Hey, it's Empire's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. The book we're talking about today,

the summer we crossed Europe in the rain, is a book of lyrics. Normally, lyrics don't get

published as separate books, but in this case, it makes sense since the lyrics were co-written

by Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. The book is actually a collaboration between him

and the jazz singer Stacey Kent, who worked together to make an album of the same name. It's

kind of a weird combination, if you think about it, writer and jazz singer. But in this interview

with NPR's Juana Summers, they talk about making the collaboration work, the difference between lyrics and

poetry, and also the kind of wild story as to how they met in the first place.

That's ahead.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

In 2002, Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro appeared on BBC's Desert Island discs.

On each show, a guest picks what music they would take with them on a desert island.

This is one of my favorite late night, slinky jazz singers, St Stacey Kent and here she is

doing a version

of Gershwin's

they can't take

that away from me

...