VocalEssence on tour in Mexico; Peter Lorre series at the Trylon
ALSO: Books & Bars: Frank Herbert’s “Dune” at the Amsterdam; “The Wizard of Oz Movie Sing-Along” at Lake Harriet Bandshell; and more.
Books
‘The Bride Price’: A Hmong-American memoir
Mai Neng Moua describes life as an American Hmong as like having a split personality, and says her generation struggles with this duality.
Sherlock Holmes pays a stealth visit to the Mayo Clinic in Larry Millett’s new mystery
In Millett’s latest, Holmes investigates a series of murders that may have begun in Munich with a mastermind who eluded him more than 20 years earlier.
U of M professor’s memoir recalls the early days of the Holocaust, and raises a warning
“We pay attention to the concentration camps, but we forget that it started with hatred, and with a big lie and the creation of alternative facts,” said author Fred Amram.
St. Paul writer Tim Brady uncovers the legacy of a president’s son
In Ted Roosevelt Jr., Brady found an adventuresome, fun-loving and deeply principled man who contributed to his country through public and military service.
No warning: Kelly Barnhill on winning the Newbery Award
“They woke me from a dead sleep and I was only partially comprehending what they were saying. The whole committee was there …,” Barnhill said.
10,000 years of canoe history captured in one book
“Canoes: A Natural History in North America” follows the development of the canoe from its early dugout and birch bark construction to today’s high-tech models.
The Midwestern landscape made Marc Nieson a writer
His memoir, “School House: Lessons on Love and Landscape,” is a coming-of-age tale in which personal growth is achieved largely by retreating from the world.
New book explores Minnesota’s unique role in the Ford Motor Company
During McMahon’s research journey, he interviewed dozens of autoworkers and their descendants from every era of the St. Paul plant’s history.
‘Homemade’: A modest memoir about Beatrice Ojakangas’ amazing life in food
Ojakangas’ first cookbook, “The Finnish Cookbook,” was published in 1964 and remains in print today.
Stephanie Ash writes a modern mythology of small-town life
“I have written this book from the perspective of someone inside a small rural town looking out, but I could only do it the way I have because I’ve been living outside of it for almost 20 years,” said Ash.
‘Salem’s Cipher’ explores a centuries-old plot to destroy powerful women
“I wanted to write a fast-paced, exciting thriller with strong, complex, intelligent female characters,” said author Jess Lourey.
Pictures from a revolution: A preview of Daniel Corrigan’s new book of music photography
“I wanted people to experience what I experienced, going through all the boxes and being overwhelmed,” said writer Danny Sigelman. “People are like, ‘Who’s in the book?’ I’m like, ‘Everybody.’ ”
In ‘Wintering,’ Peter Geye’s characters face evil in North Country wilderness
In Geye’s latest novel a father and son head deep into the woods for a long season of winter camping — but the weather is the least of their worries.
Dylan Hicks’ ‘Amateurs’ channels the spirit of Jane Austen
In “Amateurs,” a loosely knit group of 30-something friends fret about relationships, trying to make a mark in the world and wondering what to do next.
‘War on Science’: The uphill battle to get presidential candidates to talk about science
“Science has a huge PR problem,” said author Shawn Otto. “We need to re-educate the public and the media about science in order to solve most of the problems we will face in the near future.”
Anthology of bee poems, from Sappho to Dickinson to Bly: Proceeds to benefit U’s Bee Lab
“I have been aware of the plight of the bees for a long time, and I wanted to do something to help — what little help it can be — through the arts,” said the book’s editor, James Lenfestey.
Writer’s quest to understand the concept of penis theft yields ‘The Geography of Madness’
Bures explores the connection between culture and mental health, centering on a global phenomenon in which men believe their penises have been stolen.
Spider-Man’s widow tells all in ‘It’s OK to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too)’
Life handed Nora McInerny Purmort a raw deal; she lost her husband, father and second pregnancy in just weeks. In her new book she delves into the afterlife of loss.
James Eli Shiffer raises the ghosts of downtown Minneapolis in ‘The King of Skid Row’
While the 1950s are frequently held up as a time when America was great, thousands of men were left out of the postwar suburban dream. Shiffer describes these forgotten legions.