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Culture

Friday

Kerouac's 'Doctor Sax and the Great World Snake'

Doctor Sax and the Great World Snakeis an audio drama that recounts the sinister figures that populate the mind of an adolescent boy. Jack Kerouac wrote the original screenplay, based on vampires and witches he conjured up during his own childhood. NPR's Bob Edwards talks to Kerouac's nephew Jim Sampas, who discovered the manuscript and produced a new version on CD.

Kerouac's 'Doctor Sax and the Great World Snake'

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'Candy: The Sweet History'

Nowadays, most of us regard candy as a guilty pleasure, but during the Great Depression, sugary confections were marketed as healthy and inexpensive meals. That's just one of the interesting tidbits author Beth Kimmerle shares in her new book, Candy: The Sweet History. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Kimmerle.

'Candy: The Sweet History'

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Thursday

In Performance

Chris Smither, Live in Studio 4A

Chris Smither has been honing his bluesy, folk-centered acoustic sound for four decades now — and critics and fans say he's getting better with age. Hear his conversation with Morning Edition host Bob Edwards, and listen to five full-length cuts of Smither performing live in NPR's Studio 4A.

Chris Smither, Live in Studio 4A

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'Bushwhacked,' Ivins' Latest Take on the President

Molly Ivins has often poked fun at President Bush for his manner of speaking, or "Bushisms." In her new book, Bushwhacked: Life in George W. Bush's America, the syndicated columnist, fellow Texan and long-time Bush critic takes on his dealings and policies, and what she says are their underreported effects on average Americans. Hear Bob Edwards' extended interview with Ivins.

'Bushwhacked,' Ivins' Latest Take on the President

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Wednesday

'The Far Side' Anthologized

Gary Larson created more than 4,000 cartoons for The Far Side, and they've all been collected in a hefty new anthology. Yet the artist still has trouble explaining what his strange, world-of-their-own panels are about. Hear Larson describe a cartoon he wishes he had drawn, along with other excerpts of his interview with NPR's Bob Edwards.

'The Far Side' Anthologized

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Review

Music Reviews

Music Review: 'Big Star Story' from Big Star

The 1970s Memphis rock band Big Star never reached commercial success, but the group is often cited as a precursor to the grunge of the 1990s, as well as today's power-pop. A new compilation, Big Star Story, assembles some of the songs from the group's three full-length albums. NPR's Will Hermes has a review.

Music Review: 'Big Star Story' from Big Star

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Tuesday

'The Known World'

Prior to the Civil War, some free black people owned slaves. Author Edward P. Jones picked up on that little-known fact and has written a vivid first novel that looks at slavery through a different lens. On Morning Edition, hear an interview with Jones and a review of The Known World. Read an excerpt of the book.

'The Known World'

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Monday

Director Jamie Johnson

The HBO documentary Born Rich offers an insider’s view of the world of the heirs to America’s great family fortunes. Jamie Johnson, the film's 23-year-old director -- and a Johnson & Johnson heir -- filmed his family and friends discussing the experience of possessing more money than most people make in a lifetime. NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Johnson.

Director Jamie Johnson

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Sunday

Artists in Their Golden Years

Western culture has long romanticized the image of the young artist, but for some people, creative inspiration comes at the other end of life. A new exhibit at Baltimore's American Visionary Art Museum pays tribute to the late onset of creativity, showcasing the works of 50 elderly artists. NPR's Steve Inskeep reports.

Artists in Their Golden Years

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Anne Rice: An Interview with the Vampire Writer

For a quarter-century, novelist Anne Rice has created a supernatural realm that often features her native New Orleans at its center. Her latest novel is Blood Canticle with another appearance by her most vivid character, the vampire Lestat. NPR's Liane Hansen visits with Rice at the author's Louisiana home.

Anne Rice: An Interview with the Vampire Writer

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Music Interviews

Ethel: String Music with a Rock Twist

Ethel, a string quartet that plays amplified music and often collaborates with rock music composers, is making waves in the music world. The group's debut CD is called Ethel. NPR's Liane Hansen talks with Todd Reynolds and Mary Rowell, violinists for the band.

Ethel: String Music with a Rock Twist

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Saturday

The Bangles Return with 'Doll Revolution'

The Bangles were a rock phenomenon in the early 1980s, beginning with the chart-topping hit "Walk Like An Egyptian." After a 15-year hiatus, they're back as rock 'n' roll moms. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

The Bangles Return with 'Doll Revolution'

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Laughing Along with Lily Tomlin

Entertainer Lily Tomlin will be the recipient of this year's Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In an interview with NPR's Scott Simon, she covers a career full of wry observations on the human comedy. Watch video of many of her classic performances.

Laughing Along with Lily Tomlin

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