Balanced, Happy
The book publishing industry has just roused from the torpor of summer. Here are some upcoming t itlestowatch outfor:
“Lagom (not too litnot too much) the Swedish Art of Living a Life” (Harper Design, 288 pages, $19.99, Oct. 3)
Last January I reviewed “The Little Book of Hygge — Danish Secrets to Happy Living.” A new book about “Lagom” which is the Swede variant on finding happiness, proffers the Swedish bottom line: “everything in moderation.” When it comes to happiness the Scandinavians are competitive!
“Joni- the Anthology” edited by Barney Hoskins (Picador, 320 pages, $26.00, Oct. 3)
Joni Mitchell has had a long brilliant musical career. This collection of music criticism, reviews, and interviews from 1968 through 2014 should delight her fans.
“Reckless Daughter” by David Yaffe (Sarah Crichton Books, 421 pages, $28.00, Oct. 17)
This biography of Joni Mitchell takes readers through the highs and lows of a fascinating life. Her romantic dalliances were as varied as her musical achievements. Mitchell reputedly had love affairs with music stars James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, and David Crosby.
“Deep Freeze” by John Sandford (Put- nam, 400 pages, $29.00, Oct. 17)
John Sandford ’s“Prey” series has sold millions. A few years back he began a spin-off series featuring Minnesot aBur ea uo f Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers. This series is not as dark. In the latest Virgil is asked to investigate the bizarre murder ofaw oman.
His task gets complicated by townsfolk bootlegging racy Barbie dolls.
“The Savage” by Frank Bill (FSG Originals, 390 pages, $15.00, Nov. 14)
Frank Bill lives in southern Indiana. He still works his day job driving aforklift.Inhisspare time he writes some the wildest, most violent fiction around. The press release for his second novel states that it “presents the bone-chilling vision of an America wherepower i s the only currency and nothing guarantees survival.”
“Ram p Hollow - the Ordeal of Appalachia” by Steven Stoll (Hill and Wang, 400 pages, $30.00, Nov. 21)
Books like “Hillbilly Elegy” have brought a renewed focus on this region. In “Ramp Hollow” Steven Stoll shows how outside interests including government and industry have forced some people in Appalachia to become landless. He provides historical context to demonstrate that this method of wresting away wealth throu ghla nd grabs is nothing new.
“The Man in the Crooked Hat” by Harry Dolan (Putnam, 368 pages, $20.00, Nov. 28)
Harry Dolan is a crime writer on the rise. In his latest novel a detective in Detroit is trying to solve the murder of his wife. A cryptic clue surfaces in a suicide note. Before he realiz esit the detective himself becomes the