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The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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

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Sign up for The Thread newsletter to get reading recommendations from Kerri Miller and other bookworms around the MPR newsroom. Sam Stroozas rounds up local events and Minnesota book news you may have missed.

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.

A very different dragon tale

A very different dragon tale

Think less magic, more Victorian-era memoir. That’s the twist on this fantasy series following the world’s most respected dragon expert.
by Tracy Mumford

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'The Ghosts of Eden Park' seems fittingly haunted by prohibition

'The Ghosts of Eden Park' seems fittingly haunted by prohibition

Karen Abbott's page-turner teases with its central mystery, reaching its climactic final trial with a satisfying bang — though more on the politics of the time would have been a welcome layer.
by Ilana Masad

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'When I Was White' centers on the formation of race, identity and self

'When I Was White' centers on the formation of race, identity and self

As the U.S. becomes more brown and black — resulting in a xenophobic backlash and nostalgia by some for white European immigrants — the ideas in Sarah Valentine's memoir become even more necessary.
by Hope Wabuke

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S'mored out? Bring something new to your campfire cooking

S'mored out? Bring something new to your campfire cooking

It only takes a little planning to take your outdoor eating to the next level. We asked our friends at The Splendid Table to share some easy but creative recipes.
by Matt Mikus

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'New Yorker' writer fears we're fooling ourselves in the internet's 'Trick Mirror'

'New Yorker' writer fears we're fooling ourselves in the internet's 'Trick Mirror'

In her new book of essays, culture writer Jia Tolentino explores how social media shapes identity, public discourse and political engagement — particularly for millennials such as herself.
by Terry Gross

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'Our Women on the Ground' unites stories from female journalist in the Arab world

'Our Women on the Ground' unites stories from female journalist in the Arab world

There's a deep fascination in the West with how women function in ultra-conservative societies where repression can be violent and even deadly. This anthology pulls back the curtain on those places.
by Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

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Burned out by dating apps? 'The Right Swipe' will relight your fire

Burned out by dating apps? 'The Right Swipe' will relight your fire

Alisha Rai's new romance is a testament to the difficulty of modern dating, as the CEO of a successful dating app realizes she's been ghosted by the celebrity spokesman of her biggest business rival.
by Amanda M. Diehl

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