News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Now that the rugby fever is over, it’s time to look at some other activities to keep fit.

Taekwondo Taegeuk Forms : The Official Forms of Taekwondo / by Sang H. Kim, Kyu Hyung Lee ; [photos by Marc Yves Regis].
“This is a concise reference for the Taegeuk forms (poomsae) of Taekwondo. Grandmasters Sang H Kim and Kyu Hyung Lee have combined their extensive knowledge of traditional taekwondo forms to teach you the correct way to perform the 8 official taegeuk poomsae as required for all taekwondo students up to black belt level.” – (adapted from Global Books)

Sports Coaching : A Reference Guide for Students, Coaches and Competitors / edited by Anita Navin.
“Written by acknowledged experts, (this book) presents a detailed analysis of performance and good coaching practice , and provides a concise overview of the coaching process from a scientitic and pedagogical perspective.” – (adapted from Global Books)

Sport Psychology : A Practical Guide / Arnold LeUnes.
“This new, updated, fourth edition of Arnold LeUnes’s textbook has comprehensive coverage of sport psychology with a healthy balance between theory and application. The strong applied approach is emphasized throughout but is essentially apparent in the second half of the book. The book features a strong pedagogical program including interesting applied vignettes, chapter outlines, emboldened key terms with glossary, very thorough chapter summaries, student-oriented suggested readings, and numerous tables and figures to visually summarize the key concepts.” – (adapted from Global Books)

Roger Federer : The Greatest / Chris Bowers.
“For several years, tennis aficionados wondered whether they could really call Roger Federer the greatest ever tennis player. In 2009, Federer ended that debate by completing his collection of career Grand Slams and overtaking Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 14 major titles. With his olympic gold medal from 2008, Federer is now recognised as the greatest tennis player and has achieved legendary status in the wider sporting world…. In characteristic style, Federer silenced his critics by winning the French Open title for the first time, reclaiming his Wimbledon crown and ending 2009 at the number one position for the fifth time.” – (adapted from Publisher’s description)

The Ledge : An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier / Jim Davidson, Kevin Vaughan.
“Davidson relates the story of the mountaineering accident that claimed his best friend, and his own 80-foot climb out of the crevasse into which the two had plunged after “summiting” Mt. Rainier…. Davidson and journalist Vaughn have crafted a modern Aristotelian tragedy.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly)

The Football Men : Up Close with the Giants of the Modern Game / Simon Kuper.
“The great footballers and coaches are rarely glimpsed from up close. They shield themselves from the tabloids, hide their personalities behind professionalism, and in the words of the cliché, ‘do their talking on the pitch’. The Football Men describes the upbringings of these men, the football cultures they grew up in, the way they play, and the baggage that they bring to their relationships at work.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Soccernomics : Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the US, Japan, Australia, Turkey– and even Iraq– are destined to become the kings of the world’s most popular sport / Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski.
“Just in time for the world’s most anticipated and watched sporting event–the World Cup–two award-winning journalists reveal the secrets, mysteries, and oddities of the beautiful game.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

We’ve got some great new contemporary art books in the catalogue this month. Current perspectives in Japanese Illustration and profiles on new artists at the cutting edge, take a look!

It’s all about the image / [Dick Frizzell].
“This is the A to Z of Dick’s philosophy dissembled through 100 or so images that have influenced his point of view…” – (adapted from Back cover)

Contemporary art : world currents / Terry Smith.
“Diversity – the contemporaneity of difference, not a convergence towards sameness, Smith argues, is what makes today’s art contemporary.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

A bigger message : conversations with David Hockney / Martin Gayford.
“David Hockney’s exuberant work is widely loved and widely praised, but he is also an incisive and original thinker on art. Based on a series of conversations between Hockney and the art critic Martin Gayford, this book distills the essence of the artist’s lifelong meditations on the problems and paradoxes of representing a three-dimensional world on a flat surface …” – (adapted from Amazon product description)

Japanese illustration now / [edited by] Cristian Campos.
“This example-packed overview of contemporary Japanese illustration showcases the works of 100 of Japan’s most successful and exciting artists and designers …” – (adapted from Amazon product description)

100 new artists / Francesca Gavin.
“100 New Artists brings together the creatives who are shaping the aesthetics of the next decade. All the artists featured were born after 1970 … ” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Vitamin P2 : new perspectives in painting / [designed by Julia Hasting].
“The first volume of Vitamin P, published in 2002, inaugurated a vibrant period for painting. Since its publication, a whole new generation of painters has emerged, some inspired by the artists who appeared in that book, others taking cues from new sources. Vitamin P2: New Perspectives in Painting introduces this new wave of painters to the world…” – (adapted from Amazon product description)

Welcome to the Fiction newsletter. Another month has passed and another selection of exiting, great new fiction is avaliable for your reading pleasure.

Remember you can reserve items that are on issue to other patrons and you can suggest items you wish us to consider for purchase.

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These are the latest beliefs and religion additions to the collection.  It’s easy to reserve things online – just click on the title link next to the cover to check availability, then the link to reserve is at the top left hand side.

Rock the Casbah : rage and rebellion across the Islamic world, by Robin Wright.
Wright posits that the Muslim world is currently experiencing a sentiment of counter-jihad, “a struggle within the faith itself to rescue Islam’s central values from a small but virulent minority.” In Part Two of the book, Wright examines the cultural significance of anti-extremism, from the lyrics of the Tunisian hip-hop artist El General, to the feminist interpretations of the Koran by Amina Wadud…. Wright is an expert on the subject and this book is an accessible and riveting account for readers looking to learn more about the post-9/11 Islamic world. (drawn from Publishers Weekly courtesy of Syndetics)

Awake in the world : teachings from yoga & Buddhism for living an engaged life, by Michael Stone.
Stone continues with the notions that informed his earlier book, uniting the insights of Buddhism with the merits of the practice of yoga. Stone’s particular brief is that we be aware of the importance of participation in communities in ways that further justice and minimize harm to all human beings. …Summary : Elegantly stated “sermons” from a born leader in Buddhism and yoga; perfect for explorers of Eastern traditions. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Growing up Amish : a memoir, by Ira Wagler.
This memoir offers a nuanced account from a man who straddled both Amish and “English” (non-Amish) worlds. Wagler recounts his Amish upbringing, from dating conventions and worship services to local gossip and schoolyard bullies. The simplicity of everyday life may seem quaint on the surface. Yet Wagler bravely goes on to expose pervasive dissatisfaction among both youth and adult Amish living in what he characterizes as a stifling, formulaic world. … The memoir is worthwhile as much for its Amish insights as for its exploration of one man’s emotional turmoil, regret, and shame. Wagler, who now works at a building and supply company in Lancaster County, Pa., deserves praise for his honesty.(drawn from Publisher’s Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

Living the hours, by Anthony Grimley & Jonathan M. Wooding.
Even where people have given up on the institutional churches, monasticism retains an integrity and magnetic appeal. This timely book explores what it is that makes monastic spirituality so attractive to so many people and how it can be incorporated into an individual’s everyday life in practical ways. Chapters include: The appeal of monasticism; Different varieties of monastic experience; Monastic spirituality and personal development; Monastic spirituality and relationships; Monastic spirituality and community living; and Working out a rule of life.” (Syndetics summary)

Paradise lust : searching for the Garden of Eden, by Brook Wilensky-Lanford.
Part adventure story, part historical narrative, Wilensky-Lanford spins the history of explorers who searched for the Garden’s precise earthly coordinates. With adept, well-researched prose, she traces how, from four verses in Genesis naming four rivers flowing from the Garden, scientists and pseudo-scientists, preachers and theologians, have claimed “scientific proof” of Paradise’s location-in Iraq, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Florida, Ohio, the North Pole, and elsewhere. .. After traveling the globe on her Paradise quest, she arrives at the stump of “Adam’s Tree” in a contested zone near Basra, Iraq, meditating not so much on the Garden, but on humanity’s first steps from it. (Drawn from Publisher Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

The survival of the soul : do you want to know everything? by Lisa Williams.
Many of us have questions about the passage of life and often wonder what happens when we die. Williams explores evidence of the afterlife. Through various channels such as meditation, psychic readings, communication with her Spirit Guide, and a personal near-death experience, Lisa delves into the journey of the soul, discusses the different stages of the afterlife, and reveals what life is really like on the other side. This book addresses the myriad questions many of us have surrounding this subject, especially if we’ve gone through the painful experience of having lost loved ones.

Exploring the presence : more faith patches, by Trish McBride.
“The passionate, rich and honest spiritual journey of a woman who left her church after awakening to the Divine Feminine. In her sequel to Faith Evolving, Trish McBride honours the Presence of the Holy One who permeates All that Is, however we may name Her/Him. The book holds a range of writing: poetry, theological reflection, pilgrimage/travel writing, myth and article” drawn from www.wheelers.co.nz

The real devil : a biblical exploration, by Duncan Heaster.
Heaster seeks to bring out the crucial relationship between doctrine and practice, demonstrating that the ultimate power of true theology is in the radical transformation of human life in practice.

Religion, caste, and politics in India, by Christophe Jaffrelot.
Following independence, the Nehruvian approach to socialism in India rested on three pillars: secularism and democracy in the political domain, state intervention in the economy, and diplomatic non-alignment mitigated by pro-Soviet leanings after the 1960s. These features defined a distinct “Indian model”, if not the country’s political identity. Jaffrelot traces the transformation of India throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, particularly the 1980s and 90s…. The traditional Nehruvian system is giving way to a less cohesive though more active India, a country that has become what it is against all odds. Jaffrelot maps this tumultuous journey, exploring the role of religion, caste, and politics in determining the fabric of a modern democratic state.

How amazing to have a book in the collection so soon after that week when it snowed in Wellington. The other recent picks are an interesting collection featuring politics, historical characters, native plant landscape and the volcanic geography of New Zealand.

White out : the historic snowfalls of 2011.
“In August 2011, the whole of New Zealand encountered spectacular snows. Wellington was blanketed by its first snow in over 20 years. White out is a compelling tribute to these historic weather events. It showcases scenes at once funny, scenic, quirky, and simply beautiful-as submitted by everyday people right around the country” – (summary from back cover).

At the turning point : my political life with David Lange / Margaret Pope.“The old model of politics was smashed in the 1980s and a new one took shape in circumstances that are still debated today. Margaret Pope, who was Prime Minister David Lange’s speechwriter and later his wife, writes an eyewitness account of the turbulent 1980s and the brilliant, elusive figure at their political centre. The author recalls a government that was met with acclaim on its election in 1984. “The government took power with high hopes. It had many able, talented and well-meaning individuals in its ranks, yet it ended despised and discredited in 1990.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Bligh : William Bligh in the South Seas / Anne Salmond.“The story of the most notorious of all Pacific explorers is told through a new lens as a significant episode in the history of the world, not simply of the West. Award-winning anthropologist Anne Salmond recounts the triumphs and disasters of William Bligh’s life and career in a riveting narrative that for The first time portrays the Pacific islanders as key players. From 1777. This beautifully told story reveals Bligh as an important ethnographer, adding To The paradoxical legacy of the famed seaman. For the first time, we hear how Bligh and his men were changed by their experiences in the South Seas, and how in turn they changed that island world forever.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Kimble Bent, malcontent : the wild adventures of a runaway soldier in old-time New Zealand : a graphic novel / by Chris Grosz.“The adventuring life of Kimble Bent – sailor, soldier, deserter, outlaw and Hauhau slave – in a dramatic graphic novel. After signing up for the Queen’s shilling, Bent was sent to New Zealand in the 1860s, on the eve of the tumultuous Taranaki land wars. An act of defiance saw him deserting the army, and his eventual adoption by Maori tribes. A vivid portrayal of Bent’s life as a Pakeha Maori, his assimilation into tribal life and his observation of Hauhau war rites. This exhilarating graphic novel is based on James Cowan’s original book published in 1911, The Adventures of Kimble Bent.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Other people’s wars : New Zealand in Afghanistan, Iraq and the war on terror / Nicky Hager. “The ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan and beyond has been the longest foreign war in New Zealand history, yet most New Zealanders know almost nothing about their country’s part in it. Based on thousands of leaked New Zealand military and intelligence documents, extensive interviews with military and intelligence officers and eye-witness accounts from the soldiers on the ground, Nicky Hager tells the story of these years.” – (adapted from back cover)

Native by design : landscape design with New Zealand plants / edited by Ian Spellerberg & Michele Frey ; photography by John Maillard.“In this lavishly illustrated book, 20 of New Zealand¿s top landscape architects and designers offer their wisdom and advice on landscaping with native plants. Stunning photographs by John Maillard capture the uniqueness and splendour of each location.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Volcanoes of Auckland : the essential guide / Bruce W. Hayward, Graeme Murdoch and Gordon Maitland ; aerial photography by Alastair Jamieson.“From Rangitoto to One Tree Hill, Mt. Victoria to Mangere Lagoon, the city of Auckland, New Zealand, is defined by the volcanoes it is built upon. For tens of thousands of years, they have profoundly shaped the area’s geology and geography, playing a crucial part in the lives of the Maori and, later, the European settlers. As it covers all aspects of how scoria cones, craters, and lava are formed, this record demonstrates how volcanoes can act as sites for fortified villages, sweet potato gardens, 20th-century military fortifications, as well as sources of stone and water. This is an essential guide for locals and tourists alike as they climb Mt. Eden or North Head and try to understand these extraordinary natural phenomena.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

This month, a bit of nostalgia, a lot of black and white street photography, with an unplanned bias for British and US photography, and just one book on the creation process, addressing both technical and artistic aspects.

Linda McCartney, Life in Photographs

“When I ask myself, what my mother’s biggest passion other than her family and food, it was definitely photography. She lived it. It was not only her profession but her life, it was an extension of herself, every photo has a part of her in it.”  This quote from Stella McCartney taken from this book, sums up beautifully Linda McCartney’s life philosophy. Honest, passionate and deeply human, she was a talented and multifaceted artist. This is a sumptuous publication, not to be missed.

On this occasion, it is worth revisiting an ealier publication of Linda McCartney’s photography of the 60’s music scene.

Linda McCartney’s sixties: Portait of an era

“Approaching musicians with a combination of wide-eyed interest and complete understanding of the games involved in the business, she combined an artistic sense with insight into the characters of the scene. Her photos of Traffic are some of the best ever taken of the group; one can also say the same for her photos of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Janis Joplin.”  (Adapted from Amazon.com)

Vintage 80s by Stiletto, Johnny.

Buy a 35mm camera at the beginning of 1980 and spend the next 10 years walking around London taking half a roll of black and white a day and photograph whatever happens in front of you. You get Mick Jagger, New Romantics, Ra Ra skirts, Boy George, Sloane Rangers, the beginning of Covent Garden, Yuppies, The IRA bombings, the Iranian Embassy siege, 100s of newspaper flyers, John Lennon Shot Dead,  Margaret Thatcher’s London, fashions that came and went.

This is Johnny Stiletto: “Well known for his intimate, socially revealing black and white street shots. A collection of his photographs is in the Tate Gallery, London. His TV work includes documentaries and commercials. Stiletto’s photograph of Francis Bacon on the London Underground was reputedly Bacon’s favourite photograph of himself.” (From Amazon.com)

Perceptions, Patrick Lichfield

“The name of Patrick Lichfield, photographer, is indelibly associated with a world of beauty and style that he inhabited with conspicuous success for more than 40 years. From the time of his first commissions for Life, Queen and Vogue magazines in the mid-1960s, he was chiefly identified as a documenter of this lustrous milieu. Throughout his career he photographed personalities from all walks of life: stars of stage and screen, politicians, aristocracy and royalty, sportsmen and women, models and socialites, as well as ordinary men and women going about their daily business. He was an acute observer of the world around him and of the period in which he lived and worked. Curated by Martin Harrison and divided into sections on Memory, Land, Empires, Cultures and Styles, Perceptions is filled with photographs from Lichfield s entire archive, from the 1960s to 2005, over half of which have never been seen before. This superbly produced retrospective, the first representing his complete career, establishes Patrick Lichfield as one of the great British photographers of the late 20th Century.” (From Amazon.co.uk)

Unposed, Craig Semetko foreword by Elliott Erwitt..

Following in the footsteps of Cartier-Bresson and Elliott Erwitt, Craig Semetko is a connoisseur of the spontaneous moment. With a keen eye for serendipity, he captures the offbeat and the unusual to be found all around us. Each of his images intrigues us, yet lets us draw our own conclusions. Although a skilled technical artist, for him the camera is just a tool. To borrow a phrase from Henri Cartier-Bresson, “Photography is nothing–it’s life that interests me.” Craig Semetko’s photographs have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and publications worldwide. As well as being a photographer, he is a comedic actor and writer of note.

Elements of photography by Faris-Belt, Angela

“Ever dreamt of studying photography but never had the time? This is as close as going to photography school as you will get.”
“The greatly revised and expanded edition of The Elements of Photography is a new kind of textbook for a new generation of photographers. Moving far beyond the usual technical manual, Angela Faris Belt dives deep into merging technique and vision, allowing you to master craft while adding meaning to your images. Here you’ll really learn to see photographically, expand your creative and conceptual use of apertures and shutter speeds, and choose the right media to create the look and feel you want.”
“Angela Faris Belt holds an MFA in Photography from the University of Michigan. She is a fine art photographer who has worked as a professional educator for fifteen years. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has received several awards and recognition for her fine art work and her work in photography education.” (Adapted from publisher)

Fortunately, we won the World Cup! Unfortunately, this means we must postpone our Law for Lunch session today, because it clashes directly with the Wellington All Blacks Parade. The Parade starts at 12.15pm in Civic Square, and we think the cheering of the crowd will drown out our speaker, and make parking and public transport nearly impossible.

We will now be holding this session tomorrow, THURSDAY 27th, same time, same place – updated details below. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Dying Right: Avoid leaving legal problems as your legacy , Thursday 27 October, Wellington City Library, 12pm-1pm, Ground Floor, FREE.

In our final Law for Lunch session this year, Claire Coe will be looking at the following questions and issues around wills:

• Why have a will and what to put in one
• Preparing, keeping and changing wills
• Gifts
• Dying without a will
• Potential claims on a will
• Dependent children
• Blended families

CLAIRE COE is a lawyer with Rainey Collins. Her work focuses mainly on assisting clients with Property, Trusts, Asset Protection, and Wills and Estates.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Check out these recent picks from our latest sci-fi novels!

The founding / Dan Abnett.
“This omnibus edition of the first three Gaunt’s Ghosts novels follows the story of the Tanith First-and-Only regiment (nicknamed the Ghosts) and their charismatic commissar, Ibram Gaunt. As they travel from warzone to warzone in the Chaos-infested Sabbat Worlds system, the Ghosts must not only carry out the most dangerous of missions but also survive the deady politics of the Imperial Guard.” (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Journey by night / Kim Falconer.
“A fast-paced story of fantasy and occult adventure, astrology and martial arts … Kreshkali works the streets of a future Earth, rejecting her heritage and hating her life. When she discovers the portal to Gaela, she crosses over vowing never to return. There, as Nellion Paree, she trains at Treeon Temple, meets a young An’ Lawrence, fights in the temple wars and conceives a child. When captured by trackers her genetic memories awaken and she decides to go back. But, after so many years away, she has no idea of what dangers await her there…” Book 3 in the Quantum Encyption Series. (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Ghost ship : a new Liaden Universe novel / Sharon Lee & Steve Miller.
“The new Liaden Universe book continues the story of Theo Waitley as she finally contacts her father and discovers her place in the notorious Clan Korval. Theo contracts for her first solo pilot work, only to find out that her old friend and lover, Win Ton, has nearly been killed by mysterious agents who want access to a strange old tech ship he discovered on a scout mission. Theo’s only chance to save him is to contact the sentient ship and take on the role of pilot. But there is a great deal of danger and intrigue along the way, as the Department of the Interior plots to bring down Korval and all its pilots, including Theo, making for an engaging and fast-paced story that will thrill space-opera fans. As some of the story lines tie in closely with previous Liaden titles (Plan B, 1999, and I Dare, 2002), only readers who have been following this saga will be able to appreciate the multiple layers Lee and Miller pull together. Make sure to suggest this series to fans of Elizabeth Moon and Catherine Asaro.–Moyer, Jessic. Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Roadkill : a Cal Leandros novel / Rob Thurman.
“Once, while half-human Cal Leandros and his brother Niko had been working on a case, an ancient gypsy queen had given them a good old-fashioned backstabbing. Now, just as their P.I. business hits a slow patch, the old crone shows up with a job for them. Original.” (Summary from Syndetics)

The river of shadows / Robert V.S. Redick.
“From the mysterious River of Shadows to the Infernal Forest, to the Island Wilderness Pazel and his companions face a phantasmagoric journey through altered realities, a nightmare journey which offers glimpses of what might have been while taking them into the terror of what is to come. Will Arunis use the cursed Nilstone to end the world?” (Summary from Syndetics).

Prospero regained / L. Jagi Lamplighter.
“After accidentally summoning the wind and scattering her siblings across Hell, Miranda, Gregory, and Mephisto must journey through Hell’s many layers and geographies to rescue their stranded loved ones and return to their original mission: rescue Prospero from the evil Queen of Fae. Readers who have followed the quest of the Prospero family through the previous two titles (Prospero Lost, 2009, and Prospero in Hell, 2010) will be pleased to see that the heroes are coming closer to the end of their quest. Equally appealing this time is watching Miranda gain deeper understanding of herself and her origins. Unfortunately, despite the urgency of the rescue mission, the pace of this installment often drags the journeys across Hell can seem interminable and the overly extended climax includes a few too many revelations. Still, the series has its devoted fans, and they will stick with it to the conclusion.”–Moyer, Jessica Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

The departure / Neal Asher.
“Visible in the night sky the Argus Station, its twin smelting plants like glowing eyes, looks down on nightmare Earth. From Argus the Committee keep an oppressive control: citizens are watched by cams systems and political officers, it’s a world inhabited by shepherds, reader guns, razor birds and the brutal Inspectorate with its white tiled cells and pain inducers. Soon the Committee will have the power to edit human minds, but not yet, twelve billion human being need to die before Earth can be stabilized, but by turning large portions of Earth into concentration camps this is achievable, especially when the Argus satellite laser network comes fully online . . .This is the world Alan Saul wakes to in his crate on the conveyor to the Calais incinerator. How he got there he does not know, but he does remember the pain and the face of his interrogator. Informed by Janus, through the hardware implanted in his skull, about the world as it is now Saul is determined to destroy it, just as soon as he has found out who he was, and killed his interrogator . . .” (Summary from Global Books In Print)

Peter & Max : a Fables novel / by Bill Willingham ; with illustrations by Steve Leialoha.
“Based on the long-running and award-winning comic book series “Fables, Peter & Max” spans medieval times to the present day as Peter Piper and his older brother encounter ominous forces in the deepest dark of The Black Forest.” (Summary from Syndetics).

The lost fleet : beyond the frontier : dreadnaught / Jack Campbell.
“The Alliance woke Captain John “Black Jack” Geary from cryogenic sleep to take command of the fleet in the century-long conflict against the Syndicate Worlds. Now Admiral Geary’s victory has earned him the adoration of the people–and the enmity of politicians convinced that a living hero can be a very inconvenient thing. The war may be over, but Geary and his newly christened First Fleet have been ordered back into action to investigate the aliens occupying the far side of Syndic space and to determine how much of a threat they represent to the Alliance. And while the Syndic Worlds are no longer united, individually they may be more dangerous than ever before. Geary knows that members of the military high command and the government question his loyalty to the Alliance and fear his staging a coup–so he can’t help but wonder if the fleet is being deliberately sent on a suicide mission.”–” (Syndetics summary)

The magician king : a novel / Lev Grossman.
“It’s been two years since Quentin, Eliot, Janet, and Julia have become kings and queens of the magical utopia of Fillory, but Quentin is becoming bored with his seemingly idyllic existence. Spurred on by a dark prophecy of the “Seeing Hare,” “one of the Unique Beasts of Fillory,” he and Julia decide to embark on a trip to a faraway island, but their voyage turns out to be more perilous than expected and they end up back on Earth. With no apparent means to return to their home at Castle Whitespire, they must somehow find a way back to Fillory and save their realm from imminent destruction. Grossman effortlessly injects innumerable pop culture and literary references (Monty Python, Harry Potter, Pink Floyd, the Lorax, the Teletubbies, etc.) into the fantastical storyline. Mainstream fiction and fantasy fans alike will find this fairy tale for adults rewarding.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)

Some new mysteries for November include the new Lawrence Block, ‘A drop of the hard stuff’, his first Matthew Scudder novel in 6 years; the next in John Connolly’s Charlie Parker series; a literary debut by Alice LaPlante about an orthopedic surgeon suffering from dementia, who is uncertain if she has committed a crime; and the latest in the popular Eve Dallas series by Nora Roberts (writing as J. D. Robb)….

A drop of the hard stuff / Lawrence Block.
“MWA Grand Master Block’s powerful 17th novel featuring PI Matthew Scudder (after 2005’s All the Flowers Were Dying) explores the challenges of an alcoholic attempting to atone for his past misdeeds. In 1970 or ‘71, Scudder, then a Manhattan NYPD detective, recognizes a guy he knew in grade school in the Bronx, Jack Ellery, in a police lineup to identify a robber. The victim picks someone else as the man who held her up at gunpoint, though Ellery’s the guilty party. Years later, after Scudder has left the force, he meets Ellery, now an ex-con, at an AA meeting, where Ellery is trying to take the ninth step-making amends to all the people he’d harmed. Scudder’s efforts to solve the murder that results from Ellery’s quest for absolution place his own sobriety-and life-at risk.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)
 
The Burning Soul / John Connolly.
“Randall Haight has a secret: when he was a teenager, he and his friend killed a 14-year-old girl. Randall did his time and built a new life in the small Maine town of Pastor’s Bay, but somebody has discovered the truth about Randall. He is being tormented by anonymous messages, haunting reminders of his past crime, and he wants private detective Charlie Parker to make it stop. But another 14-year-old girl has gone missing, this time from Pastor’s Bay, and the missing girl’s family has its own secrets to protect. Now Parker must unravel a web of deceit involving the police, the FBI, a doomed mobster named Tommy Morris, and Randall Haight himself. Because Randall Haight is telling lies.” – (adapted from Amazon.co.uk description)

 
Liquid smoke / Jeff Shelby.
“Private eye Noah Braddock has finally found peace in his once tumultuous relationship with Detective Liz Santangelo and has called a tentative truce with his alcoholic mother, Carolina. So when lawyer Darcy Gill demands that he look into a hopeless death row case, he’s more interested in catching some waves before San Diego’s rare winter weather takes hold. Then Darcy plays her trump card: the man scheduled to die—convicted of killing two men in cold blood—is the father Noah never knew.” – (adapted from Amazon.com description)

 
Turn of mind / by Alice LaPlante.
“A stunning first novel, both literary and thriller, about a retired orthopedic surgeon with dementia…As the book opens, Dr. Jennifer White’s best friend, Amanda, who lived down the block, has been killed, and four fingers surgically removed from her hand. Dr. White is the prime suspect and she herself doesn’t know whether she did it. Told in White’s own voice, fractured and eloquent, a picture emerges of the surprisingly intimate, complex alliance between these life-long friends—two proud, forceful women who were at times each other’s most formidable adversaries. As the investigation into the murder deepens…a chilling question lingers: is White’s shattered memory preventing her from revealing the truth or helping her to hide it?” – (adapted from Amazon.com description)

A mortal terror / James R. Benn.
“Historical background almost overpowers the personal foreground in Benn’s ambitious sixth Billy Boyle WWII mystery (after 2010’s Rag and Bone). As the U.S. Army fights its way up the Italian boot, Billy, a former Boston cop who’s now a military investigator for his Uncle Ike (i.e., General Eisenhower), pursues a serial killer who’s targeting Allied officers. Combat and the psycho steadily reduce the list of GI suspects. Billy realizes that the murderer is playing games with him after he discovers that his kid brother, Danny, is a new replacement somehow assigned to the platoon he’s investigating.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

In sickness and in death : a broken vows mystery / Lisa Bork.
“Jolene Parker is depressed after having to return a foster baby. She is just barely showering again and returning to work at her sports-car dealership when her police-deputy husband brings home 12-year-old Danny, whose father is jailed for car theft. Danny is a bit of a wild child with a fondness for hot-wiring cars. After Danny takes a joyride in a vehicle he claims belongs to his father, Danny and Jolene find a severed arm in the car’s trunk. Naturally, Danny’s dad is the top suspect in what appears to be a murder case, but Danny insists his father is no killer, and Jolene believes him, launching her own investigation into what happened to the woman without an arm…Bork effectively mixes edgy situations with a humorous narrative voice, giving the novel appeal for both cozy and lighter police-procedural fans.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Deadly cove : a Lewis Cole mystery / Brendan DuBois.
“Protests at the Falconer nuclear power station on New Hampshire’s coast form the backdrop for DuBois’s suspenseful, satisfying seventh mystery featuring magazine reporter Lewis Cole, who once “worked as a research analyst for an obscure section of the Department of Defense” (after 2006’s Primary Storm). When someone shoots local peace activist Bronson Toles dead at one of the demonstrations Cole is covering, Cole looks into the backgrounds of Curt Chesuk, leader of the violent Nuclear Freedom Front, as well as the head of the pro-nuclear New England Trade Union Council and Toles’s family. As the demonstrations continue in the emotional aftermath of Toles’s murder, Cole arranges to interview the elusive Chesuk at his secret compound, a meeting that puts both Cole and his best friend, Det. Sgt. Diane Woods, in peril.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

 The end of the wasp season / by Denise Mina.
”When notorious millionaire banker Lars Anderson hangs himself from the old oak tree in front of his Kent mansion his death attracts no sympathy. One less shark is little loss to a world nursing a financial hangover. But the legacy of a life time of self-serving is widespread, the carnage most acute among those he ought to be protecting: his family. He leaves behind two deeply damaged children and a broken wife. Meanwhile, in a wealthy suburb of Glasgow, a young woman is found savagely murdered in her home. The genteel community is stunned by what appears a vicious, random attack. When DS Alex Morrow, heavily pregnant with twins, is called in to investigate, she soon discovers that behind the murder lurks a tangled web of lies…which traces the damaging consequences of one man’s selfish actions in a world ravaged by recession and questioning everything it previously held sacred.” – (adapted from Amazon.co.uk review)

 The Charlestown connection : a novel / Tom MacDonald.
“It’s to his credit that MacDonald has set his debut novel in territory that is very familiar to mystery readers: the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston (an area associated with Chuck Hogan and Dennis Lehane). That took guts. It also took some real skill to make the novel stand out among such stiff competition. Dermot Sparhawk, a former college football star, is stunned when his ex-con godfather, Jeepster Hennessey, is murdered (Jeepster dies right in front of Dermot, from a stab wound to the back). Before he dies, Jeepster gives Dermot a brass key and a cryptic clue. Figuring this could be something important, Dermot withholds the information from the police (and from the FBI, who seem unusually interested in the murder of this small-time crook). As he follows his only clue, Dermot puts together a theory about his godfather’s murder, but if he’s right, it means his own life is on the line, too.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New York to Dallas / J.D. Robb.
“Bestseller Robb breaks with one tradition in her 34th Eve Dallas novel (after Treachery in Death); “Death” is not part of the title, but otherwise she delivers precisely the kind of rapid-fire thrust and parry action fans expect from the near-future New York Police and Security Dept. homicide lieutenant. Serial rapist/murderer Isaac McQueen (aka “the Collector”), the first major bust of Dallas’s when she was a rookie, escapes from New York City’s Rikers Island prison complex 12 years into his life sentence and immediately resumes his depredations on young girls. McQueen uses a hostage to force Dallas to travel to Dallas, Tex., the site of her own horrific childhood, where he has prepared surprises for her. Working with the FBI, the Dallas PSD, and husband Roarke, Dallas leads the effort to recapture the wily McQueen.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

In the last installment of our Law for Lunch seminars, Claire Coe, a lawyer with Rainey Collins, focuses on assisting clients with Property, Trusts, Asset Protection, Wills and Estates.

In this presentation, Claire draws on experience to give us some useful and cost effective tips:

• Find out how to make a Will or a Trust, and what makes a Will legal
• Get accurate and up to date information about Living Wills and,
• Understand how Power of Attorney works if you decide to set out your wishes for medical care
• Learn about The Family Protection Act

Get the best out of legal advice during this mini-seminar taking place on:

Wednesday 26 October 2011, from 12 noon to 1:00pm, at the Ground Floor of the Central Library.

All welcome!