Among his many accomplishments, Ralph Steadman illustrated Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, about a journalist's reporting trip turned hallucinogenic bender.
The Story Of Steadman, Drawn From His 'Gonzo' Art
()Illustrator Ralph Steadman became known for his collaborations with "gonzo" journalist Hunter S. Thompson, but their partnership wasn't always easy. The documentary For No Good Reason looks at Steadman's life, art and relationship with the eccentric writer.
Author Interviews
Reading 125 Titles A Year? That's 'One For The Books'()
November 1, 2012 Joe Queenan reads so many books, it's amazing that he can also find time to write them. Queenan estimates he's read between 6,000 and 7,000 books total, at a rate of about 125 books a year. His latest work, One for the Books, is all about what he reads and why.
Author Interviews
Ricks: Firing 'The Generals' To Fight Better Wars?()
November 1, 2012 Thomas Ricks' new book, The Generals, is about what he sees as a decline of American military leadership and accountability. He says that in World War II, generals were held accountable for their lack of success — but that started to change with the Korean War.
Superstorm Sandy: Before, During And Beyond
Broadway To Sandy: The Show Is Back On()
November 1, 2012 New York's theater workers mobilized to get their shows back up and running by Wednesday. But with no trains, very few buses and massive traffic jams, the commute wasn't easy. One actress had to walk about two hours to Manhattan from her home in Queens.
Movie Reviews
In 'The Bay,' A Plunge Into Suspense For Levinson()
November 1, 2012 The veteran director teams up with the producers of the Paranormal Activity films for a found-footage thriller that breathes new life into the genre. Critic Jeanette Catsoulis says The Bay successfully plunges its audience into a world of suspense not too dissimilar from our own.
The Salt
Day Of The Dead, Decoded: A Joyful Celebration Of Life And Food()
November 1, 2012 The ancient Latin American holiday welcomes ancestors back to the earth for one day each year. Each element on the altar symbolizes a connection between the world of the living and the dead, so naturally, food and drink play a big part. Here we've deconstructed the altar and its meaning.
Opinion
Even Americans Find Some Britishisms 'Spot On'()
November 1, 2012 Adding a foreign word to your vocabulary is like adding foreign attire to your wardrobe. Sometimes you do it because it's practical and sometimes just because you think it looks cool. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says Americans' use of "spot on" falls somewhere between affectation and flash.
Movie Reviews
Battered But Not Broken, Vets Seek 'High Ground'()
November 1, 2012 Eleven climbers, all scarred in some way by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, tackle a Himalayan climb in Michael Brown's documentary.
NPR's Backseat Book Club
November Kids' Book Club Pick: 'The Red Pyramid'()
November 1, 2012 Former schoolteacher Rick Riordan delivers a lesson in ancient Egyptian history cleverly disguised as a hair-raising kids adventure. Carter and Sadie Kane have no idea they are descended from age-old sorcerers until their archaeologist father accidentally unleashes ancient gods into modern society.
Movie Reviews
'The Details': Dirty Doings In A Stepford Suburb()
November 1, 2012 Writer-director Jacob Aaron Estes tries to bring something new to a drama about infidelity and secrets within a marriage. Joel Arnold says that by taking tropes to their extremes, The Details is able to do just that.
Books
'Smitten Kitchen' Takes The Fuss Out Of Cooking()
November 1, 2012 Blogger and now cookbook author Deb Perelman insists you don't need a big or gourmet kitchen to make good food. Since 2006, she's been tracking down, testing and blogging about recipes she thinks pretty much anyone can make — all from her tiny New York kitchen.
Movie Reviews
A Life And A Plane, In Free Fall From 20,000 Feet()
November 1, 2012 Director Robert Zameckis returns to live action with Flight, about an alcoholic pilot who faces disaster of every kind. Critic Scott Tobias says the film situates its audience in a gray area, making it hard to point the finger of blame at any character. (Recommended)
Movie Reviews
Eyeliner, Lipstick And Finding Your 'Place'()
November 1, 2012 Italian director Paolo Sorrentino's first English-language film, This Must Be the Place, stars Sean Penn as a Goth rocker trying to settle his dead father's scores. Critic Mark Jenkins says the film is an eccentric showcase for the idea that even adults have a lot of growing up to do.
Book Reviews
'Elsewhere' Has Beauty, But No Happy Ending()
November 1, 2012 Novelist Richard Russo's new memoir, Elsewhere, is the uncompromisingly tragic — yet beautifully told — story of his relationship with his mentally ill mother. Reviewer Michael Schaub calls it "one of the most honest, moving American memoirs in years."
Movie Reviews
Amid Discord, A 'Quartet' Strives For Harmony()
November 1, 2012 Yaron Zilberman's A Late Quartet, which follows the internal collapse of a string quartet, goes down the all-too-familiar path of a work-family drama. But critic Ella Taylor praises the quiet performances from the film's seasoned stars, including Christopher Walken and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
A 'Witch Queen' Who Casts Her Spells Year-Round ()
October 31, 2012 Lady Rhea is not the kind of witch you'll find in a pointy hat this Halloween. She is a real workaday Wiccan, grinding out a living selling magic products in the Bronx.
Television
Katey Sagal, Holding Court On 'Sons Of Anarchy'()
October 31, 2012 The actress plays Gemma, the fierce matriarch of the biker gang in the FX series. She's best-known for playing the acerbic Peg Bundy on the long-running show Married With Children.
