My LINKcat AccountI was on vacation last week. I was on my annual pilgrimage to Stratford, Ontario for a week’s immersion in theater. Each day I saw a matinee and evening performance of Shakespeare, or Ben Jonson, or Sophocles, as well as a musical by Rogers and Hammerstein It’s so very nice to sit in a dark theater and watch characters struggle with what it means to be human, what it means to be a ruler, a lover, a tamer of a shrew, a conman, or the prince of Denmark. It’s a relief at some level to know that humans have been struggling with some of the same questions that plague you and me in our daily life for a couple of thousand years now. I suspect that, while we have been asking the same questions for a very long time, there isn’t a universal answer; there is only the answer that works for you. But what works for you is very similar to what works for others and this similarity is where our shared humanity resides. At least that’s my opinion. And that is the reason why I think great theater, literature, and the other arts need to preserved, experienced, and thought about. I also like theater because things are usually resolved at the end of the third (or fifth) act and I’m not part of that particular drama (just an interested observer, thank you very much!). And since brevity is the soul of wit, I shall end now and move you on to this week’s list of new titles. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
Harriet Wolf's seventh book of wonders : a novel / by Julianna Baggott. Gathering around the deathbed of their matriarch, a reclusive famous author who may have written a final manuscript, three generations of women share respective secrets that have shaped their lives and loves. By the author of the New York Times Notable Book, Pure.
Whole body intelligence : get out of your head and into your body to achieve greater wisdom, confidence, and success by Steve Sisgold. Details a body-centric approach to resetting the relationship between body and mind to ignite a more fulfilling life.
New Fiction
Under Tiberius : a novel / by Nick Tosches. Discovering in the Vatican archives a first-century memoir by Emperor Tiberius's head speechwriter, Nick Tosches is shocked to discover a portrayal of a shabby and licentious young Jesus who the writer made over as a messianic figure.
We never asked for wings : a novel / by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. When her parents return to Mexico, 15-year-old Letty Espinosa is forced to become a parent to her young sister and considers a risky move that jeopardizes their fragile hopes for the future. By the best-selling author of The Language of Flowers.
Dragonbane / by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Cursed by a powerful enemy and boarding in Sanctuary to hide his 50-foot wingspan, were-dragon Drago learns that the wife he thought died centuries earlier is still alive and being threatened by Fate. By the best-selling author of the Chronicles of Nick series.
Friction / by Sandra Brown. Petitioning to regain custody of his young daughter in the aftermath of a reckless decision, a Texas Ranger intervenes during the attempted assassination of an attractive judge who he risks his life to protect when the gunman escapes. By the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Mean Streak.
Last words / by Michael Koryta. Grieving the death of his wife, private investigator Mark Novak reluctantly accepts a case from a suspected murderer who may or may not be innocent. By the New York Times best-selling author of Those Who Wish Me Dead.
The murderer's daughter : a novel / by Jonathan Kellerman. Engaging in secret high-risk activities to escape from her regimented life as a master psychologist, Grace Blades has a one-night stand with a man who turns out to be her new client—one who claims a unique connection to Grace's foster father. By the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Alex Delaware series.
Woman with a secret / by Sophie Hannah. Fleeing a checkpoint being manned by a police officer she recognizes from her secret past, Nicki is targeted with suspicion in the murder investigation of a controversial newspaper columnist. By the New York Times best-selling author of The Monogram Murders.