NPR Morning Edition Archives - Evanston Public Library

Libraries and eBook publishers: a complex and fraught relationship

August 6, 2013

The previous post from Olivia highlights the response one library director gave to his patrons to explain why there were so few eBooks available to borrowers. Lynn Neary, of NPR’s Morning Edition, prefaced her report, the second in a series of the state of libraries in the U. S., this way, “E-books have changed the world of publishing in fundamental ways. The business model that encouraged publishers to support the work of public libraries has changed to such an extent that this relationship has been stressed to the point of non cooperation.”

Listen to the full story (pay special note the lively conversation that ensues in the comments section).

Barbara L.

Nancy Pearl's "under the radar" picks for the omnivorous reader

November 27, 2012

Nancy Pearl, the grande dame of book recommenders and occasional NPR commentator, spoke with “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep about her favorite choices for hungry readers looking for books that might not have gotten the hype and marketing push they deserve. Asked how she selects titles for this, she answered, “…Simple: I just pick some of the titles that I’ve most enjoyed since the last time I was on, without concern for whether they’re fiction or nonfiction, genre or not, or aimed or classified as being for children or teens.” Pearl then talked about her current picks which include one nonfiction title, two novels of espionage (one WWII, one Cold War), a farcical comedy of errors, a collection of essays, and two character-driven novels. Listen to the interview and get the list here, and discover more books on the joys reading by Pearl here.

Barbara L.

Happy Birthday, Charles! More on the man who made “bah, humbug” part of the English idiom.

February 7, 2012

I’d like to add to Laura’s post below by directing readers to today’s airing of Morning Edition. Host Linda Wertheimer’s excellent commemoration of one of the world’s most popular and enduring authors offered listeners commentary from other writers, biographical bits, reading remembrances, a variety of linked resources, and more.

David Copperfield was Dickens’ favorite work — and the first book he wrote in the first person. This illustration (left) circa 1850 depicts Mr. Micawber and young Copperfield. What’s your favorite Dickens? Mine? Oliver Twist.

Barbara L.

Hold on a Minute I’m in the Middle of a Murder

October 26, 2010

That’s the title of one of the hottest pulp fiction offerings today in India, and it’s coming to us soon. Booksellers across the ocean have observed the meteroic success of those Swedish writers who have taken American readers by storm, and are hoping the oh-so popular Tamil pulps–mysteries, thrillers, and romances–translated into English find a similar welcome here. Tamil has always been the language of high culture in India, and since the early 20th century has become the choice of pulp authors influenced by western culture’s dime novels and British penny dreadfuls. NPR’s Morning Edition ran the story today, and to whet our appetites for this new sub-genre, provided some juicy excerpts, too.

Barbara L. , Reader’s Services