The Best of NPR Books for February 9, 2017

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This week: The Handmaid's Tale is the latest dystopian classic to see a spike in sales -- author Margaret Atwood has some ideas on what the next big dystopia might be. We look at some of 2017's most exciting new poetry, and sit down to dinner with Charles Dickens. Plus, a profile of author Min Jin Lee; her new novel, Pachinko, is a multigenerational, cross-cultural family saga (and yes, Japanese pinball is involved). And we visit Lancaster, Ohio, home to the once-thriving Anchor Hocking glass factory. The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books What's The Next Big Dystopian Novel? Margaret Atwood Has Some Ideas Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale landed on top of Amazon's best-seller lists this week, following other classics like 1984 and It Can't Happen Here. She has some thoughts on our next great dystopia. Read this story The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books Poetry To Pay Attention To: A Preview Of 2017's Best Verse 2017 is turning out to be a year of big change. Critic Craig Teicher highlights some of the poetry that can help guide readers through it. Read this story The Salt It Was The Best Of Fries, It Was The Worst Of Fries: Charles Dickens, Food Scribe Charles Dickens, born Feb. 7, 1812, was likely inspired by his own hunger to write some of the finest descriptions of Victorian food and cooking that have ever been recorded in literature. Read this story The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books 'Pachinko' Is A Family Saga Of Exile, Discrimination ... And Japanese Pinball The multibillion-dollar pinball industry is dominated by Korean Japanese, an immigrant community that has been ill-treated for generations. Author Min Jin Lee explores that history in a new novel. Read this story The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books 'Glass House' Chronicles The Sharp Decline Of An All-American Factory Town Once a bustling town, Lancaster, Ohio, is now beset by unemployment, low wages and drug abuse. Brian Alexander chronicles the rise and fall of his hometown in his new book, Glass House. Read this story

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