'How to Write,' Yes--But...|NPR Books
"Two-thirds of the way through Alexander Chee's How to Write an Autobiographical Novel, I abandoned my sharpened reviewer's pencil in favor of luxuriating in the words. Chee's writing has a mesmerizing quality; his sentences are rife with profound truths without lapsing into the didactic....
'Decarcerating America' Is A Powerful Call For Reform|NPR Books
"Criminalization is frequently America's answer to social issues. This country criminalizes people experiencing drug addiction and homelessness, women seeking abortions, people who are LGBTQ, students who skip school, immigrants and refugees, and more....
Addiction is a Family Affair in 'Mayhem'|NPR Books
"Rausing's core message is this: Addiction is a family affair. Her book embraces those surrounding the addict by courageously exposing her own self-doubt and heartache. She wants us to know her — her seemingly idyllic Swedish childhood, two caring parents raising three children...
'Ghost Of The Innocent Man' Chronicles Justice Too Long Delayed|NPR Books
"Innocence cases spotlight the many corruptions of our justice system: Mistakes beget mistakes — some intentional, some not. An epic bureaucracy protects a deeply flawed system. Thousands are wrongfully convicted. The National Registry of Exonerations calculates that over 18,000 years have been lost by innocent people serving time....
Three Family Secrets We Can't Keep | NPR
"My sister and I moved my grandmother to a nursing home when she was 107. Clearing out her apartment, we stumbled on a box of old papers. A crumbling leather portfolio emerged, overflowing with love poems written in her assertive hand. Love poems? ...
Listen below, or at NPR's website, where you can also read Martha's essay.
Listen below, or at NPR's website, where you can also read Martha's essay.