NPR's Book of the Day

John and Helen Koh are a middle-class couple living in South Korea with. But when a financial crisis hits, they leave Seoul for Southern California and are faced with a new financial reality. There, they struggle to find a place for their children among the American Dream. American Hagwon is the newest novel from Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko. In today’s episode, she speaks with Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon about the culture of hagwons, the Korean word for learning centers, and why Lee says writing this novel "transformed" her.

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Before she won the Pulitzer for Demon Copperhead, Kingsolver wasn't sure her neighbors knew what she did for a living. Her new novel Partita, about a classical pianist, gets very personal.

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John F. Kennedy once wrote a book called Profiles in Courage, which highlighted senators throughout history who made unpopular but politically brave decisions. Journalist Jacob Weisberg took inspiration from this premise, but his new book Profiles in Cowardice instead identifies people and institutions that have enabled President Trump as he’s tested the limits of executive power. In today’s episode, Weisberg joins Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep for a conversation about the law firm leaders, university presidents, court authorities and politicians who Weisberg sees as examples of “civic cowardice.”

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The Grand Alpine Hotel is majestic, nestled high in the Swiss Alps with snow perfect for skiing. But one morning, a dead body is discovered in one of the gondolas on its first run – and before long, no one can get off the mountain. That's the opening of Murder At The Grand Alpine Hotel. If it sounds like an Agatha Christie novel, well, that's because it almost is. It's by British mystery writer Lucy Foley and is the first authorized Miss Marple novel in 50 years. In today’s episode, Foley spoke with NPR’s Debbie Elliott about how the author channeled Agatha Christie in her writing.

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Ben Macintyre is a master of espionage stories that are true. His latest project is based on a case study taught in MI6, the British foreign intelligence service. Redwood follows a KGB spy who offers valuable secrets to Britain while working in Iran during the height of the Cold War. In today’s episode, the author joins Weekend Edition’s Scott Simon for a conversation that touches on the spy’s surprising motivations, the contentious history between Russia and Britain in Iran and the fear of nuclear confrontation that hangs over the story.

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