Hey, it's I'm Pierce Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh. You know, sometimes you read a novel

about family, and the characters, the kids, siblings, and the parents take on these kind of

kooky identities, and you think, this is a weird family, isn't it? But think about the kooky

characters in your own family, and maybe it's not so weird after

all.

That's the point novelist Joyce Maynard makes in today's interview.

She's got a new novel out titled How the Light Gets in.

It's a sequel to her 2021 book, Count the Ways.

And in talking about the newest one with MPR Scott Simon, she questions whether there

even is such a thing as a typical family.

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.

Leonard Cohen died the day before the 2016 election, and many remembered these lines from his song, Anthem.

Ring the bell that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering.

There is a crack, a crack in everything.

That's how the light gets in.

Those words and much more, including COVID climate change, school shootings in January 6th,

have stayed with Joyce Maynard in her latest novel,

...