Ever read those surveys saying Americans aren’t reading much anymore? Especially fiction? Well, someone is buying all these books that are spilling out of America’s publishing houses — and here in the Upper Midwest, we’re going above and beyond our readerly duty.
Last week, I shared 10 titles that you'd read and loved and this week I have 10 more. This ought to set you up nicely for that crabby uncle you’ve never been able to find a gift for!
Colson Whitehead’s “The Nickel Boys” made many “Best of” lists this year — which is astonishing considering it followed his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Underground Railroad.” Whitehead’s curiosity and powerful prose makes both of these novels must-reads.
Lori told us that she’d caught Sarah Stonich’s “Laurentian Divide” and admired it. Stonich, who lives and writes in Minnesota, won the 2019 Minnesota Book Award. By the way, she’s been reading “Dracula.”
And while we’re on Minnesota writers, MPR News journalist Mark Zdechlik was at my desk the other day raving about William Kent Krueger’s “This Tender Land.” It’s a departure from his Cork O’Connor series, as the novel follows the perilous river journey of four children who are escaping abuse at an Indian school and setting off in a canoe downriver.
While we’re on the water, Peter Heller’s “The River” made some of your best-of-summer reading lists and I was surprised about how much I liked this one too. It’s a suspenseful, lyrical novel about friendship and sacrifice. Check out my interview with Heller from last March.
Two friends at the gym mentioned Elizabeth Gilbert’s “City of Girls” and a family member raved about Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “The Water Dancer.”
Megan tweeted in to say she loved Sally Rooney’s “Normal People.” I read the novel after Stephanie Curtis recommended it and then immediately read Rooney’s other novel, “Conversations with Friends.” Don’t miss it!
Sue tweeted in to say the writing in Elizabeth Strout’s “Olive, Again” was “phenomenal.” Thank you, Sue! That novel has gone back to the top of my to-be-read list.
And one more novel that came by way of Thread and podcast producer Tracy Mumford — whose recommendations are golden. Tracy and I marveled over the imaginative story told in Julia Phillips’ “Disappearing Earth.”
On Christmas Eve 2004, Urgent Envoy disappeared from his stable in the middle of the night. He had finished his only-ever race in last place, but that didn't matter to the trainer who took him.
"Your average thrift store in the United States only sells about one-third of the stuff that ends up on its shelves," Adam Minter says. His book explores what happens to the things that don't sell.
Author Buddy Levy's superbly written, meticulously researched chronicle tells the adventure story of a group of explorers aiming to achieve "Farthest North" and claim the win for the U.S. in 1881.
Is it possible to trace the roots of the Beatles’ sound? Kerri Miller spoke with musician, producer and Beatles confidante Peter Asher about the source of their inspiration.
Filmmaker and author Darcy van Poelgeest's sweeping dystopian epic sometimes falls short on plot and character, but it's redeemed by virtuoso work from its illustrator, colorist and letterer.
In the sequel to author Tomi Adeyemi's West-African-inspired young adult bestseller, the maji in the land of Orïsha have their powers back — except the monarchy and military now have magic too.
Bookseller Francine Tanguay recommends a novel about two women separated by a century, but connected by tragedy. It’s been a best-seller in her shop for almost five years.
