The Thread® - Books and Literary News

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

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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.

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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.

March 13, 2015 11:06 AM

A look back at Minnesota's 'boy governor' Harold Stassen

Stassen was one of the youngest people in the nation ever elected governor. Minnesota voters put the moderate Republican in office back in 1938, when he was only 31 years old.

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March 12, 2015 10:47 AM

Fantasy novelist Terry Pratchett dies at 66

Pratchett, best known for his Discworld series and collaborations with Neil Gaiman, died at home Thursday.

by Tracy Mumford

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March 11, 2015 9:45 AM

Roaming and Reading: Havana, Cuba

Paul Reyes discusses "the Cuba you can look forward to."

by Tracy Mumford

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March 10, 2015 12:50 PM

Remember card catalogs?

Enterprising book lovers turn the library relics into art.

by Tracy Mumford

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March 10, 2015 10:15 AM

'Epitaph' is Kerri's book pick

Mary Doria Russell returns to the Wild West with her new novel about what really happened at the O.K. Corral.

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March 10, 2015 9:00 AM

America's $3 trillion health care bill

Steven Brill's new book investigates why the Affordable Care Act may have been doomed from the start.

by Tracy Mumford

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March 9, 2015 6:58 PM

Epic novel blends puppetry, race and particle physics

In "I Am Radar," Reif Larsen explores what happens when a black child is born to a white couple, and how wars are based on a variety of conflicts.

by Euan Kerr

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March 9, 2015 4:34 PM

Straight to audiobook: Authors write original works meant to be heard

Writer Philip Pullman says it's all part of the oral tradition: "Long before writing, people were telling each other stories," he says. Audiobook technology has come a long way since the early days.

by Lynn Neary