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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 9 September 2010 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice American History Shelf Architecture Shelf
Art Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Literary Shelf Cookbook Shelf Photography Shelf
Fiction Shelf Business Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Gardening Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf World History Shelf Poetry Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Aviation Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Travel Shelf Railroading Shelf
Military Shelf Gaming Shelf Economics Shelf
Education Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Music Shelf
Human Sexuality Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Biography Shelf Parenting Shelf Science Shelf
Technology Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Bridal Flowers
Ginny Parfitt, Bill Murphy, AIFD & Tina Skinner
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764334856 $24.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Bridal Flowers: Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Corsages is a dazzling visual tour of lush floral arrangements for brides, bridesmaids, and other members of the wedding party. Vivid, full color photographs illustrate bouquets for all seasons, featuring a variety of floral palettes in stylish arrangements, while the text offers insights into the significance of different colors, and even practical tips such as how to properly tie a bouquet. Bridal Flowers is especially recommended as an inspirational sourcebook for wedding planners, floral arrangers or even brides-to-be in search of the perfect complement to their big day. A dazzlingly beautiful book, highly recommended.

Rifles
Jim Supica & Doug Wicklund
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd, Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92121
9781607100959 $19.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com

Featuring striking full-color photography, Rifles is an oversized hardcover volume offering a solid history of the hunting rifle, and a detailed profile of the most popular rifle models from over thirty of the world's best-known firearm manufacturers. The result is a vivid cross-section of rifle models that is captivating to simply page through. Rifles is an inexpensive, accessible, yet surprisingly lavish volume, especially recommended for firearm enthusiasts.

The Great Airship of 1897
J. Allan Danelek
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
9781935487036 $16.95 www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

The Great Airship of 1897: A Provocative Look at the Most Mysterious Aviation Event in History is the story of an amazing phenomenon that beset residents of California near the beginning of the twentieth century - the appearance of an inexplicable "cigar-shaped" bright light that passed over cities and initiated rampant media speculation. A few months later the same craft(?) also appeared over prairie states of the Midwest. Was this apparition a functioning airship, ten years before Von Zeppelin created the first of the crafts that would bear his name? Was it merely a media hoax for money and publicity? Or could it have been evidence of alien visitation? A handful of black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this fascinating expose of a century-old mystery.

Estimating Home Building Costs Revised
W. P. Jackson, author
Revised by Brian E.P. Beeston
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
9781572182059 $38.00 www.craftsman-book.com

Estimating Home Building Costs Revised is more than a manual; the newly updated guide includes digital Excel forms and worksheets that can be used to create accurate and complete estimates. An accompanying CD-ROM featuring all the worksheets as Excel spreadsheets can be loaded on the computer to simplify one's job without overlooking any crucial factors. Chapters cover how to estimate costs for site clearing, floor system materials and labor, walls and ceilings, roofing materials, finishes and trim, concrete for floors, calculating overhead, markup, and profit, and much more. Estimating Home Building Costs Revised is an absolute "must-have" for anyone involved in founding or running a construction business, and an extremely useful tool for
anyone interested in double-checking the estimate they've been given.

Rocky Roads
Michelle Linn-Gust, Ph.D.
Chellehead Works
1711 Solano Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
9780972331814 $19.95 www.familysuicidegrief.com

American Association of Suicidology President-Elect Michelle Linn-Gust, Ph.D. presents Rocky Roads: The Journeys of Families through Suicide Grief, a helpful guide for families to come to terms with the tremendous grief that comes from suffering the loss of a loved one to suicide. "Families have been described as mobiles. When one member of the family leaves the others (in this case, by death), the entire family is thrown off, just as a mobile is when one piece is removed. The balance no longer exists." Chapters are invaluable as they not only chart a path to navigate through negative emotion, but also offer specific ways to pursue hope and empowerment, such as advocacy and volunteer work. A helpful and meaningful guide written by an expert, Rocky Roads is highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

The Rise of the Biggest Little City
Dwayne Kling
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874178296 $29.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu

The Rise of the Biggest Little City: An Encyclopedic History of Reno Gaming, 1931-1981 is, as its title suggests, an encyclopedia-style history of gambling and gaming institutions of Reno, Nevada. Individual alphabetized entries range from "Ableman, Nick" (one of the pioneers of Nevada gaming) to "Zimba's Casino" (one of Reno's many gambling institutions - this particular one was legally nailed for failure to report income or fully pay its taxes, was eventually put into receivership, and closed). A wealth of history and legacy spelled out through details, The Rise of the Biggest Little City is further enhanced with maps, and a glossary, and an index, and is an excellent choice for anyone seeking an accessible historical reference on the subject.

The World Famous Miles City
Sneed B. Collard III
Bucking House Books
c/o Mountain Press Publishing Company
1301 South Third Street West, PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780984446001, $18.00, www.amazon.com

The thrill of the rodeo is more than the juking and jiving of a horse. "The World Famous Miles City: Bucking Horse Sale" delves into the history of this unique event in Montana, embellishing its tale with full color photographs, anecdotes, and the ongoing history of the event. "The World Famous Miles City" is a must for anyone who wants insight to this special event that is truly unlike any other in the world, and a fine coffee table collection for Western History buffs.

Neither Carpetbaggers Nor Scalawags, fifth edition
Richard Bailey
NewSouth, Inc.
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
9781588381897 $29.95 www.newsouthbooks.com

Now in a revised fifth edition, Neither Carpetbaggers Nor Scalawags: Black Officeholders During the Reconstruction of Alabama, 1867-1878 delves into the rise of African-Americans in Albama politics, following the end of the civil war when free blacks and former slaves had unprecedented opportunity to pursue education, careers, family life, or political opportunity. The notorious corruption of the Reconstruction era has often dominated the stories of the African-Americans who stepped forward and served, playing a role in the formation of Alabama's first Republican party, but the whole of their contribution is far more than the most negative side. Alabama historian Dr. Richard Bailey covers the social origins of black officeholders, violence, fraud, intraparty strife, and elements of redemption in this highly detailed study. A handful black-and-white photographs illustrate this examination of the public words, private deeds, and historical contribution of Alabama's most notable African-American political figures shortly after the Civil War. A superb addition to college library American History shelves.

The New American Revolution Handbook
Theodore P. Savas and J. David Dameron
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714937 $14.95 www.savasbeatie.com

The New American Revolution Handbook: Facts and Artwork for Readers of all Ages, 1775-1783 is a straightforward history of the American Revolutionary War. Written to be thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The New American Revolution Handbook is divided into brief sections that focus especially on the contributions of individual groups or concepts, such as "Native Americans in the American Revolution", "Women of the American Revolution", or "Technology in the American Revolution". A handful of black-and-white maps and diagrams offer a visual dimension to the summaries of how key battles unfolded. The New American Revolution Handbook is an excellent addition to American History shelves, especially recommended for public and college library collections.

Savage Frontier Volume IV 1842-1845
Stephen L. Moore
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412932 $34.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Savage Frontier Volume IV 1842-1845: Rangers, Riflemen, and Indian Wars in Texas is the fourth and final volume in Stephen L. Moore's captivating history of the Texas Rangers and the frontier warfare of the era when Texas was its own Republic. During this time, legendary Captain John Coffee Hays and his band of Rangers were the only government-authorized frontier fighters charged to protect citizenry. During 1842, they forcibly rebuffed two Mexican intrusions - the Vasquez and Woll invasions. Savage Frontier Volume IV examines the Rangers' battle at Salado Creek, how Dawson's company was defeated, a skirmish that took place at Hondo Creek near San Antonio, and more. Meticulously researched, and presented with a flair for captivating drama as well as an eye for historical accuracy, Savage Frontier Volume IV brings to vivid life the challenges faced and sacrifices made by men determined to protect their home territory and their loved ones. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this invaluable, "must-have" contribution to Texas History shelves, along with Savage Frontier Volumes I, II, and III.

The Quest for Citizenship
Kim Cary Warren
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807871379 $24.95 www.uncpress.unc.edu 1-800-848-6224

University of Kansas assistant professor of history Kim Cary Warren presents The Quest for Citizenship: African American and Native American Education in Kansas, 1880-1935, a close study of the educational experience for African Americans and Native Americans in Kansas during the close of the nineteenth and the first third of the twentieth centuries. Kansas has been chosen as a particular focus point partly because it was home to a significant population of Native Americans and former slaves, and partly because it was mired in the middle of the conflict over slavery prior to and during the Civil War. After the Civil War, white reformers created segregated schools that ultimately supported the status quo. The Quest for Citizenship reveals strategies developed by African Americans that encouraged inclusion and integration, while Native Americans adopted tactics that promoted autonomy and bicultural identity. Warren presents a convincing thesis that these efforts formed the parent ideology the civil rights and Indian rights movements. Also available in a hardcover edition (9780807833964, $59.95), The Quest for Citizenship is a thoughtful examination of the educational, philosophical, and developmental history of nonwhite peoples in the United States, highly recommended as a worthy addition to college and public library American History shelves.

Beyond the American Pale: The Irish in the West 1845-1910
David M. Emmons
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141282 $34.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Beyond the American Pale: The Irish in the West 1845-1910 is a thoughtful, in-depth historical discussion of the role that (overwhelmingly Catholic) Irish Americans played on the Western frontier. Even though Irish-American immigration during the era is best known for being concentrated in the East and Midwest, Catholic Irish-Americans played a critical role out west, particularly when it came to doing the jobs that Protestant settlers often found difficult or dangerous - Irish-Americans contributed to building railroads, digging hard rocks, manning the army posts, and other taxing toil. From surveying patterns of Irish migration to scrutinizing the lasting effects of Protestant cultural suspicion and prejudice against their Catholic neighbors, Beyond the American Pale paints a vivid chronicle and portrait. An excellent addition to American history shelves, Beyond the American Pale is particularly commended to college and public library collections.


The Architecture Shelf

Green Living: Architecture and Planning
Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
9780847833108 $45.00 www.rizzoliusa.com 1-800-726-0600

Black-and-white and color photographs enhance Green Living: Architecture and Planning, a surprisingly accessible collection of essays distilling the wisdom of twelve leading experts in the rapidly growing field of environmentally-friendly and sustainable architecture. From "The Road to the Natural House", to "Cultural Sustainability and the Renewal of Tradition", to "Tradition and Innovation in Green Architecture and Urbanism", the essays reflect on both abstract principles and concrete realities necessitated by the process of green building. Green Living is especially recommended for architects and prospective architects, yet the need for positive changes in humanity's building processes is sure to connect with readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Terry Allen
Terry Allen, artwork
Dave Hickey, texts
Marcia Tucker and Michael Ventura, essays
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
9780292722460 $65.00 www.utexaspress.com 1-800-252-3206

Illustrated with striking, full-color photography of Allen's creations, Terry Allen is a coffee-table artbook compendium of Terry Allen's diversity of artistic creations - from painting to sculpture to three-dimensional created scenes and more. The text delves into the story behind Allen's wonders in meticulous detail. A one-of-a-kind collection, Terry Allen is especially recommended to anyone with a keen interest in contemporary art, and is the absolute next best thing to witnessing Allen's evocative and memorable pieces in person.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Amazing Monarch
Windle Turley
BenBella Books
6440 North Central Expressway, Suite 503, Dallas, TX, 75206
9781935251941 $29.95 www.benbellabooks.com

The Amazing Monarch: The Secret Wintering Grounds of an Endangered Butterfly is an absolutely breathtaking, oversized hardcover compendium of full-color, full-page photography revealing the monarch butterfly's life cycle. An informative and educational text section about the monarch butterfly is largely separate from the utterly captivating images. A truly beautiful and unforgettable book, perfect for butterfly lovers, though its sheer size makes it a trifle unwieldy for all but the largest of bookshelves.

Nasty, Brutish, and Short
Pat Senson
McClelland & Stewart
75 Sherbourne St., 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M5A 2P9
9780771079689, $22.99, www.mcclelland.com

It's the first step in the circle of life. "Nasty, Brutish, and Short: The Quirks and Quarks Guide to Animal Sex and Other Weird Behaviour" looks into the unique ways that the animal kingdom has done in the name of getting it on. Along with other bizarre behavior such as the language of headbutts for termites, "Nasty, Brutish, and Short" provides a fascinating read for the curious as well as those pursuing academic study on the more bizarre aspects of mother nature.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Numerology
Norman Shine
Connections Book Publishing
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781859062494 $14.95 www.redwheelweiser.com 1-800-423-7087

Numerology: Reveal Your True Character and Destiny is a user-friendly guide to the inquisitive, prophetic, and spiritual practice of numerology. Chapters walk the reader through how to create a name diagram, find which energy lines affect one's character, determine whether changing one's name will have profound repercussions, measure one's compatibility with people who have other names, peer into the future, and more. "I have avoided the esoteric aspects of numerology intentionally, preferring to make the subject accessible to those who wonder whether deductions can be made from a name. Names are mirrors, that is all. Maybe your mirror is a little cloudy. You can clean it, to see your reflection better, or you can get yourself a new mirror." Numerous diagrams help illustrate the step-by-step instructions in this easy-to-follow walkthrough of basic numerology principles.


The Literary Shelf

Charles Dickens Four Novels
Charles Dickens
Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121
9781607100690 $19.98

Charles Dickens Four Novels is a beautiful, surprisingly inexpensive collection and presentation of four of Charles Dickens' great classics: "The Adventures of Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carol", "A Tale of Two Cities", and "Great Expectations". All four novels are complete and unabridged, and this deluxe hardcover compendium features gold trim on the pages and an inset ribbon for easy bookmarking. An excellent and elegant edition especially recommended for private reading shelves.


The Cookbook Shelf

Best of the Best Fast & Fabulous Soups, Salads and Sandwiches
Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
9781934193426 $16.95 www.quailridge.com

Spiral-bound to lay flat for ease of use, Best of the Best Fast & Fabulous Soups, Salads and Sandwiches is packed with 413 exceptional recipes that span the gamut from easy-to-make to gourmet quality meals. From Quick Chick Navy Bean Soup to Touch of Tuscany Salad to Open-Face Crab English Muffins to Sloppy Joe Phillies and more, the mouth-watering recipes of Fast & Fabulous Soups, Salads and Sandwiches are sure to enliven anyone's meal planner. A handful of color illustrations and sidebars packed with tips round out this thoroughly user-friendly compendium. Also highly recommended is the delightful and beautiful guide, "Easy Parties and Wedding Celebrations" (9781934193303, $32.95).

Desserts 4 Today
Abigail Johnson Dodge
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600852947 $17.95 www.taunton.com 1-800-477-8727

Desserts 4 Today: Flavorful Desserts With Just Four Ingredients lives up to its title with a cornucopia of delectable dessert recipes, each relatively effortless to prepare with only four main ingredients. From Orange "Creamsicle" Rice Pudding (naval orange, whole or 2% milk, long or medium-grain white rice, and granulated sugar) to Mulled Pear Cider Sorbet (pear cider, mulling spices, granulated sugar, pear liqueur) to Banana-Brown Sugar Pie Pockets (banana, brown sugar, pure vanilla extract, premade pie dough) and more, these tasty treats are none the less savory for their simplicity, and many involve creative use of fruit and other healthful ingredients. Full-color photographs of many of the dishes illustrate this excellent choice for dessert lovers.

Suddenly Cooking: Real Food Made Real Easy
Sophie Ruggles
Casera Publications
casera@suddenlycooking.com
c/o Ingram, Baker & Taylor (distribution)
9780980773705 $44.00 www.caserapublications.com

Suddenly Cooking: Real Food Made Real Easy is a user-friendly cookbook written especially for culinary beginners and those who don't have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. An introductory section walks novice cooks through the basics of setting up one's kitchen - which essential kitchen tools to get and how to use them, a pictorial tutorial of basic knife skills, and a pictorial glossary of common food ingredients. The recipes themselves balance health, ease of creation, and flavor, ranging from breakfast eggs to a variety of salads, meals that can be prepared in less than thirty minutes, soups, hearty meat dinners, delicious desserts, and more. Full color illustrations of every dish enhance this excellent, easy-to-follow recipe book. A superb gift especially for any young person (or older person lacking in kitchen experience!) just starting out on their own.

The Enchanted Garden
Jodi Felice
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940758 $12.00 www.ozarkmt.com 1-800-935-0045

Spiral-bound for ease of use, The Enchanted Garden: An Innovative Culinary Experience is a cookbook packed with 134 recipes using 57 different herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits that anyone can grow in their own garden. From Roasted Garlic and Spinach Salad to Peppered Steak, Flounder Parmigiana, Chocolate Cherry Pudding, and much more, a smorgasbord of tasty delights are offered - with particular emphasis on dishes that are seasoned to perfection. Color photographs illustrate the simple, easy-to-follow recipes of this delightful cookbook.

Sally's in the Kitchen
Sally Miller
Synergy Press
PO Box 8, Flemington, NJ 08822-0008
0975858165 $25.00 SynergyBookService.com

Sprial-bound for ease of use, Sally's in the Kitchen is the second cookbook by Midwest native Sally Miller, offering tried and true recipes. Sally's in the Kitchen offer's a year's worth of recipes appropriate for the various seasons, with emphasis on using locally grown fruits and vegetables in one's culinary creations. A large number of the recipes are specifically designed for use in creating sizeable quantities, which can be frozen for later meals - ideal for working parents, large families, or anyone else with limited time on their hands for cooking. Also present are many vegetarian and vegan recipes (although Sally's in the Kitchen is not entirely a vegetarian cookbook). From Sauteed Mushrooms and Snow Peas to Cinco de Mayo Salad, Stuffed Zucchini Squash, Pineapple Fried Rice, and much more, Sally's in the Kitchen offers a medley of creative dishes drawing from the author's experience in local and exotic cuisines alike. Food preparation tips and tricks pepper the taste-tested, down-to-earth cooking, in this excellent and highly recommended recipe book.

Substitute Yourself Skinny
Chef Susan Irby
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
9781440503979 $17.95 www.adamsmedia.com 1-800-872-5627

Substitute Yourself Skinny is a healthful cookbook filled with recipes that offer flavorful substitutions for fewer calories. From "Veggies Never Tasted So Good Omelet" which includes cottage cheese for a more creamy texture while cutting calories, to "Monterey Chicken" with turkey bacon, skinless chicken breasts, sugar-free BBQ sauce and reduced-fat cheese, to "Good Bum Brownies" with nonfat powdered milk, each offering saves calories while pleasing palates. A simple nutritional breakdown of the calories per serving, fat, carbohydrates, protein, and sodium of each recipe rounds out this wonderful, user-friendly cookbook, highly recommended for anything seeking to eat lighter fare without sacrificing gourmet-quality taste.

Swirl, Sip & Savor
Carol Frieberg with Andy Perdue
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
9781570615627 $21.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com 1-800-775-0817

Full color photography and vignettes about various wines enhance Swirl, Sip & Savor: Northwest Wine and Small Plate Pairings, a treasury of recipes for culinary delicacies from the American Pacific Northwest. Each delicious offering is matched with a recommended wine from the region; the result is a collection of quality dishes worthy of transforming the most humble evening with friends or loved ones into an evening to remember. From Parmesan Wafers with Prosciutto (wine pairing: Terra Blanca Sauvignon Blanc, Yakima Valley) to Rasperry Glazed Pork Bites (wine pairing: Kyera Pinot Noir) to Crab Salad Tower with Mango and Papaya (wine pairing: Daedalus Cellars "Maresh Vineyard" Riesling) and much more, Swirl, Sip & Savor lives up to its title and is enthusiastically recommended especially for any cook who aspires to create offerings worthy of a professional gourmet chef.


The Photography Shelf

Family
Chris Verene
Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
9781931885799 $65.00 www.twinpalms.com 1-800-797-0680

Family is a striking coffee-table book of photographs offering a glimpse into everyday life, true dilemmas, and personal stories of photographer Chris Verene's extended family and their neighbors living in Galesburg, Illinois during the past twenty-six years. Galesburg has struggled with tough economic times during the last quarter-century, and it shows. Her are candid, vivid images of ordinary people seeking to make ends meet, living in an abandoned restaurant, a trailer, or a vehicle if need be, and forming bonds of family even in the absence of a husband, or a wife, or despite other social upheaval. There are also photographs of joy, celebration, reminiscing with friends, and the simple pleasures of day-to-day ordinary life. The extremely brief yet illuminating captions (such as "Amber left town with the carnival. She took us on the Ferris wheel to say goodbye.") leave the pictures themselves to tell a thousand words. Unique and poignant, "Family" unquestionably lives up to its title and deserves the highest recommendation.

Black Rock
Peter Goin and Paul F. Starrs
Black Rock Institute Press
c/o Museum of New Mexico Press
PO Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087
9780984101405 $30.00 www.mnmpress.org 1-800-249-7737

114 color plates, 8 duotones, 21 maps, and 5 figures lavishly illustrate Black Rock, a written and visual tour to the captivating beauty of the Black Rock country of northern Nevada. Though much of this land is desert, it nonetheless brims with life. A few of the images are of the people who live and work there going about their daily routine, but many more are striking landscapes, or glimpses into a hidden yet thriving natural ecology. The text offers a detailed and absorbing history of the mysterious desert landscape. Black Rock is pure joy to browse, and especially recommended for public library collections.

Re:viewing Egypt: Image and Echo
Photography by Xavier Roy
Text by Gamal Al-Ghitani
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9789774162954 $34.95 www.aucpress.com 1-800-758-3756

Re:viewing Egypt: Image and Echo offers more than one hundred black-and-white photographic images of the nation of Egypt and its people. From schoolchildren at their desks to a lone figure riding a horse past one of the legendary pyramids, Re:viewing Egypt: Image and Echo is captivating, haunting, and revealing. The brief text strives to help immerse the reader in the culture and daily life that Re:viewing Egypt faithfully portrays a glimpse into. An absolute treasury, highly recommended especially for photography shelves.


The Fiction Shelf

Hunter's Secret: Wreck of the Carol K
J. C. Hager
Greenstone Publishing
7253 Graal Shores, Rapid River, MI 49878
9780979754661 $14.95 www.jchager.com

Hunter's Secret: Wreck of the Carol K is an action-adventure novel following Matt Hunter and Tanya as they discover a shipwreck in Lake Superior. Discovering the ship's log draws them further into a dark and deadly realm of kidnappers, bribery, and corruption. From scuba diving amidst underwater mysteries to a cat-and-mouse game in the northern Michigan wilds, Hunter's Secret is an exciting thriller that engages and entertains up to the very last page. Highly recommended.

Bounty Hunter's Daughter
Phyllis de la Garza
Sagebrush/Isis Publishing Limited
c/o Ulverscroft Publishing
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780753185155, $20.95, www.amazon.com

Vengeance can sometimes come with a payday. "Bounty Hunter's Daughter" is an old western tale of Delphina Estes, daughter of a bounty hunter as her father is killed during an attack on her home. When the outlaws turn their sights on her, Delphina turns the tables and finds that avenging her parents has its advantages, and not all of it is revenge. "Bounty Hunter's Daughter" is an exciting old west novel now available in larger print, a perfect pick for any western lover looking for something that won't tax their eyes.

The Thieves of Manhattan
Adam Langer
Spiegel & Grau
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9781400068913, $15.00, www.adamlanger.com

Getting published is no simple task. "The Thieves of Manhattan" is a novel that spirals into the world of book publishing, as a short story writer joins a scheme to foil the publishing world's own rules and turn it against it. With wit, humor, and excitement, "The Thieves of Manhattan" is a novel that will truly motivate any writer trying to make it, but has plenty for any suspense reader.

Lil' Choo-Choo Johnson Bluesman
Bryan Krull
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste. H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608443550, $14.95, www.bryankrull.com

The blues knows no age. "Lil Choo-Choo Johnson Bluesman" tells the story of 10 year old Blues guitarist prodigy who travels the country along with other legends of the Blues, and tells a story of the genre and the genres that spawned all out form it. A fun and educational read, "Lil Choo-Choo Johnson Bluesman" shouldn't be missed.

News From Home
Sefi Atta
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566568036, $15.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

Much of Africa has been slower to join the world in the modern age, but it still blooms none the less. "News from Home" is a collection of short stories from Sefi Atta, a Nigerian writer with much support from her contemporaries. Through her stories, she shows the condition of her people in an emerging society that has recently been granted the freedoms of the world and are stuck between modernization and the traditions of Nigeria. Thoughtful and insightful, "News from Home" is a strong pick for any world fiction collection.

The Tables of the Law
Thomas Mann
Paul Dry Books
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 808, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9781589880573, $12.00, www.pauldrybooks.com

To present the foundation of law for half the world is no simple task. "The Tables of the Law" is a historical title following Moses as he is tasked by God to present the Ten Commandments, providing a human and much different insight on the role of Moses as the Prophet of God. Expertly translated, "The Tables of the Law" is a solid addition to any literary fiction collection.

Acting Up
Ted Staunton
Red Deer Press
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8
9780889954410, $12.95, www.fitzhenry.ca

Growing up isn't so easy as people would believe. "Acting Up" is a delve into the adulthood or what is soon to be of Sam Foster, faced with antagonistic teachers, crazy girlfriends, and a wild assortment of characters who seem out to make Sam's life hell. "Acting Up" is a fun coming of age read with no shortage of humor and plenty that young readers will relate to.

The Diary of a Drug Fiend
Aleister Crowley
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781578634941 $18.95 www.redwheelweiser.com 1-800-423-7087

The Diary of a Drug Fiend is not just any work of fiction - it is a novel created by legendary scholar and chronicler of Magick Aleister Crowley. Drawing upon Crowley's own life experience, including his involvement with drugs, The Diary of a Drug Fiend tells of the lovers Peter Pendragon and Louise Laleham, who travel through Europe binging on cocaine and heroin. Their drug use brings them visions and prophecies, but it also turns to excruciation once their supply runs dry and the brutal grip of their addiction threatens to consume their lives utterly. With the aid of King Lamus, a master adept, they apply practical Magick as a means to transcend their drug addiction. Originally published in 1922, The Diary of a Drug Fiend was once denounced as "a book for burning"; now, it remains a profound testimony and insight to the forces that inspired, drove, and challenged its legendary author. A choice pick for metaphysical and Magickal studies shelves.


The Business Shelf

Cracking the Double Standard Code
June Werdlow Rogers, Ph.D.
Cable Publishing
14090 E Keinenen Rd, Brule, WI 54820
cablepublishing.com
9781934980453 $24.94 hardcover
9781934980460 $17.95 softcover

Cracking the Double Standard Code: A Guide to Successful Navigation in the Workplace is a self-help guide to women for dealing with the most common social and psychological obstacles from their co-workers and bosses in the workplace (and many other social settings as well). Even in this modern, allegedly enlightened era, women are beset with a host of hard-line attitudes and viewpoints. Chapters warn of the most common pitfalls women can encounter, and recommend tactics to handle them. From warning that one's faults will be scrutinized in high definition just because one is female, to offering helpful advice for dealing with men who use office politics against women, Cracking the Double Standard Code is a solid guide cover to cover. "A terrible strategy is to segregate yourself with other women. Homogeneous thinking will not serve women any better than it serves men. Strength rests in diversity. Besides, you need spies to tell you what you do not know and assist you in thwarting ambushes (and this is how you can really set up the boomerang). Who better to warn you about what men may be up to than those with whom they associate the most." A must-have for any woman in the workplace.

The CEO's Boss
William M. Klepper
Columbia Business School
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023
9780231149884, $29.95, www.cup.columbia.edu

Everyone has a boss, even when you are the boss. "The CEO's Boss: Tough Love in the Boardroom" looks at the pressure and measurement of the performance of the position of CEO, a position that used to never have to answer to anyone. Written by William M. Klepper (Professor of Management, Columbia Business School), The CEO's Boss uses the author's own experience to explain what is expected of the modern CEO and how to work under pressure. "The CEO's Boss" is a solid read for anyone who seeks the highest position in a company.

Fast Track Networking
Lucy Rosen
Career Press
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631213, $14.99, www.careerpress.com

It's not what you know; it's who you know. "Fast Track Networking: Turning Conversations Into Contacts" is a guide to establishing those all important contacts in business as Lucy Rosen gives advice to growing one's circle of friends and contacts to help one get their business going, to meet customers and potential partners. From building trust and expanding further, "Fast Track Networking" is a must for any business trying to expand.

Implementing a Critical Approach to Organization Development
Laura L. Bierema
Krieger Publishing Company
1725 Krieger Lane, Melabar, FL 32950-3323
9781575242668 $34.25 www.krieger-publishing.com

Laura L. Bierema (professor of adult education and human resource development, University of Georgia) presents Implementing a Critical Approach to Organization Development, a straightforward introductory text to organization development theory and practice. Intended especially for human resource developers and adult educators, Implementing a Critical Approach to Organization Development covers the evolution of organization development, socially responsible practice, how to implement representative and reflective strategies, and more. "Your goal as a consultant, in addition to making an intervention, is to establish a collaborative relationship with the client, help solve problems permanently, and develop client commitment and ability to maintain the change once the consultancy ends. Consulting is a highly educative and developmental process, and one that adult educators and HRD professionals are perfectly equipped to facilitate." Implementing a Critical Approach to Organization Development is especially recommended for college library collections or self-study by anyone interested in working in human resources.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

A Grouse Hunter's Almanac
Mark Parman
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780299249205 $19.95 www.wisconsinhistory.org

Expert grouse hunter and English and journalism teacher Mark Parman presents A Grouse Hunter's Almanac: The Other Kind of Hunting, an anthology of essays collecting his twenty years of wisdom, experience, and insight distilled from his hunting pastime. From the bond between a hunter and his dogs, to the allure of hunting guns, the exhilarating experience of exploring the Northwoods, and even eye-opening topics such as the positive environmental side to clear-cuts (specifically small, carefully managed clear-cuts that can benefit grouse and other types of wildlife). It should be noted that "A Grouse Hunter's Almanac" is not a specifically organized collection of facts like the traditional Farmer's Almanac, but rather an absorbing, eminently readable anthology, enthusiastically recommended as a giftbook for anyone who loves the joy of the hunt.

Kayak Bass Fishing
Chad Hoover
The Heliconia Press
1576 Beachburg Road, Beachburg, Ontario K0J 1C0 Canada
c/o SCB Distributors
15608 S. New Century Drive, Gardena, CA 90248-2129
9781896980461 $24.95 www.helipress.com www.scbdistributors.com

Expert bass angler Chad Hoover presents Kayak Bass Fishing, an exciting guide to the dual arts of fishing from a kayak, and fishing for all types of bass, including largemouth, smallmouth, and stripers. Chapters cover everything from kayak, gear, and fishing equipment selection to essential safety guidelines, seasonal fishing tips, tactics appropriate for different bass species, and much more. Full color photography on almost every page illustrates this excellent and user-friendly guide, highly recommended for bass fisherman everywhere (even those who prefer not to fish from a kayak)!


The Money/Finance Shelf

Personal Finance for Seniors for Dummies
Eric Tyson and Bob Carlson
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470548769 $21.99 www.wiley.com

Part of the exceptional "For Dummies" series of guides written to be accessible to users of all backgrounds, Personal Finance for Seniors for Dummies covers everything that anyone approaching or at retirement age should know. Chapters give advice on when to retire, guidelines for estimating expenses, recommended investments for retirement money, suggestions for adjusting spending as needed, discussions of available social security and healthcare benefits, ways to reduce one's estate taxes, and much more. Personal Finance for Seniors for Dummies takes complicated financial issues and distills them down to plain terms, and is an absolute "must-have" not only for elders, but also for the adult children and grandchildren of the older generation who might need to lend a hand to helping their loved ones in these tough economic times.

What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement, second edition
John E. Nelson and Richard N. Bolles
Ten Speed Press
PO Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781580082051 $16.99 www.tenspeed.com 1-800-841-2665

Now in a completely revised and updated second edition, What Color Is Your Parachute? For Retirement: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Future lives up to its title with rock-solid advice on planning not only one's retirement finances, but also other aspects of retirement - social relationships, personal health, big life decisions, and more. Chapters address everything from making sure the neighborhood or community one retires into is suitable for one's tastes, to solid practices for building "biological vitality" and maintaining one's health, to the value of building social relationships in advance, given that social relationships grounded in work are likely to fade when one retires and there is no "automatic relationship generator" in the third phase of one's life. Highly recommended; it is never too soon to start learning from a user-friendly and practical guide such as What Color Is Your Parachute?


The Needlecraft Shelf

The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion
Janet Bristow & Victoria A. Cole-Galo
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600852930 $19.95 www.taunton.com 1-800-477-8727

The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion: 37 Patterns to Embrace, Inspire & Celebrate Life offers detailed instructions for crocheting singularly beautiful, vibrant, and colorful prayer shawls. Full-color photographs of the finished shawls illustrate this wonderful addition to crochet pattern libraries. Skilled crocheters will enjoy creating these elegant and practical items as gifts to be worn, shared and cherished. Highly recommended.

The Knitter's Year
Debbie Bliss
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05033
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781570764615 $24.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com 1-800-888-4741

A full color photograph illustrates each project of The Knitter's Year: 52 Make-in-a-Week Projects - Quick Gifts and Seasonal Knits, a compendium of practical knitted items perfect for presenting to friends and family. From a striped baby hat, to a pumpkin pincushion, to a pencil case, a festive Christmas stocking, and more, each project has very straightforward instructions that any knitter of intermediate experience will immediately recognize. A useful treasury for anyone who enjoys knitting and wants to share the fruits of their labors of love.


The Gardening Shelf

The Essential Garden Design Workbook, second edition
Rosemary Alexander
Timber Press
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland OR 97204-3527
9780881929751 $34.95 www.timberpress.com 1-800-327-5680

Now in a revised and updated second edition, featuring new eco-design tips, The Essential Garden Design Workbook continues to live up to its title as an in-depth yet user-friendly guide to planning and laying out one's garden. Extensive black-and-white sample diagrams, full-color photographs, and exhaustively detailed text walk the reader through a plethora of design options step by step. The binding of The Essential Garden Design Workbook allows it to lay flat for easy reference while surveying the site or sketching out one's best ideas. An absolute "must-have" for serious gardeners, whether planning to grow a green paradise from scratch or adjusting the purpose or aesthetics of an existing garden.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Clint Eastwood Icon
David Frangioni
Essays by Thomas Schatz
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781848565883 $29.99 www.titanbooks.com

Clint Eastwood Icon: The Essential Film Art Collection is an extraordinary coffee-table book packed cover to cover with vintage, full-color photographs of art (especially movie flyers and posters) pertaining to Clint Eastwood's legendary Hollywood career. From rugged gunman to dashing, gun-toting mercenary to heartthrob icon, Clint Eastwood and the essence of his advertised films is depicted in timeless, vivid detail. Some of the flyers and posters portrayed are from nations around the world, revealing how Eastwood's movies were advertised and depicted in other nations. Brief essays and descriptive captions accompany the cornucopia of classic imagery, in this absolute "must-have" for dedicated Eastwood fans.


The World History Shelf

Irish Soldiers in Europe 17th-19th Century
George B. Clark
Mercier
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781856356626 $32.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

Irish Soldiers in Europe 17th-19th Century is the true story of the Irish soldiers who fought on European battlefields. Many of these men were driven from their native land by religious or political persecution; notable individuals profiled include Peter Lacy of Kileedy, who served as a Field Marshal of Russia in 1736; and Henri J.G. Clarke, who became a Marshal under Napoleon yet later changed his allegiance to the restored French monarchy until his retirement. The fascinating life stories of notable individuals are contrasted alongside the challenges and difficulties of rank-and-file Irish soldiers in this aptly researched and superbly presented account. An excellent addition to military and European history shelves.

Magna Carta and the England of King John
Janet S. Loengard
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843835486 $105.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Magna Carta and the England of King John is an anthology of scholarly essays by a variety of learned authors concerning the era of England between 1199 and 1215 - the time when the Magna Carta was created and marked a resounding transformation in the relationship between ruler and ruled. The primary focus is on elaborating the social, economic, legal, and religious background forces at the time the Magna Carta came into being; also under scrutiny is how those who personally knew King John came to perceive him. Individual essays include "Baronial Paranoia in the Reign of King John", "Justice without Judgment: Criminal Prosecution before Magna Carta", "What Did Magna Carta mean to Widows?" and more. Highly recommended, especially for college library British history and world history collections.

Bronc Busters and Hay Sloops
Ken Mather
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
9781894974929 $19.95 www.heritagebooks.com 1-800-876-6103

Bronc Busters and Hay Sloops: Ranching in the West in the Early 20th Century is a detailed and highly accessible history of ranching in the Canadian West (particularly British Columbia) from the First World War through 1960. Chapters recount colorful, nigh-legendary figures of the ranching world (such as Ollie Matheson, one of very few women to ride in the Williams Lake Stampede's fearsome Mountain Race", the demands of daily life and work on the ranch, and the changing social and economic forces that shaped those who called such ranches home. Vintage black-and-white photographs pepper this unforgettable history, highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.


The Poetry Shelf

Reliquary Fever
Beckian Fritz Goldberg
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974944 $18.00 www.wmich.edu

Reliquary Fever: New and Selected Poems collects the work of English professor and award-winning poet Beckian Fritz Goldberg. Most of the poems are brief; they appear in a variety of formats, yet each one is subtly expressive, offering an unforgettable picture of the human experience. Poems from the course of Goldberg's literary lifetime appear; many linger upon the tragedies of love and death, while others muse upon the most mysterious wonders inset within seemingly ordinary, everyday things. The result a treasury for poetry lovers to savor, highly recommended. "List": It was all new. / One day I bought birds-of-paradise. / One day I cleaned the oven. / One day I made a list. / The next // I did the list. / One day I sat out and watched / yellow burrs fall from / the sweet acacias. / I did // all the being you / I could, father, // all the rest / of this life.

Dreams for Breakfast
Susan Millar DuMars
Salmon Poetry
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056352, $19.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Facing reality is something you don't want to do until you've at least had your coffee. "Dreams for Breakfast" is a philosophical collection of poetry from Susan Millar DuMars, offering readers a grand collection of poetry and asks them many questions. "Dreams for Breakfast" is a fine collection of poetry which shouldn't be overlooked. "I Dream My Mouth": is a crusted wound/a galaxy in my throat./Stars spill past my lips,/sharp enough to draw my blood/but how they sparkle. Oh, look!

Perfect Blue
Kona Macphee
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248666, $18.95

A different perspective can make anything in the world clearer. "Perfect Blue" is the second collection of poetry from Kona MacPhee as she provides a charming and original view of the many elements of life. Enticing and entertaining reading, "Perfect Blue" is a fine read and shouldn't be missed for poetry collections. "The Gift": Sometimes the recompense arrives/so far ahead of what you'll give/that you will fail to recognize/the reciprocity, the love//that circles in the universe:/this life a grace advanced, its knack/to meet requital with its cause --/the offering up, the giving back.

Complete Physical
Shane Neilson
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
9780889843257, $14.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca

When your calling is preserving life, you come with a few unique ways to analyze the matter. "Complete Physical" is a collection of poetry from Shane Neilson, reflecting on his profession as a physician and his entanglements with love and death. "Complete Physical" is an intriguing collection, and a recommended one. "Ten Thoughts Before the Stroke": Failure./The sky in ribbons: and you in rearview,/and I have loved in spurts,/the stars have gone,/receding in disarray,/the stove burner on,/you are closer than you appear,//and much is unlatched,//much I cannot let go;/before.

Fancy Beasts
Alex Lemon
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
9781571314437, $16.00, www.milkweed.org

Pick any year, and you'll find plenty absurd, but 2008 seemed especially special. "Fancy Beasts" is a collection of poems from Alex Lemon, as he brings a focus to this year, with poems attacking everything form commercialism to politics, and so much more. "Fancy Beasts" is a pick that should not be missed, very highly recommended. "All of the Made Roads": Choosing/my life, I drop//quarters in/the slot//& select/the worst//song on/the jukebox//& then sneak/out to//Watch/Through the rain-//streaked glass./O feverish//Praise -- I can/Feel night//Struggle/to Lay//Back in/its own dark.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Prescription or Poison?
Amitava Dasgupta, Ph.D.
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935500 $18.95 www.hunterhouse.com

Amitava Dasgputa (Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School) presents Prescription or Poison? The Benefits and Dangers of Herbal Remedies, a cautionary resource that provides a balanced, evenhanded, and practical overview of available alternative remedies. Though Prescription or Poison? adheres strongly to a scientific viewpoint, the emphasis is above all on the safety of remedies - alternative remedies such as supplements, homeopathy, and ayurvedic medicines are not derided or denounced, but rather carefully evaluated with solid recommendations on their proper use. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, "Prescription or Poison?" is an absolute must-have for anyone considering the use of alternative remedies for themselves or loved ones. "[Essential oils] should be kept out of reach of children - in the Western world, essential oils are the fourth-most common agent in childhood poisoning... Five mL of oil of wintergreen is equivalent to 21.7 adult aspirin tablets (325 mg), and its ingestion can cause serious toxicity even in adults."

Type 1 Teens
Korey K. Hood
Magination Press
c/o American Psychological Association
PO Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090-2984
9781433807886, $14.95, www.apa.org

Being different seems like an easy ticket to being an outcast. "Type 1 Teens: A Guide to Managing Your Life with Diabetes" is aimed at teens facing diabetes who want to live their life as any other teen would. Faced with the challenges of teenage life, it can be hard to manage one's disorder well, but Korey K. Hood gives readers a wise collection of advice and wisdom. "Type 1 Teens" is a fine gift for any teen in such a predicament or for any teenage health collection.

Balanced Days Balanced Lives
Prepak Products, Inc.
4055 Oceanside Blvd. Ste. L, Oceanside, CA 92056-5821
9781936292004 $24.00 www.prepakproducts.com 1-800-544-7257

Balanced Days Balanced Lives: Eight Guiding Truths for Lifelong Weight Control and Nutritional Balance collects the true-life testimony of forty-two people who have learned how to control their weight and improve their overall health. Their stories lend hard evidence to the eight guiding principles of weight control and nutritional balance - these eight tenets include "A slow approach to weight loss and change is better than excessive calorie deprivation", "Physical activity is important for both health and effective weight control", "Perfection is a rocky road that leads to failure", and "We cannot manage what we cannot measure". Color photographs and a scattering of recommended and healthful recipes round out this inspirational collection strongly recommended for anyone serious about improving their diet, their health and their life.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Wisdom of Imperfection
Rob Preece
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393492 $18.95 www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313

Tibetan Buddhist, psychotherapist, and meditation retreat leader Rob Preece presents The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life, an exploration of the psychological and inspirational processes that take place on the path of the Bodhisattva, embracing compassion and imperfection. Chapters also warn against tragic obstacles and pitfalls that confront those seeking to cultivate the highest qualities in themselves and others. "The willingness to sacrifice oneself for others may be born out of a deeply damaged sense of self. Sadly, I have seen a number of people, especially some close women friends, enter spiritual communities and work 'selflessly,' sacrificing themselves to circumstances that become increasingly demanding and abusive. The compulsion to neglect self and constantly work for others can easily be supported by spiritual ideals and collective approval. Within this 'selfless' spirituality often lies a deep well of pain, grief, and self-destructive masochism that seldom can be resolved through self-sacrifice." An excellent and worthy addition to Buddhist studies shelves, highly recommended.


The Philosophy Shelf

Apparitions - of Derrida's Other
Kas Saghafi
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823231638 $24.00 www.fordhampress.com

Kas Saghafi (Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Memphis) presents Apparitions - of Derrida's Other, a thoughtful and scholarly assessment of Derrida's readings of Husserl, Levinas, Barthes, Blanchot, and Nancy, with particular emphasis on the theme of the relationship between the self and the other. Paying acute attention to the linguistic nuances of translation, Apparitions - of Derrida's Other assesses its central focus point by meticulous point. Apparitions - of Derrida's Other is an excellent analysis for advanced philosophy shelves, or any collection involving Derrida's works an ideas. "No monstrous figure can remain without shape for long, however, for there is a need to give it a form, to cloak it, cover it over, as all thinking of form has to do with wearing or donning an outer garment or veiling a naked core. Yet the nudity of the monstrous, a bareness more nude than nude, is the very undoing of interruption of form as we know it."


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Thin Black Line
Robert L. Bryant, Jr.
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490281 $14.95 www.twomorrows.com 1-919-449-0344

Peppered with black-and-white illustrations of Colletta's ink work (sometimes compared to that of other comic book inkers) The Thin Black Line: Perspectives on Vince Colletta, Comics' Most Controversial Inker is the fascinating biography of a comic book inker well-known for his last-minute efforts upon hundreds of comic books that were about to miss their printing deadline. The controversy comes in reference to Colletta's rush jobs inking the work on widely beloved or even legendary comic artists. Yet it was Colletta's speed that literally saved the rear ends of his fellows in the field. The Thin Black Line includes testimony from comic professionals such as Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Joe Sinnott, Mike Royer, Carmine Infantino, Mark Evanier and more, offering a captivating glimpse into the daily grind of comic book creators as well as a unique perspective on Colletta's life and work. Highly recommended, especially for comic book fans!


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Legal Guide for the Visual Artist, fifth edition
Tad Crawford
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010
9781581157420 $29.95 www.allworth.com 1-800-491-2808

Attorney Tad Crawford presents Legal Guide for the Visual Artist, a must-have reference and resource for all types of professional visual artists, including photographers, painters, printmakers, designers, sculptors, illustrators, cartoonists, web designers, and more. Now in its fifth updated edition, Legal Guide for the Visual Artist covers what American law has to say about copyright, sales/commissions/rentals of original art, taxes, grants and public support available for the arts, and much more. Written in plain terms to be accessible to artists of all backgrounds, Legal Guide for the Visual Artist is invaluable as a preventative measure for staying on the right side of the law, and also as an excellent brush-up resource to consult prior to visiting an attorney who charges tremendous fees per hour. Highly recommended.


The Aviation Shelf

Building the P-51 Mustang
Michael O'Leary
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
9781580071529 $39.95 www.spibooks.com

Building the P-51 Mustang: The Story of Manufacturing North American's Legendary World War II Fighter in Original Photos is an extraordinary, detailed chronicle of the invention and manufacture of one of the most popularly fascinating World War II aircraft. More than 300 black-and-white vintage photographs chosen from the author's personal archive of official factory and USAAF images, many of which have never before been published, illustrate the meticulous recounting of engineering and technical details concerning each step of the P-51 Mustang's manufacture. An absolute "must-have" for anyone serious about researching the history of World War II aircraft, or modeling the P-51 Mustang, Building the P-51 Mustang is an exhaustively complete resource on its subject. Also highly recommended for aviation and military history buffs is the Specialty Press title "Birds of Prey: Predators, Reapers and America's Newest UAVs in Combat" (9781580071536, $29.95).


The Interior Design Shelf

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Flooring, third edition
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
9781589235212 $24.99 www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com 1-800-328-0590

Now in a third edition thoroughly updated with new products and techniques (including tips, tricks, and techniques concerning renewable flooring materials such as bamboo, reclaimed floorboards, and natural stone), Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Flooring is an in-depth, no-nonsense, do-it-yourself guide to flooring. The extensive, step-by-step instructions illustrated with full-color photographs for each and every step simplify home improvement projects for readers of all skill and experience levels. Chapters cover everything from removing existing flooring to installing materials like tiles, seamed rubber roll, or carpet squares, to finishes and surface treatments, to repairing floors and more. An accompanying bonus DVD includes live-action demonstrations of common techniques, how to measure a room and craft a layout grid, and even the entire book in electronic format. A "must-have" for anyone considering undertaking a flooring project, highly recommended.


The Travel Shelf

Unexpected New York
Sandy Miller, author
Juliana Spear, photographer
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566568050 $25.00 www.interlinkbooks.com

Unexpected New York is a wonderful treat for armchair travelers - the full-color photographs on almost every other page and the descriptive text offer a telltale glimpse into the hidden and unanticipated sides of New York City - things that even longtime residents might not be completely aware of. From the sensational acrobatics taught at trapeze school (a sport in which women overwhelmingly dominate), to the Hua Mei Bird Garden where elderly men bring exotic and beautiful caged birds to sing during the morning, to the authentic Key Lime Pies widely considered to be the best in the world, Unexpected New York offers an astounding new look at America's multifaceted city. A fascinating treat to page through, Unexpected New York is a singularly delightful giftbook (or souvenir book)!

Best Places Portland
Elizabeth Lopeman, editor
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104
9781570616242, $19.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

Many cities share the name Portland, but say it and the first thing that comes to mind is Oregon's favorite city. "Best Places Portland" is a guide to the sights and sounds of this major city in where to find high quality meals, places for the family, places for the couple, places for the single, and much more than that. "Best Places Portland" is an invaluable guide for anyone planning on traveling to this city and want to experience all it has to offer.


The Railroading Shelf

Eye of the Explorer
Paul D. McDermott, Ronald E. Grim, Philip Mobley
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425600 $50.00 www.mountain-press.com

Eye of the Explorer: Views of the Northern Pacific Railroad Survey, 1853-54 is a compendium of lithographs (and six of the fine prints) originally painted by John Mix Stanley and Gustavus Sohon in 1853-54, as part of a survey led by Major Isaac Stevens in search of a northern transcontinental railroad route. All of the superbly reproduced, color images are strikingly beautiful, revealing glimpses of vast tracts of untamed land. The text of Eye of the Explorer also recounts the story of the expedition - its discoveries, challenges, encounters, and modern evaluations of the expedition's contributions to history and science. A breathtakingly beautiful coffee table book, Eye of the Explorer is a captivatingly original contribution to art, railroad, or natural history shelves, and highly recommended.


The Military Shelf

My New Guinea Diary
Staff Sergeant Pilot Ernest C. Ford
White Stag Press
c/o Publishers Design Group
PO Box 37, Roseville, CA 95678
9780979258398 $17.95 www.publishersdesign.com

My New Guinea Diary: Cannibals, Mosquitos, Alligators, Weather, and the Japanese is the military memoir of Major Ernest C. Ford, who served as one of the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron pilots during World War II. Like all other pilots, he was warned of sharks, alligators, and New Guinea cannibals that would menace him if he were shot down. He earned six Distinguished Flying Crosses and flew 385 combat missions over the course of two wars. My New Guinea Diary portrays both the pulse-pounding, life-or-death moments and the nuances of daily life in a war zone. Ford's faith was crucial to his physical and mental survival in dark times. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this utterly unforgettable testimony.

Life and Death in the Central Highlands
James T. Gillam
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412925 $27.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Life and Death in the Central Highlands: An American Sergeant in the Vietnam War, 1968-1970 is the military memoir of author James T. Gillam, who was drafted into the Army and distinguished himself by earning the rank of sergeant. In September of 1968, he joined the First Battalion, 22nd Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Within a month he learned how to plan and orchestrate deadly jungle ambushes. He often took point, and was also familiar with fighting in tunnels below ground. The brutality of war forced him to be equally brutal to survive, up to his fateful and savage last night in Cambodia. After he left the Army in June of 1970, he strived to rebuild a normal life, and eventually became a university professor. Life and Death in the Central Highlands vividly recounts the struggle to endure under sanity-destroying life-and-death pressure, and paints an unforgettable personal picture of the Vietnam War. Highly recommended, especially for military biography collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Play the London System
Cyrus Lakdawala
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857446395 $26.95 www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

International Chess Master Cyrus Lakdawala presents Play the London System, an excellent guide to both using and defending against the London system. Intermediate to advanced chess players will learn much from the repertoire of responses White has to the London System, ranging from direct attacks to positional strategies. Sample game summaries with critical points to remember further illuminate this excellent guide to bettering one's chess game through mastery of a specific tactic.


The Economics Shelf

Empirical International Trade
Daniel M. Bernhofen, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781848443013 $345.00 www.e-elgar.com 1-800-390-3149

Volume 242 of the International Library of Critical Writings in Economics, Empirical International Trade gathers a wealth of scholarly essays by learned economists and mathematicians, evaluating the latest theories and discoveries in the economic venue of international trade. The exhaustively detailed essays are categorized into six main sections: "Empirical Studies on the Heckscher-Ohlin Model", "Testing Comparative Advantage and the Gains from Trade", "Monopolistic Competition and the Gains from Product Variety", "Gravity, Borders and the Growth of World Trade", "The Empirics of Firm and Plant Trade", and "Trade, Networks and Institutions". Extensive tables, calculations, and formulas supplement the expert-level resource of technical discussion and theory, highly recommended for college and graduate school economics libraries.


The Education Shelf

Learning from Lincoln
Harvey Alvy & Pam Robbins
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416610236, $25.95, www.ascd.org

There is little dispute to Abraham Lincoln's importance as president, but what can he teach educational leaders? "Learning from Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success" is a discussion of academic leadership as Harvey Alvy & Pam Robbins use the model of our sixteenth president and what his career as president can show as examples of good leadership. From clarity of ideas, staying steadfast and focused, and many more principles, "Learning from Lincoln" is a fine read and a solidly recommended one for educational studies collections.

Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap
Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, & Gayle Karhanek
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781935249849, $24.95, www.solution-tree.com

An education is a horrible thing to go through life lacking. "Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Whatever It Takes" is a follow-up to the previous volume 'Whatever It Takes: How Professional Learning Communities Respond When Kids Don't Learn' and brings even more thoughts and research to the debate of how to improve the learning processes in today's schools and how to create a more through and effective learning environment. From finding the children in need the most, establishing a bond with them to help them learn and pushing them further, "Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap" is a choice addition to any collection focusing on education.

The Best 373 Colleges
Robert Franek
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780375429873, $22.99, www.princetonreviewbooks.com

An education isn't something one wants to skimp on. "The Best 373 Colleges" is a guide from the Princeton review on nearly four hundred colleges, outlining what they offer, the experiences of those who work their and attend classes. Everything from food quality, dorm life, quality of professors, and how to get in is discussed, with plenty of quotes from the mouth of attendees. "The Best 373 Colleges" is an excellent resource that shouldn't be missed for anyone shopping around for a college.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Good News in Bad Times
John P. Lozano
Kairos Missions Press
c/o ACTA Publications
4848 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60647
9780984486809, $14.95, www.kairosmissions.com

When everything is falls apart, that is where faith is most challenged. "Good News in Bad Times: Discovering Spiritual Meaning in the Midst of Crisis and Uncertainty" discusses how to stay positive and keep the faith even in the worst of times. Stating that crisis is a test and opportunity rather a problem to be dreaded, John P. Lozano hopes readers will take the advice well and does much in inspiring readers. "Good News in Bad Times" is a fine pick and a solidly recommended read for Christians.

Transformational Church
Ed Stetzer & Thom S. Rainer
B&H Books
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433669309, $22.99, www.bhpublishinggroup.com

A church is more than a place of faith; it's a community center. "Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations" discusses a new way to measure the success of a congregation and how to encourage growth for the church and the community. Stating that a more powerful and successful church has positive impacts on the faith of the community, the condition of the community and more, "Transformational Church" is a must for anyone who doesn't understand the importance of Church growth or how to push their own church further.


The Music Shelf

For the Parlor & The Concert Stage
Keith Ward
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471883, $48.00, www.amazon.com

The piano is often associated with European composers, but Americans have made their own impact with the instrument. "For the Parlor & The Concert Stage" looks at the history of piano music and its composers in American history. Looking how American piano music began to take form, at historical pieces in the past few hundred ears, the advancement of technique, the people who have composed this music and the people who are composing it today. "For the Parlor & the Concert Stage" is a must for anyone studying the history and relevance of piano music in America, in the past and the present.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Sex & Love at Midlife
Bernie Zilbergeld
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9780982357392, $16.95, www.crownhousepublishing.com

Becoming wiser isn't the only benefit to getting older. "Sex & Love at Midlife: It's Better Than Ever" is a discussion of sex and passion in later life, as Dr. Bernie Zillbergeld affirms readers that as life rolls on, the drive remains, it just changes to a more refined palette and understanding those desires is the key to a life long sexual happiness. "Sex & Love at Midlife" is a thoughtful read that will give much needed encouragement to those approaching midlife.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

A Career With Meaning
Cheryl A. Stevens, et al.
Sagamore Publishing
1807 N. Federal Drive, Urbana, IL 61801-1051
9781571675262, $59.95, www.amazon.com

Feeling what you do actually matters is a major morale boost. The cooperative work of Cheryl A. Stevens, James F. Murphy, Lawrence R. Allen, and Emilyn A. Sheffield, "A Career With Meaning: Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism" is a guide to the career possibilities in this various fields and how to use them to find a very fulfilling place in the world. Outlining how to determine if these jobs are for you, what comes with the territories, plenty of resources and discussion of each, the staff behind this volume provide an excellent resource. For any library careers collection or anyone considering a profession in any of the titular fields, "A Career with Meaning: Recreation, Parks, Sport Management, Hospitality, and Tourism" is an invaluable resource.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Other
Karen Kincy
Flux
c/o Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738719191, $9.95, www.fluxnow.com

It's hard to trust what can change its being at will. "Other" is set in a world where society openly mingles with vampires and other creatures of lore, but the shapeshifting, protagonist Gwen Williams' own unique ability, is not regarded well. When murders begin to occur, people close to Gwen start to die and she finds it on her to find the truth. "Other" is original and riveting story telling.


The Biography Shelf

Tales from the Road
Neil Zurcher
Gray & Company
1588 E. 40th St., Cleveland, OH 44103
9781598510645, $14.95, www.grayco.com

Although he never stopped serving Cleveland, Neil Zurcher certainly got around. "Tales from the Road: Memoirs froma Lifetime of Ohio Travel Television, and More" is a memoir of Channel 8 Veteran Neil Zurcher as he tells his stories of forty years working with his local news and the countless experiences he saw, meeting royalty and the people who run our government. With a distinct Cleveland flavor, "Tales from the Road" is a memoir for anyone who wants to peer into the soul of Ohio.

Wild Comfort
Kathleen Dean Moore
Trumpeter
c/o Shambhala Publications
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9781590307717, $15.95, www.shambhala.com

The serenity of nature has a healing power that can't be matched. "Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature" is nature memoir from Kathleen Dean Moore, as she reflects on her time looking to nature for comfort after losing many people close to her. From walking among the salmon, desert cuisine, and more, she states that all aspects of nature have something to teach. "Wild Comfort" is a must for anyone who wants to see what nature has to offer as a healer.


The Parenting Shelf

Motherhood is Easy...
Rebekah Hunter Scott
Clear View Press
PO Box 353431, Palm Coast, FL 32135-3431
9780979962332, $16.95, www.motherhoodiseasy.com

When you're a mother, your priorities change greatly. "Motherhood is Easy...: As Long As You Have Nothing Else to Do for the Next 50 Years..." is a guide for mothers who are stressed out and overworked by their children and don't know what to do. From the uphill battle of clothing, the failure of ex-ed, why White Trash isn't a bad thing, "Motherhood is Easy" is filled with simple tips peppered throughout the nonstop humor.


The Science Shelf

The Descent of Man
Charles Darwin
Dover Publications
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
9780486471648, $9.95, www.doverpublications.com

Some books hold their place in history as legendary for their impact on society. Charles Darwin authored many of these books. "The Descent of Man" is a re-publishing of his work, with abridging and introduction from Michael Ghiselin. A follow up on "On the Origin of Species", Darwin continues to discuss the roots of humanity, sharing ancestors with apes and other primates, a claim which has earned Darwin notoriety and praise alike. "The Descent of Man" is a must for anyone who wants to read Darwin's work themselves, highly recommended.


The Technology Shelf

Autotools
John Calcote
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593272067, $44.95, www.nostarch.com

Autotools may seem as if their automatic, but like anything automatic, you have to point it in the right direction. "Autotools: A Practitioner's Guide to GNU Autoconf, Automake, and Libtool" is a guide to the finer use of the titular tools and how to use it to make more useful and more successful software for greater and more efficient use. The autotools can add polish and help debug scripts, allow greater cross platform use, and how to make your own autoconf macros. "Autotools" is a fine addition to any computer languages and programming collection and is a solid read for anyone who wants to master these tools.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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