The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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

Sign Up for The Thread® Newsletter

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.

January 10, 2017 12:00 AM

Immigration and infertility bring two mothers together over one 'Lucky Boy'

Shanthi Sekaran's new novel tells the story of a Mexican woman who has entered the U.S. without papers and an Indian-American chef struggling to have a baby.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 9, 2017 1:22 PM

'Dry rules in dusty books need to make sense in life': A father advises his young Muslim sons

In "Letters to a Young Muslim," Omar Saif Ghobash writes to his sons about the importance of exploring, and questioning, one's religion.

by MPR News Staff

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 9, 2017 10:15 AM

What we can learn from 'Washington's farewell'

The tradition of giving a goodbye address goes all the way back to the nation's first president. Author John Avlon says George Washington's farewell was remarkably prescient and prophetic.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 9, 2017 9:19 AM

Ventura loses appeal to reinstate $1.8M verdict

Ventura took issue with "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle's claim that Kyle punched Ventura at a California bar in 2006 for offensive comments about the SEALs.

by The Associated Press

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 9, 2017 8:46 AM

Raised in a prison, 'The Warden's Daughter' decides it's time to find a mom

Cammie O'Reilly lost her mother when she was a baby -- so she seeks out maternal support from female inmates. Author Jerry Spinelli says the book was inspired by a real-life story from his hometown.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 9, 2017 4:00 AM

'History of Wolves' debut sets author at head of pack

Set in a northern Minnesota town, Emily Fridlund's novel may leave readers asking uncomfortable questions about themselves.

by Euan Kerr

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

January 8, 2017 12:00 AM

Cricket and difficult choices in 'Selection Day'

Aravind Adiga's new novel centers on Manju, a boy from Mumbai, and his tyrannical father, who wants just one thing: To raise the world's best cricketers. But what does Manju want for himself?

by Annalisa Quinn