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Reviewer's Choice
PATRICK SWAYZE: Still Inspiring!
Sue Tabashnik
Passion Spirit Dreams Press
www.likedirtydancing.com
9780989408684, $24.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-Swayze-Inspiring-Sue-Tabashnik/dp/098940868X
PATRICK SWAYZE: Still Inspiring! is an unabashed testimony to the actor's ongoing relevance and importance long after his death. It gathers memories, stories and tributes from the entertainment industry and those who participated in his life. Sue Tabashnik reveals, from the opening lines of her exploration, that: "When I remember Patrick Swayze, the first thing I think of is not Johnny Castle, the sizzling dance instructor in Dirty Dancing; Sam Wheat, the loving spirit in Ghost; James Dalton, the Zen bouncer in Road House; or Bodhi, the rogue skydiver and surfer in Point Break.
"What comes to mind, first and foremost, is what I hold most dear about Patrick: his strength of character and spirituality that still shine so bright."
This comment sets the stage for chapters which delve into Patrick's life and impact through a diverse set of personal associations, from childhood friends to acting and beyond. The breadth of memories come from many walks of life and reflect Patrick's expansive interests, from Arabian horses to stage productions, movie-making, dance, and more. This paints an unrestrained portrait of the "Renaissance Man"'s creativity and ability to engage with life and individuals on many from many walks of life.
Take the reflection by stunt skydiving cameraman Tom Sanders, which was written in 2013 and updated in 2023. Sanders points out just why Patrick's unusual insistence on doing many of his own stunts sans a double was so memorably outstanding: "It is a BIG deal that Patrick trained and became a proficient skydiver to do some of the actual stunts involving skydiving. This is unheard of in Hollywood. I have been a SAG stunt skydiving cameraman for nearly forty years and he and Tom Cruise (Tom in recent history) are the only ones I recall doing their own stunts. They all say they do, but they don't. Patrick was a skydiver. He was the REAL DEAL in all aspects of life."
Contrast this with Tabashnik's in-depth interview with Swayze's lifelong friend Larry Ward. The long-term nature of their relationship provides many insights about "Buddy" and his early years, from why and how they formed such a strong bond to Swayze's early participation in martial arts, dance, boxing, and more.
Each individual contributes a different piece to the complex life of Swayze that highlights his personality, talents, and choices. Each reviews the many transformations Swayze undertook in his life and career, providing a full-bodied, admiring view of the man which goes beyond the typical coverages of his fame profiled in other publications.
Sue Tabashnik has written a number of books on Swayze, but PATRICK SWAYZE: Still Inspiring! is, by far, the most wide-ranging for its inclusion of all kinds of adjunct friendships and relationships that reflected his life.
Libraries adding to their Hollywood biography collections in general and looking at surveys of Swayze in particular will find PATRICK SWAYZE: Still Inspiring! a vivid, inspirational collection addition. It should intrigue both fans of Swayze and readers who might know relatively little about the man; especially with its inclusion of some 19 rare photos.
Readers will find the juxtaposition of relationships, stories of growth and achievement, and sense of fun and discovery major draws to a biography embedded in real experiences and powerful memories. Lively, informative, and multifaceted, PATRICK SWAYZE: Still Inspiring! is a "must have" for Hollywood historians and Swayze fans.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Green Slow Cooker Cookbook
Saskia Sidey and Libby Silbermann
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600638667, $19.99
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Slow-Cooker-Cookbook-vegetarian/dp/0600638669
Saskia Sidey and Libby Silbermann's The Green Slow Cooker Cookbook: 80 Easy and Delicious Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes gives busy vegan cooks quick meals for not just dinner main dishes, but breakfasts and desserts. The wide-ranging scope of the dishes in this vegan cookbook provides a wide range of appeal, from Squash Moussaka and Creamy Orzo With Green Veg to Vibrant Beetroot Curry and Corn Chowder. Color photos accompany recipes, adding eye-catching value to the variety featured, making The Green Slow Cooker Cookbook a top recommendation for busy vegan and vegetarian cooks looking to make the most of their crock pots.
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
www.octopusbooksusa.com
A new hardcover series of affordable ($12.99 each) small-format cookbooks is perfect for gift-giving and for building basic home libraries of classic fare from different countries. Yes, there are plenty of competing cookbooks that cover these nations, but having this smaller-scale series represents a compact, affordable, and colorful invitation that will especially appeal to newcomers to world cuisine and cooking.
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Spanish-Recipes-signature-dishes-ebook/dp/B0D8Q21PX7
Elisabeth Luard's Classic Spanish Recipes: 75 Signature Dishes (9780600638940) surveys the classic recipes that define Spanish cooking, from Venison Stewed with Chocolate to a Seafood Paella and Octopus With Onions and Potatoes.
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Italian-Recipes-signature-dishes-ebook/dp/B00H6SLVIY
Access to fresh seafood will enhance appreciation of the range of Spain's appealing cuisine. Anna DelConte's Classic Italian Recipes: 75 Signature Dishes (9780600638902) achieves the same for Italy, profiling uncomplicated classic recipes that best represent the nation's unique cuisine. From Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca to Beef Braised in Milk and Vinegar, both common and uncommon dishes will excite a wide audience just beginning to delve into the diversity of Italian fare.
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Indian-Recipes-Signature-Dishes/dp/060063888X
Chetna Makan's Classic Indian Recipes: 75 Signature Dishes (9780600638889) achieves the same varied focus as the other books, showcasing Indian cuisine in a broad manner that couldn't have been easy, considering the vast regional differences in Indian fare. From Spinach and Coconut Dal to a classic Masala Chicken, the book's inviting color photos and easy dishes that stay true to classic tastes and traditions makes for a winning introduction.
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Chinese-Recipes-Signature-Dishes-ebook/dp/B00H6SIXQC
Don't forget Ken Hom's Classic Chinese Recipes: 75 Signature Dishes (9780600638926), which also represents a fine introduction made all the more important for its synthesis of various broad regional Chinese influences under one cover. Newcomers who try Sweet and Sour Spareribs or Sichuan Chicken will find these dishes surprisingly easy to duplicate at home, virtually foolproof, and representative of China's diversity.
All are wonderful acquisitions; especially for libraries and gift-givers looking for inviting basic cookbooks that are easy to absorb and invitingly colorful.
The Gardening Shelf
Horti Curious
Ann Treneman
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784729639, $24.99
https://www.amazon.com/Horti-Curious-Miscellany-Fascinating-Remarkable/dp/1784729639
Horti Curious: A Gardener's Miscellany of Fascinating Facts & Remarkable Plants pairs beautiful colorful illustrations with facts and celebrations of plants and gardening which packs a wide range of botanical topics under one cover. From fantasy and practicality to plant hunting, the development of the first garden gnome, recipes for flower usage, and tropical cascades, an attention to lively detail and absorbing illustrations results in a book that excels in delightfully unexpected forays into colorful botanical topics. General-interest as well as botany libraries will find Horti Curious lively, absorbing, and accessible to a wide audience.
The Autism Shelf
Talking the Talk About Autism
Haley Moss
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
https://us.jkp.com
9781839978562, $19.95
https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Talk-About-Autism-Share/dp/1839978562
Talking the Talk About Autism: How to Share and Tell Your Story considers an autism diagnosis and how best to self-advocate for better understanding, overcoming adversity, and receiving support.
Anyone who has wondered about the best approach to disclosing their new diagnosis (or that of another) will find this book encourages overall dialogues about neurodivergence. It profiles special ways to talk to different people, from siblings and family members to telling other kids, involving romantic partners, and more.
Its first-person insights about trust, isolation, the politicalization of neurodivergency, and how others started conversations that led to better understanding provide invaluable resources, tips, and insights that no library or general-interest reader should be without. There are very few guides to raising conversations that support and encourage, as well as disseminating invaluable information about experiences and diagnosis.
Talking the Talk About Autism falls into the category of a must-have approach that ideally will draw readers, psychology, and healthcare groups into avid discussions.
The Geology Shelf
Roadside Geology of Arizona
Stephen J. Reynolds & Julia K. Johnson
Mountain Press Publishing Company
www.mountain-press.com
9780878427192, $32.00
https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Geology-Arizona-Stephen-Reynolds/dp/0878427198
Roadside Geology of Arizona is the perfect take-along tote for anyone interested in exploring the Grand Canyon and lesser-known geologic wonders of the state. It's designed for those planning an Arizona sojourn, pairing geological assessments and science with tips on routes to take, spectacular parks and environments to visit, and a wide range of attractions on and off the beaten path.
The second edition of this guide, which is written by geologists with the general public in mind, includes colorful geologic maps, road condition assessments, good-sized color photos throughout, and an attention to capturing Arizona's exciting geologic wonders. With so many attractions reviewed in depth, the impetus to go and visit them is high.
Taking Roadside Geology of Arizona along for the ride assures an easy, engrossing journey, while libraries looking for practical discussions that aid in traveler destination plans will find it an essential acquisition.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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