by Brittney Melton

October 26, 2025

Good morning. This week, Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister, New York City Mayor Eric Adams endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as his successor, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom directed his state's National Guard to support food banks during the government shutdown.

Not your typical reading list

by Cher Vincent, supervising producer at NPR's content development team

Have you ever looked over the towering pile of books on your nightstand and thought: Will I ever see my table again? Will I ever get through the laundry list of reading recommendations? Can I get away with pretending I read that book for my next book club meeting?

Well, you’re not alone! NPR's Books team is full of big readers. We’re always trying to keep up with what or who to read and why we should be making the time, making our never-ending nightstand tower of books taller. Above all, we’re big proponents of reading — for fun! We have missed the whimsy of opening a book and drowning out the world for a little while. And on Books We’ve Loved, our new limited-run series within the Book of the Day podcast, we’ve found just the balm.

An illustration showing one person on either end of the image holding a large stack of books. In the middle is ‘Books We’ve Loved - Making timeless reads timely again.’

NPR

Over the last few months, we have reviewed dozens of books that we have enjoyed or picked up for the first time and chosen some of our favorites. Host Andrew Limbong of NPR’s Book of the Day and B.A. Parker of NPR’s Code Switch wrangled some of their favorite NPR voices and contributors to discuss books from Anthony Bourdain, Jane Austen, Gillian Flynn and more — and how those books should still be read today.

Books We've Loved isn’t your typical assigned summer reading list. Yes, we might be revisiting a book you read in high school. But we were also exploring what books have shifted the paradigm, how they’ve remained in the cultural zeitgeist, and more importantly, why these stories continue to be relevant. We kept coming back to these titles because Limbong and Parker wanted to give a more nuanced look at what is considered part of the “literary canon.”

On our first episode, we were joined by NPR’s Linda Holmes to discuss the legacy of Jane Austen and how her seminal novel, Pride and Prejudice, was still referenced in some of our favorite romances today. Parker hadn’t read the novel in several years, and upon revisiting it, she felt more aligned with Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet’s meddling mother, and her quest to find her five daughters a suitor. When she was younger, Parker thought of herself as more of a “Lizzie.”

On our second episode, we read Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice with NPR’s Barrie Hardymon. After watching the 2025 film Sinners and listening to a recent interview with author Stephen Graham Jones on the subject of vampires, our Limbong felt compelled to finally read the novel. After reading it, Limbong came out of the episode wanting to consume more of the novels and watch the recent television adaptation.

Throughout the series, Limbong and Parker have deepened their enthusiasm for these books and hope you will find solace in these stories as well. Listen to new episodes of Books We’ve Loved on NPR’s Book of the Day feed every Saturday this fall.

Check out more great reads from the NPR network you may have missed:

➡️ President Trump frequently uses the phrase “common sense.” It has become one of the MAGA movement’s central arguments. The expression has a history of populist appeal and resonates with older voters and those living in rural communities.
➡️ At least 20 people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody this year, making it the deadliest year since the early 2000s, according to an NPR review. Former agency officials warn that increased detention population and difficulties staffing medical teams could cause more deaths.
➡️ A frog, a panda and a unicorn walk into a protest. It's no joke — protesters at No Kings rallies nationwide used these inflatable costumes to make a statement. Here's how one Portland frog protester inspired "Operation Inflation."
➡️ The recent Louvre heist may sound glamorous, but stealing priceless cultural artifacts is far from profitable. Reputable buyers won't purchase recognizable stolen pieces. NPR spoke with a veteran art thief, a lawyer and an expert to understand heist economics.

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Pod Club

A person with a large sheet over them to look like a ghost as they sit on a couch with a laptop in their lap.

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Thanks for tuning in last week to the NPR's Book of the Day episode “These new mystery novels are 'whodunits' that might as well be called 'whydunits,'” which featured two mystery novels with a twist. Authors Janice Hallett and Peter Swanson joined the podcast to discuss their respective books, just in time for spooky season.

Today, we’re listening to Life Kit. The episode “Can't decide on a Halloween costume? These 5 questions can help” will help you nail down a costume idea. The options are limitless, and that can be kind of overwhelming. As Halloween celebrations kick off, here is how to pick a getup without spending too much or buying a prepackaged outfit. Listen to learn how to solve your fashion dilemma or read the transcript. You can also read the article, which includes costume inspiration photos.

After listening, did these questions help you decide on what to wear for Halloween? If so, let us know what you decided to dress as by clicking here. Your response could be featured in next week’s newsletter.

Love podcasts? For handpicked episode recommendations every week, check out Pod Club — a newsletter written FOR podcast fans BY podcast fans. Subscribe here!

In today’s episode of The Sunday Story from Up First: New Zealand is undertaking a project to eradicate invasive species in an effort to save its endangered wildlife. Can the country succeed? How far should humans go to reverse the damage we've caused?

City swap

The words "Sunday Puzzle" over a white background. The name "Will Shortz" is under the Sunday Puzzle title, etched into red dice.

NPR

It's time for the Sunday Puzzle! Every answer is the six-letter name of a well-known U.S. city, in which NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has changed the first and last letters. You will have to name the cities. For example, “JURORS” would have an answer of “AURORA, Colo. and Ill.” Test your skills here. Check the page later to hear the answers, or catch them live on Weekend Edition at 8:41 a.m. ET.

This week's challenge comes from Donn DiMichele, of Redlands, Calif. Name a contemporary famous American singer. Replace the last name with a colloquial term for a person from the place where this singer was born and raised. Say the result out loud. Phonetically, you'll get a form of singing that the singer doesn't usually do. Who is the singer and what is the kind of singing? Submit your answer here and you could win a chance to play next Sunday's on-air puzzle.

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This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

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