Collection
Literature & Poetry
415 Collection Items
- Community reading for Black Poets Speak Out at Penumbra
People in our community are expressing their feelings about the death of Philando Castile in many ways. 15 local poets gathered at the Penumbra Theater in St. Paul for a community reading. It was part of Black Poets Speak Out, a poetry-driven protest that began after the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
- Remembering legendary radio dramatist Norman Corwin / Tim O'Brien on his book "The Things They Carried"
On this special Veterans Day Midday program, a remembrance of legendary radio dramatist Norman Corwin with a short documentary on his career, and excerpts from his masterpiece, On a Note of Triumph, which remains the most listened to radio drama in U.S. history. Later in the hour, author Tim O'Brien reads and discusses his critically acclaimed short story collection on the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried.
- Lou Bellamy discusses Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man"
In this installment of MPR series The Bookshelf, Lou Bellamy, founder and artistic director of St. Paul's Penumbra Theatre, talks about Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, a novel featuring an unnamed black narrator whose race makes him "invisible" to others.
- Talking Volumes: David Treuer discusses "The Translation of Dr. Apelles"
At this Talking Volumes event, MPR's Kerri Miller and author David Treuer discuss his book, The Translation of Dr. Apelles. David Treuer's sly and heart-pounding novel tells a story within a story: A reclusive translator of ancient American Indian texts stumbles across a love story that upends his workaday world and triggers his own need for love.
- Lorna Landvik leaves Minnesota in new novel
Popular Twin Cities author Lorna Landvik is trying something new in her novel, Oh My Stars. For the first time she's set a story outside of Minnesota and in a period before she was born. It's the depression-era story of Violet Mathers, an 18 year old Kentucky girl who's been beaten down by life. Just as she reaches her lowest point, she winds up traveling the Midwest with a trio of musicians.
- Literary Friendships: Dan Gioia and Kay Ryan
On this Literary Friendships event, host Garrison Keillor shares the stage with poets Dana Gioia and Kay Ryan. Both being California poets with working-class origins, the two became good friends.
- Literary Friendships: Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman
On this Literary Friendships event, host Garrison Keillor shares the stage with married writers Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman who have ten novels and four children. Chabon and Waldman met on a blind date eleven years ago and were engaged to be married three weeks later. He writes at night; she writes during the day. They live in California with their four young children.
- Jim Brandenburg remembers Paul Gruchow
Photographer Jim Brandenburg reflects on his friend, Paul Gruchow, who died on February 22nd, 2004 in Duluth. Gruchow was 56 years old. Brandenburg worked with Gruchow at the Worthington newspaper and later collaborated with him on several books. He says he was inspired by his friend and co-worker.
- Regina McBride discusses her novel "The Land of Women"
MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews author Regina McBride about her novel The Land of Women, which tells of a complex relationship between mother and daughter.
- Talking Volumes: Robert Alexander, aka R.D. Zimmerman
A rebroadcast of Talking Volumes event with author Robert Alexander, known locally as R.D. Zimmerman, talking with Katherine Lanpher about his novel The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar. The book is based on historical research and suggests what might have happened before and after the assassination of Russia's ruling Romanov family in Siberia in 1918.