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.

James Patterson awards $500 bonuses to 600 employees at independent bookstores
Hundreds of employees at independent bookstores, from Chapter One in Victoria, Minn., to The Cloak & Dagger in Princeton, N.J., will be receiving $500 holiday bonuses from author James Patterson.
In Booker-winning 'Prophet Song,' the world ends slowly and then all at once
The relentless bleakness of Paul Lynch's novel make it almost unbearable to read at times — yet its plausibility, and echoes of real events happening long after, keeps the reader from looking away.
Rethinking roads
In his new book “Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet,” environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb illustrates how roads that are helpful for humans can be disastrous for wildlife. How can we design transportation that’s good for all?
'Transitions' explores the process of a mother's acceptance of her child's gender
First published in French in 2021 as “Journal d'Anne Marbot,” Élodie Durand's book is a welcome addition to the growing number of graphic novels exploring transgender and genderqueer identities.
Feeling alone? 5 tips to create connection and combat loneliness
We all feel lonely at some point, but long-term social isolation can damage our mental and physical health. A new book called “Project UnLonely” shows how creative expression can foster friendships.
Minnesota novelist Brian Duren's new 'Gravity'
Twin Cities writer Brian Duren published two novels in the past six months, his latest, “Gravity of Love.” It’s been kind of a wild ride for Duren, who said he’s learned a lot of unexpected things about the books trade.
Ask a Bookseller: 'What the River Knows'
Amy Jiron of Hearthfire Books in Evergreen, Colo., recommends a visit to the Nile this December, in the form of Isabel Ibañez's novel "What the River Knows."