Adam Haslett discusses his book, “You Are Not a Stranger Here.” He begins by explaining that the book is a collection of nine short stories. He goes into detail discussing several of the stories individually, beginning with “Notes to My...
Aharon Appelfeld discusses his book, “The Iron Tracks.” He describes the character, Irwin, and his enchantment with trains and tracks following World War II. Appelfeld says Irwin spends his time trying to find Jewish objects and is fearful of...
Alecia Beldegreen discusses her book, “The Bed.” She begins by discussing the history of the bed and how it began in Egypt. She explains that the bed has always reflected human believes and rituals. Beldegreen then describes the beds during...
World War, 1914-1918 - Turkey - Fiction; Mothers and daughters - Fiction; Plantation life - Fiction; Women - Turkey - Fiction; Silk industry - Fiction; Dwellings - Fiction; Turkey - Fiction
Alev Lytle Croutier discusses her book, “Seven Houses.” She begins by discussing the plot of the novel, which is set against the backdrop of twentieth century Turkey. The book tells the story of the Ipekci silk-making family that begins during...
Alicia Appleman-Jurman discusses her book, “Alicia: My Story.” She begins by explaining that her book covers her time spent in a concentration camp during World War II. She describes her childhood home in Buchach Ukraine, and talks about the...
Dr. Aliza A. Lifshitz discusses her book, “Mamá Sana, Bebé Sano : Una Guia en Espanol e Inglés Sobre el Embarazo, la Atención Prenatal, el Nacimiento y el Cuidado del Recién Nacido = Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby : a Spanish/English Guide to...
Motion picture industry - United States; Motion picture producers and directors - United States; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States; Screenwriters - United States
Aljean Harmetz discusses her book, “Rolling Breaks and Other Movie Business.” She begins by explaining the glamorous on-screen side of Hollywood as well as the darker side that happens behind the scenes. She gives examples of how movie stars...
Oz, Amos - Childhood and youth; Authors, Israeli - Biography; Israel - Fiction
Amos Oz discusses his book, “Panther in the Basement.” Oz describes the protagonist, twelve-year-old, Proffy, during the British occupation of Palestine. He talks about treason and Proffy’s relationship with his father. Oz goes on to...
Ann Louise Bardach discusses her book, “Cuba Confidential.” She begins by explaining that the book is both a history of Cuba and the story of Elian Gonzalez and why she felt the need to tell both stories. Bardach details Elain Gonzalez’ story...
Journalists - United States - Diaries; Iraq War, 2003 - Press coverage; Garrels, Anne, 1951 - Diaries
Anne Garrels discusses her book, “Naked in Baghdad” She begins by explaining how the book deals with her time as an NPR news correspondent in Iraq spanning before, during, and after the war. She shares some of her experiences involving...
Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946; Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946 - Film and video adaptations; Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946 - Political and social views; Motion pictures - United States - History - 20th century; Authors, American - 20th century - Biography; Film...
Anthony Slide discusses his book, “American Racist.” He begins by explaining that his book chronicles the life and films of Thomas Dixon. He discusses how being born during the reconstruction period in the South shaped Dixon’s attitude and...
Moaveni, Azadeh, 1976-; Iranian American women - Biography; Iranian Americans -Biography; Iran - Social conditions - 1979-1997; Iran - Social conditions - 1997-
Azdaeh Moaveni discusses her book, “Lipstick Jihad.” She begins by sharing her experiences and memories of growing up as an Iranian in Palo Alto, California during the shadow of the Iranian hostage crisis. She then discusses her experiences...
Women art dealers - Fiction; World War, 1939-1945 - Art and the war - Fiction; Female friendship - Fiction; New York (N.Y.) - Fiction; Paris (France) - Fiction
Barbara Taylor Bradford discusses her book, “A Sudden Change of Heart.” She begins by talking about the two main characters in the book, Laura and Claire. Bradford describes Laura as “true blue,” an always devoted friend to Claire. She...
Bradlee, Benjamin C.;
Journalists - United States - Biography
Benjamin C. Bradlee discusses his autobiography, “A Good Life.” He begins by explaining that he was the editor of the Washington Post during President Kennedy’s assassination, the Pentagon Papers, and the Watergate scandal. He talks about...
Blair, Betsy, 1923-2009; Motion picture actors and actresses - United States - Biography
Betsy Blair discusses her book, “The Memory of All That.” She begins by describing the beginning of her career in New Jersey dancing in a chorus line. It was during this time in her life that she met, then choreographer, Gene Kelly whom she...
World War, 1939-1945 - Europe - Fiction; Americans - Europe - Fiction; Women journalists - Fiction; Europe - Fiction
Brock and Bodie Thoene discuss their novel, “The Twilight of Courage.” They describe how the book took one year to write with 8 months of research and 4 months of writing. The novel is a historical fiction account of events during World War...
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...
Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943; Presidents' spouses - United States - Biography; Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930; Longworth, Alice Roosevelt, 1884-1980
Carl Sferrazza Anthony discusses his biography, “Nellie Taft.” He begins with stories from the early childhood of the future first lady and her unusually rebellious nature for a woman growing up in the late 1800s. He talks about her time...
Chicago (Ill.) - Fiction; Race relations - Fiction; African Americans - Fiction; Civil rights workers - Fiction; Impostors and imposture - Fiction; King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929 - 1968 - Fiction
Charles Johnson discusses his book, “Dreamer.” He begins by explaining the premise of the novel, which is what would have happened if Martin Luther King, Jr. had a double when he brought the Freedom Campaign to Chicago in 1966. In the novel the...
Morris, Robert, 1734-1806;
Governors - Pennsylvania - Biography;
United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783 - Biography;
United States - Politics and government - 1775-1783 - Biography
Charles Rappleye discusses his biography, “Robert Morris.” He begins by explaining that Robert Morris became famous after financing the American army during the Revolutionary War. He talks about how Morris managed the economy and saved the...
