My LINKcat AccountToday is an important day for Norwegians. Syttende Mai is a holiday that is celebrated with great gusto by those of Norwegian descent, no matter how many generations away they are from having actually dipped a toe in a fjord. The 17th of May for Norwegians is like the 4th of July for us. It commemorates the signing of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll. It was the day that Norway became independent from Denmark, elected a king (Christian Fredrik), established a bicameral legislature, abolished the aristocracy, vested taxation in the legislature, and created a set of criteria establishing the right to vote that extended to men who were either farmers who owned their own land, civil servants, or urban property owners. This meant that almost half of all Norwegian men earned the right to vote, which was a radical proposition in 1814. Norwegians have a lot to be proud of on Constitution Day. Because we live in an area where there is a high percentage of Norwegians in the population, you might think that Syttende Mai is the only thing that ever happened on the 17th of May. Well, if you thought that you’d be wrong. Another important thing that happened on May 17th is that you sat down to read this newspaper and that enough books arrived earlier this week for me to be able to tell you about a whole lot of new books which are listed below. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy” by Ali Veishi. Tapping into 125 years of family history to advocate for social justice as a living, breathing experience, the Chief Correspondent for MSNBC relates the stories of regular people who made a lasting commitment to fight for change, even when success seemed impossible, and urges us to do the same.
“What a Fool Believes” by Michael McDonald & Paul Reiser. In his candid, laidback memoir, written with his friend, Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling icon tells the story of his life and music, relaying the lessons he’s learned along the way.
“You Never Know: A Memoir” by Tom Selleck. An American icon and famed actor brings us on his uncharted but serendipitous journey to the top in Hollywood, clearing up misconceptions; sharing dozens of never-before-told stories from both his personal and professional lives; and offering a truly fresh perspective on a changing industry and a changing world.
“The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America” by Larry Tye. Based on more than 250 interviews, this meticulously researched history of Black America in the early-to-mid 1900s through three longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie—who opened America’s eyes and souls to their magnificent music, writing the soundtrack for the civil rights movement.
“The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt:The Women Who Created a President” by Edward O’keefe. Celebrating the five extraordinary yet unsung women who profoundly shaped the life of one of America’s most significant presidents, this spirited and poignant family love story reveals Theodore Roosevelt, an icon of rugged American masculinity, as we’ve never seen him before.
New Fiction
“Daughter of Mine” by Megan Miranda. Returning to Mirror Lake after inheriting her childhood home, Hazel discovers long-hidden secrets that may explain the mystery of her mother's disappearance, in the new novel from the New York Times best-selling author of “All the Missing Girls”.
“A Game of Lies” by Clare Mackintosh. Seven reality show contestants are trapped in the Welsh mountains, facing the shameful worldwide reveal of their deepest secrets, but when the disappearance of a contestant triggers a more deadly game, DC Ffion Morgan is employed in an investigation more complex than she had ever imagined.
“The Gathering” by C.J. Tudor. When a boy is found with all the blood drained from his body, Detective Barbara Atkins must determine if a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs, is responsible, or if she’s dealing with a twisted psychopath as she uncovers secrets darker than she ever could’ve imagined.
“Nothing But the Bones” by Brian Panowich. With lyrical prose and hard-hitting depictions of the hardscrabble life in the rural south, the author of Bull Mountain delivers a gripping new chapter in his tales of McFalls County.
“One of Us Knows” by Alyssa Cole. From a critically acclaimed and New York Times best-selling author of When No One Is Watching comes a thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.
“The Reaper Follows” by Heather Graham. Agents from the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate a series of murders linked to conspiracy theorists and doomsday cults.
“A Spy Like Me (Double O)” by Kim Sherwood. While grieving the loss of a loved one, MI6 agent 003, Johanna Harwood, sets off on an unsanctioned mission to find James Bond in the second novel of the trilogy following “Double or Nothing”.
“Mind Games: A Novel” by Nora Roberts. With the ability to see into minds and souls, Thea, who brought her parents’ killer to justice years ago, discovers the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability when she can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away as he plots his revenge.
“I Will Ruin You” by Linwood Barclay. A teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.