The Thread® - Books and Literary News

The Thread® is your source for book recommendations and other literary news.

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Big Books and Bold Ideas is a weekly series hosted by Kerri Miller every Friday at 11 a.m., featuring conversations about books and other literary ideas. Listen to Big Books and Bold Ideas here.

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Talking Volumes

Talking Volumes is an annual event series featuring notable authors in conversation about their new books. Presented by MPR News and The Minnesota Star Tribune. 

'Honor' is a searing meditation on the meaning of dignity in a dehumanizing world
Thrity Umrigar's novel is about India's humanitarian crisis — with its depictions of misogyny and scenes of public shaming, mistreatment and torture — but it's also about a transformative journey.
Want to understand the U.S.? This historian says the South holds the key
Imani Perry says the South can be seen as an "origin point" for the way the nation operates. Her book “South to America” reflects on the region's history and traces the steps of an enslaved ancestor.
'And I say, Hey! HEY!' Aardvark Arthur's wonderful new days are ending
The world-famous aardvark first appeared in print over 45 years ago. The Emmy and Peabody award-winning TV show is about to begin its 25th and final season — and creator Marc Brown has a new book.
Meet the Minnesotan who wrote a novel in Japanese — and then got it published
When Marnie Jorenby sets herself a challenge, she doesn't hold back. Not only did she decide to write a novel, she decided she’d write it in Japanese and get it published in Japan. It took a while, but she did it.
What library lovers are reading
As a library lover herself, Kerri Miller introduces you to the books that are in greatest demand in the nation’s libraries.
Booker Prize finalist Nadifa Mohamed's novel revisits Somali seaman's fate in 1950s' Wales
It took many decades after Mahmood Mattan’s execution at Cardiff Prison in Wales for his name to be cleared over a killing he did not commit. Host Kerri Miller talked to author Nadifa Mohamed about her historical novel that looks back on Mattan’s life and the miscarriage of justice.
'Joan Is Okay' explores the meaning of home, having roots
By exploring the spectrum of commitment in this book, and in her debut novel “Chemistry,” Weike Wang has shown us myriad ways to build a sense of home, myriad ways to feel okay in our skin.
'Davos Man' is an angry, powerful look at economic inequality
New York Times writer Peter S. Goodman does not like Davos Man. At all. And his new book does an excellent job explaining why — focusing on the rich getting richer as the COVID-19 pandemic raged.