On the shelves - Nov. 11

The following books are available at:

Clovis-Carver Public Library

"No Time to Lose: A Life in Pursuit of Deadly Viruses" by Peter Piot recounts the riveting story of a doctor's remarkable career, from identifying the Ebola virus to pioneering AIDS research and policy, capturing the urgency and excitement of being on the front lines in the fight against today's deadliest diseases and preparing for new epidemics to come.

"The Next Best Thing" by Jennifer Weiner takes a rollicking ride down the Hollywood rollercoaster as aspiring screenwriter Ruth Saunders copes with demanding actors, number-crunching executives, an unrequited crush on her boss, and her seventy-year-old grandmother's impending wedding.

"Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West" by Dorothy Wickenden reconstructs the story of two intrepid young women who shocked their families and friends by applying for teaching jobs in the wilds of northwestern Colorado in 1916 and whose buoyant letters home captured the adventure of a lifetime in a year that transformed the children, the pioneer homesteaders, and the teachers themselves.

"Ransom River" by Meg Gardiner features a deeply flawed, compelling heroine, Rory Mackenzie, who serves on a jury in a high-profile murder trial that dredges up an unsolved murder from the past and a truth that might destroy her if brought to light.

"Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President" by Candice Millard brings to life the haunting tale of James Garfield, a remarkable man who was elected president in 1880, only to be assassinated four months later by a delusional office

"2312" by Kim Robinson is a bold and brilliant futuristic novel in which Earth is no longer humanity's only home, new habitats have been established throughout the solar system, and a sequence of events force Swan Er Hong, a woman who once designed worlds, into a plot to destroy them.

"Treasure Island: The Untold Story" by John Amrhein traces the historical background behind Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale, documenting the historical theft of fifty-two chests of silver from a Spanish galleon that were later buried on a deserted island in the West Indies.

Portales News-Tribune

"Oddly Normal: One Family's Struggle to Help Their Teenage Son Come to Terms With His Sexuality" by John Schwartz. Three years ago, New York Times national correspondent, John Schwartz got the call that every parent hopes never to receive: His 13-year-old son, Joe, was in the hospital following a suicide attempt. After mustering the courage to come out to his classmates, Joe had gone on a tirade about sexist and homophobic attitudes that was greeted with unease and confusion by his fellow students. He took an overdose of pills just hours later. After a couple of weeks in the hospital and a stay in a psychiatric treatment center, Joe returned to his family; however, as he recovered his parents were dismayed by his school's inability or reluctance to deal with Joe's needs. Determined to help their son feel more comfortable in his own skin, Schwartz and his wife, Jeanne, launched their own search for groups and services that could help Joe know he wasn't alone.

"The Giving Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel" by Jennifer Chiaverini. The week after Thanksgiving is "Quiltsgiving" at Elm Creek Manor, a time to commence a season of generosity. From near and far, quilters and aspiring quilters gather for a special winter session of quilt camp to make quilts for Project Linus, a charitable organization dedicated to providing handmade quilts and blankets to children in need. Ever mindful that many of her neighbors, friends, and family members are struggling through difficult times, each quilter uses her creative gifts to alleviate their collective burden. As the week unfolds, the quilters respond to Sylvia's provocative question, "Why do you give?" in ways as varied as the life experiences that drew them to Elm Creek Manor. Comfort and love are sewn into the bright, warm, beautiful quilts they stitch, and their stories collectively consider the strength of human connection and its rich rewards.

"The Sins of the Mother" by Danielle Steel. Olivia Grayson has made many difficult choices as an enormously successful businesswoman and has missed out on much of her children's lives while she built her legendary home-furnishings empire. Olivia spends months each year planning a holiday that everyone in her family will enjoy as a way of making up to them for time lost. This summer she has arranged a dream trip in the Mediterranean which she hopes will be the most memorable of all. Her lavish gesture every year expresses her regret at all the important times she missed during her children's younger years and her love for them. Her younger daughter, Cassie, has refused the invitation altogether. Her older daughter, Liz, lives in her mother's shadow trying to recapture her dream of being a writer. Her sons, John and Phillip, work for Olivia with wives who wish they didn't. In the splendor of the Riviera, this should be a summer to remember, with Olivia's grandchildren, children, and daughters-in-law on board, but as with any family gathering, there are always surprises, and no matter how glamorous the setting, things don't always turn out as one hopes.