Memory Keeping

I've started watching the NBC show Brilliant Minds since it is streaming on Peacock.  I have a weakness for medical shows, especially dramas.  This show focuses on neurology. The third episode involves a patient whose ability to create new memories is compromised. A couple quotes from this episode that are thus far sticking with me are: “When we experience something, neurons in our brains are activated; the memory is recorded, but if we don’t reactivate the memory the synapses gradually weaken. Over time, memories fade. Just as easily the brain remembers it also forgets.” and “Memories are powerful windows to the past. They can fill us with joy, or overwhelm us with grief. A moment in time we want to keep to ourselves, other times, they’re shared experiences. And when we struggle to remember them, it takes a village to fill in the gaps.”

 This time of year I often think about memory keeping.  I think about attempting to regularly journal,   scrapbooking, sorting through my boxes of photos,  sorting family recipes, and reorganize my comfort clutter. These thoughts seem to stem from the combination of holidays, family, moods moving from merry to maudlin, and the ever-present "new year, new you" types of advertisements, which can lead to the oft ill-fated resolutions; such as keeping a journal. The intent, however, is always about capturing and preserving memories. 

Magical/Realism : essays on music, memory, fantasy, and borders by Villarreal, Vanessa Angélica

• "From award-winning poet Vanessa Angélica Villarreal comes a brilliant, singular collection of essays that looks to music, fantasy, and pop culture to excavate and reimagine what has been disappeared by the forces of migration and colonialism. In Magical/Realism, Vanessa Angélica Villarreal offers us an intimate mosaic of migration, violence, and colonial erasure through the lens of her marriage and her experiences navigating American monoculture. As she attempts to recover the truth from the absences and silences within her life, her relationships, and those of her ancestors, Vanessa pieces together her story from the fragments of music, memory, and fantasy that have helped her make sense of it all. The trauma of remembering gives the collection its unique structure: Each chapter is an attempt to reimagine and re-world what has been lost. In one essay, Vanessa examines the gender performativity of Nirvana and Selena; in another, she offers a radical but crucial racial reading of Jon Snow in Game of Thrones; and throughout the collection, she explores how fantasy can provide healing when grief feels insurmountable. She reflects on the moments of her life that are too painful to remember-her difficult adolescence, her role as the eldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, her divorce-and finds a new way to archive her history and map her future(s), one infused with the hope and joy of fantasy and magical thinking. By engaging readers in her project of rebuilding narrative, Vanessa broadens our understanding of what memoir and cultural criticism can be. Magical/Realism is a wise, tender, and essential collection that carves a path toward a new way of remembering and telling our stories"--. Provided by publisher.

You: The Story: a Writer's Guide to Craft Through Memory by Sepetys, Ruta

• "A deeply personal how-to book for aspiring writers, encouraging them to look inward and excavate their own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page"--. Provided by publisher.

Creative Journaling: A Guide to Over 100 Techniques and Ideas for Amazing Dot Grid, Junk, Mixed-media, and Travel Pages by Day, Renee

• "Creative Journaling includes easy-to-follow instructions with photos for any DIY fan to complete creative projects on their own"--. Provided by publisher.

Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting by Genova, Lisa

• The Harvard-trained neuroscientist presents an exploration of the intricacies of human memory that distinguishes between normal and concerning memory loss while explaining the profound roles of sleep, stress, and other contributing influences.

Food, Hope & Resilience: Authentic Recipes and Remarkable Stories from Holocaust Survivors by Hersh, June

• "Culinary Traditions Preserved, Stories Never to be Forgotten. This vital collection of survivor stories uplifts and inspires alongside recipes that nourish your soul. Read about daring partisans who fought in the woods, hidden children who sought comfort from strangers and those who endured unimaginable internment. For Holocaust survivors, food was a way to connect their lives before the war with the homes they created after. Their kitchens were filled with the aromas of familiar foods like chicken soup and brisket while unfamiliar delights they adopted, like arroz con pollo and gnocchi, became part of their repertoire. These are the recipes they share with you. Culinary icons such as Michael Solomonov, Jonathan Waxman, Ina Garten and more contribute their own recipes as tribute to the remarkable survivor community. Author June Hersh gives readers a taste of history and a life-affirming message that honors the legacy of Holocaust survivors. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will benefit organizations committed to Holocaust education."--. Amazon.com

The Art of Memoir by Karr, Mary

• Karr breaks down the key elements of great literary memoir, opening our concepts of memory and identity, and illuminating the cathartic power of reflecting on the past; anybody with an inner life or complicated history, whether writer or reader, will relate.

Alive, Alive Oh! : And Other Things That Matter by Athill, Diana

• "A luminous, wise, and joyful insight into what really matters at the end of a long life, from the beloved author of the award-winning Somewhere Towards the End. What will you remember if you live to be 100? Diana Athill charmed readers with her prize-winning memoir Somewhere Towards the End, which transformed her into an unexpected literary star. Now, on the eve of her ninety-eighth birthday, Athill has written a sequel every bit as unsentimental, candid, and beguiling as her most beloved work. Writing from her cozy room in Highgate, London, Diana begins to reflect on the things that matter after a lifetime of remarkable experiences, and the memories that have risen to the surface and sustain her in her very old age. 'My two valuable lessons are: avoid romanticism and abhor possessiveness, ' she writes. In warm, engaging prose she describes the bucolic pleasures of her grandmother's garden and the wonders of traveling as a young woman in Europe after the end of the Second World War. As her vivid, textured memories range across the decades, she relates with unflinching candor her harrowing experience as an expectant mother in her forties and crafts unforgettable portraits of friends, writers, and lovers. A pure joy to read, Alive, Alive Oh! sparkles with wise and often very funny reflections on the condition of being old. Athill reminds us of the joy and richness of every stage of life--and what it means to live life fully, without regrets"-- Provided by publisher.

Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative self by Zomorodi, Manoush

• "It's time to move 'doing nothing' to the top of your to-do list. In 2015 Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC's popular podcast and radio show Note to Self, led tens of thousands of listeners through an experiment to help them unplug from their devices, get bored, jump-start their creativity, and change their lives. Bored and Brilliant builds on that experiment to show us how to rethink our gadget use to live better and smarter in this new digital ecosystem. Manoush explains the connection between boredom and original thinking, exploring how we can harness boredom's hidden benefits to become our most productive and creative selves without totally abandoning our gadgets in the process. Grounding the book in the neuroscience and cognitive psychology of 'mind wandering'--what our brains do when we're doing nothing at all--Manoush includes practical steps you can take to ease the nonstop busyness and enhance your ability to dream, wonder, and gain clarity in your work and life. The outcome is mind-blowing. Unplug and read on."--Dust jacket flap.

Creative Walls : How to Display and Enjoy Your Treasured Collections by James, Geraldine

• Any wall is perfect for display, whatever its size, shape or style. In this inspirational guide, Geraldine James, veteran collector of all things beautiful, shows ways to organize and display your valuables to celebrate their uniqueness and your creativity. A collection of fans, teapots or clocks will illuminate a little corner, whereas a teenager's bedroom will transform instantly when hoarded football memorabilia makes the leap from the floor to the wall in a bold, clever arrangement. Look for unusual spaces and items: line up a series of themed prints above a picture rail, set heaps of floral china plates in grand style above the fireplace or simply add a mirror into a display to instantly create another in its image. Chapter by chapter, discover how to arrange virtually anything from scratch, rearrange the collections you treasure to best effect and begin a journey into colour, texture and themes to create elegant displays that give a home character and charm. From a memory wall of sepia family photographs to witty collections of kitsch art, this clever guide shows how to create a look that will bring any space to life.--publisher's website.

Give Your Family a Gift That Money Can't Buy: Record & Preserve Your Family's History by Bockman, Jeffrey A.

Shows how to record and preserve your immediate family's history. Someday your children, grandchildren, or other family members will appreciate the gift of the information that only you can give. This is also the perfect starting point for those people wishing to research their family's history. Using a combination of basic instruction and interesting personal examples it covers:FAMILY FACTS: Walking you through filling out the two genealogical forms that are used to record the basic facts and family relationships. Numerous blank forms are included at the end of the book.HOME SOURCES: Identifying the various documents that can help with filling out the forms and that should be saved and will be appreciated by future family members and researchers.PHOTOGRAPHS: Showing the correct method for identifying the people in family photographs.PRESERVATION: Describing the basic techniques and products to use to save your documents and photographs so that future generations can enjoy them.FAMILY STORIES: Encourages telling those stories that make your family "Your Family."FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH: Explaining where to find the answers for some of the missing information on your forms or how to start adding onto your family tree using the internet, Vital Records, Wills & Probate Records, Cemetery Records, Newspaper articles & obituaries, US Census Records and a variety of other sources. 

*Book descriptions featured are provided by the publishers*

Favorite Books Read in 2024

2024 has been a reading slump for me.  I struggled to select which books to read.  I also struggled to settle myself so I could just sit and read.  My mind like my internet browsers, has too many tabs open. Many random thoughts led to traveling down rabbit holes, with the same logic and chaos Alice encountered in Wonderland. I also always have some song stuck in my head. On occasion, when reading I felt that I was pushing through to get through to the end, which is not something I often do.  Usually, If I struggle to get to page 50, I tend to render a book a DNF, (did not finish), and move on from there. Some books I finished in a day, according to thestorygraph.com however, it generally took me 2 days to finish the books I was reading. 

Here are 10 of my favorite reads for the year in no particular order. 

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Dara, Maxie

• "Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. She's also a modern-day grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences) but frankly that's the easiest part of her life right now. Or at least it was, until one of her clients' souls went missing. When she finally tracks down seventeen-year-old Conner Ortiz, he angrily denies he died of natural causes, despite what his file says. He's certain that someone at S.C.Y.T.H.E. took his life instead of his soul, and he pressures Kathy to find out who and why. With only forty-five days to figure out what happened to Conner and help him move on, Kathy is forced to rely on the help of her retired mentor, her almost ex-husband, and even Conner himself before the boy's soul becomes stuck on Earth as a ghost forever. But one wrong move could cost Kathy her job, not to mention her life"--. Provided by publisher.

The Road to Roswell: a novel by Willis, Connie

"When level-headed Francie arrives in Roswell, New Mexico, for her college roommate's UFO-themed wedding-complete with a true-believer bridegroom-she can't help but roll her eyes at all the wide-eyed talk of aliens, which obviously don't exist. Imagine her surprise, then, when she is abducted by one"--. Provided by publisher.

Those We Drown by Goldsmith, Amy

When seventeen-year-old friends Liv and Will are accepted in a semester-at-sea program, they are excited to spend six weeks aboard the luxury cruise ship The Eos, but after Will disappears the first night, Liv grows suspicious that something sinister is lurking below deck.

Icebreaker : a novel by Grace, Hannah

"Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team. Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins. Nate's focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team--including Anastasia, who clearly can't stand him. But when Anastasia's skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot"--. Provided by publisher

Death in the Details by Tietjen, Katie

Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows how: by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start--until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn. Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to help them see "what's big in what's small," Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in miniature: death in a nutshell. With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret--and a grudge. But when her nosy neighbor goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it'll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details--and put him behind bars.--Amazon.

The Paradise Problem by Lauren, Christina

"Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam "West" Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she'd signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There's just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather's will, Liam won't see a penny until he's been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he's in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he's afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents - his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam's fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie"--. Provided by publisher.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Crowley, Codie

Annie Lane was not doing much of anything with her young life, but now that she is dead she has a purpose--figure out who murdered her and her best friend and make sure he can never kill anyone else.

Apprentice to the Villain by Maehrer, Hannah Nicole

"Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat ... er, out-of-evil-office. But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs, Kingsley's included, point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom's magic, and it's made The Villain's manor vulnerable to their enemies ... including their nemesis, the king."-- Publisher description.

The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards: a memoir by Waite, Jessica

• "A widow's life is turned upside when she uncovers the truth about her late husband in this lyrical, witty, and deeply moving memoir of tragedy and betrayal. In the midst of mourning her husband's sudden death, writer Jessica Waite discovered shocking secrets that undermined everything she thought she knew about the man she'd loved and trusted. From uncovered affairs to drug use and a pornography addiction, Waite was overwhelmed reconciling this devastating information with her new reality as a widowed single mom. Then, to further complicate matters, strange, inexplicable coincidences forced her to consider whether her husband was reaching back from beyond the grave. With her signature candor and unflinching honesty, Waite details her tumultuous love story and the pain of adjusting to the new normal she built for herself and her son. A riveting, difficult, and surprisingly beautiful story, The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards is also a lyrical exploration of grief, mental health, single parenthood, and betrayal that demonstrates that the most moving love stories aren't perfect-they're flawed and poignantly real"--. Provided by publisher.

Take Me Home: a novel by Sweeney, Melanie

• "Hazel Elliot never looks back. If a door closes, she burns the whole house down. But when she's invited to her father's wedding, she's forced to return to Lockett Prairie, Texas, for the first time since she fled for college. Ash Campbell has been in love with Hazel since she dated his best friend in high school. Now, Ash and Hazel's relationship is limited to playful feuding over the best chair in their favorite coffee shop, but his attraction to the prickly girl from home has only grown stronger. When Ash's car breaks down just as family obligations pull him home, only one person can get him there on time. But Hazel has a condition: Everything between them must stay the same. And if it doesn't? She gets the coffee shop. So the frenemies endure bad music, inclement weather, and B&Bs with only one bed--and that's just the drive across Texas. When they finally arrive, Hazel must face that, in a small town, there's nowhere to run . . . and maybe, for the first time, she's found a reason to stay"--. Provided by publisher.

"Know" vember

It's not a question of whether you know it's November, but what do you know this November, and what do you want to know more about? 

Know My Name : A Memoir by Miller, Chanel

"She was know to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock Turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford's campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral--viewed by almost eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways--there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life. "Know My Name" will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. It also introduces readers to an extraordinary writer, one whose words have already changed our world. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic." -- summary from book jacket.

What An Owl Knows : The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Ackerman, Jennifer

"From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific exploration of owls, the most elusive group of birds, and an investigation into why these remarkable and yet mysterious animals exert such a hold on human imagination. For centuries, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented over 30,000 years ago, in the Chauvet cave paintings in southern France, and our enduring awareness and curiosity of their forward gaze and nearly silent flight has cemented the owl as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, foresight and intuition. But what, really, does an owl know? Though our infatuation goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to study these birds in great detail. While more than 270 species exist today, and reside on every continent except Antarctica, owls are far more difficult to find and study than other birds - because while not only cryptic and perfectly camouflaged, owls are most active in the dark of night. Joining scientists on this maddening and elusive treasure hunt, Jennifer Ackerman brings alive the rich biological history of these animals and reveals the remarkable scientific discoveries into their brains and behavior. She explores how, with the modern technology and tools, researchers now know that owls talk all night long - without opening their bills. That that their hoots follow a series of complex rules, allowing them to express needs and desires. That owls duet. They migrate. They use tools. They hoard their prey. Some live in underground burrows, some dine on scorpions. Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations about owls, and dives deep too into why this bird endlessly inspires and beguiles us. WHAT AN OWL KNOWS is an awe-inspiring and spellbinding journey across the globe and through human history, and a dazzling account of the astonishing health, hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess that distinguishes the owl from nearly all other birds. An extraordinary glimpse into the mind of these brilliant animals, WHAT AN OWLS KNOWS pulls back the curtain on the the hidden and still undiscovered realities of our shared world"--. Provided by publisher.

Knowing What We Know : The Transmission of Knowledge, from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic by Winchester, Simon

"From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—this is award winning writer Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds." -- inside front jacket flap.

I Know Who You Are : How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Rae-Venter, Barbara

"The amateur DNA sleuth who solved one of the most infamous cold cases in American history--the Golden State Killer crime spree--tells the incredible true story of how she did it, and explains how her methods have forever changed criminal investigations. In the span of just a few years, Barbara Rae-Venter went from researching her family history as a retiree to finding a serial killer who had baffled law enforcement for decades. I Know Who You Are tracks her improbable journey to becoming the nation's leading authority in investigative genetic genealogy, and to identifying the Golden State Killer--who had evaded authorities for forty-four years--in just sixty-three days. Rae-Venter also details other extraordinary cases that she has worked on, from the first criminal cold case she ever cracked--uncovering the long-lost identity of a child abductee--to the heartbreaking case of the Billboard Boy, which began with unidentified remains dumped along a North Carolina highway. When she looks at DNA data, Rae-Venter sees numbers, percentages, probabilities--but she also sees the very stuff that makes us who we are. Drawing on both her own experiences and insights from all the key players in her investigations, Rae-Venter brings readers inside her unique "grasshopper mind" as she analyzes DNA data; pores through obituaries, marriage records, and old newspapers articles; and envisions different scenarios that bring her closer and closer to her target. She lets readers join in on urgent calls from sheriffs, FBI agents, district attorneys, and researchers, and she takes us inside the struggle to obtain a usable crime scene DNA sample and other unexpected roadblocks that often make the search more difficult. Time and again, Rae-Venter pushes through setbacks, finds new angles of investigation, and uses the most cutting-edge new technology--much of it developed during her search--until, finally, a critical piece of the puzzle suddenly tumbles into place. I Know Who You Are captures the exhilaration of the moment of discovery in cold case investigations, but also the sheer depth of emotion that lingers around these cases and informs Rae-Venter's careful approach to her work. It is a story of relentless curiosity, of constant invention and reinvention, and of recognizing that we may not be who we thought we were"--. Provided by publisher.

Barron's 1100 Words You Need to Know by Carriero, Rich

An update and expanded edition includes word lists and definitions, analogy, words-in-context exercises, idiom indexes, and an updated pronunciation guide, with examples of new words placed in sentences from current fiction, editorial, and news broadcasts sources.

Stuff You Should Know : An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things by Clark, Josh

The duo behind the massively successful podcast "Stuff You Should Know" offers an unexpected look at weird, fascinating, delightful, or unexpected elements of a wide variety of topics, featuring new subjects that they've long wondered about and wanted to explore.

Stuff They Don't Want You To Know by Bowlin, Ben

"Hosts of the podcast Stuff They Don't Want You to Know, Ben Bowlin, Matthew Frederick, & Noel Brown discern conspiracy fact from fiction regarding "stuff" the government doesn't want you to know. Conspiracies didn't always seem so clear and present. It used to be that people with tin-foil hats who were convinced of secret messages coming through the radio were easily disregarded as kooks and looney tunes. But these days, conspiracies feel alive and well. From internet rumors to lying politicians to the tinderbox that is social media, it's become remarkably clear that a vast swath of people believe really bonkers things. Why is that? How did these theories proliferate? Is there a kernel of truth to it or are they fully fiction? Ben Bowlin, Matt Frederick, and Noel Brown are the hosts of the popular iHeart podcast that seeks to answer these questions. With cool heads and extensive research, they regularly break down the wildest conspiracy theories: from chemtrails and biological testing to the secrets of lobbying and why the Kennedy assassination is of perennial interest. Written in smart, witty, and conversational style, and with amazing illustrations, Stuff They Don't Want You to Know is a vital book in helping to understand the unexplainable and use truth as a powerful weapon against ignorance, misinformation, and lies"--. Provided by publisher.

Think Again : The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Grant, Adam

"The bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your beliefs and to know what you don't know, which can position you for success at work and happiness at home. The difficulty of rethinking our assumptions is surprisingly common-- maybe even fundamentally human. Our ways of thinking become habits that we don't bother to question, and mental laziness leads us to prefer the ease of old routines to the difficulty of new ones. We fail to update the beliefs we formed in the past for the challenges we face in the present. But in a rapidly changing world, we need to spend as much time rethinking as we do thinking. Think Again is a book about the benefit of doubt, and about how we can get better at embracing the unknown and the joy of being wrong. Evidence has shown that creative geniuses are not attached to one identity but constantly willing to rethink their stances, that leaders who admit they don't know something and seek critical feedback lead more productive and innovative teams, and that our greatest presidents have been open to updating their views. The new science of intellectual humility shows that as a mindset and a skillset, rethinking can be taught, and Grant explains how to develop the necessary qualities. The first section of the book explores why we struggle to think again and how we can improve individually, and argues that such engines of success as "grit" can actually be counterproductive; the second section discusses how we can help others think again through the skill of "argument literacy"; and the third looks at how institutions like schools, business, and governments fall short in building cultures that encourage rethinking. In the end, it's intellectual humility that makes it possible for us to stop denying our weaknesses so that we can start improving ourselves."--. Provided by publisher.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Zombies by Mogk, Matt

The most comprehensive zombie handbook ever published--with a foreword by Max Brooks! In one indispensable volume, Matt Mogk busts popular myths and answers all your raging questions about the living dead.*

Life As We Know It (can be) :Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World by Weir, Bill

"Award-winning journalist and CNN chief climate correspondent Bill Weir takes readers through time and around our changing world to confront the biggest threats to life as we know it and search for proven ways to build happier, healthier, and more resilient communities, come what may"-- Provided by publisher.

"no" vember

 

Oh No! How can it be NO-vember already!!!!

As always, I'm never quite sure if time has moved faster than I think it should or if I'm just struggling to keep up.

No Going Back by Flores-Scott, Patrick

Told over the course of forty-eight hours, seventeen-year-old Tony heads back to his old life in Des Moines, Washington after being released from a youth detention center, but toxic old relationships and unforseen challenges make staying on the straight-and-narrow nearly impossible.

No Cloak, No Dagger : A Professor's Secret Life Inside the CIA by Paldy, Lester

Lester Paldy, a distinguished professor, was tapped by the CIA in 1988 to join the Agency for a "trial run" as they faced a troubling new situation in Russia. That "temporary" assignment would last for 25 years, during which he would find himself tested by a shifting set of responsibilities, his ability to penetrate secret sites, his expertise in approaching and assessing targets for potential value to the Agency, and his personal commitment to breaking down long-held barriers between the CIA and the FBI. He achieved this by demonstrating to CIA officers and FBI special agents how to approach scientists in ways that fit smoothly into their research and organizational cultures. As long as Les Paldy remained at the CIA, officers and special agents from both intelligence bases would benefit from this unexpected opportunity.

Even today, years after his official departure from the Agency, Les Paldy is invited to brief intelligence officers and special agents. And now, the author extends an invitation to every reader to join him on his life-changing journey as the professor with "No Cloak, No Dagger."

No Bullet Got Me Yet : The Relentless Faith of Father Kapaun by Stansifer, John

"Father Emil Kapaun, a humble priest, went far beyond the call of duty during World War II and the Korean War. Often found with the combat medics on the front lines, unarmed, ministering to the wounded, and known for his intense devotion to the soldiers whom he called "my boys," Kapaun became the most decorated chaplain in US military history, awarded a Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Legion of Merit. But Father Kapaun's leadership, bravery and selflessness don't end there. When the story of human history is over, evil, death, darkness--they don't get the final word. It was Father Kapaun's love for God that gave him the courage to lay down his life for his friends and for his country"--. Provided by publisher.

Men of No Reputation : Robert Boatright, the Buckfoot Gang, and the fleecing of the Middle West by Harper, Kimberly

"'Men of No Reputation,' the story of a gang of con men [led by Robert P.W. Boatright and John C. Mabray] in the Missouri Ozarks who swindled millions, reveals the seedier side of turn-of-the-century rural America and offers rare insight into one of the most successful cons of all time. Like the works of Sinclair Lewis, this story exposes a rift in the wholesome midwestern stereotype and furthers our understanding of turn-of-the-century American society"--. Provided by publisher.

No Paw to Stand on by Cass, Laurie

When a heat wave hits northern Michigan, Minnie, Eddie, and their bookmobile head to the beach to catch some rays and some customers. But library business is put on hold when Minnie's restaurant-owning best friend, Kristen, calls. The specialty ice cream cone treat she'd been serving to patrons was sabotaged, making some customers horribly sick. Kristen needs Minnie to sniff out the culprit fast, or the restaurant's reputation will be destroyed forever. Minnie and Eddie are hot on the tail of the suspect when an employee from another restaurant is found dead. Could the poisoning and the murder be related? It'll take a feline to catch a felon... --. Provided by publisher.

Batman. No Small Scores / [graphic novel]: One bad day. Catwoman by Wilson, G. Willow

"Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman, is the greatest thief that Gotham City has ever seen. She's effortlessly stolen countless items of immense value over the years and successfully evaded the GCPD and Batman. But when Catwoman finds out an item from her past is being sold for way more than it used to be worth, it sends Catwoman into a spiral, and she'll do everything in her power to steal it back. Batman tries to stop her before she goes too far, and a mysterious figure known as the Forger will change Catwoman's life forever."--Provided by publisher.

No Man's Ghost by Powell, Jason

"Charles Davids is a probationary firefighter working his first week out of the academy. For Charles, quietly battling his lack of confidence is a daily challenge as his new officers coach him on life as a New York City firefighter. The men love to tease and prank the new guy, but when it comes to drilling and training, they're clear that the job is no joke. As is said in the fire service: 'let no man's ghost return to say my training let me down.' Unfortunately for Charles, his first week is the same week that Alan Johnson, an unstable and soon-to-be-ex husband, gets kicked out and comes up with the idea to report fake fires at his wife's apartment every night. Alan laughs at the thought of her being awakened nightly by sirens and horns--if he can't sleep in their apartment, why the hell should she? But after days of crying wolf, Alan decides that fake fires aren't enough... Set on the hot summer streets of NYC and building to a fiery conclusion, No Man's Ghost is a vibrant and thrilling look at the people who keep a city safe--and the ones who want to watch it burn."--. Provided by publisher.

No Perfect Places by Salvatore, Steven

When their father went to prison last year for embezzlement, twins Alex and Olly Brucke lost everything: their house, their college funds, most of their friends, and even their mother, who's so focused on making ends meet that she's never around anymore. The only thing they can count on lately is each other.

But after their father dies unexpectedly in prison, the twins start to fracture. Alex is spiraling, skipping classes to spend all of her time drunk or high. And Olly is struggling with a secret his dad ordered him to keep: they have a secret half-brother named Tyler.

When Tyler shows up in their lakeside town for the summer, hoping to get to know his siblings, Olly hides the truth from Alex. But as Alex and Tyler start to form a friendship, the lies become harder to juggle. If they can't confront their father's past and fix their relationship, Olly and Alex each risk losing two siblings forever.

No Perfect Places is a thought-provoking novel about grief, family secrets, and figuring out how to belong against the odds.

No Reserve by Francis, Felix

Theo Jennings, an auctioneer in Newmarket, England, has been climbing the ladder at the bloodstock sales company for the past three years. He's planning on making his first ever multi-million sale with a yearling colt. When he finds the colt dead a few days after the auction, Theo is suspicious that there was foul play involved.

As Theo begins to investigate the death, he finds that answers aren't coming readily from those who he questions. When a person's body is discovered in the same stable a few days later, all fingers point to him. As his world turns upside down with the accusations, Theo decides to further his investigation.

The only way to clear Theo's name is to find the real murderer, but it isn't just the police who have their eye on him-the killer has a target on his back

No Two Persons by Bauermeister, Erica.

"One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister's No Two Persons is "a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives." That was the beauty of books, wasn't it? They took you places you didn't know you needed to go... Alice has always wanted to be a writer. Her talent is innate, but her stories remain safe and detached, until a devastating event breaks her heart open, and she creates a stunning debut novel. Her words, in turn, find their way to readers, from a teenager hiding her homelessness, to a free diver pushing himself beyond endurance, an artist furious at the world around her, a bookseller in search of love, a widower rent by grief. Each one is drawn into Alice's novel; each one discovers something different that alters their perspective, and presents new pathways forward for their lives. Together, their stories reveal how books can affect us in the most beautiful and unexpected of ways-and how we are all more closely connected to one another than we might think. "With its beautiful parts that add up to a brilliant whole, No Two Persons made my reader's heart sing."-*Nina de Gramont, New York Times bestselling author of The Christie Affair"--. Provided by publisher.

*Book descriptions featured are provided by the publishers.*