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New Items ~ September 2018

FICTION

All we ever wanted by Emily Giffin.  A scandal sends members of two Nashville families into chaos.

Baby teeth by Zoje Stage.  Here’s a “bad seed” novel about a mom desperate to find help for her mute young daughter whose disturbing behavior grows increasingly dangerous.

Clock dance by Anne Tyler.  This is a window into Willa Drake’s life over 50 years and how she adjusts to some of life’s surprises.

Cottage by the sea by Debbie Macomber.  A lonely woman finds love in a charming seaside town.

The Eastern.  Book Two: Later on by Deborah Gould.  In the second book of a trilogy, five families settle on the Eastern River in Pittston, Maine and build a strong and lasting neighborhood.

In a lonely place by Dorothy Hughes.  A classic California noir with a feminist twist, this prescient 1947 novel exposed misogyny in post-World War II American society making it far ahead of its time.

Kill the farm boy by Delilah Dawson.  This is Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring on laughing gas.  It’s a rollicking fantasy adventure that upends numerous genre tropes in audacious style.

The last time I lied by Riley Sager.  A painter is in danger when she returns to the summer camp where some of her childhood friends disappeared.

 The late bloomers’ club by Louise Miller.  A delightful novel about two headstrong sisters, a small town’s efforts to do right by the community, and the power of a lost dog to summon true love.

Lying in wait by Liz Nugent.  Laurence Fitzsimons has a mother who’s determined to control everything and everyone around her – even if she has to kill to do it.

Mary B by Katherine Chen.  The overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice casts off her prim exterior and takes center stage in this fresh retelling of the classic novel.

The mere wife by Maria Headley.  A modern retelling of the literary classic Beowulf, set in American suburbia as two mothers – a housewife and a battle-hardened veteran – fight to protect those they love.

The other lady vanishes by Amanda Quick.  This sweeps readers back to 1930s Hollywood and California, where the most dazzling of illusions can’t hide the darkest secrets.

Paradox by Catherine Coulter.  Agents Sherlock and Savich look for an escaped psychopath.

A people’s history of the vampire uprising by Raymond Villareal.  In this wildly original novel – part social-political satire, part international mystery – a new virus turns people into something a bit more than human, upending society as we know it.

The Pharaoh Key by Douglas Preston.  Secrets of a mysterious ancient tablet may point the way to untold treasure – or unspeakable danger.

The prisoner in the castle by Susan MacNeal.   A series of baffling murders among a group of imprisoned agents threatens the outcome of World War II in this new Maggie Hope mystery.

The Romanov Empress by C.W. Gortner.  An historical novel about the beloved Empress Maria, the Danish girl who became the mother of the last Russian tsar.

Star of the north by David John.  A thriller about a woman trying to rescue her twin sister from captivity in North Korea, and the North Korean citizens with whom she forms an unlikely alliance.

Tailspin by Sandra Brown.  A pilot navigates treacherous situations when he attempts to deliver a mysterious black box to a doctor in Georgia.

An unwanted guest by Shari Lapena.  A Catskills lodge loses electricity during a blizzard and its guests start mysteriously dropping dead.

Who is Vera Kelly?  by Rosalie Knecht.  Meet an original, wry and whip-smart female spy for the 21st century.

NONFICTION

Another good dog by Cara Achterberg.  A warm and entertaining memoir about what happens when you foster 50 dogs in less than two years – and how the dogs save you as much as you save them.

The contest by Michael Schumacher.  The 1968 election and the war for America’s soul.  A dramatic, deeply informed account of one of the most consequential elections and periods in American history.

Godspeed by Casey Legler.  This electric coming of age memoir charts Legler’s broken childhood – from swimming in the Olympics at 16 while facing crippling loneliness, to her descent into drug addiction, and a desperate penchant for self-destruction that almost took her life – all while grappling with undiagnosed autism.  It’s a raw story of teenage addiction that is beautifully told.

Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent.  The true story of the worst sea disaster in US Naval history and the 50 year fight to exonerate an innocent man.

Light of the stars by Adam Frank.  An intriguing account of the ongoing search for alien civilizations whose failure to appear may be a warning for humans to get their act together.

My life in the Maine Woods by Annette Jackson.  The author recounts her experiences with her game warden husband during the 1930s.

On the Ganges by George Black.  Encounters with saints and sinners on India’s mythic river.  Journey along one of the world’s greatest rivers and catch a glimpse into the lives and cultures of the people who live along its banks.

A Senator’s eye by Angus King.  From the formality of the Capitol Rotunda to a glorious sunrise off the coast of Maine, this is a fascinating collection of informal photos taken by King along with his personal insights and captions.

Slow by Brooke McAlary. Here are plans for simple living in a frantic world.  Free yourself from the frantic and embrace the joy of slow.

The stone crusher by Jeremy Dronfield.  The true story of a father and son’s fight for survival in Auschwitz.  A personal and universal account of brutality at its worst and of family devotion at its best.

The strange case of Dr. Couney by Dawn Raffle.  The extraordinary tale of how a mysterious immigrant “doctor” became the revolutionary innovator of saving premature babies by placing them in incubators in World Fair side shows, on Coney Island, and Atlantic City.

The widower’s notebook by Jonathan Santlofer.  Written with humor and great warmth, this is a portrait of a marriage, an account of the complexities of finding oneself single again after losing your spouse, and a story of the enduring power of familial love.

Notes from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and New York Times Book Review.

 

 

 

 

If You Like . . .

Do you have a favorite author?  One that you are just WAITING for their newest title to be available?  I have several (perhaps more than several, but we won’t go there right now).  So, what do you read when the newest Louise Penny book isn’t due to be released for a few more months, or maybe you’re FINALLY caught up on Sue Grafton’s Alphabet Series, and since she has passed away, you just have no idea what to read next!

Have we got an idea for you!  We have created several lists of suggestions.  “IF you like . . . ___ You might like~” lists or bookmarks are currently on display at the library.

No, we don’t have suggestions for EVERY author out there, but we have many of the most often requested authors and some suggestions of new to you (and me) authors.

An example ~

Louise Penny has a new Armand Gamache book coming out later this year, but I want it NOW!!!!  What or who can I find to read until then??  I’ll check my handy list!  There are 16 authors on the list.  The thought behind the list, is that there is some similarity between Louise Penny and one of these authors.  Perhaps he or she writes a detective series ; or maybe the characters are part of a small town community ; or there is a connection to Canada ; or ; or; or . . .

Whatever the “or”, I now have several new authors to try.  I may find someone I love, I may find a new series, or I might find something that, to me, is a dud.  No matter what I find, I now have an opportunity to select someone new, find a new author and make a new friend.

Enjoy, and Happy Reading!

New Items ~ August 2018

FICTION

The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers by Terri-Lynne DeFino.  A whimsical, moving novel about a retirement home for literary legends who spar, conjure up new stories, and almost magically change the lives of the people around them.

Before and again by Barbara Delinsky.  A young woman loses her daughter in a car accident and struggles to build a new life for herself in the aftermath of tragedy.

By invitation only by Dorothea Benton Frank.  Two families are brought together when the daughter of a Chicago power broker and the son of a Southern peach farmer decide to wed.

The cabin at the end of the world by Paul Tremblay. The apocalypse begins with a home invasion in this tripwire-taut horror thriller.  This unsettling novel invites readers to ask themselves whether, when faced with the unbelievable, they would do the unthinkable to prevent it.

The darkest time of night by Jeremy Finley.  “The lights took him.”  When the 5 year old grandson of a US Senator vanishes in the woods behind his home, the only witness is his older brother who whispers, “The lights took him,” and then never speaks again.  This fast-paced novel is full of suspense and government cover-ups, perfect for thriller and supernatural fans alike.

The forgotten road by Richard Paul Evans.  The second book in the Broken Road series.  After surviving a plane crash, a man decides to walk the length of Route 66.

The great believers by Rebecca Makkai.  A novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.

How it happened by Michael Koryta.  Kimberly is no good, a notorious jailhouse snitch, teen mother and addict whose petty crimes are well-known to the rural Maine community where she lives.  So when she confesses to her role in a pair of murders, the locals have little reason to believe her story.

King of ashes by Raymond Feist.  A fantasy novel full of simple magic, fighting, political intrigue, and religious strife.  It’s a tale of two young men whose choices will determine a world’s destiny.

Love and ruin by Paul McLain.  McLain returns to the subject of Ernest Hemingway in a story about his passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn – a fiercely independent, ambitious woman who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century.

No less days by Amanda Stevens.  As far as David Galloway knows, he can’t die.  He wonders where he fits in the world, in God’s plan for the past and the future.  He believes himself to be the only person on the earth who hasn’t aged in over a century.  He’s wrong about that.

Overkill by Ted Bell.  Putting it all on the line to rescue his kidnapped son pits counterspy Alex Hawke against Russian President Vladimir Putin in this thriller.

The perfect couple by Elin Hilderbrand.  A body is found in Nantucket Harbor hours before a picture perfect wedding.

The President is missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton.  President Jonathan Duncan, a Gulf War veteran and widower, takes on adversaries at home and abroad.

Something in the water by Catherine Steadman.  A documentary filmmaker and an investment banker must decide whether they should protect a secret.

Spymaster by Brad Thor.  As a war looms, a counter-terrorism operative takes on a new role his own way.

Stay hidden by Paul Doiron.  A woman has been shot to death by a deer hunter on an island off the coast of Maine.  To newly promoted Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch, the case seems open and shut.  But as soon as he arrives on remote Maquoit Island, he discovers mysteries piling up one on top of the other.

Us against you by Fredrick Backman.  A novel about people – about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men.

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje.  This tells a dramatic story set in the decade after World War II through the lives of a small group of unexpected characters and two teenagers whose lives are indelibly shaped by their unwitting involvement.

The woman in the woods by John Connolly.  In the woods of Maine, private detective Charles Parker faces a pair of otherworldly foes in a crime novel packed with colorful characters.

NEW DVDs

Love, Simon (2018) starring Nick Robinson and Jennifer Garner

Black Panther (2018) starring Chadwick Boseman

A quiet place (2018) starring Emily Blunt

Isle of dogs (2018) directed by Wes Anderson

The morning after (1986) starring Jane Fonda and Jeff Bridges

NEW MUSIC CDs

Come Tomorrow by Dave Matthews Band

Bigger by Sugarland

Pray for the wicked by Panic! At the Disco

Part of the light by Ray LaMontagne

Deer Tick Volume 1 by Deer Tick

Everybody knows by Stephen Stills and Judy Collins

NONFICTION

Barracoon: the story of the last “black cargo” by Zora Hurston.  This illuminates the horror and injustices of slavery as it tells the true story of one of the last known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade – abducted from Africa on the last “Black Cargo” ship to arrive in the U.S.

Call me American by Abdi Nor Iftin.  The inspirational tale of a boy in war-torn Africa who fell in love with America through movies and escaped his country’s turmoil to move to Portland, Maine – a story of remarkable courage, determination, and triumph.

Cooking Maine style by Marjorie Standish and Sandra Oliver.  Tried and true recipes from DownEast and Marjorie Standish.

The electric woman by Tessa Fontaine.  A story for anyone who has ever imagined running away with the circus, wanted to be someone else, or wanted a loved one to live forever.  This is ultimately about death-defying acts of all kinds, especially that ever constant good old-fashioned unconditional love.

Figures in a landscape by Paul Theroux.  A delectable collection of his recent writing on great places, people, and prose.  Travel essays take us to Ecuador and Hawaii.  We take a helicopter ride with Elizabeth Taylor, eavesdrop on the day-to-day life of a Manhattan dominatrix, and explore New York with Robin Williams.

From broken glass by Steve Ross.  From the survivor of 10 Nazi concentrations camps who went on to create the New England Holocaust Memorial, an inspiring memoir about finding strength in the face of despair.

The guide to humane critter control by Theresa Rooney.  Natural, nontoxic pest solutions to protect your yard and garden.

Hype by Nina Shapiro.  A doctor’s guide to medical myths, exaggerated claims, and bad advice along with how to tell what’s real and what’s not.

Moving forward in mid-career by John Weiss.  Losing a job is one of the most devastating events one can experience.  This is a guide for workers who have been fired or laid off and are in the process of rebuilding not only their careers but also their personal identities independent of a job title.

Northland by Porter Fox.  A quest to rediscover America’s other border – the fascinating but little known northern one.  It’s the world’s largest international boundary, yet it remains obscure even to Amercians.

Pops: fatherhood in pieces by Michael Chabon.  Six essays on fatherhood, showcased around an essay he wrote for GQ about his youngest son, a fashionista since kindergarten.

There are no grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman.  A midlife coming-of-age story where the author investigates life in her 40s and wonders whether her mind will ever catch up with her face.

Upon further review by Mike Pesca.  The greatest sports minds today imagine how the world would change if a play, trade, injury, or referee’s call had just gone the other way.  It’s the greatest what-ifs in sports history.

PICTURE BOOKS

Amanda Panda and the bigger, better birthday by Candice Ransom

Greedy goat by Petr Horacek

Name for baby by Lizi Boyd

Cycle City by Alison Farrell

I really want to see you, Grandma by Tara Gomi

Don’t eat that by Drew Sheneman

Forever or a day by Sarah Jacoby

Frightful ride of Michael McMichael by Bonny Becker

Dog with nice ears by Lauren Child

Busy creature’s day eating! by Mo Willems

Square by Mac Barnett

CHAPTER BOOKS

Breakout by Kate Messner

Whatshisface by Gordon Korman

Front desk by Kelly Yang

Enemy: Detroit, 1954 by Sara Holbrook

Two dogs in a trench coat go to school  by Julie Falatko

Baby Monkey, private eye by Brian Selznick

 NON-FICTION

Forest fairy crafts: enchanting fairies & felt friends from simple supplies by Lenka Vodicka-Paredes

Guide to genealogy by T.J. Resler

Star Wars maker lab by Liz Lee Heinecke

Solo a Star Wars story: the official guide by Pablo Hidalgo

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Positively izzy by Terri Libenson

Be prepared by Vera Brosgol

Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence

Wings of fire: the graphic novel by Tui Sutherland

NEW DVDs

Sight words: level 1 & level 2 & level 3 (2015) starring Brad Caudle and Luci Christian.

Pinkalicious & Peterrific: Pinkamagine it! (2018) animated.

Justice League action: season 1 and part 2 (2018) starring Kevin Conroy.

PJ Masks: save the summer (2018) animated.

 

Notes from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and New York Times Book Review.