The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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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. 

Looking for a new book this week? Here are 5 wide-ranging options
A true smorgasbord is on offer for readers this week. Care for an inspirational memoir? Reminders of the precarious position of civilization? Early summer read? They’re all here.
Dorothy Parker’s posthumously published collection is “Poems” and Camilla Barnes’ debut novel is: The Usual Desire to Kill.” Both affirm: sharp humor can be grounded in pain.
Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein’s new book looks at ‘failed liberal policies‘
What if liberals’ penchant for scarcity has been holding America back from solving our most challenging problems? That’s the thesis of Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein’s provocative new book, “Abundance.”
Writer turned citizen scientist offers tips on living lightly to reduce your carbon footprint
Tamara Dean, author of “Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless,” talks to MPR chief meteorologist Paul Huttner about climate change and rethinking the lifestyle choices we make to lower our carbon footprint but still live productive lives.
5 notable new books that are all over the map (in a good way)
These books confront readers with the recent past and distant future, bring them to southeastern Africa and an alternative Japan, and bedeck their pages with subversive cartoons and lush landscapes.
‘Buffy’ podcasters built a community — and they didn’t let divorce break it
“Buffering the Vampire Slayer” podcasters Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo write about their community of fans, and how it help them keep working together after a split, in “Slayers, Every One of Us.”
Do what you can. A new kids’ book shows how even ‘The Littlest Drop’ helps
A brave hummingbird does what she can to fight a fire in Sascha Alper’s new book. It was one of the last projects illustrator Jerry Pinkney worked on before he died. His son Brian finished it for him.