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 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.

May 30, 2023 5:42 PM

Picture book makes sense of the pandemic, with help from four Twin Cities creators

COVID-19 may no longer officially be a pandemic, but writers and artists will be working for years to come to create pieces that help us make sense of what we've been through.

by Emily Bright

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May 30, 2023 2:00 PM

From the archives: William Kent Krueger on 'Lightning Strike'

This Friday on Big Books and Bold Ideas, you’ll hear Kerri Miller’s spring Talking Volumes conversation with Minnesota author Kent Krueger. So it’s only fitting that our archive this week is Krueger’s last appearance at Talking Volumes in 2021.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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May 30, 2023 12:39 PM

Why our allergies are getting worse —and what to do about it

From excessive hygiene to low-fiber diets, author Theresa MacPhail explores the deep-rooted causes of rising allergy rates in her new book “Allergic.”

by Dave Davies

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May 30, 2023 10:10 AM

3 new books in translation blend liberation with darkness

The Enlightenment of Katzuo Nakamatsu, The House on Via Gemito, and Cousins together form a tour of human darkness where liberation comes in many forms.

by Lily Meyer

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May 27, 2023 8:00 AM

Ask a Bookseller: 'Wandering Souls'

This week's recommendation comes from Emi Lim Morison of Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Mo.

by Emily Bright

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May 26, 2023 2:14 PM

Journalist Jeff Sharlet on America's slow civil war

In his new book “The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War,” Jeff Sharlet examines the anger underneath American politics today — including a turn toward fascism and Christian nationalism.

by Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

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May 25, 2023 7:10 AM

4 new books by Filipino authors to read this spring

As we near the close of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we bring you a list of new books by Filipino authors — ranging from a noir graphic novel to the latest from Gina Apostol.

by Malaka Gharib

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May 23, 2023 11:15 PM

In 'American Born Chinese,' a beloved graphic novel gets Disney-fied

In the Disney+ show American Born Chinese, Jin is an insecure Chinese-American kid just trying to get through high school when he befriends the new kid in town, Wei-Chen. Wei-Chen is actually a god on a divine quest, and he drags Jin along with him. And the two come to realize they're more alike than they ever imagined.

by Glen Weldon, Mallory Yu, Walter Chaw, Hafsa Fathima, Mike Katzif and Jessica Reedy

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May 22, 2023 11:10 PM

'XO, Kitty' is a coming-of-age Korean rom-dramedy with heart

The Netflix series XO, Kitty is a spinoff of the hit YA book and movie franchise, To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Anna Cathcart returns as Kitty Song Covey, a teenager with a penchant for matchmaking. The show is a mash-up of genres, including rom-coms, Korean dramas, and coming-of-age tales.

by Aisha Harris, Kristen Meinzer, Regina Kim, Rommel Wood and Jessica Reedy

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May 20, 2023 7:00 AM

In 'Julieta and the Romeos,' a teen aims to uncover the identity of her mystery man

In Maria E. Andreu's latest YA romance, Julieta Toledo escapes into writing, the perfect haven for her increasingly runaway imagination. There she connects with the mysterious "Happily Ever Drafter."

by Alethea Kontis

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