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This isn't "The Onion" |
The Thread's Must-Read |
| You can see the walls of the 13th century Caernafon Castle from the doorway of Palas Print Books in Caernafon, Wales. Constructed by Edward I to send a message to the unruly Welsh about the dominance of English rulers, the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see if you're ever in northern Wales. So is Palas Print books. While one can find plenty of reading about the political and personal dramas of those long-ago kings and queens, the shelves of Palas Print are chock-full of the contemporary intrigues of world leaders, including President Trump. Indeed, when I noticed "Evicted" by Matthew Desmond, as well as books about American feminism, culture and politics, Palas co-owner Selwyn Jones told me, "With the election of Trump, we all have a vested interest in the U.S." He added, "We might be a small country but we have to live in a big world." And when the castle-dwellers of Caernafon want to delve into fiction? They're reading short stories by Mihangel Morgan, a Welsh writer; Hillary Mantel's wonderful "Bring Up the Bodies"; and, fittingly, the work of George R.R. Martin, whose novels could have easily been set inside Caernafon's thick stone walls. -K.M. |
| This Week on The Thread |
| Harry Potter and the burgled prequel: Rare, handwritten copy stolen in U.K. Got something you need to confess, Potter fans? The 800-word prequel, which was scrawled on a postcard by J.K. Rowling herself, went missing from a property after a burglary in mid-April. Now, Rowling and the police are calling on fans to help. More |
| "Based on a True Story" may not be true — but it's still scary "Based on a True Story" by Delphine de Vigan Buy this book French novelist Delphine de Vigan follows up her tell-all 2012 memoir with a creepy tale of a blocked novelist — also named Delphine — who falls under the sway of an elegant, menacing ghostwriter. More |
| Bill Clinton and James Patterson are co-writing a thriller Oh, to be a fly on the wall in this room: The former president and the best-selling novelist are collaborating on a thriller, "The President is Missing," which will come out in June 2018. More |
| A charming take on loneliness and connection "No One Can Pronounce My Name" by Rakesh Satyal Buy this book Set in an Indian-American community in suburban Cleveland, Rakesh Satyal's new novel uses intertwined plots to explore the comedy of everyday life. More |
| The Thread Live: 2017 authors announced The Thread's 2017 season of author interviews has been announced: Don't miss Jacqueline Woodson, Eddie Glaude, Jr. or Sheryl Sandberg. Get tickets |
| The DNR mulls the fate of a celebrated author's Minnesota prairie home Novelist Frederick Manfred found inspiration in the landscape around the home he built within southwestern Minnesota's Blue Mounds State Park. But the house, now the park's visitor center, is crumbling and may face demolition. More |
| A novel that asks: How do we forgive the ones we love? "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee Buy this book Bookseller Josie Danz recommends a sweeping family saga that spans nearly the entire 20th century, following four generations through colonial rule, war and dislocation. More |
| Her violin stolen, a prodigy's world became "Unstrung" "Gone: A Girl, A Violin, A Life Unstrung" by Min Kym Buy this book Min Kym had found her perfect partner in a 1696 Stradivarius — until it was snatched in a London cafe. She comes to terms with the loss in her new memoir. More |
| This zombie story isn't dead yet "The Boy on the Bridge" by M.R. Carey Buy this book M.R. Carey follows up his zombie apocalypse thriller "The Girl With All The Gifts" with a stand-alone story set in the same world, also featuring an unusual child and a crew of determined scientists. More |
| The secret to happiness? "The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search For Human Happiness" by Paula Poundstone Buy this book Paula Poundstone had a great idea: Try fun stuff and get a publishing company to pay for it in the name of science. This is the result. More |
| A violent page-turner — and a surprising departure "House of Names" by Colm Toibin Buy this book Colm Toibin ventures far afield — in time and place — for this heart-stopping take on the tragedy of Clytemnestra and her family, reanimated with suffering the ancient Greeks never imagined. More |
| A Khmer Rouge survivor faces "the reality of Cambodia" "Music of the Ghosts" Buy this book Novelist Vaddey Ratner, herself a Khmer Rouge survivor, tells the story of a Cambodian-American woman looking for answers about her father's disappearance under the regime. More |
| An old solder is back in action "City of Miracles" by Robert Jackson Bennett Buy this book As Robert Jackson Bennett's Divine Cities series draws to a close, grizzled old enforcer Sigrud — who has been in hiding, in a remote forest — returns to the city to avenge the murder of his friend and partner. More |
| Condoleezza Rice: Institutions aren't perfect, but they're the bedrock of democracy "Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom" by Condoleezza Rice Buy this book Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tells NPR that America is still a "bright, shining city on the hill, not because we're perfect but because we struggle in our imperfections every day." More |
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