My LINKcat AccountI am going to say (i.e. type) this while knocking wood. As of this writing (10/16) we have had a couple of nights with light frosts, but nothing that requires covering plants (at least on my porch). If the weather apps are to be believed, and I do believe Weather Kitty because she has been remarkably accurate for lo, these many years), then the next 10 days the lowest overnight lows remain in the high 30s. Does that seem unusual to you? It does to me. Usually, by the early part of October, I’ve given up on some of my tomato and pepper plants, and dragged the others indoors to survive as best they can indoors with low light. All my plants are still outside. The best source I can find for average freeze and frost dates for the Madison airport is given in percentages. For instance, by September 30th, 40% of the time we would have had a temperature of 32 degrees and by October17th we would have had a 28% overnight low. 70% of the time by October 31st we would have had an overnight low of 24%. So with no 32-degree overnight lows predicted to occur by October 30th,that means we’ve really broken the law of averages. Probably more than you wanted to know! The trees and plants seem to be hanging on to their leaves and flowers longer than usual too. It does make for very pretty, crisp fall days. Those shorter days and longer twilights are perfect of snuggling in with a good book. You know that fall is moving on apace when the Christmas mystery titles begin to appear. Below are some of the books which recently arrived at the library. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow” by Sarah Brown. Drawing on 30 years of experience, a renowned cat behavior scientist references historical records and examines modern scientific studies of cat-human communication to reveal previously unexplored secrets of how cats all over the world have learned to talk to us.
“The Hormone Shift: Balance Your Body and Thrive Through Midlife” by Tasneem Bhatia. With an east-meets-west approach to women’s health, a boardcertified physician breaks down exactly what happens in a woman’s body throughout her life and how every aspect of health is connected to hormones, offering a customizable 30-day Hormone Reset plan to keep the body in balance and minimize unwanted symptoms at every stage.
“MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios” by Joanna Robinson, et al. The unauthorized, behind-the-scenes story of the stunning rise—and suddenly uncertain reign—of one of the most transformative cultural phenomena of our time: the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home” by Shira Gill. A globally recognized home organizing expert and author of “Minimalista” showcases the homes of 25 international home organizers, introducing you to the aspirational spaces of the most organized people in the world and the passion that fuels their work, providing you with visual inspiration, expert tips and resources and clever organizing hacks. Illustrations.
“To Rescue the Constitution: George Washington and the Fragile American Experiment“ by Bret Baier. A new biography of George Washington centers on his return from retirement to lead the Constitutional Convention and secure the future of the United States.
New Fiction
“The Dead Take the A Train” by Richard Kadrey & Cassandra Khaw. Two best-selling authors team up to deliver a dark new story with magic, monsters and mayhem.
“Sword Catcher” by Casandra Clare. The body double of Castellane’s Prince Conor Aurelian, Kei knows he has one destiny: to die for Conor, but when he meets Lin, a physician searching for forbidden knowledge to heal her friend, they are drawn into the underworld of a criminal ruler who offers them each what they want most.
“The Witch of Maracoor” by Gregory Maguire. A young witch coming into her own, Rainary Ko, the granddaughter of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, reups her mission to settle a few scores and right a wrong or two after a confrontation with her reclusive great-grandfather, the one-time Wizard of Oz.
“America Fantastica” by Tim O’Brien. The author of “The Things They Carried” delivers his first new novel in two decades, a rollicking odyssey, in which a bank robbery by a disgraced journalist sparks a cross-country chase through a nation corroded by delusion.
“Coleman Hill: A Biomythography” by Kim Coleman Foote. Two American families' fates become intertwined in the wake of the Great Migration.
“Christmas Mittens Murder” by Lee Hollis & Lynn Cahoon. Three cozy mysteries feature handknit mittens made for murder.
“A Cold Highland Wind, No. 17 (Lady Emily Mysteries)" by Tasha Alexander. While vacationing at Cairnfarn Castle, the Scottish estate of the Duke of Bainbridge, Lady Emily, when the duke’s gamekeeper is murdered, investigates, discovering a link between his brutal death and that of a harrowing witchcraft trial hundreds of years ago that reveals the dark side of a seemingly idyllic Highland village.
“Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow!, No. 34 (Meg Langlslow Mysteries)” by Donna Andrews. Participating in a weapon-smithing competition taking place on the estate of her friend Ragnar, a retired heavy metal drummer, Meg joins a cast laden with grudges and feuds who have large weapons and forges full of fire at their disposal—what could possibly go wrong?