My LINKcat AccountToday is the eve of the summer solstice. Tomorrow, June 21st, at 12:04 a.m. the summer solstice will take place. This marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and marks the sun's most northerly point in Earth's sky. It also marks the longest day of the year - sort of - if you're counting seconds. If you're just looking at the minutes of daylight that's a slightly different story (which I'm about to tell you!). On June 21st, sunrise is at 4:18 (let's use military time, shall we - so 0418 hours) and sunset is at 1941 (that's 7:41 p.m. and we're not talking about visible light but when the sun goes below the horizon). June 22nd is the same thing 0418 and 1941. In fact, sunset remains the same until July 1st and sunrise has only gotten 4 minutes later (0422) So if you think the longest day is defined at the evening end of things (Because, really. Honestly who's up at 0418 anyway?) then there are eleven days - from June 21st on-that have the latest sunset of the year. Which give you more natural light to read all the marvelous new books that have been arriving! Cast your eyes further down this page to see a sampling of those books. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
The faraway nearby by Rebecca Solnit. A companion to "A Field Guide for Getting Lost" explores the ways that people construct lives from stories and connect to each other through empathy, narrative and imagination, sharing illustrative anecdotes about historical figures and members of her own family. By the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author.
An atheist in the FOXhole : a liberal's eight-year odyssey inside the heart of the right-wing media / by Joe Muto. A riotous memoir of the author's experiences as an atheist, liberal and fired "Fox Mole" employee at Fox News Channel recounts his deliberate decision to reveal unflattering information through "Gawker" and his witness to the network's right-wing ideologies, which involve skewed reportage that favors specific personalities and biased interpretations of the news.
The boys in the boat : nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Olympics / by Daniel James Brown. Traces the story of an American rowing team from the University of Washington that defeated elite rivals at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics, sharing the experiences of such contributors as their enigmatic coach, a visionary boat builder and a homeless teen rower.
The guns at last light : the war in Western Europe, 1944-1945 / by Rick Atkinson. The final volume of the World War II trilogy brings to life the Allies' brutal struggles in Normandy and at the Battle of the Bulge to the freeing of Paris as experienced by participants from every level of the military.
Revolutionary summer : the birth of American independence / by Joseph Ellis. The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of "First Family" presents a revelatory account of America's declaration of independence and the political and military responses on both sides throughout the summer of 1776 that influenced key decisions and outcomes.
New Fiction
The 9th girl / by Tami Hoag. A long-awaited new thriller starring Minneapolis investigators Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska finds them in pursuit of a serial killer whose latest victim is a bullied adolescent who desperately sought her perception of a normal life.
The dark road : [a novel] / by Ma Jian. The Chinese dissident author explores the human cost of China's one-child policy as reflected by a rural family on the run from the state, describing how a cultural imperative to have a son prompted their decision to conceive a second child before becoming subject to cruel government practices of enforced abortion and sterilization.
Redsparrow : a novel / by Jason Matthews. Drafted against her will to serve the regime of Vladimir Putin as an intelligence seductress, Dominika Egorova is assigned to operate against first-tour CIA officer Nathaniel Nash, with whom she engages in a charged effort of deception and tradecraft before a forbidden attraction threatens their careers and the security of America's most valuable mole in Moscow.
The abomination / by Jonathan Holt. When a woman's body is found wearing the sacred robes of a Catholic priest--a desecration known as the Abomination, Captain Kat Tapo of the Carabinieri unravels a dark conspiracy that tests her loyalties, in this thrilling novel that is set in two Venices--the physical world and its virtual counterpart.
The long war / by Terry Pratchett & Stephen Baxter. A new America called Valhalla grows restless under the controlling long arm of the Datum government, while all of the Long Earth is infused by the song of the trolls who are starting to react to humanity's thoughtless exploitation, bringing humankind to the brink of war.
Stoker's manuscript / by Royce Prouty. Hired to authenticate and purchase an original draft of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" on behalf of a reclusive member of the oldest family in Transylvania, manuscript expert Joseph Barkeley becomes a prisoner at legendary Bran Castle and is ordered by his captor to decipher cryptic messages to discern the burial sites of Dracul family members.
The blood of heaven / by Kent Wascom. After running away from home, Angel Woolsack, a preacher's son, settles on the rough frontier of West Florida where he is swept up in a violent new world as would-be revolutionaries plot to break away from the young United States and create a new country under the leadership of renegade Aaron Burr.
Revenge wears Prada : the Devil returns / by Lauren Weisberger. A long-awaited sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada" finds Andy Sachs and her partner, Emily, blossoming throughout eight years at the head of a wildly successful high fashion bridal magazine only to be haunted by memories of their former boss on the eve of Andy's wedding.
Close knit killer / by Maggie Sefton. When an acquaintance turns up murdered outside the intended classroom space for her yarn shop, Kelly Flynn unravels a long list of suspects in the latest edition to the national best-selling series following "Cast On, Kill Off".