Secrets of the City

As it turns out, everybody wants to go home and watch Project Runway instead of going to a seedy bar and talking about schlocky fiction. So tonight’s mnread is off… But how would people like to read The Graveyard Book (which is now in paperback) for Halloween? I think that could be good scary local literary fun. Maybe I can even talk Neil into coming. I just have to, you know, actually meet him first.

A Closer Look at Flyover Land points out this intriguing event: Around the Literary Twin Cities in (Almost) 80 Days. From their Web page, the event is ”a city-wide scavenger hunt that will take participants to bookstores across the Twin Cities.”

How does it work? Each week, we will release a new trivia question, which participants must answer correctly at one of that week’s two designated destinations. Answer correctly and you’ll get a prize.

What questions would you ask?

Our next MnRead will be John Sandford’s books – the perfect paperbacks to bring with you to the pool, beach, or Camp. Pun intended. Just pick one you like and read it. His best known series are the ones ending in “Prey,” but you can also dip into his other stuff if you want. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Sandford_(novelist) How about Thursday, September 3? Any recommendations for a site? Preferably somewhere we can observe the seedy underbelly of Minneapolis where Lucas Davenport sniffs out wrongdoers and brings them to justice?

Muble Herder stumbles across a Swedish dialect poem about railroad magnate James J. Hill: got little faller har / Name ban Yem / Das whole railroad over dar / Blong to him.

Maybe it’s time to use this inspiration to write a few poems to more recent notable Minnesotans. I’ll start: Nobody walks / said Denny Hecker / maybe he shoulda waited / until the checks cleared.

Sheila Regan reviews Louise Erdrich’s book A Plaue of Doves; the New York Times also has good things to say about it. Anybody read it yet? What’s your opinion of Erdrich in general, and what do you particularly like, or dislike, by the author?

One last reminder and confirmation that MnRead is on, scheduled for 4 PM Sunday at Como Park near Horton and Hamline (Hm, we should be discussing Dr. Seuss and Brothers Grimm….) If you want to come, please send me an email so you are in on last minute planning (particularly in case of rain). You can reach me at skutir at gmail dot com.

Minnesota Historical Society Acquisitions Librarian Patrick Coleman in a video about Minnesota’s contributions to pulp literature, including the rarely told but fascinating tale of Captain Billy’s Whiz Bang, steamy novelist and wildman Dan Brennan, sci-fi great Lester del Rey, and The Drowning Wire, a pulp novel set in Minnesota.

While we’re on the subject of hip hop, Dessa from Doomtree has released a book of powetry and prose. How is it? Profound and moving, according to the Strib. Dominantly dazzling, according to City Pages. She’ll be reading this weekend at the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio. The event will be hosted by Steve Marsh.

Decider does a story about local writer and art shanty particpant (and MnSpeak regular) Andy Sturdevant. Andy can also be found hosting Salon Saloon in February. And speaking of the Art Shanty Project, here are stories about it from MnPost, City Pages, and photos from Flickr.

Minnesota has a varied and noble tradition of spoken word, including the MN Spoken Word Association, numerous CDs of spoken word artists, and now a blog titled Minnesota Microphone, specifically devoted to spoken word artists and performances. (Via) What spoken word do you recommend?