Hot Picks : Week of September 21

Autumn's Arrived, Along with Great Books

Autumn 2009 officially begins on Tuesday, August 22. As many of you know, Tuesday is also the day of the week to expect latest hot picks! If you haven't yet placed your holds for these selections, which will no doubt become bestsellers in short order, place a reserve online or give us a call at 860-267-6621. Also keep in mind our Speed Read option; Speed Read copies circulate for 7 days, first come-first served, no reserves.

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon

More about Jamie and Claire... think blockbuster! For more about the series, click here.

Hardball by Sara Paretsky

In this 13th novel to feature gutsy PI V.I. "Vic" Warshawski, last seen in 2005's Fire Sale, V.I. becomes embroiled in the ugly side of Chicago politics. Expect to see continuing characters (niece Petra, for one) in Paretsky's latest.

A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve
The latest tale, set in Kenya, by the author of blockbusters The Pilot's Wife (an Oprah pick) and Testimony (2008), among others.

The Greatest Show on Earth : the Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins

The author of several books, Dawkins intends to convince the unconvinced that Darwin was right. Pair this with a number of books that say Darwin was wrong and decide for yourself.

The Lost Art of Gratitude by Alexander McCall Smith

This is Smith's sixth novel featuring Scottish philosopher Isabel Dalhousie. Smith's especially good at observing what makes people "tick" and does so with great humor and style.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

If you enjoyed Atwood's Oryx and Crake (2003), try this one. This multi-layered dystopian novel echoes many a current debate about ecology, ethics, and environmental stability.