OCTOBER ACQUISITIONS (ADULT) 206 Bones by Reichs, Kathy The "New York Times"-bestselling author and co-producer of the FOX television hit "Bones" returns with a spectacular new novel featuring America's favorite forensic anthropologist, Tempe Brennan. Alexandria by Davis, Lindsey In first century A.D. Rome, Marcus Didius Falco works as a private informer. When he and his wife travel to Alexandria, Egypt, they aren't there long before Falco finds himself in the midst of nefarious doings. Bad Things Happen by Dolan, Harry David Loogan finds himself drawn into a friendship with Tom Kristoll, the publisher of a mystery magazine. But as several deaths are uncovered--some of them echoing stories published in the magazine--Loogan begins to look more and more like the most promising suspect. Best Friends Forever by Weiner, Jennifer With her incomparable humor and heart, the author of the bestselling "Good in Bed" and "In Her Shoes" returns with a novel that depicts the nuances of female friendship. Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It by Meloy, Maile Short stories. Brimstone by Parker, Robert B "New York Times"-bestselling author Parker takes aim at the Old West with this brilliantly crafted follow-up to "Resolution" and "Appaloosa," again featuring guns-for-hire Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The Case for God by Armstrong, Karen Focusing especially on Christianity but including other religions, Armstrong examines the diminished impulse toward religion during a time when a significant number of people either want nothing to do with God or question the efficacy of faith. Cecilian Vespers: A Mystery by Emery, Anne Lawyer and bluesman Monty Collins is used to defending murderers--and occasionally investigating murders himself--but he's never come up against anything like the case of Reinhold Schellenberg, a world-renowned German theologian who has been found dead on the altar of an old church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saint Cecilia's day. The controversial priest, once a top insider in the Vatican, was known to provoke strong feelings in Catholics of all ideological stripes, and now those feelings have overflowed with horrifying results. At least Monty knows where to look for clues; his friend Father Brennan Burke has just opened a choir school at the church, and the students provide an international cast of suspects--including a flamboyant Sicilian priest, an eccentric English monk, a disgruntled American, a Vatican enforcer, a church lady with a history of violence, and, most perplexing of all, a police officer from the former East Berlin. Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture by Shell, Ellen Ruppel An "Atlantic Monthly" correspondent uncovers the true cost--in economic, political, and psychological terms--of the West's penchant for making and buying things as cheaply as possible. The Children's Book by byatt, A S A spellbinding novel, at once sweeping and intimate, from the Booker Prize-winning author of "Possession," spans the Victorian era through the World War I years, and centers around a famous children's book author and the passions, betrayals, and secrets that tear apart the people she loves. Chronic City by Lethem, Jonathan The acclaimed author of "Motherless Brooklyn" and "The Fortress of Solitude" returns with this gorgeous, searing portrayal of Manhattanites wrapped in their own delusions, desires, and lies. Cold: Adventures in the World's Frozen Places by Streever, Bill From avalanches to glaciers, from seals to snowflakes, and from Shackleton's expedition to "The Year Without Summer," Streever journeys through history, myth, geography, and ecology in a year-long search for cold--real, icy, 40-below cold. Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Kushner, Harold S From the bestselling author of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" comes an illuminating look at fear--and specific steps one can do to overcome it. The Coral Thief by Stott, Rebecca In her debut, "Ghostwalk," Stott unfolded an extraordinary and true mystery, involving Isaac Newton and set in 17th-century Cambridge. "The Coral Thief" offers another intriguing mystery, centering on pre-Darwinian theories of evolution, and set in 1815 France. Crossers by Caputo, Philip Taking readers from the turn of the 20th century to the present day, the acclaimed author of "Acts of Faith" pens an impeccably crafted story about three generations of an Arizona family forced to confront the violence and loss that have become its inheritance. Dawn Light: Dancing with Cranes and Other Ways to Start the Day by Ackerman, Diane In an eye-opening sequence of personal meditations through the cycle of seasons, Ackerman awakens readers to the world at dawn--drawing on sources as diverse as meteorology, world religion, etymology, art history, poetry, organic farming, and beekeeping. The Day the Earth Caved in: An American Mining Tragedy by Quigley, Joan Beginning on Valentine's Day, 1981, when twelve-year-old Todd Domboski plunged through the earth in his grandmother's backyard in Centralia, Pennsylvania, The Day the Earth Caved In is an unprecedented and riveting account of the nation's worst mine fire. In astonishing detail, award-winning journalist Joan Quigley, the granddaughter of Centralia miners, ushers readers into the dramatic world of the underground blaze. Drawing on interviews with key participants and exclusive new research, Quigley paints unforgettable portraits of Centralia and its residents, from Tom Larkin, the short-order cook and ex-hippie who rallied the activists, to Helen Womer, the bank teller who galvanized the opposition, denying the fire's existence even as toxic fumes invaded her home. Like Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action, The Day the Earth Caved In is a seminal investigation" "of individual rights, corporate privilege, and governmental indifference to the powerless. Don't Cry: Storie by Gaitskill, Mary Following the extraordinary success of her novel "Veronica," Gaitskill returns with a luminous new collection of stories--her first in more than 10 years. A Duty to the Dead: A Bess Crawford Mystery by Todd, Charles "A Duty to the Dead," the first book of an exciting new series, is set in England during World War I, and features a spectacular female protagonist. An Echo in the Bone by Gabaldon, Diana Readers have been waiting with bated breath for the seventh volume in bestselling author Gabaldon's epic Outlander saga--a masterpiece of historical fiction featuring Jamie and Claire, from one of the genre's most popular and beloved writers. The Education of a British-Protected Child: Essays by Achebe, Chinua The celebrated author of "Things Fall Apart" delivers his first book in more than 20 years--a new collection of autobiographical essays that offers a vivid portrait of growing up in colonial Nigeria and inhabiting its "middle ground." Endpoint and Other Poems by Updike, John Enough Already!: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You by Walsh, Peter The bestselling author of "It's All Too Much" and "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" returns to help readers work through physical, mental, and emotional clutter in order to regain their balance and to live their lives to the fullest. The Forgotten Garden by Morton, Kate From the author of "The House at Riverton" comes a story of outer and inner journeys. An homage to the power of storytelling, "The Forgotten Garden" is filled with unforgettable characters who weave their way through its intricate plot to astounding effect. Girl in a Blue Dress: A Novel Inspired by the Life and Marriage of Charles Dickens by Arnold, Gaynor Beloved writer Alfred Gibson's funeral has all of London in tears. Yet his very own wife is not in attendance. Estranged for years from her husband, Dorothea cannot bring herself to demonize Alfred, choosing instead to rethink her life and face those who once turned against her. A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Greig, Charlotte "A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy" is a delightfully insightful, bittersweet coming-of-age romp, in which love is far from platonic and the mind-body predicament becomes a pressing reality. Gone Tomorrow by Child, Lee "New York Times"-bestselling author Child returns with his latest explosive and nearly impossible to put down ("People") thriller. Jack Reacher is back and he's been cast as a suspect on the world's biggest stage: New York City. Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel by Walls, Jeannette Walls's "The Glass Castle" was nothing short of spectacular ("Entertainment Weekly"). Now Walls presents this magnificent, true-life novel based on her no-nonsense, resourceful, hardworking, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath by Mason, Michael Paul Heroic Measures by Ciment, Jill From the author of "The Tattoo Artist" comes a taut, moving, accomplished work, set in a fraught, post-9/11 New York City on panic-alert. Homer & Langley by Doctorow, E L From "Ragtime" and "Billy Bathgate" to "The Book of Daniel," Doctorow's novels comprise one of the most substantive achievements of modern American fiction. With "Homer & Langley," the master novelist has once again created an unforgettable work. Homer's Odyssey by Cooper, Gwen House of Cards: Love, Faith, and Other Social Expressions by Dickerson, David Ellis Dickerson's dream is to write greeting cards. But when the fundamentalist-raised, 27-year-old virgin manages to win a coveted slot at Hallmark, he soon discovers his own limited life experience has left him unprepared for sentiments he writes about in his cards. How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'n' Roll: An Alternative History of American Popular Music by Wald, Elijah Inferno by Niven, Larry ; Pournelle, Jerry After being thrown out the window of his luxury apartment, science fiction writer Allen Carpentier wakes to find himself at the gates of hell. As he struggles to escape, he's taken through new, puzzling, and outlandish versions of sin--recast for the present day. John the Revelator by Murphy, Peter Suffused with family secrets, eerie imagery, black humor, and hypnotic prose, this astounding debut grapples with the pull between friendship and betrayal.272 pp. The Last Child by Hart, John Fresh off the success of his Edgar Award-winning, "New York Times" bestseller "Down River," Hart returns with the story of a young boy's hunt for his missing sister, and the dark truths he uncovers in his North Carolina hometown. Last Night in Montreal by Mandel, Emily St John Lila Albert has been leaving people behind for her entire life. Then her latest lover follows her from New York to Montreal, determined to learn her secrets. "Last Night in Montreal" is a story of love, amnesia, the depths and limits of family bonds, and the nature of obsession. Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City by Sanderson, Eric W ; Boyer, Markley (Illustrator) Filled with 120 full-color illustrations that show what Manhattan looked like 400 years ago, this natural history of New York City is a groundbreaking work that offers a window into the past and inspiration for green cities and wild places of the future. The Manual of Detection by Berry, Jedediah In this tightly plotted debut novel, an unlikely detective, armed only with an umbrella and a singular handbook, must untangle a string of crimes committed in and through people's dreams. The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East by Macfarquhar, Neil A "New York Times" correspondent's affectionate, irreverent portrait of the Middle East he's known since childhood--an unexplored place hidden behind the usual headlines The Monster in the Box by Rendell, Ruth New mystery novel from acclaimed mystery author A Monster's Notes by Sheck, Laurie This bold, genre-defying book offers Mary Shelley's monster's story in his own words. Sheck's thrilling work is a luminous meditation on creativity and technology, alienation and otherness, and on the need to be understood. My Father's Tears and Other Stories by Updike, John Updike's first collection of new short fiction since the year 2000, "My Father's Tears" finds the author in a valedictory mood as he mingles narratives of his native Pennsylvania with stories of New England suburbia and of foreign travel. Necessary as Blood by Crombie, Deborah From "New York Times" Notable author Crombie comes a thrilling new mystery featuring favorite Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. The New Valley by Weil, Josh The linked novellas that comprise Weil's masterful debut bring readers into America's remote, unforgiving backcountry, and delicately unveil the private worlds of three very different men as they confront love, loss, and their own personal demons. Night Navigation by Howard, Ginnah "Night Navigation" takes readers into the deranged, darkly humorous world of the addict--from gun-toting dealers to boot camp rehabs--and the nightmare of a mother's anger, worry, and despair as she tries to save her son from certain death. Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Ishiguro, Kazuo One of the most celebrated writers of our time delivers his first cycle of short fiction: five brilliantly etched, interconnected stories, in which music is a vivid and essential character. (also in audio CD) Nothing But a Smile by Amick, Steve From the author of the widely praised novel "The Lake, the River & the Other Lake" comes this love story of a man and a woman who choose an unconventional way to redefine themselves during and after World War II. Once the Shore: Stories by Yoon, Paul One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food by Schaffer, Michael A witty, insightful, and affectionate examination of how and why people spend billions of dollars on their pets, "One Nation Under Dog" is about America's pet obsession--the explosion, over the past generation, of an industry full of pet masseuses, professional dog-walkers, and organic kibble. Paper Butterfly by Liang, Diane Wei The second installment in the successful Mei Wang detective series offers a riveting tale of intrigue, culture clash, and missing persons in modern China. Pilgrims by Keillor, Garrison All Margie Kresbach wants to do is get her husband Carl to Rome, thinking a romantic locale (and the fact that he won't then be able to sleep across the hall, like at home) will rekindle their relationship.
Instead she finds herself in the unwanted role of tour organizer to a motley crew of Wobegonians who believe they are on a pilgrimage to tend the gravesite of a Lake Wobegon son, fallen during WWII and buried, purportedly, near the Coliseum.
But she and they unexpectedly find that distance from Lake Wobegon quickens their sense of community and awakens their memories. Soon they find themselves sharing stories of astonishing frankness and self-revelation. (also in audio CD) Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Beeman, Richard R "Plain, Honest Men" is a full-scale narrative account of the deliberations of the Founding Fathers at the Constitutional Convention. Beeman takes readers behind the scenes and into the streets, taverns, and mansions of Philadelphia to show how the Constitution was forged. The Price of Malice: A Joe Gunther Novel by Mayor, Archer Joe Gunther puts a murder investigation on hold to help his girlfriend solve her father's mysterious death. Torn between his conscience and his heart, Gunther finds that betrayal and loyalty are often a matter of viewpoint. A Princess of Landover by Brooks, Terry The Magic Kingdom seriesabout a Chicago Lawyer who buys a fantasy kingdom complete with dragon, demons, disgruntled noblemen, and a passel of problemspicks up with the tale of Mistaya, a 15-year-old who uncovers a magical plot that could spell the end of all Landover. The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum by Loncraine, Rebecca A captivating biography of the eccentric author, filmmaker, and innovator L. Frank Baum, this work takes readers back to the land of Oz and re-creates one of the most vibrant chapters in American history. Red to Black by Dryden, Alex Anna, a beautiful and brilliant KGB Colonel who comes from a family of Soviet spies and power brokers, falls in love with her mark and together they have to face the truth about her country. Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon by Nelson, Craig The thrilling story of the Apollo Moon mission restores the mystery and majesty to an event that may have become too familiar for most people to realize what a stunning achievement it represented in planning, technology, and execution.