, won the 2009 Booker Prize. Former nun Karen Armstrong takes on the atheists in The Case for God. Barbara Ehrenreich pops the bubble of American optimism with her usual wit -- and more.

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]]> Children's Book Finds Hope In Haiti's Rubble Nine months after the quake in Haiti, Haitian-born author Edwidge Danticat is sharing the earthquake story with an audience that was largely shielded from it -- children. <em>Eight Days</em> is a book about a boy who gets buried in the rubble and is not rescued until eight days later. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129729646&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129729646&ft=1&f=1008 Nine months after the quake in Haiti, Haitian-born author Edwidge Danticat is sharing the earthquake story with an audience that was largely shielded from it -- children. Eight Days is a book about a boy who gets buried in the rubble and is not rescued until eight days later.

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]]> Grab A Notebook. We're Taking You Back To School NPR <em>Tell Me More</em> Producer Lee Hill unveils the program's back-to-school education series and rallies the audience to get involved. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/09/08/129733332/grab-a-notebook-we-re-taking-you-back-to-school?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/09/08/129733332/grab-a-notebook-we-re-taking-you-back-to-school?ft=1&f=1008 NPR Tell Me More Producer Lee Hill unveils the program's back-to-school education series and rallies the audience to get involved.

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]]> The Paradox Of 'Lady Matador's Hotel' Alan Cheuse reviews The Lady Matador's Hotel by Cristina Garcia. The novel weaves the stories of six residents of a hotel in an unnamed Central American capital. One of the guests is a Japanese Mexican-American matadora in town for a bullfight. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129731011&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129731011&ft=1&f=1008 Alan Cheuse reviews The Lady Matador's Hotel by Cristina Garcia. The novel weaves the stories of six residents of a hotel in an unnamed Central American capital. One of the guests is a Japanese Mexican-American matadora in town for a bullfight.

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]]> 'White Wedding' Celebrates Love, South African-Style Last year, the South African sci-fi film <em>District Nine</em> opened in the states to blockbuster grosses. Now another film from South Africa, the road-trip comedy <em>White Wedding</em>, is attracting international notice. The movie follows an engaged couple who weather a series of zany obstacles over the course of their wedding day. <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129474402&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129474402&ft=1&f=1008 Last year, the South African sci-fi film District Nine opened in the states to blockbuster grosses. Now another film from South Africa, the road-trip comedy White Wedding, is attracting international notice. The movie follows an engaged couple who weather a series of zany obstacles over the course of their wedding day. (Recommended)

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]]> R&B Artist Kem Returns With Melodies Unspoken The chart-topper is back on the scene after a lengthy hiatus that left fans anxiously awaiting his return. The singer and self-taught musician, who recently visited NPR studios and performed songs from his new album <em>Intimacy</em>, talks candidly with host Michel Martin. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129708980&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129708980&ft=1&f=1008 The chart-topper is back on the scene after a lengthy hiatus that left fans anxiously awaiting his return. The singer and self-taught musician, who recently visited NPR studios and performed songs from his new album Intimacy, talks candidly with host Michel Martin.

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]]> Fresh Air Remembers Comedian Robert Schimmel The 60-year-old comedian, who often joked about his own life in his raunchy stand-up routines, died Friday from injuries suffered in a car accident. <em>Fresh Air</em> remembers Schimmel with highlights from a 2008 interview in which he discusses his memoir <em>Cancer On $5 A Day.</em> Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706457&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706457&ft=1&f=1008 The 60-year-old comedian, who often joked about his own life in his raunchy stand-up routines, died Friday from injuries suffered in a car accident. Fresh Air remembers Schimmel with highlights from a 2008 interview in which he discusses his memoir Cancer On $5 A Day.

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]]> Why The Priest Fainted: An Ode To Eggplant This fruit commonly used as vegetable is perhaps less loved in the U.S. than in India and the Mideast, where food writer Monica Bhide grew up. But after years of presenting different renditions to American friends and family, she's found ways to woo the eggplant skeptics -- including these spice-laden recipes and tips. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129707905&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129707905&ft=1&f=1008 This fruit commonly used as vegetable is perhaps less loved in the U.S. than in India and the Mideast, where food writer Monica Bhide grew up. But after years of presenting different renditions to American friends and family, she's found ways to woo the eggplant skeptics -- including these spice-laden recipes and tips.

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]]> 'Skippy Dies' In Dublin: A Funny Flashback Follows The titular event happens just a few pages into Paul Murray's novel; the rest of the story is an extended flashback, following the doomed Skippy, his geeky roommate and their cadre of bored, irreverent friends as they tease girls, dodge bullies and attend Catholic school in a rundown Dublin neighborhood. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129602931&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129602931&ft=1&f=1008 The titular event happens just a few pages into Paul Murray's novel; the rest of the story is an extended flashback, following the doomed Skippy, his geeky roommate and their cadre of bored, irreverent friends as they tease girls, dodge bullies and attend Catholic school in a rundown Dublin neighborhood.

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]]> A German 'Soul Kitchen' That's More Than A Restaurant The Turkish-German filmmaker Fatih Akin is a star of European cinema, known for gritty dramas about the immigrant experience in Germany. But his newest movie is a somewhat lighter film, filled with greasy food and heavy music. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706282&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129706282&ft=1&f=1008 The Turkish-German filmmaker Fatih Akin is a star of European cinema, known for gritty dramas about the immigrant experience in Germany. But his newest movie is a somewhat lighter film, filled with greasy food and heavy music.

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]]> Journalist Lawrence Wright's 'Trip To Al-Qaeda' A new HBO documentary details Wright's experiences writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning book <em>The Looming Tower</em>. Wright explains what he learned while interviewing sources for his book -- and talks about the challenge of maintaining objectivity while researching modern terrorism. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129697986&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129697986&ft=1&f=1008 A new HBO documentary details Wright's experiences writing his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Looming Tower. Wright explains what he learned while interviewing sources for his book -- and talks about the challenge of maintaining objectivity while researching modern terrorism.

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]]> Investigating The Real Detective Charlie Chan The fictional, aphorism-spouting Chinese detective is best known today as a stereotypical relic from a less sensitive time. Yunte Huang tells the story of the real man who inspired the caricature in <em>Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History.</em> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129424778&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129424778&ft=1&f=1008 The fictional, aphorism-spouting Chinese detective is best known today as a stereotypical relic from a less sensitive time. Yunte Huang tells the story of the real man who inspired the caricature in Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History.

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]]> Gary Shteyngart's Nerd Passion For 'Zardoz' Writer Gary Shteyngart may have no idea what <em>Zardoz</em> is about, but that doesn't stop him from knowing the science-fiction novel by heart. For a nerd like him, nothing compares to the post-apocalyptic world full of floating heads and immortal beings. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629697&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129629697&ft=1&f=1008 Writer Gary Shteyngart may have no idea what Zardoz is about, but that doesn't stop him from knowing the science-fiction novel by heart. For a nerd like him, nothing compares to the post-apocalyptic world full of floating heads and immortal beings.

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]]> Jokes To Tell Your Parents For Rosh Hashana When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1008 When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right.

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]]> 'Phantom Tollbooth' Creators Reunited By An 'Ogre' In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created <em>The Phantom Tollbooth</em>, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called <em>The Odious Ogre</em>. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1008 In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created The Phantom Tollbooth, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called The Odious Ogre. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project.

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