The Thread® - Books and Literary News

The Thread from MPR 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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Talking Volumes

Talking Volumes is back for its 25th season. Join us at the Fitzgerald Theater for four special events with renowned authors, celebrating our anniversary with a special $25 ticket price for MPR members and Star Tribune subscribers. Buy tickets here.

Author Curtis Sittenfeld explores ‘what-if’ in ‘Rodham’
What if Hillary Clinton hadn’t married Bill Clinton? In her newest novel, “Rodham,” author Curtis Sittenfeld explores an alternate life for the former presidential candidate and secretary of state.
In 'Dark Mirror,' reporter concludes: 'Snowden did substantially more good than harm'
Edward Snowden handpicked Barton Gellman as one of three journalists he would work with to reveal government secrets. Gellman's book is an in-depth look at where he agreed and disagreed with Snowden.
'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' is a lackluster prequel to 'The Hunger Games'
While Suzanne Collins leaves readers uncertain of the answer to the question she poses in “The Hunger Games” — how much of character is innate, how much formed — it becomes painfully obvious here.