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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 10, Number 6 June 2015 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Culinary Shelf
American History Shelf Biography Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Military Shelf Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Cookbook Shelf Gaming Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Photography Shelf
Sports Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Business Shelf
Fishing Shelf Education Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Picture Man
Margaret Thomas
Snowy Owl Books
c/o University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
9781602232457 $26.95 www.alaska.edu/uapress

Picture Man: The Legacy of Southeast Alaska Photographer Shoki Kayamori is part biography, part history, part hauntingly captivating photographic legacy. Shoki Kayamori (1877-1941) was a Japanese man who, like thousands of others of his time compelled by economic and political circumstances, emigrated to the United States. He traveled to Yakutat, then a small Tlingit village in southeast Alaska, and worked in the cannery. He took a camera, set up a darkroom, and photographed the daily lives of his friends and neighbors. The local children came to call him "Picture Man". But as World War II escalated, Kayamori came under suspicion of spying, and committed suicide shortly before he could be arrested. To this day, there is no evidence that he was ever a spy. Black-and-white renditions of Kayamori's photographs intersperse this thoughtful, detailed examination of a gifted photographers life, documentation, dedication, and legacy.

Mark Twain's Guide to Diet, Exercise, Beauty, Fashion, Investment, Romance, Health and Happiness
Collected and edited by Mark Dawidziak
Prospect Park Books
2359 Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001
9781938849459 $16.95 www.prospectparkbooks.com

Mark Twain's Guide to Diet, Exercise, Beauty, Fashion, Investment, Romance, Health and Happiness is an anthology of tips, tricks, and advice for daily living from the famous American author and inventor Mark Twain, gathered from a wide variety of sources including his novels, speeches, sketches, notebooks, and more. "Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul. - Following the Equator (1897)". A font of insight and common-sense wisdom that transcends generations, Mark Twain's Guide is a browser's treasury, enthusiastically recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

2015 Writer's Market: Deluxe Edition
Robert Lee Brewer, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
9781599638454, $49.99, www.amazon.com

Stated simply, compiled and edited by Robert Lee Brewer, the "2015 Writer's Market" is a 921 page key reference and indispensable resource for aspiring authors seeking publication. Updated every year, this is the 15th Annual Edition and features access to an online publisher database. In addition to 7,500+ listings for book publishers, magazines, contests, literary agents, and a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com, this edition of the "2015 Writer's Market" features sample query letters and access to the webinar "How to Find More Success Freelancing" from Robert Lee Brewer. Deftly organized articles by experts are arranged in major sections: Finding Work; Managing Work; Promoting Work; Markets; and Resources (comprised of professional organizations and a glossary). A major and highly recommended addition to community and academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections, "2015 Writer's Market" is a 'must have' resource for any career minded writer seeking commercial success.

Book Architecture: How to Plot and Outline Without Using a Formula
Stuart Horwitz
Book Architecture, LLC
One Richmond Square, Suite 112K, Providence, RI 02906
www.architecture.com
9780986420405, $18.00, www.amazon.com

As founder and principal of Book Architecture, Stuart has spent over fifteen years helping writers become authors, signing with top literary agencies, sealing deals with coveted publishing houses, or forging a successful path through indie publishing. Book Architecture's clients have reached the best-seller list in both fiction and non-fiction, and have appeared on Oprah!, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, and in the most prestigious journals in their respective fields. In "Book Architecture: How to Plot and Outline Without Using a Formula", Horwitz draws upon his years of experience and expertise to create a 156 page course of instruction specifically written for the benefit of aspiring authors seeking to avoid cliche formulas and create original work that will succeed in a highly volatile and exceedingly competitive publishing industry. "Book Architecture" should be considered an indispensable instructional reference for aspiring novelists, script writers, and nonfiction authors. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Book Architecture" is also very highly recommended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Book Architecture" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Culinary Shelf

Collecting Culinaria
Caroline Lieffers & Merrill Distad
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
9781551953243, $35.95, 92pp, www.amazon.com

A cookbook is a kitchen reference publication that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions. Cookbooks can also cover a wide variety of topics, including cooking techniques for the home, recipes and commentary from famous chefs, institutional kitchen manuals, and cultural commentary. Cookbooks are often collected as a kind of culinary hobby by women. Linda Distad was a University of Alberta librarian who died in 2012. Linda Distad had passion for heritage recipes; her collection ran to more than 3,000 titles and was donated to the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library of the University of Alberta. Compiled by Caroline Lieffers and Merrill Distad, "Collecting Culinaria: Cookbooks and domestic manuals mainly from the Linda Miron Distad Collection" is a profusely illustrated, 92 page compendium sampling and showcasing the diversity of Linda Distad's collection of cookbooks and domestic manuals. Unique, impressive, and inherently fascinating, "Collecting Culinaria" is highly recommended to the attention of cookbook collection enthusiasts and would well serve as a template for other curators hosting similar large collections of cookbooks.


The American History Shelf

Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield
Bryon C. Andreasen
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809333820, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Bryon C. Andreasen, "Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield" is comprised of fifty Abraham Lincoln stories -- some familiar and beloved, some fresh and unexpected. "Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield" is features a carefully researched, richly illustrated guide to the Springfield, Illinois, locations on the Looking for Lincoln Story Trail. Created by the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, this trail consists of more than two hundred illustrated storyboards posted in sites of significance to Lincoln's life and career across fifty-two communities in Illinois. The storyboards connect Lincoln-related tales to the geographical locations where they occurred, giving visitors, and now readers, a tour of the social and cultural landscape of Lincoln's nineteenth-century world while revealing the very human Lincoln known by friends and associates. Enhanced with the inclusion of historic photographs and images, and maps, including one keyed to the story locations in downtown Springfield, readers of this fascinating, 128 page volume will be able to accurately imagine social and cultural landscapes that have been lost in time. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Lincoln Studies collections, "Looking for Lincoln in Illinois: Lincoln's Springfield" is a "must" for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.


The Biography Shelf

Lincoln's Gift
Gordon Leidner
Cumberland House
c/o Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
9781492609650 $14.99 www.sourcebooks.com

Lincoln's Gift: How Humor Shaped Lincoln's Life & Legacy is a unique biographical take on Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, emphasizing his well-known talents for humor and storytelling. Packed with Lincoln's funniest recorded quips, jokes, and stories, Lincoln's Gift is an eye-opening look of how a great statesman used mirth to enliven the courtroom when he practiced as a lawyer, and lighten the heavy burden of leading America through the dark days of the Civil War. Highly recommended for both personal and public library collections.

Horses That Buck
Margot Kahn
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139128 $24.95 hc
9780806148472 $19.95 pbk www.oupress.com

Horses That Buck: The Story of Champion Bronc Rider Bill Smith is the biography of a man who resolved to pursue the life of his dreams, becoming a rodeo professional and earning thirteen trips to the national finals. As rodeo rose as a major sports enterprise in the late 1960s and early 1970s, even a champion rider struggled to win enough money to gain access to the next competition. Horses That Buck also tells of how Smith married cowgirl Carole O'Rourke and made a business of raising horses, becoming well-known for his gentle and uncanny knack with the animals. The engaging, true-life story of a (relatively) modern man who exemplified the Old West, Horses That Buck is a "must-read" for rodeo and cowboy enthusiasts.

Officer Down, Man Up
Todd Lentocha
Blind Guy Books
36 Zinfandel Circle, Tolland, CT 06084
9780692387399, $9.40 www.amazon.com, 222 pp.

"Officer Down, Man Up: Putting a Life Back Together Again" is the personal story of Todd Lentocha, a former U.S. Marine who became a police officer and, after five years of service, was blinded in the line of duty in January 2012. Todd Lentocha has faced traumatic brain injury and permanent blindness with humor, determination and support from his loved ones. It is interesting to note that Lentocha utilized a voice-recognition computer program to write the account of his struggle with the editorial aid of Pegi Deitz Shea (a former journalist, publicist, and author of multiple children's books). More than just another 'comeback' book about struggling with a disability, "Officer Down, Man Up" is a compelling testament that draws from informative interviews with Lentocha's neurosurgeon, therapists, and fellow police officers and reflects what can be accomplished even when confronted with the most dire of circumstances with the right kind of medical, familial, and social support system. As a side note, with the current national dialogue over police misconduct, "Officer Down, Man Up" will serve to remind us all of the sacrifices our policemen and women are made vulnerable to in their efforts to secure our peace and safety. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Officer Down, Man Up" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library collections.

Rhythm of the Wild
Kim Heacox
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
www.lyonspress.com
9781493003891, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Denali National Park and Preserve is a national park and preserve located in Interior Alaska, centered on Denali (Mount McKinley), the highest mountain in North America. The park encompasses more than 6 million acres, of which 4,724,735.16 acres are federally owned. The national preserve is 1,334,200 acres, of which 1,304,132 acres are federally owned. On December 2, 1980, a 2,146,580 acre Denali Wilderness was established within the park. Denali's landscape is a mix of forest at the lowest elevations, including deciduous taiga. The preserve is also home to tundra at middle elevations, and glaciers, rock, and snow at the highest elevations. The longest glacier is the Kahiltna Glacier. Today, 400,000 people visit the park annually. They view wildlife, climb mountains, and backpack. Wintertime activities includes dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snow-machining. Kim Heacox's "Rhythm of the Wild: A Life Inspired by Alaska's Denali National Park" is a 304 page Alaska memoir framed against the wild and wonders of the Denali National Park. "Rhythm of the Wild" begins in 1981 and ends in 2014. Readers will follow Kim through Idaho, read of her camping on the Colorado Plateau, and flying off the sand cliffs of Hangman Creek with a little terrier named Super Max, the Wonder Dog. "Rhythm of the Wild" is populated with memorable characters including Zed, the Aborigine; Nine Fingers, the blues guitarist; and Adolph Murie, the legendary wildlife biologist, who dared to say that wolves should be protected, not persecuted. Kim also reprises in "Rhythm of the Wild" his friend Richard Steele, a beloved character from Kim Heacox's earlier book "The Only Kayak". Part memoir, part travelogue exploration of Denali's inspiring natural and human history, and part conservationist polemic, "Rhythm of the Wild" ranges from funny to provocative in a kind of celebration of (and a plea to restore and defend) the vibrant earth and our rightful place in it. An inherently fascinating read, "Rhythm of the Wild" is very highly recommended for community and academic library American Biography collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Rhythm of the Wild" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Seven Churches Of Asia Minor
Orville R. Beckford Sr.
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
Bohlsen Group
9781490849836, $33.59, 196pp, www.amazon.com

The Seven Churches of Asia Minor, (referring to the Roman province of Asia, not the entire continent), are seven major churches of Early Christianity, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation. In Revelation, on the Greek island of Patmos, Jesus Christ instructs his servant John of Patmos to: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamos, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea." "Churches" in this context refers to the community or local congregations of Christians living in each city, and not merely to the building or buildings in which they gathered for worship. "The Seven Churches of Asia Minor: Their Locations, Characteristics, and Christ Introducing Himself to Them in Seven Different Ways" by Dr. Orville R. Beckford Sr. (He has a Bachelor of Divinity, a BA in biblical studies, an MA in psychology and Christian counseling, and a PhD in philosophy in biblical studies and has been a pastor for twenty-four years, in Jamaica, the Eastern Caribbean, Rochester New York from (1995-2011), and now New Rochelle, New York) is a 196 page treatise was specifically written to aid Christians gain a deeper insight into the character of these churches. Dr. Beckford discusses their geographical locations, their historical backgrounds, and their experiences that shaped the way they are addressed in the New Testament. The church of Ephesus (the first of the seven) left its first love, and the last of the seven, the Church of Laodicea, focused on material wealth without recognizing that Christ was on the outside knocking, seeking the opportunity to come in. "The Seven Churches of Asia Minor" will take the reader through each church one by one; it will help to identify actions for which they were admonished or encouraged. Five out of these seven churches were admonished, warned, and given specific steps to take for their restoration; they could take these steps or face the consequences meted by Christ himself. "The Seven Churches of Asia Minor" is still very much relevant for contemporary Christian churches and individuals alike. Very highly recommended for seminary and church library collections, for personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Seven Churches Of Asia Minor" is also available in a paperback edition (9781490849829, $17.95) and in a Kindle format ($7.99).

Walking With Jesus
Pope Francis
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
www.LoyolaBooks.org
9780829442489, $22.95, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Two thousand years ago, Jesus said, "Follow me." In "Walking with Jesus: A Way Forward for the Church", Pope Francis (the first member of the Franciscan Order to gain that position within the Roman Catholic Church) addresses the questions: What if the 21st-century Church actually heeded that call?; What would the world look like if the Church were truly on the move?; What exactly should the Church be moving toward? In "Walking with Jesus" Pope Francis urges all Catholics to make Jesus central in our individual lives and in the collective life of the Church -- to walk toward him, and ultimately to walk with him at all times and in all places. Each chapter of this Vatican-authorized book helps the reader move ever closer to God and to their neighbors through the sacraments, prayer, evangelization, the gifts of the Spirit, and service to others. Pope Francis reminds us all that while the Church is indeed made up of individual people, we must walk together as a community of believers in a transformative relationship with Jesus if the Church is to be an effective, faithful witness to the Gospel. Featuring an informative Foreword by Archbishop of Chicago Blase J. Cupich, (Pope Francis's first major appointment in the United States),"Walking with Jesus" offers the Church a much-needed way forward, past its inner and outer walls, as it fearlessly follows Christ toward the future. "Walking With Jesus" should be considered a 'must read' by all Catholics, and is strongly recommended as inspiring and thoughtful reading for all Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be noted that "Walking with Jesus: A Way Forward for the Church" is also available in a paperback edition (9780829442540, $16.95), in a Kindle edition ($12.99), and as an audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781504610902, $29.95).

Elizabeth Ann Seton
Anne Merwin
Pauline Books & Media
50 St. Pauls Avenue, Boston, MA 02130
www.pauline.org
9780819823809, $10.95, 93pp, www.amazon.com

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, S.C., (August 28, 1774 - January 4, 1821) was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on September 14, 1975. She established the first Catholic school in the nation, at Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity. A part of the outstanding 'Saints by Our Side' series from Pauline Books & Media, "Elizabeth Ann Seton" by Anne Merwin (a past President of the Mother Seton House in Baltimore and now an Associate of the Sisters of Charity of New York) is a 93 page biography of a young Colonial America socialite who becomes the pioneer of the Catholic school system in the United States and the foundress of the Sisters of Charity. Elizabeth had the kind of fortitude and perseverance that fueled the American Revolution. When she discovered God's call, she followed it, undergoing a compelling conversion, and a life of many trials. Her choices and actions are a true testament to her strong faith. Discover the secret of Elizabeth's holiness - a courageous determination to allow God to guide her, no matter where he might lead. "Elizabeth Ann Seton" includes reflection questions; contains a chronology of important dates; features her story with a personal connection; and ends with a prayer to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. "Elizabeth Ann Seton" is inherently fascinating and informative.

Pope Francis' Revolution of Tenderness and Love
Walter Kasper
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
www.paulistpress.com
9780809106233, $16.95, www.amazon.com

"Pope Francis' Revolution of Tenderness and Love: Theological and Pastoral Perspectives" by Cardinal Walter Kasper (President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity) is a 120 page commentary outlying the significant influences that have led the Cardinal to call Francis a pope leading a radical revolution of tenderness and love because what the globally popular Pope preaches and the church reforms he is championing are solidly rooted in the gospel. Cardinal Kasper (who is nicknamed the 'pope's theologian' writes with a clarity and insight that does full justice to the message and mission of Pope Francis. "Pope Francis' Revolution of Tenderness and Love: Theological and Pastoral Perspectives" is very highly recommended and essential reading by both the clergy and the laity of every Roman Catholic community.

Sacred Days
Thomas R. Steagald
Upper Room Books
PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003
www.upperroom.org
9780835813815, $16.99, www.amazon.com

Certain seasons or days of the Christian year of a special meaning for members of the Christian community. Some days and seasons of importance to Christians have been adopted and adapted by non-Christians such as the Japanese people making Christmas an annual holiday in Japan. In "Sacred Days: Following Jesus Through the Christian Year" by Thomas R. Steagald (Senior Pastor of Hawthorne Lane United Methodist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina) is a 141 page commentary that incorporates the use of the Christian year as a kind of map or grid to help us understand the overarching story of Jesus' life following specific events beginning with the birth of Jesus, and then continuing on to his ministry and miracles, and finally concluding with his death and resurrection. An informative and engaging approach to studying the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, "Sacred Days" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as Sunday School and Seminary-based Christian Studies curriculums. It should be noted that "Sacred Days" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Mystery Of The Eucharist
Dennis Billy
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565485303, $24.95, 338pp, www.amazon.com

The Eucharist (also called Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, and other names) is a rite considered by most Christian churches to be a sacrament. According to some New Testament books, it was instituted by Jesus Christ during his Last Supper. Giving his disciples bread and wine during the Passover meal, Jesus commanded his followers to "do this in memory of me", while referring to the bread as "my body" and the wine as "my blood". Through the Eucharistic celebration Christians remember Christ's sacrifice of himself once and for all on the cross. Everyone is called to holiness, and everyone to mysticism. In "The Mystery of the Eucharist: Voices from the Saints and Mystics", Fr. Dennis Billy (scholar-in-residence, professor, and holder of the John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania) presents the voices of 26 saints and mystics, including brief biographies & synopses of their spiritualities. Their unique insights on the Eucharist come together here in a symphony of great beauty, joy, and gratitude, and Fr. Billy's presentation will deepen your understanding of their impact on Catholic Eucharistic spirituality over the centuries. Chapter subtitles include: Food of the Heart; Infinite Delight; Transubstantial Change; Gods Maternal Love; Daily Bread; Nearness to Jesus; and Forging Unity. Reflection questions for each chapter make it perfect for catechesis or for a formation or faith-sharing group.

Windows from Heaven: Yes, I Believe
Matthew Seufer
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.westbowpress.com
Bohlsen Group
9781490858395, $30.95, www.amazon.com

Author and photographer Matthew Seufer has translated his personal Christian experiences into an impressive 94 page visual presentation of the dated and scriptural citation captioned photographs that comprise "Windows from Heaven: Yes, I Believe". Simple, inspired, and inspiring, "Windows from Heaven: Yes, I Believe" is a meditative delight to browse through and could well serve as a template for similar efforts by others. "Windows from Heaven: Yes, I Believe" is very highly recommended for perusal by all members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be noted that "Windows from Heaven: Yes, I Believe" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.61).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Ethical Wills & How To Prepare Them
Rabbi Jack Riemer & Dr. Nathaniel Stampfer
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
9781580238274, $18.99, 272pp, www.amazon.com

A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his or her estate and provides for the distribution of his or her property at death. For the devolution of property not disposed of by will, see inheritance and intestacy. Though it has at times been thought that a "will" was historically limited to real property while "testament" applies only to dispositions of personal property (thus giving rise to the popular title of the document as "Last Will and Testament"), the historical records show that the terms have been used interchangeably. Thus, the word "will" validly applies to both personal and real property. A will may also create a testamentary trust that is effective only after the death of the testator. Ethical wills are precious spiritual documents, windows into the souls of those who write them, and are often a treasured part of a family's history. These "legacy letters" sum up what you have learned in life, and what you want most for, and from, your loved ones. "Ethical Wills & How to Prepare Them: A Guide to Sharing Your Values from Generation to Generation" is a unique combination of "what is" and "how to", which also offers a step-by-step process to help the non-specialist general reader to prepare an ethical will of their own, and provides a wide range of contemporary ethical wills as templates to help them do it. "Ethical Wills & How to Prepare Them: A Guide to Sharing Your Values from Generation to Generation" reveals the ongoing relevance of this traditional Jewish practice for people of all faiths, all backgrounds. The emotional power of the nearly one hundred last letters collected here, written by both famous and ordinary Jewish people, will inspire readers to live more fully now, and to record their own blessings for the generations to come. It should be noted that "Ethical Wills & How to Prepare Them: A Guide to Sharing Your Values from Generation to Generation" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.49).

The New Anti-Semitism
Phyllis Chesler
Gefen Publishing House
Gefen Publishing House
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
www.gefenspublishing.com
9789652298096, $18.00, 263pp, www.amazon.com

Anti-Semitism is prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews as a national, ethnic, religious, or racial group. A person who holds such positions is called an "antisemite". Antisemitism is widely considered to be an insidious form of racism and led directly to the Holocaust of World War II. A dangerous worldwide coalition of Islamic terrorists, well-intentioned but misinformed students, right-wing fascists, left-wing ideologues, academics, feminists, European politicians, journalists, and international human rights organizations have joined together to again scapegoat the Jews and the Jewish state for crimes they did not commit and for whatever ails the world. Intensely passionate and compelling, "The New Anti-Semitism" by Jewish feminist author Dr Phyllis Chesler demonstrates how old-fashioned anti-Semitism (now often depicted in the form of anti-Zionism) has become fashionable and even politically correct, and how this plague threatens the Jews of the world, Israel, America, and Western civilization. Originally published in 2003, "The New Anti-Semitism" is a pioneering work that has stood the test of time with this new edition being significantly updated, expanded, and strengthening the original analysis. Enhanced with a new introduction, resource section, and the answers to the twenty most frequently asked questions, "The New Anti-Semitism" is a seminal work that is very highly recommended for community and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The New Anti-Semitism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Louise Brooks: Detective
Rick Geary
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing
New York, NY 10038
9781561639526 $15.99 www.nbmpub.com

True crime author Rick Geary (known for his "Treasury of Murder" series) presents Louise Brooks: Detective, a black-and-white graphic novel of a fictional murder mystery - though the star of the story is film actress Louise Brooks, known for popularizing bangs as a hairstyle. The line artwork draws the reader into a dark and spiraling tale of greed, corruption, and oh-so-ruthless murder. In 1940, Louise's movie career has subsided; she returns to her family in Wichita, only to become embroiled in increasingly horrific events. Can Louise discover who is behind the plot without becoming the killer's next victim? Highly recommended, especially for fans of the detective genre!

My Neighbor Seki 2
Takuma Morishige
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
9781939130976 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Presented in its original "unflipped" right-to-left format, My Neighbor Seki 2 is the second black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) in a series about an "odd couple" of public school desk-mates. Rumi Yokoi is a hardworking young girl who just wants to study and get good grades. But the brilliant Seki, who sits next to her, never pays attention in class; instead he focuses his genius creativity into endless, entertaining games. From using Othello pieces to play out a zombie apocalypse, to throwing darts with his feet, to performing masterful card tricks, Seki inevitably tangles Yokoi into his fascinating yet utterly distracting imaginary stories! Volume 2 also introduces a new character, the shy girl Goto, who wants to be Yokoi's friend - but to her eyes, Yokoi and Seki appear to be having a love affair! (They're not; or at least, not by most definitions of the phrase...) The episodic, short-comedy-skit nature of My Neighbor Seki makes volume 2 just as good a jump-on point as volume 1. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of imaginative comedy! Fans of manga adventures in a school setting will also enjoy Vanguard 5 (9781939130761, $10.95), the latest in a black-and-white manga series adapting an anime about friendships, competition, and a children's card game that could potentially impact the entire world. (The first printing of volume 5 comes sealed in shrinkwrap, with a limited edition PR card).

Witchcraft Works 4
Ryu Mizunagi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
9781941220184 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Witchcraft Works 4 continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese comics) series about average high school student Takamiya, and his complicated relationship with the school "Princess", the powerful and talented witch Kagari. Their growing closeness is made difficult by a terrible force contained within Takamiya - as the seal within his body erodes, he will become a danger to others. And if Kagari's witch-chairman mother learns that the seal is disintegrating, she just might summarily execute Takamiya, or worse! Kagari willfully rebels against her mother to protect Takamiya, even enlisting aid from the petrifying Medusa, but does Kagari have a fighting chance against an older witch, who is many times more knowledgeable and skilled? Can Takamiya successfully train his own powers and fighting ability without causing massive property damage? Volume 4 also includes flashback stories with character development for Kagari's classmates, as well as a glimpse into the dream-visions that have haunted Kagari since childhood. A fantastic adventure of powerful women (and a young man struggling to keep up), Witchcraft Works is elaborately drawn in its original right-to-left format, and highly recommended.

Millennium Snow Volumes 3 & 4
Bisco Hatori
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421579078 $14.99 www.viz.com

An "unflipped" rendition meant to be read right-to-left, Millennium Snow Volumes 3 & 4 is the black-and-white shojo manga (Japanese comics with a focus on relationships, aimed toward teen and adult female readers) omnibus conclusion of the Millennium Snow saga! The story follows seventeen-year-old Chiyuki Matsuoka, a girl born with a fatal heart defect, and the 18-year-old vampire Toya. Toya prolonged Chiyuki's life by giving her blood, but he hates the concept of blood-drinking, and refuses to engage in the traditional partnership with a human that would enable both of them to live for a thousand years. To Toya, a thousand-year lifespan could only be filled with loneliness and suffering. Can Chiyuki convince him that mortals can be strong? Will a rival werewolf steal Chiyuki's affections? (Probably not). What other mythological creatures are hidden in the modern world, living secret lives among the Age of Mortals? Millennium Snow is both a practical exploration of the ramifications of an extended lifespan and a love story, with a whisper of smoldering dark fantasy, and brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended, especially for fans of shojo manga and vampire stories!

Kiss of the Rose Princess 4
Aya Shouoto
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
www.shojobeat.com
9781421573694 $9.99 www.viz.com

The fourth volume of Kiss of the Rose Princess continues the black-and-white shojo manga (Japanese comics intended especially for girls and adult women) series, featuring a beautifully distinctive art style in its original "unflipped" right-to-left format. The story centers upon high school student Anise Yamamoto, who leads a double life as the "Rose Princess" in command of handsome knights. Her goal is to repair the Demon Lord's seal, keeping its evil at bay as well as freeing herself and the knights from the Rose Contract that binds them together. They need to obtain the mysterious Arcana Cards for the sake of the seal. But one of the cards is a prize for second place in a boy-band contest - do the Rose Knights have what it takes to win the hearts and minds of the crowd (but not too much?) And who are these mysterious new contenders who also appear to have Rose Knight powers? The Rose Knights' cooperation is sometimes strained by personality conflicts, and lately the Black Rose Mutsuki has been recovering frightful memories that distance him from the others! Adventurous and character-driven, Kiss of the Rose Princess is enthusiastically recommended especially for fans of shojo manga.

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood
Hirohiko Araki
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421578798, $19.99 (Volume 1)
9781421578804, $19.99 (Volume 2) www.viz.com

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Volume 1 and Volume 2 kick off the English-language translation of a long-running Japanese shonen manga (comics geared toward boys and men) following the generations of the Joestar family. Each volume is hardcover, with its artwork presented right-to-left as originally drawn. The Phantom Blood storyline takes place in England in the late 1800's; the honorable young Joestar (nicknamed "Jojo") is betrayed by his nefarious adoptive sibling Dio. Dio plans to destroy JoJo, murder his adoptive father, and claim the family fortune for himself! Jojo will fight dearly to protect the people he loves, but then an evil artifact capable of transforming human beings in to hideous monsters comes into play. What can one mortal man do to stop the rampage of a crazed vampire lord? Jojo's Bizarre Adventure contains scenes of traumatic violence, and is emphatically not for the faint of heart, yet there is also a depth of love, nobility, and tragedy to this saga of heroes and horrific villains. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a wildly popular and long-running series, especially recommended for fans of action-packed adventures such as Dragonball Z.

Last Man: The Royal Cup
Balak, Michael Sanlaville, and Bastien Vives
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626720473 $9.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Last Man: The Royal Cup is the second graphic novel of an ongoing saga set a fantastic world, at once both like and unlike Europe's Middle Ages. One of the protagonists, Richard Aldana, is a brawler from our world, with little more than a traveler's satchel connecting him to his past. In the Royal Cup, Richard participates in a ritual battle tournament. His teammate is a young boy, Adrian Velba, and a hot-and-sexy love affair has blossomed between Richard and Adrian's single mother. Do Richard and Adrian have what it takes to overcome the finest fighters, magic-users, and spirit-callers of the kingdom? And when a thief steals Richard's bag, will the secrets of his life be revealed? Action-packed, and with moments of risque humor, Last Man: The Royal Cup recommended for adults and possibly older teens, due to mature content.


The Needlecraft Shelf

You Can Quilt!: Building Skills for Beginners
Leila Gardunia & Marlene Oddie
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781604601831, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Quilting is the process of sewing of two or more layers of material together to make a thicker padded material, usually to create a quilt or quilted garments. The whole process of creating a quilt or quilted garment also involves other steps such as designing, piecing, applique, and binding. A person who works at quilting is termed a quilter. Quilting can be done by hand, by sewing machine, or by a specialized long-arm quilting system. Leila Gardunia has been sewing since childhood and has been a quilter for over 12 years. Marlene Oddie has been a quilter for thirteen years. Together they have compiled a complete do-it-yourself course of instruction for novice quilters in "You Can Quilt!: Building Skills for Beginners", a 112 page, heavily illustrated, instruction manual that teaches just how to sew 36 quilt blocks with ideas and methods for setting the blocks into a quilt. "You Can Quilt!: Building Skills for Beginners" features step-by-step instructions that begin with explaining the basics of color choice and 1/4" seams. Each chapter offers three block patterns increasing in difficulty from easy, to medium, to challenging. "You Can Quilt!: Building Skills for Beginners" covers half-square triangles, quarter-square triangles, Flying Geese, wonky piecing, improvisation, foundation paper piercing, curves, One-Patch blocks, applique, inset seams, hexies, Mariner's Compass, and Feathered Star. Impressively 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "You Can Quilt!: Building Skills for Beginners" is very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.


The Military Shelf

Yakovlev Fighters of World War Two
Yefim Gordon & Sergey Komissarov
Hikoki Publications
c/o Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
www.specialtypress.com
9781902109466, $56.95, www.amazon.com

The Yak Aircraft Corporation is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer (design office prefix Yak). Its head office is in Aeroport District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow. The bureau was formed in 1934 under designer Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev as OKB-115, but its birthday is considered to be on 12 May 1927, the day of maiden flight of the AIR-1 aircraft developed within the Department of Light Aircraft of GUAP (Head Agency of Aviation Industry) under the supervision of A.S. Yakovlev. During World War II Yakovlev designed and produced a famed line of fighter aircraft. The collaborative work of Russian fighter plane experts Yefim Gordon and Sergey Komissarov, "Yakovlev Fighters of World War Two" is a 336 page compendium that is a full and complete history of the World War II fighter planes developed for, and employed by, the Russian air command. Profusely illustrated with more than 500 photographs and illustrations, "Yefim Gordon & Sergey Komissarov" is enhanced with the inclusion of personal stories from the pilots that flew combat missions with Yakovley fighter planes. "Yakovlev Fighters of World War Two" is very strongly recommended for personal and academic library World War II Military Aircraft reference collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

Above Us Only Sky
Michelle Young-Stone, author
Read by Cassandra Campbell
Highbridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781622316243 $29.99 www.highbridgeaudio.com

Skillfully narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Above Us Only Sky is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a haunting novel about a troubled young girl whose family has a fantastically storied past. When Prudence Eleanor Vilkas was born in 1973, she had a most unusual birth defect - a pair of tiny wings, surgically removed in her infancy. Fifteen years later, Prudence struggles to find her place in the world, and her perceptions are transformed when she meets her estranged Lithuanian grandfather. She learns more about her unusual heritage - a race of bird-women and heroes who have blended among ordinary people for generations. Stunned and intrigued by the revelation, Prudence sets out on a quest to learn more about who she is. An emotionally moving tale of pride, heartbreak, and the hope of redemption, Above Us Only Sky is highly recommended. 8 CDs, 9 1/2 hours.

Murder on the Champ de Mars
Cara Black, author
Carine Montbertrand, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781490656809 $102.75 www.recordedbooks.com

Murder on the Champ de Mars: An Aimee Leduc Investigation set in Paris is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a tense mystery, following a streetwise single mother P.I. The year is 1999, and Aimee Leduc has her hands full raising an infant. But when an impoverished boy insists that his dying mother desperately needs to confess a secret connected to the unsolved murder of Aimee's father, she cannot refuse her own need to know the truth. Arriving at the hospital, Aimee learns that the boy's mother has disappeared, even though she was too sick to leave on her own. Who could have abducted a desperately ill woman, and will Aimee be able to find her before it's too late? Murder on the Champ de Mars is gripping to the very end.

The Dark Between The Stars
Kevin J. Anderson
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781480563353, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Twenty years after the elemental conflict that nearly tore apart the cosmos in Keven J. Anderson's riveting science fiction novel "The Saga of Seven Suns", a new threat emerges from the darkness. The human race must set aside its own inner conflicts to rebuild their alliance with the Ildiran Empire for the survival of the galaxy. In "The Dark Between the Stars" (the newest installment in Anderson's 'Saga of the Seven Suns' series), galactic empires clash, elemental beings devastate whole planetary systems, and factions of humanity are pitted against each other. Heroes rise and enemies make their last stands in the climax of an epic tale seven years in the making -- and well worth the wait! With flawless production values and a superb narration by Mark Boyett, this complete and unabridged CD audio book will prove a "must" for the legions of Kevin J. Anderson fans and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library science fiction audio book collections! 19 CDs, 22 hours 53 minutes.

Voices From Beyond
Simon R. Green
Graphic Audio
4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
9781628511376, $19.99, www.graphicaudio.net

The fifth volume in Simon R. Green's epic 'Ghost Finders' series, "Voices From Beyond" once again presents the adventures of those intrepid operatives of the Carnacki Institute: JC Chance: the team leader, brave, charming, and almost unbearably arrogant; Melody Chambers: the science geek who keeps the antisupernatural equipment running; and Happy Jack Palmer: the terminally gloomy telepath. Their mission: Do Something About Ghosts. Lay them to rest, send them packing, or just kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses! In a quiet London suburb, four university students participating in an experiment inside a reputed haunted house hold a seance that goes terribly wrong. What (or who) ever they summoned has taken their minds away, leaving them empty shells. Enter the Ghost Finders, a team ready to confront an enraged poltergeist for the students' very souls. It's all in a day's work -- except the team doesn't know that in another part of the city, a different entity has also breached the threshold between worlds. JC, Melody and Happy all come face to face with their future selves, but will their warnings come too late. Will the events at a small radio station, bring about the end of the world? Once again offering a true 'theatre of the mind' listening experience, "Voices From Beyond" features a talented cast of actors, flawless production values, and is highly recommended for fantasy and science fiction fans ages 18 and up. (5 CDs, 6 hours).

A Rising Thunder
David Weber
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781469280615, $19.99, www.amazon.com

After a brutal attack on the Manticoran home system, Honor Harrington and the Star Kingdom she serves battle back against a new, technologically powerful, and utterly nefarious enemy. And as if that weren't task enough, Honor must also face down a centuries-old nemesis in the crumbling, but still mighty, Solarian League. The war between the People's Republic of Haven and the Star Kingdom is finally won and peace established, but grave danger looms for there is a plan well on its way to completion designed to enslave the entire human species. Behind that plan lies the shadowy organization known as the Mesan Alignment. Task number one for Honor is to defend against another devastating Mesan strike a strike that may well spell the doom of the Star Kingdom in one fell blow. It is time to shut down and secure the wormhole network that is the source of the Star Kingdom's wealth and power but also its greatest vulnerability. Yet this is an act that the Earth-based Solarian League inevitably will take as a declaration of war. The thunder of battle rolls as the Solarian League directs its massive power against the Star Kingdom. And once again, Honor Harrington is thrust into a desperate battle that she must win if she is to survive to take the fight to the real enemy of galactic freedom -- the insidious puppetmasters of war who lurk behind the Mesan Alignment! "A Rising Thunder" continues the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. A superbly performed narration by Allyson Johnson does full justice to the impressive variety of characters that are key to this science fiction adventure. Complete and unabridged, "A Rising Thunder" ends upon a cliff hanger that will leave fully entertained listeners looking eagerly toward the next 'theatre of the mind' audio book installment of the Honor Harrington action/adventure series. (15 CDs, 18 hours, 10 minutes).


The Music CD Shelf

Basswalla
Adham Shaikh
AdhamShaikh.com
Black Swan Sounds
BlackSwanSounds.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$16.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com

The first album released from Canadian musician Adham Shaikh in five years, Basswalla is an artful craft of electronica and global fusion, featuring bass-centric tracks, southern hemisphere soundscapes, and a strong urban pulse. Half of Basswalla's ten tracks are brand new material; the other half are updated re-imaginings of songs Adham Shaikh has composed over the past 13 years. Basswalla is an instrumental awakening that appeals to the senses, enthusiastically recommended to connoisseurs of invigorating sound. The tracks are "Basswalla", "Sabadub (Floating Soul Mix)", "Collective (Yogi Dub Mix)", "Cultivation (feat. Shamik)", "Vibe Hunter (The Elders Dance Mix)", "Beyond I (Desert Sky Reframe)", "Still Shakin", "Rumba Dub", "Crossroads (Deep South Mix)", and "Water Prayer (Deep Crystal Mix)".

The Great Mystery
Desert Dwellers
Black Swan Sounds
BlackSwanSounds.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$12.99 CD / $11.49 MP3 www.amazon.com

Inspired music production duo Treavor Moontribe and Amani Friend (also known as "Desert Dwellers") present The Great Mystery, an album showcasing the heights and depths of electronic music enhanced with vocals, some spoken words, flute, violin, and oud. An entirely original creation, The Great Mystery explores tribal techno, psychedelic trance, dubstep and ambient styles to create an unpredictable and inspirational audio journey. A treasure for the musically adventurous! The tracks are "Warm Desert Sands", "The Great Mystery", "Crossing Beyond (ReVisioned)", "View from Laniakea", "Our Dream World", "Walking Between", "The Sacrament (ReVisioned)", "Bird Over Sand Dunes", "Wings of Waves", and "Give Thanks".

Sin Fronteras
Brooklyn Gypsies
www.brooklyngypsies.com
Woder Wheel Recordings
www.wonderwheelrecordings.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$10.00 CD or digital

Sin Fronteras is the debut music album of the Brooklyn Gypsies, an NYC-based creative group that combines eclectic urban sociopolitical culture with their unique and diverse individual heritages. The title, which translates to "Without Borders", reflects the album's anything-goes spirit. Individual tracks may have lyrics in Spanish, English, or Russian; showcased musical traditions range from flamenco freestyle to reggae blues, Russian folk, Arabic percussion, "Gypsy Dub" sax riffs and solo's, and much more. A font of freewheeling creativity and wide-open inspiration, Sin Fronteras is highly recommended. The tracks are "Camels Of Blue", "Desert Moon", "Zeina", "Sin Fronteras", "BK Gypsy Dancehall", "Kunta Baba", "Fafisa", "Supercore", "Dream Snake", and "Marfa".

Pressurize the Cabin
Fort Knox Five
Privatley Published
c/o Press Junkie PR
$9.99 CD / $6.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Pressurize the Cabin is the latest album by Fort Knox Five, celebrating funk from dancehall ska to hip-hop, disco, electro, and Latin rhythms. A variety of talented vocalists contribute to these energized, exciting tracks. Pressurize the Cabain is a "must-have" for enthusiasts of the genre! The tracks are "Reach" (feat. Flex Mathews), "Fire in my Belly" (feat. Ashley Slater), "Whatcha Gonna Do" (feat. Mustafa Akbar), "Pressurize the Cabin" (feat. Vokab Kompany), "Swinging on a Rhyme" (feat. Flex Mathews), "Keep It Poppin'" (feat. Mustafa Akbar), "Ready Go" (feat. Raashan Ahmad), "Cinco to the Brinco" (feat. Empresarios), "24 Hours To Set It Off" (feat. Sleepy Wonder) and "Mission to the Sitars".

Spiritual Haven
Russell Suereth
Privately Published
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$TBA CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com

Spiritual Haven is a soothing, instrumental music CD blending traditional Western acoustic instruments (piano, oboe, bassoon, guitar, viola, cello, and French horn) with ancient instruments from cultures around the world, such as the duduk (a double-reed woodwind flute from Armenia), guzheng (a Chinese plucked zither), koto (a Japanese zither with movable bridges), ethnic frame drums (used by native tribes of the Americas) and much more. An extraordinary variety of rhythmic patterns enrich this gently flowing album, designed to promote relaxation and inner peace. Spiritual Haven is highly recommended as a gentle antidote to a stress-filled day.

Where Heart and Heaven Meet
Alice Parker
Melodious Accord, Inc.
PO Box 20801, Park West Station, NY, NY 10025
www.melodiousaccord.org
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638
$16.95 CD / $12.99 MP3 www.giamusic.com

Where Heart and Heaven Meet: Hymns of Alice Parker from the Melodious Accord Hymnal is a CD recording of faith and prayer. Soul-stirring in its beauty, Where Heart and Heaven Meet evokes the conscience, joy, and fulfillment that come to dedicating oneself to God and Jesus Christ. Highly recommended, both for personal religious meditation and for church music CD collections.


The DVD Shelf

InuYasha The Final Act: The Complete Series
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
$44.82 DVD / $54.97 Blu-ray www.viz.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, InuYasha The Final Act: The Complete Series collects all 26 episodes of the final season of the anime (Japanese animation) adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's dark fantasy graphic novel saga, well-known for its mix of intense action and deep characterization. InuYasha, a half-demon-canine from feudal Japan, and Kagome, an ordinary modern-day schoolgirl with the ability to travel back and forth through time, fight to keep shards of the powerful Shikon Jewel away from the demonic, murderously cruel mastermind Naraku. Caught between two worlds, can Kagome keep up with her studies for her high school exams while fending off horrific supernatural evil? The reassembled Shikon Jewel potentially has the power to grant any wish, yet appears to bring nothing but ruin to lives of everyone it touches. Culminating in an epic battle for the past, present, and future of Japan, InuYasha The Final Act is a "must-see" for anime fans! Special features include production art, storyboard art, original Japanese trailers, and original cast credits in English. InuYasha has English and Japanese audio, with optional English subtitles.

Jamaica Inn
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723349 www.acornonline.com

Set in 1821 Cornwall, Jamaica Inn is a suspenseful movie following an orphaned woman who comes to the titular Jamaica Inn to join her aunt. Shortly after meeting her aunt's harsh and menacing husband Joss, she learns that Jamaica Inn is not a place for guests, but rather a hotbed for smuggling. Yet she cannot resist the powerful allure of Joss' younger brother. Dark yet gripping, Jamaica Inn is an unfolding dark current of torrential forces, in which a woman must determine what her moral standards truly are amidst a crossroads of poverty, thuggery, and love. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes footage, cast and crew interviews, and a photo gallery. 3 episodes, 184 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722908 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

Originally aired in 2004, Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies is a DVD anthology of award-winning television movies based on the books by Maureen Jennings. The mysteries have a notably darker tone than the hit television series. Set in 1890s Toronto, the movies show Detective William Murdoch (played by Peter Outerbridge) apply the latest forensic techniques of the time to solve the murders of a chambermaid, a colleague on the force, and a backstreet abortion provider. Aided by the captivating coroner Doctor Julia Ogden (played by Kelley Hawes), and hindered by pressure from his superior, Inspector Brackenreid (played by Colm Meaney), the principled Murdoch works to bring justice as swiftly as he can, in the process forming a tenuous bond with Ettie (played by Flora Montgomery), a prostitute who also acts as a police informant. A glimpse into the dark side of the Victorian era, Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies is a treasure for fans and collectors of the genre. 3 movies on 3 DVDs, 271 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

BarreAmped Sleek & Toned Prenatal Workout
Featuring Suzanne Bowen
Bowen Productions, LLC
PO Box 2362, Brentwood, TN 37024
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.barreamped.com

Suzanne Bowen, a fitness professional of 14 years' experience and trained in the classical US barre technique, presents BarreAmped Sleek & Toned Prenatal Workout, a DVD workout created especially for expectant mothers. Using a neutral spinal alignment, breathing and classic BarreAmped exercises, this program is ideal for maintaining health, vigor, and muscle tone through pregnancy and beyond. Highly recommended! 88 minutes.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Art of Making Gelato
Morgan Morano
Race Point Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781937994440, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream. In English this word commonly refers to varieties of ice cream made in a traditional Italian style. Gelato can be made with milk, cream, various sugars, and flavoring such as fresh fruit and nut purees. It is generally lower in calories, fat and sugar than ice cream. Gelato is a type of soft ice cream containing a relatively small amount of air. By statute, gelato in Italy must have at least 3.5% butterfat, with no upper limit established. The sugar content in homemade gelato, as in traditional ice cream, is balanced with the water content to act as an anti-freeze to prevent it from freezing solid. Types of sugar used include sucrose, dextrose, and inverted sugar to control apparent sweetness. Typically, gelato (like any other ice cream) needs a stabilizing base. Egg yolks are used in yellow custard-based gelato flavors, including zabaione and creme caramel, and non-fat milk solids are also added to gelato to stabilize the base. Starches and gums, especially corn starch, are sometimes also used to thicken and stabilize the mix. Sorbetto is a frozen dessert made from sweetened water with flavoring (typically fruit juice or fruit puree, wine, and/or liqueur). "The Art of Making Gelato" by professional chef and gelato expert Morgan Morano is a 192 page compendium showcasing 50 recipes for gelato and sorbetto that are specifically appropriate for creating in a home kitchen. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' throughout, "The Art of Making Gelato" provides information on home gelator machines, tools, and ingredients; presents a step-by-step guide to making gelator and sorbetto; organizes gelato recipes into four categories (The Basics; The Classics; Nuts; Non-Traditional Flavors); and a five page roster of Sorbeto recipes. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Art of Making Gelato" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Art of Making Gelato" is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.10).

Wicked Good Burgers
Andy Husbands, Chris Hart, Andrea Pyenson
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781592336852, $17.99, www.amazon.com

A hamburger (also called a beef burger, hamburger sandwich, burger or hamburg) is a sandwich consisting of one or more cooked patties of ground meat, usually beef, placed inside a sliced bun. Hamburgers are often served with lettuce, bacon, tomato, onion, pickles, cheese and condiments such as mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and green chile. The term "burger" can also be applied to the meat patty on its own. The term may be prefixed with the type of meat used, as in "turkey burger". "Wicked Good Burgers: Fearless Recipes and Uncompromising Techniques for the Ultimate Patty" by the team of Andy Husbands (award-winning chef/owner of Tremont 647), Chris Hart (winner of the Jack Daniel Invitational World Championship in 200), and food writer Andrea Pyenson is a beautifully illustrated, 208 page compendium showcasing an impressive (and mouth-watering) profusion of kitchen cook friendly recipes that will have immense appeal for burger enthusiasts everywhere! "Wicked Good Burgers" is organized and presented in seven thematic chapters: The Basics of Burgers; Burgers 101; New American Classics; Where's the Beef?; Burgers Beyond Borders; You Want Fries With That?; That's a Frappe! Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, "Wicked Good Burgers" truly lives up to it's title and is enthusiastically recommended! It should be noted that "Wicked Good Burgers" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).

Party With Sweet Treats
Norene Cox
Front Table Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462116027, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Whether a party is formal or informal, an elaborate celebration or an spur of the moment get together, treats and snacks will always be an important part of the experience. "Party With Sweet Treats: Dressed-up Goodies for Every Occasion" by Norene Cox (creator of Party Pinching, a popular website where she could blog about her cute food and budget friendly party ideas, and whose desserts have been featured in People magazine, Family Fun magazine, Seventeen magazine, Taste of Home, and praised by Martha Stewart and endorsed by Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran), is a profusely illustrated, 160 page compendium showcasing thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for making an impressively diverse number of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, wonderfully fun edibles. After an informative Introduction; an invaluable section of Tips & Tricks; and useful Tutorials; the recipes comprising "Party With Sweet Treats" is organized into three main sections: Holidays; Sweet Celebrations; and Just For Fun. From Love Bug Cookies; Chicken Pretenders; Diploma Cupcake Toppers; Twinkie Toes; and Toaster Pastry Cards; to Golf Donuts; to Little Leprechaun Cupcakes; Tea Cup Toppers; Bitty Balloon Cookies; Pinata Rice Krispie Treat; and Peanut Butter Checkers, "Party With Sweet Treats" is a unique culinary treasure and certain to be a popular addition to personal, family, and community library collections! It should be noted that "Party With Sweet Treats" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

BBQ Bistro
Karen Adler & Judith Fertig
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762454549, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Barbecue (also barbeque, BBQ) is a cooking method and apparatus. While there is a vast degree of variation and overlap in terminology and method surrounding this form of cooking, the generally accepted difference between barbecuing and grilling is in the cooking time and type of heat used. Grilling is generally done quickly over moderate-to-high direct heat with little smoke, while barbecuing is done slowly over low indirect heat and the food is flavored by the smoking process. Collaboratively compiled and presented by the team of barbecue experts Karen Adler and Judith Fertig, "BBQ Bistro: Simple, Sophisticated French Recipes for Your Grill" is a 224 page culinary compendium showcasing an impressive diversity and variety of barbecue dishes. Each recipes is provided with a succinct commentary, a list of ingredients, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' step-by-step instructions. "BBQ Bistro: Simple, Sophisticated French Recipes for Your Grill" includes recipes for appetizers, toasted and grilled bread; salads; sandwiches; side dishes, main courses, poultry, lamb, game, beef, pork, fish, shellfish, desserts, and fruits. A delight to browse through and a pleasure to plan menus with, "BBQ Bistro: Simple, Sophisticated French Recipes for Your Grill" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "BBQ Bistro: Simple, Sophisticated French Recipes for Your Grill" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).

Deep South Dish: Homestyle Southern Recipes
Mary Foreman
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
9781938879135, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A nicely illustrated, 224 page culinary compendium comprised of authentic American southern dishes compiled by Mary Foreman, "Deep South Dish: Homestyle Southern Recipes" is a celebration of kitchen cook friendly recipes that allows genuine southern cuisine to be a staple for menu planning everywhere in the country. The recipes are organized into chapters for: Appetizers & Beverages; Bread, Breakfast & Brunch; Soups, Stews & Chilis; Salads; Vegetables & Side Dishes; Chicken; Seafood; Beef & Pork; and Desserts. The showcased dishes range from Brown Sugar Candied Bacon; Sausage and Cheese Bread; Creamy Gumbo Potato Salad; Southern Fried Cabbage; and Cajun Dirty Rice; to Old School Oven Barbecued Chicken; Gulf Coast Crab and Rice; Chicken-Fried Steak with Milk Gravy; Baked Louisiana Meat Pies; and Southern Caramel Cake. A delight to simply browse and exceptionally well organized for menu planning, "Deep South Dish: Homestyle Southern Recipes" is heartily recommended for personal, family, and community library regional cookbook collections.

Stop, Drop, and Cook
Mark Hansen
Hobble Creek Press
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462114832, $13.99, www.amazon.com

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled (usually cast iron but also ceramic and clay) cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years. Now modern day kitchen cooks can prepare a culinary wealth of delectable dishes utilizing pantry storage ingredients with the aid of Mark Hansen's "Stop, Drop, and Cook: Everyday Dutch Oven Cooking With Food Storage". Not just a collection of terrific recipes, "Stop, Drop, and Cook" shows how to build up a food storage; safely store charcoal briquettes and wood; and prepare great meals even when the power and gas lines are out of service. The recipes themselves range from Dutch Oven Split Pea Soup with Ham; Garlic and Cheddar Drop Biscuits; Blueberry Almond Cake; and Curried Lentils with Rice; to Food Storage Pizza; TVP Sloppy Joe; Oatmeal Raisin Muffins; and Matzo Balls in Chicken Soup. Enhanced with the inclusion of a two page list of Resources and a four page Recipe Index, "Stop, Drop, and Cook" will prove to be an invaluable culinary reference for anyone with a Dutch Oven -- and for those without, an enticement to obtain one!

Hot Damn & Hell Yeah: Recipes for Hungry Banditos
Ryan Splint
Microcosm Publishing
2752 North Williams Avenue, Portland, OR 97227
www.microcosmpublishing.com
9781621069898, $10.95 PB, $6.99 Kindle, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Ryan Splint, "Hot Damn & Hell Yeah: Recipes for Hungry Banditos" is a 128 page vegan cookbook featuring recipes with a distinctively Old West culinary flair. The recipes range from Refried Beans; Breakfast Burritos; Vegetable Pot Pie; and Salted Bourbon Caramel Pecan Squares; to Herb and Cheese Drop Biscuits; Gaucamole; Beef Style Marinade; and Apple Enchiladas. The recipes are organized and presented in eight thematic sections: Sauces and Mixes; Breads; Yeast Breads; Side Dishes; Soups and Chilis; Main Dishes; Confections; and Desserts. This 10th Anniversary expanded edition is thoroughly kitchen cook friendly and highly recommended for personal and community library Vegan and Vegetarian cookbook collections.

Chocolate Modeling Cake Toppers
Ramla Khan
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
9781438005294, $17.99, www.amazon.com

Today, the words 'cake figurines' and 'cake toppers' are interchangeable. Figurines made of icing are also referred to as icingtons. Cake toppers have evolved from the kitchens of patisserie chefs and cake decorators displaying their skills in fondant, marzipan, and royal icing. Icing sugar creations are considered an art form in itself, and require a great deal of skill and craftsmanship, and may involve embossing, crimping, broderie anglaise, and Garret frills. Modern-day cake toppers or icingtons have not strayed too far from the traditional as they still retain the suave, elegant look that mirror the French Classics. "Chocolate Modeling Cake Toppers: 101 Tasty Ideas for Candy Clay, Modeling Chocolate, and Other Fondant Alternatives" by Ramla Khan (an accomplished cake designer and the owner of the London-based wedding cake bakery, The Enchanting Cake Company) is a profusely illustrated, 144 page instruction manual and guide that will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to create truly memorable cake toppings for all manner of occasions for celebration. In addition to an informed and informative Working with Modeling Chocolate; Coloring Modeling Chocolate; and Tips & Techniques sections, the instructional recipes are organized and presented in ten major themes: Romantic Vintage; Steampunk; Under the Sea; Winter Wonderland; The Secret Garden; Oriental; Arabian Nights; Love Birds; Teddy Bear Picnic. Unique and detailed, inspired and inspiring, "Chocolate Modeling Cake Toppers" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Cake My Day!
Karen Tack & Alan Richardson
Rux Martin
c/o Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
978 0544263697, $18.99, www.amazon.com

Cake is a form of sweet dessert that is typically baked. Typical cake ingredients are flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil, with some recipes also requiring additional liquid (for example milk or water) and leavening agents (such as yeast or baking powder). Common additional flavourings include dried, candied or fresh fruit, nuts, cocoa or extracts, and numerous substitutions for the primary ingredients are possible. Cakes can also be filled with fruit preserves or dessert sauces (like pastry cream), iced with buttercream or other icings, and decorated with marzipan, piped borders, or candied fruit. Cake is often served as a celebratory dish on ceremonial occasions, for example weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure; while at one time considerable labor went into cake making (particularly the whisking of egg foams), baking equipment and directions have been simplified so that even the most amateur cook may bake a cake. The collaborative work of 'cake artists' Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, "Cake My Day!: Easy, Eye-Popping Designs for Stunning, Fanciful, and Funny Cakes" is a unique and exceptional 304 page collection of kitchen cook friendly, profusely illustrated, instructional recipes for creating an impressive variety of whimsical cake forms. The cakes range from Pinwheel Cake; Goat Cake; Princess and the Pea Cake; Snowman Cake; and Siamese Cat Cake; to Bedazzled Christmas Tree Cake; Hugs Boot Cake; Batter Up! Cake; Test Tube Cake; Faberge Egg Cake, and so many more! "Cake My Day!" is a very special and highly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Tips On Bidding
Mike Lawrence
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5M 1H2
www.masterpointpress.com
9781771400206, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking game using a standard 52-card deck. It is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions of people play bridge worldwide in clubs, tournaments, online and with friends at home, making it one of the world's most popular card games, particularly among seniors. The game consists of several deals each progressing through four phases: dealing the cards, the auction (also referred to as bidding), playing the cards, and scoring the results. However, most club and tournament play involves some variant of duplicate bridge, where the cards are not re-dealt on each occasion, the same deal being played by two or more different sets of players to enable comparative scoring. "Tips on Bidding" by Mike Lawrence (who has Bridge Hall of Fame credentials both as a player and a writer; is an original member of the Dallas Aces winner of three world titles and eighteen national titles) is a 286 page instruction manual covering all aspects of bidding including avoiding common errors; a partner's suit; the three-card raise; reverses; the splinter bid; bidding after an opponent's takeout double; weak two-bids; preempts; passed hand bidding; and the fine art of hanging partner. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, "Tips On Bidding" should be considered a "must read" by all dedicated Bridge players and a core addition to personal and community library Card Game instructional reference collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Gift of Shamanism
Itzhak Beery
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.desintybooks.com
9781620553725, $16.95, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Shamanism is a practice that involves reaching altered states of consciousness in order to encounter and interact with the spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters into a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and healing. "The Gift of Shamanism: Visionary Power, Ayahuasca Dreams, and Journeys to Other Realms" by Itzhak Beery (an internationally recognized shamanic healer and teacher) explores ayahuasca rituals in the Amazon, messages from power animals and plant spirits, intuitive dreams, soul retrieval, and holograms of past lives and spirits; explains the shamanic way of "seeing" to diagnose spiritual, emotional, and physical ailments via candle readings, remote viewing, and shamanic journeys; and details how the author has helped individuals communicate with loved ones who have passed on and release themselves from negative spirits. An inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "The Gift of Shamanism" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "The Gift of Shamanism" is a sterling and seminal addition to the growing body of shamanic literature and highly recommended for both community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Gift of Shamanism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

7 Reasons To Believe In The Afterlife
Jean Jacques Charbonier, M.D.
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620553800, $14.95, 160pp, www.amazon.com

In philosophy, religion, mythology, and fiction, the afterlife (also referred to as life after death or the Hereafter) is the concept of a realm, or the realm itself (whether physical or transcendental), in which an essential part of an individual's identity or consciousness continues to exist after the death of the body in the individual's lifetime. According to various ideas about the afterlife, the essential aspect of the individual that lives on after death may be some partial element, or the entire soul or spirit, of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity. Belief in an afterlife, which may be naturalistic or supernatural, is in contrast to the belief in oblivion after death. Over the course of his 25-year career as an anesthesiologist and intensive care physician, Jean Jacques Charbonier, M.D., gathered hundreds of accounts of patients who returned from clinical death. Across all of these accounts from patients with vastly different backgrounds, Dr. Charbonier found striking similarities as well as indisputable proof that these experiences were more than hallucinations. He surveyed other physicians, nurses, and professional caregivers and discovered that their patients described the same experiences as well as exhibited the same positive life transformations afterward. Igniting a scientific quest to learn more, he collected more accounts of near-death experiences as well as out-of-body experiences, attended dozens of sessions with mediums, experimented successfully with electronic communication with the deceased (EVP), interviewed hundreds of people who have cared for the dying, and gathered countless inexplicable stories of "signs" from the afterlife. With each experience he studied, he found himself more firmly believing in the survival of consciousness beyond death. In the pages of "7 Reasons to Believe in the Afterlife: A Doctor Reviews the Case for Consciousness after Death" Dr. Charbonier distills his findings into seven reasons to believe in the afterlife, beginning with the more than 60 million people worldwide who have reported a transcendent afterlife experience. He refutes the standard objections of doubters and materialists point by point, citing scientific research on NDEs and the work of pioneers in the field of consciousness studies such as Raymond Moody and Pim van Lommel. Drawing on meticulously recorded and hospital-verified cases, Dr. Charbonier explains that we should not fear death for ourselves or our loved ones. By releasing our fear of death, we can properly prepare for "the final journey." As those who have returned from death reveal, death is simply a transition and its lessons enable us to live more fully, peacefully, and happily in the now. A significant and seminal contribution to the metaphysical study of life after death, "7 Reasons to Believe in the Afterlife: A Doctor Reviews the Case for Consciousness after Death" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "7 Reasons to Believe in the Afterlife: A Doctor Reviews the Case for Consciousness after Death" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Computer Shelf

Murach's HTML5 and CSS3, third edition
Anne Boehm & Zak Ruvalcabra
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781890774837, $54.50, www.amazon.com

HTML5 is a core technology markup language of the Internet used for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web. As of October 2014 this is the final and complete fifth revision of the HTML standard of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The previous version, HTML 4, was standardized in 1997. CCS3 (Code Composer Studio version 3) is an integrated development environment for embedded systems by Texas Instruments. Now in a completely updated and expanded third edition, "Murach's HTML5 and CSS3: 3rd Edition" by HTML5 experts Anne Boehm and Zak Ruvalcabra is a 688 page instruction manual that begins with an eight chapter course on HTML5 and CSS3 skills that every web developer should master. HTML5 and CSS3 are what are used to enhance a web site with videos, forms, embedded fonts, background gradients, rounded corners, transitions, animation, and more. "Murach's HTML5 and CSS3: 3rd Edition" also covers the use of JavaScript and jQuery to add web site features such as accordions, tabs, carousels, and slide shows. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Murach's HTML5 and CSS3: 3rd Edition" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Computer Science reference collections and supplemental studies lists.


The Photography Shelf

Florida's Magnificent Coast
James Valentine & D. Bruce Means
Pineapple Press, Inc.
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230-3889
www.pineapplepress.com
9781561647194, $14.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of James Valentine and D. Bruce Means, "Florida's Magnificent Coast" is a 64 page compendium showcasing truly breathtaking photos of Florida's beaches, dunes, coastal strand, and marshes. James Valentine has an artist's eye for capturing images which are enhanced with informed and informatively descriptive scientific explanations by Bruce Means. A treat to simply browse through, "Florida's Magnificent Coast" is an ideal reading choice for armchair travelers and a "must" for anyone who has every enjoyed the natural beauty and diversity of Florida's extended coastline. Indeed, "Florida's Magnificent Coast" could well serve as a template for similar works featuring photographic explorations of other coastlines here and abroad.


The Sports Shelf

Tommy Lasorda: My Way
Colin Gunderson
Triumph Books LLC
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.triumphbooks.com
c/o Independent Publishers Group (dist.)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781629370712 $25.95 www.ipgbook.com

Tommy Lasorda: My Way is the true-life story of a major league baseball pitcher turned legendary coach and manager. Tommy Lasorda (b. 1927) became the manager of the Dodgers in 1976; during his 20-year run he guided the team to two World Series championships, and was twice named Manager of the Year. His exhilarating love the sport, and his connection to players and fans, is celebrated in this biography, featuring new and exclusive interviews with Vin Scully, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Mike Scioscia, Mike Piazza, Kirk Gibson, and more. Highly recommended, especially for lifelong baseball and Dodgers fans!

The Cy Young Catcher
Charlie O'Brien and Doug Wedge
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623492922 $29.95 www.tamupress.com

Over the course of 15 major league seasons, Charlie O'Brien was the battery-mate to 13 baseball pitchers who won the Cy Young Award, presented each year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The Cy Young Catcher is Charlie's firsthand, up-close and personal testimony of the sport's lauded pitchers at their best - and at their worst! Adventurous and insightful, The Cy Young Catcher is an all-access ticket to an insider's view of professional baseball, presented with charm and candor.


The Money/Finance Shelf

College Poor No More!
Michelle Perry Higgins
www.MichellePerryHiggins.com
New Year Publishing, LLC
144 Diablo Ranch Court
Danville, CA 94506
9781614310457 $14.95 www.newyearpublishing.com

College Poor No More! 100 $avings Tips for College Students lives up to its title as a practical-minded guide to making wise use of one's money when planning for and studying in college. The tips range from time-honored nuggets of wisdom such as using a grocery list (which will prevent one from buying items one has at home, and act as a hedge against impulse purchases) to modern-day tips such as "In this era of streaming television, can't you get by without cable? If you have to have your shows, Netflix is way cheaper than cable... No television? Even better. They suck a lot of electricity. Watch TV on your laptop instead." A handy appendix includes simple, reproducible forms for creating a college budget sheet, keeping tabs on one's emergency reserve fund, and a credit card payoff tracker. College Poor No More! also makes a gift, or addition to college care packages!


The Business Shelf

Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, second edition
Annette Simmons
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814449134 $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

Now in an updated second edition with insight into how modern technology can change the telling of stories, a teaching guide for developing storytelling competency in others, and more, Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins: How to Use Your Own Stories to Communicate with Power and Impact is a business guide to improving one's communication skills through storytelling. Learning how to effectively tell a story is a valuable public speaking skill that can capture the audience's interest, demonstrate a message, help build rapport with potential clients, and much more. Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins teaches the reader how to improve their storytelling talents, including the process of choosing appropriate stories from one's own life experience and knowledge. Highly recommended!


The Fishing Shelf

Fly-Fish the Surf
Lee R. Baerman
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571885197 $15.95 www.amatobooks.com

Featuring full-color photography on almost every page, Fly-Fish the Surf is an accessible, user-friendly guide to flies and fishing techniques best suited to fishing the surf. Author Lee R. Baerman, a surf fisher of 40 years experience, shares his expertise in step-by-step fly tying, identifying the best surf areas for fishing, keeping one's fishing gear in excellent condition, to advice specific to individual species of fish commonly caught from the surf. A "must-have" for fly fishing enthusiasts!


The Education Shelf

Straight A's Are Not Enough
Judy Fishel
Flying Heron Books
516 SW River Point Drive North, Stuart, FL 34994
9780990611202 $17.95 www.flyingheronbooks.com

Straight A's Are Not Enough is a plain-talk study skills and college preparation guide. The title refers to the fact that good grades in school alone are often not enough to get an aspiring student ready for the challenges of college. What else does one need? Straight A's Are Not Enough provides a flexible time management system, reliable test-preparation strategies (without cramming!), taking quality lecture notes, and methods to improve concentration and focus. As college costs soar ever higher, Straight A's Are Not Enough is worth its weight in gold as a tool to maximize value. Highly recommended for every aspiring college student!


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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