My LINKcat AccountThe end of October is nearly upon on us. That means the serious countdown to Halloween has begun. It also means we are fast approaching the end of Daylight Savings Time (on November 5th); the days will feel a whole lot shorter all of a sudden. But while we’re waiting for these month-ending and month-beginning days to occur, there are a few rather interesting National Holidays to celebrate. This Monday past (10/23) is Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day, the 24th was National Bologna Day and United Nations Day (a strange coupling of celebration days). The 25th was National Greasy Food Day and Chucky, the Notorious Killer Doll Day (another strange duo). Today is actually National Mule Day, National Pumpkin Day, and National Mincemeat Day (so I guess eat some pies while riding on a mule to celebrate). Tomorrow is National American Beer Day, National Black Cat Day, and National Frankenstein Friday (have a beer with a black cat while watching (or reading) Frankenstein (or is that Frankensteen?). Saturday the 28th is National Chocolate Day. National Cat Day (of any type) is the 29th. Candy corn is celebrated nationally on the 30th which brings us to Halloween. Amidst all these celebrations you might still find time to read. If that proves to be the case, we have a whole lot of new books for you to choose from. Below is a sampling. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years, No.2” by Nelson Mandala. A sequel to the best-selling Long Walk to Freedom completes the Nobel Prize Laureate's unfinished memoirs and is complemented by notes and speeches written by Mandela during his historic presidency.
“Hank and Jim: The Fifty Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart” by Scott Eyman. Traces the 50-year friendship between Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart, offering insights into their differences and commonalities while exploring how their friendship shaped such memorable collaborations as “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Twelve Angry Men”.
“Hoover: An Extraordinary Life in Extraordinary Times” by Kenneth Whyte. A portrait of the 31st U.S. president traces his difficult childhood and meteoric business career through his significant contributions during World War I and the Great Depression, sharing insights into his less-recognized economic and political achievements.
“Leonardo da Vinci” by Walter Isaacson. The best-selling author of Benjamin Franklin draws on da Vinci's remarkable notebooks as well as new discoveries about his life and work in a narrative portrait that connects the master's art to his science, demonstrating how da Vinci's genius was based on the skills and qualities of everyday people, from curiosity and observation to imagination and fantasy.
“A Secret Sisterhood: The Literary Friendships of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, George Eliot, and Virginia Woolf” by Emily Midorikawa & Emma Sweeny. Draws on previously unpublished letters and diaries to reveal the lesser-known friendships of female literary masters, from the influence of feminist Mary Taylor on Charlotte Brontë's writings to the erotically charged, love-hate associations between Virginia Woolf and Katherine Mansfield.
“American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West” by Nate Blakeslee. An intimate account of the rise and rein of O-Six, the fabled Yellowstone wolf, describes, how after being hunted to near extinction by the 1920s, conservationists managed to restore the species against a backdrop of debates specifically affecting America's western regions.
New Fiction
“Children of the Fleet” by Orson Scott Card. A highly anticipated latest solo Ender novel finds Fleet School hopeful Dabeet Ochoa discovering his mysterious connection to the Fleet when he is approached for recruitment by Colonel Graff. By the best-selling author of “Ender's Game”.
“Strange Weather: Four Short Novels” by Joe Hill. A collection of four novellas by the award-winning author of “The Fireman” includes the tales “Snapshot”, “Aloft”, “Rain”, and “Loaded”.
“Thomas Kinkade’s Cape Light: Christmas Blessings” by Katherine Spencer. Return to Cape Light, Massachusetts, and let the magic of Christmas and helpful angels sweep you away. By the New York Times best-selling author of the Angel Island novels.
“Winter Solstice, No. 4 (Winter)” by Elin Hilderbrand. Preparing for a particularly joyful holiday season after Bart's safe return from Afghanistan, the Quinn family members count their blessings, from Kevin's marriage to Patrick's rehabilitation, only to encounter unexpected challenges.
“Without Merit” by Colleen Hoover. A young woman reveals the dark secrets of her outwardly happy family before she leaves them behind, only to be confronted by the consequences of her decision when her escape plan fails. By the best-selling author of “It Ends with Us”.
“The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic)” by Alice Hoffman. A prequel to the best-selling Practical Magic traces the story of the children of Susanna Owens, who, in spite of their mother's fierce edicts against witchcraft, develop powerful abilities while struggling to escape the family curse that leads to tragedy if they fall in love.
“The Tiger’s Prey (Courtney Family)” by Wilber Smith & Tom Harper. One of four sons of master mariner Sir Hal Courtney, Tom embarks on a treacherous voyage across the vast reaches of the ocean and confronts dangerous enemies in exotic locales while following passions that lay the future for his family. By the best-selling author of the Ancient Egypt series.