 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Library Bookwatch |
Library Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Human Ecology: How Nature and Culture Shape Our World
Frederick Steiner
Island Press
2000 M St NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781610917384 $30.00 pbk / $21.81 Kindle www.amazon.com
Originally published in 2002 under the title "Human Ecology: Following Nature's Lead", Human
Ecology: How Nature and Culture Shape Our World is now in an updated new edition for 2016.
Human Ecology is a fascinating, scholarly examination of the "human ecology", or the interplay
between humans and environment. Drawing from the disciplines of biology, geography,
sociology, engineering, architecture, and more, Steiner suggests eight principles for
understanding human ecology. The new edition further examines how the latest developments in
environmental science and urban design (such as geographical information systems, remote-
sensing technologies, and waste life-cycles) have changed human ecology. A "must-read" for
environmental scientists, landscape planners, municipal leaders, and concerned citizens, Human
Ecology is highly recommended for both public and college library collections.
Happiness and Place
Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
www.palgrave-usa.com
9781137436320, $67.50, HC, 130pp, www.amazon.com
"Happiness and Place: Why Life is Better Outside of the City" by Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn
(Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Rutgers University, Camden Campus) is about places
(cities, suburbs and towns) and the happiness of people living in these environs. Taking an
interdisciplinary approach, Professor Okulicz-Kozaryn defty examines the relations between
human happiness and the infrastructure of the places they live. This thought-provoking study
aptly argues for the overlooked idea that men and women are happiest in smaller areas and less
so in larger communities. Enhanced with sixteen pages of References, and a one page Index,
"Happiness and Place" is an inherently interesting read from beginning to end. Very highly
recommended for academic library Urban Studies reference collections and supplemental studies
lists, it should be noted for academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "Happiness and Place" is also available in a Kindle edition ($45.00).
Land of Frozen Laughter
John Lewallen
Mendocino Sea Vegetable Company Publishing
PO Box 455, Philo, CA 95466
9780964764309 $19.95 www.seaweed.net
Land of Frozen Laughter: A Community Development Volunteer in the Vietnam War, 1967-
1969 is the firsthand testimony of author John Lewallen, an American civilian who was one of
400 International Voluntary Services volunteers in Vietnam. Lewallen became disgusted with the
war; he was an anti-war activist in the war zone (during the era of the 1968 Tet Offensive, no
less), and the target of an assassination team. Land of Frozen Laughter offers a grim, ground-
level glimpse of military strategy, portraits of soldiers and civilians (including Vietnamese,
Chams, and Raglai Montagnards), bars, bases, brothels, culture clash and much more. Lewallen
originally penned Land of Frozen Laugher in 1969, immediately after returning from the war; his
memories offer a candid, unforgettable, and completely uncensored perspective of the destructive
conflict. Highly recommended.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Art of Perspective: Who Tells the Story
Christopher Castellani
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.graywolfpress.org
9781555977269, $12.00, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Christopher Castellani is the author of three novels, including "All This Talk of Love". He is the
artistic director of GrubStreet and teaches in the MFA program at Warren Wilson College. He
was recently awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction. In "The Art of Perspective: Who
Tells the Story" Castellani draws upon his years of experience and expertise to explain that while
a writer may have a story to tell, a sense of plot, and strong characters, for all of these to come
together some key questions must be answered. What form should the narrator take? An
omniscient, invisible force, or one (or more) of the characters? But in what voice, and from what
vantage point? How to decide? Avoiding prescriptive instructions or arbitrary rules, Castellani
deftly examines the various ways writers have solved the crucial point-of-view problem. By
unpacking the narrative strategies at play in the work of writers as different as E. M. Forster,
Grace Paley, and Tayeb Salih, among many others, he illustrates how the author's careful
manipulation of distance between narrator and character drives the story. "The Art of
Perspective" is a fascinating discussion on a subject of perpetual interest to any writer and is very
highly recommended for the personal reading lists of any and all aspiring novelists, as well as a
critically important addition to community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional
reference collections. It should be noted that "The Art of Perspective" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($8.56).
Writing Blockbuster Plots
Martha Alderson
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781599639796, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
"Writing Blockbuster Plots: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Plot, Structure, and Scene" by
Martha Alderson is specifically designed o demystify how story writing works. It shows aspiring
writers how to track the seven most important elements of a scene on a Scene Tracker, and how
to use her Plot Planner to develop a multi-layered plotline for each individual project. "Writing
Blockbuster Plots" also provides useful analysis of scenes written by classic and contemporary
writers such as Twain, McCarthy, London, Fitch, Chopin, and Letts, all of which will help show
writers how to: Pre-plot Link scenes through cause and effect; Determine which scenes are flat
and why; Set up tension, conflict and suspense; Develop complex characters; Establish
compelling action; Re-vision rewrites; Clarify themes; Deepen and expand narratives. Detailed,
comprehensive, insightful, instructive, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Writing Blockbuster Plots" is exceptional and very highly recommended for
aspiring writers. It should be noted that "Writing Blockbuster Plots" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($11.94).
Publishing Romance
John Markert
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786494903, $40.00, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com
Romance novels have attracted considerable attention since their mass market debut into
American popular culture in 1939, yet seldom has the industry itself been analyzed. Founded in
1949, Harlequin quickly gained market domination with their contemporary romances. Other
publishers countered with historical romances, leading to the rise of "bodice-ripper" romances in
the 1970s. The liberation of the romance novel's content during the 1980s brought a vitality to the
market that was dubbed a revolution, but the real romance revolution began in the 1990s with
developments in the mainstream publishing industry and continues today. "Publishing Romance:
The History of an Industry: 1940s to the Present" by John Markert (Associate Professor of
Sociology at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee) traces the history and evolution of the
romance industry, covering successful (and not so successful) trends and describing changes in
romance publishing that paved the way for the many popular subgenres flooding the market in
the 21st century. A seminal work of outstanding scholarship, "Publishing Romance" is enhanced
with the inclusion of twenty-five pages of Chapter Notes; a five page Selected Bibliography, and
a three page Index. "Publishing Romance" is an extraordinary history that is especially
recommended for academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections and will prove to be
of special interest for aspiring writers of romance fiction. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Publishing Romance" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.04).
The Art Shelf
Munch and Expressionism
Jill Lloyd
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791355269, $60.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Expertly examining Edvard Munch's influence on his Austrian and German contemporaries,
"Munch and Expressionism" by Jill Lloyd (an independent art historian who has curated
exhibitions for leading international museums including Tate, Royal Academy London and the
National Gallery Washington, and who has written extensively on Expressionist and
contemporary artists) offers a fascinating new look at the Norwegian artist, whose painting The
Scream has become a symbol of modern angst. Edvard Munch came of age during an artistic
period that celebrated beauty and design. But in his own art, Munch explored darker themes
including alienation, sin, and human vulnerability. His resulting work incorporated the vivid
colors of previous styles but intensified their emotional power and paved the way for an entirely
new approach to painting. Although much has been written about Munch's life and its influence
on his art, there has not been a significant study of the artist's influence on his German and
Austrian peers until the publication of "Munch and Expressionism". Featuring contributions by
leading scholars in the field, including Patricia Bermann, Alison Chang, Jay Clarke, Reinhold
Heller, Jill Lloyd, Nils Ohlsen, and Oystein Uvstedt, this authoritative and beautifully illustrated
study explores Munch's impact on Austrian and German artists of the period within an
Expressionist context. It also examines work in specific media, such as Munch's seminal
contributions to printmaking. The artist's thematic and stylistic leitmotifs are highlighted,
including self-portraiture, urban scenes, landscapes, couples, and the artist and his model.
Vibrant reproductions of works from throughout Munch's oeuvre, including such icons as The
Scream, Madonna, and The Kiss, make this a splendid introduction to the artist as well as an
exciting springboard to the study of European Expressionism. As beautiful as it is informed and
informative, "Munch and Expressionism" is very highly recommended for academia and the
non-specialist general reader with an interest in the life and work of Edward Munch. Indeed, this
coffee-table style volume would be an ideal Memorial Fund acquisition choice for community
and academic library Art History and Art Studies reference collections.
Blue Boy & Co.
Catherine Hess, et al.
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791354682, $39.95, HC, 184pp, www.amazon.com
The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens (commonly referred to as The
Huntington) is a collections-based educational and research institution established by Henry E.
Huntington (1850 - 1927) and located in Los Angeles County at San Marino, California. "Blue
Boy & Co.: European Art at the Huntington" is a beautiful and informative volume that offers a
celebration of one of America's most important collections of European art, housed in The
Huntington. Gainsborough's Blue Boy is just one of the masterpieces contained in the Huntington
Galleries and is the first public collection of Old Master painting, sculpture, and decorative arts
in Southern California, and among the most important collections of British Grand Manner
portraits anywhere. Over one hundred of the most impressive works housed at The Huntington,
including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and works on paper, are published together for
the first time in this handsome catalog. Breathtaking in their range, these works are presented in a
dynamic format that juxtaposes medium, style, and cultural origin. The result is a visually
stunning selection of European masterpieces that will serve as both a guide to The Huntington's
collection and an enlightening compendium for anyone interested in European art. Of immense
interest to academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the European art
collection housed at The Huntington and thereby available to the public for viewing, "Blue Boy
& Co.: European Art at the Huntington" is very highly recommended for academic library Art
History reference collections, and would be an ideal Memorial Fund acquisition selection for
community libraries.
David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition
Richard Benefield, et al.
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791353340, $65.00, HC, 228pp, www.amazon.com
David Hockney (born 9 July 1937) is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage
designer and photographer. An important contributor to the Pop art movement of the 1960s, he is
considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century. "David Hockney: A
Bigger Exhibition" was published to accompany exhibition of his work drawn from the past few
years. This beautifully illustrated catalogue with its informed and informative commentaries
captures the grand scale and vibrant color of Hockney's work of the twenty-first century.
Featuring over 100 full-color works of art from museum collections and Hockney's private
studio, including such major new works as The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate Wood, The Bigger
Message, and Bigger Yosemite, "David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition" also includes
multiple-image galleries (spread over gatefolds) of some of his iPad drawings and self-portraits,
plus film stills from the artist's "Cubist" movies. Hockney's own insight into this latest chapter of
his career is included, as is thoughtful commentary by renowned critic Lawrence Weschler and
art historian Sarah Howgate. "David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition" is a "must" for the legions
of David Hockney enthusiasts and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal,
community, and academic library Contemporary Art History reference collections and
supplemental studies reading lists.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Human Chord / The Centaur
Algernon Blackwood
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781944520014, $19.95, PB, 338pp, www.amazon.com
Born in London on March 14, 1869, Algernon Blackwood rebelled against his strong Catholic
upbringing and began studying Oriental religions and the occult, later joining several occult
societies. When he reached twenty, his father sent him to Canada. Returning to Britain in the late
1890's, he soon began turning some of his strange experiences into stories. An acquaintance sent
these stories to a publisher and the result was "The Empty House" (Stark House Press,
9781933586458, $19.95, PB, 352pp), soon followed by many more weird story collections and
some truly strange and powerful novels. A storyteller, mystic, adventurer, radio and television
personality, Algernon Blackwood revealed to his friends that most of his stories were based on
actual events. By the time of his death in 1951, he had become one of the greatest writers of
supernatural fiction in the 20th century. This Stark House Press edition of two of Algernon
Blackwood's classic stories of the supernatural, "The Human Chord / The Centaur" once again
brings back into print two of his earliest novels for a new generation of appreciative readers. For
those new to the writings of Algernon Blackwood, "The Human Chord / The Centaur" will prove
to be the perfect introduction and sending eager readers out looking for the rest of his impressive
library of original and deftly crafted tales. Of special note is that this Stark House Press edition of
"The Human Chord / The Centaur" also includes a complete bibliography of Algernon
Blackwood's published writings, including his novels, autobiography, short story collections, and
plays. "The Human Chord / The Centaur" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists,
as well as community and academic library Literary Fiction collections.
Haunting Investigation
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Smoke & Shadow Books
c/o Cleveland Writer's Press
www.clevelandwriterspress.com
9781943052011, $27.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Spring 1924. The world has clawed its way back from the ravages of WWI and the Spanish Flu
pandemic. The 20's are beginning to roar. Poppy Thornton lives with her Aunt Jo and her
excitable cat Maestro in upper-crust Philadelphia. Poppy is determined to make a name for
herself as a serious crime reporter, but is stuck reporting on garden parties and ladies' fashion.
Then one day her editor assigns her to collect background information on the suicide of a
prominent businessman. She soon discovers it was actually a murder. But her surprising source
for this information is the ghost of a man killed alongside her father during the Great War. Even
if she dared tell anyone, who would believe it? Together Poppy and her "gentleman haunt"
follow the trail of a string of murders. But as their investigation narrows in on an all-too-familiar
suspect, Poppy becomes a target herself and wonders if her ghost of a partner will appear in time
to keep her from joining him in the afterlife. "Haunting Investigation" is another terrific read
from the mind and imagination of Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. A blend of fantasy and mystery,
"Haunting Investigation" is a "must read" for the legions of Yarbro fans and is certain to be an
enduringly popular addition to community and academic library collections. For personal reading
lists it should be noted that "Haunting Investigations" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781943052004, $19.99) and in a Kindle format ($7.49).
The Service of the Dead
Candace Robb
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781681771274, $25.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides
on who should be the rightful king '-- Richard II, or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile,
Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out
from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own
wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her
properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she
also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights
with their mistresses. But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his
companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a
looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin.
"The Service of the Dead" by Candace Robb is a strikingly well crafted novel that is a
compelling page-turner from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for community library
Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Service of
the Dead" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99) and in an MP3 CD format ($29.95).
The Poetry Shelf
Collected Poems: 1974-2004
Rita Dove
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393285949, $39.95, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and author. From 1993 to 1995
she served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She is the first
African American to have been appointed since the position was created by an act of Congress in
1986 from the previous "consultant in poetry" position (1937 - 86). Dove also received an
appointment as "special consultant in poetry" for the Library of Congress's bicentennial year from
1999 to 2000. Dove is the second African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in
1987, and she served as the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2004 to 2006. Dove is the recipient of
many literary honors, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement
Medal. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she is currently a
Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia. Gathered from thirty years of
her poetry, including seven published volumes of her work, "Collected Poems: 1974-2004" is a
compilation that includes Dove's fresh reflections on adolescence in The Yellow House on the
Corner and her irreverent musings in Museum. She sets the moving love story of Thomas and
Beulah against the backdrop of war, industrialization, and the civil right struggles. The
multifaceted gems of Grace Notes, the exquisite re-invention of Greek myth in the sonnets of
Mother Love, the troubling rapids of recent history in On the Bus with Rosa Parks, and the
homage to America's kaleidoscopic cultural heritage in American Smooth all celebrate Dove's
mastery of narrative context with lyrical finesse. Rita Dove's "Collected Poems: 1974-2004" is
very strongly recommended for both community and academic library American Poetry
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Collected Poems: 1974-2004" is
available in a Kindle edition ($19.99).
Anchored
Lorna Shaughnessy
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781910669228, $18.00, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
"Anchored" is an anthology of original Irish poetry that clearly establishes Lorna Shaughnessy as
a master wordsmith who can engage in the rhythmic use of language to directly connect with her
readership with an authentic Irish perspective. Her free verse poetry is intensely personal and yet
universal in its reach and impact. "Anchored" is very highly recommended for personal,
community, and academic library Contemporary Irish Poetry collections. 'The Chosen': He
thought he'd breathed his last / when they asked his religion / and told him to step forward. / A
workmate's hand urged caution / but they hadn't come for him. // 'Don't look back', they said / and
shoved him on his way. / He staggered down the unlit road / and felt as though his own bones
shattered / when they opened fire on the ten left behind. (January 1976).
Domestic Garden
John Hoppenthaler
Carnegie Mellon University Press
5032 Forbest Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15289-1021
www.cmu.edu/universitypress
University Press of New England (dist.)
1 Court Street, Suite 250, Lebanon, NH 03766-1358
www.upne.com
9780887485954, $15.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
Very highly recommended personal reading lists as well as community and academic library
collections, "Domestic Garden" is John Hoppenthaler's third collection of poetry. The theme is
one of observing the contemporary remnants of an American Dream and what it mean and looks
like in our time is at the book's heart. Hoppenthaler's poems are deftly written in a variety of
styles, offering testimony and uncovering, row by row, what remains viable. Deciding to Marry
(for Christy): The insistent sweep from the Hatteras / Lighthouse flicks over sand dunes / lining
the silver-tinged ocean. Much was // made of John's expected shipwreck / The rats moved on.
The mast I cut into cordwood, / and fire changed its nature to wind. // I'd hunkered down in the
last place on earth. / I drank from crude stills, distilled bitter fruits. / Mosquitoes swarmed and
shape-shifted, // droned sad songs around my head. / It became so obvious: / you at the top of the
lighthouse stairs, the red dress.
The Audiobook Shelf
Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War
Fred Kaplan
Read by Malcolm Hillgartner
Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781504694308 $34.95 www.downpour.com
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Fred Kaplan presents Dark Territory: The Secret History of
Cyber War, now in an unabridged audiobook rendition. Here is an intense scrutiny of the latest
evolving battlefield - cyberwarfare. From the inner workings of the National Security Agency, to
the top-secret cyber units of the Pentagon, to the efforts of officers, policymakers, scientists, and
spies, Dark Territory shows how cyber battles over the control of computers and data directly
affect military and societal plans, potential, and operations. Utterly fascinating throughout, Dark
Territory is a "must" for strategists and policymakers of the 21st century. 7 CDs, 9 hours, tracks
every 3 minutes for ease of bookmarking.
Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic Thinkers
Andrew R. Wilson
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
GC0022, 9781490659503, $100.75, www.amazon.com
From Napoleon's revolutionary campaigns to the way insurgency, terrorism, and nuclear
weaponry have defined the nature of warfare and the results of military strategy have changed the
course of history again and again and again. "Masters of War: History's Greatest Strategic
Thinkers" is an audio book collection of 24 thought-provoking 30 minute lectures by Andrew R.
Wilson (Professor of Strategy and Policy at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island)
give students and non-specialist general listeners with an interest in the history of military
strategy a truly insiders study of both the content and historical context of the world's greatest
war strategists. "Masters of War" is a concise and rigorous survey in which Professor Wilson
introduces: Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War; Sun Tzu's famous The Art of War;
Machiavelli's strategy for a republic with a citizen-army; Jomini, Clausewitz, and the Napoleonic
revolution in warfare; the development of naval strategy and the rise of airpower; Mao Tse-tung,
David Galula, and Roger Trinquier's reflections on insurgency and counterinsurgency and their
influence on the U.S. Army's Field Manual 3-24; Just-war theory, from Thucydides' Melian
Dialogue to Operation Iraqi Freedom; nuclear war, terrorism, and other strategic challenges for
the 21st century. Strongly recommended for both community and academic library collections,
this flawlessly produced, complete and unabridged, audio book edition for "Masters of War" is
comprised of 12 CDs and a bonus disc featuring a course workbook.
The Last Telegram
Liz Trenow
Read by Susan Duerden
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781515901594 $42.99 www.tantor.com
The Last Telegram: A Novel of What Saves Us is the unabridged audiobook rendition of an
emotional story set during World War II. Told in flashbacks, The Last Telegram traces the
memories of Lily Verner, who worked in her family's silk mill to create parachutes for soldiers.
A saga of the grim toll of war, and terrible loss, The Last Telegram is thought-provoking and
soul-searching to the very end. Highly recommended, especially for public library audiobook
collections. 9 CDs, 11 hours.
Steel Magnolias
Robert Harling, author
Jessica Kubzansky, director
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781682660027 $29.95 www.latw.org
An audiobook of the 1987 play by Robert Harling (recorded before a live audience), Steel
Magnolias is about the connections between six women in a small-town community of the
American South. When one of their group unexpectedly passes on, each woman must find her
own way to cope with the loss. The play's title is a metaphor for the women themselves, who are
capable of being both as fragile as a magnolia flower and as strong as steel. A full cast of
talented, vivacious professionals brings this captivating story to life; it's the next best experience
to witnessing a performance of Harling's classic play in person. Highly recommended, especially
for public and college library audiobook and theater collections. 2 CDs, 1 hour 53 min.
The Inferiors
Mari Wolf, author
Jim Roberts, narrator
Speculative!
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511357074, $14.99, CD, www.amazon.com
Far into the future, mankind has developed into telepathic beings. However a few children are
still born "stupid", that is, without the ability to communicate telepathically. One of these
unfortunates is Eric, who grows up knowing that he is different from everyone else. As a child he
is taken under the wing of an old man who is a friend of Eric's parents and taught to read the
books in an ancient museum, leaning about the old people before the age of universal telepathy.
The telepaths learn new things instantly by "hooking up" with others who have the knowledge.
Eric has to study and learn in the old way. Eric is treated, and feels, inferior, until he finds a
group of others like himself. But they turn out to be nothing like what Eric had imagined they'd
be based upon his studies of the ancient humans. Never the less, Eric and decides to embark upon
on a dangerous plan to gain back their full humanity and make it out to the stars. An original and
highly entertaining story by Mari Wolf that is deftly narrated by Jim Roberts, this flawlessly
produced audio book edition of "The Inferiors" provides a true 'theatre of the mind" experience
that is a "must" for all dedicated science fiction enthusiasts, and is a very highly recommended
addition to community library audio book collections. (2 CDs, 46 minutes).
The Dressmaker's War
Mary Chamberlain, author
Read by Susan Duerden
Highbridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781622319725 $34.99 www.highbridgeaudio.com
Mary Chamberlain (Emeritus Professor of History, Oxford Brookes University) presents The
Dressmaker's War: A Novel, the unabridged audiobook rendition a historical fiction saga about a
working-class seamstress who dreams of a better life even as the horrors of World War II close in
upon her. In 1939, Ada Vaughan falls hard for the romantic promises of Stanislaus von Lieben,
who claims to be a Hungarian aristocrat. She agrees to go on a romantic vacation with him, but
when war breaks out, he abandons her. Captured by the Germans, Ada must use her talent as a
brilliant dressmaker to survive. Yet after the war, she finds London devastated, and the
consequences of the choices she made to avoid death continue to haunt her. Emotional, powerful,
and a cautionary tale against trusting empty promises (particularly those from a whirlwind
romance with a person one has not had the time to get to know well), The Dressmaker's War is
highly recommended for both personal and public library audiobook collections. 9 CDs, 10.5
hours.
The Library CD Shelf
Saving Cecil's Pride
savingcecilspride.com
RadHaus LLC
12910 Culver Blvd., Suite D, Los Angeles, CA 90066
$18.00 for 3 CD set plus album download
Cecil was a beloved wild lion in Africa, who was shot and killed by a tourist-hunter. Though
Cecil is gone, the quest to preserve Africa's wildlife and ecological diversity continues. Cecil's
Pride is a grand album anthology by a wide variety of musicians, created as a fundraiser for the
Big Life Foundation, a conservation organization working on the ground in Africa to protect
wildlife. All profits from sales go to the Big Life Foundation, and the purchase price includes
both the physical set of 3 CDs and the option to download the music. The tracks have been
created and performed by a grand variety of artists, and range in nature from ambient to new age,
world beat, experimental, and much more. Saving Cecil's Pride is especially recommended as a
superb gift for compassionate connoisseurs of world music!
A Bridge Between
Carbe and Durand
carbeanddurand.com
Strange Tree Productions
$12.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
A Bridge Between is an extraordinary album by acoustic-guitar duo Carbe and Durand, a team
who have spanned genres from classical to blues, pop, rock-n-roll, world-fusion,
nuevo-flamenco, and more. The songs include three original compositions, and acoustic-guitar
arrangements of classics from the last half-century. A Bridge Between is a "must-have" for
connoisseurs of quality acoustic guitar! The tracks are "A Bridge Between", "Time After Time"
Scarborough Fair", "A Thought For You", "Classical Gas", "Paint It Blac", "Blackbird", "isn't
She Lovely", "Wichita Lineman", "Mountain Song", "Everybody Wants To Rule the World",
"Fragile", and "Crazy Train".
Jason Miles presents: To Grover With Love / Live in Japan
Produced by Jason Miles
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos of America (dist.)
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosusa.com
$16.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Originally recorded in June of 2010 at Blue Note Tokyo, Jason Miles presents: To Grover With
Love / Live in Japan is an album is a jazz talent showcase. Jason Miles plays in honor of the
great sax player Grover Washington Jr., along with special guest Ralph MacDonald on
percussion and Ryan Shaws on vocal cameo. Rendering Grover's beloved songs with passion and
inspiration, Jason Miles presents: To Grover With Love / Live in Japan is a treasure for jazz
connoisseurs. The physical CD includes a collector's booklet with an introduction by Jason Miles
and color photographs (no lyrics, though). The tracks are "Winelight" (8:14), "Sassy Stew"
(5:44), "Take Me There" (7:55), "Lorans Dance" (9:43), "Just the Two of Us" (6:26), "Black
Frost" (6:56), "Inner City Blues" (5:43), "Let It Flow" (12:21), and "Mr Magic" (8:37). 71 min.
45 sec.
The Library DVD Shelf
Humans Series 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724452 $39.99 DVD
9781621724667 $39.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com
Available on both DVD and Blu-Ray, Humans Series 1 is now available in a complete, unedited
UK edition, featuring more than 20 minutes of footage not previously broadcast on AMC. Series
1 consists of eight dramatic episodes, set in a near-future world where humanoid servants called
synthetics, or "synths", ease the burdens of everyday life... but will these synths remain
complacent as servants forever? When a husband brings home a female synth to the family, his
wife feels uneasy even though the children like her right away; meanwhile, a synth engineer
cannot bear to dispose of his beloved yet malfunctioning synth. A keenly character-driven plot
speculating on the boundaries of future technology, Humans Series 1 is troubling, riveting, and
highly recommended. Bonus features include 30 min. of behind-the-scenes footage, 49 min. of
featurettes, and a photo gallery. It should be noted that Humans Series 1 contains violence, coarse
language, nudity, and sexual situations. 8 episodes on 3 DVDs (or 2 Blu-ray discs), 385 min. plus
bonus material, widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Getting Your Kicks! A Beginner's Guide to Choreography
Adrea Gibbs
Meriwether Publishing
c/o Pioneer Drama Service
PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155-4267
1566081149 $29.95 www.pioneerdrama.com
Getting Your Kicks! A Beginner's Guide to Choreography is a highly recommended introduction
to stage choreography (dance moves for theater), consisting of a DVD and a 28-page workbook
that fits snugly inside the DVD case. An excellent resource for self-study or classroom
instruction, Getting Your Kicks! is perfect for novice or untrained dancers of all ages and
backgrounds. Getting Your Kicks! covers fundamentals including jumps, turns, and kicks; a wide
variety of dance steps including grapevine, pony, wizard, cakewalk, waltz step, Charleston, soft
shoe, etc.; determining formation and staging; and more. Getting Your Kicks! is a "must-have"
for dance instruction collections, and highly recommended for anyone with an interest in
choreography, whether as a hobby, for community theater, or as a profession. It should be noted
that in order to view the Getting Your Kicks! DVD, a DVD player with DVD-R compatibility is
required.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Manga Classics
Udon Entertainment
335 N Ohio Avenue, Fremont, OH 43420
http://www.udonstore.com
The term manga is a Japanese word referring both to comics and cartooning. Manga are the kind
of comics created in Japan and conforming to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century.
They have a long and complex pre-history in earlier Japanese art, and have become very popular
with American readers of all ages. Manga books from Udon Entertainment have their captions
translated into English for an American readership. Two of the newest titles in Udon
Entertainment's 'Manga Classic' series are particularly outstanding. "The Scarlet Letter" by
Nathaniel Hawthorne and drawn in the Manga style by SunKeno Lee (9781927925348, $24.99,
HC, 9783927925331, $19.99, PB, 308pp) and is the classically tragic story Puritan America.
"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and drawn in the Manga style by Nokman Poon
(9781927925324, $24.99, HC; 9781927925317, $19.99, PB, 308pp) is one of English literature's
greatest tales of romance, mystery, comedy, and unforgettable characters woven through a
gripping rags-to-riches tale. The manga versions of great literature are exceptionally entertaining
for teens and adult, and are very highly recommended as enduringly popular additions for
personal, school, and community library collections. Classroom teachers working with reading
adverse students should note that the use of manga novels are extraordinarily effective in
developing reading skills.
Apollo: The Brilliant One
George O'Connor
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.firstsecondbooks.com
9781626720152 $9.99 www.olympiansrule.com
Part of the "Olympians" series of full-color graphic novel adaptations of classic Greek
mythology, Apollo: The Brilliant One showcases selected myths about Apollo, the legendary
Greek god of order, reason, healing, and the sun. Yet these stories reveal a deity who is all too
often consumed by pride, lust, jealousy, or revenge, and those mortals who dare to love Apollo
always seem to meet an unseemly fate. Even though Apollo: The Brilliant One flows smoothly as
a graphic novel, its rendition of classic Greek mythology is so accurate that it could serve as a
study aid for a college course. The darkest aspects of Greek mythology are not sanitized or
downplayed, although discretion is applied to the art where particularly violent scenes are
concerned. Apollo: The Brilliant One and the entire Olympians series are highly recommended
for public and college library graphic novel collections, and for any reader interested in learning
more about Greek mythology.
Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling
Tony Cliff
First Second
175 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781626721555 $17.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com
Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling is a full-color graphic novel of swashbuckling adventure,
set in the early 1800's. The principal heroes are the roguish Delilah Dirk and her sharp-witted
Turkish ally, Erdemoglu Selim. War rages between the British and the French, but Delilah Dirk
cares nothing for military matters... until a British officer, Major Jason Merrick, accuses her of
treason. Prideful and protective of her reputation, Delilah will go to any lengths to set Merrick in
his place - even if those lengths include a return visit to her own family! But in her efforts to
remain respected, will Delilah forget to show proper respect to Selim? As the full extent of
Merrick's plots come into play, one woman's efforts to clear her good name may well have a
shockwave effect on history! Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling is a treasure for connoisseurs
of historical adventure. Also highly recommended is the previous Delilah Dirk graphic novel,
"Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant" (9781596438132, $16.99).
Master Keaton 5
Naoki Urasawa
Story by Hokusei Katsushika and Takashi Nagasaki
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200, San Francisco CA 94103
www.viz.com
9781421575940 $19.99 www.amazon.com
The fifth volume of Master Keaton continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic
novel) series set in the early 1990's, the contemporary times of when it was created. The
protagonist, Taichi Hiraga Keaton, is the son of a Japanese father and a British mother. His
training in the British military serves him well, since his (unfortunately low-paying) job as an
insurance investigator often lands him in dangerous situations! In volume 5, Keaton must get to
the bottom of ruthless murders, protect the family of a deceased war veteran from criminal
robbers, and much more. The longest and most fascinating saga in this anthology involves
Keaton's efforts to rescue a British diplomat from the heart of the Iraq war (not the 2003 invasion
of Iraq - that was well after this manga's time - but rather the one triggered by Iraq's invasion of
Kuwait and spearheaded by the administration of the first President Bush). A fine blend of
mystery, intrigue, action, and character development, Master Keaton is a highly recommended
series to connoisseurs of classic manga.
The Education Shelf
Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change
Eric Jensen
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com
9781936764518, $34.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In "Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change" educator Eric Jensen draws upon his
years of experience and expertise to provide practical and research-based strategies to ensure all
students, regardless of circumstance, are graduate college and career ready. This thorough
resource details the necessary but difficult work that teachers must do to establish the
foundational changes essential to positively impact students in poverty. Organized tools and
resources are provided to help teachers effectively implement these essential changes. "Poor
Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change" will result in an understanding of the urgency of
poverty in the United States; the four powerful mindsets required to bring about successful
change; how to build effective relationships with students, and help them see achievement as a
reachable target; and create a welcoming classroom climate where all students love to learn and
are engaged for success. Of special note is that there is a download of free reproducibles from
"Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change" at www.go.solution-tree.com/. While very
highly recommended for professional and academic library Educational Studies reference
collections and supplemental reading lists, it should be noted for classroom teachers and
interested members of the general public that "Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for
Change" is also available in a Kindle edition ($33.20).
Excellence Through Equity
Alan M. Blankstein & Pedro Noguera
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781483392783, $36.95, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Alan M. Blankstein (who served for 25 years as the
Hope Foundation) and Pedro Noguera (Distinguished Professor of Education, Graduate School
of Education and Information, UCLA), "Excellence Through Equity: Five Principles of
Courageous Leadership to Guide Achievement for Every Student" is an illuminating anthology of
15 original articles that collectively builds the case that equity is the most powerful means we
have to lift all children to higher achievement and to benefit society at large. "Excellence
Through Equity" includes: Examples of high-leverage practices used by award-winning schools
and districts; System-level examples of excellence through equity including whole state and
district-wide; Examples of classroom level practice that lead to success for students from
underserved populations as well as for their more privileged peers; A powerful concluding
chapter that focuses on what we can learn from other nations that have pursued the goals of
educational equity. Enhanced with an informative Foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
"Excellence Through Equity" is very highly recommended reading for educational administrators
and classroom instructors. Simply stated, no college or university library should be without a
copy of "Excellence Through Equity" in the Educational Studies reference collection. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Excellence Through Equity" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($32.25).
Curious Minds
Ty Kolstedt & Azeem Z. Vasi
Zephyr Press
c/o Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781613731505, $16.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative project of Ty Kolstedt ( who teaches secondary-level social studies in the
Denver area) and Dr. Azeem Z. Vasi (an otolaryngologist who has daily clinic interaction with
parents and children dealing with various developmental issues), "Curious Minds: 40 Hands-on
Activities to Inspire a Love of Learning" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' resource for parents and
homeschoolers in search of kid-friendly DIY projects, educators seeking to enhance classroom
lessons, and caregivers or camp counselors looking for activities with a deeper educational lesson
behind them, "Curious Minds" is filled to the brim with learning activities that will excite the
eager, gifted child just as much as the special needs learner. Through 40 fun projects specifically
designed to promote kids' critical thinking about the interest in the world they live in, "Curious
Minds" fosters active "learning by doing" in four core academic areas: math, science, social
studies, and language arts. Each activity includes a short mini-lesson and list of "related lingo" to
provide educational background information; a simple materials list; easy-to-follow, illustrated
instructions; and guidance for extending the activity. The wide range of projects ensures every
child's interest will be piqued. Kids will make homemade butter like the pioneers did; understand
viscosity by making homemade quicksand; learn to recognize and use creative writing
techniques; make their own ink using natural resources; and much more! "Curious Minds" is very
highly recommended for parents and teachers, as well as community and academic library
educational resource instructional reference collections.
Strategies for Writing from Sources
Jessica Hathaway
Shell Education
5301 Oceanus Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1030
www.shelleducation.com
9781425815462, $39.99, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
"Strategies for Writing from Sources" by Jessica Hathaway is practical and comprehensive
"how-to" guide that will provide classroom teachers with all of the information they will need to
help their students write from sources. "Strategies for Writing from Sources" allows students to
analyze informational texts, argument/opinion texts, narrative texts, diverse media sources, and
multiple sources to help students improve their own writing and allows them to gain a deeper
understanding of the sources through close reading and critical analysis. Each section contains
five lessons that are specific to the grade spans K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Thoroughly 'user
friendly' in tone, content, organization, and presentation, "Strategies for Writing from Sources" is
very highly recommended as a K-12 school writing curriculum supplement, as well as a critically
important addition to academic library Teacher Education reference collections and supplemental
studies reading lists.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Six O'Clock Scramble Meal Planner
Aviva Goldfarb
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
http://www.diabetes.org
9781580405676, $22.95, PB, 431pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by cookbook author Avivia Goldfarb, "The Six O'Clock Scramble Meal Planner" is
comprised of 160 delicious, diabetes-friendly recipes that require 30 minutes or less to prepare;
32 weekly menu plans complete with main dishes and sides - and an organized grocery list for
each week; Recipes organized by season and by week to give you variety throughout the year;
Recipes that are built on natural, fresh ingredients; Slow cooker directions for most recipes. Also
features are mouth-watering color photos for each individual recipe. The recipes themselves
range from Carpool Chicken; Savory Korean Vegetable Pancakes; Salmon Salad Melts with
Havarti; Rosemary-Garlic Pork Roast with Whipped Sweet Potatoes; and Spaghetti with Creamy
Avocado Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes; to Texas Tornado Bake; Cobb Salad with Bacon,
Avocado, and Blue Cheese; Incan Quinoa Delight; Toasty Baked Burritos; and Winter Rainbow
Soup. Each recipe is fully compliant with the dietary needs of anyone having to cope with
diabetes. Delicious, nutritious, appealing and appetizing, "The Six O'Clock Scramble Meal
Planner" will prove to be an enduring favorite for family and community library cookbook
collections and meal planning references.
Foolproof Preserving
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781940352510, $26.95, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com
The art of preserving produce by canning and preserving has come full circle from grandmother's
kitchen to a whole new generation of family kitchen cooks now eager to learn it. "Foolproof
Preserving: A Guide to Small Batch Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Condiments, and More" is detailed
guide to home preserving is perfect for novice canners and holds a great deal of informational
value to experienced canners as well. "Foolproof Preserving" showcases more than 100 easy,
step-by-step, illustrated food preserving recipes across a wide range of categories, from sweet
jams and jellies to savory jams, vegetables, condiments, pickles, whole fruits, and more. Let the
experts at America's Test Kitchen show you how to do it right with detailed tutorials,
troubleshooting tips, equipment information, and insight into the science behind canning. Certain
to be an enduringly popular addition to family and community library collections, it should be
noted that "Foolproof Preserving" is also available in a Kindle edition ($25.99).
Betty Crocker Fast From-Scratch Meals
Betty Crocker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544714458, $19.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Home cooks no longer have to choose between speedy meal prep and wholesomeness.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Betty Crocker Fast From-Scratch Meals" is an impressive
collection of 150 delicious recipes that integrates fresh, nourishing ingredients into memorable
dinners that are on the table in 30 minutes or less. With tasty main dishes like Provencal Fish
Soup or Coconut Curry Chicken, and kid-pleasing desserts like Strawberry Blossoms and Fresh
Berry Cobbler, eating healthfully has never been so delicious, quick, or kitchen cook friendly.
Special features provide mini-recipes for a specific type of produce, and icons call out Meatless
entrees and start-to-finish time. A special pantry guide helps home cooks stock their larders with
foods that make meal planning and prep a cinch. In addition, a guide to farmers' markets will
ease readers into eating locally and enjoying more produce. From Toasted Pesto-Chicken
Sausage Sandwiches; Two-Potato Ham Chowder; and Seared Mackerel with Gremolata
Mayonnaise; to Turke-Cheddar-Chipotle Burgers; Speedy Honey-Lime Fruit Salad; and Butter
Pecan Cantaloupe Wedges, "Betty Crocker Fast From-Scratch Meals" is as much fun to simply
browse through as it is inspiring to plan menus with. "Betty Crocker Fast From-Scratch Meals" is
certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library
cookbook collections!
Eat Street
John Carruthers, John Scholl, Jesse Valenciana
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762458691, $23.00, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com
John Carruthers is a writer, editor, and 2014 graduate of Hot Dog University. John Scholl is a
founding member of ManBQue. Jesse Valenciana is the founder of ManBQue and lifelong
Chicagoan. Together the have collaborated in compiling and presenting "Eat Street" a ManBQue
based culinary treasure trove of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes
of popular street foods that can be made at home. Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full
color, and with recipes ranging from Mexican Truffle Quesadillas; Chicago Meets Buffalo
Wings; Bacon Lime Fried Rice; and Sesame Steak Manapua; to Belgian Beer Mussels; Detroit
Coney Dogs; Drunk Guy Nachos; and French Pressed Beer, "Eat Street" will prove to be a
unique and highly prized addition to personal and community library cookbook collections. It
should be noted that "Eat Street" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.99).
Low-Carb Essentials
George Stella
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
9781938879173, $19.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of "Low-Carb Essentials: Everyday Low-Carb Recipes You'll Love to Cook",
veteran Food Network chef George has showcases over 120 of his newly created recipes, each
one providing the ultimate treat for anyone seeking a healthy diet of incredibly tasteful dishes
that achieve weight-loss success. Whether you have been living a low-carb lifestyle for years, or
are simply looking to eat less processed foods, "Low-Carb Essentials" will prove to a culinary
treasure trove. More than 60 full-color photos present dishes that look as good as they taste. All
recipes are made without any white flour or added sugar, making them gluten-free, and great for
diabetics as well. Enhanced with complete nutritional analysis, a helpful shopping list, and
practical 'kitchen cook friendly' tips, the recipes range from Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes;
Guacamole Stuffed Deviled Eggs; Golden Grilled Chicken with Peaches; and Italian Sausage
Bolognese; to Tilapia with Blistered Tomatoes; Spaghetti Squash Carbonara; Brussels Sprouts
with Crispy Prosciutto; and Toasted Hazelnut Chocolate Cupcakes. From wheat-free casseroles,
to no-sugar-added desserts, to guilt-free appetizers, to meal planning for everyday family dinners,
"Low-Carb Essentials: Everyday Low-Carb Recipes You'll Love to Cook" will prove to be a
family favorite and is highly recommended for both personal and community library cookbook
collections.
Kosher By Design Brings It Home
Susie Fishbein
Mesorah Publications Ltd.
4401 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
www.mesorah.com
9781422616895, $34.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Beautifully illustrated throughout by the color photography of John Uher, "Kosher By Design
Brings It Home" is a compilation of fully kosher dishes that Susie Fishbein largely obtained
through her travels in Italy, France, Mexico, Israel, and throughout North America. Each
individual recipe begins with a succinct commentary, a servings estimate, a list of ingredients,
and thoroughly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions. The recipes themselves range from
Tilapia with Browned Butter Caper Sauce; Sweet Potato Chestnut Soup; Veal Scallopini;
Butternut Squash Farrolo; and Balsamic Glazed Onions; to Provencal Wheatberry Salad; Amalfi
Sage Chicken; Cheesy Grits Casserole; Eggplant and Tomato Tart; Roasted Vegetable Crisps;
and Halvah Baklava. "Kosher By Design Brings It Home" is certain to be an enduringly popular
addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Philosophy Shelf
I Eat, Therefore I Think
Raymond D. Boisvert
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
The Gatehouse M010C
285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
www.fdupress.org
9781611476866, $70.00, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
"I Eat, Therefore I Think: Food and Philosophy" by Raymond Boisvert (who teaches philosophy
at Siena College, Loudonville, New York) breaks new ground by introducing philosophy via an
activity central to life: eating. Building on the original meaning of philosophy as love of wisdom,
"I Eat, Therefore I Think: Food and Philosophy" explains how the search for wisdom can best
succeed by addressing not just the mind, but the entire human being. Eating, an activity that
integrates physiological, social, religious, cultural, ethical, and aesthetic dimensions, offers an
opportunity to re-think fundamental questions. The result: "I Eat, Therefore I Think: Food and
Philosophy" is a surprising and novel ways to approach art, religion, knowledge, ethics, and even
democracy. "I Eat, Therefore I Think: Food and Philosophy" outlines a new philosophy for our
time. As such, it will be of interest to people curious about the topic of food, to those interested
in learning about philosophy, and to those who seek new ideas as guides for living meaningful
lives in an intelligible world. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "I
Eat, Therefore I Think: Food and Philosophy" is very highly recommended for academic library
Philosophy and Anthropology reference collections. For the personal reading lists of academics
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "I Eat,
Therefore I Think: Food and Philosophy" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781611477122, $39.99) and in a Kindle format ($39.99).
The Library Science Shelf
Practical Tips for Facilitating Research
Moira J. Bent
Facet Publishing
7 Ridgmount Street, London, England, WC1E 7AE
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
978178330174, $49.95, PB, 263pp, www.amazon.com
"Practical Tips for Facilitating Research" by Moria J. Bent (Faculty Liaison Librarian & National
Teaching Fellow at Newcastle University) is a an effectively informed and informative
instructional guide that offers innovative tips and reliable best practice to enable new and
experienced library and information professionals to evaluate their current provision and develop
their service to meet the evolving needs of the research community. Interacting effectively with
information is at the heart of all research, consequently information professionals have a key role
to play in facilitating the development of researchers who are able to operate confidently and
successfully in the information world. Grounded in current theory and informed by practitioners
from around the world, "Practical Tips for Facilitating Research" offers a wide range of ideas and
methods to assist library and information professionals in developing and managing their role in
the research environment. Part of the outstanding 'Practical Tips for Library and Information
Professionals' series from Facet Publishing, "Practical Tips for Facilitating Research" covers:
Getting to know your research community; Collection management to meet specific and often
conflicting research needs and spaces for researchers; Developing information literate
researchers; Supporting researchers at a distance, including the international aspects of research
support; Contributing to research excellence exercises; Getting involved in the publication
process; Making and measuring research impact in terms of bibliometrics; Ethics and academic
integrity for researchers; Scholarly communication and open access; Social media and
networking for researchers in terms of the library's role; Research data management.
Comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content, organization, and presentation,
"Practical Tips for Facilitating Research" is strongly recommended library and information
professionals who work with research staff and students and an essential, core addition to college
and university Library Science reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
The American History Shelf
Bold Women in Indiana History
Louise Hillery
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426553 $14.00 www.mountain-press.com
Teen and adult readers will enjoy Bold Women in Indiana History, a nonfiction anthology about
women from the state of Indiana who dared to make a difference. Here are the true stories of
Marie Bailly, the first settler in northwest Indiana; Mother Theodore Guerin, a Catholic nun
eventually canonized as a saint; Vivian Carter, founder of a successful record label; and many
more. A list of selected sources, recommended sites to visit, occasional black-and-white
photographs, and an index round out the edifying collection about courageous women. Highly
recommended, especially for school and public library American history shelves.
The Alamo's Forgotten Defenders
Phillip Thomas Tucker
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611211917 $29.95 www.savasbeatie.com
The Alamo's Forgotten Defenders: The Remarkable Story of the Irish During the Texas
Revolution shines a spotlight on the oft-overlooked contribution that people of Irish heritage
made to the Texas uprising of 1835-1836. Irish-Americans were the single largest immigrant
group in Texas during that time; they were among the garrison of Goliad, which raised the first
flag of Texas Independence; and more than a dozen Irish natives gave their lives in defense of the
Alamo. The Alamo's forgotten Defenders draws upon newspaper articles, journals, diaries, and
secondary accounts to assemble a thoughtful military history of the Texas Revolution from the
perspective of Irish-Americans who were in the thick of it. Highly recommended, especially for
public and college library American History collections.
Riding for the Lone Star
Nathan A. Jennings
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574416350 $32.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
Frontier historian and U.S. Army officer Nathan A. Jennings presents Riding for the Lone Star:
Frontier Cavalry and the Texas Way of War, 1822-1865, a scholarly examination of the military
history and contributions of Texas cavalry. Jennings utilizes military reports, memories of
cavalry participants, government documents and more to trace the how Texas militarism
throughout clashes with Indian tribes, territorial conflicts, the Mexican-American War, the
cataclysmic American Civil War, and more. Endnotes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this
excellent scrutiny. As engaging and entertaining as it is edifying, Riding for the Lone Star is
especially recommended for public and college library American History collections.
Citizen of a Wider Commonwealth
Edwina S. Campbell
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334780 $34.50 www.siupress.com
Citizen of a Wider Commonwealth: Ulysses S. Grant's Postpresidential Diplomacy is a scholarly
analysis of the travels and influence of Ulysses Grant, the famous Civil War general and
eighteenth President of the United States, after the end of his presidency. Grant worked to
confirm and strengthen Anglo-American cooperation, supported universal (male) suffrage as the
bedrock of governmental legitimacy, shaped Jonh Hay's Open Door policy in 1899-1900, and
much more. A chronology, notes, and an index round out this thoughtful, heavily researched and
engagingly presented history, highly recommended for public and college library collections.
The World History Shelf
A History of Modern Latin America, second edition
Teresa A. Mead
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781405120517, $56.95, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "A History of Modern Latin America:
1800 to the Present" which is compiled and edited by Teresa A. Mead (Florence B. Sherwood
Professor of History and Culture, Union college, New York), examines the diverse and
interlocking experiences of people of indigenous, African, and European backgrounds from the
onset of independence until today. "A History of Modern Latin America" illustrates and analyzes
the major and minor events that shape history, including the triumphs and defeats, as well as the
everyday lives of people of varied classes and racial and ethnic backgrounds. "A History of
Modern Latin America" intersperses accounts of the lives of prominent figures with those of
ordinary people; emphasizes gender's role in influencing political and economic change and
shaping cultural identity. Very highly recommended for academic library Latin American History
collections, as well as a Latin American History curriculum textbook, there is an invaluable
student and instructor resources for "A History of Modern Latin America" available at
http://minerva.union.edu/meadet/modernlatinamerica/index.html. For the personal reading lists
of students, academics, and the non-specialist general reading with an interest in 19th and 20th
century Latin American history, it should be noted that "A History of Modern Latin America" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($35.49).
The Computer Shelf
Build Your Own Gaming PC
Russell Barnes
Haynes Publishing
www.haynes.co.uk
9780857338020, $36.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
The do-it-yourself, step-by-step, instruction manual to building the ultimate computer, anyone
can now get the performance they want on an affordable budget. With "Build Your Own Gaming
PC" the build-it-yourself enthusiast will find all the cutting-edge technology and guidance needed
to make a perfect PC. Whether looking to upgrade a current computer or building a new one
from scratch, anyone will be able to play the latest games in style and be ready to face the
challenges of next year's hottest titles. Profusely illustrated throughout, thoroughly 'user friendly'
in text, organization and presentation, and featuring a very useful twenty page Index, "Build Your
Own Gaming PC" is ideal for personal, community, and academic library Computer Science
instructional reference collections.
How Software Works
V. Anton Spraul
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781593276669, $29.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
We use computer software every day to perform all kinds of tasks. It's the force behind stunning
CGI graphics, safe online shopping, and speedy Google searches. Software drives the modern
world, but its inner workings remain a mystery to many. "How Software Works: The Magic
Behind Encryption, CGI, Search Engines, and Other Everyday Technologies" by V. Anton Spraul
(has taught introductory programming and computer science for more than 15 years) deftly
explains how computers perform common-yet-amazing tasks that we take for granted every day.
"How Software Works" covers such issues as: How data is encrypted; How passwords are used
and protected; How computer graphics are created; How video is compressed for streaming and
storage; How data is searched (and found) in huge databases; How programs can work together
on the same problem without conflict; How data travels over the Internet. "How Software
Works" also breaks down these processes with patient explanations and intuitive diagrams so that
anyone can understand-no technical background is required, and you won't be reading through
any code. In plain English, you'll examine the intricate logic behind the technologies you
constantly use but never understood. If you've ever wondered what really goes on behind your
computer screen, "How Software Works" will give you fascinating look into the software all
around you. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "How Software Works" is very
highly recommended for high school, community, college, and university library Computer
Science reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "How Software
Works" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).
The Fiction Shelf
The Lobby
Randi M. Sherman
Friesen Press
990 Fort Street, Suite 300, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 3K2
www.friesenpress.com
9781460278109, $31.99, HC, 222pp, www.amazon.com
In the pages of his novel "The Lobby", author Randi M. Sherman welcomes the reader to the
Shipley Hotel, where the perky and attentive staff provides the gold standard in artificial concern
and comfort to all the colorful characters who pass through its polished brass revolving door and
find themselves. Practically engineered for eavesdropping, San Francisco's juiciest hotel lobby
offers the perfect place to witness the comings and goings-and the most comedic intersections-of
staff, long-term residents, and eclectic guests. Featuring over fifty stories all transpiring in a
single twenty-four hour period and intersecting in the Shipley Hotel's elegant lobby, readers will
meet an eccentric and vast array of characters, most of whom will look awfully familiar and all of
whom will speak to the heart. Employing acute skills in human observation and a keen
understanding of the essential human needs-frequently unplanned and unexpected rendezvous,
ready laughter at others' expense. "The Lobby" is an impressive, deftly crafted work of original
fiction that will prove to be a riveting read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for
community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"The Lobby" is also available in a paperback edition (9781460278116, $15.49) and in a Kindle
format ($7.99).
Late For Gettysburg
Vance Tillman
Linford Western Library
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444826111, $24.57, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
When the Civil War ended with the surrender of Confederate forces, Eugene Wyeth who rode
with Jeb Stuart refuses to surrender. With a price on his head he assumes there is a bounty hunter
around every corner. But when his old comrade-in-arms, Rattlesnake Jack, is shot, Wyeth must
risk exposure and ride into town to seek help. Branded a traitor to the southern cause by the
fanatical and ruthless Kirby Taylor and his Black Mask gang of gunslingers Wyeth's finds
himself a wanted man under a sentence of death. In an ultimate confrontation that includes his
sweetheart Jolie being in dire jeopardy because of her love for him, Wyeth must examine all he
has stood for and put his very identity to the test. "Late For Gettysburg" is a terrific
action/adventure western novel from beginning to end and very highly recommended in this
Large Print edition for community library collections and the personal reading list for any and all
western buffs.
A Thousand Shall Fall
Andrea Boeshaar
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825443817, $14.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Nineteen-year-old Carrie Ann Bell is independent and spirited. The only thing she really fears are
the Union soldiers fighting against her Confederate friends. When her youngest sister runs away
from home, brave Carrie Ann is determined to find her and bring her back. Disguised as a
soldier, she sets off--only to find she's fallen into the hands of the enemy. Her childhood friend
Confederate Major Joshua Blevins has warned her against these Yankees: they're all devils, ready
to inflict evil on unsuspecting young women. When Colonel Peyton Collier arrests her for her
impersonation of an officer, it seems to confirm all her fears. Soon, though, she finds herself
drawn to the handsome, gallant colonel. He rescued her, protected her, and has been every inch
the gentleman. Carrie Ann discovers that her foe has become her ally--and more than that,
someone she could love. But the arrival of Joshua in the Union camp as a spy will test her
loyalties. Will she protect someone who has been like family or be loyal to this stranger to whom
she wants to offer her heart? When her world is being torn apart around her, whom should she
trust? Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, "A Thousand Shall Fall" is framed
around compelling characters and a very romantic setting in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
Andrea Boeshaar's extensive research guarantees historical accuracy and romance genre
enthusiasts and Civil War buffs alike will enjoy the Christian perspectives on actual historical
events. "A Thousand Shall Fall" is very highly recommended for community library Historical
Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "A Thousand Shall Fall" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Step by Step
Candace Calvert
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781414390345, $14.99, PB, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Three years after a tragic accident left her a widow, ER nurse Taylor Cabot is determined to
move on, checking off one item after another on her survival list. Her relationship with a
handsome plastic surgeon even gives her hope for the last point, to "fall in love again". At least
until crisis chaplain Seth Donovan steps back into her life, reawakening unanswered questions
about her husband's death. While in San Diego to train community volunteers, Seth hopes to
learn why Taylor is backing away from the crisis team and from their friendship. But nothing
prepares him for the feelings that arise when he sees Taylor again . . . and sees her moving on
with another man. When a community crisis hits home and puts lives at risk, emotions run high
and buried truths are unearthed. Will hope make the survival list? The second volume in author
Candace Calvert's outstanding 'Crisis Team' series, "Step by Step" is another deftly crafted and
enormously entertaining novel by a true master of the genre. "Step by Step" is very highly
recommended for community library Romance Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Step by Step" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Tsarina's Legacy
Jennifer Laam
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250091512, $27.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Grigory "Grisha" Potemkin has had a successful long association with the powerful Empress
Catherine of Russia. But Catherine and Grisha are both older now and face new threats from
powers outside of Russia, as well as from those close to them. Haunted by the horrors of his
campaign against the Muslim Turks, Grisha hopes to construct a mosque in the heart of the
empire. Unfortunately, Catherine's much younger new lover, the ambitious Platon Zubov, stands
in his way. Grisha determines that to preserve Catherine's legacy he must save her from Zubov's
dangerous influence and win back her heart. When she learns she is the lost heiress to the
Romanov throne, Veronica Herrera's life turns upside down. Dmitry Potemkin, one of Grisha's
descendants, invites Veronica to Russia to accept a ceremonial position as Russia's new tsarina.
Seeking purpose, Veronica agrees to act as an advocate to free a Russian artist sentenced to
prison for displaying paintings critical of the church and government. Veronica is both celebrated
and chastised. As her political role comes under fire, Veronica is forced to decide between the
glamorous perks of European royalty and staying true to herself. In Jennifer Laam's "The
Tsarina's Legacy", unexpected connections between Grisha and Veronica are revealed as they
struggle to make peace with the ghosts of their past and help secure a better future for themselves
and the country they both love. A deftly crafted, multi-layered, exceptionally entertaining read
from beginning to end, "The Tsarina's Legacy" reveals author Jennifer Laam as an impressively
gifted and original novelist. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Tsarina's Legacy" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781250068798, $15.99) and in a Kindle format ($9.99).
Early Warning
Jane Smiley
Anchor Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780307744814, $16.00, PB, 496pp, www.amazon.com
It's 1953, and the Langdons are at a crossroads. Walter, their stalwart patriarch, has died
unexpectedly, and his wife must try to keep their farm going. But of their five children, only one
will remain to work the land. The others scatter to Washington, DC, California, and everywhere
in between. As the country moves into the Cold War, through the social revolutions of the '60s
and '70s, and into the unprecedented wealth (for some) of the early '80s, the Langdon children
have children of their own: twin boys who are best friends and vicious rivals; a girl whose
rebellious spirit takes her to the notorious Peoples Temple in San Francisco; and a golden boy
who drops out of college to fight in Vietnam, leaving behind a secret legacy. Capturing a
transformative period through recognizable and familiar characters, "Early Warning" is the
second volume in Jane Smiley's epic trilogy and brings to vividly to life the challenges and
rewards of family and home, even in the most turbulent of times. Penned by a Pulitzer Prize level
master storyteller, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Early Warning" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
Eureka Valley: Grandfathers' Grandfathers
Lisa Doerr
Northern Lakes Farm
2665 - 233rd Street, Cushing, WI 54006
www.northernlakesfarm.com
9780996262606, $19.95, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Who really won America's Civil War? Lycurgus Bell and the more than 100,000 Southern
soldiers who fought for Abraham Lincoln thought they knew. They were wrong. "Eureka Valley:
Grandfathers' Grandfathers" by Lisa Doerr is a magical re-telling of American history. Grounded
in northwestern Wisconsin's glacial landscape, this powerful tale unravels the roots that bind a
modern rural couple to their ancestors, Lycurgus Bell and Wood John Johnson. Born to an
Alabama family loyal to the Union, Lycurgus serves in Lincoln's Civil War army. Returning
home a victor, he expects his just rewards. Instead, the Union he suffered greatly to save hangs
him out to dry. Driven from home, Lycurgus and his wife seek refuge with their prized gaited
horses in Eureka Valley. Swedish immigrant, Wood John Johnson, spends years felling
Wisconsin's forests and cruising new timber stands for East Coast financiers. Upon entering
Eureka Valley's unique transitional ecosystem, he glimpses a different way of life that lives on
today. These uncommon characters and others such as Sylvester Partridge, Bratch Porter,
Chickamauga, Peder Borgen, Waabani and Mountain Slasher, are drawn from the real people
who fought the Civil War and made colonization of America's vast heartland possible.
Impressively well written and with an exceptional attention to historical detail, "Eureka Valley:
Grandfathers' Grandfathers" is a compelling and rewarding read from beginning to end -- and
establishing author Lisa Doerr as a novelist of commendable storytelling skill. Very highly
recommended as an enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Eureka Valley: Grandfathers'
Grandfathers" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Case of the Fickle Mermaid
P. J. Brackston
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781605989464, $25.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Gretel (of the brother and sister team of Hansel and Gretel) is now all grown up and working as a
private investigator in 18th century Bavaria. Her professional interest is piqued when she begins
to hear whispers of of mysterious goings-on off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein: sailors are
disappearing, and there are rumors of mermaids and sea creatures and all manner of slippery,
sea-based happenings. Ordinarily, Gretel's interest in sea-life does not extend beyond that which
is edible, doused in butter and garlic, and already on the plate before her. However, funds are
low, and the captain of the ship Arabella makes a tempting offer of good pay and a free cruise in
return for her detective services. With a splendid new wig packed, Hans as her bodyguard on the
journey north, and the promise of two weeks of fine dining and erudite company whilst sailing
around the picturesque Friesian islands, what could possibly go wrong? P. J. Brackston has come
up with the original idea of writing terrific mystery novels based on characters from the old
Brothers Grimm fables. "The Case of the Fickle Mermaid" is the latest and one of the very best.
An absolute "must" for mystery buffs with fond memories of Brothers Grimm stories, "The Case
of the Fickle Mermaid" is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Case of the
Fickle Mermaid" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).
Between Black and White
Robert Bailey
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Digital Publishing
9781503953079, $15.95, PB, 398pp, www.amazon.com
In 1966 in Pulaski, Tennessee, Bocephus Haynes watched in horror as his father was brutally
murdered by ten local members of the Ku Klux Klan. As an African American lawyer practicing
in the birthplace of the Klan years later, Bo has spent his life pursuing justice in his father's
name. But when Andy Walton, the man believed to have led the lynch mob forty-five years
earlier, ends up murdered in the same spot as Bo's father, Bo becomes the prime suspect. Retired
law professor Tom McMurtrie, Bo's former teacher and friend, is a year removed from returning
to the courtroom. Now McMurtrie and his headstrong partner, Rick Drake, must defend Bo on
charges of capital murder while hunting for Andy Walton's true killer. In a courtroom clash that
will put their reputations and lives at stake, can McMurtrie and Drake release Bo from a lifetime
of despair? Or will justice remain hidden somewhere between black and white? A riveting novel
from beginning to end, "Between Black and White" is a compelling page-turner of a read that
will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Between Black and White" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).
The Father: Made in Sweden
Anton Svensson, author
Elizabeth Clark Wessel, translator
Quercus
http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk
9781681445403, $26.99, HC, 592pp, www.amazon.com
How does a child become a criminal? How does a father lose a son? Written by Anton Svensson
and ably translated from Swedish into English for an American readership, "The Father: Made in
Sweden" is an epic crime novel. "The Father" is based on the extraordinary true story of three
brothers who, over the course of three years and with stolen military-grade hardware, went on a
crime spree, committing numerous armed robberies including ten audacious bank jobs in
Sweden. None had committed a crime before. All were under twenty-four years old. When their
incredible crime wave had come to an end amid the glare of the international media, all of them
would be changed forever as individuals and as a family. This intoxicating, heartbreaking thriller
tells the story of how three boys are transformed over the course of their lives from innocent
children to hardened criminals. A riveting and deftly crafted read from beginning to end, "The
Father: Made in Sweden" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Father: Made in Sweden" is
also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).
Blood of the Oak
Eliot Pattison
Counterpoint Press
1919 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1916
www.counterpointpress.com
9781619026155, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
The fourth entry in the author Eliot Pattison's outstanding 'Bone Rattler' series, "Blood of the
Oak" advances the protagonist Duncan McCallum to 1765 and into the throes of the Stamp Tax
dissent, which marked the beginning of organized resistance to English rule. Duncan follows
ritualistic murders that are strangely connected to both the theft of an Iroquois artifact and a
series of murders and kidnappings in the network of secret runners supporting the nascent
committees of correspondence -- which are engaged in the first organized political dissent across
colonial borders. He encounters a powerful conspiracy of highly placed English aristocrats who
are bent on crushing all dissent, is captured by its agents, and sent into slavery in Virginia beside
the kidnapped runners. Inspired by an aged Native American slave and new African friends
Duncan decides not just to escape but to turn their own intrigue against the London lords.
Included in the novel's cast of characters are figures from our history who have their own
destinies to fulfill in the next decade, including Benjamin Franklin (writing from London),
Samuel Adams, the early Pennsylvania rebel James Smith, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and, very briefly,
a soft spoken militia officer named Washington. "The Song of the Oak" takes a fresh view on the
birth of the new American nation, suggesting that the "freedom" that became the centerpiece of
the Revolution was uniquely American, rising not just from unprecedented political discourse but
also from the extraordinary bond with the natural world experienced by frontier settlers and
native tribes. Another deftly constructed and riveting novel from the pen of Eliot Pattison,
"Blood of the Oak" is a riveting read from beginning to end and highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense and Historical Fiction collections. For personal reading
lists it should be noted that "Blood of the Oak" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).
Trace Takes A Hand
Owen G. Irons
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444826104, $20.99, Large Print PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Years ago, the infamous Arista gang stole fifty thousand dollars, but only for one member
betrayed the gang and escaped with the whole haul for himself. That traitor was Luke Cason who
lived quietly with his daughter Sally, until one day he is abducted by his former Arista gang
members who are seeking both vengeance and the money. Meanwhile, Texas state marshal Trace
Cavanagh is staking plenty on a big gamble: taking two convicts from the penitentiary to assist
him in hunting the gang. When their path crosses with Sally's, lawkeepers and lawbreakers alike
must join forces to track down the deadly Aristas and recover what's left of the stolen money.
With "Trace Takes A Hand" western action/adventure author Owen G. Irons has penned another
riveting good read replete with unexpected plot twists and surprises all leading up to a climatic
and unpredictable end. Very highly recommended in this Lindford Western Library edition,
"Trace Takes A Hand" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists
and community library large print western fiction collections.
The Political Science Shelf
Local Party Organizations in the Twenty-First Century
Douglas D. Roscoe & Shannon Jenkins
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438459493, $75.00, HC, 170pp, www.amazon.com
While the media pay the most attention to the actions of the national political committees,
political scientists have long emphasized the key role of local party organizations. Despite
sweeping changes in the political environment, remarkably little research has sought to
understand precisely how these local parties are structured, what they do, and whether they have
any impact on the political system. In "Local Party Organizations in the Twenty-First Century,"
Douglas D. Roscoe and Shannon Jenkins (both of whom are Associate Professor of Political
Science at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth) use data collected from more than 1,100
local parties in forty-eight states to provide the most thorough examination of the role of local
political parties in the US political system, something that has been lacking in contemporary
accounts of the role of parties. They show that party organizations take particular forms and
engage in certain activities because political actors find these forms and activities useful for
winning elections. While past research has centered primarily on the role of national and state
political parties in the United States, "Local Party Organizations in the Twenty-First Century"
demonstrates the continuing central role of local political parties in the electoral process,
providing readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the US party system. An
especially timely study during the unusually controversial presidential race of 2016, "Local Party
Organizations in the Twenty-First Century" is very highly recommended for community and
academic library Political Science reference collections and supplemental studies lists. For
personal reading lists it should be noted that "Local Party Organizations in the Twenty-First
Century" is also available in a Kindle edition ($67.69).
Democracy on the Edge
Terry A. AmRhein
Mill City Press
322 First Avenue N., 5th floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.millcitypublishing.com
www.amrheinsbooks.com
9781634134323, $16.00, PB, 300pp, www.amazon.com
Trying to make sense of political issues in the United States can be challenging, especially with
the "spin" placed on so many issues by media and politicians. If you are fed up with lies and
half-truths and want real answers, Terry AmRhein obliges in the pages of "Democracy on the
Edge: A Discussion of Political Issues in America" addressing such issues as: The Supreme
Court's decision on "Citizens United"; How gun ownership is a right but has limitations; The
effects of global warming (by W. K. Fifield, MD); How health care issues affect all Americans;
The influence of big business on American lives; Causes of the "Financial Crisis," and what
Congress has done; The Tea Party and their conflicting views; America's deep debt and plans to
dig out of it. While based on verifiable facts, "Democracy on the Edge" includes Terry's flare for
personal anecdotes and humorous quips that make the political treatise as informed, informative,
thoughtful, thought-provoking, and simply delightful to read. Very highly recommended for both
community and academic library Contemporary American Political Science reference collections
and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Democracy on
the Edge" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
The Director's Six Senses
Simone Bartesaghi
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932344, $15.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Simone Bartesaghi is a professional filmmaker with awards in several international festivals both
as a screenwriter and as a director. Currently he develops new projects through his production
company, SIBA MEDIA LLC, and teaches film as an adjunct professor at Santa Monica City
College. Simone draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to write "The Director's
Six Senses: An Innovative Approach to Developing Your Filmmaking Skills", an innovative,
unique, and engaging approach to the development of the skills that every visual storyteller must
have. The fundamental premise of "The Director's Six Senses" is that a director is a storyteller
24/7 and must be aware of the "truth" that he or she experiences in life in order to be able to
reproduce it on the big screen. Through a series of hands-on exercises and practical experiences,
the reader develops the "directorial senses" in order to be able to tell a story in the most effective
way. Practical, comprehensive, insightful, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in composition,
organization, and presentation, "The Director's Six Senses" is essential reading for all aspiring
directors of theatrical or cinematic projects. Very highly recommended for academic library
Theatre/Cinema/TV instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "The Director's Six Senses" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.52).
You Can Act on Camera
D. W. Brown
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932337, $15.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
From the big issues to the fine points, "You Can Act on Camera: Insider Tips for Delivering a
Great Performance Every Time" gives you what you need to know when they call "Action!". The
author of "You Can Act on Camera", D. W. Brown, is one of the world's leading experts on the
subject and he provides his invaluable 31 Principles for Acting On Camera, as well as key advice
on how to come through in the clutch. In addition, he incisively interviews directors of major
acclaim for their insights on the unique art of acting for the camera. Exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, "You Can Act on Camera" is very highly commended to members of
community theatrical groups, community and academic library Theatre/Cinema/Television
instructional reference collections in general, and the personal reading lists of aspiring actors. It
should be noted that "You Can Act on Camera" is also available in a Kindle edition
($14.60).
The Architecture Shelf
American Architecture: A History, second edition
Leland M. Roth & Amanda C. Roth Clark
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780813349688, $85.00, PB, 752pp, www.westviewpress.com
Now in a fully updated second edition, "American Architecture: A History" by Leland M. Roth
(Marion Dean Ross Professor of Architectural History Emeritus, University of Oregon - Eugene)
and Amanda C. Roth Clark (Assistant Professor of Art History and Library Director, Whitworth
University) provides a sweeping introduction to the history of architecture in the United States
including the major developments that shaped the environment from the first Americans to the
present, from the everyday vernacular to the high style of aspiration. Eleven chronologically
organized chapters chart the social, cultural, and political forces that shaped the growth and
development of American towns, cities, and suburbs, while providing full description, analysis,
and interpretation of buildings and their architects. Featured in this second edition is an entirely
new chapter detailing the green architecture movement and architectural trends in the 21st
century. Further updates include an expanded section on Native American architecture and
contemporary design by Native American architects, new discussions on architectural education
and training, more examples of women architects and designers, and a thoroughly expanded
glossary to help today's readers. The art program is expanded, including 640 black and white
images and 62 new color images. Accessible and engaging, American Architecture continues to
set the standard as a guide, study, and reference for those seeking to better understand the rich
history of architecture in the United States. Very highly recommended as a textbook for a college
or university architectural history curriculum, "American Architecture: A History" is a core
addition for community and academic library American Architecture reference collections and
supplemental studies lists. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "American
Architecture: A History" is also commended to the attention of the non-specialist general reader
with an interest in American architecture and its history. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "American Architecture: A History" is also available in a Kindle edition ($54.99).
Landscapes of Communism
Owen Hatherley
The New Press
126 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005-4007
www.thenewpress.com
9781620971888 $35.00 hc / $23.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, and enhanced with notes and indexes
(both a general index and an index of places), Landscapes of Communism: History of Buildings
is a history of architecture created and influenced by communist governments in the former
Soviet bloc. Drawn from an extensive five-year travelogue, Landscapes of Communism
examines both edifices and public spaces, as well as the economic forces that affected their
construction. The irony and ramifications of capitalist societies occupying what used to be
centerpieces of communism are also contemplated. Notably, Landscapes of Communism is from
a socialist perspective, and questions how the ideology of socialism transformed into the
Communist Party. Landscapes of Communism is a welcome addition to public and college
library architectural history collections.
The Science Shelf
Energy In Context
Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengageptr.com
9781410317483, $344.00, HC, 2 Volumes, www.amazon.com
Energy is a subject that impacts lives and economies across the globe. "Energy: In Context" is a
two volume, comprehensive instructional reference work that will help students and
non-specialist general readers to understand the fundamentals of energy science, while also
exploring the social, political, economic, and cultural factors that impact how we find, use, store,
and sometimes waste energy. The 224 signed, alphabetically arranged entries meet the needs of
students from high school through college as well as public library users concerned about this
important resource. Each entry follows a standard set of rubrics, including "Introduction,"
"Historical Background and Scientific Foundations," and "Impacts and Issues." Unfamiliar terms
are called out in a Glossary box in each entry in addition to being defined in the text. Each entry
includes a bibliography; many also feature interesting sidebars. Some 50 primary source
documents and 270 color images, illustrations, and other graphics further enhance the text.
"Energy In Context" features signed articles enabling users can rely on its authority; color photos
and graphics that clarify and add interest for all users, but are especially important for visual
learners; sidebars and primary source documents to provide the contextual information;
specialized terms are defined within the text, in a glossary box for the article, and in a cumulative
glossary for the set, so readers don't need to go to another source for a thorough understanding; as
well as up-to-date information on important topics in the field of Energy science. "Energy In
Context" is a core, essential, and vitally important addition to high school, community, college,
and university library Energy Science & Issue reference collections and supplemental studies
reading lists.
The Civil War Shelf
Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864
Joseph W. McKinney
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786499038, $39.95, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
In June 1864, General Ulysses Grant ordered his cavalry commander, Philip Sheridan, to conduct
a raid to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad between Charlottesville and Richmond. Sheridan
fell short of his objective when he was defeated by General Wade Hampton's cavalry in a
two-day battle at Trevilian Station. Enhanced with period photography, "Trevilian Station, June
11-12, 1864: Wade Hampton, Philip Sheridan and the Largest All-Cavalry Battle of the Civil
War" by retired U.S. Army officer and military historian Joseph W. McKinney is an
exceptionally well documented and an impressively detailed, comprehensive, and informative
account. A seminal work of original scholarship, "Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864" is an
extraordinary and highly recommended addition to community and academic library American
Civil War reference collections and supplemental studies lists. For the personal reading lists of
Civil War buffs it should be noted that "Trevilian Station, June 11-12, 1864" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($24.99).
The International Studies Shelf
Bound by Conflict: Dilemmas of the Two Sudans
Francis Mading Deng in collaboration with Daniel J. Deng
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823270781 $22.00 pbk / $14.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Bound by Conflict: Dilemmas of the Two Sudans is a scholarly analysis of the disturbing and
ongoing war in Sudan, ever since its independence in 1956. A comprehensive peace agreement in
2005 gave South Sudan independence, yet bloodshed persists and each nation accuses the other
of supporting the other nation's rebels. Francis M. Deng, the first Permanent Representative of
South Sudan to the United Nations collaborates with Daniel J. Deng, a senior adviser to the
Japan International Cooperation Agency in South Sudan, to question the common assumptions
about the conflict, and offer a framework for the elusive possibility of peace, security, and
stability between the two nations, with the possibility of forming a meaningful association.
Measured and thought-provoking, Bound by Conflict is a "must-read", and the concepts it
discusses have potential implications bringing peace to other multigenerational wars as well.
Highly recommended.
International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs, fourth edition
Paul D'Anieri
Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengageptr.com
9781133602101, $164.95, PB, 544pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated fourth edition, "International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global
Affairs" by Paul D'Anieri (Professor of Political Science, University of California, Riverside with
a special research focus on and foreign policy in the post-Soviet states, and especially on
Ukraine-Russia relations) is a student-oriented and contemporary textbook on introducing the
study of international relations in a clear, accessible style, with engaging concepts and analytical
tools for students and a fully developed pedagogical program for instructors. "International
Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs" bridges the gap between analytical theories and
real-world issues and events. Students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
international political issues will enjoy varied case studies and boxed features on history, policy,
culture, and geography, along with vivid graphics. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs" is now in a fully updated
and significantly expanded fourth edition that will prove to be an ideal textbook for college and
university Global Political Studies curriculums, and is an essential, cored addition to academic
library International Political Science reference collections and supplemental studies reading
lists.
The Biography Shelf
The Cooler King
Patrick Bishop
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781468312737 $28.95 www.overlookpress.com
Enhanced with brief notes and an index, The Cooler King: The True Story of William Ash, the
Greatest Escaper of World War II is the amazing biography of fighter pilot William Ash, who
was shot down in 1942 and spent the rest of World War II interred in and escaping from German
POW camps. His relentless efforts to achieve freedom caused notable disruption to the German
war effort, even though he was ultimately unsuccessful. Ash earned the nickname of "The Cooler
King" because he was repeatedly sentenced to "the cooler", a solitary confinement block to
punish POWs. Near the end of the war, Ash fell ill, yet worked to achieve one final escape; he
successfully informed approaching Allied soldiers of the Germans' location, aiding one of the
final battles of the war. An extraordinary chronicle of resolve and heroism, The Cooler King is
edifying, inspirational, and highly recommended.
Whiskey River Ranger
Bob Alexander
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574416312 $34.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
Whiskey River Ranger: The Old West Life of Baz Outlaw is the biography of Texas Ranger and
Deputy U.S. Marshal Baz Outlaw, well-known for both his heroism, yet also a flawed and
fallible human being. Outlaw's career reads almost like wild west pulp fiction, with true tales of
train robberies, horseback chases, vigilante justice (and vigilante criminality), ambushes,
bushwacking, and more. Outlaw lived by the gun and died by the gun, shot down amid a brothel
brawl. An extraordinary read from cover, Whiskey River Ranger is enthusiastically
recommended for public library biography collections and casual browsing by anyone interested
in true tales of the gunslinging Old West.
The Forgotten Governor
John Wills
Langdon Street Press
322 1st Avenue N, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781634137270 $21.95 www.langdonstreetpress.com
The Forgotten Governor: Fernando de Rivera and the Opening of Alta California is a studious
biography of Don Fernando de Rivera y Moncada (1725-1781), a Spanish soldier who also
served as the third governor of Alta California. Over the course of thirteen years, he led and
directed California's settlement, helped found missions and presidios, and put down an Indian
revolt. Rivera's legacy is largely forgotten today, but in his own time he was a controversial
figure; he clashed with Father Serra and Juan Bautista de Anza, and at one point was
excommunicated from the Catholic Church for violating church sanctuary. An annotated
bibliography and an index round out this nuanced portrait of a complex figure in California
history.
The Military Shelf
An Untaken Road
Steven A. Pomeroy
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612519739 $44.95 www.nip.org
Technology historian Steven A. Pomeroy (associate professor of military and strategic studies at
the Air Force Academy) presents An Untaken Road: Strategy, Technology, and the Hidden
History of America's Mobile ICBMs, a history of not only the development of intercontinental
ballistic missiles, but also key strategic decisions of the Cold War involving the strengths and
weaknesses of nuclear power as a deterrent weapon of America's military forces. A handful of
black-and-white illustrations, notes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this scholarly and
measured chronicle of military technology and history. Drawing upon recently declassified
documents, An Untaken Road should be required reading for anyone pursuing or engaged in a
defense department career, and is especially recommended for college library military history
collections.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Living with Bears Handbook, second edition
Linda Masterson
Pixyjack Press
PO Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
PixyJackPress.com
9781936555611 $24.00 www.amazon.com
Now in an expanded second edition, Living with Bears Handbook is a no-nonsense guide written
especially for people who live in bear country. Bears are dangerous predators; humans who
intentionally or unintentionally lure them with food only exacerbate the odds of disaster. Living
with Bears Handbook handbook emphasizes the prevention of human-bear conflicts, through
such common-sense measures as bear-proofing one's home (and garbage!), managing potential
bear attractors such as fruit trees or gardens and much more. Also included are instructions for
responding to bear encounters or attacks, and case studies from the U.S. and Canada. Living with
Bears Handbook has the potential to save the lives of both bears and people, and is highly
recommended.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Native American Almanac
Yvonne Wakim Dennis, Arlene Hirschfelder, and Shannon Rothenberger Flynn
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578595075 $24.95 www.visibleinkpress.com
Native American Almanac: More than 50,000 Years of the Cultures and Histories of Indigenous
Peoples is an extensive reference and resource about the complex heritage and cultures of
indigenous peoples of the North American continent. Black-and-white photographs are
interspersed throughout this survey of pre-contact and post-contact history, brief biographies of
notable individuals, environmental and land issues, treaties, languages, social movements and
much more. A "must-have" for public and college library Native American Studies collections,
highly recommended.
The Parenting Shelf
Free Your Child from Overeating
Michelle P. Maidenberg, PhD, MPH, LCSW-R
The Experiment
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 301, New York, NY 10010-4674
www.theexperimentpublishing.com
9781615192700 $16.95 pbk / $12.51 Kindle www.amazon.com
Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist Michelle P. Maidenberg, PhD, MPH, LCSW-R presents
Free Your Child from Overeating: A Handbook for Helping Kids and Teens, a parenting guide
for today's modern world, which unfortunately inundates children (and adults!) with unhealthy
food. Chapters show basic principles of mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance,
and commitment therapy can help young people improve their eating habits and form the
foundation for lifelong better health. Adults will also find these no-nonsense techniques useful!
Highly recommended, both for personal reference and public library parenting and health
collections.
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Corn Diseases, fourth edition
Gary P. Munkvold & Donald G. White, editors
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
978089054492-1, $119.00, PB, 165pp, www.shopapspress.org
Compiled and co-edited by the team of Gary P. Munkvold and Donald G. White, this updated
and expanded fourth edition of the "Compendium of Corn Diseases" provides the most current,
practical, and deftly presented information on the diagnosis and management of corn diseases.
This latest edition of "Compendium of Corn Diseases" provides the diagnose and treatment for
nearly 90 diseases and disorders. With it's informed and informative text enhanced with the
inclusion of more than 300 images and management recommendations, the "Compendium of
Corn Diseases" from APS Press continues to be a basic industry reference and is very highly
recommended for professional, corporate, and academic library Agricultural Sciences reference
collections in general, and Corn Diseases supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
Wheat Flour, second edition
William A. Atwell & Sean Finnie
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
9781891127908, $159.00, 164pp, www.shopapspress.org
The collaborative project of William A. Atwell and Sean Finnie, this newly updated and
expanded second edition of "Wheat Flour" is a straightforward, practical guide that offers
coverage of specific product applications, problem resolution, and basics of wheat and milling.
Profusely illustrated throughout, "Wheat Flour" will rapidly and comprehensively inform the
reader concerning the latest research on wheat flour. "Wheat Flour" will show the reader how to
troubleshoot costly issues related to flour quality and food production, as well as develop a range
of consistent, superior products that include wheat flour. The latest addition to the APS Press
outstanding handbook series of practical guides designed specifically for the food industry,
"Wheat Flour" is very highly recommended for professional, corporate and academic library
Food Science reference collections and Agricultural Product supplemental studies lists.
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