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In honor of Oscar weekend, we dig into the NPR Books archives for four stories about Oscar-nominated books and actors, from Cary Grant to Cormac McCarthy.

Also: The U.K. issues Jane Austen postage stamps; in the U.S., biographer Paula Broadwell's promotion in the Army Reserves is suspended; it's Edward Gorey's birthday; and an anti-bullying poem goes viral.

Civil rights advocates plan to rally in Washington, D.C. while the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on whether to uphold Section 5 of the Voting Rights…

The Jets quarterback reversed a decision to attend the opening of a new facility for the First Baptist Church in Dallas, whose pastor has disparaged other religions and homosexuals.

The Oscar Pistorius case has tapped into two long-running and emotionally charged issues in South Africa: the fear of crime and violence against women.

If you can't tell what politicians in Washington are talking about, you're not alone. But eventually terms such as "sequester" and "reconciliation" can become less impenetrable, if only because of their constant repetition.

The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a case challenging a Voting Rights Act provision that requires some states to receive federal approval for elections rule changes. Shelby County says the system is outdated, but some black officials argue it's still necessary to ensure diverse voices in government.

Several big retailers say the return of the full payroll tax is causing consumers to curtail spending, but so far the evidence is mostly anecdotal. Some analysts argue a variety of factors, and not any specific policy, contributed to slower growth in consumer spending in January.

Pope Benedict XVI announced a change to Vatican law Monday to allow his successor to be chosen sooner than expected. His resignation takes effect Thursday. But the papal succession may be overshadowed by sex scandals. Linda Wertheimer talks to Father Thomas Reese of Georgetown University about recent developments.

Developers paid more than $40 million for the empty space above Christ Church on Park Avenue at 60th Street. The New York Times reports zoning laws allow for a structure taller than the church to be built on its land, and the church can transfer its unused development rights to an adjoining property . The church's new neighbor is expected to be a 51-story tower, with apartments expected to fetch $8,000 per square foot.