My LINKcat AccountThis past weekend, as well as being the lefse maker at the library's Open House on Saturday, I was also a participant in the Annual Midwest (Sandhill) Crane Count earlier in the day (5:30-7:30 a.m.). I have been doing the Crane Count since 1994 and not missed a year. I have mostly counted the same sites in Columbia County since I started. Now I am counting closer to the Dane County / Columbia County line. This year I probably saw and/or heard about a dozen cranes. It was a clear morning and the sunrise was spectacular. A red ball rising through a stand of pines after turning the eastern sky pastel oranges and yellows and pinks. The killdeer and red-winged black birds were everywhere and letting everyone know this was their territory. There were a couple of hundred Canadian geese on the site's pond, and a couple of swans. Ducks were quacking and flying here and there. Even with all the avian activity it was very quiet without much vehicular traffic. It was just Mother Nature putting on a bit of show. The Crane Count is citizen science at its best. You can be a counter too-- next year. In the meantime, there are a number of new books, listed below, that you might consider reading. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“The Gut-Brain Parados: Improve Your Mood, Clear Brain Fog, and Reverse Disease by Healing Your Microbiome.” By Steven Gundry. Explores the intricate connection between gut health and brain function, detailing how gut microbiome imbalances impact mental and neurological health, while offering dietary strategies to heal the gut, reduce inflammation, and restore cognitive and emotional well-being.
“Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America” by Will Bardenwerper. This heartfelt memoir uses small-town baseball to reflect on modern America’s struggles and resilience, highlighting the revival of a beloved Rust Belt team and the enduring community spirit amidst corporate greed and changing traditions.
“America, Amèrica: A New History of the New World” by Greg Grandin. This sweeping history of the Western Hemisphere from a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian re-examines the intertwined destinies of North and South America, challenging traditional narratives and revealing a complex and dynamic relationship shaped by conflict, cooperation and mutual influence.
“The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West” by Shaun Walker. Traces the history of the Soviet Union’s "illegals" spy program, revealing how deeply embedded, long-term operatives shaped global espionage from the Bolshevik era to modern Russia, while examining its enduring influence on Russian identity, global politics, and Putin’s strategies today.
New Fiction
“Silent as the Grave: A Molly Murphy Mystery, No. 21” by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles. Molly Murphy Sullivan, juggling motherhood in 1900s New York, investigates deadly sabotage on a film set after her adopted daughter, Bridie, lands a starring role, uncovering tensions between rival studios amidst the fledgling movie industry’s dangerous.
“The King’s Messenger” by Susanna Kearsley. In 1613, Andrew Logan, a messenger for King James, embarks on a mission to frame an innocent advisor for treason, but as he unravels the truth alongside his spirited neighbor Phoebe Westaway, their growing bond challenges loyalty, justice, and the possibilities of love.
“The Book That Held Her Heart, No.3 (The Library Trilogy)” by Mark Lawrence. As an infinite library teeters on destruction, Livira must mend fragile bonds with Evar and reunite scattered allies across time and space to confront an unresolvable conflict threatening the very fabric of existence.
“The Cat Who Saved the Library” by Sosuke Natsukawa Translated by Louise Heal Kawai. Thirteen-year-old Nanami, aided by Tiger, a talking tabby cat, investigates disappearing books and a mysterious man in her school library, leading to a fantastical adventure to confront faceless soldiers destroying literature and uncover secrets of a previous book-saving hero.
“The Library of Lost Dollhouses” by Elise Hooper. Tildy Barrows, a San Francisco library curator, uncovers hidden dollhouses tied to a century-old mystery, leading her on a journey through forgotten histories, inspiring women, and unexpected revelations that could save her library and reshape her future.
“The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits” by Jennifer Weiner. Two decades after tragedy ended Cassie and Zoe Grossberg's rise to pop stardom as "The Griffin Sisters," Zoe’s daughter Cherry uncovers hidden truths about the sisters' breakup, compelling the family to face old wounds, buried secrets, and the potential for reconciliation.
“The Fact Checker” by Austin Kelley. When a cryptic quote leads a fact checker to uncover possible corruption at a trendy farm, his obsession deepens after the mysterious disappearance of volunteer farmhand Sylvia, taking him on a whimsical and poignant journey through New York City's hidden corners in search of the truth.
“Fun for the Whole Family” by Jennifer E. Smith. Four formerly close but now estranged siblings reunite at their famous sister’s house and are forced to confront their shared past and hidden truths in the new novel from the best-selling author of “The Unsinkable Greta James”.
“Heartwood” by Amity Gaige. A search-and-rescue team race against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.