Fiction New Releases

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

John Lowery was declared dead in 1968--the victim of a Huey crash in Vietnam, his body buried long ago in North Carolina. Four decades later, Temperance Brennan is called to the scene of a drowning in Hemmingford, Quebec. The victim appears to have died while in the midst of a bizarre sexual practice. The corpse is later identified as John Lowery. But how could Lowery have died twice, and how did an American soldier end up in Canada?  [read more] 

Ape House by Sara Gruen

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships--but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn't understand people, but animals she gets--especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she's ever felt among humans . . . until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what's really going on inside.  [read more] 

In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson 

The McCarrans and the Gallaghers, two military families, have been close for decades, ever since Anthony McCarran--now one of the army's most distinguished generals--became best friends with Jack Gallagher, a fellow West Pointer who was later killed in Vietnam. Now a new generation of soldiers faces combat, and Lt. Brian McCarran, the general's son, has returned from a harrowing tour in Iraq. Traumatized by wartime experiences he will not reveal, Brian depends on his lifelong friendship with Kate Gallagher, Jack's daughter, who is married to Brian's commanding officer in Iraq, Capt. Joe D'Abruzzo. But since coming home, D'Abruzzo also seems changed by the experiences he and Brian shared--he's become secretive and remote...  [read more]

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory


Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.  [read more]  

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown 

Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn't let rules get in his way--in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology. That's why he's the first person Caroline King--who after a thirty-year separation continues to haunt his dreams--asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter . . . the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline's call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt...   [read more] 

Non Fiction New Releases

The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow  

When and how did the universe begin? Why are we here? Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of reality? Why are the laws of nature so finely tuned as to allow for the existence of beings like ourselves? And, finally, is the apparent "grand design" of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion--or does science offer another explanation?  [read more]

A Journey by Tony Blair

A Journey is Tony Blair's account of his years in office and beyond. Here he describes his role in shaping our recent history, from the aftermath of Princess Diana's death to the war on terror. He reveals the leadership decisions that were necessary to reinvent his party, the relationships with colleagues including Gordon Brown, the grueling negotiations for peace in Northern Ireland, the implementation of the biggest reforms to public services in Britain since 1945, and his relationships with leaders on the world stage... [read more]

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris 

Featuring David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this new collection of keen-eyed animal-themed tales is an utter delight. In The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck, three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In Hello Kitty, a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In The Squirrel and the Chipmunk, a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.  [read more] 

Attract Money Now by Joe Vitale 

Attract Money Now reveals an easy, proven, seven-step formula you can use today to begin attracting money, getting out of debt, and ending the struggle once and for all. Dr. Vitale's system has nothing to do with real estate, investing, or saving for a rainy day. Instead, Attract Money Now reveals a spiritual and practical way to erase limiting beliefs, do what you love, and get into the cash flow that makes life easy for all.  [read more] 

The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton 

In a landmark article published in the esteemed Harvard Business Review, Stanford University professor Robert I. Sutton addressed a taboo topic that affects every workplace: employees who are insensitive to their colleagues, corporate bullies, bosses who just don't get it, the kind of people who make you exclaim in exasperation, "What an #@?!*#!"  [read more] 

Last Words by George Carlin

As one of America's most pre-eminent comedians, with 50 years worth of material George Carlin saw it all and made fun of most of it. Blending his signature acerbic humor with never before told stories from his own life, Last Words is part comedy routine, part reflection, and all original. Written with bestselling author Tony Hendra, Last Words is the story of the man behind some of the most seminal comedy and commentary of the last century.  [read more]

Join us at The Word on the Street!

 Toronto's The Word on the Street festival is this Sunday, September 26th, and we'll be there!  Come join us at Queen's Park from 11am - 6pm for great bargains on audiobooks.

For directions and any other info you might need, go to The Word on the Street website:

http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/toronto

Jonathan Franzen

 After the last time Oprah picked a Jonathan Franzen book (The Corrections) for her book club, you'd think she'd be nervous about doing it again.  But, apparently controversy doesn't bother Oprah, because she has picked Franzen's new novel, Freedom, for this year's book club.  Her choice also gives Franzen the rare distinction of having been in Oprah's book club more than once.

Click here for details from the AP's coverage of the story.

Marshall Goldsmith

 Marshall Goldsmith is a customer favourite around here--his series of motivational audiobooks have helped lots of people figure out what to do differently to achieve career success.  His newest title, Mojo, also got an excellent review in the Savannah Morning News: 

"Author Marshall Goldsmith gives listeners dozens of tools, website extras, (www.MojoTheBook.com), and food for thought in this audiobook, and his upbeat, eager narration is contagious." 

Click here for the rest of the review. 

Also check out What Got You Here Won't Get You There and Take it To the Next Level. 

Eric Van Lustbader

If you're a thriller fan, there's a good chance that you've listened to Eric Van Lustbader and not realized it--he has been writing the popular Bourne series since Robert Ludlum died.  He has a new book of his own out, so we wondered what was behind the name.  From his website (ericvanlustbader.com):  

"Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies. He was the first writer in the US to write about Elton John, and to predict his success."

So how did he end up writing Ludlum's series?

"Bob Ludlum and I shared agents, which is how we met."  

So there you have it.  Check out Last Snow, or the newest installment in the Bourne series: The Bourne Objective.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

 Anyone with any interest in popular science should immediately listen to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.  After hearing about a line of human cells still used in research for everything from polio to nuclear testing, Skloot decided to track down the original cell donor.  What she found led her on a years-long odyssey with the Lacks family, who were never told that Henrietta Lacks's cells were harvested before her death.  As it turns out, that sort of medical malpractice has been disturbingly common, and the audiobook is eye-opening with its accounts of clinical trials that have killed people.

Although the broader issues of medical ethics and biological research are interesting (and even science buffs will probably learn something), the heart of the story is the Lacks family, and fans of books like The Glass Castle may also find much to like in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  The narration is engaging and the story will have you sitting in the parking lot to hear what happens next.