New Books 12/19/16

Bear: The Life and Times of Augustus Owsley Stanley III by Robert Greenfield
Greenfield traces the life of the Grateful Dead benefactor and LSD chemist who played an indelible role in 1960s counterculture, describing how he helped finance and record the band’s early works.

Blood Vow by J. R. Ward
Isolated from his fellow Black Dagger Brotherhood recruits by a personal tragedy, talented fighter Axe is assigned to protect an alluring aristocratic woman, Elise, who would uncover the truth about a cousin’s murder.

But You Did Not Come Back by Marceline Loridan-Ivens
An activist and documentary filmmaker, who was arrested in occupied France at the age of fifteen, presents this deeply personal account of her experiences during the Holocaust and the death of her father in a concentration camp that overshadowed her whole life.

The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel
Sobel shares the lesser-known story of the scientific contributions of a group of women working at the Harvard College Observatory from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, tracing their collection of star observations captured nightly on glass photographic plates that enabled extraordinary discoveries.

The Hermit by Thomas Rydahl
When a young boy’s body is found in the trunk of a crashed car at a Canary Islands resort, long-time islander and unlikely detective Erhard decides to take on the case.

Nothing Ever Dies by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Nguyen explores the conflict that Americans call the Vietnam War and Vietnamese call the American War, from different cultural forms, including novels, memoirs, cemeteries, monuments, films, photography, museum exhibits, and souvenirs.

The Other Slavery by Andrés Reséndez
Reséndez reveals the massive enslavement of tens of thousands of Native Americans from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries, describing how kidnapping and forced labor played a key role in the decimations of Indian populations across North America.

Out of Bounds by Val McDemid
When a teen joyrider crashes a stolen car and ends up in a coma, a routine DNA test reveals a connection to a twisted unsolved murder from more than two decades earlier.

Ray and Joan by Lisa Napoli
A portrait of the relationship between McDonald’s chairman Ray Croc and his wife, Joan, describes how he helped establish an international brand and amassed a considerable estate before his impassioned wife gave most of the family fortune away to philanthropic pursuits.

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
A collection of whimsical autobiographical essays by the Academy Award-nominated actress and star of Up in the Air recounts memorable milestones from her New England upbringing to the blockbuster films that have made her one of Hollywood’s most popular actresses.

Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
A comprehensive history of anti-black racism focuses on the lives of five major players in American history and highlights the debates that took place between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and anti-racists.

Superficial: More Adventures from the Andy Cohen Diaries by Andy Cohen
A follow-up to “The Andy Cohen Diaries” recounts his personal and professional escapades during such events as his country tour with sidekick Anderson Cooper, the launch of Sirius station “Radio Andy,” and his hosting of NBC’s Primetime New Year’s Eve special.

Tasty: The Art and Science of What We Eat by John McQuaid
A fascinating and deeply researched investigation into the mysteries of flavor, from our ancestors’ first bites to ongoing scientific advances in taste and today’s “foodie” revolution.

Tom Clancy: True Faith and Allegiance by Mark Greaney
Investigating a massive data breach that threatens the security of every U.S. intelligence operative in the world, President Jack Ryan confronts an impossible choice when the data is obtained and exploited by the Chinese government.

A Touch of Farmhouse Charm by Liz Fourez
Dozens of beginner-friendly decorating and furniture projects inspired by the trendy rustic country style are organized by room and feature step-by-step photo instructions for options ranging from drop cloth curtains and a barn wood sofa table to a vintage breadboard and fabric-covered books.

Watcher in the Wall by Owen Laukkanen
When a student’s suicide is tied to a disturbing online suicide club of unhappy teens, Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere discover that an anonymous psychopath is manipulating the teens into self-destructive acts.

The Way of the Writer by Charles Johnson
The National Book Award-winning author of Middle Passage presents an inspiring guide to the craft and art of writing that examines the creative impulse while sharing lessons and exercises that reinforce the mechanical process of storytelling.