My LINKcat AccountToday is the 309th day of the year with 56 days remaining. Where did the year go? As all good Anglophiles know, the 5th of November is a rather famous holiday in the UK. In case you need a reminder of what holiday I’m referring to, I’ll quote the start of a rhyme. “Remember, remember the fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason, why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot.” Yes. It is Guy Fawkes Day and yes, the word we all use as a non-gender specific means of address such as “Hey you guys. Knock it off! Is actually an eponym from this famous Guy. Or should I say, “infamous”? Guy Fawkes was the ringleader of the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, Fawkes and his co-conspirators concealed 36 barrels of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords, their goal being to blow King James I and the entire Parliament skyward. The plot was foiled, Fawkes and most of his pals were captured and executed, and November 5, the day of the planned explosion, became known as Guy Fawkes Day in England. It’s a great day to set off fireworks, burn guys in effigy, and go begging for pennies and treats – if you live in the England or most of the commonwealth nations. If you didn’t get enough treats and bonfires on Halloween this is another chance. If you guys are looking for some interesting new books to read, cast your eyes further down the page, and enjoy
New Non-Fiction
Almost interesting : the memoir / by David Spade. A biting personal account by the actor, comedian and Saturday Night Live alumni traces his childhood and challenging progression to fame, in an account that also shares dry-wit, behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
Becoming Beyonce : the untold story / by J. Randy Taraborrelli. The New York Times best-selling author of The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe traces the early life and achievements that led to pop icon Beyoncé's meteoric group and solo career, sharing insights into the personal toll of her successes.
Sinatra : the chairman / by James Kaplan. The best-selling author of Frank: The Voice presents a behind-the-scenes examination of the life and career of the legendary performer that offers insight into his prolific accomplishments, multidimensional character and complex relationships.
50 years, 50 moments : the most unforgettable plays in Super Bowl history / by Jerry Rice & Randy Williams. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl, an authoritative collection of iconic, strategic and record-breaking events draws on first-person knowledge to offer insight into the outcomes of each competition.
And still I rise : black America since MLK : an illustrated chronology / by Henry Gates & Kevin Burke. This companion book to the PBS series examines black history from the passage of the Civil Rights Act to the election of Barack Obama and describes the contradictions in the modern African-American community.
New Fiction
After Alice / by Gregory Maguire. A tale inspired by Lewis Carroll's beloved classic follows the experiences of Alice's friend, Ada, who, upon tumbling down the same rabbit hole, embarks on an odyssey to find and reclaim her friend from a surreal world. By the New York Times best-selling author of Wicked.
The king's justice : two novellas / by Stephen Donaldson. Two original novellas by the New York Times best-selling author of Lord Foul's Bane include The King's Justice, in which a black-clad stranger investigates a terrible crime with reluctant support; and Augur's Gambit, in which a loyal reader of entrails struggles to save his doomed kingdom.
Welcome to Night Vale : a novel / by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor. Handed a message by a mysterious man, a young pawn shop owner embarks on a psychologically dangerous mystery that entangles her in the life of the local PTA treasurer, who helplessly watches her son's growing obsession with his absent father. Based on the #1 international hit podcast.
Bittersweet dreams / by V.C. Andrews. Rendered an outcast by her high intelligence, a teen from a broken family is targeted for her role in a scandalous love triangle involving a popular senior and a handsome English teacher.
Shopaholic to the rescue : a novel / by Sophie Kinsella. Becky Bloomwood and a hilarious cast of beloved family and friends (plus one enemy!) set off in a van to find her missing father, last heard from in Las Vegas.
All the stars in the heavens : a novel / by Adriana Trigiani. A reimagining of the career of Tinsel Town star Loretta Young traces the decades she shared with her former nun assistant, from her early screen successes through the scandals and obstacles that tested their bond. By the New York Times best-selling author of The Shoemaker's Wife.
A banquet of consequences : a Lynley novel / by Elizabeth George. Lynley and Havers are drawn from Cambridge to London to the windswept town of Shaftesbury, in a case that proves to be one of the most complex of their partnership. By the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Just One Evil Act.