November 29, 2018 - Countdown

Even though Thanksgiving was as early as it can be, and even though we are now on November 29th sitting on the last Thursday of the month, we have still “officially” entered the count-down-to-the-year-end holidays part of the calendar. As of today, there are 26, count them, 26 days until Christmas Eve. That’s only 624 hours left to shop and prepare your house, your family, and yourself. And once you’ve passed Christmas it’s only a week until the end of the year and a week and a day until we enter the year 2019. Wowzer! Where does the time go? It occurs to me that that is a perennial question and that while the library has the answers to many questions, I am sorry to report, we do not have the answer to that particular question. If you are in a hurry to get to the end of the year and are no good at biding your time, below you will find a selection of new books to distract, engage, immerse, you in their pages so that the time flies by. If you care to fritter away the time and saunter to the end of the year, one of these books is sure to be just the ticket for that as well. Enjoy!

New Non-Fiction

“Well-read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves” by Glory Edim. The founder of the popular online book club curates a collection of original essays from today's best black female voices, including Jesmyn Ward, Lynn Nottage, Jacqueline Woodson, Gabourey Sidibe, Morgan Jerkins, Tayari Jones and Rebecca Walker.

 

“Women Who Rock: Bessie to Beyonce, Girl Groups to Riot Grrrl” by Evelyn McDonnel, ed. Highlights more than 100 female musical artists who played an essential and influential role in the evolution of modern music, from Bessie Smith and the Supremes, to Joan Baez, Madonna, Amy Winehouse and Beyoncé.

 

“American Dialogue: The Founders and Us” by Joseph Ellis. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Founding Brothers presents an insightful examination of the relevance of the views of Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Adams to some of the most divisive issues in today's America.

 

“Impeachment: An American History” by Jeffrey Engel. Four experts on the American presidency review the only three impeachment cases from history—against Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton—and explore its power and meaning for today.

 

“In the Hurricane’s Eye: The genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown” by Nathaniel Patrick. A narrative chronicle of the Battle of the Chesapeake traces the maneuvers by Lafayette and Washington that are credited with America's Revolutionary War victory. By the National Book Award-winning author of “Valient Ambition” and “Mayflower”.

 

“The Library Book” by Susan Orlean. The acclaimed best-selling author of “Rin Tin Tin” and “The Orchid Thief” reopens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in American history, and delivers a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution—our libraries.

 

“Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975” by Max Hastings. The best-selling author of The Secret War draws on survivor interviews from both sides in a modern history of the Vietnam War that discusses its hotly debated political divides, major and lesser-known battles and brutal human costs.

New Fiction

“Shell Game, No. 19 (V.I. Warshawski)” by Sara Paretsky. Returning to Chicago to prevent an erroneous murder charge, V. I. Warshawski traces a stolen artifact with links to an network of international mobsters, terrorist financiers, scammers and art thieves. By the New York Times best-selling author.

 

“The Christmas Star, No. 10 (Christmas Hope)” by Donn VanLiere. Befriending a precocious foster child with a penchant for matchmaking, a school maintenance worker is repeatedly set up with his ex-wife, with whom he begins to realize a bond beyond their past heartaches. By the New York Times best-selling author of “The Christmas Shoes” and “The Christmas Hope”.

 

“The Next Person You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom. A sequel to the best-selling The Five People You Meet in Heaven continues the story of grizzled war veteran-turned-amusement park mechanic Eddie, who has a spiritual reunion with the girl he died rescuing.

 

“Alaskan Holiday” by Debbie Macomber. Taking a job in a remote Alaskan town, a talented young chef bonds with a crotchety baker and a master swordsmith who complicate her career ambitions on the mainland. By the best-selling author of “Merry and Bright”.

 

“Every Breath” by Nichols Sparks. A chance encounter becomes a transcendent turning point for two very different people, including the conflicted surgeon daughter of an ALS patient and a Sunset Beach newcomer from Zimbabwe who aims to meet his birth father. By a #1 New York Times best-selling author

 

“Wyoming Legend, No. 8 (Wyoming Men)” by Diana Palmer. Reluctantly accepting help from an injured skating champion, a ranch owner and single father discovers an unexpected second chance at love. Hardcover Library Edition. By the New York Times best-selling author of Wyoming Winter .

 

“Ambush, No. 11 (Michael Bennett)” by James Patterson & James Born. When a series of attacks targeting Michael Bennett injures one of his children and causes several deaths, the New York police officer leads an investigation throughout the five boroughs that exposes corruption and a dangerous vendetta. Co-written by a #1 best-selling author.

 

“Crisis: A Dick Francis Novel” by Felix Francis. Investigating a stable fire that has killed a Derby favorite, London crisis manager Harrison Foster discovers a human victim and is reluctantly thrust into the dysfunctional rivalries of a racing dynasty. By a New York Times best-selling novel.