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The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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

Ask a Bookseller

Ask a Bookseller is a weekly series where The Thread 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 every Friday at 11 a.m., featuring conversations about books and other literary ideas. Listen to Big Books and Bold Ideas here.

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. Find reviews for new releases, as well as hidden gems you may have missed.

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. 

Book briefs: The best bookstores in the world

Book briefs: The best bookstores in the world

Minneapolis' own Wild Rumpus, which has cats and chickens roaming amongst the kids' books, landed on the list.
by Tracy Mumford

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How the Wright brothers did the impossible

How the Wright brothers did the impossible

David McCullough paints in the details on the legendary Wright brothers in his new book: "They never had any training in science or technology at all."
by Tracy Mumford

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Literary mysteries: What's the deal with "Fifty Shades"?

Literary mysteries: What's the deal with "Fifty Shades"?

The latest book from E.L. James has sold more than one million copies in its first week. What's behind the continued phenomenon?
by Tracy Mumford

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From civilian to spy: How an average guy helped bust a Russian agent

From civilian to spy: How an average guy helped bust a Russian agent

You'd think spying on the Russians would require some training, but Naveed Jamali had none. "Probably some Magnum P.I. episodes and a few movies here and there," he says. "That was about it."

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'Station Eleven' preserves art after the apocalypse

'Station Eleven' preserves art after the apocalypse

In Emily St. John Mandel's novel, a Shakespearean troupe clings to scraps of civilization after a deadly pandemic.

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Summer reads: What to pick up under the sun

Summer reads: What to pick up under the sun

Summer is a great time to catch up on backlist books and classics, but Harper Lee's new book promises to be a blockbuster.
by Tracy Mumford

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Questions people asked librarians before the Internet

Questions people asked librarians before the Internet

Forget Google. Librarians had all the answers to the important questions, like: "Why are there are so many squirrels in 18th century English paintings?"
by Tracy Mumford

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Istanbul bookstore caters to Syrian refugees in need of a good read

Istanbul bookstore caters to Syrian refugees in need of a good read

The mere mention of Syrian refugees can conjure up images of families living in tents in the desert. But a bookstore in Istanbul serves as a cultural oasis and informal community center for Syrians.
by Peter Kenyon

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Book briefs: Waterproofing the classics

Book briefs: Waterproofing the classics

A new publisher is printing waterproof editions of "Macbeth" and "The Art of War" for some relaxing bathtime reading.
by Tracy Mumford

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