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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Powered by Girl
Lyn Mikel Brown
Beacon Press
24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.beacon.org
9780807094600, $16.00, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
Drawing from a diverse collection of interviews with women and girl activists, "Powered by Girl:
A Field Guide for Supporting Youth Activists" by Lyn Mikel Brown (Professor of Education and
Human Development at Colby College, Waterville, Maine) is both a journalistic exploration of
how girls have embraced activism and a guide for adults who want to support their organizing.
Here we learn about the inter-generational support behind thirteen-year-old Julia Bluhm when
she got Seventeen to go Photoshop free; nineteen-year-old Celeste Montano, who pressed Google
to diversify their Doodles; and sixteen-year-old Yas Necati, who campaigns for better sex
education. And we learn what experienced adult activists say about how to scaffold girls'
social-change work. Professor Brown argues that adults shouldn't encourage girls to "lean in".
Rather, girls should be supported in creating their own movements and developing their own
ideas on their own terms. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Powered by Girl"
is an extraordinary and life-affection read that is very highly recommended, especially for
community and academic library Women's Studies collections and supplemental studies lists. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Powered by Girl" is also available in a Kindle
format ($14.99).
Cutting Edge
Victor Harris
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804847346, $24.95, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
The Japanese sword has long been appreciated both as a weapon and as an object of art. Only in
Japanese culture has the sword been developed to such a level of technological excellence and
spiritual importance. As a cutting weapon, the fully developed curved katana, or samurai sword,
of the samurai warrior was uniquely effective. As a cultural object, it offers invaluable insights
into the social and spiritual history of the Japanese people. Victor Harris recently retired as
Keeper of the Department of Japanese Antiquities in the British Museum. He is a world expert
on Japanese swords. In "Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum" Harris offers a
fascinating introduction to the design, manufacture and collecting of these Japanese weapons.
Harris covers the development of sword art and designs, traditional forging methods, regional
variations in style and signature works by legendary craftsmen. Harris' informed and informative
commentary is enhanced with the inclusion of hundreds of photos (and 16 pages in full color)
making it an ideal addition to community, college, and university library Japanese Culture
collections in general, and Japanese Sword supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It
should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Cutting Edge" is also available in a Kindle format ($29.95).
A Word in Edgewise
Martha Wegner
Beaver's Pond Press
7108 Ohms Lane, Edina, MN 55439
9781592987474 $16.95 www.BeaversPondPress.com
A Word in Edgewise: Life in between Raising Kids, Keeping a Home, and Staying Sane is a
tongue-in-cheek compilation of vignettes from the daily life of author, wife, mother, and dog
owner Martha Wegner. Navigating everyday needs and taking care of her family makes it
difficult to get a "word in edgewise", hence the title of this nuanced, insightful, and often
mirthful compilation. "I should be writing. I should be ironing. I should be volunteering at the
local shelter. Instead I am secretly seeking. Looking for glossy smooth cupboard doors with
polished nickel handles... Sleek stainless steel appliances... Every once in a while I sneak a peek
at my bank account, which shouts 'No!' and slaps my hand when I inquire of its balance." A
Word in Edgewise is a joy to read, one tale at a time or all at once, and highly
recommended.
Slivers of Life
Yusef Saee, author
Ali Salami, translator
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
www.cambridgescholars.com
9781443890236, $90.95, HC, 375pp, www.amazon.com
Yusef Saee is a prominent Iranian writer who started his writing career in his youth. Born in
Tabriz in 1961, Saee largely writes on human values, mysticism and human interests. He is
widely read in Iran and some of his books have been translated into English. Salvation, spiritual
love, and man as God's greatest creation are among his main themes. "Slivers of Life: Musings
on Human Values" ably translated into English by Ali Salami, pieces together the puzzle of
felicity, in a simple yet magnetic manner. No matter if you are broken-hearted or happy in life
and no matter where you are, the lessons found in the pages of "Slivers of Life" offer a unique
taste of contentment, solace and joy in a type of lyrical and poetic format. Thoughtful and
thought-provoking, impressively well written, organized and presented, "Slivers of Life" is
unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community, college, and
university library collections..
Cancer is Funny
Jason Micheli
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781506408477 $26.99 hc / $14.49 Kindle amazon.com
Humor may be the key to staying sane in the most dire of situations. Cancer is Funny: Keeping
Faith in Stage-Serious Chemo part memoir, part emotional self-help guide, part barrel of laughs!
Author, pastor, husband, and father Jason Micheli shows how a sense of mirth was vital to
enduring his battle with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer so deadly it
isn't classified with the normal four stages, but rather called "stage-serious". Written with wit,
wisdom, and understanding, Cancer is Funny is highly recommended.
An Atheist and a Christian Walk Into a Bar
Randal Rauser and Justin Schieber
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633882430, $18.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
An Atheist and a Christian Walk Into a Bar ... Talking About God, the Universe, and Everything
is both a comedy and a conversation and helps readers understand the basic differences between
atheist and Christian perspectives by offering a discussion between the two. Arguments and
contrasting perspectives represent the give-and-take of opinion and ideology between the two
individuals using a dialogue format that captures these conversations. While audio format would
perfectly dramatize these encounters, the print book provides an excellent feel for the basic
arguments and contentions of the two participants, and is recommended for any reader looking
for a reasoned discussion.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
http://facebook.com/carolynhowardjohnson
HowToDoItFrugally Publishing
PO Box 1402, LaCanada-Flintridge, CA 91012 - 1402
www.howtodoitfrugally.com
9781536948370, $17.95, PB, 340pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "How To Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically", Carolyn
Howard-Johnson draws upon her many years of professional experience and expertise spent
helping writers to avoid pitfalls, misconceptions, and out-and-out scams perpetrated on
unsuspecting authors -- and helping them reach their dreams of obtaining great reviews, going on
great book tours, and experiencing great launches. Simply stated "How to Get Great Book
Reviews Frugally and Ethically" comprises the complete, comprehensive, and core manual for
obtaining reviews and utilizing them in a practical, effective, and successful marketing campaign
that includes all those things and for building the readership necessary for a financially
prosperous and emotionally satisfying writing career. Covering every aspect of the book review
process from solicitation to exploitation, "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and
Ethically" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content, commentary, organization and
presentation. Basically, "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically" is classified as
a "must" for the instructional reference shelf of any and all authors and publishers be they novice
beginners or seasoned professionals. While an essential and unreservedly recommended addition
to community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically" is also
available in a Kindle format ($9.95).
So You Want to Write a Screenplay
Taylor Gaines
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620232156, $19.95, PB, 180pp, www.amazon.com
Getting started as a screenplay writer at a young age is the key to mastering this specific literary
skill. That's precisely the purpose driving Taylor Gaines to publish "So You Want to Write a
Screenplay: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing for Film, Video, and Television". This thoroughly
'user friendly' instruction manuals includes: How to write a screenplay, from capturing the
audience at the introduction to having a satisfying conclusion; How to use screenplay-writing
software; How to pitch and sell your screenplay when the time comes; How to interact with
agents, giving you a competitive edge over other young writers. Gaines has drawn upon
interviews with a number of veteran screenwriters, producers, agents, and directors and provides
a wealth of inside secrets to professional writing for television or the movies. While very highly
recommended as a core addition to personal, community, college, and university
Writing/Publishing collections in general, and screenwriting supplemental studies reading lists in
particular, it should be noted that "So You Want to Write a Screenplay: A Step-by-Step Guide to
Writing for Film, Video, and Television" is also available in a Kindle format ($19.95).
The Social Issues Shelf
Indigenous Homelessness
Edited by Evelyn J. Peters and Julia Christensen
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
www.uofmpress.ca
9780887558269 $34.95 pbk / $14.74 Kindle amazon.com
Homelessness is, unfortunately, a social ill that disproportionately afflicts indigenous peoples.
Indigenous Homelessness: Perspectives from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand is an
anthology of essays by learned authors about the social issue of homelessness in Canada,
Australia, and New Zealand. Why is the social paradigm failing to provide sufficient help?
Authors explore how the strict rules and regulations of Canadian public housing actively prevent
families from taking care of an adult relative in need (once child reaches adult age, they must pay
rent and sign the lease or be ejected from public housing); how the practice of "police dumping"
(forcibly transporting panhandling homeless people to shelters located in the dangerous, crime-
ridden inner city) more closely resembles ethnic cleansing than any true effort to help; why
policies to aid homeless indigenous people need to be more solidly grounded in the Indigenous
cultural understanding of home, land, and kinship; and much more. Scholarly, serious, and
thought-provoking Indigenous Homelessness is highly recommended for public and college
library social issues shelves, and a "must-read" for anyone who works with homeless people as
part of their profession.
Cyberbullying and the Wild Wild Web
J.A. Hitchcock
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781442251175 $30.00 hc / $16.19 Kindle amazon.com
Cyberbullying and the Wild Wild Web: What Everyone Needs to Know is a "must-read" guide
for parents, caretakers, educators, young adults, and everyone else to the harmful phenomenon of
cyberbullying - using the internet or social media to harass others with threats, mockery, or
worse. Chapters address what to do if one's own child is a victim of cyberbullying, or if one's
own child engages in cyberbully themselves, and cover "Cell and Smartphone Know-how",
"When Online Fun and Gaming Goes Wrong", "When an Adult Is a Cyberbully" and much more.
Cyberbullying and the Wild Wild Web addresses a crucial social issue of the twenty-first century,
and is a timely and much-needed contribution to school and public library collections. Highly
recommended.
The Psychology Shelf
The Left Brain Speaks, the Right Brain Laughs
Ransom Stephens
Viva Editions
2246 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
www.vivaeditions.com
www.ransomstephens.com
9781632280466, $18.95, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com
In "The Left Brain Speaks, the Right Brain Laughs: A Look at the Neuroscience of Innovation &
Creativity in Art, Science & Life", physicist Ransom Stephens explains the interesting and often
amusing tale of how the human brain works. Using understandable metaphors and easy to follow
language, Stephens gives readers of any scientific level an introduction to neuroscience and
shows them how things like creativity, skill, and even perception of self can grow and change by
utilizing the body's most important muscle. Much like science popularizers Bill Nye and Neil
deGrasse Tyson, Stephens employs a down to earth attitude and those interested in science will
appreciate his thoughtful explanations of scientific terms. Exceptionally well written, organized
and presented, "The Left Brain Speaks, but the Right Brain Laughs" will prove to be an
enduringly popular addition to community and academic library Psychology collections in
general, and Neuroscience supplemental studies reading lists in particular. For students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that "The Left
Brain Speaks, the Right Brain Laughs" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.99). Librarians
should be aware that there is a complete and unabridged audiobook edition of "The Left Brain
Speaks, the Right Brain Laughs" (Dreamscape Media, 9781520037455, $29.99, CD).
Colour Psychology Today
June McLeod
www.colourpsychologytoday.com
O Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781785353048, $21.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
June McLeod is a color consultant, color-trends forecaster, intuitive, motivational trainer and
author. With an esteemed color career spanning more than thirty years, June's dynamic and
innovative work with color is legendary. In "Colour Psychology Today" she draws upon her more
than thirty years of research, experience and expertise to reveal new color psychology
information. "Colour Psychology Today" discloses unique knowledge on how color psychology
impacts on the business world and the individual. This is a 'must read' for dedicated color
enthusiasts, branding experts, marketeers, advertising executives, graphic designers, and anyone
who would like to expand and develop the application of color in their lives and work. While
very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Contemporary
Psychology collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Colour Psychology Today" is
also available in a Kindle format ($6.15).
The Business Shelf
The Etiquette Edge, second edition
Beverly Langford
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814437629, $16.00, www.amacombooks.org
The Etiquette Edge: Modern Manners for Business Success appears in its second edition to
update information key to business interactions, from social media etiquette and virtual meetings
to changing business settings and global encounters. The business world holds its own etiquette
standards and approaches and Beverly Langford here creates an overall framework designed to
identify specific etiquette ideas and define behaviors and relationships within these general
parameters. The result is a set of approaches that reaches beyond the latest rules to set the
standards for adopting a flexible, effective approach to understanding changing etiquette in the
business environment, and is recommended for any business reader.
The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property, second edition
First edition by Teri B. Clark
Revised by Jim Kim
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781620230596 $19.95 pbk / $11.99 www.atlantic-pub.com
Now in a revised and updated second edition with new stories from real estate investors and
landlords (giving property owners a chance to learn from their worst mistakes and best
successes!), The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property lives up to its title as a
straightforward, accessible, no-nonsense guide to renting property as an investment or as a
business. Step-by-step instructions, black-and-white as well as color photographs, sample forms,
a glossary, and an index make The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property a reader-
friendly "must" for any prospective landlord. Highly recommended! "Using a [rental tenant]
locator service is more cost effective if you use a year lease since the price is low relative to the
turnover of your property. On the other hand, six-month leases or month-to-month leases
increase the relative cost and may make the service an unwise choice."
Deduct It!, 13th edition
Stephen Fishman, J.D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413323238, $34.95, PB, 536pp, www.amazon.com
Completely updated for 2016 returns, this 13th edition of "Deduct It!: Lower Your Small
Business Taxes" shows how to maximize business deductions quickly, easily and legally. Easy to
read and full of real-world examples, "Deduct It!" will pay for itself many times over as it covers
legal deductions for: start-up and operating expenses; travel, meals, and entertainment; home
offices; medical expenses under Obamacare; equipment and inventory; and so much more.
Deduct It! also covers avoiding problems with the IRS -- including not having a business
classified as a hobby. Whether an enterprise is just starting or well established, "Deduct It!" will
prove to be an indispensable guide to financial success for the small business entrepreneur or
owner as it is a thoroughly 'user friendly' compendium of top business deductions along with
do-it-yourself information on the most valuable ones and how to claim them. Simply stated, no
small business enterprise should be without a copy of "Deduct It!" -- nor any community or
academic library Business Management reference collection. It should be noted that "Deduct It!"
is also available in a Kindle format ($19.99).
365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day, revised edition
Dianna Podmoroff
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620230695, $19.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly revised, updated and expanded edition, "365 Ways to Motivate and Reward
Your Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money" by Dianna Podmoroff offers simple and
inexpensive ways to build an organization that people love to work at. From cover to cover, "365
Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money" offers
quick, effective, humorous, innovative and fun ideas that will improve any business or
entrepreneurial enterprise from the smallest of business to the largest of international
conglomerates. Featuring a four page Glossary, a two page Bibliography, and a two page Index,
"365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money" is an
absolute 'must' for personal, professional, community, corporate, and academic library Business
Management collections. It should be noted that "365 Ways to Motivate and Reward Your
Employees Every Day: With Little or No Money" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
Ten Red Hot Tips To Promote Your Business
Ellen Gunning
Mercier Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
978178117410, $18.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Ellen Gunning is the director of the Irish Academy of Public Relations, which she established in
1992. In "Ten Red Hot Tips To Promote Your Business" she draws upon her years of experience
and expertise to reveals the top ten most important types of PR for small to medium-sized
businesses. Ellen cuts through the jargon to provide the reader with techniques to create the
angles' that will interest the media. "Ten Red Hot Tips To Promote Your Business " outlines the
importance of creative thinking, persistence, knowledge of the market, and devoting time to
learning and applying the techniques. Informative, thoughtful, insightful, practical, and
thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "Ten Red Hot Tips
To Promote Your Business" is very highly recommended, especially for professional, company,
community, and academic library Business Management collections. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Ten Red Hot Tips To Promote Your Business " is also available in a Kindle
format ($12.99).
Wicked Strategies
John C. Camillus
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
www.utppublishing.com
9781442650558, $32.95, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com
In the business world some problems are so complex, intractable and threatening to organizations
(and even entire industries) that they are best described as "wicked". These problems appear to be
unsolvable and they render traditional analytical tools of strategy virtually impotent. In "Wicked
Strategies: How Companies Conquer Complexity and Confound Competitors" John C. Camillus
(Donald R. Beall Professor of Strategic Management at the University of Pittsburgh) offers a
comprehensive framework for identifying, responding to and profiting from wicked problems.
Professor Camillus, draws on detailed, real-life examples from companies across the globe, and
has skillfully woven together the analytical techniques, processes and organizational designs that
will enable managers to navigate a disruptive marketplace. Professor Camillus' feed-forward
framework for fashioning wicked strategies empowers firms to presciently transform their
business models before they are made obsolete by the competition. "Wicked Strategies" is a
practical and evocative guide that demonstrates how business leaders can profitably capitalize on
unknowable futures. While unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and academic
library Business Management collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Wicked Strategies" is also available in a Kindle format ($18.12).
The Fiction Shelf
Guns At Q Cross
Merle Constiner
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412233, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 150pp, www.amazon.com
When Stiles Gilmore disembarks from the train, he doesn't look like what would be expected of
the owner of the JJ ranch. Having traveled from one of the biggest cattle ranches in Texas to
Prentice Creek, Idaho to check on the heard he sold to the Q Cross spread, he is shot at in the
dark and starts to feel like an interloper at a rustlers' convention. With his life on the line, he must
rely on his speed, his wits -- and his stag-handled .45. "Guns At Q Cross" showcases author
Merle Constiner's genuine flair for deftly crafting impressively memorable and riveting reads and
being a master of the western action/adventure genre. "Guns At Q Cross" is very highly
recommended for community library Large Print Fiction collections in general, and all western
novel fans personal reading lists in particular.
Destiny Valley
Fred Grove
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785412240, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 258pp, www.amazon.com
The humble little cabin in the great Gila Wilderness of New Mexico Territory is more than a
home to Evan Shelby. It's his last chance for life. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and his
condition was considered hopeless until he moved out here. It's been six months now since he
showed any symptoms, and he's come to love the land and people in this little ranching
community. But he's not the only one who loves the land. A major Texas cow outfit just opened a
land office, and they plan to start a huge cattle ranch. They're not offering much money for folks'
land, but they have plenty of hardcases to help convince people to sell. His friends have asked
Evan to help, but as the invaders clash with the locals and tensions keep mounting, Evan may
have the toughest battle of his life in front of him. With "Destiny Valley", author Fred Grove
once again demonstrates why he is justifiably considered to be a master of the western genre. A
consistently engaging and unfailingly entertaining read from cover to cover, this large print
edition of "Destiny Valley" is especially recommended for personal reading lists and community
library Western Fiction collections.
Cardinal Hill
Mary Anna Bryan
Mercer University Press
1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207-0001
www.mupress.org
9780881465730, $18.00, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Margaret Norman lives in a family with secrets, not the least of which is her own. But what
concerns Margaret more is that her family will not talk about her mother, "Weezie," an artist who
died shortly after Margaret was born. Her father, Jim Norman, a brooding attorney, is too
obsessed with his own pain to share. Louisa, her older sister, is hostile toward Margaret and
ignores her. Black housekeeper, Ida, who is helping to raise Margaret, does not think it her place
to tell what others will not. And gentle great aunt, Maggie, did not know Margaret's mother.
When close friend Lily May, Ida's daughter, suggests "...there may be stuff 'bout your momma
folks oughtn't to know," Margaret rejects the notion, and determines to find out all she can. Early
impressions of her mother as an ethereal beauty are strengthened when she discovers the
romantic inscription on Weezie's tombstone. Those impressions change, however, when
Margaret's art teacher--and Weezie's best friend--gives her a painting of Weezie portrayed as a
gypsy. Finally, Ida shares what she knows, and Margaret must face painful truths concerning her
mother. Set in the South during the 1930s and 1940s, "Cardinal Hill" takes place in a world
where blacks and whites, although separated by custom and law, often thrive in personal
relationships; where half a world away, a war disrupts lives of those close to home; and where
little girls suspect that kissing causes babies. A consistently well written and unfailingly
entertaining read from cover to cover, "Cardinal Hill" will prove to be an enduringly popular
addition to community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists is should be
noted that "Cardinal Hill" is also available in a Kindle format ($12.00).
As She Was Discovering Tigony
Olympe Bhely-Quenum, author
Tomi Adeaga, translator
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611862096, $20.95, PB, 274pp, www.amazon.com
Dorcas Keurleonan-Moricet is a brilliant white geophysicist posted on assignment in Africa. She
falls in love with a young African man, Segue n'Di, and enters into an extramarital affair with
him. In her professional work, she discovers deposits of minerals of inestimable worth. Reading
the current age of globalization and neoliberalism as one in which the riches of Africa are again
being cynically exploited by multinational companies (including her own) Keurleonan-Moricet's
views and her life gradually change. As the popular resistance against the dictatorial regime in
power grows, she comes to play a key role in the unfolding political drama. Ably translated into
English for an American readership by Tomi Adeaga, "As She Was Discovering Tigony" by
Olympe Bhely-Quenum is a deftly crafted and consistently compelling read from beginning to
end. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "As
She Was Discovering Tigony" is also available in a Kindle format ($23.95).
The Insurrectionist
Herb Karl
Academy Chicago Publishers
c/o Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613736340, $15.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
A compelling historical novel by Herb Karl, "The Insurrectionist" follows the militant
abolitionist John Brown from his involvement in violence that came to be referred to as 'Bleeding
Kansas', to the invasion of Harpers Ferry and the dramatic conclusion of his subsequent trial and
execution. Meticulous historical detail blends with dramatic personal descriptions to reveal
critical episodes in Brown's life, illuminating his character and the motives that led up to the
Harpers Ferry invasion, giving readers a complete picture of the man who has too often been
dismissed as hopelessly fanatical. Brown's friendship with Frederick Douglass and their ongoing
debate on how to end slavery, his devoted family who stands by him despite the danger, and his
struggles to secure funding and political favor for his cause against deeply entrenched politicians,
is brought vividly to life and showcases author Herb Karl's genuine flair for fully engaging his
readers from cover to cover with a consistently compelling story. While very highly
recommended, especially for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The Insurrectionist" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781613736333, $15.99) and in a Kindle format ($12.75).
The Expense of a View
Polly Buckingham
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574416473, $14.95, PB, 196pp, www.amazon.com
The fourteen short stories by Polly Buckingham that comprise "The Expense of a View" explore
the psyches of characters under extreme duress. In the title story, 'The Expense of a View', a
woman who has moved across the country in an attempt to leave her past behind dumps an empty
suitcase into the Columbia River over and over again. In another story, a woman who wakes up
mornings only to discover she's been shooting heroin in a night trance, meets her doppelganger
on a rainy Oregon beach. Most of the characters are displaced and disturbed; they suffer from
dissociative disorders, denial, and delusions. The settings, ranging from Florida, to eastern
Washington, to Seattle, to the Oregon coast, mirror their lunacies. While refusing to look at
what's right in front of themselves might destroy them, it's equally likely to be just what they
need. A consistently compelling and engaging read from cover to cover, "The Expense of a
View" is very highly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary Literary
Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Expense of a View" is
also available in a Kindle format ($11.96).
Rules For Lying
Anne Corbitt
Southeast Missouri State University Press
One University Plaza, MS 2650, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
http://www.semopress.com
9780996259675, $15.00, PB, 308pp, www.amazon.com
After school, custodian Oliver Nix investigates a strange sound coming from the boys' locker
room. What he finds rocks this suburban Atlanta community. Langley, a sophomore, claims she
was forced, but Kevin, the accused, insists on his innocence while plotting his path out of town.
His mother, Grace, defends her son despite having made a similar accusation twenty years
before. Eleanor, Oliver's daughter, tries to reconcile her loyalty to best friend Langley, who
created the rules for lying, with her unrequited love for Kevin. Rules for Lying follows the
characters through a police investigation that makes them question their memories, allegiances,
and actions, all while hiding secrets of their own. "Rules For Lying" is author Anne Corbitt's
debut novel and clearly showcases her genuine and consistently impressive flair for deftly
crafting a riveting read from beginning to end. "Rules For Lying" is unreservedly recommended
for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.
Metis Beach
Claudine Bourbonnais
The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459733510, $19.99, PB, 448pp, www.amazon.com
At fifty years of age, Roman Carr has made it. His television series In Gad We Trust, a scathing
satire of the United States and its relationship with God, is a huge hit. He is carving out an
enviable place for himself in Hollywood, the end of a long, tortuous journey for the man who
fled his Gaspe Peninsula village in murky circumstances back in 1962. The debut novel of
Claudine Bourbonnais, "Metis Beach" is both a coming-of-age story and an epic chronicle of
America in the counter-culture Sixties. A deftly crafted and reader riveting read from cover to
cover, "Metis Beach" is highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to
community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"Metis Beach" is also available in a Kindle format ($8.69).
A Portrait of Emily Price
Katherine Reay
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780718077914, $15.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Artist and art restorer Emily Price dreams of having a gallery show of her own. There is no time
for distractions, especially not the ultimate distraction of falling in love. But Chef Benito
Vassallo's relentless pursuit proves hard to resist. Visiting from Italy, Ben works to breathe new
life into his aunt and uncle's faded restaurant, Piccollo. Soon after their first meeting, he works to
win Emily as well -- inviting her into his world and into his heart. Emily astonishes everyone
when she accepts Ben's proposal and follows him home. But instead of allowing the land,
culture, and people of Monterello to transform her, Emily interferes with everyone and
everything around her, alienating Ben's tightly knit family. Only Ben's father, Lucio, gives Emily
the understanding she needs to lay down her guard. Soon, Emily's life and art begin to blossom,
and Italy's beauty and rhythm take hold of her spirit. Yet when she unearths long-buried family
secrets, Emily wonders if she really fits into Ben's world. Will the joys of Italy become just a
memory, or will Emily share in the freedom and grace that her life with Ben has shown her are
possible? Author Katherine Reay has a genuine flair for engaging her reader's rapt and riveted
attention from beginning to end. Her latest novel, "A Portrait of Emily Price" is unreservedly
recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections.
For personal reading lists is should be noted that "A Portrait of Emily Price" is also available in a
Kindle format ($9.99).
Me Against the World
Kazufumi Shiraishi, author
Raj Mahtani, translator
Dalkey Archive Press
University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
www.dalkeyarchive.com
9781943150021, $15.00, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com
Kazufumi Shiraishi is a prolific and award-winning Japanese novelist. His novel, " Me Against
the World" is the story of a jaded journalist inherits an abandoned manuscript penned by an old
acquaintance who has recently passed away. The inherited writing turns out to be a collection of
ruminations on the nature of existence by a fifty-three-year old businessman who, as far as the
journalist remembers, was a kind and gentle soul -- is nothing short of shocking. In it, this
apparent everyman (whom we know only as Mr. K) writes that he has a son, daughter, and wife,
but has no love for them. He claims that humans are like cancer cells, destroying Mother Earth
with their unrestrained propagation. He looks at our mortal destiny with an unflinching honesty
and turns to psychic mediums for clues to the afterlife, wondering what immortality (if it were
possible) would mean for our spiritual well-being. Ably translated into English by Raj Mahtani,
provocative, inherently fascinating, and very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as
well as community and academic library Contemporary Japanese Literature Studies collections,
"Me Against the World" deftly takes the reader into the raging mind of a man who rejects the
world in order to save it from itself.
The Lady of the Lakes
Josi S. Kilpack
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629722269, $15.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Sir Walter Scott has three passions: Scotland, poetry, and Mina Stuart. Though Mina is young
and they are from different stations in society, Walter is certain their love is meant to be. For
years, he has courted her through love letters. She is the sunshine of his soul. Though Mina
shares Walter's love of literature and passionate temperament, it's hard for her to know if she
truly loves him or if she has only been dazzled by his flattery. When she meets the handsome and
charming William Forbes, her heart is challenged. Who will she choose? But as every poet
knows, "The course of true love never did run smooth," and on a windy morning in the lake
country, Walter meets Charlotte. At twenty-six, Charlotte Carpenter believes she will never find
love. After all, she is a Catholic-born Frenchwoman living in London with a family history
shadowed by scandal. Though quiet, practical, and determined to live a life of independence, her
heart longs for someone to love her and a place to call home. Passion and promises collide as
Walter, Mina, and Charlotte must each decide the course for their futures. What are they each
willing to risk to find love and be loved in return? "The Lady of the Lakes" is a thoroughly
entertaining read from cover to cover and showcases author Josi S. Kilpack's genuine flair for
deftly crafted storytelling. While very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly
popular addition to community library Historical Romance collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated romance fiction fans that "The Lady of the Lakes" is also
available in a Kindle format ($10.99). Librarians should especially note that there is a complete
and unabridged CD audio book edition of "The Lady of the Lakes" (9781629722337,
$32.99).
The Big Book of Sound and Other Stories
Jon Steinhagen
Black Lawrence Press
http://www.blacklawrence.com
9781625579461, $16.95, PB, 225pp, www.amazon.com
Comprised of twenty-two deftly written short stories by Jon Steinhagen, "The Big Book of Sound
and Other Stories" is a thoroughly entertaining and often thought-provoking read from cover to
cover. This volume of his work clearly showcases Steinhagen's genuine flair for creating
remarkable characters as well as unfailingly and entertaining tales. Very highly recommended for
personal reading lists, as well as both community and academic library Contemporary American
Fiction collections, "The Big Book of Sound and Other Stories" is one of those all-too-rare
anthologies that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished
and set back upon the shelf.
The Beauty of the Fall
Rich Marcello
Langdon Street Press
322 1st Avenue N, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.langdonstreetpress.com
9781635054026, $16.95, PB, 378pp, www.amazon.com
Dan Underlight is a divorced, workaholic technology executive who suffers a lingering grief over
the death of his ten-year-old son, Zack. When Dan's longtime friend and boss fires Dan from
RadioRadio (the company that Dan helped to create) he crashes and isolates himself. Willow is a
poet and domestic violence survivor who helps Dan regain his footing. With her support, Dan
ventures on a pilgrimage of sorts, visiting Fortune 500 companies to flesh out a software start-up
idea. He then recruits three former RadioRadio colleagues and starts Conversationworks, a
company he believes will be at the vanguard of social change. Guided by Dan's leadership,
Conversationworks enjoys some early successes, but its existence is soon threatened on multiple
fronts. Will Dan survive the ensuing corporate battles and realize the potential of his company?
Or will he be defeated by his enemies and consumed? A deftly crafted novel by a master of the
storytelling arts, "The Beauty of the Fall" is a consistently compelling read from cover to cover
and very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Beautify of the Fall" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
Wild Girls
Erica Abeel
Christine Brown
Texas Review Press
c/o Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamupress.com
9781680031034, $24.95, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com
Three college friends from the 50s blaze their own path in love and work, braving the stifling
conventions of the age, and anticipating the social thaw that would arrive ten years later. These
"wild girls" pay heavy penalties for living against the grain, but, over the years, they rebound and
re-set their course, drawing strength from their friendship. "Wild Girls" by Erica Abeel follows
these three from an elite northeastern college, to Paris with Allen Ginsberg, to New York's
avant-garde scene in the early sixties, to a mansion in Newport, to the slopes of Zermatt, to Long
Island's Gold Coast, as it celebrates the nimbleness and vitality of women who defied an entire
culture to forge their own journey. A fully absorbing and unfailingly entertaining read from
beginning to end, "Wild Girls" is especially recommended for community library General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Wild Girls" is also available in a
Kindle format ($9.99).
One-String Guitar
Mona de Vestel
Harvard Square Editions
2152 Beachwood Terrace, Hollywood, CA 90068
www.harvardsquareeditions.org
9781941861295, $22.95, PB, 380pp, www.amazon.com
Ten years after surviving the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Francine tries to rebuild her life in
Upstate New York where she befriends Elbe, the medical interpreter assigned to her -- an adoptee
in search of her roots on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Against the backdrop of the
harrowing 100-day massacres of one million lives in Kigali and the revolution of the Lakota in
1972 on the reservation, "One-String Guitar" by writer, performer and professor Mona de Vestl
deftly weaves a narrative of resilience, healing and ultimately, love. It is interesting to note that
the novel's title is a reference to August Wilson's Seven Guitars in which Hedley plucks a single
string instrument to connect with the memory of his mother -- urging us all to remain connected
to the wisdom of our ancestors in order to avoid repeating the worst chapters of our history.
While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary
Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "One-String Guitar"
is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
Sleeping Mask
Peter LaSalle
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV A612, New York, NY 10016
www.blpress.org
9781942658184, $16.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
The twelve stories by Peter LaSalle that comprise Sleeping Mask are deftly written in propulsive,
fluid prose, and introduce his readers to truly remarkable characters. LaSalle's short stories
include a child soldier sent to raid a girls' boarding school, a Virginia Woolf scholar surviving
cancer, a desperate writer living under fascism in a futuristic Latin America, the spirits of
recently deceased college students on a tour of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, and a middle-aged
man transported back to his childhood, where he is led out to sea by his mother's ghost. Through
all of their stylistic pyrotechnics LaSalle's stories never forsake rich characterization and plotting
to probe the deepest parts of the contemporary human condition, such as the nature of erotic
desire, the legacy of art and artistry, the power of grief and fear, and the horror of war and
violence. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Sleeping Mask" is also available in a Kindle format ($10.99).
The Little Wagons
Crozier Green
www.croziergreen.com
Top Hat Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781785355288, $24.95, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com
"The Little Wagons: The Traumatic Birth of Sicily's Cosa Nostra" is a fictional novel in which
author Crozier Green deftly captures the turmoil of late nineteenth-century Sicily, when the
reverse alchemy of greed and violence forever changed the emerging Cosa Nostra from
benevolent organization dedicated to protecting the popular from foreign invasion and
oppression, into corrupted Mafia that enriched its members through extortion, murder, and all
manner of crime. The horrors of slavery and oppression forged revolutions and rebels in equal
measure, and within this cornucopia of nepotism and brutality, hostility and passion are pitted
against endemic hegemony. With protagonists as fiery as Mount Etna itself, and equally
unpredictable, "The Little Wagons" shows how poverty and despair become the omnipotent
catalysts of vengeful change. With an impressive attention to historical accuracy in detail and
background, "The Little Wagons" is a consistently compelling read from cover to cover. While
unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The Little Wagons" is also available in a Kindle format
($7.99).
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Ed Tarkington
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
www.algonquin.com
9781616203825, $25.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Eight-year-old Rocky worships his older brother, Paul. Sixteen and full of rebel cool, Paul spends
his days cruising in his Chevy Nova blasting Neil Young, cigarette dangling from his lips, arm
slung around his beautiful, troubled girlfriend. Paul is happy to have his younger brother as his
sidekick. Then one day, in an act of vengeance against their father, Paul picks up Rocky from
school and nearly abandons him in the woods. Afterward, Paul disappears. Seven years later,
Rocky is a teenager himself. He hasn't forgotten being abandoned by his boyhood hero, but he's
getting over it, with the help of the wealthy neighbors' daughter, ten years his senior, who has
taken him as her lover. Unbeknownst to both of them, their affair will set in motion a course of
events that rains catastrophe on both their families. After a mysterious double murder brings
terror and suspicion to their small town, Rocky and his family must reckon with the past and find
out how much forgiveness their hearts can hold. Showcasing author Ed Tarkington's genuine flair
for creating memorable characters and deftly crafted plot twists and turns, "Only Love Can Break
Your Heart" is a consistently engaging and unfailingly entertaining read from cover to cover.
While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781616205263, $15.95) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Cat Came Back
Louise Clark
Epublishing Works!
www.epublishingworks.com
9781614178903, $27.99, HC, 334pp, www.amazon.com
A young mother, Christy Jamieson just learned her husband Frank has embezzled his trust fund,
sold their Vancouver mansion, and ran off with a socialite. Worse, Frank's trustees are telling
Christy to let them handle it. But they aren't doing anything, and Frank's enemies are coming
after her and her daughter. Desperate to find Frank and fend off his enemies, Christy asks
journalist Quinn Armstrong for help. His price: the dirt on Frank. But the closer Christy and
Quinn get to the dangerous truth, the more convinced they become that only the one who knows
where Frank is at, is Stormy the Cat Stormy the Cat, who rescued by Quinn is not what he seems.
A deftly crafted and consistently compelling read from beginning to end, "The Cat Came Back"
is the first volume in author Louise Clark's new '9 Lives Cozy Mystery' series. Replete with
unexpected twists and turns, "The Cat Came Back" is very highly recommended and certain to be
an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs it should be noted that "The Cat Came Back" is available in a paperback edition (9781614178583, $17.99), hardcover edition (9781614178903, $27.99) and in eBook format (9781614178576, $3.99).
Circle of Terror
Larry Powalisz
Morgan James Publishing
11815 Fountain Way, Suite 300, Newport News, VA 23606-4448
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781630479763, $17.95, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com
Milwaukee Police Detective Declan Tomczyk, a former Marine Corps officer, is dispatched to
investigate the damaging and desecration of headstones at a local cemetery. Initially chalked up
as the handiwork of Halloween pranksters, it becomes anything but when his good friend and
former squad partner is critically injured. Tomczyk is determined to track down the domestic
terrorists, leading him further into danger. This marks the beginning of a series of violent crimes,
eerily similar to the "reign of terror" that paralyzed Milwaukee decades earlier. As Tomczyk
probes into the mysterious leads, he teams up with FBI Agent Anne Dvorak, and a romance
blossoms. With the unlikely assistance of a high school athlete and World War II veteran, the
investigators scramble to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. As they close in, it becomes a
race against the clock to pinpoint the next target before it's too late. "Circle of Terror" is a simply
riveting read from cover to cover and documents author Larry Powalisz as a master of the
mystery/suspense genre. While very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular
addition to community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Circle of Terror" is also available in a Kindle format ($7.99).
Chain of Custody
Anita Nair
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781908524744, $14.95, PB, 365pp, www.amazon.com
What does thirteen-year-old Nandita's disappearance have to do with the murder of a well-known
lawyer in a gated community? Inspector Gowda is soon embroiled in the investigation of a
child-trafficking racket. Negotiating insensitive laws, indifferent officials, and uncooperative
witnesses, he is in a race against time to rescue Nandita from one of the most depraved criminal
rings he has ever encountered. Bangalore India's Inspector Gowda is back in another nail-biting
thriller in Anita Nair's "Chain of Custody". A simply riveting read from cover to cover, clearly
author Anita Nair is a master of the mystery/suspense genre. While highly recommended,
especially for community library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
Inspector Gowda fans that "Chain of Custody" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
A Killer in King's Cove
Iona Whishaw
TouchWood Edition
103 - 1075 Pendergast Street, Victoria, BC V8V 0A1
http://www.touchwoodeditions.com
c/o Publishers Group West (distributor)
9781771511988, $14.95, PB, 432pp, www.amazon.com
"A Killer in King's Cove" by Iona Whishaw is set in 1946, and is the story of war-weary young
ex-intelligence officer Lane Winslow who leaves London looking for a fresh start. When she
finds herself happily settled in King's Cove, a sleepy hamlet nestled in the idyllic interior of
British Columbia surrounded by a suitably eclectic cast of small-town characters Lane feels like
she may finally be able to put her past to rest. But then a body is discovered, the victim of
murder, and although Lane works alongside the town's inspectors Darling and Ames to discover
who might possibly have motivation to kill, she casts doubt on herself. As the investigation
reveals facts that she has desperately tried to keep a secret, it threatens to pull her into a vortex of
even greater losses than the ones she has already endured. A simply riveting read by a master of
the genre, "A Killer in King's Cove" is especially recommended the personal reading lists of
dedicated mystery buffs, as well as an enduringly popular acquisition choice for community
library Mystery/Suspense collections.
The Keller Papers
Ellis M. Goodman
http://kellerpapers.com
Roundfire Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781785354861, $24.95, PB, 432pp, www.amazon.com
A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "The Keller Papers" by Ellis M. Goodman is a
fast-paced, deftly crafted, consistently compelling espionage story that is based in 1980s Eastern
Europe, and includes factual events and personalities of the times -- some of whom having once
again become relevant in today's strained East/West political environment. "The Keller Papers"
clearly documents novelist Ellis Goodman as a master of the suspense/thriller genre. While
certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Keller Papers" is also available in a Kindle
format ($6.15).
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Puritans Day by Day
H.J. Horn
Banner of Truth
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
www.banneroftruth.org
9781848717077 $23.00 amazon.com
The Puritans Day by Day: Puritan Quotations for Each Day of the Year is a compilation of quotes
from Puritans, a group of English Reformed Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who
emphasized simplicity and devotion to God. These quotes were selected by minister H.J. Horn
(b. 1868) and ensconce unwavering faith. Half a dozen or more inspirational quotations are
presented for each day of the calendar year. The Puritans Day by Day is an excellent daily
devotional, highly recommended. "'A humble man will never be a heretic.' -John Trapp".
Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes
Denis O. Lamoureux
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com
9780310526445, $16.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Christians throughout history have believed that God reveals himself both through Scripture and
nature. The Book of God's Words is the Bible. Scripture reveals inerrant spiritual truths. In
"Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes", theologian and scientist Denis O. Lamoureux
(Associate Professor of Science and Religion at St. Joseph's College in the University of Alberta)
reviews several options for embracing biblical Christianity and findings of science, including
biological evolution. Holding to a high view of Scripture alongside an expert appreciation for
scientific discovery, Professor Lamoureux further outlines a way to understand passages referring
to the natural world in the Bible and also demonstrates how modern science can point toward
God. Professor Lamoureux also shares his own story along the way, recounting struggles many
readers will relate to on his journey toward PhDs in both theology and biology and a fruitful
relationship between the two. "Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes" includes: A biblical
model of intelligent design in nature based on Psalm 19 and Romans 1; An examination of the
ancient science in Scripture, such as a flat earth and 3-tier universe; Compares different Christian
views on origins -- young earth creation, progressive creation (old earth creation), and
evolutionary creation; Criticisms of the atheistic interpretation of evolution held by Richard
Dawkins and his belief that intelligent design is merely an illusion; Galileo's peaceful
relationship between Scripture and nature; Darwin's religious beliefs and evidence of the impact
that intelligent design had on him throughout his life. Informative, thoughtful, and ultimately
inspiring, "Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes" is very highly recommended for church,
seminary, community, and academic library collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
With God in America
Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
www.loyolapress.com
9780829444544, $19.95, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com
In 1963, following twenty-three years of hard labor and abuse in Russian prison camps, the late
Walter J. Ciszek (1904-1984), finally returned to America. Had he come back a bitter man, or a
man of diminished faith, it would have been hard to fault him. But he didn't. For the remainder of
his years, until his death in 1984, Fr. Ciszek's grace, faith, and wisdom touched in often profound
and lasting ways everyone who came into contact with him. "With God in America" is a
collection of previously unpublished writings on Ciszek's post-imprisonment life and thoughts.
The contents (which include articles he wrote, speeches he delivered at retreats, letters he sent to
people he was counseling, and interviews with individuals who knew him personally) present a
man unbroken by all that he had endured and eager to share God's love with others. From
Ciszek's first days back home in the States to his final words before his death, "With God in
America" demonstrates that saintliness isn't primarily about acting heroically in dramatic or
devastating circumstances, but about honoring the ordinary, everyday aspects of life as treasured
gifts from God. Exceptional, extraordinary, inspired and inspiring, "With God in America" is
very highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "With God in
America" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
Love, Loss, and Abjection
Melanie Baffes
Pickwick Publications
c/o Wipf and Stock Publishers
199 West 8th Avenue, Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401-2960
http://wipfandstock.com
9781498284103, $21.00, PB, 156pp, www.amazon.com
An exceptionally well written study, "Love, Loss, and Abjection: The Journey of New Birth in
the Gospel of John" by writer and independent biblical scholar Melanie Baffes (MDiv, Ph.D)
deftly explores the premise that the experience of being "born from above" in John's Gospel can
be seen as mirroring the development of human subjectivity, particularly as understood through
the psychoanalytic work of Julia Kristeva. "Love, Loss, and Abjection" draws specifically on
Kristeva's theory of how the human self/subject takes shape in infancy, her contention that
subjectivity is a work in progress, and her insistence on abjection as a catalyst for developing
selfhood. Examining the story of Mary of Bethany (as narrated in John 11-12) through this lens,
"Love, Loss, and Abjection" provides a thoughtful and thought-provoking analysis that seeks to
better understand the concept of new birth and how it relates to being fully human within a
traditionally Christian context. While very highly recommended for church, seminary, and
academic library Christian Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
clergy and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Love, Loss, and
Abjection" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
Getaway with God
Letitia Suk
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444159, $14.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
We all seem to life hectic and stressed lives with not enough time to experience the intimacy,
grace, and peace that God offers. "Getaway with God: The Everywoman's Guide to Personal
Retreat" by author, speaker, and life coach Letitia Suk does more than invite her readers to step
away from life's pressures to take a personal retreat. It shows them exactly why they must for
their sake and for their family's emotional and spiritual welfare. With grace and warmth,
"Getaway with God" provides step-by-step guidance and the necessary tools to enable any
woman on any budget to plan time away, whether it's a quick, half-day break or a week long time
of restoration. Here detailed are steps for preparation, including descriptions of different kinds of
retreats and how to choose the best one, and ways to bring the renewal thus experience back into
the home. Practical appendixes identify retreat centers nationwide and provide exercises and
prayers to kick-start a getaway with God. Inspired and inspiring, "Getaway with God" is very
highly recommended for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational
affiliations. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Getaway with God" is also
available in a Kindle format ($9.69).
Evangelicalism in America
Randall Balmer
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781481305976, $24.95, HC, 215pp, www.amazon.com
Evangelicalism has left its indelible mark on American history, politics, and culture. It is also
true that currents of American populism and politics have shaped the nature and character of
evangelicalism. This story of evangelicalism in America is thus riddled with paradox. Despite the
fact that evangelicals, perhaps more than any other religious group, have benefitted from the First
Amendment and the separation of church and state, several prominent evangelical leaders over
the past half century have tried to abrogate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. And
despite evangelicalism's legacy of concern for the poor, for women, and for minorities, some
contemporary evangelicals have repudiated their own heritage of compassion and sacrifice
stemming from Jesus' command to love the least of these. In "Evangelicalism in America",
Randall Balmer (the John Phillips Professor in Religion and Chair of the Department of Religion
at Dartmouth College) chronicles the history of evangelicalism, including its origins and
development as well as its diversity and contradictions. Within this lineage Professor Balmer
explores the social varieties and political implications of evangelicalism's inception as well as its
present and paradoxical relationship with American culture and politics. Professor Balmer
debunks some of the cherished myths surrounding this distinctly American movement while also
prophetically speaking about its future contributions to American life. Exceptionally well written,
impressively informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Evangelicalism in
America" is very highly recommended, especially for church, community, and academic library
American History collections in general, and Evangelical Christian History supplemental studies
reading lists in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Evangelicalism in
America" is also available in a Kindle format ($23.70).
Ignatius of Loyola: Legend and Reality
John W. O'Malley, S.J.
Saint Joseph's University Press
5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
9780916101916, $40.00, HC, 149 pages
The Jesuits are known for having an especially close relationship to the papacy. "Ignatius of
Loyola: Legend and Reality" by the preeminent Jesuit church historian John W. O'Malley, S.J.
(who is also the University Professor in the Department of Theology at Georgetown University)
traces that relationship from the earliest days of the Jesuit order until Pope Francis, the first Jesuit
pope. As such, it is the first study in any language to trace this full history and to analyze each
phase of it as it unfolded. It covers, therefore, a history of some 450 years and does so in
relatively few pages. This means that "Ignatius of Loyola: Legend and Reality" moves at a swift
pace that pulls the reader along with it. While "Ignatius of Loyola: Legend and Reality" directly
deals with the Jesuits and the popes, it at the same time leads readers into the larger issues of
church history that determined how the Jesuits and the popes reacted to one another at any given
moment. Enhanced with the inclusion of 19 b/w and color images, "Ignatius of Loyola: Legend
and Reality" is impressively informative and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, making it very highly recommended for personal, community, seminary, and church
library Catholic Church History collections in general, and Jesuit History supplemental studies
reading lists in particular.
All God's Angels
Martin Shannon, CJ
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612617749, $19.99, PB, 120pp, www.amazon.com
Fr. Martin Shannon is an Episcopal priest, liturgist and writer of daily devotional collections,
seasonal studies, and other materials for spiritual formation at his home, the Community of Jesus
on Cape Cod. He holds a PhD in Liturgical Studies from the Catholic University of America. In
"All God's Angels: Loving and Learning from Angelic Messengers" Fr. Martin Shannon pulls
back the veil between heaven and earth with Biblical stories, meditations and sacred art on the
role of heavenly messengers and their work in our lives. Angels are servants of love, doing God's
bidding with a theology of burning love. God seeks out his servants, and once he has our
attention, he draws us closer, long enough for the sparks of his glory to reach us and ignite a
flame in our own souls. This is the work of angels. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "All God's Angels" is very highly recommended and informative reading for all
members of the Christian community and will prove to be an enduringly popular and appreciated
addition to community, church, and academic library Christian Studies collections.
Galatians and the Rhetoric of Crisis
Nina E. Livesey
Marketing Department
Polebridge Press
c/o Westar Institute
P.O. Box 346, Farmington, Minnesota 55024
www.polebridgepress.com
9781598151749, $26.00, PB, 284pp, www.amazon.com
Nina E. Livesey (Ph.D., Southern Methodist University) is Associate Professor of Religious
Studies and Liberal Studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, USA. A specialist in
Jewish-Christian relations and Christian origins with an emphasis on Pauline studies, The
Apostle Paul employed strategies to win over his audiences. At times his desire to oust his
opponents overrode any loyalty he may have felt toward any particular reading of the Jewish
scriptures. Indeed, Paul exhibits no angst over adapting scriptures to suit the needs of his
situation. In "Galatians and the Rhetoric of Crisis: Paul - Demosthenes - Cicero" Professor
Livesy provides a close reading of Paul's letter to the Galatians by drawing upon classicist Cecil
Wooten's "rhetoric of crisis" to compare Paul's strategies to those of his predecessors, the Greek
orator Demosthenes and Roman consul Cicero. A seminal work of truly impressive scholarship,
"Galatians and the Rhetoric of Crisis" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and
thought-provoking. Enhanced with sixty pages of Notes, an eighteen page Bibliography, an
eighteen page Index of Ancient Sources, a four page Index of Modern Authors, and a three page
Index of Rhetorical Terms and Devices, "Galatians and the Rhetoric of Crisis" is unreservedly
recommended for seminary, college, and university library New Testament Theology collections
in general, and Pauline Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Tehillim: Book of Psalms
Rabbi Yosef Marcus
Kehot Publication Society
291 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
9780826602185, $59.95, 696 Gilded Pages, www.kehot.com
Anthologized from hundreds of commentators, classic to obscure, "Tehillim: Book of Psalms
with English Translation & Commentary " by Rabbi Yosef Marcus is a bilingual
(English/Hebrew) body of work will allow Tehillim readers to bring newly-found inspiration and
meaning to their daily, weekly and monthly recitations. Enhanced with erudite and insightful
commentary form the Talmud, Midrash, kabbalah, classic commentators, and Chasidic Masters,
"Tehillim: Book of Psalms with English Translation & Commentary" is an impressively
informed and informative volume that is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it
unreservedly recommended for personal, temple, and academic library Judaic Studies collections
and supplemental studies reading lists.
Rendezvous With God
Rabbi Nathan Laufer
Maggid / Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
c/o Toby Press
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
www.korenpub.com
9781592644551, $27.95, HC, 310pp, www.amazon.com
"Rendezvous With God: Revealing the Meaning of the Jewish Holiday and Their Mysterious
Rituals" by Rabbi Nathan Laufer (Director of the Advanced Institute for Judaic Studies at the San
Diego Jewish Academy) reveals the holidays as never seen before. Rabbi Laufer deftly explores
the seven major Jewish holidays of Passover, Shavuot; Rosh HaShana; Yom Kippur; Sukkot;
Shemini Atzeret, and shabbat in terms of the original events and encounters with God upon
which they are based. "Rendezvous With God" is impressively well researched, written,
organized and presented, making it an ideal, informative, and highly recommended addition to
personal reading lists, as well as temple, community, and academic library Judaism collections in
general, and Jewish High Holy Days supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
The Buddha Journey
Quang Tri
Waldorf Publishing
2140 Hall Johnson Road, #102-345, Grapevine, TX 76051
www.WaldorfPublishing.com
9781944781705, $16.95, 300pp, www.amazon.com
Quang Tri has been practicing meditation since 2002 and Buddhism since 2006. He is a Dharma
teacher and a Truth seeker, teaching others about Buddhism, mindfulness and meditation. As the
writer of the popular website, BuddhaJourney.net, Quang Tri continuously aspires to help
everyone with their path toward Awakening. He is one of the senior members of his temple,
Chua Phuoc Hue, as he trains to ordain as a monk. In "The Buddha Journey" Quang Tri answers
the most commonly asked questions beginning or advancing students of Buddhism would ask.
Essentially, "The Buddha Journey" covers your basic "Buddhism 101" introduction, then answers
over 100 questions about compassion, anger, forgiveness, meditation, impermanence, sex,
karma, death, becoming a Buddhist and more! Quang Tri writes in a simple, easy-to-understand
way that allows the reader to understand the content and contemplate the subject matter on their
own for their own interpretation. While every highly recommended, especially for community,
college, and university library Buddhist Studies collections and supplemental studies lists, it
should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"The Buddha Journey" is also available in a Kindle format ($8.99).
Stars at Dawn
Wendy Garling
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
www.shambhala.com
9781611802658, $18.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
"Stars at Dawn: Forgotten Stories of Women in the Buddha's Life" by Buddhist practitioner,
independent scholar in Sanskrit language and literature, and authorized dharma teacher Wendy
Garling is a retelling of the ancient legends of the women in the Buddha's intimate circle. These
are lesser-known stories drawn from Sanskrit and Pali sources and which are here for the first
time woven into an illuminating, coherent narrative that follows Buddha's life from his birth to
his parinirvana or death. Interspersed with original insights, fresh interpretations, and bold
challenges to the status quo, the stories are both entertaining and thought-provoking, and some
may even appear controversial. Focusing first on laywomen from the time before the Buddha's
enlightenment (his birth mother and stepmother, his co-wives, and members of his harem when
he was known as Prince Siddhartha) then moving on to the Buddha's first female disciples, early
nuns, and to female patrons, "Stars at Dawn" is consistently compelling, impressively
informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. While very highly
recommended for community and academic library Buddhist Studies collections, it should be
noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in the subject that "Stars at Dawn" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.99).
The Self-Help Shelf
The Overwhelmed Brain
Paul Colaianni
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612436395, $14.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Stress, anxiety and negative thoughts are huge obstacles to happiness. We must learn to make
healthy decisions and place our needs first. "The Overwhelmed Brain: Personal Growth for
Critical Thinkers", provides proven methodologies for smarter, actionable ways to: Be true to
yourself; Build positive relationships; Overcome stress and anxiety; Stop self-sabotage; Make
smart decisions; Rise above your fears. Filled with a profusion of tips, anecdotes, exercises and
expert advice from popular life coach and podcaster Paul Colaianni, "The Overwhelmed Brain"
will enable the reader to take control over their emotional well-being and act on their personal
dreams, goals and values. As user friendly in tone, content, organization and presentation as it is
impressively practical, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Overwhelmed
Brain" is especially recommended for community and academic library
Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The
Overwhelmed Brain" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.20).
Awareness
Chris Condon
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
www.balboapress.com
9781504352789, $24.95, HC, 124pp, www.amazon.com
The first time we come to an understanding of who we are as human beings is accompanied a
genuine sense of awe and gratitude. True insight into our personal potential can bring us a special
kind of inner peace, a sort of luminous guidance, and a natural strength to accomplish what we
perceive our purposes to be. In the pages of "Awareness: A Pathway into a Quiet Mind and Open
Heart", licensed professional counselor, meditation teacher and practitioner Chris Condon
provides 52 exceptionally well written, insightful, thoughtful, inspiring little commentaries that
will deepen, clarify, and express the core of our personal awareness. A potentially life changing
read, "Awareness: A Pathway into a Quiet Mind and Open Heart" is especially recommended for
personal Body/Mind/Spirit reading lists and community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement
collections. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, it should be noted that
"Awareness: A Pathway into a Quiet Mind and Open Heart" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781504352765, $11.99) and in a Kindle format ($5.99).
Identity Design
Frank Szymanski
Morgan James Publishing
11815 Fountain Way, Suite 300, Newport News, VA 23606-4448
www.morganjamespublishing.com
9781630475734, $33.95, HC, 222pp, www.amazon.com
Many of us are not happy most of the time, not because we don't have what we think we want,
but because we don't know who we are. "Identity Design" is the research-driven guide to
powerful and generous living for those of us who want more meaning in our lives. The key is to
answer this question: Who do you want to be? In the pages of "Identity Design: Design The
Identity You Need To Get The Life You Want", Frank Szymanski (who is a juvenile court judge
in Detroit who has spent years transforming the lives of young people facing extreme
challenges), draws from his professional experience and expertise to give provide the reader with
the ultimate do-it-yourself manual and guide for designing their identity according to their own
personal aspirations. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Identity Design" is
very highly recommended, especially for community library Self-Help / Self-Improvement
instructional reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Identity
Design" is also available in paperback edition (9781630474355, $17.95) and in a Kindle format
($9.99).
Joyful Living
Amy Leigh Mercree
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738746593, $16.99, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com
Experience joy each day and equip yourself for the ups and downs of life with "Joyful Living:
101 Ways to Transform Your Spirit and Revitalize Your Life" by Amy Leigh Mercree. Offering
a practical roadmap to achieving inner and outer happiness, and using a mindful and balanced
approach, "Joyful Living" presents a hundred and one ways to enliven our spirits and step into
the blissful life desired. Comprised of affirmations, exercises, inspirational stories, and so more,
"Joyful Living" is packed from cover to cover with uplifting entries that are easy to use and can
be enjoyed in any order. Readers will explore a variety of themes ranging from spiritual ecstasy,
to attitudes of gratitude, to creative inspiration. Apply mindfulness techniques and work toward
greater awareness of the present moment with "Joyful Living" anyone can calm their busy life
and focus on the joyful world around them. A handy and easily portable volume deftly organized
and presented for browsing, "Joyful Living" is inspired and inspiring. While recommended for
community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Joyful Living" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Biography Shelf
Not All Sunshine & Sand, revised edition
Paul Rowlands
5m Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781910456309, $24.95, PB, 292pp, www.amazon.com
In this newly revised edition of "Not All Sunshine & Sand: The Tales of a UK-Middle East
Truck Driver", Paul Rowlands takes his readers on a ride through foreign lands in the cab of a
long-haul lorry, while providing an insider's perspective on overland travel. "Not All Sunshine &
Sand" is a tremendous tale in which run-ins with the locals, dramatic encounters with foreign
drivers, and mechanical problems seem the norm for a long-haul lorry driver. "Not All Sunshine
& Sand" is a compelling memoir that takes the reader into Paul's world as a truck driver, initially
around rural Suffolk and the rest of the UK, before embarking on the Middle East run. The
long-distance lorry driver deals with life in the raw, with many hardships and occasional
comforts: difficulties are tempered by the sheer beauty of mountain passes, lakeside stops and the
generous hospitality of the people he meets. Trucking camaraderie has seen Paul through many a
crisis, and he shares the belief that help is always at hand when a fellow driver is facing a
problem. The new edition incorporates 72 photographs taken at the time, many of which have
never been previously published. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Not All
Sunshine & Sand" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Contemporary Biography collections, and will have particular interest for non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the culture and current history of the Middle East.
That Hidden Road: A Memoir
Rocco Versaci
Apprentice House Press
Loyola University Maryland
4501 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210
www.roccoversaci.com
www.apprenticehouse.com
9781627201339, $16.99, PB, 334pp, www.amazon.com
On a Wednesday morning in May of 2010, 42-year-old Rocco Versaci dipped the rear tire of his
bicycle into the Pacific Ocean and began to pedal, alone, across the country. He had what he
thought was a simple idea - to sort out the story of his life, which had taken a couple of
unexpected detours in recent years. "That Hidden Road" is Rocco's personal memoir of the two
months he spent crossing the country by bike. It's a story of burning saddle sores, heart-popping
climbs, and unleashed dogs with a taste for ankle. It's a story of America's less-traveled roads and
the people who live there. And it's a story of rebuilding a life from fragments, the spirit of the
whole journey captured in a question most of us ask at one point or another: Can I find my way
home? Blending travel writing, memoir, and even comics, "That Hidden Road" is engaging,
compelling, unforgettable story of being lost and found on the road in America. While very
highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that Rocco Versaci's "That Hidden Road" is also available in a Kindle
format ($6.29).
Painting Life
Carol K. Walsh
www.ckwalsh.com
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781631520990, $16.95, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com
When Carol Walsh pulled her fiance, dead from a massive heart attack, from the bottom of a
diving well her life was turned upside down. Even though she was a psychotherapist working
with clients suffering from trauma, this personal shock felt unbearable. Nonetheless, she had to
heal herself while supporting clients -- and, as a single mother, her two children. Using the
creative interests she'd developed during childhood in order to emotionally save herself from a
difficult mother, she fully recovered from her grief and PTSD symptoms -- and as she recreated
her personal, artistic, and professional life, she began to thrive. A compelling, intimately
personal, insightful, and ultimately inspirational account, "Painting Life: My Creative Journey
Through Trauma" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Painting Life" is also available in a
Kindle format ($8.69).
Get Back Up
George A. Santino
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
9781626342767, $22.95, HC, 344pp, www.amazon.com
In "Get Back Up: From the Streets to Microsoft Suites", George A. Santino describes his rise
from rags to riches through a series of adventures that begin in Philadelphia's violent Tasker
Street projects where he dodges his alcoholic father's fits of temper, fishes for rats, and sells
tomatoes from the back of a truck. His escapades continue as he opens a sports bar with no walls
in North Tampa, curses out a drill sergeant in Fort Jackson, and battles a hiring manager to get a
job in Menlo Park that he fully intends to turn down. Santino's adventures culminate when he
enjoys a long, successful career with Microsoft, builds a family, loses (and regains) a small
fortune along the way, and triumphs over a freak spinal injury that doctors predicted would
prevent him from ever working again before his thirtieth birthday. Throughout, Santino shares
his perspectives on business and mentorship and stresses, by example, his central lesson: No
matter what life throws at you, get back up. Candid, informative, exceptional, and consistently
engaging, with "Get Back Up" Santino (with the help of M. J. Beaufrand) presents an inherently
fascinating and compelling autobiography that is unreservedly recommended, especially for
community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Get Back Up" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
The Gardening Shelf
100 Plants to Feed the Bees
The Xerces Society
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612128863, $26.95, HC, 240pp
9781612127019, $16.95, PB, 240pp
1612127010, $9.99, Kindle, www.amazon.com
100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators Thrive explores the
various steps anyone can take to grow plants that encourage bee populations, and discusses
native species, balcony gardens, small and large plots, and more. The focus on which plants
provide the most to bee populations offers many specifics for homeowners and landscapers,
while color photos pack a presentation that includes plant distribution maps and at-a-glance
details on which insects are attracted to each flower and plant.
The Quest for Shakespeare's Garden
Roy Strong
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500252246, $19.95, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Sir Roy Strong is an art historian, museum curator, writer, broadcaster, and landscape designer.
He has served as director of both the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert
Museum in London. He is also an honorary fellow of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. His
thoroughly impressive study, "The Quest for Shakespeare's Garden" is published in association
with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and deftly traces the origins of garden history and the
Elizabethan garden, as well as telling the story of the Bard's own garden in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Beautifully presented, the informed and informative text is accompanied by quotations from
Shakespeare's works and 126 lush illustrations of his gardens, past and present, plucked from a
multitude of sources including embroidered Elizabethan clothing and Victorian gardening books,
as well as various gardens around the world. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The
Quest for Shakespeare's Garden" is a visual delight and a consistently compelling read with
Strong's detailed account having been inspired by Shakespeare's works and supplemented by
Francis Bacon's 1625 essay "Of Gardens" which provides Elizabethan-era advice to garden
enthusiasts on such topics as topiary, seasonal gardens, scents, aviaries, and more. Simply stated,
"The Quest for Shakespeare's Garden" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to
personal, community, college, and university library Gardening History collections and
supplemental study reading lists.
The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse
Lindsey Schiller with Marc Plinke
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780865718241 $29.95 pbk / $16.19 Kindle amazon.com
Illustrated with occasional black-and-white diagrams as well as a handful of color photographs,
The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse: How to Design and Build a Net-Zero Energy Greenhouse is
a guide to crafting greenhouses that use energy from the sun to create a naturally heated growing
temperature even in the middle of a cold winter. Chapters cover insulation, ventilation, a variety
of eco-friendly heating and cooling methods, aquaponics and hydroponics, and much more.
"High humidity is often the biggest surprise for first-time greenhouse growers/builders. They
don't plant for it, and often use materials and components not made for humid environments,
which in turn quickly degrade or break." The Year-Round Solar Greenhouse is a "must-have" for
anyone planning to build their own greenhouse, highly recommended.
Grow for Flavor
James Wong
Firefly Books Ltd.
50 Staples Avenue, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada L4B 0A7
9781770856691 $29.95 www.fireflybooks.com
Kew-trained botanist and expert gardener James Wong presents Grow for Flavor, a gardening
guide to dramatically improving the quality of homegrown food. Full-color photography
embellishes this wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for raising and preparing crops ranging
from tomatoes to corn, summer squash, plums, winter radish, even edible weeds such as
dandelions. Of particular note is the "variety guide" that describes the variations of each
showcased harvest (such as "field corn", "sweet corn", "sugar-enhanced" hybrids, and
"supersweet" hybrids for corn). Grow for Flavor is a "must-have" for serious gardeners, highly
recommended!
Miniature Moss Gardens
Megumi Oshima & Hideshi Kimura
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805314357, $19.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Friendly enough for total beginners and full of ideas and tips that experienced gardeners will love
to read about, "Miniature Moss Gardens: Create Your Own Japanese Container Gardens" is the
collaborative work of Bonsai, Kokedama, Terrariums, and Dish Garden experts Megumi Oshima
Hideshi Kimura. "Miniature Moss Gardens" covers: Finding and collecting moss; Cultivation
and maintenance; Choosing soils and other components; Designing your garden for visual effect;
Choosing the best plants for your mini garden; How to make a perfect Kokedama or moss ball;
Enhancing your moss garden with rocks and other elements; How to make a gorgeous terrarium;
and so much more! Of special note is a section on finding moss on city streets, parks and
mountains that opens our eyes to the beauty that's all around use every day! Comprehensive,
beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, organization
and presentation, "Miniature Moss Gardens" will prove to be an outstanding and permanently
popular addition to personal, professional, and community library Gardening instructional
reference collections.
The Cookbook Shelf
Ancient Heritage Cookies
Luane Kohnke
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455621316, $21.95, www.pelicanpub.com
Ancient Heritage Cookies: Gluten-Free, Whole-Grain, and Nut-Flour Treats features thirteen
gluten-free recipes for classic cookies that uses ancient and whole-grain flours as alternatives to
gluten, and is highly recommended for cookie fans who thought their favorites were now
verboten. No light productions, these include dense and flavor-rich cookies such as
Chocolate-Vanilla Malt Cookies, Coconut Oatmeal Lace cookies, Peanut Butter Sandwiches
made with oat flour, and more. The result uses a wide range of flour alternatives in cookies
designed to be both new productions and appealing replacements to those on gluten-free diets.
Color photos abound in a coverage that is wonderfully diverse.
Caribbean Vegan, second edition
Taymer Mason
The Experiment, LLC
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10010
9781615193608, $24.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com
Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion
appears in an expanded second edition that returns to print a classic that first appeared in 2010. In
the years between its initial publication date and today, vegan cuisine has taken off and there are
numerous cookbooks on the market. It's a pleasure to note that Caribbean Vegan still stands out
from the many, many vegan cookbooks currently on the market. The reprint offers full color
photos, adds seventy-five recipes, and continues to rely on the expertise of native Barbadian
Taymer Mason, who introduces newcomers to either Caribbean cuisine or vegan cooking to a
series of methods for making the most of tropical ingredients. From a French Caribbean version
of Creole Ratatouille which includes chaoyote, cucumbers, and hot peppers to a pineapple and
cherry-topped Classic Barbadian Sweet Potato Pie or a pepper Pigeon Pea Rice dish, the color
photos and easy recipes require little in the way of culinary expertise and pack in flavor and
interesting variations on Caribbean themes.
Savor
Amber Locke
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784722340, $16.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Don't through away those perfectly good veggies currently languishing in your refrigerator. Us
the recipes comprising Amber Locke's "Savor" cookbook to transform them into colorful and
spectacularly tasty soups. From a refreshing gazpacho on a late afternoon in August to a chunky,
wholesome stew on a cold winter's night, soup is not just incredibly versatile but is also an easy
way to make the most of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Featuring more than 100 recipes, plus extra
toppings and twists to pimp your soup, and enhanced with beautiful images throughout, "Savor"
will prove to be a thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' source for palate pleasing, appetite
satisfying, nutritious and delicious fare ranging from Creamy Chickpea Soup; Broccoli & Lemon
Soup; Hidden Vegetable Soup; and Coconut Cauliflower Soup; to Black-Eyed Bean Chile Soup;
Root Soup; Blue Spirulina Soup; Strawberry Soup; and Chocolate Puddle Soup. Each individual
recipe begins with a succinct comment on the dish by Amber, serving size estimate, preparation
and serving instructions, and a nutritional tip. A true culinary treasury, "Savor" is very highly
recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Plant Pure Kitchen
Kim Campbell
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781944648343, $19.95, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and showcased by Kim Campbell, "The Plant Pure Kitchen" is a culinary compendium
comprised of 130 beautifully illustrated recipes vegetarian recipes that are as palate pleasing and
appetite satisfying as they are 'kitchen cook friendly' to prepare and serve. These delicious and
nutritious dishes range from Ginger Yeast Bread; Sweet Chili Broccoli Salad; Vegetable Chick
Pea Stew; and Potato Veggie Enchiladas; to Stuffed Acorn Squash; Chopped Sweet and Sour
Brussels Sprouts; Cranberry-Date Relish; Mom's Refrigerated Chocolate Pie; and Pudding Pops.
Delightful to browse and inspiring to plan menus with, "The Plant Pure Kitchen" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
Diabetic Living Healthy Makeovers for Diabetes
Diabetic Living Editors
Better Homes & Gardens
c/o Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544800649, $19.99, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com
Diabetic Living is the number one lifestyle magazine for people living with diabetes, written and
reviewed by experts in diabetes management, as well as people living with diabetes. In "Diabetic
Living Healthy Makeovers for Diabetes: Simple Ways to Transform Your Cooking" the editorial
staff of Diabetic Living has compiled and profusely illustrated compendium of cooking
instructions and recipes specifically for those who are having to deal with diabetes within
themselves or a loved one. The key purpose is to enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to
make favorite dishes even healthier through boosting the fiber intake, reducing carbs by half, and
lowering the sodium content of the meals they prepare. Of special note is the sections devoted to
Remake Your Pantry; Cook Fresh; Restaurant Remakes At Home; and Dessert Transformations.
Enhanced with the inclusion of asix page Recipe Index, and a one page metric conversion chart
for product differences, volume & weight, "Diabetic Living Healthy Makeovers for Diabetes"
will prove to be an enduringly popular and much referred to culinary resource for preparing
palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, diabetes compatible dishes suitable for every and all dining
occasions from simple family meals to elegant celebration occasions. Special note: visit
www.DiabeticLivingOnline.com for more helpful tips and delicious recipes from the folks at
Diabetic Living magazine.
Farm to Table Asian Secrets
Patricia Tanumihardja
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804847230, $15.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Patricia Tanumihardja writes about food, travel and
lifestyle through a multicultural lens and especially enjoys covering topics that converge on food,
history and culture. In the beautifully illustrated pages of "Farm to Table Asian Secrets: Vegan &
Vegetarian Full-Flavored Recipes for Every Season" she draws upon her years of experience and
expertise to compile a culinary wealth of recipes for dishes that are as palate pleasing as they are
appetite satisfying. Nutritious and delicious the offerings range from Golden Fresh Corn Fritters;
Eggplant with Red Pepper-Tomato Sauce; Chinese Mushroom Buns; and Mixed Vegetable
Yellow Curry; to Korean-Style Buffalo Broccoli; Kung Pao Potatoes; Roasted Brussels Sprouts
with Sweet Chili Sauce; and Swiss Chard Brown Rice Sushi Hand Rolls. Of special note is
Patricia's recipes for Gourmet Indonesian peanut Sauce! Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Farm to Table Asian Secrets" will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook
collections!
1,001 Best Slow-Cooker Recipes, second edition
Edited by Sue Spitler with Linda R. Yoakam, MS, RD
Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572842076 $20.99 www.agatepublishing.com
A slow-cooker is a countertop electrical appliance used to simmer foods at a lower temperature
than other methods such as baking or frying. Because they can be left to cook unattended, they
are ideal for cooks who are short on spare time. 1,001 Best Slow-Cooker Recipes, second edition
is packed cover to cover with user-friendly recipes designed especially for slow-cookers, such as
"Creamy Broccoli-Potato Soup", "Steak and Sweet Potato Stew", "Mexi-Beans 'N Greens Stew",
"Pumpkin Ginger Cake Rounds with Warm Rum Sauce", and much more. All recipes include
nutritional facts for calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and diabetic
exchanges. 1,001 Best Slow-Cooker Recipes is a treasury for busy cooks who enjoy hot meals,
highly recommended!
The Malaysian Kitchen
Christina Arokiasamy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544809994, $35.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Christina Arokiasamy was raised in Kuala Lumpur and was Malaysia's first official Food
Ambassador to the U.S. Formerly a chef at various Four Seasons resorts, she now teaches
cooking classes in the Pacific Northwest. In "The Malaysian Kitchen" she draws upon her many
years of experience and expertise to present some 150 authentic recipes that showcase Malaysian
cuisine but which are thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' for even the most novice of America
homemakers. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, the recipes are organized and
presented in sections devoted to: Sambals, Aromatic Pastries, and Dressings; Soups; Salads;
Vegetables; Seafood, Rice and Noodles. Of special note is the inclusion of a nine page Spice
Chart. A pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, "The Malaysian Kitchen"
will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community
library Ethnic Cookbook collections!
The Needlecraft Shelf
Knitting for the Outdoors
Gillian Whalley-Torckler
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811716635, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Nothing beats knitted wool sweaters, hats, gloves, and scarves for keeping a person warm when
going on outdoor adventures. Wool garments are perfect for hiking, biking, climbing, fishing and
any other activity in the outdoors. The 30 Merino Handknitted garments comprising "Knitting for
the Outdoors" are as hard-working as they are fashionable. The patterns range from soft, warm,
light, and breathable hats, to gloves, scarves, and vests for women and men, girls and boys.
Profusely illustrated with step-by-step instructions for each project, "Knitting for the Outdoors" is
thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it ideal for the novice and a
wonderful resource for the experienced. "Knitting for the Outdoors" is Gillian
Whalley-Torckler's second knitting book and very highly recommended for both personal and
community library instructional reference collections.
Every Which Way Crochet Borders
Edie Eckman
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612127408 $18.95 www.storey.com
Spiral-bound for ease of use, Every Which Way Crochet Borders: 139 Patterns for Customized
Edgings lives up to its title and then some. An introductory section is filled with tips, tricks, and
techniques for aspiring crocheters, although the majority of Every Which Way Crochet Borders is
devoted to the patterns themselves, embellished with both color photography and black-and-
white diagrams. A table of attributes, a visual "border directory" displaying all possible creations
on a few pages for ease of browsing, a glossary, and an index round out this excellent needlecraft
resource, highly recommended especially for intermediate to advanced crocheters.
Small and Scrappy
Kathleen Tracy
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604688252, $24.99, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
Kathleen Tracy has been playing with fabric since childhood. She designs patterns inspired by
antique doll quilts for her quilt-kit company, Country Lane Quilts. In "Small and Scrappy:
Pint-Size Patchwork Quilts Using Reproduction Fabrics" she draws upon her experience and
expertise to train even the most novice of needlecrafters how to decorate with charming small
quilts with historic details. Based on traditional patterns, these delightful little patchwork
treasures are perfect additions to scatter throughout the home. With the patterns and instructions
found in the pages of anyone can stitch classic blocks using favorite reproduction fabrics and
create sentimental, handmade treasures that will appreciate every day. Unique and thoroughly
'user friendly' in organization presentation,"Small and Scrappy" is very highly recommended for
personal and community library quilting instruction collections.
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
Pat Sloan's Teach Me to Machine Quilt (9781604688313, $26.99) comes from a popular quilting
teacher whose best-selling titles have taught many how to quilt. This third book in her "Teach
Me" series offers a step-by-step survey of walking-foot and free-motion quilting techniques, and
relies on no prior knowledge, making it a perfect guide for novices to both quilting techniques
and machine operations. Chapters teach new things by featuring small projects, and present
full-page patterns, tips for planning the project and handling the quilt, and an overview of what
and how to quilt. The result is a perfect pick for novices who want to get up to speed by creating
a professional-looking piece. The editors of Martingale's The Big Book of Knit Stitches
(9781604688603, $22.99) packs in over three hundred fifty stitches and takes the form of
good-sized close-up color photos each stitch to accompany step-by-step instructions on how to
create them, row by row. Knitters receive keys to producing cables, lace, ribs, mosaics, different
textures, and more and will find this handbook packed with clear instructions. These are highly
recommended 'must have' references for any needleworker's collection.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Book of Texas Birds
Gary Clark
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623494315, $39.95, www.tamupress.com
Book of Texas Birds comes from a lifetime of studying and watching birds, and chronicles over
four hundred species of Texas birds. Where other books provide regional details, few can claim
that the author has personally seen almost all of them, and few can combine the scientific and
natural history details of them with a wider discussion of each bird's history and habits, all
provided in a chatty voice accessible to non-scientists and lay birders. Lovely photos by Kathy
Adams Clark compliment entries packed with bird information, making this a winning field
guide for newcomers and advanced Texas birders alike.
Beware of the Dog
Pat Miller
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee WA 98801
www.dogwisepublishing.com
9781617811937, $19.95, PB, 196pp, www.amazon.com
Pat Miller is the author of several best selling books on dogs and writes a column for the Whole
Dog Journal. In "Beware of the Dog" she draws upon her years of professional experience and
expertise to provide dog owners with a road map to evaluating, managing and modifying
aggressive behavior in their pet canines. "Beware of the Dog" offers a wide-ranging look at all
types of aggression and the way these troublesome behaviors develop. It explains the latest
protocols for evaluating and dealing with the problems of aggressive dogs from classical
conditioning to operant conditioning, and prescribes management strategies that really work.
Written in an easy-to-understand style that meets the needs of trainers as well as the motivated
dog owner, "Beware of the Dog" will prove to be an indispensable and invaluable instruction
manual that is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. While very highly
recommended for community library Pets/Wild Animal collections in general, and Dog Training
supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Beware
of the Dog" is also available in a Kindle format ($7.96).
The Wrong Dog
David Elliott Cohen
Yellow Pear Press
http://www.yellowpearpress.com
9780997066418, $22.95, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
"The Wrong Dog" by David Elliot Cohen is the heartwarming, often hilarious, true story of
Simba II, a mischievous white Labrador puppy who was brought home by accident. As Simba
grows into an enormous ninety-pound dog with a huge personality, he cements the bond between
two families and enriches their lives in countless ways. When the family moves from San
Francisco to New York, Cohen is charged with bringing Simba to the family's new home, so he
and his best friend, Erick, load the old hound into the back of a station wagon and set out on a
3,300-mile once-in-a-lifetime road trip across America. With stops at Buck Owens' Crystal
Palace; the Las Vegas Strip; Meteor Crater; the Painted Desert; Cadillac Ranch; Winslow,
Arizona; Gallup, New Mexico; Graceland, and other all-American landmarks, "The Wrong Dog"
is an engaging and poignant story that chronicles an epic journey, the unconditional love between
one dog and his family, as well as the vast and benevolent role dogs play in American family life.
Exceptionally well written, consistently engaging, highly entertaining, "The Wrong Dog" is
especially recommended for those with their own canine companion. While certain to be an
enduringly popular addition to community library Pets/Wildlife collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "The Wrong Dog" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.59).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer Patient
Stan Goldberg
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781442266155, $35.00, HC, 212pp, www.amazon.com
At sometime most Americans will have someone in their lives touched by cancer. When that
someone will say to them, "I have cancer," and when these three words are said, they must
struggle with a response. Every year fourteen million people worldwide learn they are living with
or may die from this insidious illness. The uncertainty of cancer causes anxiety in those
diagnosed and feelings of inadequacy in loved ones and friends who want to help. In "Loving,
Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer Patient: A Guide to Communication, Compassion, and
Courage" author Stan Goldberg reveals ways of going beyond the response "I'm so sorry", and
offers practical behaviors that will ease a loved one or friend's journey. These responses can
range from being specific immediately after a diagnosis, to honoring their loved one or friend at
the moment of passing. Based on Stan Goldberg's own cancer journey, thirty years of counseling
and coaching people living with cancer and their loved ones, and as a bedside volunteer in four
hospices over eight years, "Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer Patient" is comprised
of poignant and illustrative accounts of clients and patients, personal reflections, and age-old
stories filled with infinite wisdom. Exceptionally well written, organized, presented, and 'reader
friendly' in tone, commentary, organization presentation, "Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the
Cancer Patient" should be a part of every community library Health/Medicine collection. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer
Patient" is also available in a Kindle format ($19.24). Simply stated, if you or someone you know
is having to deal with a cancer diagnosis -- then read this book..
When an Adult You Love Has ADHD
Russell A. Barkley
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433823084, $19.95, PB, 408pp, www.amazon.com
In "When an Adult You Love Has ADHD: Professional Advice for Parents, Partners, and
Siblings", Dr. Russell Barkley (Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical University of
South Carolina) explains the science behind ADHD and how you can tell if your spouse, partner,
friend, adult child, or sibling may have it. Professor Barkley shows how to guide your loved one
toward the right treatment, and what to do if he or she doesn't want treatment. Adults with
ADHD can be successful, achieve their goals, and live out big dreams -- and anyone with a basic
understanding of this condition can be of practical and effective help by setting boundaries to
manage one's own emotional and financial stress as well. Here presented are practical steps for
helping a loved one accept and manage their disorder, and pursue paths in life where ADHD
might not pose such a big problem. Exceptionally informed and informative, impressively and
accessibly well written, "When an Adult You Love Has ADHD" is unreservedly recommended as
a critically important addition to community and academic library collections. For the personal
lists of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that "When
an Adult You Love Has ADHD" is also available in a Kindle format ($19.95).
Designed to Move
Joan Vernikos
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610352710, $12.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Joan Vernikos is a pioneering medical research scientist who has conducted seminal studies in
space medicine, inactivity physiology, stress and healthy aging. In "Designed to Move" she
reveals her years of experience and expertise as the former director of NASA's Life Sciences
Division, drawing upon decades of scientific research on astronauts to show readers how to use
gravity-based movement to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting and maintain lifelong good
health, thereby providing desk-bound men and women an easy-to-follow movement plan to fight
the debilitating and life-shortening effects of what she terms a pandemic 'sitting disease'. Deftly
written for everyone who spends most of their lives sitting in chairs, "Designed to Move"
provides readers with practical instruction on how they can develop simple new lifestyle habits at
the office and reverse the symptoms of sitting disease and even aging itself, and experience a life
of bountiful health. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic
library Health/Medicine collections, it should be noted for non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "Designed to Move" is also available in a Kindle format ($6.99).
25 Women Who Survived Cancer
Mark Evan Chimsky, editor
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
www.sellerspublishing.com
9781416245841, $16.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Mark Evan Chimsky, "25 Women Who Survived Cancer: Notable
Women Share Inspiring Stories of Hope" is a true and inspiring collection of personal stories
about how to cope with, and prevail over, cancer. In 25 essays, notable women such as Robin
Roberts, Joan Lunden, Fran Drescher, Liz Lange, Barbara Delinsky, Shonda Schilling, Barbara
Padilla, Sylvia McNair, and Marissa Jaret Winokur write with moving candor about how they
faced cancer without letting it define their lives or conquer their spirit. They recall how they
reacted to receiving their diagnosis, how they moved beyond fear to become engaged in their
healing process, and how they dealt with body image and sexuality while undergoing treatment.
Their reflections on what their cancer has taught them and how their lives have been changed by
it are as poignant as they are powerful. This collection includes the experiences of women who
have survived breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Hodgkin Lymphoma, uterine cancer, and malignant
melanoma. "25 Women Who Survived Cancer" is an encouraging, uplifting, and inspiring book
of hope for anyone who has been diagnosed with, or is being treated for, cancer, as well as cancer
survivors and those who are providing support for cancer patients. It is interesting to note that all
royalties from the sale of "25 Women Who Survived Cancer" will be donated to cancer research
and prevention. Simply stated, every community and academic library in the country should have
a copy of "25 Women Who Survived Cancer" on their shelves, and every woman diagnosed with
cancer should give a careful reading to the personal stories comprising "25 Women Who
Survived Cancer".
The Gaming Shelf
Defending at Bridge
Bill Treble
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5M 1H2
www.masterpointpress.com
9781771400367, $16.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Bill Treble is a former bronze medallist in the Canadian Team Championships. Bill and his wife
are both accredited bridge instructors that have taught the game for well over a dozen years. Over
that time they have also hosted play-and-learn sessions and novice games that are an ideal
environment for people to gain more experience after taking bridge lessons. Bill is a two-time
Canadian Open Pairs champion and author of the acclaimed book Getting into the Bidding
(Master Point Press, 9781897106853, $19.95, PB, 224pp). In "Getting Into the Bidding: A
Bridge Toolkit" he draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to present the basics
of defense at bridge in the form of eight short, clearly explained lessons, enhanced with lots of
practical examples. "Defending at Bridge" covers opening leads, signaling, second- and
third-hand play, and discards. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Defending at
Bridge" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
collections.
The Political Science Shelf
The Secret State
Colonel John Hughes-Wilson
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781681773025, $29.95, www.pegasusbooks.com
The Secret State: A History of Intelligence and Espionage is a study of espionage that comes
from a colonel who provides a sweeping history from the classical origins of intelligence work to
modern times in the digital age, providing an in-depth survey of traditional intelligence, the
evolution of information-gathering processes from the Cold War to the cyber environment, and
how political forces around the world fostered new forms of reconnaissance photography,
intelligence gathering, interpretation, and information processing. The Secret State is a powerful
history that asks many hard questions in a wide-ranging survey packed with political, historical,
and social analysis. It's a recommended pick not just for political studies readers; but for any
interested in the intelligence community and its background.
Is Socialist Revolution in the US Possible?
Mary-Alice Waters
Pathfinder Press
PO Box 162767, Atlanta, GA 30321-2767
www.pathfinderpress.com
9781604880908, $10.00, PB, 87pp, www.amazon.com
The answer given by Mary-Alice Waters to the question of whether or not a socialist revolution
can occur within the United States of America" is Yes, it's possible but not inevitable. That future
depends on the American people. The most recent evidence of this possibility is the popularity of
the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign for the presidency. "Is Socialist Revolution in the US
Possible?: A Necessary Debate Among Working People" is a contribution to the growing
discussion among working people everywhere who are looking for a way forward in the face of
sharpening capitalist crisis and spreading wars. Fighting for a society only working people can
create, it is our own capacities we will discover, not the rulers false image of us an image that
reflects their own guilt and fear. Illustrated with photos and featuring a four page index, "Is
Socialist Revolution in the US Possible?" is very highly recommended for both academia and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Saga of Hodge
Jerry Labriola
http://jerrytalks.com
Strong Books
PO Box 1194, Middlebury, CT 06762
9781928782902, $24.95, HC, 312pp, www.jerrylabriola.com
A strange and possibly supernatural entity that calls himself Hodge is targeting people on Earth
for thousands of years, claiming their souls and then, later one, returning them under his
complete control to Earth as different people. They constitute his Army of Drones. But when this
creature experiences the meaning of love he undergoes a transformation as shocking as those he
had ordered for millennia. Who or what is responsible for triggering this change? All this is
intertwined with Dr. Mark Kralin, his friends and associates in a novel that is a blending of
fantasy and mystery. A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "The Saga of Hodge" reveals
author Jerry Labriola to have a genuine flair for deftly crafted interesting characters and then
skillfully embedding them into a consistently compelling story replete with unexpected twists
and surprising turns. "The Saga of Hodge" is one of those all too rare novels that will linger in
the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the
shelf. Certain to be an enduringly popular an unique addition to community library Science
Fiction & Fantasy collections, "The Saga of Hodge" is highly recommended for the personal
reading lists of dedicated fantasy fiction fans.
The Catcher's Trap
Ricardo Henriquez
www.ricardophenriquez.com
Inkshares
99 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
www.inkshares.com
9781942645047, $13.99, PB, 150pp, www.amazon.com
Andres never lived up to his potential. While young, handsome and smart, his life-long struggle
with anxiety turned him into a recluse, afraid to step out of his comfort zone. That is, until the
night he is kidnaped and finds himself seized and transported into an alternate universe and sold
into slavery. "The Catcher's Trap" is all the more impressive when considering it is author
Ricardo Henriquez debut as a fantasy/horror writer and clearly reveals his genuine mastery of the
genre and impressive flair for deftly crafted characters and remarkable storytelling skills. A
consistently compelling and unfailingly entertaining read from cover to cover, "The Catcher's
Trap" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.
It should be noted that "The Catcher's Trap" is also available in a Kindle format ($4.99).
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Fuku Fuku Kitten Tales 2
Konami Kanata
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993636 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Fuku Fuku Kitten Tales 2 is the second black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel)
compilation of short and funny comic stories about the a precocious kitten named Fuku Fuku,
and the patient, elderly woman who has adopted her. Konami Kanata (author of the "Chi's Sweet
Home" series) brings Fuku Fuku's endearing exploits to life, in this heartwarming collection
suitable for all ages. Also highly recommended for cat lovers everywhere is Fuku Fuku Kitten
Tales 1 (9781942993438) and the Chi's Sweet Home series.
To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts 3
MAYBE
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.vertical-inc.com
9781942993643 $10.95 amazon.com
To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts 3 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic
novel) saga set in a fantastic, gothic world suffering the aftermath of a vicious civil war. During
the war, heroic soldiers volunteered to be transformed into Incarnates, or "Sacred Beasts" -
powerful beings resembling mythological monsters, who battled ferociously on the front lines.
But these "Sacred Beasts" were destined to gradually lose their minds and their humanity, and
some now threaten or slaughter the mortal humans they once battled to defend! Nancy Schaal
Bancroft is the daughter of a dragon Incarnate; her quest to take revenge on Hank, the person
who executed her father, took a dramatically different turn once she learned more about
Incarnates and why Hank was hunting them. She became separated from Hank a year ago; now,
the ruthless leader Cain Madhouse and his band of Incarnates have created a rebel nation called
New Patria. Meanwhile, Schaal returns to her childhood home to pay her respects to her father's
grave, and stumbles into a morass of intrigue and bloodshed. Schaal also meets Hank's de facto
successor - the youthful, duty-driven leader of a new military unit tasked with executing all
remaining Incarnates, including Hank himself! Striking artwork is a highlight of this tragic yet
captivating saga. To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of modern
mythological fables and gothic literature, highly recommended.
Ajin Demi-Human 8
Gamon Sakurai
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993476 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Ajin Demi-Human 8 is part of a black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) series set in a
science fiction world where "ajin", or "demi-humans", appear like ordinary humans at first
glance. Demi-humans are immortal, and have the power to summon and control a powerful,
shadowy "other" body. Life is hellish for demi-humans whose identity is discovered; national
governments prize them as immortal guinea pigs, torturing them in endless experiments, and
ordinary people (especially friends and family members!) will sell them to governments for a rich
reward. Kei is a cold-blooded demi-human, who retains just enough empathy to desire a peaceful
life, while the terrorist demi-human Sato is stirring a blood-drenched revolution. Volume 8 pits
Kei against Sato; Kei seeks to trap Sato at any cost, but will Sato take the bait? A suspenseful
saga of criminal masterminds and the brutal ramifications of immortality, Ajin Demi-Human 8 is
highly recommended.
Immortal Hounds 3
Ryo Yasohachi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993612 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Immortal Hounds 3 is the third black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) set in a science-
fiction world eerily similar to our own... except that almost all humans are capable of
immediately resurrecting after death. The exceptions are those infected with RDS, or
Resurrection Deficiency Syndrome, and the "Vectors" from another world who knowingly spread
RDS - essentially acting as mortal serial killers amid a world of immortals! Volume 3 introduces
two new characters: the beautiful, crazed Vector who goes by the name "Snow White", and the
ruthless instructor Karigane. Both women loyally serve the mysterious "Mama", who may or may
not be the mastermind behind the RDS plague. Can Detective Shin'ichi Kenzaki track down and
arrest Snow White before she infects more victims with RDS? Kenzaki's task is further
complicated by the fact that one member of his own department, Rin Kazma, is a mole and an
"Escape Artist" in Mama's employ! An action-packed saga of intrigue, espionage, and betrayal,
Immortal Hounds is recommended for readers age 16+ due to extreme violence (immortals will
resurrect from violent deaths, but not quite everyone is immortal!) and some mature
situations.
Nichijou My Ordinary Life 6
Keiichi Arawi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993650 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Nichijou My Ordinary Life 6 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel)
series of eclectic story vignettes weaving back and forth between the mundane, the surreal, and
grade school life. In volume six, and overly curious teacher seeks to uncover the secrets of a
robot student and the child genius who built her; a legion of fey folk soldiers put their lives on
the line against a destructive intruder; the Go/Soccer club gets serious; and much more! A view
askew comedy suitable for readers of all ages, Nichijou My Ordinary Life is delightful, and
volume six is as good a jumping-on point as any due to the free-spirited vignette nature of the
series.
Jacob Bladders and the State of the Art
Roman Muradov
Uncivilized Books
PO Box 6534, Minneapolis, MN 55406
www.uncivilizedbooks.com
9781941250105, $16.99, HC, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Jacob Bladders is an illustrator and a braggart. He is also the victim of assault by thugs sent by
the mysterious Charlie. "Jacob Bladders and the State of the Art" by Roman Muradove is part
satire of commercial art, part noirish detective story, and part puzzle to be solved by the reader or
simply left in pieces. Roman Muradov's latest graphic novel is an ink-smeared Blakean vision of
1940s New York where Twitter exists as a network of pneumatic tubes, but artwork is still
delivered by hand. A compelling and thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover, "Jacob
Bladders and the State of the Art" is recommended for both community and academic library
collections -- and a 'must' read for all Roman Muradov fans!
The Audiobook Shelf
A Short History of the World
Christopher Lascelles
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781515961888, $19.99, CD, www.amazon.com
In "A Short History of the World", Christopher Lascelles provides an informative and engaging
overview of history beginning with the creation of the universe and the earth down to the present
time and the near term issue of climate change. Easy to follow and assuming little prior
knowledge of past events on the part of the listener, "A Short History of the World" is not a
source for groundbreaking new theories on why things occurred, but rather provides an inherently
interesting and broad overview of the generally accepted version of events so that non-historians
will feel less ignorant when discussing the past. While "A Short History of the World" explores
world history principally covers key people, events, and empires since the dawn of the first
civilizations in and around 3500 BC. Epic in scope but refreshingly concise, "A Short History of
the World" is expertly narrated in this complete and unabridged audio book by Guy Bethell and
very highly recommended for personal, school, and community library audio book collections. 6
CDs, 7.5 Hours.
The Archivist
Martha Cooley, author
Narrated by George Guidall and Suzanne Toren
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781501908989 $TBA www.recordedbooks.com
The Archivist is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a powerful debut novel. Set within an
elite American University, the story follows 65-year-old archivist Matthias Lane, and 35-year-old
graduate student Roberta Spire. Roberta seeks to access to sealed letters within the university's
collection, letters which were written from the renowned British author T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) to
his close friend Emily Hale. Roberta believes these letters hold clues to Eliot's religious
conversion, the suicide of his wife, and more. As the archivist Matthias weighs Roberta's request,
he must consider the striking parallels between Eliot's life and his own. Profound, emotionally
moving, and superbly performed by narrators George Guidall and Suzanne Toren, The Archivist
is highly recommended for both personal and public library audiobook collections. 8 CDs, 10
hours.
Oh! To Be in England
H.E. Bates, author
Read by Philip Franks
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781781980057 $28.98 amazon.com
First published in 1963, Oh! To Be in England is the fourth novel in author H.E. Bates' classic
series beginning with "The Darling Buds of May", and now available in an unabridged
audiobook edition superbly performed by theater actor Philip Franks. In Oh! To Be in England,
all seven of the Larkin children are christened - a complex task, as the twins Zinnia and Petunia
run wild, and the vicar Mr. Candy unexpectedly finds himself the object of Primrose's desire!
When Pop buys a fairground on a whim, things only become more hectic, in this wry, witty, and
wonderful tribute to the English countryside in summertime. As much a treasure today as it was
over fifty years ago, Oh! To Be in England is highly recommended, especially for public library
audiobook collections. 4 CDs, 4 hours 8 min 47 sec.
4 3 2 1: A Novel
Paul Auster
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427282781 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
4 3 2 1: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a fascinating novel (read by author
Paul Auster) on an MP3 CD, a format which can be played on an MP3-CD enabled player or
transferred to portable devices for listening on the go. The story follows the life of Archibald
Isaac Ferguson, born in 1947 New Jersey... only Archibald's life traces four separate yet
simultaneous paths, in four parallel dimensions. Each Ferguson, though genetically the same, has
an entirely different life, loves, friendships, and passions. A masterful interweaving of fate and
free will, 4 3 2 1: A Novel is unforgettable and highly recommended. 3 MP3 CDs, 37 hours. It
should be noted that 4 3 2 1: A Novel is also available in hardcover edition from publisher Henry
Holt (9781627794466, $32.50) and in a Kindle edition ($16.99).
Christy
Linda Lael Miller, author
Rebecca Mitchell, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
$TBA www.recordedbooks.com
Christy is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a historical romance novel in the "The Women
of Primrose Creek" series, set in the rugged Nevada frontier. Christy McQuarry has come from
English finishing school to settle in Primrose Creek along with her younger sister, Megan; both
are destitute after their mother's death. Christy promises her hand in marriage to a local, well-off
lumber baron, and tries to distance herself from the handsome town marshal Zachary Shaw, but
the yearnings of her heart pull her in another direction, and Zachary is determined to prove
himself worthy of her love! Superbly performed by narrator Rebecca Mitchell, Christy is a treat
for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. 4 CDs, 4.25 hours.
Glendalough Fair
James L. Nelson
Tantor Audio
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781515911401, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Spring has come to Ireland, where Thorgrim Night Wolf, new-made Lord of Vik-lo, and the three
hundred Viking warriors under his command have suffered through a brutal winter. Despite
having accomplished much during the months of cold and rain, the patience of the men has worn
thin, and anger and frustration threaten to tear the ships' crews apart. But just as the men are
turning on one another, a local Irish lord arrives with a proposal, a plan for Irish and Norse to
join together in a raid using Ireland's rivers to float their longships far inland. The plan, however,
soon turns into a nightmare of massacre and betrayal, and Thorgrim and his band must fight both
the skilled commander of the local forces as well as enemies in their own camp. It's a fight in
which victory or defeat will mean the difference between riches or death. Expertly narrated by
Shaun Grindell and very highly recommended for personal listening lists and community library
audio book collections, "Glendalough Fair" is the forth volume of James L. Nelson's simply
outstanding action/adventure 'Norsemen Saga' series. 10 CDs, 12 Hours, Unabridged.
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com
Two new audio additions to James Patterson's 'Bookshots Flames' series of original romances are
designed to be listened to in a few hours, offering the opportunity for busy romance enthusiasts
to enjoy quick listens. Elizabeth Hayley's Dazzling (9781478967712, $10.00) tells of a starving
artist and a rich playboy who meet unexpectedly and find their very different lives dovetailing in
unexpected ways. Kristin Kalbli's voice brings to life this encounter and its impact on these two
very different individuals. Jessica Linden's Bodyguard (9781478967859, $10.00) receives a fine
narration by Erin Cottrell, whose clear and solid voice brings to life the story of Abbie, who is
good at her job and always reliable until a congressman enters her life and refutes her suspicion
that his life may be in danger. Two powerful personalities clash: one determined to keep her
charge safe; the other determined to refute any idea of danger. The romance that evolves from
their encounter is satisfyingly intriguing. Both are quick listens and good romances.
The Library CD Shelf
Ethereum
Joseph L. Young
www.josephlyoung.com
Privately Published
$14.99 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
The fourth album of flute master and keyboardist Joseph L. Young, Ethereum is an original
creation of instrumental sound, including the melodies from a vast array of ethnic flutes around
the world. Delightfully far-reaching and inspirational, Ethereum is a treasure for aficionados of
the flute, and connoisseurs of consciousness-expanding music. Highly recommended! The tracks
are "Wavelength" (3:48), "Ethereum" (4:11), "Shimmer" (3:26), "Boundless" (3:27),
"Illumination" (4:39), "Past Lives" (3:17), "Entangled" (4:45), "Drift" (3:43), "Free" (5:27),
"Crystal Sunrise" (3:28), "Flirting with Fireflies" (3:36), and "Sapphire Moon" (4:40).
Paradise Painting
Uwe Gronau
uwegronau.com
Privately Published
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com
German keyboardist and composer Uwe Gronau presents Paradise Painting, an original new age
soundscape that shines with beauty and passion. A dynamic range of musical styles influence
these vibrant instrumental pieces. Paradise Painting is captivating, energetic, and highly
recommended! The tracks are "Paradise Painting" (4:05), "Prophecy" (3:57), "Sounds Like a
Smell" (4:02), "A Passion Play (revisited)" (4:31), "Carpe Diem" (4:59), "Sister" (4:47), "Diving
Into The Deep" (3:30), "New Day" (3:16), "Teguise" (4:07), "Two Worlds" (5:06), "She's So..."
(4:07), "Invisible Man" (2:47), and "End Of A Concert" (3:30).
The Light Within: Ambient Music Mixes
Greg Maroney
www.gregmaroney.com
Privately Published
$10.85 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
The Light Within: Ambient Music Mixes is a beautiful music CD of calming piano music,
although some songs feature the piano more prominently than others. Composer and performer
Greg Maroney explores the digital keyboard as well as the piano, and synths of strings and
ethereal vocals enrich the warm, mellifluous soundscape. The Light Within is perfect for calming
the mind, and highly recommended for ambient music connoisseurs. The tracks are "Reverie"
(6:59), "Time Without End" (7:06), "Waking Dream" (10:05), "Walking With the Moon" (7:31),
"Be at Peace" (5:13), "Walking Toward the Light" (7:38), "Harvest the Night" (7:33), "Letting
Go" (5:06), "The Endless River" (7:59), and "Capture the Wind" (7:49).
Color Tones
John Stein
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
$16.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Color Tones is a music album by jazz guitarist John Stein and his gifted band: drummer Ze
Eduardo Nazario, bassist John Lockwood, Fernando Brandao on flutes, and Phil Grenadier on
trumpets and mutes. Together, they have crafted a marvelously innovative album that explores
the range of jazz from classic to funk to a touch of swing. Color Tones is adventurous,
passionate, and enthusiastically recommended to jazz connoisseurs! The tracks are "The
Commons" (4:52), "Angel Eyes" (6:14), "New Shoes" (4:29), "Five Weeks" (6:03), "Jo Ann"
(4:43), "Neck Road" (3:39), "Labor of Love" (5:34), "Ebb and Flow" (5:48), "Four Corners"
(4:40), "Salt Marsh Dawn" (4:41), and "Wall Stones" (5:43).
The Moonlights
Rachel Loshak and Dean Jones
Privatley Published
$12.99 www.themoonlightsmusic.com
The Moonlights is a family-friendly music album for listeners of all ages, featuring original,
eclectic, and charming songs. The gentle lyrics support soul-stirring music from a diverse variety
of instruments, including guitars, marimba, English horn, records, organ pipes, strings, mbira,
trombone, French horn and bass. The Moonlights is an emotionally uplifting audio experience,
highly recommended! The tracks are "That Light", "Colour of Leaves", "Woodpecker",
"Symphony for Dogs", "Mother and Father", "Seasons", "Early Bird", "City of Trees",
"Starward", "Peaseblossom", "Dream Chasers", "Bake A Cake", "Ah, The Moon", and "Apples
and Pears".
This Day Too: Music From Irish America
With Terence Winch, Michael Winch, and Jesse Winch
Celtic Thunder Music
c/o Free Dirt Records (dist.)
www.freedirt.net
$14.99 terencewinch.com
This Day Too: Music from Irish America is an album of both traditional and original songs from
Irish-American performers, featuring Terence Winch (an acclaimed poet whose work has been
featured on Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac" radio program), Michael Winch, Jesse
Winch, and others from the traditional music community. The songs range in flavor from
exuberant comedy to polka, jigs, reels, and heartfelt tributes. This Day Too is a treasure for
connoisseurs of Irish music, highly recommended! Thet racks are "Johnny O'Leary's / Kilcummin
Lasses / The Ballyvaughan Polka" (4:19), "Lannister's Ball (Game of Thrones Song)" (3:11),
"Lally's Alley / Cat's Tail & Gravy" (5:07), "Nelly, My Love, and Me" (3:45), "Earl's Chair / The
Green Groves of Erin / Sailor on the Rock" (4:49), "Childhood Ground" (5:07), "Tommy
Mulhair's / Finish It Up / Boys of the Town" (4:49), "Cahercrea / The Ring Finger" (3:09),
"Welcome Home" (3:14), "The Wonder Hornpipe / Austin Tierney's / The Thunder Reel" (5:07),
"Sinning " (2:13), "The Blooming Meadows / The Monaghan Jig" (3:38), "This Day Too" (4:17),
"In Memory of Michael Coleman / Hughie's Cap / Forget Me Not" (5:19), and "The Homes of
Donegal" (4:14).
Waiting for Eldridge
David Messier
http://davidmessier.com
Privately Published
$9.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
The debut solo album of multi-instrumental rock-Americana music artist David Messier, Waiting
for Eldridge is titled in homage to the person who inspired Messier to perform after a hiatus of
several years. Original songs feature Messier's gritty, candid voice as well as mariba and bari
saxophone to enrich the acoustic and electric guitar. The result is a striking, standout soundscape,
sure to be a choice pick for fans of the genre! The tracks are "Don't Say Nothin'", "Keeping Up
With Fashion", "Change", "Shoot to Kill", "Last Letter", "Franklin's Key", "Down",
"Whispering", "Everything Breaks My Heart", and "Christmas in Washington".
K'e Hasin - Kinship and Hope
Radmilla Cody
Canyon Records Productions
1761 West University Drive, Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85281-3220
$14.98 www.canyonrecords.com
K'e Hasin (which translates to "Kinship and Hope") is a music album of 12 original songs by
Grammy nominee Radmilla Cody. All songs are composed in the style of traditional Navajo
music and performed in the Navajo language. Navajo and English lyrics for each song are present
in the liner notes. The songs celebrate the foundational concepts of kinship and community, and
of the connections between all living things. As the liner notes say, "K'e encompasses love, hope,
compassion, strength, and is inclusive all people regardless of race, gender orientation, class, and
belief." Bold, beautiful and uplifting, K'e Hasin is highly recommended especially for collections
of Native American music. The tracks are "A Woman's Journey", "The New Born, New Arrival",
"Kinship Honor", "The Four Essential Elements", "PT Cruiser", "My Child, My Baby",
"Leadership Song", "Blue Bird Song", "Don't Be A Litter Bug", "Grandchild", "Red Ochre Cheek
Clan", "Walking Through Life", and "Mother's Words". 50 min. 31 sec.
The Library DVD Shelf
A Light Beneath Their Feet
Starring Madison Davenport and Taryn Manning
Monterey Media Inc.
125 Auburn Court #220, Westlake Village CA 91362
$26.95 www.montereymedia.com
A Light Beneath Their Feet is a powerful, emotionally moving movie about the struggles of a
loving yet dysfunctional family. As a young mother with bipolar disorder steels herself for fast-
approaching day when her daughter leaves for college, the daughter is torn between going to a
local school where she can stay close to her unstable parent, or pursuing her dreams at a more
prestigious yet faraway college. Complex human relationships and hard choices with no easy
answers define this unforgettable story, highly recommended. A Light Beneath Their Feet is rated
R due to some scenes of teenage sexuality and drug use. 90 min.
A Beautiful Now
A film by Daniela Amavia
Monterey Media Inc.
125 Auburn Court #220, Westlake Village CA 91362
$26.95 www.montereymedia.com
Available in both digital and DVD formats, A Beautiful Now is a striking, dramatic film about
the reunion of five friends, in an effort to save a Romy (played by Abigail Spencer), a woman
who was once a close member of their group. Romy has barricaded herself in the bathroom, and
struggles to keep her mind from fracturing by reviewing the pieces and shards of her life. The
essential question of A Beautiful Now is, "If your life flashed before your eyes - would you like
what you see?" Thought-provoking and intense, A Beautiful Now is highly recommended. A
Beautiful Now is rated R due to language, sexual material, and a brief, violent image. 99
min.
The Level
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Level is a tense British drama about a woman with loyalties on both sides of the law.
Detective Sergeant Nancy Devlin (played by Karla Crome) is a cop with a secret - she cares
deeply about drug trafficker Frank Le Saux (played by Philip Glenister), who is like a father to
her. But then disaster strikes, leaving Frank dead and Nancy with a bullet wound. Now Nancy
must work with her cryptic new partner, DS Gunner Martin (played by Noel Clarke) to track
down Frank's killer, while concealing her own involvement and her injury! A suspenseful and
fascinating web of intrigue, The Level is a "must-see" for connoisseurs of the genre, highly
recommended for mature audiences (due to the presence of violence, strong language, and sexual
situations). Bonus materials include a 54 min. behind-the scenes featurette. 6 episodes on 2
DVDs, 288 min. plus bonus, widescreen.
The Code Season 2
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Code Season 2 presents six new episodes of the award-winning Australian political thriller.
Hacker Jesse Banks (played by Ashley Zuckerman) and his journalist brother (played by Dan
Spielman) still feel aftershocks from their efforts to expose corrupt officials. Both are at risk for
extradition to the US on serious criminal charges - but Australian government needs their skills
to shut down an online seller of illegal weapons and drugs. Their explorations of the dark world
of illicit online commerce could have potentially deadly repercussions, in this edge-of-seat
suspenseful drama. Bonus material includes 28 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes. The
Code Season 2 is highly recommended for older teen and adult viewers due to coarse language,
violence, and sexual situations. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 350 min., SDH subtitles,
widescreen.
Mountain
A film by Yaelle Kayam
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$19.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Mountain is a powerful movie about a married Orthodox Jewish woman with four children, who
lives on the edge of a Jerusalem cemetery on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. Her husband has
lost interest in her and their children, ignoring her wishes and working long hours. During walks
in the cemetery to clear her head, she stumbles across a group of people that regularly engages in
sex and drugs on sacred ground. She tries to balance her fascination with this illicit other world
and her devout everyday life... for as long as she can. Mountain is thoughtful, provocative,
troubling, and highly recommended. 81 min.
The Poetry Shelf
Love Poems
Edited by Max Morris
Summersdale Publishers
www.summersdale.com
c/o Independent Publishers Group (dist.)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9781849538046 $9.95 hc / $8.99 Kindle amazon.com
Love Poems is a pocket-sized treasure trove of selected love poems from classic authors
throughout history. A delight to browse, or an inspiration for crafting poetry of one's own, Love
Poems is highly recommended! It should be noted for personal reading lists that Love Poems is
also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99). "Come here, my love, the crown of my home- /
Walking so tall, so slender, like a cypress, / With your black hair falling to your feet, / With
brows like a tightened bow; / Wish a mouth too small for two almonds / And cheeks red like the
apples of autumn- / My woman, my lady, my love. -Turkish Tribal Chieftain."
Love Bites
Barbara Garro
Cambridge Books
c/o Write Words, Inc.
www.BarbaraGarro.com
9781618363909, $19.95, PB, 182pp, www.amazon.com
When her mother died at an early age, Barbara Garro (now in her eighth decade) became
powerfully propelled into poetry. Poem after poem, flows through her as she shares the spirit of a
lifetime in innermost love thoughts, fears and dreams. Her debut collection of some of her best
work, "Love Bites" showcases this lifelong author's genuine flair for deftly crafted verse. Barbara
thinks of her poetry as her heart exploding with feelings that she dresses in words, dancing them
into poems. Since her mom's death opened the floodgates, after "Remembering Mother" was
published in The Maple Shade Progress, the poems kept coming, 998 and counting. Each holds
her heart inside the lines. Barbara's hope is that her heart connects with yours as she shares her
soft and hard feelings of love in "Love Bites". While highly recommended community and
academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections, it should be noted for the personal
reading lists of poetry enthusiasts that "Love Bites" is also available in a Kindle format ($6.50).
Monkey Bread Love: Again, like monkey bread / I'm feeling torn apart. / Again, my time with a
man / has taken me piece by piece. / Again, I am left all eaten up.
Run the Red Lights
Ed Skoog
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.coppercanyonpress.org
9781556595035, $16.00, PB, 96pp, www.amazon.com
"Run the red lights" were the last words the musician Alex Chilton spoke to his wife on the way
to the hospital. In Ed Skoog's new compendium of free verse, the poems are running all the
lights, the way that talking casually runs and flows over itself and intertwines with what others
are saying. These plainspoken poems rediscover the relationship between talking and thinking, as
they weave among enthusiastic jags about sex and love, theater, music, New Orleans, numbness,
ghosts, wolves, history, violence, rescue, art, marriage, mothers, fathers, and children.
Showcasing Ed Skoog's genuine flair using the English language as the elements of a verbal art
form that fully engages the reader's mind and imagination, "Run the Red Lights" is exceptional
and highly recommended addition to community and academic library Contemporary American
Poetry collections. For the personal reading lists of dedicated poetry enthusiasts it should be
noted that "Run the Red Lights" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.99).
The Civil War Shelf
Where Liberty Dwells, There Is My Country
Suzanne Meredith
Heritage Books
5810 Ruatan St., Berwyn Heights, Maryland 20740
www.heritagebooks.com
9780788457289 $28.00 amazon.com
Where Liberty Dwells, There Is My Country collects letters written by American citizens on both
sides of the Civil War, from 1861 through 1865. Here are testimonies of farmers desperate for
workers, villages trying to meet draft quotas, and the anguish of people who do not know
whether their loved ones are dead or alive on the battlefield. Vintage black-and-white
photographs and relevant news articles interspersed with written testimonies round out this vivid
primary source, highly recommended for historians, researchers, and both public and college
library Civil War shelves. "Decoration Day was originated after the American Civil War when
the Grand Army of the Republic set the date aside as a time for the nation to decorate the graves
of the war dead. The last Monday May is now known as Memorial Day and is a federal holiday.
In the early part of the 1900's postcards such as the one above were sent to friends and relatives
to honor the day of remembrance."
With A True God Bless: Civil War Letters
Suzanne Meredith
Heritage Books
5810 Ruatan Street, Berwyn Heights, Maryland 20740
www.heritagebooks.com
9780788444715, $18.50, PB, 130pp, www.amazon.com
History is personal, but never more so than in the pages of "With A True God Bless: Civil War
Letters" which is comprised of letters written by participants in the American Civil War to and
from their loved ones at home. The heartfelt words from forgotten patriots, both men and women
speak of love, homesickness, primal fear and incredible pain. Intimate thoughts are expressed by
people who lived and died during the American Civil War, an era of national division. In each
letter a common factor is evident -- faith. Belief in preserving a united America, and belief in a
higher power are conveyed in simple powerful words. These elusive memories offer readers a
different view of history-communications from yesterday that evoke a need to create a better
tomorrow. Each individual letter is part of a valuable archive of information recounting a
difficult period of American history. Compiled by Suzanne Meredith "With A True God Bless:
Civil War Letters" is enhanced with the inclusion of excerpts from official reports and relevant
news accounts, facsimile reprints of vintage photographs and original documents, a glossary,
maps and a time line. "With A True God Bless: Civil War Letters" is unreservedly recommended
reading for Civil War history buffs and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to
community and academic library 19th Century American History collections in general, and
American Civil War supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Travel Shelf
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2017
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781786571151, $14.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
This 12th edition is created by the men and women of Lonely Planet Publications and showcases
some of the very best places drawn from around the world in which to vacation and enjoy. This is
a profusely and beautifully illustrated compendium of destinations that offer new things for
travelers to see or do, including those which are typically overlooked and underrated. "Lonely
Planet's Best in Travel 2017" showcases 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities that travelers
should earnestly consider visiting in the year ahead. Each destination is chosen for its topicality,
unique experiences and 'wow' factor. "Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2017" includes along with
the world's best-value destinations, the most exciting family adventures to enjoy and the most
incredible places to stay. Readers will discover just what makes these destinations fantastic
places to see right now and what the unique experiences they offer. The suggested itineraries and
practical information are specifically designed to help plan a truly dream trip happen whether on
your own or with a group. While very highly recommended for community library Travel Guide
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lonely Planet's Best in Travel
2017" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.03).
365 Things to Do in Ithaca New York
Laurel Guy
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764352577 $24.99 amazon.com
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photography on every page, 365 Things to Do in Ithaca
New York: Complete Insider's Guide to All Things Ithaca is a superb traveler's or vacationer's
guide. Suggested activities range from recommended museums, to the Seneca Lake wine trail for
aficionados of fine wine, to learning from small classes at Finger Lakes Cooking School and
much more. A "must-read" for anyone planning a visit to Ithaca, New York!
The Architecture Shelf
Making it Modern
Aaron Betsky
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
http://actar.com
9781940291154, $34.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Aaron Betsky is a critic, curator, educator, lecturer, and writer on architecture and design, who
since August 2006 has been the director of the Cincinnati Art Museum. In "Making it Modern:
The History of Modernism in Architecture of Design" she draws upon her many years of
experience and expertise to provide an impressively informed and informative study. At its root,
modernism is that fundamental. It is a question of having something to represent that is of the
moment. In the most radical interpretation, modernism always comes too late. The modern is that
which is always new, which is to say, always changing and already old by the time it has
appeared. Modernism is always a retrospective act, one of documenting or trying to catch what
has already appeared - an attempt to fix life as it is being lived. Modernity is just the very fact
that we as human beings are continually remaking the world around us through our actions, and
are doing so consciously. Modernism is a monument to or memory of that act, which in its own
making tries to remake the world it is pretending to represent. An illustrated and exceptionally
thoughtful and insightful study that is particularly well organized and presented, "Making it
Modern" is very highly recommended for professional and academic History of Architecture
collections in general, and Contemporary Architectural supplemental studies reading lists in
particular.
A Whole-System Approach to High-Performance Green Buildings
David Strong & Victoria Burrows
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781608079599, $139.00, HC, 292pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of David Strong (who is currently a Director of David Strong Consulting
and a visiting professor at the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development) and Victoria
Burrows (who is currently the head of sustainability for a major international contractor. Her
work as a consultant in sustainable development and green building rating systems has spanned
across several continents, industries, and perspectives of the development process), "A
Whole-System Approach to High-Performance Green Buildings" is authoritative new resource
that provides architects and architectural students with a comprehensive review of the current
approaches to the design and construction of sustainable buildings. "A Whole-System Approach
to High-Performance Green Buildings" is hand-on guide that features global case studies with
practical examples of both successful and unsuccessful designs. Of special note are the
commentaries on energy efficiency, design, and computer modeling. Exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, "A Whole-System Approach to High-Performance Green Buildings" is
unreservedly recommended, especially for college and university Architectural Studies
collections and supplemental architectural curriculum lists.
Caza: 2011-2015
Carlos Arnaiz, author
Kristin Kearns, editor
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
http://actar.com
9780692249994, $39.95, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Carlos Arnaiz is an architect, educator and writer. He is the founder and principal of CAZA, the
co-founder of SURBA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture
& Urban Design at Pratt Institute where he teaches a class on the history of ideas about the city, a
studio on multi-family housing and a seminar on beauty in contemporary architecture. His newest
publication, "CAZA: 2011-15", is the inaugural monograph of the Brooklyn-based design studio
CAZA, and celebrates the first five years of the firm, and includes photographs, drawings,
building descriptions, essays, and conversations that relate to CAZA's global architecture and
design practice. It is particular notable that "Caza: 2011-2015" opens with a photo essay by
world-renowned photographer Iwan Baan, who documented CAZA's first internationally
acclaimed project, the 100 Walls Church, in Cebu City, Philippines. An impressively informed
and informative read, "Caza: 2011-2015" is an important and very highly recommended addition
to professional and academic library Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental
studies reading lists.
The Sports Shelf
Yoga for Athletes
Ryanne Cunningham
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492522614, $21.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Today's top athletes from every sport know the benefits of yoga. It's why so many have made it
an essential component in their training and conditioning programs. Now with "Yoga for
Athletes" by Ryanne Cunningham (who has worked with some of the top names in sports)
anyone can as well. She's helped keep some of the toughest NFL players on the field, and top
endurance athletes run longer and stronger. Her step-by-step instruction, expert advice, and pose
variations focus on active muscles and movements across a range of sports including: football,
soccer, running, swimming, cycling, tennis, golf, baseball, softball, basketball, and more. "Yoga
for Athletes" is unreservedly recommended for amateurs aspiring to improve their athletic
performance, to professionals seeking to win their competitions and games. An unreservedly
commended addition to community, sports club, and academic library collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Yoga for Athletes" is also available in a Kindle format
($13.17).
The Money/Finance Shelf
Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide, 13th edition
Stephen Fishman, J.D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413323313 $39.99 pbk /$23.99 Kindle amazon.com
Now in a 13th edition updated and revised to cover tax rules for Airbnb-type rentals, Every
Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide lives up to its title with practical information and invaluable
advice. Chapters walk the reader through how to deduct operating expenses, the basics of
depreciation, the home office deduction, hiring help, casualty and theft losses, necessary record-
keeping systems, and much more. An index and access to publisher Nolo's website filled with
useful legal forms, profiles of landlord-tenant and tax lawyers in one's area, and more round out
this absolute "must-have" for all real estate owners.
The Automotive Shelf
The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run
Roy Dodsworth
Old Pond Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781910456507, $32.95, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Every year on the first Sunday in August, hundreds of spectators gather to see one of the greatest
displays of historic commercial vehicles. First organized in 1969, the Trans Pennine Run attracts
an annual entry of around 200 vehicles from all over the UK. The event starts at Birch Services
on the M62 at Manchester and runs for 64 miles via Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford, taking in
some of the finest Yorkshire scenery along the way. At the famous Harrogate Stray, vehicles are
displayed to the public. Avid photographer, Roy Dodsworth has been following the event since
the late 1990s and has a collection of over 3,000 images taken there. "The Trucks of the Trans
Pennine Run: A Photographic History" showcases 262 of Roy's favorite truck photos, each one of
which includes a bit of history about each of the vehicles -- many of which have been restored to
their original livery. "The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run" is a must-have for any driver who
has ever participated in the run. Current and former truckers and anyone else with an interest in
automotive and transport history will all enjoy being reminded of these beautiful old vehicles.
Exceptional, informative, and a pure pleasure to simply browse through, "The Trucks of the
Trans Pennine Run" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both
community and academic library Automotive History collections and supplemental studies
lists.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Miracle of Mindfulness
Thich Nhat Hanh
Beacon Press
24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210
9780807064900, $20.00, www.beacon.org
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation provides a basic,
classic guide to the practice and comes from a Zen Master who pairs anecdotes with exercises
designed to encourage an understanding and experience of mindfulness. This is crafted into a gift
edition which features his calligraphy, photos from his world travels, and a revised afterword,
along with considerations of why people should meditate, problems with meditating, and how to
interpret and apply its results. Anyone interested in basic meditation will find this a compelling
survey.
Voices in the Stones
Kent Nerburn
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608683901, $16.00, www.newworldlibrary.com
Voices in the Stones: Life Lessons from the Native Way presents a collection of Kent Nerburn's
spiritual experiences and reflections and comes from a writer who has lived and worked among
Native American people. While his discussion is also recommended for Native American
holdings, it's reviewed here because new age thinkers will find his stories hold many spiritual
insights and reflections key to both Native American life and how everyone can lead a more
humane, aware existence. The reflections offer cultural and spiritual insights for a wide audience
and are highly recommended reflections on the Native way of seeing the world.
Cannabis and Spirituality
Stephen Gray, Editor
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620555835, $16.95, www.parkstpress.com
Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally describes how
cannabis is used for spirituality, and comes from the editor and seventeen other participants in
the modern cannabis movement who consider the spiritual qualities of using cannabis. From
dosage and strains to methods of intake and how to experience and process the spiritual
revelations that result from cannabis usage, Cannabis and Spirituality provides a powerful survey
relating the herb to arrange of spiritual practices and experiences and is a 'must' for any new age
spirituality collection.
The Little Book of Dream Symbols
Jacqueline Towers
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781571747587 $14.95 pbk / $14.20 Kindle amazon.com
The Little Book of Dream Symbols is an easy-to-use reference guide to things that often appear
in dreams. Arranged with entries in alphabetical order like a dictionary, The Little Book of
Dream Symbols is an excellent guide for anyone seeking to learn more about dream
interpretation, or better understand their own dreams. Highly recommended! "Moth: If you
attempt to catch a moth in your dream, you are being warned of hidden jealousy around you. If
you catch the moth and destroy it, you will triumph over your enemies. Moth holes in clothing
signify disappointment and sadness."
The Photography Shelf
The Noise of Ice: Antarctica
Enzo Barracco
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946566, $50.00, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com
When the photographer Enzo Barracco decided to mount a photographic expedition to
Antarctica, inspired by the example of Sir Ernest Shackleton, he had much more than simple cold
to contend with. As the world's last empty continent, the snowy lands of the South Pole are a
challenge for the most seasoned explorer, with their merciless winds, treacherous seas and vast
sheets of ice. Even to arrive on the continent itself involves a perilous journey by sea from
southern Argentina through the notoriously rough Drake Passage. "The Noise of Ice: Antarctica"
photographically explores what drove Barracco to embark on his journey, and tells the story of
the expedition in words and astonishing photographs, all of them captured during the trip and
many obtained in hazardous conditions. In his gripping text, Barracco explains how even his
journey to Antarctica itself was undertaken with the essential help of an ice pilot, to spot and
avoid icebergs that ship's radar can miss. He tells of how the waves on that first journey threw
him to the deck and brought home how hostile such an environment is, and of his constant battle
to protect his photographic equipment and all-important memory cards from the extreme cold.
Most importantly, he explains that in capturing these beautiful landscapes, his intention is to
remind us all of the precarious position in which this part of the world finds itself. Informative
and visually impressive from cover to cover, as well as having special interest for students of
photography and for armchair travelers with an interest in the Antarctic, "The Noise of Ice:
Antarctica" is very highly recommended, especially for community, college, and university
library collections.
The American History Shelf
Madam President
William Hazelgrove
Regnery History
c/o Regnery Publishing, Inc.
300 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781621574750, $26.99, www.regnery.com
Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson tells of the unofficial role First Lady
Edith Wilson assumed after President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1919.
Her handling of daily affairs of her times was important to note because Edith had little formal
education, had only been married four years to Wilson, and dedicated herself to managing all of
his affairs. This biography documents her duties, achievements, and the understated role she took
in helping lead the country, and is especially recommended for political history and women's
history collections.
The World History Shelf
The Wisdom of the Middle Ages
Michael K. Kellogg
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633882133, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Wisdom of the Middle Ages surveys important Middle Ages documents and works and
gathers medieval philosophy and insights from a range of works, from stories and memoirs to
letters and epic tales. While one might expect this collection to appeal to scholarly audiences,
what is less expected is a tone and approach that assumes no prior historical background in the
Middle Ages and which seeks to provide lay readers with a lively discussion that moves from
literary analysis to historical and philosophical insights. The result is a survey that will interest
both history audiences and college-level students of Middle Ages culture and experiences.
Battle Royal
Hugh Bicheno
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681773063 $27.95 hc / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com
Thoroughly accessible to historians and lay readers alike, Battle Royal: The Wars of the Roses:
1440-1462 is the first of a two-volume, in-depth history of the Wars of the Roses, a violent series
of dynastic wars fought between the houses of Lancaster and York in 1400's England. This
turbulent, brutal struggle for power made a lasting mark on history, and is at once both
fascinating and horrifying to learn about. Maps, a handful of color plates, and an index round out
this superb reference and resource, highly recommended for public and college library collections
as well as for personal reading lists and self-study.
A Voyage to New Holland and Round the World
Captain James Colnett RN, author
G. A. Mawer, editor
Rosenberg Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781925078893, $22.50, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
No mariner knew the wide Pacific better than James Colnett, RN. He had sailed with Cook; he
had filibustered in the north-west Pacific fur trade (nearly starting a war with Spain in the
process); he had made a whaling reconnaissance to the Galapagos Islands. On his last voyage, the
journal of which is published here as "A Voyage to New Holland and Round the World" for the
first time, he took convicts to Sydney Cove in 1802-03 on HMS Glatton and returned with
shipbuilding timber. Although the journal is an important record of a short-lived experiment
using warships as convict transports, its wider interest lies in Colnett's observations on New
South Wales as he found it in 1803. Sensitive to criticism but with unconventionally liberal
views about the administration of justice, he is probably unique in his inability to discern any
redeeming feature in Sydney, not even its harbor. In fact he believed New Zealand a better
prospect for a colony in the region. However, his description of New South Wales as mutinous
was prophetic, but that did not translate into support for Governor King in his struggle to control
the officers of the New South Wales Corps. To the contrary, Colnett was instrumental in having
Governor King recalled. Ironically, King was replaced by a man who already had a bad record
with mutineers: the infamous Captain Bligh of the Bounty would become Governor Bligh of the
Rum Rebellion. Edited with commentary by independent historian Granville Allen Mawer, "A
Voyage to New Holland and Round the World" is an extraordinary and inherently fascinating
account that is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library
Maritime History & Australian History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Prehistory of the Crusades
Burnam W. Reynolds
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781441155603, $108.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
There is a vigorous scholarly debate on the exact beginnings of the Crusades, as well as a
growing conviction that some practices of crusading may have been in existence, at least in part,
long before they were identified as such. "The Prehistory of the Crusades: Missionary War and
the Baltic Crusades" by Burnam W. Reynold ( Professor of History at Asbury University,
Wilmore, Kentucky) explores how the Crusades came to be seen as the use of aggressive warfare
to Christianize pagan lands and peoples. Professor Reynolds focuses on the Baltic, or Northern,
Crusades, an aspect of the Crusades that has been little documented, thus bringing a new
perspective to their historical and ideological origins. The Baltic Crusades were distinctive
because they were not directed at the Holy Land, and they were not against Muslim opponents,
but rather against pagan peoples. From the Emperor Charlemagne's wars against the Saxons in
the 8th and 9th centuries to the Baltic Crusades of the 12th century,"The Prehistory of the
Crusades" deftly explores the sanctification of war in creating the ideal of crusade. In so doing, it
shows how crusading ultimately developed in the 12th and 13th centuries. Exceptionally well
researched, organized and presented, "The Prehistory of the Crusades" is a thoroughly 'reader
friendly' study that provides a valuable insight into the topic for students of medieval history and
the Crusades. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library World
History collections, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "The Prehistory of the Crusades" is also available in a paperback
edition (9781441143891, $29.95), and in a Kindle format ($23.79).
The Literary Studies Shelf
Arthur and Sherlock
Michael Sims
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781632860392 $27.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Arthur and Sherlock: Conan Doyle and the Creation of Holmes examines how physician and
world-famous British author Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) came to create Sherlock Holmes,
one of the most memorable figures in literary history, and practically define the detective story
genre. Author Michael Sims examines Doyle's youth in Edinburgh, where he lived amid poverty
and violence, as well as his university studies and medical practice. Drawing connections
between the adventures in Doyle's professional life and the life of Doyle's cherished character,
Arthur and Sherlock will prove fascinating to Sherlock Holmes connoisseurs, and is a "must" for
public and college library Literary Studies collections. Highly recommended.
Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture
David Lemmo
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476666952, $29.95, PB, 236pp, www.amazon.com
David Lemmo is a veteran of three decades in the antiquarian books business. Some of his
specialties included Edgar Rice Burroughs, pop culture, and comic books. In 2011, he helped
create the North Coast Mangani, a chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles. In "Tarzan, Jungle
King of Popular Culture" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to provide an
extraordinarily informed and informative literary analysis of Edgar Rice Burrough's arguably
most important singular contribution to 20th Century American popular culture. From his first
appearance in 1912, Tarzan became a multimedia franchise whose cultural influence extended
well beyond mere entertainment. The original 20th century superhero, the Lord of the Apes was
the inspiration behind such early archetypes as The Shadow and Doc Savage, themselves the
basis for heroes like Batman and Superman. Long before Comic-Cons and Trekkies, the first
Tarzan fan club was formed in America in 1916, pioneering the fandom movement that pervades
modern pop culture. "Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture" deftly examines Tarzan in his
various media representations (hunter, warrior, secret agent, fighter of communists and Nazis)
and in his numerous story arcs, including crossover adventures featuring historical characters like
Arthur Conan Doyle and Nikola Tesla. A 'must' for the legions of Burroughs fans, "Tarzan,
Jungle King of Popular Culture" is highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as
community and academic library 20th Century American Literature & Popular Culture
collections. It should be noted that "Tarzan, Jungle King of Popular Culture" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($17.99).
The Poetry of Everyday Life
Steve Zeitlin
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
9781501702358, $26.00, HC, 280pp, www.amazon.com
"The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness" by Steve Zeitlin (American
folk culture expert and the founding director of the nonprofit cultural center City Lore) is
essential a book of encounters. Part memoir, part essay, and partly a guide to maximizing your
capacity for fulfillment and expression, "The Poetry of Everyday Life" taps into the artistic side
of what we often take for granted: the stories we tell, the people we love, the metaphors used by
scientists, even our sex lives. A folklorist, writer, and cultural activist, Steve Zeitlin explores how
poems serve us in daily life and how they are used in times of personal and national crisis. In the
first book to bring together the perspectives of folklore and creative writing, Zeitlin explores
meaning and experience, covering topics ranging from poetry in the life cycle to the
contemporary uses of ancient myths. An absolutely engaging, informed and informative,
thoughtful and thought-provoking read from cover to cover, "The Poetry of Everyday Life" will
prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community, college, and university library Literary
Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Poetry of Everyday
Life" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.04).
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Wait, How Do I Write This Email?, second edition
Danny Rubin
https://dannyhrubin.com
News To Live By LLC
9780996349925, $16.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Whether its for personal correspondence, professional communications, or business
transmissions, the use of Email is ubiquitous and fundamental to how our modern world operates
today. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, Danny Rubin's "Wait, How Do I
Write This Email?" is an ideal and thoroughly 'user friendly resource for anyone needing to use
emails to build relationships, grow into careers, engaging in networking, embark on a job search,
and more. "Wait, How Do I Write This Email?" includes smart LinkedIn templates, memorable
handwritten notes, the outline for a powerful one-page resume, and a fresh cover letter strategy
with a focus on storytelling. "Wait, How Do I Write This Email?" provides more than 100
email/document templates for networking and the job search. With each template, author and
email expert Danny Rubin saves time and takes the stress out of professional email writing. Of
special note for this new edition is the inclusion of four sets of classroom activities & teacher
notes that correspond with select templates including networking, job search, LinkedIn and
writing skills, as well as updates to instructions for sending private LinkedIn messages. While
very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Wait, How Do I Write This Email?" is also available in a
Kindle format ($9.99).
Cracking the Code to a Successful Interview
Evan Pellett
Blackstone Publishing
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.blackstonepublishing.com
9781441700537, $14.95, PB, 111pp, www.amazon.com
"Cracking the Code to a Successful Interview: 15 Insider Secrets from a Top-Level Recruiter" by
interviewing and hiring expert Evan Pellett is a groundbreaking, scientific, proactive,
cutting-edge, hands-on, proven approach to conducting job interviews for any position an
employee is seeking to fill. Offering an eight-step interview method will give non-specialist
general readers a proactive way to take control of and effectively respond to the interview.
Readers will learn the secret, never-before-published ''questions behind the questions'.' These are
the questions that every manager unconsciously needs answered in order to hire an applicant.
While very highly recommended for community and academic library Jobs/Careers instructional
reference collections, it should be noted that "Cracking the Code to a Successful Interview" is
also available in a Kindle format ($6.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781504760898, $19.95, CD).
Starting Your Career in Academic Psychology
Robert J. Sternberg
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433826382, $29.95, PB, 265pp, www.amazon.com
In "Starting Your Career in Academic Psychology", Robert J. Sternberg (Professor of Human
Development at Cornell University) draws upon his years of experience and expertise to provide
a systematic guide for jump-starting a career in academic psychology at all stages, from applying
and interviewing for academic positions, to settling in at a new job, to maximizing success
during the pre-tenure years. Individual chapters cover all key skills in which new faculty must
become proficient including: teaching, conducting and funding faculty-level research, serving the
department and field, and "softer" activities such as networking and navigating university
politics. Given the demands and competition in the field, "Starting Your Career in Academic
Psychology" is comprehensive, thorough, and unreservedly recommended instructional guide that
will prove to be an essential roadmap for new faculty.
The International Studies Shelf
Navigating Change for International NGOs
James Crowley & Morgana Ryan
Kumarian Press
c/o Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
www.rienner.com
9781626375598, $26.50, PB, 223pp, www.amazon.com
Both James Crowley and Morgana Ryan have extensive experience working with some of the
world's largest NGOs in the areas of international development and humanitarian aid. In
"Navigating Change for International NGOs: A Practical Handbook" they effectively collaborate
to show how the managers, the staff, the board members and CEOs of international NGOs can
best navigate the strategic changes that are needed so that their organizations can work
effectively in today's complex environment. Having focused on the need for those changes in
their previous book, "Building a Better International NGO" (9781565495821, $65.00 HC;
9781565495838, $24.95 PB), Crowley and Ryan now provide a practical, hands-on guide to
achieving them. "Navigating Change for International NGOs" cuts through both jargon and
platitudes to provide proven tools for leading strategic change tools that will help INGOs to
improve their performance and increase their relevance as they grapple with new realities.
Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Navigating Change for
International NGOs" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
academic library collections.
The Human Sexuality Shelf
Virgin Envy
Jonathan A. Allan, Cristina Santos, Adniana Spahr, eds.
University of Regina Press
University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2
www.uofrpress.ca
9780889774230, $24.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Collaborative compiled and co-edited by the team of Jonathan Allan (holder of the Canada
Research Chair in Queer Theory and Assistant Professor of Gender and Women's Studies and
English and Creative Writing at Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba); Cristina Santos
(Associate Professor at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario) and Adriana Spahr (Associate
Professor at the Department of Humanities at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta) the
contributors to "Virgin Envy: The Cultural (In)Significance of the Hymen" cover everything from
medieval romance, to Bollywood films, to Twilight and True Blood, to destabilize the many
assumptions about sexual purity. In particular, the hymen is called into question. How is virginity
determined for those without a hymen? How do we account for the ways in which the
"geography of the hymen" has changed over the course of history? And what about male and
queer virginity? Issues of commodification, postcoloniality, and religious diversity are also
addressed. A solid body of impressively presented scholarly studies, "Virgin Envy" is
unreservedly recommended for community, university, and college Gender Studies collections
and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Virgin Envy" is
also available in a an ebook format (9780889774254, $TBA).
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Making it Big in Shorts, third edition
Kim Adelman
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781615932566, $16.95, www.mwp.com
Making it Big in Shorts: The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films has been updated with
new content to cover Kickstarter, Instagram, and new technological changes affecting the film
industry and its funding, and is a 'must' for any performing arts collection looking for an updated
third edition that accurately reflects the impact and promise of the digital revolution on film short
productions. From organizing a studio to editing and sound, Making it Big in Shorts is packed
with detail that makes it a 'must' for any filmmaker's library, discussing dialogue and paperwork,
mockumentries, and all the facets that make film shorts the highest potentially creative type of
film production on the market.
How To Audition On Camera
Sharon Bialy
Tilbury House, Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, ME 04861
www.tilburyhouse.com
9780884485254, $14.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Sharon Bialy is an award-winning casting director for television, film, and theater. Her television
credits include The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, Halt and Catch Fire, Breaking Bad, Gotham,
The Last Tycoon, Flaked, Vice Principals, Phil Spector, The Unit, Jericho, Mind of the Married
Man, and Picket Fences. Her film credits include Secret in Their Eyes, Black or White, Drugstore
Cowboy, Point Break, Rudy, Mr. Holland's Opus, Reign O'er Me, and Red Belt. She draws upon
her years of experience and expertise in "How To Audition On Camera: A Hollywood Insider's
Guide for Actors" to provide answers to the twenty-five questions actors ask most frequently
about how to nail an audition. What is the casting director looking for? If you mess up, can you
start over? What is the most common mistake experienced actors make? Should you audition off
book or can you look at the page? Should you dress in character? How much can you improvise?
Actors (both novice and professional) are often misled by myths and outdated prescriptions.
"How To Audition On Camera" is practical guide that replaces such misinformation with concise
and accurate advice from someone who is in the room helping to make the decision on who gets
the job. Bialy gets readers started immediately on the road to screen acting success. Informative
and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "How To Audition On Camera"
is very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Theatre/Cinema/TV
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "How To Audition On Camera" is
also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Art Shelf
How to Paint Water in Watercolour
Joe Dowden
Search Press USA
c/o Publishers Group West
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.searchpressusa.com
9781782214199, $24.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
A renowned expert at painting water, Joe Dowden uses the natural translucence of watercolor to
capture its beauty. Teaching readers to paint what they see, he shares his simple but painstaking
techniques so that they can achieve the same extraordinary, realistic and dramatic results. Novice
artists will learn the essential tips to making water look wet, and from there they can paint flat,
still water, puddles, rippled water, a sparkling sea, shallow water and a deep, calm river.
Beginning artists will learn the essentials of watercolor painting from Joe's tuition, and even
seasoned painters will have plenty to learn from his expertise at painting water, which is vital to
so many landscapes. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "How to Paint Water in
Watercolour" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal
instructional textbook for art class curriculums, the personal reading lists of aspiring artists, as
well as community and academic library Art Instruction collections and supplemental studies
lists.
Renaissance and Reformation
The Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791355399, $49.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
"Renaissance and Reformation: German Art in the Age of Durer and Cranach" is an opulent
coffee-table format volume that presents a colorful introduction to Renaissance art and history
featuring more than a hundred outstanding paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and treasures
of the Age of the Reformation. This visually impressive publication is comprised of masterpieces
by Albrecht Durer, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Lucas Cranach the Younger, Hans Holbein the
Elder and Hans Holbein the Younger, Matthias Grunewald, and Tilman Riemenschneider, among
others. By placing these works in their historical context, this beautifully illustrated volume uses
art as a prism through which to consider the religious, social and political upheavals of the time.
"Renaissance and Reformation" includes insightful texts that discuss pivotal subjects such as
traditional imagery and devotion, Reformation and polemics, court life and culture, humanism
and reality, as well as portraiture and representation. Biographies of the artists, an extensive
bibliography and a glossary of central terms concerning the German Reformation make
"Renaissance and Reformation" a comprehensive and highly recommended addition to personal,
community, and academic library European Art History collections in general, and German Art
History supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
Birds
Hunt Slonem
Glitterati Incorporated
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite #603, New York, NY 10036
www.glitteratiincorporated.com
9781943876358, $95.00, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Hunt Slonem is an internationally recognized American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His
work has been exhibited in more than 350 galleries and museums worldwide, and is represented
in the permanent collections of over 100 museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Influenced by the exotic, lush landscapes of his childhood and youth in Hawaii and Nicaragua,
Slonem painted richly colored, impressionistic visions that are celebrated worldwide -- and
particularly sought-after are his paintings of birds. Now for the first time, Slonem's bird paintings
are collected into a single volume, published in a lavish hardcover, coffee-table format edition.
The paintings comprising "Birds" pays homage to these remarkable creatures through hundreds
of engaging artistic works. Dramatic and vivid, Slonem's avian subjects seem unconfined to a flat
surface, as the paintings brim with texture and movement. At the same time, the painter's unique
"cross-hatching" technique unmistakably evokes the bars of a birdcage. The compelling nature of
these paintings lies in the tension between the birds' ability to soar and their often captive state.
Remarkably impressive and a visual joy to page through, "Birds" is unreservedly recommended
for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Art History collections
-- and would make an enduringly appreciated acquisition for any public library Memorial
Fund.
New Expressions in Origami Art
Meher McArthur
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804846776, $29.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. Compiled by freelance Asian art curator, author and
educator Meher McArthur, "New Expressions in Origami Art" showcases origami masterworks
from twenty five leading paper artists who are pushing the boundaries of origami vigorously in
new directions in terms of style, scale, materials, subject and scope. Stunning photos and
informative essays demonstrate why origami is now an international art movement made possible
largely through the efforts and artistic genius of a few contemporary masters. It was the trail
blazing efforts of Japanese artist Akira Yoshizawa that elevated paper folding into an art form by
showing how subtle shapes and figures could be created from a single sheet of paper though a
variety of non-traditional folding techniques. Artists in other parts of the world (including the
United States, France, England, China and Scandinavia) took Yoshizawa's cue and pushed these
techniques further and further. The result has been the emergence of many new and surprising
sculptural forms created through techniques such as wet folding, curved creasing, tessellating and
the application of alternative materials besides paper. Informed and informative, "New
Expressions in Origami Art" is an inherently fascinating and consistently compelling study that
will prove to be of immense interest to fans of origami and will prove to be truly favored addition
to personal, community, and academic library Contemporary Art History collections.
The Education Shelf
Take Five! for Language Arts
Kaye Hagler
Capstone Press
151 Good Counsel Drive, Mankato, MN 56001
www.capstonepub.com
9781937412036, $23.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Comprised of 180 classroom student exercises, "Take Five! for Language Arts" by Kaye Hagler
(an educational consultant who mentors teachers throughout the Southeast) is specifically
designed to help teachers transform those first chaotic five minutes of class into authentic
learning experience. With "Take Five! for Language Arts" as a curriculum resource, students will
exercise their mental muscles and sharpen language arts skills as they tackle Common Core
Standard-based lessons and fun-filled activities. Whether students are inventing secret codes,
concocting potions, rewriting history, making conjunction paper chains, or thinking like
newspaper editors, these diverse and creative prompts will have them looking forward to the part
of the day when they are asked to Take Five for critical thinking. Each ready-to-use "Take Five!
for Language Arts" prompts includes corresponding Common Core standards, supply lists,
language arts links, teacher tips, assessment options, rubrics, and digital connections that add
more than 100 extension lessons. Students in grades 3-9 will enjoy beginning each day of the
school year with a burst of critical thinking and fun with this comprehensive resource.
Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Take Five! for Language Arts" is
very highly recommended, especially for college and university library Teacher Education
collections and studies lists, as well as elementary school classroom supplemental curriculum
resource collections.
Beyond Answers
Mike Flynn
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
9781571109026, $36.00, www.stenhouse.com
Beyond Answers: Exploring Mathematical Practices with Young Children provides teachers with
applications for the Standards for Mathematical Practice, offering a review of how to implement
them in K-2 classrooms. Each chapter combines examples from the author's own teaching and
vignettes from other K-2 teachers with information on how to help children understand how math
problems apply to life. Stories from these classrooms offer examples of dialogues, discussions,
different teacher approaches, and how young students synthesize math and absorb teachings.
Early education teachers will find it specific and revealing.
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
Ann Pelo's The Language of Art: Inquiry-Based Studio Practices in Early Childhood Settings
(9781605544571, $39.95) appears in its updated second edition to provide a set of Reggio-based
principles and practices for teachers in the arts. Pair a powerful theoretical framework with a
curriculum approach that uses the studio arts environment to explore texture, color, shapes, and
different perspectives and you have an early education title that shows how studios can be created
to encourage young artists to absorb some art basics. The third edition of Steffen Saifer, EdD's
Practical Solutions to Practically Every Problem: The Survival Guide for Early Childhood
Professionals (9781605545127, $34.95) provides a new edition of a classic reference that offers
solutions to everyday challenges early childhood professionals encounter, pairing the latest
insights in brain development, learning, and cultural insights with discussions of problems
ranging from lack of access to resources to solving problems related to coping with death or
handling anger and tattling. The result is a wide-ranging handbook addressing many common
issues and how to solve them.
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com
W. James Popham's The ABCs of Educational Testing: Demystifying the Tools That Shape Our
Schools (9781506351513, $23.00) provides educators with a basic primer on understanding the
terminology and approaches of educational teaching, and covers the purpose of tests, types of
testing, problems associated with giving tests and assessing their results, and understanding what
uses the tests have in teacher approaches to classroom and learner management. From using test
results for high-stakes decisions to what the formative assessment process looks like in action
and application, The ABCs of Educational Testing is a 'must' for any educator. John
SanGiovanni's Mine the Gap for Mathematical Understanding: Common Holes and
Misconceptions and What to Do About Them (9781506337685, $34.95) addresses mathematical
issues for grades K-2 and outlines 160 tasks aligned to standards for this grade level's
mathematics. Tasks are downloadable, can be modified by instructors, and include discussions of
basic applications and teaching models, all couched in the framework of bigger ideas and
applications. Jon Saphier's High Expectations Teaching: How We Persuade Students to Believe
and Act on "Smart is Something You Can Get" (9781506356792, $29.95) maintains that ability
isn't something inherent or genetic: its something that can be taught and nurtured if teachers help
students think for themselves. Intelligence is the same way: it can be grown and enhanced. This
tool kit for classroom retraining offers real-world examples, teacher scripts, and routines to help
students absorb high expectations strategies. The result is a handbook that reviews basic skills
linked to growing intelligence, showing teachers in diverse classrooms how their approaches can
help. Diane Sweeney and Leanna S. Harris's Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves
(9781506325262, $30.00) offers evidence-based coaching methods and models that advocate
helping teachers collaborate in a coaching environment to help design instruction for students.
This collection of coaching moves to build daily interactions provides field-tested tools and
practices and pairs these with original video clips for maximum impact. All are excellent
educator handbooks, based on a synthesis of real-world applications and the latest studies and
strategies.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
A Theory of Tort Liability
Allan Beever
Hart Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781509903184, $94.00, HC, 270pp, www.amazon.com
"A Theory of Tort Liability" by Allan Beever (Professor of Law at Auckland University of
Technology) provides a comprehensive theory of the rights upon which tort law is based and the
liability that flows from violating those rights. Inspired by the account of private law contained in
Immanuel Kant's The Metaphysics of Morals, "A Theory of Tort Liability" shows that Kant's
theory elucidates a conception of interpersonal wrongdoing that illuminates the operation of tort
law. "A Theory of Tort Liability" then utilizes this conception, applying it to the various areas of
tort law, in order to develop an understanding of the particular areas in question and, just as
importantly, their relationship to each other. Professor Beever argues furthermore that there are
three general kinds of liability found in the law of tort: liability for putting another or another's
property to one's purposes directly, liability for doing something to a third party that puts another
or another's property to one's purposes, and liability for pursuing purposes in a way that
improperly interferes with the ability of another to pursue her legitimate purposes. It terms these
forms: liability for direct control, liability for indirect control and liability for injury respectively.
The result is a coherent, philosophical understanding of the structure of tort liability as an entire
system. In developing its position, "A Theory of Tort Liability" considers the laws of Australia,
Canada, England and Wales, New Zealand and the United States. An impressive contribution to
the growing library of tort law, "A Theory of Tort Liability" is unreservedly recommended for
academic library Judicial Studies collections in general, and supplemental studies reading lists in
the specific areas of Contract Law, Commercial Law, Tort Law, Legal Philosophy, Comparative
Law, and Restitution Law.
The Agriculture Shelf
Genetically Engineered Crops
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309437387 $89.00 amazon.com
Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects is an exhaustive, scholarly reference
and resource that builds upon previous related publications from 1987 to 2010 to assemble a
retrospective examination on the positive and negative effects of genetically engineered
agricultural crops. Chapters examine questions and evidence about the economic, agronomic,
health, safety, and more repercussions from the rise of such crops and food. Genetically
Engineered Crops also offers recommendations to improve safety assessments, clarify
regulations, and otherwise improve societal adaptation to genetic engineering technology.
Appendices and a glossary round out this absolute "must" for agriculture professionals and
university library reference shelves, highly recommended.
Animal Welfare in Extensive Production Systems
Juan J. Villabla
5m Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781910455548, $85.00, HC, 214pp, www.amazon.com
There has been a lot written about animal welfare in intensive farming systems, but very little
about animals reared in extensive agricultural systems. Yet these animals make up a significant
proportion of the world's farm animal population, covering a significant portion of the globe.
Animals kept in extensive conditions face their own unique set of challenges that are vital for
anyone with an interest in farm animal welfare to understand. Compiled and edited by Juan J.
Villabla "Animal Welfare in Extensive Production Systems" is comprised of nine major articles
by experts who present those challenges in a practical way, backed up with thoroughly referenced
research. The topics covered include: heat stress, water quality and availability, nutrition,
predation, poisonous plants, transport, human-animal interactions, and neonatal mortality.
"Animal Welfare in Extensive Production Systems" is an ideal curriculum textbook for animal
welfare academics, students and researchers. It can also be beneficial to students in animal
science, veterinary science and agriculture, and to farm industry producers and personnel.
Enhanced with the inclusion of a listing of the contributors and their credentials, and a three page
index, "Animal Welfare in Extensive Production Systems" is an unreservedly recommended
addition to college and university library Agricultural & Veterinary Medicine collections and
supplemental studies reading lists.
The Philosophy Shelf
Freedom from the Free Will
Dimitris Vardoulakis
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438462394, $80.00, HC, 190pp, www.amazon.com
Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 - 3 June 1924) was a German-language writer of novels and short
stories who is widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. Many of
Kafka's narratives place their heroes in situations of confinement. Gregor Samsa is locked in his
room in the Metamorphosis, and the land surveyor in The Castle is stuck in the village unable
either to leave or to gain access to the castle. In "Freedom from the Free Will: On Kafka's
Laughter", Dimitris Vardoulakis (Associate Professor of Philosophy at Western Sydney
University, Australia) argues that Kafka constructs these plots of confinement in order to laugh at
his heroes futile attempts to express their will. In this way, Kafka emerges as a critic of the free
will and as a proponent of a different kind of freedom: one focused within the confines of one's
experience and mediated by one's circumstances. Professor Vardoulakis contends that his sense
of humor is the key to understanding Kafka as a political thinker. Laughter, in this account, is the
tool used to deconstruct power. By placing Kafka in dialogue with philosophy and political
theory, Professor Vardoulakis shows that Kafka can give us invaluable insights into how to be
free and how to laugh. While very highly recommended for academic library Philosophy
collections in general, and Franz Kafka supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted
for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Freedom from
the Free Will" is also available in a Kindle format ($64.00).
The Library Science Shelf
The Data Librarian's Handbook
Robin Rice & John Southall
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783300471, $95.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Robin Rice is Data Librarian at EDINA and Data Library, an organization with a national and
local remit, based in Information Services at the University of Edinburgh. John Southall is Data
Librarian for the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford, based in the Social Science Library and is subject
consultant for Economics and Sociology. Together they have collaborative written "The Data
Librarian's Handbook", a practical instruction guide and manual on how to collect, curate and
crunch data for economic, social and scientific purposes. With contemporary case studies from a
range of institutions and disciplines, tips for best practice, study aids and links to key resources,
"The Data Librarian's Handbook" is essential reading for all new entrants to the field, library and
information students and working professionals. "The Data Librarian's Handbook" covers: the
evolution of data libraries and data archives; handling data compared to other forms of
information; managing and curating data to ensure effective use and longevity; how to
incorporate data literacy into mainstream library instruction and information literacy training;
how to develop an effective institutional research data management (RDM) policy and
infrastructure; how to support and review a data management plan (DMP) for a project, a key
requirement for most research funders; approaches for developing, managing and promoting data
repositories; handling and sharing confidential or sensitive data; and supporting open scholarship
and open science, ensuring data are discoverable, accessible, intelligible and assessable. "The
Data Librarian's Handbook" is very highly recommended for the practicing data librarian, those
new in their post with little experience of providing data support. "The Data Librarian's
Handbook" will also prove to be an invaluable reference for managers and policymakers, public
service librarians, research data management coordinators and data support staff. "The Data
Librarian's Handbook" is a unreservedly recommended as a core addition to community,
governmental, and academic Library Science collections and supplemental studies reading
lists.
Teaching Technology in Libraries
Carol Smallwood & Lura Sanborn, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476664743, $55.00, 228pp, www.amazon.com
Community, academic, governmental, and corporate libraries are charged with fostering new
skills and capabilities, a challenging task in an era of rapid technological change. Developing
new ways of teaching and learning within budget and time constraints is the key to keeping
up-to-date. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Carol Smallwood Lura
Sanborn, "Teaching Technology in Libraries: Creative Ideas for Training Staff, Patrons and
Students' is an impressively informed and informative collection of new essays by experienced
librarians and library researchers describing an array of technology outreach and instruction
programs that range from the theoretical to the practical, and intended for public, academic and
school libraries, based on case studies and discussions of methodology. "Teaching Technology in
Libraries" includes out of the box lessons, as well as outreach successes and technology
instruction programs applicable to patrons and staff at public, academic and school libraries.
Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Teaching Technology in Libraries" is especially
recommended for college and university Library Science collections in general, and supplemental
studies curriculums in particular. It should be noted for library students, staff members of
community library systems, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
(such as board members of Friends of the Library groups) that "Teaching Technology in
Libraries" is also available in a Kindle format ($16.19).
Practical Tips for Developing Your Staff
Tracey Pratchett and Gil Young, with Carol Brooks, Lisa Jeskins and Helen Monagle
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783300181 $95.00 amazon.com
Practical Tips for Developing Your Staff is a methodical guide written by information
professionals, for information professionals and librarians. Chapters offer a wide array of
activities and tools to help professionals in the field tap the full potential of their staff. "Twitter is
a great tool for networking. There are all sorts of librarians on Twitter and if you and your staff
follow them, you can join in any conversation that interests you... A librarian on Twitter starts to
develop a wider knowledge of their profession as they start to connect with a broarder range of
people." An index rounds out this accessible, practical-minded reference and resource. Highly
recommended.
The Nautical Shelf
America's Sailors in the Great War
Lisle A. Rose
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th St., Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826221056 $36.95 amazon.com
America's Sailors in the Great War: Seas, Skies, and Submarines is a scholarly analysis of the
demands placed on the American Navy during the First World War. At the time, the German
innovation of the U-boat radically transformed naval warfare, creating the need for a brand new
type of small warship, named the subchaser. The conflict also required the rise of a convoy
system, in order to ensure that precious supplies could successfully be transported. Extensive
notes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this welcome contribution to public and college
library collections.
The Anthropology Shelf
War Magic
D. S. Farrer, editor
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781785333293, $27.95, PB, 180pp, www.berghahnbooks.com
Compiled and edited by Douglas Farrer (Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University
of Guam), "War Magic: Religion, Sorcery, And Performance" is compelling volume comprised
of seven erudite scholarly articles by experts in their fields that explore how war magic and
warrior religion unleash the power of the gods, demons, ghosts, and the dead. Documenting war
magic and warrior religion as they are performed in diverse cultures and across historical time
periods, "War Magic" foregrounds embodiment, practice, and performance in anthropological
approaches to magic, sorcery, shamanism, and religion. The contributors go beyond what magic
'represents' to consider what magic does. From Chinese exorcists, Javanese spirit siblings, and
black magic in Sumatra to Tamil Tiger suicide bombers, Chamorro spiritual re-enchantment,
tantric Buddhist war magic, and Yanomami dark shamans, religion and magic are re-evaluated
not just from the practitioner's perspective but through the victim's lived experience. These
original investigations reveal a nuanced approach to understanding social action, innovation, and
the revitalization of tradition in colonial and post-colonial societies undergoing rapid social
transformation. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library General
Anthropology, Cultural Studies, and Religion collections, as well as the personal reading lists of
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Parenting Shelf
The Magic Words
Cheryl B. Klein
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393292244, $18.95, www.wwnorton.com
The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults is a recommendation for
any aspiring writer who wants to create a novel for young readers, and comes from a children's
book editor who gives these writers what they need to know to publish a book for kids or teens.
In order to produce an effective, popular book for this audience, writers need to know how to
make their books appealing standouts from the crowd. From how to write to an age-appropriate
group to developing strong stories, this overview of developing plot, characters, and action is a
'must' for any writer who intends on reaching a young audience.
Digital Kids
Martin L. Kutscher, MD
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781783927126, $15.95, www.jkp.com
Digital Kids: How to Balance Screen Time, and Why It Matters comes from a physician who
offers approaches the entire family can employ to limit the affects of too much 'screen time' - a
term that moves beyond television to include smartphones, computers, and DVDs. The latest
research is analyzed in the course of exploring digital addictions and how they impact behavior,
education and physical health alike. From what kinds of TV shows produce different results to
how attention systems work, this is a key title for any parents and their families.
Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Families
Glen Dunlap, et al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781598579789, $44.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Developed by a team of top behavior experts, "Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Families" offers a
highly effective intervention model that will successfully help families prevent behavior
problems in children ages 2 - 10 by teaching proactive communication and social skills, and
reinforcing positive behavior. In this expertly organized instruction guide, parents, teachers, and
counselors will discover how to take on the role of PTR-F facilitator to meet each family's unique
needs, and get a clear 5-step process for guiding families as they promote their child's positive
behavior. With this comprehensive, adaptable model of behavior support, parents, teachers and
counselors can strengthen family engagement, set each child on the path to healthy
social-emotional development, and improve quality of life for the entire family. Exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for Families" is unreservedly
recommended for academic library Behavior Modification, Education, and Early Childhood
collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
A Guide Book of the United States Mint
Q. David Bowers
Whitman Publishing
4001 Helton Drive, Florence, Alabama 35630
www.whitman.com
9780794843977, $24.95, www.whitman.com
A Guide Book of the United States Mint: Colonial, State, Private, Territorial, and Federal
Coining Facilities is the 23rd volume in the Bowers Series on coin collecting, and provides
collectors with an in-depth survey of the history of the Philadelphia Mint and its branches, plus
different private and government mints. Over a thousand photos, engravings, diagrams,
blueprints and other kinds of images accompany a survey that will appeal to coin collectors and
American history readers alike, offering a collection that contrasts old and new minting policies,
discusses how gold and other financial news affected minting decisions, and provides a lively
history of minting and coin production. No coin collector should be without this in-depth
survey.
The Beer/Wine Shelf
Drink Me Now
Hamlyn
Hamlyn, Publisher
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780600633662, $9.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com
Drink Me Now: 150 Cocktails for Any Emergency a wide variety of cocktail recipes for all kinds
of occasions, and is directed to relative novices at mixing or drinking cocktails; which makes for
a refreshing difference from the myriad of cocktail books on the market which presume prior
knowledge of the subject. From how to pick the right glass and assemble ingredients for making
cocktails to different techniques and their results, good-quality color photos of finished,
embellished cocktails accompany the recipes and make this the reference of choice for anyone
new to cocktail drinking and creation.
The Autism Shelf
Kids, Music 'n' Autism
Dorita S. Berger
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781785927164, $17.95, www.jkp.com
Kids, Music 'n' Autism: Bringing out the Music in Your Child takes the fact that many kids with
autism hold a natural affinity for music and pairs it with a series of music activities directed to
this group. The book is packed with basic tips, from choosing an appropriate instrument and
teacher for an autistic child to solving typical problems that arise from an engagement with
music, from practicing routines to discipline. Readers may be surprised to learn that particular
instruments are recommended for autistic children, and will learn quite a bit about how to create
the kind of musical experience that helps autistic kids grow and learn.
The Coloring Book Shelf
Industrial Strength Coloring Book
Robert Pizzo
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610352888, $12.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com
Industrial Strength Coloring Book: gear Up to break the coloring Mold might very well get men
involved in the coloring process: it's designed by a commercial illustrator and features images to
color that reflect industry, tools, and machinery. While these may look like mandela figures, they
are industrial in nature and are designed for intricate coloring detail. The fact that they are printed
on high-quality paper on one side only gives colorers a firm surface and an image that doesn't
bleed onto the next page, making this the perfect coloring book for anyone who appreciates
intricate designs based in the real world.
Visions of the Universe
Alex Bellos and Edmund Harriss
The Experiment, LLC
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10010
9781615193677, $14.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com
Visions of the Universe: A Coloring Journey Through Math's Great Mysteries provides a creative
and unusual math focus to coloring through almost sixty new patterns that range from
mathematician's drawings and renditions of geometric and mathematical concepts to the authors'
own original structures. These invite artists to color and to learn math as they fill in patterns and
learn designs. The inclusion of notes on basic math such as the Einstein integers or the 1837
Collatz conjecture offers a fine survey that will appeal to any math-minded coloring artist.
The Technology Shelf
IoT Technical Challenges and Solutions
Arpan Pal and Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781630811112, $119.00, www.artechhouse.com
IoT Technical Challenges and Solutions focuses on the Internet of Things and the problems
involved in its adaptation, and gathers the work of professionals who are offered solutions to key
questions about IoT systems. Chapters survey security and privacy issues, consider the scalability
of networks and computing, and review the business goals and objectives of a successful IoT
system, reviewing marketplaces that can serve as new business models and considering the
popular platforms that can be used in mobile sensing. The result is a handbook filled with key
reviews of the latest challenges to developing an IoT system.
Industrial Automation and Robotics
A.K. Gupta, S.K. Arora, and J.R. Westcott
Mercury Learning
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781938549304, $59.95, www.merclearning.com
Industrial Automation and Robotics provides a basic but technical introduction to the field of
robotics in industrial applications, and covers the basic mechanical and electrical concepts
involved and how they are used in automation. Chapters survey physics laws and basic principles
of operation, closely inspect circuitry and fluidics, and add information on the programming and
operations of robots. Packed with technical discussions and an attention to an overview that is
clear and definitive, Industrial Automation and Robotics is recommended as a basic introduction
for any novice entering the field.
The Music Shelf
How to Make it in the New Music Business
Ari Herstand
Liveright
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9781631491504, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com
How to Make it in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and
Making a Living as a Musician comes from the founder of a popular blog about the music
business and should be the item of choice for any new musician seeking a comprehensive guide
about the industry. Chapters cover everything from building a fan base and promoting a tour to
playing live, handling YouTube and online recording and video taping sources, and getting one's
music onto film and television. There are many, many more music opportunities in the world
than just recording studios and record contracts: Herstand's attention to detail in exploring them
all makes for a powerful and highly recommended survey no aspiring musician should be
without.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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