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Book reviews and concert previews brought to you by Betsy Burton, co-owner of The King's English Bookshop, and Austen Diamond, producer of 13% Salt. Books & Beats airs Saturdays at 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m. during NPR's Weekend Edition.

Books & Beats: April 23, 2016

Courtesy of the Artist
The Milk Carton Kids are playing at The State Room on Tuesday, April 26th.

Tuesday Nights in 1980 (Scout Press) is Molly Prentiss’s debut novel.  It’s about two orphans, art, and bohemian life in 1970s and 80s New York.  In her review, Betsy Burton says you’ll be “torn between racing from page to page, breathless, or stopping to re-read this iridescent, garish paragraph, the expression on that character’s face—his tone, her gesture.”

These days indie-folk music is characterized by poppy hooks, a lot of stage-presence, and a wall of sound—think bands like Mumford & Sons.  The Milk Carton Kids are playing a quieter kind of folk, à la Simon & Garfunkel.  They'll perform at The State Room on Tuesday, April 26th.

And Rihanna’s coming to Vivint Smart Home Arena on Wednesday, April 27th.

Music heard on this Books & Beats:

 1: “Whisper in Her Ear” by The Milk Carton Kids

2: “Wish You Were Here” (written by Pink Floyd), performed by The Milk Carton Kids

3: “Monterey” by The Milk Carton Kids

4: “Never Ending” by Rihanna  

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