MEMETERIA by Thomas May

Arts & Culture Stories from NPR

• 'The Shanghai Free Taxi' Delves Deep Into China's Troubles
  NPR's Frank Langfitt wanted to get to know the real China, so he started a free taxi service in an effort to have conversations with a variety of people. His new book is the result of this reporting.
• These 'Ties That Bind' Explore Life With Father
  A group of women calling themselves the Catskilled Crafters took apart hundreds of donated neckties to make fabric art exploring their relationships with their fathers and the men in their lives.
• 'Angola Janga' Tells The Story Of Brazil's Runaway Slave Communities
  Marcelo D'Salete's powerful graphic novel chronicles the mocambos, communities of runaway slaves that flourished in the jungles of 17th century Brazil, and all the lives they touched, slave and free.
• Mindy Kaling And Emma Thompson Shatter The 'Late Night' Glass Ceiling
  Thompson plays a successful TV host who pulled the ladder up behind her in the movie Late Night. Kaling says a female late night host is "science fiction," but this was the role she wanted to write.
• Franco Zeffirelli, Creator Of Lavish Productions On Screen And Stage, Dies At 96
  The Italian director staged sumptuously visualized operas, which often resembled Renaissance paintings brought to life. On film, he brought Shakespearean and biblical tales to the big screen.
• Decades Later, 'Tales Of The City' Returns To A New San Francisco
  A new Netflix series resurrects the house at Barbary Lane, with characters reprised by Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis. Showrunner Lauren Morelli says she aimed to expand the range of queer stories.
• New York City And The Strand Bookstore Are Not On The Same Page
  Nancy Bass Wyden, the Strand's owner, is protesting New York City's decision to preserve the bookstore as a historic city landmark. She thinks the move will hurt, not help her business.
• 'Fleishman Is In Trouble': A Debut About Divorce, Dating And Disappearance
  One day, Toby Fleishman's ex-wife drops off the kids and disappears. Author Taffy Brodesser-Akner says too many people are "locked into" marriage; her new novel explores wedlock, and what comes after.
• In 'Tell Me How You Really Feel,' A Touching, TV-Inspired Love Story
  Aminah Mae Safi's new young adult novel is rooted in a famous plot arc from the television show Gilmore Girls — but you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this dense, fulfilling love story.
• Archivists Say Voice Discovered In Mexico's National Library May Be Frida Kahlo's
  A recording of what is thought to be the voice of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has was made public this week. Archivists who are digitizing and preserving a collection discovered it.