WMFE - Site Search

Summer Adventure: 5 Thrilling, Chilling, Far-Ranging Reads

Book reviewer Alan Cheuse picks five exciting summer reads, ranging from short stories of grim Irish mayhem to a North Carolina lynching and a corpse in an iceberg, to Southern California cocaine capers and a pure-trash adventure starring U.S. special forces and a world-threatening comet.

'Americanah' Author Explains 'Learning' To Be Black In The U.S.

When the novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie moved from Nigeria to the United States for college, she was suddenly confronted with the idea of what it meant to be a person of color in America. Her new novel explores issues of race in contemporary America.

Caryn Lantz and her husband Chuck were surprised to learn that costs associated with adopting black children were much lower than for white or mixed race children. They ultimately went with an adoption in which the fee was based on their income, not skin color.

Six Words: 'Black Babies Cost Less To Adopt'

In the U.S., more prospective parents seek to adopt white and mixed race children than black children. As a result, many agencies levy lower fees to make it easier for parents to adopt from among the large numbers of black children waiting for placement.

Deep In The Mountains, Some Pakistanis Still Dream Of Peace

Pakistan's being battered by a fresh wave of attacks by the Taliban and their associates. Recently militants have killed foreign tourists, a tribal peace committee chief, policemen and soldiers. Many Pakistanis feel anger and frustration over the unrelenting violence in their country. But in the Hindu Kush mountains, people dream of peace.

In 'Sisterland,' Familial Fissures And A Pair Of Psychic Twins

Curtis Sittenfeld's Sisterland, about a pair of adult psychic twins in St. Louis, is more about sibling rivalry than the supernatural. Reviewer Sloane Crosley says Sittenfeld handles the psychic realm with a light and logical touch that keeps the book artfully within the bounds of believability.

Mike McConnell (left) and Jack Baker -- the couple in the <em>Baker v. Nelson</em> case — attempt to get a marriage license in Minneapolis in May 1970. The AP <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/jack-baker-michael-mcconnell-minnesota-gay-marriage_n_2271573.html">reported in December 2012</a> that the two are still together.

Timeline: Gay Marriage In Law, Pop Culture And The Courts

A lot has changed in the decades since the Supreme Court dismissed a gay marriage case for lack of a "substantial federal question" in the 1970s. Now that the court has once again weighed in on the issue of gay marriage, here's a look at how the debate has touched American life.

In his new memoir, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson describes his life in music — and how he mimicked beats at just 10 months old.

Questlove's Roots: A 'Meta' Memoir Of A Lifetime In Music

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the drummer for The Roots, has been a musician since he was a teen. In Mo' Meta Blues, he explains how his musician father groomed him for a life in show business.

<em>Little Green</em> opens in 1967 and follows Easy Rawlins' search for a young man who disappeared after visiting the Sunset Strip, seen here in 1966.

Ever-Changing L.A. Links Walter Mosley To His Mid-Century P.I.

Six years ago, the mystery writer sent Easy Rawlins off a cliff, seemingly killing him. Now, Easy's back on the streets his creator once called home. Mosley says other than Los Angeles, he and his detective hero don't have much in common, but NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates begs to differ.

Louise Monaghan was previously a senior travel consultant. She's currently a full-time mother.

A Mother Rescues Her Daughter From War-Torn Syria

When her abusive ex-husband kidnapped their daughter and returned to Syria, Louise Monaghan went after them. The story of how she escaped with her life and her daughter is the subject of her new book, Stolen.

Punter Kluwe Muses On Life, The Universe And 'Sparkleponies'

Oakland Raiders punter Chris Kluwe is known for his colorful opinions and his vocal support of gay marriage. His musings are now collected in a new book, Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football and Assorted Absurdities.

Search results for