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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 11, Number 2 February 2016 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Social Issues Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Cookbook Shelf Agriculture Shelf
Biography Shelf Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Business Shelf Poetry Shelf Travel Shelf
Crafts Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Art Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf Computer Shelf
Automotive Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Beer/Wine Shelf Humor Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Wisconsin Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Uncle John's Weird Weird World Epic
By the Bathroom Readers' Institute
c/o Portable Press
PO Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
c/o Printer's Row Publishing Group
www.printersrowpublishinggroup.com
9781626864283 $29.95 http://bathroomreader.com

A deluxe, coffee-table book illustrated with full-color illustrations or photography on almost every two-page spread, Uncle John's Weird Weird World Epic is an eye-popping compendium of fantastic facts, unbelievable true stories, and just plain weirdness - on an epic scale! From the world's ugliest dogs (chosen in an official competition), to the weirdest crimes (such as a quadriplegic drunk driver erratically controlling his motorized bed on a freeway), to the origin of the white wedding dress (in 1840, Queen Victoria was the first royal whose wedding photos were widely published, and women throughout England wanted to get married in a white dress like hers), Uncle John's Weird Weird World Epic will amaze and edify. Uncle John's Weird Weird World Epic also makes an unforgettable gift for the person who has everything!

Magical Geometrics Coloring Book: Magical Designs
Samantha Snyder
AKA Associates Inc.
6007 North Sheridan Road, Apt. 15A, Chicago, IL, 60660
9780997102116, $9.95, 104pp, www.akabooks.com

"Magical Geometrics Coloring Book: Magical Designs" is another one of Samantha Snyer's outstanding coloring books for adults of all ages (and kids as well!). This edition showcases 50 fun doodle designs that are sure to inspire the spirit and relax the mind. These geometrics have been organized from simple to more intricate so that you can design your own beautiful pictures from rectangles, curves, and other geometric shapes. You can choose your own color combinations and see what patterns they create, and in the process. let the magical designs take shape before your eyes, experience greater focus, dedication, and patience that coloring can bring, slow down and enjoy the colors and patterns coming to life in front of you, take a deep breath, sit down, and color. Each doodle design has been carefully selected to provide plenty of enjoyment, inspiration, and relaxation. "Magical Geometrics Coloring Book: Magical Designs" is a very highly recommended do-it-yourself entertainment. For those new to these Doodle Art titles, please visit the AKA Associates web site at www.akabooks.com for a complete listing of adult coloring books by Samantha Snyder.


The Social Issues Shelf

Educating Milwaukee
James K. Nelsen
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870207204 $24.95 pbk / $12.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Educating Milwaukee: How One City's History of Segregation and Struggle Shaped its Schools examines the educational history of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the birthplace of the school voucher movement, and an innovator in programs that offer school choice. Paradoxically, a wider range of options does not guarantee a better education for children, an especially corrosive problem given Milwaukee's problems of concentrated poverty and de facto segregation. Author, teacher, and urban history expert offers a close examination of the many different school choice initiatives that have been attempted in Milwaukee from 1967 to 2013, and explains why Milwaukee's children as a whole continue to struggle with academic achievement today. Educating Milwaukee discusses why constructing new schools in the inner city has sometimes compounded its educational woes (the burdensome cost often leads to harsh budget cuts forced upon existing schools, without addressing many of their biggest problems), how "magnet schools" attracting the best and brightest students compounds declining enrollment in general public schools, the problems of outright incompetence and scandals in underperforming charter schools, and more. "...magnet schools and private schools may want to enroll only the intelligent, motivated students and may try to prevent students with disabilities, behavior problems, and low test scores from enrolling... These practices also raise questions about the fairness of setting up a hierarchy of schools - a hierarchy that runs counter to the notion of equal educational opportunity - and about the political motivations behind choice. Surely that was not what reformers intended." Extensive notes and an index round out this thought-provoking, sharply critical history.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

21 Days to Success with LinkedIn
Ron Sukenick & Ken Williams
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781937290054 $15.95 www.infotoday.com

21 Days to Success with LinkedIn: Business Social Networking the Gnik Rowten Way is a guide to using the popular and widespread LinkedIn website for professional networking, job searches, connecting with potential mentors or clients, and more. The daily step-by-step regimen is especially accessible to people unfamiliar with social media, but regardless of one's personal online savvy, 21 Days to Success with LinkedIn is packed cover to cover with valuable tips, tricks, techniques, and insights! 21 Days to Success with LinkedIn is written in an informal, storytelling style featuring a (presumably fictional?) person named Gnik and his quest to make the most out of what LinkedIn has to offer. "Gnik quickly recognized the power of a LinkedIn job search. A searcher could enter keywords, job titles, and even search for specific companies and geographic locations. Running a couple of experimental searches, he discovered that LinkedIn not only made it easy for him to see available jobs, but he could also see any connections he had to the employer or job poster". A "must-read" for job-seekers and career-builders!


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2016
Rachel Randall, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.WritersDigest.com
9781599639383, $29.99, PB, 508pp, www.amazon.com

For thirty-five consecutive years the Writer's Digest Press has published a unique reference and resource for authors seeking publication of their novels and short stories. "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2016" truly lives up to its subtitle as being 'The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published'. Featuring more than 1,200 listings of book publishers, literary agents, magazines, contests and conferences, this fully updated 35th edition for 2016 includes a one year access to the Writer's Digest Press publisher database at www.WritersMarket.com. Simply stated, the "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2016: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published" should be a part of every fiction writer's personal reference collection and will prove to be a critically appreciated addition to both community and academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections. It should be noted that the "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2016" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).


The Cookbook Shelf

Pillsbury The Big Book of More Baking with Refrigerated Dough
Pillsbury Editors
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544648708, $19.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

For more than 140 years, the Pillsbury name has been synonymous with creating memories and wows in the kitchen. This ubiquitous brand, famous for the Pillsbury Bake-Off started in 1949, has helped generations of home cooks to make and create. Profusely illustrated throughout, this latest Pillsbury cookbook is one of their best. Pillsbury's "The Big Book of More Baking with Refrigerated Dough" showcases an amazing variety of delicious recipes accessible grouped into Appetizers; Sandwiches; Pizzas; Casseroles and Savory Pies; Bake-Shop Favorites; Cookies and Bars. From Chinese Pancakes with Ponzu Marmalade Sauce; Razzle-Dazzle Beef Bites; Potato and Sausage Crescent Burritos; and Spicy Grilled Thai Pizzas; to Ham and Cheddar Crouton Frittata; Gluten-Free Easy Pumpkin Pie; Maple-Bacon Breakfast Rolls; and Coconut-Filled Chocolate Delights, Pillsbury's "The Big Book of More Baking with Refrigerated Dough" is as much fun to browse through as it is inspiring to plan menus with. No personal, family, or community library cookbook collections should be without a copy of the Pillsbury's "The Big Book of More Baking with Refrigerated Dough"!

The Stevia Solution Cookbook
Caleb Warnock
Familius
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
www.familius.com
9781942934066, $19.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Stevia is the only all-natural, calorie-free, non-glycemic herbal sweetener. Stevia is a leafy green herb with a strong, sugary flavor. Most people don't believe it until they taste it. The health benefits of Stevia are diverse. Stevia has no calories, chemicals, or carbs. Stevia protects against type-II diabetes. Stevia is an anti-inflammatory. Stevia helps prevent cavities. "The Stevia Solution Cookbook" provides practical information on how to cultivate, grow, purchase, and use stevia in everyday cooking and includes more than 60 full-color images and recipes. The recipes range from Perfect Sugar-Free Jam; Chocolate Chip Snow Cookies; Raspberry Chocolate Pudding Cake; and Homemade Vanilla Yogurt; to Stevia Lavender Chamomile Tea; Quick Peanut Butter Stevia Sandwiches; Sweet & healthy Powdered Sugar Substitute; and Rich Chocolate Frosting. If you are looking for an alternative to today's high-calorie, inflammatory, and health-debilitating sweeteners, you need go no further than The Stevia Solution Cookbook! Very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library Specialty Cookbook collections.

Brownies, Blondies and Bars
Stephanie Brubaker
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462116942, $19.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by expert baker Stephanie Bruaker, "Brownies, Blondies and Bars" is a compendium of beautifully illustrated recipes for truly memorable desserts with recipes that range from Coconut Almond Fudge Brownies; Nutella Brownies with a pretzel Crust; Peanut Butter Cinnamon Blondies; and Snickerdoodle Blondies; to Cannoli Cream Cookie Bars; No Bake Oreo Peanut butter Cheesecake Bars; Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Bars; and White Chocolate Dipped Molasses Bars. A pure pleasure to simply browse through, "Brownies, Blondies and Bars" is a "must" for all do-it-yourself dessert lovers and is a truly extraordinary addition to any and all personal, family, and community library collections. Of special note is that "Brownies, Blondies and Bars" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide
Georganne Bell
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462116959, $21.99, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Georganne Bell is the sugar artist behind the popular cookie decorating blog LilaLoa. In "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" she shows kitchen cooks and homemakers how to craft the ultimate cookie creations for holidays and parties! "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" is a comprehensive, wonderfully illustrated, step-by-step guide in which Bell shares all her insider tips and inspiring ideas. "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" shows just how to create decadent designs and colorful cookies that look and taste amazing! With a wealth of resources not found elsewhere, "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" is perfect for beginning decorators and seasoned pros alike. With "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" even the most novice of cookie makers will be able to turn out professional bakery quality cookies for every celebratory occasion. "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" will prove to be a unique and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Cookie Companion: A Decorator's Guide" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).


The Agriculture Shelf

The Chicken Health Handbook, second edition
Gail Damerow
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612120133, $24.95, PB, 496pp, www.amazon.com

Healthy chickens are happy chickens. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition "The Chicken Health Handbook" by chicken expert Gail Damerow continues to be an invaluable, one-of-a-kind, and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction and reference guide that covers the health problems that plague chickens of all breeds and ages. Practical charts identify common symptoms and causes of infection, while an alphabetic listing of diseases provides advice on treatment. Professionals and amateurs alike will find helpful descriptions of troublesome ailments of all types, from poor egg production to crooked toe syndrome. Practical remedies and gentle preventative care measures will help flocks stay happy, healthy, safe -- and profitable. Very highly recommended for community and agricultural school Animal Husbandry reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "The Chicken Health Handbook" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).


The Biography Shelf

Vincent van Gogh: His Spiritual Vision in Life and Art
Carol Berry
Orbis Books
Price Building, Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
9781626981522 $22.00 pbk / $18.50 Kindle www.amazon.com

Vincent van Gogh: His Spiritual Vision in Life and Art is a different type of biography of the classic and beloved painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). The focus here is upon the deep spiritual vision that motivated him throughout his life; first through his efforts to become a missionary and minister, and later (after he became strongly disillusioned with organized religion) through his art. His religious and spiritual convictions are especially evident in the letters he wrote to his brother Theo. Author Carol Berry, an expert in art, psychology, and art education, has prepared her own translations of Van Gogh's original writings in Dutch and French, the better to understand and share the connection with the Divine that influenced him so profoundly. Featuring numerous excerpts of Van Gogh's correspondence and a handful of black-and-white illustrations, Vincent van Gogh: His Spiritual Vision in Life and Art is a welcome contribution to biography, spirituality, and art history collections.

Love Imagined: A Mixed Race Memoir
Sherry Quan Lee
Modern History Press
www.ModernHistoryPress.com
c/o Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
www.lovinghealing.com
9781615992348, $29.95, HC, 158pp, www.amazon.com

Sherry Quan Lee, the author of "Love Imagined: A Mixed Race Memoir", is a Distinguished Alumni of North Hennepin Community College. She is also the former Program Associate for the Split Rock Arts Program summer workshops and the Online Mentoring for Writers Program at the University of Minnesota where she also earned her MFA in Creative Writing. Quan Lee is a community instructor at Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, Minnesota, and she facilitates community workshops at Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN, and elsewhere. She was a first year, 1996, participant of Cave Canem, a writing retreat for Black poets. "Love Imagined" is her personal and candid memoir of what it was like to be a woman of color and mixed race parentage living in Minnesota during the years of the Cold War, the Women's Liberation/Sexual Revolution social movements, and, of course, the always present conditions of racial segregation and discrimination. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "Love Imagined: A Mixed Race Memoir" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library American Biography collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Love Imagined" is also available in a paperback edition (9781615992331, $17.95) and in a Kindle format ($5.95).


The Fiction Shelf

Powder River
Jack Edwardes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444825718, $20.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Throughout Wyoming the days of the bounty hunter are coming to a close. For hired gun Brad Thornton, this spells the end of an era. The men in government badges aren't yet everywhere, though, and rancher Moreton Frewen needs immediate action: rustlers are stealing his stock, and Thornton is just the man to make the culprits pay. But these are no run-of-the-mill cattle thieves. The Morgan gang are ruthless killers, prepared to turn their hands to anything from bank robbery to murder. When the grandson of a cattle baron is kidnapped by the same ruthless outlaws that were stealing cattle, the stakes for Thornton only get more desperate. This large print edition of "Powder River" is a truly riveting read with solid western adventure action thorough out. Clearly, Jack Edwardes is a master of the genre and "Powder River" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Large Print western fiction collections.

Return Of The Bandit
Roy Patterson
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444825749, $20.99, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com

Villainous and blood-crazed bounty hunter Hume Crawford is well-known for his brutal slayings of both the guilty and the innocent: he will do anything to get his hands on those he seeks. Out to find and kill the legendary bandit Zococa, despite reports of the good-natured rogue's death at the hands of Commancheros, Crawford proceeds to shoot his way across the Mexican border then back up into Texas trailing Zococa's trusted Indian companion Tahoka in an effort find Zococa and kill him. But Crawford has attracted the attention of Marshal Hal Gunn and his deputy Toby Jones. As Crawford follows Zococa's trail, there are two Texas star riders on his trail. But can they or Zacoca stop bounty hunter's lethal evil before he can kill the ones the lawmen and the Mexican bandito love the most? In "Return Of The Bandit" author Roy Patterson delivers still another terrifically crafted western action/adventure novel that will hold the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end. This large print edition of Patterson's "Return Of The Bandit" is very highly recommended for the personal reading lists of western buffs and community library collections alike.

The Yellow Claw / The Golden Scorpion
Sax Rohmer
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781933586816, $19.95, PB, 350pp, www.amazon.com

Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward, writing under the pen name of Sax Rohmer, was born in Birmingham on February 15, 1883 to a working class Irish Catholic family. He started his career writing songs and comedy sketches for Music Hall revues, selling his first story to Pearson's Weekly in 1903. His first novel, The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu, originally serialized in 1912, introduced the world to this mysterious and elusive villain, eventually featured in twelve subsequent novels. Rohmer took painstaking care in his arcane research, with many mysteries featuring such occult investigative characters as Gaston Max, "Red" Kerry, Morris Klaw and Paul Harley. Now two 'time lost classics' featuring the adventures of Rohmer's Gaston Max character have been republished by Stark House Press for the appreciative benefit of a new generation of readers. "The Yellow Claw" and "The Golden Scorpion" are true Golden Age of Pulp Fiction adventure stories that will well serve to introduce Sax Rohmer's exceptional storytelling talents and prompt thoroughly entertained readers to seek out more of his work as well as other pulp magazine writers of yesteryear (many of whom are only available through the courtesy of Stark House Press). "The Yellow Claw / The Golden Scorpion" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murphy's Law
Ethan J. Wolfe
Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781432831394 $25.95 www.cengage.com

Murphy's Law: The Regulator Book Two blends elements from both the western and forensic mystery genres. Murphy, also known as "the Regulator", has to interrupt his semi-retirement with the woman he loves to aid in a brewing national crisis. Counterfeit money is appearing in banks all across the west, a threat that could potentially bring the American economy to its knees. Murphy must spend months tracking down the bad money's source, aided by his old friends Apache Chief Ten Moons and his son, Two Bears. Gritty and exciting, Murphy's Law keeps the reader hooked to the very end! Also highly recommended is author Ethan Wolfe's previous novel featuring Murphy, "The Regulator".

Passenger 19: A Jammer Davis Thriller
Ward Larsen
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G, Longboat Key, FL 34228
9781608091676 $26.95 www.oceanviewpub.com

Passenger 19: A Jammer Davis Thriller is an exciting novel of suspense featuring Jammer Davis, whose career involves the investigation of aircraft accidents. His job becomes personal when a small regional jet vanishes in the Columbian jungle; one of the passengers was his young daughter. The grim wreckage site dashes any hope of finding survivors. But two pilots and a passenger were shot before the crash; was the flight hijacked? And why can't the remains of two passengers who boarded the plane be found? The threads of a sinister conspiracy corrupting the United States government entangle this tense mystery, highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of the genre.


The Business Shelf

Home Business Tax Deductions, 12th edition
Stephen Fishman, J. D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413322071, $34.99, PB, 488pp, www.amazon.com

This fully updated and expanded 12th edition of "Home Business Tax Deductions: Keep What You Earn" is an indispensable instruction guide for any home business. Claiming all the tax deductions you are entitled to is essential to your home-based business's financial success. "Home Business Tax Deductions" will show how to deduct start-up costs; home office expenses (using new IRS rules); operating costs; vehicles and travel expenses; entertainment and meals; business losses; medical and retirement expenses. "Home Business Tax Deductions" includes detailed information on the new federal Affordable Health Care law (Obamacare) and how it affects small business owners, including the health insurance mandate for individuals and businesses with employees, credits and deductions under the new law, IRS penalties for noncompliance, and Obamacare's impact on HRAs (Health Reimbursement Arrangements) and HSAs (Health Savings Accounts). "Home Business Tax Deductions" will also explain how to keep accurate, thorough records in case the IRS ever comes calling. Easy to read and full of real-life examples, "Home Business Tax Deductions" can help you take advantage of all the valuable deductions you are entitled to when establishing and operating a home-based business of any kind. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Home Business Tax Deductions" should be considered as an essential addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Small Business Management instructional reference collection.

Decoding the Workplace
John Ballard
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781440838262, $37.00, HC, 184pp, www.amazon.com

In "Decoding the Workplace: 50 Keys to Understanding People in Organizations", business manager and consultant John Ballard has published a thoroughly 'user friendly' career development instructional guide that reveals dynamic aspects of the workplace that are hidden to many, ignored by others, and exposes factors that can make or break professional careers. "Decoding the Workplace" provides easy-to-read information that allows readers to better understand the workplace around them, the behavior of others, and even themselves; offers proven advice that can help readers be more effective, regardless of what stage they are in their careers; discusses 50 keys for unlocking the workplace and illustrates key concepts through dozens of stories and practical examples; and presents insights grounded in what management scholars know about human behavior, management, and the workplace. Simply stated, "Decoding the Workplace" should be a part of ever MBA program as a curriculum supplement and would prove to be of practical and valuable instruction for anyone seeking to advance their career in a highly competitive corporate environment. Very strongly recommended for community, corporate, and academic library Business Management and Jobs/Careers reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Decoding the Workplace" is also available in a Kindle edition ($29.60).


The Poetry Shelf

Finding Home
Michael Finch
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
9781512705072, $9.95, PB, 60pp, www.amazon.com

Michael Finch has spent his life working in the nonprofit field trying to preserve America's freedom and liberties. He has been published widely in a number of journals and is a frequent speaker. "Finding Home" is his debut book of poetry and is comprised of deftly crafted verse about home, nature, love, places in America, as well as a compelling view of the plight of Christians in the secular world today. "Finding Home" is especially recommended to anyone whose heart has ever hearkens back to a simpler time and home. Wisconsinites in particular will find "Finding Home" an exceptionally interesting read. Very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Finding Home" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).

I Dream of Empathy
Marianne Szlyk
Flutter Press
http://flutterpress2009.blogspot.com
9781517160678, $8.00, PB, 46pp, www.amazon.com

Marianne Szlyk is a professor of English at Montgomery College, an associate poetry editor for "Potomac Review", and a member of the DC Poetry Project. She also edits "The Song Is...", a blog-zine for poetry and flash fiction inspired by music, especially jazz. Marianne Szlyk's poetry chapbook, "I Dream of Empathy", revolves around the themes of empathy for the earth, other people (including her mother and her first husband), and even herself. Her style is graceful, her approach is erudite, and her verse memorable. If you only have time to browse through the pages of a single volume of poetry in your busy daily life, you would be well advised to make it Marianne Szlyk's "I Dream of Empathy".

Imperfect Echoes
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
9781515232490, $9.95, PB, 148pp, www.amazon.com

Accepted for inclusion in Poets & Writers prestigious list of published poets, multi award-winning novelist and poet Carolyn Howard-Johnson is widely published in journals and anthologies. With the publication of "Imperfect Echoes: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters, Lie and Oppression with Small" Carolyn has showcased the best of her free verse poetry to date. An exceptionally skilled wordsmith, her poetry will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Imperfect Echoes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99). 'Utah's Song': Snow hums a quiet melody, rhythmic drifts, / polar staccato on cheeks and nose. / Quiet harmony here. / Solace in the pulse of canyon winds, / hush of gurgling creeks / sway of clouds moving high. / Symphony of silence / in thin mountain air. / Bars, staffs, and whole notes. / Tranquil self-destruction.


The Travel Shelf

Lonely Planet Discover Europe
Catherine Le Nevez, et al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781743214008, $29.99, PB, 800pp, www.amazon.com

Lonely Planet Publications is the premier publisher of reliable, comprehensive, and 'off the beaten track' travel guides. Inside One of their newest guides, the "Lonely Planet Discover Europe" is enhanced with full-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, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss; cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - including give you a richer and more rewarding travel experience (including history, art, architecture, family travel, food & drink and landscapes); and more than 74 full color maps. "Lonely Planet Discover Europe" covers Austria, Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland . Simply stated, no one planning to travel anywhere in western Europe for business or for pleasure, should be without their own personal copy of "Lonely Planet Discover Europe" for planning their itinerary and getting the most out of their excursion. "Lonely Planet Discover Europe" has the very highest recommendation for personal, community, and academic library Travel Guide reference collections.


The Crafts Shelf

Beautiful Elements
Heather Powers
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
www.JewelryandBeadingStore.com
9781627002059, $22.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "Beautiful Elements: Creative Components to Personalize Your Jewelry", is fully illustrated, mixed-materials jewelry-making project and technique instructional guide and manual that teaches simple step-by-step techniques using wire, metal, and polymer clay to enhance and personalize beaded jewelry. With thirty projects readers will learn how to create natural shapes from metal, "sketch" with a hammer to create clever designs, and transform bits of polymer clay and wire into adornments. "Beautiful Elements" covers how to make simple findings like handcrafted earring wires, chain, and toggle clasps. Of special note is that in the pages of "Beautiful Elements", author Heather Powers shares her secrets from her own successful jewelry making business. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, "Beautiful Elements" is very highly recommended for personal and community library jewelry craft making reference collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Moda All-Stars All in a Row
That Patchwork Place
Martingale
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604687293, $26.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

With "Moda All-Stars All in a Row: 24 Row-by-Row Quilt Designs", needlecraft enthusiasts will discover the mix-and-match possibilities for fabulous quilts with row patterns by their favorite Moda designers, including Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilters, Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms, Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, Pat Sloan, Carrie Nelson, Sandy Gervais of Pieces from My Heart, and many more. Twenty-four row designs are presented in three appealing categories: Classic Patchwork (tried-and-true favorites), Well Seasoned (fresh quilts for every season), and A Bit of Whimsy (playful, carefree designs), plus nine blender rows to help tie them all together. Perfect for a row-robin quilt-along with friends, the rows can be put together in many different combinations. "Moda All-Stars All in a Row: 24 Row-by-Row Quilt Designs" includes step-by-step instructions and illustrations, plus a quilt gallery that provides inspiration for various combinations and using stand-alone rows in your decor. Profusely and usefully illustrated throughout, "Moda All-Stars All in a Row" will prove a welcome and much appreciated addition to personal and community library Needlecraft reference collections in general, and quilting instructional guide book collections in particular. It should be noted that "Moda All-Stars All in a Row" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Building Blocks
Diane Califano
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781604601435, $22.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com

"Building Blocks: Back To Quilt Basics" by quilting expert Diane Califano is an impressive compilation of illustrated, step-by-step quilting projects that includes detailed instructions for making quilt blocs such as Log Cabin, Pinwheel, Flying Geese, and more, as well as general quilt making techniques that will prove invaluable for the novice quilt maker. Indeed, "Building Blocks: Back To Quilt Basics" will prove to be immensely useful for quilt makers at all skill and experience levels. Simply stated, "Building Blocks: Back To Quilt Basics" should be considered a core addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections in general, and quilting supplemental studies lists in particular.

10 Granny Squares 30 Bags
Margaret Hubert
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781589238947, $19.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

The granny square is the crocheter's foundation for countless projects and is unparalleled for its portability, versatility, and endless variety. With "The Granny Square Book", Margaret Hubert draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to show how the humble granny makes the transition from tried-and-true blankets to all kinds of fashionable garments and accessories. Now, using only 10 granny squares selected from The Granny Square Book and Granny Square Flowers, Margaret shows how you can crochet 30 completely different bags. Each square is used three times with different yarns, color schemes, motif arrangements, and finishing treatments to create a wide assortment of handbags, totes, and carriers. You'll be amazed at the versatility of these squares! From retro shoulder bags to contemporary messenger bags, there are styles to suit every purpose and design preference. 10 Granny Squares 30 Bags will keep you crocheting bags for everyone and every reason for years to come. Featuring profusely illustrated, step-by-step instructions for every do-it-yourself crocheting project, "10 Granny Squares 30 Bags: Purses, Totes, Pouches, and Carriers from Favorite Crochet Motifs" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections in general, and Crocheting supplemental studies list in particular.


The Art Shelf

Uzumaki Naruto Illustrations
Masashi Kishimoto
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421584393 $19.99 www.viz.com

Uzumaki Naruto Illustrations is a full-color artbook featuring standout artwork of the immensely popular, long-running, action-packed shonen manga "Naruto", named after its ninja protagonist. Most of the illustrations are cover illustrations from "Shonen Jump" manga collections that serialized Naruto. There is no text, except for brief comments that manga creator Kishimoto has about his favorite artworks at the very end; the illustrations of characters in poses and scenes ranging from dynamic to idyllic speak for themselves. The Naruto series is well known for its gigantic cast of unique characters; nearly all of Naruto's most standout comrades and foes appear in the different artworks. A fold-out poster and a colorful sheet of "manga illustration stickers" round out this must-have for fans of the series!


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Naruto: Kakashi's Story
Original story by Masashi Kishimoto
Written by Akira Higashiyama
Translated by Jocelyne Allen
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421584409 $10.99 www.viz.com

Naruto: Kakashi's Story is a text novel set in the dangerous world of the popular manga series Naruto. In this world, formidable ninjitsu powers resembling magic are used to protect the peace - or wage horrific war. Kakashi was once Naruto's instructor; now, he is on the verge of being named the next Hokage, a prestigious title that also carries the heavy burden of responsibility for protecting the people. Kakashi undertakes a perilous mission to rescue hostages from a top-secret airship, and confronts an enemy who is like ice in deed and in thought. Lives and souls hang in the balance of this harrowing adventure, which offers a rare glimpse of insight into one of the Naruto saga's most mysterious and reserved characters! Naruto: Kakashi's Story is a complete and self-contained saga; familiarity with the manga series enriches the reading experience, but is not required to enjoy the tale.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Rosario + Vampire Complete Box Set
Akihisa Ikeda
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421583714 $185.99 www.viz.com

Rosario + Vampire Complete Box Set is a grand collection of the entire Rosario + Vampire manga (Japanese comics) series, gathering all ten volumes of Season 1 and all 14 volumes of Season 2 in a single convenient carrying and storage case, embellished with striking art. Exclusive to this special edition is a Rosario + Vampire full-color minicomic previously unreleased in English. The saga of Rosario + Vampire follows the more-or-less ordinary high school student Tsukune Aono, who is accidentally accepted to a school that youkai (monsters and demons) attend in order to learn how to be human! On his very first day, a beautiful young vampire with a split personality sucks his blood; things only become more chaotic from there. Humans are forbidden in the monster world, potentially on pain of death; can Aono keep his identity as a natural human under wraps among creatures who strive to secretly pass for human? And why do cute monster girls seem so attracted to him? (Perhaps his compassion for others is part of his natural charm). Shifting in tone from light comedy to a darker mix of comedy and drama as the plot unfolds, Rosario + Vampire is best experienced in its entirety, making the Complete Box Set a "must-have" for manga connoisseurs! Highly recommended for older teens and adults.

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring
Masashi Kishimoto
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421584935 $9.99 www.viz.com

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Secret Spring is a graphic novel in the long-running Naruto manga (Japanese comics), set in a world recovering from war and destruction amplified by the supernatural powers of ninja. The heroic Naruto has finally earned the honor and duty of serving as Hokage (lord and chief protector of his home village); although he plays a major role in the story, the primary protagonist of "The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring" is Uchiha Sarada, the teenage daughter of Sasuke and Sakura. Sarada is a serious-minded young woman, troubled by the fact that she has no concrete memories of her father, who has spent years away from the village on missions. When Sarada comes across a group photograph that includes her father and a glasses-wearing woman who physically resembles her more closely than her mother Sakura does, Sarada decides that the only way to find out about her ancestry is to track Sasuke down herself! To further complicate matters, a mysterious, threatening being appears, bearing similar powers to those of the Uchiha clan, as well as the ability to create permanent clones! An action-packed adventure that also explores the issues of identity and family bonds, The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring is highly recommended. The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring is a complete, self-contained story; familiarity with the extensive chronicles of Naruto and his comrades enhances the experience but is not required to fully enjoy the tale.

Idol Dreams
Arina Tanemura
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
9781421582566 $9.99 www.viz.com

Idol Dreams is a black-and-white shojo manga (Japanese comics focusing more on relationships, intended especially for a female audience) that connects the "magical girl" genre with the trials and tribulations of the adult world. Protagonist Chikage Deguchi is a lonely, 31-year-old office worker, unhappy with her life. She feels that she squandered the opportunity to find love and success in her youth. When she takes an experimental drug that changes her body to look like it did when she was 15, she decides to pursue all the dreams she once abandoned - including the dream of becoming an "idol" pop star! But being an "idol" is hard work, and the co-stars she meets have their own interpersonal problems. Idol Dreams is delightfully reflective, and highly recommended.

Witchcraft Works 8
Ryu Mizunagi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781941220962 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

The eighth volume of Witchcraft Works continues the tangled saga of Takamiya, a (mostly) ordinary young high school student who lives among women with tremendous magical powers. Takamiya is especially close to Kagari, the "Princess" of his school and a talented fire witch; their bond amplifies Kagari's magic, and Takamiya has been making his own efforts to become a stronger and better person. In Witchcraft Works 8, Takamiya and Kagari learn that their connection goes back further in the past than either of them knew - someone or something has barricaded their childhood memories. Kagari follows clues to relive the day they first met! Volume 8 also has more about Takamiya's younger sister, including a story of how her refusal to be bullied paved the way to a new friendship (although she is still unbalanced by a somewhat unhealthy obsession over her big brother). A fine balance of humor and character-driven drama, Witchcraft Works is suitable for teen and adult readers, and especially recommended for connoisseurs of magical fantasy.

My Neighbor Seki 6
Takuma Morishige
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993094 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com

A treat for readers of all ages, My Neighbor Seki 6 continues the hilarious black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) anthology of short stories about Seki, a brilliant young man who amuses himself during the humdrum school day by creating fantastic games, and Rumi, a white-haired girl whose desk is next to Seki's. No matter how much Rumi wants to focus on her studies, she inevitably gets caught up in Seki's incredible projects - whether he's fixing children's toys in a somewhat unscrupulous manner, playing foosball on his desk, or sneaking bits of food to a hidden animal(?) during cooking class. Even when Seki is away from school, Rumi becomes distracted by the amazing artistic escapades he scribbled into his textbook! Will poor Rumi ever be able to earn good grades? Lighthearted and carefree, My Neighbor Seki is just plain fun.

Tokyo ESP 2
Hajime Segawa
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781941220610 $15.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Tokyo ESP 2 continues the action-packed manga (Japanese comics) set in a modern-day Tokyo where extra-sensory psychic powers have been awakened in seemingly random people. Some are like students Rinka and Kyotaro, who use their powers to be heroes and protect the innocent; others are criminals who use their powers to steal, hurt people, or worse. The violent threat of a psychically-empowered minority swells when the mysterious "Professor" shows himself. The Professor is a psychic master of illusion, who knows the secret behind the ESP proliferation; he openly incites riots and murders, and preaches that he will remake the world to serve the "Chosen Ones" who join his destructive efforts. Yet barely a year ago, the Professor rescued Kyotaro from certain death - why? In their efforts to stop the Professor, Rinka and Kyotaro are tested to their limits, but they also find new allies with ESP: the (slightly perverted) martial arts teacher who trained Rinka's father, the talented young son of a prominent politician, and perhaps even a measure of camaraderie in an aggressive, thieving rival. Tokyo ESP 2 deconstructs the darker side of "superpowers" by showing the carnage and destruction such abilities can potentially unleash, but the noble drive to serve and protect is as much a part of the story as the tragedy of human nature. Volume 2 also depicts Rinka's growing feelings for Kyotaro, even if she isn't completely sure how to act on them - yet! Tokyo ESP is highly recommended for older teen and adult readers.

Toyko ESP 3
Hajime Segawa
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
9781942993001 $15.95 www.vertical-inc.com

In Tokyo ESP 3, the saga of heroes Rinka, Kyotaro, and their allies against the violent machinations of the Professor come to a turning point. Rinka's ordinary life at school is shattered forever when her enemies storm the building by force and beat her so brutally that she loses her extra-sensory power! Without ESP, what can Rinka do to fight back against the tyrants who came so close to killing her, and who continue to murder innocent people without remorse? The Professor accelerates his plans for world domination - or does he have another motive for holding Japan's most influential politicians hostage? Tokyo ESP 3 also reveals the events in the Professor's past that warped him to near-madness. An intense blend of furious fighting action, deep characterization, and mysterious psychic powers, Tokyo ESP is a "must-read" series for manga connoisseurs!

Legend of the Mantamaji
Eric Dean Seaton & Brandon Palas
And Action Entertainment
10061 Riverside Drive, Suite 296, Toluca Lake, CA 91602
www.legendofthemantamaji.com
www.AndActionEntertainment.com
Volume 1: 9781930315341, $14.99 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 216pp
Volume 2: 9781930315372, $14.99 PB, $9.90 Kindle, 188pp
Volume 3: 9781930315563, $14.99 PB, $9.97 Kindle, 188pp

This three volume saga is an absolutely absorbing read that combines heroic fantasy with a compelling series of unexpected plot twists and surprising turns. More than just another superhero adventure, "Legend of the Mantamaji" is genuinely original and focuses upon a reluctant hero with incredible gifts having to deal with an ancient foe that was once vanquished but has now been resurrected to rule the world which he will remake in his own image even though it means the global genocide of the human race. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted that "Legend of the Mantamaji" will have a very special attraction for African-American readers of all ages. If you only have time for one graphic novel saga that is destined to be a true classic, make it Eric Dean Seaton and Brandon Palas' "Legend of the Mantamaji"!

Cinebook Ltd.
56 Beech Ave., Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7TA, UK
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com

Cinebook publishes a wealth of full-color, serial graphic novels spanning a broad diversity of genres. "Leo Antares: Episode 6" (9781849182584, $13.95) continues a science-fiction saga about a spacefaring young woman's journey across the exotic, wondrous, and dangerous planets colonized by mankind. "Lament of the Lost Moors: Lady Gerfaut" (9781849182706, $13.95) is a dark gothic saga of royal intrigue, masterminded by a singularly ruthless noblewoman who intends to place her son in power at any cost. "Insiders: Takeover Bid on the Kremlin" (9781849182713, $11.95) is a modern spy thriller following the beautiful and talented White House agent Najah, sent undercover to pretend to serve global mafia members even as she works to bring them to justice. In "Wayne Shelton 3: The Contract" (9781849182690, $13.95), the titular hero must undertake the unfortunate duty of the heirs of his deceased team members their rightful shares of the pay for a foreign mission that ended in a debacle. But when hitmen target him in South America, Wayne quickly learns that there is a sky-high price on his own head! "Spooks 5: Megan" (9781849182614, $13.95) is a historical spy thriller, set in the very early 1900's, about a crack team of operatives who cross paths with a young girl who driven catatonic when she saw her father shoot her delusional mother; it's the first half of a story arc to be concluded in the forthcoming volume 6. All are brimming with action and excitement, and recommended for older teen or adult readers due to mature situations and scenes of violence.


The Audiobook Shelf

Born of Betrayal
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781427261182, $44.99, www.amazon.com

Years ago, family loyalty caused Fain Hauk to give up everything he loved: His military career. His planet. His fiancee. Even his name. Now decades later, everything has changed. He's built a new life out of the ashes of his old, and he's vowed to never let anything threaten his loved ones again. But when old enemies align themselves with new ones, he's caught in the middle of a brutal war. And when fate throws his former fiancee back into his world and she has her own agenda that includes taking his head for what he did to her years ago, more than just his life is at stake. The fate of the Ichidian universe and that of his brothers-in-arms hangs in the balance. Winner take all. It's killed or be killed, and never has the battle been more fierce or has Fain Hauk had so much more than his life to lose! Very ably and skillfully narrated, "Born of Betrayal" is the sequel to "Born of Defiance". A is solid entertainment from beginning to end and very highly recommended listening for all science fiction enthusiasts (11 CDs, Complete & Unabridged), "Born of Betrayal' will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Science Fiction audio book collections.

Even Dogs in the Wild
Ian Rankin, author
ianrankin.net
Read by James MacPherson
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478905134 $35.00 www.HachetteAudio.com

Award-winning and internationally popular crime fiction author Ian Rankin presents Even Dogs in the Wild, now in an unabridged audiobook edition skillfully performed by James MacPherson. Three policemen - Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke, ostracized cop Malcolm Fox, and chafing-in-retirement John Rebus must work together to track down the man who murdered a senior government prosecutor. An old gangster and former nemesis of Rebus may be the killer's next target, and their best lead into a nightmarish conspiracy! Even Dogs in the Wild is sure to prove a popular library lends for connoisseurs of intricate mysteries. 10 CDs, 11 hours.


The Music CD Shelf

At the Edge of the Beginning
Idan Raichel
Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
www.cumbancha.com
$11.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

At the Edge of the Beginning is the latest music CD by prestigious music artist Idan Raichel. Sung entirely in Hebrew (an included booklet offers both handwritten Hebrew renditions and complete English translations of the lyrics), At the Edge of the Beginning contemplates the turning points of life, and timeless values of love and family. Most songs are performed by Raichel himself; Dana Zalah is the only guest singer, and she contributes beautifully to "Longing". At the Edge of the Beginning reveals Raichel's talents in a wide variety of instruments, and is the first album in which he personally recorded all the drums. A far-reaching composite, At the Edge of the Beginning is perhaps best represented by its final song "Before It Ends", which celebrates the fullness of life by reflecting on the experience of the last five seconds before passing on. Highly recommended. The tracks are "To Wait" (3:06), "The Warm Hand" (2:48), "In the Wilderness" (2:26), "Looking at the Moon" (2:51), "Circles" (3:16), "Lonely Island" (2:15), "Little Girl of Mine" (2:14), "Revolving Door" (2:44), "Longing" (2:44), "In Five Seconds" (3:14), and "Before It Ends" (4:05).


The DVD Shelf

Black Work
Starring Sheridan Smith
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724445 $34.99 www.acornonline.com

Black Work is a dark miniseries on DVD of suspense and corruption. Police constable Jo Gillespie (played by BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith) is devastated when her husband, an undercover officer, is killed in the line of duty. She tries to remain strong for her daughter and stepson, but when the inquiry into her husband's murder begins to reveal dangerous secrets, she suspects darkness in the hearts of her loyal police comrades. With the aid of her friend and colleague Jack Clark (played by Matthew McNulty) she tries to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that could jeopardize her entire family! Tense and gripping to the very end, Black Work is a "must-see" for connoisseurs of British police drama. Black Work is not rated, but does contain violence, coarse language, and sexual situations. 3 episodes, 141 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Heritage Unit Roundup
Pentrex
2652 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91107
HUR-DVD, $29.95, DVD, www.pentrex.com

Mergers have been a part of railroading even before the driving of the golden spike in 1869. In recent years, several railroads have started to recognize the importance of paying respect to their past. In this fascinating show, you'll join us as we pay tribute to the fallen flags whose identities were lost after the larger roads merged their systems together. In "Heritage Unit Roundup" viewers will see how each railroad pays tribute. The Union Pacific gave the major players from the previous quarter century a unique paint scheme that was applied to half a dozen SD70ACe locomotives. While Norfolk Southern painted 10 GE and 10 EMD locomotives from its fleet, each one for a smaller road that merged with it. Amtrak honored its past by painting several P42's in a scheme previously used by Amtrak in its 40-plus year history. In "Heritage Unit Roundup", Pentrex has gathered a colorful collection of footage of Heritage Units from Amtrak, Union Pacific, and even a few Norfolk Southern units as they visited Southern California. Enjoy scenes along the BNSF Needles and Cajon Subs, as well as UP's Yuma and Mojave Subs, and more. "Heritage Unit Roundup" includes breathtaking runbys and pacing, passenger specials, manifest and intermodal trains, as well as plenty of narration describing each unit. With a running time of one hour, forty-five minutes, "Heritage Unit Roundup" includes chapter menus and the option of watching the program with or without narration. Very highly recommended for personal and community library Railroading collections, "Heritage Unit Roundup" is presented in a Widescreen Standard Definition Format; featuring beautiful color filming with stereo sound and an informative narration. This exciting show is a must-have for any railfan's collection.


The Computer Shelf

Practical Software Architecture
Tilak Mitra
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133763034, $49.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Also available in a Kindle edition ($31.99), "Practical Software Architecture: Moving from System Context to Deployment" by Tilak Mitra (Chief Technology Officer at IBM, Global Business Services) address such issues as: Using architecture to promote communication, enable planning, and support functional as well as nonfunctional capabilities (such as scalability, performance, maintainability, and security); Focusing on the architectural problem at hand and avoiding overreliance on theory and generalization; Capturing "just enough" about system context, architecture overview, architecture decisions, functional models, and operational models. Also featured is an architectural introduction to analytics, integration patterns and their usage in architecture design, infrastructure matters in any software architecture, and a real-world case study and its software architecture. Very highly recommended, "Practical Software Architecture" is impressively well written, organized and presented, making it an ideal instruction manual for novice developers of computer software architecture.

Discovering Modern C++
Peter Gottschiling
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134383583, $49.99, PB, 480pp, www.amazon.com

Peter Gottschling is founder of SimuNova, a company that works on developing the Matrix Template Library (MTL4) and offers C++ training. He is a member of the ISO C++ standards committee, vice-chair of Germany's programming language standards committee, and founder of the C++ User Group in Dresden. In "Discovering Modern C++: An Intensive Course for Scientists, Engineers, and Programmers", Gottschling has created a complete course of instruction that is as comprehensive and detailed as it is informative and 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Of special note is the opening Preface that begins with the reasons for learning C++ and for the value of this particular instruction manual, as well as a four page Bibliography and a fifty-seven page Index. Also available in a Kindle edition ($31.19), no personal, professional, community, or academic library instructional computer language collection can be considered complete or up to date without the inclusion of Peter Gottschiling's "Discovering Modern C++: An Intensive Course for Scientists, Engineers, and Programmers".

Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days, seventh edition
Rogers Cadenhead
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780672337109, $44.99, PB, 720pp, www.amazon.com

Providing a complete do-it-yourself course of instruction, "Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days" by Java expert Rogers Cadenhead is an ideal addition to personal, community, and academic library computer language reference collections. This newly updated and revised seventh edition presents Java 8 and how to use it to create applications for any computing environment and Android apps. "Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days" provides a well-rounded knowledge of Java and the Java class libraries essential to develop programs for tasks such as web services, database connectivity, XML processing, and mobile programming. It should be noted that no previous programming experience required. By following the 21 carefully organized lessons aspiring Java programmers can learn at their own pace; work through each chapter sequentially to make sure of a thorough understanding all the concepts and methodologies; or simply focus on specific lessons to learn the techniques that interest you most. Impressively 'user friendly' in content, organization, and presentation, "Sams Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days" is very highly recommended and also available in a Kindle edition ($19.79).

Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals, tenth edition
Cay S. Horstmann
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134177304, $59.99, PB, 1040pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated tenth edition, "Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals" by Java expert Cay S. Horstmann is a no-nonsense tutorial and practical reference specifically designed for experienced programmers who want to write robust Java code for real-world applications, including the new Java SE 8 features, idioms, and best practices. "Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals" contains hundreds of example programs which are all carefully crafted for easy understanding and practical applicability. "Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals" will enable programmers to: Leverage existing programming knowledge to quickly master core Java syntax; Understand how encapsulation, classes, and inheritance work in Java; Master interfaces, inner classes, and lambda expressions for functional programming; Improve program robustness with exception handling and effective debugging; Write safer, more readable programs with generics and strong typing; Use pre-built collections to collect multiple objects for later retrieval; Master concurrent programming techniques from the ground up; Build modern cross-platform GUIs with standard Swing components; Deploy configurable applications and applets, and deliver them across the Internet; Simplify concurrency and enhance performance with new functional techniques. A complete course of instruction under one cover "Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library computer instructional reference collections in general, and Java instructional reference shelves in particular. It should be noted that "Core Java Volume I: Fundamentals" is also available in a Kindle edition ($27.99).


The Automotive Shelf

Practical Engine Airflow
John Baechtel
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613251577, $29.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

John Baechtel is a former editor of Car Craft and Hot Rod magazines and was a founding partner of the Westech Performance Group engine dyno-testing facility. With more than 34 years of high-performance engine and vehicle testing under his belt, he is a veteran author of many books, including "Performance Automotive Engine Math" and "Competition Engine Building". In the pages of "Practical Engine Airflow: Performance Theory and Applications", Baechtel draws upon his experience and expertise to deftly explain airflow dynamics through an engine in layman's terms so even the most novice of mechanics and car buffs can easily absorb it and apply it. The principles of airflow are explained; specifically, the physics of air and how it flows through major engine components, including the intake, heads, cylinders, and exhaust system. Profusely illustrated and exceptionally well organized and presented, "Practical Engine Airflow: Performance Theory and Applications" is very highly recommended for personal, school auto shop, and community library automotive reference collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics
Craig G. Bartholomew
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780801039775, $44.99, HC, www.amazon.com

Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of text interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts. "Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Framework for Hearing God in Scripture" by Craig G. Bartholomew (H. Evan Runner Professor of Philosophy, Redeemer University College, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada) is a 640 page compendium deftly organized into five major sections: Approaching Biblical Interpretation; Biblical Interpretation and Biblical Theology; The Story of Biblical Interpretation; Biblical interpretation and the Academic Disciplines; The Goal of Biblical Interpretation. An impressive work of sound scholarship from beginning to end, "Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics" is enhanced with the inclusion of a forty-five page Bibliography; a ten page Subject Index; a five page Scripture Index; and a thirty-two page Author Index. A seminal contribution to Biblical Studies curriculums and supplemental reading lists for both academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in Biblical hermeneutics, "Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics" is very strongly recommended for church, seminary, community, and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics" is also available in a Kindle edition ($26.49).

Holy Spirit I Pray
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781612616834 $13.99 www.paracletepress.com

Holy Spirit I Pray is a collection of simple prayers to the Holy Spirit, each paired with an inspirational passage of scripture. Prayers are sorted according to their suitability for morning, nighttime, discernment, and moments of crisis. An index of first lines and an index of scripture round out this inspirational resource for affirming one's faith. "The audacity to argue- / We ask for this. // The fearlessness to fight- / We plead for this. // The daring to debate- / We beg for this. // The courage to compromise- / We pray for this. // Above all, Holy Spirit, / We pray for this. // Amen."


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Art and Skill of Buddhist Meditation
Richard Shankman
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
9781626252936 $16.95 pbk / $8.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

The Art and Skill of Buddhist Meditation: Mindfulness, Concentration, and Insight is a reader-friendly guide to embarking on and improving one's meditation practice. Author Richard Shankman, a guiding teacher of the Metta Dharma Foundation and cofounder of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies and of Mindful Schools, walks the reader though meditation and concentration techniques. Neither previous experience in meditation nor extensive knowledge of Buddhist teachings are required to understand and learn from The Art and Skill of Buddhist Meditation. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans
Ivo Dominguez, Jr.
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578635757 $18.95 / $13.47 Kindle www.amazon.com

Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans: Using the Planets and the Stars for Effective Spellwork, Rituals, and Magickal Work is a handbook describing how astrology can be used with rituals, herbalism, crystals, and more. Chapters discussions include Using Glyphs for Magick; The Astrology of Time; The Astrology of the Aura; The Astrology of Spirit Work; The Great Year (which is approximately the length of 25,920 standard years); and other keynotes. A handful of black-and-white diagrams aid in clarifying specific points. "...I recommend using just one planetary glyph at a time in your initial foray into the use of astrological glyphs in Magick. If you do this, you'll gain a deeper appreciation of the qualities of the Planets, and you will have time to awaken the Planets within yourself so that you can better summon and direct their forces." Practical Astrology for Witches and Pagans is a welcome addition to metaphysical studies collections.


The Beer/Wine Shelf

Make Mead Like a Viking
Jereme Zimmerman
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com
9781603585989 $24.95 pbk / $14.72 Kindle www.amazon.com

Make Mead Like a Viking: Traditional Techniques for Brewing Natural, Wild-Fermented, Honey-Based Wines and Beers lives up to its title as a practical, hands-on guide to the traditional Nordic culture and rituals involved in crafting, flavoring, and fermenting mead. Whether one seeks to try alcohol akin to what the Vikings used to drink, or simply infuse a little bit of Nordic quintessence into one's homemade brew, Make Mead Like a Viking is a one-of-a-kind, reader-friendly resource! Chapters discuss sweet, semi-sweet, and dry meads, melomels (fruit meads), metheglins (spiced meads), bragots (honey beers), grog, using herbs and wild botanicals in brews, why modern homebrewing chemicals work but aren't necessary, and more. A "must-have" for adventurous brew and spirits enthusiasts!


The Humor Shelf

"Who Screwed Up and Made You Single?"
M.A. Borders
Happily Ever After
9780692453407 $14.95 keyboardcome-ons.com

"Who Screwed Up and Made You Single?" ...and Other Keyboard Come-Ons is a compendium of classic pick-up lines circulated among men on the internet dating scene. Each line is paired with a full-color photograph of a handsome (and often shirtless) man! A guilty pleasure to linger upon during Valentine's Day or any day, "Who Screwed Up and Made You Single?" is as delightfully funny as it is sensationally sexy. "Is your name WIFI? Because I'm definitely feeling a connection."


The Money/Finance Shelf

Wedding Bliss on a Budget
Ethan Baron
Self-Counsel Press Inc.
4152 Meridian Street, Suite 105-471
Bellingham, WA, 98226
www.self-counsel.com
9781770402225 $14.95 pbk / $8.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Weddings in America are notoriously expensive, and today's newlyweds can ill afford a gigantic bill for a single day of ceremony - especially younger couples who may be shouldering student loan debt! Wedding Bliss on a Budget lives up to its title as a "must-have" resource for making the big day special without breaking the bank. Packed with practical-minded tips, tricks, techniques, and checklists, Wedding Bliss on a Budget is a both thoroughly accessible and invaluable. Even comfortably well-off newlyweds will benefit from preserving more of their wealth for a down payment on a house! Chapters cover how to choose an appropriate venue, minimizing catering and wedding cake costs, how to select a photographer, florist, and music provider, and much more. Highly recommended. Free access to an exclusive download kit of forms is included!


The Wisconsin Shelf

The Cheesehead Bible
Art Starr
Alexander Baker
www.cheeseheadbible.net
9780692537671, $14.99, PB, 132pp, www.amazon.com

"The Cheesehead Bible" by Art Starr is the enthusiastic story of Wisconsin's Green Bay Packers football fans -- those men and women of the Badger State who turn a kind of sports based gladiatorial combat into ritual. Presented in a biblical style, "The Cheesehead Bible" will hold immense appeal to all those who ascribe to or are fascinated by the unique phenomenon of Wisconsin's 'cheesehead' popular culture. "The Cheesehead Bible" is an unique approach to showcasing the history of the people who have created the only fan-owned team there ever was or ever will be in the NFL because of the NFL owner's ban on there ever being another one. "The Cheesehead Bible" covers such issues as: Cheesehead sin and redemption; The miracle of the humble enclave that became Titletown; The centrality of Vince Lombardi's faith to the success of the Packers; Curly Lambeau's contribution, glory and fall from grace; Why it's important to keep the Packers in Green Bay; The glory and pride of being a 'cheesehead'. Enhanced with the inclusion of 44 illustrations, "The Cheesehead Bible" must be considered a mandatory read for anyone and every one claiming allegiance to the Green Bay Packers. Indeed, no Wisconsin library should be without a copy of "The Cheesehead Bible" for the benefit of any and all Packer fans in the Wisconsin communities they serve!


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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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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