Literary scavenger hunt, part 7

Wow--I'm impressed with myself. I thought for sure I'd have given up by now. But no. Seven weeks in and still going strong.

This week's question:

Name the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, with deep Minnesota ties, described by this rhyme:

Pianos, trains, and a guy named Joe,

All brought to a stage of lust and woe;

They seized on this life, and it took a toll,

But learning and laughter warmed the soul.

This week's question took me to two fun places, including this one, which arguably has the best view out its front door of any bookseller in the Twin Cities:

The Bookcase in Wayzata (for you out-of-towners, that's pronounced Why-zetta), which looks out at Lake Minnetonka.

I've been to so many small, cozy, intimate, charming bookshops that I'm running out of ways to describe them. What a bad problem to have.

The second stop of the week was on the other side of the metro, in St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood.

Hard to see, but it's Common Good Books, the shop owned by Garrison Keillor. I happen to really like this little basement shop; it's crammed full of books, with tall shelves, and then books crammed between the shelves and the ceiling. I've heard the comment that it's claustrophobic, and I can understand that--but as long as books are what's crowding me in, I'm fine. Plus, you have to love a bookstore that has a huge poetry section, as well as this:

The question for week 8 is: Most of Alison McGhee’s Julia Gillian stories take place in which Twin Cities neighborhood?

Tricky question, this one. But I believe I have sussed it out.

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[cursingmama]

I love Quality Trash!