Books & Reading

Renowned artist and illustrator Gary Kelley passed away on April 12, 2026. On this episode, we revisit a conversation with Kelley and Kevin Mason about the history of the Spirit Lake Massacre and Kelley's graphic novel, 'Moon of the Snowblind.' Then, we talk with UNI professor Jim O’Loughlin about the life and work of poet and professor James Hearst. O'Loughlin has compiled Hearst's work into the James Hearst Digital Archive housed by the University of Northern Iowa. (Segments of this program were originally produced in March 2021 and August 2025.)

The annual Whiting Award for Emerging Writers comes with $50,000 to support each winner's work. It's one of the largest prizes granted to promising new authors.

In The Take, an older woman and a younger woman agree to exchange 10 years of their lives through a blood transfusion. NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with author Kelly Yang.

The novel centers around Cherry, whose disintegrating marriage is complicated by the success of her husband's comic strip.

Protesting the government by not paying taxes is one way to be heard. We talk with Ruth Braunstein about her book, My Tax Dollar: the Morality of Taxpaying in America.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with James Wolff, the pseudonym of a former British intelligence officer who now writes about them in spy novels. His latest book is Spies and Other Gods.

Fishermen and women are drawn to fish by something other than hunger.

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with SCOTUSblog editor and author Sarah Isgur about "The Last Branch Standing," her new book on the Supreme Court.

The war in Gaza has hardened positions across the Middle East. But two men say it brought them closer together and convinced them that the "future is peace." That's the title of their new book.

The book comes out April 21.