Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Wisconsin Bookwatch

Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 5 May 2012 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Photography Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Military Shelf Music Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Humor Shelf Memoir Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Botany Shelf
Archaeology Shelf Computer Shelf Education Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Travel Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Architecture Shelf Fiction Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Sports Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Beer/Wine Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Relationship Shelf Civil War Shelf Business Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Criminology Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Human Sexuality Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Gardening Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf
Crafts Shelf Parenting Shelf Gaming Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Lake Superior Profiles, People on the Big Lake
John Gagnon
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814336281, $24.95, http://wsupress.wayne.edu

Between many states, between two countries, Lake Superior is the meeting place of many people. "Lake Superior Profiles, People on the Big Lake" discusses the cultures that surround the Big Lake, as it is dubbed, touching on the culture and personal folklore that surrounds the lake. Touching on the ecosystem of the region as well and exploring it further, "Lake Superior Profiles, People on the Big Lake" is a strong addition to any collection focusing on cultural studies and the Great Lakes Region of the United States and Canada.

For the Duration
Felicity Ashbee
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110
Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815609711, $19.95, www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu

With war on the horizon, everyone does their part, even those in the more unknown parts of the military. "For the Duration: A Lighthearted WAAF Memoir" is a memoir from Felicity Ashbee as she recounts her time with the Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force, or the WAAF. Joining up after war was declared, she recounts her work and struggles of intelligence management and an overseeing of male leaders who didn't know how to deal with women. "For the Duration" is a strongly recommended read for those who want a perspective on women's military roles in early World War II.

Mista
John J. Kaminski
Crispin Books
3147 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
9781883953423, $19.95, www.crispinbooks.com

Trying to make a difference in some schools is an uphill battle, but many will take that challenge gladly. "Mista: A Year of Teaching English at an Alternative Urban High School" discusses the teaching journey of John J. Kaminski, as he went into an inner city school and taught English. Trying to bring respect in both directions, "Mista" is a unique memoir of a teacher's drive to make a difference, no matter what they called for him to do.

Why Rattlesnakes Rattle
Valeri R. Helterbran
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589796485, $16.95, www.rowman.com

The world is filled with questions and not a lot of answers. "Why Rattlesnakes Rattle:... and 250 Other Things You Should Know" is a trivia book and follow up to "Why Flamingos are Pink", in a series of questions and answers abut random things about the world, on topics of nature, humanity, language, and much more. For those curious about a little bit of everything in the world, "Why Rattlesnakes Rattle" is a choice reference and trivia book, not to be overlooked.


The Photography Shelf

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book
Martin Evening
Adobe
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321819598, $54.99, www.mcp.com

Post-production has become key in the getting the most out of one's photographs. "The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book" is a guide for those working with Adobe Photoshop or similar programs to get the most out of their art. Martin Evening, renown fashion photographer offers advice on working with less than optimal sources, optimizing the photo, and managing one's extensive piles of work. For anyone trying to get the most out of Lightroom 4, "The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book" is not to be missed. Also from Peachpit, "The Digital Photography Book, Part 4" (9780321773029, $24.99) is a guide to making sure that the photo you work with is something of quality to begin with.

A Girl and Her Room
Rania Matar
Umbrage Editions
111 Front Street, Suite 208
Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781884167768, $40.00, www.umbragebooks.com

A room is more than simply a place to keep one's things. "A Girl and Her Room" is a collection of photography from Rania Matar, who presents a delve into the lives and personal sanctuaries of teenaged girls from all over the world, offering glimpses of women in transition from childhood to adulthood, and the rooms that reflect this. With a reflection of their lives and their worlds from many of the girls, "A Girl and Her Room" is a profound look at the similarities and differences that go on all around the worlds.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Planet Hong Kong, second edition
David Bordwell
Irvington Way Institute Press
c/o 20th Century Books
1421 South Park, #200, Madison, WI 53715
www.southparkbooks.com
9780983244011, $59.95, www.amazon.com

There is far more to the Hong Kong film industry than Bruce Lee movies. Now in a fully revised and expanded second edition, "Planet Hong Kong: Popular Cinema and the Art of Entertainment" by David Bordwell is a superbly illustrated throughout with full color photography. This 292-page compendium provides an informed and informative descriptive history of Hong Kong's cinematic productions in all genres of film making. Of special note is the chapter on Chinese 'Avant-Pop Cinema'. Enhanced with a bibliography of English language books on sources for further study drawn from the work of the Hong Kong International Film Festival and published jointly with the Hong Kong urban Council or the Hong Kong film Archive, "Planet Hong Kong: Popular Cinema and the Art of Entertainment" also features twenty-two pages of extensive notes. A seminal work of impressive scholarship, "Planet Hong Kong: Popular Cinema and the Art of Entertainment" is strongly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Cinematic History & Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Sci-Fi Movie Freak
Robert C. Ring
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440228629, $21.99, www.krausebooks.com

A gaze into a future that just might be. "Sci-Fi Movie Freak" is a collection of the best of the best in science fiction movies that have been produced over the past century, presenting hundreds of photos of stills and posters throughout. With Top Ten lists, notes on lesser known films, and a special focus on the delightfully terrible, Robert C. Ring shows his love for the genre clearly. With a free DVD containing legendary bomb 'Plan 9 From Outer Space', "Sci-Fi Movie Freak" is worth considering for fans of any level of science fiction.

Cowboys & Aliens
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
9781608870257, $18.95, www.insighteditions.com

Hatred becomes meaningless in the name of survival. "Cowboys & Aliens" is the screen play from the major motion picture detailing a clash in 1875 between the New Mexican town of Absolution and visitors from the sky. Bound by the drive for survival, former foes align and turn their sights on their attackers to drive them back. "Cowboys & Aliens" comes with plenty of full color movie stills as well storyboard style illustrations throughout, a choice pick for fans of the film.

Film Noir
Alain Silver & James Ursini, editors
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
PO Box 13819
Milwaukee, WI 53213
9780879103941, $24.99, www.limelighteditions.com

Noir got to the gritty nature of a hopeless world. "Film Noir: The Directors" discusses the directors of the heyday of this genre, presenting a compilation of black and white photographs of great directors throughout the twentieth century, with pieces on their careers and more, including the famed Alfred Hitchcock & Orson Welles. For those fascinated with these classic stories of murder, scandal, and sexuality, "Film Noir" is a strong pick for any film reference collection.

Conversations with Clint
Kevin Avery, editor
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441165862, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Clint Eastwood's legend has spread off of the silver screen. "Conversations with Clint: Paul Nelson's Lost Interviews with Clint Eastwood 1979-1983" is a collection of interviews with the legend of the screen, as Paul Nelson brings out an in depth interview that picks Eastwood's mind well, and brings out a new perspective and side of Eastwood that few other interviews manage to acquire. "Conversations with Clint" is a fine addition to any collection focusing on film, very much recommended reading.

Cloud 9
Theatre Communications Group
TCG Books
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
1559360992, $11.95, www.tcg.org

Where we search for joy we may find it but we may find countless other things as well. "Cloud 9" is a printing of a play of many people searching for their lives joy and where they may be finding it. Relationships, and more importantly sex dominates the lives of people who ponder their lives, and their parts in more important issues. In play format, "Cloud 9" is a fine read with plenty to entice readers, very much recommended reading.


The Military Shelf

Into the Breach at Pusan
Kenneth W. Estes
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142548 $29.95 www.oupress.com

Former marine lieutenant colonel Kenneth W. Estes presents Into the Breach at Pusan: The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in the Korean War, an exhaustively detailed account of the respected marine brigade's efforts to turn back the 1950 North Korean invasion of the Republic of Korea. Cross-examining previous histories of the campaign, Into the Breach at Pusan makes every effort to place details of the undertaking into historical context, at times contesting discrepancies in earlier accounts. Research drawn from combat records, command reports, biographical materials and more supports this highly accessible study. Into the Breach at Pusan is a welcome addition to college and public library military history shelves.

Military Register of Custer's Last Command
Roger L. Williams
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142746, $39.95, www.oupress.com

Custer has been regarded as both hero and villain in history, but the men with him deserve their notice in history as well. "Military Register of Custer's Last Command" is a comprehensive military reference, covering the documents of the men with Custer during the infamous conflict at Little Big Horn. Well documented, it provides a complete and comprehensive coverage of the 7th Calvary, their history of service, names and descriptions. "Military Register of Custer's Last Command" is a strong addition to any history collection focused on the American military in the nineteenth century.


The Music Shelf

Letters to Kurt
Eric Erlandson
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456
New York, NY 10009
9781617750830, $17.95, www.akashicbooks.com

There are many who create to find purpose, and all too often, they find nothing. "Letters to Kurt" is a collection of thought with prose poetry from Eric Erlandson, lead guitarist and cofounder of the alternative rock band Hole, known for its lead singer Courtney Love, the wife of grunge and alternative music legend Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Discussing the grind of music and the era of Cobain in music, Erlandson brings a thoughtful view to the period and the lessons learned by the survivors. "Letters to Kurt" is a thoughtful retrospective on music and the artist.

Dance All Night
Jean A. Boyd
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037
Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727373, $39.95, www.ttupress.org

With a powerful energy, swing is a genre hard to ignore. "Dance All Night: Those Other Southwestern Swing Bands, Past and Present" is a guide to the Western flavor of Swing, with a focus on its golden age in the 1930s and 1940s, where throughout Texas to California, may musicians made their name with the style. And even today, the style lives on, with many revivals taking hold. "Dance All Night" is a comprehensive history, complete with photography and music tablature, making it an ideal pick for American music history collections or simply enthusiasts of this energetic and fun musical styling.


The Self-Help Shelf

Making Yourself Indispensable
Mark Samuel
Portfolio
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9781591844693, $25.95, www.penguin.com

You're the most important individual in your own life, and one needs to make sure it all works. "Making Yourself Indispensable: The Power of Personal Accountability" is a career empowerment guide from Mark Samuel who advises readers to realize their flaws in the workplace, cure them, and do their best to the top of their realms. "Making Yourself Indispensable" comes with many tips for finding one's weaknesses and how to cure them, making for a powerful and inspirational read, highly recommended.

My Own Worst Enemy
Janet Davis
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780765209505, $12.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

When you get over yourself, a whole new world opens up. "My Own Worst Enemy: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back" is an inspirational guide from Janet Davis as she advises women to find their own way through inspiration and life on many fronts, to find one's own ideals and push themselves forward to something greater in life, and stop doubting themselves and creating roadblocks that only get in the way. "My Own Worst Enemy" is a strong pick for self-help and inspirational collections, not to be overlooked.

Why Do I Keep Doing This!!?
Judith E. Pearson
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5
Bethel, CT 06801
9781845907327, $24.95, www.CHPUS.com

Bad habits can quickly consume one's life. "Why Do I Keep Doing This!!?: End Bad Habits, Negativity and Stress with Self-Hypnosis and NLP" is a guide to conquering the life-destroying habits that all too many of us fall into in our lives. Judith Pearson advises readers on how to face these habits through self-hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic programming, attacking dilemmas such as addiction, health issues, and simply finding more energy and drive throughout the day. "Why Do I Keep Doing This!!?" is a highly recommended addition to any self-help reference collection.

Creating Personal Presence
Dianna Booher
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609940119, $15.95, www.bkconnection.com

Taking charge of one's life is taking charge of the world around you. "Creating Personal Presence: Look, Talk, Think, and Act Like a Leader" is a motivational and inspirational read from Dianna Booher as she advises readers to take control and be a leader in their lives, how to carry oneself like a leader, and have people listen and respond to your lead. "Creating Personal Presence" is a powerful read for anyone who wants to take the lead in their life and make a difference.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Belief
Miguel A. De La Torre
Westminister John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
9780664232528, $35.00, www.wjkbooks.com

The stories of Genesis may ring most true in the Christian psyche. "Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible: Genesis" discusses the book of Genesis and how it speaks to us on many fronts in the Christian ideal. These stories discuss very human issues that still have not been answered in the modern day. Discussing the many stories in detail with thought on how they apply today, Miguel A. De La Torre provides a scholarly guide for the modern era, making "Belief" a strong addition to any Christian studies collection.

How to Be Happy Where You Are
Michelle McKinney Hammond
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736937924, $11.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Contentment doesn't have be some nigh impossible to attain goal. "How to Be Happy Where You Are: Finding Fulfillment" is an inspirational read aimed at Christian women. Author Michelle McKinney Hammond writes about how to find contentment in modern life, use God's faith to point yourself to a better direction, and using worship to find meaning. "How to Be Happy Where You Are" is a strong pick to inspirational and Christian books collection.

Man, the Saint
J. Urteaga Loidi
Roman Catholic Books
PO Box 2286, Fort Collins, CO 80522
978192991502, $22.95, www.booksforcatholics.com

Man holds the power of great deeds and great sin. "Man, the Saint" is a Catholic Christian delve into the potential of man to be a paragon of Christ's virtue, and avoiding the pitfalls that lead us to be false leaders. Discussing generosity, charity, being a soldier of God, and working towards greater joy for the world, "Man, the Saint" is a deeply spiritual and religious book to be considered for those who want to become worthy of personal sainthood in the eyes of God.

The Top Then Leadership Commandments
Hans Finzel
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9780781404884, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

All throughout history, leaders have been needed. "The Top Ten Leadership Commandments" draws on the parables of leadership found in scripture and faith, presenting the ten ideals of Biblical leaders that can be applied to any point in one's life. Thoughtful, intriguing, and most importantly practical, "The Top Ten Leadership Commandments" is a strong addition to any Christian Studies and business leadership collection, very much recommended.

The Treasure Seeker
Teena Stewart
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street
Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781414120485, $17.99, www.winepressgroup.com

As we search for something of value from life, we're bombarded with what others seek. "The Treasure Seeker: Finding Love and Value in the Arms of Your Loving Heavenly Father" is a Christian aspiration book. Author Teena Stewart advises readers to find greater worth in themselves as a person and reach out and become something so much more, appreciating the treasures God wishes upon us. "The Treasure Seeker" is a strong pick for Christian self-help collections.

The Future of the Global Church
Patrick Johnstone
Biblica
1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830856596, $40.00, www.ivpress.com

The world grows smaller, but faith grows larger. "The Future of the Global Church: History, Trends, and Possibilities" discusses the future of the Church and the approaches to evangelical Christianity all over the world, and its spread to the indigenous people throughout. Packed cover to cover with charts and graphs, and the possibilities for evangelical growth in many of these countries. For those curious about the potential of spreading the gospel, "The Future of the Global Church" is a strong pick for history, international issues, and Christian Studies collections.

Scripture in the Church
James Chukwuma Okoye
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814657614, $24.95, www.litpress.org

The Bible was once only for the clergy. "Scripture in the Church: The Synod on the Word of God" discusses the meeting of the Catholic Church in 2008 to discuss the scripture and its interpretation how the Church views the masses and how much the Scripture should be driving the Church's thoughts and mission. A scholarly discussion of Catholicism and its direction, "Scripture in the Church" is a strongly recommended addition to any Catholic and Christian studies collection, community or college.

The True Icon
Paul Badde
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339
Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781586175917, $22.95, www.ignatius.com

With potentially two thousand years of history, the shroud of Turin holds much history. "The True Icon: From the Shroud of Turin to the Veil of Manoppello" discusses the history behind the shroud and the debates that rage from both sides behind the authenticity that it was the death shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. It also discusses the less known yet still debated Veil of Manoppello, bearing the face of Christ as well. With much history, with artwork and photographs all throughout presented in full color, "The True Icon" is a strong addition to any Christian studies collection as well as history collection.

Your Guide to Yellowstone
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing Group
PO Box 726
Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890516409, $15.99, www.masterbooks.net

The National parks have been established to demonstrate nature at its most pure. "Your Guide to Yellowstone: And Grand Teton National Parks" offers a strong Christian perspective on the sights and sounds of these parks that surround the Rocky Mountains, with countless plants and animals that occupy the region. Packed cover to cover with full color photographs all throughout, "Your Guide to Yellowstone" is a spiral-bound book for those who want nature pictures and a Creationism driven theme and take on the Grand Canyon region.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Contemporary Halakhic Problems
J. David Bleich
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602801943, $26.95, www.ktav.com

The laws of Judaism grow more complicated to apply to the modern era. "Contemporary Halakhic Problems" is the sixth volume of Rabbi J. David Bleich's discussion of these vital Jewish questions for those trying to stay true to the laws of the ancestors. Touching on the topics of torture, medical malpractice, water cleanliness, modern medicine, dietary issues, and death issues, Bleich offers a scholarly and thoughtful ideal on many of these issues. "Contemporary Halakhic Problems" is a strong addition to any modern Judaic studies collection, highly recommended.

The Illuminated Kaddish
Hyla Bolsta
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602801902, $27.50, www.ktav.com

The Kaddish is a prayer that every devote Jew recites as part of mourning the loss of a loved one. Never has the Kaddish been so beautifully illustrated as within the pages of "The Illuminated Kaddish" Interpretations Of The Mourner's Prayer". Infusing an understanding of a centuries old tradition with contemporary contemplative insight expressed in lavish artwork combined with poetic text and illuminated calligraphy, "The Illuminated Kaddish" is strongly recommended reading and will prove to be a highly prized and appreciated addition to personal, synagogue, academic, and community library Judaic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Poetry Shelf

Through Sun-glinting Particles
Allegra Jostad Silberstein
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library
728 State Street
Madison, WI 53575
9781934795385 $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu

Poet Laureate Allegra Jostad Silberstein presents Through Sun-glinting Particles, a chapbook of poetry, some rhyming, some free-verse, that reflects her love of the outdoors as well as the bond of family ties, and the warm comfort of fond memories. A beautiful and moving experience, Through Sun-glinting Particles deserves to be taken in slowly, the better to absorb its expressions of wonder. Highly recommended. "Notes from Aunt Lil": I'm feeling old and tired and lost / and think of days gone by and cry / about the young folks going by / without a thought of miseries cost / or how the apple trees will bloom / and lilacs come to scent the air / without the shop windows for compare / to dress our wishes with aplomb. // I sit and rock and take my rest / remembering poems learned by heart. / Then singing songs of long-gone days / consider how my hours are blest / by touch that's kept in memory's cart- / the votive and the migrant strays.

Calamity Joe
Brendan Constantine
Red Hen Press
PO Box 3537
Granada Hills, CA 91394
9781597091763, $17.95, www.redhen.org

There are many stories that craft our lives. "Calamity Joe" is an anthology of poetry from Brendan Constantine who uses his own creative use of language to make for original and thoughtful takes on the art of poetry and its unique way of reflecting life. "Calamity Joe" is a fine pick for general poetry collections, much recommended. "Consider the Spiders": The spider above you/and all her rationed dead,/the spider before her/deported in a water glass/to the front yard.//She didn't make it back./Consider her children,/her belongings, her dry/body reconsidered/by air: flower skeleton,/umbrella seed.

Two-Headed Nightingale
Shara Lessley
New Issues
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5463
9781936970070, $15.00, www.wmich.edu

Even among what has always been there, there are still surprises waiting. "Two-Headed Nightingale" is a collection of poetry from Shara Lessley who uses her experience and expertise with the medium to explore the world around us, discussing nature and humanity as two parts of a greater puzzle. "Two-Headed Nightingale" is a good addition to any general poetry collection, much recommended. "After Reading Chu Shu-Chen, I Cube a D'Anjou": All of the fruit trees --/cut back and disappearing./The world in/my parents' yard is'/small and bare. As long as I am flesh/and bone,/the kingfishers mating near the streambed/will cause embarrassment./I am tired of pinning up my hair./The pear is not to blame./The rain is not to blame./The grass pushes up/each blade/sharper than the next./Into a pewter dish, I set/aside the piebald flesh,/its perfume/so spare - how long/will I sit at my father's table?

The Hello Delay
Julie Choffel
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823242306, $18.00, www.fordhampress.com

We are driven by what is familiar. "The Hello Delay" is a collection of poetry from Julie Choffel, a student of many topics and presents her knowledge creatively with her verse. Exploring the concepts of familiarity and its force in our lives, "The Hello Delay" is not a read to overlook. "Serenade, or After Others": Here, from a fake rose/I've made you a real one//my poetry has no camera//The holes between the stars and the holes the stars/will leave in the sky.

The Mountains of Norfolk
Kevin Crossley-Holland
Enitharmon
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781907587108, $24.95, www.dufoureditions.com

The world will always go on, as we gaze through it all. "The Mountains of Norfolk" is a collection of poetry from Kevin Crossley-Holland, who uses his vast experience with a poetry and writing to offer a dedicated read to classic literature and the life around him. "The Mountains of Norfolk" is a thoughtful and much recommended pick for poetry collections. "Limoges": All I knew of Limoges was my mother's china:/teacups transparent as raised communion wafers,/with knuckled twig-handles, their gilt-half worn./Shining bone miracles tough as old boots.//When the night train pulled in, quacking,/it was damp and chill. One frail old woman,/coiffed and frilled, peered out from her kiosk./Hooded eyes. Top lip stitched. Time to kill.

Creatures Who Smell the Wind
Linda C. Levitz
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745217, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

Through anything and everything in our lives, we try to keep a bond with it all. "Creatures Who Smell the Wind" is a collection of poetry from poet and teacher Linda Levitz who speaks with a profound tone in connecting with the world around her. "Creatures Who Smell the Wind" is a strong addition to any poetry collection, recommended. "I Never Told": I never told anybody I lied/to my father when he waited/in the car after school dances, smiling, happy to come for me/He asked who I'd danced with, "Who were your partners?"/Philip, I told him, and Don//But I was really standing on the side, waiting to be asked//I couldn't hurt his feelings,/see his face crumple to sadness/I protected him/I was his parent.

Keeping Even
Sheila Sanderson
Stephen F. Austin State University Press
PO Box 13007, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3007
9781936205424, $15.95, www.prescott.edu

There is a certain grace in cutting to the point of it all. "Keeping Even" is a collection of poetry from Sheila Sanderson as she presents an honest and direct collection of poetry, seeking to enjoy the vital simplicity of life, with a touch on faith. "Keeping Even" is a fine assortment, not to be overlooked. "Lazarus Hearing His Name Called": Before, like a moment/in weather to the ear://the last tantrum of winter running out of pearls/to throw at the daffodils,//wind leaving off its shuffle through wheat;/Then, like a granite boulder rocked//into the thunder of pilgrimage/from the resting place//it imagined/it had been promised.

Wells
Jenna Butler
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888646064, $19.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

From our ancestors we take knowledge and prepare our own lives. "Wells" is a book of poetry from Jenna Butler, a prolific English-Canadian writer as she speaks on rural life as well as the family life that we all share, with a unique free verse style that seeks message and idea over all else. "Wells" is a charming read, not to be overlooked.

Imperfect Prayers
Richard Carr
Steel Toe Books
c/o Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11086
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1086
9780982416969 $12.00 http://www.wku.edu/~tom.hunley/steeltoebooks

No matter our faith, we have many moments of doubt. "Imperfect Prayers" is a collection of poetry from award winning poet Richard Carr, who presents 101 works of contemplating the spiritual and the mundane as we look for bits of truth in our lives. "Imperfect Prayers" is a strong addition to any poetry assortment. "58": I disappoint God,/completing my errand too literally/by coming home with milk, bread, lettuce, olive loaf//and summer-day hopes/for an afternoon free of needy mail/and flip calls//or any thoughts outside the white fence of eyesight,/green lawn,/happy with myself, weight, hair,//freckles.

Walking Here
Jessie Lendennie
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781907056840, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

Poetry captures the essence of a feeling where words alone would fail. "Walking Here" is a poetry book from Jessie Lendennie who continues her love of poetry in this volume, pondering spirituality and philosophy and what keeps us going through life in spite of growing adversity. "Walking Here" is a thoughtful and recommended collection to any general poetry collections. "London 1972": I thought that we/Were probably/In New York/And that I had just/Run up five flights/Of Stairs/To See you/And we were talking/of living/Somewhere else.

Well Then There Now
Juliana Spahr
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450
Jaffrey, NH 03452
9781574232172, $17.95, www.godine.com

Across mountains and oceans, Juliana Spahr spins her original upbringing into a fine assortment of poetry. "Well Then There Now" is a collection of poetry from award-winning poetry writer and editor Juliana Spahr, who uses her experiences in Hawaii on the continental country and much more for a more complete understanding of America and the rest of the world, blending an epic flavored poetry along with prose poems. "Well Then There Now" is a fine assortment of poetry, a strong addition to any general collection.


The Humor Shelf

Hot Chocolate for Seniors
Jan Fowler
Balboa Press
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300
Bloomington, IN 47403
9781452539454, $21.99, www.janfowler.com

Sometimes we need a bit of comfort in our lives to gain a better appreciation for the world around us. "Hot Chocolate for Seniors: More Than 100 Heartwarming, Humorous, Inspiring Stories Written by Seniors, for Seniors, and About Seniors" is a collection of short stories from Jan Fowler as she crafts a collection of thought and inspiration about the world in the eyes of seniors, with a message to help them through those stressful encounters that we all encounter. "Hot Chocolate for Seniors" is a fine assortment of thought, not to be overlooked for self-help and senior collections.


The Memoir Shelf

Win Some, Lose Some
Mark N. Stageberg
Beaver's Pond Press
7108 Ohms Lane
Edina, MN 55439
9781592982998, $25.00, www.BeaversPondPress.com

The challenge of a trial lawyer often can come off as a competition, but one must always remember real lives hang in the balance. "Win Some, Lose Some: The Trials and Tribulations in the Career of a Trial Lawyer" is the memoir of career civil trial lawyer Mark N. Stageberg, as he reflects on what faces you as a lawyer both as a lone practitioner and as part of a firm. He speaks on representing smaller people as well bigger interests, and much more. Pulling no punches, "Win Some, Lose Some" is a fine delve into law and those who practice it, very much recommended.

I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands
J. J. Keeler
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7
St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788924, $16.95, www.paragonhouse.com

Living with OCD can be being irrational while knowing you're being irrational. "I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands: The Other Side of OCD" is a memoir from J. J. Keeler as she shares her story of facing the disorder and the weight that comes with the plight. Written with an honest humor and to the heart story of her fears and what life is like being crushed by them, "I Hardly Ever Wash My Hands" is a strong addition to psychology and self-help collections, highly recommended.

The Chicken Chronicles
Alice Walker
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
9781595587749, $16.95, www.thenewpress.com

Even creatures as dumb as chickens have wisdom to pass on to us all. "The Chicken Chronicles" is a memoir from Alice Walker as she reflects on her unique set of challenges raising a flock of chickens and how her experiences with these chickens as well as traveling the world itself, gained her insight onto the world and strength to life her life in the way she always sought to. "The Chicken Chronicles" is a fine read and very much recommended reading.

Blown Away
Kelly Gordon
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214
9781449736736, $11.99 www.westbowpress.com

Even when all is lost, one must never lose the faith. "Blown Away" is a memoir of religious endeavor, as Kelly Gordon shares her story of facing tragedy with her husband. Stating that God helped them through the devastation of nature, their weakest moments of losing their hopeful child, and the woes of their adoptive endeavor, "Blown Away" is an inspirational read for any collection of faith-driven memoir.

Adventures of a Book Collector
Philip Murray
Currach Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781856077330, $26.95, www.dufoureditions.com

When a boy becomes a man, not much really changes except the means to pursue one's interests. "Adventures of a Book Collector" is a memoir from Philip Murray as he shares his story of pursuing the more intriguing aspects of book collecting, meeting authors and getting those priceless treasures to call your own. With humor and an optimism about it all, "Adventures of a Book Collector" is a strong pick for fans of books who want to share an adventure with one of their own.

Mirror Mirror
Stephanie Hart
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9780615498089, $12.00, www.simonandschuster.com

As life happens to us quickly, it can be hard to digest it as it comes. "Mirror Mirror: A Collection of Memoirs and Stories" is a memoir assortment from Stephanie Hart, as she shares her journeys around the world and what she has learned in trying to put her own life together while trying to gain an understanding of everyone else's. "Mirror Mirror" is a thoughtful and direct read for memoir collections, not to be overlooked.

Trespasses
Lacy M. Johnson
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609380786, $19.95, www.uiowapress.org

The middle of nowhere is somewhere to someone. "Trespasses" is a memoir from Lacy M. Johnson as she shares stories of herself and those around here over three generations in the Great Plains of the American Midwest. Presenting a struggle of sameness, tradition and the desire and inability to break from it, and much more, "Trespasses" is a poignant read with plenty to consider, very much recommended reading.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim
Scott Alan Roberts
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631978, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Angels captivate our imagination, but could they their place in reality? "The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim: The Untold Story of Fallen Angels, Giants on the Earth, and Their Extraterrestrial Origins" is Scott Alan Roberts metaphysical exploration of divine beings and their place in mythology, legend, and lore, discussing not only angels, but fae, old gods, aliens, and other creatures that dwell in our mind. "The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim" is a captivating exploration of these ancient ideals, much recommended. "The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim" is a strong addition to any metaphysical studies collection.


The Cookbook Shelf

Danish Cooking and Baking Traditions
Arthur L. Meyer
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781812627, $32.00, www.hippocrenebooks.com

Good bread can be the foundation of any meal, and the Danes have perfected this ideal. "Danish Cooking and Baking Traditions" is a cookbook filled with the best of the best traditional Danish recipes for sumptuous breads, pastries, meat dishes, rice dishes, and much more. "Danish Cooking and Baking Traditions" is strongly recommended for any international cookbook collection.

Push-Up Pops
Courtney Dial Whitmore, author
Kyle Dreier, photographer
Gibbs Smith
P.O. Box 667, Layton, Utah 84041
9781423625315, $19.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

"Push-Up Pops" is a fun-filled, fantastic collection of recipe ideas for festive push-up pops for special parties or events. Using clear plastic push-up molds available through shop.pizzazzerie.com, here are presented over 40 different push-up pops creations, complete with recipe instructions and color photographs. For example, there is Key Lime Pie, Oreo Cheesecake, Minty Chocolate Cream Pie, Snickers Caramel Pie, and Sweet 'n' Salty Caramel Cookie, as well as Frozen Peach Bellini and Pumpkin Pie, all in push-up pop form. Every recipe is clearly presented with ingredients listed on the left and paragraph instructions on the right. Recipes are included for cake, pie, frozen, and special cookies, candy, and more push-up pops. For a festive new approach to party menus with flair and themes, "Push-Up Pops" is a chef's best friend.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Forgiveness
Joan Mueller
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd.
Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565484269, $7.95, www.newcitypress.com

A moment to think can buy our lives much more success. "Forgiveness: Three Minute Reflections on Redeeming Life's Most Difficult Moments" is a collection of thoughts and inspiration from Joan Mueller who advises readers how to ponder their world, when life hits them hard. From life changing events that push us to power us through our lives, "Forgiveness" is a strongly recommended pick for those looking for brief, yet powerful moments of faith to carry us through life's hardest struggles, with spirituality for Christians and non-Christians alike.

Reading the Bible After Christendom
Lloyd Pietersen
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue
Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836196177, $19.99, www.heraldpress.com

For nearly two thousand years, the Holy Bible has dominated tradition in the Western world. "Reading the Bible After Christendom" invites readers to try to look at the scripture from the perspective of a world where Christianity didn't dominate the world in culture, to gain an understanding of the faith free from the influences of the world. Offering many intriguing ideas about faith and the holy word, "Reading the Bible After Christendom" is a strong pick for any student of the Bible.

12 Miracles of Spiritual Growth
E. Kent Rogers
Swedenborg Publishers
320 North Church Street
West Chester, PA 19380
9780877853435, $15.95, www.swedenborg.com

We seek man ways to be at greater peace with ourselves. "12 Miracles of Spiritual Growth: A Path of Healing from the Gospels" is a guide to faith and spirituality from E. Kent Rogers as he uses his expertise with mental health to advise and inspire readers to find their souls and live a more fluid and complete life on many levels. "12 Miracles of Spiritual Growth" is a strong choice for Christian spirituality collections, very much recommended reading.

7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness
Joe Paprocki
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
9780829436891, $12.95, www.LoyolaBooks.org

If the mind and soul suffer, the body will suffer as well. "7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: Enriching Your Faith by Strengthening the Health of Your Soul" is a positive read from Joe Paprocki as he advises readers with his expertise as a minister on how to maintain a spiritual health to enhance their life and push themselves forward for better life. "7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness" is a very much recommended read for those who have lost sight of their spirit and want to find it once more.


The Botany Shelf

Woody Plants of Utah
Renee Van Buren, Janet G. Cooper, Leila M. Shultz, & Kimball T. Harper
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322
9780874218244, $39.95, www.USUPress.org

Utah has a vibrant ecosystem, and it can be quite overwhelming at first sight. "Woody Plants of Utah" is a nature and environmental exploration from Utah State University, offering a complete and comprehensive study of the many species of plants throughout the state, presented in full color with detailed descriptions all throughout, complete with maps and glossaries. For anyone who wants an informative nature walk through Utah or for community and college library nature studies collections, "Woody Plants of Utah" is a choice and much recommended pick.


The Archaeology Shelf

Montana Before History
Douglas H. MacDonald
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399
Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425853, $20.00, www.mountain-press.com

Montana existed far before Europeans claimed it as their own. "Montana Before History: 11,000 Years of Hunter-Gatherers in the Rockies and Plains" discusses the archeological prehistory of the Mountain state, telling of the tribes who called Montana home, their struggles and push for a better life. Offering a history both natural and human, Douglas H. MacDonald offers a few intriguing surprises and twists such as history's never often heard about miners. "Montana Before History" is a strong addition to any history collection focusing on the Native American domain in the United States.


The Computer Shelf

3D Game Programming with DirectX 11
Frank D. Luna
Mercury Books
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
9781936420223, $49.95, www.internationalpubmarket.com

With the latest developmental tools, one can create wonderful and vivid worlds. "3D Game Programming with DirectX 11" elaborates on how to get the most out the DirectX tools, the processes used by many recent 3D game developers. Frank D. Luna explores the newest developments that come with this edition of DirectX, how to make the most of 3D lighting, texturing, reflections, animation, and other vital elements. With exercises to practice with the ideas within, and a DVD with further resources and lessons, "3D Game Programming with DirectX 11" is a strong pick for anyone seeking to further their skills, be it for their career or as a hobby.


The Education Shelf

PSAT/NMSQT Premier
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor
New York, NY 10006
9781609781118, $13.99, www.kaplanpublishing.com

A first chance at scholarship opportunities, the PSAT is not a test to be taken lightly. "PSAT/NMSQT Premier: Everything You Need to Score Higher" is the 2012 edition of the series, explaining the most up to date parameters expected of those taking the test in the coming testing season. With advice for parents on top of the immense amount of information for students to prepare, the resources are enhanced with practice tests, and companion YouTube videos for each topic. "PSAT/NMSQT" is a strong addition to general education collections.

Let Them Play
Jeff A. Johnson & Denita Dinger
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540535, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org

Early childhood playing is taking a lesson from the classroom of the world. "Let Them Play: An Early Learning (un)Curriculum" is a guide to encouraging learning through free will and curiosity of young children, as Jeff A. Johnson & Denita Dinger walk readers through how to inspire learning in the very young. From social skills to language and other elements of young education, "Let Them Play" is a strong pick for parents and early childhood educators, and should have a spot in any early childhood education collection in community libraries.


The Needlecraft Shelf

The Encyclopedia of Teddy Bear Making Techniques
Alicia Merrett & Ann Stephens
Search Press
1338 Ross Street
Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
9781844488094, $19.95, www.searchpress.com

A teddy bear is more than a toy, it can be a longtime companion. "The Encyclopedia of Teddy Bear Making Techniques" is a guide to those with needleworking knowledge and want to create a truly marvelous bear for a young loved one or for simply the love of the hobby. Alicia Merrett & Ann Stephens present a full color photographic guide for learning how to make the most of the bear making hobby. "The Encyclopedia of Teddy Bear Making Techniques" is a strong pick for teddy bear lovers or sewing lovers looking to make something different.


The Travel Shelf

Le Road Trip
Vivian Swift
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781608195329, $24.00, www.bloomsbury.com

To get the vitals and grizzly nature of travel, one must hit the road with no plan and maybe a rough idea of destination. "Le Road Trip: A Traveler's Journal of Love and France" is an original take on travel from Vivian Swift, as she brings a unique humor and frankness to the journey, as she reflects on the sights and sounds that lie throughout the country that most travelers only see a small part of. "Le Road Trip" is an enticing read for those pondering there own trip all through the French countryside.


The American History Shelf

They Called It the War Effort, second edition
Louis Fairchild
Texas State Historical Association
1155 Union Circle #311580
Denton, TX 76203-5017
9780876112502 $39.95 www.TSHAonline.org

Now in an updated second edition with more content and more interviews, They Called It the War Effort gathers personal testimonies of people who lived in the small town of Orange, Texas before and during World War II. Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Orange was a tiny agricultural community of 7,500 prideful men and women, struggling with high unemployment that had persisted throughout the Great Depression. The sudden need for Navy ships transformed Orange into more than 60,000 shipyard workers and their families, working feverishly to support the war effort. Almost in the blink of an eye, Orange's sleepy, small-town way of life was gone forever. Packed cover-to-cover with true stories from the people who witnessed the transformation firsthand, as well as a scattering of vintage black-and-white photographs, They Called It the War Effort is an extraordinarily detailed and involving primary source of one example of how Word War II forever transformed America. Highly recommended.

Hope and Tears
Gwenyth Swain
Calkins Creek
c/o Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
9781590787656, $17.95, www.boydsmillspress.com

Coming from halfway around the world, they threw in their lot with America for a better chance. "Hope and Tears: Ellis Island Voices" chronicles the story of many individuals who passed through that island in hopes of coming into the country for another chance. Sharing stories of individuals from all over Europe and otherwise, they bring forth what skills they have, their families, and their dreams of success. "Hope and Tears" is a powerful read with photography throughout, very much recommended reading.

The Great Taos Bank Robbery
Tony Hillerman
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE
Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826451920, $15.95, www.unmpress.com

New Mexico has a rich history unique to itself. "The Great Taos Bank Robbery: And Other True Stories" chronicles unique stories of New Mexico's history. Stories touch on Native American legends, train robbery, wartime plots, and other oddities of history. Compiled from many state historians who bring the flavor of New Mexico out strongly, "The Great Taos Bank Robbery" is a strong addition to any history or culture collection focusing on New Mexico and Americana in general.


The World History Shelf

Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five
Howard White, editor
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219
Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550175943, $29.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

The coasts of British Columbia are home to many. "Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five: Stories and History of the BC Coast" is a collection of history's stories and endeavors surrounding the people who call the area home, being true to the mixture of cultures that have created a truly unique blend. Taking notes from countless writers who offer a very real view of the region, "Raincoast Chronicles Fourth Five" is a strong addition to any community library history collection.


The Architecture Shelf

Graceland Cemetery
Christopher Vernon
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781558499263, $39.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

Even the resting grounds of the dead should have their beauty. "Graceland Cemetery: A Design History" looks into the famed Chicago cemetery, which was a monument to modern design during its construction. With photos all throughout, Graceland Cemetery provides a comprehensive insight into the creations of the cemetery, its unique structures, its planning, and history. For those with a curiosity of the long line of history and thought that goes into cemeteries, "Graceland Cemetery" is an excellent and very much recommended pick, not to be overlooked.


The Fiction Shelf

Black Chokeberry
Martha Nelson
Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail Drive, Suite 205
Dallas, Texas 75248
9781612540436 $17.99 www.BrownBooks.com

Black Chokeberry is a heartwarming novel about the bonds three women share through thick and thin. Ellen, Ruby, and Frances are neighbors in the humble town of Oswego, New York; together, they support one another through such difficulties as divorce, sickness, loss of loved ones, dangerous mishaps and more. The values of friendship, community, and love shine through this soulful story, highly recommended for public library general fiction collections.

Rachel's Secret
Shelly Sanders
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 2M5
9781926920375, $12.95, www.secondstorypress.ca

Hate causes untold damage to a society. "Rachel's Secret" follows young Russian Jew Rachel in turn of the century Russia. When a close friend is murdered, Rachel finds herself forced to keep quiet despite knowing the truth, but oppression soon falls on the Jew so of her home town. Trying to find some way to stop it, she works with a Christian ashamed of what his people have done to find the goodness in people. "Rachel's Secret" is a strong and recommended pick for historical fiction collections.

Not Myself Without You
Lourdes Vazquez
Bilingual Review Press
c/o Arizona State University
PO Box 875303, Tempe, AZ 85287-5303
9781931010689, $14.00, www.asu.edu

A strong connection to the supernatural makes life all the more unusual. "Not Myself Without You" is a novel from Lourdes Vazquez as she creates a story of a working class family in Puerto Rico who use their living room as a connection to the spirit world. Drawing from her own experiences, Vazquez creates a unique blend of memoir and fiction, creating a highly readable novel. "Not Myself Without You" is a fine and much recommended pick for general fiction collections, highly recommended.

I Don't Want the Rest of Your Life
Daisy Jordan
Llumina Press
7915 W. McNab Road
Tamarac, FL 33321
9781605947655, $19.95, www.llumina.com

Who we love and what we do does strange things to our world. "I Don't Want the Rest of Your Life" follows the struggles that Lorylyn faces as a married woman in love with someone who is not her husband, and how that one person has an engagement of his own. A web of marriage, cheating, deception, and the search for happiness for many figures in the loop, "I Don't Want the Rest of Your Life" is a charming romance that should prove hard to put down.

Landing Place
Marina Snow
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781935448068, $19.95, www.cypresshouse.com

As one figure in our life disappears, we search for their return, or possibly their replacement. "Landing Place" is a novel from Marina Snow, following Celeste Castle, whose husband seems to vanish during a flight to a Las Vegas airport. Traveling through New Mexico, she finds new things that will change her life and grant her new understanding on what it is to be a mother and a woman. "Landing Place" is a strong pick for general fiction collections, very much recommended.

Cavafy's Stone
Harry Mark Petrakis
Wicker Park Press
PO Box 5318, River Forest, IL 60305
9780978967659, $24.95, www.wickerparkpressbooks.com

History is made up of many smaller stories that make up the larger flow of it all. "Cavafy's Stone: And Other Village Tales" is a collection of short historical fiction from Harry Mark Petrakis as he brings forth stories of many periods throughout history, with stories that are wholly human, stories that speak through time and of life's struggles. "Cavafy's Stone" is a great addition to any collection of short fiction, enthusiastically recommended.

A Wedding Transpires
Cara C. Putman
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781616265359, $12.99, www.barbourbooks.com

Home holds many memories - and not all of them good. "A Wedding Transpires: On Mackinac Island" follows the plight of Attorney Alanna Stone, who wants to leave her old home far behind. But a high profile case brings her back and brushes her against an old flame who she wanted to leave behind. Looking for the truth behind the case, she finds the truth behind her old love may be more enticing. "A Wedding Transpires" is a Christian romance that should ring true with many seekers of a love worth keeping.

Combat Infantryman Badge
Bill Rambow
Aperture Press
201 Washington St., Suite 533
Reading, PA 19601
9780983687887, $19.99, www.aperturepress.net

In the thick of it is a deadly place to be. "Combat Infantryman Badge" follows Philip Lawson as he finds himself unwillingly dragged back into the Vietnam war in a mechanized infantry unit, dashing his dreams of being in a helicopter unit. Working to gain the respect of his comrades, he soon realizes that making it through the war should prove a very difficult task. "Combat Infantryman Badge" is a gritty read of the Vietnam war, a choice pick for those seeking novels related to the conflict.

The Sound of Red Returning
Sue Duffy
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825425745, $14.99, www.kregelpublications.com

One tragedy may bring her another. "The Sound of Red Returning" is a novel from Sue Duffy, following Liesl Bower, who lost her mentor to the crossed goals of the CIA and Russian goals. Fifteen years later, she finds herself fleeing once more from both sides, believing she holds the secret that could lead to a resurgence of the Soviet Union. With only her faith to guide her, "The Sound of Red Returning" is a riveting bit of suspense, very much recommended to Christian fiction collections.

Need You Now
Beth Wiseman
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214
9781595548870, $15.99, www.thomasnelson.com

As life's circumstance builds up, a shining light to guide us through it all is more needed than ever. "Need You Now" follows Darlene Henderson as she tries to make through her tumultuous life in the small town of Round Top Texas. Working with special needs children, she finds she has to reach out and make a difference in their lives to make a difference in hers, in a search for God's love. "Need You Now" is a driven Christian novel that shouldn't be missed.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Emergency First Aid for Dogs
Martin Bucksch
Hubble & Hattie
Veloce House
Parkway Farm Business Park
Middle Farm Way, Poundbury
Dorchester, DT1 3AR, England
9781845843861 $9.95 www.hubbleandhattie.com

Veterinarian Martin Bucksch presents Emergency First Aid for Dogs, a postcard-sized paperback that lives up to its title with practical guidelines for dog owners. Full color photographs on almost every page illustrate the accessible, step-by-step instructions on both how to prevent injuries (for example, one must never allow one's dog to swim in winter, in order to prevent hypothermia, or to swim in a pool that is not completely full, since the dog will not be able to get out) and how to give basic care in an emergency while waiting for a professional to arrive. "The most effective and safest way to control bleeding is to apply direct pressure on the wound with several sterile gauze pads, or a folded clean towel. Apply direct pressure for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not keep lifting the gauze to see if the bleeding has stopped as this disrupts the clot that may have formed. Similarly, if the gauze is soaked with blood, do not remove it since it contains important clotting factors. Instead, keep adding more gauze or towels on top of the soaked ones." Absolutely every dog owner owes it to their beloved pooch to read Emergency First Aid for Dogs cover to cover, and keep it on hand for quick reference!

Plenty in Life is Free
Kathy Sdao
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617810640, $12.95, www.dogwisepublishing.com

A pet can be a great source of strength in our lives. "Plenty in Life is Free: Reflections on Dogs, Training, and Finding Grace" is a guide to training one's dog through granting a dog leadership, through reinforcing good behavior instead of trying to force the dogs behavior. Kathy Sdao, an expert in animal behavior presents her training knowledge and what she has learned in her pursuits about the human dog relationship. "Plenty in Life is Free" is a unique read for those who want to try a different hand at guiding their dogs.


The Sports Shelf

Sportuality
Jeanne Hess
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781452543819, $17.99, www.balboapress.com

Why does humanity so embrace sport? "Sportuality: Finding Joy in the Games" discusses the strong attraction we have to sports, and the parallels it has for all the other elements of our lives. As Jeanne Hess advises readers on how to better embrace sport and its elements into every aspect of their lives. "Sportuality" is a fine read that should prove very hard to put down, highly recommended.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Essential Nourishment
Beth McCall Whitley
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781452540375, $11.95 www.hayhouse.com

Health is more than diet and exercise. "Essential Nourishment: A Basic Guide to Optimal Health and Wellness" is a guide to the many tenets of greater health from Beth McCall Whitley who explores what's needed to attain peak health, advising readers on the foods they eat, the exercises they do, and the happiness they seek. "Essential Nourishment" is a fine addition to any health and spirituality collection.

Scales to Scalpels
Lisa Wong, M.D.
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
9781605981772, $27.95, www.pegasusbooks.com

Being multi-talented is a wonderful thing, especially when your talents meet in unexpected way. "Scales to Scalpels: Doctors Who Practice The Healing Arts of Music and Medicine" discusses the connections between medicine and music, and how the bridge between the two is more clear than one would think. Dr. Lisa Wong explores this idea, and shows how understanding the music can lead to an understanding of the mind and what empowers us. A fascinating read of understanding the mind and soul in medicine, "Scales to Scalpels" is a strong addition to any health and medicinal studies collection.


The Beer/Wine Shelf

North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries
Erik Lars Myers
John F. Blair
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895875716, $16.95, www.blairpub.com

Beer is more than an entertaining way to spend a weekend; it's an art form. "North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries" discusses how a revision in a 2005 law allows North Carolina to break into new brews and beers. Author Erik Lars Myers guides artisan beer enthusiasts through forty five breweries that are looking to be the best of the best of the state's beer. With additional information for those who want to better understand the world of artisan beer, "North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries" is a strong pick for any collection focusing on beer and wine.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

365 Dalai Lama Daily Advice from the Heart
Matthieu Ricard, editor
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker St., Ste. 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746818, $16.95, www.hrpub.com

The wisdom of Buddhism goes beyond those who follow it as faith. "365 Dalai Lama Daily Advice from the Heart" is a book of spiritual wisdom to consider day to day and how to better establish one's life and push themselves forward and clear, drawing thoughtful teachings and ideals from many applications of life. With much to ponder and consider through the world, "365 Dalai Lama Advice from the Heart" is a strong pick for anyone with a strong spiritual attitude, very much recommended.


The Biography Shelf

The Story Of A Life
Anna Pavlovna Vygodskaia, author
Northern Illinois University Press
2280 Bethany Road, DeKalb, IL 60115
www.niupress.niu.edu
9780875806716, $22.95, www.amazon.com

Born in a small market town in the Russian 'Pale of Settlement' for Jews in 1868, Anna Pavlovna Vygodskaia aspired to achieve an independent life through education by attending the Higher Women's Courses in St. Petersburg. Even though it was a time of political turmoil, calls for social reforms, and increasing rates of emigration by Russia's oppressed Jewish minority, Anna Pavlovna Vygodskaia focused on her own personal and professional advancement and working for 'the greater good'. Hers was a life lived in 'interesting times', and "The Story of a Life: Memoirs of a Young Jewish Woman in the Russian Empire" is her personal 202-page autobiography which was original published in 1938. Now for the first time thanks to the translation and editing skills of Eugene M. Avrutin and Robert H. Greene, the life story of Anna Pavlovna Vygodskaia is available in English for the first time. ""The Story of a Life: Memoirs of a Young Jewish Woman in the Russian Empire" is informative, deftly written, superbly translated, and highly recommended reading, a work that should be in every academic library's "Judaic Studies", "Russian History Studies", and Biography collections.

Infinity Net
Yayoi Kusama
University of Chicago Press
1427 East 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
9780226464985, $35.00, www.press.uchicago.edu

Our walks through life place us against many questions of life and how to best understand it all. "Infinity Net: The Autobiography of Yayoi Kusama" discusses the life's work of the author, an artist who Japanese in origin came to America and rubbed elbows with many famous artists of the 1950s and 1960s, before returning to Japan and admitting herself to a psychiatric hospital. Offering insight into her thoughts, deftly translated by Ralph McCarthy, "Infinity Net" is a highly artistic and very much recommended biography.

Triumph & Tragedy
Emil Henry
Matador
c/o Troubadour
9781848765788, $17.99, www.troubadour.co.uk/matador

The biggest mountains in the world present an extreme endeavor that only few dare take on. "Triumph & Tragedy" is a biography of mountain climbing legend Edward Whymper, who throughout the 19th century was a pioneer, claiming firsts at Matterhorn among other accomplishments of extremes. Dedicating his life to exploration as well, "Triumph & Tragedy" is a fine addition to any biography collections focusing on remarkable people of the 19th century.


The Relationship Shelf

What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Lover
Sharon M. Kaye
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697636, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

Philosophy discusses the many aspects of human nature, and the bedroom is no exception. "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Lover" discusses the mental and the ideal about the lover's relationship, as Sharon M. Kaye compiles a collection of writings from many thinkers, offering some clarity in understand the habits of our significant other as well as ourselves. With plenty to ponder in the ideas of love, "What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Lover" is a strong addition to any community library philosophy collection. Also from Open Court and their philosophy collections is "Chuck Klosterman and Philosophy: The Real and the Cereal" (978081269769, $19.95), looking into the works of writer Chuck Klosterman and his views of the world.


The Civil War Shelf

A Civil War Scrapbook
History Colorado
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100
Golden, Colorado 80403
9781555916688, $14.95, www.fulcrum-books.com

The civil war ravaged many lives in many ways. "A Civil War Scrapbook: I Was There Too!" delves into the many stories of the civil war, of the slaves who don't know what the next day will bring, of the soldiers fearing the next conflict, of the families seeing their home fall apart, and even of the people far from the war, calling the shots of what they believe is best. A vivid discussion with photos touching on the many conflicts and lives of the period, "A Civil War Scrapbook" is a strong addition to community library Civil War History collections.


The Business Shelf

Traction
Gino Wickman
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781936661831, $16.95, www.benbellabooks.com

Getting going and staying going is often the hardest part of successful business. "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business" is a guide to pushing one's business forward and how to avoid the common problem of letting the business drive the person instead of the person drive the business. Gino Wickman advises readers on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and how to implement it in one's own business. For those who want good and general advice for business success, "Traction" is not to be overlooked for community library business collections.

Positive Intelligence
Shirzad Chamine
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608322787, $23.95, www.greenleafbookgroup.com

Potential is a topic that can often prove difficult to completely understand. "Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours" is a guide from business leader Shirzad Chamine as he discusses PQ, Positive Intelligence, and how to realize one's own potential and get the most out of partners and employees. With exercises to be embraced for those who want to improve their own PQ, and meet potentials more effectively, "Positive Intelligence" is a must for managers and leaders who want more out of their investments.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Fast-Track Course On How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal
Stephen Blake Mettee
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610350501, $14.95, www.amazon.com

In only 140 pages, Stephen Blake Mettee (founder of Quill Driver Books and editor for 150 books and innumerable articles including a chapter in the 2004 Writer's Market) draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to methodically lay out a complete course of instruction that will enable any aspiring author to prepare an effective and successful nonfiction book proposal to a prospective publisher in "The Fast-Track Course On How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal". Thorough, 'user friendly', informed and informative, this newly updated and expanded, step-by-step instruction manual is enhanced with useful examples of an 'industry standard' book proposal, query letter, publishing contract, and more. Of special note are the critical mistakes commonly made and to be avoided, tips for making a manuscript stand out from the inevitable slush pile, persuading prospective publishers of your ability to market books, the role of copyrights, advances, royalties, literary agents, digital publishing, etc. Every aspiring author of nonfiction should give Stephen Mettee's "The Fast-Track Course On How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal" a close and careful reading -- and a permanent place on their personal reference shelf.

Imagining Ancient Women
Annabel Lyon
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
9780888646293, $10.95, www.amazon.com

Especially recommended reading for any author aspiring to write historical fiction, "Imagining Ancient Women" by Annabel Lyon is clearly a 'must read'. The welcome addition to the Henry Kreisel Lecture Series published by the University of Alberta Press, this slender, 64-page lecture lays out the processes of researching historical sources for useable material in creating believable characters, backgrounds, scenarios, and stories that contemporary readers can readily relate to. Informed, informative, insightful, scholarly, 'reader friendly', of immense and immediate practical value, "Imagining Ancient Women" is highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Literary Studies and Writer Reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Mindful Writer
Dinty W. Moore
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144
9781614290070, $12.95, www.wisdompubs.org

What keeps us writing in our life? "The Mindful Writer: Noble Truths of the Writing Life" discusses the soul of writing and what keeps people coming back to their desks. The search for peace of mind is what writers often seek, and Dinty W. Moore advises writers on how to better embrace this to produce higher quality work. "The Mindful Writer" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to make sure they are writing with their heart in it, very much recommended.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Plunder
Mary Anna Evans
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ae., Ste. 103
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590589311, $14.95, www.maryannaevans.com

When a murder begets greed instead of tragedy, the puzzles only become more confusing. "Plunder" follows Faye Longchamp and her husband Joe Wolf as they continue their archeological work, but quickly brush up against a grandmother and uncle's murder, a family feud comes to their attention and legends of old pirate treasure become well known. "Plunder" is a strong pick for fans of mystery with a twist of adventure, highly recommended.

The Fitting
Joseph Zaitchik
Florida Academic Press, Inc.
PO Box 357425, Gainesville, FL
9781890357283, $39.95, www.amazon.com

A new chance at life can quickly be destroyed. "The Fitting" follows an aging Russian tailor who finds his way to America. When assisting an American detective to help him get to the bottom of a crime, the tailor faces the cruelties of violence and hatred from a land that was supposed to embrace all peoples. A thoughtful read written by a lover of literature and the humanities in Joseph Zaitchik, "The Fitting" is an excellent and much recommended read for general fiction collections.

The Mistake
Bruce Castle
Cambridge Books
c/o Write Words, Inc.
2934 Old Route 50, Cambridge, MD 21613
9781613860311, $24.95, www.cambridgebooks.us

We make mistakes in our lives, but they don't often end with murder. "The Mistake" is a mystery with paranormal elements from Bruce Castle, exploring a series of murders through Pittsburgh and Baltimore County. Two detectives, Aubrey McKensie & Joshua Greenberg from both of these locations are on the path, and if they continue making mistakes in their hunt, the body count will slowly increase. "The Mistake" is a riveting read that should prove very hard to put down, highly recommended.


The Criminology Shelf

A Silence of Mockingbirds
Karen Spears Zacharias
MacAdam Cage Publishing
155 Sansome Street, Suite 550
San Francisco, CA 94104
9781596923751, $25.00, www.macadamcage.com

It is chilling to investigate a crime that has struck close to one's heart. "A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder" follows investigative journalist and author Karen Spears Zacharias as she looks for the truth in what happened to her friend's daughter, Karly. Pushing through the red tape of the legal battle and police investigation, she delves into something close to her and brings the emotion with it all. "A Silence of Mockingbirds" is a fine read that should prove difficult to put down, highly recommended.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Fans
Donald Bull & Rodolphe Roger
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764340024, $79.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Once simply a simple cooling implement, fans have turned into a collectible all their own. "Fans: Advertising & Souvenir" is a full color guide to the fans throughout recent history. Advertising fans, campaign fans, souvenir fans, and much more, these fans are presented with prices and notes of rarity. With additional information on the basics of fan collecting, and notes of those behind the fans, "Fans" is a strongly recommended pick for those seeking advisories on making the most of their personal collections, and also worth considering as a coffee table book.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

New Directions In Sex Therapy, second edition
Peggy J. Kleinplatz
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
9780415887526, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Our understanding of human sexuality has been significantly enhanced through medical and psychology research. In "New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives", clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist Peggy K. Kleinplatz has compiled twenty significant essays and papers by leaders in the field. These contributions are organized into two major sections: 'Critiques of Conventional Models of Sex Therapy' and 'New Alternatives/Innovations in Sex Therapy'. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "New Directions In Sex Therapy", an impressive 404-page work of solid scholarship is strongly recommended reading for students, practitioners, and researchers in the area of therapeutic approaches to problems and issues involving human sexuality and a core addition to professional and academic library Human Sexuality and Psychology reference collections.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Mobius Strip of Ifs
Mathias B. Freese
Wheatmark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104
Tucson, AZ 85705
9781604947236, $10.95, www.wheatmark.com

We often live in lives of regret and unfulfilled dreams. "The Mobius Strip of Ifs" is a collection of essays from Mathias B. Freese as he discusses American culture and how we determine our goals and dreams, as well as our doubts. Speaking clearly on this history and offering much pondering on the nature of the truths of the world, "The Mobius Strip of Ifs" is a thoughtful and inspirational collection essays on psychology, philosophy, and thought, very much recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Architect of Fate
Christian Dunn, editor
The Black Library
c/o BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1
Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
9781849701532, $12.99,www.blacklibrary.com

The battles that the Space Marines fight does not have an end in sight, but there are things that know when they will end, and how they will end. "Architect of Fate" is a collection of four parts of one novel as acclaimed Warhammer writers Sarah Cawkwell, Ben Counter, Darius Hinks, and John French come together to present a series of battles for the Space Marines with an overlying story tying the four conflicts together. A treat for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 novels and universe, "Architect of Fate" is a strong pick for fantasy and science fiction collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Medicinal Herbs
Rosemary Gladstar
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612120058, $14.95, www.storey.com

The basics of medicine came from the plants around us, and new advances are still coming from them. "Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide" is a guide for those who want to gain a more comprehensive understanding of natural medicines and how to grow these herbs within one's own gardens. With tips on growing and helpful and medicinal recipes all throughout presented in full color, "Medicinal Herbs" is a strong pick for gardening and alternative medicine collections.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Rohan at the Louvre
Hirohiko Araki
Comics Lit/Musee du Louvre Editions
NBM Publishing
40 Exchange Place, Suite 1308
New York, NY 10005-2742
9781561636150 $19.99 www.nbmpublishing.com

Rohan at the Louvre is a manga (Japanese graphic novel) presented as a full-sized hardcover book, printed on glossy paper. The art is deliberately "unflipped" (in its original format, read right-to-left) and colored in a stylized tonal palette that effectively brings its darker elements to the fore. A tale of suspense that gradually builds up to supernatural horror, Rohan at the Louvre follows a young comic artist with a unique talent - the ability to read people's souls as if they were pages of manga. He is conscientious about respecting other people's privacy, and his extraordinary ability is largely a background element to the unfolding story about a mysterious painting by an executed artist. Created to be the darkest shade of black imaginable, this evil masterpiece is held deep within the recesses of the Louvre museum. Years after learning about the painting under questionable (at best) circumstances, Rohan dares to go to the Louvre and investigate - only to find that the concentrated hatred buried beneath the impenetrable canvas craves blood sacrifice! Rohan at the Louvre is not a ghost story for the faint of heart, and should definitely not be read before bedtime, not if one plans to sleep with the lights out. Highly recommended for fans of horror comics!


The Audiobook Shelf

Bring Up the Bodies
Hilary Mantel, author
Simon Vance, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427225825 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The unabridged audiobook rendition of the sequel to the Man Booker Prize Winning historical novel "Wolf Hall", Bring Up the Bodies follows the strong-willed Anne Boleyn, wife to Henry VIII. Anne is beset with many troubles - she hasn't been able to give Henry a son, and she is a lightning rod for malicious attacks, leading up to a trial of her and her suitors for adultery and treason. Thomas Cromwell in particular is determined have Anne Boleyn's head - but at what cost? Tense and vivid in its retelling of ruthless high intrigue, Bring Up the Bodies is highly recommended especially for historical fiction aficionados. 12 CDs, 14.5 hours.

Dead Europe
Christos Tsiolkas, author
Humphrey Bower, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd., Jackson, ME 04921
c/o Brilliance Audio (distribution)
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781743105948 $29.99 www.bolinda.com www.brillianceaudio.com

Read by Audie Award-winning performer Humphrey Bower, Dead Europe is the suspenseful, unabridged adaptation of a novel about a young Australian photographer on a journey through Europe. Though he dreams to experience the sophistication, wealth, and majesty of the Europe his father once described, the Europe he discovers is horrifically different. A tale of murder, suffering, revenge, and the dark repercussions of past evil, Dead Europe is as compelling as it is horrifying. Highly recommended. 11 CDs, 13 hours 40 min., tracks every 3 min. for easy bookmarking.

Children of Wrath
Paul Grossman, author
Kyle Munley, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611748451 $34.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com

Children of Wrath is the unabridged audiobook adaptation Paull Grossman's second mystery novel, continuing the story of Willi Kraus, the most famous Jewish detective of Germany Weimar Republic. The year is 1929, the Weimar Republic is struggling with the fallout of the Great War, enormous hyperinflation, and the threat of rebellion. In this heady and potentially dangerous setting, Kraus is called to investigate a burlap sack from the city's sewer system, filled with the horrific spectacle of children's bones with teeth marks on them, and a Bible with the phrase "children of wrath" circled in red. Kraus must confront a horrific menace, in this tautly suspenseful story of murder and the ominous press of a diabolical threat, sure to keep the reader guessing to the very end. 10 CDs, 12 1/4 hours.

Come Home
Lisa Scottoline, author
Maggi-Meg Reed, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427213303 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Now available in an unabridged audiobook edition (including a bonus essay read by the author), Come Home is a tense blend of murder mystery and family drama. Jill Farrow is an ordinary suburban single mother, recovering from a divorce and doing her best to raise her thirteen-year-old daughter Megan. Then Jill's ex-stepdaughter Abby suddenly appears, bringing devastating news - Jill's ex-husband is dead. Abby pleads with Jill to find the killer, but Jill's investigation threatens to destroy the family stability she has worked so hard to earn. Part suspense, part exploration of where the limits of motherly duty lie, Come Home is an absorbing narrative from beginning to end, and a worthy pick for public library audiobook collections.


The Music CD Shelf

Meditation
Nazarenes
I Grade Records
www.igraderecords.com
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$8.99 MP3 download / $TBA CD www.flipswitchPR.com www.amazon.com

Meditation is a reggae album from the Nazarenes (brothers Noah and Medhane Tewolde), who celebrate the African-roots culture that has evolved over time in Jamaica's downtown black neighborhoods. With Meditation, the Nazarenes seek to share the enduring sense of connection, community, and spirituality as a means of meaningful communication within a multicultural world. Songs feature lyrics in English and the classical Ethiopic language of Ge'ez. A wonderful and exciting addition to international music collections, Meditation is highly recommended for spiritual and reggae music lovers everywhere, as well as for public library CD collections. The tracks are "Meditation", "Food", "It's Too Late", "Mother", "On My Way", "The Lord Said", "Mamy Blues", "Alive", "Everlasting", "Politrickcians", "Get Together", "Destiny", "Lonesome Lady", and "Love JAH".

Variations
Peter M. Kolar
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
9781584595946 $17.00 www.wlpmusic.com

Variations is the solo piano debut album of Peter M. Kolar, consisting of both popular Christian hymns and Kolar's original compositions. Filled with the richness of a concert-worthy performance, Variations experiments with original stylings on classical themes, and is an absolute treasure for anyone who loves piano or spiritual music. Highly recommended, especially for public library music CD collections. The tracks are "Variations on Ich Glaub An Gott" (8:07), "The Lord Is Rich in Kindness" (6:29), "Variations on the Passacaglia from Misa Luna" (7:50), "Variations on Hymn to Joy" (7:36), "Fugue in G Minor" (2:04), "Variations on Dix" (7:36), "Variations on Beach Spring" (7:18), "Peace in A Major for Piano and Three Woodwinds" (4:49), "Treasures Out of Darkness" (3:35), "Variations on Lambilotte" (5:26), "Meditation on 'Bilingual Intercessions'" (6:18), and "Meditation on 'Keep in Mind'" (8:12).

Inhale Slowly
Tim White and Joe Paulino
WhiteGates Music
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$16.00 www.inhaleslowly.com www.amazon.com www.cdbaby.com

Inhale Slowly is a beautiful instrumental album by the multitalented musical duo of Tim White (playing bamboo flutes, sitar, guitar, and esraj) and Joe Paulino (playing piano, synthesizer, and percussion). Crafted by the principle of "world fusion", in which any global harmonic styling is fair creative game, Inhale Slowly is meant especially to facilitate relaxation, meditation, and spiritual healing. A wonderfully calming listening experience, especially ideal for helping one unwind after a long, hard day, Inhale Slowly is highly recommended. The tracks are "Morning Chai" (16:41), "Hidden Oasis" (8:58), "In-Joy" (17:02), "Island Pulse" (8:42), and "Inhale Slowly" (16:28). 1 hour, 7 min.

Choban Elektrik
Jordan Shapiro, Dave Johnsen, Phil Kester with Eva Salina Primack & Jesse Kotansky
Privately Published
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$21.35 www.flipswitchPR.com

The progressive rock band Choban Elektrik ("Electric Shepherds") has released a self-titled album showcasing their unique international style. Drawing upon elements of Albanian, Macedonian, Greek, and Armenian musical tradition as well as jazz, funk, and rock, Choban Elektrik has created a wildly exciting medley. Choban Elektrik is especially recommended as a lively, Balkan addition to international music collections. The tracks are "Valle e Shqiperise se Mesme", "Moj Xhemile", "Kopanitsa", "Beratche from Prespa", "Mom Bar", "Koftos", "Steve's Gajda", "Cobankat", "Ibraim Odza/Pusteno", "Jasino Demiralievo Oro", and "Stankena Tehova".

Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
www.canyonrecords.com

Three excellent music CD albums from Canyon Records continue their laudable endeavor to share Native American music with the world at large. Six-time Grammy nominees Northern Cree present "Dancerz Groove: Cree Round Dance Songs" ($16.75), a rhythmic, intense album of Round Dance jams with a binding theme of love, heartache, and pride in one's heritage. The tracks are "Sing with Me" (5:14), "Gold Digger" (4:15), "Hey B :)" (5:50), "Facebook Drama" (4:49), "Stacked for the Jack" (4:41), "Thank Heaven I'm an Indian Boy" (4:12), "Dance with Me" (3:54), "Tyrique" (4:34), "Dancerz Groove" (5:59), and "Earth Angel" (7:28). Wayne Silas, Jr. presents "True" ($21.32), an album of round dance songs in accordance with the traditions of his ancestors. Lyrics that tell the tale of the love-lorn weave through this album that brims with the emotion and desire to stay in touch with one's roots no matter how complex and confusing the modern world becomes. The tracks are "Stacked" (5:22), "Can-Am Affair" (3:58), "U Got it Right" (4:47), "Pretty Lady" (4:03), "Fanatic" (3:52), "My Right Hook" (4:00), "Phoenix Crush" (3:18), "Nina Mosaeh" (4:24), "Love Medicine" (5:02), "Bow-Chick-A-Wow-Wow" (4:03), "My Sweet Baby" (4:06), "Ask Dad" (3:41), and "The Justice League" (3:54). Dine Singer Louie Gonnie offers "Pathway to Destiny: Songs of Healing and Contemplation" ($16.75), an album of songs cultivated from the ancient traditions of the Dine as well as the healing compassion of the Native American Church. The songs embrace a spiritual connection to the inner world within all human beings, and overflow with reverence and love. The tracks are "White Cone" (3:02), "Discovering Years" (4:15), "Southern Winds" (3:03), "Pathways" (4:28), "Waterfalls" (4:03), "Serago" (2:59), "Star People Dance as the Moon Sings" (2:16), "Tsidi Dineh" (3:04), "Kalogi" (3:59), "Odyssey" (4:04), "Our Glory and Pride" (3:27), "Falling Leaves" (3:38), "Corn Pollen Road" (4:25), and "Swirling Smoke" (4:49). All three albums are top-quality, highly recommended additions to Native American music collections.


The DVD Shelf

Treasure Houses of Britain
Hosted by Selina Scott
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287493 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Treasure Houses of Britain: Tour Five of England's Grandest Houses lives up to its title with a lavish, high-definition video showcase of Burghley House, Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace, Holkham Hall, and Boughton House. With the gracious aid of the present occupants of each luxurious residence, journalist Selina Scott leads viewers on a tour of great works of architecture, rare paintings, antique furniture, historic sculptures, and other exquisite works of art collected over the course of centuries. Each house has its own story to tell of the notable and influential families who lived there over the course of generations. Bonus features include a 22 min. behind-the-scenes featurette, a 12-page viewer's guide, and more. An extraordinarily beautiful and respectful documentary series of five spectacular residences and the British history they embody, Treasure Houses of Britain is a captivating and educational delight. 5 episodes, 231 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles, widescreen.

Basketball Fundamentals
Produced by Marty Schupak
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Court
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
9780983924227 $24.95 www.YouthSportsClub.com

Basketball Fundamentals is a practical DVD demonstrating a wide variety of basic basketball techniques and drills. Ideal for coaches, parents, and players, Basketball Fundamentals is a solid guide to improving both individual and team performance. Topics covered include Ball Handling Basics, Advanced Dribbling Techniques, Ball Handling Games, Offensive Plays & Moves, Dual Purpose Drills, Communication Techniques, V Cut, L Cut, Passing Fundamentals & Drills, Slow Motion Analysis, Pick and Roll, Breaking Out & Rebounding, and Defense Techniques. A user-friendly video guide, Basketball Fundamentals is especially recommended for high school physical education DVD libraries. 38 min.

Hot Body Cool Mind: The Life Force Power System
Jennifer Kries
True Mind Media
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$29.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Hot Body Cool Mind: The Life Force Power System is a 4-DVD set featuring an excellent combination workout from fitness professional Jennifer Kries. The entire regimen walks the viewer through the benefits of Pilates (especially to strengthen one's core), Vinyasa Yoga for flexibility, Jazz Dance for cardio and calorie burning, Ballet to sculpt one's muscles, Chi-Gong to revitalize energy, Yin Yoga and Meditation to clear the mind as well as the body, and more. 20 "On the Go" workouts are only 10 or 20 minutes apiece, allowing one to squeeze healthy exercise into the busiest of schedules. An excellent resource to help one look and feel better, Hot Body Cool Mind is highly recommended for fitness DVD collections. The four DVDs are "Level 1: Embark on the Journey", "Level 2: Harness the Power", "Level 3: Life Force Challenge", and "Level 4: Waking Energy". 580 min.

Power 4 Pink Workout
Patricia Friberg
208 Entertainment Inc.
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Patricia Friberg, creator of the award-winning DVDs "Belly Beautiful Workout Prenatal" and "Belly Beautiful Workout Postnatal" presents Power 4 Pink Workout: Cardio, Strength, Pilates, & Balance, a mind-body fitness DVD fusing four key elements into a healthy whole. Divided into The Cardio Interval Balance Challenge, The Toning Floor Series, The Stretch and Revive Series" and a bonus section of exercises intended especially for survivors of breast cancer, Power 4 Pink Workout is a great way to look and feel better about oneself. An inexpensive small fitness ball and six-foot resistance band (not included) are the only recommended equipment for this solid, user-friendly workout, highly recommended for women's fitness DVD collections. 80 min.

Boston Body Barre
Zayna Gold
BostonBody.com
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Boston Body Barre is a DVD presentation of the Pilates and Cardio based fitness program designed by Zayna Gold, an award-winning Pilates instructor and the founder/co-owner of Boston Body Pilates and Boston Body Barre. Expensive equipment is not required; only a simple, inflatable fitness ball is recommended to get the most out of this solid program to improve one's buttocks, arms, abs, and legs. Ideal for use at least 2-3 times a week, Boston Body Barre is a well-rounded, enjoyable, and effective workout, highly recommended for personal fitness DVD libraries. 60 min.

Coregeous
Jill Miller
Tune Up Fitness Worldwide, Inc.
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com yogatuneup.com

25-year movement art and body therapy veteran Jill Miller presents Coregeous, a fitness DVD designed to help the user build strength in the core muscles. Especially suited for those who may have weakness in the core due to underuse, overtraining, injury, or scar tissue, Coregeous is a user-friendly workout guide. The four main sequences are "Core Re-From", which includes a deep tissue massage and exercises for key respiratory muscles, "Get COREganized", which features proper spinal alignment and breathing patterns, "InCOREporate" which emphasizes building a strong lower back as well as improving the muscles of the ribcage and the torso as a whole, and "Get COREgeous", which is all about balance and improving the stability and fluidity of one's core muscles on different gravitational planes. Three specialty sequences - "Tubular Core Activation", "Abdominal Massage", and "Abdominal Churning" further enhance this excellent supplement to DVD fitness libraries. No expensive equipment is required; the props used in Corgeous are a stability ball, YTU therapy balls, soft sponge ball, and yoga block, but ordinary tennis balls, a blanket, and a large book can be substituted for these. Coregeous is a superb abdominal fitness guide for users of all skill and experience levels, highly recommended. 105 min.

Rapid Hypnotic Inductions
Gabor Filo, DDS ABHD
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5
Bethel, CT 06801
9781845908461 $49.95 www.crownhousepublishing.com

Gabor Filo (Diplomate of the American Board of Hypnosis in Dentistry) presents Rapid Hypnotic Inductions: Demonstrations & Applications, a DVD guide to using hypnosis interactions in clinical settings, for the benefit of patients. Hypnosis is often seen as time-intensive, but doesn't have to be, claims Dr. Filo. He demonstrates time-efficient methods for practical use of hypnosis techniques, some verbal, some nonverbal, and some physical inductions. A 16-page learning guide explaining each of the demonstrations rounds out this excellent supplementary resource, ideal for not only dentists, but also any professional practitioner seeking swift, effective ways to calm and relax patients without the use of drugs. 60 min.


The Crafts Shelf

Stash Happy
Cynthia Shaffer
Lark Crafts
67 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801
9781454702801, $16.95, www.larkcrafts.com

"Stash Happy: Applique, 25 Fresh Projects For Fabric Lovers" is a wonderful creative craft book from the multi-medium series called Stash Happy, which motivates creative crafters to use their stashes of notions, fabrics, trim, beads and scraps in easy-to-make projects that highlight artistic individuality. Here are color photo illustrated directions for 25 projects, with simple step by step instructions and suggestions for adaptation. Beginning with 14 pages of introduction and basic sewing and applique techniques, "Stash Happy: Applique" moves quickly into a fantastic forest of creative fabric projects. Included are instructions for making a tooth pillow felt Mary Janes, a decorated lampshade, a tic-tac-toe game, a sail-away baby ensemble, a fun and friendly furoshiki (Japanese special wrapping cloth for gifts), a dream big banner, a woodsy gnome doll, a spring flowers zip pouch, and many more. Individual special touches and stitches are carefully demonstrated and explained, and the final 10 pages include template illustrations for all the special projects. Each project begins with a list of materials needed from your stash, tools and implements needed, and step by step sequenced instructions. "Stash Happy: Applique" is the perfect inspirational gift for your favorite crafter. Other titles in this fun and creative series by Cynthia Shaffer include "Stash Happy: Felt" (9781600599255, $16.95) and "Stash Happy: Patchwork" (9781600596124, $16.95). Further free bonus projects may be found online at, www.larkcraft.com/bonus. Crafters, prepare to enjoy!

Heart-Felt Holidays
Kathy Sheldon & Amanda Carestio
Lark Crafts, and imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9789781454702818, $14.95, www.larkcrafts.com

"Heart-Felt Holidays: 40 Festive Felt Projects to Celebrate the Seasons" contains complete instructions for 40 fabulous felt craft projects for all the usual holiday themes plus Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Groundhog Day, St. Patrick's Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Cinco de Mayo, Earth Day, and more. Complete with color photos of finished projects and exact diagrams of 100 percent templates, simple instructions guide the crafter through each charming seasonal themed project. From the creators of Fa la la la Felt, "Heart-Felt Holidays" is an amazing felt crafters' resource and dream project book, with more suggestions and project ideas available at, www.larkcrafts.com.

Herringbone Stitch
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164544, $17.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

For do it yourself individuals, a new technique opens the door for new ideas. "Herringbone Stitch: Basic Techniques, Advanced Results" is a guide to understanding this jewelry creation technique of beading stitching and how to use it to he fullest, with 26 projects to follow and use as templates for further creations. "Herringbone Stitch" is presented in full color and is very much recommended reading for do-it-yourself jewelry collections.


The Parenting Shelf

Growing Happy Kids
Maureen Healy
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757316128, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com

Happiness is something we seek all our life, and having it in childhood is a good way to start. "Growing Happy Kids: How to Foster Inner Confidence, Success, and Happiness" is a parenting guide from Maureen Healy who advises parents on how to inspire happiness in their children, drawing from philosophy and faith and how to apply these ideals to empower a positive insight in themselves and spread it to their children. "Growing Happy Kids" is a strong pick for any parenting collection, highly recommended.


The Gaming Shelf

Playing No-Limit Hold'em as a Business
Rob Tucker
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580422635, $19.95, www.amazon.com

When Chris Monemaker won the main event at the 2003 World Series of Poker tournament and turned a $40 investment into a 2.5 million dollar return, every amateur poker player in America thought about 'turning pro' and making their own fortunes in big money cash games and tournaments. In "Playing No-Limit Hold'em as a Business", professional poker player Rob Tucker draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to present a 304-page instruction manual on how to play poker profitably through employing winning strategies whether in live or on-line games. Enhanced with a profusion of examples, graphics, and action plays illustration key concepts, tactics, approaches, methods, tricks, and techniques, "Playing No-Limit Hold'em as a Business" will prove to be an enduringly valuable and 'user friendly' instruction and reference guide for anyone who setting down to play a serious game of No-Limit Hold'em.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design