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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 10, Number 5 May 2015 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Metaphysical Studies Shelf Business Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf
DVD Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Fiction Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Poetry Shelf
Biography Shelf Music Shelf Photography Shelf
Gardening Shelf Cookbook Shelf American History Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Sports Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

When The Trees Say Nothing
Thomas Merton, author
Kathleen Deignan, editor
Sorin Books
c/o Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781933495903, $14.95 PB, www.amazon.com

Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. (January 31, 1915 - December 10, 1968) was an American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion. In 1949, he was ordained to the priesthood and given the name Father Louis. During his lifetime Merton wrote more than 70 books, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Compiled and edited by Kathleen Deignan, "When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature" is a 192 page compendium comprised of citations derived from Merton's various works in which he dwells on the presence of God in creation. Inspired and inspiring, "When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature" is a compelling read and highly recommended for seminary, church, and community library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "When the Trees Say Nothing: Writings on Nature" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.49).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Infinite Wisdom of the Akashic Records
Lisa Barnett
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
www.newpagebooks.com
Warwick Associates Publicity
9781601633491, $14.99, www.amazon.com

In theosophy and anthroposophy, the Akashic records (a term coined in the late 1800s from akasha or akasa, the Sanskrit word for "sky", "space", "luminous", or "aether") are a compendium of thoughts, events, and emotions believed by Theosophists to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the astral plane. "The Infinite Wisdom of the Akashic Records" by Lisa Barnett (Founder of the Akashic Knowing School of Wisdom) is a 192 page compendium deftly organized into four major chapters: The Library of Your Soul; Support for Your Life; Healing Through the Akashic Records; The Expansive Akashic Field. Enhanced with a list of links for free downloads relevant to Akashic Studies, and a six page Index, "The Infinite Wisdom of the Akashic Records" is a significant and highly recommended addition to personal Metaphysical Studies reading lists and academic library collections. It should be noted that "The Infinite Wisdom of the Akashic Records" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.49).


The Business Shelf

Agile Project Management with Kanban
Eric Brechner
Microsoft Press
www.microsoft.com/mspress
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
9780735698956, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Kanban is a scheduling system for lean and just-in-time (JIT) production. Kanban is a system to control the logistical chain from a production point of view, and is not an inventory control system. Kanban was developed by Taiichi Ohno, at Toyota, as a system to improve and maintain a high level of production. Kanban is one method to achieve JIT. Kanban became an effective tool to support running a production system as a whole, and an excellent way to promote improvement. Problem areas are highlighted by reducing the number of kanban in circulation. One of the main benefits of kanban is to establish an upper limit to the work in progress inventory, avoiding overloading of the manufacturing system. "Agile Project Management with Kanban" by Eric Brechner (development manager for the Xbox Engineering Fundamentals team) is a 160 page instruction manual that enable corporate managers and software developers to start delivering continuous value with their current teams and projects; master five quick steps for completing work backlogs; plan and staff new projects more efficiently minimize work in progress and quickly adjust to change; eliminate artificial meetings and prolonged stabilization; improve and enhance customer engagement; visualize workflow and fix revealed bottlenecks; drive quality 'upstream'; integrate Kanban into large projects; optimize sustained engineering; and expand Kanban beyond software development. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Agile Project Management with Kanban" will prove to be an invaluable addition to professional, corporate, and academic library reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Agile Project Management with Kanban" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.39).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Witchcraft Works 3
Ryu Mizunagi, author and artist
Ko Ransom, translator
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
9781941220177 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Witchcraft Works 3 is a black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) continuing the adventure surrounding Honoka Takamiya, an ordinary young man at the center of titanic clashes of will between witches. Takamiya shares a bond with Ayaka Kagari, a beautiful, strong-willed, and supremely powerful witch, who is so exalted by their school that they selected her as their "Princess". Takamiya's connection with Kagari means that his physical and emotional closeness with her amplifies her magical power - but at what price? Beset by a rampaging Medusa, an uncomfortably forward science teacher, a little sister with a Freudian big brother complex, and more, Takamiya may have Kagari to protect him, but can he change his underachieving self into a person worthy of her protection? Not all problems can be solved with magic, in this alternately giddy, uproarious, and dramatic saga, suitable for teen and adult readers. The artwork is presented "unflipped", left-to-right as originally drawn.

Prophecy 02
Tetsuya Tsutsui, author and artist
Kumar Sivasubramanian, translator
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
9781941220177 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Prophecy 02 is the second black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) of a suspenseful, finely crafted series with elements of police procedural. Set in modern-day Japan, the story follows Lieutenant Yoshino, a beautiful female detective, and her efforts to corner the notorious cyber-criminal "Paperboy", known for his vigilante cyber-attacks. But what is the real motive of this anonymous hacker and computer genius? Is it truly just outrage, as he alleges while plotting a cyber-attack against an environmental group that cruelly disparaged Japanese tsunami victims? Does he secretly crave fame and self-aggrandizement on the Internet? Will his cyber-crimes inspire copycat imitators, or even murder? Lieutenant Yoshino and the Anti Cyber Crimes Division have their work cut out for them, in this serious-minded reflection upon the pitfalls of modern technology! The artwork is presented "unflipped", left-to-right as originally drawn. While Prophecy is not excessively violent, it does contain mature situations, and is not intended for children.

Exquisite Corpse
Penelope Bagieu, author and artist
Alexis Siegel, translator
First Second Books
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626720824 $19.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Smoothly translated from the original French, Exquisite Corpse is an eyebrow-raising graphic novel for older teens and adults about love, scandal, and desperate craving for attention. Zoe is an ordinary young woman, who ekes out a meager living as a showroom model. She detests her job, her boyfriend is an uncouth lout, and her life seems to be without purpose. Then she stumbles upon a reclusive man who mistakes her for a journalist. He turns out to be Thomas Rocher, a wildly popular and famous author, only he's sitting on a scandal that could rock the literary world! Will Zoe's blossoming love for Thomas be requited? Who is the mysterious other woman who visits Thomas from time to time? And why does he seem so obsessed about seeing his own name in the media? Simple colors enhance the bold, thick-lined artwork, in this wry, tongue-in-cheek saga of secrets, lies, narcissism, and consequences!


The Audiobook Shelf

The Patriot Threat: Special Writer's Cut Edition
Steve Berry, author
Read by Scott Brick
"Writer's Cut" read by Steve Berry
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427258052 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The Patriot Threat is the unabridged, audiobook performance of an exciting modern-day thriller - complete with bonus "Writer's Cut" material. The unflappable Cotton Malone returns to face a new mission - tracking down a rogue North Korean whose theft of top secret Treasury Department files could potentially wreak havoc on the United States government. What kind of havoc? Well, what if the 16th amendment to the Constitution, including the 1913 ratification of federal income tax, was never truly completed? Would a century of federal tax collection be declared unconstitutional, and illegal? Would the federal government be stripped of its assets, and unable to keep anarchy at bay? The Patriot Threat is exciting and provocative thriller, from beginning to end! 11 CDs, 14 hours.

The Liar
Nora Roberts, author
Performed by January LaVoy
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480592889 $40.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Liar is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of romantic suspense novel by popular author Nora Roberts. For years, Shelly Foxworth was utterly deceived by her husband and the father of her child. Though they lived in luxury, it was a house of cards built on lies. His sudden death by drowning in the Atlantic Ocean left her in burdensome debt. She learns that he had a vasectomy without telling her, that he was an adulterer, that her wedding ring had a fake diamond, that he had multiple fake identities, one of which was the husband she thought she loved. Shelly sells off what she can and moves back to her hometown. Her grandmother supports her in her hour of need, and when she meets Yankee businessman Griffin Lott, a spark of attraction holds the promise of something more. But her old life is not completely left behind - the secrets of Shelly's ex-husband still threaten the lives of Shelly and her family! January LaVoy's excellent performance brings this story of deception, betrayal, and hope to vivid life. 13 CDs, 16 hours 41 min.

Instinct
Sherrilyn Kenyon, author
Holter Graham, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
www.chroniclesofnick.com
9781427258199 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Part of the "Chronicles of Nick" dark fantasy saga, Instinct is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the latest adventure of the daring Nick Gautier. Nick struggles to temper the will of a demon within, or else its power could destroy the lives of everyone he cares for. Nick's enemies are varied and ruthless, especially the dark gods who created his race; among Nick's zombie, demon, vampire, and human friends is a traitor, who plans to trade Nick's life for personal gain. Now that Nick has come to terms with his destiny, he must stop a tyrannical takeover of the world of men! Instinct is a thrilling, action-packed adventure, brought to life by Holter Graham's superb performance. 6 CDs, 6 1/2 hours.

Endangered
C. J. Box, author
David Chandler, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781470328122 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com

Endangered: A Joe Pickett Novel is the unabridged audiobook of a father's worst nightmare. Joe Pickett's eighteen-year-old daughter April has run off with Dallas Cates, a rodeo champion "bad boy" that Pickett dislikes. But the escapade turns horrific when April is found in a highway ditch, just barely alive, the victim of blunt force trauma. Doctors don't know if she'll survive, or fully recover her mental faculties. Cates denies harming her, claiming that she ran off from him, but Cates isn't the only suspect - his entire family exudes danger. Pickett is determined to learn who brutalized his daughter, at any price. But will the ultimate toll be Pickett's own life, another person's life, or worse? 9 CDs, 10 1/4 hours.

Bright Side
Kim Holden, author
Read by Lidia Dornet and Roger Wayne
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494510305 $44.99 www.tantor.com

Bright Side is the unabridged audiobook of the light and dark aspects of romance. Kate Sedgwick keeps a firmly optimistic attitude despite enduring tragedy and loss; her best friend Gus nicknames her "Bright Side" for her ability to see the best in people and situations. But the one thing Kate does not believe in is love... until she moves to a small Minnesota town and meets Keller Banks. Each of the two has a reason to resist their mutual attraction, a secret that will alter their lives forever if brought into the light of day. If their hidden pasts are revealed, will it lead to healing, or destruction? A dramatic and emotionally moving romance novel, superbly performed by two expert actors, Bright Side is highly recommended. 11 CDs, 13 hours.

Living the Noetic Life
Marilyn Schlitz, PhD
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781622034185 $69.95 www.soundstrue.com

Living the Noetic Life: Transformation and Healing at the Convergence of Science and Spiritual Practice is an audiobook and self-study course by social anthropologist and award-winning author Marilyn Schlitz, PhD. "Noetics" refers to a branch of metaphysical philosophy focused upon the study of mind and intellect. Applying noetic principles to enrich one's life is a directive to become more fully engaged, embrace empathy and creativity, foster healing modalities, and expand one's awareness, including new views of dying and death. Accessible to listeners of all faiths and backgrounds, Living the Noetic Life is transformational, encapsulating decades of wisdom amassed from the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and is an excellent addition to metaphysical instruction self-improvement shelves. 6 CDs, 6 hours 18 min.

Change Your Brain Change Your Body
Daniel G. Amen, MD
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781622034606 $69.95 www.soundstrue.com

Change Your Brain Change Your Body: Your Ultimate Brain-Body Makeover is a self-help guide to tapping into the hidden powers of the brain in order to improve one's daily health habits. Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD walks the listener through methods to reduce stress and anxiety, bolster willpower, counter food cravings and make exercise more enjoyable, maintain a healthy weight, strengthen one's immune system, improve memory, amplify sexual desire and performance, and much more. A guide to positive lifestyle changes that fully takes both physical and mental factors into account, Change Your Brain Change Your Body is an excellent resource for improving both the quality and the quantity of everyday life! 6 CDs, 5 hours, 26 min.

The Cavendon Women
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427252364 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The Cavendon Women is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a dramatic novel following two families, the Inghams and the Swanns, from weekend gathering in the summer of 1926 to the horrendous economic devastation of the Wall Street crash of 1929. In 1926, family members have a hodgepodge of secrets, problems, joys, and old enemies. The Cavendon women search for a new way to cement the family bond and adapt to changing times, but will family loyalty survive the forthcoming hard times? Realistic, vivid character portrayals distinguish this memorable period piece! 11 CDs, 13 hours.

The Calhoun Women: Suzanna & Megan
Nora Roberts, author
www.noraroberts.com
Performed by Kate Rudd
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781501238130 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Calhoun Women: Suzanna & Megan is the unabridged audiobook anthology of two romantic stories by bestselling author Nora Roberts. "Suzanna's Surrender" tells of single mother Suzanna who, while searching for the missing Calhoun emeralds, enlists the help of ex-cop Holt Bradford. Suzanna used to know Bradford as a "bad-boy" teen; now he is a dangerously handsome man! "Megan's Mate" follows Calhoun sister-in-law Megan O'Riley, who has settled down in the Towers to raise her young son. Megan has buried her passions and distrusts her heart, but the rugged boat captain Nate Fury has set his sights on her, and he is as charming and stubborn as she is... perhaps more! Highly recommended as a delightful listening experience for fans of the romance genre. 13 CDs, 14 hours 45 min.

Every Fifteen Minutes
Lisa Scottoline
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781427252418, $39.99, www.amazon.com

Dr. Eric Parrish is the Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer General Hospital outside of Philadelphia. Recently separated from his wife Alice, he is doing his best as a single Dad to his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. His work seems to be going better than his home life, however. His unit at the hospital has just been named number two in the country and Eric has a devoted staff of doctors and nurses who are as caring as Eric is. But when he takes on a new patient, Eric's entire world begins to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Max has a terminally ill grandmother and is having trouble handling it. That, plus his OCD and violent thoughts about a girl he likes makes Max a high risk patient. Max can't turn off the mental rituals he needs to perform every fifteen minutes that keep him calm. With the pressure mounting, Max just might reach the breaking point. When the girl is found murdered, Max is nowhere to be found. Worried about Max, Eric goes looking for him and puts himself in danger of being seen as a "person of interest" himself. Next, one of his own staff turns on him in a trumped up charge of sexual harassment. Is this chaos all random? Or is someone systematically trying to destroy Eric's life? With flawless production values and a superb narration, "Every Fifteen Minutes" is a riveting thriller by a master of the mystery/suspense genre and highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections.


The Music CD Shelf

Piano Meditations
Tron Syversen
www.tronmusic.com
TK Music Production
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$14.95 www.amazon.com

Piano Meditations: Music for Relaxation and Wellbeing lives up to its title as an original album of beautiful piano playing, inspired by natures turn of the seasons and the spiritual work of movement therapist Boliana Thompson as well as clairvoyant medium Phil Phillips. This double album consists of two music CDs: the original version CD, consisting for four lengthy compositions, and the Radio Edit CD, which arranges the songs into shorter, discrete parts. Norwegian pianist Tron Syversen stirs the heart and soul with his contemplative music, encouraging introspection and spiritual renewal. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Ocean of Relaxation" (9:17), "A Peaceful Path to Forever" (19:36), "Golden Forest" (20:07), and "Inner Journey" (13:09) on the Original Version CD, and "Inner Journey" (13:00), "Inner Journey Second Half" (6:12), "Ocean of Relaxation" (9:24), "A Peaceful Path to Forever Part 1" (3:05), "A Peaceful Path to Forever Part 2" (6:54), "A Peaceful Path to Forever Part 3" (9:27), "Golden Forest Part 1" (7:39), "Golden Forest Part 2" (6:31), and "Golden Forest Part 3" (6:00) on the "Radio Edit" CD.

Plucky Strum
Harvie S. and Sheryl Bailey
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road No., Dartmouth, MA 02747
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
$14.99 www.whalingcitysound.com

Plucky Strum is an album showcasing acoustic bass and acoustic guitar; its names come from the basic approaches to play each instrument ("pluck" and "strum"). The original compositions draw upon elements of jazz to create unique stylings complemented by folksy, salt-of-the-earth lyrics. A creative, sprightly, and original album, sure to lift spirits and spread cheer, Plucky Strum is enthusiastically recommended. The tracks are "Woods Talk" (3:58), "Bluzin' F" (5:48), "Ghost Dancer" (6:04), "S and S" (3:43), "Broken Glass" (5:07), "To Bea" (5:40), "For Jimmy" (4:03), "Charlie Haden" (5:02), "Saint Nick" (5:22), and "Before" (4:20). 49 min. 7 sec.

Branches of the Same Tree
Rocky Dawuni
Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
www.cumbancha.com
$12.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Performer and humanitarian activist and Rocky Dawuni presents Branches of the Same Tree, a new album in his "Afro-Roots" style that draws upon musical traditions from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States. Branches of the Same Tree is particularly inspired from songs that Rocky Dawuni has experienced in his travels, and the title reflects his belief that shared humanity is the key to peaceful, global coexistence. Uplifiting and beautiful, Branches of the Same Tree is highly recommended to both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Shine a Light" (4:00), "Rock Your Soul" (3:12), "Black Star (feat. Samini)" (4:26), "African Thriller" (4:03), "Children of Abraham" (4:40), "We Never Stop" (3:40), "The Sign" (3:26), "Butterfly" (2:43), "Nairobi" (3:21), "Get Up, Stand Up" (3:40), and "Island Girl" (2:47).

The Legacy Continues
Nathan Stanley
Privately Published
c/o Rhonda Thompson Promotions
$20.00 www.nathanstanleymusic.com

The Legacy Continues is the re-release of an album by bluegrass musician Nathan Stanley, enhanced with the addition of two brand new songs. Soul-stirring reflection and the enduring power of love are key themes in this emotionally moving collection, evoking both heartbreak and hope. The tracks are "Are You Missing Me", "Rank Stranger (with Dr. Ralph Stanley)", "Meet Me By Moonlight", "Nobody's Love Is Like Mine", "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone (with Brad Paisley)", "Papaw I Love You", "Let Me Rest at the End of My Journey", "Where Could I Go But to the Lord (with Dr. Ralph Stanley)", "Tears of a Friend", "Love of the Mountains", "Casualty of War", "For All the Love I Had is Gone", "Stanley Melody", "Golden Years", "Rambling Letters", and "Calling My Children Home".

Kings and Queens in Dub
John Brown's Body
Easy Star Records
easystar.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$12.19 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Two years after the release of the wildly popular music CD "Kings and Queens" by American reggae band John Brown's Body, Kings and Queens in Dub is an inspired dub album, featuring the entire soundtrack of "Kings and Queens" remixed by an eclectic variety of well-known dub champions. An adventurous collaboration every bit as heart-throbbing catchy as the original, Kings and Queens in Dub is a "must-have" for fans of the genre! The tracks are "People in the Light Dub (by Dubfader)" (4:45), "Give Up the Ghost Dub (Jay Spaker)" (4:20), "Worldwide Dub (Dubfader)" (4:19), "Sound and Fury Dub (Dubmatix)" (5:16), "Seneca Dub (Dubfader)" (4:40), "Fracture Dub (Dubmatix)" (5:01), "Pulsing Dub (Yesking)" (5:03), "My Guiding Dub (Lord Echo)" (4:33), "Land of Plenty Dub (Ticklah)" (4:37), "Gallows Pole Dub (Dennis Bovell)" (4:17), "Sweet Undertow Dub (Michael G)" (5:44), and "Paint the Sky Dub (Nate Silas Richardson)" (5:24).

Freedom in Forgiveness
Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
$20.00 www.wlpmusic.com

Freedom in Forgiveness: The Mystery of Mercy is a Christian CD of Father Jim Marchionda's service especially for those who are searching for the meaning of forgiveness, or struggling to find absolution, within or without. Choir music and Marchionda's gentle, caring testimony create a reverent, uplifting whole. Freedom in Forgiveness is a welcome addition to church audio library music and preaching collections. The tracks are "Now Is the Time" (1:18), "Welcome" (3:09), "Prayer" (1:21), "Preaching I 'Believing is Forgiveness'" (3:40), "Litany of Mercy" (1:23), "Isaiah 54" (1:42), "Lord, You Are Good: Psalm 86" (2:31), "Prayer" (1:04), "Preaching II 'Abundant Mercy'" (5:30), "A Confession Story" (8:28), "Alleluia / Matthew 6:7-15" (3:04), "Preaching III 'Don't Rattle On'" (9:06), "A 'Real Life' Forgiveness Story" (10:05), "Examination / As We Forgive" (4:50), "Prayer" (1:08), "Closing Remarks: 'A Pope Who Gets It'" (2:13), and "Blessing / In God I Trust" (5:10).

Jukestone Paradise
Pimps of Joytime
Write Home Records
c/o Press Junkie PR
$12.00 www.pimpsofjoytime.com

The third studio album by Pimps of Joytime, Jukestone Paradise showcases their original blues, funk, and pop polyrhythmic stylings. An entrancing soundscape, Jukestone Paradise enhances its keen vibe with stirring vocal harmonies, and is a treat for connoisseurs of genre-fusion! The tracks are "Red Golden", "Dance Cardia" (featuring Rubblebucket), "Waiting For My Ride", "Heart is Wild", "Sky", "Cut Off", "The Jump", "Body Party", "Dank Janky", and "Freedom Dancer".


The DVD Shelf

Foyle's War, Set 8
Starring Michael Kitchen
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723776 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Available in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, Foyle's War, Set 8 is the final season of the British detective series. Set in 1946 London, during the inception of the Cold War, Foyle's War consists of three intense mysteries. In "High Castle", a translator for the Nuremberg trials is murdered, and Foyle must follow the trail into the sphere of international oil politics and crooked Nazi businessmen. In "Trespass", a plot involving murder, espionage, and the threat of terrorism pervades a high-level Palestinian conference. And in "Elsie", an assassination attempt on Hilda Pierce mires Foyle in a web of buried secrets and rumors of a hidden traitor. A cast of talented veteran actors superbly performs this "must-have" for mystery enthusiasts! Over two hours of bonus features are present, including a featurette about the historical facts surrounding each episode, two behind-the-scenes featurettes about "Foyle's War", an interview with John Mahoney, and a photo gallery. 3 DVDs, 276 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles, widescreen.

Advanced Toss & Batting Tee Drills
Marty Schupak and the Youth Sports Club
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Court, Valley Cottage, New York 10989
9780983924296 $24.95 www.YouthSportsClub.com

Advanced Toss & Batting Tee Drills is an instructional DVD for youth baseball coaches and parents. Marty Schupak, a baseball coach of 25 years' experience, presents a medley of drills to aid young baseball players - including inner city youth who may have a strictly limited amount of space to practice! The drills highlight fundamental hitting techniques, improving eye-hand coordination, improving reaction time, correcting balance during the swing, hip rotation awareness, and much more. An excellent, user-friendly, and invaluable youth sports resource, especially recommended for public and high school library DVD shelves! 38 min.

Great Figures of the Bible
Featuring Elie Wiesel
Yale Roe Films
c/o SISU Home Entertainment (dist.)
340 W 39th St., 6th fl., New York NY 10018
9781560866596 $24.95 www.sisuent.com

Noble prize-winning author Elie Wisel presents Great Figures of the Bible: Legends and Legacies of Our Biblical Heroes, a DVD re-examining the classic stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham and Isaac, Job, Moses, and David. As a master storyteller and historian, Wiesel accentuates these parables with works of art from around the world. Intended for viewers of all faiths, Great Figures of the Bible is filmed on-location in Israel, and consists of six half-hour episodes (which were previously released in a multi-DVD set). Highly recommended! 150 min., English language.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Starring Audrey Tautou
A film by Laetitia Colombani
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213
New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not is a dark thriller about psychotic obsession masquerading as love, using shifting perspectives of questionable veracity to weave its story. Art student Angelique is unshakeably, madly in love with Loic, a married cardiologist whose wife is expecting her first child. Even though her increasing displays of affection fail to separate the couple, her fixation only grows. Halfway through the film, the point of view shifts from Angelique to Loic, revealing a new side to this gripping, almost horrific black comedy. 96 min., French with English subtitles.

Going on Vocation
Vision Video
P.O. Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490
www.GoingOnVocation.com
$24.99 www.visionvideo.com

Going on Vocation: Exploring Work As It Was Meant To Be is a two-part documentary exploring the difficulties of working life, from a Christian perspective. Grounded in scripture, Going on Vocation invites the viewer to rethink their career and vocation, including ways to incorporate Christ and his teachings to heart every day on the job. Insightful and revitalizing, Going on Vocation can be incorporated into four or eight study sessions; two PDF study guides are included on the DVD. Two 52-minute programs; English subtitles.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version
R. C. Sproul, editor
Reformation Trust
421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL 32771
www.reformationstudybible.com
9781567694451, $100.00, www.amazon.com

This new edition of "The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version" has been thoroughly revised and carefully crafted under the editorial leadership of R.C. Sproul and enhanced with the contributions of 75 distinguished theologians and pastors from around the world. Over 1.1 million words of new, expanded, or revised commentary represent 40% more content faithfully presented to emphasize the need for the grace of God to lead out of darkness and into the light of Scripture. Features are new theological notes from general editor, R.C. Sproul; new topical articles to enrich additional study of Scripture; over 1.1 million words of verse-by-verse and topical explanations; over 20,000 new, revised, or expanded study notes; historical creeds and confessions from 2,000 years of church history; over $400 of digital resources (eBooks, videos) from Ligonier Ministries and 6 months of Tabletalk Magazine; 16 pages of high-resolution full color maps at back of Bible; embedded maps providing quick references as you read; a concordance, table of weights and measures, and more. This editions of "The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version" features Smyth-sewn binding, gold gilding, 3 reference ribbons, protective slip case, and 32-page Welcome Guide. With flawless production values, "The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version" is a critically important addition to personal, family, seminary, church, community, and academic library Christian Studies reference collections in general, and Bible Study curriculums in particular.

Galatians
Peter Oakes
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780801032752, $30.00, www.amazon.com

The Epistle to the Galatians, often shortened to Galatians, is the ninth book of the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul the Apostle to a number of Early Christian communities in the Roman province of Galatia in central Anatolia. Paul is principally concerned with the controversy surrounding Gentile Christians and the Mosaic Law during the Apostolic Age. No original of the letter is known to survive. The earliest reasonably complete version available to scholars today, named P46, dates to approximately the year 200 AD, approximately 150 years after the original was presumably drafted. This papyrus is fragmented in a few areas, causing some of the original text carefully preserved over the years to be missing, however, through careful research relating to paper construction, handwriting development, and the established principles of textual criticism, scholars can be rather certain about where these errors and changes appeared and what the original text probably said. Some biblical scholars date the original composition to c. 50 - 60 AD. Other biblical scholars agree that Galatians was written between the late 40s and early 50s. The newest addition to the outstanding "Paideia: Commentaries on the New Testament" series from Baker Academic, "Galatians" by biblical scholar Peter Oakes (Greenwood Senior Lecturer in the New Testament at the University of Manchester in Manchester, England) is a 240 page analytical commentary that is enhanced with the inclusion of ten illustrations, a ten page Bibliography, and four page Index of Subjects; and a four page Index of Scripture and Ancient Sources. This study by Peter Oakes is exceptionally well written, informed and informative, making it very highly recommended for church, seminary, and academic library Christian Studies and New Testament Studies reference collections for personal reading lists it should be noted that "Galatians" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.50).

The Preaching Of Pope Francis
Gregory Heille, OP
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
www.litpress.org
9780814649022, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Pope Francis ([b] 17 December 1936) is the Catholic Church's current Pope, an ancient title he holds ex officio as Bishop of Rome, in which capacity he is Sovereign ad vitam of the Vatican City State. Pope Francis in his first year of the papacy has strongly established himself as an embattled reformer seeking to redress a number of wrongs that have accumulated within the church hierarchy over the past several decades. Indeed, Pope Francis is proving to be one of the most publicly acclaimed pontiffs by Catholics and non-Catholics alike in the modern history of the Roman Catholic Church. Compiled by Gregory Heille (Professor of Homiletics and Academic Dean at the Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri), "The Preaching of Pope Francis: Missionary Discipleship and the Ministry of the Word" showcases key morning mass homilies or sermons given by Pope Francis for the betterment of Catholics and Catholic institutions. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "The Preaching Of Pope Francis" is critically important and essential reading by seminary students, Catholic priests, deacons, and lay members of the church.

Tales of Grace
Luigi Santucci
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612616391, $18.99, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Luigi Santucci (1918-99) was one of the most important Italian writers and poets of the twentieth century. He worked at the Catholic University of Milan until 1944, when Santucci took refuge in Switzerland because of his opposition to the fascist regime. Actively involved in the Italian Resistance, he was one of the co-founders of the underground newspaper L'Uomo, with poet David Maria Turoldo. Santucci's "Tales of Grace: Reflections on the Joyful Mysteries" takes Jesus' precept "Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 18.3) to heart, and with delicate lyrical touches accompanies us into the "land of milk and honey" where readers can become children again and experience in a fresh new light the joyful mysteries of the Rosary. Translated for the first time into English by Demetrio S. Yocum for an appreciative American readership, Tales of Grace is profoundly poetic and original. Contemplative readers will rediscover the tenderness and beauty inherent in the miracle of Jesus' birth and childhood, beginning with his conception and concluding with his adolescence. It will also encourage readers to feel and experience Christ's hidden presence in one's own past, present, and future. An extraordinary volume of commentary that is an thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring, "Tales of Grace" is a highly recommended and rewarding read for all members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation.

A Fresh Look At The Mass
David M. Knight
Twenty-Third Publications
1 Montauk Ave #200, New London, CT 06320
http://store.pastoralplanning.com/index.html
9781627850803, $12.95, 128pp, www.amazon.com

"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is commonly called in the Catholic Church, Western Rite Orthodox churches and many Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. Apart from "Eucharist" others are the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly (synaxis)", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and Divine Liturgy" and "Holy Communion". In these denominations, the term Mass often colloquially refers to the entire church service in general. In general, Protestants avoid the term "Mass" and use such terms as Divine Service or service of worship, for doctrinal reasons. "A Fresh Look at the Mass: A Helpful Guide to Better Understand and Celebrate the Mystery" by missionary, teacher, pastor, professor, retreat director, and campus minister David M. Knight is a 128 page instructional analysis of the Mass and its meaning in Christian life. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Fresh Look at the Mass" is an informed and informative read that is highly recommended, especially for non-specialist general readers seeking a more coherent understanding of the Mass and its meaning. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "A Fresh Look at the Mass" is available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Pastors Sound Off
Open Waters Publishing
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
www.openwaterspublishing.com
The Pilgrim Press (distributor)
700 Prospect Avenue, East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
www.pilgrimpress.com
970829820225, $7.95, www.amazon.com

"Pastors Sound Off: Causes We Can't Keep Quiet About" is a 50 page booklet comprised of eleven short articles by eleven ordained ministers decrying such spiritual failings in the Christian community as 'The Unchallenged Voice of Christian Homophobia'; 'People Who Can't Love Jesus without Dissing the Jews'; 'Editing Jesus as Either a Republican or a Democrat'; 'Pretending We're Post-Racial'; 'We Always Find a Reason to Fight the Next War'; and more. Articulate, erudite, and absolutely Christian in perspective, "Pastors Sound Off: Causes We Can't Keep Quiet About" should not be regulated to 'voices crying in the wilderness' but deserves as wide a Christian readership as possible. Simple stated, "Pastors Sound Off: Causes We Can't Keep Quiet About" should be read by all members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation.


The Philosophy Shelf

Steve Jobs and Philosophy
Shawn E. Klein, editor
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812698893, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Steven Paul Jobs (February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011) was an American entrepreneur, marketer, and inventor, who was the cofounder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. Through Apple, he was widely recognized as a charismatic and design-driven pioneer of the personal computer revolution and for his influential career in the computer and consumer electronics fields, and engaged in transforming one industry after another, from computers and smartphones to music and movies. Jobs served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios; he became a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company in 2006, when Disney acquired Pixar. Jobs was among the first to see the commercial potential of Xerox PARC's mouse-driven graphical user interface, which led to the creation of the Apple Lisa and a year later, the Macintosh. He played a role in introducing the LaserWriter, the first laser printer to feature vector graphics that started desktop publishing to the market. Compiled and edited by Shawn E. Klein, "Steve Jobs and Philosophy" is a 288 page compendium comprised of seventeen original essays focusing on the contribution that Jobs was responsible for. These informative essays are deftly organized into four major sections: The Crazy One; The Troublemaker; The Rebel; and The Misfit. Enhanced with the inclusion of a fourteen page list of Insanely Great Inspiration; a ten page list of References; a six page roster of The A Players; and a forty-eight page Index, "Steve Jobs and Philosophy" is a extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic library Philosophy and Popular Culture reference collections in general, and supplemental studies reading lists of the life and accomplishments of Steve Jobs in particular. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Steve Jobs and Philosophy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Fiction Shelf

The Scribe's Promise
Jennifer Pollard
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091-2844
9781618510709 $18.00 www.BahaiBooksUSA.com

The Scribe's Promise is a novel of forbidden love that transcends multiple lifetimes of religious conditioning. In 1844 Persia, a leader called "the Bab" (one of the historical messengers of the Bahai faith) is speaking of a new way to think of both humanity and God, emphasizing unity and equality. The Bab's words have incited the ire of Muslim clergy, and the repercussions are destined to ripple into the life of Kapriel, an Armenian Christian scribe living in the city of Shiraz. Kapriel is in love with Mina, the sister of his best friend and next door neighbor Rahma. Yet Rahma and Mina are Muslim Persians, and in this time and place, Kapriel is considered an inferior, second-class citizen (at best) because he is Christian. For Rahma, the idea of his sister marrying a Christian is unthinkable, unforgivable. But when Rahma hears the Bab's message of love, unity, and equality, it sparks a transformation. Rahma asks Kapriel to accompany him on a pilgrimage to see the Bab. It is a journey that will reveal their souls and strengthen the bond of their friendship. Thought-provoking and powerful, The Scribe's Promise is unforgettable to the very end.

Lighthouse Hauntings
Charles G. Waugh
Down East Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781608933860, $15.95, www.rowman.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Charles G. Waugh and Martin Harry Greenberg, "Lighthouse Hauntings" is a 252 page anthology showcasing twelve original and chilling stories of the supernatural. After an informative introduction by John Helfers, the featured stories include Rick Hautala's 'The Nephews'; Jane Lindskold's 'It Must Burn'; Brendan DuBois' 'The Tourist Who Wasn't There'; Ed Gorman's 'Ghost of a Chance'; Billie Sue Mosiman's 'Dread Inlet'; Kristine Kathryn Rusch's 'The Light in Wale Cove'; Matt Costello and A. J. Matthews' 'And the Sea Shall Claim Them'; Janet Berliner's 'Until the Butterflies'; Yvonne Navarro's 'A Beacon Shall I Shine'; Nina Kiriki Hoffman's 'Gone'; Thomas F. Monteleone's 'Lux et Veritas'; and Gary A. Braunbeck's 'Captain Jim's Drunken Dream'. An outstanding collection by masters of the short story form, "Lighthouse Hauntings" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Synopsis Treasury
Christopher Sirmons Haviland, editor
WordFire Press
PO Box 1840, Monument, CO 80132
9781614752851 $19.99 pbk. / $6.99 ebook wordfirepress.com

Part of "The Million Dollar Writing" series, The Synopsis Treasury is a unique resource for aspiring professional writers; it's an anthology of actual novel proposals, submitted by award-winning and bestselling authors including H.G. Wells, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Kevin J. Anderson, Andre Norton, and many more. Writing students and prospective authors benefit from studying how synopses should be made and submitted, but The Synopsis Treasury goes a step further to show valuable examples of how to effectively condense one's ideas when soliciting a publisher's interest. Of particular interest is the context of publisher responses - even the most successful writers have been asked to rethink, rewrite, and resubmit their proposals. Accessible and enlightening, The Synopsis Treasury is a "must-have" for any would-be writer trying to break into the business!

2015 Guide to Literary Agents
Chuck Sambuchino
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.fwmedia.com/catalog
9781599638430, $29.99, www.amazon.com

A literary agent (often synonymous with "publishing agent") is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers, film producers and film studios, and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and non-fiction writers. They are paid a fixed percentage (usually twenty percent on foreign sales and ten to fifteen percent for domestic sales) of the proceeds of sales they negotiate on behalf of their clients. Often the only way an aspiring new author can hope to be published by a major publishing company is through the auspices of an effective literary agent. Now in its 24th annual edition, The Writer's Digest Books' "2015 Guide to Literary Agents: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published" is a thoroughly vetted and updated listing of literary agents enhanced with a number of critically important and informative articles on query letters, synopsis writing, voice and craft, platform and blogging, nonfiction book proposals; as well as debut author success stories and the profiles of new literary agents who are actively building their client lists. Of special note is the article '10 Reasons Agents Reject Your Manuscript' which alone is worth the price of this outstanding resource and guide for novice writers. Very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted that "2015 Guide to Literary Agents: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).

Elderwriters: Celebrate Your Life!
Sue Barocas
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd.
North Charleston, SC 29406
www.elderwriters.com
9781484825648, $14.99, 178pp, www.amazon.com

Treasured family stories, fond memories, and personal wisdom are often lost to future generations because we do not routinely compile a written legacy in the form of what author Sue Barocas terms as a 'Personal Legacy Document' (PLD). You don't have to be an experienced writer to create a rich trove of short pieces that reflect your thoughts and feelings about what life has meant to you. "Elderwriters: Celebrate Your Life!" explores a wide range of aspects ranging from anecdotes, epiphanies, paragraphs and poems, to lessons learned, one-liners, lists, essays, letters, and more. These are the means to help you collect your thoughts and celebrate your life. There is nothing in the approach that requires or anticipates writing skills beyond those learned in high school. A guide for creating your own personal legacy document, "Elderwriters: Celebrate Your Life!" is comprised of sequenced chapters designed to take you from the beginning stages of personal legacy writing through the printing and preserving of your document. If you follow the prompts and complete the exercises, by the end of Chapter 13 you will have your own PLD to give to friends and family. Personal legacy writing should be part of everyone's later years and "Elderwriters: Celebrate Your Life!" makes it easy. Also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99), "Elderwriters: Celebrate Your Life!" is extraordinarily 'user friendly' and a highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections.

The Accidental Indexer
Nan Badgett
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573875141, $39.50, www.amazon.com

An index is an indirect shortcut derived from and pointing into, a greater volume of values, data, information or knowledge. In publishing, it is a detailed list, usually arranged alphabetically, of the specific information in a publication. In "The Accidental Indexer", author Nan Badgett draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in providing indexing services to publishers, authors, and corporate clients to create a definitive and comprehensive 240 page instructional guide to the indexing profession. "The Accidental Indexer" offers an informed and informative overview of the field, describes a range of specialties, insights from professional indexers, and a wealth of savvy advice on starting and running a freelance indexing business. From practical strategies for staying on deadline, to maintaining work life balance, to collaborating and subcontracting, to creating new work opportunities, "The Accidental Indexer" will prove to be an invaluable and enduringly useful reference. "The Accidental Indexer" includes other resources, including useful forms and checklists-on such topics as training and professional development, promoting professional indexing services, managing multiple projects, contracting with clients, and ensuring index quality. "The Accidental Indexer" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to indexing professionally and would well serve to inform authors and publishers as to the value and processes involved with the creating of indexes for their books. "The Accidental Indexer is very strongly recommended for personal, professional, community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Tennessee Theatre
Jack Neely
The University of Tennessee Press
110 Conference Center UT, Knoxville, TN 37996
www.utpress.org
9780692320013, $59.95, www.amazon.com

The Tennessee Theatre is a 1920s-era movie palace, located within the Burwell Building in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, at 604 South Gay Street. The Burwell Building was built in 1907. Measuring in at 166 feet (51 m) in height, it was Knoxville's tallest building until 1912. The Tennessee Theater occupies an annex to the building that was added in 1928.[1] In the 1790s, the lot now occupied by the Burwell Building was home to a two-story log structure where the classes of Blount College (the forerunner of the University of Tennessee) were first held. The theatre first opened on October 1, 1928, and with nearly 2,000 seats in the auditorium, was billed as "Knoxville's Grand Entertainment Palace". Its interior was designed by Chicago architects Graven & Mayger in the Spanish-Moorish style, although the design incorporates elements from all parts of the world: Czechoslovakian crystals in the French-style chandeliers, Italian terrazzo flooring in the Grand Lobby, and Oriental influences in the carpet and drapery patterns. The theatre was one of the first public buildings in Knoxville to have air conditioning. It also featured a beautiful Wurlitzer Organ. During its heyday, the theatre played host to a few world movie premieres, including So This is Love (1953), and the adaptation of James Agee's All the Way Home (1963). After a refurbishment in 1966, the theatre's seating capacity was reduced to 1,545. The theatre changed owners several times over its life, and eventually closed for the first time in 1977. Thereafter it was open and closed intermittently for the remainder of the late 1970s. It was purchased by local radio company Dick Broadcasting in 1981, who started a renovation effort to prepare it for the 1982 World's Fair. On April 1, 1982, the theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Portions of the 1999 film October Sky were filmed in and around Knoxville, and the facade of the theatre can be seen during a scene in which the main characters go to the movies. More recently, the theatre was the home for the Appalachian Ballet, the Knoxville Opera, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. "The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace" is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 211 page compendium showcasing the theatrical, cinematic, and music history of a Knoxville monument to the arts. With its informed and informative text, ""The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace" would well serve as a template for pictorial and substantive histories of similar cultural icons in other cities across the country. Very highly recommended and entertaining.

The Anime Encyclopedia, third edition
Jonathan Clements & Helen McCarthy
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
www.stonebridge.com
9781611720181, $120.00, www.amazon.com

Anime is a term used to refer to Japanese animated productions featuring hand-drawn or computer animation. The earliest commercial Japanese animation dates to 1917, and production of anime works in Japan has since continued to increase steadily. The characteristic anime art style emerged in the 1960s with the works of Osamu Tezuka and spread internationally in the late twentieth century, developing a large domestic and international audience. Anime is distributed theatrically, by television broadcasts, directly to home media, and over the internet and is classified into numerous genres targeting diverse broad and niche audiences. Anime is a diverse art form with distinctive production methods and techniques that have been adapted over time in response to emergent technologies. The production of anime focuses less on the animation of movement and more on the realism of settings as well as the use of camera effects, including panning, zooming and angle shots. Diverse art styles are used and character proportions and features can be quite varied, including characteristically large emotive or realistically sized eyes. Now in a completely updated, revised and expanded third edition, "The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation" compiled with commentary by Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy is a 1160 page compendium that is the most comprehensive and detailed reference for anime productions available to date. Each anime production is provided with production credits (directors, designers, writers, animators, composers, studios), titles in both Japanese and English, parental content advisories, and are fully cross-referenced. Very highly recommended for community and academic library reference collections, it should be noted for anime fans and collectors that this newest edition of "The Anime Encyclopedia: A Century of Japanese Animation" is also available in a Kindle format ($13.99).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers Of The Future: Volume 31
David Farland, editor
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com
9781619863224, $15.95, www.amazon.com

For thirty-one years Galaxy Press has featured annual anthologies of the very best science fiction and fantasy stories. In this latest 395 page edition, "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers Of The Future" showcases such well established science fiction and fantasy authors as Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, larry Niven, and Bob Eggleton, along with twenty-five truly outstanding new authors (and illustrators!). Thirteen of the stories originated with participants of the Writers of the Future international writers' program. Also featured are illustrations by the winners in the Illustrators of the Future international illustrator's program. Enhanced with the inclusion of a short story from the early career of the late L. Ron Hubbard, plus essays on writing and illustration by Hubbard, Card, and Eggleton, this thirty-first volume continues an impressive tradition and should be considered a 'must read' by any and all science fiction fans and fantasy enthusiasts. Very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers Of The Future: Volume 31" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99). Incidentally, support information for the Writers of the Future and Illustrators of the Future contests can be found at www.writersofthefuture.com


The Money/Finance Shelf

Beat The Crowd
Ken Fisher
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Victor Gulotta Communications
9781118973059, $29.95, 320pp, www.amazon.com

In finance, a contrarian is one who attempts to profit by investing in a manner that differs from the conventional wisdom, when the consensus opinion appears to be wrong. A contrarian believes that certain crowd behavior among investors can lead to exploitable mispricings in securities markets. For example, widespread pessimism about a stock can drive a price so low that it overstates the company's risks, and understates its prospects for returning to profitability. Identifying and purchasing such distressed stocks, and selling them after the company recovers, can lead to above-average gains. Conversely, widespread optimism can result in unjustifiably high valuations that will eventually lead to drops, when those high expectations don't pan out. Avoiding (or short-selling) investments in over-hyped investments reduces the risk of such drops. These general principles can apply whether the investment in question is an individual stock, an industry sector, or an entire market or any other asset class. "Beat the Crowd: How You Can Out-Invest the Herd by Thinking Differently" by Forbes financial columnist Ken Fisher is the real contrarian's guide to investing, complete with comprehensive explanations of how a true contrarian investor thinks and acts - and why it works more often than not. Drawing upon his many years of fiscal experience, expertise, and observation, Ken Fisher breaks down the myths and cuts through the noise to present a clear, unvarnished view of timeless market realities, and the ways in which a contrarian approach to investing will outsmart the herd. "Beat the Crowd: How You Can Out-Invest the Herd by Thinking Differently" explains why the crowd often goes astray - and how you can stay on track. It should be noted that "Beat the Crowd" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).


The Poetry Shelf

The Stone Circle Poems
Terry Wooten
Parkhurst Brothers Publishers
110 West Main Street, Marion, MI 49665
www.parkhurstbrothers.com
9781624910531, $20.00, 240pp, www.amazon.com

In medieval Gaelic and British culture, a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities. "The Stone Circle Poems" is a 240 page compendium comprising the collected poems of a Midwest naturalist-bard Terry Wooten. His 'performance poems' span an impressively eclectic range of subject matter and emotional states. A simply wonderful book of poetry to browse through, this is an anthology of truly impressive verse by an impressive word-smithing expert, "The Stone Circle Poems" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary American Poetry reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Stone Circle Poems" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.00).

Idealism Is An Attractive
Oneida Morningstar Cramer
Eudora Publishing Company
7219 Eudora Drive, Dallas, TX 75230
www.eudorapublishingcompany.com
9780990519003, $24.99, 96pp, www.amazon.com

"Idealism Is An Attractive" is a 96 page compendium showcasing a collection of 87 individual mixed-media works images that combine the original poetry and photography of Oneida Morningstar Cramer. A delight and wonder to simply browse through, "Idealism Is An Attractive" is an extraordinary and occasionally inspiring experience which is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections. This debut collection will leave its readers looking eagerly toward Oneida Morningstar Cramer's next literary appearance!


The Biography Shelf

Eric Walrond
James Davis
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231157841, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Eric Derwent Walrond (December 18, 1898 - August 8, 1966) was an Afro-Caribbean Harlem Renaissance writer and journalist, who made a lasting contribution to literature; his work remains in print today as a classic of its era. He was well-traveled, being born in Georgetown, Guyana (British Guiana), the son of a Barbadian mother and a Guyanese father, moving early in life to live in Barbados, and then Panama, New York, and eventually England. Walrond's most famous book was "Tropic Death", published in New York City in 1926 when he was 28. In it are collected ten stories, at least one of which had been previously published in small magazines. He had published other short stories prior to this, as well as a number of essays. Much of the dialogue between Walrond's characters is written in dialect, using the many different tongues loosely centered on the English language to portray the diversity of characters associated with the pan-Caribbean diaspora. "Eric Walrond: A Life in the Harlem Renaissance and the Transatlantic Caribbean" by James Davis (Associate Professor of English and American Studies, Brooklyn College) is a 440 page biography that is especially well written, organized, documented and presented. Enhanced with thirty pages of Notes, a fourteen page Bibliography, and a twenty seven page Index, "Eric Walrond" is especially commended for academic library American Biography collections in general, and supplemental studies reading lists for students of the Harlem Renaissance era. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Eric Walrond" is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.24).


The Music Shelf

Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming, second edition
Jim Aikin
Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
www.halleonardbooks.com
9781480397941, $29.99, 256pp, www.amazon.com

A sound synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument that generates electric signals converted to sound through loudspeakers or headphones. Synthesizers may either imitate other instruments or generate new timbres. They are often played with a keyboard, but they can be controlled via a variety of other input devices, including music sequencers, instrument controllers, fingerboards, guitar synthesizers, wind controllers, and electronic drums. Synthesizers without built-in controllers are often called sound modules, and are controlled via MIDI or CV/Gate. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming: The Ultimate Reference for Sound Design" by Jim Aikin (Who has been writing about music technology for more than 30 years. Who is the author of hundreds of product reviews and tutorial features in Keyboard, Electronic Musician, and other magazines, and who has written books about C-sound, music theory, and cello technique. In Aikin's PC-based home studio, he composes and records using software instruments from more than a dozen manufacturers) is a 256 page instruction manual comprised of twelve chapters: The Map and the Territory; The Nature of Sound; Operating Systems, Edit Modes, performance Modes, and Memory; Oscillators and Samples; Other Types of Synthesizers; Filters; LFOS; Envelope Generators; Modulation; Rhythm Generators; and Controllers. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix (Online Video Tutorials) and a comprehensive index, "Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming" offers a complete course of 'learner friendly', informed and informative instruction that is very highly recommended for aspiring musicians seeking to utilizing a synthesizer programming, as well as community and academic library Music Instruction reference collections.


The Photography Shelf

Eve Arnold: Magnum Legacy
Janine Di Giovanni & Susan Meiselas
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel-usa.com
Ron Longe Public Relations
9783791349633, $49.95, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Eve Arnold (April 21, 1912 - January 4, 2012) was an American photojournalist. She joined Magnum Photos agency in 1951, and became a full member in 1957. Eve Arnold photographed many of the iconic figures who shaped the second half of the twentieth century, yet she was equally comfortable documenting the lives of the poor and dispossessed that included migrant workers, civil-rights protestors of apartheid in South Africa, disabled Vietnam war veterans and Mongolian herdsmen. "Eve Arnold: Magnum Legacy" traces the life and achievements of Eve Arnold, who captured an incredible array of subjects with remarkable clarity and compassion. Of special note is the informed and informative commentary providing a complete and compelling story of an intrepid photographer whose life's purpose was to report on the lives of others. A seminal work with superb production values, "Eve Arnold: Magnum Legacy" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library American Photography reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for anyone interested in the life and achievements of Eve Arnold in particular.


The Gardening Shelf

Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings
The Editors of Sunset Magazine
Oxmoor House
www.oxmoorhouse.com
c/o Sunset Publishing
3000 University Center Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612-6408
www.sunset.com
Dadascope Communications
9780376030122, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by a team of Sunset Magazine editors and contributors, "Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Water Beds, Borders, and Containers" illustrates that intricate, fragrant, and well-designed gardens don't need to be time-consuming to tend. Gardeners from the absolute novice to the experienced professional will learn about the types of plants that make their gardens as easy to care for as they are easy on the eyes. The "Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings" is a beautifully illustrated, 288 page instruction manual about smart plants, and smart ways to combine them, focusing on specific plant groups that are especially easy, that belong together, and that take the same conditions. Featuring chapters full of plant charts with photos, brief descriptions, and care advice, readers are sure to glean inspiration, design ideas, and enough tips and tricks to build their own garden that radiates both ease and beauty, "Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Water Beds, Borders, and Containers" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community library home gardening instructional reference collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Sicilian Feasts
Giovanna Bellia La Marca
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com
9780781813341, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by Giovanna Bellia La Marca (who teaches cooking classes at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City), "Sicilian Feasts" is a 224 page compendium comprised of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes showcasing the very best of Sicilian cuisine. In this newly expanded edition, the recipes range from Chicken Soup with Tiny Meatballs and Egg Noodles; Stuffed Beef Roll; Broccoli and Sausage Pie; and Kohlrabi Soup; to Coucous with Chickpea, Cauliflower and Onion Stew; Rice and Raisin Fritters; Potato, Pepper, and Onion Casserole; Stuffed Chicken Legs, and Ravioli from Ragusa. Of special note is the section devoted to Sauces, the page of Delicious Homemade Herbal Teas, and the section comprised of Feast Day Menus. Enhanced with a Glossary, a Bibliography, a Sicilian Index, and a comprehensive general Index, "Sicilian Feasts" is a very highly prized and recommended addition to personal, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.

Taste of Home Frosty Treats
Taste of Home
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
www.rdtradepublishing.com
9781617654022, $12.99, www.amazon.com

Nothing beats a cool refreshing treat on a warm day. "Taste of Home Frosty Treats: 201 Easy Ideas for Cool Desserts" wonderfully showcases thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for just such snacks and desserts. This profusely and beautifully illustrated, 208 page culinary compendium is a spiral bound hardcover cookbook designed to lay flat on the kitchen counter or table. The recipes are organized into Cool Beverages; DIY Ice Cream; Frosty Desserts; Chilly Sandwiches; Icy Pops; Super Sundaes; Fancy Toppings -- and it all begins with 'Here's the Scoop' which offers practical advise on getting started, including 'Serving Secrets'. The delectable dishes themselves range from a Lemon Meringue Pie Cocktail; Peanut Butter Cheesecake Ice Cream; Coconut-Pineapple Sherbet Torte; Frozen Banana Split Pie; and Raspberry-Orange Ice Cream Sandwiches; to Strawberry Mallow Pops; Banana Split Cookie Trifles; Candy Bar Parfaits; Cherry Cappuccino Sundaes; and Cinnamon Cream Syrup. A delight to browse and ideal for creating special treats for all manner of dining occasions, "Taste of Home Frosty Treats: 201 Easy Ideas for Cool Desserts" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Southern Seasons with Memory Making Recipes
Linda J. Hawkins
Heart to Heart Publishing
528 Mud Creek Road, Morgantown, KY 42261
www.hearttoheartpublishing.com
9781937008376, $27.99, www.amazon.com

A spiral bound hardcover cookbook designed to lay flat open upon a kitchen table or counter, "Southern Seasons with Memory Making Recipes" by Linda J. Hawkins is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 182 page culinary compendium of simply wonderful recipes, succinct commentaries, and memorably apt quotations. A pleasure to simply browse through, inspiring to plan menus with, and filled from cover to cover with palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes for dishes ranging from Raspberry Butter; Picnic Fruity Slaw; Fried Cornbread; and Blueberry Spinach Salad; to Pineapple Upside Down Cake; Simple Broccoli Casserole; Southern Ice Tea; Chicken Enchilada Bake, "Southern Seasons with Memory Making Recipes" will make an enduringly popular and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community cookbook collections.


The American History Shelf

Nevada: A History of the Silver State
Michael S. Green
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166
Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874179736 $26.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu

Nevada: A History of the Silver State is a solid, in-depth history of the state of Nevada from the arrival of the first European explorers, to the mining boom of the 1800s, to the twentieth century tourist industry (with emphasis on gambling and gaming) that dominates the state economy today. Yet there are drawbacks to having "one economy" (first mining, now gaming). Nevada: A History of the Silver Sate discusses political forces within regions vying to dominate one another; the often turbulent relationship that Nevada citizens have had with the federal government; development (and exploitation) of the state's natural resources; and much more. An index rounds out this superb history, highly recommended for public and college library American history shelves.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Love's Alchemy
Bryan Crockett
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310
Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432830250 $25.95 www.amazon.com

Set in England in the year 1604, Love's Alchemy: A John Donne Mystery is a dark novel of intrigue, Machiavellian political maneuvering, spywork, and the crossroads of history. Poet John Donne has eloped with the Lord Keeper's niece, Anne More; barely able to scrape by, he is summoned to serve the Crown as a spy. Tasked with infiltrating a secret network of English Catholics, especially Jesuit priests, he blunders into a potentially deadly plot! Dry humor and shades of grey distinguish this sharp-witted novel of razor's edge suspense, crafted to keep the reader guessing to the very end.


The Sports Shelf

Higher Love
Kit Deslauriers
Rare Bird Lit
435 S. Spring Street, Suite 531
Los Angeles, CA 90013
9781941729014 $24.95 www.archerlit.com

Higher Love: Skiing the Seven Summits is the true-life testimony of author Kit Deslauriers, the first person ever to climb and ski the Seven Summits of the Earth's continents: Denali, Elbrus, Kosciuszko, Vinson Massif, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, and Mount Everest. Her journey would test her physical and mental resolve to its limits. A saga of enduring freezing temperatures, extensive treks, travels through remote lands, and personal determination, Higher Love is an extraordinary armchair adventure. Highly recommended!


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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