NPR Books

Coach Sean Brosnan turned an obscure high school running team into national champions. NPR's Scott Simon talks to him about his memoir, "Beyond Fast," written with Chris Lear and Andrew Greif.

Raja has been exhausted by his loving mother for six decades. NPR's Scott Simon talks with Lebanese writer Rabih Alameddine about his book, "The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)."

Academia is a very special kind of hell, and Kuang clearly understands it. In her innovative new novel, a magical professor dies in a lab accident and two students descend into hell to find him.

More than 1,100 of you wrote to tell us about the books that broadened your horizons, that you kept through every move, that inspired you to become English majors, librarians, writers and teachers.

The Palestinian chef, who’s lived in Jerusalem, Italy and the United Kingdom, has released his most personal cookbook yet.

For decades the program has supported writers who would become big names – Alice Walker, Michael Cunningham, Louise Erdrich and more. Last week, applicants got an email saying the program would be no more.

A number of seasoned veterans with a taste for big swings and clever premises have new novels out this week, including stories of gothic horror and dark academia from the likes of R.F. Kuang, Leah Stein and Helen Oyeyemi.

Virginia Giuffre was one of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's most outspoken accusers. Six months after her death, Giuffre's book detailing her life will be published.

Ruth is part of an insular, communal Christian sect, but she has a hard time fitting in. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Kate Riley about living in that kind of community and her debut novel, "Ruth."

Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury revisit their classic story of a family going on a bear hunt (encountering many obstacles along the way) — and preview their new one, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!