June 17, 2003 - Novelist Carolyn Parkhurst knew she wanted to write a story about a man trying to come to terms with his wife's death. But she couldn't find the best way to do it. Then she rediscovered some stories she'd once written about attempts to teach dogs to speak like humans. Her critically acclaimed novel "The Dogs of Babel" tells of what happens when Paul realizes his dog was the only witness to his wife Lexy's accidental death. He sets out to teach his pet to talk so he can find out what really happened. Parkhurst told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr pets witness parts of their humans lives that no other person ever sees. Carolyn Parkhurst will read from her novel "The Dogs of Babel" at the Ruminator Bookstore in St Paul tonight at 7:30. To hear a reading from the book and a longer version of Euan Kerr's interview with Carolyn PArkhurst, please vist the MPR books page at Minnesota-Public-Radio-dot-org
June 13, 2003 - Word of Mouth- the show
June 6, 2003 - Word of Mouth
June 4, 2003 - Gary Shteyngart (SHTINE-gart) is a New Yorker. But he is also a Russian. He immigrated as a young boy, and has lived his life between the two cultures ever since. He examines the humor and the tragedy of his life, and tens of thousands of other people just like him in his best-selling novel "The Russian Debutante's Handbook". It follows the story of Vladimir Girshkin (vlah-DEE-MEER GEAR-shkin) a young Russian man who works for an immigrant resettlement organization in New York. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr, it's fiction, but he drew it from some very real experiences. Gary Shteyngart will read from his novel "The Russian Debutante's Handbook" at the Barnes and Noble store in Edina tonight at 7:30
May 30, 2003 - Internationally acclaimed choral conductor Dale Warland is stepping down as artistic director of the chorus he created three decades ago. Under his baton the Dale Warland Singers have become known as one of the best a capella choirs in the world. But now Warland says it's time to move on. He'll do one more season, then the Dale Warland Singers will disband. Warland talked about the decision to Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Crann. Dale Warland talking to Minnesota Public radipo's Tom Crann. You can hear the Dale Warland Singers 30th anniversary concert, and further interviews at Minnesota-public-radio-dot-org
May 30, 2003 - Word of Mouth Round up
May 30, 2003 - Word of mouth
May 29, 2003 - Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks is now a novelist. Set in 1963, "Getting Mother's Body" tells the story of Billy Beede (beed) a 16-year-old pregnant orphan living with her aunt and uncle in West Texas. Legend has it her mother was buried in Arizona with enough jewelry to solve everyone's financial problems. Some of Billy's relatives want to go get the treasure, but she's not so sure. Parks told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr she was attracted to Billy's character because she didn't like her much.
May 23, 2003 - Word of Mout Round up
May 9, 2003 - WoM-the Show