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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 11 November 2014 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Art Shelf Business Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf Blu-ray Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Wine Shelf American History Shelf Civil War Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Memoir Shelf
Photography Shelf Self-Help Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Fiction Shelf Sports Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Little Hawk and Lone Wolf
Raymond C. Kaquatosh
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780870206504 $22.95 www.wisconsinhistory.org

Little Hawk and Lone Wolf: A Memoir is the life testimony of Raymond Kaquatosh, also known as "Little Hawk", who was born in 1924 on Wisconsin's Menominee Reservation. He tells of living at an Indian boarding school, his years of military service, the woman who would become his wife, and the lessons he learned from a reservation timber wolf he befriended. Little Hawk and Lone Wolf is an unforgettable coming-of-age tale of the Great Depression, World War II, and postwar era, touching upon the generational connections between young people and their elders. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections.

Best Food Writing
Holly Hughes, editor
Lifelong Books / Da Capo Press
www.dacapopress.com
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500
New York, NY 10107
9780738217918 $15.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

Best Food Writing 2014 is an anthology of the past year's finest culinary essays from magazines, newspapers, and blogs. Contributors range from award-winning writers to writer-chefs, rising star bloggers, and bestselling authors. From celebrations of home cooking, to food-related social issues, to a historical and contemporary scrutiny of the traditional "last meal" for prisoners on death row, Best Food Writing 2014 is fascinating, enlightening, and enriching.

Paper Blossoms, Butterflies & Birds
Ray Marshall
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452113913 $40.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

Paper Blossoms, Butterflies & Birds is a pop-up book for all ages that can also serve as an eye-catching centerpiece. There is no text, simply a handful of two-page spreads that, when the book is opened and laid flat, reveal a striking arrangement of paper pop-up flowers, butterflies, and even birds. Paper Blossoms, Butterflies & Birds adds a lovely touch of color and cheer to any room year-round! Also highly recommended are author Ray Marshall's previous pop-up books, including "Paper Blossoms: A Book of Beautiful Bouquets for the Table" and "Paper Blossoms Pop-Up Notecards".


The Art Shelf

Lion Dance Drawing
Bambang Edison Soekanto
China Books & Periodicals, Inc.
360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48
South San Francisco, CA 94080
9780835100656 $16.95 www.chinabooks.com

Lion Dance Drawing: The First Book on How to Draw the Lion Dance is an instructional guide designed to teach artists of all skill and experience levels how to accurately draw the Lion Dance, a beloved Chinese cultural tradition often used in parades, or to celebrate the New Year. The festively colored lion/dragon costume requires multiple people to act as the segments of its body and head, and is absolutely unforgettable in action! Accurately representing the details of the costume at various viewing angles, let alone the dancer's movements, is a complex task illuminated with multiple black-and-white sketches as well as explicit instructions. Filled with tips, tricks, and techniques that can be applied to all sorts of drawing projects, Lion Dance Drawing is an excellent supplementary self-teaching reference.


The Business Shelf

Why China?
Debra Lane Wright
China Books & Periodicals, Inc.
360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48
South San Francisco, CA 94080
9780835100618 $19.95 www.chinabooks.com

Debra Wright is an American who has lived and worked in China for over eight years as an international business consultant. She did not speak fluent Chinese when she first arrived; her experiences as she learned to understand and adapt to Chinese business (and everyday) culture form the heart of Why China? Finding My Way in a Land of 1.4 Billion. Wright's memoir spotlights critical cultural differences that can torpedo attempts at Western-Chinese business partnerships. As entertaining as it is educational, Why China? is absolutely fascinating to page through, and an absolute "must-read" for Western business travelers! "...remember who pays for the translator; most are hired by Chinese. They are the true boss; translators answer to them, not the foreigners. Translators will please their boss first. Translators will usually not translate questions or information they feel might be offensive to Chinese bosses. Anything that they judge will 'not please the boss,' such as hard yet much required information, will be overlooked. It never gets translated. Foreigners would do better if they could hire their own translators but this is not always possible."

Moms Mean Business
Erin Baebler and Lara Galloway
Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601633507 $15.99 www.careerpress.com

Moms Mean Business: A Guide To Creating A Successful Company and Happy Life as a Mom Entrepreneur lives up to its title as a practical "how-to" guide to time management and business planning. "...group tasks so that you can minimize transition times. Every time we move from one task to another, we lose valuable time because it takes our mind time to change focus. That's why it's pretty smart to group similar tasks together so that you are tackling them one after the other. If you need to make sales calls, set aside enough time to make them all (or at least several in a row). You'll benefit from the practice that comes with the repetition..." Packed with no-nonsense advice and encouragement, and emphasizing the benefits of flexibility and adaptation while staying true to one's greatest priorities, Moms Mean Business is a "must-read" for any mother with do-it-yourself entrepreneurial spirit!

Creating Authentic Organizations
Robin Ryde and Lisa Sofianos
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749471439 $29.95 www.koganpageusa.com

Creating Authentic Organizations: Bringing Meaning and Engagement Back to Work is a leadership guide to empowering employees. Workers who find their jobs meaningful have an increased sense of responsibility and adaptiveness, leading to greater productivity. "...when you are offered the Freedom to Operate in your work environment this requires that you bring everything that you can to solve the problems to hand. Very much like the practice of coaching, the coach does not provide the answers to the issues that the coachee presents, rather they pose questions that inspire deep reflection and create the freedom to respond." Emphasizing the importance of workplace authenticity, the freedom to operate, the freedom to speak, and the freedom to actualize, Creating Authentic Organizations offers management concepts, principles, and team-building strategies that can be readily applied to virtually any business or non-profit entity. Highly recommended as a supplemental resource for managers and human resources professionals.

Supplier Relationship Management
Jonathan O'Brien
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpageusa.com
9780749468064 $75.00 print / $52.49 Kindle www.amazon.com

Supplier Relationship Management: Unlocking the Hidden Value in Your Supply Base is an advanced guide to managing suppliers, particularly in large-scale businesses or growing corporations who may have a multitude of different partners. Chapters address how to identify one's most valuable suppliers, maximizing value of the business relationship, adapting to the fluctuations of a global supply base, encouraging improvements in one's suppliers, and much more. "Punitive incentives will drive certain supplier behavior around ensuring agreed obligations are met. They will be effective and even collaborative only to the extent of meeting these obligations and nothing beyond this. For a construction project that must be completed on time this type of incentive is entirely appropriate. However, punitive incentives will fail to drive a supplier to help innovate with us, instead here incentives must be more beneficial to them." Supplier Relationship Management is an accessible yet invaluable reference for corporate managers and executives.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Holiday Hats for Babies
Debby Ware
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781627101028 $22.95 www.taunton.com

Illustrated with a wealth of full-color photography of infants wearing its festively knitted caps, Holiday Hats for Babies: Caps, Berets & Beanies to Knit for Every Occasion offers twenty-five adorable and memorable patterns. Familiarity with the fundamentals of knitting is presumed, but a brief supplementary guide to knitting abbreviations, special stitches, metric conversions, and more is included at the end. Holiday Hats for Babies, a wonderful resource of quick and easy projects perfect including the littlest family members in any celebration!

Recreating Antique Quilts
Wendy Sheppard
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9781935726630 $24.95 www.landauercorp.com

Recreating Antique Quilts: Re-envisioning, Modifying and Simplifying Museum Quilts offers ten projects for quilters of all skill and experience levels; if one can quilt and assemble two cloth squares, then one can follow these patterns for crafting beautiful re-imagined renditions of venerable antique quilts. Full color photography and pattern diagrams clarify the methodical instructions for each project. Recreating Antique Quilts is a wonderful resource for creating unforgettable holiday gifts, recommended for quilting enthusiasts.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Tales of Honor: On Basilisk Station
Based on novels by David Weber
Matt Hawkins, author
Jung-Geun Yoon, artist
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
www.tales-of-honor.com
9781632150202 $19.99 www.topcow.com

Tales of Honor is the full-color, comic book series adaptation of the popular military science-fiction novel series by David Weber. The saga features a strong, self-sacrificing female protagonist in Honor Harrington, a career military woman who fights to defend her home planet from a voracious, sprawling galactic empire bent on conquest and exploitation. Tales of Honor: On Basilisk Station collects issues #1-5 of the comic series. The story, told partly in the present when Honor is a prisoner of war (from the seventh novel, "In Enemy Hands") and partly through flashbacks to Honor's past (from the first novel, "On Basilisk Station"), is a dark saga of hard choices against seemingly insurmountable odds. Honor shows exemplary military potential, yet she lacks connections to the ruling elite. As she works to prove herself to her superiors and her starship crew, she must contend with mistrust, constant scrutiny, the scorn of her second-in-command (who wanted to be promoted in her stead), the arrogance of a shortsighted weapons designer, and more. Assigned to the decrepit Basilisk Station, she is all but set up to fail in her mission... and then things go from bad to explosively worse! Tales of Honor explores dark issues such as interstellar war and attempted rape, but is not excessively gory or graphic, and is suitable for older teen as well as adult readers. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of quality military science fiction.


The Audiobook Shelf

Doctor Who: The Light At The End
Nicholas Briggs, et al.
Big Finish Productions
PO Box: PO Box 3787, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3TF
http://www.bigfinish.com
9781781781074, $TBA, www.amazon.com

November 23rd 1963 the day that Bob Dovie's life is ripped apart. It's also a day that sets in motion a catastrophic chain of events which forces the first eight incarnations of the Doctor to fight for their very existence as an unknown and insidious chaos unfolds within the TARDIS, breaking the barriers of time break apart. From suburban England through war-torn alien landscapes and into a deadly, artificial dimension, all these Doctors and their companions must struggle against the power of an unfathomable, alien technology. From the very beginning, it is clear that the Master is somehow involved. By the end, for the Doctors, there may only be darkness. "Doctor Who: The Light At The End" is a complete 'theatre of the mind' experience starring an impressive cast of characters including five of the television Doctors (Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann) along with Louise Jameson (Leela), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Sophie Aldred (Ace), India Fisher (Charley Pollard), and Geoffrey Beevers (The Master). With flawless production values, complete and unabridged, "Doctor Who: The Light At The End" is an absolute "must" for the legions of Doctor Who fans and will make an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections.

Cat Trick
Sofie Kelly, author
Read by Cassandra Campbell
Books on Tape
www.booksontape.com
c/o Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553399431 $45.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

Cat Trick is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a novel in the "Magical Cats Mystery" series, following small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson and her two mysterious cats, Owen and Hercules. Kathleen's cats have a preternatural talent for uncovering motives behind murder, and the three detectives-by-necessity are on the case when hometown native turned big-shot tour company executive turns up deceased. The victim was widely disliked, but who could have hated his vacation package plans enough to kill him? 8 CDs, 9 hours. And who else could be on the assassin's hit list? Also highly recommended for fans of the series is the unabridged audiobook "Final Catcall" (9780553399462, $45.00, 8 CDs, 9 hours), a mystery that puts Kathleen and her capricious cats between boyfriends, a relocated theater festival, and a murderous web of blackmail and fraud!

Mortal Arts
Anna Lee Huber, author
Read by Heather Wilds
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494504915 $44.99 www.tantor.com

The unabridged audiobook adaptation of the second novel in the "Larby Darby Mystery" series, Mortal Arts is set in 1830 Scotland, following the journey Lady Kiera Darby. Kiera travels to Edinburgh with her family so that her pregnant sister can be close to medical care, but a lethal mystery interrupts the family. The older brother of Kiera's longtime friend has recently been released from an insane asylum, and a local girl has gone missing; accusations fly, and it's up to Kiera to prove a family friend's innocence! An impressionistic period piece, Mortal Arts is a treat for connoisseurs of historical mysteries. Also highly recommended is the first "Larby Darby Mystery" novel, "The Anatomist's Wife".

Crave the Night
Lara Adrian, author
www.laraadrian.com
Hillary Huber, narrator
Books on Tape
www.booksontape.com
c/o Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780385359641 $45.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

Crave the Night: A Midnight Breed Novel is the unabridged audiobook version of an intense paranormal romance. Nathan is one of the Breed vampires, born and raised as an elite warrior tasked with protecting both mortals and vampires. Utterly ruthless in the execution of his duty, Nathan is confounded when he crosses paths with a privileged woman who has been promised to another Breed male of high status. She may be the key to uncovering the deadliest enemy Nathan has ever faced, and to fall in love with her can only bring chaos to the Breed's rigid social order. She knows this as surely as he does, yet her attraction is undeniable, and she finds his seductive qualities nigh-irresistible. Crave the Night is story of white-hot passion and dangerously looming consequences, enthusiastically recommended. 9 CDs, 11.5 hours.

Love Letters
Debbie Macomber, author
Lorelei King, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553398786 $40.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

Love Letters: A Rose Harbor Novel is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a novel about the healing power of love. Cedar Cove's Rose Harbor Inn bustles during the busy summer season; proprietor Jo Marie Rose and handyman Mark Taylor spend quite a bit of time around each other, but each has a secret in their past that prevents them from growing too close to one another. Others have also come to Cedar Cove to confront inner obstacles - twenty-three-year-old Ellie Reynolds is about to meet the man she's been corresponding with for months for the first time, and Maggie and Roy Porter are hoping to salvage their floundering marriage. A story of trust, and the difficulties of attempting to rebuild, and the heart's innermost hope, Love Letters is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of quality romance. 7 CDs, 9 hours.

Slimy Underbelly
Kevin J. Anderson
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781480584044, $19.99, www.amazon.com

There's something fishy going on in the Unnatural Quarter. Bodies are floating face-down, the plumbing is backing up, and something smells rotten - even to a zombie detective like Dan Shamble. Diving into the slimy underbelly of a diabolical plot, Dan comes face-to-tentacles with an amphibious villain named Ah'Chulhu (to which the usual response is "Gesundheit!"). With his snap-happy gang of gator-guys - former pets flushed down the toilet - Ah'Chulhu wreaks havoc beneath the streets. While feuding weather wizards kick up storms and a gang of thieving lawn gnomes continues their reign of terror, Dan Shamble is running out of time - before the whole stinking city goes down the drain.... A master storyteller of the first order, In "Slimy Underbelly", Keven J. Anderson has created a world where a zombie private eye and his ghost of a girl friend take on all manner of 'things that go bump in the night' to solve a genuine case of 'whodunit' that will have immense appeal to fans of a well crafted and original fantasy. This completed and unabridged audio book edition is superbly narrated by Phil Gigante and is highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. (7 CDs; 8 hours, 17 minutes).

Shuttlecock
Graham Swift
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781491573730, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Prentis, the narrator of this nightmarish novel, catalogs "dead crimes" for a branch of the London Police Department and suspects that he is going crazy. His files keep vanishing. His boss subjects him to cryptic taunts. His family despises him. And as Prentis desperately tries to hold on to the scraps of his sanity, he uncovers a conspiracy of blackmail and betrayal that extends from his department and into the buried past of his father, a war hero code-named "Shuttlecock" - and, lately, a resident of a hospital for the insane. "Suttlecock" by Garham Swift, and performed by James Wilby, is a finely crafted novel, deftly complex, solidly entertaining, and presented with flawless production values, is very highly recommended for both personal and community library collections.

Spark
John Twelve Hawks, author
Read by Scott Brick
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780553399066 $40.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

Spark is the unabridged audiobook version of a dark thriller novel with a remorseless villain protagonist. Jacob Underwood is a contract assassin working for the Special Services Section of DBG, a voracious multinational conglomerate. A motorcycle accident has left him with Cotard's syndrome, a mental illness which causes him to believe he is dead - nothing more than an amoral empty "Shell". His latest assignment is to eliminate a young woman who has seemingly disappeared, and who is suspected of stealing either money or sensitive corporate information from DBG. A tangled web of ruthless machinations lurk underneath this assignment, that will push Jacob to his cognitive as well as physical limits, in this suspenseful edge-of-one's seat saga! 9 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

The Motherf*er with the Hat
Stephen Adly Guirgis, author
Performed by Chris Rock, et. al.
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781580819343 $29.95 www.latw.org

An audiobook performance featuring the original Broadway cast (Chris Rock as Ralph D., Bobby Cannavale as Jackie, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Veronica, Annabella Sciorra as Victoria, and Yul Vazquez as Cousin Julio), The Motherf*er with the Hat is the next best thing to witnessing this profanely hysterical, award-winning dark comedy play in person. Jackie is a former drug dealer recently released from prison; he burns to be with his drug-addict girlfriend Veronica, but just as the two are about to jump into bed, Jackie spots a hat that he knows is not his. Who is the "motherf*er with the hat" that Veronica has been sleeping with? A fractiously hilarious tangle ensues! 2 CDs, 1 hour 33 min.


The Music CD Shelf

Originals
Quinn DeVeaux and the Blue Beat Review
QDV Records
QuinnDeVeaux.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
www.pressjunkiepr.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Originals is an album of upbeat songs by soul artist Quinn DeVeaux, created for and played by the Blue Beat Review. Individual songs are inspired by Quinn's steadfast friends, thoughts on human mortality, and his wish to create music his beloved grandmother could dance to. Quirky, creative, and performed with superlative fluidity, Originals is a unique treasure worthy of extended appreciation. The tracks are "Lil 45", "Tara Jean", "Pale Angel", "Left This Town", "How Many Teardrops", "Hey Right On", "Lil Papa", "So Easy", "Rain Drops", "Kids on Fire", "Cruel", and "One".

Voices from Heaven
Runar Halonen and Tron Syversen
Privately Published
www.tronmusic.com
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$14.95 CD / $8.99 download www.thecreativeservicecompany.com

Norwegian new age keyboardist Tron Syversen and vocalist Runar Halonen present Voices from Heaven, a therapeutic recording with wordless vocals. Voices from Heaven resonates with empathetic, ambient rejuvenation. An album that embraces the healing power of music, Voices from Heaven is blissfully beautiful, encouraging relaxation of the body and mind. Highly recommended, especially for shedding the stress of a long day. The tracks are "Voices in Heaven's Cathedral" (16:13), "Voices for Mother Earth" (18:22), and "Voices of Dreams" (18:32). Listeners yearning for more are also encouraged to investigate "Voices from Heaven Volume 2" ($14.95).

Purple Reggae
Radio Riddler
Mita Records
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA www.pressjunkiepr.com

Purple Reggae is the debut album of Radio Riddler, a team name for the duo of Frank Benbini and Fast Leiser. Together, they have created a tribute to all things reggae in general, and the performer Prince in particular. A wide variety of featured performers lend their talents to this expressive, diverse, and adventurous collection, especially recommended for enthusiasts of the genre! The tracks are "Let's Go Crazy (ft. Suggs)", "Take Me With U (ft. Deborah Bonham)", "The Beautiful Ones (ft. Frank Benbini)", "Computer Blue (ft. Naim Cortazzi)", "Darling Nikki (ft. Frank Benbini)", "When Doves Cry (ft. Citizen Cope)", "I Would Die 4 U (ft. Sinead O'Connor)", "Baby I'm A Star (ft. Beverley Knight)", and "Purple Rain (ft. Ali Campbell)".

Na Lojinha De Eu Me Sinto Milionario (At The Dollar Store, I Feel Like A Millionaire)
Paulo Padilha
Boranda Producoes
boranda.com.br
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Na Lojinha De Eu Me Sinto Milionario (At The Dollar Store, I Feel Like A Millionaire) is a Portuguese-language music album blending samba and Brazilian pop, with a light splash of other styles such as reggae. The double-guitar and bass form the core, enriched with additional elements and Paulo Padilha's personable vocals. The result is a vibrantly flowing experience, especially recommended for international music collections! The tracks are "Eu e minhas ideias geniais", "Na Lojinha de l real", "Guia Facil para Lidar com Pessoas Dificeis", "Eu sou ela amanha", "Serrei as pernas da mesa", "Escanteio", "Partido baixo", "So me trai - intro", "Summertime", "Pre-pago pai de santo", "Tapa", "Si Mi Re La", "Aio no oio".

putalittlemoreloveintheworld
Bob Sima
Privately Published
c/o Conscious Media Relations (publicity)
$15.00 CD / $10.00 digital www.bobsima.com

An album embodying consciousness and spiritual growth, putalittlemoreloveintheworld lives up to its title with its soulful, inspiring tracks. Bob Sima sings his compositions in perfect attunement to his acoustic guitar, creating a fluid celebration of the love that makes the world go 'round. Wonderfully uplifting, putalittlemoreloveintheworld also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are "I Am", "putalittlemoreloveintheworld", "Breathe", "Book of Love", "I Am Here", "Queen of the Forest", "Grand Design", "Happening For You", "Bit My Tongue", and "Center of You, Center of Me".


The DVD Shelf

A Father's Legacy
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South
Springville, Utah 84663
$12.99 www.cedarfort.com

A Father's Legacy (24 min. 25 sec.) is a DVD about how fathers can use sports to teach their children not only about games, but about life itself. There is far more to sports than simply winning or a chance at going pro; character-building, self-improvement, and learning to appreciate everyday joys are all things that fathers can teach their children on the playing field. A Father's Legacy is an excellent resource for physical education classrooms or for parents and children to share at home, and includes interviews/footage from renowned athletes and coaches including LaVell Edwards, Kyle Whittingham, Bronco Mendenhall, Haloti Ngata, Brandon Doman, Vai Sikahema, Chad Lewis, Paul Kruger, Jimmer Fedette, and more. Also highly recommended is the DVD "Grit: The True Story of Steve Young" (24 min. 26 sec.), a DVD about multiple MVP award-winning football quarterback Steve Young, and the secrets to greatness that he learned from his beloved father.


The Blu-ray Shelf

Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 13
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722182 $5.99 DVD
9781621722199 $59.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and 1080p Blu-ray formats, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Series 13 presents the final five feature-length television adaptations featuring Agatha Christie's quirky Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Presented in their original UK broadcast television order, the five mysteries are "Elephants Can Remember", "The Big Four", "Dead Man's Folly", "The Labours of Hercules", and "Curtain: Poirot's Last Case", based on the story Christie wrote when she feared for her own survival and the subsequent legacy of the Poirot character, during the dark days of World War II. Bonus features include a 19-minute interview with lead actor David Suchet, and a photo gallery. A captivating "must-have" for fans of Christie's classic works, enthusiastically recommended for public library DVD or Blu-ray collections as well! 3 discs, 462 min., SDH subtitles.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Power of Children
Margaret Y. MacDonald
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363
Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781481302234 $49.95 www.baylorpress.com

Margaret Y. MacDonald (Dean of Arts, St. Mary's University in Halifax) presents The Power of Children: The Construction of Christian Families in the Greco-Roman World, a scholarly analysis of Christian teachings about children, in the historical context of everyday life in the Roman world. Scrutinizing the New Testament's household codes (Colossians 3:18-4:1; Ephesians 5:21-6:9; 1 Timothy 2:8-15, 5:1-2, 6:1-2; Titus 2:1-10), The Power of Children especially focuses upon how they affected children and parenting. MacDonalds puts forth evidence that the social divisions of the era (between wives and husbands, children and parents, or slaves and masters) were more complicated within the context of Christianity. Christian principles curbed sexual abuse, fomented the practice of pseudo-parenting, and encouraged the teaching roles of both men and women in a family context. This Christian perspective, which resisted the old ways with a new viewpoint that placed greater value on children, had lasting repercussions on evolving social mores. Extensive notes and an index round out this thoughtful, well-researched treatise.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

In the Narrow Places
Erica Brown
Maggid
c/o The Toby Press
PO 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
9781592643400, $22.95, 150pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Dr. Erica Brown is one of the foremost Jewish educators of our time. In her latest book, "In the Narrow Places", she brings her extraordinary teaching skills to the subject of the Three Weeks, the period of mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples. For each day of the Three Weeks, she presents a short, inspirational essay based on biblical texts followed by a kavana, a spiritual focus that involves reflection, imagination or action to transform these somber days of remembrance into a period of introspection and spiritual growth. Alongside the traditional prophecies of doom and consolation traditionally read during the Three Weeks, "In the Narrow Places" offers a new process for rebuilding and a re-affirmation of hope. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "In the Narrow Places" is highly recommended and instructive reading. Enhanced with a 'Glossary of Hebrew and Aramaic Terms', "In the Narrow Places" would make an enduringly valued and appreciated addition to personal and academic Judaic Studies supplemental reading lists.

The Koren Jerusalem Bible
English text revised and edited by Harold Fisch
Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd.
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
9789653010550 $49.95 www.korenpub.com

The Koren Jerusalem Bible is a bilingual edition of the sacred text. Each two-page spread has Hebrew on the right, and an English translation by the respected Professor Harold Fisch on the left. This revised edition also includes a transliteration of all names appearing in the Bible, and a cross-reference index of the standard English version of the Biblical names. The Koren Jerusalem Bible is the definitive centerpiece of both private and public library Judaic Studies shelves.


The Cookbook Shelf

Sweet Treats for the Holidays
Norene Cox
Front Table Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
9781462114184 $18.99 www.cedarfort.com

Illustrated with full-color photography of every goodie, Sweet Treats for the Holidays lives up to its title with a plethora of edible holiday-themed desserts, made from simple store-bought candy, cookies, frosting, etc. No baking is required to create these charming, delightful, and artistic recipes such as Graveyard Pudding Cups (for Halloween), Dreidel Meringue Pops (for Hanukkah), North Pole Ice Cream Sammies (for Christmas), Muhindi Waffles (for any time of year), and much more. Many of the brightly colored morsels will appeal to young people, making Sweet Treats for the Holidays an excellent choice for a holiday or rainy-day cooking project that parents and children can engage in together. Highly recommended!

Best of Bridge Holiday Classics
The Editors of Best of Bridge
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778804871, $29.95, www.amazon.com

"Best of Bridge Holiday Classics: 225 Recipes for Special Occasions" is a nicely illustrated, 306 page compendium comprised of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for dishes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, and be appropriate for any and all dining occasions including parties, brunches, buffets, formal holiday dinners, and even food gifts for the holiday season. Of special note is the chapter of recipes for those inevitable Leftovers! From a Shrimp and Crab Quiche; a Sun Dried Tomato Dip; a Frosted Waldorf Salad; and Seafood Scallop Shells; to English Spiced Beef; Garlic and Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb; Wild Rice and Artichoke Hearts; and Chocolate-Mocha Cheesecake, here are dishes as elegant as they are nutritious. Spiral bound so it will lay out flat on a kitchen table or counter, "Best of Bridge Holiday Classics: 225 Recipes for Special Occasions" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library Cookbook collections.

365 Vegan Smoothies
Kathy Patalsky
Avery Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
Trina Kaye Organization
9781583335178, $20.00, www.amazon.com

A smoothie (the name comes from the smooth property of the emulsion) is a blended and sometimes sweetened beverage made from fresh fruit (fruit smoothie), vegetables and in special cases can contain chocolate or peanut butter. In addition to fruit, many smoothies include crushed ice, frozen fruit, honey or contain syrup and ice ingredients. They have a milkshake-like consistency that is thicker than slush drinks. They can also contain milk, yogurt or ice cream. Smoothies are often marketed to health conscious people, and some restaurants offer add-ins such as soy milk, whey powder, green tea, herbal supplements, or nutritional supplement mixes. Expertly compiled by vegan authority Kathy Patalsky, "365 Vegan Smoothies: Boost Your Health With a Rainbow of Fruits and Veggies" is a 336 page compendium comprised of one superb and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes after another -- enough for every day of the year before repeating! These are smoothies that anyone -- vegan or non-vegan -- will enjoy anytime and every time of the year. Very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "365 Vegan Smoothies: Boost Your Health With a Rainbow of Fruits and Veggies" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.00).

The Pollen Family Table
Corky, Lori, Dana, and Tracy Pollan
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com
9781476746371, $30.00, www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of the female members of the Pollan family, "The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals" is a colorfully illustrated, 352 page compendium showcasing an amazing diversity of kitchen cook friendly recipes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. Ideal for the novice family cook, "The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals" starts off with invaluable basic information on key ingredients for a well stocked pantry of cabinet, essential cooking tools, explanations of basic cooking terms, and useful commentary on cooking techniques, tricks, and short cut. The recipes that follow range from a Hunter's Chicken Stew with Tomatoes and Mushrooms; a Bistro Burger with Caramelized Onions; Panfried Tofu with Chimichurri Sauce; and Cheese Tortellini with Butternut Hash and Toasted Hazelnuts; to Jalapeno, Pork, and Hominy Chili; Mediterranean Salad with Seared Tuna; Roasted Balsamic Haricots Verts with Slivered Almonds; and a Raspberry Pudding Cake. Encyclopedic in scope, "The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.


The Wine Shelf

Timeless Bounty
Thomas Pellechia
Burford Books, Inc.
101 East State Street, #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801751 $18.95 www.burfordbooks.com

Illustrated with beautiful color photography, Timeless Bounty: Food and Wine in New York's Finger Lakes is a tribute to the culinary and wine traditions of the Finger Lakes region of New York, which are directly connected to the region's agricultural bounty. From the story of Reverend William Bostwick, who planted the first grape crop in Hammondsport in 1829, to Dr. Konstantin Frank, who successfully grew vinifera grapes in the region, to modern-day produce growers and winemakers, Timeless Bounty is as much a historical chronicle as it is a celebration. The "locavore" movement (emphasizing locally grown food) is also covered, and a handful of recipes from area restaurateurs rounds out this gourmet and wine connoisseur's treasure.


The American History Shelf

Beyond the Burning Bus
Phil Noble
NewSouth, Inc.
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
9781603060103 $19.95 www.newsouthbooks.com

Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Beyond the Burning Bus: The Civil Rights Revolution in a Southern Town is the true story of Anniston, Alabama, a small industrial city nestled between Birmingham and Atlanta. In 1961, the specter of racial violence threatened the peaceful town, when the Ku Klux Klan firebombed a Freedom Riders bus. A handful of civic leaders, both black and white, realized that the tide of history was turning, and worked together to unite the community. They created a Human Relations Council to end Jim Crow segregation laws and customs. Because of their work, the toll of racial violence and misery was much lower in Anniston than in many other cities during the 1960's. Author Phil Noble, who was a Presbyterian Minister in Anniston and participated in the Council, offers his testimony of that pivotal area. Backed with research yet told from a personal perspective, Beyond the Burning Bus is a welcome addition to American History with a focus on the civil rights era, and highly recommended.

County Capitols
Arthur L. Rusch, author
With an essay by Jason Haug
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780985290504 $29.95 www.sdshspress.com

Illustrated with black-and-white photography of historic courthouses throughout, County Capitols: The Courthouses of South Dakota is as much about the history of these storied edifices as their architecture. During the pioneer era, South Dakota communities competed fiercely for designation as a county seat (and access to railroad lines); such a distinction improved the odds that a town would flourish, and raised local land values. Land speculators especially had a vested interest in ensuring a courthouse would be established near their own property. This conflict of interest led to "courthouse fights" between rival communities, ranging from bidding wars to midnight excursions to steal county records, or even the destruction of nascent courthouses! County Capitols devotes two or more pages to each of dozens of courthouses, recounting the often colorful tales behind their creation and use, and makes an excellent addition to South Dakota state history shelves.


The Civil War Shelf

Civil War Chicago
Theodore J. Karamanski and Eileen M. McMahon, editors
Ohio University Press
215 Columbus Road, Suite 101
Athens, OH 45701
9780821420843 $29.95 www.ohioswallow.com

Also available as an ebook, Civil War Chicago: Eyewitness to History assembles little-known literature written by those who observed the American Civil War and its effects on the city of Chicago, Illinois firsthand. Skillfully edited by two expert history professors, Civil War Chicago gathers primary sources ranging from court cases to sanitary condition reports, accounts of rioting, and even the drive to continue sporting events amid the ominous shadow of war. Even though Chicago largely supported the Union war effort, emancipation, and strict treatment of the South's civilians, Civil War Chicago vividly portrays the city's divisions and conflicts - between Lincoln supporters and Copperheads (Northern Democrats who opposed the war and advocated a peace settlement with the Confederacy), between whites and blacks, between workers and managers, between natives and new arrivals. An excellent addition to public and college library Civil War shelves.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Celtic Tree Magic
Danu Forest
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738741017 $17.99 www.llewellyn.com

Practicing Druid witch and Celtic shaman Danu Forest presents Celtic Tree Magic: Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries, a guide to the ogham tradition of Celtic spiritual practice. Chapters instruct the reader how to make salves, tinctures, ointments, and green crafts; perform ogham divinations, charms and spells; the healing attributes and magical correspondences of ogham's twenty-five trees; create wands and other magical tools; and much more. "Divination is the act of accessing spirit or divine wisdom for application and guidance in the everyday world... However, the power to change and act in relation to fate and circumstances is always in the hands of the seeker. No divination technique ever presents the future as if it is carved ins tone. As such, it is a tool for advice that suggests layers of meaning." An index rounds out this thoughtful, user-friendly resource, especially recommended for those with an interest in botanical lore and ancient spiritual traditions.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Practical Interfaith
Rev. Steven Greenebaum
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594735691 $16.99 www.skylightpaths.com

Practical Interfaith: How to Find Our Common Humanity as We Celebrate Diversity presents the Interfaith movement as a path to religious and spiritual fulfillment. A central tenet of the non-denominational Interfaith movement is that there is more than one way to connect with God. Author Rev. Steven Greenebaum gives testimony drawn from personal life experience, both his own and those of the members of the community he founded, the Living Interfaith Church. Chapters address why being part of the Interfaith movement does not need conflict with the practice of own spiritual tradition, how to set the bedrock foundation of an Interfaith community and choose the right minister, the theology of the Interfaith movement, and more. "There appears to be a rather strange disease rampant these days. The disease manifests itself in the belief that anyone who disagrees with us is challenging our personhood. This disease, a pandemic in our politics as well as along our spiritual pathways, contributes mightily to making listening to another person's point of view all but impossible. If I accept the notion that any movement from my core beliefs dehumanizes me, then I can't afford to give an inch." An excellent, thoughtful, and deeply respectful resource.


The Memoir Shelf

My Wild Life
Ronald H. Wauer
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037
Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896728851 $39.95 www.ttupress.org

My Wild Life: A Memoir of Adventures within America's National Parks is the true-life testimony of author Ronald H. Wauer, who worked in America's national parks as a seasonal ranger for thirty-two years until his retirement in 1989. Black-and-white photography of these magnificent parks and their wildlife intersperses Wauer's tales of research projects, flying squirrels and gray owls at Crater Lake; prairie falcons and sidewinders at Death Valley; mountain lions and cave swallows at Big Bend, and much more. A treasury of unforgettable stories that nature lovers everywhere are sure to enjoy, My Wild Life is highly recommended.


The Photography Shelf

Unseen London
Mark Daly, text
Peter Dazeley, photography
Frances Lincoln Publishers
74-77 White Lion Street
Islington, London, N1 9PF
9780711235519 $50.00 www.franceslincoln.com

Unseen London is a striking coffee-table book filled with gorgeous, full-color photography of the interiors of some of London's most historic, iconic, and beloved buildings, including Tower Bridge, Battersea Power Station, Big Ben, Old Bailey, and much more. Mark Daly's learned commentary enlightens readers about the history, purpose, and evolution of these edifices, many of which are still in use today. A feast for the eyes of casual browsers are studious historians alike, Unseen London is an unforgettable image treasury, highly recommended.


The Self-Help Shelf

Total Leadership
Stewart D. Friedman
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way
Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781625274380 $22.00 totalleadership.org

Now with a new preface by executive, award-winning educator, and author Stewart D. Friedman, Total Leadership: Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life is a guide to improving one's leadership skills, both in business and to improve the quality of one's personal life. The central principles are to act with authenticity, adhere to integrity, and be creative. "Even in the most intimate relationships - perhaps especially in them - it's critical for you to keep channels of communication open to remain aware of expectations and how they change as life evolves. No matter how well you think you know a person, you never fully know about his or her expectations until you ask." The accessible text includes exercises that the reader can engage in to cultivate his or her confidence, eloquence, and imagination. An excellent career and self-help resource!


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Pumpkin Cinema
Nathaniel Tolle
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764347238 $24.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Illustrated with black-and-white or color photography of many different movie posters/press kit images/film scenes, Pumpkin Cinema: The Best Movies for Halloween is a recommended compendium of 100 of the best movies for Halloween viewing, from silent era classics to foreign films to comedy, animation, science fiction and more (though a great many of the showcased cinematics are some form of horror). Some are popular blockbusters; others are little-known, but all are choice picks for getting into the Halloween mood - or for thrills and chills at any time of the year! Movies are listed in alphabetical order by title, each with a brief synopsis and a few paragraphs of more extensive description (avoiding an excess of spoilers, naturally). Shorter summaries of Halloween-themed television episodes round out this holiday horror connoisseur's treasury!


The Fiction Shelf

Sweetwater Blues
Raymond L. Atkins
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881465075 $18.00 www.mupress.org

Sweetwater Blues is an original novel about survivor's guilt and the search for redemption. Rodney Earwood and Palmer Cray grew up together in the hills of northern Georgia. They were best friends, all but brothers, until shortly after their graduation from Sweetwater High. A deadly driving accident claimed Rodney's life, leaving Palmer to struggle with the legal, moral, and personal ramifications of his greatest failure. His efforts to find meaning in life after tragedy leads him to encounter other individuals on the fringes of society - a meth dealer named Cheddar, a junkyard owner named Ottis Lee, a coffee-can addict named Bay-Annette, and Rodney's own mother, now afflicted with Alzheimer's. Heart-touching and soulful, Sweetwater Blues is a story of the human quest for hope, highly recommended.

False Cargo
L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.goldenagestories.com
9781592122677 $9.95 www.galaxypress.com

Part of the "Stories of the Golden Age" series from Galaxy Press, False Cargo is an novel reprinting one of L. Ron Hubbard's classic tales from the golden era of pulp fiction, along with a bonus short story "Grounded". Hired by Lloyd's insurance company to oversee the voyage of the vessel "Barclay" from Hawaii to San Diego, Skipper Brent Calloway becomes entangled in an illegal operation to sink the ship and collect insurance money! Can he survive the machinations of the remorseless murderer Spike O'Brien and protect the ship's vulnerable passengers, one of whom is the beautiful sister of Brent's close friend? False Cargo is a suspenseful, action-packed high-seas adventure!


The Sports Shelf

The Paul Hornung Scrapbook
Paul Hornung and Chuck Carlson
Triumph Books
triumphbooks.com
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60610
9781600789939 $30.00 www.ipgbook.com

Illustrated with color photography of Hornung himself as well as a vast private collection of memorabilia, The Paul Hornung Scrapbook is an autobiographical portrait of one of the most talented football players of the 20th century, Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung (b. 1935). Hornung played his entire career for the Green Bay Packers, winning four NFL titles and the first Super Bowl. A candid, fascinating true-life testimony, the Paul Hornung Scrapbook is a special treasure for Packers fans.


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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