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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 8 August 2013 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Art Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Gardening Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Business Shelf
Photography Shelf Military Shelf Political Science Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Blu-ray Shelf Computer Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Fiction Shelf
Poetry Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Education Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Music Shelf
Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Railroading Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Bookstore Accessories Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Green Bay Packers: Green, Gold and Glory
Sport Illustrated Editorial Staff
Sports Illustrated Books
Time Home Entertainment
c/o Shreve Williams Public Relations
9781618930385, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The Green Bay Packers are unique in the NFL -- they are the only professional football team in the country to be owned by ordinary citizens and therefore will never be moved from Green Bay, Wisconsin to any other part of the country. That's just one small part of their legend and legacy, all of which are captured in the illustrated pages of "Green Bay Packers: Green, Gold and Glory". This 176 page hardcover, coffee table compendium is comprised of extraordinary stories and spectacular photographs showcasing the history of this unique football franchise, making it a "must have" addition to all Wisconsin community and college libraries, as well as the personal collections of every die-hard Packer fan!

Bazooka Joe And His Gang
The Topps Company
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th fl.
NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9781419706325, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The Topps Company (founded in 1938) was the premier producer of a bubble gum that debuted in 1952 and featured a mini-comic known Bazooka Joe. "Bazooka Joe And His Gang" is a 224 page, profusely illustrated compendium comprised of informed and informative essays and information by Talley Morse (son of Bazooka Joe artist and co-creator Wesley Morse), Nancy Morse, Kirk Taylor, and others. Readers will be treated to original Bazooka Joe jokes and fortunes, tiny ads for mail-order merchandise of the period, preliminary sketches, advertising and promotional images, original art from the Topps archives, and four Bazooka Joe bonus trading cards. "Bazooka Joe And His Gang" is especially recommended to anyone for whom Bazooka Joe and bubble gum was a part of their long ago childhood.

Top 10 For Men, new edition
Brendan McGinley & Brian Cullen
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600625872, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Every now and then a book comes along that is a perfect resource for winning bar bets. The new edition of "Top 10 For Men" is just such a volume of obscure but very nicely packaged information. Compiled by the team of Brendan McGinley and Brian Cullen, this compact 304 page compendium is comprised of some 250 lists organized into major sections: Animals; Sex; TV & Film; Internet; Music; Print (my personal favorite!); Visual Arts; Video Games & Applications; Automotive, Mechanical & Travel; Food; Drink; Global; Federal; Municipal; Money & Business; The Natural World; Society & Humanity; Death & Disaster; ...And Then Pirates Attack (only one list -- but it's a beauty!); General Sport; Football; Baseball; Basketball; Hockey; Tennis; Golf; Olympics & Athletes. A pure pleasure to simply browse through, "Top 10 For Men" is highly recommended for personal and community library collections.

A Heaven of Words: Last Journals, 1956-1984
Glenway Wescott, author
Jerry Rosco, editor
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299294243 $24.95 www.uwpress.wisc.edu

A Heaven of Words: Last Journals, 1956-1984 gathers writings from American intellectual and novelist Glenway Wescott. From a humble origin on a simple Wisconsin farm, Wescott blazed a keenly remarkable life, interacting with the fellow creative giants of his era and cherishing his loves of literature and the arts. These transcripts of his day-by-day journals offer a glimpse into his everyday life as a human being, rather than edifying him on a pedestal. Frank, honest, and fascinating, A Heaven of Words: Last Journals, 1956-1984 is highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Modern Nature
Erin B. Coe, et al.
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500093740, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887 - March 6, 1986) was an iconic American artist. Born near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, O'Keeffe first came to the attention of the New York art community in 1916. She made large-format paintings of enlarged blossoms, presenting them close up as if seen through a magnifying lens, and New York buildings, most of which date from the same decade. Beginning in 1929, when she began working part of the year in Northern New Mexico - which she made her permanent home in 1949 - O'Keeffe depicted subjects specific to that area. O'Keeffe has been recognized as the Mother of American Modernism. She first honed her remarkable skills as an artist wile summering at Alfred Stieglitz's family estate at Lake George in upstate New York. It is this early time period in her career as an artist that is the subject of "Modern Nature: Georgia O'Keeffe and Lake George", a superbly illustrated, 200 page compendium enhanced with commentaries by the team of Erin B. Coe (Chief Curator of the Hyde Collection), Gwendolyn Ownes (former consultant curator and assistant director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, Canada), and Bruce Robertson (Professor of Art History, University of California, Santa Barbara). Informed, informative, and showcasing flawlessly reproduced paintings, "Modern Nature: Georgia O'Keeffe and Lake George" will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to personal, community, and academic library 20th Century American Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

Crock-Pot The Original Slow Cooker: Comfort Food Diet Cookbook
Publications International
7373 North Cicero Avenue
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
www.pubint.com
9781450808969, $5.99, www.amazon.com

A Crock-Pot is a counter top electrical cooking appliance that is used for simmering, which requires maintaining a relatively low temperature compared to other cooking methods (such as baking, boiling, and frying) for many hours, allowing unattended cooking of pot roast, stews, soups, "boiled" dinners and other suitable dishes. The Crock-Pot Comfort Food Diet Cookbook illustrates and showcases 200 thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that have 500 or less calories per serving. The recipes range from Cheese Grits with Chiles and Bacon; Butternut Squash-Apple Soup; Middle Eastern Beef and Eggplant Stew; and Italian-Style Sausage with Rice; to Curry Chicken with Mango and Red Pepper; Bean Ragout with Cilantro-Cornmeal Dumplings; Wild Rice and Dried Cherry Risotto; and Parmesan Potato Wedges. A full nutritional analysis accompanies each recipe. An ideal cookbook for anyone having to watch their weight but craving dishes that will please the palate while satisfying the appetite, "Crock-Pot The Original Slow Cooker: Comfort Food Diet Cookbook" is a very strongly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Grilling, Grilling & More Grilling!
Dror Pilz
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
www.imaginebks.com
9781936140916, $18.95, www.amazon.com

There's just something about cooking on the grill and summer that goes so well together! There is such an enormous cornucopia of dishes that can be prepared on the backyard grill, and it's cookbooks like "Grilling, Grilling & More Grilling!" are such welcome additions to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. Superbly illustrated throughout with full-color photographs by Danya Weiner and expertly compiled by Dror Pilz, the recipes range from a Mozzarella, Pesto & Grilled Vegetable Sandwich; a Sauteed Cherry Tomato & Garlic Bruschetta; and Asian Style Bok Choy; to Hamburger Napolitano; Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce; and Smoked Beef Spare Ribs. There are even desert recipes such as Cinnamon Pear Kabobs and Grilled Bananas with Chocolate! Every recipes in this 144 page compendium is clearly laid out enabling even the most novice of family chefs to produce superbly prepared dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite!

Mango & Mint
Nicky Garratt
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
www.pmpress.org
9781604863239, $17.95, www.amazon.com

A vegan recipe is one that excludes any animal product. Vegan dishes are to be found pretty much every culture around the globe. "Mango & Mint: Arabian, Indian, and North African Inspired Vegan Cuisine" is a 256 page compendium compiled by vegetarian Nicky Garratt and is comprised of an impressively diverse collection of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' vegan recipes guaranteed to please any palate and satisfy any appetite. The recipes range from such exotic dishes as Poori (from India); Ajvar (Turkish); and Donuts in Syrup (Lebanese) to such substantial fare as Stuffed Peppers (Arabian); Eggplant and Chickpeas (North African); and Grilled Vegetables in Oil (Mediterranean). Of special note is the section devoted to 'Recycled' featuring terrific recipes utilizing leftovers. Enhanced with a section of full-color photographs of finished dishes, "Mango & Mint: Arabian, Indian, and North African Inspired Vegan Cuisine" will prove to be a very highly prized and special addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Nile Style, expanded edition
Amy Riolo
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com
9780781813075, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly expanded edition, "Nile Style: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture" is a 240 page compendium showcasing an amazing diversity of Egyptian dishes. Nicely illustrated throughout with both black/white and full-color photography, "Nile Style" provides authentic recipes for dishes associated with festivals, ceremonies and celebrations both ancient and modern. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Egyptian Whole Wheat Pita Bread; Citrus Green Bean Salad; Macaroni with Meat and Bechamel Sauce; and Sweet Fritters Topped with Syrup; to Lamb Pita Sandwiches; Double Chocolate Baklava; Egyptian Bread Pudding; and Macerated Dates with Apricots and Raisins. Enhanced with a glossary of ingredients common to Egyptian cuisine; a buyer's guide; a bibliography; a general index, and a recipe index, "Nile Style" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library ethnic cookbook collections.

Franny's: Simple Seasonal Italian
Andrew Feinberg, et al.
Artisan Books
c/o Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014-4381
www.artisanbooks.com
9781579654641, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Franny's is an enduringly popular restaurant located in Brooklyn, New York. In "Franny's: Simple, Seasonal, Italian", the culinary team of Andrew Feinberg, Francine Stephens, and Melissa Clark have created 376 page compendium of simple but elegant Italian dishes that will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to prepare meals to rival any 5 Star restaurant. The recipes range from Tomato and Cranberry Bean Soup with Pumpkin, Escarole, and Parmigiano-Reggiano; Spaghetti with Artichokes; Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt Pizza; and Caramel Gelato; to Fried Green Tomatoes with Anchovy Mayonnaise; Red Rice Salad with Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Corn; and Sugar Snap Peas with Ricotta, Mint, and Lemon. Of special note is the chapter devoted to cocktails and other drinks appropriate for an Italian cuisine. Enhanced with full color photographs throughout, "Franny's: Simple Seasonal Italian" is strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections.

Greek Revival from the Garden
Patricia Moore-Pastides
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29208
9781611171907 $27.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress

Full-color photography on almost every page enhances Greek Revival from the Garden: Growing and Cooking for Life, a sumptuous cookbook that incorporates healthy lifestyle tips. Author Patricia Moore-Pastides presents Mediterranean diet recipes that are accessible to cooks of all skill and experience levels, as well as a "growing" sections filled with tips, tricks, and techniques especially for organic gardeners. Recipes include "Zucchini, Almond, and Minto Pesto over Pasta", "Garlicky, Lemony Hummus", "Cabbage, Walnut, and Cranberry Salad", "Parsleyed Meatballs in Cinnamony Tomato Sauce", and much more. Greek Revival from the Garden makes an excellent giftbook for anyone who loves gardening or preparing healthful food!

Gourmet French Macarons
Mindy Cone
Front Table Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South
Springville, Utah 84663
9781462112197 $24.99 www.cedarfort.com

Featuring full-color photography of sumptuous delicacies on practically every other page, Gourmet French Macarons is a specialty cookbook filled with over 75 recipes for specially designed macarons (soft, sandwich cookies with delicious filling). Step-by-step instructions walk cooks of all skill and experience levels through basic macaron preparation, creating cookies with vibrant colors or fun shapes, techniques, templates, and much more. The recipes range from macarons that look like rainbows on clouds, to adorable animal face sandwich cookies, to a macaron that resembles a small-scale wedding cake. Highly recommended especially for budding gourmet chefs looking to add a special touch to an internationally popular dessert!


The Gardening Shelf

My 100 Favourite Herbs
Margaret Roberts
Struik Publishers
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
www.randomstruik.co.za
9781431702442 $27.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com

Featuring striking full-color photography on virtually every page, My 100 Favourite Herbs is a guide to growing herbs for use in cooking, home medication, cosmetics, and more. Each herb has a variety of possible uses listed, along with tips and tricks for cultivation or companion planting. For example, the "Feverfew" planet can be used to make a moth-repellent free of toxic chemicals, or bait for snails and slugs. A most enjoyable browse from cover to cover, My 100 Favourite Herbs is enthusiastically recommended, especially for gardeners of all skill and experience levels - even green thumbs cooped up in the big city, who may not have room for more than a simple windowsill garden!


The Needlecraft Shelf

500 Simply Charming Designs For Embroidery
E & G Craft Company Editors
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N.
East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781574215090, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Embroidery is the art or process of forming decorative designs with hand or machine needlework. "500 Simply Charming Designs For Embroidery" is an lavishly illustrated, 88 page compendium of thoroughly 'user friendly' monograms and motifs that can enable even the most novice of needlecrafters into creating appealing, attractive, cute and delightful embroidered images. Of special note is the instructive information on embroider basics and fifteen basic stitches. Enhanced with a photo gallery of finished projects, "500 Simply Charming Designs For Embroidery" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft reference collections.

Knit Your Socks on Straight
Alice Curtis
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612120089 $16.95 www.storey.com

Spiral-bound to lay flat for ease of use, Knit Your Socks on Straight: A New and Inventive Technique with Just Two Needles is a step-by-step guide to knitting creative and comfortable socks. An introduction helps acclimate beginning to intermediate knitters to the techniques used, and each of the twenty sock patterns has step-by-step instructions that can be adjusted for a wide range of sizes. Pattern notes and full-color photography embellish this hands-on knitting guide, perfect for practical use or for creating memorable, handmade gifts. Highly recommended!


The Business Shelf

Successful E-Mail Marketing Strategies
Arthur Middleton Hughes and Arthur Sweetser
Racom Communications
150 North Michigan Avenue, #2800
Chicago, IL 60601
9781933199160 $49.95 www.racombooks.com

Successful E-Mail Marketing Strategies from Hunting to Farming describes strategies to effectively promote one's product or service without resorting to unpopular e-mail "spamming". As the titular metaphor suggests, instead of "hunting" for sales by sending out millions of emails, marketing efforts should instead focus on using email to cultivate positive relationships with subscribers, also know as "farming". Chapters discuss useful tips, tricks, and techniques, from crafting attention-grabbing subject lines, to determining how much email is enough, to adding an interactivity component to one's emails, viral marking, and much more. A solid resource packed with useful ideas, Successful E-Mail Marketing Strategies is an excellent choice for college library Business shelves, and a "must-have" for marketing professionals everywhere in today's increasingly technology-driven world.

The Truth About Negotiations
Leigh Thompson
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ftpress.com
9780136007364, $22.99, www.amazon.com

Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests of two people/parties involved in negotiation process. Negotiation is a process where each party involved in negotiating tries to gain an advantage for themselves by the end of the process. Negotiation is intended to aim at compromise. Negotiation occurs in business, non-profit organizations, government branches, legal proceedings, among nations and in personal situations such as marriage, divorce, parenting, and everyday life. The study of the subject is called negotiation theory. Professional negotiators are often specialized, such as union negotiators, leverage buyout negotiators, peace negotiators, hostage negotiators, or may work under other titles, such as diplomats, legislators or brokers. "The Truth About Negotiations" by Leigh Thompson (J. Jay Gerber Distinguished Professor of Dispute Resolution and Organizations, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University) is a 224 page instruction guide that covers every aspect of the negotiation process. Of special note is the commentary on responding to temper tantrums and repairing broken trust. Offering a wealth of practical, real-world tips, tricks and techniques, "The Truth About Negotiations" is the perfect introduction to the skills required for successful negotiations in business or any other area of life. Highly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of conducting any form of negotiation, it should be noted that "The Truth About Negotiations" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.19) and as an unabridged audio book ($17.95).

Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton
Peter Fretwell and Taylor Baldwin Kiland
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612512174 $27.95 www.nip.org

How did the American POW's imprisoned at the "Hanoi Hilton" not only survive, but also continue to perform well at their careers after the end of their internment? Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams is a business leadership guide grounded upon what can be learned from six bedrock principles of POW culture. Chapters focus on the personal characteristics that drive successful teamwork, and draw lessons from training methods used by both Navy SEALs and Olympic athletes. Six principles for defining and enacting a mission form the core of Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, an invaluable advice book especially for any newly promoted businessperson.


The Photography Shelf

A Russian American Photographer in Tlingit Country
Sergei Kan
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806142906, $39.95, www.amazon.com

The Tlingit are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of America. Their name for themselves is Lingit, meaning "People of the Tides" The Tlingit are a matrilineal society that developed a complex hunter-gatherer culture in the temperate rainforest of the southeast Alaska coast and the Alexander Archipelago. An inland subgroup, known as the Inland Tlingit, inhabits the far northwestern part of the province of British Columbia and the southern Yukon Territory in Canada. Knowledgeably compiled by Tlingit cultural expert Sergei Kan, and the newest addition to the 'Charles M. Russell Center Series on Art and Photography of the American West' from the University of Oklahoma Press, "A Russian American Photographer in Tlingit Country: Vincent Soboleff in Alaska" is a 288 page compendium showcasing 104 duotone and 33 black-and-white photos taken by Vincent Soboleff in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each flawlessly reproduced image is accompanied by an informative caption. Of special note is Sergei Kan's informed and extended introduction. Enhanced with two pages of references and an index, "A Russian American Photographer in Tlingit Country: Vincent Soboleff in Alaska" a work of considerable scholarship and highly recommended for academic library Native American and History of Photography reference collections in general, and to non-specialist general readers with an interest in Tlingit culture in particular.

Porch Dogs
Nell Dickerson
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895875976 $29.95 www.blairpub.com

Porch Dogs is a unique coffee-table photography book; each full-color, full-page image shows a beloved family pet relaxing upon a porch (or in a yard, or in a shop, or at the docks...). All manners of dog breeds are on display, in these sometimes heart-touching, sometimes humorous images that dog fanciers everywhere can thoroughly appreciate and enjoy. Each photograph has a brief caption putting the dog and its chosen setting in context, but Porch Dogs is primarily lets each picture speak for itself. For example, one striking image shows a hunting dog sitting next to a leaning rifle, with the caption "Memphis is a 'gun dog' because the gun cannot hunt without her. It's up to Memphis to nose, search, point, and retrieve. What good is that gun without a dog?" Highly recommended especially as a giftbook for canine aficionados!

New York City of Trees
Benjamin Swett
The Quantuck Lane Press
c/o W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110
9781593720520 $29.95 www.wwnorton.com

New York City of Trees is a delight of arboreal photography. Every two-page spread features a gorgeous, full-color image of a species of tree growing in New York on the right, and a single page of text about the tree species' history on the left. Dozens of different New York trees are profiled in all, each with its own unique story to tell. A treat for nature lovers and a delight for casual browsing, New York City of Trees makes a fine giftbook, or visitor's souvenir!


The Military Shelf

21st Century Mahan
Benjamin F. Armstrong, editor
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612512433 $21.95 www.nip.org

21st Century Mahan: Sound Military Conclusions for the Modern Era collects five lesser-known writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914), a United States Navy flag officer, geostrategist, and historian, colloquially dubbed "the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century". His concept of "sea power", the idea that the nations with greater naval power would exert more influence upon the world and upon history, directly affected the strategic thinking of countries worldwide, sparking a European naval arms race in the 1890's (the U.S. participated as well). Mahan's most famous work is "The Influence of Seapower upon History", which is not reproduced herein; 21st Century gathers five of Mahan's other writings, with analysis by Lt. Cdr. Benjamin F. Armstrong, USN. Armstrong offers reader-friendly introductions to Mahan's writings, which have invaluable insights into strategic thinking. 21st Century Mahan is especially recommended as a core volume for nautical and military shelves.


The Political Science Shelf

The Forgotten Conservative
John M. Pafford
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9781621570370 $27.95 www.regnery.com

The Forgotten Conservative: Rediscovering Grover Cleveland examines the principles, political thinking, and legacy of Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), well-known as the only American president who has ever served two non-consecutive terms. Although Cleveland was a Democrat, his beliefs and ideals will sound familiar to modern-day conservatives. President Cleveland cut taxes at every opportunity, championed limits on federal power, vetoed more bills than all his predecessors combined (most often on the grounds that Congress was either spending too much, or acting in absence of a clear Constitutional mandate), and held that men should look to their neighbors and communities for charity when needed, rather than becoming dependent on the government. At the end of Cleveland's second term, the Democratic party turned notably more progressive, yet Cleveland's ideals and policies remain part of a historical legacy that resonates with American conservatives over a century later. The Forgotten Conservative is an excellent addition to Political Science shelves; liberals and conservatives alike will find this portrait of a strong-willed and resilient national leader fascinating from cover to cover.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Zombillenium
Arthur de Pins
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing
New York, NY 10038
9781561637348 $14.99 www.nbmpublishing.com

Zombillenium is an oversized, hardcover graphic novel in full-color with a tongue-in-cheek horror theme. The Zombillenium amusement park is the ultimate job creation station for monsters of every stripe - vampires, werewolves, mummies, zombies, skeletons and more! When an ordinary man named Aurelian, driven to the brink of murderous rage over his wife's infidelity, is accidentally killed and turned into an unknown breed of monster, at first he thinks he's just having a really terrible day. But at Zombillenium, the contracts are for eternity - and the penalty for breaking them is immolation! "What were you thinking of this morning when you slipped that revolver into your pocket? Huh? Kill your wife's lover? Being hired at Zombillenium is never an accident!" Aurelian's only friend at his new job is the intern Gretchen, a natural-born witch with hard-to-control magic powers. Can he adapt to his new carnival life - and can Zombillenium adapt to stiff competition from other theme parks? Even the dead are subject to tough economic times, in this wry, brisk-paced, and character-driven genre deconstruction that readers of all ages and backgrounds will thoroughly enjoy! Highly recommended, especially for public library graphic novel collections.

07-Ghost, Volume 5
Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara
Viz Media LLC
295 Bay Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
9781421549989 $9.99 www.viz.com

Volume five of the 07-Ghost continues the skillful English translation of an action-packed, black-and-white manga (Japanese comic) series, faithfully presented with its artwork "unflipped" (in the original right-to-left reading order, rather than mirrored to mimic American comics). Set in a mysterious world only partly analogous to our own, the story centers upon Teito Klein, a boy with an unknown past who has resolved to become the master of an immensely powerful artifact, called the Eye of Mikael. In volume five, Ayanami's Imperial Army has taken the Eye of Mikael from Teito. Determined not to give up, Teito undergoes the Bishop Examination; at stake are the travel privileges he will need to reclaim the eye. But the duties and powers that Bishops have over shepherded mortal souls are not to be trifled with; to prove himself worthy Teito must face challenges both within and without, including a personal confrontation with... Ayanami? A strong, emotionally moving story evolves.

Dan Spiegle: A Life In Comic Art
John Coates with Dan Spiegle
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490496, $14.95, www.amazon.com

"Dan Spiegle: A Life In Comic Art" is an illustrated history of one of the most respect men in the select field comic book artists. For more than sixty years he has turned out quality work beginning with the Hopalong Cassidy newspaper strips, to his 34 year tenure on Dell and Gold Key comic book adaptations of TV and movie shows, to his work in the 1980s on DC comic titles, to his artwork for Dark Horse titles. The commentary is in the form of an extended Q&A session between John Coates and Spiegle. The result is a fascinating, informed, informative, and highly recommended overview and an amazing professional history that will have enormous appeal to Spiegle's legion of fans.


The Audiobook Shelf

Black Towers To Danger
L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com
9781592122356, $12.95, www.amazon.com

L. Ron Hubbard was a master storyteller in the golden age of pulp magazines. Galaxy Press is dedicated to bringing Hubbard's amazing stories to life in vivid audio book theatrical productions. One of their latest efforts is Hubbard's "Black Towers To Danger" which originally appeared in the pages of the October 1936 issue of "Five Novels Monthly". This audio production is superbly enhanced with music and sound effects augmenting a talented multicast performance under the dramatic narration of R. F. Daley. The unabridged, 2 CD, two hour 'theatre of the mind' experience features the story of Bill Murphy, a wildcat oil driller in the wilds of Venezuela), Marcia Stewart (owner of a rival oil drilling outfit who is led to believe Bill murdered her father), and a roster of rogues, villains, friends, and the local military. The action is non-stop with many a cliff-hanger plot twist. Pure audio book entertainment at its best and hallmarked by flawless technical production values, "Black Towers To Danger" is an enthusiastically recommended action/adventure for personal and community library audio book collections. It should also be noted that "Black Towers To Danger" is also available in a paperback edition (9781592122578, $9.95, 132 pp).

Protector
Diana Palmer, author
Eric G. Dove, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781455816576 $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Protector is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Diana Palmer's blend of intrigue and romance. Hayes Carson is a Texan obsessed with righteous revenge; he suspects that Minette Raynor provided the illegal drugs that killed his brother, and he won't let her go unpunished. Minette is an undercover DEA agent hampered not only by Hayes' investigation, but also her own growing attraction to him. Yet her lawful duty is dangerous and her cover could be jeopardized - at her darkest hour, Hayes may be the only one who can save her life! Enthralling from beginning to end, Protector is a solidly character-driven drama, highly recommended. 7 CDs, 7 hours 30 min.

Massacre Pond
Paul Doiron, author
Hentry Leyva, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427235183 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Massacre Pond is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Paul Doiron's cryptic murder mystery. When the carcasses of ten moose are found butchered on the estate of wealthy animal-rights activist Elizabeth Morse, at first it appears to be simply a protest over the potential job losses from her plan to buy timberland for a new national park. But then evidence of a ruthless murder is discovered amid the animal slaughter. The strikingly beautiful Maine woods contrast against a killer's ugly agenda in this tightly written novel, superbly performed by Henry Leyva. 8 CDs, 10 hours.

Holy Orders
Benjamin Black, author
John Keating, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427231673 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Set in 1950's Ireland, a nation rigidly under the control of the Catholic Church, Holy Orders is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a grim murder mystery, part of a series of novels featuring the dogged investigator Quirke. When the close friend of Quirke's daughter is murdered, Quirke works with Inspector Hackett to find out why... and runs into opposition at every turn, as the church works ruthlessly to protect its own interests above all others, including that of Justice. Quirke's knowledge of pathology puts him in a unique position to untangle the darkest of secrets, in this dark and suspenseful saga. 8 CDs, 9.5 hours.

Relaxation Techniques series
John Lentz, D.Min.
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5
Bethel, CT 06801
$14.95 each www.crownhousepublishing.com

Licensed therapist and ordained minister John D. Lentz presents the Relaxation Techniques series of audio CDs, designed to help the listener relieve stress, improve awareness, master unruly emotions, and encourage the body's natural healing. Each CD is designed for repeat use, as often as the listener needs to ingrain their calming wisdom and master their techniques. An excellent choice for personal use or gift-giving to over-stressed friends, the Relaxation Techniques series is highly recommended. Individual CDs in the series are "Relaxation Techniques for Cooling Anger" (9781935810100, 31 min.), "Relaxation Techniques for Reclaiming Natural Sleep" (9781935810094, 40 min.), "Relaxation Techniques for Healing Allergies" (9781935810087, 27 min.), "Relaxation Techniques for Healing Migraine Headaches" (9781935810117, 43 min.), "Relaxation Techniques for Relieving Loneliness" (9781935810124, 32 min.), and "Relaxation Techniques for Healing from Trauma" (9781935810131, 30 min.).

Tempted by a Cowboy
Vicki Lewis Thompson, author
Arika Rapson, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781452613475 $19.99 www.tantor.com

The second novella of the "Perfect Man" series by popular, prolific, and award-winning romance author Vicki Lewis Thompson, Tempted by a Cowboy is now available as an unabridged audiobook on CD. Astrid Lindberg is the heir of a billionaire family, yet she has a personal passion for taking care of horses, and strives to follow her calling as a veterinarian. Her parents expect her to marry a wealthy gentleman, but her wandering eyes return to the handsome, salt-of-the-earth rancher Fletcher Grayson. Grayson is one of her own clients; common sense advises against mixing business and pleasure... yet a chance accident that brings her to tend to Grayson's horses in the early morning hours sparks an attraction that overwhelms prudence! Mature themes are present in this sizzling hot love story, enthusiastically recommended especially for fans of the genre. 2 CDs, 2.5 hours.


The Music CD Shelf

Bliss of Being
The Pure Heart Ensemble
RichHeart Music, BMI
419 Creekside Drive
Asheville, NC 28804
www.richheartmusic.com
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$13.37 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Bliss of Being is a beautiful music CD collaboration from The Pure Heart Ensemble (New Age pianist Richard Shulman, cellist Adriana Contino, flutist Kate Steinbeck, vocalist Dielle Ciesco, and crystal bowl player Bob Hinkle). Together, they have created an expression of exuberant joy, that reminds the listener of the divine spark that gives life to all. Bliss of Being is a treasure for anyone who enjoys uplifting New Age music to experience, and makes an excellent gift for any occasion! The tracks are "The Bliss of Healing", "Beginning the Journey", "Remembering the Goal", "Transition to a New Way", "Heading Home", "The Journey Deepens", "Remembering the Bliss", "New Openings", "Divine Connection", "Resting in God", "Loving All", and "When We Go Home We Go Together".

Transitions
Atropolis
Cumba Mela
Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane
Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA cumbamela.com

"Atropolis" is the electronic-themed musical persona of Adam Partridge, an expert in multi-instrument music composition and ethnomusicology who embraces the DJ culture. Transitions is the second album by Atropolis. A number of guest performers add their vocals or unique instrumental talents to Atropolis' tracks. In keeping with Atropolis' love of music around the world, Transitions embraces a wide medley of different cultural stylings, smoothly shifting from one vivid experience to the next in an unpredictable yet always thoroughly enjoyable flow. The tracks are "Urban Chief", "Spring Heat", "Pomporaso" with Boogat, "Adjust", "Which Way To Go" with Carol C., "Unsure", "Una Mezcla Costena" with Darwin Escorcia, "Together", "Reza Por Mi" with Lido Pimienta, "Realizations", "El Pacifico" with Brent Arnold, and "Transitions".

The Shimmering Land
Meg Bowles
Kumatone
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$12.83 CD / $5.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

The Shimmering Land is an ambient, New Age album by synthesist and licensed psychoanalyst Meg Bowles. The instrumental music engenders a sensation of mystery, wonder, and admiration for the transient yet beautiful flare of life amid the unimaginable vastness of the cosmos. Meg's original songs are as fantastic as they are creative, in this treasury of melodious inspiration. The tracks are "Undulant Sea" (7:01), "The Sweetness of Mist" (8:50), "Venus Rising" (14:22), "Into the Gloaming" (9:16), "Beneath the Radiant Stars" (10:50), and "Nightwalk Across the Isle of Dream" (9:48).


The DVD Shelf

Midsomer Murders Set 22
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598289886 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Also available as a 2-disc Blu-ray set ($59.99), Midsomer Murders is a 4-disc DVD collection of the demonstrably popular and long-lived British murder mystery television series inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham. Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby (played by Neil Dudgeon) and his enthusiastic partner Detective Sergeant Ben Jones (played by Jason Hughes) solve four perplexing and terrible crimes amid the picturesque village setting of Midsomer County. The collected episodes are "The Sleeper under the Hill", "The Night of the Stag", "A Sacred Trust", and "A Rare Bird", plus a bonus 34-minute "Midsomer Murders in Conversation" segment. Midsomer Murders is a series oriented toward mature viewers; in Set 22, "A Sacred Trust" has sexual situations and "The Sleeper under the Hill" has disturbing images. Any connoisseur of British murder mysteries is sure to enjoy this latest installment of the enthralling, intelligently written, and superbly performed "Midsomer Murders" programs! 372 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles, widescreen. Also enthusiastically recommended for fans of the genre to savor are Midsomer Murders Series 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ($59.99 for each set), which Acorn has recently repackaged as individual series sets on DVD, in their original U.K. broadcast order, with SDH subtitles!

The Host
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
$34.98 www.TheHostTheFilm.com

The Host is an unnerving movie based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, author of the wildly popular "Twilight Saga". An unseen, unknown enemy is making its move on humanity - by moving into their bodies, seizing control of their minds, and erasing all memories from their brains! Melanie Stryder (played by Saoirse Ronan) is torn between this terrifying threat and the need to protect the people she loves most, as a terrifying invasion (epidemic?) sweeps the nation! Bonus features include deleted scenes, a feature commentary with Stephenie Meyer, the screenwriter/director Andrew Niccol, and producer Nick Wechsler. The Host is available in an ultimate "anytime, anywhere" edition that includes Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy, and Ultraviolet (a format that adapts well to streaming and downloading), all in one package. An absolute "must-see" for Twilight fans, The Host is a solidly entertaining and thought-provoking film. 2 hours 6 min.

Between Us
A film by Dan Mirvish
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943717 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com

Between Us is a dark comedy about the toll of dysfunctional relationships, exacerbated by conflicts over money, sex, and children. Grace and Carlo are New York newlyweds who visit their friends Sharyl and Joel in the Midwest. Sharyl and Joel are wealthy, but bitterness beneath the surface is rending their marriage apart. A few years later, both couples reunite in New York, but the dynamics have swung radically in the opposite direction. Thought-provoking, witty, and with a razor edge to its biting humor, Between Us is absolutely unforgettable. Bonus features include a commentary track, deleted scenes, a visual effects reel, and a glimpse behind the scenes. 90 min., closed-captioned, widescreen, rated R for language and some sexual reference.

Creating Circular Art
Peggy Flores
Crystal Productions
1812 Johns Drive
Glenview, IL 60025-1581
9781562906887 $29.95 www.crystalproductions.com

Creating Circular Art is a hands-on, how-to DVD guide to creating art based on drawing circles with a protractor. Featuring radial designs, paper arrow templates, creative applications of rulers/protractors/triangles, the use of symmetry with multiple geometric shapes, mandala art, how to create works resembling Celtic design, and much more, Creating Circular Art illustrates its ideas and techniques with easy-to-follow examples. Educational, inventive, and inspirational, Creating Circular Art is enthusiastically recommended for artists of all skill and experience levels, as well as library and art school DVD collections.

Healing Through Movement: Pilates Head to Toe
Zayna Gold
Boston Body Barre
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Award-winning Pilates expert and creator of the Boston Body Barre certification programs Zayna Gold presents Healing Through Movement: Pilates Head to Toe, a full-body DVD workout created especially to aid those with autoimmune digestive disorders such as Crohn's, colitis, celiac, and IBS. Healing Through Movement is accessible to viewers of all fitness levels, and features exercises that improve muscle tone, prevent bone loss, and strengthen the core and back muscles. Divided into a standing full-body sculpt workout and a mat-based session, Healing Through Movement is an invaluable, easy-to-use, and highly recommended resource especially for anyone seeking the healing benefits of exercise. 45 min.

Quick Fit with Andrea Metcalf
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781621721048 $19.99 www.acacialifestyle.com

Certified personal trainer Andrea Metacalf, bestselling author of "Naked Fitness", presents Quick Fit, a DVD program of no less than thirty five-minute routines that one can easily mix-and-match into a workout tailored to one's personal tastes! Cardio, strength training, and Pilates figure prominently among the five-minute routines (some of which previously appeared in the programs "Keeping Fit: Strength, Cardio, and Pilates"). A user-friendly workout DVD that invites variety, creativity, and the personal joy of a satisfying exercise session even when one is short on time, Quick Fit with Andrea Metcalf is enthusiastically recommended. 150 min., widescreen.


The Blu-ray Shelf

Prime Suspect
Helen Mirren
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621720645 $119.99 www.acornonline.com

Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection collects the entire, award-winning British police drama, originally created by crime writer Lynda La Plante and broadcast on "Masterpiece Theatre" and "Mystery!", on Blu-ray. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren plays the role of Detective Jane Tennison, a relentless officer beset on all sides by problems - horrific crimes to solve, callous sexism from her co-workers, and the whispers of her personal demons. The gritty realism and all-too-human characterizations lend a strong sense of depth to these dark, captivating, and feature-length mysteries. Behind-the-scenes specials and a photo gallery round out this excellent addition to British drama and mystery collections, worthy of the highest recommendation for connoisseurs of the genre. hours plus bonus, 9 mysteries on 7 Blu-ray discs, approx 25 hours plus bonus, SDH subtitles.


The Computer Shelf

Cloud Computing
Kris Jamsa
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
www.jblearning.com
9781449647391, $93.95, www.amazon.com

Cloud computing is a colloquial expression used to describe a variety of different types of computing concepts that involve a large number of computers that are connected through a real-time communication network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing is a jargon term without a commonly accepted non-ambiguous scientific or technical definition. In science, cloud computing is a synonym for distributed computing over a network and means the ability to run a program on many connected computers at the same time. The popularity of the term can be attributed to its use in marketing to sell hosted services in the sense of application service provisioning that run client server software on a remote location. "Cloud Computing" by computer expert Kris Jamsa is a superbly organized and presented 324 page compendium the presents an articulate and 'user friendly' introduction to cloud technologies in general, and specifics about an a service (SaaS), platform as service (PaaS), infrastructure as a service (IaaS), and desktop virtualization in particular. Of special note are the real-world case studies providing examples of moving information into the cloud. Informed and informative, "Cloud Computer" is an excellent instructional textbook and a highly recommended addition to professional, community, and academic library Computer Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5 for Mobile and Desktop Devices
Oswald Campesato
Mercury Learning and Information
www.merclearning.com
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
9781938549038 $51.95 www.internationalpubmarket.com

jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5 for Mobile and Desktop Devices: A Primer lives up to its title and then some. Intended for readers who have basic knowledge of CSS/HTML/JavaScript, jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5 for Mobile and Desktop Devices teaches intermediate to expert programmers how to create mobile web applications, render web pages in Android and iOS, craft 2D or 3D graphics and animations with CSS3, and more. Methodical, "user-friendly" instructional text and a wealth of sample code clarify this enlightening instructional text, ideal for self-study, and further enhanced with a bonus DVD of source code and 4-color graphics. A "must-have" reference and resource for any programmer interested in gaining greater command of and versatility with jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5!


The American History Shelf

Learning Las Vegas
Elizabeth Barlow Rogers
Museum of New Mexico Press
c/o Gulotta Communications Inc.
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
9780890135785, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Before there was a gambling mecca in Nevada called Las Vegas, there was an ethnic community in New Mexico called Las Vegas. "Learning Las Vegas: Portrait of a Northern New Mexican Place" by landscape historian Elizabeth Barlow Rogers (founding president of New York City's Central Park Conservancy and Foundation for Landscape Studies) is a 284 page compendium showcasing the cultural legacy, history, and people of this New Mexican community. Beautifully illustrated with full color photography, this is a case study in how the town's history can be viewed as two combined and yet distinctive populations: Hispanic and Anglo. Of special note is that this community located in the southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains is home to some 900 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. A unique and seminal work, "Learning Las Vegas: Portrait of a Northern New Mexican Place" would well serve as a template for similar studies of other distinctive American communities. Informed and informative, ""Learning Las Vegas: Portrait of a Northern New Mexican Place" is especially recommended for academic library reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for students of Urban Community Conservancy and Restoration Studies.

John Wilkes Booth: Beyond the Grave
W.C. Jameson
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589798311 $22.95 www.rowman.com

Award-winning author and John Wilkes Booth descendant W.C. Jameson presents John Wilkes Booth: Beyond the Grave, the latest in his far-reaching "Beyond the Grave" series re-examining notable outlaws of history. John Wilkes Booth: Beyond the Grave suggests the possibility that Booth, the notorious assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, was never captures and executed; instead, another man was apprehended in Booth's place, while Booth continued his acting career, married, and had children. The evidence supporting this theory is largely circumstantial; Jameson draws upon papers and diaries from private collections to make his case, as well as offer a new window into the mind of a President-killer. Regardless of whether one believes the central premise, John Wilkes Booth: Beyond the Grave is a captivating perspective, thoroughly accessible to lay readers and historians alike.

Woodward Avenue
Robert Genat
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613250914, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Back in the 50's and early 60's one of the favorite pastimes of the younger generation was to cruise their cars up and down a fashionable street -- especially on a Saturday night. This happened routinely in just about every city and every suburb large or small. "Woodward Avenue: Cruising the Legendary Strip" by Robert Genat is a profusely illustrated compendium by Robert Genat that celebrates this American cultural custom as it was on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. A 160 page compendium of stories about the races, the hot rods, and 'Detroit Iron', during a golden age of American automotive dominance, "Woodward Avenue" is a terrific celebration and memorial of a 20th Century American pastime now long gone and never to be seen again.


The World History Shelf

Scattered
Diana Howansky Reilly
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299293406, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The forced relocation of civilian populations based on ethnicity has been well known since biblical times beginning with the removal of the Jewish population to Babylon with the fall of Jerusalem. The European aftermath of World War II saw a continuation of what was to later become known as 'ethnic cleansing' with the compulsory relocation of Poland's Ukrainian by the newly installed communist government as part of a Soviet-Polish population exchange code-named 'Operation Vistula'. "Scattered: The Forced Relocation of Poland's Ukrainians after World War II" by Diana Howansky Reilly is a 192 page compendium providing a detailed (and sometimes chilling) history of the events as experienced by three siblings, Petro, Leania and Hania Pyrtej. A seminal work of impressive research drawing upon interviews and archival materials, "Scattered" is a work of impeccable scholarship that is written with the dynamic narrative of a novel. Informed and informative, "Scattered" is highly recommended for community and academic library collections. It should also be noted that "Scattered" is available in a Kindle edition ($17.95).


The Fiction Shelf

Sun And Sand
Max Brand
Five Star Books
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive
Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432827014, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Frederick Schiller Faust (May 29, 1892 - May 12, 1944) was an American author known primarily for his thoughtful and literary Westerns under the pen name Max Brand. Now brought back into print for a new generation of appreciative readers by Five Star Books is a Max Brand classic: "Sun And Sand: A Western Trio". This 222 page compendium is comprised of three Max Brand western saga short stories: The Flaming Rider; Outlaw Buster; and the title piece, Sun And Sand. Each of these thoroughly entertaining stories showcase Brand's storytelling abilities and demonstrate why he continues some 70 years after his death to be one of America's favorite writers of stories set in the Old West. For those to whom this will be their first introduction to Max Brand westerns, it should be noted that an impressive listing of them published and available from Five Star Books are also featured in "Sun And Sand". As with all of his westerns, "Sun And Sand" is a highly recommended entertainment and will make an enduringly popular addition for community library collections.

Trouble in Store
Carol Cox
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764209567 $14.99 www.bethanyhouse.com

Set in 1880's Arizona, Trouble in Store is a historical novel blending elements of romance, mystery, and suspense. Melanie Ross and Caleb Nelson contest with one another for a struggling mercantile business; at first Caleb is determined to get her out of the way by marrying her off, but gradually Caleb realizes his growing attraction to her - he doesn't want her to marry another man. As Melanie's sharp new ideas start to improve the store's financial outlook, she grows closer to Caleb. But someone wants to sink their burgeoning business, even if it's at the cost of Melanie's and Caleb's lives! Picturesque attention to detail brings the American West setting to life, in this vivid and thoroughly enjoyable novel from prolific and popular author Carol Cox.


The Poetry Shelf

Poems
Charles Dickens
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road
North Pomfret, VT 05033
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781847493026, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's most memorable fictional characters and is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. During his life, his works enjoyed unprecedented fame, and by the twentieth century his literary genius was broadly acknowledged by critics and scholars. His novels and short stories continue to be widely popular. What are less well known to the reading public is that he was also a poet. Now his poetry has been collected and made available to a new generation of readers by Trafalgar Square Publishing with "Poems", a 134 page compendium showcasing this master storyteller's gift for poetic expressions ranging in diverse forms and across an impressive spectrum of subjects. "Poems" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Poetry collections in general, and supplemental reading lists for students of Charles Dickens writings in particular.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Money 101
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781620297483 $12.99 www.barbourbooks.com

Part of the "Bible Guides for Life" series intended for readers of all ages, Money 101 is an accessible primer about basic money management from a Christian point of view. The values of scripture as well as common sense are used to reinforce recommended guidelines, and budgeting pointers are made with the importance of charitable giving or tithing to churches in mind. Chapters cover how to set up and abide by a budget, saving and investing effectively, debt management, when to rent or buy (especially where mortgages are concerned), insurance and retirement concerns, and much more. "Remember, though, to account for inflation when you think about retirement. Most financial books state 2 to 4 percent as the yearly rate of inflation. So to really know how much your lifestyle will cost, you have to figure that in. If it costs you $1,000 a month just to keep the household running right now and if inflation is at 4 percent, then next year it will take you ($1,000 x .04 = 40) $1,040 to run that same household." Highly recommended, especially as a basic self-teaching resource or an educational tool for Christian parents to share with their teenaged children.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Stephen M. Miller's Complete Guide To The Bible: Student Edition
Stephen M. Miller
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
9781620298015, $9.99, www.amazon.com

Profusely illustrated throughout, "Stephen M. Miller's Complete Guide To The Bible: Student Edition" is a 256 page compendium that is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and suitable for students of all 66 books comprising the Holy Bible. A topical section deftly addressing key life issues through biblical scripture; noting two ways to approach studying the Bible; helping students to select the right Bible for them; organized into two major section (with the first being an alphabetical presentation of theological issues ranging from anger to worship, the second being descriptive presentations of the various books comprising the Bible as a whole), an enhanced with the inclusion of a Search Engine Index, "Stephen M. Miller's Complete Guide To The Bible: Student Edition" is especially recommended for both individual and group biblical study curriculums, as well as church and community library Christian Studies reference collections.

The Complete Introduction to The Devout Life
St. Francis de Dales, author
Fr. John-Julian, translator
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612612355, $26.99, www.amazon.com

Francis de Sales (21 August 1567 - 28 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation. Ably translated into English by Father John-Julian, OJN (Founder of the Episcopal contemplative monastic Order of Julian of Norwich), "The Complete Introduction to The Devout Life" is a 448 page compendium written specifically for the benefit of non-clergy Catholics and especially addresses the demands of ordinary and secular life in a world that all too often antagonistic to spirituality. Enhanced by Father John-Julian's erudite commentary, "The Complete Introduction to The Devout Life" is informed, informative, thoughtful, thought-provoking, inspired and inspiring, making it an ideal addition to academic, and church library Christian Studies reference collections and personal reading lists.

Reaching For God
Roberta Werner
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814635513, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The Order of Saint Benedict (Latin name: Ordo Sancti Benedicti) is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of Saint Benedict. Within the order, each individual community (which may be a monastery, a priory or abbey) maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests. The Benedictine Confederation, which was established in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII in his brief Summum semper, is the international governing body of the order, headed by the Abbot Primate. Members of the order generally use the initials O.S.B. after their name. "Reaching for God: The Benedictine Oblate Way of Life" by Sister Roberta Werner, OSB, is a 176 page compendium presenting an overview of Benedictine life and prayer designed specifically for lay readers. Highly recommended reading, "Reaching for God: The Benedictine Oblate Way of Life" is informed, informative, and also available in a Kindle edition ($11.19).


The Education Shelf

Teaching Twos and Threes
Deborah Falasco
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605541327, $34.95, www.amazon.com

With the expansion of preschool and daycare programs for the children of working parents, the education of children 2 and 3 years of age is of critical important. "Teaching Twos and Threes: A Comprehensive Curriculum" by preschool education specialist Deborah Falasco (lead teacher for the two- and three-year-old program at the Vassar College laboratory Wimpfheimrer Nursery school) is a superbly organized and presented 280 page compendium comprised of 'user friendly' activities and program ideas for engaging and interesting 2 and 3 year olds in a variety of learning activities that are as entertaining as they are developmentally instructive. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Cooking Experiences and Mealtime Success'. Enhanced with illustrations, templates and examples of weekly curriculum planning sheets, 'Art and Other Recipes', 'Songs and Chants', and a useful Index, "Teaching Twos and Threes" is a highly recommended for homes schooling parents, as curriculum supplement for daycare and preschool programs, as well as an important addition to academic library Childhood Education reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620550083, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is an infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). Left untreated, later symptoms may involve the joints, heart, and central nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early. Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat. "Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections: Complementary and Holistic Treatments for Bartonella and Mycoplasma" by herbal medicine expert Stephen Harrod Buhner is a superbly organized and presented 512 page compendium that focuses on the complex synergy between infection's impact on the body and effective natural holistic methods applying herbs and vitamin/mineral supplements to the conditions, symptoms and damages that lyme disease gives rise to. Informed, informative, and very highly recommended for community and academic library Health/Medicine reference book collections, "Healing Lyme Disease Coinfections" should be considered essential reading for the non-specialist general reader with concerns about lyme disease with respect to themselves or a family member.


The Music Shelf

The Best Beatles Book Ever
Paul Charles
Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780802313560, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. Their best-known lineup, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, became the greatest and most influential act of the rock era, introducing more innovations into popular music than any other rock band of the 20th century. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilized several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. "The Best Beatles Book Ever" by musicologist and author Paul Charles focuses on the years The Beatles were writing and recording their music together as a group effort. Informed and informative, "The Best Beatles Book Every" is very strongly recommended reading for their legions of fans -- now aging Babyboomers -- and will prove to be a popular addition to academic and community library 20th Century Music History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Jazz And Machine-Age Imperialism
Jeremy F. Lane
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
www.press.umich.edu
9780472118816, $70.00, www.amazon.com

Although originating as a late 19th century American musical form, Jazz became very popular very quickly in France during the first five decades of the 20th century. "Jazz and Machine-Age Imperialism: Music, "Race," and Intellectuals in France, 1918-1945" by Jeremy F. Lane (Associate Professor, Department of French and Francophone Studies, University of Nottingham, UK) is a 240 page compendium which challenges the perception that jazz was easily and universally received by white French music critics when it arrived along with American black jazz musicians fleeing discrimination and finding a cultural home in a racially tolerant France. Of special note is the inclusion of the author's 'Coda: Jazz After Empire'. An impressive and extensive work of original scholarship, "Jazz And Machine-Age Imperialism" features extensive notes, a lengthy bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making is strongly recommended for academic library 20th Century Musicology and 20th Century French Cultural History reference collections, as well as Jazz History enthusiast supplemental reading lists.

Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation
David Malvinni
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
www.scarecrowpress.com
9780810882553, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band was known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long musical improvisation. They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and their Barton Hall Concert at Cornell University (May 8, 1977) was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. The Grateful Dead have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. "Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation" by academician and musicologist David Malvinni is a 296 page compendium focusing on an exploration of the band's musical signature through a targeted selection of their songs ranging from Viola Lee Blues and Midnight Hour, to Love Light and Dark Star. Offering a philosophical framework, "Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation" provides an aesthetic appreciation of the musical stylings of this legendary band. A seminal work of outstanding and original scholarship, "Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation" is written in a form and format that will make it easily accessible to non-specialist general readers and fans of the Grateful Dead. "Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation" is a highly recommended addition to academic library Popular Culture and 20th Century American Music reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Biography Shelf

The Empress Has No Clothes
Joyce M. Roche
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
9781609946364, $18.95, www.amazon.com

"The Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success" is the personal memoir of Joyce Roche who has achieved considerable success in her chosen career of business management. She has served as CEO of Girls Incn; President of Carson Products Company (now part of L'oreal); was the first African-American Vice President of Avon Products; and the recipient of the 2006 'Women of Power' Legacy awarded by 'black Enterprise Magazine. She currently sits on the boards of four Fortune 500 companies and a number of non-profit organizations. A women who has led a remarkable life in the corporate world, "The Empress Has No Clothes" is a 240 page deftly written autobiography and the story of how she rose from humble beginnings to earn an ivy League MBA but despite all her successes in the business world had to wrestle with the chronic feeling of inadequacy and 'feeling like a fraud' when tackling the tough problems and business decisions upon which so much depended for herself and other. Candid, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "The Empress Has No Clothes" is highly recommended reading and an excellent addition to business school and community library American Biography collections. It should also be noted that "The Empress Has No Clothes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

Mad for Speed
Elsa A. Nystrom
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786470938, $39.95, www.amazon.com

From 1905 to 1915, Joan Newton Cuneo was famous for being America's top female racer and an advocate for more and better roads, as well as the benefits of driving for women. "Mad for Speed: The Racing Life of Joan Newton Cuneo" by Elsa A. Nystrom (Professor of History, Kennesaw State University, Georgia) is a 232 page biography of a remarkable women that includes her family history, her marriage to (and divorce from) Andrew Cuneo, her life in New York society, her interest in and involvement with automobile racing, her partnership with her race car mechanic Louis Disbrow, her racing victories, her remarriage and her death. Of special note is the chapter on Joan Cueneo's female car racing and auto tour rivals. A work of impressive and deftly written scholarship, "Mad For Speed" is a valued contribution to academic library Women's Studies and 20th Century Automobile Racing History reference collections. A remarkable woman who led a remarkable life, "Mad for Speed" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.74).


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Get the Ball Rolling
Dianna L. Stearns, M.A., CPDT-KA, CDBC, CATT
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617811111 $24.95 www.dogwisepublishing.com

Spiral-bound to lay flat or wrap its cover around for ease of use, Get the Ball Rolling: A Step by Step Guide to Training for Treibball is a training manual for dog owners interested in the sport of Triebball, in which one's dog is expected to perform various tasks with a fitness balls (usually lightweight, brightly colored, and inflatible). These tasks usually tap into the dog's herding instincts and training, and the dog is expected to perform off-leash, at an increasing distance from its handler. Treibball can be practiced for simple canine (and human) exercise, or as training for a canine sport. Chapters offer step-by-step instructions for dog owners of all backgrounds through beginner, intermediate, and advanced Treibball training tips, tricks, techniques, and tactics, including clicker training methods. A copy of the Sanctioned Trial and Competition Rules of the American Treibball Association, a glossary, and an index round out this "must-have" manual for anyone interested in trying out a canine sport that channels their beloved pet's natural herding instincts into a fun challenge!

The Backyard Sheep
Sue Weaver
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781603429672, $16.95, www.amazon.com

"The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep" by Sue Weaver is a 224 page instructional guide to every aspect and factor in having a pet sheep from choosing the breed of sheep best suited to a particular climate, facility and purpose; to housing and feeding issues; identifying and treating illnesses; breeding ewes; sheering; and milking. Of special note is the instructive commentary on making sheep milk based cheese and yogurt. Informed, informative, very nicely illustrated, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep" is practical, comprehensive, and highly recommended for personal and community library Pets/Wildlife reference collections.


The Railroading Shelf

Old Time Railroad Stories
Michael Gillespie, editor
Great River Publishing
W987 Cedar Valley Road
Stoddard, WI 54658
9780971160255 $19.95 www.greatriver.com

Illustrated with a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, Old Time Railroad Stations: An Anthology of True Adventures, Humorous Tales, and High Melodrama Written by Those Who Lives the Era collects classic, eye-opening stories (possibly embellished, but grounded firmly in real-life events) about railroads and the people who run and ride on them. Each story is by a different author, ranging from anonymous tales to an article from the New York Times to heartrending stories about the dangers of rail travel. A brief introduction to each tale by high school teacher Michael Gillespie puts the events in historical context. Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Old Time Railroad Stories is a treat for trainspotters, railroading aficionados, and rail-curious casual browsers, highly recommended.

50 Ways To A Better-Looking Layout
Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890248195, $19.95, www.amazon.com

A fundamental part of the model railroading experience is the creation of a realistic miniaturized layout that reflects urban, suburban, and rural settings through which the model trains will pass. In "50 Ways To A Better-Looking Layout", model train expert Jeff Wilson has compiled a series of 'user friendly' do-it-yourself projects to specifically improve a model train layout's buildings, scenery, vehicles, rolling stock, and trackside features. From model open boxcars, to improved structure roofs, to renumbered locomotives, to model weed-grown tracks, these projects will enhance any model train layout. Of special note are the instructional guide on creating 3-D signes from stir sticks!. "50 Ways To A Better-Looking Layout" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to model railroading enthusiast reference collections.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia, new edition
Judith Miller, general editor
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781845337698, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Judith Miller is an acknowledged world-class expert when it comes to antiques. Among her many accomplishments in this field is being a co-founder of Miller's Antiques Price Guide which is considered a fundamental reference for sellers and collectors. Now in a new and completely up-to-date edition, "Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia" is a definitive and profusely illustrated, 592 page compendium comprised of detailed antiques accessibly organized into succinct categories ranging from Furniture, Ceramics, Jewelry, and Art Nouveau, to Dolls, Glass, Toys, Games, and more. The work of some four experienced antiques consultants under the general editorship of Judith Miller, "Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia" is an extraordinary and important reference for professional, community, and academic library Antiques/Collectibles collections.


The Bookstore Accessories Shelf

Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
www.peterpauper.com

A good bookstore has more to offer than just books! A good bookstore is also an excellent source for such non-book (but book related) items as bookmarks, note cards, journals, calendars, weekly planners and activity kits. To fill these bookstore inventory needs some publishers must be acknowledged as premier leaders. Chief among them is the Peter Pauper Press. Founded in 1928, is one of America's leading publishers of fine gift books, humor books, compact references, travel guides, unique journals, quality stationery, holiday cards, and innovative children's activity books. They publish approximately 100 books and ancillary products per year.

Among their newest releases are "Chevron Note Cards" (9781441313706, $8.99), a premium boxed stationery set that is comprised of 14 quality stock cards measuring 3-1/2 inches x 5 inches, and 15 matching designer envelopes. Each card is blank allowing personal messages. Two other outstanding note card sets are "Typewriter Note Cards" (9781441313614, $8.99) and "Whistling Owls Small Boxed Holiday Cards" (9781441311832, $10.99).

One of the latest Peter Pauper Press activity kits is their "Origami Animals Kit" (9781441311405, $5.99) that provides step-by-step instructions for six fun projects: Elephant, Fox, Horse, Jumping Frog; Mouse; and Pig. Included are 36 sheets of premium origami paper in unique patterns. Featured are illustrations by Martha Day Zschock and a handy carrying handle.

Among their newest journals is the "Camouflage Journal" (9781441305473, $10.00) whose cover replicates the military's 'MultiCam' pattern and provides 160 lightly-lined pages for personal entries ranging from making notes, to recording thoughts, sketches, quotations, etc. The journal itself is six inches wide and eight inches high. Of special note is the elastic band admirably serves as a book mark or to keep the journal closed.

Peter Pauper Press is known for their weekly planners and engagement calendars. A superb example of the latter is their Obsidian 2014 Compact Engagement Calendar (9781441311160, $12.99) whose cover is designed after a 17th century, French. elaborate gold-tooled, raised embossing appearance. Covering 16 months (September 2013 - December 2014), there are pages in the back providing space for recording contact information for family and friends, as well as writing down personal notes. 5 Inches by 7 inches, a hardback binding, an elastic band place holder, and an inside back cover pocket capable of holding receipts, tickets, postcards, etc. make this an invaluable management tool.

A truly beautiful addition to their address book series is their "Feathers Address Book" (9781441310026, $8.99) with its unique cover design portraying an array of peacock feathers with iridescent highlights, Pocket sized, 160 pages, an attached elastic band, and with a concealed wire binding, there is also an inside back cover pocket for holding business cards or notes, this is an elegantly designed and enduringly useful compendium for all manner of contact information.

A cornucopia of book marks are offered by the Peter Pauper Press ranging from a traditional "Never Judge a Book by Its Movie" (a beaded bookmark in a clear plastic protective sleeve and measuring 2-1/2 inches wide by 7-1/8 inches high) to "Calligraphy i-clips" (a set of 8 laminated i-clips packaged in a clear plastic sleeve with each individual clip measuring 3/4 inch wide and 1 inch high) folded.

Whether for individual and personal gift giving, libraries and library support groups looking for project incentive and award prizes, or management needing to stock up a bookstore's inventory with book related quality merchandise, the Peter Pauper Press web site at www.peterpauper.com is a very highly recommended resource.


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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