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Reviewer's Choice
Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records
Anthony Mancuso
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413324785, $39.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Nonprofits have basic corporate responsibilities they must take seriously -- or risk the unwanted
attention of the IRS who, as a government agency, has the power to shut them down and even
hold their leadership at risk for criminal indictment. "Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records:
How to Properly Document Your Nonprofit's Actions" by Anthony Mancuso (who is a California
attorney and a corporations and limited liability company expert) provides everything needed to
hold meetings and properly document actions taken by board members and anyone else having
dealings in behalf of the nonprofits. "Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records" includes
resolutions to: call, notice, and hold meetings of directors and members; appoint officers and
elect directors; take action by written consent; set up a corporate records book, and more.
"Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records" also provides a wealth of useful tips and advice on
how to do important tasks, such as organizing records, preparing meeting folders and taking
minutes, in short, everything necessary to create a paper trail and avoid trouble with the IRS.
Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records"
is an ideal instructional guide and reference for non-specialist general readers working with or for
a nonprofit organization. While especially and unreservedly recommended for all nonprofit
organization, community, and academic library reference collections, it should be noted that
"Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$23.99).
Simply Stargazing
Jonathan Poppele
Adventure Publications
330 Garfield Street South, Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9781591935810, $9.95, Spiral Bond, 28pp, www.amazon.com
To gaze skyward is to be filled with wonder. You might find yourself asking questions like, "Is
that bright object a planet or a star? What does the constellation Perseus look like? When's the
next meteor shower?" Find these answers and more in Simply Stargazing. The tabbed booklet is
simple and convenient to use, with full-color photographs and illustrations. Topics are organized
by season for quick and easy identification, as Jonathan Poppele offers observation tips and
instructions on everything from the moon, planets, and deep-sky objects to the ecliptic and the
zodiac. Six full-sky charts make locating constellations a snap at any time of year. Plus, you'll
learn about spotting planets, meteor showers, and more and a timetable for meteor showers
further enhances your knowledge of stargazing. Tear-resistant spiral bound pages help to make
"Simply Stargazing: Your Guide to the Stars, Moon, and Night Sky" durable for nighttime
outings. This is the perfect, pocket-sized, night sky identification reference and is especially
recommended for beginning students of astronomy as well as non-specialist general readers
looking up at a night time sky and wanting to know more about what they are seeing.
Walking
Henry David Thoreau
Tilbury House, Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, ME 04861
www.tilburyhouse.com
9780884486138, $16.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
The summation of Henry David Thoreau's life's work, "Walking" was published posthumously in
1862, and became a seminal influence in the modern environmental movement and is no less
relevant today than 150 years ago. "Walking" is recognized by most scholars as Thoreau's "other"
masterpiece -- basically "Walden" in a more concise form. In his introduction of this new edition
from Tilbury House Publishers, Adam Tuchinsky (Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences at the University of Southern Maine and an Associate Professor of History)
accessibly and engagingly unpacks the Thoreau essay's nineteenth-century associations,
highlights the startling modernity of its sentiments, and reveals why Thoreau remains the
towering figure in the history of American nature writing. Exquisite contemporary nature
photographs curated by Denise Froehlich grace this handsome edition, making it an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition for both community and academic library collections. It
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject that "Walking" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.98).
Blooming Marvellous: A Wildflower Hunter's Year
Zoe Devlin
The Collins Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781848893276, $31.00, HC, 306pp, www.amazon.com
After Zoe Devlin retired, she combined her interests in botany and photography by developing
her website, an enormously popular forum for those interested in seeking out, identifying and
sharing wildflowers in Ireland. She writes a monthly article for The Irish Garden and for
Woodland, the magazine of the Native Woodland Trust. She regularly gives lectures and guided
walks, and was named Distinguished Recorder of the Year 2016 by the National Biodiversity
Data Centre. Drawing upon her years of experience and expertise, in "Blooming Marvellous: A
Wildflower Hunter's Year" she skillfully weaves captivating memories with her naturalist's
expertise, with individual each chapter celebrating a particular month, and capturing the beauty
and joy it has to offer -- including birds, butterflies, mammals, and even tasty recipes. Devlin also
writes fondly of those who helped her knowledge of flora, particularly members of her extended
family. By turns witty, informative, dark, and bizarre, "Blooming Marvellous" opens our eyes to
the beauty all around us, whatever the time of year. The uplifting recollections comprising
"Blooming Marvellous" will encourage readers to identify, understand, and savor the plant life
that so often goes unnoticed beneath our feet. Richly illustrated with the author's striking photos
throughout, "Blooming Marvellous" would prove to be an extraordinary, very special, and
enduringly popular addition to personal and community library collections. .
2018 National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator
Jonathan Russell, editor
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
www.craftsman-book.com
9781572183391, $89.50, PB, 486pp, www.amazon.com
The premier reference resource for professionals and homeowners alike, "2018 National
Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator" provides current prices in dollars and cents and
detailed descriptions for hard-to-find items needed on most insurance, repair, remodeling, and
renovation jobs. All price items include labor, material, and equipment breakouts, plus special
charts that tell you exactly how these costs are calculated. Included are many reinstall/salvage
cost estimates, hundreds of sample product images and unique architectural items. This edition of
"2018 National Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator" also includes a free estimating
software download. Alphabetically organized from Appliances to Windows, and including free
and automatic quarterly based price updates on the web throughout 2018, the "2018 National
Renovation & Insurance Repair Estimator" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
professional, trade school, and community library reference collections.
Travels in a Dervish Cloak
Isambard Wilkinson
Eland Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781780600789, $52.00, HC, 256pp www.amazon.com
Spellbound by his grandmother's Anglo-Indian heritage and the exuberant annual visits of her
friend the Begum, Isambard Wilkinson became enthralled by Pakistan as a teenager, eventually
working there as a foreign correspondent during the War on Terror. Seeking the land behind the
headlines, he sets out to discover the essence of a country convulsed by Islamist violence. What
of the old, mystical Pakistan has survived and what has been destroyed? We meet charismatic
tribal chieftains making their last stand, hereditary saints blessing prostitutes, gangster bosses in
violent slums and ecstatic Muslim pilgrims. Navigating a minefield of coups, conspiracies,
cock-ups and bombs, Bard is reluctant to judge; his is a funny, hashish- and whisky-scented
travel book from the frontline, full of open-hearted delight and a poignant lust for life. Enhanced
with photographs by Chev Wilkinson, "Travels in a Dervish Cloak" is an absorbing, entertaining,
and interestingly informative read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for both
community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Travels in a Dervish Cloak" is also available in a paperback edition (9781780601502, $11.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Tucker & Me
Andrew J. Harvey
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243
http://msipress.com
9781942891857, $19.95, PB, 179pp, www.amazon.com
"Tucker & Me: Growing Up A Part-Time Southern Boy" by Andrew J. Harvey is the story of his
childhood growing up in the Mad Men era of the 1960's. Filled with humor, sadness, and
harrowing incidents, Harvey's personal memoir deftly reflects all the emotions of life one
experiences growing up, in this case, with a single mom who lived in Los Angeles and a father
who lived in a small town suburb of Atlanta, Georgia known as Tucker. Traveling in the
summers to the alternate universe in Tucker, Harvey experienced a roller coaster ride of two
completely different lifestyles. "Tucker & Me" is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating read
that offers a unique and entertaining perspective of an American yesteryear. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for community Contemporary American Biography collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tucker & Me" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $1.99).
Abandoned
Matthew Growcoot
Ebury Publishing
c/o Penguin Random House
9781785035517 $24.95 www.penguin.co.uk
Abandoned: The Most Beautiful Forgotten Places from Around the World gathers photos of a
wide range of beautiful abandoned places around the world, from country mansions to big city
establishments and former businesses, offering an eerily enchanting collection of how deserted
vehicles, buildings, and establishments remain as relics of their brighter heydays. The full-page
color images - some presented as a double-spread layout - include details on location and, where
available, architect or designer, presenting a lovely set of historic details and images to capture
the imagination of what these relics used to be and what they are today.
The Gannet's Gastronomic Miscellany
Killian Fox
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784723996 $14.99
The Gannet's Gastronomic Miscellany provides a fun collection of facts and information about
food and drink, providing a style that gathers a range of fun food stories and insights about
products, history, and more. While cooks looking for recipe collections alone may find this
whimsical, educational overview more than they'd bargained for, any with more than a casual
interest in food will welcome The Gannet's Gastronomic Miscellany, an intriguing blend of trivia
and fun facts that food fans will relish.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry
Ronaldo Hirata
Quintessence Publishing
www.quintpub.com
9788578891114, $248.00, HC, 688pp, www.amazon.com
"Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry" by Ronaldo Hirata is a clinically driven textbook that focuses on
the difficulties of esthetic restorative dentistry with the aim of revealing simple and practical
solutions to common questions and problems. Each individual chapter is organized into a series
of questions the reader may have; "Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry" then answers these questions
in detail using scientific evidence and case presentations. "Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry"
presents streamlined procedures step by step and provides numerous tips on how to implement
the concepts described. Restoration strategies include guidance on recontouring, stratification
schemes, layering techniques, characterization, occlusal concepts, and more. Accessible and
minimalist in its approach, this deceptively thorough instructional textbook demystifies
contemporary esthetic dentistry and outlines simple and effective solutions for clinical practice.
Clinicians will find themselves referring back to this text long after the first read-through for
quick, easy-to-find answers and solutions to some of esthetic dentistry's most common problems.
Featuring some 3,588 illustrations, "Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry" covers such issues as:
Dental Bleaching: Concepts and Bleaching Substances; Composite Resins and Adhesive
Systems: The Material; Esthetic Restorations and Anterior Makeovers; Esthetic Restorations and
Sculpture in Posterior Teeth; Inlays and Onlays: Partial Restorations in Composites and
Ceramics. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Shortcuts in Esthetic Dentistry"
is an ideal textbook and an unreservedly recommended for both college and university library
Health/Medicine instructional reference collections in general, and Dentistry supplemental
studies reading lists in particular.
Tragedy, Trials and Triumphs
Alan Donald Hewson
Rosenberg Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9780994562760, $49.95, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
"Tragedy, Trials and Triumphs: Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Australia in the Twentieth
Century" by obstetrician and gynaecologist Alan Donald Hewson is a thoughtful and perceptive
overview of the history of the development of obstetrics and gynaenocology in Australia from the
beginning of the twentieth century. It contains myriads of little known facts on the revolution in
this discipline during the 20th century, which saw childbirth in Australia change from the
dreadful, dangerous, and frightening experience of the 19th century into the cocooned safety of
today where Australia is now the safest place in the world to bear a child. Dr. Hewson weaves his
own 60 year journey in obstetrics into the national narrative to provide a fascinating read. The
reader will not only learn a great deal about the science and art of obstetrics, but also the personal
issues faced by every conscientious obstetrician. Dr. Hewson rose from a humble background to
become one of the most influential doctors to have graduated with the first wave of those
admitted to Sydney University post-WWII. He achieved national prominence in both his own
discipline of obstetrics and the wider medical community. His career included not only obstetrics
and gynaecology, but many aspects of formal education, medical politics, and third world
medicine, administration, and nursing education. Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of
159 photos and diagrams, "Tragedy, Trials and Triumphs" is an impressively informative and
exceptionally well presented historical study that is unreservedly recommended for community
and academic library Health & Medicine collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Between the Physician and the Patient
Dr. Gila Shilo & Dr. Lotan Shilo
Gefen Publishing
www.gefenpublishing.com
9789652299260 $19.95
Between the Physician and the Patient: Issues in Medical Writing surveys the organization,
information verification and gathering process, and writing key to producing strong medical
documents, from admission notes and discharge summaries to letters written by specialists, and
is an important survey of the jargon, abbreviations, and challenges of medical terminology under
various conditions. From directions on how to compose better documents to improving written
communication to patients, this guides physicians, interns, nurses and other medical personnel
and should be key to any medical library's reference collection.
Enlightened Eating: The Eightfold Path to Health
Cassandra Ohlsen, MD
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
www.cypresshouse.com
9781879384996, $16.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Few Americans need to worry about having enough to eat; instead, we worry about how to lose
weight. We ve settled on eating animals as the way to control weight and satisfy hunger, yet over
70 percent of us remain overweight. We need to learn a new hunger a hunger for a way to eat that
benefits us, other people, and the Earth. We can ask ourselves How should I think about my
food? How does it affect the world around me? What's my relationship to where my food comes
from and how it's produced? The answers lead us to eat nutrient-rich, calorie-sparse food and that
food is plants! In the pages of "Enlightened Eating: The Eightfold Path to Health" Dr. Cassandra
Ohlsen explores the extensive health benefits, food-enjoyment issues, and psychological
considerations of a plant-based diet. Her practical advice on how to change our eating habits uses
Buddhist psychology and an Eightfold Path to keep us on track. There is nothing esoteric or
religious about how Dr. Ohlsen interweaves nutrition and spirituality mindful thinking about
what we eat simply makes good sense. Dr. Ohlsen also takes us on her own personal journey
from overweight meat eater suffering many health challenges to slim, healthy individual whose
diet is entirely plant-based whole foods. "Enlightened Eating" even shares a variety of flavorful
recipes to boost health and delight taste buds. Exceptionally well organized and presented,
"Enlightened Eating" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community
library Health/Medicine instructional reference collections.
Turbo Metabolism
Pankaj Vij, MD
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608684984, $16.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
As the modern Western lifestyle spreads around the globe, so too does the diagnosis of metabolic
syndrome -- a cluster of symptoms that increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke,
diabetes, and other conditions. The good news: metabolic syndrome can be tamed by a sensible
program of exercise, natural foods, stress management, and quality sleep. "Turbo Metabolism: 8
Weeks to a New You: Preventing and Reversing Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease, and Other
Metabolic Diseases by Treating the Causes" by is a concise and thoroughly reader friendly
instructional guide by doctor of internal medicine, Pankaj Vij that distills a mass of medical
research into a simple, effective program for vibrant health. Avoiding fads and gimmicks, "Turbo
Metabolism" provides practical advice, case studies of ordinary people, and brief sections that
debunk common medical myths. By following Dr. Vij's evidence-based methods, anyone can
manage their diabetes, avoid related metabolic conditions, lose weight, and live a healthier,
happier life with energy to spare. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community library Health/Medicine collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should
be noted for personal reading lists "Turbo Metabolism" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The Cookbook Shelf
Seriously Good Freezer Meals
Karrie Truman
Robert Rose Inc.
www.robertrose.ca
9780778805915 $24.95 amazon.com
Seriously Good Freezer Meals: 150 Easy Recipes to Save Your Time, Money & Sanity lives up
to its title as a superb compendium of meals designed to be home-cooked in sizeable quantities,
frozen, then thawed and served as needed. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced meal plan
programs teach the reader how to prepare 7 to 50 meals in a single day. Freezer-friendly recipes
include Almond Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, Rosemary Brown Sugar Pork Chops, Cashew
Mushroom Fried Rice, Buffalo Ranch Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomato
Basil Pesto-Quiche, and much more. Each recipe includes step-by-step directions to "make it
now", "make it a freezer meal", or "cook from frozen" for each item, as well as a "bulk and batch
guide" listing ingredient quantities needed to create different amounts from each dish, from 1
batch (6 servings), to 2, 3, 4, and 5 batches (30 servings). Tips, tricks, and full-color photographs
of each mouthwatering delight round out this "must-have" especially for busy household cooks!
Highly recommended.
Cook Well Eat Well
Rory O'Connell
Gill Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780717175642, $45.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Rory O'Connell is founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School with his sister Darina Allen and
one of its most-loved teachers. He worked for many years with Myrtle Allen as chef at
Ballymaloe House in Cork as well as with Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in California. In his
thirty years of teaching he has taught many of the current stars of the British and Irish cooking
scene, including Thomasina Miers, Rachel Allen and Stevie Parle. In "Cook Well Eat Well" he
draws upon his years of experience and expertise to showcase recipes for seasonal, balanced
three-course meals that are ideal for elegant eating and entertaining. Each individual meal caters
for 4-6 people, and one of the meals is entirely meat-free. In addition, every season gets a menu
for entertaining a large group of people - from a summer alfresco lunch to a Christmas feast.
Complete meals can be replicated for elegant entertaining, or individual dishes can be tried for
simple and pleasing lunches or dinners. Beautifully illustrated, "Cook Well Eat Well" is inspiring
to browse through and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' to plan meals with, making it an
elegant, immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library cookbook
collections.
Cook Share Eat Vegan
Aine Carlin
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784724122, $24.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
With a very special emphasis on great flavors and fresh, seasonal dishes that don't rely on
substitutes or hard-to-source ingredients, Aine Aine's style of cooking and her compilation of
recipes in "Cook Share Eat Vegan" will have an immense and enduring appeal ranging from
vegan-cooking enthusiasts to those simply wanting to dabble now and then. In "Cook Share Eat
Vegan", Aine has created what amounts to the ultimate vegan bible, with 118 recipes that prove
there's a place for plant-based food at every table. Beautifully and profusely illustrated
throughout, the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes range from Sweet Potato Gratin with a
Panko Lemon Crumb; Watermelon, Watercress & Cucumber Salad; Wasabi-Dusted Popcorn;
and Green Bean Summer Rols with a Spicy peanut Dipping Sauce; to Quinoa & Cannellini Bean
Soup; Chocolate chia Oatmeal Cookies; Coffee Celebration Cake; and Vegan Pavlova with
Poached Rhubarb & Vanilla Yogurt. Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative introduction
(My Vegan Kitchen); The Basics; What's in My Pantry?; and Food for Friends, "Cook Share Eat
Vegan" will prove to be an outstanding and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and
community library Vegan Cookbook collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of vegans that "Cook Share Eat Vegan" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen Editors
America's Test Kitchen
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781945256066 $40.00
The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook packs in over six hundred recipes designed with
couples in mind, and includes notes from the Test Kitchen about working with and handling
ingredients, from avocados and alternatives to panini presses to buying, storing, and using
Portobello mushrooms. The flavors included in this book are decidedly international in scope,
from Greek-Style Lamb Pita Sandwiches or Linguine with Fresh Clam Sauce to Slow-Cooker
Moroccan Chicken Stew. What really makes the cookbook shine is the blend of tested recipes,
color photos, extensive notes on food preparation and ingredients, and an approach that assumes
no prior knowledge in the kitchen in order to prove accessible to novices with little kitchen
background.
Classic Food of Northern Italy
Anna Del Conte
Pavilion
www.pavilionbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins (distribution)
www.harpercollins.com
9781911595083 $35.00
Classic Food of Northern Italy presents cooks with a Northern Italian focus that at first glance
might seem to mirror others on the market; but which holds a difference. Divided into ten
regions, of which seven are the real Northern areas, this approach allows for a stronger local
focus than most general Northern Italian cookbooks provide. Dishes such as Risotto with
Gorgonzola, Apple Pudding, Rich Braised Beef, and more receive introductions that cover their
history and importance to Italian culture. Add a liberal peppering of color photos throughout and
you have a cookbook rich in detail that is easy to use and hard to put down.
Cuban Flavor
Liza Gershman
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510710122, $29.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Much more than a just another ethnic regional cookbook, "Cuban Flavor: Exploring the Island's
Unique Places, People, and Cuisine" is an introduction to a revolutionary era of Cuban cuisine
that ranges from the succulent spiced meat of the national Ropa Viejo, simmered in a
tomato-based criollo sauce; to the sweet and sticky Arroz Con Leche; or the local favorite, Flan
served in a soda can. Cuban cuisine has something for every palate and this visually arresting
culinary compendium showcases more than fifty Cuban recipes, from appetizers to main courses
and drinks to desserts. Along with color photographs of the dishes, there are introductions to the
people who create them. An impressive and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' collection of
authentic, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying Cuban dishes suitable for any and all dining
occasions, "Cuban Flavor" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Cuban
Flavor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.19).
Hardcore Carnivore
Jess Pryles
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572842519, $29.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
"Hardcore Carnivore: Cook Meat Like You Mean It" by Jess Pryles (who is a respected authority
on Texas- and competition-style barbecue. She is the cofounder of the Australasian Barbecue
Alliance) is a protein-packed cookbook for truly dedicated meat lovers. From slow-smoked
barbecue ribs to perfect cowboy steaks, "Hardcore Carnivore" recipes superbly illustrated and
thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. Featuring dozens of recipes
for chicken, game, pork, lamb, and beef, "Hardcover Carnivore" covers all the basics, finishes,
and tricks of the trade, ensuring even the most novice kitchen cook will be preparing meat like a
seasoned pro. Featuring practical advice ranging from grinding your own burger meat, to various
knives for cutting and slicing, to the various types of smokers, and a great deal more, "Hardcore
Carnivore" isn't just another cookbook, but an entire course of instruction for the culinary art of
preparing, cooking, and serving all manner of meats. A unique addition to personal, professional,
and community library cookbook collections, "Hardcore Carnivore" is unreservedly
recommended.
Super Fast Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook
Elia Sanders & Heather Rodino
Castle Point Books
http://www.castlepointpub.com
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250149237, $19.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Showcasing 100 thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes for every Multi-Cooker, "Super Fast
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook" is the collaborative culinary project of comfort food
enthusiast Elia Sanders and editor, writer and food lover Heather Rodino. Featuring an
impressive variety of tasty soups, starters, sides, hearty dinners and desserts that can be on dining
table in 60 minutes or less, the recipes range from Takeout Chinese Spareribs; Veggie Chili;
Mediterranean Chicken with Olives; and Sirloin Tips in Mushroom and Onion Gravy; to Chorizo
and Chickpea Stew; French Potato Salad; and White Wine-Poached pears. It should be noted that
Instant Pot is a registered trademark of Double Insight Inc., and that "Super Fast Instant Pot
Pressure Cooker Cookbook" is an independently created book and is not endorsed, sponsored, or
authorized by Double Insight Inc. While highly recommended, especially for personal, family,
and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that the "Super Fast Instant Pot
Pressure Cooker Cookbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Hip Pressure Cooking: Fast, Fresh, and Flavorful
Laura D. A. Pazzaglia
St. Martin's Griffin
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250026378, $26.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Laura Pazzaglia picked up her first pressure cooker after seeing a friend make dinner in ten
minutes flat. She quickly realized that the flavor of pressure cooked food is like tasting food in
high definition! In 2010 Laura launched a web site at www.hippressurecooking.com to share her
discoveries, recipes, reviews and tips. Now in the pages of "Hip Pressure Cooking: Fast, Fresh,
and Flavorful" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide a truly
impressively culinary compendium of pressure cooker based recipes for dishes that are as palate
pleasing and appetite satisfying, as they are kitchen cook friendly to prepare and serve. With
recipes ranging from Classic Pasta and legume Minestrone; Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad;
Nona Laura's Meatballs; and Cuban Pulled Beef; to Mexican Shredded Chicken, Bain-Marie
Brown Rice with Salted Peanuts, and Corn Salsa; Bread Pudding with Brandy Sauce; and Cherry
Preserves, "Hip Pressure Cooking: Fast, Fresh, and Flavorful" will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to personal and community library cookbook collections. It should
be noted for family chefs that "Hip Pressure Cooking: Fast, Fresh, and Flavorful" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Dharma Realm Vegetarian Cookbook
Buddhist Text Translation Society
4951 Bodhi Way, Ukiah, CA 95482
www.buddhisttexts.org
9780881398304, $8.00, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
The illustrated, bilingual (Vietnamese/English) recipes comprising the "Dharma Realm
Vegetarian Cookbook" range from wholesome veggie soups to gluten-free noodles, homemade
soy-milk and more. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, the
"Dharma Realm Vegetarian Cookbook" offers a variety of quintessentially Vietnamese cuisine
recipes that are refreshingly light, yet full of flavor using fresh vegetables, herbs and spices.
Palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, authentically ethnic, the recipes range from Homemade Rice
Noodles - The Quick Way; Vegetarian Rice noodle Soup; Roasted Bean Curd Roll; and
Vegetarian Thai Curry; to Baked Bean Curd on Sugar Cane Sticks; Roasted Eggplant and Bell
Pepper; Tomato Pie; and Steamed Banana Cake. A pleasure to browse through and inspiring to
plan menus with, the "Dharma Realm Vegetarian Cookbook" is an especially and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook
collections.
Cooking the Native Way
Barbara Drake, et al.
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com
9781597144186, $22.00, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
"Cooking the Native Way: Chia Cafe Collective" showcases the Native American cultures of
Southern California through their foods. Full-color photos and detailed recipes showcase the
diversity, health, and flavor of modern cuisine made from Southern California native plants in
combination with other foods. The results are mouth-watering: mesquite-rubbed quail marinated
in prickly pear juice, "superfood" cookies featuring chia and pine nuts, acorn dumplings, and
tepary tart topped with an elderberry reduction. Accompanied by informative essays that bring to
life the rich history and the hopeful future of the Native people of the area, "Cooking the Native
Way" impressively showcases the luscious scents and tastes of vibrant indigenous cultures and is
for all who wish to reconnect with the land through gathering, cooking, and savoring. The Chia
Cafe Collective is a grassroots group dedicated to honoring all the indigenous peoples of
Southern California and their connection to the land and native plants. Working with various
agencies, organizations, schools, and tribal communities, the Collective offers Native food
workshops and classes; gathers, processes, and distributes plants to elders and others; and
transplants native plants in areas slated for development, cultivating them in gardens in order to
share seeds and cuttings. Now with the publication of "Cooking the Native Way" they have
successfully expanded their mission with an superbly presented culinary collection that is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook
collections.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Cake Decorating
Carol Deacon
IMM Lifestyle Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781504800945, $19.99, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Carol Deacon is an award-winning cake designer and the author of thirteen cake books who also
designs and writes for many food and cake magazines. In "Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Cake
Decorating: 40 Stunning Cakes for All Occasions" she draws upon her years of experience and
expertise to offer tantalizing cake ideas for all occasions including birthdays, anniversaries,
children's parties, christenings, weddings and more. All the most popular methods of icing and
decorations are covered, from buttercream, fondant and chocolate to royal icing and marzipan.
Detailed, easy-to-follow instructions explain the basics of preparing and using the different types
of icing, followed by recipes for imaginative designs. Beginners will pick up the basics fast and
experienced cake decorators will find inspirational new ideas. Now even the most novice of
family kitchen bakers can produce truly memorable cakes for all manner of celebratory
occasions. While unreservedly recommended for community library cookbook collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists and references that the "Complete Step-by-Step Guide
to Cake Decorating: 40 Stunning Cakes for All Occasions" is available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $18.99).
Char-Broil Great Book of Grilling
Creative Homeowner Editorial Staff
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781580118019, $24.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
The definitive cookbook and how-to guide for everyone who loves preparing meals in the great
outdoors, "Char-Broil Great Book of Grilling" is comprised of 300 easy-to-follow grill recipes
that will have family and friends licking their fingers. Each individual recipe includes delicious
grilled & barbecued appetizers, main courses, salads, vegetables, and desserts; There are
step-by-step instructions and color photographs for each recipe. There is a wealth of tips &
techniques for the juiciest steaks, roasts, ribs, chops, wings, shrimp, kabobs and more. Also
features is expert advice for great results on charcoal and gas grills, grill rotisseries, infrared
cookers, and 'The Big Easy Oil-less Turkey Fryer'. Especially appreciated are the backyard-tested
techniques for grilling, barbecuing, brining, and smoking, along with everything else you need to
know for a fun & memorable grilling fiesta. It is interesting to note that "Char-Broil Great Book
of Grilling" is the result of a partnership between the editorial staff of Creative Homeowner and
Char-Broil, one of North America's leading grill manufacturers. A simple delight to browse
through and thoroughly practical to grill with, the "Char-Broil Great Book of Grilling" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library
cookbook collections.
Craft Coffee: A Manual
Jessica Easto
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572842335, $19.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
"Craft Coffee: A Manual" is comprehensive but accessible handbook is for the average coffee
lover who wants to make better cup of coffee at home. Unlike other coffee books, this one
focuses exclusively on coffee (not espresso) and explores multiple pour-over, immersion, and
cold-brew techniques on 10 different devices. Thanks to a small but growing number of
dedicated farmers, importers, roasters, and baristas, coffee quality is at an all-time high. But for
nonprofessionals, achieving cafe quality at home can seem out of reach. With dozens of
equipment options, conflicting information on how to use that equipment, and an industry
language that, at times, doesn't seem made for the rest of us, it can be difficult to know where to
begin. "Craft Coffee: A Manual", is written by Jessica Easto, a coffee enthusiast for coffee
enthusiasts, and is a truly comprehensive guide to improving the brewing of coffee at home.
"Craft Coffee: A Manual" provides all the information readers need to discover what they like in
a cup of specialty coffee -- and how to replicate the perfect cup day after day. From the science of
extraction and brewing techniques to choosing equipment and deciphering coffee bags, "Craft
Coffee: A Manual" focuses on the issues (cost, time, taste, and accessibility) that home coffee
brewers negotiate and shows that no matter where you are in your coffee journey, you can make a
great cup at home. As informed and informative as it is 'real world practical' and thoroughly user
friendly in organization and presentation, "Craft Coffee: A Manual" is unreservedly
recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated coffee drinkers that "Craft Coffee: A Manual" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
Unlocking Greatness
Charlie Harary
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.rodalepress.com
9781623369767, $25.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
More often than not, our own mental obstacles are holding us back from the joy, fulfillment, and
meaning that we all crave, but by retooling our perspectives, we gain the ability to see the path
toward the life we truly desire. In the pages of "Unlocking Greatness: The Unexpected Journey
from the Life You Have to the Life You Want", business executive, professor, speaker, and radio
host Charlie Harary combines the wisdom of science, spirituality, and personal growth in
practical and understandable terms so you can take the life you have and make it the life you
want. Everyone has the extraordinary capacity to transform their life. And it's easier to do than
you might think -- in order to get what you want, to achieve that sense of greater life satisfaction,
all you need to do is learn how to best use the resources you already have. Based on the latest
research into the brain's neuroplasticity, analysis of ancient wisdom, and exploration of the
practices of today's greatest achievers, he offers guidance and inspiration so you can break
through the clutter and confusion of your life and find your true purpose. A compendium of 'real
world practical' insights, strategies and tips, "Unlocking Greatness" is thoroughly 'reader friendly'
in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to both
community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Unlocking Greatness" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $18.89).
Activating Happiness
Rachel Hershenberg
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
9781626259430, $16.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Rachel Hershenberg is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the research and treatment
of depression. She is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory
University, as well as the Director of Psychotherapy in Emory's Treatment Resistant Depression
program. In "Activating Happiness: A Jump-Start Guide to Overcoming Low Motivation,
Depression, or Just Feeling Stuck" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to show
readers who have depression or simply suffer from low mood and lack of motivation, that their
life isn't going to change with one grand, sweeping gesture. But can improve significantly by
make important decisions every day -- whether it's just getting off the couch and going for a
walk, signing up for a course in pottery or screenwriting, or quietly setting aside some time to
meet and chat with a good friend over coffee. These little things won't change a life all at once.
But over time, they will shape the way we live and see the world, keeping us on a path to
wellness. "Activating Happiness" offers solid strategies based in behavioral activation and
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help break the cycle of avoidance, guilt, shame,
and hopelessness that can take hold when feeling our lowest. Exceptionally well written,
organized, presented, and above all, real world practical and 'user friendly', "Activating
Happiness" is especially and unreserved recommended for both community and academic library
Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Activating Happiness" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
My Life Goals Journal
Andrea Hayes
Gill Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780717174362, $30.00, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
A trained clinical hypnotherapist and Bethany Grief Minister., Andrea Hayes is also an Irish
broadcaster and television producer. Andrea's first book, "Pain-Free Life: My Journey to
Wellness" chronicles how journaling helped her to overcome her health challenges, and now in
her second publication, "My Life Goals Journal" she shares the practical plan she used to create
change in her life so that anyone who aspires to creating a change in their life but feel stuck or
unsure where to start can have the benefit of her inspirational and practical journal that will
effectively help them clarify what they really want for the year ahead -- and so they too can begin
to manifest the life of their dreams. A combination of deftly written, inspired and inspiring,
instructional guide and work book, "My Life Goals Journal" is exceptionally well organized and
presented, making especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of anyone seeking
to change their lives for the better and realize whatever personal growth and improvement goals
they have for themselves. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "My Life Goals
Journal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Your Best Year Ever
Michael Hyatt
Baker Books
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780801075254, $24.99, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Basic to any effort to improve our lives or reach a specific goal, some method or plan is essential.
In "Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals", Michael
Hyatt shares a powerful, proven, research-driven system for setting and achieving goals. Readers
learn how to design their best year ever in just five hours. "Your Best Year Ever" includes: Three
simple ways to triple the likelihood of achieving their goals; How to quit-proof their goals; What
to do when they feel stuck; and a great deal more! Anyone who is tired of not seeing progress in
their personal, intellectual, business, relationship, or financial goals will treasure the field-tested
wisdom found in the pages of "Your Best Year Ever". While very highly recommended for
community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement instructional reference collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Your Best Year Ever" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.50) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Mission
Audio, 9781545900659, $15.98, CD).
The Money/Finance Shelf
Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s For Dummies
Eric Tyson, MBA
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
http://www.dummies.com
9781119431411, $19.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Millennials often confront economic uncertainty and student debt that those who came before
them haven't had to deal with so substantially. This new financial responsibility can be
intimidating, and many people are unsure where to begin. "Personal Finance in Your 20s & 30s
For Dummies" by personal finance author, counselor, and writer Eric Tyson will help Millennials
to be confident about managing their finances and get on a clear path toward financial security.
Tyson shows students and recent grads how to make smart financial decisions in order to pay off
student loans, avoid any additional debt, and create a solid plan to ensure their financial success.
From avoiding common money mistakes to making informed investment choices, "Personal
Finance in Your 20s & 30s For Dummies" also covers: Building a foundation through smart
spending and saving; Renting, buying, or selling a house; Filing taxes the right way; Protecting
finances and identity in the digital world. "Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s For Dummies"
is exceptional 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal instructional
guide for millennials in search of financial security. While unreservedly recommended for
college and community library Money/Finance instructional reference collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s For Dummies" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Wealthfulness: Simple Steps to Financial Health and Happiness
Lance Alston
Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205, Dallas, TX 75248
www.BrownBooks.com
9781612548692, $22.95, HC, 150pp, www.amazon.com
We live in financially volatile times. Ordinary working people are justifiably worried about their
budgets, unsure of how they should be saving and investing, and feeling financially trapped. With
all this unease and uncertainty, happiness seems to be leveling off, if not declining. To change
this process for the better, experienced financial planner and consultant Lance Alston introduces
his effective and mindful approach to discovering your combined emotional and financial needs
in "Wealthfulness: Simple Steps to Financial Health and Happiness". By the term Wealthfulness,
Alston means the balancing of wealth and happiness, the combination of monetary success and
meaningfulness. What financial endeavors are the wisest choices for us? How much time should
we be spending, investing, saving, and planning? How much money do we need to be truly happy
in life? Although the answers to these questions are highly personal and individualistic,
"Wealthfulness" helps the reader to find each one, and plan accordingly by taking into account
their individual personalities and circumstances. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Wealthfulness" is unreservedly recommended for community library Money/Finance
instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Wealthfulness" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
The Fiction Shelf
Lonely Is The Gunfighter
Steve Hayes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444835571, $20.99, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Morgan 'Coop' Cooper is a man with a tragic past and an uncertain future. Drifting into the town
of Rocas Rojas, his trail crosses with that of enigmatic saloon owner Lorna Rutledge. They hit it
off immediately - but there is more to Lorna than meets the eye. Almost before he knows it, Coop
finds himself teamed up with a gunman named Gospel Curtis, and robbing a gold train at Deep
River Gorge. Another deftly crafted gem of a western action/adventure novel by a master of the
genre, Steve Hayes' "Lonely Is The Gunfighter" in this large print edition from Linford Western
Library is unreservedly recommended for both the personal reading lists of dedicated western
buffs, and community library Western Fiction collections.
The Same Night Awaits Us All
Hristo Karastoyanov, author
Izidora Angel, translator
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781940953687, $15.95, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com
Hristo Karastoyanov is a multi-award winning contemporary Bulgarian novelist, playwright, and
political essayist whose work has been translated into English, Turkish, and German. All seven
of his novels have been shortlisted for the prestigious Helikon Award. His award winning novel
"The Same Night Awaits Us All" has now been ably translated into English for an American
readership by Izidora Angel. "The Same Night Awaits Us All" is the story of a military coup in
June of 1923, that established Aleksandar Tsankov as the new leader of Bulgaria. His fascist
policies (especially aimed at the Bulgarian Communist Party) led to the failed September
Uprising and an extended period of martial law. At that same time, Geo Milev (one of Bulgaria's
most beloved poets) started a politically charged literary magazine with Georgi Sheytanov, a
notorious anarchist on the run. Eighteen months later, the government assassinated both of them,
although Milev's body wouldn't be found for another thirty years. In this multilayered historical
novel Hristo Karastoyanov deftly deconstructs this period, blending an adventurous tale of
resistance with current-day reflections on what this period meant to Bulgaria and the world.
While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Same Night Awaits Us All" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.95).
The Vain Conversation
Anthony Grooms
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
www.sc.edu/uscpress
9781611178821, $27.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Inspired by true events, "The Vain Conversation" by Anthony Grooms reflects on the 1946
lynching of two black couples in Georgia from the perspectives of three characters: Bertrand
Johnson, one of the victims; Noland Jacks, a presumed perpetrator; and Lonnie Henson, a
witness to the murders as a ten-year-old boy. Lonnie's inexplicable feelings of culpability drive
him in a search for meaning that takes him around the world, and ultimately back to Georgia,
where he must confront Jacks and his own demons, with the hopes that doing so will free him
from the grip of the past. Although a work of fiction, "The Vain Conversation" seeks to advance
the national dialogue on race relations. With complexity, satire, and sometimes levity, he
explores what it means to redeem, as well as to be redeemed, on the issues of America's race
violence and speaks to the broader issues of oppression and violence everywhere. Of special note
is the foreword is provided by American poet, painter, and novelist Clarence Major, as well as an
afterward written by T. Geronimo Johnson. As engaging and entertaining as it is thoughtful and
thought-provoking, "The Vain Conversation" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Literary Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Vain Conversation" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
The Anarchist
John Smolens
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
http://msupress.org
9781611862683, $19.95, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
On a stifling afternoon in September 1901, a young anarchist, Leon Czolgosz, waits in line to
meet President William McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Czolgosz's right
hand is wrapped in a handkerchief and held across his chest as though it were in a sling. But the
handkerchief conceals a .32-caliber revolver. When the president greets him, Czolgosz fires two
shots. The nation quickly plummets into fear and anger. A week later, a rioting mob attempts to
lynch McKinley's assassin, and across the country, political dissidents such as the notorious
Emma Goldman are arrested. Driven by a sense of duty and his love for a beautiful Russian
prostitute, Czolgosz's confidant, Moses Hyde, infiltrates an anarchist group as it sets in motion a
deadly scheme designed to push the country into a state of terror. "The Anarchist" by John
Smolens is a deftly crafted novel that brilliantly renders a haunting and belligerent
twentieth-century landscape teeming with corrupt politicians, dissidents, and immigrants eager
for a fresh start in an America where every allegiance is questioned, and every hope and
aspiration comes at a price. An inherently fascinating and consistently engaging novel from
beginning to end, "The Anarchist" is an especially recommended addition to both community and
academic library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"The Anarchist" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.95).
The Tuscan Child
Rhys Bowen
Lake Union Publishing
9781503951822 $24.95 www.apub.com
The Tuscan Child is set in 1944 Britain, where Hugo is a bomber pilot during the war looking
forward to the end of his duties and an inheritance when he returns to England. When his plane is
shot down over Tuscany, he's wounded and becomes beholden to Sofia, a woman who attends to
him. Fast forward thirty years, when an estranged daughter returns to the English estate for her
father's funeral, and discovers a letter mentioning the mysterious Sofia. The journey she embarks
on from this revelation will change lives and hearts alike in this winning story of the far-reaching
ramifications of romance.
Borrowed Dream
Amanda Cabot
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800734893, $25.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Catherine Whitfield is sure that she will never again be able to trust anyone in the medical
profession after the town doctor's excessive bleeding treatments killed her mother. Despite her
loneliness and her broken heart, she carries bravely on as Cimarron Creek's dutiful schoolteacher,
resigned to a life without love or family, a life where dreams rarely come true. Austin Goddard is
a newcomer to Cimarron Creek. Posing as a rancher, he fled to Texas to protect his daughter
from a dangerous criminal. He's managed to keep his past as a surgeon a secret. But when
Catherine Whitfield captures his heart, he wonders how long he will be able to keep up the
charade. With a deft hand, Amanda Cabot teases out the strands of love, deception, and
redemption in this charming tale of dreams deferred and hopes becoming reality. Another deftly
crafted gem of a novel by a true master of the romance genre, Amanda Cabot's "Borrowed
Dream" is very highly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Borrowed Dream" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780800727574, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Sycamore Promises
Paul Colt
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432838218, $25.95, HC, 381pp, www.amazon.com
A young couple leaves Ohio for the promise of a new life on the Kansas plains. They settle a
prime tract of farm land near Lawrence, Kansas. A second young couple slips the bonds of
slavery in Missouri. Circumstance brings them together. Set against the backdrop of a nation
divided over the issue of slavery, the young settlers fight to hold their land and realize the future
that unites them. Opposed by powerful forces they face human treachery, hostile Indians,
prejudice, and a bloody, burning prelude to war as they battle to hold a hard-won home and fulfill
the promises of their future. "Sycamore Promises" is a sweeping personal saga told with attention
to history so as to both entertain and inform. An impressively original, deftly crafted, fully
engaging, and consistently entertaining read from cover to cover, "Sycamore Promises" will
prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sycamore Promises" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
American Stranger
David Plante
Delphinium Books
PO Box 803, Encino, CA 91456
http://www.delphiniumbooks.com
9781883285739, $24.95, HC, 275pp, www.amazon.com
Brought up in a secularized Jewish household on Manhattan's upper Eastside, Nancy Green
knows suspiciously little about her parents' past. She knows they were World War II Jewish
refugees who were able to escape Germany with precious family heirlooms that are constant
reminders of a lost life and world Nancy knows very little about. The longing she has for some
kind of spiritual connection first leads her into an encounter with an Hassidic Jewish man who,
unable to find meaning in his own religion, has taken vows to becomes a monk; and then an
involvement with a Catholic boy in Boston where she is studying for her masters degree in
English literature. Yvon, trying to escape the clutches of Catholicism and his overbearing mother,
finds temporary refuge in Nancy and sees her as an escape from the insular enclave of
Franco-Americans where he has spent most of his life. Their highly erotic, tempestuous
relationship is frightening to both of them and a tragedy in Yvon's life eventually pulls them
apart. Devastated by the breakup, Nancy ends up marrying a Jewish man from London, hoping to
find herself with a man of her own religion. However, this new relationship, pale in comparison
to her relationship with Yvon, ends very sadly and regrettably, inspiring Nancy to go back to
Boston to track down the man who, she realizes, is the great love of her life. A deftly crafted and
brilliantly entertaining novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative fiction storytelling,
David Plante's "American Stranger" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition for
community library Contemporary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that "American Stranger" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781538479889, $59.99, CD).
The Contraband Shore
David Donachie
Allison and Busby
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9780749021658, $25.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
In 1787, Captain Edward Brazier is on a mission: recently paid off from his frigate and
comfortably off with hard won prize money, he is headed to Deal to propose marriage to the
young and lovely widow Betsy Vaughan. He must navigate the bustle of the town's narrow streets
that are busy with legal, illicit and depraved business flowing from and around the ships at dock.
But all does not go well; between Betsy's brother and guardian Alexander Langridge prohibiting
the match, and Brazier marked out for trouble by a local smuggling gang, his plans are in
disarray. And when it slowly emerges that there may have been a decades old injustice closer to
home, Brazier is caught up in more than he'd bargained for. Another deftly crafted and
consistently entertaining historical novel by a master of the genre, "The Contraband Shore" by
David Donachie is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library
collections. Of special note for those to whom this would be their first introduction to the literary
storytelling talents of Donachie, this edition includes a complete one-page Bibliography of his
published work. It should also be noted for personal reading lists that "The Contraband Shore" is
also available in a paperback edition (9780749021061, $12.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Keturah
Lisa T. Bergren
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764230240, $14.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
In 1773 England, Lady Keturah Banning Tomlinson and her sisters find themselves the heiresses
of their father's estates and know they have one option: Go to the West Indies to save what is left
of their heritage. Although it flies against all the conventions for women of the time, they're
determined to make their own way in the world. But once they arrive in the Caribbean, proper
gender roles are the least of their concerns. On the infamous island of Nevis, the sisters discover
the legacy of the legendary sugar barons has vastly declined--and that's just the start of what their
eyes are opened to in this unfamiliar world. Keturah never intends to put herself at the mercy of a
man again, but every man on the island seems to be trying to win her hand and, with it, the
ownership of her plantation. She could desperately use an ally, but even an unexpected reunion
with a childhood friend leaves her questioning his motives. Set on keeping her family together
and saving her father's plantation, can Keturah ever surrender her stubbornness and guarded heart
to God and find the healing and love awaiting her? Another deftly crafted and unfailingly
entertaining novel from a true master of the Historical Romance genre, "Keturah" by Lisa T.
Bergren will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated romance buffs and Lisa
Bergren fans that "Keturah" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.87).
Check Me Out Becca Wilhite
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629723273, $15.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Greta loves her job as assistant librarian. She loves her best friend, Will, the high school civics
teacher and debate coach. She even loves her mother despite her obvious disappointment that
Greta is still single. Then she meets Mac in the poetry section of the library, and she is smitten.
Mac is heart-stoppingly gorgeous and showers her with affection, poetic text messages, and free
hot chocolate at the local cafe where he works. The only problem is that he seems to be a
different person in his texts than in his face-to-face conversation. When the Franklin Library is
threatened with closure, Greta leaps into action. She arranges for a "battle of the bands" book
jam, hosts a book signing by a famous author, and finally, stages a protest that raises more than a
few eyebrows. Through it all, she slowly realizes that it is Will, not Mac, who she turns to for
support and encouragement. Mac has the looks; Will has the heart. How can she choose between
them? Another gem of a novel by an author with a genuine flair for writing romance fiction that
will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon
the shelf, "Check Me Out" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to
community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated romance fans that "Check Me Out" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $11.15) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone
Audio, 9781538488058, $29.95, MP3 CD).
Kostas's Convenient Bride
Lucy Monre
Harlequin Presents
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9781335419323, $6.25, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Discovering her boss, billionaire tycoon Andreas Kostas, must marry is devastating for Kayla.
Then Andreas proposes that Kayla wear his ring! Having experienced the incandescent pleasure
of his touch, she's hidden her yearning for him ever since. It's the proposal Kayla's always
dreamed of, but dare she risk her body and heart to become a convenient wife? Can she step out
of the shadows and down the aisle? Another deftly crafted, unfailingly entertaining, and
inherently engaging read from cover to cover by an exceptional novelist with a genuine mastery
of the genre, "Kostas's Convenient Bride" by Lucy More is an especially and unreservedly
recommended addition to community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists that "Kostas's Convenient Bride" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $3.99).
Sea Before Us
Sarah Sundin
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800734879, $25.99, HC, 386pp, www.amazon.com
As D-Day approaches, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton is teamed up with Dorothy
Fairfax, a British officer. Once they piece together family and reconnaissance photos to map
Normandy, will Wyatt's bombardment plans destroy what Dorothy loves most? "The Sea Before
Us" is another deftly crafted gem of a novel by Sarah Sundin and showcases her genuine flair for
creating a simply riveting and entertaining read from beginning to end. The first volume of Sarah
Sundin's new 'Sunrise at Normandy' series, "The Sea Before Us" is very highly recommended for
community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Sea Before
Us" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800727970, $15.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.63).
The Wanderers
Tim Pears
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781408892336, $28.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
The year is 1912 and Leo Sercombe is on a journey. Aged thirteen and banished from the
secluded farm of his childhood, he travels through Devon, grazing on berries and sleeping in the
woods. Behind him lies the past, and before him the West Country, spread out like a tapestry. But
a wanderer is never alone for long, try as he might - and soon Leo is taken in by gypsies, with
their wagons, horses and vivid attire. Yet he knows he cannot linger, and must forge on towards
the western horizon. Leo's love Lottie is at home. Life on the estate continues as usual, yet
nothing is as it was. Her father is distracted by the promise of new love and Lottie is increasingly
absorbed in the natural world: the profusion of wild flowers in the meadow, the habits of
predators, and the mysteries of anatomy. And of course, Leo is absent. How will the two young
people ever find each other again? In "The Wanderers", (which is the second volume in author
Tim Pears's 'West Country' trilogy) the writing is both transcendental and sharply focused,
reaches new heights, revealing the beauty and brutality that coexist in nature. Timeless,
searching, charged with raw energy and gentle humor, "The Wanderers is a delicately wrought
tale of adolescence; of survival; of longing, loneliness and love. While unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Wanderers" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $19.99).
Before I Let You Go
Kelly Rimmer
Graydon House
195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007
http://graydonhousebooks.com
9781525820847, $16.99, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com
The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister's voice in years. Annie is a
drug addict, a thief, a liar -- and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her
money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she's not just strung out --
she's pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she'll lose custody of her baby
-- maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable. As the weeks unfold, Lexie finds
herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around
her. She's in danger of losing her job, and her fiance only has so much patience for Annie's
drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting
long-buried secrets from the sisters' childhoods, ghosts that Lexie doesn't want to face. But will
the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path? Although a work of inherently
fascinating fiction, in the pages of "Before I Let You Go", author Kelly Rimmer deftly explores a
hotly divisive topic and asks how far the ties of family love can be stretched before they finally
break. While unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Before I Let You Go" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781538510483, $39.99, CD).
In Another Country, and Besides
Maxwell Jacobs
Morgan James Publishing
11815 Fountain Way, Suite 300, Newport News, VA 23606-4448
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781683505310, $15.95, PB, 266pp, www.amazon.com
During a time of moral bankruptcy, dissolution, and unrealized love, Harry Hoffman is a lost soul
with a sinister past. In Venice, he meets Cleo, who offers him an unexpected love affair and a
chance to start over. But when this newfound happiness is threatened and their affair is strained
by new passions, jealousies and other men, Harry slips back to his old ways and plots his
revenge. This takes him on a great variety of adventures and experiences -from Zurich, and the
Swiss Alps, to the Cote d'Azur and finally to Paris, irresistibly drawn back to the great, sprawling
city he had once fled in bitterness and disgust. An epic saga of a novel, "In Another Country, and
Besides" documents author Maxwell Jacobs as a storyteller with an genuine flair for originality
and narrative driven surprises with unexpected twists and turns. While very highly
recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "In Another Country, and Besides" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Other Side of the Bridge
Camron Wright
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629724102, $19.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Katie Connelly has lived in San Francisco all her life. Her late father made his career as an
ironworker on the Golden Gate Bridge, and the many stories of him trying to save jumpers still
haunt her. When she's asked to write a history about the bridge, her research uncovers a secret
journal hidden in her father's desk, pages of familiar advice penned by the hand of a stranger. The
scribbled words tell of a promise ring and a distant love, clues that Katie hopes may answer her
own unresolved sorrow. Across the country, Dave Riley, a marketing executive in New York,
encounters sorrows of his own. As he grasps at straws after tragedy strikes his family, a once
whimsical daydream quickly turns into an obsession: he must ride his motorcycle across the
Golden Gate Bridge on the Fourth of July. Does the bridge hold answers for both Katie and
Dave? Or will it only add to their heartache? The puzzling words left behind in a long-forgotten
journal hold the key to the truth they will discover on the Other Side of the Bridge. An
entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Other Side of the Bridge" reveals author Camron
Wright's genuine flair for engagingly descriptive, narrative driven, artfully scripted storytelling.
While unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Other Side of the Bridge" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.29) and as a complete and unabridged audio
book (9781629724218, $39.99, CD).
The Radicals
Ryan McIlvain
Hogarth
c/o Crown Publishing Group
www.crownpublishing.com
9780553417883, $26.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
When Eli first meets Sam Westergard, he is dazzled by his new friend's charisma, energy, and
determined passion. Both graduate students in New York City, the two young men bond over
their idealism, their love of poetry, and their commitment to socialism, both in theory and in
practice -- this last taking the form of an organized protest against Soline, a giant energy
company that has speculated away the jobs and savings of thousands. As an Occupy-like group
begins to coalesce around him, Eli realizes that some of his fellow intellectuals are more deeply
(and dangerously) devoted to the cause than others. A deftly written and inherently fascinating
new novel from Ryan McIlvain,"The Radicals" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Radicals" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.99).
Isaiah's Daughter
Mesu Andrews
WaterBrook Press
c/o Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group
10807 New Allegiance Drive Suite 500, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com
9780735290259, $14.99, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
A young woman taken into the prophet Isaiah's household rises to capture the heart of the future
king. Isaiah adopts Ishma, giving her a new name Zibah (which means delight of the Lord)
thereby ensuring her royal pedigree. Ishma came to the prophet's home, devastated after watching
her own family destroyed and now living as a captive of the Israelis. But as the years pass,
Zibah's lively spirit wins Prince Hezekiah's favor, a boy determined to rebuild the kingdom his
father has nearly destroyed. But loving this man will awake in her all the fears and pain of her
past and she must turn to the only One who can give life, calm her fears, and deliver a nation. A
deftly crafted and absorbingly entertaining read from cover to cover, "Isaiah's Daughter" by Mesu
Andres is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Isaiah's
Daughter" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Syllables of Rain
D. S. Lliteras
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9781937907525, $16.95, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Cookie is a man trapped by his own memories; and as he struggles to cope with both grief and
regret, he gradually descends into a perpetual cycle of self-destruction. His friend Llewellen is
doing his best to help, but is himself tormented by his own memories of Jansen, a Zen Master
who, many years back, left Llewellen with more questions than answers about life. He is also
conflicted about his relationship with Sandy, the woman he loves. His past overshadows their
present (his illusions collide with her reality) and this rift between them leads to their separation.
Both Cookie and Llewellen must eventually decide if they will be defined by their past or learn to
move beyond it, even if some emotional scars are too deep to ever fully heal; even when there are
no definitive answers to their many questions. An inherently compelling and fully engaging read
from beginning to end, "Syllables of Rain reviews novelist D. S. Lliteras as having a genuine
flair for originality, deftly crafted characters, and a distinctively poetic style of storytelling. The
result is a novel that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself is finished and
set back upon the shelf. While very highly recommended, especially for community library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Syllables of Rain" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Girl Unknown
Karen Perry
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
www.henryholt.com
9780805098747, $28.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
David and Caroline Connolly are swimming successfully through their marriage's middle years --
raising two children; overseeing care for David's ailing mother; leaning into their careers, both at
David's university teaching job, where he's up for an important promotion, and at the ad agency
where Caroline has recently returned to work after years away while the children were little. The
recent stresses of home renovation and of a brief romantic betrayal (Caroline's) are behind them.
The Connollys know and care for each other deeply. Then one early fall afternoon, a student of
sublime, waiflike beauty appears in David's university office and says, "I think you might be my
father." And the fact of a youthful passion that David had tried to forget comes rushing back. In
the person of this intriguing young woman, the Connollys may have a chance to expand who they
are and how much they can love, or they may be making themselves vulnerable to menace. They
face either an opportunity or a threat -- but which is which? What happens when their hard-won
family happiness meets a hard-luck beautiful girl? An inherently riveting psychological thriller of
a read from cover to cover, "Girl Unknown" is unreservedly recommended, especially for
community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Girl Unknown"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey
Carolyn Miller
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444524, $14.99, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
Tainted by scandal and forced to leave London for the quieter Brighton countryside, the
Honorable Miss Clara DeLancey is a shadow of her former society self. She's lost the man she
loved to another and, in a culture that has no patience for self-pity, is struggling with depression.
A chance encounter brings her a healing friendship with the sisters of an injured naval captain.
But Clara's society mama is appalled at the new company she's keeping. Captain Benjamin
Kemsley is not looking for a wife. But his gallant spirit won't let him ignore the penniless
viscount's daughter -- not when she so obviously needs assistance to keep moving forward from
day to day. Can he protect his heart and still keep her safe? When they're pushed into the highest
echelons of society at the Prince Regent's Brighton Pavilion, this mismatched couple must decide
if family honor is more important than their hopes. Can they right the wrongs of the past and find
future happiness together -- without finances, family support, or royal favor? While a very highly
recommended and unfailingly entertaining read from Historical Romance fiction fans, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $2.51). Librarians should note that there is also a large print edition
of "The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey" (Thorndyke, 9781432845803, $30.99, HC).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Cat of the Baskervilles
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683314714, $26.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Legendary stage and movie star Sir Nigel Bellingham arrives on Cape Cod to star in a stage
production of The Hound of the Baskervilles put on by the West London Theater Festival. When
Sir Nigel, some of the cast, and the director visit the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop at 222 Baker
Street, Gemma Doyle realizes that Sir Nigel is not at all suited to the role. He is long past his
prime and an old drunk to boot. The cast, in particular the much younger actor who previously
had the role, are not happy, but the show must go on. Before the play opens, Leslie Wilson,
mother of Gemma's best friend Jayne, arranges a fundraising afternoon tea to be catered by Mrs.
Hudson's Tea Room. The tea is a huge success, but when it's time to leave, Sir Nigel has gone
missing -- only to be found at the bottom of the rocky cliff, dead. Along with the dead body,
Gemma finds evidence incriminating Leslie Wilson. When the police, in the presence of
handsome detective Ryan Ashburton and suspicious detective Louise Estrada, focus their
attention on Leslie despite the numerous other suspects, the game is once again afoot and it's
again up to the highly perceptive Gemma and the ever-confused but loyal Jayne to clear Jayne's
mother's name. Another deftly crafted title in the 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery' series by
Vicki Delany, "The Cat of the Baskervilles" is a pure treat for dedicated mystery buffs by a true
master of the genre. While unabashedly and unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cat of the
Baskervilles " is also available in a paperback edition (9781683318064, $15.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $7.80).
The Enemy Within
Edward Marston
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750545402, $35.50, HC, 366pp, www.amazon.com
In 1917, Wally Hubbard is serving a long sentence for arson in the Pentonville Prison. But after
befriending and tricking one of the officers, Hubbard makes an audacious escape. Inspector
Marmion, the detective who originally arrested Hubbard, is warned to watch his back, but it
seems that Hubbard has another target in his murderous sights. However, the investigation is
mired in confusion. The identities of killer and victim are increasingly ambiguous. The
multiplying manhunts, as well as Marmion's concern for his injured and withdrawn son Paul,
leave the detective desperate and perhaps with too many threads to untangle. Now in a large print
edition from Magna, "The Enemy Within" by Edward Marston is a simply riveting read by a
master of the genre and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, as well as the personal reading lists of
dedicated mystery buffs.
A Necessary Evil
Abir Mukherjee
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681776712, $25.95, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore is home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines, and
the beautiful Palace of the Sun. But when the heir to the throne is assassinated in the presence of
Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, they discover a kingdom riven
with suppressed conflict. Prince Adhir was a modernizer whose attitudes (and romantic
relationships) may have upset the more religious elements of his country, while his brother, who
is now in line to the throne, appears to be a feckless playboy. As Wyndham and Banerjee
desperately try to unravel the mystery behind the assassination, they become entangled in a
dangerous world where those in power live by their own rules -- and those who cross their paths
pay with their lives. They must find a murderer, before the murderer finds them. A carefully
crafted and inherently riveting read from beginning to end, "A Necessary Evil" clearly showcases
author Abir Mukherjee's master of the mystery genre with a novel that is certain to be an
enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "A Necessary Evil" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.99).
The Last Stand
Mickey Spillane
Hard Case Crime
http://www.hardcasecrime.com
9781785656866, $29.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
When legendary mystery writer Mickey Spillane died in 2006, he left behind the manuscript of
one last novel he'd just completed: "The Last Stand". He asked his friend and colleague (and
fellow Mystery Writers of America Grand Master) Max Allan Collins to take responsibility for
finding the right time and place to publish this final book. Now, on the hundredth anniversary of
Spillane's birth, his millions of fans will at last get to read "The Last Stand", together with a
second never-before-published work, this one from early in Spillane's career: the feverish crime
novella "A Bullet For Satisfaction". A tarnished former cop goes on a crusade to find a
politician's killer and avoid the .45-caliber slug with his name on it. A pilot forced to make an
emergency landing in the desert finds himself at the center of a struggle between FBI agents,
unsavory fortune hunters, and members of the local Indian tribe to control a mysterious find that
could mean wealth and power - or death. These two substantial new works are filled from cover
to cover with Spillane's muscular prose and the gorgeous women and two-fisted action the author
was famous for, topped off by an introduction from Max Allan Collins describing the history of
these lost manuscripts and his long relationship with the writer who was his mentor, his hero, and
for much of the last century the bestselling author in the world. An absolute 'must read' for all
dedicated mystery buffs and the legions of Mickey Spillane fans, "The Last Stand" is
unreservedly recommended for all community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Last Stand" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.99).
Sunday Silence
Nicci French
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062819840, $26.99, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Frieda Klein is many things including a lover of London, a gifted psychologist, and a frequent
police consultant. And now she's a person of interest in a murder case. A body has been
discovered in the most unlikely and horrifying of places: beneath the floorboards of Frieda's
house. The corpse is only months old, but the chief suspect appears to have died more than seven
years ago. Except as Frieda knows all too well, he's alive and well and living in secret. And it
seems he's inspired a copycat. As the days pass and the body count rises, Frieda finds herself
caught in a fatal tug-of-war between two killers: one who won't let her go, and another who can't
let her live. A deftly crafted and inherently riveting psychological thriller of a read from cover to
cover, "Sunday Silence" reveals author Nicci French's genuine flair for narrative driven
storytelling replete with unexpected twists and turns. While "Sunday Silence" is wholeheartedly
and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that it is also available in a paperback edition
(9780062676689, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Queen Anne's Lace
Susan Wittig Albert
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780425280058, $27.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of
antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the discovery, she hears a woman
humming an old Scottish ballad and smells the delicate scent of lavender. Soon, strange
happenings start to occur in Thyme and Seasons: misplaced items, a ringing bell, and the
appearance of lavender sprigs in odd places. When a customer mentions seeing a mysterious
woman picking flowers nearby and then suddenly disappearing, China must finally admit what
Ruby has always known--their building is haunted. But by whom? As China investigates, the
tragic story of a woman in one of the old photographs unfolds. Annie Laurie was a young widow
who'd lost both her husband and her child in the same day. She manages to survive through her
lace-making business and finds happiness again only to have a suspicious death overshadow her
new life. China delves into Annie's century-old mystery and realizes that solving it could have
unimaginable repercussions in the here and now. Another truly riveting read for dedicated
mystery buffs by a true master of the genre, Susan Albert's "Queen Anne's Lace" is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Queen Anne's Lace" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $13.99).
A Cold Day in Hell
Lissa Marie Redmond
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738754109, $15.99, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Lauren Riley is an accomplished detective who has always been on the opposite side of the
courtroom from slick defense attorney Frank Violanti. But now he's begging to hire her as a
private investigator to help clear his client of murder. At first Lauren refuses, wanting nothing to
do with the media circus surrounding the case until she meets the eighteen-year-old suspect. To
keep an innocent teen from life in prison, Lauren must unravel the conflicting evidence and
changing stories to get at the buried facts. But the more she digs, the more she discovers that
nothing is what it first appears to be. As Lauren puts her career and life in danger, doubt lurks on
every corner -- and so does her stalker. A deftly crafted and riveting novel by a master of the
mystery genre, "A Cold Day in Hell" by Lissa Marie Redmond will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "A Cold Day in Hell" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).
A Death of No Importance
Mariah Fredericks
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250152978, $24.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Invisible until she's needed, Jane Prescott has perfected the art of serving as a ladies' maid to the
New York City upper echelons of 1910. When she takes up a position with the Benchley family,
dismissed by the city's elite as "new money", Jane realizes that while she may not have financial
privilege, she has a power they do not -- she understands the rules of high society. The Benchleys
cause further outrage when their daughter Charlotte becomes engaged to notorious playboy
Norrie, the son of the eminent Newsome family. But when Norrie is found murdered at a party,
Jane discovers she is uniquely positioned because she is a woman no one sees, but who witnesses
everything; who possesses no social power, but that of fierce intellect, and therefore she has the
tools to solve his murder. There are many with grudges to bear: from the family Norrie was
supposed to marry into, to the survivors of a tragic accident in a mine owned by the Newsomes,
to the rising anarchists who are sick of those born into wealth getting away with anything they
want. Jane also knows that in both high society and the city's underbelly, morals can become
cheap in the wrong hands: scandal and violence simmer just beneath the surface -- and can break
out at any time. Another deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and
a total mastery of the mystery genre, "A Death of No Importance" by Mariah Fredericks is certain
to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "A
Death of No Importance" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Death of an Unsung Hero
Tessa Arlen
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250101440, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
In 1916 the world is at war and the energetic Lady Montfort has persuaded her husband to offer
his family's dower house to the War Office as an auxiliary hospital for officers recovering from
shell-shock with their redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Jackson contributing to the war effort as the
hospital's quartermaster. Despite the hospital's success, the farming community of Haversham,
led by the Montfort's neighbor Sir Winchell Meacham, does not approve of a country-house
hospital for men they consider to be cowards. When Captain Sir Evelyn Bray, one of the patients,
is found lying face down in the vegetable garden with his head bashed in, both Lady Montfort
and Mrs. Jackson have every reason to fear that the War Office will close their hospital. Once
again the two women unite their diverse talents to discover who would have reason to murder a
war hero suffering from amnesia. Brimming with intrigue, "Death of an Unsung Hero" is the
fourth title in author Tessa Arlen's simply outstanding Lady Montfort Mystery series. While
certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated
mystery buffs that "Death of an Unsung Hero" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
A Well-Timed Murder
Tracee de Hahn
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250110015, $25.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Swiss-American police officer Agnes Luthi is on leave in Lausanne, Switzerland, recovering
from injuries she sustained in her last case, when an old colleague invites her to the world's
premier watch and jewelry trade show at the grand Messe Basel Exhibition Hall. Little does
Agnes know, another friend of hers, Julien Vallotton, is at the same trade show -- and he's
looking for Agnes. Julien Vallotton was friends with Guy Chavanon, a master of one of
Switzerland's oldest arts: watchmaking. Chavanon died a week ago, and his daughter doesn't
believe his death was accidental. Shortly before he died, Chavanon boasted that he'd discovered a
new technique that would revolutionize the watchmaking industry, and she believes he may have
been killed for it. Reluctantly, Agnes agrees to investigate his death. But the world of Swiss
watchmaking is guarded and secretive, and before she realizes it, Agnes may be walking straight
into the path of a killer. The latest addition to author Tracee de Hahn's deftly crafted 'Agnes Luthi
Mystery Series, "A Well-Time Murder" once again reveals her mastery of the mystery genre.
Unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, "A Well-Time Murder" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Paris Spy
Susan Elia MacNeal
Bantam Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780399593802, $26.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Maggie Hope has come a long way since serving as a typist for Winston Churchill. Now she's
working undercover for the Special Operations Executive in the elegant but eerily silent city of
Paris, where SS officers prowl the streets in their Mercedes and the Ritz is draped with swastika
banners. Walking among the enemy is tense and terrifying, and even though she's disguised in
chic Chanel, Maggie can't help longing for home. But her missions come first. Maggie's half
sister, Elise, has disappeared after being saved from a concentration camp, and Maggie is
desperate to find her - that is, if Elise even wants to be found. Equally urgent, Churchill is
planning the Allied invasion of France, and SOE agent Erica Calvert has been captured, the
whereabouts of her vital research regarding Normandy unknown. Maggie must risk her life to
penetrate powerful circles and employ all her talents for deception and spycraft to root out a
traitor, find her sister, and locate the reports crucial to planning D-Day in a deadly game of wits
with the Nazi intelligence elite. Another elegantly crafted mystery by Susan Elia MacNeal that is
replete with unexpected twists and turns, "The Paris Spy" is the latest Maggie Hope novel and a
truly riveting read from beginning to end. While certain to be come an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Paris Spy" is also available in a
paperback edition (9781101965993, $16.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
The God Game
Jeffrey Round
The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459740105, $16.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
When the husband of a Queen's Park aide runs off to escape his gambling debts, private
investigator Dan Sharp is hired to track him down. As the city's political landscape verges on the
bizarre (with a crack-using mayor and a major scandal looming) Dan finds himself pitted against
a mysterious figure known for making or breaking the reputations of upcoming politicians. It's
not until a body turns up on his doorstep that Dan realizes he's being punished for sticking his
nose into dirty politics. It's left to him to catch the killer and prove his own innocence. Another
deftly crafted novel by a master of the genre, "The God Game" is the fifth title in author Jeffrey
Round's outstanding Dan Sharp Mystery series. While very highly recommended for both the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, as well as community library Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Survival of the Fritters
Ginger Bolton
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496711878, $15.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
If Emily has learned anything from her past as a 911 operator, it's to stay calm during stressful
situations. But that's a tall order when one of her regulars, Georgia Treetor, goes missing.
Georgia never skips morning cappuccinos with her knitting circle. Her pals fear the worst --
especially Lois, a close friend who recently moved to town. As evening creeps in, Emily and the
ladies search for Georgia at home. And they find her -- murdered among a scattering of stale
donuts. Disturbingly, Georgia's demise coincides with the five-year anniversary of her son's
murder, a case Emily's late detective husband failed to solve before his own sudden death. With
Lois hiding secrets and an innocent man's life at stake, Emily's forced to revisit painful memories
on her quest for answers. Though someone's alibi is full of holes, only a sprinkling of clues have
been left behind. And if Emily can't trace them back to a killer in time, her donut shop will end
up permanently closed for business. Another deftly crafted mystery from author Ginger Bolton in
her 'Deputy Donut Mystery' series, "Survival of the Fritters" is a simply compelling and
unfailingly entertaining read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs that "Survival of the Fritters" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio, 9781977355201,
$29.99, MP3 CD).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Rending and the Nest
Kaethe Schwehn
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632869722, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
When 95 percent of the earth's population disappears for no apparent reason, Mira does what she
can to create some semblance of a life: She cobbles together a haphazard community named
Zion, scavenges the Piles for supplies they might need, and avoids loving anyone she can't afford
to lose. She has everything under control. Almost. Four years after the Rending, Mira's best
friend, Lana, announces her pregnancy, the first since everything changed and a new source of
hope for Mira. But when Lana gives birth to an inanimate object--and other women of Zion
follow suit--the thin veil of normalcy Mira has thrown over her new life begins to fray. As the
Zionites wrestle with the presence of these Babies, a confident outsider named Michael appears,
proselytizing about the world beyond Zion. He lures Lana away and when she doesn't return,
Mira must decide how much she's willing to let go in order to save her friend, her home, and her
own fraught pregnancy. "The Rending and the Nest" author Kaethe Schwehn uses a fantastical,
post-apocalyptic landscape to ask decidedly human questions: How well do we know the people
we love? What sustains us in the midst of suffering? How do we forgive the brokenness we find
within others -- and within ourselves? A deftly crafted and inherently riveting read from
beginning to end, "The Rending and the Nest" is very highly recommended for community
library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"The Rending and the Nest" is also available in a paperback edition (9781635571943, $11.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Blade and Bone
Jon Sprunk
Pyr
978163388260 $18.00 www.pyrsf.com
Blade and Bone is Part Three of the Book of the Black Earth series, and is recommended for
prior fans of this story of a world where gods rule. Slave Horace has become free and powerfully
imbibed with magic in this tale, which tells of a growing slave rebellion, the rise of an army of
the undead, and a clash between entities that brings the possibility of new shifts of power.
Readers seeking fast action and a story line that builds on the prior books will welcome this latest
addition to the series.
Echoes of Understorey
Thoraiya Dyer
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765385956, $16.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Great deeds are expected of Imeris. She has trained endlessly to become an extraordinary fighter.
Yet she wants more than to compete against the glories of her divine sister and the charms of her
courtesan brother. Imeris thought she could prove her worth during a mission to kill a
body-snatching sorceress, but fails disastrously. With death on her conscience and in hiding from
her peers, Imeris is determined to find a way to redeem herself. What she doesn't expect is to be
recruited in a Hunt for the Ages, chasing a terrifying, magical beast that will take all her skills to
stop. An epic saga of a fantasy action/adventure novel, "Echoes of Understorey" is the second
title in author Thoraiya Dyer's outstanding 'Titan's Forest' series. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Echoes of Understorey" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
$7.99 pbk / $7.99 Kindle each amazon.com
Two sexy, steamy fantasy-romance novels from St. Martin's Press are a rapacious treat for connoisseurs of the genre. Christine Warren's "Baby I'm Howling For You" (9781250120724) is part of the Alphaville series, where shape-shifting werewolves are bound by pack leader hierarchy. Renny Landry, a she-wolf forced to flee for her life, crosses paths with a gorgeous, powerful alpha male, who has his own past as a hunted quarry... a meeting that brings out the protective and passionate instincts of both! Donna Grant's "Heat: A Dragon Romance" (9781250109576) lives up to its title as a sensual story about the simmering bond between a strong-willed Dragon King and a woman with a past shrouded in magic, hidden even to herself. Both are highly recommended, and sure to be popular lending library picks!
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The New Psychedelic Revolution
James Oroc
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9781620556627 $19.95 www.parkstpress.com
The New Psychedelic Revolution: The Genesis of the Visionary Age offers a survey of 21st
century psychedelic culture that features three main figures - chemist Alexander Shulgin,
mycologist Terence McKenna, and visionary artist Alex gray - as it covers the latest incarnation
of the psychedelic community and its culture. While some readers might believe that the
psychedelic focus of the 1960s is long gone, this survey introduces how a new age of
psychedelics is emerging through various popular festivals around the country, offering a return
to research and cultural applications that embrace artistic, social, and scientific realms alike. The
result is a vivid history that traces the key individuals, movements, and influences on modern
psychedelic development in this country in a survey that should be required reading for not just
new age followers but science and arts readers alike.
Revelations of the Aquarian Age
Barbara Hand Clow
Bear & Company
www.bearandcompanybooks.com
9781591432951 $18.00
Revelations of the Aquarian Age provides a sequel to Clow's Revelations of the Ruby Crystal,
and is especially recommended for prior fans of that book who want a continuation of the story.
When Armando reveals a symbolic painting of the love between Jesus and Mary Magdalene to
his new bride, the portrait leads the newlyweds and their friends on a journey to explore religious
meaning, transformative relics and images, and past-life connections. Readers of new age fiction
will find this a compelling story that links Christianity to Aquarian principles and power, creating
a saga and adventure that's hard to put down.
Astrology for Success
Cass Jackson & Janie Jackson
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker St., Ste. 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.hrpub.com
9781571747945, $16.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
"Astrology for Success: Make the Most of Your Sun Sign Potential" by Cass and the late Janie
Jackson (who are authors of over a dozen books on astrology and alternative health topics) is a
beginner's guide to sun sign astrology, with an emphasis on what your sign can tell you about
your potential for achieving success. "Astrology for Success" will help the reader to identify
goals and provide a road map for achieving them. The individual chapters comprising "Astrology
for Success" cover: Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac; Positive and negative traits; Career paths;
Relationship issues and health concerns. Even for the reader who knows nothing about astrology,
"Astrology for Success" will help to identify the negative traits that may be holding them back
and shows how to make use of the positive traits that will propel them to reach their maximum
potential. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Astrology for Success" is
thoroughly 'reader friendly' from beginning to end and very highly recommended for both
personal reading lists and community library Metaphysical Studies & Astrology instructional
reference collections. Of special note for astrology students and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "Astrology for Success" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $13.95).
Icelandic Magic for Modern Living
Boff Konkerz
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449489779, $9.99, PB, 72pp, www.amazon.com
Do you need a faster WiFi, more likes on social media, or to become a hit on Tinder? The playful
spells and magical symbols in "Icelandic Magic for Modern Living" by Islandic sorcerer Boff
Konkerz will have you covered. "Icelandic Magic for Modern Living" is comprised of an
impressive collection of staves, spells, and rituals to help you get more likes on Instagram, find
happy hour at whatever bar you enter, to grow the mightiest eyebrows, and more. Readers are
advised to approach the claims of this sorcery with extreme caution as the spells themselves are
sometimes dangerous to perform and their effects are not guaranteed. An inherently fascinating
read from cover to cover, "Icelandic Magic for Modern Living" is an extraordinary and highly
recommended addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated metaphysical studies students
and magic users -- and is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Peace Oracle: Guidance for Challenging Times
Toni Carmine Salerno & Leela J. Williams
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738759395, $23.95, Boxed Set, 72pp, www.amazon.com
Even those who are born into peace can succumb to the hurries and pressures of daily life and
find themselves despairing at the loss of harmony, accord, and contentment. However, peace is
an art that can be developed and nurtured just like any other quality or skill. Beautiful,
thoughtful, and lovingly crafted, this boxed set of oracle cards from the team of Toni Carmine
Salerno and Leela Williams will support peace seekers on their personal journeys to compassion
and confidence. The sublime images and insightful messages offer practical advice, higher
guidance, and affirmations to help cultivate peace in our hearts, our heads, and our homes so that
serenity can blossom into all areas of our lives. Inspired and inspiring, "Peace Oracle: Guidance
for Challenging Times" is unreservedly recommended for the personal collections of all
metaphysical science students and practitioners.
Secrets of Chinese Divination
Sasha Fenton
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker St., Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.hrpub.com
9781571747969, $16.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Baffled by Chinese astrology? Confused by Feng Shui? Author Sasha Fenton (who became a
professional astrologer, palmist, and tarot card reader in 1974, and who has written 127 books,
mainly on mind, body, and spirit subjects) now draws upon her years of experience and expertise
to delve into 11 major Chinese divination systems based on ancient practices in "Secrets of
Chinese Divination: A Beginner's Guide to 11 Ancient Oracle Systems" to provide novice
diviners by providing easily accessible introductions and instructions so the beginner can put
these methods to use. "Secrets of Chinese Divination" covers such matters as: Chinese astrology;
Feng Shui; I Ching; Chinese hand reading; Face reading; Lunar oracle; Mah Jong reading; Lo
Shu Square; Weighing the bones; Yarrow stick divination; and the Four Pillars of Destiny.
Comprehensive, authoritative, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Secrets of Chinese Divination" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections and
supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Secrets of Chinese
Divination" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.08).
A Course in Mysticism and Miracles
Jon Mundy
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578636013, $24.95, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Jon Mundy, PhD, is the executive director of All Faiths Seminary International in New York City
and hosts the web site www.drjonmundy.com. In "A Course in Mysticism and Miracles: Begin
Your Spiritual Adventure", Mundy explores the tenets of mysticism and the teachings of A
Course in Miracles, a book now regarded as a modern spiritual classic. Mysticism is the core of
all true religions, and its teachings offer a way, or a path, to living in harmony with the Divine.
The Course offers deep insight into the workings of the mind. When studied together, they
provide spiritual awakening, clarity, and understanding. Both informative and inspirational, A
Course in Mysticism and Miracles can motivate us to do the work required to develop a
contemplative life. Its insights reveal that peace is available to us all. Thoroughly 'reader friendly'
in tone, organization and presentation, "A Course in Mysticism and Miracles" is very highly
recommended and potentially life enhancing reading. It should be noted that "A Course in
Mysticism and Miracles" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.72) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio, 9781684412501, $34.99, CD).
The Christian Studies Shelf
Paul: An Apostle's Journey
Douglas A. Campbell
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802873477, $22.00, PB, 219pp, www.amazon.com
Douglas A. Campbell is a professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School who is known
for studies of Paul's writings that command the respect of scholars worldwide. ampbell has made
a name for himself as one of Paul's most insightful and provocative interpreters and in this short
and spirited book he introduces readers to the apostle he has studied in depth over his scholarly
career. With "Paul: An Apostle's Journey", readers will enter into Paul's world, reliving the story
of Paul's action-packed ministry, and follow the development of Paul's thought throughout both
his physical and his spiritual travels. Ideal for students, individual readers, and study groups,
"Paul: An Apostle's Journey" dramatically recounts the life of one of early Christianity's most
fascinating figures -- and offers powerful insight into his mind and his influential message.
Exceptionally informative, impressively well written, organized and presented, "Paul: An
Apostle's Journey" is very highly recommended for all members of the Christian community. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Paul: An Apostle's Journey" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $13.20).
Kingdom of Happiness
Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, STD
Saint Benedict Press
PO Box 410487, Charlotte, NC 28241
https://www.saintbenedictpress.com
9781505105902, $14.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com
Father Jeffrey Kirby was ordained into the priesthood on July 27th, 2007. He received his
Masters in Bioethics from Queen of the Apostles in Rome, and his Masters of Arts in Philosophy
from Franciscan University where he graduated summa cum laude. Since 2010, he has been the
Vicar of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston where he has guided numerous young men and
women in the spiritual life and in the process of discernment. In 2011, he founded the Drexel
House, a Catholic Residence for Men. In "Kingdom of Happiness: Living the Beatitudes in
Everyday Life" Father Jeffrey Kirby offers hope to the tired, overburdened, and unhappy. He
reminds us that we are made for happiness. But he goes beyond that, showing us the path to
achieving happiness. It's not a new path. In fact, Jesus showed us the way in the Beatitudes, but
Kingdom of Happiness reveals how these aren't merely nice sayings, they are powerful ways of
living. To unveil the path to happiness in Jesus Christ, Kirby does not rely on emotional
arguments or soft spirituality. He turns to the boldness of the Lord's Beatitudes, the real promises
to true happiness. He teaches about the love, power, and self-control within them by showing
their practical, life-application in today's world. "Kingdom of Happiness" reveals that the
Beatitudes are not a self-help guide or a boring list of eight more things to do, but are a series of
grace-filled, life-giving promises that excite our souls and point us along a way of life that
assures us of true, lasting happiness. Inspired and inspiring, "Kingdom of Happiness: Living the
Beatitudes in Everyday Life" is unreservedly recommended reading for all members of the
Christian community. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Kingdom of Happiness:
Living the Beatitudes in Everyday Life" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.98).
Jesus and His Enemies
Robert R. Beck
Orbis Books
Price Building, Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
9781626982437, $35.00, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
Robert R. Beck is a Catholic priest and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at Loras College
in Dubuque, Iowa. In the pages of "Jesus and His Enemies: Narrative Conflict in the Four
Gospels", he provides narrative analysis, the message expressed in each of the four gospels is
conveyed not just through Jesus's teachings or particular stories but through the overall narrative
itself -- particularly through the introduction and resolution of conflict. Through dramatic
narrative the evangelists show Christians how they are to act in situations of conflict without
abandoning the demands of love. As Professor Beck reflects, "This is the real test of the
command to love one another, which finds its most exacting demand when we are in firm
opposition." The Gospels have much to say about this, though the answers are found in a place
we seldom look: in the qualities of dramatic narrative itself. Also available for personal reading
lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.39), "Jesus and His Enemies" offers a fresh
contribution to biblical teaching on violence, ethics, and the Christian pursuit of peace, making it
unreservedly recommended for seminary, community, and academic library Christian Studies
collections.
Bible Matters: Making Sense of Scripture
Tim Chester
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
9780830845316, $16.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
For all Christians, the Bible is God's Word. The Bible teaches us how we should live. The Bible
is something we should read every day. The Bible is something we should delight to read. Most
of us agree with these statements. At least in theory. But what's our reality? Sometimes reading
the Bible is a delight. But if we're honest, many other times reading the Bible feels like hard
work. We read out of a sense of obligation. And some of us have given up entirely. With the
publication of "Bible Matters: Making Sense of Scripture", Tim Chester (who is a pastor of
Grace Church in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and a faculty member with the Acts 29 Oak
Hill Academy) reminds us that every time we read the Bible we hear the voice of God. The One
who spoke and brought the universe into existence, whose voice thundered from Mount Sinai,
and whose words healed the sick is who speaks to us today. So as we read the Bible we don't
merely learn information about God-we hear his voice and encounter his presence. Including a
study guide for group use, "Bible Matters: Making Sense of Scripture" helps us approach reading
the Bible with an eager anticipation, expecting to hear God's voice and meet him in his Word. It's
up to us to listen. While very highly recommended ans inspired and inspired reading for all
members of the Christian community, it should be noted that "Bible Matters: Making Sense of
Scripture" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.16).
The Easter Letters
Joel S. Goldsmith
Acropolis Books
www.acropolisbooks.com
9781939542625, $14.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
The late Joel S. Goldsmith (1892-1964), was a monumental teacher of practical mysticism,
devoted most of his life to the discovery and teaching of spiritual principles which he founded
and called The Infinite Way. As his teaching and healing ministry began to take him to the far
corners of the world, he decided to send out a Monthly Letter to his students near and far who
were studying The Infinite Way message. "The Easter Letters" is comprised of ten of these letters
each of which beautifully commemorate the mystery and majesty of Easter. Whereas Christmas
brings the promise of peace on earth to all, within all, Easter reveals the achievement of full
Christhood by the Master and reveals the way by which we can attain immortality. It is here, early in "The Easter Letters", that Goldsmith seems to step from behind a dais to sit
down with the readers who are seeking this ascension above material sense. With warmth and
clarity, he lays out these steps in the form of a concise outline entitled, What the Infinite Way
Reveals. With that masterful blueprint as a guide, "The Easter Letters" comes into sharp focus as
the narrative of the life of the Master, Jesus, provides powerful instruction and revelation about
the living Easter experience happening day by day in the lives of every seeker of truth. "The
Easter Letters" guides and inspires. It invites readers to consciously experience and embrace the
ever-expanding life of birth, death (dying to concepts), and resurrection welling up within every
living moment, a true celebration of Easter. "The Easter Letters" is especially and unreservedly
recommended to the attention of all members of the Christian community regardless of
denominational affiliations. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "The
Easter Letters" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
God Isn't Finished with Me Yet
Barbara Lee
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
www.loyolapress.com
9780829446616, $12.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
As we see fewer years ahead than behind, it can be easy to question our value or what we have
left to contribute to our communities. How can we continue to give back and live with purpose in
our later years? Barbara Lee (is a spiritual director and a retired lawyer) is living this reality every
day, and in the pages of "God Isn't Finished with Me Yet" she describes the intersection of aging
with the timelessness of Ignatian spirituality. "God Isn't Finished with Me Yet" shows readers
how God meets us with unexpected grace. In five succinct chapters, Lee shows how Ignatian
prayer and discernment offer those in later life a path to discovering previously unknown
vocations and new ways of living and being of service. Inspired and inspiring, "God Isn't
Finished with Me Yet" is unreservedly recommended for all members of the Christian
community. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "God Isn't Finished with Me Yet" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.74).
The Theology of Sergius Bulgakov
Robert F. Slesinsky
SVS Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
www.svspress.com
9780881416015, $35.00, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com
Robert F. Slesinski received his doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome, and served on the faculty of the John XXIII Institute for Eastern Christian Studies
(Bronx, NY). The author of "The Theology of Sergius Bulgakov", he now provides best one
volume introductory critical study of Sergius Bulgakov for an American readership. In a time
when Bulgakov's complex theology and profound legacy in modern theology in Christian East
and West is finally being widely appreciated, Fr. Slesinkski's study has given us a sure
conceptual guide, with marked critical analysis, not a mere summary, to the major themes and
words of Bulgakov's massive oeuvre. Setting a standard for all future academic work that
attempts to understand Bulgakov, who is the awakening giant of modern Orthodox theology,
"The Theology of Sergius Bulgakov" is a truly extraordinary and definitive study that is
unreservedly recommended, especially for college and university library Orthodox Christian
Studies collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, clergy, academia,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Theology of Sergius
Bulgakov" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Merton's Palace of Nowhere
James Finley
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9780877930419, $16.95, PB, 157pp, www.amazon.com
As a young man of eighteen, James Finley left home for an unlikely destination: the Abbey of
Gethsemani, where Thomas Merton lived as a contemplative. Finley stayed at the monastery for
six maturing years and later wrote "Merton's Palace of Nowhere" in order to share with his
readers a taste of what he had learned on his spiritual journey under the guidance of one of the
great religious figures of our day. At the heart of the quest for spiritual identity are Thomas
Merton's illuminating insights -- leading from an awareness of the false and illusory self to a
realization of the true self. For over twenty-five years "Merton's Palace of Nowhere" has been the
standard for exploring, reflecting on, and understanding this rich vein of Merton's thought. Now
brought back into print in a 40th Anniversary Edition by Ave Maria Press, and featuring a new
foreword by Br. Patrick Hart, "Merton's Palace of Nowhere" is once again available to a whole
new generation of appreciate students of the life and work of Thomas Merton. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Merton's Palace of Nowhere" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.44).
Grace for the Unexpected Journey
Deborah Barr
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802416780, $14.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
"Grace for the Unexpected Journey: A 60-Day Devotional for Alzheimer's and Other Dementia
Caregivers" was specifically written by Deborah Barr for anyone who is a caregiver to someone
with Alzheimer's or any another type of dementia. On top of having to watch someone you love
suffer, you are probably losing sleep, growing frustrated, and struggling with loneliness or even
depression. With little to no help and no time for a break, this unrelenting stress is hard to carry.
"Grace for the Unexpected Journey provides that support with a series of succinct daily devotions
that: Are short and ideal for demanding schedules; Reflect on a relevant Scripture passage;
Features a relatable caregiving story; Offers a key Scripture for meditation. As a health educator
with a deep concern and compassion for dementia caregivers, Deborah saw their need for
faith-based encouragement. With compassion and understanding, and uses Scriptures to address
their practical hardships and spiritual concerns. When the struggles seem insurmountable, this
devotional offers strength. "Grace for the Unexpected Journey" is an ideal gift to give a caretaker,
and would be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Grace for the Unexpected Journey" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.59).
Made for Love
Fr. Michael Schmitz
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781621642190, $16.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
In "Made for Love: Same-Sex Attraction and the Catholic Church", Fr. Michael Schmitz
(Director of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Director of Youth
and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese) presents the Catholic teaching on same-sex attraction
and same-sex "sexual" relations. He begins by giving background information regarding the
different worldviews of the human person, the philosophical ideas of nature and purpose, the
differences between objective and subjective truth, the principal of non-contradiction, and the
fallen human nature that resulted from Original Sin. He then discusses in great detail the nature
and ends of human sexuality and the nature of true love, while, in a compassionate and
non-judgmental way, explaining the flawed nature of same-sex "sexual" relations. While "Made
for Love" is intended primarily for those who have same-sex attraction and their family and
friends, its presentation of the compassionate truth of Catholic teaching on same-sex attraction
will be of great benefit to everyone in today's society. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Made for Love" is an especially recommended addition to Human Sexuality and
Catholic Doctrine supplemental studies reading lists and library collections.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and Honey
Diana Lipton
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242522, $28.95, HC, 236pp, www.amazon.com
For millennia, food is at the heart of Jewish life and culture. It's the subject of many studies,
popular and academic, as well as countless Jewish jokes. "From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and
Honey: A Commentary on Food in the Torah", a collection of contributions by scholarly
contributors that is compiled by Diana Lipton (Adjunct Lecturer in Bible at Hebrew University's
Rothberg International School) deftly spotlights and showcases food as written about in the pages
of the Torah itself, where, as still today, it's used to explore themes including love and desire,
compassion and commitment, social justice, memory, belonging and exclusion, control,
deception, and life and death. Originally an online project to support the food rescue charity,
Leket Israel, "From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and Honey" comprises short essays on food in the
parasha by 52 internationally acclaimed scholars and Jewish educators, and features a verse by
verse commentary by Diana Lipton on food and eating in the Torah. Enhanced for academia with
the inclusion of a glossary, a list of abbreviations, and a three page listing of sources for further
reading, "From Forbidden Fruit to Milk and Honey" is a unique and very highly recommended
addition to synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies collections, as well as
the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject.
Tastes of Faith: Jewish Eating in the United States
Leah Hochman, editor
Purdue University Press
504 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2058
www.thepress.purdue.edu
9781557537997, $25.00, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Jewish food practices and products expose and explain how different groups within American
society think about what it means to be Jewish and the values (as well as the prejudices) people
have about what "Jewish" means. Food (identified and defined as what one eats, how one eats it,
when one eats it) is a fascinating entryway into identity; for Jews, it is at once a source of great
nostalgia and pride, and the central means by which acculturation and adaptation takes place.
Individual chapters trace the importance and influence of the triad of bagels, lox, and cream
cheese, southern kosher hot barbecue, Jewish vegetarianism, American recipes in Jewish advice
columns, the draw of eating treyf (nonkosher), and the geography of Jewish food identities,
Impressively informative "Tastes of Faith: Jewish Eating in the United States" deftly explores
American Jewish foodways, predilections, desires, and presumptions. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Judaic Culture collections
and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Tastes of Faith"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.86).
Heal Us O Lord
Rabbi Sidney Goldstein
Urim Publications
c/o KATV Publishing House
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242751, $19.95, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
"Heal Us O Lord: A Chaplain's Interface With Pain" is the personal memoir of Rabbi Sidney
Goldstein. It's the deftly told story of a chaplain who encounters the traumas of life as he visits
with those who are in the throes of experiencing them. "Heal Us O Lord" expresses the
challenges faced by chaplains in providing support during some of the most crucial and painful
times of life without being enveloped by them personally. Rabbi Goldstein offers a source of
encouragement and council for those whose lives might crave spirituality but do not know where
to turn. A candid and impressively informative memoir, "Heal Us O Lord" is an extraordinary
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as synagogue,
community, and academic library Contemporary American Biography in general, and Judaic
Studies supplemental studies lists in particular.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Buddhism Beyond Gender
Rita M. Gross
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
www.shambhala.com
9781611802375, $24.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
At the heart of Buddhism is the notion of egolessness, of "forgetting the self", as the path to
awakening. In fact, attachment to views of any kind only leads to more suffering for ourselves
and others. In "Buddhism beyond Gender: Liberation from Attachment to Identity" by the late
Rita Gross (1943 - 2015) who was a Professor Emerita of Comparative Studies in Religion at the
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, asks what has a greater hold on people's imaginations or
limits them more than ideas about biological sex and what she calls "the prison of gender roles"?
Yet if clinging to gender identity does, indeed, create obstacles for us, why does the prison of
gender roles remain so inescapable? Professor Gross uses the lenses of Buddhist philosophy to
deconstruct the powerful concept of gender and its impact on our lives. In revealing the
inadequacies involved in clinging to gender identity, Professor Gross illuminates the suffering
that results from clinging to any kind of identity at all. A truly exceptional, thoughtful and
thought-provoking work, "Buddhism Beyond Gender" is an extraordinary and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Buddhism & Gender
studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Buddhism Beyond Gender"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
The Travel Shelf
Mr. Las Vegas Has a Bad Knee
Martin J. Smith
TwoDot/Globe Pequot
9781493028443 $18.95 www.globepequot.com
Mr. Las Vegas Has a Bad Knee And Other Tales of the People, Places, and peculiarities of the
Modern American Southwest represents travel essay writing at its best as it gathers a
compendium of reflections on the odd characters the author encounters on his travels. Armchair
travelers who enjoy quirky, people-oriented stories of odd encounters and changing culture in the
American Southwest will appreciate the different perspectives, from car culture to the
unexpectedly competitive world of duck painting. Travel fans seeking vivid and fun reflections
will find the diversity of subject especially compelling, here.
Along Interstate-75, 19th edition
Dave Hunter
Mile Oak Publishing Inc
9781896819198, $26.95, Spiral PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of
the United States. As with most Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north -
south route, one of the longest in the U.S., from southern Florida to the northern tip of Michigan.
Now in a newly updated 19th edition, Dave Hunter's "Along Interstate-75" is an impressively
informative and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide book for anyone driving it's entire length to and
from Florida. Featuring a spiral bound paperback format, "Along Interstate-75" is packed with
'insider tips', illustrations, map sections, and local information. Of special note is the little 'info
block' featuring 'Herb's ten funny reasons to drive to Florida -- rather than fly.' Sized to easily fit
in an automobile glove box, "Along Interstate-75" is unreservedly recommended for anyone
traveling along Interstate-75 for business or for pleasure.
61 Gems on Highway 61, second edition
William Mayo & Kathryn Mayo
Adventure Publications
330 Garfield Street South, Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9781591937944, $12.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
Highway 61 goes from Duluth, Minnesota, to the Canadian border, and is peppered with tourist
hotspots that Minnesotans love. But even the most devout North Shore traveler doesn't know
Lake Superior like William and Kathryn Mayo do. In the pages of "61 Gems on Highway 61:
Your Guide to Minnesota's North Shore, from Well-Known Attractions to Best-Kept Secrets",
these intrepid explorers and informationally savvy residents of the region outline the best sites
that you may not know about in this newly revised and updated second edition of the popular
guide to the best sites and experiences along one of the state's most scenic roads. The entertaining
guide spotlights 61 of the North Shore's hidden treasures and tourist favorites, offering complete
site details and need-to-know information, such as driving directions, accessibility, and fun facts.
Full-color photographs and maps further enhance the usefulness of this handy guidebook. An
ideal source of practical information and ideas, "61 Gems on Highway 6" is an especially fun and
useful itinerary planning resource for anyone traveling on this fabled Minnesota highway!
The Photography Shelf
Zoe Leonard: Survey
Bennett Simpson, et al.
DelMonico Books
c/o Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791357317, $60.00, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
From aerial landscapes to the Alaskan wilderness, American cities to natural history museums,
there are few subjects that Zoe Leonard has not tackled in her 30-year career. Working primarily
in photography and sculpture, Leonard consistently confronts the realities of change, love, and
loss. Published in association with The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, "Zoe
Leonard: Survey" brings audiences up to date on her impressive body of work and accompanies a
long-awaited retrospective exhibition of her work. "Zoe Leonard: Survey" features images and
examinations from every one of Leonard's major series, including her early aerial and museum
photographs, her landmark works (Strange Fruit and Analogue) and her most recent works, "In
the Wake." Of special note is the inclusion of essays by erudite and insightful contributors which
range from the critical to the personal, including explorations of sexual politics, immigration, and
family. Breathtaking in scope and bringing together every facet of Leonard's oeuvre, "Zoe
Leonard: Survey" celebrates Leonard's unflinching eye and her intimate art. Showcasing an
extraordinary artist and her extraordinary body of work, "Zoe Leonard: Survey" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections Photography & Art
collections.
The Postcards of L.A. Huffman
Gene Allen & Bev Allen
Sweetgrass Books
c/o Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591522126, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Laton Alton Huffman (October 31, 1854 - February 28, 1931) was an American photographer of
Frontier and Native American life. Born in Winneshiek County, Iowa, he spent most of his life
photographing the area around his Montana home. Having initially worked at Fort Keogh, he
started to sell prints of his glass plate negatives. He was especially known for producing
photographs using a variety of formats over the course of his 52-year career. From 1906 to 1928
he published four different groups of postcards -- three sets of printed cards and an unknown but
relatively few real photo cards. Today his real photo postcards are rare and hard to find.
Compiled with captions and commentary by the team of Gene and Bev Allen, "The Postcards of
L.A. Huffman" provides new information about a previously little-known dimension of
Huffman's work. Featuring several sets of printed postcards and his real photo postcards, "The
Postcards of L.A. Huffman" will be a welcome addition to any L.A. Huffman or postcard
collector's library, and is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library
History of Photography collections.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
What You Don't Learn in Film School
Shane Stanley
www.shanestanley.net
Privately Published
www.whatyoudontlearninfilmschool.com
9781976986468, $19.99, PB, 199pp, www.amazon.com
In the words of Emmy Award winner Shane Stanley -- "Many film makers have never been
taught the key fundamentals that only come from real-life experience, trial and error when
producing motion pictures. Knowing how and where to apply these elements is crucial to ensure
getting the most bang for your buck whether your budget is twenty grand or two million. I'm here
to share what I've learned in my three decades working as an editor, camera-man, writer,
producer, and director to help save you valuable time and money. Learn how to prepare your
project from concept to delivery and avoid unnecessary setbacks that will cripple your production
and minimize its chances of success in the worldwide marketplace." In "What You Don't Learn
in Film School: A Complete Guide to (Independent) Filmmaking", Stanley draws upon his years
of experience and expertise to provide aspiring film makers in-depth, no holds barred look at
making movies from 'concept to delivery' in today's ever-evolving climate while breaking down
the dos and don'ts of independent film making. Aspiring film makers will learn invaluable
industry secrets from top to bottom and discover the truth about independent film distribution as
the lid is torn off the many myths surrounding sales agents and today's release platforms that are
certain to open reader's eyes - and ruffle a few feathers! Impressively informative, exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "What You Don't Learn in Film School" is an iconoclastic
and invaluable course of 'real world practical' instruction and directly usable information that is
unreservedly recommended as a film school curriculum textbook, as well as professional,
community, and academic library Cinema Technology collections and supplemental studies lists.
It should be noted for personal reading lists of film students and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "What You Don't Learn in Film School" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Contemporary Monologues for Twentysomethings
Jessica Bashline, editor
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.applausebooks.com
9781495064852, $14.99, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
The theater of the 21st century, in many ways, is expanding to require new muscles of its actors,
and so should their monologue choices. "Contemporary Monologues for Twentysomethings",
deftly edited by Jessica Bashline (who a New York City based director, playwright, and teacher,
as well as the artistic director and cofounder of Strange Sun Theater) is a compilation of
monologues for actors ages 15 to 30, incorporating characters from a variety of backgrounds with
different stories to tell, giving you the chance to explore those who are close to you and those
who may come from someplace else. These monologues are compiled in order of length, with the
shortest coming in a little under a minute and the longer pieces running closer to four minutes.
All from plays written between 2000 and 2016, the monologues in this thoroughly 'user friendly'
volume are useful both for exploration in a classroom setting as well as for auditions. This
comprehensive and outstanding collection features work written by Neil LaBute, Sarah Ruhl,
Zach Braff, Naomi Iizuka, and many more. Every playwright in "Contemporary Monologues for
Twentysomethings" is currently writing. Some of these plays have been produced on Broadway
and some in tiny theaters in New York, Minneapolis, San Diego, or other cities around the
country. "Contemporary Monologues for Twentysomethings" offers a chance for emerging actors
to explore work by playwrights, both emerging and established, that is truly contemporary. Also
very highly recommended for personal, community center, school, and community library
Acting/Auditioning instructional reference collections is Jessica Bashline's companion volume,
"Contemporary Scenes for Twentysomethings" (9781495065446, $14.99, PB, 294pp).
The American History Shelf
The Light Shines from the West
Robert C. Baron
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, Colorado 80403
9781682751640 $29.95 www.fulcrumbooks.com
The Light Shines from the West: A Western Perspective on the Growth of America examines the
history of America from the 1800's to the present, with emphasis on how the West shaped
America's culture, sociology, environment, and politics. Chapters examine the roles of Native
Americans; mass migration from Eastern America; Women of the West; the rural West; the
economic history of the West; and much more. Notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this
excellent history, researched with scholarly drive yet thoroughly accesible to readers of all
backgrounds. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History
collections.
Forty Years of American Life
Thomas Low Nichols
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
National Book Network (distribution)
www.nbnbooks.com
9780811737456 $21.95 pbk / $5.99 Kindle amazon.com
Forty Years of American Life, 1821-1861 is an autobiographical history of America in the forty
years prior to the Civil War. Author Thomas Low Nichols, a former medical student turned
journalist, was frustrated by severe restrictions of freedom of speech, violence, and extreme
partisanship stemming from the war. He departed for England and wrote of the the America he
remembered, before war and civil unrest divided the nation. Part of the "Stackpole Classics"
series, Forty Years of American Life is a welcome contribution to public and college library
American History and Biography shelves, highly recommended.
The Story of Latino Protestants in the United States
Juan Francisco Martinez
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802873187, $28.00, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
"The Story of Latino Protestants in the United States" by Juan Francisco Martinez (who is a
fifth-generation American Latino Protestant and a Professor of Hispanic Studies and Pastoral
Leadership at the Fuller Theological Seminary) is groundbreaking study that provides a broad
historical overview of Latino Protestantism in the United States from the early nineteenth century
to the present. Beginning with a description of the diverse Latino Protestant community and a
summary of his own historiographical approach, Professor Martinez then examines six major
periods in the history of American Latino Protestantism, paying special attention to key social,
political, and religious issues (including immigration policies, migration patterns, enculturation
and assimilation, and others) that framed its development and diversification during each period.
Professor Martinez then concludes by outlining the challenges currently facing Latino Protestants
in the United States and considering what Latino Protestantism might look like in the future.
Offering vital insights into key leaders, eras, and trends in Latino Protestantism, Professor
Martinez's work will prove an invaluable resource for all who are seeking to understand this
rapidly growing US demographic. An impressive work of seminal scholarship that will also have
a definitive appeal for academicians and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject, "The Story of Latino Protestants in the United States" is unreservedly recommended for
both community and academic library Hispanic American History and Christian Studies
collections.
The Slave-Trader's Letter-Book
Jim Jordan
University of Georgia Press
Main Library, Third Floor, 320 South Jackson Street, Athens, Georgia 30602
www.ugapress.org
9780820351964, $32.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
In 1858 Savannah businessman Charles Lamar organized the shipment of hundreds of Africans
to Jekyll Island, Georgia. Deftly edited with commentary and notations by Jim Jordan (who
researches and writes about the colonial, antebellum, and Civil War South), "The Slave-Trader's
Letter-Book: Charles Lamar, the Wanderer, and Other Tales of the African Slave Trade" is
comprised of seventy long-lost letters that shed light on the lead-up to the I from the remarkable
perspective of a troubled, and troubling, figure. Organized and presented chronologically, and
enhanced with the inclusion of fifty-two pages of Notes, an eleven page Selected Bibliography,
and a ten page Index, "The Slave-Trader's Letter-Book" is an impressively informative and
engaging read from cover to cover. While unreservedly recommended for both community and
academic library 19th Century American History collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "The Slave-Trader's Letter-Book" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$23.55).
Troopers with Custer
E. A. Brininstool
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811737401, $20.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
No one survived in Custer's immediate command, but other soldiers fighting in the Battle of the
Little Big Horn on June 25-26, 1876, were doomed to remember the nightmarish scene for
decades after. Their true and terrible stories are included in "Troopers with Custer: Historic
Incidents of the Battle of the Little Big Horn". Some of the veterans who corresponded with E. A.
Brininstool were still alive when his book first appeared in a shortened version in 1925. It has
long been recognized as classic Custeriana. More incisively than many later writers, Brininstool
considers the causes of Custer's defeat and questions the alleged cowardice of Major Marcus A.
Reno. His exciting reenactment of the Battle of the Little Big Horn sets up the reader for a series
of turns by its stars and supporting and bit players. Besides the boy general with the golden locks,
they include Captain Frederick W. Benteen, the scouts Lieutenant Charles A. Varnum and
"Lonesome Charley" Reynolds, the trumpeter John Martin, officers and troopers in the ranks who
miraculously escaped death, the only surviving surgeon and the captain of the steamboat that
carried the wounded away, the newspaperman who spread the news to the world, and many
others. While an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and
academic library American History collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Troopers with Custer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
The World History Shelf
Koh-i-Noor
William Dalrymple & Anita Anand
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785414855, $35.50, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
On 29 March 1849, the ten-year-old maharaja of Punjab was compelled to hand over great riches
to the British, including perhaps the single most valuable object on the subcontinent -- the
celebrated Koh-i-Noor diamond, aptly called the Mountain of Light. The history of the
Koh-i-Noor that was then commissioned by the British may have been one woven together from
gossip of Delhi bazaars, but it was to be become the accepted version. Only now is it finally
challenged, freeing the diamond from the fog of mythology that has clung to it for so long. The
resulting history is one of greed, murder, torture, colonialism and appropriation told through an
impressive slice of south and central Asian history. It ends with the jewel in its current
controversial setting -- in the crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Author William
Dalrymple is a Scottish historian and writer, art historian and curator, as well as a prominent
broadcaster and critic. With the publication of this large print edition of "Koh-i-Noor: The
History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond" he has produced a definitive and inherently
fascinating history that will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
community and academic library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of academicians
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Civil War Shelf
Curious And Unusual Civil War Stories
Rex T. Jackson
Heritage Books
5810 Ruatan Street, Berwyn Heights, Maryland 20740
www.heritagebooks.com
0788457802, $22.50, PB, 202pp, www.amazon.com
Horrific and unforgettable battles like Gettysburg, Antietam, and Shiloh are well documented,
but many other lesser-known events took place during the American Civil War as well. Some of
them are strange, unusual, or obscure, yet they are all equally important. Civil War buffs and
American History students curious about a homegrown conflict that harvested more than 700,000
lives will find ample sustenance here to appease their appetites. For instance, in the pages of
"Curious And Unusual Civil War Stories" by historian Rex T. Jackson can be found a Union and
Confederate conflict that occurred in the English Channel, while another engagement that
predates Bull Run holds the distinction of being the first significant land battle of the Civil War,
and still another involves a land fortification which surrendered solely to the inland navy -- it
would not happen again throughout the war. Numerous photographs, additional illustrations,
bibliographies, and index to full names and places enhance the value of this work for both the
non-specialist general reader and the academic community, making "Curious And Unusual Civil
War Stories" and especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community,
and academic library American Civil War History collections and supplemental studies reading
list.
The Generals of Shiloh
Larry Tagg
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213690, $32.95, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Most writers of military history stress strategy and tactics at the expense of the character of their
subjects. Larry Tagg remedies that oversight with "The Generals of Shiloh: Character in
Leadership, April 6-7, 1862", a unique and invaluable study of the high-ranking combat officers
whose conduct in April 1862 helped determine the success or failure of their respective armies,
the fate of the war in the Western Theater and, in turn, the fate of the American union. The
readers is presented with detailed background information on each of general officer, coupled
with a thorough account of each man's actions on the field of Shiloh and, if he survived that
battle, his fate thereafter. Many of the great names tossed up by civil war are found here in this
early battle, from U. S. Grant, William T. Sherman, and Don Carlos Buell, to Albert S. Johnston,
Braxton Bragg, and P. G. T. Beauregard. Many more men, whose names crossed the stage of
furious combat only to disappear in the smoke on the far side, also populate these pages. Every
one acted in his own unique fashion and in a manner worthy of study. This marriage of character
("the features and attributes of a man") with his war record, offers new insights into how and why
a particular soldier acted a certain way, in a certain situation, at a certain time. An invaluable and
impressively informative study, "The Generals of Shiloh" is an extraordinary and unreservedly
recommended addition to the growing library of American Civil War literature. While an
especially commended addition to both community and academic library Civil War collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and the non-specialist
general reader with an interest in the subject that "The Generals of Shiloh" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Education Shelf
Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty, second edition
Paul C. Gorski
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807758793, $29.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Reaching and Teaching Students in
Poverty: Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap" continues to be an influential book that
describes the knowledge and skills teachers and school administrators need to recognize and
combat bias and inequity that undermine educational engagement for students experiencing
poverty. This new edition: Offers a research-informed alternative to popular simplistic
approaches that undermine genuine efforts at educational equity; Outlines evidence-based
strategies, policies, and practices that strengthen the educational success of students experiencing
poverty; Incorporates vignettes to help readers reflect on key points and apply the Equity Literacy
framework to classroom- and school-based scenarios; Embraces an intersectional approach to
recognizing how class and poverty interact with race, gender, language, (dis)ability, and other
dimensions of identity and experience; and includes an updated Poverty and Class Awareness
Quiz. Impressively informative and accessibly written, organized and presented, "Reaching and
Teaching Students in Poverty" is an especially recommended addition to both college and
university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $16.17).
Differentiation and the Brain, second edition
David A. Sousa & Carol Ann Tomlinson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781945349522, $34.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Students are becoming more academically and culturally diverse, making it more important than
ever to shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward differentiated instruction. Now in
a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Differentiation and the Brain: How Neuroscience
Supports the Learner-Friendly Classroom " will help teachers to create truly effective,
brain-friendly classrooms for all learners. David A. Sousai (who is an international consultant in
educational neuroscience) and Carol Ann Tomlinson (who is a faculty member at the University
of Virginia's Curry School of Education, where she is the William Clay Parrish Jr. Professor and
chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy) share an array of
updated differentiated instruction examples, scenarios, and exercises, as well as the latest
educational psychology research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and pedagogy.
Readers will learn more about teaching diverse learners using brain-based learning strategies:
Explore how the brain learns and approaches to differentiated instruction; Sharpen their
knowledge of developmental cognitive neuroscience and educational psychology to teach the
best content in the best possible way; Use the knowledge of educational neuroscience
(neuroeducation) to benefit the students they teach; Design and implement strategies for effective
differentiated instruction; Create a positive and productive learning environment that supports
diversity in the classroom. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Differentiation
and the Brain" is an especially recommended addition to school district, college, and university
library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Differentiation and the Brain" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $24.07).
Dare to be Different
Will Ryan
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785832765, $19.95, PB, 220pp, www.amazon.com
Will Ryan has worked in schools in Rotherham, South Yorkshire for over 30 years as a teacher,
head teacher and Local Authority adviser. As a head teacher he led a school that prized itself on
genuine pupil creativity. While it is presented to the reader as a fable with fictitious characters,
"Dare to be Different: A Leadership Fable About Transformational Change In Schools" is based
on real schools: schools in which Will Ryan has worked with leaders and teachers who, by
applying their deeply held educational beliefs, accelerate learning and provide exciting learning
opportunities for their pupils. What Ryan has done is to condense and interweave his forty-three
years worth of accumulated experience of going in and out of the UK's best classrooms into
"Dare to be Different in which the reader will find: At least one-hundred-and-eighteen tips that
are based around exciting primary practice and which should make the hairs tingle on the neck of
the most wizened school inspector; At least forty-five significant ideas that will strengthen
leadership and have the capacity to transform your school as a learning community: A minimum
of fifty quotations that will make the reader think about how our most inspirational leaders create
inspirational teachers who get an inspirational response from their learners; Compelling pieces of
evidence to demonstrate that primary school teachers are doing a fabulous job -- despite what any
politician or tabloid reporter would proclaim. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Dare to be Different" is unreservedly recommended for both community and
academic library Educational Studies collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be
known for the personal reading lists of students, teachers, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject that "Dare to be Different" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $16.49).
Leading Change Together
Eleanor Drago-Severson & Jessica Blum-DeStefano
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416624974, $30.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
In "Leading Change Together: Developing Educator Capacity Within Schools and Systems",
Eleanor Drago-Severson (Professor of Education Leadership and Adult Learning and Leadership,
and director of the PhD Program in Educational Leadership, at Teachers College, Columbia
University) and Jessica Blum-DeStefano ( Adjunct Instructor at Bank Street College of
Education) share an expertise that has evolved from their many decades of research and work
with educators and show classroom teachers how to: Deepen their understanding of adult
development and its role in systemic and schoolwide change and educational improvement;
Connect theory to practice with developmentally oriented structures and strategies that enhance
collaboration, communication, and feedback; Support individual and, organizational growth with
a differentiated approach to leadership and capacity building; Build trust, capacity, collegiality,
and sustainability with developmental practices that meet adult needs. Whether working in a
school, district, university, educational institution, or other learning organization, educators will
learn how to infuse leadership, collaboration, communication, and capacity building with a deep
understanding of individuals' experiences and capacities -- and how they influence our day-to-day
work. "Leading Change Together" is an effective and practical instructional guide explaining
how classroom teachers as well as their adult learner students can effect tremendous change in
schools and systems. While especially and unreservedly recommended for school district,
college, and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Leading Change Together" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $28.22).
A Teacher's Guide to Flexible Grouping and Collaborative Learning
Dina Brulles & Karen L. Brown
Free Spirit Publishing
6325 Sandburg Road, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55427-3674
www.freespirit.com
9781631982835, $42.99, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Grouping learners purposefully throughout the school day based on their needs and the
curriculum remains the single best way to differentiate instruction. The collaborative project of
Dina Brulles (who is a; school administrator and the Gifted Education Director at Arizona's
paradise Valley unified School District) and Karen L. Brown (who is a former elementary-school
gifted specialist and is currently an education consultant and a gifted program mentor at
Arizona's paradise Valley unified School District), "A Teacher's Guide to Flexible Grouping and
Collaborative Learning: Form, Manage, Assess, and Differentiate in Groups" is a thoroughly
'user friendly' guide that will help classroom teachers to expertly utilize flexible grouping and
differentiation strategies to respond to their students' diverse learning needs, abilities, and
interests. Included are methods for creating groups based on assessment data, planning group
lessons and tiered assignments, engaging learners at all levels, supporting personalized learning,
grading collaborative work, and communicating with parents about the benefits of groupwork
and productive struggle. Digital content contains all forms from the book and a PDF
presentation. A free online PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/PLC, making "A
Teacher's Guide to Flexible Grouping and Collaborative Learning" is unreservedly recommended
for school district, college, and university library Teacher Education instructional reference
collections and supplemental studies lists.
PE Metrics, third edition
SHAPE America
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492526667, $69.00, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com
Founded in 1885, SHAPE America -- Society of Health and Physical Educators is the nation's
largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals. Now in a fully
updated and expanded third edition, "PE Metrics: Assessing Student Performance Using the
National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education", aligns with SHAPE
America's National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education, was
created by SHAPE America and its writing team, and was reviewed by researchers and teachers
with expertise in assessment. The result is a text that PE teachers can use with confidence as they
develop physical literacy in their students. Featuring 130 ready-to-use assessments for
kindergarten through grade 12 (65 elementary, 43 middle school, and 22 high school);
Worksheets, checklists, and rubrics that support the assessments; Guidance on creating deftly
crafted assessments for any lesson or unit, the assessments comprising "PE Metrics" are aligned
with the three SHAPE America lesson planning books for elementary, middle, and secondary
school and dovetail with SHAPE America's The Essentials of Teaching Physical Education. The
assessments can be used as they are, or can be modified, or used as samples in creating
assessments that are best suited to a particular needs. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization
and presentation, "PE Metrics" is an especially and unreservedly recommended for professional,
school district, college, and university library Physical Education instructional reference
collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Interactions in Ecology and Literature
Tamra Stambaugh, Eric Fecht, Emily Mofield
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618217929, $45.00, PB, 258pp, www.amazon.com
"Interactions in Ecology and Literature: Integrated Science and ELA Lessons for Gifted and
Advanced Learners in Grades 2-3" by Tamra Stambaugh (who is a Research Assistant Professor
of Special Education and Director of Programs for Talented Youth at Vanderbilt University)
deftly and effectively integrates ecology with fictional and informational texts. This classroom
educational unit, developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth, is fully
aligned to the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Students
will research questions such as "Should animals be kept in zoos?" and "Should we kill spiders in
our house?" They will examine relationships among living things and the environment as well as
relationships between literary elements in texts through accelerated content, engaging activities,
and differentiated tasks. An ideal curriculum supplement that is both teacher and student friendly
in terms of tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Interactions in Ecology and
Literature" is an especially and unreservedly recommended for classroom teachers, as well as an
addition to college and university library Teacher Education & Resources collections.
Attack of the Teenage Brain!
John Medina
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416625490, $28.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In accessible language and with periodic references to Star Trek, motorcycle daredevils, and
near-classic movies of the '80s, developmental molecular biologist John Medina (who is a
developmental molecular biologist with special research interests in the isolation and
characterization of genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric
disorders), has written "Attack of the Teenage Brain! Understanding and Supporting the Weird
and Wonderful Adolescent Learner" to deftly explore the neurological and evolutionary factors
that drive teenage behavior and can affect both achievement and engagement. Medina also
proposes a research-supported counterattack: a bold redesign of educational practices and
learning environments to deliberately develop teens' cognitive capacity to manage their emotions,
plan, prioritize, and focus. "Attack of the Teenage Brain!" is an enlightening and entertaining
read that will change the way we think about teen behavior and prompt us to consider how
parents, educators, and policymakers might effectively collaborate to help our challenging,
sometimes infuriating, often weird, and genuinely wonderful kids become more successful
learners, in school and beyond. While unreservedly recommended for both community and
academic library Psychology & Education collections, it should be noted for the personal reading
lists of psychology students, classroom teachers, parents, and non-specialists general readers with
an interest in the subject that "Attack of the Teenage Brain!" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $21.12).
Corwin
www.corwin.com
Four new guides for educators provide an excellent compendium of professional topics and
research-supported ideas, and are recommended as basic texts for any educational collection. Ken
O'Connor's fourth edition of How to Grade for Learning: Linking Grades to Standards
(9781506334158, $38.95) provides eight specific guidelines for good grading processes and
covers each in depth, pairing the latest research on brain learning and motivation with
discussions of why and how to apply standards-based grading. Nearly fifty educator contributions
from a wide range of practices enter into the discussion, offering information on everything from
eliminating traditional grading approaches to exercises for applying tools. Joellen Killion's
Assessing Impact: Evaluating Professional Learning (9781506395951, $42.95) appears in its
third updated edition to examine the basics of creating high-impact professional learning
programs. Administrators and school improvement teams, in particular, will relish the specifics
about changes in federal and state policies about educator development, the ideas for applying
data sets to better measurement processes, and the insights on how to use data-driven
professional learning programs to best effect. Michael W. Smith and Jon-Philip Imbrenda's
Developing Writers of Argument: Tools & Rules That Sharpen Student Reasoning
(9781506354330, $33.95) pairs some twenty lesson plans that make argument writing relevant
with instructions on how to choose, create, teach and apply simulated texts to address different
points of view. Questions designed to encourage argumentation and lessons that teach its three
basic elements are supplemented by writing examples from the authors' own students, making
this a powerful presentation. Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano and Janet A. Hale's A Guide to
Documenting Learning (9781506385570, $34.95) provides a focus on qualifying modern
learning's basic principles and systems, focusing on capturing, reflecting, sharing and amplifying
processes and understanding how these apply to learning and insights. How educators handle
each phase makes all the difference in encouraging meaningful engagement, and this explains
these different documentation processes, their systems, and how documentation in classrooms
can lead to better learning paths.
The Automotive Shelf
The Definitive Chevelle SS Guide 1964-1972
Dale McIntosh
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613253656, $34.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Chevelles have always carried a certain aura about them. As Chevrolet's entry into the mid-sized
muscle car market, they provided high sales numbers across many platforms as Chevrolet won
the manufacturers crown six of nine years from 1964 to 1972. At the tip of the Chevrolet sales
spear resided the Chevelle SS. Beginning in 1969, the Chevelle SS was no longer its own model
and was relegated to being an option package. Hence, it can become difficult to determine if a
1969-1972 model was ordered from the factory with Super Sport equipment. In "The Definitive
Chevelle SS Guide 1964-1972", Dale McIntosh (who became a Chevelle enthusiast when he
purchased his first black/black 1967 SS396 in the fall of 1967, and who in the 1990s, created a
website (Team67.com) that morphed into ChevelleStuff.net and became a major resource for
Chevelle information) discusses each model in a year-by-year format, providing correct
information on what was and wasn't part of the Malibu SS, SS396, and SS-optioned Chevelle.
Crucial to this is a firm understanding of plant-by-plant variances along with mid-year changes
that he has identified to make your Chevelle SS factory correct. Very highly recommended for
personal, community, and academic library Automotive History collections in general, and
Chevell supplemental studies reading lists in particular, "The Definitive Chevelle SS Guide
1964-1972" is an impressive compilation of hard data in an easy, concise, and profusely
illustrated format.
Damsels in Design
Constance A. Smith
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764354359, $34.99, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
In the mid-1950s, an innovative group of women at General Motors (dubbed the Damsels of
Design by marketers) and their counterparts at Ford, Hudson, Studebaker, Packard, and Tucker
changed automotive history forever. "Damsels in Design: Women Pioneers in the Automotive
Industry, 1939-1959" by Constance A. Smith reveals in documented detail the untold story of the
women who excelled in the Mad Men era of automobile and industrial design. Recruited by top
CEOs at automotive companies, they developed many of the products we take for granted today.
"Damsels in Design" includes Helene Rother, who designed the instrument panel, hardware, and
seat construction for midcentury Cadillacs; and Elizabeth Thatcher Oros, the first female trained
in industrial design; and discover the history behind the child safety seat latch and car doors with
lights. An extraordinary story of exceptional women, "Damsels in Design" sheds light on those
who have too long been in the shadows and is unreservedly recommended for both community
and academic library 20th Century Automotive History collections, as well as the person reading
lists of automotive history buffs.
Racing Colours
Simon Owen
Veloce Publishing Ltd.
www.veloce.co.uk
9781845846527, $32.50, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
A well known artist specializing in racing car subjects, the late Simon Owen's detailed, expertly
executed work conveys the life, the vibrancy, the essence and passion of motor sports and racing
cars, like no other. Simon's work is a visual feast for lovers of automotive art and motor sport.
Over the last few years, Simon had worked on developing a series of stunningly detailed
computer-generated digital images, focusing on individual racing cars and their liveries.
Seventy-seven of these images have been compiled to create "Racing Colours: Motor Racing
Compositions 1908-2009", and each one is individually presented with a relevant quote from a
legend of the motor racing world. Along with these beautiful and unique artworks, "Racing
Colours" represents a chance to gain a rare peek into the artist's working methods, revealing
some of his developmental work. A simply fascinating browse for dedicated automotive racing
buffs, "Racing Colours" is very strongly recommended for personal reading lists of dedicated
motor sports fans, as well as community and academic library Automotive History collections. It
should be noted that "Racing Colours" is also available in a paperback edition (9781787111943,
$24.95).
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Star Scouts: The League of Lasers
Mike Lawrence
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626722811 $14.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com
Star Scouts: The League of Lasers is a full-color, science fiction graphic novel that will appeal to
all ages. Young Avani has been invited to join the prestigious Star Scouts, but to earn a place in
their ranks she must survive the imitation challenge. Stranded on a remote planet, Avani must
contend with the methane atmosphere, unfriendly frog-like inhabitants, and the challenge of
simply obtaining enough food and water to survive. Then she learns that her personal arch-
nemesis, Pam, is stranded with her! Hazardous and exciting from cover to cover, Star Scouts:
The League of Lasers is a grand adventure, highly recommended for both personal and public
library graphic novel collections.
Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter
Marcus Sedgwick and Thomas Taylor
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626720268 $14.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com
Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is a full-color graphic novel that will appeal to readers of all ages,
from middle grades to adult. Scarlett Hart is the orphaned, strong-willed daughter of two
legendary monster hunters. She desires to follow in their footsteps, with the aid of her loyal
butler and a multitude of gadgets to use against mummies, hounds, zombies, and much more! But
could her archrival Count Stankovic run her out the business by seizing all the monster-catching
rewards for himself? As more monsters proliferate in the city, Scarlett must to get to the bottom
of the sudden infestation before it's too late! A thrilling, high-energy adventure from cover to
cover, Scarlett Hart: Monster Hunter is highly recommended.
Death To The Tsar
Fabien Nury, author
Thierry Robin, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785866418, $24.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com
In 1904 political tension is at an all time high in the Russian Empire. Under the rule of the Tsar
and the Russian aristocracy the country is failing and the effects of that failure are falling on its
people. Hungry and deeply impoverished, the living standards for the citizens is falling daily.
They protest calling on the Governor of Moscow for help. Suddenly, the Governor's soldiers
launch an attack. People are murdered in the forecourt of the palace. Was this Governor
Alexandrovitch's plan or the result of a tragic miscommunication? The answer seems clear to the
Russian people, with whispers of revolution in the streets -- and plots for his assassination
commence in earnest. A riveting great story from cover to cover by Fabien Nury, "Death To The
Tsar" is visually augmented on every page by the compelling artwork of illustrator Thierry
Robin. The result is an unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library
graphic novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Death To The Tsar"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.74).
Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension
Nick Abadzis, et al.
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785863479, $24.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com
"Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension" is the second of two volumes collecting 2017's giant Doctor
Who crossover event, the lives of the Twelfth Doctor and the Tenth Doctor collide in the most
unexpected way, as their TARDISes become fused... and the whole of humanity seems turned
against them! Only by linking together all of the Doctor's lives - and delving deep into the horror
of the Void - do the Doctors stand any chance of uncovering the mystery at its heart... and of
saving the known universe from total annihilation! But what they find at the center of the
Universe That Never Was will prove the most shocking discovery of all. Plus, Doctor Who fans
will discover what River Song and the Fourth Doctor have been up to during this mega-event,
and how they played a part in its unexpected resolution! "Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension" is a
beyond-epic entertainment, and essential reading for any Doctor Who fan! While unreservedly
recommended for community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Doctor Who: The Lost Dimension" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781785865916, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Doctor Who: Facing Fate - Vortex Butterflies
Nick Abadzis, et al.
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785860881, $22.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Besieged by an evil red TARDIS and bounced around from the inside of a living nightmare to
ancient China, the Doctor (in his tenth incarnation) and his companions have had a tough time of
late! As Cindy recovers from the splitting headache she developed on her most recent adventure,
Gabby's mysterious block-transfer butterfly powers continue to develop -- and Noobis, the
amnesiac offshoot of a former god, continues to grow as his own entity. But the TARDIS team
put all that to one side when they visit the distant past of Venus. What strange civilization once
lurked in its now-poisonous depths? And what connection does it have to the Doctor's own
history? And out in the darkness of the vortex, the Time Sentinel lurks. What nefarious plan does
it have for the Doctor and his friends? Another thrilling adventure that is a 'must' for the legions
of Doctor Who fans, "Doctor Who: Facing Fate - Vortex Butterflies" is certain to be an
enduringly popular addition for community library graphic novel collections. For personal
reading lists of Doctor Who fans is should be noted that ""Doctor Who: Facing Fate - Vortex
Butterflies" is also available in a paperback edition (9781785860928, $16.99) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Black Panther: The Official Movie Special
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785866531, $19.99, HC, 96pp, www.amazon.com
With exclusive behind the scenes full color photos from the movie sets, stunning concept art
revealing the beautiful, secretive nation of Wakanda as portrayed in the newest Marvel Comics
Universe movie, "Black Panther". Featuring exclusive interviews with the stars of the film,
including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Martin
Freeman, Forest Whitaker and Danai Gurira, "Black Panther: The Official Movie Special" is a
must-have for all fans of everything Marvel! While very highly recommended for community and
academic library Cinematic Studies reference collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of all dedicated Black Panther fans that this beautifully informative volume is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.20).
Erekose - The Swords of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell
Howard V. Chaykin
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781782763307, $19.99, HC, 80pp, www.amazon.com
The latest addition to the simply outstanding 'Michael Moorcock Library graphic novel series
form Titan Comics, "Erekose - The Swords of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell" is another
extraordinary fantasy action/adventure adapted by Howard Chaykin from the novels of a
consummate master of the sword & sorcery fantasy genre and featuring Chaykin's exquisite
artwork. In this story Erekose (one aspect of Michael Moorcock's 'Eternal Champion') assumes
the role of "Clen of Clen-Gar," a noble of the land called the "Dream Marches", part of a greater
land called "Heaven". He befriends a peaceful race of beings known as "Angels", who can best
be described in one of their forms as flying manatees. In the day-time, they gracefully float
through Heaven, absorbing water vapour from the air, and by night they release the stored water
as acid rain upon a neighboring land coincidentally called "Hell", whose savage inhabitants live
in poverty compared to the luxury of Heaven and the Dream Marches. The angels can also
assume an insectoid form similar to human sized ant-men. A fully absorbing entertainment from
cover to cover, "Erekose - The Swords of Heaven, The Flowers of Hell" is 'must' for the personal
reading lists of dedicated Michael Moorcock fans, and will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library graphic novel collections.
Dishonored: The Peeress and the Price
Michael Moreci, author
Andrea Olimpieri, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785852343, $16.99, HC, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Written by science fiction writer Michael Moreci and distinctively illustrated with the artwork of
Andrea Olimpieri, "Dishonored: The Peeress and the Price", follows the continuing adventures of
Corvo Attano and the now Empress Emily Kaldwin in a graphic novel sequel based upon the
highly anticipated upcoming game Dishonored 2 as they come up against brand new threats and
foes. Once again producing a truly riveting read from cover to cover, the team of Moreci and
Olimpieri are acknowledged masters of the genre and this Titan Comics edition of "Dishonored:
The Peeress and the Price" is unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction
graphic novel collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated science
fiction fans that "Dishonored: The Peeress and the Price" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $2.99).
Dan Dare: He Who Dares
Peter Milligan, author
Alberto Foche, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785861475, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
The futuristic hero Dan Dare returns in an all new adventure in "Dan Dare: He Who Dares".
Written by Peter Milligan and illustrated by Alberto Foche, Dan now must deal with a captive
Mekon while facing a sinister new foe sent by a deadly ancient evil that threatens not only all life
in the solar system, but the very galaxy itself! Written and illustrated in an impressive homage to
Golden Age science fiction comics of the 1930s and 40s, "Dan Dare: He Who Dares" is pure
entertainment that combines originality with nostalgia. The result is a graphic novel that will
prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and
community library collections.
Dan Dare: Earth Stealers
Eric Eden, Don Harley, Bruce Cornwell
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785862915, $34.99, HC, 106pp, www.amazon.com
In "Dan Dare: Earth Stealers", Dan Dare and his every faithful companion Digby awaken after an
unknown number of years, from deep-space hibernation to find themselves lost and adrift in an
unknown region and orbiting a mysterious planet, seemingly made of platinum. Now our two
plucky heroes must free an enslaved race of aliens and fight to return to their home world,
although what they discover there remains a terrible mystery. Comprised of two consecutive
science fiction adventures, "Dan Dare: Earth Stealers" harkens back to the Golden Age of science
fiction newspaper strips and comic book stories. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted for the
legions of Dan Dare fans that "Dan Dare: Earth Stealers" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $33.24).
Dawn of War III - The Hunt for Gabriel Angelos
Ryan O'Sullivan, author
Daniel Indro, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785858147, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
The latest volume in the science fiction action/adventure series 'Warhammer 40,000', author
Ryan O'Sullivan and illustrator Daniel Indro's "Dawn of War III - The Hunt for Gabriel Angelos"
is a simply riveting graphic novel from first page to last! The Blood Ravens' Chapter Master
Gabriel Angelos is missing in action, at a time when the Space Marines under his command need
him most. The orks are massing on Cyprus-Ultima, and the threat of the eldar refuses to lessen.
With the future of the war resting on Angelos's leadership, superhuman abilities and ancient
weaponry, acting commander Balthazar tasks a small squad of close allies to track down the
Chapter Master, but they'll need to strike far behind enemy lines, travel light, and think faster and
fight harder than ever before, if they're to prevail! Especially recommended for personal reading
lists and community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted that "Dawn of War III -
The Hunt for Gabriel Angelos" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Under: Scourge of the Sewer Collection
Stefano Raffaele, author
Christopher Bec, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785864834, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
For Lieutenant Wilson Jericho, Hell is real: and it's in the sewers of the sprawling city
Megalopolis. As an officer of the Sewer Police, he's responsible for ensuring the bowels of the
city are kept running smoothly. Disgraced from his position above ground and now an officer in
the Sewer Police, Lt. Jericho thinks he knows everything there is to know about what lies
beneath. But scientist Sandra Yeatman is determined to discover the truth behind the legends,
and something is threatening to crawl out and rip the city apart. Christophe Bec is a comics writer
and writer, best known for his series Pandemonium and Prometheus. Stefano Raffaele is an
Italian comic book artist, known for his work on New Gods, Birds of Prey, Batman, X-Men
Adventures, X-Factor and the Conan the Barbarian series. Now together they have created in the
pages of "Under: Scourge of the Sewer Collection", a deftly crafted, inherently compelling
graphic novel that is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
collections. It should be noted that "Under: Scourge of the Sewer Collection" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $4.61).
The Orbital: Implosion
Sylvain Runberg, author
Serge Pelle, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849183789, $13.95, PB, 56pp, www.amazon.com
After the events in Stockholm, Caleb and Mezoke have become renegades and are hunted by the
entire Confederation. Inevitably they end up on Tetsuam, a gigantic itinerant space station that's
the capital of crime in the galaxy. But while they attempt to sort out a future for themselves, and
as Confederate space is recovering from the civil war, the Neuronomes (sentient ships previously
thought eradicated) appear to launch random, devastating suicide attacks that kill thousands. The
seventh volume of science fiction author Sylvain Runberg and renowned illustrator Serge Pelle's
outstanding graphic novel series, 'The Orbital: Implosion"' is especially and unreservedly
recommended to the attention of all dedicated science fiction buffs and graphic novel fans. While
certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Orbital: Implosion" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Entropy
Aaron Costain
Secret Acres
200 Park Avenue South, 8th floor, New York, NY 10003
www.secretacres.com
9780996273985, $19.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Aaron Costain is a Canadian cartoonist and architect in based in Toronto. "Entropy" is his
graphic novel story that follows a golem with a surprisingly modern sensibility, and an even
more modern sense of style, as he backtracks through millennia to understand his own creation.
"Entropy" takes place at the intersection of the world's cultures. Mythologies and religions
cross-pollinate, bleed into one another, and form a new soul from synthesis -- or they will if our
epic hero can outrun man-eating giants, a vicious army of crows, a mute doppelganger, an angel
and one very manipulative, slave-driving cat. With its black-and-white illustrations,"Entropy" is
an inherently fascinating, singularly unique, and 'reader compelling' story that is unreservedly
recommended for personal and community library graphic novel collections.
It Crept From The Tomb
Peter Normanton, editor
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490816, $29.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Just when you thought it was safe to walk the streets again, From The Tomb (the UK's
preeminent magazine on the history of horror comics) digs up more tomes of terror from the
century past with "It Crept From The Tomb: The Best of From The Tomb, Volume 2" which
uncovers atomic comics lost to the Cold War, rarely seen (and censored) British horror comics,
the early art of Richard Corben, Good Girls of a bygone age, Tom Sutton, Don Heck, Lou
Morales, Al Eadeh, Bruce Jones' Alien Worlds, HP Lovecraft in Heavy Metal, and a myriad of
terrors from beyond the stars and the shadows of our own world! It features comics they tried to
ban, from Atlas, Charlton, Comic Media, DC, EC, Harvey, House of Hammer, Kitchen Sink,
Last Gasp, Pacific, Skywald, Warren, and more from the darkest of the horror genre's finest
creators! Profusely illustrated from cover to cover, "It Crept From The Tomb" is an inherently
fascinating and impressively informative read that will have very special appeal to all horror
fiction comics and graphic novels fans.
The Young Master's Revenge 1
Meca Tanaka
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421598970 $9.99 www.viz.com
The Young Master's Revenge 1 begins a black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) series
about a young man named Leo, and Tenma, a girl from a wealthy background who wounded his
pride and dragged him into trouble again and again in their childhood. Years later, Leo has
become the heir to a highly profitable family business. With his newfound advantage, Leo
decides to exact a devious revenge plan on Tenma - he'll get her to fall in love with him! Or will
he? Why does nothing in Leo's scheme seem to go as planned? A whimsically lighthearted
romantic (or hatemantic?) comedy, The Young Master's Revenge 1 is highly recommended.
Kaguya-sama Love is War 1
Aka Akasaka
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781974700301 $9.99 www.viz.com
Kaguya-sama Love is War 1 is the first black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) series
blending elements of comedy and high school drama into a vivacious competition! Kaguya and
Miyuki are two highly intelligent young women attending a prestigious academy's student
council. Both of them have fallen in love, but each girl's pride and ferocious competitive instincts
drive her to get the object of her affection to confess their innermost feelings first! Love truly is a
subtly manipulated war, in this unique twist on the romantic comedy genre, highly
recommended.
The Audiobook Shelf
Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?
Written and read by Mark Hyman, MD
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478985389 $30.00 amazon.com
Now in an unabridged audiobook version, Mark Hyman, MD (director of the Cleveland Clinic
Center for Functional Medicine) presents Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, a close study of
food that focuses on evidence-based nutrition - what modern science and nutritional studies tell
us about different food groups, and how to select a diet ideal for maintaining optimal weight and
good health. Chapters scrutinize individual food groups, and debunk lingering myths about
specific foods. With its solid foundation on medicine and the science of nutrition, Food: What
the Heck Should I Eat? is worthy of the highest recommendation for individuals, families, cooks,
meal planners, and public library collections. A PDF of supplemental materials is included in the
audiobook presentation. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.
The Sun Does Shine
Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin
Read by Kevin R. Free
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427293053 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row is the unabridged audiobook
biography of Anthony Ray Hinton, a black man who was arrested in 1985 and sentenced to death
for a crime he did not commit. For three years, he languished in despair and anger on death row
at Holman State Prison. As time passed, he resolved to find a way to live on death row. For
twenty-seven years he worked to transform himself and his fellow prisoners. He founded a prison
book group, and with the help of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in
2015, after spending thirty years on death row. The Sun Does Shine is a story of hope, and the
will to do better by oneself and others no matter how dire one's situation. Highly recommended,
especially for personal and public library audiobook collections. 8 CDs, 9.5 hours.
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams
Philip K. Dick, author
Tanya Elby, et al., narrators
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781543661040, $19.99, MP3 CD, www.amazon.com
Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928 - March 2, 1982) was an American science fiction
writer. Dick explored philosophical, social, and political themes in his novels with plots
dominated by monopolistic corporations, alternative universes, authoritarian governments, and
altered states of consciousness. Dick also wrote more than one hundred short stories over the
course of his career, each as mind-bending and genre-defining as his longer works. This audio
book edition of "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams" collects ten of the best of those stories. In
"Autofac," Dick shows us one of the earliest examples (and warnings) in science fiction of
self-replicating machines. "Exhibit Piece" and "The Commuter" feature Dick exploring one of
his favorite themes: the shifting nature of reality and whether it is even possible to perceive the
world as it truly exists. And "The Hanging Stranger" provides a thrilling, dark political allegory
as relevant today as it was when Dick wrote it at the height of the Cold War. Strange, funny, and
powerful, the stories in this collection highlight a master at work, encapsulating his boundless
imagination and deep understanding of the human condition. Flawlessly produced, with each
adapted story having an informative introduction, "Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams" is an
extraordinary and very highly recommended addition to personal and community library audio
book collections -- and an absolute 'must listen' for the legions of PKD fans. 6 hours, 56
min.
Protected
Claire Zorn
Narrated by Anushka Paris-Carter
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781501982804 $TBA www.recordedbooks.com
Reaching out to both a teenage and an adult audience, Protected is the unabridged audiobook
rendition of a powerful novel about grief and the difficult journey toward healing. Hannah is a
teenaged girl distraught by the death of her older sister. Her father is injured, her mother is
severely depressed, and she struggles to cope day in, day out at school. But Hannah has begun to
feel a stir of hope inside, and she can't express why. Protected is an emotionally moving story,
made especially memorable by the performance of narrator Anushka Paris-Carter, and is highly
recommended for personal and public library audiobook collections. 6 CDs, 6 hours.
Between Riverside and Crazy
Stephen Adly Guirgis
Starring John Cothran, Seamus Dever, Ana Ortiz, and Larry Powell
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781682660645 $29.95 www.latw.org
Between Riverside and Crazy is an audiobook recording of a full-cast performance of an award-
winning Off-Broadway comedy-drama play about a retired, widower policeman Walter "Pops"
Washington, his ex-felon son, and others living in a sprawling, rent-controlled apartment. Walter
is pursuing a lawsuit against the police department because he was accidentally shot by another
cop; will ripples his lingering feud destroy the family life he is attempting to rebuild? Masterfully
performed, Between Riverside and Crazy is a thoughtful take on the shifting power dynamic
between landlords, tenants, police, and civilians, and is highly recommended for both personal
and public library audiobook collections. 2 CDs, 1 hour 45 min.
The Europeans
Henry James, author
Read by Adam Sims
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781781981061 $41.98 amazon.com
First published in 1878, The Europeans is a classic short novel adapted into unabridged
audiobook format. The story follows the culture shock between wealth elites on either side of the
Atlantic Ocean. After her marriage to a German prince collapses Baroness Eugenia Munster
travels to America along with her brother. The two have a profound impact on their American
cousins, the Wentworths. Sparks of romance fly, yet the Europeans' more fanciful and frivolous
lifestyle clashes drastically with that of the more serious and puritanical Americans. A
lighthearted comedy-of-manners with memorable descriptions of mid-19th-century upper-class
New England life, The Europeans is highly recommended for both personal and public library
audiobook collections. 6 CDs, 6 hours 6 min.
The Thin Light of Freedom
Edward L. Ayers, author
Performed by James Edward Thomas
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781543691122 $14.99
Prize-winning author and professor Edward L. Ayers presents The Thin Light of Freedom: The
Civil War and Emancipation in the Heart of America, an unabridged audiobook on MP3-CD
(plays on MP3-CD enabled players or transfers to portable devices) is a historical scrutiny of the
American Civil War from the perspectives of civilians near the border on both sides. Examining
communities separated by the Mason-Dixon Line, The Thin Light of Freedom shows how the
war became a scourge, leading to vicious cycles of attack and reprisal, leading to armies burning
entire towns out of retribution. Extensively researched, yet thoroughly accessible to listeners of
all backgrounds, The Thin Light of Freedom is a choice pick for anyone seeking to better
understand the bitter legacy of the Civil War - including modern-day controversies over
Confederate flags and statues of Confederate generals. Highly recommended. 2 discs, 18 hours
10 min.
The Bishop's Pawn: A Novel
Steve Berry, author
Read by Scott Brick
www.steveberry.org
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781427293176 $39.99 amazon.com
The Bishop's Pawn: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a mystery novel laced
with historical fiction, featuring the iconic Justice Department operative Cotton Malone.
Eighteen years ago, Malone was a young Navy lawyer called to investigate a delicate matter
involving a stolen rare coin and a rogue FBI faction. The mystery rapidly escalates into a clash
between the Justice Department and the FBI over a cadre of secret files with a scandalous hidden
truth about what really happened on April 4, 1968, the day legendary civil rights activist Martin
Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The Bishop's Pan skillfully blends a fictional, alternate history
interpretation of King's life with masterful storytelling and knife-edge suspense, brought to life
with the consummate performance of narrator Scott Brick. A special bonus "writer's cut" read by
author Steve Berry further enhances this engaging audiobook, highly recommended for both
personal and public library collections. 9 CDs, 11.5 hours.
Buried on the Fens
Joy Ellis
Read by Henrietta Meire
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781977306029 $39.99 www.tantor.com
Buried on the Fens is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a dark crime thriller. The corpse of
a decades-decayed victim is found in a shallow churchyard grave; at the same time, Detective
Nikki Galena and her team are searching for the culprit who cruelly murdered a local
businesswoman who belonged to an exclusive drinking club called The Briar Patch. With no
suspects, no leads, and no one willing to talk, Nikki has her work cut out for her even as more
women from The Briar Patch are threatened. Voice-over artist and actress Henrietta Meire brings
to life this tense, shocking mystery with multiple twists and turns. Buried on the Fens keeps the
listener riveted to the very end, and is highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 7 CDs,
9 hours.
Gunslinger Girl
Lyndsay Ely
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478923640, $30.00, CD, www.amazon.com
Living in a post-holocaust world, seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two
things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. Running away from a brutal father
who sought to trade her off to a mining camp needing breedable females, she's been offered fame
and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she
pays for her freedom may be too great. In this extraordinary debut action/adventure dystopian
novel by Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S.
into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt
city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot. Deftly narrated by Christie Moreau, this
complete and unabridged audio book will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular
addition to community library collections, as well as the personal lists of dedicated science
fiction fans. (11.5 Hours, 9 CDs).
Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
Dean Koontz, author
Christopher Lane, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
ASIN: B077V4BB1P, $14.95, MP3 CD, www.amazon.com
Every city has its secrets. But none as terrible as his. He is Deucalion, a tattooed man of
mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who has traveled the past two centuries with a secret
worse than death. He arrives in New Orleans as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who
carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Deucalion's path will
lead him to cool, tough police detective Carson O'Connor and her devoted partner, Michael
Maddison, who are tracking the slayer but will soon discover signs of something far more
terrifying: an entire race of killers who are much more (and less) than human and, deadliest of
all, their deranged, near-immortal maker: Victor Helios - a scientist who was once known as
Frankenstein. A riveting read and an impressive homage to the Frankenstein novel of Mary
Shelley, "Frankenstein: Prodigal Son" is deftly narrated by Christopher Lane. The result is a true
and memorable 'theatre of the mind' experience, making this an unreservedly recommended
addition to personal and community library audio book collections (9 Hours, 3 Minutes).
Death of an Honest Man
M.C. Beaton
Read by Graeme Malcolm
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478950257 $30.00 amazon.com
Death of an Honest Man is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a novel in the bestselling
Hamish Macbeth mystery series, featuring a mentally sharp yet languidly unambitious Scottish
police sergeant. In Death of an Honest Man, local newcomer Paul English inflames everyone
around him with his unflinching, unrelenting honesty - including such unbridled veracity as
telling Mrs. Wellington she is too fat, and accusing Hamish of having dyed his red hair. Almost
every target of English's honesty has a deep-seated twinge of desire to kill him... so when English
abruptly turns up murdered, then Macbeth has no shortage of suspects! Complicating matters is
Chief Inspector Blair's complicated scheme to get rid of Hamish's less-than-coordinated associate
Charlie. Can Hamish track down the killer alone? Brought to life with the expert performance of
Broadway, television, and film actor Graeme Malcolm, Death of an Honest Man is a "must" for
connoisseurs of detective fiction, and highly recommended for personal and public library
audiobook collections. 5 CDs, 5.5 hours.
Hachette Audio
www.hachetteaudio.com
David Thibodeau, Leon Whiteson and Aviva Layton's Waco: A Survivor's Story
(9781478997760, $35.00) is narrated by Robert Fass and includes an epilogue read by Thibodeau
himself as it comes from one of the Branch Davidian survivors who was the drummer for a local
rock band when he met David Koresh. Thibodeau wasn't at all religious, but he nevertheless
became a follower, moved into the Waco compound, and was there when the building was
stormed and burned after over a month's standoff with authorities. His story, with its updated
epilogue that includes other survivors of the event, offers a powerful survey into how intelligent
people came to believe in Koresh's message and approach. The audio brings events to vivid life.
Holly Black's The Cruel Prince (9781478923732, $25.00) is read by Caitlin Kelly, whose fine
voice captures the story of Jude, who was seven when her parents are murdered and her sisters
stolen to live in the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later she is still struggling with being a
mortal who can't join them, for several reasons, but she has a plan that will involve deception,
bloodshed, betrayal, and a dangerous series of moves that place moral and faerie kingdoms at
odds with one another in an engrossing listen that's hard to leave. James Patterson's Home Sweet
Murder (9781478995568, $20.00) is narrated by Peter Ganim, whose voice lends a somber and
compelling accent to two true-crime thrillers. In Home Sweet Murder, a lawyer and his wife who
open the door to an SEC agent and deadly danger. In Murder on the Run, a middle-aged
housekeeper is murdered, and a little boy's parents are promised retribution as Detective Mois
desperately tries to catch his killer. Both are engrossing listens that come to life in audio. Gary J.
Byrne's Secrets of the Secret Service: The History and Uncertain Future of the U.S. Secret
Service (9781478999928, $30.00) is written with Grant M. Schmidt and read by Pete Larkin,
who lends a smooth and evocative tone to this engrossing insider's story of how the Secret
Service operates, written by an officer who covers its history and security issues. Anyone who
would learn more about the Secret Service will find this offers many compelling insights.
Lindsay Ely's Gunslinger Girl (9781478923640, $30.00) is read by Christie Moreau and is
presented by James Patterson, whose authority will increase interest in this riveting story of a girl
who is a great shot, and who inherits a pair of six-shooters which will help cement her reputation
as a fast draw. Serendipity leaves her farming commune to head west, with all its lawless
attractions; there to gain fame as a sharpshooter in a theater where she meets a host of very
different folk. A compelling Western emerges with quite a different flavor than the usual
production.
The Library CD Shelf
Mountains Made of Shadow, Anthems Made of Light
Dan Kennedy
www.dankennedy.us
Privately Published
$15.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Mountains Made of Shadow, Anthems Made of Light is a new age, solo piano album by New
England composer and pianist Dan Kennedy. The songs flow freely, creating a diffused
soundscape that stirs the imagination. Mountains Made of Shadow, Anthems Made of Light is a
treasure for solo piano connoisseurs, highly recommended for both personal and public library
music CD collections. The tracks are "Chilly Morning", "Give It All Away", "Wintergreen",
"Backstory", "Souvenirs", "After The Heartache Is Gone", "California", "Ennio", "Wildflower",
"Implying Flying", "Allelu", and "The Fire Within".
Serenity II
Michael Kollwitz
www.MichaelKollwitz.com
Privately Published
$15.00 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Serenity II: More Peaceful Music on the Chapman Stick is a full hour of serene music crafted on
the Chapman Stick, a stringed, electric, polyphonal instrument created by Emmett Chapman and
considered to be part of the guitar family. Inspired by the book "Steps to Knowledge: The Book
Of Inner Knowing" by Marshall Vian Summers, these songs soothe the spirit and inspire the
mind with their drifting beauty. Highly recommended. The tracks are "The Presence", "Wrapped
in Love", "Climbing The Mountain", "Clear Passage", "Live and Let Live", "The Balance", "Blue
Skies", "Pure Signal", "Welcome Home", "A Greater Purpose", "One With Nature", "Shaman's
Cave", "Easy Does It", "Breaking Free", "Beyond The Clouds", and "Way Of Knowledge".
Subdina
Eva Salina, voice
Peter Stan, accordion
Vogiton
$TBA www.evasalina.com
Subdina: A Portrait of Vida Pavlovic is a music CD by singer Eva Salina in honor of Serbian
Roma singer Vida Pavlovic. Salina presents her own interpretations of Vida's body of recorded
work. Written in both Romanes and Serbian, these songs tell of the hardships of poverty,
migration, domestic abuse, and marginalization. Beautiful, profound, and passionate, Subdina is
highly recommended especially for personal and public library international music collections.
The tracks are "Pusti Me Da Zivim", "E Laute Basalen Taj Roven", "Ostala Je Pesma Moja",
"Cerma Devla Cirikli", "Namarma Dileja", "Aven, Aven Romalen", "E Dadeci Cajori", and
"Ostala" (feat. Demiran Cerimovic).
After the Rain
Neil Tatar
https://neiltatar.com
Tatar Associates
$17.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Guitarist and pianist Neil Tatar presents a relaxing, instrumental music journey in his new album
After the Rain. The songs stir the imagination, crafting an atmosphere of contemplation and
wonder. After the Rain is highly recommended, especially for personal and public library music
CD collections. The tracks are "Gentle Steps", "Sunsets", "Reflections", "When I Was Young",
"Rush Pond", "Night Walk", "Freedom", "Welcome Home", "After the Rain", and "Sidwalk
Jam".
Monika Herzig's Sheroes
Monika Herzig
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
Naxos (distribution)
$15.99 amazon.com
Monika Herzig's Sheroes is a jazz album featuring all-women, first-class talented performers
from around the world. The compositions are largely original with a few covers. Monika Herzig's
Sheroes is an amazing listening experience, brimming with passion for the performance, and
highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "Time Again,
D.B.", "Bubbles', "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Nancy Wilson Portrait", "Song for C.C.",
"Just Another Day at the Office", "The House of the Rising Sun", "Wayning", "Cantos", and "I
am a Superstar".
All Their Many Miles
The Super Saturated Sugar Strings
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
All Their Many Miles is a new album from Alaska indie folk band The Super Saturated Sugar
Strings. The CD was recorded live to capture the energy of the moment, and convey the joy of
performing. Freewheeling and fantastic, All Their Many Miles is enthusiastically recommended
to folk music connoisseurs. The tracks are "All Their Many Miles", "Love Cocoon", "Precipice",
"The Vow", "Crocodile", "Amplified", "Float", "The Duchess of Comfort", "Long Road" and
"Heart of Stone".
The Turbans
The Turbans
Six Degrees Records
https://www.sixdegreesrecords.com
$12.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
The Turbans is the self-titled debut album of a band of musicians from different places in
Europe, including Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Iran, Greece, Spain, and England. Their songs span
genres, transcend borders, and eschew politics in favor of music that appeals to the world at
large. Their exuberant passion shines through in this unique, original collection, highly
recommended especially for connoisseurs of world music. The tracks are "Riders", "Sinko Moy"
(featuring the London Bulgarian Choir), "Zami", "Samia", "Kansianitsa", "Aman", "Hamouda",
"Chubby" (featuring Simo Lagnawi), "Madhavski Horo", "Ruuah", and "Hackney".
North of Despair
Wood & Wire
Blue Corn Music
$TBA www.woodandwireband.com
North of Despair is the latest album from Texas bluegrass band Wood & Wire. The original
songs celebrate honest labor, and pride in one's own hard work. A joy to listen to, North of
Despair is especially recommended to fans of country and bluegrass, and highly recommended.
The tracks are "Kingpin", "Eliza", "North of Despair", "Summertime Rolls", "As Good As It
Gets", "Just Don't Make 'em", "Texas", "Awake in the Wake", "Lies & Money", "Wingding", and
"Out With The Tide".
The Cage
Bob Holroyd
Privately Published
$TBA bobholroyd.com
The Cage is an avant-garde music album by British multi-instrumentalist and sound designer Bob
Holroyd. The title reflects a self-imposed cage, that blocks out "negative" emotions at terrible
cost; perhaps true freedom comes not from escaping the cage, but rather widening it enough to
allow everything in. The instrumental music experiments with genres ranging from ambient to
new age, modern classical, chill, and more. An exceptionally vibrant and captivating album, The
Cage is highly recommended for connoisseurs of original work. The tracks are "Inner Mind
Sigh", "Enough", "Falling Together", "Longing", "Possibilities", "Into the Light", "Identity",
"Woven", "If Ever There Was a Time", "What We Do", "Wings Clipped", and "The Cage".
The Library DVD Shelf
Extraordinary Ordinary People
Directed by Alan Govenar
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Extraordinary Ordinary People is a documentary about folk and traditional arts in America,
including dancing, quilting, woodcarving, and especially music. Particular focus is placed upon
one of the least known programs of the National Endowment for the Arts: the National Heritage
Fellowship, which has been awarded annually since 1982. Here are portraits of the men and
women who earned the fellowship for contributing to American art and culture, from Bill
Monroe and B.B. King to Passamaquoddy basket weavers and Peking Opera singers. A
thoroughly engaging documentary, Extraordinary Ordinary People is especially recommended for
public library collections. 84 min.
Love, Lies & Records
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
Love, Lies & Records is an interpersonal drama set in a British register office, where people
register milestones in their lives - births, marriages, and deaths. Senior Registrar Kate Dickenson
has to balance her complicated personal life with the mental toll of her job. Worse, a co-worker
jealous of Kate's promotion threatens to publicly reveal an indiscretion Kate had, which could
jeopardize Kate's job and family life! Love, Lies & Records is tongue-in-cheek witty, thought-
provoking, heartwarming, and highly recommended. Bonus materials include a behind-the-
scenes featurette and a cast Q&A. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 360 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles,
widescreen.
The Accident
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Accident is the DVD debut of a French drama with English subtitles. Construction boss
Gabriel Cauvy (played by Bruno Solo) is devastated to learn that his wife has perished in an
automobile accident, but the circumstances surrounding her death don't add up. Why was her car
stopped in the middle of the road, facing the wrong way? Why was there an empty bottle of
vodka in the passenger seat when she didn't drink liquor? The police dismiss the accident as
drunk driving, but when Cauvy attempts his own investigation, he uncovers perilous secrets in an
otherwise quaint small town. A gripping mystery, The Accident is especially recommended for
connoisseurs of the genre. It should be noted that The Accident contains strong language, sexual
situations, and violence. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 326 min., SDH subtitles.
A Place to Call Home, season 5
Starring Marta Dusseldorp
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com
An Australian romantic drama set in 1958, A Place to Call Home, season 5 is set four years after
previous volumes. Nurse Sarah Nordmann (played by Marta Dusseldorp) and her son are doing
well, although they keep their distance from wealthy patriarch George Bligh. George's strong-
willed mother, Elizabeth has married a new husband, and her granddaughter Anna is a head-
turning socialite. But George's murderous wife, Regina (played by Jenni Baird), petitions for
release from the insane asylum...! Talented actors bring to life complex characterizations in this
thoroughly engaging drama, highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. Bonus materials
include an exclusive 22 min. Q&A with Jenni Baird. It should be noted that A Place to Call
Home, season 5 contains scenes of violence, sexual situations, and nudity. 12 episodes on 4
DVDs, 619 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.
Tai Chi Fusion series
David-Dorian Ross
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
$29.95 each www.ymaa.com
Two DVDs in the Tai Chi Fusion series offer a physical fitness workout that draws upon the
ancient Chinese health practice of tai chi physical movements. Tai Chi Fusion: Iron
(9781594395826) combines resistance training with tai chi. Expensive equipment is not required;
if one does not wish to separately purchase weighted "Tai Chi Fit Stix" created for the purpose of
enhancing the exercise, then any short sticks or even wooden kitchen spoons will prove adequate.
The overall experience is designed to tone and strengthen the upper body, as well as expand
mindfulness. Tai Chi Fusion: Fire (9781594395635) is a workout that combines tai chi
movements with kung fu to create an intense, satisfying experience ideal for a cardio fitness or
weight loss program. Both Tai Chi Fusion DVDs are designed to be thoroughly accessible to
viewers with no prior experience in tai chi or martial arts, and make excellent additions to any
DVD fitness library.
The Business Shelf
Navigating Global Business: A Cultural Compass
Simcha Ronen & Oded Shenkar
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781107090613, $120.00, HC, 390pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative project of Simcha Ronen (Professor of Organizational Behavior, Tel Aviv
University) and Oded Shenkar (Ford Motor Campny Chair in Glboal Business Management and
Professor of Management and Human Resources, Fisher College of Business, Ohio State
University), "Navigating Global Business: A Cultural Compass" deftly integrates and synthesizes
all available country cluster studies into a nested meta-structure accompanied by eco-cultural
correlates that distinguish amongst clusters. The broad range of analyses will appeal to
researchers and practitioners, seasoned multi-firm executives, those in small firms seeking
internationalization, and anyone intrigued by the greater question of human diversity.
"Navigating Global Business: A Cultural Compass" covers key work-related cultural dimensions
for much of the world, and includes examples of applications in most business areas. Also
exhibited are the correlates of culture, some of which, such as language and religion, speak to the
origin of cultural variations in addition to illustrating key variants of the global terrain. Finally,
"Navigating Global Business: A Cultural Compass" examines how patterns might have changed
over time, providing a rigorous and realistic assessment of the fruits of globalization. A superbly
crafted, organized and presented work of sterling scholarship, "Navigating Global Business: A
Cultural Compass" is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to corporate, community and
academic library Business Management instructional reference collections and supplemental
studies reading lists. It should be noted for students, business managers, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Navigating Global Business: A
Cultural Compass" is also available in a paperback edition (9781107462762, $64.99) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $42.59).
Strategic Decision Making
Simon Haslam & Ben Shenoy
Kogan Page
c/o Courtney Dramis
Martin P Hill Consulting
122 W 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.koganpage.com
9780749472603, $39.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Making strategic decisions is a fundamental skill for leaders and managers. However, in a
business environment that is in a constant state of change, making strategic decisions has never
been more difficult. "Strategic Decision Making: A Discovery-led Approach to Critical Choices
in Turbulent Times" by Simon Haslam is (Chartered Director, Strategy Consultant and Strategy
Programme Lead at the Institute of Directors, and Visiting Fellow at Durham University
Business School) and Ben Shenoy (Visiting Professor at The London School of Economics and
Director of the Business Insights Lab at the University of Surrey) addresses this challenge by
providing a framework that can be used to make sound decisions in an uncertain world.
Structured around the core concepts of framing, experimenting and scaling, this book will ensure
that efforts are focused where the need is greatest, that interventions are tested, evaluated and
revised if necessary and that successful initiatives are effectively rolled out across the business.
Comprised of real world examples and backed up by academic research, "Strategic Decision
Making" will allow today's leaders and the leaders of tomorrow to make successful and
defensible business choices. It shows how to: avoid decision-making bias; overcome
organizational inertia; manage the difficulties of rigid organizational structures and avoid being
side tracked by outdated or irrelevant experience. Essential reading for business practitioners and
management students, "Strategic Decision Making" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization
and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to corporate,
community, and academic library Business Management collections and supplemental studies
reading lists. It should be noted for students, academia, business managers, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that "Strategic Decision Making" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.85).
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Miller's Encyclopedia of World Silver Marks
Judith Miller
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784721329, $175.00, HC, 1032pp, www.amazon.com
Judith Miller began collecting in the 1960s while a student at Edinburgh University in Scotland.
She has since extended and reinforced her knowledge of antiques through international research,
becoming one of the world's leading experts in the field. In 1979 she co-founded the international
best-seller Miller's Antiques Price Guide and has since written more than 100 books which are
held in high regard by collectors and dealers. With "Miller's Encyclopedia of World Silver
Marks" she has designed as the essential reference tool for appraisers, collectors and dealers of
silverware. "Miller's Encyclopedia of World Silver Marks " is an indispensable guide for anyone
researching silver hallmarks, offering clear and wide-ranging reproductions of thousands of
hallmarks from more than 60 countries and regions, past and present, on every continent. It is
also clearly and logically organized into two volumes for ease of reference: in the first volume
are hallmarks listed by visual type and category, fully cross-referenced to information in the
second volume on country of origin (in order of importance), centre of assaying or making, date
and silver standard marks, special marks such as import/export marks, and selected maker's
marks. Vetted by an international team of experts, "Miller's Encyclopedia of World Silver
Marks" will help even the most novice appraiser to confidently identify silver hallmarks quickly,
easily and reliably. It also includes brief historical overviews of hallmarking in each country, a
description of the hallmarking process, and a guide to identifying fake and forged marks.
Practical, comprehensive and up to date, "Miller's Encyclopedia of World Silver Marks" is an
invaluable aid to identifying silverware from around the world, and unreservedly recommended
for professional, community, and academic library Antiques/Collectibles reference
collections.
The Sports Shelf
Home of the Braves
Patrick W. Steele
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299318109, $26.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
When the struggling Boston Braves relocated to Milwaukee in March 1953, the city went wild
for its new baseball team. Soon, the Braves were winning games, drawing bigger crowds than
any team but the Brooklyn Dodgers, and turning Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Warren
Spahn into Hall of Famers. Within five years the team would win a World Series and two
pennants. It seemed the dawn of a new dynasty. Impassioned fans wore their hearts on their
sleeves. Yet in October 1964 team owners made a shocking announcement: the Braves were
moving to Atlanta. In the decades since, many have tried to understand why the Braves left
Milwaukee. Fans blamed greedy owners and the lure of Coca Cola cash. Team management
claimed they weren't getting enough local support. In the pages of "Home of the Braves: The
Battle for Baseball in Milwaukee", Patrick Steele (who is an Associate Professor of History at
Concordia University Wisconsin, as well as a member of the Milwaukee Braves Historical
Association) delves deeply into all facets of the story, looking at the changing business of
baseball in the 1960s, the interactions of the team owners with the government officials who
controlled County Stadium, the surging success of the Green Bay Packers, and so much more. A
unique and extraordinarily informative history, "Home of the Braves" will have a very special
and particular appeal for baseball history buffs in general, and die-hard Milwaukee Braves fans in
particular. Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "Home of the
Braves" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and
academic library Sports History collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Home of the Braves" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Relationship Shelf
Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome, second edition
Nancy C. Anderson
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444968, $12.99, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Extramarital affairs are certainly not the social taboo that they once were, and may be more
prevalent now than ever. Unfortunately, Christians are not exempt. With the anonymity of the
Internet and the privacy of personal mobile phones, the temptation to cheat on one's spouse has
fertile ground to grow. After straying to the other side of this marital fence and returning to find
forgiveness and restoration, Nancy Anderson brings her personal experiences and insights to the
pages of "Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome: How to Grow Affair-Proof Hedges Around
Your Marriage", a practical book about predicting and preventing an extramarital affair. Based
on the principle that the grass is always greener when it's watered, "Avoiding the Greener Grass
Syndrome" focuses on how to grow a beautiful marriage by establishing six protective hedges
around it. This newly updated and expanded second edition of "Avoiding the Greener Grass
Syndrome" includes a new chapter on repairing marriage following infidelity, as well as an
appendix considering the Andersons' own marriage before and after the affair from her husband
Ron's point of view. Very highly recommended for anyone, especially Christians, having to deal
with marital infidelity past or present, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Avoiding
the Greener Grass Syndrome" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.17).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Easy Home Sewing Projects
Charlie Moorby
CompanionHouse Books
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781620082843, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Specifically designed by Charlie Moorby (who is the editor of Simply Sewing magazine, has
contributed to a number of Mollie Makes craft books, and writes two personal craft blogs: The
Savvy Crafter (www.thesavvycrafter.co.uk); and The Lucky Bluebird
(www.theluckybluebird.com) to let even the most novice needlecrafter to give a home or
apartment a speedy fabric make over, "Easy Home Sewing Projects: 101 Projects to Transform
Every Room of Your Home" offers inspirational ideas for every room. Now anyone can
transform the heart of their home with bright kitchen accessories, or create the perfect table linen
setting; create a bold boudoir with bright bedroom designs; make tactile toys for the nursery; or
revamp a home office with a functional organizer. Guaranteed to inspire creativity with clear
step-by-step instructions and gorgeous color photography, "Easy Home Sewing Projects" is an
especially recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional
reference collections.
The Woodworking Shelf
Making Tiny Toys in Wood
Howard Clements
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565239159, $12.99, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com
Now with "Making Tiny Toys in Wood: Ornaments & Collectible Heirloom Accents" by Howard
Dlements, even the most novice of woodworkers can learn how to create charming holiday
decorations that double as small toys with this easy-to-follow guidebook. Full-size patterns and
step-by-step instructions are provided for 20 working wooden toy ornaments. From tugboats and
tractors to windmills and wagons, these nostalgic moving toys make great Christmas ornaments
as well as keepsake gifts for family and friends. And these simple projects do not take a lot of
time, wood, or tools to make. They are a great way to reuse and repurpose scrap wood, and
require only minimal painting. All that is needed is a scroll saw, a drill, and some glue to create
memorable family heirlooms. Profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization
and presentation, "Making Tiny Toys in Wood" is a fun, easy, and highly recommended for
personal and community library Wood Working instructional reference collections.
The Architecture Shelf
Weird Homes
David J. Neff & Chelle Neff
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510723603, $24.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Profusely and beautifully illustrated from cover to cover, "Weird Homes: The People and Places
That Keep Austin Strangely Wonderful" by David J. Neff and Chelle Neff (who both share a love
for interesting design, eye catching architecture, and all things weird and whimsical) is a simply
gorgeous book that showcases the one-of-a-kind Austin homes that started the Weird Homes
Tour. Page by page, "Weird Homes" present both the homes themselves and the weird people
who live in them -- many of whom designed and built their awe-inspiring dwellings by hand.
From grand, historic haunts to treehouses and dumpster dwellings, "Weird Homes" is replete
with real live examples of domestic architecture that can inspire design elements in the reader's
own home! While very highly recommended and certain to be a popular addition to both
community and academic library Contemporary American Architecture collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Weird Homes" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.74).
The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf
The Whisky Dictionary
Iain Hector Ross, author
Ben Averis, illustrator
Sandstone Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781910985922, $26.00, HC, 350pp, www.amazon.com
Iain Hector Ross is a Gaelic speaking Highlander with a lifelong love of whisky, Scottish music,
and folklore. He now works in the industry and is a key figure in the establishment of the new
distillery now under construction on the island of Raasay. In "The Whisky Dictionary" he draws
upon his years of experience and expertise to provide his readers with both a celebration of the
world of whisky and a window into it. Ross has ranged deep, far, and wide into the industry to
capture whisky speak in a single guide. He has literally climbed inside the distilling process to
feel the heat, savor the aromas, and absorb the words that swirl around the making and sharing of
whisky. Now this language itself has been 'casked' between the covers of this delightfully guide,
and whisky enthusiasts the world over can understand, explore and enjoy Scotch in all its
wondrous diversity. Impressively informative and presented in an alphabetical format, "The
Whiskey Dictionary" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and academic library collections.
The Science Shelf
A Wilder Time
William E. Glassley
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV A612, New York, NY 10016
www.blpress.org
Consortium Books Sales & Distribution (distributor)
9781942658344, $17.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
William E. Glassley is a geologist at the University of California, Davis, and an emeritus
researcher at Aarhus University, Denmark, focusing on the evolution of continents and the
processes that energize them. Greenland, one of the last truly wild places, contains a treasure
trove of information on Earth's early history embedded in its pristine landscape. Over numerous
seasons, Glassley and two fellow geologists traveled there to collect samples and observe rock
formations for evidence to prove a contested theory that plate tectonics, the movement of Earth's
crust over its molten core, is a much more ancient process than some believed. As their research
drove the scientists ever farther into regions barely explored by humans for millennia (if ever)
Glassley encountered wondrous creatures and natural phenomena that gave him unexpected
insight into the origins of myth, the virtues and boundaries of science, and the importance of
seeking the wilderness within. An invitation to experience a breathtaking place and the
fascinating science behind its creation, "A Wilder Time: Notes from a Geologist at the Edge of
the Greenland Ice " is nature writing at its informative and inspirational best and unreservedly
recommended for both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "A Wilder Time" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.80).
Polarization in Electromagnetic Systems, second edition
Warren Stutzman
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630811075, $179.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Warren L. Stutzman has been with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at
Virginia Tech for more than 40 years and is currently an emeritus professor. He founded the
Virginia Tech Antenna Group. He is also a Fellow of the IEEE. Now in a completely revised and
expanded second edition of an Artech House classic, "Polarization in Electromagnetic Systems"
by Professor Stutzman presents the principles of polarization as applied to electromagnetic
systems. "Polarization in Electromagnetic Systems" emphasizes the concepts needed for
functional aspects of systems calculations and device evaluation. Readers find up-to-date
coverage of applications in wireless communications. The fundamentals of polarization are
explained, including the principles of wave polarization, and polarization state representations.
"Polarization in Electromagnetic Systems" accessibly explores partially polarized waves, and
includes details about un-polarized waves, degree of polarization, and stokes parameters
representation. An impressive volume of instructional scholarship and cutting edge technology,
"Polarization in Electromagnetic Systems" is a very highly recommended and core addition to
professional, college, and community library Technology collections in general and
Electromagnetic Systems supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Physics of Energy
Robert L. Jaffe & Washington Taylor
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781107016651, $79.99, HC, 894pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative publication of Robert L. Jaffe (Orningstar professor of Physics, MIT) and
Washington Taylor (Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for Theorectical Physics,
MIT), "The Physics of Energy" provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the
scientific principles governing energy sources, uses, and systems. A comprehensive and
definitive textbook, "The Physics of Energy" deftly traces the flow of energy from sources such
as solar power, nuclear power, wind power, water power, and fossil fuels through its
transformation in devices such as heat engines and electrical generators, to its uses including
transportation, heating, cooling, and other applications. The flow of energy through the Earth's
atmosphere and oceans, and systems issues including storage, electric grids, and efficiency and
conservation are presented in a scientific context along with topics such as radiation from nuclear
power and climate change from the use of fossil fuels. Exceptionally well organized and
presented, "The Physics of Energy" is the perfect textbook on the subject for students, scientists,
engineers, energy industry professionals, and non-specialist general readers who have some
mathematical and scientific background and wish to understand energy systems and issues
quantitatively. An ideal curriculum textbook, "The Physics of Energy" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library collections. It
should be noted for students that "The Physics of Energy" is also available in a digital book
format (eTextbook, $52.42).
101 American Fossil Sites You've Gotta See
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780878426812, $26.00, PB, 254pp, www.amazon.com
Examining in detail at least one amazing fossil site in every state in "101 American Fossil Sites
You've Gotta See ", Albert Dickas clearly explains the critters preserved in the rocks, from sharks
and rhinoceroses to trilobites and horn corals. At some sites, you can sift through the shale in
search of fossils to keep; at other sites, you can watch professionals excavate museum-quality
specimens. The entertaining introduction discusses the history of paleontology, including
nineteenth-century arguments about the age of Earth. "101 American Fossil Sites You've Gotta
See " also features a short history of life on Earth, from microbes in 3-billion-year-old chert to
massive mammals of the Pleistocene ice ages. Contained within this profusely illustrated study of
the last 541 million years are the Cambrian explosion, the age of crinoids, and five mass
extinctions, including the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. This compendium of 101 fossil sites
is the companion volume to Albert Dickas previous study, "101 American Geo-Sites You ve
Gotta See". Impressively informative, expertly written, accessibly organized and presented to
both entertain and inform the amateur and the seasoned fossil buff alike, "101 American Fossil
Sites You ve Gotta See" is especially and unreservedly recommended for both community and
academic library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in paleontology.
Prometheus Books
www.prometheusbooks.com
David DiSalvo's What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite
(9781633883499, $18.00) has been updated and revised and offers health, psychology and
science readers alike a solid discussion of neuroscience and human thinking. Chapters consider
why the brain's desires are often not what is best for it, and how 'happy' moves for brain health
lead to errors and distortions which cloud thinking. The latest brain research is reflected in this
updated revision, which considers everything from false memories to the latest neuroscientific
discoveries about the brain. Toby Walsh's Machines That Think: The Future of Artificial
Intelligence (9781633883758, $16.00) comes from a leading expert on artificial intelligence who
here considers current technology and future progress of AI. From facial recognition and
fundamental limits in AI development and science to how thinking machines will change human
economics, Machines That Think offers a broad blend of scientific and social perspective and is a
'must for anyone concerned about artificial intelligence's potentials and pitfalls.
The Gaming Shelf
World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume III
Dark Horse Comics
10956 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
www.darkhorse.com
9781616558475 $39.99 hc / $23.99 Kindle amazon.com
Featuring a wealth of gorgeous full-color, full-page artwork, World of Warcraft Chronicle
Volume III is part of a series about the lore of the immensely popular World of Warcraft
massively multiplayer online role-playing game, set on the fantasy world of Azeroth. Volume III
covers the Third War that raged across Azeroth, including the rise of the Lich King, the Burning
Crusade, and the corrupt dragon Deathwing's attempt to destroy the planet. These events
correspond to the later Warcraft real-time strategy games, and the World of Warcraft expansions
Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and Cataclysm. World of Warcraft Chronicle Volume
III reads like a grand history, and is a "must-have" treasure for fans of the beloved, long-running
MMORPG.
The Social Issues Shelf
Turning Points
Kostas Kampourakis
Prometheus Books
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633883291 $25.00
Turning Points: How Critical Events Have Driven Human Evolution, Life, and Development
could have been featured in our science or psychology sections; but is reviewed here because of
its wide-ranging insights into critical historical events which have affected both individual lives
and society as a whole. The author maintains that while evolution results from unpredictable
events, they also have shaped human development. Various theories about influencers on human
development are contrasted, from scientific to religious ideas about life and its influencers,
making for a fine introduction linking biology to human evolution.
The Computer Shelf
The GIS 20: Essential Skills, third edition
Gina Clemmer
ESRI Press
9781589485129 $49.99 www.esri.com
The third updated edition of The GIS 20: Essential Skills is for any who have studied and
absorbed the basics of the geography-based GIS mapping program of ArcGIS, and who want to
apply GIS to work. Step-by-step dir3ections, illustrations, and tips on how to apply the top 20
skills needed from the GIS system help readers absorb the basics on how editing data and
creating reports can directly apply to their professional efforts.
The Technology Shelf
Smart Grid Redefined
Subramanian Vadari
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630814762, $159.00, HC, 370pp, www.amazon.com
Subramanian Vadari is the founder and president of Modern Grid Solutions and an affiliate
professor at the University of Washington. He received his M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. in electrical
engineering from the University of Washington. In "Smart Grid Redefined: Transformation of
the Electric Utility" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise in the utility field to
create a practical and thoroughly 'user friendly' resource guides for professionals involved in the
evolution of the Smart Grid and offers insights into distribution automation, storage, and
microgrid. "Smart Grid Redefined" specifically highlights the journey to electric utility 3.0 and
provides solid examples and includes real-world case studies. Readers find guidance on new
energy storage solutions and electric value chain disruptors. Professionals also learn how to
overcome challenges related to integrating supply and demand diversity. Impressively
informative and exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Smart Grid Redefined" is
an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to professional, college, and university
library Technology and Power Engineering collections in general, and Smart Grid supplemental
studies reading lists in particular.
Applications of Modern RF Photonics
Preetpaul Singh Devgan
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630811594, $159.00, HC, 236pp, www.amazon.com
Photonics is the physical science of light (photon) generation, detection, and manipulation
through emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, and
detection/sensing. Optoelectronics is the study and application of electronic devices and systems
that source, detect and control light, usually considered a sub-field of photonics. "Applications of
Modern RF Photonics" by Preetpaul Singh Devgan (who is a Senior Electrical Engineer, Air
Force Research Laboratory) offers a unique new resource presents applications of modern RF
photonic systems that use RF photonic components for commonly used signal processing
systems. "Applications of Modern RF Photonics" provides insight into how a variety of systems
work together, including RF down conversion, analog to digital conversion, RF oscillators, and
frequency identification. A comparison of analog versus digital systems is presented. Readers
find in-depth coverage of analog delay lines using RF photonics, various system architectures,
and details about RF photonic component performance. Signal processing utilizing RF photonics
and the need for down conversion is discussed. The many advancements in analog delay line
performance are explained, including those in photodetector, optical fibers, and optical and
amplifier modulators. Expertly written, accessibly organized, enhanced with a six page List of
Acronyms and a seven page Index, "Applications of Modern RF Photonics" is an essential and
very highly recommended addition to both college and university library Applied Technology
collections in general, and Optoelectronics supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
Artech House
www.artechhouse.com
Two new releases are recommended acquisitions for electronics and technology reference
holdings, offering the opportunity to absorb the latest discoveries and high-tech applications in
two different fields. Those studying electromagnetics and antenna technology will welcome Alan
J. Fenn's Electromagnetics and Antenna Technology (9781630813741, $159.00), which comes
from a leading expert in the field and considers the basics of this technology. From new designs
and models to tests, measurements, and the basics of electromagnetics and antennas, this includes
the mathematical equations, charts, and technical references essential to understanding the latest
developments in the field. Daniele Tosi and Guido Perrone's Fiber-Optic Sensors for Biomedical
Applications (9781630811525, $169.00) is for engineering collections strong in medical device
design and biomedical engineering technology, and provides a powerful overview of diagnostics,
fiber optic sensing principles, standards for medical sensors and applications, and more. Biomed
engineers and any working with these systems will find this book a technical treasure trove of
information and science.
The Women's Studies Shelf
The Pinks
Chris Enss
TwoDot
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
9781493008339 $16.95 www.rowman.com
The Pinks: The First Women Detectives, Operatives, and Spies with the Pinkerton National
Detective Agency is recommended for history, women's issues, and sociology holdings with a
special interest in law enforcement as it surveys the Pinkerton Detective Agency and the true
stories surrounding the first woman detective in America and those who came after her. Chapters
capture feats of courage, daring, and historical import as they follow female agents who pursue
justice and whose exploits added to American history and early struggles for justice. No women's
history collection should be without this lively, important survey.
All the Women in My Family Sing
Deborah Santana, Editor
Nothing But the Truth, LLC
www.allthewomeninmyfamilysing.com
9780997296211 $16.95
All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World - Essays on Equality, Justice, and
Freedom stems from a call for submissions from women of color, who were invited to discuss
their world experiences and ways of expressing themselves, and provides a collection as diverse
in scope and voice as its nearly seventy contributors. From one woman's role models of
Sojourner Truth and other powerful women to another's legacy of a secret tattoo and how she
chose to proudly display her heritage, these essays on equality, justice and freedom discuss many
roads to social, political, and economic freedom, and make for an engrossing collection that rings
with authentic and diverse perspectives.
The Aviation Shelf
Testbeds, Motherships & Parasites
Frederick A. Johnsen
Specialty Press
9781580072410 $32.95 www.specialtypress.com
Testbeds, Motherships & Parasites: Astonishing Aircraft from the Golden Age of Flight Test fills
a void in writings about rare flight test aircraft, and provides aviation collections and their
readers with a rare, specific focus on various launch vehicles and planes converted to use as
laboratories and measuring devices for the industry. All aspects of these various crafts, their
history and use, and their makeup are contained in a detailed survey that will reach both aviation
experts and modelers and history buffs alike, covering the design and technology of planes
modified for airborne test work. It's surprising to note the lack of prior books and the scattered
information on this subject, which makes Testbeds, Motherships & Parasites: Astonishing
Aircraft from the Golden Age of Flight Test an especially notable achievement that should be
included in any serious aviation reference library.
The Psychology Shelf
Saving Talk Therapy
Enrico Gnaulati
Beacon Press
24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.beacon.org
9780807093405, $27.95, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Beginning with a discussion of the historical development of talk therapy, in "Saving Talk
Therapy: How Health Insurers, Big Pharma, and Slanted Science are Ruining Good Mental
Health Care", Enrico Gnaulati (a clinical psychologist based in Pasadena, California) dissects the
factors that have undermined traditional psychotherapy today. Psychotropic drugs, if no longer
thought of as a magical cure, are still over-prescribed and shunt health-care dollars to drug
corporations. Managed-care companies and mental health "carve outs" send health-care dollars to
administrators, drive many practitioners away, and over-burden those who remain. Drawing back
the curtains on CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), Dr. Gnaulati shows that while it might be
effective in the research lab, its findings are of limited use for the people's complex, real-world
emotional problems. "Saving Talk Therapy" is a passionate and deeply researched case for
in-depth, personally transformative psychotherapy that incorporates the benefits of an
evidence-based approach and psychotropic drugs without over-relying on them. Exceptionally
well researched, written, organized and presented, "Saving Talk Therapy" is an extraordinarily
informative and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, and commentary. While very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry and
Health/Medicine collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Saving Talk
Therapy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781520095592, $24.99, CD).
Psychotherapeutic Traction
Henry Kellerman
American Mental Health Foundation
PO Box 3, Riverdale, NY 10471-0003
http://americanmentalhealthfoundation.org
9781590565728, $25.00, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Henry Kellerman, Ph.D., is the author of many related books of importance including, from The
American Mental Health Foundation, Anatomy of Delusion; Group Psychotherapy and
Personality: A Theoretical Model; Personality: How It Forms; and There's No Handle on My
Door: Stories of Patients in Mental Hospitals. Among his other books are The Psychoanalysis of
Symptoms; Dictionary of Psychopathology; Sleep Disorders: Insomnia and Narcolepsy; The 4
Steps to Peace of Mind; Love Is Not Enough: What It Takes to Make It Work; and the
coauthored two-volume Psychopathology and Differential Diagnosis. Via the metaphorical
ignition and forward movement of the therapeutic process, in "Psychotherapeutic Traction:
Uncovering the Patient's Power-theme and Basic-wish" Dr. Kellerman takes the reader on a
journey through his decades of work with patients: reaching to their power-themes. These keep
the individual's personality organized, so that resulting behavior can fulfill basic-wishes. Five
compelling Case Histories make "Psychotherapeutic Traction" an extraordinary and highly
recommended read not only for professionals, but for non-specialist general readers interested in
the difficult-and-rewarding work of the psychotherapeutic process as well. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "Psychotherapeutic Traction" should be a part of every college
and university library Psychology/Psychiatry reference collection and supplemental studies
reading list.
Mentalligence
Kristen Lee
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
www.hcibooks.com
9780757320576, $15.95, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com
A leading expert on resilience and behavioral science, Dr. Kristen Lee is a clinician who has
developed a new psychology of thinking model based upon his more than twenty years of clinical
practice, the latest neuroscience, and her own research findings. "Mentalligence: A New
Psychology of Thinking--Learn What It Takes to be More Agile, Mindful, and Connected in
Today's World" is a guide that will help the reader build meta-awareness by emphasizing an
impact-driven rather than a performance-obsessed mindset, and adopt a model of 'collective
efficacy' that is less I-focused and more we-focused, to facilitate positive social impact at a time
when it's desperately needed. This is what psychologists call 'The Good Life' -- living mindfully
and consciously. Rather than falling for predominant definitions of 'success' that leave us boxed
in, depleted, and oblivious to ways we can work together, "Mentalligence" helps us find the
thinking and behavioral agility to work towards better outcomes for all. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented, "Mentalligence" is unreservedly recommended for both
community and academic library Psychology and Self-Help collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "Mentalligence" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.32).
The Gardening Shelf
Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardening
Clare Matthews
CompanionHouse Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781620082478, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
An dedicated gardener and an experienced garden designer, Clare Matthews has written
"Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardening: Bumper Crops in Minutes a Day Using Raised Beds,
Planning, and Plant Selection" specifically for those who wish to spend less time in the garden
while getting more results from there efforts! "Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardening"
demystifies the growing of fruit and vegetables and shows that, with the right approach, it can be
done successfully as a weekend project or slotted into a busy week. "Low-Maintenance
Vegetable Gardening" explains simple short cuts and unusual low maintenance strategies that
really work. "Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardening" is filled with inspirational color
photography from her own weekend vegetable garden where the principles promoted in this
instructional guide have been tried, tested and proven. "Low Maintenance Vegetable Gardening"
will have a special and particular appeal to the complete novice planning a new vegetable garden
as well as the more experienced gardener who is looking to save time and increase productivity.
Filled with fantastic images and sound horticultural advice, "Low-Maintenance Vegetable
Gardening" is an indispensable guide for anyone with limited time who still wants to achieve
high yields from their vegetable plot. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Low-Maintenance Vegetable Gardening" is especially recommended for personal and
community library Gardening instructional reference collections.
The Jewelry Shelf
Diamond Handbook, third edition
Renee Newman GG
International Jewelry Publications
9780929975535, $19.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated third edition, "Diamond Handbook: How to Identify & Evaluate
Diamonds" is an essential instructional guide and manual for jewelry professionals and serious
diamond buyers with comprehensive information on new developments in diamond grading,
treatments, synthetic diamonds, imitations, branded diamonds and fancy-color diamonds. Using
close-up photos, the "Diamond Manual" shows how to make visual judgments about clarity,
transparency, brilliance and cut quality and provides the trade reader virtually all the essential
information needed to buy and sell diamonds profitably. Of special note is the new chapter on
how to distinguish transparent and black diamond imitations from real natural diamonds. While
the chapter on synthetic diamonds has eleven new pages, seven of which are photo pages that
help trade members identify HPHT and CVD-grown diamonds with magnification, fluorescence
and crossed Polaroid filters. Photos and information have been updated in the chapters on fancy
color diamonds, diamond fluorescence, diamond treatments, recutting diamonds and antique cuts
& jewelry. While unreservedly recommended for professional, community, and academic library
instructional reference collections, this latest edition of the "Diamond Handbook" will prove to
be indispensable for members of the jewelry industry, as well as the diamond jewelry consuming
public.
The Philosophy Shelf
PLOTINUS Ennead I.1: What is the Living Thing?
Gerard O'Daly
Parmenides Publishing
3753 Howard Hughes Parkway, #200, Las Vegas, NV 89169
www.parmenides.com
9781930972988, $42.00, PB, 227pp, www.amazon.com
Gerard O'Daly is Emeritus Professor of Latin at University College London and former Dean of
its Faculty of Arts and Humanities. His research has concentrated on philosophy and literature in
late antiquity, and his books include Plotinus' Philosophy of the Self (1973), Augustine's
Philosophy of Mind (1987), The Poetry of Boethius (1991), Augustine's City of God: A Reader's
Guide (2004), and Days Linked by Song: Prudentius' Cathemerinon (2012). Several of his
articles are collected in Platonism Pagan and Christian: Studies in Plotinus and Augustine
(2001). Now he has written "PLOTINUS Ennead I.1: What is the Living Thing? What is Man?:
Translation with an Introduction and Commentary", a succinct and concentrated analysis of key
themes in Plotinus' psychology and ethics. It focuses on the soul-body relation, discussing
various Platonic, Aristotelian, and Stoic views before arguing that there is only a soul-trace in the
body (forming with the body a "compound"), while the reasoning soul itself is impassive and
flawless. The soul-trace hypothesis is used to account for human emotions, beliefs, and
perceptions, and human fallibility in general. Its problematic relation to our rational powers, as
well as the question of moral responsibility, are explored. Plotinus develops his original and
characteristic concept of the self or "we," which is so called because it is investigated as
something common to all humans (rather than a private individual self), and because it is
multiple, referring to the reasoning soul or to the "living thing" composed of soul-trace and body.
Plotinus explores the relation between the "we" and consciousness, and also its relation to the
higher metaphysical entities, the Good, and Intellect. Impressively informative, thoughtful and
thought-provoking, "PLOTINUS Ennead I.1: What is the Living Thing?" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Philosophy collections
in general, and Plotinus supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Opposing the Adverse Expert, second edition
Stephen D. Easton
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
https://www.americanbar.org
9781641050333, $180.00, PB, 952pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a completely updated second edition, "Opposing the Adverse Expert: A Comprehensive
Guide for Every Stage of Litigation" by trial attorney Stephen D. Easton is a step-by-step guide to
investigating, evaluating, and opposing the adverse expert in civil cases. "Opposing the Adverse
Expert" outlines tactics attorneys can use to gather information about the adverse expert, both in
the discovery process and on your own to: take effective expert depositions; evaluate the adverse
expert's analysis of the key issues; move to exclude his testimony; conduct devastating
cross-examinations of incorrect experts; make the most of your voir dire, opening statement, and
closing argument; and even to advocate powerfully about expert issues on appeal. It should be
noted that purchasers of "Opposing the Adverse Expert" gain access to the American Bar
Association website, which includes checklists that can be put to immediate use in a legal
courtroom-based practice, outlines for expert depositions and cross-examinations, nationwide
charts of expert witness law, and state outlines with numerous citations to key expert witness
rules, cases, and pattern jury instructions. Comprehensive, exceptionally well organized and
presented, "Opposing the Adverse Expert" is a critically important and core addition to
professional reference collections, and an ideal law school curriculum textbook, and an essential,
unreservedly recommended addition to law firm and academic library Judicial Studies
instructional reference collections.
The Biography Shelf
The Geraldo Show: A Memoir
Geraldo Rivera
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781944648909, $26.95, HC, 380pp, www.amazon.com
One of America's most enduring broadcasters, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist
Geraldo Rivera is a Fox News correspondent-at-large and host of breaking news specials, the
Geraldo Rivera Reports. He also provides weekly reporting and commentary for FNC's Fox and
Friends and Hannity. A native New Yorker outraged by the terror attacks of 9/11, he left CNBC's
Rivera Live to become a FNC senior war correspondent, reporting live from Afghanistan
beginning with the initial siege on Osama bin Laden's Tora Bora hideout, and broke the news ten
years later that the terror mastermind had finally been killed by SEAL Team 6. He has reported
extensively on the Arab - Israeli conflict and other armed conflicts around the globe, including
the 2003 invasion of Iraq, one of eleven extended assignments there. Rivera began his
forty-eight-year television career at WABC-TV in New York where he presented a series
exposing the deplorable conditions at the Willowbrook State School for residents then described
as mentally retarded. These historic reports are credited with helping end the nation's policy of
warehousing the developmentally disabled. "The Geraldo Show: A Memoir" is his personal
autobiography and will prove to be a 'must read' for his legions of fans'. Candidly insightful and
impressively informative, "The Geraldo Show: A Memoir" is an especially recommended
addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Geraldo Show: A Memoir" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.60).
The Art Shelf
Mastering Colored Pencil
Lisa Dinhofer
The Monacelli Press
6 West 18th Street, #2C, New York, NY 10011
www.monacellipress.com
9781580934923, $25.00, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Colored pencils are inexpensive, easy to use, and a mobile medium for producing beautiful
works of visual art. The wide variety of vibrant color choices among the major manufacturers
feature, at a recent count, more than fifty different reds in the colored pencil spectrum of
Prismacolor, Faber-Castell, and Derwent. The base of the pencils vary as well: wax, watercolor,
pastel, and graphite. These can be interchanged or mixed together. The effects that can be
achieved are limitless. A work in pencil can be a drawing, a watercolor, or an oil painting. A wax
pencil can sketch, can draw, can paint. A watercolor pencil can do the same. The drawing can be
transparent as a loose wash or as dense as an oil on canvas. Artists can work as small as a postage
stamp or as large as a wall. "Mastering Colored Pencil: An Essential Guide to Materials,
Concepts, and Techniques for Learning to Draw in Color" an instructional guide and manual that
is illustrated throughout with professional artist Lisa Dinhofer's fresh and sophisticated artwork
and includes more than twenty-five step-by-step demonstrations, thoughtful exercises, workbook
templates, and specific assignments that are sure to help every artist achieve striking results with
pencils. Enhanced with the inclusion of a special exhibition section includes work, technique
descriptions, and insights from seven additional contemporary artists, "Mastering Colored
Pencil" is a complete and comprehensive instructional that is especially and unreservedly
recommended for the personal reading lists of aspiring artists, as well as an being an immediate
and enduringly popular addition to art school, community, college, and university library
Contemporary Art reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Howardena Pindell: What Remains To Be Seen
Naomi Beckwith, et al.
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791357379, $60.00, HC, 276pp, www.amazon.com
Born in middle-class Philadelphia in the 1940s, Howardena Pindell came of age during the Civil
Rights movement. As an African-American woman artist, making her way in the world provided
Pindell with source material to inspire her work. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Howardena
Pindell: What Remains To Be Seen" deftly examines every facet of Pindell's impressive career to
date. Since the 1960s, she has used materials such as glitter, talcum powder, and perfume to
stretch the boundaries of traditional canvas painting. She has also infused her work with traces of
her labor, such as obsessively affixing dots of pigment and circles made with an ordinary hole
punch tool. After a car crash in 1979 left her with short-term amnesia, Pindell's work looked
beyond the painting studio to explore a wide range of subjects, including the personal and
diaristic as well as the social and political. This impressively informative monograph al
highlights Pindell's work with photography, film, and performance. Excerpts from the artist's
writing, in particular her critique of the art world and her responses to feminism and racial
politics, provide prescient commentary in light of conversations around equality and inclusion
today. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Howardena Pindell: What Remains
To Be Seen" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
community, and academic library Contemporary American Art History collections in general,
and Howardena Pindell supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Parenting Shelf
Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids
Wendy L. Moss & Donald A. Moses, MD
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433828256, $19.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
One of the hardest parts of parenting is knowing when to let your child struggle, and even fail, in
order to learn and grow, and when to intervene. In "Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids:
Nine Essential Skills to Teach Your Child or Teen", Wendy Moss (a licensed clinical
psychologist and certified school psychologist) and Dr. Donald Moses (a psychiatrist who
specializes in the treatment of adolescents and young adults) deftly examine the key skills parents
need to help their kids emerge as confident, and capable adults. Throughout "Raising
Independent, Self-Confident Kids" parents will discover ways to build their child's confidence,
decision making abilities, tolerance for frustration, patience, and self-sufficiency. Lessons and
examples are soundly based on professional experience and illustrate how to teach skills such as
self-monitoring, understanding social cues, using technology, and recognizing opportunities for
growth, even in life's more stressful moments. True-to-life stories and conversation-starters
demonstrate specific ways parents can empower children to think for themselves, and learn to
meet life's challenges head-on. Impressively 'real world practical' in scope, organization and
presentation, "Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids" is an extraordinarily 'user friendly'
instructional that is very highly recommended for both community and academic library
Parenting collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of parents and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Raising Independent,
Self-Confident Kids" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.93).
Grandmothering
Linda Eyre
Familius
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
www.familius.com
9781945547904, $18.99, PB, 343pp, www.amazon.com
Grandmothers make the best cookies and give the best hugs, but there's so much more to being
the kind of grandmother who leaves a legacy that stands the test of time. In the pages of
"Grandmothering: The Secrets to Making a Difference While Having the Time of Your Life "
author and grandmother Linda Eyre shares her own secret formula for teaching grandchildren
values, building meaningful connections with them, and giving them grit and resilience in an
ever-changing world. Broken into short, digestible chapters for quick reading, this guidebook is
filled with time-tested advice and stories from a panel of grandmothers, plus an appendix of easy,
delicious recipes to feed a crowd at your next family reunion. Impressively informative, inspired
and inspiring, "Grandmothering" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation
making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as
community library Parenting instructional reference collections.
The Military Shelf
Brotherhood in Combat
Jeremy P. Maxwell
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806160061 $29.95 hc / $24.95 Kindle amazon.com
In 1948, President Harry Truman issued an executive order to desegregate the American military.
Brotherhood in Combat: How African Americans Found Equality in Korea and Vietnam
examines the integration of the American military during the Korean and Vietnam wars. Drawing
upon oral histories from black and white soldiers and marines, Brotherhood in Combat studies
racial tensions (which were more prevalent in rear units than the front lines), the difference in
perspective between black soldiers who voluntarily served in Vietnam and those who were
drafted, and the long-term social impact of the bonds of brotherhood that formed between
soldiers of different races. Notes, a bibliography, and an index rounds out this excellent analysis,
written with scholarly precision yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly
recommended, especially for public and college library Military History and African-American
Studies shelves.
Electronic Warfare Signal Processing
James Genova
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630814601, $129.00, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com
Now retired from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Electronic Warfare Division, James
Genova is a prominent expert in the field of electronic warfare who draws upon his experience
and expertise in "Electronic Warfare Signal Processing" to produce an authoritative new resource
presents anti-ship missile (ASM) electronic protection (EP) techniques designed to enhance
accurate target classification currently being developed by personnel from the People's Republic
of China and other nations. "Electronic Warfare Signal Processing" provides a comprehensive
introduction to modern electronic warfare (EW) in an era of information warfare (IW). It also
explores the capabilities of coherent radar and digital signal processing to rapidly and accurately
classify targets. Both naval and air electronic EW are covered in this resource. "Electronic
Warfare Signal Processing" gives insight into modern EW as an information battle and includes
guidance on properly testing the effectiveness of electronic attack (EA) systems. Exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "Electronic Warfare Signal Processing" is an
indispensable and unreservedly recommended addition to both college and university library
Military Science collections in general, and Electronic Warfare supplemental studies reading lists
in particular.
French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626-1786
Rif Winfield & Stephen S. Roberts
Seaforth Publishing
c/o Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781473893511, $76.95, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com
The origins of a permanent French sailing navy can be traced to the work of Cardinal Richelieu
in the 1620s, but a virtually new Marine Royale had to be re-created by Colbert from 1661.
Thereafter, Louis XIV's navy grew rapidly to become the largest and most powerful in the world,
at the same time establishing a reputation for the quality of its ship design that lasted until the
end of the Age of Sail. "French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626-1786: Design, Construction,
Careers and Fates" by naval historian Rif Winfield with the assistance of Stephen S. Roberts is
the first comprehensive listing of these ships in English, and follows the pattern set by its
companion volume, "British Warships in the Age of Sail, 1793-1817: Design, Construction,
Careers and Fates" in providing an impressive depth of information. Profusely illustrated with
b/w illustrations and ship construction images, "French Warships in the Age of Sail 1626-1786"
is impressively informative and comprehensive, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Naval History collections
and supplemental studies reading lists.
U-Boat 977
Heinz Schaffer
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781784382490, $29.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
As is accurately described in the full title, "U-Boat 977 : The True Story of The U-boat that
Escaped to Argentina" is the story of U-977, the German submarine that escaped to Argentina at
the end of World War II. Before surfacing near the west coast of Africa, the vessel had spent a
remarkable sixty-six days submerged. When it was first published in 1953, opinions were sharply
divided between those who deplored the apparent extolling of a vicious form of warfare, and
those who found Heinz Schaeffer's account a revealing picture of the German navy's training and
methods. Heinz Schaffer joined the German navy at the very beginning of World War II after a
boyhood spent mostly in small sailing boats. In 1944, Heinz Schaeffer took command of a new
submarine, U-977. It was to be his last command. In "U-Boat 977" Schaffer vividly depicts the
grueling aspects of a submariner's life. In the final months of the war, Schaeffer and his crew
came under constant attacks from Allied aircraft and surface ships. With an informative
introduction by Heinz Schaffer, "U-Boat 977" is an invaluable and appreciated contribution to
the growing library of World War II memoirs and biographers, making this new edition very
highly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated military history buffs, as well as
both community and academic library WWII Military History collections and supplemental
studies reading lists.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Apacheria
W. Michael Farmer
TwoDot
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9781493032792, $18.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and written by W. Michael Farmer (who has combined over ten years of research into
nineteenth century Apache history and culture with his personal southwest living experiences to
fill his stories with a genuine sense of time and place), "Apacheria: True Stories of Apache
Culture 1860-1920" is a compendium of brief essays, illustrative art, and photography from often
obscure historical and ethnological studies of Apache history, life, and culture in the last half of
the nineteenth century. These snippets of history and culture provide insights into late nineteenth
century Apache culture, history, and supernatural beliefs as the great western migration after the
Civil War swept over the Apache bands in the late nineteenth century resulting in immense
pressure for their cultures to change or vanish. Impressively informed and informative,
exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking, and providing an inherently fascinating read
from cover to cover, "Apacheria" is unreservedly recommended addition to both community and
academic library Native American collections in general, and Apache Culture supplemental
studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Apacheria" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Black Elk, Lakota Visionary
Harry Oldmeadow
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
www.worldwisdom.com
9781936597604 $19.95 pbk amazon.com
Black Elk, Lakota Visionary: The Ogala Holy Man & Sioux Tradition is an in-depth biographical
scrutiny of the life and work of Black Elk (1863-1950), a famous medicine man and holy man of
the Ogala Lakota Native American tribe. Chapters explore Black Elk's legacy, especially the
book "Black Elk Speaks" (which is the most widely-read Native American testimonial of the last
century), his mystical visions, his controversial perspective of Catholicism, and his lifelong
efforts to preserve and revive traditional Sioux beliefs and practices. An index of photographic
plates, an extensive list of sources, and an index round out this studious, extensively researched
and analytically presented account, highly recommended especially for public and college library
Native American Studies shelves.
The Music Shelf
Over and Over
Olivier Julien & Christophe Levaux, editors
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781501324888, $110.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
From the Tin Pan Alley 32-bar form, through the cyclical forms of modal jazz, to the more recent
accumulation of digital layers, beats, and breaks in Electronic Dance Music, repetition as both an
aesthetic disposition and a formal property has stimulated a diverse range of genres and
techniques. From the angles of musicology, psychology, sociology, and science and technology,
"Over and Over: Exploring Repetition in Popular Music" reassesses the complexity connected to
notions of repetition in a variety of musical genres. Collaborative compiled and co-edited by
Olivier Julien (who is a lecturer in the history and musicology of popular music at
Paris-Sorbonne University, France) and Christophe Levaux (who is a postdoctoral researcher at
the University of Liege, Belgium), "Over and Over" explores the wide-ranging forms and use of
repetition ranging from large repetitive structures to micro repetitions in relation to both specific
and large-scale issues and contexts. "Over and Over" brings together a selection of original texts
by leading authors in a field that is, as yet, little explored. Aimed at both specialists and
neophytes, "Over and Over" sheds important new light on one of the fundamental phenomena of
music of our times. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a list of abbreviations and
contractions, a list of music examples, figures, and tales, a listing of contributors and their
credentials, a twenty page listing of references, and a six page index, "Over and Over" is a
critically important work of outstanding collective scholarship and very highly recommended for
college and university library Musicology collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Sociology Shelf
Transitive Cultures
Christopher B. Patterson
Rutgers University Press
106 Somerset St., 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu
9780813591902, $99.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Texts written by Southeast Asian migrants have often been read, taught, and studied under the
label of multicultural literature. But what if the ideology of multiculturalism (with its emphasis
on authenticity and identifiable cultural difference) is precisely what this literature resists?
"Transitive Cultures: Anglophone Literature of the Transpacific" by Christopher B. Patterson
(Assistant Professor of Humanities and Creative Writing at Hong Kong Baptist University) offers
a new perspective on transpacific Anglophone literature, revealing how these chameleonic
writers enact a variety of hybrid, transnational identities and intimacies. Examining literature
from Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, as well as from Southeast Asian migrants in
Canada, Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland, "Transitive Cultures" considers how these authors use
English strategically, as a means for building interethnic alliances and critiquing ruling power
structures in both Southeast Asia and North America. Uncovering a wealth of texts from queer
migrants, those who resist ethnic stereotypes, and those who feel few ties to their ostensible
homelands, "Transitive Cultures" challenges conventional expectations regarding diaspora and
minority writers. A seminal work of outstanding scholarship, "Transitive Cultures" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for college and academic library Contemporary Sociology
collections, as well as the supplemental studies reading lists in Asian American Studies, Literary
Studies, Cultural Studies, Race and Ethnic Studies. It should be noted for students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Transitive Cultures" is also
available in a paperback edition ( 9780813591865, $29.95) and in a digital book format
(eTextbook, $29.95).
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Vindicating the Vixens
Sandra Glahn, editor
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444135, $22.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
"Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible"
by Sandra Glahn (who is a Professor in Media Arts/Worship and Pastoral Ministries at Dallas
Theological Seminary) will enable the reader to gain a greater understanding of gender in the
Bible through the eyes of a diverse group of evangelical scholars who assert that Christians have
missed the point of some scriptural stories by assuming the women in them were "bad girls". Did
the Samaritan woman really divorce five husbands in a world where women rarely divorced even
one? Did Bathsheba seduce King David by bathing in the nude? Was Mary Magdalene really a
reformed prostitute? While many have written studies of the women in the Bible, "Vindicating
the Vixens" is a new kind of biblical study -- one in which an international team of male and
female scholars look afresh at vilified and neglected women in the Bible. The result is a new
glimpse into God's heart for anyone, male or female, who has limited social power. Of special
note for academia is the inclusion of a list of the contributors and their credentials, as well as a
sixteen page Bibliography. "Vindicating the Vixens" is an impressively informative and
inherently fascinating read that is unreservedly recommended for community, seminary, and
academic library Biblical Studies collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Agriculture Shelf
The Nordic Tractor
Justin Roberts
5m Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781910456750, $32.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
"The Nordic Tractor: The History and Heritage of Volvo, Valmet and Valtra" by freelance writer,
photographer, and farm machinery historian Justin Roberts deftly traces the history of tractor
production in Sweden and Finland. The story of the mechanized farm tractor goes back over 200
years to the 19th century when the industrial revolution was sweeping across Britain, and Sweden
wanted to establish their own manufacturing powerhouses. This was an exciting and fast moving
time for engineering and "The Nordic Tractor" traces the ups, downs, and eventual demise of
some of the first manufacturers working to serve the particular needs of the agricultural and
forestry industries in this densely forested and rock strewn region of Northern Europe. "The
Nordic Tractor" looks in-depth at the companies who emerged from the early turmoil, and how
they developed their products based on the widespread technological advances of the time to
create a tractor industry unique to the region. Today, Valtra-now owned by AGCO-stands
proudly as the last remaining agricultural tractor maker in Scandinavia, but "The Nordic Tractor"
shows where their roots lie in the establishment and history of companies such as Bolinder,
Munktells, Volvo, and Valmet, who all stood out as being major players in the Nordic region.
Enhanced with the inclusion of more than 100 photos (many of which have never been published
before), "The Nordic Tractor" will have a special appeal to those with a specific interest in
Nordic tractors, Nordic engineering, and general Nordic history, as well as the general tractor
enthusiast and farm machinery history buff. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to both community and academic library Agricultural Machinery History
collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Nordic Tractor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99).
The Political Science Shelf
Political Communication in Action
David L. Helfert
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
www.rienner.com
9781626376816 $32.00 amazon.com
Political Communication in Action: From Theory to Practice is a scholarly analysis of the art,
science, and profession of political communication - effectively getting one's political message
out to a targeted audience or the general public, the better to sway opinions, votes, or donations
in favor of a political candidate, a governmental policy, or even the decisions of a for-profit or
non-profit corporation. Chapters discuss the tools of political communication, how political
communication can be made effective, political speeches, television advertising, political
communication in the internet age, political communication in times of or response to a crisis,
and much more. "The nearly toxic partisan atmosphere in our [American] national government
has drastically changed the tone of political communication... What this means is that political
communicators - whether they are working for an elected official, trying to get someone elected
to office, or conveying a message to the public about an issue - are likely going to become part of
a partisan messaging machine. I think the best we can hope for is that, as they craft political
messages, they will maintain some sense of perspective and avoid crossing the line into dishonest
communication." Political Communication in Action is a "must-read" for aspiring or practicing
professionals in the field, and highly recommended especially for public and college library
Political Science collections.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Dirty Jewess
Silvia Fishbaum
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, New York 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9789655242775, $24.95, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Born in post-Holocaust, communist Czechoslovakia, Silvia Fishbaum has devoted her life to the
commemoration of the Holocaust and her childhood art tutor and Holocaust survivor, Ludovit
Feld. She is a member of the Czech and Slovak Jewish Historical Society and is affiliated with
the Holocaust museum and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, New York. In 2012, Fishbaum was
the keynote speaker at the Holocaust Memorial commemoration and the opening for the
exhibition of a private collection of Ludovit Feld's art. "Dirty Jewess: A Woman's Courageous
Journey to Religious and Political Freedom " is her personal story her courageous journey
towards religious and political freedom, all while coming of age in post-Holocaust, communist
Czechoslovakia. In "Dirty Jewess" she recalls her experience as a child of Holocaust survivors,
living as a refugee in Rome, and finally realizing her dream of becoming a successful American
citizen. Silvia Fishbaum's life behind the iron curtain is a universal tale of humanity, resilience,
and overcoming adversity. Of special note is that she weaves together her mother's testimony of
Auschwitz with the testimony of her childhood art tutor, Ludovit Feld (who was a victim of
Mengele's infamous experiments) to create a compelling and layered life narrative. A critically
important contribution to the growing library of Holocaust survivors personal memoirs and
autobiographies, "Dirty Jewess" is especially and unreservedly recommended for both
community and academic library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of both
academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
Prisoners of the Sumatra Railway
Lizzie Oliver
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781350024120 www.bloomsbury.com
Prisoners of the Sumatra Railway: Narratives of History and Memory is an in-depth, scholarly
study of the experiences of British prisoners of war (POWs) who were forced to construct a
railway across Sumatra, an island in Western Indonesia. This railway was also known as the
Pekanbaru Death Railway due to the ill treatment and horrific mortality rate suffered by its
POWs and forced workers, which included 6,500 Dutch (mostly Indo-European), 1,000 British,
and 300 POWs from America, Australia, and New Zealand, and over 120,000 Indonesian (mostly
Javanese) forced workers. Memoirs from Sumatra, including meticulous recollections from
former POWs, post-war statements, diaries, notebooks, and letters, as well as explorations of
life-writing from POWs held captive at the railway, transgenerational responses in Britain, notes,
a bibliography, and an index distinguish this exceptional contribution to public and college
library world history and military history collections. Highly recommended.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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