My LINKcat AccountTwo weekends ago, I was up at the crack of dawn and heading towards Columbia County before there was a hint of light in the sky to take part in the annual Midwest Crane Count. Being out so early in the morning, watching pastel hues blue being chased by oranges and pinks and finally yellows is one of those things everyone should do occasionally. Being out so early with a good purpose makes you feel doubly virtuous – for being up early while the rest of the world is asleep and for collecting data that helps advance knowledge. I’m always so gratified when I can get a “twofer” – especially when it involves getting up early. Someone asked me the other day how long I have been doing this and I really can’t tell you. I’d have to go back and check my records, but I do believe it was sometime in the 1990s. Sandhill cranes are long-lived birds so I could conceivably still be hearing and seeing some of those I first saw and heard many years ago. But the odds are I’m now counting children and perhaps grandchildren of some of my original cranes but mostly in the same places. The fact that good breeding land has remained over these many years is a good thing for the cranes and those of us you love cranes. Anyway, speaking of birds, the library is doing a community read of “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. A big event with the author, Marja Mills, who lived next door to the Lee sisters for 18 months in Monroeville, Alabama and wrote the book “The Mockingbird Next Door”, will be our library on Friday, May 8th. The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the author and holding a fundraiser prior to the presentation that will be open to the public. The fundraiser will include access to the author as well as “To Kill a Mockingbird” related desserts and beverages. Checkout the library’s website or call for more information. Speaking of books, a number of new titles have arrived and are listed below. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
Ashley's war : the untold story of a team of women soldiers on the Special Ops battlefield / by Gayle Lemmon. From the author of the “New York Times” best-seller “The Dressmaker of Khair Khana” comes the story of First Lieutenant Ashley White and a groundbreaking team of female American warriors who served alongside Special Operations soldiers on the battlefield in Afghanistan.
Simple rules : how to thrive in a complex world / by Donald Sull & Kathleen Eisenhardt. Outlines an approach to high-performance problem-solving and decision-making that draws on insights from survival guides, pop culture and other sources. Co-written by the award-winning author of “The Upside of Turbulence”.
Creative schools : the grassroots revolution that's transforming education / by Ken Robinson & Lou Aronica. In a book filled with anecdotes, observations and recommendations from professionals on the front line of transformative education, case histories and groundbreaking research, the author of “The Element” argues for an end to our outmoded industrial educational system and proposes a highly personalized, organic approach that draws on today’s unprecedented technological and professional resources to engage all students, develop their love of learning and enable them to face the real challenges of the 21st century.
No excuses fitness : the 30-day plan to tone your body and supercharge your health / by Donovan Green. Dr. Oz's personal trainer delivers a 30-day fitness program focusing on exercise, diet and attitude, forged from his experience training thousands of clients ranging from celebrities to everyday people.
The gene therapy plan : taking control of your genetic destiny with diet and lifestyle / by Mitchell Gaynor. An acclaimed oncologist and pioneer in integrative medicine outlines lifestyle approaches designed to influence how DNA can be expressed, sharing easy-to-follow meal plans and recipes to bolster the odds against genetic vulnerabilities.
New Fiction
Reykjavik nights / by Arnaldur Indridason. A prequel to an internationally acclaimed series profiles Erlendur as a young, budding detective who while investigating the death of a homeless man is introduced to Reykjavik's dark underworld. By the award-winning author of “Silence of the Grave”.
Beauty's kingdom. by A.N. Roquelaure. The erotic Sleeping Beauty trilogy now continues with a fourth novel by master storyteller and best-selling author of “Prince Lestat”, Anne Rice, writing as A. N. Roquelaure.
The beekeeper's daughter / by Santa Montefiore. A first U.S. release by an internationally best-selling author traces the parallel stories of a beekeeper's daughter whose security is challenged by her father's death; and her daughter, who remains steadfast to an unworthy lover.
Garden of lies / by Amanda Quick. Refusing to believe that her star employee's death was not accidental, Ursula Kern, the owner of a secretarial agency for wealthy clients, hires skeptical adventurer Slater Roxton to investigate the dark side of cultured society. By the best-selling author of “Otherwise Engaged”.
The liar / by Nora Roberts. Devastated to learn that her unfaithful husband had actually married her using an alias, Shelby returns with her young daughter to her Tennessee hometown and pursues a new relationship before her husband's past poses dangerous threats. By the best-selling author of “Whiskey Beach”.
One night / by Eric Dickey. An unlikely couple from opposing areas of society checks into an upscale hotel and shares 12 hours of passion, con games and violence that culminate in bliss—and murder. By the best-selling author of “A Wanted Woman”.
The Water Museum : Stories. by Luis Alberto Urrea. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and author of “The Hummingbird's Daughter” presents a new collection of literary stories.