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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Just Not That Likable
Christine Finnegan
Post Hill Press
https://posthillpress.com
9781642939804 $28.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Not-That-Likable-Gender/dp/1642939803
Synopsis: Gloria Romero - former California Senate Majority Leader and Professor Emeritus of Psychology - shatters the
glass ceiling in a sweeping takedown of gender bias at the workplace and the price women and society pay for the virulent,
double standard of "the likability factor" that persists in the workplace. She exposes the link between success and likability
that 21st-century women leaders face in politics and the workplace.
In a book both accessible and enlightening, Senator Romero stands as a woman unafraid to break down barriers for women.
As the first female Majority Leader of the upper house in California's State Legislature, she authored major reform laws in
public education, criminal justice, governmental ethics, and transparency.
Just Not That Likable is the story of a trailblazer who understood that while the 20th-century sexism of unequal pay for
equal work had been outlawed and anti-discrimination laws had become common, there was still a hidden likability penalty
and the so-called "double bind" applied to successful women. The book features the most comprehensive review to date of
what is known about the "double bind" faced by women executives and leaders: they are expected to exhibit strength and
lead, but are penalized as being "abrasive" or exhibiting characteristics stereotyped as being masculine. Drawing on her own
life as well, Senator Romero's journey leads her to the realization that when women smash through the persisting ceiling -
still with us in the 21st century - the shards cut. Too deep and too often, these practices and behaviors shut down
opportunity for our daughters, sisters, and each other. Just Not That Likable recognizes that our workplaces must promote
practices, policies, and cultures which confront and disassemble this double bind for women.
Critique: Former California Senate Majority Leader and Professor Emeritus of Psychology Gloria Romero presents Just Not
That Likable: The Price All Women Pay for Gender Bias, a candid examination of the double bind that constrains working
women today. A woman has to exhibit self-confidence, strength, and leadership to advance in her career, yet these traits are
seen as "masculine" and potentially make a woman less "likable", and therefore less able to network or form mutually
beneficial business relationships. This double standard harms all women in the workplace, keeping them in lower-paid
positions where they aren't as frequently required to assert themselves - indeed, the ability to assert oneself may run counter
to a woman's unconscious social conditioning. Just Not That Likable is thought-provoking and salient examination of a
persistent problem, and promotes practices, policies, and cultures to address discrimination and make the workplace better
for both men and women. Highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Just Not That Likable is
also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
HeartStrings
Marjorie Lin Kyriopoulos
Epigraph Publishing
www.shutterandpen.com/heartstrings
9781954744158, $18.95, PB, 266pp
https://www.amazon.com/HeartStrings-Marjorie-Lin-Kyriopoulos/dp/1954744153
Synopsis: "HeartStrings" by Marjorie Lin Kyriopoulos is a deeply personal and compassionate memoir that chronicles the
history and lives of her Greek-American family in Marjorie's own creative way. Based upon actual events and interviews
with family members, Marjorie explores how tragic events can have a ripple effect on past, present, and future generations
in surprising and unexpected ways. From stories about immigrant experiences in the early 1900s to Marjorie's personal
journey of growth through the tumultuous and radical changes of the 1960s up to now, "HeartStrings" is a reminder that the
past is deeply rooted in the present. Through stories, poetry, and photographs, Marjorie illustrates how trauma is often
carried unconsciously from parent to child, and into the future.
Critique: An inherently fascinating read from first page to last, "HeartStrings" is a deftly crafted and deeply personal life
story and one that is compelling thoughtful and thought-provoking. Showcasing author Marjorie Lin Kyriopoulos (mother,
grandmother, teacher, writer, freelance photographer) genuine flair for narrative drive storytelling that deftly presents the
times, the tragedies, and the people that shaped her understanding of the world and of herself, "HeartStrings" is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Contemporary American
Memoir/Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "HeartStrings" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Long Game
Dorie Clark
Harvard Business Review Press
20 Guest Street, Suite 700, Brighton, MA 02135
www.hbr.org
9781647820572, $28.00
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Game-Long-Term-Thinker-Short-Term/dp/164782057X
The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-term World comes from a business thinker and career expert
who applies the basics of long-term strategies to best business practices. Her book talks about difference between short- and
long-term thinking processes, explores how smarter choices evolve from stepping back and taking time to consider bigger
pictures, and how to adopt tolerance and patience for longer outcomes that serve better purposes than quick relief or
satisfaction strategies. The result is a 'must' for businesses and innovators who are in it for the long haul.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Memory into Memoir: A Writer's Handbook
Laura Kalpakian
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
www.unmpress.com
9780826363114, $19.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Memory-into-Memoir-Writers-Handbook/dp/0826363113
Synopsis: A memoir is any nonfiction narrative writing based in the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the
work are thus understood to be factual. While the memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of biography or
autobiography since the late 20th century, the genre has become differentiated in form, presenting a narrowed focus. A
biography or autobiography tells the story "of a life", while a memoir often tells the story of a particular event or time, such
as touchstone moments and turning points from the author's life. The author of a memoir may be referred to as a memoirist
or a memorialist. (Wikipedia)
"Memory into Memoir: A Writer's Handbook" provides a lively instructional guide and DIY manual for anyone looking to
wrestle the unruly past onto the page. In thirteen chapters, Laura Kalpakian provides tools to develop narrative form, scenic
depiction, character development, and dialogue. There are chapters devoted to excavating the Family Story and the slippery
Truth, especially when telling stories not solely your own.
In "Memory into Memoir: A Writer's Handbook" Kalpakian also explores the use of letters, diaries, and photographs, and
she offers tips for research, publishing choices, and the uses of music. With a broad exploration of technique and
development, and a range of reference, Memory into Memoir includes examples, extensive resources, and animating
prompts.
Critique: An exceptional comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' in style, organization and presentation, "Memory into
Memoir: A Writer's Handbook" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community library, college, and
university library Writing/Publishing collections. For aspiring and experienced writers alike, "Memory into Memoir" it
should be noted that "Memory into Memoir: A Writer's Handbook" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Laura Kalpakian is the author of thirteen novels and four collections of short fiction. Kalpakian is also the
winner of an NEA Fellowship, a Pushcart Prize, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers' Award, the Anahid Award for an
American writer of Armenian descent, the PEN West Award, and the Stand International Short Fiction Competition.
The Social Issues Shelf
Handbook of Migration and Global Justice
Leanne Weber and Claudia Tasreiter, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781789905656 $240.00
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Migration-Global-Justice-Handbooks/dp/1789905656
Synopsis: This timely Handbook brings together leading international scholars from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and
geopolitical perspectives to interrogate the intersections between migration and global justice. It explores how cross-border
mobility and migration have been affected by rapid economic, cultural and technological globalization, addressing the
pressing questions of global justice that arise as governments respond to unprecedented levels of global migration.
Chapters analyze the key issues arising from tensions between international and national priorities, duties and laws, as well
as visions for human coexistence and harmony. Featuring chapters written by researchers, political activists and contributors
with lived experience of migration injustice, the Handbook explores central topics including failures in refugee protection,
worker exploitation and violence against migrants. Looking ahead, it also discusses possible pathways to achieve global
justice in and through migration, in terms of geopolitics, subjective experience, human rights and redistributive justice,
global solidarity and political activism.
Combining empirical case studies with cutting-edge theory, this Handbook will be an invaluable resource for scholars and
students of migration, human rights and public policy. The application of the global justice concept to issues of migration
and border control will also be useful for policy makers, practitioners and NGOs in these areas.
Critique: Handbook of Migration and Global Justice is an anthology of scholarly, extensively researched essays by a variety
of independent scholars discussing economic and humanitarian crises connected to global migration. Individual writings
include "Temporary labour and worker exploitation: Southeast Asian migration to Malaysia", "Contested global social
justice: social services for migrants without international protection", "Refugees, Europe, death", "Immigration workplace
raids and the politics of cruelty: the case of Postville, Iowa", "Racialized citizenship: challenging the Australian imaginary",
and "Global justice and the governance of transnational migration". Handbook of Migration and Global Justice is an
invaluable addition to college and university library Social Issues collections, worthy of the highest recommendation.
Pretreatment In Action
Jay S. Levy
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.lovinghealing.com
9781615995950, $39.95, HC, 162pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pretreatment-Action-Interactive-Homelessness-Stabilization/dp/1615995951
Synopsis: Jay Levy's "Pretreatment In Action: Interactive Exploration from Homelessness to Housing Stabilization" by Jay
S. Levy, MSW (and who has spent more than thirty years working with individuals who experience homelessness) provides
the reader with a wonderfully crafted, detailed step-by-step manual with real-world scenarios on how Pretreatment and the
Stages of Engagement play out in the actual work in dealing with a social issue here in the United Sates that is growing
worse in every major American city. The vignettes are rich with descriptions that clearly come from a deep repertoire of
experience working in the field that gives the reader confidence they are being guided by someone who has been in their
shoes. The thoughtful questions and space to reflect add a helpful workbook touch to the feel of the text, and matches the
grittiness of the material being covered.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Pretreatment In Action: Interactive Exploration from
Homelessness to Housing Stabilization" must be considered essential reading for every citizen and governmental official
concerned with and/or dealing with the growing problem of homelessness in America. While highly recommended as a core
addition to community, college, university, and governmental Contemporary Social Issues collections, it should be noted for
the personal reading lists of community activists, social workers, governmental policy makers, students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Pretreatment In Action: Interactive Exploration from
Homelessness to Housing Stabilization" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781615995943, $27.95) and in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
The End of Bias: A Beginning
Jessica Nordell
Metropolitan Books
c/o Henry Holt
https://henryholt.com
9781250186188 $28.99 hc / $14.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/End-Bias-Overcoming-Transforming-Companies/dp/1250186188
Synopsis: Unconscious bias: persistent, unintentional prejudiced behavior that clashes with our consciously held beliefs. We
know that it exists, to corrosive and even lethal effect. We see it in medicine, the workplace, education, policing, and
beyond. But when it comes to uprooting our prejudices, we still have far to go.
With nuance, compassion, and ten years' immersion in the topic, Jessica Nordell weaves gripping stories with scientific
research to reveal how minds, hearts, and behaviors change. She scrutinizes diversity training, deployed across the land as a
corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns
Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of men and women; the preschool in Sweden where teachers found
ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping; the police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialized
training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force.
Captivating, direct, and transformative, The End of Bias: A Beginning brings good news. Biased behavior can change; the
approaches outlined here show how we can begin to remake ourselves and our world.
Critique: The End of Bias: A Beginning draws upon both the science of the brain and social sciences to examine how
human hearts and minds can change for the better. In particular, the End of Bias is about finding ways to counter
unconscious bias - the prejudices that are so deeply ingrained or entrenched that those who hold them may be unaware of
their own actions. What are the most effective ways to combat racial, gender-based, or other stereotypes? Chapters show
case studies of successful practices, as well as offering general principles to promote inclusion and avoid excessive
homogeneity. The End of Bias: A Beginning is a welcome addition to public and college library Social Issues collections,
highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The End of Bias is also available in a Kindle edition
($14.99).
Editor's Note: Jessica Nordell is a science and culture journalist whose writing has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York
Times, the New Republic, and many other publications. A former writer for public radio and producer for American Public
Media, she graduated from Harvard University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The End of Bias: A Beginning is
her first book.
A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege
Daniel P. Horan
Ave Maria Press
https://www.avemariapress.com
9781646800766, $17.95 pbk / $13.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/White-Catholics-Guide-Racism-Privilege/dp/1646800761
Synopsis: Growing up, Fr. Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., never thought much about race, racism, or racial justice except for what
he read in history books. His upbringing as a white, middle-class Catholic shielded him from seeing the persistent, pervasive
racism all around him. Horan shares what he has since learned about uncovering and combating racial inequity in our nation
and in our Church, urging us to join the fight.
In the spring and summer of 2020, US cities erupted in protests and racial tensions ran high following several high-profile
killings of Black women and men at the hands of white police officers. As America watched and listened, many of us
became dislodged from our comfortable assumptions about race. Horan recognized this unnerving dynamic as a doorway to
the awakening and spiritual conversion he has been undergoing for much of his adult life. In A White Catholic's Guide to
Racism and Privilege, Horan speaks prophetically to what has become a gnawing unease for so many.
As a white man, Horan shows his fellow white Catholics how to become actively anti-racist and better allies to our Black
brothers and sisters as we work against racism in our culture and in the Church. He offers us the hope and surety of the
Gospel, the wisdom of Catholic tradition, and some practical ways to educate ourselves and advocate for justice.
Critique: Professor of theology, philosophy, and religious studies Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. presents A White Catholic's
Guide to Racism and Privilege, a thoughtful examination of how Catholics - especially white Catholics - can better advocate
for justice and equality, in a society harmed by systemic racism. A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege
cross-examines the difficult problem of systemic racism, perpetrated discrimination enacted by society as a whole,
evidenced by such horrifying statistics as the substantially higher risk of death for black women from complications related
to pregnancy and childbirth (primarily due to reduced access to health care, and discrimination within the health care
system). One of the first steps an individual can take to combat racism is to learn how to listen, and not reflexively dismiss
the experiences and testimonies of nonwhite people (no matter how uncomfortable hearing them out may be). Though
written from a Catholic perspective, A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege is highly recommended for readers
of all faiths. It should be noted for personal reading lists that A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege is also
available in a Kindle edition ($13.49).
Editorial Note: Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., is director of the Center for Spirituality and professor of philosophy, religious
studies, and theology at Saint Mary's College. He previously served as the Duns Scotus professor of spirituality at Catholic
Theological Union in Chicago. He is a columnist for National Catholic Reporter and the author of thirteen books, including
A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and Privilege, The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton and Catholicity and Emerging
Personhood, which received a 2020 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers.
The Education Shelf
The College Wellness Guide
Casey Rowley Barneson
Princeton Review
https://www.princetonreview.com
9780593450390, $15.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/College-Wellness-Guide-Students-Admissions/dp/0593450396
Synopsis: Every year, nearly two million students arrive at college campuses, ready to embark on the best four years of their
lives. Yet the reality is that the current cohort of students is one of the most stressed, anxious, and depressed ever. These
stressors have real effects on students' grades, social life, and physical health. And the stakes are high! Students with the
right community and support services have better outcomes, from increased chances of on-time graduation, to greater ability
to take on head-start opportunities (like internships) that have deep impact on post-college life.
The Princeton Review is proud to introduce The Campus Wellness Guide, an innovative new book that provides a mix of
information, resources, and self-assessment activities to help students reach and maintain their overall health. The book
includes:
Information on how to assess your college fit academically and socio-emotionally
Self-assessment activities that students can use to ID their specific stressors and ways to alleviate those issues
Sections on physical, mental, and social wellness, each with data-backed insights and research to help define the issues and
strategies for handling
Proactive activities for student use, with reflection prompts to help develop roadmaps toward a healthier status quo
Wellness highlights, e.g., information on colleges with exceptional track records in specific wellness issues
Resources for national and college-specific help
Critique: The College Wellness Guide: A Student's Guide to Managing Mental, Physical, and Social Health on Campus
lives up to its title as an easy-to-use reference and resource for college students. Chapters offer self-assessment quizzes to
help one identify stressors, practical strategies for looking after one's own well-being, recommendations for making the most
of school resources including counselors and support staff, tips for maintaining a social network, and much more. The
College Wellness Guide is designed for personal use, encouraging its reader to fill out plans, checklists, and questionnaires.
Thoroughly user-friendly from cover to cover, The College Wellness Guide is a superb supplement for any prospective
student, and also makes an excellent back-to-school gift! It should be noted for personal reading lists that The College
Wellness Guide is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
The Money/Finance Shelf
Iceland's Secret
Jared Bibler
Harriman House
https://harriman.house
9780857198990, $29.95 Hardcover/$18.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Icelands-Secret-Untold-Worlds-Biggest/dp/0857198998
Iceland's Secret: The Untold Story of the World's Biggest Con is not your usual travelogue, but a financial review that
ideally should be in any financial or international business or economics collection. It explores the lesser-known history of
Iceland's 2008 financial collapse that took down the nation's banks, economy, and the author, Jared Bibler's, livelihood. It
almost destroyed the nation.
That Iceland's Secret was able to be published to expose an underlying con game in its entirety is testimony not only to the
perseverance of Bibler in uncovering truths and facts, but to a writer who captures not just the financial but the social,
political, and cultural milieu of the nation and its responses. Even more absorbing than the financial secrets themselves are
the reactions of Iceland's people and government to the biggest economic crisis in its history. These elements support a story
that is eye-opening and revealing, adding the personal touches needed to make it accessible and appealing even to readers
without any prior understanding of the 2008 events or Icelandic culture.
From stock market manipulations to Bibler's personal involvement in a high-profile investigation, readers receive an
insider's view tempered by the reactions of citizens and officials around him. These elements contribute to an expose that is
powerfully presented and tailored to appeal to a wide audience; especially those involved in financial circles, whether they
trade in the stock market, are involved in banking regulations and processes, or are facing moral and ethical accountability
for financial choices. While Iceland's Secret is recommended for financial collections, anyone interested in Nordic modern
history and affairs will find it an exceptional read.
Unlike most business books, it's very accessible to the lay reader and even incorporates a sense of intrigue and action that
makes it a top recommendation for general-interest collections, as well.
Activate Your Money
Janine Firpo
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781119777083, $29.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Activate-Your-Money-Invest-Wealth/dp/1119777089
Synopsis: "Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World" by Janine Firpo provides the
foundational support women need to talk to each other about their money, invest to grow their wealth, and to take the
actions required to shift their assets into alignment with their values. Written for smart, savvy women who want to feel
financially empowered, "Activate Your Money" delivers the depth of information needed to make informed decisions across
your entire portfolio. Starting with checking and savings accounts and proceeding asset class by asset class, this book
provides you with core knowledge, as well as concrete examples about how and where you can invest your money in the
things you care about.
"Activate Your Money" is specifically designed to help you use that strength to attain better financial outcomes for yourself
and your family. "Activate Your Money" will also help you to find communities of support and position you to share your
knowledge with other women and enable the next generation of smart, confident values-aligned investors.
Of special note is that "Activate Your Money" has a companion website that contains downloadable tools you can use to
take action and a curriculum that guides women through the process of starting and running their own values-aligned
investment clubs.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the financial planning benefit of the non-specialist general
reader, "Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World" is unreservedly recommended for
personal, professional, community, college, and university library Financial Management & Planning collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Janine Firpo is a seasoned values-aligned investor and social innovator, with a long history of working at the
intersection of women and their money. In 2017, she left a 35-year career in technology and international development to
focus on helping women find the confidence to take control of their money and use it to change the world. During her
career, Janine held senior positions at Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Today,
she supports women-led businesses through her role as lead investor in the Next Wave Impact Fund and board chair of
Zebras Unite.
The Business Shelf
The Family Office
William I. Woodson and Edward V. Marshall
Columbia University Press
https://cup.columbia.edu
9780231200622, $35.00 hc / $19.24 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Family-Office-Comprehensive-Practitioners-Heilbrunn/dp/0231200625
Synopsis: Family offices are private organizations that assume the daily administration and management of a wealthy
family's personal and financial affairs. Historically, these repositories of great wealth were shrouded in secrecy, their
activities conducted behind closed doors. Recently, family offices have acquired a considerably higher public profile: they
represent a mere 7 percent of the world's ultra-high-net-worth population, yet control a staggering 50 percent of the wealth.
As only a select few families now hold a disproportionate amount of global wealth, there are significant social implications
to how such assets are managed and used.
This book provides an insider's view for anyone looking to understand family offices and how to best serve and advise them.
The veteran practitioners William I. Woodson and Edward V. Marshall offer a thorough guide to family offices: why
wealthy families create them, what they do, and how to manage them effectively. They present these insights through a
series of problem-based learning cases that follow a single family's journey from the time of a significant liquidity event;
through the creation, staffing, and management of their family office; and on to its succession.
Each case study is supported by detailed background reference material. The cases and background materials are drawn
from the authors' practical knowledge, network of industry experts, and experience advising family offices large and small.
They shed light on the unique issues that ultrawealthy families face and the solutions they adopt to address them throughout
the life cycle of a family office. This book is the definitive resource for practitioners and students, as well as family
principals, advisers, service providers, and all others who engage with the world of family offices.
Critique: Part of the Heilbrunn Center for Graham & Dodd Investing series published by Columbia Business School
Publishing, The Family Office: A Comprehensive Guide for Advisers, Practitioners, and Students is an educational resource
about the practical institution of the family office - a private organization tasked with managing the personal and financial
affairs of wealthy families. As wealth has grown more concentrated in a small number of households, family offices have
become more prominent in their economic and practical influence. The Family Office is an insider's testimony by
professionals in the field of wealth management; chapters discuss case studies, leadership and staffing requirements of
family offices, strategies that family offices use for investments, risk management, and philanthropy, and much more. The
Family Office is a "must-have" for college library School of Business collections, highly recommended. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that The Family Office is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.24).
Editorial Note: William I. Woodson is a lecturer on wealth management at Columbia University School of Professional
Studies and serves on the advisory board for the Stanford University Global Family Office Initiative. He is the former head
of a family office and ran the family office practices for Citi Private Bank and Credit Suisse.
Edward V. Marshall is a family office expert, author, consultant, and speaker. He is the global head of the family office
practice at Dentons, the world's largest law firm. Marshall has held leading family office roles at Credit Suisse, Citibank,
and Boston Private, and he is a guest lecturer on the family office at New York University's Stern School of Business.
Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook
Antonio Nieto Rodriguez
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781647821258, $29.99, $49.50, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Harvard-Business-Project-Management-Handbook/dp/1647821258
Synopsis: We're now living in the project economy. The number of projects initiated in all sectors has skyrocketed, and
project management skills have become essential for every leader and manager. Still, project failure rates remain extremely
high. Why? Leaders oversee too many projects and have too little visibility into them. Project managers struggle to translate
their hands-on, technical knowledge up to senior management. The result? Worthy projects are starved of time and
resources and fail to deliver benefits, while too much investment goes into the wrong projects. To compete in the project
economy, you need to close this gap. In the pages of "Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook: How to
Launch, Lead, and Sponsor Successful Projects", project management expert Antonio Nieto Rodriguez shows you how.
A comprehensive guide, "Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook: How to Launch, Lead, and Sponsor
Successful Projects" presents a new and simple framework that will increase any project's likelihood of success. Packed
with case studies from many industries worldwide, it will teach you how to manage your organization's projects, strategic
programs, and agile initiatives more effectively and push the best ones ahead to completion.
Critique: Timely and timeless, "Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook: How to Launch, Lead, and
Sponsor Successful Projects" is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it an ideal DIY instructional guide and
manual for novice entrepreneurs and seasoned corporate executives alike. While highly recommended for community,
corporate, college, and university library Contemporary Business Management collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook: How to Launch, Lead, and Sponsor Successful
Projects" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781647821258, $29.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$29.99).
From Impressed to Obsessed
Jon Picoult
McGraw-Hill Education
https://www.mheducation.com
9781264258789 $28.00 hc / $26.60 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Impressed-Obsessed-Principles-Customers-Employees/dp/126425878X
Synopsis: If you're aspiring to satisfy your customers, then you're aspiring to mediocrity. That's the fascinating premise of
From Impressed to Obsessed, a book that will fundamentally change how you think about creating a successful, beloved
business.
Acclaimed customer experience expert Jon Picoult explains why building customer loyalty requires leaving indelible
positive impressions on everyone you work with - not just shaping their experiences, but also shaping their memories.
Picoult explores the cognitive science behind great customer experiences, pinpointing the breakthrough, psychology-based
strategies that both industry leaders (like Apple, Disney, and Southwest Airlines) as well as fast-growing startups (like BILT
and Framebridge) use to shape people's perceptions and sculpt unforgettable impressions - thereby turning more sales
prospects into customers, and more customers into obsessed brand ambassadors.
No matter what kind of constituency you serve - customers or colleagues, individuals or institutions, employees or
employment candidates - this book will help you do it with distinction. Picoult's message is particularly relevant for
managers, as he shows the parallels between how great companies cultivate engagement with customers, and how great
leaders accomplish the same with their workforce.
Critique: From Impressed to Obsessed: 12 Principles for Turning Customers and Employees into Lifelong Fans is a guide
for business professionals, team leaders, supervisors, and much more. Author Jon Picoult draws upon cognitive science to
examine precisely what makes a customer's experience (or an employee's experience) so resoundingly positive as to build
lifelong loyalty. Especially happy customers may transform themselves into "brand ambassadors", who promote their
experience to others via word-of-mouth (or social media in today's digital age)! From Impressed to Obsessed is an
incalculably valuable resource, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that From Impressed to
Obsessed is also available in a Kindle edition ($26.60).
Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives
Minal Bopaiah
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
https://www.bkconnection.com
9781523090259, $19.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Equity-Design-Organizations-Everyone-Thrives/dp/1523090251
Synopsis: Even the most passionate advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion have been known to treat equity as the
middle child - the concept they skip over to get to the warm, fuzzy feelings of inclusion. But Minal Bopaiah shows
throughout this book that equity is critical if organizations really want to leverage differences for greater impact.
Equity allows leaders to create organizations where employees can contribute their unique strengths and collaborate better
with peers. Bopaiah explains how leaders can effectively raise awareness of systemic bias and craft new policies that lead to
better outcomes and lasting behavioral changes. This book is rich in real-world examples, such as managing partners at a
consulting firm who learn to retell their personal stories of success by crediting their systemic advantages and news
managers at NPR who redesign their processes to support greater diversity among news sources. This slender book expands
DEI past human resources initiatives and shows how leaders can embed equity into core business functions like marketing
and communications.
Filled with humor, heart, and pragmatism, Equity is a guidebook for change, answering the question of how that so many
leaders are asking today.
Critique: Equity: How to Design Organizations Where Everyone Thrives lives up to its title as a practical-minded guide to
improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within one's organization. Chapters address how leadership can engage more
effectively, the role of media and marketing in creating equity, countering bias in entrenched systems, and much more.
"Observable behaviors are critical in designing organizations where everyone can thrive, but they are not enough. You must
make sure that the organization's system and processes reinforce desired behaviors and, if possible, do so invisibly." Equity
is a welcome addition to the college library Business and Leadership shelves, highly recommended. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that Equity is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Editorial Note: Minal Bopaiah is the founder of Brevity & Wit, a strategy and design firm that helps organizations achieve
the change they wish to see in the world through a unique approach that combines human-centered design, behavior change
science, and the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Bopaiah has written for the Stanford Social
Innovation Review and TheHill.com and has been a featured guest on numerous podcasts and shows, including the Kojo
Nnamdi Show on WAMU. She has also been a keynote speaker for many conferences, inspiring thousands with her
credible, authentic, and engaging talks.
The Cookbook Shelf
Dining with the Dead
Mariana Ruiz & Ian McEnroe
Rio Nuevo Publishers
https://rionuevo.com
9781940322384 $35.00
https://rionuevo.com/product/dining-with-the-dead-a-feast-for-the-souls-on-day-of-the-dead
Synopsis: Dining with the Dead is an unforgettable cultural and culinary odyssey. Traditional, celebratory Mexican food is
the soul of this one-of-a-kind cookbook. Make tamales, pozoles, pan de muerto, and many other festive, iconic dishes. Learn
about altars, sugar skulls, and decorations. Unlock the essence of chiles, make scratch tortillas, and perfect the king of the
moles.
Highlights include 112+ delicious recipes, 540+ beautiful and mouthwatering photos, how to find them and treat
ingredients, photographic step-by-step instructions, the origins of Dia de Muertos, and more.
Critique: Dining with the Dead is more than a lavish, full-color illustrated cookbook of traditional Mexican recipes for
celebrating the Day of the Dead. Dining with the Dead also draws the reader into Mexican cultural traditions for honoring
loved ones who have passed on, including the origins of the holiday, altars and ofrendas (offerings), what it means to hold a
night vigil at a cemetery in Mexico, and more. Connoisseurs of homemade Mexican cuisine will especially appreciate the
step-by-step instructions for finding and preparing special ingredients. Dining with the Dead is an excellent resource for
cooks seeking to broaden their cultural appreciation and understanding, and a treasure to simply page through. Highly
recommended!
One Tin Bakes Easy
Edd Kimber
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780857839787, $22.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/One-Tin-Bakes-traybakes-cookies/dp/0857839780
Synopsis: Whether the family want cookies or cakes, pastries or desserts, something fruity, chocolatey or nutty, baking just
got even easier for the kitchen cook with Edd Kimber's "One Tin Bakes Easy"! Beautifully illustrated throughout, this is the
ideal 'go-to' cookbook for easy to make cakes, traybakes, bars and bites the range from gluten-free to vegan and
beyond!
Every individual baked good showcases in "One Tin Bakes Easy" can be made in the 23 x 33cm (9 x 13in) tin. "One Tin
Bakes Easy" also offer guidance on baking in an 20 x 20cm (8 x 8in) square tin as well as a loaf tin, making these perfectly
simple bakes for even the most novice of bakers to try -- whatever equipment is on hand.
Only a minimal skill is needed to whip up something sensational with this compendium of culinary ideas for bakes made in
one-bowl or with 5-ingredients, as well as popular options for vegan and gluten-free treats. "One Tin Bakes Easy" is packed
cover to cover with versatile, achievable and indulgent recipes that will be called upon time after time again.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "One Tin Bakes Easy" will prove to be an immensely popular
addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted the "One Tin Bakes
Easy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Edd Kimber won the first series of The Great British Bake Off in 2010. He is the author of The Boy who
Bakes (2011), Say it with Cake (2012), Patisserie Made Simple (2014) and the best-selling One Tin Bakes (2020). He has
appeared on Sunday Brunch, Market Kitchen and Perfect, as well as the BBC Good Food Show and other shows around the
country. He is a contributing editor to Bake from Scratch magazine, a go-to baking writer for Olive magazine, a baking
teacher at Leith's School of Food and Wine, as well as a QVC presenter and a brand ambassador for KitchenAid and
Nordicware. Edd has a popular blog at www.theboywhobakes.com, where he shares his innovative baking recipes, which
are always loved by his loyal following.
Pennsylvania Good Eats
Brian Yarvin
The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9781493055715, $21.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Good-Eats-Exploring-Delicious/dp/1493055712
Synopsis: Pennsylvania is filled with all sorts of unique and delicious foods. Historic dishes like scrapple and buckwheat
cakes form part of an edible record. Smoked sausages, fried noodles, and the component parts of a pizza are all history on a
plate.
A unique approach to creating a culinary treasury of palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying recipes "Pennsylvania Good Eats:
Exploring the State's Favorite, Unique, Historic, and Delicious Foods" by Brain Yarvin visits food landmarks across the
state ranging from farmer's markets, artisan shops, and roadside restaurants.
"Pennsulvania Good Eats" also covers old dairymen selling off to young organic growers, ethnic areas popping up around
college campuses, trained chefs seeking out new locations for fine dining restaurants, and new artisans reaching back to
recreate foods that we used to think were dead and gone.
Critique: Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation with full color illustrations throughout, and
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.50), "From farmer's markets, artisan shops, and roadside
restaurants" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library
cookbook collections.
The Art Shelf
Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature
Angelica Daneo, author
Christoph Heinrich, editor
Ortrud Westheider, editor
Michael Philipp, editor
Prestel Publishing
www.prestel.com
9783791379258, $35.00, PB, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Claude-Monet-Nature-Angelica-Daneo/dp/3791379259
Synopsis: Capturing fleeting natural impressions played a central role in the art of Claude Monet (14 November 1840 - 5
December 1926). He deeply engaged with the landscape and light of different places, from the metropolis of Paris to the
Seine villages of Argenteuil and Giverny. "Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature" is a lavishly illustrated study that explores
the development of Monet's art from the 1850s to the 1920s, focusing on the places, both at home and on his frequent travel,
from which he drew inspiration for his painting. In addition, "Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature" traces the critical shift in
Monet's art that occurred when he began to focus on series of the same subjects such as grainstacks, poplars, and the
water-lily pond at his meticulously designed garden in Giverny.
Critique: Impressively informative with its exceptionally well written commentary, "Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature"
will enhance the reader's appreciation of Monet's art and is the next best thing to being able to view his work as displayed
throughout many a museum gallery. Now available in a coffee-table style paperback (9.5 x 1.03 x 11.88 inches", "9.5 x 1.03
x 11.88 inches) is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Art
History collections in general, and Claude Monet supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular.
Watteau at Work: La Surprise
Emily A. Beeny, author
Davide Gasparotto, author
Richard Rand, author
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606067352, $24.95, PB, 88pp
https://www.amazon.com/Watteau-at-Work-Emily-Beeny/dp/1606067354
Synopsis: The painting La Surprise by Jean Antoine Watteau (baptized October 10, 1684 - died July 18, 1721) belongs to a
new genre of painting invented by the artist himself -- the f te galante.
These works, which show graceful open-air gatherings filled with scenes of courtship, music and dance, strolling lovers, and
actors, do not so much tell a story as set a mood: one of playful, wistful, nostalgic reverie.
Esteemed by collectors in Watteau's day as a work that showed the artist at the height of his skill and success, La Surprise
vanished from public view in 1848, not to reemerge for more than a century and a half.
Acquired by the Getty Museum in 2017, it has never before been the subject of a dedicated publication. Marking the three
hundredth anniversary of Watteau's death, "Watteau at Work: La Surprise" considers La Surprise within the context of the
artist's oeuvre and discusses the surprising history of collecting Watteau in Los Angeles.
"Watteau at Work: La Surprise" is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty
Center from November 23, 2021, to February 20, 2022.
Critique: The collaborative work of Emily A. Beeny (former associate curator of drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum, is
curator in charge of European paintings at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco); Davide Gasparotto (senior curator of
paintings and chair, curatorial affairs, at the J. Paul Getty Museum); and Richard Rand (associate director for collections at
the J. Paul Getty Museum), "Watteau at Work: La Surprise" is the next best thing to being able to personally visit the exhibit
-- and will informatively enhanced the experience of those who can attend the exhibit on site. Beautifully illustrated,
"Watteau at Work: La Surprise" is highly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university
library Art History collections.
The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565); and Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572)
Dominicus Lampsonius, author
Edward H. Wouk, translator/editor
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606067406, $60.00, PB, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lambert-Effigies-Painters-Countries-Documents/dp/1606067400
Synopsis: Lambert Lombard (c. 1505 - August 1566) was a Renaissance painter, architect and theorist for the
Prince-Bishopric of Li ge. During his career he worked for Jan Gossaert in Middelburg and trained Frans Floris. Lombard
was born in Li ge, where in 1532 he became court painter and architect. A few paintings and many drawings have been
preserved. In 1537 he was sent to Rome by Erard de La Marck, prince-bishop of Li ge, to buy works of art, and he
discovered the wonders of the Italian Renaissance. On his return he brought not only works of art, but also the new ideas
concerning art and the position of the artist, to Li ge. (Wikipedia)
Dominicus Lampsonius's The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565) is the earliest published biography of a Netherlandish artist.
This neo-Latin account of the life of the painter, architect, and draftsman Lambert Lombard of Li ge offers a theoretical
exposition on the nature and ideal practice of Netherlandish art, emphasizing Lombard's intellectual curiosity, interest in
antiquity, attentive study of the human body, and exemplary generosity as a teacher.
This volume offers the first English edition of The Life of Lambert Lombard, complemented by a new translation of the
inscriptions Lampsonius composed to accompany the Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572), a
cycle of twenty-three engraved portraits of Netherlandish artists developed in collaboration with the print publisher
Hieronymus Cock.
Together, "The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565); and Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572)
established frameworks for a distinctly Netherlandish history of art. Responding to a growing sense of Netherlandish
cultural and political identity on the eve of the Dutch Revolt, these texts proposed a critical alternative to Giorgio Vasari's
Lives of the Artists and its Italian model of art historical development, celebrating local ingenuity and skill. They remain the
starting point for any history of the northern Renaissance.
Critique: An exceptionally informative, beautifully illustrated, and unique contribution to Renaissance Art History
collections, "The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565); and Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries
(1572)" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and
university library European Art History & Biography collections.
Editorial Note #1: Dominicus Lampsonius (1532 - 1599) was a Flemish polymath humanist, poet, and painter, who worked
as Latin secretary to a succession of Catholic bishops, including the embattled English Cardinal Reginald Pole.
Editorial Note #2: Edward H. Wouk is reader in art history and visual studies (1400 - 1800) at the University of Manchester
and the author of Frans Floris (1519/20 - 1570): Imagining a Northern Renaissance (2018).
Rubens: Picturing Antiquity
Anne T. Wollett, editor
Davide Gasparotto, editor
Jeffrey Spier, editor
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606066706, $40.00, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rubens-Picturing-Antiquity-Davide-Gasparotto/dp/1606066706
Synopsis: For the great Peter Paul Rubens ( 28 June 1577 - 30 May 1640), the classical past afforded lifelong creative
stimulus and the camaraderie of humanist friends. A formidable scholar, Rubens ingeniously transmitted the physical ideals
of ancient sculptors, visualized the spectacle of imperial occasions, rendered the intricacies of mythological tales, and
delineated the character of gods and heroes in his drawings, paintings, and designs for tapestries. His passion for antiquity
profoundly informed every aspect of his art and life.
Showcasing some 170 color illustrations, "Rubens: Picturing Antiquity" by the editorial team of Anne T. Woollett (curator
of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum), Davide Gasparotto (senior curator of paintings and chair, curatorial affairs, at the
J. Paul Getty Museum; and Jeffrey Spier (senior curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum) specifically addresses
the creative impact of Rubens's remarkable knowledge of the art and literature of antiquity through the consideration of key
themes.
The lively interpretive essays comprising "Rubens: Picturing Antiquity" explores the formal and thematic relationships
between ancient sources and Baroque expressions: the significance of neo-Stoic philosophy, the compositional and
iconographic inspiration provided by exquisite carved gems, Rubens's study of Roman marble sculpture, and his inventive
translation of ancient sources into new subjects made vivid by his dynamic painting style.
Critique: Exceptionally well presented and impressively informative, making "Rubens: Picturing Antiquity" very highly
recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Art History collections in general, and Rubens
supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular, "Rubens: Picturing Antiquity" is published to accompany an exhibition
on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa from November 10, 2021, to January 24, 2022.
Poussin and the Dance
Emily A. Beeny, author
Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, author
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606066836, $30.00, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Poussin-Dance-Emily-Beeny/dp/1606066838
Synopsis: Scenes of tripping maenads and skipping maidens, Nicolas Poussin's dancing pictures, painted in the 1620s and
1630s, helped him formulate a new style. This style would make him the model for three centuries of artists in the French
classical tradition, from Jacques-Louis David and Edgar Degas to Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso.
"Poussin and the Dance" by the team of art experts Emily A. Beeny and Francesca Whitlum- Cooper is the first published
study devoted to this theme and situates the artist in seventeenth-century Rome, a city rich with the ancient sculptures and
Renaissance paintings that informed his dancing pictures.
Tracing the motif of dance through his early Roman production, "Poussin and the Dance" examines how these works helped
their maker confront the problem of arresting motion, explore the expressive potential of the body, and devise new methods
of composition. The essays investigate how dance informed nearly every aspect of Poussin's artistic production, notably
through his use of wax figurines to choreograph the compositions he drew and painted. This publication also considers
Poussin's dancing pictures within a broader context of seventeenth-century European culture, collecting, and patronage.
This volume, "Poussin and the Dance", is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the National Gallery, London
from October 9, 2021, to January 2, 2022 and at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from February 15 to May 8,
2022.
Critique: With its magnificently reproduced artwork and accompanying impressively informative commentaries, "Poussin
and the Dance" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Art
History collections in general, and Poussin supplemental studies curriculum lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Emily A. Beeny, former associate curator of drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum, is currently the curator
in charge of European paintings at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Francesca Whitlum-Cooper is the
Myojin-Nadar Associate Curator of Paintings, 1600 - 1800, at the National Gallery, London. She also edited "Boilly: Scenes
of Parisian Life" (2019).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Embroidery for Everyone
Kelly Fletcher
becker&mayer! Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9780760372234, $19.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Embroidery-Everyone-Learn-Techniques-Patterns/dp/0760372233
Synopsis: In the pages of "Embroidery for Everyone: Easy to Learn Techniques with 50 Patterns!" author and embroidery
expert Kelly Fletcher brings enthusiasm and joy for the needlecrafts through both traditional techniques and innovation.
With easy-to-follow instructions, "Embroidery for Everyone" guides the reader through an array of stitching techniques and
decoration ideas.
The patterns offer a wide range of subjects to choose from: Cute animal patterns; Boho chic borders and motifs; Winter
snowflakes and snowmen; Thanksgiving turkey; Springtime bunnies and flowers.
"Embrodery for Everyone" also covers how to embellish clothing, create beautiful needlecraft art with nature and folk
images, and make handmade heirloom seasonal decorations. With a plenitude of patterns to choose from, "Embroidery for
Everyone" features something for everyone!
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in style, organization and presentation, "Embroidery for Everyone: Easy to Learn
Techniques with 50 Patterns!" is ideal for the beginning novice and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular
instructional guide for personal and community library needlecraft collections.
Critique: Kelly Fletcher is a professional needlework designer and the founder of Kelly Fletcher Needlework Design. She is
the author of the internationally published Embroidered Home, contributing artist to Margaret Rowan's Handsewn and Petra
Harms' Stitch it Yourself, and the designer, writer, and stitcher behind the Embroidery Designs range of hand embroidery
kits. Kelly is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she creates content for magazine, book, and kit publishers
worldwide, and creates ebooks and hand embroidery patterns for her online shop. She favors creative surface embroidery,
with its many stitches, and puts a contemporary spin on traditional stitches and techniques to create fresh designs that appeal
to modern embroiderers. She maintains an informative website at www.kellyfletcher.co.za
The Automotive Shelf
Muscle Car Special Editions
Duncan Brown
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613255797, $42.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Muscle-Special-Editions-Duncan-Brown/dp/1613255799
Synopsis: In the late 1960s. Special edition muscle cars were essential to keep pace for dedicated car buffs. Joel Rosen and
other independent car builders (such as Carroll Shelby, George Hurst, Dick Harrell, Mr. Norm, and Jim Wangers) did what
the factories couldn't do: take the muscle car and turn it into a tire-burning monster.
Although the Pontiac GTO established the muscle car category in 1964, a host of corporate safety restrictions restrained
factories from offering turn-key race cars off the showroom floor. Independent car builders enhanced appearance and
amplified performance in an attempt to do what the manufacturers wouldn't. Motion Performance issued a written
guarantee: Phase III cars would run 11.5 at 120 mph down the quarter-mile!
Some of the most iconic nameplates in automotive history were applied in this era with names that included Cheetah, Black
Panther, Royal Bobcat, Super Hugger, Manta Ray, Super Snake, Deuce, Fast Track, and The Machine. How did
manufacturers stealthily promote these special edition muscle cars as "halo cars" while pretending not to endorse them?
What happened to these innovators when factories assimilated their ideas? "Muscle Car Special Editions" by muscle car
historian Duncan Brown covers them all.
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, Duncan Brown's "Muscle Car Special Editions" is a visual treat and an
extraordinarily well presented history. While very highly recommended for community, college, and university library
American Automotive History collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated muscle car fans that
"Muscle Car Special Editions" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $40.80).
Editorial Note: Duncan Scott Brown's desire to preserve car history inspired his website: www.oneownercollectorcar.com.
The site profiles people who kept their classic domestic 1960s and 1970s cars with a technical examination of the patterns
of wear on original vehicles. The website quickly expanded to quirky areas that caught on with readers, such as the Gas
Logs section and, of course, The Dealerships. Readers have generously contributed their memories and photos of long-lost
dealerships from the Big Three plus AMC to the website.
The General Fiction Shelf
Hold My Place
Cassondra Windwalker
Black Spot Books/Vesuvian Media
https://vesuvianmedia.com/black-spot-books
c/o Independent Publishers Group (distribution)
https://www.ipgbook.com
9781645481003, $15.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Hold-My-Place-Cassondra-Windwalker/dp/164548100X
Horror fans who enjoy novellas and shorter works that pack a punch with fewer words than many will find Hold My Place a
satisfying blend of romance and ghost story. It holds the appeal of the classic Rebecca, but is entwined with an unexpected
sense of wry humor and observation.
The first-person narrator is a librarian. And before you think "dull," keep in mind that Sigrun cultivates an interest in the
paranormal that defies the usual image of the mousy, shy librarian personality: "I have a weakness for paranormal romance.
So what? Librarians have the most degenerate taste in literature there is. Why do you think we're forever trumpeting the
cause of banned books?"
Sigrun is deeply attracted to a beautiful man and initially redirects her passion into a gourmet cooking class, where "Here I
am, two weeks later, abusing beignet dough in a class of nine other no doubt equally infatuated women. How humiliating."
Despite all her reading of paranormal literature, she never anticipated that this man's entry into her life would bring with it a
threat that rivals any of the reading she's done on the subject.
As readers move into the events that unfold during the course of this ill-fated romance, they will find Cassondra
Windwalker a worthy opponent to the genre's often-formula productions. Hold My Place is anything but ordinary or
predictable, despite its firm roots in the horror world. Part of the reason why this works especially well is Windwalker's
creation of a feisty character unafraid to expression her passion in different ways, already savvy in the possibilities of the
paranormal world, and yet vulnerable to its lure and challenges. This flawed hero brings all the events to life using a brevity
of words and nicely paced action that draws readers in, leaves them laughing at unexpected descriptions, and creates a
compelling story filled with romantic twists.
Readers who look for well-balanced blends of horror, passion, and unexpected humor will find that Hold My Place
cultivates a sassy sense of fun that is a satisfying alternative to more staid and predictable genre reads.
Beneficence: A Novel
Meredith Hall
https://meredithhall.org
David R. Godine, Publisher
godine.com
9781567927092, $16.95 pbk / $11.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Beneficence-Meredith-Hall/dp/1567927092
Synopsis: In the midst of a nearly perfect life, Doris Senter is thankful but wary. "We can't ever know what will come," she
says. When an unimaginable tragedy turns the family of five into a family of four, everything the Senters held faith in is
shattered. The family is consumed by sorrow and guilt. Slowly, the surviving family members find their way to forgiveness -
of themselves and of each other.
Few writers know the human heart and the burden of grief as New York Times bestselling author Meredith Hall (Without a
Map). This is a radiant novel of goodness and love - both its gifts and its obligations - that will stay with readers long after
the last page. With a rare tenderness and compassion, Beneficence shows broken hearts becoming whole as this family
reclaims their love and peace.
Critique: Beneficence: A Novel is a story about a family of five that suffers heartrending loss, leaving them a family of four.
Grief and devastation break their faith in everything about their lives. Beneficence is about the difficult journey to find
forgiveness for themselves and each other. Thoughtful and poignant, Beneficence is a profoundly moving read, and highly
recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Beneficence is also available in a Kindle edition
($11.99).
The Running Trees: Stories
Amber McMillan
Goose Lane Editions
https://gooselane.com
9781773101699, $19.95 pbk / $15.44 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Running-Trees-Stories-Amber-McMillan/dp/1773101692
Synopsis: A fervently comic debut, The Running Trees leads readers into a series of conversations - through phone lines,
acts in a play, and a rewound recording of a police interrogation - to reveal characters in fumbling bouts of brutality,
reflection, isolation, and love.
The relationship between two siblings disintegrates after one asks the other for the pen; a professor and his former student
get drinks years after a "romantic" encounter; a book club meets only to find that they have wildly different opinions about a
new memoir about their town; and a long-haired feline contemplates existence and consciousness while his cohabitant licks
his own butthole.
Whimsical, unconventional, humorous, and always pitch-perfect, The Running Trees explores how we desperately try to
communicate with each other amid the gaps in meaning we create.
Critique: The Running Trees: Stories is an anthology of unique stories that are almost entirely dialogue-based. Some are
presented like short stage plays; others resemble telephone conversations, and all delve into the chaotic, tangled aspects of
imperfect yet quintessentially human characters. A brisk read that lingers long in the memory, The Running Trees: Stories is
highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Running Trees: Stories is also available in a
Kindle edition ($15.44).
Editorial Note: Amber McMillan is the author of the memoir The Woods: A Year on Protection Island and the poetry
collection We Can't Ever Do This Again. Her work has also appeared in PRISM international, Arc Poetry Magazine, and the
Walrus.
Beyond the Tides
Liz Johnson
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
http://bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780800737375 $15.99 pbk / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Prince-Edward-Island-Shores/dp/0800737377
Synopsis: When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she
sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting
on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for
a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.
Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at
Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime,
and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.
Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll
decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought... and their dreams
aren't what they expected.
Bestselling author Liz Johnson invites you back to Prince Edward Island for a brand-new series about family, forgiveness,
and the kind of love that heals all wounds.
Critique: Part of the Prince Edward Island shores series set in a beautiful island and its sunlit waters, Beyond the Tides is the
story of a bitter rift, with the possible promise of reconciliation. Ten years ago, Oliver ruined Meg's chance for a science
scholarship at an Ivy League school - not out of malice against her, but in a moment of anger over mistreatment from his
own father. In the present day, Meg's father has to decide what will become of his fishing fleet business. Oliver has the drive
and aptitude to run the operation; Meg has no interest in fishing, but her sense of outrage will not let her stand by and let the
man who took away her dreams be rewarded. When Meg's father decides that the two of them must run the business
together for a trial period, will it be a recipe for disaster - or will each of them learn from the other? An emotional and witty
story, featuring flawed characters who must learn to reconcile their own shortcomings, Beyond the Tides is highly
recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Beyond the Tides is also available in a Kindle edition
($10.99).
Editorial Note: Liz Johnson is the author of more than a dozen novels, including A Sparkle of Silver, A Glitter of Gold, The
Red Door Inn, Where Two Hearts Meet, and On Love's Gentle Shore, as well as a New York Times bestselling novella and
a handful of short stories.
The Walnut Creek Wish
Wanda E. Brunstetter
www.wandabrunstetter.com
Barbour Publishing
https://www.barbourbooks.com
9781643527413, $16.99 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Creek-Wish-Creektown-Discoveries/dp/164352741X
Synopsis: Welcome to Walnut Creek, Ohio, where Orley and Lois Troyer own an antique store they call "Memory Keepers."
Though knowledgeable in antiques and their repair, their real talent is in mentoring folks who are hurting and don't even
know it. Enter Jeff, a restaurateur, and Rhonda, a hotel manager, who recently moved to Amish country for the slow pace,
but the change of scenery puts even more stress on their already strained marriage. Will an antique sled be the last straw, or
will it lead to unexpected revelations and the fulfillment of dreams?
Critique: The first volume of the Creektown Discoveries series set in a quiet Ohio small town, home to an antique store with
owners who have a talent for promoting emotional healing. The Walnut Creek Wish is a thoughtful novel about married
couple looking for a slower-paced life. Yet their restful environment does not alleviate the strains on their marriage.
Rhonda, a hotel manager, feels pressured both by her work and her infertility, while Jeff, a restauranteur, doesn't understand
why his wife is so troubled and spends his spare time outfitting the garage with antiques. An emotional story about
connections and understanding, The Walnut Creek Wish is highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that The Walnut Creek Wish is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Editorial Note: New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the
Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 11 million copies sold,
Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous
awards.
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery
Amanda Cox
Revell
http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/revell
AmandaCoxWrites.com
9780800737412, $15.99 pbk / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Keepers-Old-Depot-Grocery/dp/0800737415
Synopsis: Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood
home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and
grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her
grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter
never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.
1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiance's baby. Pressured into a marriage of
convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises
are not as easily kept as she imagined.
This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the
secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.
Critique: The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is novel that recounts stories of two times in parallel. In the present,
Sarah Ashby and her grandmother Glory Ann make a plan to save Old Depot Grocery; in the 60's, Glory Ann is pregnant
with the child of her deceased fiancee and pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper. Powerful themes of
love, the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the importance of bringing hidden secrets to light rather than
allowing them to fester form the core of this emotionally moving novel, highly recommended. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).
Editorial Note: Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging. A blogger and a curriculum developer for a national
nonprofit youth leadership organization, she holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in
professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting
families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.
The Singing Forest
Judith McCormack
Biblioasis
www.biblioasis.com
9781771964319, $16.95, PB, 302pp
https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Forest-Judith-McCormack/dp/1771964316
Synopsis: In a quiet forest in Belarus, two boys stumble across a long-kept secret: the mass grave where Stalin's police
secretly murdered thousands in the 1930s. The results of the subsequent investigation have far-reaching effects, and across
the Atlantic in Toronto, Leah Jarvis, a lively, curious young lawyer, finds herself tasked with an impossible case: the
deportation of elderly Stefan Drozd, who fled his crimes in Kurapaty for a new identity in Canada.
Leah is convinced of Drozd's guilt, but she needs hard facts. She travels to Belarus in search of witnesses only to find herself
asking increasingly complex questions. What is the relationship between chance, inheritance, and justice? Between her own
history (her mother's death, her father's absence, and the shadows of her Jewish heritage) and the challenges that now
confront her?
Critique: Beautiful and wrenching by turns, and showcasing author Judith McCormack's genuine flair for creating a deftly
crafted and memorably original novel, "The Singing Forest" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community,
college, and university library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Singing
Forest" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Boundaries of Their Dwelling
Blake Sanz
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road. Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609388072, $16.00, PB, 210pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-Their-Dwelling-Short-Fiction/dp/1609388070
Synopsis: Moving between the American South and Mexico, the award-winning short stories comprising "The Boundaries
of Their Dwelling" by Blake Sanz explore how immigrant and native characters are shaped by absent family and geography.
A Chilanga teen wins a trip to Miami to film a reality show about family while pining for the American brother she's never
met. A Louisiana carpenter tends to his drug-addicted son while rebuilding his house after a slew of hurricanes. A New
Orleans ne'er-do-well opens a Catholic-themed bar in the wake of his devout mother's death. A village girl from Chiapas
baptizes her infant on a trek toward the U.S. border.
In the collection's second half, we follow a Veracruzan-born drifter, Manuel, and his estranged American son, Tommy. Over
decades, they negotiate separate nations and personal tragicomedies on their journeys from innocence to experience. As
Manuel participates in student protests in Mexico City in 1968, he drops out to pursue his art. In the 1970s, he immigrates to
Louisiana, but soon leaves his wife and infant son behind after his art shop fails. Meanwhile, Tommy grows up in 1980s
Louisiana, sometimes escaping his mother's watchful eye to play basketball at a park filled with the threat of violence. In
college, he seeks acceptance from teammates by writing their term papers. Years later, as Manuel nears death and Tommy
reaches middle age, they reconnect, embarking on a mission to jointly interview a former riot policeman about his military
days; in the process, father and son discover what it has meant to carry each other's stories and memories from afar.
Critique: Elegant, original, engaging, entertaining, thoughtful and thought provoking, "The Boundaries of Their Dwelling"
showcases author Blake Sanz's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that holds the reader's rapt attention
from cover to cover. "The Boundaries of Their Dwelling" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading
lists, as well as community, college, and university library Short Story & General Fictions collections.
Editorial Note: Blake Sanz has published fiction in Ecotone, Puerto del Sol, Fifth Wednesday Journal, and elsewhere. He
teaches writing at the University of Denver.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Drumossie
M MacKinnon
DartFrog Books
PO Box 867. Manchester, VT 05254
https://dartfrogbooks.com
9781953910769, $16.99 print/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Drumossie-Echoes-Time-Book-1-ebook/dp/B09C56279K
Drumossie presents the first book in the Echoes in Time series, and opens with a preface set in 1746, during the aftermath of
a battle. A wounded Highlander awaits his demise on the battlefield on Drumossie Moor. But, he's destined to survive this
living hell, and this will affect generations to come. Fast-forward to present-day Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, where
twenty-seven-year-old Fiona's dreams of terror have just awakened her - for the third time. Fiona isn't used to suffering such
vivid dreams, especially of murky threats that include smells and sensations she's never been exposed to. And somewhere in
that dream is a memory of one who meant something special to her...someone she knows she's never encountered in real
life.
As the story unfolds, M MacKinnon injects history into the story that follows battles, tragedy, reawakening, and impacts on
future generations. The history of Scotland comes to life under her hand as Fiona finds the past not as distant as she'd
imagined and faces a force that changes her present-day world. As the lives of 1745 eighteen-year-old Eilidh MacLean and
twin brother Rory (her "partner in all things") are also explored, M MacKinnon's ability to juxtapose different people,
history, and cross-purposes makes for a moving account that is vividly portrayed and hard to put down.
Part of what makes these stories come alive is M MacKinnon's descriptive turns of phrase: "Eilidh fell into the chair like a
marionette whose strings have been cut." As Eilidh is charged with preventing the murder of Prince Charles and other
events that will bring down her world, Fiona finds herself in present-day Scotland, at a gloomy exhumation of a body in the
cemetery. This portends an investigation of the past that could change everything - especially the isolated life of Ewan
MacArthur. The impact of the Battle of Culloden echoes through time, and a mystery and an evil force are resurrected that
carry four characters into new peril and dangerous situations in a bid for freedom that moves from the killing fields of
Drumossie Moor to the impact of Eilidh's choices. These bring love and healing to Scotland's descendants even as an old
evil awakens with a thirst for revenge.
M MacKinnon cultivates the strong ability to smoothly intersect events of past and present, juxtapose evolving love with
growing evil threats, and present all four characters in three-dimensional form that lends each a realistic flavor. Whether
readers choose this title for its murder mystery, romance, or historical components, each genre fan will be attracted to and
entranced by Drumossie's vivid story, which pairs well with the psychological and historical details.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Christmas in Silverwood
Dorothy Dreyer
Rosewind Books
c/o Vesuvian Books
www.RosewindBooks.com
c/o Independent Publishers Group (distribution)
https://www.ipgbook.com
9781645480532, $14.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Silverwood-Dorothy-Dreyer/dp/1645480534
Romance readers who enjoy Hallmark-style stories of unexpected love will relish the down-home feel and evolving tale of
Holly and Nick, who are on different trajectories in their lives when they find each other after a near-accident in a small
town. Christmas in Silverwood cultivates a sense of discovery and recovery set against a snowy Christmas season backdrop,
and explores set paths changed by interpersonal relationships and new opportunities. From a small town's obsession with an
annual holiday tree-decorating contest to broken spirits and lonely individuals who find in each other unexpected solutions
to life problems, Dorothy Dreyer paints a compelling portrait of love that takes the time to spice its presentation with
atmosphere. As various characters interact, from those who embrace the Christmas spirit to others who would rather be
alone, Dreyer builds scenic beauty, evolving romance, and moments that encourage inspiration. The crux of Holly and
Nick's experiences and evolving relationship stem from a simple observation: "Sometimes we're disappointed about things
because we're looking at them the wrong way."
Christmas in Silverwood explains how a set course in life can be turned upside down to create a different approach and
perspective. In the course of exploring romantic and interpersonal connections, it creates a heartwarming read about change
and flexibility to make for not just a satisfying holiday read, but an affectionate insight into the origins of love and
connection. Romance and holiday readers will find Christmas in Silverwood just the ticket for a cold night's read by a
roaring fire.
The Viking Chief's Marriage Alliance
Lucy Morris
Mills & Boon
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780263289633, $TBA, HC, Large Print, 384pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9780263289633
Synopsis: When Thorstein Bergson rescues a beautiful woman from a storm-tossed longship, he little expects to broker a
powerful marriage alliance with her. A challenging wife for a warrior Viking, this high-status ice queen is not the
comfortable female companion this warrior chief is seeking, but maybe the bittersweet pain in Gyda's eyes hides another
woman beneath? -- The one he tasted that first night, when she kissed him with such pent-up longing?
Critique: A deftly written historical romance set in the Viking age, "The Viking Chief's Marriage Alliance" author Lucy
Morris adroitly blends her appreciation of Scandinavian myths, legends, and culture with the universal passions of strong
men and even stronger women! "The Viking Chief's Marriage Alliance" is a compelling and rewarding read from first page
to last -- making this large print edition from Mills & Boon unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Historical Romance collections.
A Daughter's Christmas Wish
Victoria Cornwall
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444847635, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 328pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444847635
Synopsis: Christmas, 1919. A promise to a fellow soldier leads Nicholas to Cornwall for Christmas, and to the teashop
managed by Rose: the youngest daughter of a family whose festive spirit has been blighted by their wartime experiences.
But as Nicholas strives to give Rose the best Christmas she could wish for, he begins to question whether his efforts are to
honor his friend - or if there is another reason.
Critique: As an author of historical romance, Victoria Cornwall is among the very best. "A Daughter's Christmas Wish" is
an impressively original, wonderfully entertaining, and emotionally satisfying read so well scripted that it will keep the
reader's total and rapt attention from cover to cover. This large print paperback edition from the Linford Romance Library is
especially recommended for personal reading lists and community library Historical Romance collections alike.
Breakfast At The Butterscotch Bakery
Angela Britnell
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444847710, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 256pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444847710
Synopsis: Following a skiing accident, Connie is laid up in Switzerland with a badly broken leg. Stepping into the breach,
her sister has promised to run her business, the Butterscotch Bakery, during her convalescence. After all, Kaley's a capable
computer programmer, and it's not exactly rocket science to rustle up a few cupcakes and coffees...is it? But baking's not as
simple as it looks - and when Kaley comes unstuck, handsome customer Jacca is there to lend a hand!
Critique: A romance lover's delight, "Breakfast At The Butterscotch Bakery" by Angela Britnell is a original, extraordinary
and a wonderfully entertaining read from first page to last. This large print paperback editon of "Breakfast At The
Butterscotch Bakery" from the Linford Romance Library collection is especially appropriate and fully recommended
addition to the personal reading lists of all dedicated romance fans and will prove to be an immediately popular addition to
community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
The Christmas House
Victoria James
VictoriaJames.ca
Alcove Press
alcovepress.com
9781643857725, $16.99 pbk / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-House-Novel-Victoria-James/dp/164385772X
Synopsis: It's Christmas in the small town of Silver Springs which is bursting with holiday spirit. The downtown shops
boast twinkling lights, and the town square features an enormous Christmas tree. Every Christmas Eve for the past fifty
years, Ruby Harris, the owner of the historic B&B, The Christmas House, has opened her doors to strangers in need,
showing them the compassion once denied to her.
When Ruby invites her family home for the holidays, including her two adult grandchildren, Charlotte and Olivia, she hopes
they will be able to put the past behind them. However, her plans for reconciliation implode as the women unravel secrets
from the past that force them to confront the impact they've had on their dysfunctional family. As Charlotte grows closer to
Wyatt, the neighbor next door and a friend from the past, old memories resurface that the women would rather forget.
They're reminded of a man they want to forget.
As the clock inches closer to the New Year, can the magic of the season bring the family closer? Or will a surprise guest
threaten their tentative truce and test newly formed bonds?
This light-hearted Christmas tale draws inspiration from Victoria James's own historical fixer-upper, offering plenty of
warmth and holiday cheer.
Critique: The Christmas House is a heartwarming, holiday-themed romance novel. When Ruby Harris, owner of the historic
bed-and-breakfast The Christmas House, invites her family home for the Christmas season, she hopes that they will be able
to mend their disgruntled rifts. But hurtful family secrets threaten to push the family apart again, even as the New Year
approaches, and then a surprise guest throws all their plans into disarray. The Christmas House is delightful,
thought-provoking, cheery and cozy, perfect for curling up to read with a thick blanket and hot cocoa. Highly recommended.
It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Christmas House is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
Editorial Note: Victoria James is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Victoria
always knew she wanted to be a writer and in grade five, she penned her first story, bound it (with staples and a cardboard
cover), and illustrated it herself. Luckily, this book will never see the light of day. After graduating University with an
English Literature degree, Victoria pursued a degree in Interior Design opening her own business.
Home For a Cowboy Christmas
Donna Grant
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250820266, $8.99, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Cowboy-Christmas-Donna-Grant/dp/125082026X
Synopsis: Christmas 'tis the season' -- for everyone except Emmy Garrett. She's on the run after witnessing a crime. But
when it becomes clear that trouble will continue following her, the US Marshal in charge takes her somewhere no one will
think to look -- Montana. Not only is Emmy in a new place for her protection, but now, she's stuck with a handsome cowboy
as her bodyguard -- and she wants to do more than kiss him under the mistletoe.
Dwight Reynolds left behind his old career, but it's still in his blood. When an old friend calls in a favor, Dwight opens his
home to a woman on the run. He tries to keep his distance, but there's something about Emmy he can't resist. She stokes his
passion and turns his cold nights into warm ones. When danger shows up looking for Emmy, Dwight risks everything to
keep her safe!
Critique: With all the elements of a truly steamy romance by a master of the genre, "Home for a Cowboy Christmas"
wonderfully showcases author Donna Grant's genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling. Very highly recommended for
community library Romance Fiction collections, "Home for a Cowboy Christmas" is a compelling read from cover to cover
for all dedicated romance fans.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Law and Outlaw
William Vance
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419560, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 336pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419560
Synopsis: The old woman was dying. That meant a lot of things to Will Titus. It meant sorrow, for she'd raised him from a
pup. It meant one fewer good person in a world where they were rare enough already. But mostly, it meant the eventual
arrival of Bart Laney. Bart was almost a brother to Will -- but a brother gone wrong. You see, while Will had chosen a U.S.
Marshal's badge, Bart had gone down the outlaw trail.
Critique: Complete and unabridged, this large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library series of William
Vance's extraordinary western novel, "Law and Outlaw" is a fully action packed drama of twists and turns and surprises
from cover to cover -- making it a welcome and recommended addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated western
novel fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
The House of Gold
Max Brand
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419683, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 536pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419683
Synopsis: "The House of Gold" by Max Brand is the story of an honest thief, James Geraldi, who embarks upon three of his
greatest adventures, including a quest for the elusive Golden Horus, a gold statue inlaid with four perfect emeralds and a
large, flawless yellow diamond. Whether he's seeking a treasure, protecting an innocent girl, or handling other thieves who
may not be quite so honest, Geraldi remains a classic and unforgettable figure of the West.
Critique: Bringing back these three timeless tales of western bravado for a new generation of appreciative readers, "The
House of Gold" are Max Brand western stories at their very best and this large print paperback edition form the Linford
Western Library series is unreservedly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction
collections.
Death's Tally
Bradford Scott
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419577, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 272pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419577
Synopsis: Oil and bullets are the boon and bane of Sanderson City. When Walt Slade arrives to put a lid on the violence, the
town is set to blow sky-high in his face. A lit fuse, a shotgun blast in the dark and the ace undercover Texas Ranger is
plunged into a searing sixgun showdown with a greed-crazed pack of killers.
Critique: You can practically smell the gunsmoke rising from the pages of Bradford Scott's deftly crafted western novel,
"Death's Tally". A simply riveting read from first page to last, this large print paperback edition of "Death's Tally" from the
Linford Western Library series is especially commended to the attention of all western fans and community library Western
Fiction collections.
Match Race
Fred Grove
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419546, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 464pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419546
Synopsis: Quarter horse racing presents a thrill few men in the Old West can resist. Dude McQuinn, Coyote Walking, and
Billy Lockhart are no exception, riding from town to town, matching and trading racehorses. Dude is the straight-talking
front man, Coyote the jockey, and Billy the doctor, concocting potions that can cure a horse of anything - at least
temporarily. But Billy is being watched by a strange man in a black bowler hat - a man who knows a secret about his
past.
Critique: Memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, "Match Race" by Fred Grove is a fun read from first page to last.
This large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library series is highly recommended reading and will prove to
be a welcome addition to both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collectons.
The Deuce of Diamonds
Charles M. Martin
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419539, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 392pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419539
Synopsis: Roaming Reynolds and Texas Joe find themselves helping out a couple of old ranchers who are being plagued by
rustlers. Reynolds suspects that local cattle baron Griff Tyson, owner of the Deuce of Diamonds spread, is behind the
trouble. But Tyson is quite a gunfighter himself, able to shoot playing cards out of the air. Will Reynolds and Joe prevail
against him?
Critique: A class western of good guys verses the bad guy (and his minions), "The Deuce of Diamonds" by Charles M.
Martin is a quality read from first page to last and this large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library
collection is certain to be a welcome and prized addition to the personal reading lists and community library
collections.
The Lawless Border
Allan Vaughan Elston
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419522, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 384pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419522
Synopsis: It was just one year ago that the O'Hara brothers planned to buy themselves a ranch, settle down, and raise some
stock. But that was before Milton disappeared the night after he won forty-four hundred dollars at a poker game. Certain that
his brother was hijacked and murdered for his winnings, Lynn vows to investigate. When he arrives in Tucson, there's one
man left on his list -- and he finds himself face-to-face with the ugly muzzle of a six-gun!
Critique: You can almost smell the gun smoke wafting up off the page in Allan Vaughan Elston's superbly crafted western
novel "The Lawless Border". Originally published in 1969, this large print edition of "The Lawless Border" from the Linford
Western Library series is a compelling, entertaining, and recommended addition to the personal reading lists of all western
novel fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
Borders To Cross
Parker Bonner
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419515, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419515
Synopsis: It's clear that Dan Mason had a hand in killing his cousin Bill in order to gain control of the family ranch, the Lazy
M. But Cal Holland is determined to steer clear of another man's fight -- that is until the fight is brought to his own
doorstep. Mason sends a hired killer after him. And if this wasn't already enough to stir him to action, Cal discovers that the
life of Bill's sister Nancy is also threatened by Dan's ambitious greed.
Critique: Originally published in 1969, "Borders to Cross" by author Parker Bonner is a puls- pounding read from cover to
cover. Now available to a new general of western action/adventure enthusiasts and unreservedly recommended for
community library collections.
Ride The Red Trail
Lewis B. Patten
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419720, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 368pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419720
Synopsis: "Ride The Red Trail" is comprised of a trio of short novels presenting western author Lewis B. Patten at his
exciting best. In the title story, Lew Harvey was forced to leave home because of a shooting incident. Now a letter from his
former girlfriend has summoned him back. His parents are about to be driven off their spread and they need his help, but his
father hasn't forgiven Lew...and more gun trouble may be on the way. In "Summer Kill," a man seemingly without enemies
is murdered on a nighttime trail ride, and it falls to his two sons to track down the killer. And "Rustler's Run" tells the story
of young Burt Norden, who has been doing a man's job running the N Bar Ranch since his father's death. But now he may
really have to prove himself. Rustlers have swept into the area and there's a confrontation brewing with a local
hardcase.
Critique: A prolific author of American Western novels, Lewis Byford Patten, was born and died in Denver, Colorado
(January 13, 1915 - May 22, 1981). He often published under the names Lewis Ford, Lee Leighton and Joseph Wayne. He
used the last two names when writing in collaboration with Wayne D. Overholser. In all three stories, originally published in
the 1950s, Lewis Patten creates Western truly entertaining and memorable action/adventure western stories that are as fresh
to a new general of readers as they were to dedicated western fans of 70+ years ago. This large print paperback edition of
"Ride The Red Trail" from the Linford Western Library is enthusiastically recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Wester Fiction collections.
Lone Rider From Texas
Peter Dawson
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785419706, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 448pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781785419706
Synopsis: This large print paperback edition of "Lone Rider From Texas" is an anthology comprising seven western
action/adventure stories by Peter Dawson and were originally published in the age of the pulp magazine in the 1930s.
Among these stories is that of a young man is in a quandary when all the evidence in two murder cases points directly at his
father. A guard is forced to choose between a seemingly impossible love and complicity in a stagecoach robbery. A Texas
cattle rancher rides into New Mexico to learn why he has been implicated in a theft. An outlaw father who endeavors to save
the life of his lawman son.
Critique: Peter Dawson is the nom de plume used by Jonathan Hurff Glidden. He was born in Kewanee, Illinois, in 1907
and studied English literature at the University of Illinois. He wrote over a dozen Western novels and published over 120
short novels and stories in magazines. He died in 1957. Dawson was a master of the western genre and this collection of his
stories are true action/adventure gems with many a surprising twist or turn. Bringing a new generation of appreciative
readers to the attention of the talent and imagination of a writer like Dawson, "Lone Rider From Texas" is recommended as
a welcome and popular addition to both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Tokyo Zangyo
Michael Pronko
www.michaelpronko.com
Raked Gravel Press
9781942410256, $24.99 Paper/$7.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Tokyo-Zangyo-Michael-Pronko/dp/1942410255
Tokyo Zangyo adds to the Detective Hiroshi series set in Tokyo with another story of intrigue that both adds to the others
while standing nicely on its own, for newcomers.
Here, Detective Hiroshi investigates the death of a top manager in a Tokyo company. And this is where Michael Pronko's
own familiarity with Japan's culture comes into play; because the story's ability to capture the milieu of corporate life and
business concerns excels in creating realistic backdrop that brings not just Hiroshi's efforts, but his world to life. Political
and economic concerns blend into the investigative focus to inject a full-bodied feel to the story: "If we can't get all the
information on Onizuka, our investigation could drag on for longer, possibly interfering with PR for your overseas
expansion. We want this case closed as much as you do," Hiroshi said.
From personal interactions within the company and between different layers of authority to Hiroshi's personal involvement
with Ayana, a woman who tries to support him and keep him together, Pronko excels in dialogues and interactions that go
beyond investigative circles alone. These romantic, social, and political interplays keep the story unpredictable and
multifaceted as events play out to challenge Detective Hiroshi on more than one level. There are also atmospheric references
that bring Tokyo's backdrop to life: "Hiroshi looked away at the lights of Tokyo spreading like fallen, cooling stars all the
way to the horizon. Overhead, the skyglow that hung over Tokyo blocked the real stars."
In addition to the homicide investigation, readers who enjoy learning about Japanese cultural influences and processes
receive a wealth of insights that are neatly woven into the intrigue. The resulting interplay between characters, a sense of
place, and a murder mystery that plays out on an especially involving stage will keep both prior readers and newcomers to
Detective Hiroshi's world thoroughly engaged and guessing to the end. Pronko is masterful at bringing all these elements to
life in the richly depicted Tokyo Zangyo. This makes it not just highly recommended for mystery readers, but a standout in
the genre. Its added value of social inspection and Japanese business pressures will educate readers about that nation's
perspective even as it builds a blossoming, compelling mystery.
The Stone Chamber
Kate Ellis
Charnwood Large Print / Thorpe
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444847673, $TBA, PB, Large Print, 390pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444847673
Synopsis: On a summer's evening, Robert and Greta Gerdner are shot dead at their isolated home in the Devon countryside.
DI Wesley Peterson suspects the execution-style murders might be linked to Robert's past career in the police - until
Robert's name is found on a list of people who've been sent tickets anonymously for a tour of Darkhole Grange, a former
asylum on Dartmoor. When his friend, archaeologist Neil Watson, finds the skeleton of a woman buried in a sealed chamber
dating back to the 15th century at his nearby dig, Wesley wonders whether there might be a connection between the
mysterious stone cell and the tragic events at Darkhole Grange. With the clock ticking, Wesley must solve the puzzle before
the next person on the list meets a terrible end.
Critique: One of those compulsive page turner whodunnit mysteries with more plot twists and turns than Coney Island
rollercoaster, "The Stone Chamber" is a mystery lover's delight and clearly establishes author Kate Ellis as a complete
master of the genre. Original, entertaining, and with commendable attention to detail that plays fair with the reader, this
large print paperback edition from Charnwood Large Print is especially recommended for the personal reading lists of all
dedicated mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Driftless Gold
Sue Berg
Little Creek Press
9781942586968 $18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Driftless-Gold-Higgins-Mystery-Novel/dp/1942586965
Synopsis: A migrant worker is discovered buried in a local quarry with an antique gold coin in his pocket near La Crosse,
Wisconsin. Lt. Jim Higgins begins to unravel a murder that will take him back into Wisconsin's early history. During the
investigation, Higgins meets a local archaeological savant and treasure hunter who tells him a wild tale about a U.S. Army
payroll that was stolen on the way to Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien in 1866. The payroll has never been recovered. Is
the coin on the dead man part of the stolen treasure?
Critique: The debut detective mystery of author Sue Berg, Driftless Gold is set near La Crosse, Wisconsin, with roots
reaching back to a stolen U.S. Army payroll. A murder, with an old coin found on the victim, draws Lt. Jim Higgins into a
race against time before the killer strikes again. A page-turner that keeps the reader guessing to the very end, Driftless Gold
is enthusiastically recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre.
Shoot the Moonlight Out
William Boyle
Pegasus Books
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781643138251, $25.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shoot-Moonlight-Out-William-Boyle/dp/1643138251
Synopsis: Southern Brooklyn, July 1996. Fire hydrants are open and spraying water on the sizzling blacktop. Punk kids have
to make their own fun. Bobby Santovasco and his pal Zeke like to throw rocks at cars getting off the Belt Parkway. They
think it's dumb and harmless until it's too late to think otherwise. Then there's Jack Cornacchia, a widower who lives with
his high school age daughter Amelia and reads meters for Con Ed but also has a secret life as a vigilante, righting
neighborhood wrongs through acts of violence. A simple mission to strong-arm a Bay Ridge con man, Max Berry, leads him
to cross paths with a tragedy that hits close to home.
Fast forward five years: June 2001. The summer before New York City and the world changed for good. Charlie French is a
low-level gangster-wannabe trying to make a name for himself. When he stumbles onto a bowling alley locker stuffed with
a bag full of cash, he brings it to his only pal, Max Berry, for safekeeping while he cleans up the mess surrounding it. Bobby
Santovasco - with no real future mapped out and the big sin of his past shining brightly in his rearview mirror - has taken a
job working as an errand boy for Max Berry. On a recruiting run for Max's Ponzi scheme, Bobby meets Francesca Clarke,
born in the neighborhood but an outsider nonetheless. They hit it off. Bobby gets the idea to knock off Max's safe so he and
Francesca can escape Brooklyn forever. Little does he know what Charlie French has stashed there.
Meanwhile, Bobby's former stepsister, Lily Murphy, is back home in the neighborhood after college, teaching a writing class
in the basement of St. Mary's church. She's also being stalked by her college boyfriend. One of her students is Jack
Cornacchia. When she opens up to him about her stalker, Jack decides to take matters into his own hands.
Critique: A simply riveting and original crime novel featuring a roster of deftly crafted and memorable characters, as well as
more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, "Shoot the Moonlight Out" by William Boyle is
unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Shoot the Moonlight Out" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Deception Island
Janice Boekhoff
Lost Canyon Press LLC
9781948003087, $16.99
https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Island-Jurassic-Judgment-Book/dp/1948003082
Sci-fi and thriller readers who enjoyed Jurassic Park (and also the first book in Janice Boekhoff's Jurassic Judgment series)
will find Deception Island a fine continuing saga of genetic manipulation gone awry. In this future world, Costa Rica is
overrun by dinosaurs. As if this isn't enough, Oakley Laveau is also struggling to understand why her mother tried to kill
her. Apparently, not just dinosaurs are on the receiving end of genetic manipulation, placing Oakley in the center of a
struggle to survive that pits her against forces that would destroy her freedoms and sacrifice her for a greater good.
It turns out that Oakley Laveau's initial banishment to Extinction Island for her supposed involvement in a murder she didn't
commit is only the opening salvo of the struggle, and discovering the truth behind her genetic makeup and origins was just
the beginning. As she moves through a world of captive dinosaurs, examines who has manipulated her and why, and faces a
jungle adventure replete with Indiana Jones-style action (but with a Jurassic Park overlay), readers will find the action,
intrigue, and premises unpredictable despite their seemingly unsurprising backdrop.
Janice Boekhoff's ability to create a thriller format that incorporates sci-fi elements but heavily rests upon intrigue and
survivalism will expand the audience of Deception Island to those who normally don't pursue the sci-fi genre. As Oakley
faces self-discovery on a level that challenges her perception not just of herself but the world and her place within (or
outside) it, readers receive a compelling, fast-paced action story filled with unexpected twists and turns to keep them
guessing. One might think that prior familiarity with its predecessor, Extinction Island, would be a requirement in order to
easily absorb the milieu of Deception Island; but Boekhoff provides recaps that are so seamlessly wound into this story that
even prior fans won't balk at receiving information they already know. Ultimately, the question boils down to "why were we
created?" The answer will surprise many.
The Audiobook Shelf
Night Court
Ashley Fontainne, author
Rebecca Roberts, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781504692960, $29.95, MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Court-Woman-Three-Executioner/dp/1504692969
Synopsis: Judge -- Merry watches, her presence cloaked by the shroud of nightfall. Nothing moves except her eyes which
focus on her target. No remorse. No regret. No second guessing the decision to end the lives of the monsters who turned her
into a killer.
Jury -- The peddlers of death from potent chemicals are found guilty. Death is the punishment for their crimes. All appeals
denied. Sentencing to commence immediately. The leeches who sucked out the life of addicts with each snort, puff,
swallow, and injection will now pay the ultimate price.
Executioner -- The idyllic world of Merry Marie Hall, once the loving wife of Harold and mother to their only child, Joshua,
is over. Extinguished when Joshua overdosed and Harold died of a heart attack at the funeral. Now Merry hunts down the
guilty parties, and one by one, carries out her personal vigilante court's orders.
Critique: A non-stop thriller of a read written by Ashley Fontainne and ably narrated by Rebecca Roberts, "Night Court" is a full throated 'theatre of the mind' experience. A complete and unabridged MP3 edition from Blackstone Audiobooks (6 hours, 5 CDS), "Night Court" is a truly exceptional and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library audio book collections.
The Library CD Shelf
Awakening
Dave Eggar
Domo Music Group
www.DomoMusicGroup.com
$12.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Dave-Eggar/dp/B09BPWYKM7
Awakening is a solo piano collection composed and performed by music artist Dave Eggar. The mellifluous themes inspire
creativity and hope, shining as the audio soundscape equivalent of a beautiful sunrise. Awakening is a treasure for piano
music connoisseurs, and highly recommended for public library music collections. The tracks are Awakening, Faded
Memory, Through the Glass, Beyond, Forest Afternoon, Diamonds, My Simple Gift, Russian Winter, Arise, Fallen Leaves,
Bristol Morning, Coming Home, Earth Story, and New Dawn.
You Are There
Shawnn Monteiro
Whaling City Sound
https://whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (distribution)
https://naxosusa.com
$17.86 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-There-Shawnn-Monteiro/dp/B09J5GJT77
You Are There showcases the lush jazz singing of Shawnn Monteiro, supported by masterful performances of associates on
trumpet, piano, trombone, drums, and bass. The charged, intensely passionate music crested with dulcet beauty of
Monteiro's vocals makes You Are There a rapturous listening experience, highly recommended especially for connoisseurs
of the genre. The tracks are Dearly Beloved, Inside a Silent Tear, Let's Eat Home, You are There, How Deep is the Ocean,
You'll See, The Shadow of Your Smile, Autumn Leaves, Alone at Last, Never Let Me Go, I Hear Music / How High the
Moon, and My Old Friend.
Worldview
Avataar
Sundar Music
sundarmusic.com
$15.00 CD / $7.00 digital
https://avataar.bandcamp.com
Award-winning Toronto world-jazz group Avataar presents Worldview, an original album that draws upon jazz and the
musical traditions of India, Africa, and Brazil to call for more humanitarian treatment of children. The songs reflect upon
nostalgia, homesickness, and lament horrific tragedies including the death of a trafficked three-year-old Syrian boy who
washed up in Italian shores, and the Sandy Hook massacre of 2012. Worldview is emotional, profound, utterly
unforgettable, and highly recommended. The tracks are "Worldview", "Ekkriis Spirito [Reclaimed Spirit]", "Chrysalis
[Emergence]", "Innocents [12/14/12]", "Song Song", "Blue As It Ever Was", "A Safe Space for Children [For All]", and
"Little Kurdi [For Alan Kurdi]".
Full Bloom
Nancy Shoop-Wu
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Full-Bloom-Nancy-Shoop-Wu/dp/B09FX8L96H
Full Bloom is a new-age violin and vocal album by Nancy Shoop-Wu, who composed, arranged, performed and sang, with
support Derek Nakamoto on piano and Cello (Qiele) Guo on cello. Adventurous, expressive, and far-reaching, these songs
are brimming with a longing for adventure, and ignite an internal sense of discovery. Full Bloom is highly recommended for
personal enrichment, and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Full Bloom, Night Rainbow, Dreams, Flying Away,
Beautiful, Olinda Winds, Angel Above Me, Serenade, Golden Leaves, and Morning Paradise.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Dino Govoni
Whaling City Sound
https://whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (distribution)
https://naxosusa.com
$TBA CD / $8.91 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Plain-Sight-Govoni-Henry/dp/B09JKYKYB3
Hiding in Plain Sight is a jazz album featuring Dino Govoni on tenor saxophone, Alex Sipiagin on trumpet and flugelhorn,
Henry Hey on piano, Michael Pope on acoustic and electric bass, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts on drums. The smooth, versatile,
evocative music takes the listener on an auditory pleasure cruise. Hiding in Plain Sight is a treasure for jazz connoisseurs,
highly recommended. The tracks are Stories Passed, Cobalt, Falling Ahead, Thinkers Anonymous, Ask Again, Sublimate,
Point Turn, Appels to Apples, and Edge Walker.
Small Town Dreamer
Daryl Mosley
www.darylmosley.com
Pinecastle Holdings, LLC
www.pinecastlemusic.com
$TBA CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Town-Dreamer-Daryl-Mosley/dp/B09FYMWSPC
Small Town Dreamer is an album of twelve original songs by folk music artist Daryl Mosley, offering portraits of small
town life in America. Soul-stirring guitar and Daryl's memorable vocals distinguish these nostalgic, empathetic, and
evocative songs. A treasure for connoisseurs of Americana, Small Town Dreamer is highly recommended. The track list is
"Transistor Radio", "Hillbilly Dust", "The Last of His Kind", "Bringing Simple Back", "He's With Me", "The Waverly Train
Disaster", "You Are the Reason", "I Can't Go Home Anymore", "The Way I Was Raised", "Mama's Bible", "Here's to the
Dreamers", and "Sing Me a Song About a Train".
The Multimedia Shelf
WoodSongs 5: A Folksinger's Compendium & van Gogh Reader
Michael Johnathon
http://www.michaeljohnathon.com
Privately Published
9780578952499 $20.00 pbk / $4.99 digital
http://www.michaeljohnathon.com/ws5
Synopsis: WoodSongs 5 is the fifth volume in a series about art, music & rural living from Michael Johnathon, one of
America's most popular folksingers, songwriters and host of the radio & TV broadcast the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio
Hour. WoodSongs 5 is a celebration of Vincent van Gogh's passion, vision, and his struggle to push forward even though
rejected by the art world of his time.
WoodSongs 5 (176 pages, full color) explores the world of Vincent van Gogh, Pete Seeger, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Hank
Williams, John Denver, Billie Holiday and many other "creatives," the poets, painters, dreamers and time travelers,
world-wanderers and highway vagabonds, rail riders and drifters who dream what is unseen so others can appreciate what
has been created. They are 5-string politicians, 6-string therapists, banjo barristers, acoustic lovers and penny-pinching
peacemakers... because those who sing together can not fight. They are still there. Still writing, searching, singing, trying to
get this world in tune.
A beautiful gift for every artist, painter, songwriter and lover of art.
Critique: The fifth in a creative and expressive series celebrating art, music, and the joys of rural life, WoodSongs 5 is a
delight to browse. Like all books in the series, WoodSongs5 includes The Painter CD album and a free gift of the Songs of
Rural America symphony album on CD. WoodSongs 5 is awash with creativity, color, and passion as it brings the reader on
a journey through the timeless works of Vincent van Gogh, Pete Seeger, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Billie Holiday and more.
WoodSongs 5 is highly recommended, and makes an excellent gift for anyone who loves art or music. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that WoodSongs 5 is also available in as an ebook ($4.99).
The Beer Shelf
World Atlas of Beer
Tim Webb, author
Stephen Beaumont, author
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784726270, $39.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/World-Atlas-Beer-ESSENTIAL-GUIDE/dp/1784726273
Synopsis: As craft brewing continues to go from strength to strength across the world, and now in a newly updated and
expanded third edition, "World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World" by the team of Tim Webb and
Stephen Beaumont continues to be the definitive and essential guide to beer for the true connoisseur.
A coffee table style volume (9.3 x 1.15 x 11.8 inches), "World Atlas of Beer" covers the rich, multi-faceted traditions of
Belgium, the Nordic legend that is Finnish Sahti, the relatively new phenomenon of the New England hazy IPA, why
Australia's lower-strength beers are one of its great successes, and so much more! With thousands of breweries now
operating around the globe, and more opening every day, "World Atlas of Beer" is the expert guide to what is really worth
drinking.
Country by country "World Atlas of Beer" considers a vast range of brewing techniques, beer styles and traditions. Detailed
maps describe crucial trends in major territories and features such as matching beer with food and how to pour different
kinds of beer complete the picture.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color, this impressively comprehensive and exceptionally organized
and presented third edition of the award winning "World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World" is a
'must' for all dedicated beer drinkers and will be an enduringly popular and welcome addition to personal, professional,
community, college, and university library collections.
Editorial Note #1: Tim Webb began writing about better types of beer when most of what could be said had to be reported in
the past tense. During six years on the board of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) he ran Britain's national beer festival
and co-founded CAMRA's publishing company. He has written Good Beer GuideBelgium continuously since 1992 and has
won awards for beer writing in four countries. In a career spanning over 40 years he has witnessed and chronicled the return
of the craft of beer brewing, perhaps the most extraordinary consumer-led revolution of modern times.
Editorial Note #2: Stephen Beaumont is recognized internationally as one of the leading writers on beer in the world today.
He is the author or co-author of ten additional books about beer, including The Beer & Food Companion, and two editions
of The Pocket Beer Book, and a contributor to many others. Through his 26 years of covering the global beer scene, Stephen
has written literally hundreds of articles and columns for publications as diverse as Whisky Advocate, Playboy and the
Celebrator, and hosted tastings, dinners and educational events around the globe, from Mexico City to Burton-on-Trent and
Philadelphia to Beijing. He may be found online at www.beaumontdrinks.com and on Twitter at @BeaumontDrinks.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Our Spiritual DNA
Carmel Niland
Findhorn Press
www.findhornpress.com
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781644112632, $18.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Spiritual-DNA-Ascended-Evidence/dp/1644112639
Synopsis: Guided by renowned mystics, in the pages of her new book, "Our Spiritual DNA: Twelve Ascended Masters and
the Evidence for Our Divine Ancestry", author Carmel Niland suggests that, just as we carry physical DNA that shapes us
across generations, we also carry an energetic code or spiritual DNA that links us back to the very source of our origins
(God) a divine ancestry that throughout the centuries conveys itself in patterns of behavior, character traits, and life purpose,
connecting each individual to a specific Ascended Master.
The God essence expresses itself through archetypal energies in us, represented by 12 Ascended Masters who hold the 12
strands of our spiritual DNA. Thus, every person on this earth, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary, is an aspect of one
of these Masters. Focusing on Mother Mary and St. Germain, Our Spiritual DNA explores the role, energies, and essence of
these 12 Masters by examining some of history's most important figures who have been instrumental in shaping our world.
Hitherto unknown details about the lives of personalities like Queen Nefertiti, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Merlin, Isabelle of
Castile, and Dante emerge in channeled conversations with the author's spiritual guide, The Gatekeeper.
Revolutionizing the Western view of reincarnation, "Our Spiritual DNA: Twelve Ascended Masters and the Evidence for
Our Divine Ancestry" is astounding and unique book allows you to trace your own spiritual DNA through the reincarnations
of the Ascended Masters, understand your spiritual and genetic connection to God, and realize that we are all divinely
connected across gender, race, and time.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Our Spiritual DNA: Twelve Ascended Masters and the
Evidence for Our Divine Ancestry" is a singularly impressive study that will be of special interest for all students of the
metaphysical sciences. While highly recommended for community, college, and university library New Age Channeling,
Angels & Spirit Guides, and Spiritual Self-Help collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Our Spiritual
DNA: Twelve Ascended Masters and the Evidence for Our Divine Ancestry" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $12.99).
Conversations with the Goddess
Dorothy Atalla
Pharos Press
www.pharospress.net
9780984447305, $17.95, PB, 292pp
https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-Goddess-Encounter-Petra-Place/dp/098444730X
Synopsis: On a January day in the depths of mid-western winter Dorothy Atalla expected more of the same: snow, ice and
gray skies. But when she lay down on her living room carpet to relax with music, she had an experience which changed her
life. Inexplicably, a vision of a radiant and beneficent female presence appeared to her. This astonishing event was only the
beginning of a journey she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams. That vision foreshadowed the dialogue with a
deity which is the essence of "Conversations with the Goddess: Encounter at Petra, Place of Power".
"Conversations with the Goddess" swiftly evolves from a personal story into a universal story in which a feminine Presence
speaks about the role of the sacred Feminine in the future. She also speaks of the past, revealing a panoramic view of a time
in which the Goddess was revered not only at Petra but also throughout the ancient world.
Her story is a multiplicity of strands which she deftly weaves together, creating a tapestry that spans immense time frames in
earth's evolution. As her tale progresses, people from the deep past step forward to tell about their lives and their
relationship with the Goddess. And a fascinating group of characters they are from Zillah, slave woman, to Hayyan
al-Shubri, high priest who serves the chief goddess of Petra.
Woven into the dialogues are lively commentaries about Petra as a cosmic power point, women as agents for planetary
evolution, and restoration of ancient Goddess knowledge and women's mysteries. Other threads in this weaving are also
relevant to modern women: woman's innate spiritual power, earth's powers and the powers of woman, symbolism in female
artifacts and the consciousness which created them, what the dark Feminine really is, correction of misperceptions about the
nature of the Great Goddess, and a path toward balance of the divine Feminine and the divine Masculine.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, memorably unique, thoughtful and thought-provoking read throughout, While
"Conversations with the Goddess: Encounter at Petra, Place of Power" is especially and unreservedly recommended for
community, college, and university library Contemporary Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Conversations with the Goddess: Encounter at Petra, Place of Power" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Delaware, Dorothy Atalla received an endowed fellowship
for a Master's degree in English Literature. Her studies led to ancient history, archaeology, depth psychology, quantum
physics, transpersonal psychology and the evolution of consciousness, and the study of ancient religion and mythology.
The Gardening Shelf
The Living Soil Handbook
Jesse Frost
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645020264, $29.95, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Soil-Handbook-Ecological-Gardening/dp/1645020266
Synopsis: Discovering how to meet the soil's needs is the key task for every market gardener where a home gardening
amateur or a professional farmer. "The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market
Gardening" by Jesse Frost is comprehensive guide, in which he shares all that he has learned through years of experience
and experimentation with no-till practices on his home farm in Kentucky and from interviews and visits with highly
successful market gardeners in his role as host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast.
The Living Soil Handbook is centered around the three basic principles of no-till market gardening: Disturb the soil as little
as possible: Keep it covered as much as possible; Keep it planted as much as possible.
"The Living Soil Handbook" then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their
own materials, to meet their own goals. Beginning with an exploration of the importance of photosynthesis to living soil,
Jesse provides in-depth information on: Turning over beds; Using compost and mulch; Path management; Incorporating
biology, maintaining fertility; Cover cropping; Diversifying plantings through intercropping; Production methods for seven
major crops
Throughout, "The Living Soil Handbook" emphasizes practical information on all the best tools and practices for growers
who want to build their livelihood around maximizing the health of their soil.
Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout, "The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market
Gardening" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. A comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly'
instructional manual and guide, "The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening"
is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library
Gardening/Horticultural/Agricultural collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Living Soil
Handbook: The No-Till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $21.59).
Editorial Note: Jesse Frost, aka Farmer Jesse, is a certified organic market gardener, freelance journalist, and the host of The
No-Till Market Garden Podcast. He is also a cofounder of www.notillgrowers.com, a website where he helps collect the
best and latest no-till insights from growers in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe. He and his wife, Hannah
Crabtree, practice no-till farming at Rough Draft Farmstead in central Kentucky.
The Poetry Shelf
Small Bibles for Bad Times: Selected Poems and Prose
Liliane Atlans
Dryad Press
www.dryadpress.com
9781942134688, $21.95, PB, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Bibles-Bad-Times-Selected/dp/1942134681
Synopsis: Very ably translated from French into English by Marguerite Feitliz, "Small Bibles for Bad Times: Selected
Poems and Prose of Liliane Atlan" by the late Liliane Atlan is an inherent fascinating and compelling volume that
showcases the poet's genuine flair for thoroughly originality and the kind of word smithing that invokes both an emotional
and a cerebral response in a two language edition from Dryad Press with French on the left side and English on the
right.
Critique: Erudite, compelling, memorable and unique, the poetry and prose of Liliane Atlans will prove to be welcome and
appreciated addition to personal reading lists of all dedicated poetry fans, as well as community, college, and university
library Poetry collections.
Editorial Note: Liliane Atlan (January 14, 1932 - February 15, 2011) was a French Jewish writer whose work often focused
on the psychological effects of the Holocaust.
The Self-Help Shelf
Hear Yourself
Prem Rawat
HarperOne
https://harperone.com
c/o HarperCollins
https://www.harpercollins.com
9780063070745 $26.99 hc / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Hear-Yourself-Peace-Noisy-World/dp/006307074X
Synopsis: The cacophony of modern life can be deafening, leaving us feeling frazzled and uneasy. In this warm, wise book,
Prem Rawat teaches us how to turn down the noise to "hear ourselves"-to listen to the subtle song of peace that sings inside
each of us. Once we learn to truly "hear ourselves" and the voice of peace within, then we can hold on to that as we face all
the noise of the world.
The culmination of a lifetime of study, Hear Yourself lays out the crucial steps we can use to focus on the voice within.
Take a walk in nature and listen for the sounds of harmony, Prem Rawat suggests, or set aside a few minutes each day to
feel gratitude, which comes from the core of our being. He challenges us to embrace our thirst for peace and let go of
expectations for how it should feel. With one straightforward yet deeply profound question, he helps us to focus - to be
present: Am I conscious of where I am today and what I want to experience in this world?"
If we allow ourselves to listen, what we hear is the extraordinary miracle of existence - an experience that transforms our
relationship to life and everything in it. Packed with powerful insights and compelling stories, Hear Yourself introduces
readers to an ancient line of practical wisdom that enlightens us to a simple way to listen. By doing so, Prem Rawat reveals,
we can "profoundly change our understanding of ourselves, those around us, and our lives."
Critique: Hear Yourself: How to Find Peace in a Noisy World is a self-help guide to listening within, and better
understanding oneself. Listening to one's inner voice is a practice drawn upon ancient wisdom, yet as profoundly impactful
today as it was millennia ago. Author Prem Rawat offers tips, tricks, and techniques to clear one's mind, focus, and truly
listen when surrounded by raucous cacophony. Hear Yourself is an excellent, mind-expanding read, highly recommended. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that Hear Yourself is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
The Travel Shelf
Lonely Planet Florida
Fionn Davenport, Anthony Ham, Adam Karlin, Vesna Maric, and Trisha Ping
Lonely Planet
https://www.lonelyplanet.com
9781787015692 $24.99
https://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Florida-Travel-Guide/dp/1787015696
Synopsis: Lonely Planet's Florida is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what
hidden discoveries await you. Snorkel in the Keys, explore the magic of Walt Disney World resort, and marvel at Miami's
art deco masterpieces; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Florida and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet's Florida Travel Guide:
Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020's
COVID-19 outbreak
NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from
airport to hotel
Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids
What's New feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas our writers have
uncovered
NEW Accommodations feature gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodation
Color maps and images throughout
Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks
miss
Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine,
politics
Over 65 maps
Covers Miami, The Everglades, the Florida Keys & Key West, Southeast Florida, Orlando & Walt Disney World, the Space
Coast, Northeast Florida, Tampa Bay & Southwest Florida, the Panhandle
Critique: Up-to-date with information about businesses that are open (with reasonable precautions) during the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic, Lonely Planet Florida is jam-packed cover to cover with recommended restaurants, tourist
destinations, outdoor activities, hotels, and much more. Tips, advice, color maps, and a section on the Everglades round out
this handy "must-have" for Florida vacationers and business travelers alike. Highly recommended!
Lonely Planet Best of Costa Rica
Jade Bremner, Ashley Harrell, Brian Kluepfel, and Mara Vorhees
Lonely Planet
https://www.lonelyplanet.com
9781787015340, $24.99
https://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Best-Costa-Country/dp/1787015343
Synopsis: Lonely Planet's Best of Costa Rica is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and
skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Lounge on sugar-white beaches in Southern Nicoya, spot sea turtles in
Tortuguero, and catch the surf off deserted beaches on the Costa Ballena; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the
heart of Costa Rica and begin your journey now!
Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020's
COVID-19 outbreak
Color maps and images throughout
Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
Essential infoat your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks
miss
Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine,
politics
Covers San Jose, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Manuel Antonio, Volcan Arenal, Montezuma, Peninsula de Osa, Tortuguero,
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Playa Samara, and more
Critique: Lonely Planet's Best of Costa Rica: Top Sights, Authentic Experiences lives up to its title as a treasury for anyone
interested in visiting this beautiful nation filled with diverse species and natural wonders. This up-to-date guide showcases
businesses that have remained open (with appropriate precautions) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and includes
extensive contact information, recommendations, full-color photography, suggested itineraries, budget- friendly options, and
much more. Lonely Planet's Best of Costa Rica is a "must-have" for tourists and armchair travelers alike, highly
recommended.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Complete Encyclicals, Bulls, and Apostolic Exhortations: Volume 2
Pope Francis
Ave Maria Press
https://www.avemariapress.com
9781646801138, $27.95 pbk / $20.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Encyclicals-Bulls-Apostolic-Exhortations/dp/164680113X
Synopsis: When Pope Francis puts pen to paper, people around the world pay attention. Between 2017 and 2020, the Holy
Father published six groundbreaking documents with topics ranging from the importance of scripture to Catholic social
teaching, and from injustice in the Amazon to the role of religion in building world peace. These seven documents - letters,
apostolic exhortations, an encyclical, and a statement cosigned by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb - are
gathered in one volume for the first time.
Volume 2 includes:
Gaudete et Exultate, March 19, 2018: In his apostolic exhortation Rejoice and Be Glad: On the Call to Holiness in Today's
World, Pope Francis reissues the universal call to holiness, challenges us to recognize the "saints next door" we encounter in
daily life, and provides a practical meditation on how we can respond to the Lord's invitation to become his disciples.
Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, February 4, 2019: This document emphasizes the
important role of religion in building world peace and the rights of freedom, justice, and full citizenship for all people -
including women. It was cosigned in Abu Dhabi by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, during Pope Francis's
apostolic visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Apperuit Illis, September 30, 2019: This apostolic letter, Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God, reflects on Vatican II's
teaching on the importance of the scriptures and encourages all Catholics to embrace the Bible as part of their rich spiritual
heritage.
Christus Vivit, March 25, 2019: Christ is Alive is the post-synodal apostolic exhortation to young people framed on three
key principles: God loves you, Jesus saves and suffers with you, and Jesus is alive.
Querida Amazonia, February 12, 2020: The 2020 post-synodal apostolic exhortation Beloved Amazon addresses injustice
and exploitation in the Amazon region, outlines challenges to caring for creation and respecting the cultures of indigenous
peoples, and renews consideration of how the Church's mission can and should take shape in the twenty-first century.
Fratelli Tutti, October 4, 2020: All Brothers and Sisters: On Fraternity and Social Friendship is Pope Francis's third
encyclical and the only one written between 2017 and 2020. This seminal work challenges us to take a fresh look at the great
ideals of the Church's social teaching and put them into practice on a new - and more personal - level.
Patris Corde, December 8, 2020: The apostolic letter With a Father's Heart declared 2021 the Year of St. Joseph, and
provides an extended meditation on the various facets of Joseph's fatherhood.
Critique: The Complete Encyclicals, Bulls, and Apostolic Exhortations: Volume 2 is the second volume of Pope Francis'
complete writings from 2017 to 2020. As the current leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis commands a singularly
high level of attention from theological scholars and faithful Christians worldwide. This volume of his writings includes
testimony on the role of religion in building world peace, freedom, and justice; encouragement for Catholics to study the
Bible as part of their spiritual heritage; testimony about injustice and exploitation in the Amazon region; and much more. It
is worth noting that Pope Francis' writing is thoroughly accessible to readers of all faiths and backgrounds. Volume 2 is an
absolute "must-have" for Catholic church libraries and Religious Studies shelves. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that Volume 2 is also available in a Kindle edition ($20.99).
Editorial Note: Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to parents of Italian descent. He
was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969, ordained auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992, installed as bishop in 1998, and
elevated to cardinal in 2001. He was elected by the College of Cardinals in March 2013 as the 266th pontiff of the Roman
Catholic Church and took the name Francis for St. Francis of Assisi. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the
Americas, and the first non-European pope in more than twelve centuries.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Hidden History of American Healthcare
Thom Hartmann
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
https://www.bkconnection.com
9781523091638, $17.00 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-History-American-Healthcare-Bankrupts/dp/1523091630
Synopsis: Other countries have shown us that affordable universal healthcare is not only possible but effective and efficient.
Taiwan's single-payer system enabled the country to implement a nationwide coronavirus test-and-contact-trace program
without shutting down the economy saving the country a fortune as well as thousands of lives during the pandemic. This
resulted in just twelve deaths, while more than 500,000 have died in the United States.
Author Thom Hartmann offers a deep dive into the shameful history of American healthcare, showing how greed, racism,
and oligarchic corruption led to the current "sickness for profit" system. Modern attempts to create versions of government
healthcare have been hobbled at every turn, including Obamacare. There is a simple solution: Medicare for All. Hartmann
outlines the extraordinary benefits this system would provide the American people and economy and the steps we need to
take to make it a reality. It's time for America to join every industrialized country in the world and make healthcare a right,
not a privilege. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Hidden History of American Healthcare is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Critique: The Hidden History of American Healthcare: Why Sickness Bankrupts You and Makes Others Insanely Rich is a
fierce indictment of America's for-profit healthcare system, which has evolved to extract as much money as it can out of
sick people and let them die if they can't pay. Modern attempts to transform healthcare into a human right have been
repeatedly hamstrung. Author and progressive radio talk show host Thom Hartmann advocates Medicare for All as the
solution to save lives, relieve financial pressure from America's poorest and most vulnerable population, and eliminate the
enormous siphon of privatized profits out of money spent on health care. The Hidden History of American Healthcare is
highly recommended for both personal and public library Social Issues collections.
Editorial Note: Thom Hartmann is a four-time winner of the Project Censored Award, a New York Times bestselling author
of thirty-two books, and America's #1 progressive talk radio show host. His show is syndicated on local for-profit and
nonprofit stations and broadcasts nationwide and worldwide. It is also simulcast on television into nearly 60 million US and
Canadian homes.
The World History Shelf
Ancient Rome: Infographics
Nicolas Guillerate, author
John Scheid, author
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500252628, $29.95, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Rome-Infographics-Nicolas-Guillerat/dp/0500252629
Synopsis: Compiled and written by the team of data designer and graphic artist Nicolas Guillerate and historian John
Scheid, "Ancient Rome: Infographics" tells the story of a great empire through graphic design. This innovative approach to
history offers readers a new way to conceptualize ancient Rome from the birth of the empire to the Punic Wars, and from
the Roman political system to the role of women, slaves, and public entertainment. Cleverly designed infographics bring
alive the complex history and structure of this ancient empire for the general reader while still satisfying demands for the
rigorous approach of a historian.
Drawing on the best international sources, "Ancient Rome: Infographics" charts ancient Rome's social, political, and cultural
histories with breathtaking data visualizations. The result is an extraordinary new approach to Rome's history, and is sure to
appeal to those looking for an overview of the period and to history buffs alike.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color throughout, impressively informed and informative, and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' in structure and presentation, "Ancient Rome: Infographics" is an extraordinarily well organized
and comprehensive study and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, highschool, community,
college, and university library Ancient Roman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists.
The Biography Shelf
General Albert C. Wedemeyer: America's Unsung Strategist in World War II
John McLaughlin
Casemate
https://www.casematepublishers.com
9781612000695, $24.95 pbk / $16.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/General-Albert-C-Wedemeyer-Strategist/dp/161200069X
Synopsis: Like many heroes of the Second World War, General Albert C. Wedemeyer's career has been largely
overshadowed by such well-known figures as Marshall, Patton, Montgomery, and Bradley. Wedemeyer's legacy as the main
planner of the D-Day invasion is almost completely forgotten today, eclipsed by politics and the capriciousness of human
nature.
Yet during America's preparation for the war, Wedemeyer was the primary author of the "Victory Program" that mobilized
US resources and directed them at crucial points in order to secure victory over the Axis. In the late 1930s he had the unique
experience of being an exchange student at the German Kriegsakademia, the Nazis' equivalent of Fort Leavenworth's
Command and General Staff School. As the only American to attend, he was thus the only ranking officer in the US who
recognized the revolutionary tactics of Blitzkrieg once they were unleashed, and he knew how to respond.
As US involvement in the European conflagration approached, Wedemeyer was taken under the wing of George C.
Marshall in Washington. Wedemeyer conceived the plans for US mobilization, which was in greater gear than realized at
the time of Pearl Harbor. The Victory Program, completed in the summer of 1941, contained actual battle plans and called
for the concentration of forces in England in preparation for an early cross-channel invasion into France. However, to
Wedemeyer's great disappointment (reflecting Marshall's), he was not appointed to field command in the ETO once the
invasion commenced; further, he had run afoul of Winston Churchill due to the latter's insistence on emphasizing the
Mediterranean theater in 1943.
Perhaps because of Churchill's animosity, Wedemeyer was transferred to the Burma-China theater, where a year later he
would replace General Stilwell. Ultimately, Wedemeyer's service in the Asian theater became far more significant, though
less known. Had the US political establishment listened to Wedemeyer's advice on China during the years 1943-48, it is
possible China would not have been lost to the Communists and would have been a functioning US ally from the start, thus
eliminating the likelihood of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Despite Wedemeyer's key position at the crux of modern history, his contributions have been overlooked in most accounts
of World War II and the Cold War beyond. In this work we gain an intimate look at a visionary thinker who helped guide
the Allies to victory in their greatest challenge, but whose vision of the post-war world was unfortunately not heeded.
Critique: General Albert C. Wedemeyer: America's Unsung Strategist in World War II is a fascinating military biography
about a lesser-known World War II strategist whose contributions were nonetheless crucial. Chapters portray his early life,
and meticulously chronicle his vision and involvement in the war effort. Unfortunately, his anticipation of the post-war
world - in particular, the conquest of China by its own Communist faction - was ultimately disregarded. General Albert C.
Wedemeyer: America's Unsung Strategist in World War II is a "must-have" for public and college library Military
Biography and Military History collections, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that there is
also a Kindle edition ($16.99).
Editorial Note: John Joseph McLaughlin is a retired attorney who returned to school and received his doctorate in History at
Drew University in 2008. His dissertation was on General Albert C. Wedemeyer which he has expanded into a book length
biography. Dr. McLaughlin is the Moderator of the New Jersey World War II Book Club which hosts monthly lectures at
the Millburn Library by authors and historians interested in World War II.
Who Could Have Imagined... Change Your Perspective, Transform Your Destiny
Dr. Aliette St. Hilaire, CRNA, APRN
Radiance Words Press
9780578935881, $14.95 Paper/$.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Imagined-Change-Perspective-Transform-Destiny/dp/0578935880
Readers of memoirs who look for stories of adversity, transformation, and immigrant experience will find all these elements
and more in Dr. Aliette St. Hilaire's Who Could Have Imagined... Change Your Perspective, Transform Your Destiny. It's
hard to envision less of an early path to the success that evolved: thirteen-year-old immigrant Allie became pregnant and yet
grew to become not just a doctor, but a successful mother and wife. Her story isn't just about personal achievement,
however. It's about cultivating a mindset that leads to revised options and better possibilities. She presents the "how" of this
approach as she traces a different path chosen after her early decisions involved marrying the father of her child, who was
twice her age, and convincing a court that this was a good idea. One big attraction to this memoir is its candid reveal of the
emotions that ran through the author's mind even at the age of twelve.
These reflections and insights explain both the logical and emotional roots of her decisions, serving as the foundation for
understanding how this critical thinking process was influenced early on in life, and how it began to change. As spiritual and
social elements come into play, Allie's story of renewal and growth takes on a different tone as she matures: "No matter how
many times I tried to get into a comfortable routine, something unexpected would happen that would force me to reconsider
my life. Of course, not all these unexpected changes were bad."
These spiritual influences represent some of the wellsprings of her transformation as Allie travels the world and becomes
involved in HOPE Worldwide, an organization that helps the poor across the globe. Readers interested in learning about the
juxtaposition of challenges and opportunities that influenced not just Allie's course, but her perspective on life, will find
Who Could Have Imagined far more than a memoir alone. It's a blueprint to cultivating a more aware lifestyle that leads to
real change and better living, and deserves a place in any inspirational, self-help, or memoir collection as a testimony to the
strength of belief and the power of perseverance, as well as how to "...open your heart to a whole new way of seeing the
world."
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Research Handbook on Corporate Restructuring
Paul J. Omar and Jennifer L.L. Gant, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781786437464 $310.00
https://www.amazon.com/Research-Corporate-Restructuring-Handbooks-Commercial/dp/1786437465
Synopsis: This timely Research Handbook examines the increasingly economically vital topic of corporate restructuring.
Reflecting a shift in the global approach to insolvency towards a focus on rescuing viable businesses rather than liquidation,
chapters consider all areas of the law closely connected to corporate insolvency, rehabilitation and rescue, as well as the
introduction of the EU Preventive Restructuring Directive and other reforms from around the world.
Featuring international expert academics, practitioners and judges, the Research Handbook takes a thematic approach,
exploring national and international models for rescue, stakeholders in insolvency, corporate structures and organizational
models, specialist process issues, and institutional support, as well as interdisciplinary and cross-field aspects of insolvency
and restructuring. Contributions analyze issues from a broad variety of perspectives, including the economic and social
aspects of insolvency, and provide a comparative discussion of topics that will further inform global academic debate in this
area.
Scholars and students of corporate and insolvency law, commercial law, and law and economics, will find the
inter-disciplinary legal, theoretical and jurisprudential discussion invaluable. The analysis of current reform agendas,
practical and alternative solutions to common problems, and comparative approach will also be of interest to practitioners
and policymakers.
Critique: Research Handbook on Corporate Restructuring is an anthology of erudite, extensively researched essays about
legal theory and practice with respect to corporate restructuring (such as when insolvency or bankruptcy cause major
changes, or even force a corporation to dissolve). Each essay is by a different expert and experts; topics include "The
evolution of corporate rescue in Canada and the United States", "Reforms in adverse economic climates: how reforms take
place in the Eurozone", "The position of shareholders in a restructuring", "Franchisees as externalities of insolvent
franchisors", "Pension rights and funds", "Overlooked human rights concerns in restructuring and insolvency context", and
much more. Research Handbook on Corporate Restructuring is a "must-have" for college and university collections as well
as the reading lists of professionals in the field. Highly recommended.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Directing Great Television
Dan Attias
Michael Wiese Productions
https://mwp.com
9781615933297 $29.95 pbk / $26.59 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Directing-Great-Television-Inside-Golden/dp/1615933298
Synopsis: Sharing his own process honed over a decades-long career, Emmy-nominated director Dan Attias brings you into
the actual experience of directing series television. Whether it's the high-stakes pressure of solving a last-minute problem on
set, or the joy of pulling off a perfect shot by the skin of your teeth, Attias brings you right into the director's chair, sharing
his knowledge and taking you through the process one challenging episode at a time. Offering a fundamental focus on story,
and eschewing industry language for plain talk, Attias offers in-depth guidance how best to work with actors, how to
"speak" through the camera, how to work with a showrunner, and how to be ready for the many ways a director will be
challenged, large and small.
Directing Great Television is a fascinating window into television's best shows, compelling to directors and non-directors
alike. Attias's book transcends other filmmaking guides by detailing his journey to a surprising place of self-discovery, one
with applications beyond entertainment.
Critique: Award-winning film and television director Dan Attias, who has worked in the industry since 1984 and has taught
numerous acting and directing workshops, distills his wisdom in Directing Great Television: Inside TV's New Golden Age.
Directing Great Television is written to be accessible to readers from all backgrounds, deliberately avoiding an excess of
industry jargon for plain terms. Attias shows what it's like to be in the director's chair, from coping with unexpected
pressures and emergencies, to coaching actors, dealing with difficult personalities, and insights into the human condition
that potentially transcend the craft of directing. Directing Great Television is a thoroughly fascinating read for lay television
connoisseurs and aspiring directors alike, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that Directing Great Television is also available in a Kindle edition ($26.59).
Editorial Note: Dan Attias has worked as a director in the film and television industry since 1984. As a director of series
television, he has received the Directors Guild of America award for outstanding direction of dramatic television for The
Wire, and has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his comedy directing. He continues to work on some of the
most celebrated and critically acclaimed American television shows, including Homeland, The Americans, and The
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Previously he has directed The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, True Blood, Entourage, The
Killing, True Detective, The Walking Dead, Bloodline, Friday Night Lights, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Lost, and
The Boys, among many others. He has taught acting and directing workshops in the United States, and has conducted master
classes in Italy, Greece, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada.
The Architecture Shelf
Almost, Not
Leslie Van Duzer
ORO Editions
https://www.oroeditions.com
9781951541774 $35.00
https://www.amazon.com/Almost-Not-Architecture-Atelier-Nishikata/dp/1951541774
Synopsis: Almost, Not: The Architecture of Atelier Nishikata is the story of a remarkable architecture practice in Tokyo.
Partners Reiko Nishio and Hirohito Ono have built just four residential works, until now remaining little-known outside of
Japan. But the extraordinary, almost-ordinary quality of their work warrants the spotlight. It has much to teach students of
architecture and experienced architects alike. This book is a hybrid between an architectural monograph and a magic
instruction book.
Author Leslie Van Duzer, a former magician's assistant and author of four monographs on 20th-century architecture, draws
parallels between the effects and methods of architects and magicians. The introductory essay, "Almost, Not," presents an
overview of Atelier Nishikata's approach, describing the effects engendered by their architecture and the methods behind the
them. The essay is followed by four detailed project descriptions that elaborate on the strategies behind the work. These
texts are richly illustrated with process work, diagrams, detailed drawings, and photographs, including before and after
views of the renovated spaces, and views post-inhabitation. The volume closes with a lengthy interview with the architects
to help flesh out the methods behind their madness.
Critique: A blend of architectural monograph and magic instruction manual, Almost, Not: The Architecture of Atelier
Nishikata is an extraordinary architecture book that explores what the methods of a residential-works architectural practice
in Tokyo, and the methods of stage magicians, can contribute to the greater understanding of architectural form, function,
and practical use. The essay writing scrutinizes the visual and practical effects of the strategies behind the architecture, and
the detailed illustrations (including diagrams, drawings, photographs, images of process work, before and after views of
renovated spaces, and more) beautifully illuminate the aesthetic result. Almost, Not is a welcome contribution to college and
trade school library Architecture shelves, highly recommended.
The Mythology Shelf
Egyptian Mythology
Garry J. Shaw
Thames & Hudson
https://thamesandhudson.com
9780500252284 $24.95 hc / $11.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Egyptian-Mythology-Travelers-Guide-Alexandria/dp/0500252289
Synopsis: Join Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw on an entertaining tour up the Nile, through a beautiful and fascinating landscape
populated with a rich mythology: the stories of Horus, Isis, Osiris, and their enemies and allies in tales of vengeance,
tragedy, and fantastic metamorphoses. Shaw retells these stories with his characteristic wit, and reconnects them to the
temples and monuments that still stand today, offering a fresh look at the most visited sites of Egypt.
The myths of ancient Egypt have survived in fragments of ancient hymns and paintings on the walls of tombs and temples,
spells inked across coffins, and stories scrawled upon scrolls. Illustrations throughout bring to life the creation of the world
and the nebulous netherworld; the complicated relationships between fickle gods, powerful magicians, and pharaohs; and
eternal battles on a cosmic scale.
Shaw's evocative descriptions of the ancient ruins will transport readers to another landscape - including the magnificent
sites of Dendera, Tell el-Amarna, Edfu, and Thebes. At each site, they will discover which gods or goddesses were
worshipped there, as well as the myths and stories that formed the backdrop to the rituals and customs of everyday life. Each
chapter ends with a potted history of the site, as well as tips for visiting the ruins today. Egyptian Mythology is the perfect
companion to the myths of Egypt and the gods and goddesses that shaped its ancient landscape.
Critique: Expert Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw presents Egyptian Mythology: A Traveler's Guide from Aswan to Alexandria, a
captivating tour of the gods, goddesses, creation stories, netherworld sagas, heated divine clashes and more in Egyptian
Mythology. Written to be thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and interspersed with black-and-white
illustrations and maps, Egyptian Mythology is a treasure for armchair travelers and lay historians, as well as tourists
interested in making the most of a visit to this storied nation. Egyptian Mythology is highly recommended both for personal
and public library Mythology collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Egyptian Mythology is also
available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
Editor's Note: Dr. Garry J. Shaw studied archaeology and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool. He has taught
Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, the University of Liverpool, the Egypt Exploration Society, and currently
teaches online Egyptology as a part-time tutor for Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education. He has
appeared on various television and radio programmes, regularly writes for magazines and newspapers, including The Art
Newspaper and Timeless Travels, and has worked for archaeological projects in Egypt and Turkey.
The Aviation Shelf
Flying Catalinas: The Consoldiated PBY Catalina in WWII
Andrew Hendrie
Pen & Sword Books
https://penandswordbooks.com
c/o Casemate
https://www.casematepublishers.com
9781399013093, $26.95
https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Catalinas-Consoldiated-Catalina-WWII/dp/1399013092
Synopsis: The consolidated PBY Catalina was probably the most versatile and successful flying boat/amphibian ever built,
serving not just with the US Army, Navy and Coast Guard during the Second World War, but also with the air forces of
Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with the Danes, Free French and Norwegians as well as in Brazil, Chile,
Indonesia and elsewhere.
With a remarkable lifting capacity and endurance, this long-range twin-engine aircraft could absorb a great deal of
punishment and still return home after flights lasting an entire day and covering thousands of miles. It was employed as a
maritime reconnaissance aircraft, as a bomber and torpedo-bomber, as an anti submarine weapon, as a mine layer, as a
special operations machine and as a search-and-rescue craft by day and night. It ferried stores, mail and people - many of
them sick and injured - across the world's oceans.
In this book Andrew Hendrie tells the story of the "Flying Cats", of their achievements and exploits, of the heroism of many
of the crews and the problems they had to endure.
Critique: Flying Catalinas: The Consoldiated PBY Catalina in WWII is an in-depth, extensively researched study of this
extraordinary flying boat/amphibian, used not only by the US Army Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard during World War II,
but also by the air forces of a multitude of other Allied powers - Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more. A
wealth of vintage black-and-white photographs enhance the chapters about Catalinas deployed in a vast array of different
locations, with detailed historical records of the outcome. A wealth of appendices and an index round out this superb
reference and resource highly recommended for personal and public library Aviation and Military History collections.
The Parenting Shelf
Why Is My Child in Charge?
Claire Lerner
Rowman & Littlefield
https://rowman.com
9781538149003, $24.95 hc / $17.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Child-Charge-Struggles-Cooperation/dp/1538149001
Synopsis: Through stories from her practice, Claire Lerner shows parents how making critical mindshifts - seeing their
children's behaviors through a new lens - empowers parents to solve their most vexing childrearing challenges. This process
puts parents back in the driver's seat, where they belong and where their children need them to be. These real life stories
provide a roadmap for how to tune into the root causes of children's behavior and how to create and implement strategies
that are tailored to the unique needs of each child and family. Through these stories, Claire provides a treasure trove of
practical solutions that are based in science and which work in real life.
Why Is My Child In Charge? picks up where other books have left parents hanging. Most parenting books offer solutions
that sound good on paper but don't work in practice. They are aspirational rather than achievable, or they offer
one-size-fits-all approaches that don't meet the needs of an individual child. They can compound parents' feelings of
frustration and thus, can be counterproductive. Case by case, Claire unpacks the individualized process she guides parents
through to solve the most common challenges such as throwing tantrums in public; delaying bedtime for hours; refusing to
participate in family mealtimes; and resisting potty training. Employing a relatable story-telling approach, Claire
elucidates:
The faulty mindsets that pose obstacles to parents seeing the situation more objectively
The essential mindshifts that enable parents to quickly identify the root causes of the problem
The development of an action plan tailored to each unique child and family
Why is My Child in Charge? is like having a child development specialist in your home. It shows how you can develop
"win-win" strategies that translate into adaptable, happy kids and calm, connected and in-control parents. It will help you be
the parent you want to be.
Critique: Licensed clinical social worker and child development specialist Claire Lerner, MSW presents Why Is My Child in
Charge?: A Roadmap to End Power Struggles, Increase Cooperation, and Find Joy in Parenting Young Children, a
no-nonsense, plain-terms resource for parents of young children. Drawing upon examples from the author's own practice,
Why Is My Child in Charge? offers parents practical, experience-tested advice for dealing with tantrums, physical
aggression, sleep problems, potty training, mealtime, and much more. Why Is My Child in Charge? is absolutely invaluable
for especially for new parents, and highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that Why Is My Child in Charge? is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.99).
Editorial Note: Claire Lerner, MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and child development specialist. She served as the
Director of Parenting Resources at ZERO TO THREE for more than eighteen years. Lerner has been a practicing clinician
for over thirty years, partnering with parents to decode their children's behavior and solve their most vexing childrearing
challenges. She also provides training to local preschools and pediatric residents. Lerner is the author of hundreds of
parenting resources, including books, blogs, podcasts, and videos. She writes a column for PBS Kids, and her work has been
published by several parenting publications. She has also served as a content expert for numerous national daily
newspapers.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Reverse Colonization
David M. Higgins
University of Iowa Press
https://www.uipress.uiowa.edu
9781609387846, $38.99 pbk / $31.16 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Reverse-Colonization-Imperial-Alt-victimhood-American/dp/1609387848
Synopsis: Reverse colonization narratives are stories like H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds, in which technologically
superior Martians invade and colonize England. They ask Western audiences to imagine what it's like to be the colonized
rather than the colonizers. David Higgins argues that although some reverse colonization stories are thoughtful and
provocative, reverse colonization fantasy has also led to the prevalence of a very dangerous kind of science fictional
thinking in our current political culture. It has become popular among groups such as anti-feminists, white supremacists, and
far-right reactionaries to appropriate a sense of righteous, anti-imperial victimhood - the sense that white men, in particular,
are somehow colonized victims fighting an insurgent resistance against an oppressive establishment. Nothing could be
timelier, as an armed far-right mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to stop the presidential election
from being "stolen from them."
Higgins shows that this reverse colonization stance depends upon a science fictional logic that achieved dominance within
imperial fantasy during the 1960s and has continued to gain momentum ever since. By identifying with fantastic forms of
victimhood, subjects who already enjoy social hegemony are able to justify economic inequality, expansions of police and
military power, climatological devastation, new articulations of racism, and countless other forms of violence - all
purportedly in the name of security, self-defense, and self-protection.
Critique: Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-victimhood is a critical literary analysis of
science fiction narratives about humanity being colonized by alien races. Author David Higgins reveals the disturbing
connection between such works and a victimhood-mentality that justifies violence in the form of expanded police and
military power, continued environmental destruction in spite of the threat of man-made climate change, expressions of
racism, and more. A troubling cross-examination of dark interpretations of science fiction literature from H.G. Wells' classic
"War of the Worlds" to 1960s-era pulp stories and beyond, Reverse Colonization is an erudite and scholarly addition to
public and college library Literary Studies shelves. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Reverse Colonization is
also available in a Kindle edition ($31.16).
Editorial Note: David M. Higgins is senior editor for the Los Angeles Review of Books. He teaches in the English
department at Inver Hills Community College.
The Human Sexuality Shelf
The Penis / The Vagina: An Owner's Guide
Dr. Brooke Ah Shay
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922417398, $16.95, HC, 120pp
https://www.amazon.com/Penis-Vagina-Owners-Guide/dp/1922417394
Synopsis: It's not breaking news that our understanding of those parts of our bodies involved with procreation are often left
in ignorance because of various sexual taboos established by different cultural biases. Throw in the misinformation lurking
on the internet and throughout social media and you've got a real mess when it comes to sex and our reproductive bits.
"The Penis / The Vagina: An Owner's Guide" by Dr. Brooke Ah Shay will tell you everything about the male penis and the
femail vagina that you did not even know that you did not know, whether you're 16 or 60. Dr. Ah Shay has distilled all the
clinical anatomical information into a fun, informative guide for anyone, boy or girl, man or woman, curious about what
exactly is going on when you're getting it on, or any other part of the day.
Designed as two books in one, this owner's one-stop guide is flippable: one side has information all about the vagina. Turn it
around, and it's a guide to the penis. Full of infographics and some mind-boggling facts, "The Penis / The Vagina: An
Owner's Guide" is the perfect guide for anyone seeking medical and anatomical sound information on the human
reproductive organs.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Penis / The Vagina: An Owner's Guide" is impressively
'reader friendly' in tone and commentary style. Comprehensively detailed, "The Penis / The Vagina: An Owner's Guide" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, highschool, college, and university library
Human Sexuality & Anatomy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Dr Brooke Ah Shay is a Fellowed GP from Queensland, Australia, currently working in a remote outback
community. As a doctor, she's heard every myth under the sun about penis and vaginas and is happy for the opportunity to
set the facts straight with the publication of "The Penis / The Vagina: An Owner's Guide".
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
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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