Former President Barack Obama: Democracy is "strained," but not broken

Also this week: The National Book Awards, critics' picks and more [Former President Barack Obama speaks at a Biden-Harris drive-in rally in Miami on Oct. 24., 2020]( Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Former President Barack Obama sat down with Fresh Air's Terry Gross to talk about his new memoir, A Promised Land -- among other things. "We just had record turnout," Obama says of the election. "Despite what the president is saying, you're seeing state officials run an orderly process, and even Republican officials who are responsible for counting votes [are] doing so in a way that reflects their integrity." You can find that full conversation [here]( -- and NPR's Michel Martin also spoke to the former President; the transcript of that interview is [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Interior Chinatown, by Charles Yu]( This year's National Book Awards were announced yesterday in a first-ever virtual ceremony. The theme of the evening was diversity and inclusivity; National Book Foundation executive director Lisa Lucas called out the publishing industry, saying "we haven't been brave enough in our choices." [The winners reflected that commitment to diversity]( with almost all the medals going to writers of color. Fiction prize winner Charles Yu said "There's not many reasons for hope right now, but to be here, hearing about all of these books, having read some of them, going on to read many more of them, it is what keeps me going." [Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart]( Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain was shortlisted for the National Book Award in fiction, though it didn't win -- but NPR's Scott Simon says it's a book that "cracks open the human heart, brings you inside, tears you up, and brings you up, with its episodes of unvarnished love, loss, survival and sorrow." Scott talked to Douglas Stuart about the book; its story of a young queer boy with a beautiful, troubled mother is partly inspired by his own life. [Check out their conversation here.]( (And as I write this, it's just been announced that Shuggie Bain won the Booker Prize!) Finally this week, Ellen Cooney's One Night Two Souls Went Walking follows an unnamed hospital chaplain on her rounds. Critic Michael Schaub calls it a "[shimmering, remarkable novel]( Barbara J. King calls Paul Farmer's Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds, about the realities of Ebola, "[eye-opening, densely detailed, and riveting]( And as I like to do whenever possible, let's end with a happy-ever-after; critic Denny S. Bryce says you don't need to like astrology to love Alexandria Bellefleur's [charming queer romance]( Written in the Stars. [One Night Two Souls Went Walking, by Ellen Cooney]( [Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds, by Paul Farmer]( [Written in the Stars, by Alexandria Bellefleur]( Happy reading! -- Petra --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [books@npr.org](mailto:books@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Pop Culture, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Books emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]