Books & Literature

Poet Daniel Halpern. Halpern's latest collection of poems, "Foreign Neon," has just been published by Knopf. Halpern himself is also a publisher, the head of Ecco Press, and the editor of the literary journal, "Antaeus" (pronounced "an-es").

Surgeon and photographic historian Stanley Burns. Burns has just compiled a book called "Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography In America." It chronicles what was a common occurrence in the late 1800s and early 1900s... taking one last photograph of a dead relative. (The book's published by Twelvetrees Press).

One of Africa's greatest novelists, Nuruddin Farah (New-ru-DEAN Fair-ah). He was born in what is now known as the Somalian Republic. He writes in English, and his work has been widely praised for its treatment of women. His books include, "From A Crooked Rib," "A Naked Needle," and a trilogy, "Variations on an African Dictatorship." For a long time Farah was living in exile because of a death sentence placed against him for his writing. It has since been lifted.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes' new book, "The Campaign."

Cartoonist Dan Perkins, otherwise known as "Tom Tomorrow," the creator of the comic strip, "This Modern World." This social/political strip appears regularly in a number of alternative papers and magazines such as the Utne Reader, Whole Earth, and Z. It's just recently began running in the San Francisco Examiner. The strip uses the collage imagery from 40s and 50s advertising and features Sparky the Wonder Penguin who has been known to call George Bush a "Wanker."

First, novelist E.L. Doctorow reads from his novel, "Billy Bathgate." (First broadcast March 14, 1989) Then, film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Billy Bathgate," the film adaptation of E. L. Doctorow's best-selling novel. It stars Dustin Hoffman and Bruce Willis.

Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain has a new memoir of his career on the court, and his sometimes controversial life off the court. It's called "A View From Above."

Writer William Least Heat Moon. His 1983 chronicle of traveling the back roads of America, "Blue Highways," became a literary classic and a huge best-seller. In his new book, "PrairyErth," Least Heat Moon looks at the geography, geology, and history of one county in Kansas. (The book's published by Houghton Mifflin, and "PrairyErth" is the correct spelling. There's no second "a").

Terry talks with journalist James Reston. Since 1940, he's worked at the New York Times, as a reporter, Washington bureau chief, executive editor, and columnist. He's just written a new memoir, called "Deadline." (It's published by Random House).

Pakistani writer Bapsi Sidhwa (Bop-see SEED-wah). Her new novel is "Cracking India," which tells the story of the Partition of India through the eyes of an eight-year-old girl named Lenny. Sidhwa has written other novels as well, "The Bride," and "Ice-Candy-Man," both stories told through female characters. She'll talk with Terry about her books and women's rights in Pakistan.

Book critic John Leonard reviews Martin Amis' new novel, "Time's Arrow." It's the story of a former Nazi doctor who looks back on the horror he committed during the Holocaust.

Professor Lillian Faderman. Faderman's written a new book on the history of lesbians and lesbian life in 20th Century America. It's called "Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers." (It's published by Columbia University Press).

Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "BAD, or the Dumbing of America," by Paul Fussell. In his book, Fussell decries the decline of quality and taste in everything from movies to education. (It's published by Summit Books).

Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh. In his new book, "The Samson Option," Hersh contends that Israel has had a secret nuclear arms program for years, had those arms aimed at the Soviet Union for years, and was ready to fire those weapons at Arab capitals during the recent Gulf war. Hersh's previous book, "The Target Is Destroyed," looked at what really happened when Korean Airlines flight 007 was shot down near Japan.

Comedian Bill Cosby. Cosby talks about his TV show, his early years doing stand-up comedy, and his new book, "Childhood." It recounts some of his favorite stories of his youth. (It's published by Putnam).

Pamela Constable and Arturo Valenzuela. Their new book, "A Nation of Enemies," examines how Chile, , a country with a long history of democracy, slipped into more than a decade of dictatorship under Augusto Pinochet. Constable is Latin America correspondent for the Boston Globe, Valenzuela is director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. (The book's published by W.W. Norton).

Book critic John Leonard reviews "The Song Dog," by James McClure, and "Personal Effects," by Marissa Piesman.

Editor Ze'ev Chafets (SHAY-fetz) of "The Jerusalem Report," a news magazine published in Israel. He's also the author of "Inherit the Mob," a comic novel about a journalist lured into the Jewish Mafia, baited by a large inheritance. Chafets will talk to Terry about his own life as an American living in Israel and about the upcoming peace talks.

Composer, director, and writer Elizabeth Swados. She's written a memoir about her family, "The Four of Us." Much of it has to do with her brilliant but schizophrenic brother, Lincoln, and how his illness affected the family. Her brother became a street person, and later died. (published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux).

Veteran standup comedian Henny Youngman. Youngman has a new memoir, called "Take My Life, Please." (It's published by Morrow).