Books & Literature

Book critic John Leonard reviews Ken Kesey's account of traveling the country in his bus Further during the 1960s. Leonard says it details Kesey and the Pranksters' many trips, but fails to explain their countercultural worldview.

When writer Natalie Kusz was six years old, her family moved from Los Angeles to the Alaskan wilderness. That first winter, a neighbor's sled dog attacked Kusz, and tore off part of her face. Kusz's memoir details that event and its effect on the family.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Possession" by A. S. Byatt. It's a throwback to the big Victorian novels of the 19th century, but with postmodern nods to contemporary literary theory.

Chinese student activist and organizer Shen Tong participated in protests that preceded the tragic incident. He's written a book about the experience called Almost a Revolution.

James Fogle was a drug addict who, along with others, robbed drugstores to feed his habit. The film Drugstore Cowboy is based on his autobiographical novel of the same name; the book wasn't yet published at the time of production. It's now in stores. Fogle is currently serving a prison sentence, and joins Fresh Air by telephone.

Biographer and journalist Anthony Holden took a year off from writing to play in poker circuits around the country. It turns out he was pretty good. He documents that experience in a his new book, Big Deal.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Jurassic Park," the new novel by Michael Crichton. Leonard says it's a boy's adventure story that could sell forever.

Jeffrey Masson was once a leading advocate of Freudian therapy. In recent years, he's condemned that type of approach. He shares his insights into conventional psychology in his new book, Final Analysis.

The Mexican American brothers write and draw the long-running independent comic book. Their styles and storytelling draws inspiration from real-life experiences and the perspective of people living south of the border.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunburg says that, unlike classic Victorian writers, contemporary authors don't intend for their work to be read aloud. But that doesn't stop actors from doing it -- and often in uncomplimentary ways.

Author Anne Rice created the character Lestat, the antihero in her Vampire Chronicles novels. Rice switches her focus to witches in her new book, The Witching Hour.

Critic Maureen Corrigan pays tribute to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, who she says in the true inheritor of Edgar Allen Poe.

Sportswriter Robert Peterson's new book is called Cages to Jump Shots. It's a history of the early years of basketball.

Village Voice rock critic Robert Christgau has a new guide to the best records of the 80s. He's also a fan of African music and rap, both of which he sees having a strong influence on new American music.

Book critic John Leonard reviews "Cuba: A Journey," journalist Jacobo Timerman's scathing account of everyday life under Castro.

Medical writer Ann Giudici Fettner was celebrated by the gay community for her reporting on the AIDS crisis. She has a new book about other viral diseases called Viruses: Agents of Change.

At 29, Brown decided to become an author, and taught himself fiction writing. He wrote five novels before one was finally published -- his debut, Dirty Work. He has a new collection of short stories, called Big Bad Love.

Arias advocates for writers who dissent against repressive governments. He lives in the United States, but occasionally returns to his home country. His newest novel, After the Bombs, about a young boy growing up in a politically unstable Guatemala City, has just been published in English.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews The Runaway Bride, Elizabeth Kendall's book about women's portrayals and roles in the early era of film. The author says these women were allowed to be smarter, funnier and more self-respecting in ways that are uncommon today.

Pakistan-born, British journalist Dilip Hiro covers Middle East affairs. His forthcoming book on the Iran-Iraq war is called The Longest War. He says Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein gained power by receiving intelligence and material support from Western states, including the U.S. He says any conflict between the U.S. and Iraq could destabilize the region.