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.

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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.

Tickets are now available for our 26th season. Join award-winning journalist and MPR News host Kerri Miller (and special guest host Catharine Richart) as they talk with authors including Stacey Abrams, Patricia Lockwood, Misty Copeland, John Grisham, and Kate Baer.

December 29, 2010 12:00 AM

The year in books

Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom" stole much of the spotlight, but the fact that it wasn't even nominated for the National Book Award shows what a strong year 2010 was for fiction. Midmorning looks at the best books, both fiction and nonfiction, of 2010.

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December 27, 2010 12:00 AM

Faith, family, and temptation

Author John Reimringer's new novel tells the story of a young priest and his struggle with the vow of celibacy. But beyond being a story about the sacred versus the profane, the author says it's also a love letter to the city of St. Paul.

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December 13, 2010 12:00 AM

Author writes about a different kind of traveling

Tony Hiss writes about travel, but not in terms of exotic spots to visit. He writes about the actual movement from place to place.

by Euan Kerr

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December 8, 2010 12:00 AM

Emmer to concede in governor's race

GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer is expected to concede the election this morning in a 10:30am press conference from his home in Delano. Midmorning has live coverage.

by Mark Zdechlik and Tom Scheck

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December 5, 2010 12:00 AM

Nancy Pearl picks her favorite memoirs

Retired librarian and avid reader Nancy Pearl shares some of her favorite memoirs. Pearl is the author of "Book Lust" and "Book Crush," which are lists of recommended reading for adults and teens. Pearl said her favorite memoirs have engaging characters, enlightening and/or entertaining stories and good writing.

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November 19, 2010 4:06 PM

Talking Volumes with Nora Ephron

A broadcast of Kerri Miller's discussion with author and screenwriter Nora Ephron about her new collection of essays, "I Remember Nothing."

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November 19, 2010 12:00 AM

Novel explores the psychological impact of torture

Author Thomas Kennedy moved to Copenhagen in the 1970s and has published more than 20 books in Europe, yet until recently had gone unpublished in America. His new book tells the story of a former political prisoner's attempt to recover from years of torture.

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October 28, 2010 12:00 AM

Once bitten, twice shy

Midmorning examines the history and the science of things that bite -- bedbugs, leeches, rabid dogs, even vampires -- with Dr. Jon Hallberg and members of the Hippocrates Cafe.

by Simone Perrin

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October 26, 2010 5:00 PM

Ian Frazier explores the lure of Siberia

For almost 20 years, writer Ian Frazier has been obsessed by a place which many people use as a metaphor for unpleasantness - Siberia. He's just published his account of his five visits to the area called "Travels in Siberia."

by Euan Kerr

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October 21, 2010 12:00 AM

Up and coming novelist Dinaw Mengestu gets rave reviews for new book

Novelist Dinaw Mengestu's star is rising. He was recently named by the New Yorker as one of the top 20 writers under the age of 40 worth watching. He talked with MPR's Euan Kerr about his new book, "How to Read the Air."

by Euan Kerr

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