What's new at your local library

BOISE PUBLIC LIBRARYwww.boisepubliclibrary.org

"The Development," by John Barth

Adult fiction. Consisting of nine stories that are funny and mournful by turns, literary master John Barth examines a loosely knit, gated community on Maryland's Eastern Shore and portrays a variety of characters grappling with the fears and regrets of aging. Funny and sad, playful and sardonic, septuagenarian Barth continues to hit his mark.

MERIDIAN PUBLIC LIBRARYwww.mld.org

"The Enchantress of Florence," by Salman Rushdie

Adult fiction. "The Enchantress of Florence" is the story of a woman attempting to command her destiny in a man's world. It is the story of two cities, unknown to each other, at the height of their powers - the hedonistic Mughal capital, in which the brilliant Akbar the Great wrestles with questions of belief, desire, and the treachery of his sons, and the equally sensual city of Florence during the High Renaissance, where Niccolo Machiavelli takes a starring role as he learns, the hard way, about the true brutality of power.

ADA COMMUNITY LIBRARYwww.adalib.org

"Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Uncovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence - and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process," by Irene M. Pepperberg

Adult non-fiction. In September 2007, a 31-year-old African grey parrot died, after showing us the remarkable capabilities of another species. As his professor mentor expressed, he challenged all assumptions of what a walnut-sized brain could do by learning colors, shapes and cognitive reasoning beyond any documented. A televised interview on the Scientific American Frontiers program, with actor Alan Alda, gave her research worldwide visibility.

EAGLE PUBLIC LIBRARYwww.eaglepubliclibrary.org

"The New Elite: Inside the Minds of the Truly Wealthy," by Jim Taylor

Adult non-fiction. With the spotlight seemingly always on the rich and famous, it's surprising just how little we know about America's wealthiest citizens. This book presents the many faces of the American rich and highlights the diverse factors that drive and define our country's most powerful and influential class.

GARDEN CITY LIBRARYwww.notaquietlibrary.org

"Good Dog. Stay," by Anna Quindlen

Adult non-fiction. Can man's best friend give the world's best advice? From Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen comes a witty, yet heartwarming reflection on her lifelong journey with her black Labrador, Beau. Quindlen shares some of the lessons she's learned from her good friend Beau: to roll with the punches, to take things as they are, and to celebrate the simple things. Full of Quindlen's trademark wisdom and humor, "Good Dog. Stay." gives a unique perspective of our four-legged friends.

NAMPA PUBLIC LIBRARYwww.nampalibrary.org

"Dog on It," by Spencer Quinn

Adult fiction. Meet Chet, the wise and lovable canine narrator of "Dog on It," who works alongside Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private investigator. Chet might have flunked out of police school - "I'd been the best leaper in K-9 class, which had led to all the trouble in a way I couldn't remember exactly, although blood was involved" - but he's a detective through and through.