Aircraft accident victims' families - Fiction; Intelligence officers - Fiction; Americans - India - Fiction; Americans - China - Fiction; Mothers and sons - Fiction; Missing persons - Fiction; Ex-prostitutes - Fiction; India - Fiction; China -...
Aimee Liu discusses her novel, “Flash House.” She begins by explaining how a ‘flash house’ is another name used for a house of prostitution. The story centers in New Delhi, where a young woman is helping girls get out of the prostitution...
Motion pictures - Production and direction; Motion picture acting
John Badham discusses the book he co-authored with Craig Modderno entitled, “I’ll Be in My Trailer.” He begins by talking about some of the movies he directed like “Saturday Night Fever” and “War Games.” He tells anecdotes of...
Motion picture actors and actresses - Clothing - California - Los Angeles; Fashion - History - 20th century; Costume - History - 20th century
Patty Fox discusses her book, “Star Style.” She begins by talking about ordinary women who transformed themselves into icons using their sense of personal style. Some of the women she talks about in the book are: Gloria Swanson, Joan...
Almanacs, American; Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc.; Twentieth century - Miscellanea
David Wallechinsky discusses his book, “The People’s Almanac Presents the Twentieth Century: The Definitive Compendium of Astonishing Events, Amazing People, and Strange-But-True Facts.” He begins by describing how this book was intended to...
Grease (Motion picture); Film adaptations - History and criticism
Didi Conn discusses her book, “Frenchy’s Grease Scrapbook.” She begins by explaining that she is the actress that played the character Frenchy in the motion picture adaptation of “Grease.” The book is a compilation of photographs...
Survival - Fiction; Saint Petersburg (Russia) - History - Siege, 1941-1944 - Fiction
David Benioff discusses his novel, “City of Thieves.” He begins by explaining how his book is set in 1942 in Communist Russia, and how Jewish intellectuals were targeted and persecuted at the time. Benioff describes that although his work is...
Women - California - Los Angeles - Fiction; Wives - Fiction; Self-realization - Fiction; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction
Heather Thomas discusses her novel, “Trophies.” She begins by explaining that her book is about wealthy husbands and wives with seemingly perfect lives. She talks about how not all trophy wives are dumb, and many of the women she knows have...
Baby boom generation - Fiction; College graduates - Fiction; Class reunions - Fiction; Minnesota - Fiction
Tim O’Brien discusses his book, “July, July.” The book is about the class of 1969 returning for its 30th class reunion, but because the class secretary forgot to make a reservation in June, it becomes the 31st reunion. O’Brien shares...
Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Fiction; Motion picture industry - Fiction
Gigi Levangie Grazer discusses her novel, “Maneater.” She begins by talking about the inspiration for her book and how she takes notes while having lunch with her friends in Hollywood. Martinson asks Grazer to read a passage from the...
James Bond films - History and criticism; Bond, James (Fictitious character)
John Cork and Bruce Schivally discuss their book, “James Bond: The Legacy.” They begin with talking about the James Bond novels by author Ian Fleming and the first James Bond film in 1962. They describe the different looks and personalities...
Divorced women - Fiction; Investment advisors - Fiction; Football players - Fiction; Dating services - Fiction; Unemployed - Fiction; Alimony - Fiction
Jane Heller discusses her novel, “An Ex to Grind.” She begins by explaining that the book is about a woman who is going through a divorce with her unemployed husband, and she has to pay him alimony. Her idea to get out of the payments is to...
Damian McNicholl discusses his novel, “A Son Called Gabriel.” He begins by talking about how the story opens on a young Irish boy named Gabriel, who gets bullied at school for playing with girls. He describes the relationships among...
Humorous poetry, American; Aging - Poetry; Women - Poetry
Judith Viorist discusses her poetry book, “Suddenly Sixty.” She begins by talking about what happens to your mind and spirit when you start to feel older. Martinson asks Viorist to read several poems from her book about grandchildren,...
Beatles - Discography; Beatles - History - Chronology; Capitol Records, Inc. - History
Bruce Spizer discusses his book, “The Beatles’ Story on Capital Records.” He begins by explaining that this book is about how America received The Beatles, and his own personal fascination with the band. He describes how Capitol Records...
Nguyễn, Cao Kỳ; Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Prime ministers - Vietnam (Republic) - Biography; Vietnam (Republic) - Politics and government
Cao Kỳ Nguyễn discusses his autobiography, “Buddha’s Child.” He begins by explaining how he was elected as the prime minister of Vietnam during the United States invasion in the 1960s. Nguyễn talks about how television was important to...
Teena Apeles discusses her book, “Women Warriors.” She begins the interview by talking about some of the earliest female warriors found in Greek and Roman mythology. She talks about heroes such as Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, and other...
World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.); World's fairs
Miles Beller discusses his novel, “Dream of Venus.” He begins by explaining how it’s a story of the 1939 World’s Fair which took place in New York. He describes how he wanted to write the book as a non-traditional narrative with many...
Connie Briscoe discusses her book, “P.G. County.” “P.G.” stands for Prince George County and the book follows the lives of four black families living in a privileged gated community called Silver Lake. Briscoe goes on to describe the...
United States. Central Intelligence Agency - History - 20th century; Aerial reconnaissance, American - History - 20th century; Space surveillance - United States - History - 20th century; U-2 (Reconnaissance aircraft); Cold War
Philip Taubman discusses his book, “Secret Empire.” He begins by explaining the United States’ use of satellite spies during the Cold War. He describes his interest in writing this book: he covered intelligence journalism at The New York...
Constance Harris discusses her book, “Portraiture in Prints.” She begins with a look at portraiture from the 15th century all the way to the 20th century. She gives specific examples of early printmaking portraits by the artists Martin...
