Books & Literature

Writer ThulaniI (pronounced "tah-lawn-nee") Davis. Her new novel, "1959," is the story of a young black girl coming of age at the dawn of the civil rights movement. Davis' earlier works include reporting for The New York Times and The Washington Post, and writing the libretto for the opera "X: The Life and Times of Malcom X." ("1959" is published by Grove Weidenfeld.)

Writer Nik Cohn (pronounced "cone"). Cohn walked the length of Broadway in New York City, talking with the various characters along the Great White Way. His chronicle of that experience is "The Heart of the World." (published by Knopf).

Writer Eddy L. Harris. Like many African Americans, Harris felt a kinship to the continent of his ancestors. He went to Africa, traveled throughout the continent, and came away feeling disillusioned and feeling that he was not an African at heart after all. He's written about his journey in the new book, "Native Stranger" (published by Simon and Schuster). Harris' earlier book was the critically acclaimed "Mississippi Solo."

Book critic John Leonard reviews "To The End of Time," by former Time magazine journalist and executive Richard Clurman. The book is an account of the big stakes merger between Time Inc and Warner Communications.

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Strong Motion," Jonathan Franzen's new novel that mixes thriller, science fiction, feminism, and romance. (It's published by Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux).

White South African writer André Brink was the first Afrikaner to have a novel censored by the government. Brink has written six novels and many essays about the moral dilemmas facing Afrikaners of conscience. His novel "A Dry White Season," was adapted into a film of the same name. His new novel, a political thriller, is called "An Act of Terror." (Summit press)

Terry talks phone sex with writer Nicholson Baker. Baker's new novel "Vox" is one long, erotic, expensive conversation between a man and a woman on a 900 talk line. (Random House).

Book critic John Leonard reviews Andre Brink's novel of political intrigue in South Africa, "An Act of Terror."

Writer George Packer. Packer's new novel, "The Half Man," is the story of a Western journalist caught in the turmoil of a fictitious Pacific Asian country. In real life, Packer spent two years with the Peace Corps in Togo, and that experience helped shape this book. (It's published by Random House).

Writer Tatyana Tolstaya ("taht-tee-an-yah tol-STOY-yah"). She's gaining a reputation as one of the (former) Soviet Union's most critically acclaimed new writers. She's also a distant relative of Leo Tolstoy. Her new collection of stories is called "Sleepwalker In A Fog" (published by Knopf).

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg reviews "Fifty Years Among the New Words," a new collection of columns from the journal "American Speech."

Investigative reporter Wayne Barrett. His new book, "Trump: The Deals and the Downfall," is a fresh look at America's most famous wheeler-dealer. In his book, Barrett deflates what he calls the myth that Trump is a financial genius. (It's published by Harper-Collins).

Maureen Corrigan wonders why Americans don't read as much as they used to.

Educator Theodore Sizer. His 1984 book, "Horace's Compromise," was the fictionalized tale of a typical American high school. It was based on Sizer's own experiences as a teacher, and two years of field research. Sizer resurrects Horace in his new book, "Horace's School." It's a look at some possible roads toward educational reform. (It's published by Houghton Mifflin).

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Sleepwalker In A Fog," the new collection of stories by Russian writer Tatyana Tolstaya (tot-yah-nah toll-STOY-yah). It's published by Knopf).

Feminist and writer Gloria Steinem. In her new book, "Revolution From Within," Steinem departs from her usual straightforward discussions about women and society, and she examines the link between personal self-esteem and outward issues such as feminism. (It's published by Little, Brown).

Travel writer Pico Iyer (rhymes with 'tire"). Iyer has an article on traveling to Vietnam in the new edition of "Conde Nast Traveler." Iyer's the author of "Video Night In Kathmandu" and the new book, "The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto".

The second half of a two-part interview with historian Ann Charters. She's spent 30 years studying the literature of Beat movement writers such as William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg. She's the editor of a new compilation called "The Portable Beat Reader" (published by Viking).

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new collection of writings by African-American author Richard Wright.

The first of a two-part interview with historian Ann Charters. She's spent 30 years studying the literature of Beat movement writers such as William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg. She's the editor of a new compilation called "The Portable Beat Reader" (published by Viking). Today, Charters discusses writer William Burroughs, his seminal novel, "Naked Lunch," and its new film adaptation. Tomorrow, Charters talks about her work with Jack Kerouac and the larger significance of the Beat movement.