Books
When East Meets West on the Page: Author Gish Jen Discusses ‘Tiger Writing’
When Chinese American writer Gish Jen read her father’s autobiography it sparked her explore a tension in her own life that she’s long written about in her fiction. She calls it her “struggle between Emerson and Confucius.”
Chinua Achebe: Remembering a Giant of World Literature
Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe passed away on Thursday at age 82. His first novel, “Things Fall Apart” was published in 1958 and went on to become one of Africa’s most read novels around the world. The book has been translated into more than 45 languages. Achebe’s been called the “father of modern African literature” but Nigerian playwright Biyi Bandele calls him a “giant in world literature.” Anchor, Marco Werman speaks with Bandele about Achebe’s legacy.
‘The Terror Courts’ Offers Scathing Account of Military Commissions
Jess Bravin is the Supreme Court correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and since 2001 he has followed the military commissions story closely. His new book, “The Terror Courts,” is a riveting and at times scathing account of the formation of the commissions and how they have been troubled from the beginning over questions about detainee abuse and the legitimacy of commissions themselves.
Author Rory Carroll Reflects on Hugo Chavez’s Political Rule in ‘Comandante’
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has died after a two-year battle with cancer. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Rory Carroll, former Latin American bureau chief for Britain’s Guardian newspaper, about the man who dominated Venezuela for the past 14 years.
Calls to Censor ‘Of Mice and Men’ in Turkey
Turkey is no stranger to TV and internet censorship. But recently, a controversy erupted over a call to censor a book on Turkey’s recommended reading list for students. The book was John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.”
Azerbaijan: Bounty Money Offered for Author Akram Aylisli’s Ear
The State Department this week called on the government of Azerbaijan to protect author Akram Aylisli. The respected elderly author became the subject of protests and threats of violence, because of his latest book.
La Fiction Pulpe de Gérard de Villiers
I was introduced to Gérard de Villiers’ SAS series when I lived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. No. 76 in the series is “Putsch à Ouagadougou,” and as Worth explains in his story, the book contains undeniable verisimilitude.
British Soldiers, American War – Book Review
War is full of dirty little secrets. The World’s History Editor, Chris Woolf reviews “British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution.”
‘The Big Truck That Went By’: A Journalist’s Account of the Earthquake and its Aftermath in Haiti
Jonathan Katz was the Associated Press reporter in Haiti three years ago when an earthquake hit the country. He spent the next few years documenting the quake and its aftermath.
Why German Crime Fiction Fails to Thrill US Readers
Between 400 and 500 crime novels or “Krimis” are published each year in Germany, but the thrillers have never cracked the US market unlike their Scandinavian cousins.
Lia Lee: A Disabled Life that Changed the Face of Western Medicine
We look back on the life and death of Lia Lee, the daughter of Hmong refugees immortalized in the best-selling book “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.” Host Marco Werman talks with author Anne Fadiman.
Iraq in Retrospect: Kevin Powers’ Novel ‘The Yellow Birds’
Kevin Powers debut novel about the Iraq war, The Yellow Birds was one of the most notable works of fiction in 2012. Powers talks with host Marco Werman about a soldier’s experience sorting through the brutality of the Iraq war.
‘Paris vs New York’: Comparing Two Iconic Cities
Graphic Designer Vahram Muratyan has produced a book of prints called, “Paris vs. New York,” which is a collection of illustrations featuring clever cultural comparisons between the two cities, side by side.
Photographer George Steinmetz Paraglides to Capture Deserts
George Steinmetz is the photographer behind a new book of aerial photographs called “Desert Air.” Steinmetz took all the shots while riding a motorized paraglider, capturing unique views of desert landscapes from above.
Audra Ang: A Food Journey through Modern China
Reporter Audra Ang speaks with Lisa Mullins about her new book: “To The People Food Is Heaven: Stories of Food and Life in a Changing China.”
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