New Nonfiction

The Edge of the Empire: A Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall by Bronwen Riley.

Imagine yourself as a Roman traveler in the second century taking a journey to the remote northwestern outpost of Britannia. How do you get there? What do you see? What awaits you in Londonium and beyond? By taking a narrative approach at the journey from Rome to Hadrian’s Wall through the eyes of an ancient traveler, the author also explores the meanings and context of Britannia’s place in the Empire. New adult non-fiction 936.2 RI

Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk by John Doe, Tom DeSavia, and other contributors.

There are plenty of books chronicling the early punk scenes in New York and London, but less so on Los Angeles. John Nommensen Duchac  (AKA John Doe) is a founding member of the band X. Began in 1977, X were influential as a first wave American punk band, punctuated by a rockabilly guitar edge. Doe, along with music industry man DeSavia put together the book with contributions from a number of L.A. punk contemporaries, including fellow X member Exene Cervenka, Henry Rollins of Black Flag, Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey from the Go-Go's, and Mike Watt from The Minutemen.

New adult non-fiction 781.66 UN

Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

From the author of the bestselling Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, “Textbook” is written in an unconventional format with subject heading like Social Studies, Music, Language Arts, and Math. The author relates to those subject headings with stories and scenarios, and often humorous observations on those topics. Furthermore, the author is inviting her readers to interact with one another at https://www.textbookamykr.com/.

New adult non-fiction 818.607 RO

A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman.

Prior to the great depression the attitude toward food in the Unites States was generally one of abundance. That all changed as the Great Depression wore on for a decade. Paradoxically, production was increasing, but many Americans were experiencing hunger. Attitudes towards assistance changed, but so did the distribution methods, and the food itself. New packaging and processing methods meant less waste. Meals became cheaper, quicker to prepare, and more utilitarian. A look at how the 1930s set us on a dietary path, and what it means for us today. New adult non-fiction 641.5973 ZI

--Bruce MacDonald