Books
Lighting a Spark | Ep. 322
Charlene Amoia (The Breadwinner, How I Met Your Mother) plays a tiny but mighty bird in this French legend about the origin of fire.
Why are people so hooked on fishing? Mark Kurlansky's 'To Catch a Fish' explores sportfishing's allure
Fishermen and women are drawn to fish by something other than hunger.
How goats, farming and cheesemaking inspired this author's new novel
Jennifer Acker’s “Surrender” is inspired by her upbringing in rural Maine, the cheesemaker who preserved her family’s land and the challenges facing Massachusetts farmers today.
In 'Small Town Girls,' Pulitzer winner Jayne Anne Phillips explores her West Virginia roots
The book comes out April 21.
Celebrating 30 years of 'The Golden Compass'
"The Golden Compass" is the first book of what would become his best-selling fantasy trilogy, "His Dark Materials."
Support WBUR
Happiness expert Arthur Brooks wants to help you find 'The Meaning of Your Life'
Why do high-achieving young people often suffer anxiety and depression? They might be searching for the meaning of life.
Trailer: The Midnight Rebellion
The clock’s ticking. What will you do? Part 1 launches on Earth Day, April 22. Follow The Midnight Rebellion in your podcast app now to get notified when episodes drop
Swift Fox and the Coyote Twins | Ep. 321
This Is Us co-stars (and That Was Us co-hosts) Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore and Chris Sullivan co-star in a multi-cultural legend about two conceited coyotes and the fox who...
This novel anticipates today's AI-generated book publishing crisis
Published last year, the novel includes a subplot about a tech firm that generates and publishes a book under an author's name but without their permission.
The ghosts of literary history: Q&A with Emily Franklin, author of 'Love & Other Monsters'
"This is what we owe the people of the past," says Emily Franklin, in an interview with Cog editor Sara Shukla. "Not only giving them voices, but bringing their stories...
Author mines Yellowstone knowledge for novel 'Beartooth,' now out in paperback
Callan Wink's novel "Beartooth" centers around two brothers eking out a living near Yellowstone.
‘Frankenstein’ isn’t the only monster in Mary Shelley’s story
When Emily Franklin began her historical fiction novel, “Love & Other Monsters,” she knew only a little about Mary Shelley’s stepsister, Claire: her wit, her relationship with Lord Byron, her...
A Tale of Two Neighbors | Ep. 320
Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Appalachian tale proves that true friends stick together through thick, thin, and everything in between.
Filmmaker John Sayles' new novel tells story of Henry Ford
John Sayles launched an independent film movement with his film "Return of the Secaucus 7." His new novel tells of Henry Ford's social engineering of both his workers and Detroit.
'A Good Person' is a murder mystery wrapped in a psychological thriller
Set in Boston, author Kirsten King's riveting debut novel is told entirely from the perspective of a "memorable and memorably unreliable protagonist," reviews critic Carol Iaciofano Aucoin.
New documentary examines legacy of Henry David Thoreau beyond Walden
A new three-part documentary is set to premiere tonight on PBS. It looks at the life of Henry David Thoreau, from his upbringing in Massachusetts, his time living at Walden...
The groundbreaking woman behind the world's largest lesbian publishing company
Growing up, Barbara Grier was confused and frustrated by the literature available about lesbian love.
How to start reading Nobel laureate Toni Morrison's work
Toni Morrison, the author and Nobel laureate, died seven years ago, but her work is still with us.
'The Scone Queen Bakes': Danielle Sepsy of Hungry Gnome bakery shares her secret recipes
The cookbook reveals the secret recipes for a dozen of her scones, as well as recipes for cakes, breads, cookies, muffins and more.
Copper and Dumplings | Ep. 319
Recorded live in Cleveland, OH, this Japanese story pits a wise baker against two tricky goblins who refuse to face their fears.