God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.
(James M. Barrie)
Five Things worth being excited about this December:
1) It is apparently National Egg Nog Month
2) And National Fruit Cake Month. Which isn’t all that surprising. But here is a picture of a very cute little fruitcake I found…
3) Today (December 4) is National Cookie Day.
4) Library Staff the world over run on cookies.
5) It is also National Read A New Book Month–how convenient! For new books you can read right now, check out some of our selections below!
Beatlebone: Irish author Kevin Barry delights in pushing the limits of fiction in any and all directions, so the opening of this book seems somewhat tame: John Lennon arrives in Ireland, hoping to find some peace and quiet in the estate he purchased nine years previously. However, when he finds himself in a cab with a shape-shifting driver, the term “Magical Mystery Tour” takes on a whole new meaning that only Barry himself could invent. The judges of the Goldsmith Prize, which this book won, said it is “a novel that takes its reader to the edge—of the Western world, of sanity, of fame, of words…Intricately weaving and blurring fiction and life, Beatlebone embodies beautifully this prize’s spirit of creative risk. We’re proud to crown it our winner.”
American Blood: New Zealand author Ben Sanders’ hero–ex-NYPD officer Marshall Grade–is being compared to Jack Reacher, which is high praise indeed. In this debut we meet Marshall, who is in hiding after a botched undercover job landed him in the Witness Protection Program in Sante Fe. Hoping to atone for his mistakes, Marshall begins investigating the disappearance of a local woman–only to find himself caught up in a conspiracy involving human trafficking, drug lords…and the very men who want him dead. Kirkus has decreed that this is “A fast-moving thriller that leaves a trail of blood and grit across the pages. Great dialogue and a hero who won’t stay hidden make this a winner for crime fans.”
Tasting Wine and Cheese: An Insider’s Guide to Mastering the Principles of Pairing: Whilst walking through Whole Foods today in search of Free Cheese, I thought how nice it would be if I knew how to pair wine and cheese properly. Also, it would be nice if there were Free Wine to accompany the Free Cheese…However, until that lovely day arrives, there are free books at the Library, like this one, which can teach you all you need to know. Adam Centamore’s style is based on classes he has taught around the country, including the Boston Wine School, making this book as accessible as it is informative. Tim Bucciarelli author of Formaggio Kitchen raves, “Adam employs the same approach in this book as he does his classes – comprehensive, fun and filled with practical information for anyone interested in the enjoyment of food. The result is a pairing of its own as both a solid primer and a worthwhile reference for your future wine and cheese pairing adventures.” Let the Cheese Hunting begin!
Unstoppable: I admit to being a child of the early 1990’s, so when Bill Nye and his bowtie speak, I listen. In this newest release, Nye confronts climate change as a challenge that we as humans are capable of meeting. With an engineer’s brain and a scientist’s love of discovery, he discusses ways to reduce energy, new inventions that could produce cleaner emissions, and, at the same time, debunks a number of myths and fictions that continue to plague any productive discussions about climate change, energy efficiency, and human agency in the process. And he makes it all sound cool. Don’t just take my word for it: the Boston Globe cheers “When he’s not being summoned to act as a voice of reason for news outlets or leading meetings as CEO of the Planetary Society, [Bill Nye] …enlightens readers while using a conversational, educational tone. After all, it’s his ability to break down even the most complicated topics into bite-size pieces that made him such a hit on his ’90s children’s show ‘Bill Nye, the Science Guy’.”
The Girl with Ghost Eyes: M.H. Boroson’s debut historical fantasy novel sounds refreshingly and intriguingly different–set in 1898, in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Boroson introduces us to Li-lin, the daughter of a renowned Daoshi exorcist, who has the ability (or the burden) of being able to see the spirit world. When her father is crippled by a sorcerer, it is up to Li-lin to save her family, and all of Chinatown–but how can a girl survive in a male dominated and traditional world? With courage, martial arts, magic, and the help of a sharp-witted spirit who takes the form of a human eyeball. Publisher’s Weekly gave this book a starred review, calling it “A brilliant tale of magic, monsters, and kung fu in the San Francisco Chinatown of 1898 . . . smoothly mixes Hong Kong cinema with urban fantasy, and Li-lin is a splendid protagonist whose cleverness and bravura will leave readers eager for her future adventures.”
Happy December, beloved patrons, and happy reading!