It’s Tuesday, which means we have new books to tell you about. Descriptions courtesy of the books’ publishers.
HARDCOVER FICTION
The Twelve by Justin Cronin
In the present day, as the man-made apocalypse unfolds, three strangers navigate the chaos. These three will learn that they have not been fully abandoned—and that in connection lies hope, even on the darkest of nights. One hundred years in the future, Amy and the others fight on for humankind’s salvation . . . unaware that the rules have changed. The enemy has evolved, and a dark new order has arisen with a vision of the future infinitely more horrifying than man’s extinction. If the Twelve are to fall, one of those united to vanquish them will have to pay the ultimate price.
The Fifty Year Sword by Mark Danielewski
In this story set in East Texas, a local seamstress named Chintana finds herself responsible for five orphans who are not only captivated by a storyteller’s tale of vengeance but by the long black box he sets before them. As midnight approaches, the box is opened, a fateful dare is made, and the children as well as Chintana come face to face with the consequences of a malice retold and now foretold.
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Glittering Images by Camille Paglia
From the best-selling author of Sexual Personae and Break, Blow, Burn and one of our most acclaimed cultural critics, here is an enthralling journey through Western art’s defining moments, from the ancient Egyptian tomb of Queen Nefertari to George Lucas’s volcano planet duel in Revenge of the Sith. Written with energy, erudition, and wit, Glittering Images is destined to change the way we think about our high-tech visual environment.
The Mini Minimalist by Mark Bittman
Bestselling cookbook author and New York Times op-ed columnist Mark Bittman anthologizes his popular recipes from the Minimalist series in this easy-to-reference slipcase set of four miniature cookbooks: (1) Small Plates and Soups; (2) Pasta, Pizza, and Grains; (3) Meat, Fish, and Poultry; (4) Vegetables. This boxed set contains over 160 recipes ideal for the harried chef who is still interested in serving delicious meals. The ideal size and packaging for gift giving, this small slipcase set of cookbooks makes a thoughtful housewarming or holiday gift for the everyday gourmand or novice chef.
The Big Screen by David Thomson
The Big Screen tells the enthralling story of the movies: their rise and spread, their remarkable influence in the war years, and their long, slow decline to a form that is often richly entertaining but no longer lays claim to our lives the way it once did. The Big Screen is not another history of the movies. Rather, it is a wide-ranging narrative about the movies and their signal role in modern life. Does the big screen take us out into the world, or merely mesmerize us? That is Thomson’s question in this grand adventure of a book.
Foundation by Peter Ackroyd
Peter Ackroyd, whose work has always been underpinned by a profound interest in and understanding of England’s history, now tells the epic story of England itself. With his extraordinary skill for evoking time and place and his acute eye for the telling detail, Ackroyd recounts the story of warring kings, of civil strife, and foreign wars. But he also gives us a vivid sense of how England’s early people lived: the homes they built, the clothes the wore, the food they ate, even the jokes they told. All are brought vividly to life through the narrative mastery of one of Britain’s finest writers.
In the Pleasure Groove by John Taylor
With Duran Duran, John Taylor has created some of the greatest songs of our time. From the disco dazzle of debut single ”Planet Earth” right up to their latest number one album All You Need is Now, Duran Duran has always had the power to sweep the world onto its feet. It”s been a ride – and for Taylor in particular, the ride has been wild, thrilling… and dangerous. Now, for the first time, he tells his incredible story in In the Pleasure Groove – a tale of dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and demons conquered.
John Taylor will speak about & sign his new memoir at the Scottish Rite Theater on Friday, October 26 at 7:45pm. Tickets are $10 and available only from the theater. BookPeople will be the bookseller at this event. Visit our website for more info.
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