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Alexis on the Sexes: Get classed

Review: Nonfiction

Here's to librarians, saviors of the data-weary

Librarians - and libraries - could be the antidotes to keep all of this information from making us sick.

Review: Fiction

A beauty beyond its ideal

Best known for "The Undertaking" and other works of nonfiction, Thomas Lynch invokes Hemingway and Carver in his first collection of fiction.

Review

Female characters deliver

Classified by some as a "romantic novel," Sarah Blake's "The Postmistress" undoubtedly rises to the more prestigious category of literary historical fiction.

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Review: Fiction

DeLillo finds a haunting rhythm

An aging scholar living in the desert is visited by a New York filmmaker who wants to chronicle his life.

Three-lane highway

Hessler spent years driving through China, exploring how the construction of roads and the rise of the automobile was changing the country.

Five books: For your purse or pocket

Purse books are the books we stash in our purses (or pockets) so we have something to read at the doctor's office, in the carpool line, or on the bus. Size matters in purse books. A purse book must be small and it must be quickly digestible in manageable literary morsels. Here are five (ish) of my favorite purse books.

Local bestselleres

Fiction and nonfiction

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The Latest from the local scene

Talk of the Stacks lecture series has a strong lineup

Anchee Min

There's a great lineup in place for the spring Talk of the Stacks lecture series at the downtown library. David Lipsky, Anchee Min, Barbara Graham, Sandra Benitez, Judith Guest and Krista Tippett. (No, silly, not all at once. Mostly, one at a time.) Here's the schedule:

April 15: David Lipsky, who writes for Rolling Stone magazine, will talk about his new book, "Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip With David Foster Wallace."

April 29: Novelist Anchee Min ("Becoming Madame Mao") will discuss "Pearl of China."

May 6: Barbara Graham, playwright and journalist, will be joined by local writers Sandra Benitez and Judith Guest to discuss "Eye of My Heart," a collection of pieces about being a grandmother.

May 18: Krista Tippett, host of the American Public Media radio show "Speaking of Faith," will discuss her book, "Einstein's God."

All lectures are free and begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. (Getting there early is a good idea; these fill up.) They're at the Central Library on the Nicollet Mall.

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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: The 10th season of Talking Volumes got off to a roaring start with appearances by novelists James Ellroy (Oct. 7), Barbara Kingsolver (Nov. 11) and Stephen King and Audrey Niffenegger (Nov. 18). The King and Kingsolver events were sold out. Seats at the Fitzgerald Theater are expected to go fast for Monica Ali, who will appear May 19, 2010, to discuss her newest novel “In the Kitchen,” about the subculture of a busy restaurant in contemporary London. Tickets are $20 ($18 for Star Tribune subscribers and members of Minnesota Public Radio and the Loft Literary Center) and are available through the box office at the Fitzgerald, 10 E. Exchange St., St. Paul, 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.