My LINKcat AccountThis past week has been rather exciting. On October 31st, we had our first snow and while it didn’t show up as measurable on any of the weather stations/sites that I follow, there was enough snow to track a cat in. I know this because my cat and I went out for his morning constitutional and you could definitely see his paw prints. I mention this only because the first snow, in weather lore is used to predict the number of snowfalls for the upcoming winter. The lore is: “As many days old as is the moon on the first snow, there will be that many snowfalls by crop planting time.” According to the wise women I learned this from, the snow has to be a snow you can track a cat in (or, I imagine, any other animal). The new moon was on October 23rd, so on October 31st the moon would have been only 8 (or 9 depending on whether or not you count the day of the new moon or not) days old. If this lore pans out, then it’s looking like a dry winter. Guess we’ll just have to stick around and see. In the meantime, there are a number of new books to keep you company on longer evenings that showed up after Daylight Savings Time went away last Sunday. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
Parcells : a football life / by Bill Parcells & Nunyo Demasio. The Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning coach traces his five decades in football, discussing such topics as his controversial methods, work with major teams and relationships with such players as Lawrence Taylor and Curtis Martin.
Worthy fights : a memoir of leadership in war and peace / by Leon Panetta. The man who led the intelligence war that killed Osama Bin Laden discusses the tough decisions he had to make as Secretary of Defense and CIA Director.
The meaning of human existence / by Edward O. Wilson. A 21st-century philosophical argument against mechanistic views of human life outlines expansive and advanced theories on human behavior to consider how humans are supremely different from all other species. By the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “On Human Nature”.
The secret history of Wonder Woman / by Jill Lepore. A cultural history of Wonder Woman traces the character's creation and enduring popularity, drawing on interviews and archival research to reveal the pivotal role of feminism in shaping her seven-decade story. By the Pulitzer Prize-finalist author of “New York Burning”.
Yes please / by Amy Poehler. A first-person account by the Golden Globe-winning actress best known for her work on “Parks and Recreation” and “Saturday Night Live” includes coverage of such topics as her relationships with caregivers and her friendship with Tina Fey.
13 hours : the inside account of what really happened in Benghazi / by Mitchell Zuckoff. A book co-written by Annex Security Team members--the five surviving CIA contract operators who responded to the September 11, 2012, attack in Benghazi--provides their account of what happened that fateful night.
Death of a King : the real story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final year / by Tavis Smiley. Presents a revealing and dramatic chronicle of the 12 months leading up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
New Fiction
The book of strange new things : a novel / by Michel Faber. Called to perform missionary work in a world light years away where the natives are fascinated by the concepts he introduces, man of faith Peter Leigh finds his beliefs tested when he learns of natural disasters that are tearing Earth apart.
The peripheral / by William Gibson. Depending on her veteran brother's benefits in a city where jobs outside the drug trade are rare, Flynne assists her brother's latest beta-test tech assignment only to uncover an elaborate murder scheme. By the best-selling author of “Zero History”.
Prince Lestat / by Anne Rice. A tale spanning periods from the ancient to the modern world reunites fans with beloved characters, from Louis de Pointe Lac and the eternally young Armand to David Talbot and Marius, who hear a mysterious voice urging ancients to destroy increasing populations of maverick vampires.
The slow regard of silent things / by Patrick Rothfuss. Living in the abandoned tunnel system beneath the University, the enigmatic Auri reflects on her bittersweet life while making unique observations about the broken world she would survive. By the best-selling author of “The Name of the Wind”.
Christopher's diary : secrets of Foxworth / by V.C. Andrews. A new novel from the best-selling author of such classic works as “Flowers in the Attic” shares new insights into the Dollanganger family saga from the perspective of Christopher.
Shopaholic to the stars : a novel / by Sophie Kinsella. Joining her husband in Los Angeles, Becky Bloomwood pursues work as an A-list celebrity stylist only to find herself caught between two rival stars, a situation that is further complicated by her father's mysterious agenda. By the best-selling author of “The Undomestic Goddess”.
Winter street / by Elin Hilderbrand. A family reunion at Kelley Quinn's Nantucket inn is thrown into turmoil by his four adult children's personal dramas and the discovery of his second wife's infidelity. By the best-selling author of “Beautiful Day” and “The Matchmaker”.