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

Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 10 October 2013 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice American History Shelf World History Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Poetry Shelf Cookbook Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Relationship Shelf Gaming Shelf Political Science Shelf
Architecture Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Botany Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Civil War Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Computer Shelf
Sports Shelf Memoir Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Photography Shelf Crafts Shelf Business Shelf
Agriculture Shelf Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Travel Shelf Wisconsin Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Me and the Biospheres
John Allen
Synergetic Press
One Bluebird Court
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508
9780907791379 $39.95 www.synergeticpress.com

Winner of the Independent Book Publishers Association's Benjamin Franklin Award, Me and the Biospheres: A Memoir by the Inventor of Biospheres 2 is the true-life recollections of a man responsible for a unique environmental experiment. Author John Allen designed Biosphere 2, a three-acre complex in the Arizona desert containing a rainforest, a desert, a savannah, a coral reef, farming areas, and a micro-city, all enclosed within glass and steel. Eight people lived in Biosphere from 1991-1992, and the information gathered on their environmental impact would prove crucial to advance human understanding of sustainability, as well as furthering the prospect of what would be needed for manned missions in outer space. Occasional black-and-white photographs intersperse this first-person testimony of taking part in a living, breathing ecological experiment. Me and the Biospheres is as fascinating for lay readers as it is informative for ecological studies collections, and highly recommended.

Bird Songs of the Mesozoic
David Brendan Hopes
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, #300
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
9781571312778 $15.95 www.milkweed.org

Bird Songs of the Mesozoic is an eclectic amalgamation of musings from author and avid nature hiker David Brendan Hopes. Many of the insights are drawn directly from his thoughts on the trail, including his observations of plants, people, and animals. Others are moments of humor, sadness, or timeless reflection. A handful of black-and-white avian artworks embellish this thought-provoking and wistfully enlightening collection, sure to appeal to nature lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and "armchair hikers" alike.


The American History Shelf

Roadside History Of Illinois
Stan Banash
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780878425990, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Illinois is the fifth most populous state in the union. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal, timber, and petroleum in the south, Illinois has a diverse economic base and is a major transportation hub. The Port of Chicago connects the state to other global ports from the Great Lakes, via the Saint Lawrence Seaway, to the Atlantic Ocean; as well as the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River, via the Illinois River. For decades, O'Hare International Airport has been ranked as one of the world's busiest airports. Located in the heart of the American Midwest, the state of Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social, cultural, and political issues. The "Roadside History Of Illinois" by Stan Banash is a 496 page compendium providing the reader with a unique history of this remarkable state using its systems of roads and highways to tour its historical places and attractions. Enhanced with black-and-white historical photos and numerous line drawings, the "Roadside History Of Illinois" is informed, informative, superbly organized, deftly presented, and highly recommended for personal and community library American History collections in general, and Illinois History supplemental reading lists in particular.


The World History Shelf

1916: What The People Saw
Mick O'Farrell
Mercier Press
9781781171509 $26.95 www.mercierpress.ie

1916: What The People Saw is a historical anthology of civilian eyewitness accounts of the 1916 Easter Rising (an armed rebellion in Ireland against British rule, staged during Easter Week). More than half of the 400 killed and 2,000 wounded from the Easter Rising were civilians, yet most studies focus on testimonies from the key actors in the uprising. 1916: What the People Saw draws upon letters, diaries, biographies, and contemporary periodical articles to show how ordinary people witnessed and reacted to events. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this welcome addition to public and college library world history collections.


The Philosophy Shelf

Psych and Philosophy
Robert Arp, editor
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812698251, $19.95, www.amazon.com

"Psych" had a very successful run as a weekly one hour television show blending comedy with 'who done it' mystery plots featuring Sherlock Holmes quality detection skills by a young man who disguised his phenomenal abilities observation and deduction abilities as a psychic phenomenon. Ably compiled and deftly edited by Robert Arp, "Psych and Philosophy: Some Dark Juju-Magumbo" is a 288 page compendium comprised of twenty-four insightful articles based on this television series and taking up the implications of 'psychic' as the basis of the show's primary premise. Of special note is Laura Guidry-Grimes' article 'Should the Police Hire a Psychic Detective?'. Thoughtful and thought-provoking and highly recommended reading, "Psych and Philosophy: Some Dark Juju-Magumbo" is part of the outstanding Open Court Publishing Company's 'Popular Culture and Philosophy Series' and would be a valued addition to community and academic library Philosophy and Contemporary Culture Studies reference collections. It should also be noted that "Psych and Philosophy: Some Dark Juju-Magumbo" is available in a Kindle edition ($11.49).


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Original Perfection
Keith Dowman, translator
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.wisdompubs.org
9780861716807, $16.95, www.amazon.com

According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by adherents of other Tibetan Buddhist sects. According to Dzogchen literature, Dzogchen is the highest and most definitive path to enlightenment. Ably translated into English with his own original commentary by Keith Dowman, "Original Perfection: Vairotsana's Five Early Transmissions" is a 128 page compendium showcasing Dzogchen master Vairotsana's five early teachings that deeply influenced Dzogchen practices as part of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Erudite, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Original Perfection" is very strongly recommended reading for students of Buddhism. It should also be noted that "Original Perfection" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Christian Studies Shelf

Did God Abandon Us?
Lisa M. Maddox
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue East
Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
www.pilgrimpress.com
9780829819311, $14.00, www.amazon.com

Organized religion has been susceptible and at risk for corruption throughout the whole of recorded human history. This is true for Christian congregations no matter how large or small they may be in numbers. Human behavior is flawed by pride, jealousy, misunderstandings, and a host of other negatives. But perhaps most commonly it happens when churches cease to be understood as having the role of being a kind of spiritual hospital where the imperfect go to heal the wounds that sins have inflicted upon them either through their own misbehaviors or the misbehaviors of others. God does not abandoned his people in their times of trial and tribulation. That's the principle message of Lisa M. Maddox in "Did God Abandon Us?: Helping Small Churches Heal", a 125 page compendium dealing directly with the issues of congregational trauma and how to resolve them and in the process creating healthier, stronger Christian communities. Highly recommended reading, "Did God Abandon Us?: Helping Small Churches Heal" will prove to be an especially valued tool for pastors and lay leaders seeking to heal congregational rifts, traumas, and spiritual injuries.

Happy the People
Marie D. Hoff
Liguori Publications
Liguori, Missouri
www.liguori.org
9780764822339, $12.99, www.amazon.com

The Christian gospel according to the teachings of Jesus and his disciples is a gospel fundamentally based upon loving our neighbors as ourselves, a gospel founded on the principles of social justice. "Happy the People: When Love Becomes Justice" by Marie D. Hoff (founding executive director of Catholic Charities of Idaho) is a succinct, 122 page compendium the is comprised of a gospel-based study guide designed explicitly for students, small study groups, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the promotion of social justice issues within the context of small faith communities. An instructive, inspiring, practical, and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide "Happy the People: When Love Becomes Justice" is highly recommended reading -- especially for those who seek to improve the lives of themselves, their families, their neighbors, the fellow church members, and their communities at large.

Pocket Prayers For Parents
Kathy Hendricks
Twenty-Third Publications
PO Box 6015, New London, CT 06320
http://store.pastoralplanning.com/index.html
9781585959365, $9.95, www.amazon.com

"Pocket Prayers For Parents" presented by Kathy Hendricks is a succinct, pocket-sized, 80 page compendium comprised of parenthood theme prayers. Each prayer only takes a moment, but can have a life-time impact. Inspired and inspiring, "Pocket Prayers For Parents" is highly recommended for all Christian parents regardless of denominational affiliation. Truly, from the birth of a child, through all the years of childhood and adolescence, from celebrating birthdays, to the assimilation of an adopted child, "Pocket Prayers For Parents" will prove enduringly invaluable.

Go to Joseph
Michael O'Neill McGrath
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
www.wlpmusic.com
9781584596196, $39.95, www.amazon.com

"Go to Joseph" is a 131 page compendium featuring the superbly crafted illustrations of St. Joseph by Brother Michael O'Neill McGrath, OSFS. "Go to Joseph" features sixteen authors exploring different aspects of St. Joseph's life as husband, father, craftsman, traveler, guide, and more. Each painting is presented with the intention of explaining how St. Joseph inspired the artist to create these beautiful images. A beautifully presented celebration of how St. Joseph's has inspired (and continues to inspire) new generations of Christians, "Go to Joseph" is highly recommended inspirational reading.

The Way To True Happiness
Ralph Venning
Banner of Truth
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
www.banneroftruth.org
9781848712881, $6.00, www.amazon.com

Ralph Venning (c. 1621-10 March 1673 or 1674) was an English nonconformist Christian. The son of Francis and Joan Venning, he was born in Devon, perhaps at Kingsteignton, about 1621. He was the first convert of George Hughes, the puritan vicar of Tavistock. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was admitted as a sizar on 1 April 1643, graduated B.A. 1646, and proceeded M.A. 1650. He held a lectureship at St Olave's Church in the parish of Southwark St Olave, where he had a great repute as a preacher of charity sermons. Ejected by the Uniformity Act 1662, he became a colleague to Robert Bragge (1627 - 1704), pastor of an independent congregation at Pewterers' Hall, Lime Street, Fenchurch Street, and held this charge till his death. He died on 10 March 1674, in his fifty-third year, and was buried in Bunhill Fields. An Elegy on his death was printed on a broadsheet in March 1674. "The Way To True Happiness" is a compact, pocket-sized, 112 page compendium in which he persuasively proposes that the true way to genuine and enduring happiness is to understand and conform to the will of God. As informed and informative, as it is inspired and inspiring, "The Way To True Happiness" is as relevant today as it was nearly four hundred years ago and highly recommended, instructive reading.

The Living Gospel: Daily Devotions for Advent 2013
Brendan McGuire
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781594713835, $1.50, www.amazon.com

"The Living Gospel: Daily Devotions for Advent 2013" by Fr. Brendan McGuire (pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in San Jose, California) is offers devout Catholics a prayer book for Advent that offers practical insight and spiritual wisdom in a five-step format to help them pray, and by praying, join their lives to the living Word of God, advance their own spiritual growth each day. Highly recommended and inspiring, "The Living Gospel: Daily Devotions for Advent 2013" is also available in a Kindle edition ($0.99).


The Poetry Shelf

Sir Silly
David Dayan Fisher
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd, North Charleston, SC 29406
c/o KSB Promotions
55 Honey Creek NE, Ada, MI 49301
9781484962145, $6.75, www.amazon.com

"Sir Silly: The World Where Words Play" is a 50 page compendium showcasing the whimsical poetry of David Dayan Fisher. Enhanced with 37 line illustrations by Patricia Krebs, the poems are minor masterpieces of rhyming word play that create imaginative images in the mind's eye of the reader. Highly recommended leisure reading for anyone who enjoys new, inventive, original, and inherently interesting poetry on the light side. 'Misplaced Child': An adult is a child who misplaced his way, / Who found his serious and lost his play. / They read the news, moan about work. / They sit in traffic and iron their shirts. / The adult stops the child from play, / As the child does nothing but keep his way. / The silliness of growing up for sure. / The Happy child or the adult bore? -- It should be noted that "Sir Silly: The World Where Words Play" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.78).

Gross Ardor
Bill Rasmovicz
42 Miles Press
Department of English
Indiana University - South Bend
1700 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN, 46615
9780983074731, $15.00, www.amazon.com

"Gross Ardor" is a 91 page compendium comprised of poem by Bill Rasmovicz. This a collection of poems that are both intensely personal and universally relevant. Rasmovicz is a master of creating word images that linger in the mind long after the volume is closed and set back upon the shelf. Highly recommended for those who appreciate a well crafted body of verse. 'Over Conversations': Not everything dreams. / By the time the arsenal is built, it is expired. // Someone is always seeking an ethos to bleed, / Nausea occurs even via placebo. / In this life, you must have the tenacity of a tick / with mammoth tusks. // Still a leaf grazing the pavement mimics / a door creaking open. Eventually, the mystery / of being alone consumes itself. / There are not other eras. // Filed away as memory, memory dissipates / into atmosphere. Then why shouldn't speech / from one latitude to another, / between us, / appropriate the muscularity of clouds? // What throbs in the bushes is not a bird, / but bird-like, neither gravity nor mystique. / Something pulls us so, // and closer to admiration for the tirelessness / of weeds, for the falling world.

The Mining Road
Leanne O'Sullivan
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781852249687, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Ireland has long been famous for its poets and their ability to use language the way painters use their colors on canvas to evoke emotional responses and lingering images. "The Mining Road" is Irish poet Leanne O'Sullivan's third anthology of her verse and perhaps the best to date. Drawing for inspiration from the old copper mines around Allihies, near her home at Beara in the West Cork Irish countryside, this is a 64 page compilation of prose poetry to be savored slowly and enjoyed for a lifetime. 'Heirloom': A penny dropped / a hundred years ago / turns up beneath / our sweetheart cabbage // but Love, we are still / out for spring roots, / honeyed wets / and their vanished tracks.


The Cookbook Shelf

Sunset Cook Taste Savor
Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
Dadascope Communications (publicity)
www.oxmoorhouse.com
9780376028108, $26.00, www.amazon.com

The quality of a dish depends on the skill of the cook and the quality of the ingredients used to prepare it. "Sunset Cook Taste Savor: 16 Inspiring Ingredients For Delicious Dishes Every Day" is a compendium of remarkable recipes each of which utilizes some combination of artichokes; berries; avocadoes; tomatoes; chiles; onions; dried beans; apples; cheese; lamb; chicken; crab; mushrooms; nuts; dried fruit; and citrus. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, the recipes comprising "Sunset Cook Taste Savor" range from Buttery Raspberry Lemon Cake; Spicy Watermelon Salad; Hazelnut-Crusted halibut with Apple Salsa; and Spring Vegetable Macaroni 'n' Cheese; to Chicken Havles with Artichokes and Garlic; Mushroom Puffs; Nut-Stuffed Delicata Squash; Roasted Pork Spareribs with Citrus-Soy Sauces. Featuring more than 200 thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes to please any palate and satisfy any appetite, "Sunset Cook Taste Savor" is especially recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Power Hungry
Camilla V. Saulsbury
Lake Isle Press
2095 Broadway, Suite 301, New York, NY 10023
National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbest Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781891105548, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Energy bars can be found in every grocery story and supermarket in the country. They are mass produced, popular, and expensive. "Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook" by Camillia V. Saulsbury (writer, recipe developer, fitness trainer, endurance athlete, and creator of the health food blog Power Hungry) is a nicely illustrated, 152-page compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for creating healthy, nutritious, delicious, and relatively inexpensive energy bars in an amazing diversity of flavors and textures. Organized into five major sections (Super-Natural Knock-Offs; Activity Bars; Endurance Bars; Protein Bars; Raw and Almost Raw Bars), recipes range from Canyon Crunch Granola Bars; Carrot Cake Action Bars; and Greek Yogurt Muesli Bars; to Mega Marathon Bars; Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars; and Lemony Spirulina Bars. A unique culinary anthology, "Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Dutch Oven Breads
Mark Hansen
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781599559735, $14.99, www.amazon.com

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled (usually cast iron) cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years. "Dutch Oven Breads" by Mark Hansen is a 192 page compendium of instructions and recipes for baking bread using a Dutch oven, making it possible to enjoy freshly baked bread anywhere from the back porch to a campground kitchen. Covering all aspects of how to use a Dutch oven for baking and providing a comprehensive explanation of the bread making process, the recipes include those for common breads, ethnic breads, stuffed breads, sourdough breads, quick breads, and more! Of special note is Mark's Own Calzone! Informed, informative, and truly 'kitchen cook friendly' in tone and in substance, "Dutch Oven Breads" is a highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should also be noted that "Dutch Oven Breads" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).

The Joy Of Squash
Theresa Millang
Adventure Publications
820 Cleveland Street South
Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9781591934127, $14.95, www.amazon.com

There are more ways to cook a squash than simply baking it and serving it with butter, salt and pepper. In "The Joy Of Squash", Theresa Millang has compiled more than 200 wonderful recipes, each of which celebrates the versatility, nutritional value, and palate pleasing qualities of a properly prepared squash. The recipes range from Pork Tenderloin with Spaghetti Squash; Pumpkin Pancakes; Baked Butternut Squash with Thyme; and Microwave Squash Puree; to Chocolate Zucchini Cake; Winter Squash Cheesecake Bars; Yellow Squash-Cucumber Refrigerator Pickles; and Zucchini Relish. Of special note is the recipe for Cajun Squash French Fries! Each recipes is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' with listed ingredients and easy to following instructions. Spiral bound to lay flat upon a kitchen counter or table, "The Joy Of Squash" is highly recommended for personal and family cookbook collections.

The 163 Best Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes
Judith Finlayson
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804642 $24.95 www.robertrose.ca

The 163 Best Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes is a collection of recipes with step-by-step instructions for making delicious slow cooker recipes congruent with a Paleo diet (a regime that emphasizes nutrient-dense foods such as lean meats and vegetables, similar to what human ancestors ate in Paleolithic times; wheat or dairy are generally eschewed). But one doesn't have to be on a Paleo diet to enjoy and benefit from these delicious, healthy, easy-to-make and 100% gluten-free dishes! Recipes include "Beet Soup with Lemongrass and Lime", "Peppery Chicken in Coconut-Mushroom Gravy", "Eggplant Braised with Tomatoes and Mushrooms", "Ginger-Spiked Apple Cider Compote", and much more. A handful of color photographs enliven this excellent resource for making the most out of one's slow cooker, regardless of one's personal diet plan!

Memories of Gascony
Pierre Koffmann
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue
New York NY 10017
9781845337094 $34.99 www.octopusbooksusa.com

Originally published in 1990, the cookbook Memories of Gascony is now in a new edition interspersed with beautiful color photographs. Pairing 160 recipes of rural Gascony, France (which author Pierre Koffmann learned to cook from his grandmother) with reflections of growing up and daily life - learning how to harvest and hunt, the joy of observing the turn of the seasons, hard work on the family farm during school holidays, and more. A treasury for any who enjoy French country cuisine, with a glimpse into everyday life in simpler times, Memories of Gascony is highly recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Top 100 Power Verbs
Michael Lawrence Faulkner
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ftpress.com
9780133158854, $27.99, www.amazon.com

One of the major tools of business is effective communication. That's where "Top 100 Power Verbs: The Most Powerful Verbs and Phrases You Can Use to Win in Any Situation" can be extraordinarily useful. Author Michael Lawrence Faulkner (with the assistance of Michelle Faulkner-Lunsford) has compiled a 336 page compendium that begins with identifying the connection between communication and success in general, and how to best utilize this assembled collection in particular, then goes on to provide the top 100 'action verbs' for business, bargaining, getting in the last word, presentations, sagacity, socializing, networking, and so much more. Superbly organized and presented, "Top 100 Power Verbs: The Most Powerful Verbs and Phrases You Can Use to Win in Any Situation" is very strongly recommended as a personal and professional linguistic resource and reference. It should also be noted that "Top 100 Power Verbs: The Most Powerful Verbs and Phrases You Can Use to Win in Any Situation" is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.39).


The Relationship Shelf

Smart Relationships
LeslieBeth Wish
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
www.newhorizonpressbooks.com
9780882824383, $14.95, www.amazon.com

On average in the United States today there are 86 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women. In "Smart Relationships: How Successful Women Can Find True Love", psychologist and licensed social worker LeslieBeth Wish draws upon her more than thirty years of experience and expertise to write what is essential a 240 page instruction manual for educated and successful women seeking to find love and emotional fulfillment with a husband. Especially useful reading for women seeking to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and put an end to flawed relationship choices and patterns, "Smart Relationships" is practical, insightful, 'real world' informative, 'user friendly', and very highly recommended reading. It should also be noted that "Smart Relationships" is available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Gaming Shelf

Championship 7-Stud
Linda Johnson, Tom McEvoy, Max Stern
Jack Mason October 2013 Reviews
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580422642, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Stud poker is any of a number of poker variants in which each player receives a mix of face-down and face-up cards dealt in multiple betting rounds. Stud games are also typically non-positional games, meaning that the player who bets first on each round may change from round to round (it is usually the player whose face-up cards make the best hand for the game being played). The cards dealt face down to each individual player are called hole cards (which gave rise to the common English expression ace in the hole, which suggests that one has something valuable that is not apparent to others). Seven-card stud is a variant of stud poker. Until the recent increase in popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was the most popular poker variant in home games across the United States, and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Two to eight players is common, though eight may require special rules for the last cards dealt if no players fold. With experienced players who fold often, even playing with nine players is possible. The collaborative work of championship poker bracelet winners Linda Johnson, Tom McEvoy, and Max Stern, "Championship 7-Stud: High, 8-or-Better and Razz" is a 288 page instruction manual that will enable even the most novice stud players to successfully read the board and their opponents, determine the relative strength of their hands, know when and how to bluff and semi-bluff, and most important of all, how to win at study high-low, rzz, and 7-card student tournaments. Thorough, detailed, comprehensive, practical, and 'player friendly', "Championship 7-Stud: High, 8-or-Better and Razz" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone planning on sitting down to a game of stud poker. Incidentally, 7-card stud is the "S" game in HORSE and similar mixed game formats. It should also be noted that "Championship 7-Stud: High, 8-or-Better and Razz" is available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Defensive Play at Bridge: A Quizbook
Barbara Seagram & David Bird
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue
Toronto, ON, Canada, M5M 1H2
www.masterpointpress.com
9781897106921, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking game using a standard 52-card deck. It is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. The game consists of several deals each progressing through four phases: dealing the cards, the auction (also referred to as bidding), playing the hand, and scoring the results.[6] However most club and tournament play involves some variant of duplicate bridge, where the cards are not re-dealt on each occasion, the same deal being played by two or more different sets of players to enable comparative scoring. The World Bridge Federation is the governing body for international competitive bridge. Millions of people play bridge worldwide in clubs, tournaments, online and with friends at home, making it one of the world's most popular card games, particularly among seniors. "Defensive Play at Bridge: A Quizbook" by bridge experts Barbara Seagram and David Bird is a 160 page compendium presenting a series of specific hands, their solutions, and a wealth of useful tips for bridge players. Informed, informative, and highly recommended, "Defensive Play at Bridge: A Quizbook" should be a core part of every dedicated bridge players reference collection and supplemental reading list. It should also be noted that "Defensive Play at Bridge: A Quizbook" is available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

How To Beat Three Card Poker
Avery Cardoza
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580422949, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Poker played with three cards dates back to the origins of the game of poker. As a result it's as unclear as the origins of poker, but includes the 16th century British card game of Brag. Rules for three card poker are included in Hoyle's Rules of Games (Second Revised Edition) from 1983 along with a hi-low variant. Three card poker (TCP) is a poker variant played in casinos. In common with other such games it can also be played in other formats, such as in online gambling on the internet. It is the most profitable proprietary table game ever when measured by win generated for casinos or by revenue generated for the rights owners. In "How to Beat Three Card Poker", Avery Cardoza (an accomplished poker player, author and publisher of numerous poker instruction books), draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to write a succinct, practical, and thoroughly 'user friendly' 144 page instructional guide on how to successfully play a three card poker game against the casino. Deftly organized into informative chapters, beginning with an introduction, overview, and history of the game, then on to hand rankings, the basics of playing the game, winning strategies, exposed hole-card play, progressive side bets, tournament play, and money management. Of special note are the chapters on Casino Fundamentals, Bad Beat Bonus, and Winning & Winning Big. Enhanced with Cardoza's insightful concluding remarks and a glossary, "How to Beat Three Card Poker" is an ideal and inexpensive introduction to playing the game, a 'must' for the beginner and has a great deal of value as a refresher for even the more experienced player.

Your Money & The Casino
Missouri Rick
4-Deuce Books
2460 CR 175, Emden, 63439
9780988971707, $14.99, www.amazon.com

In "Your Money & The Casino: What To Know Before You Go", winning Craps, Blackjack, and Video Poker player Missouri Rick draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to inform aspiring gamblers how a casino's advantage works against the player and what the player can do about it; how 'winning odds' can be deceiving to the unwary; both the best and the worst games a casino has to offer; invaluable tips on playing Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Routlette, Video Poker, and Slot Machines (they don't call them One-Arm Bandits for nothing!). "Your Money & The Casino: What To Know Before You Go" also reveals what 'sucker bets' are and how to avoid them. Of special note is Missouri Rick's tips on getting casino compensations and how to stay safe while in a casino. Enhanced with advice on problem gambling, a Gambling Glossary of more than 550 gaming terms, and an extensive bibliography, "Your Money & The Casino: What To Know Before You Go" should be considered a "must read" for anyone intending on trying their luck in a gaming casino. It should be noted that "Your Money & The Casino: What To Know Before You Go" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).


The Political Science Shelf

America's Way Back
Donald J. Devine
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
www.isibooks.org
9781610170635, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Every nation in human history as followed a cycle of emergence, growth, decline, and then extinction. Although the United States is the first democracy to exert global influence and enjoy an unprecedented level of wealth and military prowess, it is no exception to what the late British historian Arnold J. Toynbee described as the "Rise & Fall" of empires. There are knowledgeable political observers who are cognizant of this phenomenon and seek to preserve America in recovering from its current economic stagnation, moral exhaustion, and probable bankruptcy. One of those is American Conservative Union Vice-Chairman Donald J. Devine in "America's Way Back: Reclaiming Freedom, Tradition, and Constitution". This 288 page compendium is a kind of instructional guide that begins by describing the challenges facing America today, and then addresses what can be done to overcome them. Of special note are the two concluding chapters: 'A Constitutional Way Forward' and 'History's Most Exciting Adventure'. Enhanced with a profusion of notes and a comprehensive index, "America's Way Back: Reclaiming Freedom, Tradition, and Constitution" is strongly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the course America has been on for these past few decades and are seeking for ways to correct that course before America becomes an historical footnote akin to the fall of Rome that would precipitate us into a new Dark Age.


The Architecture Shelf

Houses Of The Hamptons: 1880-1930, revised edition
Gary Lawrance & Anne Surchin
Acanthus Press LLC
1133 Broadway, Suite 1229
New York, NY 10010
9780926494770, $85.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised edition which has four additional chapters, as well as being enhanced by the inclusion of new and archival color illustrations, "Houses Of The Hamptons: 1880-1930" is the collaborative work of professional architects Gary Lawrance and Anne Surchin. The Hamptons area along the southern shore of Long Island is fifty miles long, twelve miles wide, and eighty miles easy of New York. It was valued by the wealthy because of the fertile soil, amazing landscape, and exceptional views. It soon became home to dozens of unique mansions by some of the most influential citizenry of the time. This superbly illustrated, 336 page compendium showcases more than thirty of the most memorable of these homes complete with building diagrams and archival period photography. In addition to the homes themselves, information is provided with respect to the gifted architects and renowned architectural firms that created them. A combination of impeccable scholarship and regional architectural history, "Houses Of The Hamptons: 1880-1930" is especially recommended for professional and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Stitched Blooms
Carina Envoldsen-Harris
Lark Crafts
67 Broadway
Asheville, NC 28801
9781454704256 $16.95 www.larkcrafts.com

Stitched Blooms: 300 Floral, Leaf & Border Motifs to Embroider lives up to its title with full-color photography and step-by-step instructions to creating flower-themed embellishments with needle and thread. An accompanying CD includes all 300 motifs in black-and-white, ready to be incorporated into any sewing project! A hands-on, user-friendly resource, Stitched Blooms is a delightful supplementary resource for needlecrafters of all skill and experience levels, and perfect for adding a charming personal touch to any piece of clothing or fabric!

Artful Color Mindful Knits
Laura Militzer Bryant, author
Alexis Xenakis, photographer
XRX Books
PO Box 1525
Sioux Falls, SD 57101
9781933064260 $24.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

Featuring full color photography on every page, Artful Color Mindful Knits reveals the secrets of evoking a color repeat from hand-dyed yarn skeins, as well as how to blend color repeat, stitch count, and gauge work. Readers will learn how to create arrestingly beautiful patterning in garments ranging from simple scarves to sweaters, sampler jackets, and much more. A medley of hands-on projects round out this excellent guide to improving one's skill, highly recommended for intermediate to advanced knitters.

Quilt Black Fusion
Penny Haren
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9781935726333, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Quilt making has a long tradition of functionality being enhanced with esthetics. Block quilts are capable of making an almost infinite variety of artistic designs. In "Quilt Block Fusion: Combining Innovative Piecing Techniques", author Penny Haren draws upon her more than 20 years of experience and expertise to present a superbly illustrated 80 page compendium comprised of five projects, utilizing six blocks, and ten techniques. Aspiring quilt makers will learn about basic paper-piecing, paper-pieced applique, paper-piecing with 'Fussy Cut Segments', strip-pieced 'Grandmother's Flower Garden', machine-pieced 'Grandmother's flower Garden', strip-pieced appliques, pointed Dresden plate, round Dresden plate, paper-piecing with pieced segments, and paper-piecing with flipped back applique. A thoroughly 'user friendly', step-by-step instruction manual, "Quilt Block Fusion" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Knit Christmas Stockings, second edition
Gwen W. Steege, editor
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612122526, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Home-made, personally crafted gifts are the most meaningful of all. That's why "Knit Christmas Stockings" was knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by needlecraft expert Gwen Steege. Now in an expanded second edition, this 136 page compendium is packed with nineteen thoroughly 'user friendly' knitting patterns for creating Christmas theme ornaments and stockings. Profusely illustrated with full color photography and diagrams, each do-it-yourself knitting project provides clear step-by-step directions and invaluable information on finished measurements, needles, and additional supplies where needed. Superbly organized and presented, "Knit Christmas Stockings" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and community library needlecraft instructional reference guide collections.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Iron Bound
Brendan Leach
Secret Acres
237 Flatbush Avenue #331
Brooklyn, NY 11217
9780988814929 $21.95 www.secretacres.com

Set in 1961 New Jersey's Ironbound district, Iron Bound is a black-and-white graphic novel about the brutal realities of daily life in a world of gangs, crime, and corrupt police. Young people become enmired in paranoid networks that all too easily explode into violence. Iron Bound reveals the devastating toll that such toxic culture takes. A sobering, pull-no-punches story to the very end.


The Audiobook Shelf

Unleashed
David Rosenfelt, author
Grover Gardner, narrator
Listen & Live Audio
PO Box 817
Roseland, NJ 07068
9781593166571 $29.95 www.listenandlive.com

Unleashed: An Andy Carpenter Mystery is the unabridged audiobook adapation of a dramatic tale by award-nominated thriller author David Rosenfelt. When Andy Carpenter receives a phone call from Barry Price, a distressed friend he hasn't seen since high school, he rushes to help - but is distracted by an injured dog along the way. By the time Carpenter secures care for the dog, Barry has departed on a private flight that subsequently crashes, an event that cannot be an accident. But Barry wasn't the only person a mysterious killer wanted dead, and if Andy doesn't put the pieces together quickly, he and more of his friends could be next! An exciting intrigue story of twists, turns, and the rehabilitation of a loyal canine friends, Unleashed is a treat for mystery lovers and dog lovers alike! 6 CDs, 7 hours.

Temptation
Sherryl Woods, author
Tanya Eby, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480511989 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Temptation is a heartwarming, unabridged audiobook about a Wall Street career woman confronted by one unforeseen upheaval after another. The stress of her job makes family life difficult, and tears apart her marriage. Then the attractive and influential network president Jason Kane strives to enlist her help to improve a floundering soap opera, and her life becomes truly entangled. She learns things about her mother she never would have guessed; one of her friends falls into mortal peril; and perhaps most unexpectedly, an opportunity presents itself to move beyond heartache and experience once-in-a-lifetime love. Witty and inviting, Temptation is a delight to experience, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10 hours 2 min.

The Pilgrim's Progress
John Bunyon
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781843797302, (NA0133), $69.98, www.amazon.com

"The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come" is a Christian allegory written by John Bunyan and published in February, 1678. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print. Bunyan began his work while in the Bedfordshire county prison for violations of the Conventicle Act, which prohibited the holding of religious services outside the auspices of the established Church of England. Superbly narrated by David Shaw-Parker, this Christian literary classic is now available in a complete and unabridged CD audio book format from Naxos. This technically flawless recording on 10 CDs and has a total running time of 12 hours, 3 minutes, 53 seconds. Although some 300 years old, this allegorical tale of a Christian's struggle to overcome temptations and obtain salvation in the Kingdom of God is as relevant today as it ever was. Very highly recommended for personal, church, and community library collections, it should also be noted that listeners can download an accompanying CD booklet by accessing n-ab.com/pilgrim.

A Rake's Midnight Kiss
Anna Campbell, author
Antony Ferguson, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781452608891 $39.99 www.tantor.com

Book 2 in Anna Campbell's "Sons of Sin Series", A Rake's Midnight Kiss is a steamy, unabridged audiobook about the tense attraction between two opponents, each with secrets to hide. Genevieve Barrett must conceal that she is the true author of her father's articles, while Sir Richard Harmsworth conceals his insecurity about being born out-of-wedlock by pretending to be an aloof heartbreaker. Secretly, he believes that the Harmsworth Jewel, a priceless treasure owned by Genevieve's family, will cement his status and standing. When he adopts the identity of a student to get closer to the Harmsworth Jewel, Genevieve sees through his ruse at once, recognizing him as the masked intruder who tried to steal the gem once before. A tense drama of the attraction and razor-edge balance between two strong-willed people, A Rake's Midnight Kiss is sensuously steeped in intrigue and passion alike. 10 CDs, 12 hours.

Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 - January 24, 1986), better known as L. Ron Hubbard, was an American pulp fiction author and is nowadays best known as the founder of the Church of Scientology. Galaxy Press is dedicated to keeping the literary works of Hubbard available to new generations of readers. They have also been responsible for producing technologically flawless multi-cast audio book productions of Hubbards pulp fiction stories. Four particularly outstanding examples are "One Was Stubbon" (9781592122448, $9.95) which originally appeared in the pages of the November 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. This superbly performed audio book also includes two Hubbard science fiction short stories "A Can of Vacuum" and "240,000 Miles Straight Up". First published in the February 1934 isse of Thrilling Adventures, "The Green God" (9781592123155, $9.95) is one of Hubbard's action/adventure yarns set in 1930s China. This audio book production also includes the short story "Fix Mex for a Million". "The Dive Bomber" (9781592122301, $12.95) is one of Hubbard's aeronautical action/adventure novels and appeared in the July 1937 issue of Five-Novels Monthly. Another one of Hubbard's action/adventure novels set in China is "Inky Odds" (9781592121632, $9.95) and was first featured in the June 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly. Each audio book production is superbly enhanced with music and sound effects. The result is a perfect 'theatre of the mind' listening experience. All of these Galaxy Press productions are enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audio book collections.


The Music CD Shelf

Then What!?
Jacob Bain & Publish the Quest
Privately Published
www.publishthequest.com
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$9.99 www.cdbaby.com

Then What!? is a rousing and insightful album from Jacob Bain and Publish the Quest, encompassing Bain's travels to West Africa, Zimbabwe, Thailand, and Burma. Drawing upon elements of pop, salsa, reggae, hip-hop, and Afrobeat with vocals and alto sax, Then What!? speaks to the harsh realities of the world - terror, brutal violence, a system that punishes young people and drives them deeper into debt, but maintains a positive message encouraging the listener to take a stand for their principles and work to solve problems on both small and large scales. At times rapturous, challenging, and thought-provoking, Then What!? is highly recommended. The tracks are "Then What!?", "Gotta Keep Movin!", "I Believe People Can Change", "You Never Know Who You're Gonna Meet", "Don't Point That Gun At Me", "The Wall", "When It Comes", "Taking And Taking", "When It All Falls Down", and "Swing 1".

Tempo Antico
Newpoli
Privately Published
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$15.00 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com

Tempo Antico is a music album of original arrangements of classic southern Italian songs, played in celebration of Italy's rich folk legacy. From Renaissance pieces to blended influence from Greek and Arabic traditions, Tempo Antico flows wonderfully. A true joy to experience! The tracks are "Catalina - Moresca Prima" (4:15), "Pizzicarella" (6:23), "Madonna nun e cchiu lo tiempo antico" (3:38), "Trapanarella" (2:42), "Funtana che ddaje acqua", "'A Serenata 'e Pulecenella" (4:37), "Chichilichi" (3:14), "Mamma la Rondinella" (3:57), "Antidotum Tarantulae/Tarantella del '600" (5:54), "Dicitencello Vuje" (4:59), "Nu juorno t'aggia avere" (3:52), "Amore Amore" (2:52), and "Bonus Track: Sia Benedetto ci fici lo mundo" (3:34).


The DVD Shelf

Naruto Shippuden The Movie: The Lost Tower
Viz Media LLC
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
Media Lab Public Relations (publicity)
www.medialab-pr.com
$19.98 www.viz.com

Naruto Shippuden The Movie: The Lost Tower is an action-packed anime (Japanese animation) movie set in Naruto's colorful and chaotic world, where ninja warriors cultivate extraordinary martial and magical powers to battle one another for power, money, love, or justice! Naruto himself aspires to become the greatest ninja of all, and the Hokage (ultimate protector and patron) of his home village; over the course of his life he has slowly learned how to make fast friendships, battle deadly foes, and harness the untamed spirit of the ferocious Nine-Tailed Fox trapped within his own body. The Lost Tower is the fourth Naruto movie to take place after a "time skip" period in the manga/anime; in it, an older Naruto fights to protect his friends from the machinations of the rogue ninja Mukade, the Puppet Master. When Mukade suddenly unleashes the titanic power of the Ley Line (a gigantic river of underground chakra), time itself unravels, sending Naruto into the past. He meets the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, on a desperate mission to protect the Queen of Loran and her people. Could their success or failure ultimately change the present day? Naruto must not only find a way back to his home time, but also preserve the fragile balance of history in this exciting, high-stakes adventure. Bonus features include a humorous, exclusive animated short, "Naruto and the Three Wishes", which takes place earlier in Naruto's chronology and features a quasi-battle royale between Naruto and his ninja-in-training rivals over access to a magical genie! English or Japanese audio with English subtitles, widescreen, 85 min. plus 14 min. bonus.

For Love's Sake
Directed by Andrew Walkington
Vision Video
P.O. Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com

Based on a true story, and featuring a special appearance by Bruce Marchiano, For Love's Sake is a profound DVD about the power of family bonds. When Mary Walker's husband dies, she struggles with suicidal depression, and loses custody of her two boys, James and Paul. Her children live in a succession of institutions and foster care families, and fear that they will never see their mother again. Fortunately, a compassionate and principled Christian therapist teaches Mary how to reconnect with her faith, heal her wounded soul, and confront an obstinate bureaucracy in order to earn the right and the joy to reunite her shattered family. Highly recommended for both personal and church DVD collections. DVD extras include interviews with director Andrew Walkington and actor Bruce Marchiano, deleted scenes, and more about "the real Mary", whose life story inspired For Love's Sake. 93 min., coded for all regions.

The Dark Ages: An Age of Light
Walter Januszczak
Athena Learning
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621721086 $49.99 athenalearning.com

The Dark Ages: An Age of Light challenges the popular conception that the centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire were unilaterally bleak. Historians call them the "Dark Ages" not because of their darkness, but rather because so few records were kept and so little is known of these times. Yet The Dark Ages: An Age of Light focuses upon the wonders and marvels that humans created during this era - early Christian iconography, the inception of Islamic art, and more from Britain to North Africa to Byzantium. Historian Waldemar Januszczak takes the viewer on an eye-opening world tour, in this breathtaking and educational documentary, enhanced with a 12-page informational booklet. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections. 4 episodes on 2 DVDs, 240 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

The Art of Fitness
Dr. Levi Harrison, MD
www.DrLeviFitness.com
Privately Published
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Physician, orthopedic surgeon, and fitness expert Dr. Levi Harrison, MD presents The Art of Fitness: Cardio Core Workout, an exercise program touting a full-body workout. Designed so that viewers of beginner, intermediate, or advanced fitness levels can benefit from the exercise, which incorporates boxing, jumps, jogging, kicks, arm and ab moves, and more into a whole-body workout sure to get the blood flowing. No equipment other than simple hand weights and a mat is needed to fully benefit from The Art of Fitness! An excellent, invigorating addition to DVD fitness collections. 65 min.

10 Minute Solution: High Intensity Interval Training
Lisa Kinder
www.lisakinder.com
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

NCSF Certified Personal Trainer Lisa Kinder presents 10 Minute Solution: High Intensity Interval Training, a fitness DVD comprised of five mix-or-match ten-minute segments designed for focused, intense workouts that can readily be incorporated into the busiest of schedules. The five segments are HIIT 101, a high-energy introduction to the joys of vigorous high intensity interval training; Ab HIIT, focusing on the waist and abdominals; Upper Body HIIT, designed to improve arm and shoulder strength; HIIT Explosion, which elevates the heart and metabolic rate; and Rock Bottom HIIT, which sculpts the legs and booty zone. An excellent addition to DVD fitness libraries, High Intensity Interval Training is a worthy addition to the 10 Minute Solution line of user-friendly, time-management focused DVD workouts. 54 min. Also highly recommended for fitness-conscious viewers of all skill and experience levels is Leslie Sansone's Just Walk 5 Mega Miles (93 min., $16.98), a DVD program (including an elastic toning band) that shows how to transform simple walking into a solid, full-body workout.

BodyFIT 360 Vol. 1
Michelle Dozois
www.michelledozois.com
Privately Published
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Certified pilates instructor, fitness trainer, and Former National and World Aerobic Champion Michelle Dozois, creator of the Peak 10(R) Fat Loss System, presents BodyFIT 360 Vol. 1, a fitness DVD that invites the viewer to engage in 360 degrees of motion for a satisfying workout that improves endurance, strength, and flexibility. No equipment other than an inexpensive mat is needed to benefit from the yoga stretches, dance cardio, and simple gymnastics. BodyFIT 360 is an excellent, exuberant, and invigorating addition to personal fitness DVD libraries! 58 min.

Jack Irish Set 1
Starring Guy Pearce
Based on the books by Peter Temple
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621721093 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

Jack Irish Set 1is a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of two feature-length episodes based on the acclaimed mystery novels of award-winning author Peter Temple. Jack Irish (played by Emmy-winning actor Guy Pearce) is a former lawyer, devastated by the cruel murder of his wife. Now a bitter alcoholic and part-time private investigator, he becomes enmired in the corruption, scandals, and ruthlessness of the underworld. A behind-the-scenes making-of featurette rounds out these gritty noir shows. Jack Irish Set 1 is an absolute "must-see" for fans of the genre! (Recommended for mature audiences due to violence, graphic images, nudity, and sexual situations). 202 min. plus bonus, SDH subtitles.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Doctor Who: Harvest of Time
Alastair Reynolds
Broadway Books
c/o Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036
www.broadwaybooks.com
9780385346801, $9.99, 368 pp., www.amazon.com

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television program produced by the BBC. The program depicts the adventures of a Time Lord - a time traveling, humanoid alien known as the Doctor. He explores the universe in his TARDIS (which is an acronym for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space), a sentient time-traveling space ship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, a common sight in Britain in 1963, when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, the Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save Earth and alien civilizations. There have been a succession of actors playing the role of the Doctor. When the Doctor dies he regenerates into another incarnation of himself. "Doctor Who" is so popular that there has been one American movie, and a succession of novels and comics featuring the character. "Doctor Who: Harvest of Time" features a new adventure the third Doctor who works with an British military group called 'The Unit' to save Earth from a vicious invasion by an alien race called Sild. Science fiction at its very best, "Doctor Who: Harvest of Time" is a 'must' for all dedicated Doctor Who fans! It should also be noted that "Doctor Who: Harvest Of Time" is available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).


The Biography Shelf

Richard Wagner: The Lighter Side
Terry Quinn
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10010
www.amadeuspress.com
9781574674415 $27.99 www.halleonard.com

Richard Wagner: The Lighter Side is not a standard biography, but rather a collection of little-known facts, anecdotes, quotations and more about the famous German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). Touching on topics ranging from Wagner's dysfunctional family, to the festival and theater he founded at Bayreuth, to each of his thirteen operas and the difficulties involved in staging each, and more, Richard Wagner: The Lighter Side offers a unique glimpse of not only Wagner the genius composer, but also Wagner the flawed and fallible human being. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Wagner's classic works!

Memories of James Hunt
Christopher Hilton
Haynes
Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
9780857333865 $16.99 www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com

Memories of James Hunt: Anecdotes and Insights from Those Who Knew Him is not a standard biography, but rather an eclectic remembrance of World Champion driver, womanizer, hell-raiser, and jilted husband (one wife divorced him to be with Richard Burton ) James Hunt (1947-1993), whose life has become the subject of a new movie. Hunt was a surprisingly complex man, capable of gentle temperament or flamboyant disregard. More than sixty people who knew Hunt tell their true stories in this captivating portrait, enhanced with a handful of color photographs. "James used to be sick quite often before the races - and that implies a very great degree of emotional tension, which actually underlined his courage, because he was screwing himself up so much to do it."

Chasing Frank Lloyd Wright
Conrad N. Brown
Shipyard Press
178 Buck Ridge Road, Waynesville, NC 28785
www.shipyardpress.com
9780976990376, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A blend of autobiography and professional architectural history, "Chasing Frank Lloyd Wright: His Life and Mine, Intertwined" is the personal story of Conrad N. Brown and his relationship to the famous (and in some quarters, infamous) American architect Frank Lloyd Wright). A unique contribution to studies of the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright, "Chasing Frank Lloyd Wright" is also the story of a young man coming of age in the 1950s, college life during uncertain times, and Brown's own eventual emergence as an accomplished architect in his own right. Very highly recommended and informative reading, this 184 page autobiography is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.95).


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Essential Principles Of Horseshoeing
Doug Butler, Jacob Butler, Peter Butler
Doug Butler Enterprises, Inc.
495 Table Road, Crawford, NE 69339
9780916992002, $97.00, www.dougbutler.com

Doug Butler is a farrier who draws upon his more than fifty years of experience and expertise in equine hoof care - including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves when necessary. In "Essential Principles Of Horseshoeing", Doug Butler (with the assistance of horseshoeing experts Jake and Pete Butler) deftly combines teaching the blacksmith skills of fabricating, adapting, and adjusting metal horse shoes with instructional insights of the veterinarian's knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the lower limb of the horse. The result is a thorough, comprehensive, profusely illustrated, complete manual on the care for horses' feet. "Essential Principles Of Horseshoeing" is a fundamental and very strongly recommended addition to horse owner, veterinarian, veterinary school, and academic library Farrier Studies instructional reference collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Yoga And Parkinson's Disease
Peggy van Hulsteyn, et al.
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Fl., NY, NY 10036
www.demoshealth.com
9781936303502, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Yoga is a generic term for the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. In "Yoga and Parkinson's Disease" author Peggy van Hulsteyn (who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease about twelve years ago) draws upon her more than forty years of practicing yoga to write (along with the help of certified Kripalu Yoga teacher and psychotherapist Barbara Gage and yoga therapist Connie Fisher) a 208 page compendium instructively showcasing yoga exercises that will enable Parkinson's Disease sufferers to move and 'liberate their minds and bodies' from the inevitable daily stresses that their condition will present. Step-by-step exercises instructions are enhanced by accompanying illustrations. These exercises also include aiding those with limited mobility or unsteadiness. There are postures that can be done in bed to help 'start the day'. Of special note are the modifications and practical tips that will ensure comfort and safety at every yoga level. An incredible valuable and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Health/Medicine reference collections, "Yoga And Parkinson's Disease" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone suffering from Parkinson's Disease. It should also be noted that "Yoga And Parkinson's Disease" is available in a Kindle edition ($12.49).


The Botany Shelf

Nature's Own Pharmacy
Betsie Rood
Protea
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781869198404, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Compiled with commentary by Betsie Rood, "Nature's Own Pharmacy" is a 138 page compendium comprised of South African 'veld' folk remedies for a variety of ills. The botanical name is supplied along with the popular name and description for each indigenous plant species, along with the range of its medicinal and/or cosmetic uses. The plants are presented in alphabetical order. Offering a wealth of ancient knowledge, practical remedies and useful tips, "Nature's Own Pharmacy" is enhanced with a section of full color photographs of plants. A unique collection under one cover that is also enhanced with the inclusion of a list of sources and a comprehensive index, "Nature's Own Pharmacy" is very highly recommended for personal and academic library Health/Medicine reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Batman Filmography, second edition
Mark S. Reinhart
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786468911 $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Now in an updated second edition, The Batman Filmography chronicles Batman on the silver screen from the 1940s serials to the 2012 movie "The Dark Knight Rises" (Batman television shows are not covered). A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate the in-depth text, which includes thorough film and production credits, production history, extensive critical analysis and more of each film. Historian and musician Mark S. Reinhart spares no detail in this excellent balance of scholarship and accessibility, especially recommended for connoisseurs of the Caped Crusader's adventures!


The Civil War Shelf

Union Heartland
Ginette Aley and J.L. Anderson, editors
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809332649 $39.50 www.siupress.com

Union Heartland: The Midwestern Home Front During the Civil War is an anthology of scholarly essays by seven Civil War scholars about how Midwesterners (called Westerners or Middle Westerners during the 1860's) experienced the war at home. From the conditions of Civil War prisons in the Midwest, to the Midwest's critical agricultural role to keep the soldiers and the Union fed, to the trials and travails of Midwestern Union soldiers' wives, Union Heartland is fascinating, heavily researched, and thoughtfully presented. An index rounds out this welcome addition to public and college library Civil War shelves.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Land of the Fallen Star Gods
J.S. Gordon
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street
Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431640 $20.00 www.innertraditions.com

Land of the Fallen Star Gods: The Celestial Origins of Ancient Egypt presents author J.S. Gordon's theory that the origins of Egyptian civilization stretch back tens of thousands of years further than is commonly believed. Tracing connections between the emergence of Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations and other prehistoric civilizations (ranging from cultures in Tibet and China to the legendary Atlantis and the Atlantean continent), Land of the Fallen Star Gods especially scrutinizes ancient Egypt's mystical traditions and initiatory rites. Gordon postulates that ancient Egypt was not a culture focused on death and entombment, but rather connected to cosmic knowledge and the highest level of astronomy. The primary hypothesis of Land of the Fallen Star Gods is that that the ancient Egyptian culture carried the legacy of "fallen star gods", divine celestial beings who visited Earth in the distant past, and will one day come again. Land of the Fallen Star Gods is fascinating and accessible from cover to cover, highly recommended especially for Metaphysical Studies shelves.

Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings
Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
c/o KT Public Relations
9781578594559 $19.95 www.visibleinkpress.com

Paranormal researchers Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger present Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings, an anthology of 180 tales inexplicable to the limited understanding of conventional wisdom. Spirit guides, angels, ghosts, the dream world, near-death experiences, astral projection, and much more fill he pages of this eye-opening smorgasboard of unknown frontiers. Thoroughly accessible to browsers of all backgrounds, Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings is highly recommended especially for metaphysical studies collections.


The Computer Shelf

Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012, fifth edition
Mary Delamater & Anne Boehm
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774752 $57.50 www.murach.com

Now in an updated fifth edition, Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012 is the definitive reference and resource for amateurs and professionals alike. Like all Murach manuals, Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012 is written by seasoned programmers trained in writing and teaching methodology as well as coding. The result is a user-friendly omnibus that illustrates its accessible instructions with black-and-white screenshots and sample code. Chapters cover ASP.NET basics, how to use SQL data sources, how to use DetailsView and FormView controls, how to authenticate and authorize users, how to use ASP.NET Ajax, an introduction to ASP.NET MVC, and much more. Designed to get programmers building multi-page web applications within the first four chapters, Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012 is a "must-have", especially for self-teaching or improving one's web programming skills.


The Sports Shelf

Daggers, Funnies, Gassers & Altereds
Bob McClurg
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781613251058 $29.95 www.cartechbooks.com

Illustrated with both black-and-white and full-color vintage photography on virtually every page, Daggers, Funnies, Gassers & Altereds: Drag Racing's Golden Age is an amazing tour of drag racing in the 1960's and 70's, when it evolved from a grassroots passion into a professional motorsport. Author, magazine writer, and photographer Bob McClurg has witnessed and documented the sport's transition, and compiled his finished photographs into a seamless, anecdote-filled narrative that every fan of drag racing must read!

Hitters, Dancers and Ring Magicians
Kelly Richard Nicholson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786449903 $29.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Hitters, Dancers and Ring Magicians: Seven Boxers of the Golden Age and Their Challengers closely examines the best-known boxers of the sport's "Golden Age" of 1890 to 1910. The primary emphasis is on the professional careers of George "Kid" Lavigne, Bob Fitzsimmons, Barbados Joe Walcott, Joe Gans, Terry McGovern, Sam Langford, Stanley Ketchel, and the opponents who dared to challenge them. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index round out heavily researched scrutiny, highly recommended for enthusiasts interested in the boxing's storied history as well as sports researchers and historians.

Power Eating, fourth edition
Susan Kleiner, PhD, RD
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450430173 $19.95 www.HumanKinetics.com

Now in an updated fourth edition, Power Eating is a diet and nutrition guide written especially for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone seeking to lose fat and improve their muscle tone. Grounded in years of research, Power Eating presents the aggregate of the latest understanding of nutrition science, botanicals, supplements, and more, with an eye on cutting edge discoveries. "For a long time, a debate has raged as to whether exercisers and athletes should take amino acid supplements as a natural way to enhance the muscle-building process. Today, the talk focuses more on the importance of the timing and type of protein and amino acid intake relative to muscle growth and performance. A mound of research validates the need to take protein prior to and after exercise to activate the repair and growth of lean muscle mass." A handful of suggested recipes, a list of references and an index round out this excellent and accessible resource, as valuable to casual fitness or sports enthusiasts as it is to aspiring and professional athletes.


The Memoir Shelf

Others Had It Worse
Vetra Melrose Padget Covert and Chris D. Baker
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381820 $17.50 www.uiowapress.org

Others Had It Worse: Sour Dock, Moonshine, & Hard Times in Davis County, Iowa is the de facto memoir of editor Chris Baker's grandmother, who wrote vignettes of her rural Iowa childhood in a yellow notebook. The authentic passages are each quite brief - some are only a single sentence, and most are a just a paragraph - yet they offer a window into Midwestern life in the 1920's, when poverty was widespread but it didn't stop children from having fun. "We girls had one dress most of the time to wear to School all Winter. Some one would give Mom some things and Mom and Barbara would make it over for the rest. The small boys would get made over too." Highly recommended.


The Self-Help Shelf

Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself
Lori Deschene
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573246279 $16.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself: 40 Ways to Transform Your Inner Critic and Your Life is a solid self-help guide from Lori Deschene, the founder of Tiny Buddha (tinybuddha.com). Also some Buddhist principles are subtly incorporated into the words of wisdom, Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself is a resource intended for readers of all faiths and backgrounds. The tips, true stories, and vignettes from a multitude of contributors all revolve around learning to love and accept oneself, from escaping the inner craving for validation, to the importance of prioritizing proper self-care, to freeing oneself from excessive comparisons to other people. Quick and easy to browse, yet filled with insights worthy of being pondered at length, Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself is highly recommended.

Creative You
David B. Goldstein & Otto Kroeger
Beyond Words
www.beyondword.com
c/o Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781582703657 $18.00 www.simonsays.com

Creative You is a self-help guide about drawing upon the strengths of one's natural personality traits to fuel creativity. Inspiration is not only for artists; people of all backgrounds can benefit from creative insight applied to their daily life. Chapters teach the reader how to identify the "creative type" of their natural inclinations, the creative profiles of the eight common preferences, the four temperaments of creativity, how to cultivate awareness and inventiveness, and much more. "If you're an Extrovert and you become stuck, see what other people are doing; if you're an Introvert, take extra time to reflect and let your subconscious work. In addition, writing down ideas unclutters the Introverts' mind and help Extroverts to see their options." Creative You is an excellent aid to enhance personal creativity, and is especially recommended to anyone aspiring or practicing a profession in which creativity is paramount (such as writing, advertising, or any type of show business)!


The Photography Shelf

Moments that Matter
Farrah Braniff
Bright Sky Press
2365 Rice Blvd., Suite 202
Houston, TX 77005
9781936474936 $19.95 www.brightskypress.com

Moments that Matter: Real Life Photography Techniques for Capturing the Wonder of Family Life lives up to its title with easy-to-follow guidelines for photographers of all skill and experience levels. Professional photographer and mother of three Farrah Braniff offers tips, tricks, and techniques for capturing timeless moments, especially with regard to one's family and playful children. "I always look for bright light with a little bit of cover... The little bit of cover keeps people from needing to squint their eyes and it helps you avoid the split lighting look that happens when you are in the direct sunshine." Parents and grandparents especially will delight in the improved quality photographs they can take with the helpful advice of Moments that Matter! Highly recommended.


The Crafts Shelf

Clean & Simple Cards
Tami Mayberry
Annie's
306 East Parr Road
Berne, IN 46711
9781596355873 $14.95 Annies-Publishing.com

Clean & Simple Cards is a full-color guide to creating over 50 types of stunningly beautiful, lovingly handcrafted greeting cards suitable for any number of occasions. All of the captivating cards have a unique charm and make a profound impression, especially when compared to generic store-bought cards! Full-color photography on every page, inexpensive materials lists, and step-by-step instructions make using Clean & Simple Cards a snap. These designs are works of art - some involve ribbons, others basic papercraft, or bright gems such as self-adhesive rhinestones. Clean & Simple Cards is highly recommended not just as a how-to guide, but also as a source of inspiration for creative card crafters!


The Business Shelf

Developing Successful Sport Marketing Plans, fourth edition
David K. Stotlar
Fitness Information Technology
West Virginia University
262 Coliseum, WVU-PE, PO Box 6116
Morgantown, WV 26506-6116
9781935412557 $39.00 www.fitinfotech.com

Now in a revised and updated fourth edition, Developing Successful Sport Marketing Plans is a solid guide to marketing in the sport industry, with particular emphasis on targeting consumers. Chapters cover how to create a value proposition, determine market size, apply different marketing strategies, and more. "Best Practice" examples of successful marketing, sample worksheets, a list of references and an index round out this thoroughly accessible "must-have" for marketing professionals responsible for promoting any sport event or product. "Pride and Ferrell (2008) noted that because service marketing involves intangible assets, managing the consumer relationship becomes critical. Relationship marketing works particularly well in sports because the customers are more connected to the sport and teams than are nonsport consumers."


The Agriculture Shelf

Raising Goats Naturally
Deborah Niemann
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717459 $24.95 www.newsociety.com

Raising Goats Naturally: The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat and More is a reader-friendly guide to caring for goats in a sustainable manner, whether as pets or for their meat, milk, or soap making. Chapters cover proper housing and feeding of goats; how to prevent or deal with common parasites, illnesses, and injuries; goat pregnancy and birthing; raising goat kids and milking goats; and much more. Some discussion of butchering goats for meat is also included. "...although old goat may not taste too bad, it causes terrible indigestion. We tried many recipes, and everyone always ended up with indigestion for several hours after eating the meat. We finally gave up and fed the rest of the meat to our livestock guardian dogs." A handful of black-and-white photographs, a glossary, and an index round out this "must-have" for every goat owner.


The Fiction Shelf

Where Somebody Waits
Margaret Kaufman
Paul Dry Books
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 808
Philadelphia, PA 19103
9781589880894 $15.95 www.pauldrybooks.com

Set in small-town Arkansas during the second half of the twentieth century, Where Somebody Waits is a novel about the toll of illicit love. Ruby Davidson is a strong-willed, red-haired woman, compassionate to those less fortunate. She loves her husband, as well as her nephews and nieces, and gets along well with the southern Jewish family she has married into. But she is also in love with her high school sweetheart, and cannot let their relationship go. At first she rationalizes her secret double life, believing she can do as she will as long as no one is hurt; but gradually, the strain of hiding so much begins to wear her down. A thought-provoking story of coming to terms with difficult choices and inevitable reality, Where Somebody Waits is highly recommended.

Her Own Place
Dori Sanders
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29208
www.sc.edu/uscpress
9781611172447 $18.95 pbk. / $9.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Now in paperback with a new introduction by the author, Her Own Place is an original novel following the life of a southern African-American woman from her teenage years in 1940 through marriage, the toll of War II, and the burden of raising five children on her own after her husband leaves. A vivid saga of the trials and tribulations of daily life, as well as the ripples of and resistance to the racial integration of the South, Her Own Place is emotional, thought-provoking, and grounded in fully realized characters. Highly recommended.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Girl in Berlin
Elizabeth Wilson
Serpent's Tail
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations
255 W 108th St., Suite 901
New York, NY 10025
9781846688270 $14.95 www.serpentstail.com

Set in the summer of 1951, amid the heyday of the Cold War, The Girl in Berlin is a psychological thriller about espionage and international intrigue. Jack McGovern is a policeman in the employ of Britain's M15 internal counter-intelligence agency. He's assigned to tail Colin Harris, a British Communist Party member thought to be gay. Harris announces his intention to bring home a girl he met in East Berlin; at roughly the same time, a mole is discovered in the agency, and two agents vanish. McGovern must travel to East Berlin to uncover the truth, in this taut and intricate period piece, enthusiastically recommended for fans of mystery and suspense.

The Apocalypse Calendar
Emile A. Pessagno, Jr.
Two Harbors Press
212 3rd Ave. North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.Apocalypse-Calendar.com
9781938690853 $14.99 www.twoharborspress.com

The Apocalypse Calendar is a suspenseful novel about impending Armageddon. When Professor Frank Miller and his team of university geologists stumble across the treasure of the century in rural Mexico, they remove it for further study... but this action correlates with a cataclysmic increase in natural disasters and tectonic activity. Can the unwitting fulfillment of a dire prophecy, and the extinction of humankind, be averted? An intense race against time ensues, in this gripping thriller!

The Glass Factory
Kenneth Wishnia
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
c/o Independent Publishers Group (dist.)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9781604867626 $16.95 www.pmpress.org

Ex-NYPD cop Filomena Buscarsela is beset by another deadly mystery in The Glass Factory, a suspenseful novel about pollution, corruption, and murderous greed. Fiona's nemesis is wealthy, and connecting him to the illegal water poisoning done by a high-tech Long Island factory will test all of Filomena's sleuthing skills. Amid the dangers of her job and the demands of justice, she must also handle the responsibility of raising her three-year-old daughter - and the unexpected surprise of a new romance! Brisk and exciting, The Glass Factory is a treat for modern mystery aficionados, highly recommended.


The Travel Shelf

Peakbagging Montana
Cedron Jones
Riverbend Publishing
PO Box 5833
Helena, MT 59604
9781606390412 $14.95 www.riverbendpublishing.com

Written by hiker Cedron Jones, for hikers, Peakbagging Montana: A Guide to Montana's Major Peaks is a guide to 53 solid hikes in the great state of Montana. The hikes cover a broad range of skill and endurance levels, but are primarily concentrated in the mountainous western third of the state. Each hike has driving instructions to reach the site, a difficulty evaluation, a black-and-white map, and a brief but enlightening description. Any hiker living or vacationing in Montana will find Peakbagging Montana invaluable!


The Wisconsin Shelf

Creating Old World Wisconsin
John D. Krugler
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299292645, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Old World Wisconsin is an open-air museum located near Eagle, Wisconsin. Opened in 1976, the museum is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. It portrays housing and the daily life of immigrants in 19th century Wisconsin. The largest outdoor museum of rural life in the United States, it encompasses nearly 600 acres of rolling wooded hills and contains over 60 historic structures. These range from ethnic farmsteads with furnished houses and rural outbuildings to a crossroads village. A restaurant and conference space are located in the octagonal Clausing Barn, along with a gift shop. Trams run between the Scandinavian and German, African American, and Crossroads villages. "Creating Old World Wisconsin: The Struggle to Build an Outdoor History Museum of Ethnic Architecture" by John D. Krugler (Professor of American History, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a 270 page compendium providing an informative and detailed history of the conception, development, and operation of this unique Wisconsin tourist destination. Highly recommended reading for anyone who has ever visited one of Wisconsin's premier attractions, "Creating Old World Wisconsin" is a 'must' for all Wisconsin school and college library collections.

Something for Everyone
Michael Leannah
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53575
9780870205811 $22.95 www.wisconsinhistory.org

Something for Everyone: Memories of Lauerman Brothers Department Store is a thoroughly accessible history of this chain that began in 1890 as a general store in the town of Marinette, Wisconsin. Lauermans' popularity and success climbed in subsequent decades, yet competition from big-name stores such as K-mart and Walmart eventually brought the business to an end in 1987. Something for Everyone blends business, economics, and nostalgic memories into an appealing whole, charting the rise and fall of a family-based retail chain. Black-and-white photographs pepper this excellent addition to Wisconsin history collections!


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design