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Like an actor who refuses to watch his own movies, author Michael Chabon says he can't stand to read his books. On Morning Edition, Chabon and fellow writers Jane Smiley and John Edgar Wideman share their thoughts about the nature of writing in a virtual "salon" styled after the Algonquin Round Table. Hear a longer version of their discussion online.

John Lawton's Cold War spy novel, Old Flames, is set in England in l956, during Nikita Khrushchev's first visit to Great Britain. In this story, as Lawton makes clear, the spy is anything but a hero. Lawton speaks with NPR's Scott Simon.

The Handmaid's Tale, an opera based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, makes its North American debut at the Minnesota Opera in St. Paul. The opera tells of a world where religion is used to justify political agendas and women are stripped of their rights. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs reports.

From the Maori culture of New Zealand comes Whale Rider, a film with an appealing 11-year-old central character. She's seeking to follow in her father's footsteps as tribal chieftain. Her grandfather is skeptical. NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.

Art Spiegelman won many awards for his comic book Maus, based on his father's experiences during the Holocaust. His latest work is an autobiographical comic based on his own post-Sept. 11 life. This book is not finding the same success. David D'Arcy reports.

Journalist David Brinkley, whose career paralleled much of the evolution of American television news coverage, dies of complications from a fall at age 82. Brinkley first gained fame in the 1960s co-anchoring NBC's evening news program with Chet Huntley; he later hosted ABC's This Week with David Brinkley. Brinkley won 10 Emmys and three Peabodys during his career. Hear NPR's Cokie Roberts.

How I Learned What I Learned is the latest from playwright August Wilson. He's won two Pulitzer Prizes for Fences and The Piano Lesson. This time Wilson makes his acting debut in a one-man show. Marcie Sillman of member station KUOW reports.

He says he's so indecisive that it takes him hours to order food at restaurants. But when the part of Charles Howard in the movie Seabiscuit landed on his plate, actor Jeff Bridges did not hesitate. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Bridges about his work on the film, opening next week. They also chat about other roles in Bridges' 30-year career.

Art Spiegelman is best known for his Pulitzer-prize winning graphic novel "Maus" about the Holocaust. His latest project is a collection offering a different kind of scary story -- one designed to interest children in reading, and the art of storytelling. On Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Liane Hansen interviews Spiegelman about "It Was a Dark and Silly Night...."

Quirky lyrics that mix Spanish and English and an eclectic musical style have helped make Kevin Johansen one of Argentina's hottest musicians. The Argentine-American artist hopes to win over U.S. audiences with a stateside tour that begins this week. Brian Byrnes reports. Hear songs from Johansen's latest albums.