Tag: nonfiction

April’s Bestsellers Club Fiction and Nonfiction Picks

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Simply Held is rebranding to Bestsellers Club. No change in services, just a name change! If you’ve been with us for a while,  you might notice that this was our original name for this service, and now we’re back to it!

Simply Held is now Bestsellers Club, a service that automatically places you on hold for authors, celebrity picks, nonfiction picks, and fiction picks. Choose any author, celebrity pick, fiction pick, and/or nonfiction pick and The Library will put the latest title on hold for you automatically. Select as many as you want! Still have questions? Click here for a list of FAQs.

It’s a new quarter and that means new fiction and nonfiction picks have been selected for you courtesy of Bestsellers Club! Four fiction picks are available for you to choose from: diverse debuts, graphic novel, historical fiction, and international fiction. Four nonfiction picks are available for you to choose from: biographies, cookbooks, social justice, and true crime. Our fiction and nonfiction picks are chosen quarterly and are available in regular print only. If you would like to update your selections or are a new patron who wants to receive picks from any of those four categories, sign up for Bestsellers Club through our website!

Below you will find information provided by the publishers and authors on the titles we have selected for January from the following categories in fiction: diverse debuts, graphic novel, historical fiction, and international fiction and the following categories in nonfiction: biographies, cookbooks, social justice, and true crime.

Acronym definitions
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, and more.

FICTION PICKS

Diverse Debuts:

Diverse Debuts: Debut fiction novel by a BIPOC author, LGBTQ+ author or an author from another marginalized community.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.

When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble, she realizes Bellereine is harboring dark and horrifying secrets that can no longer be ignored.

With time ticking down, Junie begins to push against the harsh current that has controlled her entire life. As she grapples with an increasingly unfamiliar world in which she has little control, she is forced to ask herself: When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind? – Ballantine Books

This title is also available in large print.

Graphic Novel:

Graphic Novel: Fiction novel for adults of any subgenre with diverse characters depicted by color illustrations, sketches, and photographs.

Woman, Life, Freedom edited by Marjane Satrapi

An urgent, groundbreaking and visually stunning new collection of graphic storytelling about the present Iranian revolution, using comics to show what would be censored in photos and film in Iran.

Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis, returns to graphic art with this collaboration of over 20 activists, artists, journalists, and academics working together to depict the historic uprising, in solidarity with the Iranian people and in defense of feminism.

On September 13th 2022, a young Iranian student, Mahsa Amini, was arrested by the morality police in Tehran. Her only crime was that she wasn’t properly wearing the headscarf required for women by the Islamic Republic. At the police station, she was beaten so badly she had to be taken to the hospital, where she fell into a deep coma. She died three days later.

A wave of protests soon spread through the whole country, and crowds adopted the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”—words that have been chanted around the world during solidarity rallies.

In order to tell the story of this major revolution happening in her homeland, Marjane Satrapi has gathered together an array of journalists, activists, academics, artists, and writers from around the world to create this powerful collection of full-color, graphic-novel-style essays and perspectives that bear witness:

  • Contributing artists: Joann Sfar, Coco, Mana Neyastani, Catel, Pascal Rabate, Patricia Bolanos, Paco Roca, Bahareh Akrami, Hippolyte, Shabnam Adiban, Lewis Trondheim, Winshluss, Touka Neyastani, Bee, Deloupy, Nicolas Wild, and Marjane Satrapi.
  • 3 expert perspectives on Iran: long-time journalist for Libération and political scientist Jean-Pierre Perrin; researcher and Iran specialist Farid Vahid; and UC Berkeley historian Abbas Milani, Director of the Iranian Studies program at Stanford University.

Woman, Life, Freedom demonstrates that this is not an unexpected movement, but a major uprising in a long history of women who have wanted to affirm their rights. It will continue. – Seven Stories Press

Historical Fiction:

Historical Fiction: Historical fiction novel written by a BIPOC author, LGBTQ+ author or an author from another marginalized community, with main character(s) from a marginalized community.

The Filling Station by Vanessa Miller

Two sisters. One unassuming haven. Endless opportunities for grace.

Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma–also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all–movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.

Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.

But they eventually realize that they can’t hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them–and their community–to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost. – Thomas Nelson

International Fiction:

International Fiction: Fiction novel originally written in another language with main character(s) from marginalized communities.

Hunchback by Saō Ichikawa

Born with a congenital muscle disorder, Shaka spends her days in her room in a care home outside Tokyo, relying on an electric wheelchair to get around and a ventilator to breathe. But if Shaka’s physical life is limited, her quick, mischievous mind has no boundaries: She takes e-learning courses on her iPad, publishes explicit fantasies on websites, and anonymously troll-tweets to see if anyone is paying attention (“In another life, I’d like to work as a high-class prostitute”). One day, she tweets into the void an offer of an enormous sum of money for a sperm donor. To Shaka’s surprise, her new nurse accepts the dare, unleashing a series of events that will forever change Shaka’s sense of herself as a woman in the world.

Hunchback has shaken Japanese literary culture with its skillful depiction of the physical body and its unrepentant humor. Winner of the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, it’s a feminist story about the dignity of an individual who insists on her right to make choices for herself, no matter the consequences. Formally creative and refreshingly unsentimental, Hunchback depicts the joy, anger, and desires of a woman demanding autonomy in a world that doesn’t always grant it to people like her. Full of wit, bite, and heart, this unforgettable novel reminds us all of the full potential of our lives, regardless of the limitations we experience. – Hogarth

NONFICTION PICKS

Biography pick

Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leapng, Road-racing life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Stuntwoman by Mallory O’Meara

Helen Gibson was a woman willing to do anything to give audiences a thrill. Advertised as “The Most Daring Actress in Pictures,” Helen emerged in the early days of the twentieth-century silent film scene as a rodeo rider, background actor, stunt double, and eventually one of the era’s biggest action stars. Her exploits on motorcycles, train cars, and horseback were as dangerous as they were glamorous, featured in hundreds of films and serials–yet her legacy was quickly overshadowed by the increasingly hypermasculine and male-dominated evolution of cinema in the decades that would follow her.

Award-winning author Mallory O’Meara presents her life and career in exhilarating detail, including:

  • Helen’s rise to fame in The Hazards of Helen, the longest-running serial in history
  • How Helen became the first-ever stuntwoman in American film
  • The pivotal role of Helen’s contemporaries–including female directors, stars, and stuntwomen who shaped the making of cinema as we know it.

Through the page-turning story of Helen’s pioneering legacy, Mallory O’Meara gives readers a glimpse of the Golden Age of Hollywood that could have been: an industry where women call the shots. – Hanover Square Press

Cookbook pick

Pretty Delicious: Simply, Modern Mediterranean, served with style by Alia and Radwa Elkaffas

Born and raised in the Midwest to parents originally from Egypt, sisters Alia and Radwa Elkaffas created their Food Dolls platform to answer the question of how to put an exciting and healthful meal on the table without spending hours in the kitchen. And that’s what Pretty Delicious is all about: flavor-packed, Mediterranean-inspired, and super simple recipes, all dolled up and plated with style.

Start with the How to Make Your Kitchen Your Happy Place chapter (life-bettering shortcuts! organizing and styling tips!) and then fall in love with dishes like:

  • Breakfast, Brunch, or Anytime: Banana Bread-Baked Oatmeal Three Ways; Baklava Cinnamon Rolls
  • Just Getting Started: Sumac Chicken Wings; Crispy Baked Halloumi with Hot-Honey Drizzle
  • Double-Duty Dips: Whipped Feta; Roasted-Tomato Baba G
  • Pretty Delicious Salads: Mediterranean Cobb Salad; Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
  • What’s for Dinner?: Shrimp Tagine with Garlicky Tomatoes and Peppers; Spiced Chickpea & Coconut Stew; Chicken Kofta Burgers; Steak Shawarma Bowls
  • Pretty Sweet: Turkish Coffee Tiramisu; Croissant Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

And since serving with style is what Food Dolls perhaps love the most, they also share an entire chapter of menus and inspired ideas to zhush up the dinner table, with 120 beautifully styled photos throughout. Fresh, streamlined, healthful, and proven family-friendly, Pretty Delicious will inspire you with dozens of ingenious ways to level up dinner. – Clarkson Potter

Social Justice pick

Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition by Silky Shah

Drawing from over twenty years of activism on local and national levels, this striking book offers an organizer’s perspective on the intersections of immigrant rights, racial justice, and prison abolition.

In the wake of post-9/11 xenophobia, Obama’s record-level deportations, Trump’s immigration policies, and the 2020 uprisings for racial justice, the US remains entrenched in a circular discourse regarding migrant justice. As organizer Silky Shah argues in Unbuild Walls, we must move beyond building nicer cages or advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. Our only hope for creating a liberated society for all, she insists, is abolition.

Unbuild Walls dives into US immigration policy and its relationship to mass incarceration, from the last forty years up to the present, showing how the prison-industrial complex and immigration enforcement are intertwined systems of repression. Incorporating historical and legal analyses, Shah’s personal experience as an organizer, as well as stories of people, campaigns, organizations, and localities that have resisted detention and deportation, Shah assesses the movement’s strategies, challenges, successes, and shortcomings. Featuring a foreword by Amna A. Akbar, Unbuild Walls is an expansive and radical intervention, bridging the gaps between movements for immigrant rights, racial justice, and prison abolition. – Haymarket Books

True Crime pick

Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II by Abbott Kahler

At the height of the Great Depression, Los Angeles oil mogul George Allan Hancock and his crew of Smithsonian scientists came upon a gruesome scene: two bodies, mummified by the searing heat, on the shore of a remote Galápagos island. For the past four years Hancock and other American elites had traveled the South Seas to collect specimens for scientific research. On one trip to the Galápagos, Hancock was surprised to discover an equally exotic group of humans: European exiles who had fled political and economic unrest, hoping to create a utopian paradise. One was so devoted to a life of isolation that he’d had his teeth extracted and replaced with a set of steel dentures.

As Hancock and his fellow American explorers would witness, paradise had turned into chaos. The three sets of exiles—a Berlin doctor and his lover, a traumatized World War I veteran and his young family, and an Austrian baroness with two adoring paramours—were riven by conflict. Petty slights led to angry confrontations. The baroness, wielding a riding crop and pearl-handled revolver, staged physical fights between her two lovers and unabashedly seduced American tourists. The conclusion was deadly: with two exiles missing and two others dead, the survivors hurled accusations of murder.

Using never-before-published archives, Abbott Kahler weaves a chilling, stranger-than-fiction tale worthy of Agatha Christie. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and the march to World War II, with a mystery as alluring and curious as the Galápagos itself, Eden Undone explores the universal and timeless desire to seek utopia—and lays bare the human fallibility that, inevitably, renders such a quest doomed. – Crown

Join Bestsellers Club to have the newest fiction and nonfiction picks automatically put on hold for you every quarter.

The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke

- Stephanie Leave a comment

“I wondered how the public’s consumption of others’ pain and suffering cross the line from empathy to voyeurism. How quickly have we, as a society, become numb to the struggles of others, our capacity for compassion eroded by the sheer volume of human drama we’re exposed to daily? We were just characters in a soap opera now, except the drama was real, and the consequences permanent. Our grief had been reduced to a mere commodity, packaged and sold, consumed and discarded.”
― Shari Franke, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom

I am fascinated by true crime. What intrigues me is not the violence perpetrated, but the motivations of the abusers. What made them the way that they are? Was it nature or nurture? The case of Ruby Franke, the viral 8 Passengers family vlog, and her eventual arrest on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse in 2023 had me researching family vlogging culture and how manipulative cults can damage their members. When I learned that Shari Franke, Ruby Franke’s eldest child, was releasing a book entitled The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, I knew I needed to read it, as Shari has become a vocal proponent of the dangers of family vlogging and an advocate against child exploitation in social media.

Shari Franke’s childhood was doomed from the start. Her mother, Ruby Franke, had a severe moral code that grew into even greater delusions of righteousness after she created her popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers. On said channel, which eventually had 2.5 million subscribers, Ruby documented the day-to-day life of raising six children. Everything in the Franke household was orchestrated by Ruby. Subscribers loved Ruby’s wholesome mommy blogger online persona, but Shari knew another side of her mother: the fierce tyrannical parent who did not tolerate disobedience.

Ruby’s behavior changed for the worse after she met relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt. Jodi and Ruby together created inhumane living conditions and were merciless in delivering discipline. Jodi’s influence on Ruby was sadistic. The family relationships and conditions within the family home quickly deteriorated, leaving Jodi and Ruby with eventual complete control of the four youngest Franke children.

All the while, Shari was fighting for the truth. This book is her battle cry. She describes her childhood with Ruby, what life was really like in the Franke household, and how Jodi’s involvement brought out Ruby’s even darker side. While revealing the horrors that befell them once Ruby joined “ConneXions,” Jodi’s cultish life coaching program, Shari draws her own moral line in the sand. She will not disclose her younger siblings’ names or detail the four youngest’s stories. As I mentioned earlier, Shari is a vocal proponent of the dangers of family vlogging and an advocate against child exploitation in social media. Shari talks about how perilous influencer culture is and how her mother’s cruelty destroyed them, but eventually provided a springboard of truth and survival for Shari, her younger siblings, and their father.

“No child should ever have to earn a parent’s affection. And no amount of achievement can ever fill the void where unconditional love should be.”
― Shari Franke, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom

New nonfiction titles in large print

- Beth Leave a comment

Large print readers of nonfiction will find inspiration, connection and nuance in these titles recently added to the collection.

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed by Dashka Slater. When a high school student started a private Instagram account that used racist and sexist memes to make his friends laugh, he thought of it as “edgy” humor. Then a few other kids found out about the account. Pretty soon, everyone knew. Ultimately no one in the small town of Albany, California, was safe from the repercussions of the account’s discovery. In the end, no one was laughing. And everyone was left asking: Where does accountability end for online speech that harms? And what does accountability even mean?

 

American Heroes by James Patterson. U.S. soldiers who served in overseas conflicts — from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan — share true stories of the actions that earned them some of America’s most distinguished military medals, up to and including the Medal of Honor. They never acted alone, but always in the spirit of camaraderie, patriotism, and for the good of our beloved country. There has never been a better time for all of us to think about duty, sacrifice, and what it means to be an American hero.

 

 

Comfort is an Old Barn: Stories from the Heart of Maine by Amy Calder. Amy Calder is an award-winning newspaper reporter and columnist, covering city government and everything from murders and car crashes to fires and drug busts. Since 2009, Calder has written a weekly human-interest column, “Reporting Aside,” which appears in both the Waterville Sentinel and the Kennebec Journal. Comfort Is an Old Barn is a curated collection of those columns, which include sketches of the colorful characters, quirky animals she has encountered, and special moments, as well as personal stories that make living in Maine special.

 

 

Lucy Burdette’s Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. The Key West Food Critic series is known for its dastardly deaths, creative clues, and mouth-watering mysteries. Now, for the first time, all the recipes featured in the series are gathered in a collection. Recipes include: Lucy Burdette’s One Bowl Chocolate Cake, Sam’s Cornbread Sausage Stuffing, Scarlett O’Hara Cupcakes, Chef Edel’s Cheesy Polenta, Hayley Snow’s Shrimp Salad, and many more.

 

 

 

The Wives: A Memoir by Simone Gorrindo. When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia. With her husband frequently deployed, Simone is left to find her place in this new world, alone — until she meets the wives. Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today, The Wives offers a rare and powerful gift: a hopeful stitch in the fabric of a torn America.

Beekeeping Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Are you interested in beekeeping? Are you curious how adding bees can help your yard and garden? The Davenport Public Library has books to help you out! Below we have gathered a list of nonfiction books about beekeeping, plus a bonus cozy mystery about bees, to get you started.

At the time of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions provided by the publishers.

The Backyard Beekeeper: an Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in your Yard and Garden 5th Edition by Kim Flottum

A Comprehensive Guide to Keeping Healthy, Happy, and Productive Bees.

Experience the timeless joy of beekeeping—right in your backyard or on your urban rooftop—with this fully updated and accessible resource for beekeepers of all levels.

More than just a how-to guide, The Backyard Beekeeper offers expert insights and practical advice on every aspect of caring for bees and harvesting their gifts. Learn how to:

  • Set Up and Maintain Hives – Start and care for thriving colonies.
  • Choose the Ideal Location – Ensure the safety of your bees and yourself.
  • Practice Nontoxic Beekeeping – Use natural, sustainable care methods.
  • Manage Swarms – Prevent and control swarming behavior.
  • Work with Top Bar Hives – Explore alternative hive options.
  • Harvest Hive Products – Collect honey, beeswax, and more.
  • Identify and Treat Bee Health Issues – Recognize problems early and apply effective solutions.

What’s New in the 5th Edition:

  • Natural Beekeeping Methods – Learn how to insulate hives for winter, mirroring the natural advantages of wild bee habitats.
  • Updated Treatments for Varroa Mites – Stay ahead in the fight against one of beekeeping’s greatest challenges.
  • Guidance on New Antibiotic Regulations – Navigate the latest recommendations for managing American foulbrood.
  • Modern Recordkeeping Tools – Discover innovative ways to track hive health and productivity.

This expanded edition also features a fresh, user-friendly design with larger, easy-to-read text, a clearer structure for quick reference, and dozens of new, vibrant photos that bring beekeeping to life.

With trusted guidance from Kim Flottum, editor emeritus of Bee Culture magazine, you’ll gain the confidence and know-how to cultivate healthy, productive bees and enjoy the sweet rewards of your own hive.

Start your beekeeping journey today—naturally, sustainably, and successfully. – Quarry Books

Beekeeping for Gardeners: the Complete Step-to-Step Guide to Keeping Bees in your Garden by Richard Rickitt

A comprehensive gardener’s guide to sustainable beekeeping.

Beekeeping has changed. While once it was a hobby that pursued the rich rewards of honey and wax, many new beekeepers now instead seek the gratification of knowing that they are aiding the survival of one of the world’s most important creatures. Keeping bees today is as much about providing the right habitats and resources to help pollinators thrive as it is about chasing every drop of golden honey.

This beautifully illustrated guide to the ancient hobby of beekeeping shows today’s gardeners how to create beautiful gardens that are richly rewarding for people and bees alike. Flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetable plots can provide colourful beauty and delicious produce as well as vital pollen and nectar when bees need it the most. There are lists of the top-performing plants and how and where to grow them, including window boxes, lawns, borders, wild gardens and even ponds.

Beekeeping for Gardeners looks at the pleasures and benefits of keeping honey bees in gardens of all types and sizes, both rural and urban. It explains the practicalities involved in keeping bees in the domestic garden setting, as well as on rooftops, allotments, parks, farmland and other locations. Importantly, and unlike any book before, this guide sets the delightful hobby of beekeeping within the context of the wider environment, asking how it can best serve the needs of all types of pollinator and the local ecology in general.

Whether you’re looking to attract more bumblebees and solitary bees or want to install a beehive, this wonderful book contains all the guidance you’ll need to have a garden buzzing with bees. – Green Books

Buzz: the Nature and Necessity of Bees by Thor Hanson

Bees are like oxygen: ubiquitous, essential, and, for the most part, unseen. While we might overlook them, they lie at the heart of relationships that bind the human and natural worlds. In Buzz, the beloved Thor Hanson takes us on a journey that begins 125 million years ago, when a wasp first dared to feed pollen to its young. From honeybees and bumbles to lesser-known diggers, miners, leafcutters, and masons, bees have long been central to our harvests, our mythologies, and our very existence. They’ve given us sweetness and light, the beauty of flowers, and as much as a third of the foodstuffs we eat. And, alarmingly, they are at risk of disappearing.

As informative and enchanting as the waggle dance of a honeybee, Buzz shows us why all bees are wonders to celebrate and protect. Read this book and you’ll never overlook them again. – Basic Books

A Honeybee Heart has Five Openings: A Year of Keeping Bees by Helen Jukes

A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings begins as the author is entering her thirties and feeling disconnected in her life. Uneasy about her future and struggling to settle into her new house in Oxford with its own small garden, she is brought back to a time of accompanying a friend in London—a beekeeper—on his hive visits. And as a gesture of good fortune for her new life, she is given a colony of honeybees. According to folklore, a colony, freely given, brings good luck, and Helen Jules embarks on a rewarding, perilous journey of becoming a beekeeper.

Jukes writes about what it means to “keep” wild creatures; on how to live alongside beings whose laws and logic are so different from our own . . . She delves into the history of beekeeping and writes about discovering the ancient, haunting, sometimes disturbing relationship between keeper and bee, human and wild thing.

A Honeybee Heart Has Five Openings is a book of observation, of the irrepressible wildness of these fascinating creatures, of the ways they seem to evade our categories each time we attempt to define them. Are they wild or domestic? Individual or collective? Is honey an animal product or is it plant-based? As the author’s colony grows, the questions that have, at first compelled her interest to fade away, and the inbetweenness, the unsettledness of honeybees call for a different kind of questioning, of consideration.

A subtle yet urgent mediation on uncertainty and hope, on solitude and friendship, on feelings of restlessness and on home; on how we might better know ourselves. A book that shows us how to be alert to the large and small creatures that flit between and among us and that urge us to learn from this vital force so necessary to be continuation of life on planet Earth. – Pantheon

Bonus Cozy Mystery!

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts (book 1 in the Bee Keeping Mystery series)

As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.

A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey’s grandmother’s infamous “Honey I’m Home” hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and “smoke out” the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars. – Crooked Lane Books

The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean

- Bill Leave a comment

Some medical “professionals” want to get to hell FAST, and they don’t want a layover in DC.  In The Icepick Surgeon: Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science, we learn about several all-time recipients of that direct flight. This book by Sam Kean is a compilation of unethically gleaned (albeit semi-useful) human medical knowledge.

Do not even bother going down the rabbit hole of motivation.  It sure as hell had nothing to do with the Hippocratic oath.  These cretins were motivated by profit, sadism, god complex, or evil just for the sake of evil.  Is it permissible to use bodies of the unwitting as your own personal petri dish?  Absofrigginlutely not.  Did these abominations advance the wheels of science under laboratory conditions that should never be replicated?  Yes.   But if your loved one is dying of hypothermia, for example, would you want all Nazi trials stricken from the record?  Because those ghouls learned a great deal probing the reaches of human anatomy.

That’s the thinkpiece behind Kean’s work, where we explore operations and experimentation that will just plain make you wince.  Looking at you, Mr. Transorbital Lobotomy.  Of course, the Tuskegee syphilis study gets due treatment.  But were you aware of its parallel counterpart study in Guatemala prisons?  To simulate transmission in the “wild” it frequently employed alcohol and female practitioners of (ahem) the oldest profession.  Its methodology certainly cannot be described in this family blog.

A doff of the cap is given to their ethically-unencumbered progenitors.  As Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra allegedly satiated her intellectual curiosity with an endless supply of slaves.  And Dr. Mengele….well, he was just a sadistic war criminal that took copious notes.    Thomas Edison had no compunction about sending local hounds to the rainbow bridge, or ripping off Nikola Tesla, for that matter.  If you hadn’t deduced already, smart does not equal scrupulous. And success does not concern itself with your posthumous moral judgment.

New Wellness Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

Looking for new wellness books? The Library has new books covering this topic hitting our shelves every month. Below you will find a list of some of our newest wellness titles!

These titles are available at the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. Descriptions have been provided by the publisher.

How Not to Get Sick: A Cookbook and Guide to Prevent and Reverse Insulin Resistance, Lose Weight, and Fight Chronic Disease by Benjamin Bikman PhD and Diana Keuilian

Internationally renowned scientist Benjamin Bikman and fitness coach and recipe developer Diana Keuilian translate the latest research into actionable, easy-to-follow steps to help the nearly 9 in 10 American adults affected with insulin resistance.

In this companion guide featuring 70 low-carb and keto-friendly recipes, Bikman has teamed up with the fitness expert and recipe developer Diana Keuilian to help the nearly 9 in 10 American adults affected with insulin resistance. Together, they translate the latest research into actionable, easy-to-follow steps. You can make dramatic improvements in your insulin sensitivity, resist chronic illness, attain a healthy weight, and improve your energy.

In part one, learn how to assess your health and understand the science behind insulin resistance. In part two, discover a three-pronged approach to reversing insulin resistance or maintaining insulin sensitivity, plus meal plans incorporating intermittent fasting. And in part three, get the tools to put the plan into action, with beginner-friendly exercises and more than 70 low-carb and keto-friendly recipes.

Illustrated with stunning full-color photography and chock-full of knowledge and encouragement, How Not to Get Sick is an essential resource for healthy living. – BenBella Books

The New Whole30: The Definitive Plan to Transform Your Health, Habits, and Relationship with Food by Melissa Urban

A modern guide to the Whole30, featuring an updated approach to food freedom, the Original and Plant-Based programs, and over 100 new recipes.

Since its debut in 2009, the #1 New York Times bestselling Whole30 program has helped millions of people radically transform their health, habits, and relationship with food and discover lasting food freedom. Grounded in nutrition and behavior change science and 15 years of clinical evidence, the Whole30 has been praised by countless doctors and dietitians and is supported by thousands of glowing testimonials.

Inspired by her community, the newest research, and the ever-changing food landscape, Whole30 co-founder Melissa Urban has expanded the program to be even more accessible, supportive, and effective. In The New Whole30, you’ll find completely updated rules, language, and success strategies for every phase of your journey.

In her signature direct and empathic style, Melissa distills more than a decade of expert knowledge and experience into the essential resource for Whole30 alumni and first timers alike. The New Whole30 is sure to be your ultimate guide to success. – Rodale Books

Plantifully Simple: 100 Plant-Based Recipes and Meal Plans for Health and Weight-Loss (a Cookbook) by Kiki Nelson

Reclaim your health with Kiki Nelson’s all-new super simple plant-based recipes and a 28-day meal plan that will kickstart new habits and enable you to maintain your health and weight loss.

Whether you want to prevent diabetes and stroke, sleep better, heal PCOS, resolve any number of health concerns associated with weight, are trying to shed those last ten pounds, or you are simply in a maintenance stage, Plantifully Simple is for you.

Kiki Nelson, who lost seventy pounds on a plant-based diet and eliminated her risk for diabetes and stroke, shares the recipes, meal plans, plate-building, and mindset she adopted to reclaim her health—and keep off the weight. Here, she offers 100 all-new recipes that are as delicious as they are satisfying: they depend on luscious fruits and vegetables as well as comforting and satisfying carbs so you will never be bored or hungry—or feel restricted. Kiki knows that to lose weight you need a plan, and here she offers two foolproof plans. Both can deliver results, and offer freedom and peace of mind when it comes to making food choices. – S&S / Simon Element

Take Control of Your IBS: The Step-By-Step Guide That Actually Works by Kirsten Jackson

Take Control of Your IBS is the road-tested, practical guide that will change your life. Offering simple, fad-free professional advice, it will help you diagnose issues, bring comfort and reduce symptoms and flare-ups.

With so much misinformation out there for those of us with irritable bowel syndrome, it can be hard to know where to start. Drawing on scientific research and personal experience, consultant dietitian Kirsten Jackson guides you through each step.

By laying strong foundations in your mental well-being, sleep optimisation, movement and nutrition as well as finding the right treatment, you can get back to the things you enjoy in life.

  • Find out how to get the right tests for your symptoms
  • Learn the tried-and-tested process that has been used in practice with thousands of IBS sufferers
  • Hear real-life experiences from people who have improved their lives

The good news is – it is possible to manage your IBS. This book shows you how. – Bloomsbury Publishing

The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 101 Brain-Healthy Recipes to Protect Your Mind and Boost Your Mood by Serena Ball

Boost your brain power, protect your memory, and balance your mood with the sunny flavors and proven benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Following the bestselling success of The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook and The Sustainable Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, Serena Ball and Deanna Segrave-Daly share more than 100 recipes specifically formulated with your brain and mood in mind.

With recipes that provide “food for thought,” from breakfast to dessert, as well as snacks, sides, and small plates, you’ll reach for this book again and again—whether you’re cooking a family dinner or a meal for a large gathering. Dishes include Mediterranean Sun Gold Granola, Berry Smart Seeded Dressing Over Greens, Green Falafel Fritters with Red Pepper Sauce, Sizzling Shrimp and Peppers with Cilantro, Moroccan Spiced Hot Chocolate, and more.

Eating a Mediterranean diet is one of the most effective ways to protect and enhance your brain health, halt inflammation, improve symptoms of depression, and help to reduce daily stress. Research shows results in less than two months—but good nutrition only works if you want to eat the food.

That’s where The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook comes in. Serena and Deanna’s smart recipes are layered with enticing Mediterranean flavors and the most potent brain-boosting ingredients. This book solves the dilemma of “what’s for dinner” while enhancing your brain and mood with every dish. – BenBella Books

The Young Forever Cookbook: More Than 100 Delicious Recipes for Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life by Mark Hyman

The companion cookbook to Dr. Hyman’s #1 New York Times bestseller Young Forever, featuring more than 100 delicious recipes to support a long, youthful life.

Dr. Mark Hyman’s revolutionary book Young Forever revealed how to reverse the biological hallmarks of aging through easy and accessible dietary, lifestyle, and longevity strategies. In this companion cookbook, Dr. Hyman shares more than 100 satisfying recipes to help you eat your way to a longer life.

Rooted in the latest science, the recipes in The Young Forever Cookbook feature good fats, quality proteins, nutrient-dense vegetables, leafy greens, and a variety of other ingredients proven to support longevity. You’ll find a range of meals and snacks designed to fight inflammation, boost your immune system, and promote healthy aging, including:

  • Roasted Red Pepper and Zucchini Frittata
  • Thai Turkey Larb Lettuce Wraps
  • Braised Pomegranate Lamb Shanks
  • Roasted Rhubarb-Strawberry Coconut Crumble
  • And many more

With mouthwatering options for every lifestyle and diet, The Young Forever Cookbook is your guide to maintaining a healthy life—and creating a healthier future. – Little Brown Spark

Why We Love Football

- Bill Leave a comment

Why We Love Football is so much more than a compilation of great plays in no particular order.   Hard to accept, but in some ways, this product is superior to mere screen viewing.  In fact, you probably saw half of these historic moments live without knowing what lie behind those X’s and O’s.  There’s “The Catch”, the “Helmet Catch”, and the “Immaculate Reception”.  As this work makes clear, you only viewed the tip of the iceberg.

Posnanski frames each of these iconic football moments within their proper historical context, teaching us about all the principal characters involved and their formative influences.  Where did these scrappy upstarts come from?  What propelled them to that moment?  What formidable odds were they up against?   More than once I had to log into Youtube to see them again with fresh eyes.  Give it a shot, what else are you doing between now and the draft?

New Books on Environmentalism

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Curious about how you can help the environment? Check out these new books about environmentalism available at the Davenport Public Library! From practical ways to make your kitchen zero waste to learning about climate change, these titles cover a wide variety of topics related to environmentalism. If you’re looking for other similar topics, feel free to contact us today!

All of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. The descriptions are provided by the publisher.

Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life by Ferris Jabr

A vivid account of a major shift in how we understand Earth, from an exceptionally talented new voice. Earth is not simply an inanimate planet on which life evolved, but rather a planet that came to life.

One of humanity’s oldest beliefs is that our world is alive. Though once ridiculed by some scientists, the idea of Earth as a vast interconnected living system has gained acceptance in recent decades. We, and all living things, are more than inhabitants of Earth—we are Earth, an outgrowth of its structure and an engine of its evolution. Life and its environment have coevolved for billions of years, transforming a lump of orbiting rock into a cosmic oasis—a planet that breathes, metabolizes, and regulates its climate.

Acclaimed science writer Ferris Jabr reveals a radical new vision of Earth where lush forests spew water, pollen, and bacteria to summon rain; giant animals engineer the very landscapes they roam; microbes chew rock to shape continents; and microscopic plankton, some as glittering as carved jewels, remake the air and sea.

Humans are one of the most extreme examples of life transforming Earth. Through fossil fuel consumption, agriculture, and pollution, we have altered more layers of the planet in less time than any other species, pushing Earth into a crisis. But we are also uniquely able to understand and protect the planet’s wondrous ecology and self-stabilizing processes. Jabr introduces us to a diverse cast of fascinating people who have devoted themselves to this vital work.

Becoming Earth is an exhilarating journey through the hidden workings of our planetary symphony—its players, its instruments, and the music of life that emerges—and an invitation to reexamine our place in it. How well we play our part will determine what kind of Earth our descendants inherit for millennia to come. – Random House

Before It’s Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America by Jonathan Vigliotti

Discussion of the climate crisis has always suffered from a problem of abstraction. Data points and warnings of an overheated future struggle to break through the noise of everyday life. Deniers often portray climate solutions as inconvenient, expensive, and unnecessary. And many politicians, cloistered by status and focused always on their next election, do not yet see climate as a winning issue in the short run. But climate change is here whether we want to pay attention or not.

CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti has personally witnessed that crisis unfold, spending nearly two decades reporting across the United States (and the world) documenting the people, communities, landmarks, and traditions we’ve already surrendered. Vigliotti shares with urgency and personal touch the story of an America on the brink.

This “page-turning tour de force” (Steve Brusatte, New York Times bestselling author) traces Vigliotti’s travels across the country, taking him to the frontlines of climate disaster and revealing the genuine impacts of climate change that countless Americans have already been forced to confront. From massive forest fires in California to hurricanes in Louisiana, receding coastlines in Massachusetts and devastated fisheries in Alaska, we learn that warnings of a future impacted by climate are no more; the climate catastrophe is already here. – Atria / One Signal Publishers

The Age of Melt: What Glaciers, Ice Mummies, and Ancient Artifacts Teach Us about Climate, Culture, and a Future Without Ice by Lisa Baril

A thought-provoking scientific narrative investigating ice patch archaeology and the role of glaciers in the development of human culture.

Glaciers figure prominently in both ancient and contemporary narratives around the world. They inspire art and literature. They spark both fear and awe. And they give and take life. In The Age of Melt, environmental journalist Lisa Baril explores the deep-rooted cultural connection between humans and ice through time.

Thousands of organic artifacts are emerging from patches of melting ice in mountain ranges around the world. Archaeologists are in a race against time to find them before they disappear forever. In entertaining and enlightening prose, Baril travels from the Alps to the Andes, investigating what these artifacts teach us about climate and culture. But this is not a chronicle of loss. The Age of Melt explores what these artifacts reveal about culture, wilderness, and what we gain when we rethink our relationship to the world and its most precious and ephemeral substance—ice. – Timber Press

The Burning Earth: A History by Sunil Amrith

A brilliant, paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, over the last 500 years.

In this magisterial book, historian Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, of an extraordinary expansion of human freedom and its planetary costs. Drawing on an extraordinarily rich diversity of primary sources, he reckons with the ruins of Portuguese silver mining in Peru, British gold mining in South Africa, and oil extraction in Central Asia. He explores the railroads and highways that brought humans to new terrains of battle against each other and against stubborn nature. Amrith’s account of the ways in which the First and Second World Wars involved the massive mobilization not only of men, but of other natural resources from around the globe, provides an essential new way of understanding war as an irreversible reshaping of the planet. So too does this book reveal the reality of migration as consequence of environmental harm.

The imperial, globe-spanning pursuit of profit, joined with new forms of energy and new possibilities of freedom from hunger and discomfort, freedom to move and explore, has brought change to every inch of the Earth. Amrith relates in gorgeous prose, and on the largest canvas, a mind-altering epic—vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid images—in which humanity might find the collective wisdom to save itself. – WW Norton & Company

The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet by Nadina Galle

In the tradition of Elizabeth Kolbert and Michael Pollan, The Nature of Our Cities is a stirring exploration of how innovators from around the world are combining urban nature with emerging technologies, protecting the planet’s cities from the effects of climate change and safeguarding the health of their inhabitants.

We live in an age when humanity spends 90% of its time indoors, yet the nature around us—especially in America’s cities—has never been more vital. This distancing from nature has sparked crises in mental health, longevity, and hope for the next generation, while also heightening the risks we face from historic floods, heatwaves, and wildfires. Indeed, embracing nature holds untapped potential to strengthen and fortify our cities, suburbs, and towns, providing solutions spanning flood preparation, wildfire management, and promoting longevity. As ecological engineer Dr. Nadina Galle shows in The Nature of Our Cities nature is our most critical infrastructure for tackling the climate crisis. It just needs a little help.

A fellow at MIT’s Senseable City Lab and selected for Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, Galle is at the forefront of the growing movement to fuse nature and technology for urban resilience. In THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES, she embarks on a journey as fascinating as it is pressing, showing how scientists and citizens from around the world are harnessing emerging technologies to unlock the power of the natural world to save their cities, a phenomenon she calls the “Internet of Nature.” Traveling the globe, Galle examines how urban nature, long an afterthought for many, actually points the way toward a more sustainable future. She reveals how technology can help nature navigate this precarious moment with modern advances such as:

  • Laser-mapping that identifies at-risk neighborhoods to fight deadly health disparities
  • A.I.-powered robots that prevent wildfires from reaching urban areas
  • Intelligent water gardens that protect cities from floods and hurricanes

Advanced sensors that achieve 99% tree survival in dry, hot summers
Optimistic in spirit yet pragmatic in approach, Galle writes persuasively that the future of urban life depends on balancing the natural world with the technology that can help sustain it. By turns clear-eyed and lyrical, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES marks the emergence of an invigorating, prescient new talent in nature writing. – Mariner Books

101 Tips for a Zero-Waste Kitchen by Kathryn Kellogg

Forty percent of all food produced in the US is wasted—the author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste is here with solutions!

Kathryn Kellogg is taking her accessible tips for a zero-waste lifestyle and focusing on the heart of the house. Our kitchens can produce a shocking amount of waste and, even though food scraps may seem harmless, they can’t properly decompose in a landfill. What’s more: wasting food can strain your wallet. The average American family of four will lose $1,500 annually on food waste. It’s time to turn things around!

101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen is your guide to reducing waste in your kitchen. Kathryn will teach you how to buy in bulk, avoid unnecessary packaging, upcycle jars, and more. Plus, she’ll give you recipes that make use of your scraps: preserve your lemon peels for extra flavor, create simple syrup from strawberry tops, and revive shriveled mushrooms. With a little work and Kathryn in your corner, you’ll have the tools you need to reach the ultimate goal: no produce left behind! – WW Norton & Company

New Spirituality Books

- Stephanie Leave a comment

If you’re looking for a book about spirituality, you may be surprised at all the different types of books that fall under this category. If you’re unsure where to start, I recommend you look at our new spirituality books. Below you will find a list of new spirituality books that have just hit our new shelves. If you’re looking for more, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!

These titles are currently owned by the Davenport Public Library at the time of this writing. Descriptions have been provided by the publishers.

Finding God’s Will for Your Life: Discovering the Plans God Has for You by Joyce Meyer

Did you ever dream about what you would be when you grew up? We think naturally about our purpose because God tells us that He created us to do great things. But how do we know when we have truly found God’s calling for our lives? Many people live most of their lives striving to find and follow God’s will but still wondering whether they’ve gotten it right. The many pressures, expectations, and distractions we experience can create confusion and anxiety and cause us to doubt whether we are following God’s will or if He even has a plan for us at all.

Beloved Bible teacher Joyce Meyer invites us on a journey to confidence, freedom, and peace through exploring the wisdom of what the Bible tells us about God’s character and about His love and purpose for us. She also offers practical steps to discovering how to build your trust in God, seek His guidance, and overcome the fear of missing out on His best for you.

If you’re struggling to have confidence that you can hear God’s voice and know what He’s created you to be and do, Finding God’s Will for Your Life will leave you with more peace and more confidence to live joyfully in God’s love and walk the path He has for you. – FaithWords

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger

A near-fatal health emergency leads to this powerful reflection on death—and what might follow—by the bestselling author of Tribe and The Perfect Storm.

For years as an award-winning war reporter, Sebastian Junger traveled to many front lines and frequently put his life at risk. And yet the closest he ever came to death was the summer of 2020 while spending a quiet afternoon at the New England home he shared with his wife and two young children. Crippled by abdominal pain, Junger was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Junger to join him. “It’s okay,” his father said. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’ll take care of you.” That was the last thing Junger remembered until he came to the next day when he was told he had suffered a ruptured aneurysm that he should not have survived.

This experience spurred Junger—a confirmed atheist raised by his physicist father to respect the empirical—to undertake a scientific, philosophical, and deeply personal examination of mortality and what happens after we die. How do we begin to process the brutal fact that any of us might perish unexpectedly on what begins as an ordinary day? How do we grapple with phenomena that science may be unable to explain? And what happens to a person, emotionally and spiritually, when forced to reckon with such existential questions?

In My Time of Dying is part medical drama, part searing autobiography, and part rational inquiry into the ultimate unknowable mystery. – Simon & Schuster

Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart by Brian D McLaren

A deeply insightful exploration of how to live with wisdom, resilience and love in our turbulent times

For the last quarter-century, author and activist Brian D. McLaren has been writing at the intersection of religious faith and contemporary culture. In Life After Doom, he engages with the catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse. McLaren defines doom as the “un-peaceful, uneasy, unwanted feeling” that “we humans have made a mess of our civilization and our planet, and not enough of us seem to care enough to change deeply enough or quickly enough to save ourselves.”

Blending insights from philosophers, poets, scientists, and theologians, Life After Doom explores the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief, and the need for new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging in turbulent times. If you want to help yourself, your family, and the communities to which you belong to find courage and resilience for the deeply challenging times that are upon us — this is the book you need right now. – St. Martin’s Essentials

The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy by Jim Wallis

It is time says Jim Wallis, to call out genuine faith—specifically the “Christian” in White Christian Nationalism—inviting all who can be persuaded to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy. We need–to raise up the faith of all of us, and help those who are oblivious, stuck, and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. Wallis turns our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and what Jesus, in the gospels, has called us to do. It is time to ask anew: do we believe these teachings or not?

This book isn’t only for Christians but for all faith traditions, and even those with no faith at all. When we see a civic promotion of fear, hate, and violence for the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing, and hope to defeat it. And that must involve all of us–religious or not. Learning to practice a politics of neighbor love will be central to the future of democracy in America. And more than ever, the words of Jesus ring, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – St. Martin’s Essentials

More New Spirituality Books

Adventures in Carsonia

- Bill Leave a comment

Reliable, dependable, and comforting when not on prolonged vacations, Johnny Carson tucked a nation of millions in for three decades.  “The Prince” stuffed his hands in his pockets and cornerstoned his career as the impish smirking naughty kid.  He constructed a godlike level of cool, descending from his everyman persona. The key?  His unabashed knack for self-deprecation, routinely forking over his dignity for the audience.  And they revered him for it.  It was funnier when the joke didn’t work, and when he skewered his failed nuptials.  Johnny was in on the joke, contrary to all the prior self-serious talking heads.

When I thought I had enjoyed the definitive tell-all of Johnny, lo and behold Carson the Magnificent came out this past November.   You get to hear the origins of everything….from the pantomimed golf swing to the iconic “heeeeere’s Johnny.”  And then there’s experienced pitchman Ed, gameshow host and emcee with the boisterous guffaw, second only to that Dick Clark kid.  Fun fact: fans expected Johnny to be diminutive, since he always stood next to his 6’ 4” WWII Naval Aviator second banana.

At times the late author Bill Zehme desperately wants you to know he had a high SAT verbal score.  And I guess that’s okay for the New Yorker crowd.  We learn when you get past the starlets and palatial estates he was just a journeyman Nebraska magician with a ca-ca eating grin.  His mother’s cold-hearted cruelty ruined his adult relationships.  After a couple drinks, he inherited this maternal trait.    And when he said he was done, he meant it.

Not to belabor the point, but sample the magic Monday through Friday on antenna tv WQAD 8.2 at 9PM.  And Saturdays at 10p!