One of my quiet favorites from my summer visit to Sweden was this beautiful library in Linköping--and hours to spend there. I read Swedish slowly, but that doesn't bother me so much when I'm reading in a place like this.

Time for a social media hiatus. Wishing you well, Bluesky folks!

I keep thinking about this chair I saw. I'm in a rough patch and thinking of this chair makes me happy.

I drank good coffee and visited the wonderful exhibit of contemporary Nordic folk art from the upper Midwest, on display in the gallery by FIKA at American Swedish Institute. Especially loved this chair, work of Grand Marais craftsman Mike Loeffler, with a warbler perched on the back.

I haven't tried all of the Baker's Field breads yet, but a couple of their breads are among my favorite things to eat. This morning, "Hundred Rye." Flour milled and bread baked in NE Minneapolis. So good! List of all their breads here: www.bakersfieldflourandbread.com/breads

Reading my way through the International Booker shortlist, and this morning this novel swept me right in: *The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran*. thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...

Oh, gosh, the "2026 Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport" cover is sweet and sharp and brilliant. Kevin Cannon @kevincannon.bsky.social nailed it. Can't wait to see all the artwork inside later this month. Hooray for this bookstore project from Rain Taxi. raintaxi.com/twin-cities-...

Literary translators! And small presses! I'm grateful for the work that they do. I discovered these books in different ways: *Migratory Birds* was recommended by a friend; *She Who Remains* is on the International Booker shortlist; *Transient Worlds* was face-out at the bookstore.

The St. Paul Public library is scaffolding my efforts to read as far as I can into the International Booker Prize longlist before the shortlist announcement at the end of March. (All of the novels-in-translation on the list are new in the UK and/or Ireland, but are not necessarily new in the USA.)

Hey MSP, "Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids" at Walker Art Center right now is great. This photo from their website doesn't do it justice--there's interactive stuff, a cinema, a reading area, room to move, etc, all located in a gallery next to a lobby space. walkerart.org/calendar/202...

from the gallery scottishgansey.org.uk/historic-gan...

When I did a search on the Literary Hub site this morning, I realized that I'd missed reading some of the "Letter from Minnesota" essays that they are featuring, and I recommend them to you. All of them. lithub.com?s=Letter+Fro...

Just spending a few minutes thinking about Isaac Newton. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_N...

*Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land* Minnesota creators--writer John Coy, photographer Wing Young Huie johncoy.com/their-great-...

www.sos.mn.gov/about-minnes...

Maybe this photo from the New York Times should be at the top of the page.

Heading offline (mostly) from Luciadagen (13 December) to Valentine's Day. digitaltmuseum.se/021011576331...

I did a quick check online and found copies of books in the Sadiq series, written by Somali author Siman Nuurali, in many libraries and available at bookshop.org Let's check them out, buy them, share them with children. bookshop.org/beta-search?...

Capstone Press in Minnesota has a series for young readers by Somali author Siman Nuurali, featuring a Somali child as the central character. In libraries across the country! Available in paperback! (Thanks @readingspark.bsky.social for highlighting these.) shop.capstonepub.com/Shop/s/categ...

I love unpacking the box with the Advent candleholder and decorations each year. The oldest of these things I remember being invited to choose from amongst some toys and trinkets at my great-aunt and uncle's house when I was maybe five years old. Each object has some small story behind it.

Back from the concert in St. Paul this afternoon. I'm so inspired by the musicianship and creativity of the artists in the Danish String Quartet.

Trying to read the books piled up over here. Lately, these three. I read them all with other people (one with a group, one with a class, one with a partner) because that's helpful to me in these days of how-can-I-possibly-concentrate.

18 November! Book III of Solvej Balle's *On the Calculation of Volume* is out today. Tomorrow will be the 19th, but not in the pages of these novels. Fun to head over to a cozy bookstore on a gray November day for the newly-released book.

Hey MSP, head over to the Walker Art Center to see the beautiful, welcoming exhibition of work by Dyani White Hawk! Admission to the museum is free on Thursday evenings. walkerart.org/calendar/202...

Social media break. (Not pictured: book manuscript, grandchildren, volunteer projects, hiking shoes.)

Speaking of reading, I'm looking forward to Charles Dickens's *Bleak House* with APS Together, beginning a week from today. Yiyun Li returns as host for this project organized by A Public Space. Slow reading--a chapter or two each day. apublicspace.org/aps-together apublicspace.org/aps-together...

This post is my "Gone Fishing" sign, except that I'm going to read instead of fish. Take care, good people.

Tthis week, these two books have delighted children and adults visiting our house. All of you have picture books out on your coffee table for family and friends to look at, don't you?

Book report: nothing is better than the beaming face of a four-year-old when a picture book reaches out and embraces them like these books do. Thanks, @vivschwarz.bsky.social.

Picture books by @vivschwarz.bsky.social were waiting for me at our branch library today. I can't wait to share these with children!