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Books to die for

Brothers Jouko Sipila and Jarkko Sipila publish a series of Finnish crime novels.

A local publisher and translator is bringing hard-boiled Finnish crime novels to the United States.

Theroux's 'The Journal Keeper' celebrates the examined life

Memoir is an ode to the journal at its best.

National bestsellers

Top-selling books in the fiction, nonfiction and advice categories

Review: Fiction

Another 'journey of self-discovery' set in an exotic locale

A widowed teacher visits Turkey to get over her grief.

Review

A modern boomtown

BBC journalist Sam Miller describes Delhi as "sprawling beyond its own borders, swallowing up villages and farmland, sucking in migrants, spewing out pollution." Exploring Delhi on foot, Miller repeatedly finds himself in strange situations.

Review: Nonfiction

A periodic piece

The history of the periodic table, mostly jargon-free and packed with anecdotes.

Review: Fiction

The limits of grief

The deaths of a bride and groom, just an hour after their wedding, haunt their families.

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The Latest from the local scene

Sandford in the wings ...

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since John Sandford has published one of his thrillers, so I probably shouldn't have been surprised when I was opening books the other afternoon in the basement book dungeon and out slid an advance copy of a new one -- "Bad Blood."

This is the fourth in the Virgil Flowers series, and it's set among the cornfields and small towns of southern Minnesota. It will debut on Sept. 21 from Putnam.

Sandford -- real name, John Camp -- lives in Stillwater and is a former writer for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Also ...

• "Power and Stride: The Nancy Burggraf Story" by Merrie Sue Holtan of Moorhead, Minn., has received first place in the National Federation of Presswomen Communications Contest's biography and autobiography category. She will be honored at the federation's annual Communications Contest Awards banquet in September.

• "Still Standing," the story of Staff Sgt. John Kriesel of Cottage Grove, has been published by Beaver's Pond Press. The book was written by Kriesel and Jim Kosmo, with a foreword by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Kriesel lost his legs in an explosion in Iraq. There will be a book launch party at 4 p.m. Tuesday on Kosmo's docked riverboat at the Padelford Riverboat Landing at Harriet Island in St. Paul.

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News and views about Twin Cities arts and entertainment.

The poet comes home. A look, in words and video, at Minnesota's poet laureate.

See all 5 Books columns.

Kirsty Smith, St. Cloud: I'm taking time this winter to stay warm by the fire and read "A Killing Frost," the last in a series by the now-deceased British author R.D. Wingfield. Detective Inspector Frost is a wonderful, well-drawn character and in this book it feels like an old friend is visiting for the holidays. It is sad to know this is the last time readers will see him.

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The new season: Jonathan Franzen, National Book Award-winning author of “The Corrections,” whose sprawling new family saga is set in Minnesota, will be the first guest of the 11th season of Talking Volumes, on Sept. 21. Also appearing this fall: • Nicole Krauss, author of “The History of Love,” will discuss her new novel, “Great House” Oct. 28. • Nora Ephron, novelist, humorist and Oscar-nominated screenwriter/director, has a new essay collection, “I Remember Nothing." She will be here Nov. 17. • Anita Shreve (“The Weight of Water,” “The Pilot’s Wife”) talks about her new novel, “Rescue” on Dec. 8. Talking Volumes is co-sponsored by the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio, in collaboration with the Loft Literary Center. All shows are at 7 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul and are broadcast later on MPR. Season tickets — $60 for all four shows — go on sale July 27. Single tickets ($20) will be available Aug. 10. 651-290-1221.

Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.