Society & Culture

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the new novel by South African writer Andre Brink. It is titled "Imaginings of Sand." Brink first made a name for himself in the 1960s as one of a new generation of African writers who wanted their work to be more politically outspoken.

A new movie about the Hustler Magazine publisher, "The People vs. Larry Flynt," will open at theaters this month. In addition, Flynt's autobiography "An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit and Social Outcast" was published this month by Dove Books. Flynt was paralyzed in 1978 after being shot by a man who said he was offended by an inter-racial depiction of a couple he saw in Hustler. In Feb of 1988, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Flynt and Hustler magazine in a landmark libel case filed by the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

The Emmy-nominated, African American actor is known as Lieutenant Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue, the Emmy Award-winning police drama. He has appeared in numerous television, film and theater productions, including the films "Strictly Business" and"Malcolm X," and the shows "Kate and Allie," "Hill Street Blues," and "L.A. Law," and "Civil Wars."

Laura Joplin is the younger sister of the rock legend Janis Joplin. Her new book, "Love XX Janis," was inspired by a bundle of letters Laura found of her sister's. This is the first time the letters are published. Laura is six years younger than Janis, and was 21 when Janis died. There's a new episode of the VH1 documentary series "Legends" about Janis Joplin, in which Laura reads some of the letters of her sister.

Since 1979, Gray has been performing monologues about his life and anxieties before audiences. "Swimming to Cambodia" was about the Vietnam war and his acting part in the film "The Killing Fields," "Monster in a Box" was about writing/vacation and Hollywood, and "Gray's Anatomy" was about an eye ailment. His latest is considered his most confessional, "It's a Slippery Slope" about marriage and learning to ski.

Rowlands won acclaim for her performance in "A Woman Under the Influence" and "Gloria." She collaborated with her late husband actor/screenwriter/and director John Cassavetes for thirty years. Rowlands is starring in the new film "Unhook the Stars" in which she plays Mildred, a middle-aged woman who finds herself at a crucial turning point in her life. The film was written and directed by Rowland's son, Nick Cassavetes.

Ellroy was born in Los Angeles in 1948. After his mother was mysteriously strangled to death when he was ten, he grew up obsessed with crime. His life spun towards booze, drugs, theft, and jail. He eventually cleaned up his life and began writing. He has written several novels, many of which were international best-sellers, including "American Tabloid," "The Black Dahlia," and his most recent book, "My Dark Places," in which he tells the story of his mother's murder.

Tenor saxophonist and composer, Ellery Eskelin. He's been called the most inventive American tenor player in creative music. His father, Rodd Keith, (also known as Rod Rodgers) was killed when he was struck by cars on the Hollywood Freeway after leaping or falling from the Santa Monica Boulevard overpass. Eskelin only knew his father for the first eighteen months of his life. As he grew up, Eskelin was inspired and intrigued by the continuous stories he heard about his father and his musical talent.

We'll hear from Norma Storch and June Cross, who are featured in this week's Frontline program entitled "Secret Daughter." Storch, who is white, gave up her half black child to a black couple. We'll hear from both mother and daughter as they reflect back. Norma Storch (mother) is married to actor Larry Storh who starred in the TV comedy F-Troop in the mid 1960's. June Cross (daughter) is a television producer for the PBS series "Frontline."

Film critic John Powers reviews the Lars von Trier's first English language film, "Breaking the Waves."

The former Saturday Night Live performer was best known for, Pat, the gender-ambiguous character. Sweeney took the character the big screen, but the result was a flop. When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, she took him into her home to take care of him while he was getting treatment. Her parents also moved in. Sweeney began work on a performance piece as a way to deal with the situation. Her brother eventually died, and she herself was diagnosed with cancer. She's now in remission. Sweeney's one woman show is called "God Said, Ha!"

The Fresh Air commentator has been writing about the historically black institution, where he currently teachers, and shares these thoughts.

Nunez's debut autobiographical novel was "A Feather on the Breath of God." Her newest is "Naked Sleeper." (HarperCollins). One reviewer calls it "a fine novel of maturing at 40." Another writes that it's "a steady, superbly insightful study of a life as quietly complex as the reader's own."

From Australia, adventurer Robyn Davidson. Her book "Tracks" was the account of her 1,700 mile journey across Australia with four camels and a dog. Her next trip was a trek across the Indian desert with nomads, which she chronicled in the new book "Desert Places."

Theroux's extensive travels have taken him through Africa, Asia and Central America. In his earlier writings, a central theme of his work was the ironic examination of the clashing and mingling of Western and Third World cultures. His new book, "My Other Life" (Houghton Bufflin) is a work of fiction about a character named Paul Theroux, based on his experiences and encounters as a world traveler. His interview was recorded at the Free Library in Philadelphia

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about corporate language.

Film critic John Powers reviews the new, socially-conscious film "Set it Off" directed by F. Gary Gray, who directed "Friday." It's about four black women who plot a bank robbery.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan considers "The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right" by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, and wonders how literary heroines may have fared had they followed the authors' advice.

Munro has a new collection called "Selected Stories." Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Paris Review. She's written seven previous short story collections, and has received Canada's highest literary prize three times.

Commentator Gerald Early reflects on the black community and historically black colleges and universities.