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. 

Fresh takes on American history from three authors
This special edition of Big Books and Bold Ideas features three authors who bring to life overlooked moments of American history.
Why build a fantasy world that still has racism? B.A. Parker moderates a discussion on Black science fiction and fantasy with authors Tochi Onyebuchi and Leslye Penelope at the National Book Festival.
In 'Fen, Bog & Swamp,' Annie Proulx pens a history of wetland destruction
Writer Annie Proulx may be best known for her works of fiction. But her latest book is a thoroughly researched and reported look at the role that wetlands play in our ecosystem.
She wrote a Bigfoot book for kids. It was no small feat
“The Search for Sasquatch,” a new book for pre-teens, explores Bigfoot through a scientific lens. Its author hopes to model how to balance curiosity and exploration with staying grounded in the facts.
The best of Minnesota writers on stage for Talking Volumes
MPR’s fall member drive is underway. This week, for a special edition of Big Books and Bold Ideas, host Kerri Miller featured highlights of three Minnesota authors who appeared with her on stage at the Fitzgerald Theater for Talking Volumes.
Kate Beaton's new graphic memoir is about the dark type of job you take for money
Kate Beaton, known for her popular webcomic “Hark a Vagrant,” is out now with her new graphic memoir “Ducks” — which dives into the day-to-day life of working in the Canadian oil sands.
White House correspondent April Ryan on her new book 'Black Women Will Save The World'
April Ryan is the longest-serving Black female White House correspondent, with a 25-year tenure. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Ryan about her new book, "Black Women Will Save The World: An Anthem."