Sunday news and reviews

It's Sunday, which means the arts news is dominated by Star Tribune's book section... kudos to Books Editor Laurie Hertzel!

Books

War correspondents

- George Killough, Star Tribune

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Letters sent from two Minnesota brothers offer a vivid look inside the Civil War.

Loving the real in the realm of the novel

- Laurie Hertzel, Star Tribune

Anita Shreve gets the (sometimes gory) facts right in her newest book, "Rescue."

Robert Michael Pyle's big year for butterflies

- James P Lenfestey, Star Tribune

Tracking butterflies, from Mexico to Alaska, in a 1992 Honda Civic.

Collection examines the boomer experience

- Katy Read, Star Tribune

Ann Beattie's "The New Yorker Stories" contains every story she has published in that magazine, spanning three decades.

On the wings of an angel

- Andrea Hoag, Star Tribune

Seeking redemption, Toby O'Dare travels to 16th-century Rome.

Hayes' poems rage, jive, jump and surprise

- John Freeman, Star Tribune

Collection is this year's National Book Award winner.

Music

New Standards' fifth time a charm

- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

Expanding the event from a one-night affair to two nights and a Sunday matinee, the Standards similarly upsized the show itself.

VocalEssence's Christmas show has just the right mix of fresh, familiar

- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

Philip Brunelle is doing his part to freshen up your holiday listening experience.

Friendship put Dakota on map

- Britt Robson, Star Tribune

Founder Lowell Pickett will celebrate the club's 25th birthday with an old pal who helped start it all, piano legend McCoy Tyner.

Gifts for music lovers who think inside the box

By Ross Raihala

Yes, the traditional multi-CD, career-spanning box set still exists, but after 25 years of them, not to mention the continued overall drop in physical CD sales, record labels are shifting their strategy to focus on fancy collector-focused boxes devoted to a single album.

Theater

An 'Idol" Joseph

- Rohan Preston, Star Tribune

Ordway Center readies a large-scale "Joseph" starring "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov.

Now, that's rich: Miss Richfield 1981 has always been about more is more -- but 'Bingo Bonanza' needs editing

- Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press

It's been a few years since I've seen the annual Christmas extravaganza offered by Miss Richfield 1981. And it's safe to say that absence has made the heart grow fonder.