Talk of the Stacks is a reading series exploring contemporary literature and culture held at the Central Library in downtown Minneapolis (Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall). Talk of the Stacks is free with open seating. Programs begin at 7 PM. Doors open at 6:15 PM.
Premier sponsor: The Private Client Reserve at U.S. Bank.
Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself is a fascinating new book about the legendary author David Foster Wallace, who committed suicide in 2008. Based on the largely unedited “road trip interviews” by David Lipsky, contributing editor at Rolling Stone magazine, this work offers an intimate portrait of Wallace during his 1996 book tour for Infinite Jest. From struggles with fame and mental illness, to getting high and getting laid, to the nature of art itself – Lipsky allows Wallace to speak for himself. Winner of a National Magazine Award for his commemorative article on Wallace in Rolling Stone, Lipsky is a frequent commentator for NPR's All Things Considered and the author of several works including the best-selling nonfiction book Absolutely American. Lipsky has appeared on the Today show, Charlie Rose, and elsewhere.
Born in Shanghai, Anchee Min grew up during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. As a teenager she was sent to a labor collective where a talent scout for ‘Madame Mao’ recruited her to work in propaganda films as an actress. In 1984 at the age of twenty-seven, she moved to the United States and learned to speak English. In 1992, Min published her first book Red Azalea, which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and translated into thirty-two languages. Author of five other best-selling books (including Becoming Madame Mao and Empress Orchid), Anchee’s newest work, Pearl of China is the powerful story of the friendship of a lifetime, based on the life of Pearl S. Buck.
Barbara Graham is a playwright, journalist, and frequent contributor to O: The Oprah Magazine. Her new anthology, Eye of My Heart, is a collection of twenty-seven essays by acclaimed women writers that explode the myths and stereotypes about being a grandmother in today's world. In celebration of Mother’s Day, Graham will be joined by local contributing authors Sandra Benitez and Judith Guest to discuss this fascinating collection and life as writers and grandmothers. Benitez, recipient of a National Hispanic Heritage Foundation of Literature Award, is the award-winning author of four works of fiction and the memoir, Bag Lady: A Memoir. Author of five novels and several screenplays, Judith Guest’s best-selling first novel, Ordinary People, won the Janet Heidegger Kafka Prize for best fiction and was made into an Academy Award-winning movie.
Krista Tippett, creator and host of Speaking of Faith from America Public Media, is currently heard on over 230 public radio stations across the U.S. and globally via the web. A journalist, theologian, and former diplomat, Tippett's first book, Speaking of Faith — Why Religion Matters and How to Talk about It, combines autobiographical writing about her own spiritual journey with questions of faith pursued with others on her show. Her new book, Einstein's God, examines the changing way we think about science, medicine, and belief.
“In a day where religion—or, rather arguments over religion—divide us… Tippett is exactly the measured, balanced commentator we need.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
2010
A Celebration of Literary Twin Cities - Podcast coming soon.
2009
Alan Furst, The Spies of Warsaw
Mary Ann Grossman and Laurie Hertzel with Cathy Wurzer,
The News of Books
Jane Hamilton, Laura Rider's Masterpiece
Arthur Phillips and musical guest Scrapomatic, The
Song is You
Kevin Kling, Holiday Inn
![]()
David Plotz, Good Book
![]()
Padgett Powell, The Interrogative Mood
![]()
David Rhodes, Driftless
Tom Robbins, B Is for Beer
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, When Skateboards Will Be Free
![]()
Patricia Smith, Blood Dazzler
![]()
Andrew Zimmern, Bizarre Truth
![]()
2008
M.T. Anderson, The Astonishing Life of Octavia Nothing
![]()
Charles Baxter, Soul Thief
![]()
Andrei Codrescu, Jealous Witness
![]()
Lise, Heid and Louise Erdrich, A Celebration of
Writing and Sisterhood
![]()
Seth Kantner, Shopping for Porcupine
Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift with Tom Crann, How to Eat Supper
![]()
Garrison Keillor, Sonnets and Stories
![]()
Chip Kidd, The Learners
![]()
Kerri Miller with authors of Riding Shotgun: Women Who Write About Their Mothers
![]()
Marilynne Robinson, Home: A Novel
![]()
Ali Selim and Will Weaver, Sweet Land: From Fiction to Film
![]()
Tim Weiner, A Legacy of Ashes
![]()
2007
Steve Almond, (Not That You Asked) Rants, Exploits, and Obsessions
![]()
Sven Birkerts and Lewis Buzbee, The Unexpected Life of Books
![]()
Michael Dirda, Reading, Writing and Reviewing
at the Washington Post Book World
![]()
Arvonne Fraser, She’s No Lady
![]()
Judith Guest, Kate DiCamillo, Alison McGhee, S.
Benitez, and P.W. Francisco, Paper Cuts
Bill Holm, Windows on Brimnes
![]()
Laurel Poetry Collective, 20 poets, 4 years, 1 very special evening
![]()
Heather McElhatton, with Kevin Kling and guitarist Robert Bell,
Pretty Little Mistakes
![]()
Per Petterson, Out Stealing Horses
![]()
Steven Pinker, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature ![]()
2006
Neil Baldwin, American Revelations
Charles Baxter and George Rabasa, Perfect Villains and Flawed Heroes
Brian Evenson and Laird Hunt, Literature, Morality and the Criminal Choice
Tess Gallagher, Dear Ghosts
Jacquelyn Mitchard, Cage of Stars
Matthew Pearl, The Poe Shadow
Nancy Pearl, Book Lust
Dava Sobel, The Planets