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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 10, Number 3 March 2015 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Cookbook Shelf Business Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Sports Shelf Travel Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Hobby Shelf Photography Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Woodworking Shelf Art Shelf
Computer Shelf American History Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Fashion Shelf Geology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Poetry Shelf Wisconsin Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

The Kindness Diaries
Leon Logothetis
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
9781621451914 $24.99 www.rdtradepublishing.com

The Kindness Diaries: One Man's Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World is the true-life memoir of author Leon Logothetis' international journey to experience and spread kindness. Traveling on a yellow motorbike with a sidecar, he journeyed from Los Angeles across the United States, through Europe, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and back to LA. He depended on the kindness of strangers for shelter, food, and gas, and worked to give back to these Good Samaritans any way he could - providing schooling, building homes, and helping individuals toward their dreams. An extraordinary travelogue about love, purpose, and the will to help make the world a better place, The Kindness Diaries is highly recommended.

Heraclix and Pomp
Forrest Aguirre
Underland Press
c/o Resurrection House
9781630230012 $24.95 resurrectionhouse.com

The debut novel of globetrotting author and World Fantasy Award-winning editor Forrest Aguirre, Heraclix and Pomp: A Novel of the Fabricated and the Fey is a dark fantasy about two unlikely escapees from a vile necromancer. Heraclix is the necromancer's Frankenstein-like creation, sewn together from the corpses of troubled men; Pomp is a fairy who can bend time, and thought herself immortal - until the necromancer came within a hair's breadth of killing her. Escaping with their lives, the two embark on a journey from Vienna to Prague, Istanbul, and possibly even the gates of Hell, in search of answers about their own identity. Pomp worries about her own newfound mortality, and Heraclix is troubled by what he might have been before his unnatural rebirth. And what of the necromancer who menaced them both? He just must have found a way to achieve the horrifying prospect of immortality through mass sacrifice! Witty, adventurous, and thoughtful, Heraclix and Pomp is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of quality, original fantasy. Also highly recommended is Mark Teppo's "Rudolph!" (9781630230050, $15.00), a fantastic holiday saga about the efforts of a reindeer, an elf, and Santa to fulfill one last Christmas wish - bringing back little Suzy Anderson's father, even if they must defy the host of heaven.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Comedy Writing Self-Taught
Gene Perret
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610352208, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The term comedy refers to any discourse or work generally intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, television, film and stand-up comedy. In "Comedy Writing Self-Taught", Emmy award winning comedy writer Gene Perret has created a 175 page instruction manual for aspiring writers of comedy including stand-up, sketch, and situation-based (sit-com) comedy. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Comedy Writing Self-Taught" should be considered a 'must' for all aspiring comedians, as well as novice writers trying to write jokes and comedic ideas for those comedians. Also very highly recommended is the "Comedy writing Self-Taught Workbook" (9781610352405, $15.95) by Gene and Linda Perret that is a specially designed companion workbook.

Paper Camera
Suzzanne Kelley
New Rivers Press
1104 Seventh Avenue, Moorhead, MN 56563
www.newriverspress.com
9780898233001, $15.95, 228pp, www.amazon.com

Founded in 1968, New Rivers Press is an American non-profit poetry press located in Moorhead, Minnesota and affiliated with the Minnesota State University - Moorhead. The first title published by New Rivers Press was "So Many Rooms Has a House But One Roof", a poetry collection by Margaret Randall. Compiled and edited by Suzzane Kelley, with the assistance of Alicia Strnad Hoalcraft, "Paper Camera: A Half Century with New Rivers Press" is a wonderful celebration of a dedicated publishing house, including the men and women who have worked so hard to make it a literary success. A compilation of original articles ranging from C. W. Truesdale's 'New Rivers Press: A History' and 'The Future Status of New Rivers Press'; to Donna Carlson's 'New Rivers Becomes a Teaching Press'; to Nancy Swan's 'An Internship at new Rivers Press'; to Ryan Christiansen's 'The Digital World' and Ryan Christiansen's 'Crossing the Digital Horizon', "Paper Camera" is a seminal body of work that will be read with particular interest and appreciation by anyone who has enjoyed New Rivers Press titles over the last five decades. An extraordinary read, "Paper Camera" could well serve as a template for other independent and scholarly publishing house histories.

The Write Crowd
Lori A. May
www.loriamay.com
Bloomsbury Academic
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781628923094 $19.95 pbk
9781628923087 $75.00 hc www.bloomsbury.com

Creative nonfiction teacher Lori A. May (University of King's College, Halifax) presents The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & the Writing Life, an informative book about the importance of community in the writing profession. The Write Crowd is filled with practical tips of how writers of all genres, skill and experience levels pool efforts to contribute to the sustainability of the literary community, and candid interviews with over fifty writers and editors. Readers, authors, and prospective writers are encouraged to join the literary community through engaging with literary journals, reading series and public workshops, advocacy and education programs, and more. It's possible to engage with peers and readers without sacrificing one's time and passion for the act of writing; The Write Crowd is an excellent guideline to deepening invaluable connections, while maintaining the balance that enables one to focus on quality writing. Highly recommended!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Teal's Gold
Abe Dancer
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444819939, $29.99, www.amazon.com

In the bed of a remote New Mexico creek, Austen Teal strikes gold. When the old placer miner is shot dead in a Calido Run gunfight, however, he has only managed to disclose a few cryptic words about its exact location to his young son. Five years on, after serving an unjust sentence in prison, Wesley Teal sets out to solve the riddle, in a quest to track down the source of his pa's gold. But he is being watched and trailed by hard cases who will stop at nothing to get the gold first. "Teal's Gold" is a compelling read from first page to last and documents Abe Dancer as a master of the western action/adventure genre replete with cliff-hanger suspense, surprise twists and unexpected turns, and a flair for non-stop entertainment from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists, this Linford Western Library large print edition is particularly suited for community library Large Print collections. Librarians seeking to built up their large print collections would be well served to visit the Ulverscrot Large Print web site at www.ulverscroftusa.com where they will find hundreds of large print titles, both fiction and non-fiction.


The Fiction Shelf

The Boy Who Loved Rain
Gerard Kelly
Lion Hudson
www.lionhudson.com
c/o Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregelpublications.com
9781782641292, $14.99, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Colom had the perfect childhood, the much-loved only child of a church pastor. Yet he wakes screaming from dreams in which his sister is drowning and he can't save her. Fiona turns to her husband, desperate to help their son. David will not acknowledge that help is needed -- and certainly not help from beyond the church. Then they find the suicide pledge. Fiona, in panic, takes Colom and flees... but when will she acknowledge that the unnamed demons Colom faces might be of her and David's own creation? "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is beautifully written and searching novel by English poet Gerard Kelly explores the toxicity of secrets, the nature of healing, and the ever-present power of rain. Exceptionally well written and compellingly engaging from beginning to end, "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is very highly recommended and would make an enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.03).


The Audiobook Shelf

The Gumshoe Diaries Book 1
Nicholas Sheridan Stanton, author
Read by Peter Berkrot, Bronson Pinchot, and Hillary Huber
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
c/o Word Slinger Publicity
9781483026015 $29.95 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Also available in a print edition, The Gumshoe Diaries Book 1 is an audiobook on an MP3 CD (MP3 CDs only play on CD players adapted for MP3 format) about a harried private investigator working to solve crimes and scrape by. Whitey Rode is a former LAPD gold shield turned independent after the brass "invited" him to retire. One might say it was an offer he could not refuse. When Mei Li Teng, the niece of Whitey's "friends" (or at least, "snitches who don't lie all of the time"), is suddenly murdered, they hire him to learn whodunit and why. Dark secrets and deception abound in this gritty thriller, sure to appeal to fans of classic hard-boiled detective stories! 1 MP3 CD, 6 1/2 hours, tracks every 10 min. and by chapter for easy bookmarking.

Black Dog Summer
Miranda Sherry, author
Read by Jilly Bond
Highbridge Audio Books
c/o Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781622316205 $29.99 www.recordedbooks.com

Black Dog Summer is the unabridged audibook rendition of a dark novel about a ghost who can't let go. Sally once lived on a South African farmstead with her teenage daughter Gigi. Then Sally's murder destroys the world of everyone who lived around her, and Sally cannot move on. She watches Gigi move in with her aunt's family, and sees buried secrets gradually tear people's bonds apart. Unable to interfere, Sally's vigil grows more fretful as her niece develops an unhealthy obsession with African magic. Sally's search for someone who can help leads her to Lesedi, a traditional African witch doctor, who keeps her trade a closely guarded secret within an affluent Johannesburg suburb. Wistful, intense, and skillfully performed by Jilly Bond, Black Dog Summer is riveting to the very end. 8 CDs, 9 1/2 hours.

Shadow Ops: Control Point
Myke Cole
Graphic Audio
4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.graphicaudio.net
9781628511239, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze. Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military's Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one. The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down--and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he's ever known, and that his life isn't the only thing he's fighting for. Adapted for an audio book format, the Graphic Audio edition features an exceptional multicast production enhanced throughout with digital sound effects and music in a 7 hour, 7 CD edition. Solidly entertaining from beginning to end, "Shadow Ops: Control Point" is the first volume in what promises to be an outstanding science fiction action-adventure series that is highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections.

The Antaran Codex
Stephen Renneberg
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494508197, $39.99, www.tantor.com

As mankind nears its goal of galactic citizenship, Sirius Kade, trader and Earth Intelligence Service deep cover agent, learns that wealthy and powerful leaders from across Mapped Space are vying for control of an alien relic they believe is the key to untold riches - unaware they are being deceived. Sirius soon finds himself entangled in an interstellar plot to make humanity a cosmic outcast, denying it its place as the newest member of the vast and ancient community that has governed the galaxy for eons. With mankind's fate in the balance, Sirius must overcome ruthless alien adversaries and deadly human rivals as he seeks to discover the secret of The Antaran Codex and safeguard man's future among the stars. An exceptionally well written science fiction action/adventure story, Stephen Renneberg's "The Antarian Codex" is superbly narrated by Neil Shah in this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Tantor Media. Shah is able to impressively provide a distinct vocal image for each of the major characters. A technically flawless production from beginning to end, "The Antrian Codex" is very highly recommended to the attention of science fiction enthusiasts -- and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections. (9 CDs, 10.5 Hours).

Martian Time-Slip
Philip K. Dick
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781455814398, $14.99, www.amazon.com

On an arid Mars, local bigwigs compete with Earth-bound interlopers to buy up land before the UN develops it and its value skyrockets. Martian Union leader Arnie Kott has an ace up his sleeve, though: an autistic boy named Manfred who seems to have the ability to see the future. In the hopes of gaining an advantage on a Martian real estate deal, powerful people force Manfred to send them into the future, where they can learn about development plans. But is Manfred sending them to the real future or one colored by his own dark and paranoid filter? As the time travelers are drawn into Manfred's dark worldview in both the future and present, the cost of doing business may drive them all insane. Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928 - March 2, 1982) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and philosopher whose published works largely belonged to the genre of science fiction. "Martian Time-Slip" is one of his best sci-fi novels and this flawlessly produced audio book edition, which is superbly narrated by Jeff Cummings, offers a true 'theatre of the mind' experience. "Martian Time-Slip" is very highly recommended listening for the legions of Philip K. Dick fans and is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections. (CD; 8 disc; 9 hour and 51 minutes).

Seeking Scandal
Nadine Millard, author
Read by Veida Dehmlow
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494508609 $39.99 www.tantor.com

The second book in Nadine Millard's "Ranford" series, Seeking Scandal is the unabridged audiobook superbly performed by classically trained stage actress Veida Dehmlow. Caroline Carrington regrets that she once rejected the man she fell in love with. Back in London, she's ready to search for a husband - but first, she wants a scandalous experience, one that she can remember and savor during her future as a perfect society wife! She seeks out notorious rake Tom Crawdon - but can help her find what she craves while maintaining her pristine reputation? A sensual, erotic love story, Seeking Scandal will keep listeners toasty warm during cold nights! 10 CDs, 11 hours.

The Clayborne Brides
Julie Garwood, author
Performed by Mikael Naramore
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480542167 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Clayborne Brides is an unabridged audiobook rendition of three novels about the Clayborne brothers and the women they fall in love with. Travis ventures westward and loses his heart to Emily Finnegan of Boston; Douglas devotes himself to protecting the strong-willed Isabel Grant; and Adam gradually learns how to trust from Genevieve Delacroix. A choice pick for fans of romantic adventure! 11 CDs, 13 hours.


The Music CD Shelf

NYC Sessions
Dave Bass
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
www.whalingcitysound.com
$14.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

NYC Sessions is a jazz album featuring pianist and composer Dave Bass, as well as Harvie S. on acoustic bass, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and Phil Woods playing alto sax, and Karrin Allyson on vocals. A global medley of jazz styles flavor the various songs, in this swingin', soulful treasury. Highly recommended! The tracks are "The Sixties" (6:02), "Lost Mambo" (4:55), "Endless Waltz" (5:05), "La Comparsa / Mi Montuno" (7:17), "Lost Valentine" (7:12), "My Foolish Heart" (5:32), "Baltic Bolero" (5:33), "Since I Found You" (4:56), "Dark Eyes" (6:12), "Silence" (3:46), and "Just A Fool" (4:38).

In This Game
Complicated Animals
Socialite Fiasco Music
c/o Press Junkie PR
$TBA CD / $5.94 download www.complicatedanimals.com

Inspired by the vintage films and music, In This Game is the debut music CD of Complicated Animals, the duo of Monica de Silva and Chad Alger. Their self-coined "Indie Nova" musical genre is a lighthearted pop cascade with a dash of Brazilian Bossa Nova. In This Game uses their signature style rhythms to immerse the listener in an evocative, storytelling experience. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of quality indie music in search of something fresh and original! The tracks are "Roadmap", "O Que Passou", "Phoenix", "Bees Take To History", "Drive Around In Cars", and "Sempre Aqui".


The DVD Shelf

Anzac Girls
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722953 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Based on true events and the book "The Other ANZACS" by Peter Rees, Anzac Girls is a six-part drama miniseries about five brave Australian and New Zealand nurses who served during World War I. Drawing directly upon the diaries and letters of women who contributed to the war effort, Anzac Girls tells of idealistic young women who, upon their arrival in Egypt, learn about the horrors of war all too quickly. Their saga is one of love, hard work, and fast friendship. Brought to life with superb performances, Anzac Girls is an unforgettable saga, highly recommended for personal and public library DVD collections. Bonus material includes behind-the-scenes featurettes (34 min.), cast interviews (18 min.), photo galleries, and historical context. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 363 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Lilies
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723417 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Lilies is a three-DVD set of an eight-episode British drama miniseries about three sisters living in working-class Liverpool after World War I. Called "my lilies" by their overbearing father, each sister has her own dreams, yet the daily struggle against poverty makes the pursuit of happiness a difficult prospect at best. The eldest Iris (played by Catherine Tyldesley) runs the household since the passing of their mother; the middle child May (Leanne Rowe) works as a maid but yearns to be a stage actress; and the youngest Ruby (Kerrie Hayes) sells corsets and trains to become an Olympic swimmer. A saga about the bonds of family, Lilies portrays the hardships of life in 1920's Britain as well as the joys, and the hopes for a better future. Highly recommended! Bonus material includes a 16 minute behind-the scenes featurette, production notes, and a photo gallery; it should be noted that Lilies contains brief, occasional nudity. 8 episodes on 3 DVDs, 486 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

The Apocalypse
Starring Richard Harris
Vision Video
P.O. Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
$14.99 www.visionvideo.com

Part of the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning "Bible Collection" series of movies, The Apocalypse is a movie on DVD bringing the origin of the Biblical Book of Revelation to life. In the late first century, Roman Emperor Domitian fiercely persecutes Christians. Now a prisoner of the Romans on the Island of Patmos, the elderly Apostle John receives overwhelming visions, including messages directly from Jesus to the seven persecuted churches. As the last living witness ot he Lord's resurrection, John must find a way to bring these divine messages to the church. John's testimony will eventually become the Book of Revelation and the prophecy of Jesus Christ's return. Emotional and profound, The Apocalypse is especially recommended for church library DVD collections. 96 min., optional English subtitles.

Toy Train Revue 4
TM Books & Video
PO Box 9228, Michigan City, IN 46361
9781936890767 $19.99 www.tmbv.com

Toy Train Revue 4: Special Christmas Edition is a striking DVD showcase of model trains, emphasizing Christmas-themed displays. Showcasing multiple layouts and the Lionel-licensed Hallmark line of keepsake ornaments, Toy Train Revue 4 consists of 62 minutes of all-new HD, widescreen footage plus 32 minutes of highlights from the original Toy Train Revue 4 (released in 1992). New and traditional Christmas songs by James Coffey round out this wonderful DVD that model railroad fans will enjoy any time of the year! 94 min.

BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn
Featuring Suzanne Bowen
suzannebownfitness.com
Bown Productions LLC
PO Box 2362, Brentwood, TN 37024
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Suzanne Bown, a fitness professional of 14 years' experience, presents BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn, a fitness DVD blending elements of dance, Pilates, yoga, and classic barre [a handrail often used for ballet practice] training. Divided into Warm Up (2 min.), Extreme Cardio Fat Burn (26 min.), Cario Sculpt (17 min.), Cardio Core (17 min.), and Cool Down Stretch (12 min.) segments, the elements of BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn can be mixed or matched to taste. Designed to exercise every main muscle, BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn also comes with a free one-month membership of streaming barre workouts from Bowen's website, www.suzannebowenfitness.com. An excellent addition t any exercise DVD library! 84 min., full frame.


The Cookbook Shelf

More Than 100 Favorite Dessert Recipes
Dr. Duane Lund
Lund S&R Publications
Staples, Minnesota 56479
c/o Adventure Publications (distribution)
820 Cleveland St. S., Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9780974082196 $9.95 www.amazon.com

More Than 100 Favorite Dessert Recipes lives up to its title as a compact, accessible compendium of beloved treats to satisfy one's sweet tooth! Emphasizing simple, easy-to-follow recipes for popular sugary delights, the recipes range from universal favorites such as Pecan Pie, Angel Food Cake, and Seven Layer Bars, to Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies, Caramel Corn Old Dutch Style, Oranges in Custard Sauce, Apple Fritters, Peach Crisp a la Mode, and much more. German, Scandinavian, Italian, Costa Rican, and Russian desserts round out this wonderfully decadent collection!

The Cafe Spice Cookbook
Hari Nayak, author
Jack Turkel, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804844307 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Illustrated with mouth-watering full-color photography throughout, The Cafe Spice Cookbook: 84 Quick and Easy Indian Recipes for Everyday Meals is a cookbook of East Indian cuisine inspired by author Hari Nayak's popular line of "grab 'n' go" Indian meals. A repository of Indian dishes that kitchen cooks of all skill and experience levels can make at home, using ingredients available at any supermarket or health food store, The Cafe Spice Cookbook also features a sizeable quantity of vegetarian and gluten-free recipes. Delicious dishes include Spiced Pear Chutney, Spicy Long Beans and Potato Stir Fry, Pan-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Coconut, Kerala-Style Chicken Stew, Pork Vindaloo, Chilled Mango Cooler, and more. Highly recommended!

A Bird In The Hand
Diana Henry
Michael Breazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784720025, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by culinary expert and award-winning cookbook author Diana Henry, "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" is a 224 page compendium comprised of outstanding and diverse recipes for chicken dishes that are as palate pleasing and appetite satisfying as they are kitchen cook friendly to prepare! Enhanced throughout with full color photography, the recipes range from Chicken with Anchovies, Lemon, and Rosemary; to Korean Fried Chicken Wings; to Cherry and Blugur-Stuffed Squab chicken in Vine Leaves; to Smoky Chicken Salad with Roast Bell Peppers, Shittake, and Sugar Snap Peas. There is even a recipe for Bird Pie! The ultimate chicken-based culinary guide, "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collections. A veritable cornucopia of chicken recipes, it should be noted that "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).

A Taste Of Washington
Michele Morris
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376026, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by culinary expert and freelance food writer Michele Morris (a chef, sommelier, and owner of Cooking with Michele), "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is a 208 page compendium beautifully enhanced with 163 full color photographs of finished dishes and a cornucopia of kitchen cook friend, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes deftly organized into six themed chapters: Breakfast & Brunch; Appetizers & Snacks; Salads & Sides; Soups & Stews; Main Courses; Deserts & Sweet Treats. The dishes range from Apple Baked Puff Pancakes; Crab and Artichoke Dip; Grilled Romaine Salad; and Lyon Style Onion Soup; to Pan Seared Sea Scallops on Sesame Scallion Rice Cakes with Ginger-Sake Beurre Blanc; Roast Leg of Lamb with Squash Zaalouk and Yogurt Sauce; Thai Seafood Stew; and Theo Chocolate Ganache Cake. A beautifully presented book that is a delight to browse and inspiring to plan meals with, "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Whole Grain Baking Made Easy
Tabitha Alterman
Voyageur Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760345986, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A whole grain is a cereal grain that contains the germ, endosperm, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Common whole grains include: Wheat, Oat, Barley (hulled and dehulled but not pearl), Maize, Brown Rice, Rye, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Triticale, Teff, and Buckwheat. Common wholegrain products include: Whole wheat flour, Whole wheat bread, Whole wheat pasta, Rolled oats or oat groats, Triticale flour, Popcorn, and Teff flour. "Whole Grain Baking Made Easy: Craft Delicious, Healthful Breads, Pastries, Desserts, and More - Including a Comprehensive Guide to Grinding Grains" by Tabitha Alterman is just an ordinary cookbook. This profusely illustrated, 160 page compendium is enhanced with the inclusion step-by-step instructions on grinding all manner of whole grains to make the flour from which the recipes for a wide selection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes can be prepared. The recipes themselves range from a No-Knead Cranberry Walnut Boule; Sourdough Hamburger Buns; Rye Swedish Limpa; and French Shallot Soup; to Bacon Buckwheat Biscuits with Spicy Honey Mustard Blaze; Barley Bear Bread; Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries and Walnuts; and a Pistachio and White Chocolate Bread Pudding. As much a delight to browse through as it is 'kitchen cook friendly' to bake from, "Whole Grain Baking Made Easy: Craft Delicious, Healthful Breads, Pastries, Desserts, and More - Including a Comprehensive Guide to Grinding Grains" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Essential Southwest Cookbook
Marilyn Noble, et al.
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
9781933855905, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Beautifully enhanced throughout with full color photography, "The Essential Southwest Cookbook" is a 152 page compendium showcasing the cuisine of America's southwest. Each individual recipe is enhanced with a succinct introductory commentary, a complete list of ingredient, step-by-step instructions, and number of servings information. The recipes themselves range from Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce; Tortilla Soup; Navajo Tacos with Fry Bread; and Pork and Red Chile Tamales; to Espresso-Chile Steak Rub; Ticama Pineapple Salad; Adobe Mud Pie; and Sangria Blanca. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "The Essential Southwest Cookbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library regional cookbook collections.

The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners
Betty Crocker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9780544339309, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The latest Betty Crocker cookbook, "The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners" is a nicely illustrated, 336 page compendium devoted to showcasing some 200 crock-pot recipes. Each and every one of the recipes are thoroughly kitchen cook friendly and offer an impressive variety of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes suitable for any and all dining occasions. The dishes range from a Sausage 'n Apple Cheddar Biscuit Bake; a Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Pot Pie; Beef and Salsa with Dumpling; and a Harvest Time Pork Roast; to a Barley and Black Bean Pilaf; Dilled Tuna Steak Packets; Skillet Nacho Chili; and Greek Split Pea Soup. As much fun to browse through as practical to plan meals with, "The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners" is an enthusiastic recommendation for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The New Passover Menu
Paula Shoyer
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781454914402, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evening of the 15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar throughout the world. This corresponds to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Passover lasts for 7 days in Israel and 8 days outside of Israel (other than for adherents of Reform Judaism for whom Passover is 7 days regardless of location), with Jews outside of Israel other than Reform Jews holding two Seders (on the evening of the 15th and 16th of Nisan) and Jews in Israel and Reform Jews worldwide holding one Seder (on the 15th of Nisan). "The New Passover Menu" by Paula Shoyer is a beautifully illustrated, 160 page compendium showcasing sixty-five fully kosher recipes for dishes appropriate for the Passover Seder meal and the entire eight day Jewish holiday. The recipes are all thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and range from Sweet Potato Tzimmes; Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes; Coconut Schnitzel with Almond Butter Sauce; and Spaghetti Squash Fritters; to Seared Tuna with Olives and Capers; Chicken Scaloppini with Mushrooms; Passover Rolls; and Meringue Fruit Tarts (gluten-free and nut-free). Although specifically designed for Passover Seder appropriate dining occasions, "The New Passover Menu" showcases recipes for dishes that can be fully enjoyed any time of the year, making it an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Puerto Rican Cuisine In America
Oswald Rivera
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762456482, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Oswald Rivera, "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is a 336 page compendium of authentic Puerto Rican recipes that will grace any dining occasion, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite. These thoroughly kitchen cook friendly dishes range from Papas Rellenas (Stuffed Potato Balls); Bacalao Y Berenjena En Caserola (Codfish-Eggplant Casserole); Biftec Estofado (Smothered Steak); and Ternera Al Horno (Veal Roast); to Arroz Con Polvo De Curry (Curried Rice); Tortilla De Jamon Y Queso (Ham and Cheese Omelet; Flan De Calabaza (Pumpkin Flan); and Ensalada De Fruta Al Gusto (Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Pressing). Not to be missed is the chapter devoted to Puerto Rican drinks. An extraordinary collection, "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($23.33).


The Business Shelf

The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival
Ed Basler
Advantage Publishers Group
PO Box 1090, Poway, CA 92074-1090
www.pgw.com
News & Experts
9781599324869, $14.99, 130pp, www.amazon.com

Getting back to the business basics no degree required "The Meat and Potatoes Guide to Business Survival" is the hands-on, entrepreneurial roadmap to achieving business dreams -- regardless of any lack of educational background. Author and business owner Ed Basler draws upon his experience and expertise from a 40-year entrepreneur history to serve up a healthy helping of sound business principles and practices to start a new business or to jumpstart a current one. Through failure and success, economic upturns and downturns, "The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival" shows how to be profitable using dedication, wisdom, and hard work instead of degrees and book theories. Readers will develop a clear entrepreneurial vision; learn how to find and incorporate good ideas to improve hiring and quality; be able to run a lean, money-efficient operation; get more efficient using checklists and deadlines; improve customer service to generate referrals; and above all, avoid small business landmines. "The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and an invaluable instruction guide that should be considered a 'must read' for anyone seeking to engage in a business venture of any kind or size.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Big Nate's Greatest Hits
Lincoln Pierce
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449464899 $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Available in both paperback and ebook formats, Big Nate's Greatest Hits is three popular collections of the "Big Nate" comic in one - and each of the three were previously ebook-only! "Big Nate Makes a Splash", "Big Nate Dibs on This Chair", and "Big Nate Pray for a Fire Drill" have been compiled into this 373-page omnibus of uproarious fun for all ages. Nate is a young boy who lives with his divorced, struggling, and sometimes clueless single father. Nate loves eating Cheez Doodles, has an arch-rivalry with his long-suffering teacher, and aspires to be a cartoonist; his wacky antics of "Doctor Cesspool" intersperse the strip stories about Nate's 100% unrequited crush on a girl, and being sent to summer school for low academic achievement. But summer school isn't all bad - while there, Nate meets a new girl who actually likes him as much as he likes her! Could this be the start of a beautiful friendship - or Nate's first true love? Will Nate's king-sized ego withstand realizing that she can draw better than he can? Big Nate's Greatest Hits is enthusiastically recommended for public library comic and cartoon shelves, and is a great way to encourage younger people to read.

Marvel Comics In The 1980s
Pierre Comtois
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490595, $27.95, www.amazon.com

The Marvel Comics Group is an American publisher of comic books and related media. Marvel started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and many others. Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, the Silver Surfer, Daredevil, and Ghost Rider, such teams as the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and X-Men, and antagonists such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Kingpin, Magneto, Doctor Doom, Loki, Thanos, and the Red Skull. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locations that mirror real-life cities. "Marvel Comics In The 1980s: An Issue-By-Issue Field Guide To A Pop Culture Phenomenon" is a 224 page compendium by Pierre Comotis that covers the pop culture phenomenon that is Marvel comics in the 1980s on an issue-by-issue basis! Of special note is the overview of Marvel's final historical phase, when the movement begun by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko moved into a darker era that has yet to run its course. The 1980s saw Stan Lee's retreat to the West Coast, Jim Shooter's rise and fall as editor-in-chief, the twin triumphs of Frank Miller and John Byrne, the challenge of independent publishers, and the weakening hold of the Comics Code Authority that led to the company's creative downfall - and ultimately the marginalization of the industry itself. Comics such as the Chris Claremont/John Byrne X-Men, Frank Miller's Daredevil, the New Universe, Roger Stern's Avengers and Spider-Man, the new wave of dark heroes such as Wolverine and the Punisher, and more are all covered, in the analytic detail -- and often irreverent manner. However, the 1980s represented years of upheaval in the comics industry with Marvel at the center of the storm. "Marvel Comics In The 1980s" will prove to be of immense interest to Marvel comics fandom and would prove to be an valued addition to community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Culture collections.


The Sports Shelf

Canoeing The Churchill
Greg Marchildon & Sid Robinson
University of Regina Press
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2
www.uofrpress.ca
9780889771482, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Canoeing is a paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle, under your own power. Kayaking is a comparable activity in a kayak which usually has a closed deck and is propelled with a double bladed paddle. In a kayak the paddler typically sits with legs extended forward. In some situations canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking. Other than by the minimum competition specifications (typically length and width (beam)) and seating arrangement it is difficult to differentiate most competition canoes from the equivalent competition kayaks. The most common difference is that competition kayaks are always seated and paddled with a double-bladed paddle, and competition canoes are generally kneeled and paddled with a single-bladed paddle. Exceptions include Canoe Marathon (in both European and American competitive forms) and sprint (high kneeling position). The most traditional and early canoes did not have seats, the paddlers merely knelt on the bottom of the boat. Recreational canoes and kayaks employ seats and whitewater and surf variants employ the use of foam 'saddles' with thigh straps or increasingly foam 'bulkheads' with integrated thigh hooks that give greater boat control under extreme conditions. The collaborative work of Greg Marchildon and Sid Robinson, "Canoeing the Churchill: A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway" is a 477 page compendium showcasing one of the most challenging and enjoyable 'water trails' that a canoeing enthusiast could ever hope for. Profusely illustrated throughout, and enhanced with the inclusion of historical materials, maps, photos, and a fur trade era travelogue, "Canoeing the Churchill: A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' from beginning to end and a welcome addition to any and all personal and community canoeing and Canadian travel reference collections.


The Travel Shelf

All Aboard, fourth edition
Jim Loomis
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781569761762, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a completely updated and expanded fourth edition, "All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide" by veteran train travel expert Jim Loomis is a 384 page compendium that will prove to be an invaluable aid for planning train trips anywhere and everywhere the rails run in North America. "All Aboard" reveals what train travelers can expect on board their selected trains; what the best routes and lowest fares would be to their chosen destinations; the creation of memorable rail itineraries; as well as the basics of railroading and the future of train travel in the 21st Century. This newly revised edition includes a new chapter about eight major railway stations, and is updated throughout with new information and photographs. "All Aboard" discusses Amtrak's new locomotives and Viewliner sleeping cars, changes in rules regarding pets and bicycles on American trains, and much, much more, making it the ultimate guide to American train travel and its unique history and culture. Very highly recommended as a personal train travel reference and guide, it should be noted that "All Aboard" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Best of Circle of Nine
Janet Houts & Jean Ann Wright
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9781935726692, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Quilt making continues to be a practical, creative, and popular needlecraft skill. From a number of outstanding books devoted to quilt making, "Circle of Nine and Quilting: A Circle of Nine", is new 96 page compilation gives showcasing patterns and instructions for fourteen of the most popular quilt projects. Quilt makers will learn the fundamentals of the Circle of Nine setting allows them to design a multitude of unique and beautiful quilts using favorite blocks. One simple setting with variations, sample spacers and sample blocks help even the most novice quilt maker get started on the path to creating their own original quilts. No two quilts will ever look alike though the setting is the same. Includes Circle of Nine construction techniques and setting scheme diagrams. Featuring easy-to-follow, complete instructions and enhanced with hundreds of clear diagrams and illustrations, "Best of Circle of Nine" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Knitted Rabbits
Val Pierce
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
www.searchpressusa.com
9781844488674, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Toy rabbits are always popular, and have been for many years. With their long ears and cute, fluffy tails, they are loved by children and adults alike. "Knitted Rabbits" by needlecraft expert Val Pierce contains a wide variety of rabbits to knit, from fun and quirky, to cute and cuddly. Each rabbit has its own distinctive look and personality, and they come in a range of shapes, sizes and styles to suit knitters of all tastes and abilities. There are twenty patterns to choose from, and each one is accompanied by a beautiful, full-colour photograph of the finished rabbit, clear instructions, and a comprehensive list of the yarns, needles and embellishments you need. At the start of "Knitted Rabbits" there are general notes on basic knitting techniques, the abbreviations used, materials and equipment, making it ideal for beginners as well as more experienced knitters. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections is Val Pierce's "20 To Make: Knitted Bears" (9781844484829, $9.95); "20 To Make: Crocheted Bears" (9781844486335, $9.95); and Little Bears To Knit & Crochet" (9781782210085, $15.95).


The Christian Studies Shelf

Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps
Gazegorz Gorny & Janusz Rosikon
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781586178086, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Maria Faustyna Kowalska, (born Helena Kowalska, 25 August 1905 in G ogowiec - 5 October 1938 in Krakow, Poland), was a Polish nun is recognized in the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Faustina. Throughout her life, Faustina reported having visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she wrote about in her diary, later published as the book "The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul". At age 20 she joined a convent in Warsaw and was later transferred to P ock and then to Vilnius where she met her confessor, Father Micha Sopocko, who supported her devotion to the Divine Mercy. Faustina and Sopocko directed an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image, based on Faustina's reported vision of Jesus. Sopocko used the image to celebrate the first Mass on the first Sunday after Easter - which later was established by Pope John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday. Faustina was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church on 30 April 2000, having been considered a mystic and visionary. She is known and venerated within the Church as the Apostle of Divine Mercy. "Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps" is a profusely illustrated, 290 page compendium showcasing her life, travels and work. An extraordinary story of an extraordinary woman, "Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and seminary collections.

Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
G.K. Beale with David H. Campbell
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866219 $35.00 www.eerdmans.com

Revelation: A Shorter Commentary is the abridged distillation of G.K. Beale's exhaustive analysis and exegesis of the Biblical text. At 575 pages (as opposed to the original's length of 1,300 pages), Revelation: A Shorter Commentary is more accessible to students and general Christian readers, although some familiarity with theological study is presumed. Beale regards the Book of Revelation as an integral, continuous part of the Old Testament prophetic books, and purports that understanding allusions is key to grasping its meaning. More that sixty sets of "Suggestions for Reflection" round out this thoughtful, studious, and erudite treatise about the message that the Book of Revelation has for readers today.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

A New Buddhist Path
David R. Loy
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9781614290025 $16.95 www.wisdompubs.org

A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution and Ethics in the Modern World explores three crucial questions from a Buddhist perspective: "What is the meaning of enlightenment?", "How can one reconcile modern science with ancient religious teachings?", and "What is our role in the universe?". Author David R. Loy describes a path for Buddhism that stays faithful to its core traditions yet remains open to the values of modern society. "...the Buddha wasn't concerned about whether we believe in him, but how we practice and how we live. If there is some kind of life after death, the form that it takes will take care of itself, if we do what we are called to do right here and now. If nothing of that particular form survives death, that's okay too. That which has taken form as her, and you and I, opens us up to the satisfaction and joy of being part of that process in the eternal present." Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library Buddhist Studies shelves.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Introduction To Islam
Carole Hillenbrand
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500291580, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an, an Islamic holy book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (All h), and for the vast majority of adherents, also by the teachings, normative example and way of life; it also is composed of prophetic traditions of Muhammad (c. 570 - 8 June 632 CE), considered by most of them to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim. "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" by Carole Hillenbrand (Professor Emerita in Islamic history, University of Edinburgh and Professor of Islamic History, University of St. Andrews) is a 314 page history and explanation of the beliefs and practices of Islam since its inception down to the present day. Covering all related topics ranging from Sufism, to Jihad, to the role of women, "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it ideal for academia as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in understanding what Islam truly is and should be. This 314 page compendium is enhanced with the inclusion of some 79 full color illustrations, 9 pages of Endnotes; a 10 page Glossary; a 3 page listing for Further Reading; and a comprehensive index. "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" is a critically important and timely addition to personal, community and academic library Islamic Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Hobby Shelf

The Origami Home
Mark Bolitho, author
Photography by Michael Wicks
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500
New York, NY 10107
9780762454204 $22.00 www.runningpress.com

Origami is the ancient Japanese art of folding paper into eye-catching three-dimensional sculptures. Chair of the British Origami Society Mark Bolitho presents The Origami Home: More than 30 Projects to Craft, Fold, and Create, a gorgeous how-to guide filled with step-by-step instructions for creating beautiful origami furniture items perfect for dollhouses, dioramas, or simple decoration. Items that one can craft range from stylish living room furniture to a bathtub to a perky pet. An accompanying giant folder filled with specially cut and beautifully patterned origami paper rounds out this self-contained, hands-on kit that hobbyists of all ages can enjoy.

The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain
Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890249444 $19.99 www.kalmbachbooks.com

The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain is an in-depth sourcebook for creating realistic replicas of grain industry buildings from the 1800's today, the better to enhance one's model railroad layout. (The nuts-and-bolts details of crafting models is left to other guides; The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain is primarily focused on model subjects instead of assembly instructions). Filled vintage black-and-white as well as modern full-color photography of notable grain industry buildings throughout the decades, as well as ideas for modeling railcars, working grain elevators, small-town feed mills, covered hoppers, and much more, The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain lives up to its title and then some. The text offers a detailed tour of the history and evolution of the grain industry, making The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain a fascinating browse from cover to cover.

DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3
Mike Polsgrove & Cody Grivno
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890249826, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Model railroading is a continually growing hobby. Digital Command Control (DCC) has greatly increased in popularity in recent years. Yet, most modelers need help navigating this tricky technology. "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" provides step-by-step instructions and how-to tips to show modelers how to set up, maintain, and operate DCC systems. This includes everything from layout wiring to decoder installation to light and sound effects. It also features information on the latest software, technology and upgraded manufacturer items. "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" is a 96 page instruction manual that covers converting a DC layout to DCC; preventing and troubleshooting short circuits; installing decoders in N and HO locomotives; adding various lighting effects to locomotives; installing and controlling lights in cabooses and passenger cars; adding speakers and sound effects to engines; programming decoders; and fine-tuning locomotive speeds. Profusely illustrated throughout, "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" is as informed and informative as it is thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended.


The Photography Shelf

American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart
Kathryn E. Delmez, editor
Vanderbilt University Press
VU Station B 351813, Nashville, TN 37235-1813
www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com
9780826520173, $35.00, www.amazon.com

John Martin "Marty" Stuart (born September 30, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music. In the early 1990s, he had a successful string of country hits. While most country music enthusiasts would know Mary as an extraordinarily talented musician and songwriter, few would be aware that he is also a gifted photographer with an artist's eye for subject matter and composition. Compiled and edited by Kathryn E. Delmez, "American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart" is a 132 page compendium of truly impressive black-and-white photographs by Stuart. There is one exceptional color photograph of the 1904 Edward S. Curtis painting 'The Vanishing Race'. Marty encountered the painting in 1999 and, ironically, would eventually be inducted into the Lakota trip as a family member. Enhanced with an introduction by Marty Stuart and featuring an informed and informative essay by Susan H. Edwards, "American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart" is a 'must' for his legion of fans and would be an impressive addition to any personal, community, or academic library American Photographic Studies collection.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968
Marti De Graaf and Toby Mack
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764345760 $69.99 www.schifferbooks.com

DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968 is the first-ever compendium, showcase, and guide to vintage perfume bottles and related vanity products produced by DeVilbiss, the foremost manufacturer of such items in the 20th century. Full-color photography on virtually every page (plus the occasional black-and-white vintage photograph or news article reproduction) offers a visual tour of over 1,000 exquisite collectibles, while the text is peppered with vignettes about their manufacture, distribution, use, and role in high society culture. The glasswork is simply stunning to behold, making DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968 a treasury for any who appreciate masterfully crafted glass bottles as fine art.

Show Road Model Kits
Scotty Gosson
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613251560, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Hot rods are typically old, classic American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Roadsters were the cars of choice because they were light, were easy to modify, and could be bought for a low price. The term became commonplace in the 1930s or 1940s as the name of a car that had been "hopped up" by modifying the engine in various ways to achieve higher performance. The term can also apply to other items that are "souped up" for a particular purpose, such as "hot-rodded amplifier". The popularity of hot rods gave rise to do-it-yourself model toy kits. Compiled with commentary by Scotty Gosson, "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 144 page compendium showcasing an amazing variety and number of these hot rod model kits. As informed and informative as it is a delight to simply browse through, "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is very highly recommended for hot rod enthusiasts, do-it-yourself model kit collectors, as well as community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Culture collections. It should be noted that "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Woodworking Shelf

Wood Craft Love
Jodie Landry
Design Originals
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781574219197, $9.99, www.FoxChapelPublishing.com

Compiled with commentary and step-by-step instructions by Jodie Landry, "Wood Craft Love: Vintage Inspired Home Decor Projects You Can Make" is a superbly illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' 48 page compendium showcasing seventeen do-it-yourself projects that can be made in a single weekend or less! The projects range from the creation of stylish furniture, to wall art, to fixtures, and more. Replete with creative ideas for transforming wood blanks and flea market treasures into works of utility and art, "Wood Craft Love" shows how to use chalk-finish paints, waxes, spray paints, decoupage, and stencils. "Wood Craft Love" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Woodworking and Recreational Crafts instructional reference collections.


The Art Shelf

Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist
James L. Wilson
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9780882896588, $42.95, www.amazon.com

Clementine Hunter (late December 1886 or early January 1887 - January 1, 1988) was a self-taught African-American folk artist from the Cane River region of the U.S. state of Louisiana, who lived and worked on Melrose Plantation. She is the first African-American artist to have a solo exhibition at the present-day New Orleans Museum of Art. Hunter was born into a Louisiana Creole people family at Hidden Hill; she started working as a farm laborer when young, never learning to read or write. In her fifties, she began painting, using brushes and paints left by an artist who visited Melrose Plantation, where she then lived and worked. Hunter's artwork depicted plantation life in the early 20th century, documenting a bygone era. She sold her first paintings for as little as 25 cents. By the end of her life, Hunter's work was being exhibited in museums and sold by dealers for thousands of dollars. "Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist" is a 160 page compendium showcasing beautifully illustrated examples of Hunter's artwork. Author James L. Wilson draws upon a number of personal interviews with Hunter to provide a truly informed and informative introduction and commentary. "Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist" is a critically important and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library American Art History collections.


The Computer Shelf

Perl By Example, fifth edition
Ellie Quigley
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133760811, $49.99 (PB), www.amazon.com

Perl is a family of high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic computer programming languages. The languages in this family include Perl 5 and Perl 6. Now in a fully updated and expanded fifth edition, "Perl By Example" by academician and Perl expert Ellie Quigley is an 888 page instruction manual that now includes Modern Perl approaches to using data types, operations, conditions, subroutines, packages, modules, references, pointers, files, objects, and more; features many new examples, covers automation, testing, and data extractions; offers a tutorial on writing object-oriented Perl with the Moose object system; provides an introduction to Dancer (a power web application framework designed to replace CGI); as well as updated code examples throughout. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Perl By Example" is highly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Computer Science collections. It should be noted that "Perl By Example" is also available in a Kindle edition ($31.19).

The Java Tutorial, sixth edition
Raymond Gallardo, et al.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134034089, $54.99, 864pp, www.amazon.com

Java is a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers write code that runs on one platform while not needing to be recompiled to run on another. Java applications are typically compiled to byte-code that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture. Java is, as of 2015, one of the most popular programming languages in use, particularly for client-server web applications, with a reported 9 million developers. Now in a fully updated and expanded sixth edition, "The Java Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics" is an ideal instruction manual and guide for anyone wanting to become proficient in using Java and/or taking on of the Java SE 8 certification exams. Very highly recommended for professional and academic library Computer Science collections, it should be noted that "The Java Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics" is also available in a Kindled edition ($25.49).

Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04
Matthew Helmke
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780672338373, $54.99 (PB), www.amazon.com

Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system, with Unity as its default desktop environment. It is based on free software and named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu (literally, "human-ness"), which often is translated as "humanity towards others" or "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity". Development of Ubuntu is led by UK-based Canonical Ltd., a company owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. Canonical generates revenue through the sale of technical support and other services related to Ubuntu. The Ubuntu project is publicly committed to the principles of open source development; people are encouraged to use free software, study how it works, improve upon it, and distribute it. "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04" by Matthew Helmke (who served on the Ubuntu Forum Council from 2006 to 2011) is a 912 page compendium that is enhanced with the including of a DVD that includes the full Ubuntu 14.10 distribution for 64 bit computers, as well as the complete LibreOffice office suite and hundres of additional programs and utilities. An essential instructional guide and manual for Ubuntu users, "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04" ranges from configuring and customizing the Unity desktop; to administering and running Ubuntu from the command line; to providing secure remote access and configuring a secure VPN; to learning the basics about popular programming languages including Python, PHP, Perl, and new alternatives such as Go and Rust; learning about Ubuntu's work toward usability on touch-screen and phone devices, and so much more. An essential addition professional, and academic library Computer Science reference collections, it should be noted that "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04 " is also available in a Kindle edition ($25.49).


The American History Shelf

History of Nebraska, fourth edition
Ronald C. Naugle, John J. Montag, & James C. Olson
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803286269 $35.00 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu

Now in a revised and updated fourth edition, with an expanded amount of content concerning the roles of Native Americans, women, and minorities in Nebraska's history, History of Nebraska is a detailed account of Nebraska's conflict, culture, agriculture, politics, and much more, from before it became a state to the new millennium. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this studious yet accessible text, enhanced with an extensive index. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections.


The Money/Finance Shelf

You Can Adopt Without Debt
Julie Gumm
JulieGumm.com
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
9781426793004 $15.99 www.abingdonpress.com

The adoption process can unfortunately be expensive. You Can Adopt Without Debt, author Julie Gumm, herself the mother of two biological and two adopted children, walks the reader through practical strategies for mitigating expenses and avoiding debt during the adoption process. Chapters discuss applying for grants, creative budgeting, fundraising through sales or social media, obtaining tax incentives, and partnering with adoption organizations. Every family considering adoption should read You Can Adopt Without Debt cover to cover - the better to preserve a college fund for the newest addition to the family!


The Fashion Shelf

Asian Street Fashion
James Bent
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500544402 $24.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Asian Street Fashion is a full-color photographic compendium of what young people in various Asian nations boldly choose to wear. Showcasing self-selected outfits of men and women in China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and more nations, Asian Street Fashion reveals original flair and openness to the influences of both street style and high fashion. Almost the entire book is devoted to photography; there is very little text, and the striking, nonconformist outfits speak for themselves. Paging through Asian Street Fashion from cover to cover is an irresistible temptation!


The Geology Shelf

Ohio Rocks!
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426355 $18.00 www.mountain-press.com

The third book in the state-by-state "Geology Rocks!" series, Ohio Rocks! A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Buckeye State is a wonderful blend of educational resource and travel guide for all ages. Simple maps and full-color photographs throughout explore Ohio's rich natural history. The text takes readers on an armchair tour of sites ranging from Seneca Caverns to Oakes Quarry, Blackhand Gorge, multiple highlights on the Appalachian Plateau, and much more. A glossary, list of references, and an index round out this accessible and enjoyable guide, highly recommended especially for public library collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Pleasurable Weight Loss
Jena La Flamme
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781622034147 $24.95 www.soundstrue.com

Pleasurable Weight Loss: The Secrets to Feeling Great Losing Weight & Loving Your Life Today lives up to its title as a health and dietary guide created especially for women struggling with weight issues. Author Jena La Flamme's insight was that losing weight isn't about boring food plans or meticulous calorie counting; it's about countering the stress and shame that are appetite triggers, and taking more joy and pleasure in the process of cooking, eating, and exercise. The pursuit of pleasure and happiness in day-to-day life is a natural counter to biological and psychological impulses toward overconsumption! Of course, eating reasonable portions of nutritious foods is still a paramount part of healthy living; Pleasurable Weight Loss includes 7 days of easy-to-make, delicious recipes suitable for incorporating into one's dietary regimen. Highly recommended!

Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods
Barbara Wexler, MPH
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438006666 $8.99 www.barronseduc.com

Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods is a guide to making the switch to organic foods for the sake of one's health, as well as the greater good of the community and the environment. A sixty-page introduction teaches the reader what organic labeling and certification means, how to distinguish claims from hype, how to purchase organic food on a budget, and more. The majority of Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods is dedicated to listing nutrition information (the calorie, fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein, and carbohydrate content per serving) for a vast array of commercial organic foods. An extensive appendix of organic food suppliers and their websites rounds out this "must-have" for organic food shoppers!


The Philosophy Shelf

Waking, Dreaming, Being
Evan Thompson
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231137096 $32.95 http://cup.columbia.edu

Evan Thompson (Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia in Vancouver) presents Waking, Dreaming, Being: Self and Consciousness in Neuroscience, Meditation, and Philosophy, a measured philosophical treatise that draws upon neuroscience research on sleep, dreaming, and meditation, as well as Indian and Western understandings of the mind and the self. Thompson contrasts the awareness of the self while awake, while meditating, or while having a lucid dream. Traditions such as Buddhism postulate that human beings can learn to let go of the self while alive, preparing ourselves for the inevitable transition of death. Contemplative and groundbreaking, Waking, Dreaming, Being is a welcome addition to college library philosophy shelves.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Ancient Aliens on Mars II
Mike Bara
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
9781939149312 $19.95 www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

"New York Times" author Mike Bara presents Ancient Aliens on Mars II, continuing a speculative journey into the mysteries of the Red Planet. Drawing upon data from scientific instruments, Bara continues building the case from his previous book ("Ancient Aliens on Mars"), namely that aliens once had a civilization on Mars. Evidence points to the existence of an underground city, possibly filled with enormous devices that could still be operating today! Images of tunnel systems, temples, bridges, and more suggest a NASA conspiracy to hide extraterrestrial life. Ancient Aliens on Mars II is an exciting read from cover to cover! Additional Adventures Unlimited titles concerning this hot topic include "Ancient Aliens on the Moon", "Extraterrestrial Archaeology", "Life and Death on Mars", "The Case for the Face", and "Invisible Residents".

Pagan Portals series
Moon Books
www.moon-books.net
c/o John Hunt Publishing Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com

Three reader-friendly guides from the "Pagan Portals" series discuss witchcraft and folk magic in plain terms. Morgan Daimler's "Pagan Portals: Fairy Witchcraft" (9781782793434, $9.95) is a guide to honoring the fairy world, discussing both modern neo-pagan witchcraft and the ancient Celtic Fairy Faith. In "Pagan Portals: Kitchen Witchcraft" (9781780998435, $9.95), Rachel Patterson explores the practices of the Kitchen Witch -gardening, offerings, and simple washes, smudges, and magics to promote health and well-being. Patterson's "Pagan Portals: Hoodoo Folk Magic" (9781782790204, $9.95) teaches the reader about Hoodoo deities, beliefs, magical practices, spiritual washes, powders and more. "Spells that draw things to you, attract things or bring positive things to you will be worked or at least started when the moon is in her waxing phase. Spells that are worked to banish something or end things, break up spells and foot track magic are started or worked fully when the moon is waning." All three are excellent overviews, highly recommended especially for readers intrigued to learn more about magical practice.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Caveman Rules of Survival
Dawn C. Walton
Change Makers Books
www.changemakers-books.com
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
c/o National Book Network (distribution)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781782797579 $16.95 www.nbnbooks.com

The Caveman Rules of Survival: 3 Simple Rules Used By Our Brains to Keep Us Safe and Well is a self-help guide about subconscious impulses that humans have evolved with since the era of cavemen - and how these blind drives can harm one's life if not countered. The three preprogrammed rules are "React First or You'll Die!", "If Your Parents Don't Love You, You'll Die!" and "If You Are Not Part of a Pack, You Will Die". These rules have played a key role in individual survival for countless generations, but allowing them unfettered control over one's actions is a sure recipe for unhappiness (such as a lingering mandate to please an unpleasable parent, or the craving to "fit in" with the group even when doing so would destroy one's dreams). A plain-terms psychology self-help guide to better understanding one's own subconscious, and using that knowledge to improve one's life, The Caveman Rules of Survival is highly recommended.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Science of the Rishis
Mataji Devi Vanamali
www.vanamalishram.org
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620553862 $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

In ancient India, rishis were the scribes of the Vedas. Dubbed "the scientists of Hinduism", they developed the spiritual science of Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma, in order to foment cultural renewal and progress. Sanatana Dharma affects all aspects of Hindu culture, including religion, arts, and sciences; the texts even connect with the fundamental ideas of quantum physics and other modern scientific discoveries. The Science of the Rishis: The Spiritual and Material Discoveries of the Ancient Sages of India is a detailed introduction to the science of Sanatana Dharma for readers of all backgrounds, including core concepts of Hinduism such as Brahman, atman, bhakti, karma, and reincarnation and their connections to modern science. Accessible and user-friendly, The Science of the Rishis is a welcome contribution to religious studies shelves with a focus on Hinduism.


The Poetry Shelf

Each Perfected Name
Richard St. John
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612481302 $15.95 pb / $9.99 ebook www.amazon.com

Each Perfected Name is an anthology of brief poems in a variety of experimental formats, exploring concepts such as the existence of the sacred within the mundane, the ephemeral quality of everyday life, and the quest to find one's purpose and make the world a better place. Thought-provoking and soulful, Each Perfected Name is highly recommended. "Vita Nuova": For weeks I lay / in the bright box. / No one touched me much. // Around me, sweet, thick oxygen / probed my still-squinched eyes / and fed my tiny lungs. // My mother must have stood beyond / thick glass; she couldn't do a thing / but pray and watch my plight. // It was the beginning / of my blindness and my need. / The start of my new life.


The Wisconsin Shelf

Confidence & Crisis
Steven M. Avella
Marquette University Press
PO Box 3141, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141
9780874620863 $24.00 www.marquette.edu/mupress

Confidence & Crisis: A History of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee 1959-1977 is a close examination of Roman Catholic life in southeastern Wisconsin. Chapters discuss the Catholic community's involvement and response to issues of racial justice. It was an era of idealism, and hope for a better tomorrow, but also a polarized time of difficult transitions. Particular focus is given to the efforts of William E. Cousins, a priest of Chicago and former bishop of Peoria, Illinois applied his masterful flexibility and talent for improvisation to preserve archdiocesan unity. An extensive index rounds out this detailed, scholarly chronicle, especially recommended for Wisconsin and Catholic history shelves.


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
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