MEMETERIA by Thomas May

Arts & Culture Stories from NPR

• Dino Vs. The Volcano: 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' Generates Intermittent Heat
  In this derivative but fitfully inventive fifth installment of the Jurassic franchise, our heroes try to rescue Isla Nublar's dinosaurs from extinction-by-lava, only to get their ash handed to them.
• 'The Catcher Was A Spy': World War II Biopic Barely Singles
  Despite a fascinating subject and an impressive cast, this tale of MLB catcher Moe Berg's stint as an OSS agent simply presents the facts without generating any insights.
• Elvis Documentary Comes For 'The King' — And Does Not Miss
  Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki masterfully explores Presley's life as a metaphor for America as he drives the late singer's 1963 Rolls-Royce across the country, interviewing those he meets along the way.
• This 'Damsel' Is In No Distress
  In this goofy Wild West farce from the Zellner Brothers, a fop (Robert Pattinson) and his miniature horse (Butterscotch) set out to rescue a young woman (Mia Wasikowska) who needs no rescuing.
• 'Born Trump' Examines The 'Emotional Hold' The President Has On His Family
  Journalist Emily Jane Fox focused on Trump's three marriages and five children when writing her new book. "His presence is overwhelming," she says of the president's role in the family.
• 2 Books Find Fuel In The American Landscape
  Critic Maureen Corrigan recommends two books to expand your horizons: One is a cultural history of the great American road trip; the other an early 20th-century classic of Midwestern rural life.
• Summer Horror Poll: Meet Our Expert Panelists!
  We asked you to tell us about your favorite horror novels and short stories, and you gave us more than 6,500 titles. Now, meet the expert judges who'll take those parts and create a beautiful monster.
• 'Tell The Machine' Is A Lucid Dream Of Sci-Fi Perfection
  Katie Williams' debut novel follows a woman who works for a company that can tell you infallibly how to become happy — and a drifting group of characters who aren't really looking for happiness.
• Librarian Nancy Pearl Picks 7 Books For Summer Reading
  Pearl's under-the-radar recommendations include a children's fantasy, a murder mystery set in 1919 Kolkata and an entire book dedicated to the events of 1947.
• If The First Season Of 'Detroiters' Flew Under Your Radar, Adjust Your Settings
  The deeply goofy and weirdly sweet comedy series about two best friends (Veep's Sam Richardson and SNL's Tim Robinson) who love their city, and each other, is back for a second season.