Vargas Llosa lost a bid for president of Peru last year. His latest novel is called, In Praise of the Stepmother, is an erotic tale about a family love triangle. His best-known work is Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz remembers the great American singer, who died earlier this month at the age of 76. Unfortunately, few of her recordings are currently available.
The Fleetwood Mac founder and drummer has a new memoir about the romantic entanglements that tore apart the band. Despite their troubled history, they're on tour in support of a new album, Behind the Mask.
Philadelphia Inquerier reporter Stephan Salisbury has the latest on the government debate of the NEA. The House of Representatives has voted to drop the anti-obscenity pledge as a requirement for artists to receive funding.
Critic Maureen Corrigan, who lives in Washington, DC, talks about one of the unforeseen consequences of the current budget stalemate -- the closure of popular tourist spots in her home city.
Winfield plays the judge in Presumed Innocent -- a part he says is a rare, substantial and mature role for an African American actor. He was nominated for an Emmy for his roles on television in Roots and as Martin Luther King, and was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Sounder.
Goodall has a new book, called Through a Window, about her unprecedented, three decade study of a single community of chimpanzees in Tanzania -- a body of work that one scientist called "one of the Western world's great scientific achievements."
Hopper made his film debut in Rebel Without a Cause, and played Frank in Blue Velvet. He directed Easy Rider and the new film The Hot Spot, which stars Don Johnson. Before his recent comeback, he developed a drug problem, which he's since kicked.
Photographer and video artist Wegman is best known for his portraits of Man Ray, his pet dog. Man Ray has since passed away; Wegman has new dog named Faye Ray. A collection of his work is called William Wegman: Paintings, Drawings, Photographs, Videotapes.
Harden was the bureau chief for the Washington Post in sub-Saharan Africa from 1985-1989. His new book, called Africa, talks about the continent's growing population, strong man rule, and how tribal and familial communities fill needs neglected by the government.
On the occasion of what would have been the Beatle's 50th birthday, rock historian Ed Ward considers what bands and song may have influenced Lennon before he started his legendary group with Paul McCartney.
Book critic John Leonard reviews the fourth, and final installment in John Updike's Rabbit novels, Rabbit at Rest. Leonard says the first book was nearly perfect; this one is too concerned with capturing every aspect of the 1980s -- whether or not those references serve the story.
Steve O'Donnell, the head writer for Late Night with David Letterman, writes many of the program's top ten lists. A new book compiles the best of these, called, simply, The Late Night with David Letterman Book of Top Ten Lists.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says some of the best parts of classic songs like "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "A Foggy Day" are the half-sung, almost-spoken introductions. But many singers skip them, opting to begin with the chorus. Whitehead remembers some of these forgotten intros.
Television Critic critic David Bianculli is thrilled that, after months of reruns, the animated sitcom has returned with new episodes. He has this review.
Kaye played guitar in the Patti Smith Group and has recorded albums with his own band. He produced Suzanne Vega's first two albums, and more recently worked with Soul Asylum and Michelle Malone. Kaye compiled the 1960s garage rock anthology, Nuggets, and was the executive producer for the Elektra Records 40th anniversary compilation, Rubaiyat.
Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews the new, NC-17 rated film about the relationship between writers Henry Miller and Anais Nin, and Miller's wife, June. Gleiberman says the director Philip Kaufman fails to capture the authors' talent and passion -- but Uma Thurman shines as June.
World music critic Milo Miles says no rock group has successfully integrated world music sounds into their music. But, in their latest album, The Royal Macadamian come close.
