This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
December 6, 2000 - Minnesota author Vince Flynn is out with his third political thriller called THE THIRD OPTION. Flynn's previous two books TERM LIMITS and TRANSFER OF POWER were both on the New York Times Best-sellers list. THE THIRD OPTION opens with the President trying to battle terrorism in Libya and Iraq. Since diplomacy and military intervention--are not working, the President and his security advisors are forced to employ "the third option"-- covert action. Flynn's expert C-I-A spyman Mitch Rapp--known by the code name "Iron Man" reappears to save the day. Flynn says he realizes critics have complained that Rapp is the perfect spy--maybe too perfect---but Flynn says that's all part of his job as an author.
December 6, 2000 - Minnesota author Vince Flynn is out with his third political thriller called "The Third Option". Flynn's previous two books "Term Limits" and "Transfer of Power" were both on the New York Times Best-sellers list. "The Third Option" opens with the President trying to battle terrorism in Libya and Iraq. Since diplomacy and military intervention are not working, the President and his security advisors are forced to employ "the third option"- covert action. Flynn's expert CIA spyman Mitch Rapp, known by the code name "Iron Man" reappears to save the day. Flynn says he realizes critics have complained that Rapp is the perfect spy, maybe too perfect, but Flynn says that's all part of his job as an author.
December 15, 2000 - Still looking for great books to give away for the holidays? Longtime librarian and book store owner Colleen Coghlan shares her lists of favorite books with listeners.
December 15, 2000 - On this Talking Volumes, MPR’s Katherine Lanpher interviews Minnesota writer Bill Holm. Lanpher talks to Holm about his book “The Heart Can Be Filled Anywhere on Earth.” Holm also reads from book.
January 11, 2001 - Amy Tan
January 16, 2001 - A Minnesota Author has won the American Library Association's prestigious Newbery Honor for Children's Literature. Kate DiCamillo's book "Because of Winn-Dixie" follows the friendship of ten year old India Opal Buloni and a stray dog named Winn-Dixie during their first summer together in a small Florida town. DiCamillo says she is still recovering from the shock of finding out she had won.
January 30, 2001 - A new American Radioworks documentary, Prison Diaries.
January 31, 2001 - Author Margaret Atwood, speaking recently as part of the Pen Pals Lecture Series sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hennepin County. Her latest book is The Blind Assassin.
February 16, 2001 - Texas author and radio commentator Jim Hightower discusses his new book, If the Gods Had Meant Us To Vote They Would Have Given Us Candidates.
February 28, 2001 - Music producer T. Bone Burnett joins Gary Eichten from Los Angeles to talk about his latest movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and his life in the music world. On the program, T. Bone mentioned three artists to check out if you like the soundtrack from "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" They are Elizabeth Cotton, Skip James, and Washington Phillips.