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Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and 'The Couch in the Yard'
Illustrations copyright © 2025 by Dena Seiferling

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Hitch a ride to the moon in a rusty old car and 'The Couch in the Yard'

As the sun sets in a small town, a family loads up their rusty old car with the spare couch in their yard. When it breaks down in the mountains, what else is there to do but fly it to the moon?

PICTURE THIS: THE COUCH IN THE YARD

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The iconic lox bagel — a "Classic with the Works" — at Russ & Daughters.

The iconic lox bagel — a "Classic with the Works" — prepared at Russ & Daughters. Keren Carrion/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrion/NPR

Food

Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates '100 years of appetizing' and family

At Russ & Daughters, it takes three months to learn how to slice salmon. NPR's Scott Simon visits the 100 year-old appetizing store to try his hand at the fine art and talk about their new cookbook.

Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates more than 100 years of 'appetizing' and family

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A case against Anthropic AI brought by a group of authors was settled on Friday.

A case against Anthropic AI brought by a group of authors was settled on Friday. Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Riccardo Milani/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

Culture

Anthropic settles with authors in first-of-its-kind AI copyright infringement lawsuit

A U.S. district court is scheduled to consider whether to approve the settlement next week, in a case that marked the first substantive decision on how fair use applies to generative AI systems.

Experiencing pain? Sanjay Gupta explains why 'It Doesn't Have to Hurt'
Getty

Your Health

Experiencing pain? Sanjay Gupta explains why 'It Doesn't Have to Hurt'

Gupta's new book examines the world of pain — why we feel it, and how we can treat it. He says distraction and meditation can be useful tools for managing certain kinds of pain.

FA: Sanjay Gupta

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Elizabeth Gilbert no longer believes she’s a bad person

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Elizabeth Gilbert no longer believes she’s a bad person

Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” was about her journey of self-discovery in the aftermath of a painful divorce. It was a massive hit, but it wasn’t nearly the whole story. In her new book “All the Way to the River,” Gilbert examines her self-destructive patterns as she contends with addiction and grief. She and Rachel talk about learning to show herself and others mercy.

Elizabeth Gilbert no longer believes she’s a bad person

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Ocean Vuong doesn’t erase pain from beauty
NPR

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Ocean Vuong doesn’t erase pain from beauty

The more Ocean Vuong writes, the more he sees his craft as less of a skill and more a condition. He feels compelled to pay attention to the small details around him and turn those details into a story. But he tells Rachel that he actually hopes a day comes when he can stop writing. Vuong’s latest book is “The Emperor of Gladness.”

Ocean Vuong doesn’t erase pain from beauty

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Virginia Giuffre, seen here on Aug. 27, 2019, emerged as a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, saying he orchestrated years of sexual abuse of her and other girls and young women. Giuffre died earlier this year; her publisher says her memoir will come out in October.

Virginia Giuffre, seen here on Aug. 27, 2019, emerged as a key accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, saying he orchestrated years of sexual abuse of her and other girls and young women. Giuffre died earlier this year; her publisher says her memoir will come out in October. Bebeto Matthews/AP hide caption

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Bebeto Matthews/AP

Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre's memoir will be published months after her death

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.

Squelch squerch! Stumble trip! Tiptoe! — 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'
S&S Children’s Publishing

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Squelch squerch! Stumble trip! Tiptoe! — 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'

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!

PICTURE THIS: WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

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Famed YA author Louis Sachar is out with his first novel for adults.

Famed YA author Louis Sachar is out with his first novel for adults. Alex Labry/Ace hide caption

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Alex Labry/Ace

Did you love 'Holes' growing up? Good news, Louis Sachar is still writing for you

The author of the YA novel Holes and the Wayside School series has written his first novel for adults. It's a fairy tale involving a princess and potions – but one focused squarely on growing old.

Did you love ‘Holes’ growing up? Good news, Louis Sachar is still writing for you

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Pariah, by Dan Fesperman; The Dancing Face, by Mike Phillips
Knopf; Melville House

Review

Book Reviews

Two genre novels offer entertainment -- and plenty of wry social commentary

Dan Fesperman's spy caper Pariah follows a disgraced comic-politician who's recruited by the CIA. The Dancing Face, by Mike Phillips, is a crime caper that confronts the spoils of colonialism.

Two genre novels offer entertainment -- and plenty of wry social commentary

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Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran Riverhead Books hide caption

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Riverhead Books

Chinese literature is tough to find in English. One editor hopes to change that

The novel Women Seated is a thriller about a nanny for a rich family and a kidnapping gone awry. It's the first in a new effort to redefine the types of Chinese literature get translated into English.

Journalist Han Zhang hopes to get more Chinese literature translated into English

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Author Interviews

Novelist Thomas Mallon looks back on the early years of the AIDS epidemic

In 2023, Mallon spoke about his novel, Up With the Sun, which is based on the life of a little-known actor who was gay and closeted. His new book is The Very Heart of it: New York Diaries, 1983-1994.

Novelist Thomas Mallon looks back on the early years of the AIDS epidemic

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A dogged reporter takes on a mysterious cabal in 'The Diary of Lies'
NPR

Review

Book Reviews

A dogged reporter takes on a mysterious cabal in 'The Diary of Lies'

Philip Miller's sinister thriller is set in a Great Britain that's lost its bearings. But even when she's terrified, fictional journalist Shona Sandison will always risk everything to get the story.

A dogged reporter takes on a mysterious cabal in 'The Diary of Lies'

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Actor Jeff Hiller has a new book called Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success. He's pictured above in Savannah, Ga., in November 2024.

Actor Jeff Hiller's new memoir is Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success. He's pictured above in Savannah, Ga., in November 2024. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD

Television

A big break after age 40 is possible. Just ask Jeff Hiller of 'Somebody Somewhere'

Hiller spent years scraping by in Hollywood by taking on various small roles. Then he landed the role of Joel on Somebody Somewhere and everything changed. His new memoir is Actress of a Certain Age.

A big break after age 40 is possible. Just ask Jeff Hiller of 'Somebody Somewhere'

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