Recent content from Chris Hewitt
Our Artist of the Year wrote four books this year (and found time to root for the Wolves)
St. Paul writer Kao Kalia Yang has won four Minnesota Book Awards and was recognized by the Guggenheim Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts.
Our books editor, who reads 150 of 'em a year, has some thoughts on getting more reading in your life.
The best tip if you want to up your reading game: ABR. Always Be Reading.
Love both trees and poetry? Has south Minneapolis got a place for you!
Passers-by can leave their thoughts and take off with someone else's at the Little Free Poet Tree.
Review: In new collection, a book store attracts the wrong kind of customers — the murdering kind
Fiction: Jeffrey Deaver, Laura Lippman and others contribute 12 tales of holiday mayhem.
Review: Timothee Chalamet's performance as Bob Dylan in 'A Complete Unknown' sings, but movie hits some flat notes
Inspired by Elijah Wald's book, "Dylan Goes Electric," the Dec. 25 release feels too much like other biopics.
Meet the St. Louis Park widower who wrote a picture book to tell his grandchildren about their late grandma
"Christmas Sun" suggests a way to remember loved ones who are no longer with us at the holidays.
So you say you're bummed there was no new Ann Patchett novel this year? We have ideas...
We think these are recent books a Patchett fan will love.
This fall's book-to-movie adaptations range from great to Tom Hanks
"Conclave," "The Wild Robot" and "Nickel Boys" prove fine books can inspire terrific films. But that's not always the case.
Timothée Chalamet came to Minnesota to study Bob Dylan and 'loved, loved' it
The Oscar-nominated actor returned to appear at a Minneapolis screening Thursday, promoting the Dec. 25 release of "A Complete Unknown."
It's Taylor Swift's world and we're just living in it
Nonfiction: The essays in "Heartbreak Is the National Anthem" make a case for her excellence, not just as artist but as a person.
Hamline University Prof. John Brandon whisks readers to sunny Florida for a noir caper
Local fiction: The Hugo resident says he doesn't fret too much about reviews, or about how his books are going to end.
Review: 'Time of the Child,' set in Ireland, is one of the year's finest novels
Fiction: An abandoned infant drives the beguiling story of a doctor and his adult daughter.
Minneapolis' Danez Smith looks to Langston Hughes and Andre 3000 in trying to write one great poem
Local poetry: Smith will discuss their collection "Bluff" and a new compilation of Hughes' work in St. Paul.
The latest from 'Braiding Sweetgrass' writer Robin Wall Kimmerer reminds us we owe nature a lot
Nonfiction: "The Serviceberry" is about nurturing, and giving back to, our world.
40 must-reads from staffers at Red Balloon, as it throws itself (and you) a 40th birthday party
Employees went beyond time-honored classics to suggest more recent titles you may have missed.
'Pony Confidential' is 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' with a horse instead of an octopus
Fiction: The novel is narrated by a pony, trying to reunite with a beloved former owner.
What should kids know about George Floyd's murder? Minneapolis author answers with moving picture book.
Local nonfiction: Shannon Gibney hopes "We Miss You" will start conversations.
Will 'Bosch' and 'The Lincoln Lawyer' writer Michael Connelly kill off his detective hero?
Fiction: In his new "The Waiting," Bosch and Renee Ballard take on a big, real-life mystery, the Black Dahlia murder.
Meet the professor who measures her life against 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show'
The author of "The Mary Years" will discuss her book in December in Minneapolis.
Five of the hottest books we can't wait to read in November
A novel with "movie adaptation" written all over it, Ben Franklin, polyamory and cookies top our list.
The pandemic made writer Kate DiCamillo realize, 'I'm not going to get through this unless I have a fairy tale to write'
LOCAL FICTION: Featuring stories within stories, she'll discuss the book at Talking Volumes on Tuesday.
Meet dozens of Minnesota's top authors at Twin Cities Book Festival
Look for David Housewright, Kao Kalia Yang and many more at the annual celebration of books.
Whatever your taste, let the Star Tribune match you up with the perfect new book about spies.
From Paris to Botswana, these fiction and nonfiction books feature secret agents who include a child and Julia Child.
Paula Hawkins, who wrote blockbuster 'The Girl on the Train,' can't wait to meet readers in Edina
She'll discuss her eerie new novel, "The Blue Hour," at Southdale Public Library Oct. 29.
Mounds View writer/lawyer/activist/student/mom talks about her searing, witty new book
Local fiction: Many characters in Mubanga Kalimamukwento's "Obligations to the Wounded" are in pain but humor and curiosity help them envision a way forward.
3 times you'll spot Minnesota's Al Franken in new movie about 'Saturday Night Live'
"Saturday Night" is an entertaining but not strictly accurate account of the series' 1975 premiere.
Bumping into things is good, photos don't help much and more lessons from "DeafBlind" St. Paul writer John Lee Clark.
Local nonfiction: The St. Paul writer's revolutionary book "Touch the Future" outlines a whole new way to navigate and understand the world.
Senior sleuths are the hottest thing in mysteries. Here are 5 who take a page from 'Murder, She Wrote.'
Fiction: But they take their clues from old favorites like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and a few aging others.
Review: Golden Valley's Pete Hautman goes to the dogs in new young adult book
Local fiction: Walks with his pups, Gaston and Baudelaire, were a great way to research the novel, which is sometimes told from a pooch's perspective.
Louise Erdrich's new novel is about 'ridiculous, awkward, magical' love
The Pulitzer Prize winner will discuss "The Mighty Red" with Kerri Miller on Tuesday at a Talking Volumes event
From a boy and his dog to a detective in St. Paul, these are the books we can't wait to read in October.
New books by Minnesota authors Pete Hautman and Larry Millett are among this month's most eagerly awaited titles.
Review: Minneapolis writer Kate DiCamillo is back with 'The Hotel Balzaar,' and it may be her best book yet
Local fiction: It's about a lonely girl, an elderly countess and the power of stories.
Twin Cities Film Festival features Oscar contenders plus a movie shot in the metro
Stars Daisy Ridley and Josh Duhamel will be in attendance at the mid-October event in St. Louis Park.
Duluth podcaster and "America's government teacher" Sharon McMahon highlights unsung heroes in new book.
Local nonfiction: "The Small and the Mighty" shines spotlight on the folks who make history, but not history books.
Much like Dolly Parton, St. Louis Park's Abby Cooper is on a mission to give kids free books to enjoy
St. Louis Park author's goal? To make Minnesota kids love reading.
Musician Peter Himmelman takes a turn for the literary with book about faith and wonder
LOCAL NONFICTION: He'll discuss "Suspended by No String" Sept. 25.
'My roommate shot me in the head,' St. Thomas student recounts in new memoir
LOCAL NONFICTION: This excerpt from "Friendly Fire" counts down the minutes after he was shot in the head.
Welcome to 'Olive Kitteridge' writer Elizabeth Strout's fictional Maine-iverse
FICTION: Literary titans unite their powers for the first time, much like the Avengers, in her new book.
One of the world's first serial killers struck Minneapolis more than a century ago
"The Mesmerist" is a new novel about the killer who stalked Hennepin Avenue in the 1880s.
What these 5 Minnesota-set movies teach the world about Minnesotans
If you want to know what Minnesotans are really like, take what Hollywood says about us with a grain of salt.
![Marcie Rendon poses for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 22, 2022 in the Star Tribune portrait studio in Minneapolis. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4JHFU7GTOCDIFZVAJSCCGFYJVM.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Minnesota writer Marcie R. Rendon would like to keep readers up at night and spotlight murdered and missing Indigenous women.
LOCAL FICTION: Set up north, Marcie R. Rendon's page-turner "Where They Last Saw Her" balances sadness with the joyful camaraderie of three Ojibwe women.
Sleuth Jackson Brodie is back in Kate Atkinson's hilarious 'Death at the Sign of the Rook'
FICTION: The "Case Histories" detective is investigating art thievery when murder intrudes.
8 top writers announced to this year's Club Book events
Jayne Anne Phillips, Matt Goldman and Yangsze Choo will take part (either live or on Facebook) in the Friends of the St. Paul Library series.
Writers like Louise Erdrich and Stephen King use chapters cleverly. What do they tell us?
For starters, how long they are is a great clue to what a book wants to accomplish.
What do you do when someone in your book club has to go?
Before you boot an obnoxious member, experts (and, yes, there are book club experts) advise other options.
A Duluth writer's salute to American heroes we've never heard of and lots of spies highlight the five books we can't wait to read in September.
Two books about spies and a Minnesota writer's look at forgotten American heroes hit stores as we start thinking about autumn.
Need something to read on the popular new trains from St. Paul? A new book store will have you covered
Story Line Books plans to open at Union Depot in September.
Need to supplement your reasons not to like Aaron Rodgers? Read upcoming bio "Out of the Darkness."
NONFICTION: The former Green Bay quarterback granted an interview in which he addresses his biggest controversies. Sort of.
Two Minnesota poets picked to receive shares of $1.1 million in grants
Heid E. Erdrich and Jean Prokott, the poets laureate of Minneapolis and Rochester, are the honorees.
Meet the Minneapolis native who teased Prince, hacked into banks and pocketed $40 million
Local nonfiction: Already being fought over by Hollywood, Tanya Smith's memoir is an incredible ride.
Peter Heller's new novel, 'Burn,' is gripping, dark and surprisingly political
FICTION: Trying to return home, buddies stumble upon an apparent civil war in Maine.
Like books and booze? Have Curtis Sittenfeld, David Housewright and Shannon Gibney got an event for you
They're among 10 writers playing games, drinking cocktails and signing books at the Boozy Book Fair in St. Paul.
When her life falls apart, 'The Cheesemaker's Daughter' seeks answers in curds
LOCAL FICTION: St. Paul-reared Kristin Vukovic's romantic novel is set at a Croatian cheese factory.
Officer stalks four sex workers in true crime 'The Devil Behind the Badge'
NONFICTION: The subtitle says it: "The Horrifying Twelve Days of the Border Patrol Serial Killer."
Looking for a book to devour? Minneapolis writer's (and Obama fave) "Sharks in the Time of Saviors" is the One Book statewide book club choice.
LOCAL FICTION: Kawai Strong Washburn's "Sharks in the Time of Saviors," which you can read for free, will be this year's statewide read
Adultery leads to murder and kidnapping in two gripping true-crime books
NONFICTION: Marriages that fell apart in 2000 and in the 19th century have more in common than you might think.
Cats will share the spotlight with other pets at one of two Twin Cities video festivals
Animals and their antics will be featured at CHS Field in St. Paul. MSP Film's fest in Minneapolis will be about finicky and funny felines.
Minnesota authors blaze trails with children's books that address gender
LOCAL FICTION: Both "A Family Tree" and "Telephone of the Tree" features characters whose gender is not easily defined.
Big names Kate DiCamillo, Louise Erdrich, Edwidge Danticat and Alice Hoffman are Talking Volumes guests
It's the 25th season for the Star Tribune and MPR's popular live series of chats with writers.
Read these 8 books set in Minnesota exactly where they take place
From Summit Avenue to Stillwater, you can immerse yourself in settings explored by Abby Jimenez, Louise Erdrich and other authors.
Four Minnesota writers each have 3 (or more!) books out this year. How did they do it?
Kao Kalia Yang, Kate DiCamillo, Marcie Rendon and Ty Chapman didn't sleep much.
Get your supper club on, find bike paths and nature trails in Stillwater writer's 'Exploring the St. Croix'
LOCAL NONFICTION: TikTok sensation Angie Hong will visit area libraries, and walk-and-talk at Franconia Sculpture Garden, to spread the word about her new book.
When Brian Freeman gets stuck while writing a Robert Ludlum 'Bourne' book, he kills someone
LOCAL FICTION: The longtime Minnesota resident has two thrillers on the way in the next three months.
You've heard of food trucks and flower trucks. Ever heard of a book truck? If a Chaska woman has her way, you will.
This summer, she's bringing her Little Charity Book Truck to farmers markets, coffee shops and community festivals in the Twin Cites.
5 must-read crime novels offer thrills, chills and armchair globe-trotting
FICTION: No passport or bullet-proof vest is required to enjoy the latest from Flynn Berry, Juan Gomez-Jurado and Jacqueline Winspear.
Two sisters, a 'Bear' and a sort-of love story like none you've ever read
FICTION: The best-selling author of "Disappearing Earth" returns with a contemporary novel inspired by "Snow-White and Rose-Red."
4 must-read Indigenous books for young readers
FICTION: Everything from human connections to wolves and the importance of trees is explored in new titles.
St. Paul's trail-blazing Black-owned Black Garnet Books is for sale
Owner Dionne Sims posted on Instagram that she's pursuing her next "dream."
Loft Literary Center cancels Wordplay, its annual book festival
Instead, it will hold quarterly events in honor of its 50th anniversary.
5 books to read in celebration of Twin Cities Pride
From an ABCs to wrestling, these new books show that there are LGBTQ-themed books for all ages. .
5 reasons you should buy Questlove's new book, 'Hip-Hop Is History'
NONFICTION: Whether you know a lot about music or a little, it's packed with enough info for a college course, but it's also chatty and really fun.
For Father's Day, how about a Founding Father who makes a lot of dad jokes?
NONFICTION: A writer takes to using quills and lighting his home with candles as part of "The Year of Living Constitutionally."
Want to LOL? Read 'Sandwich,' a new novel about a three-generation family vacation.
FICTION: Catherine Newman's novel is funny, sweet and poignant.
'Making a Murderer' inspired Mankato's Megan Cooley Peterson's new novel
LOCAL AUTHOR: Her second young adult book, "Dead Girls Talking," also was influenced by growing up in a cult.
Bestselling author Nicola Yoon says her new novel is a Black 'Stepford Wives'
FICTION: "The Sun Is Also a Star" author's new novel is about an eerie all-Black community whose residents stop caring about racism and injustice.
