Society & Culture

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Bullets Over Broadway," about a hack playwright whose work is rewritten and improved by a New York gangster.

Gilb was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for his collection of short stories, "The Magic of Blood." In his new novel, "The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuna," he tells us more about life in the poor Chicano community of the Southwest.

TV dramas are becoming wildly popular again. Critic David Bianculli says two stand out from the rest: "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and "Picket Fences."

Wideman is the author of "Fatheralong: A Meditation on Fathers and Sons, Race and Society," which explores his relationship with both his father and his son. Wideman's earlier book, "Brothers and Keepers," tells of his relationship with his brother, who, like his son, was convicted of murder. He is also the author of novels and short stories, and is a professor of English literature.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Love Affair," the remake of "An Affair to Remember," starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.

Actor Raul Julia died this morning, after a stroke last week. His films include "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Moon Over Parador," "Tequilla Sunrise." and "Romero." He also starred in "The Addams Family" series, as Gomez, the patriarch. He had a long career in musical theater as well, including "The Three-Penny Opera," "Nine," and "Man of la Mancha." We replay our 1989 interview with him.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews Lorrie Moore's new novel, "Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?"

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Pulp Fiction." He says it's far from perfect -- but it's so good, you won't care.

Grumbach has written a second memoir, which picks up where her first, "Coming into the End Zone," left off. "Fifty Days of Solitude" chronicles her life in Maine, her travels, and coming to terms with mortality. Grumbach is a book reviewer for National Public Radio, and was literary editor for "The New Republic.

Novelist Tim O'Brien has been called "one of our most eloquent writers about Vietnam" (Playboy). "In the Lake of the Woods" is his new novel about a man whose involvement in the war is much like O'Brien's. Both were at the My Lai massacre, and they shared a need to be accepted -- which drove them to serve in the war.

Walter Winchell was the man who legitimized gossip columns, tabloid news, and celebrity watching. He rose from a poor New York family to become one of the most read columnists, and eventually consulted with F.D.R. and Joe McCarthy. Writer Neal Gabler has written a biography about Winchell. "Winchell: Gossip, Power, and the Culture of Celebrity" helps explain the man who was the source of our current celebrity-obsessed culture.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg tells us about his handheld electronic dictionary.

Sexton has just written "Searching for Mercy Street: My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton," her seventh book. She spent a long time coming to terms with her relationship with her mother, who committed suicide in 1974.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg reflects on the pronunciation of foreign words by broadcasters.

English professor and author Greg Sarris is part American Indian, Filipino, and Jewish, and was raised in both Indian and white families. He has just written two books related to his experiences growing up. "Grand Avenue" is a collection of short stories about whites and Native Americans tied by a common ancestor; "Mabel McKay: Weaving the Dream" is a biography of Sarris' aunt, a world-renowned basket weaver. Sarris teaches at UCLA.

Author and activist Mahnaz Afkhami lobbied for many years for women's rights in her native Iran. For the past fifteen years, she has been in exile from her country for this work. During that time, she talked with other women in exile from all over the world. Twelve of these women's stories are recorded in her new book, "Women in Exile."

Reporter Patrice Gaines was a teenage mother with a drug rap when she spent the summer of 1970 in jail. She is now a regular reporter for the "Washington Post," and has written a book about how she turned her life around. It's called "Laughing in the Dark: From Colored Girl to Woman of Color."

Faithfull got her start in the English music scene of 1964, when she dated Mick Jagger and had the hit song, "As Tears Go By." In the following years she had a drug addiction that almost killed her, before recovering in 1985 and releasing new albums. Her memoir, "Faithfull: An Autobiography," tells her story of highs and lows with music and drugs.

Feather, one of the world's most prominent jazz critics died of pneumonia, yesterday at the age of 80. He grew up in England and moved to America in 1940. His most important writing was his encylopedia of jazz, an essential reference work of musician bios. Feather spent his final months editing a new edition, which is scheduled for publication next year. Feather also produced about 200 recording sessions, composed for many of the musicians he worked with, and even played piano on some of their sessions.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "The New Age," starring Judy Davis and Peter Weller. The film is directed by Michael Tolkin, author of "The Player."