KPFA - Bookwaves/Artwaves

Adam Hochschild, author of Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

Noted historian Adam Hochschild’s latest book is a history of the Spanish Civil War, the precursor to World War II, from the perspective of Americans fighting that war. Narrowing it down to the stories of a handful of men and women who were combatants, journalists and witnesses, Hochschild brings this violent and vicious war down to a human level and in so doing, brings history alive.

A 48-minute version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. [1]

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/adam-hochschild/

David Shields, author of “Other People: Takes & Mistakes,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

David Shields ia an essayist, novelist, short story writer and film maker.Among his works are “Black Planet,” “How LIterature Saved My Life,” and “I Think You’re Totally Wrong: A Quarrel." In his latest book, a collection of over thirty essays and stories, he examines what it means to know another person, whether we can actually know anyone else. In this interview, he discusses in depth his feelings about Bill Murray, David Letterman and other artists, as well as some characteristics of Donald Trump.

An extended version can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. [1]

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/david-shields-people-takes-mistakes/

Kim Addonizio if the author of a new memoir/collection of essays, Bukowski in a Sundress, as well as a new book of poetry, Mortal Trash. She discusses both books, as well as an earlier collection of short stories, Palace of Illusions,in this interview with host Richard Wolinsky.

An extended version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky [1] podcast.

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/kim-addonizio/

Colm Toibin discusses his latest novel, "House of Names," a retelling of the story of the House of Atreus, the classic Greek tragedy of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Electra and Orestes, which formed the basis of plays by Sophocles, Euripedes and Aeschylus, as well as influenced playwrights from Shakespeare to Eugene O'Neill. Colm Toibin is the author of several novels, including "Brooklyn," recently made into an award-winning film. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.

The complete interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky [1] podcast.

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/colm-toibin/

Richard Wolinsky and Jim Obergefell at KPFA

A conversation with Jim Obergefell, co-author of Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky

Jim Obergefell’s husband John in Ohio was dying when he was approached by an attorney who explained that because the state did not recognize gay marriages from other states, Jim’s name would never appear on John’s death certificate. Jim and John both agreed to go for it, and the result, in June 2015 in the case Obergefell v Hodges, the Supreme Court made gay marriage the law of the land. Since then he has become a spokesperson for gay rights around the country.

The book Love Wins, co-written by journalilst Debbie Cenziper, tells the story of the marriage equality case against the backdrop of Jim and John’s relationship, and the relationships of others who also joined the case.

An extended version of this can be found as a Area 941 Radio Wolinsky podcast

Anna Quindlen, whose latest novel is Miller's Valley, speaks with host Richard Wolinsky. Anna Quindlen was a reporter and columnist for the New York Times from 1977 to 1994, winning a Pulitzer Prize for commentary for her column Public and Private. From 1994 to 1999 she wrote a column for Newsweek, and since that time has become a full time best-selling novelist. Miller's Valley takes place in the late 1960s and early 1970s and is the coming-of-age story of a girl living in a small town about to be flooded out by a dam. Rebroadcast from April 2016.

[caption id="attachment_264055" align="alignleft" width="346"] Andrew McCarthy and Richard Wolinsky at KPFA[/caption]

Andrew McCarthy, author of the young adult novel "Just Fly Away," travel writer and actor/director, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

Andrew McCarthy who has had a long career, starting out as an actor in such films as "Pretty in Pink," "Less Than Zero" and "Weekend at Bernie's", went on to become a noted travel writer and successful television director, tries his hand at a young adult novel written from the perspective of a fifteen year old girl having difficulty with the discovery that she has an eight year old brother conceived by her father during a one-night stand.

In this interview, he talks about the novel and his history as both a travel writer, actor and director, talks about the Trump travel slump and explains what it takes to work on series television.

A shorter version of this interview aired on KPFA's Radio Wolinsky podcast [1]

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/andrew-mccarthy/

Donna Seaman, author of Identity Unknown: Rediscovering Seven American Women Artists in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

The art world has not been kind to women artists. Being taken seriously, getting exhibited, getting remembered after their deaths: none of this happens automatically. Donna Seaman, book critic for Booklist, takes a look at seven twentieth century American woman artists whose work has been somewhat forgotten in the years since their deaths: Louise Nevelson, Gertrude Abercrombie, Lois Madou Jones, Ree Morton, Joan Brown, Lenore Tawney and Christina Ramberg.

In this discussion, Donna Seaman talks about each of these artists and how they related to the world and to art. She also talks about the recent controversy over the Bull sculpture on Wall Street, on sexism in the arts, and on the pull between artistic freedom and stylistic fads.

An extended version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast.

Peter Brook, visionary director, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

Peter Brook is one of the greatest theatrical directors of the twentieth century. Artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company for twenty years from 1962-1982, he transformed how the English speaking world looked at the plays of William Shakespeare. He is perhaps best known, during those years, for his production of "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade," also known as "Marat/Sade," which later became a film and turned Glenda Jackson into an international star. His other films include "Lord of the Flies," "Meetings with Remarkable Men" and a version of "King Lear" starring Paul Scofield.

His 1985 nine-hour adaptation of the Indian epic Mahabharata is probably his masterpiece. Now, at the age of 92, he and his collaborator Marie Helene Estienne have gone back to the Mahabharata with a short theatrical piece, "Battlefield," which is playing at ACT’s Geary Theater through May 21st. This interview was recorded on April 24, 2017 in a rehearsal studio in the ACT offices in San Francisco. An extended version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. [1]

American Conservatory website [2]

Peter Brook Wikipedia page [3]

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[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/peter-brook/

[2] http://www.act-sf.org/

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Brook

Ian Rankin, whose latest novel is “Rather Be The Devil,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky.

Ian Rankin has carved a name for himself as the premier Scottish writer of noir fiction. His series detective, John Rebus, has appeared in most of his over 25 books. Focusing on police procedure in Edinburgh, these books capture Scotland, his people and politics, in a way that few others have.

A 51-minute extended version of this interview can be found as a Radio Wolinsky podcast. [1]

Ian Rankin website [2]

[1] https://kpfa.org/area941/episode/ian-rankin/

[2] https://www.ianrankin.net/