The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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Ask a Bookseller

Ask a Bookseller is a weekly series where host Emily Bright checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. Listen to Ask a Bookseller to find your next favorite book.

Big Books and Bold Ideas

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

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.

The Thread: Armchair travels for when we’re stuck at home
Many of us have canceled spring getaways and are starting to wonder if we’ll be sticking close to home this summer too. Kerri Miller shares three books that will transport you far away from home.
'How To Feed A Dictator' spills the beans on 5 strongmen
For his new book, Witold Szablowski tracked down the chefs who fed autocrats like Pol Pot, Enver Hoxha and Idi Amin. He says the book isn't just about food, but about how dictatorships rise and grow.
Getting some blood on the page: Questions for Grady Hendrix
Hendrix's new novel, “The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires,” stars a group of determined women who band together to take on a suave supernatural threat in their community.
'Why We Swim' looks for answers in people and places across the globe
Author Bonnie Tsui reminds us that humankind once sprang from — and still seeks — water. "Even if we can't get in the water right now," she says, "the ocean will be waiting for us."
'Girl Gone Viral' is a peach of a read
In Alisha Rai's latest, a former model escapes unwanted viral fame by hiding out with her bodyguard, on his family's peach farm. It's packed with humor, drama — and a pair of very sexy eyebrows.
A story of how far people will go for love
Paulette Jiles, a National Book Award finalist, returns to familiar characters with her new celebrated Western.
The gift of a garden in troubled times
Gardening has long been a balm for the human soul. Landscape designer Rebecca Winn shares how her garden restored her after heartbreak.
For artist and author Vivek Shraya, the internet is now a canvas
The multidisciplinary artist has brought new visibility to Canada's trans community. Her new book, “The Subtweet,” chronicles a friendship between two musicians that implodes under online pressures.