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8 books to enjoy at the beach this summer
NPR

Review

Books

8 books to enjoy at the beach this summer

From light romance and short fiction to thrillers, here's a list of books that are perfect companions as you retreat to the beach or pool to catch a break from the summer heat.

8 books to enjoy at the beach this summer

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Mo Willems' naked mole rats owe their rock 'n' roll sound to this composer

Composer Deborah Wicks La Puma writes music for Mo Willems' musicals including Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Underground Rock Experience. A new animated version is on HBO Max. HBO Max hide caption

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HBO Max

Pop Culture

Mo Willems' naked mole rats owe their rock 'n' roll sound to this composer

Composer Deborah Wicks La Puma has written music for Mo Willems' famous Pigeon, Elephant and Piggie - and now for Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed on HBO Max.

Mo Willems' naked mole rats owe their rock 'n' roll sound to this composer

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Ticking down a checklist of qualifications in 'Mr. Malcolm's List'

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù plays Mr. Malcolm, the most desirable bachelor in 1818 London. Ross Ferguson/Bleecker Street hide caption

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Ross Ferguson/Bleecker Street

Review

Movies

Ticking down a checklist of qualifications in 'Mr. Malcolm's List'

A 19th-century British gentleman's requirements for his bride lead to a scheme with many complications in Mr. Malcolm's List, a Bridgerton-like romance based on Suzanne Allain's 2020 novel.

Ticking down a checklist of qualifications in 'Mr. Malcolm's List'

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Travel the world without leaving your home with these 10 books
Various/Emily Bogle for NPR

Review

Books

Travel the world without leaving your home with these 10 books

From Lahore's red-light district and the streets of Mexico to a fantastical underwater land of Korean fable, here are some picks that can immerse you in worlds wholly unlike your own.

Travel the world without leaving your home with these 10 books

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Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

If you like to fall asleep to a soundtrack, we have three great recommendations to help you doze away. Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Angela Hsieh/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

There are songs you want to groove to, and songs you want to pump up to. But sometimes, you just want something for the come down at the end of a long day. If you're having trouble sleeping in silence, or are just looking for some new songs to throw into your bedtime rotation, we've got you covered.

Can't sleep? Catch some zzzs with these songs

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Wednesday

R. Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in prison

A sketch of R. Kelly during his sentencing hearing Wednesday in New York. Elizabeth Williams/AP hide caption

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Elizabeth Williams/AP

R. Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in prison

The R&B star was convicted in New York last year of sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, sex trafficking and racketeering.

R. Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in prison

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You're@Work: The Right Persona for the Job

Our personas at work are not what they used to be. Sarah Gonzales for NPR hide caption

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Sarah Gonzales for NPR

Rough Translation

You're@Work: The Right Persona for the Job

Who are you at work? In this episode, two stories of people who really commit to embodying their work selves. The result? New realms and new personalities.

You're@Work: The Right Persona for the Job

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Real life or satire? Novelist Mat Johnson says it can be hard to tell the difference

Mat Johnson is the Philip H. Knight Chair of Humanities at the University of Oregon. His previous books include Pym and Loving Day. Courtesy of University of Oregon hide caption

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Courtesy of University of Oregon

Author Interviews

Real life or satire? Novelist Mat Johnson says it can be hard to tell the difference

Fresh Air

Set in the future, Johnson's new satirical novel, Invisible Things, takes place on one of Jupiter's many moons, where humans have created an artificial ecosystem designed to replicate life on Earth.

Real life or satire? Novelist Mat Johnson says it can be hard to tell the difference

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How Elizabeth Cotten's music fueled the folk revival

Left-handed, Elizabeth Cotten turned the guitar so the bass strings were at the bottom, therefore "backwards." She used her thumb to play the melody and her fingers for the low notes. John Cohen, courtesy Deborah Bell, New York/National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution hide caption

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John Cohen, courtesy Deborah Bell, New York/National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Music Features

How Elizabeth Cotten's music fueled the folk revival

Although inducted into the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, her contributions haven't always been properly acknowledged.

How Elizabeth Cotten's music fueled the folk revival

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Should you pick up 'The Black Phone'?

Ethan Hawke stars in The Black Phone the latest film from Scott Derrickson. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Should you pick up 'The Black Phone'?

In the supernatural horror film The Black Phone, Ethan Hawke plays the Grabber, a sinister masked figure who abducts a series of teenage boys in a Colorado suburb. When 13-year-old Finney (Mason Thames) gets grabbed, he's locked in a dank basement, waiting to be murdered, when suddenly a disconnected telephone on the wall starts to ring.

Should you pick up 'The Black Phone'?

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Tuesday