McClintic Library has a slew of new books that I’m dying to tell everyone about, and I usually list a few good titles when they come in, here in Library Lines. And this week, yes, the books are all here and ready to be checked out!
But it dawned on me that I rarely mention new non-fiction titles, and so I’d like to make amends. We have a little something for everyone in our new book section: current events, history, crafts, cooking, self-help and more.
If you are a writer and are interested in getting published, you will want to consult our two new reference books, Writer’s Market 2016 and Poet’s Market 2016. You can find publishers who are interested in publishing certain types of fiction, poetry, memoirs or essays; you can find contact information and whether or not they accept unsolicited manuscripts. The volumes also list literary agents – which may be a good way to go, as more publishers want to deal with agents. You will also find listings of writing contests and awards. It’s just a wealth of information for the wanna-be published author.
Perhaps your talent lies in other areas – perhaps you are a crafty person. You’ll want to check out Big Needle Knits and Big Hook Crochet. Each book presents 35 projects requiring big crochet hooks or super-size knitting needles. Winter will be here before we know it, and now is a good time to start working on hats, scarves, socks and gloves.
Memoirs are some of my favorite books to read. I enjoy getting to know a person, famous or not, by stepping through the pages and into their life for just a while. One new memoir currently available is A Lucky Life Interrupted: a Memoir of Hope by Tom Brokaw. In it, Brokaw tells of his recent experience with cancer. In 2013, after complaining of back pain, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a treatable but incurable blood cancer. He writes of the stages of such an experience, plus he takes time to look back on the highlights of his career.
Amy Ellis Nutt, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, has written a book about the Maines family called Becoming Nicole: the Transformation of an American Family. Wayne and Kelly Maines adopted identical twin boys, but soon realized that while Jonas loved sports and trucks, Wyatt loved princess dolls and playing Little Mermaid. The toddlers, so similar in looks, were polar opposites and Wyatt’s insistence that he was a girl began to tear the family apart. Becoming Nicole tells how this family worked through a sensitive issue, and what became of them.
If you need some help coming up with great ideas for dinner, fear not: Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, has you covered. Her newest cookbook is called The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime: Comfort Classics, Freezer Food, 16-Minute Meals and Other Delicious Ways to Solve Supper! How can you go wrong? The book is gorgeous, nothing but full-color photographs of wonderful dishes. Do not look at this book if you are hungry, though.
Next week I’ll highlight more new non-fiction; self-help titles, current politics, and our new Fodor Travel guides.
