MEMETERIA by Thomas May

Arts & Culture Stories from NPR

• In 'My Ideal Boyfriend Is A Croissant', The Heroine Is No Flake
  Laura Dockrill's young adult novel stars a refreshingly direct, unapologetic — and occasionally crass — plus-sized girl who uses her doctor-imposed food diary to record her life and feelings.
• 'At Dusk' Exposes South Korea Through A Variety Of Lenses
  Hwang Sok-yong's novel is a perfect slice of Koreana; a touching, somewhat depressive narrative full of nostalgia exposing the underbelly of a nation via the people inhabiting society's bottom rung.
• In 'Queen Of The Sea,' The Story Rides On Goatback
  Dylan Meconis' new graphic novel is set on a mysterious island off the coast of a country that's not quite Tudor England. It's an alternate history, loosely based on the youth of Queen Elizabeth I.
• Inside 'Family Reunion,' A Sitcom With An All-Black Writers Room
  Creator Meg DeLoatch conceived her new streaming series, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, around her own family reunion in Georgia. Then Netflix encouraged her to staff up with African Americans.
• A Bushel of New Comics Collections Dig Into the Pleasures of Print
  Despite what you may have heard, dead-tree publishing isn't dead. In fact, a host of new print magazines are bringing some wild, weird, innovative words and pictures to the alternative comics scene.
• Comic-Con 2019, Day 2: The Infamous Coffee Cup
  On the second full day of San Diego Comic-Con, highlights include the last-ever (maybe) Game of Thrones panel and the Eisner Awards, celebrating the best work in comics. (Also, some good cosplay.)
• Not My Job: We Quiz 'Orange Is The New Black' Author On Laundering (Clothes)
  Piper Kerman served time in minimum security prison for money laundering ... but how much does she know about actual laundering? We'll find out.
• Spirited 'Family Of Origin' Defends The Maligned Millennial
  CJ Hauser's new novel centers on two estranged siblings trying to unravel their late father's work with a group of fringe biologists who believe evolution is running backward, away from millenials.
• Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats, And A Trailer For The Internet To Talk About
  People on social media are mesmerized by the preview for the movie that is based on the Broadway musical. And they just kept watching it again and again.
• Once A Juggernaut, WWE Sees Its Ratings Tank
  Fans of World Wrestling Entertainment say the story plots and matches are boring. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Forbes sportswriter Alfred Konuwa about the drop in viewership.