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The Thread

The Thread from MPR News

A new twist on book talk

Ask a Bookseller: Every week, The Thread checks in with booksellers around the country about their favorite books of the moment. Listen here.

The Thread newsletter: 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. Sent every Friday.

Big Books and Bold Ideas: Conversations on books and ideas with Kerri Miller, Fridays at 11 a.m. Listen here.

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'A matter of common decency': What literature can teach us about epidemics

'A matter of common decency': What literature can teach us about epidemics

Authors explore questions of morality, evil, solidarity and survival in Albert Camus' “The Plague,” Geraldine Brooks' “Year of Wonders” and Karen Thompson Walker's “The Dreamers.”
by Melissa Block

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With the 'I Am' books, you are a hero too

With the 'I Am' books, you are a hero too

Our kids' books columnist Juanita Giles reports that, stuck at home with her family, she's turned to the I am series, by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos, for stories about relatable heroes.
by Juanita Giles

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Tomie DePaola, author of 'Strega Nona,' has died

Tomie DePaola, author of 'Strega Nona,' has died

The author and illustrator — who, by his own reckoning, worked on more than 270 titles — died Monday at age 85. Among his classics is the Caldecott winner “Strega Nona,” a seemingly ancient folk tale.
by Anastasia Tsioulcas

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The Thread: Three spies you must meet

The Thread: Three spies you must meet

As we turn to books both new and familiar during this time of isolation, this week’s Thread post introduces you to three spies.
by Kerri Miller

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Authors, publishers condemn the 'National Emergency Library' as 'piracy'

Authors, publishers condemn the 'National Emergency Library' as 'piracy'

Citing the coronavirus, the Internet Archive expanded its lending program for the digital copies of millions of books. But many writers and publishers say it is sharing their work without permission.
by Colin Dwyer

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Samantha Irby: 'This is the glamorous life of a writer"

Samantha Irby: 'This is the glamorous life of a writer"

Irby's new essay collection is “Wow, No Thank You.” She says it was inspired by moving from Chicago to Kalamazoo and feeling like a fish out of water, with no friends and a strange house.
by Scott Simon

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Uncovering the secrets of a fallen ruler in 'Empress Of Salt And Fortune'

Uncovering the secrets of a fallen ruler in 'Empress Of Salt And Fortune'

Nghi Vo's new novel is poised at the end of one empire and the beginning of another, as a cleric and their talking-bird assistant set about uncovering the dangerous secrets of a forgotten palace.
by Jessica P. Wick

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From Louis Erdrich to Kurt Vonnegut, a reading list for social distancing

From Louis Erdrich to Kurt Vonnegut, a reading list for social distancing

In a time of change and turmoil, many listeners are turning to books for entertainment and comfort. Listeners and book experts nominated their favorites during a recent conversation on MPR News with Kerri Miller.
by Breann Schossow

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What to read in a time of isolation

What to read in a time of isolation

In times of isolation, a good book may be your closest companion. We explore fiction to turn to during challenging and isolating times.
by Kerri Miller, Marcheta Fornoff and Breann Schossow

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