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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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 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.

'A Poem for Peter' recalls one unforgettable 'Snowy Day'
In 1962, Peter -- an African-American boy exploring his neighborhood after a snowstorm -- broke the color barrier in mainstream children's publishing. A new book pays tribute to author Ezra Jack Keats.
Which literary family do you belong to?
Is your family gathering more "Little Women" or "Game of Thrones"? Here's a round-up of literary families you'd love -- or hate -- to be a part of.
Carrie Fisher opens up about 'Star Wars,' the gold bikini and her on-set affair
In her new memoir, "The Princess Diarist," Fisher looks back on playing Princess Leia when she was 19 and reflects on her romantic involvement with her older, married co-star, Harrison Ford.
Henry Ford's influence in Minnesota
From the oldest Ford dealership in the world to the ruins of the St. Paul assembly plant, Minnesota is home to a lot of Ford history.
'Searching for John Hughes,' and finding yourself
Jason Diamond tried to write a biography of John Hughes, director of classic '80s teen movies, but along the way, the story became more about his search for Hughes than the elusive filmmaker himself.