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Library Bookwatch

Volume 14, Number 4 April 2019 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Education Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Aviation Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Fiction Shelf Western Fiction Shelf
Military Shelf World History Shelf Civil War Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Art Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Gardening Shelf Automotive Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Political Science Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Biography Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Technology Shelf LGBT Studies Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Helping the Disabled Veteran
Joanna Romer
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243
http://msipress.com
9781942891789, $14.95, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com

"Helping the Disabled Veteran: How to Assist Your Disabled Veteran's Adjustment to Civilian Life" by Joanna Romer suggests 'real world practical' ways to assist disabled veterans leaving the military and trying to integrate back into mainstream society in spite of their disabilities. The chapters comprising "Helping the Disabled Veteran" contain recommendations, suggestions, and practical suggestions, based on a large number of wide-ranging interviews with disabled veterans about their experiences after returning from war. Impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Helping the Disabled Veteran" should be a part of every community, college, and university library collection in the country, just as there are disabled American military veterans in every village, town, and city in this nation. "Helping the Disabled Veteran" is especially and unreservedly commended to the attention of all family members and employers of a disabled veteran.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writer's Guide to Self-Editing
Naveed Saleh
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476671598, $29.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com

Over the years, technological advances have given publishers the ability to produce more books and online publications with greater speed. This new efficiency, however, has increased editors' workloads, limiting the amount of detailed editorial feedback they can provide authors. In turn, writers must become self-editors, ensuring that their text is nearly perfect upon submission. "The Writer's Guide to Self-Editing: Essential Tips for Online and Print Publication" by Naveed Saleh (who is a science writer and editor that has written for various online and print publications and is a long-time blogger at Psychology Today) serves as a guide to self-editing nonfiction print and online publications, including articles for general and academic audiences. It is both prescriptive and descriptive, drawing from stylebooks, dictionaries, research, and more to provide a full picture of both style and grammar. Also provided are techniques that boost search-engine optimization and engagement of Internet audiences. The single greatest weakness of most self- published authors is a lack of effective editing. "The Writer's Guide to Self-Editing" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections.

The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing
Tara Mokhtari
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781350056688, $29.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Covering all of the major genres, this fully updated and expanded second edition of "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" by Tara Mokhtari (Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at the Bronx Community College) is a complete introductory manual for students of creative writing. This new edition of "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" features an updated and expanded chapter on writing for digital media, and new exercises for reading across the genres and writing hybrid forms. Through a structured series of practical writing exercises (which are perfect for the classroom, the writer's workshop or as a starting point for a portfolio of work) "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" builds the student writer from the first explorations of voice and the relationship between writing and knowledge, through to mastery of a wide range of genres and forms. "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing) deftly covers such genres as: Autobiographical writing; Short fiction; Poetry; Screenwriting and writing for performance; Writing for digital media, including video games and social media. With practical guidance on writing scholarly critiques of your own work and a glossary of terms for ease of reference, "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" is an essential and fundamental manual for any introductory creative writing course and a practical companion for more advanced writers. While very highly recommended as a curriculum textbook for highschool and college Creative Writing courses, and unreservedly recommended for community, highschool, college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, aspiring writers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.95).

21st Century Playwriting
Timothy Daly
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259222, $21.95, PB, 477pp, www.amazon.com

Timothy Daly's plays have been produced all over the world. Actors such as Academy-Award winners Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush and Oscar-nominated actor Jack Weaver have all appeared in his plays. He has taught and mentored hundreds of playwrights in many different countries. In "21st Century Playwriting, A Manual of Contemporary Techniques" Daly provides the most detailed analysis of contemporary playwriting techniques ever published. A decade in the making, "21st Century Playwriting" examines the contemporary theatre scene and the skills and writing techniques needed to succeed as a modern playwright. No other book goes into such depth and detail on areas like dramatic structure, story-shaping, characterization and the contemporary language techniques used in modern playwriting. Blending theatre tradition and radical aesthetic, "21st Century Playwriting" is perfect for both new playwrights and more experienced writers wishing to refresh and modernize their writing, as well as anyone interested in the rarely-discussed techniques that go into the making of contemporary theatre and its scripts. Offers a wealth of useful writing tips, as well as an understanding of how radically theatre has changed in the 21st century, "21st Century Playwriting" is an especially recommended addition to both community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections, and a 'must read' for anyone aspiring to write a play for the stage, for film, or for television.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Bringing Back the Birds
American Bird Conservancy
Photography by Owen Deutsch
www.OwenDeutsch.com
Braided River
www.braidedriver.org
c/o Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512113 $35.00 amazon.com

The American Bird Conservancy presents Bringing Back the Birds: Exploring Migration and Preserving Birdscapes Throughout the Americas is a coffee-table book showcasing a wealth of truly stunning, full-color photography of wild birds in their natural habitat. Complementing the exceptional images is an anthology of essays by conservationists and ornithology experts about the wonders of birds, as well as the perils that have rendered numerous avian species extinct and continue to threaten survivors today. The American Bird Conservancy strives to protect endangered birds, but supporting birds in need is no simple task, since a given species may migrate and have nesting and wintering territories in completely different nations; if either territory is compromised, the species' survival is at risk. Bringing Back the Birds discusses in plain terms how to create bird-friendly environments that also earn the support of local human residents (for example, birding can be a popular tourist activity). It should be noted that 100% of royalties for Bringing Back the Birds support the American Bird Conservancy. Bringing Back the Birds is exceptionally beautiful, a joy to page through, and makes an unforgettable giftbook as well as a wonderful addition to public library collections. Highly recommended.

Unleashing Your Dog
Marc Bekoff & Jessica Pierce
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685424, $15.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com

No matter how cushy their lives, dogs live on the terms imposed by the human masters. They compromise their freedom and instinctual pleasure, as well as their innate strategies for coping with stress and anxiety, in exchange for the love, comfort, and care they get from us. But it is possible to let dogs be dogs without wreaking havoc on our lives, as biologist Marc Bekoff and bioethicist Jessica Pierce show in "Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine Companion the Best Life Possible". They begin by illuminating the true nature of dogs and helping us "walk in their paws". They reveal what smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing mean to dogs and then guide readers through everyday ways of enhancing dogs' freedom in safe, mutually happy ways. The rewards, they show, are great for dog and human alike. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the non-specialist general reader, "Unleashing Your Dog" is a 'must read' for anyone with their own canine companion. While very highly recommended for community library Pets/Wildlife collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Unleashing Your Dog" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.42).


The Education Shelf

Making Every History Lesson Count
Chris Runeckles
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785833366, $18.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com

Written especially for classroom history teachers of students aged 11 to 16 years, "Making Every History Lesson Count: Six Principles to Support Great History Teaching" by Chris Runeckles offers invaluable and lasting answers and solutions to the crucial question that all history teachers must ask: What can I do to help my students retain and interrogate the rich detail of the content that I deliver? Writing in the practical, engaging style "Making Every History Lesson Count" articulates the fundamentals of great history teaching and shares simple, realistic strategies designed to deliver memorable lessons. Underpinned by six pedagogical principles with the tools and techniques to help students better engage with the subject matter and develop more sophisticated historical analysis and arguments, "Making Every History Lesson Count" expertly bridges the gap between the realms of academic research and the humble classroom by blending evidence-based practice with collective experience and, in doing so, inspires a challenging approach to secondary school history teaching. Of special note is that each chapter concludes with a series of questions that will prompt reflective thought and enable educators to relate the content to their own classroom practice. While unreservedly recommended for school district, college and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Making Every History Lesson Count" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.49).


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Exercises for Cardiac Recovery
William Smith, Keith Burns, and Christopher Volgraf
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578267064, $15.00, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, "Exercises for Cardiac Recovery: The Strong Heart Fitness Program for Life After Heart Attack & Heart Surgery" by the team of William Smith, Keith Burns, Christopher Volgraf should be considered mandatory reading by anyone who is at risk for, or has experienced with, any degree of cardiac problem with respect to themselves or a loved one. This illustrated and authoritative post-rehabilitation exercise guide is specifically designed to help patients regain their physical health and strength after heart attack or heart surgery. "Exercises for Cardiac Recovery" presents a do-it-yourself post-rehabilitation exercise program specifically and effectively designed to help men and women regain their physical health and strength after heart attack or heart surgery. Also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), the paperback edition of "Exercises for Cardiac Recovery" should be a part of every community library Health & Medicine instructional reference collection.


The Aviation Shelf

The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers
Bruce Hales-Dutton
Air World
c/o Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526732170, $39.95, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

Every day up to 3,000 aircraft fly across the Atlantic Ocean. If each one carries 250 passengers, that could mean as many as 750,000 people on the move between Europe and North America. But just a bit over a century ago it was uncertain if the new invention of the air plane would allow flights over the length and breadth of the Atlantic Ocean was every going to be possible -- let alone safe! "The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers: From First Flights to Supersonic Jets - The Battle to Cross the Atlantic" by Bruce Hales-Dutton (a newspaper and magazine journalist, government press officer, and aviation industry public relations specialist) is a fascinating and impressively informative history of the developing technology of aircraft based trans-Atlantic crossings. A seminal and welcome addition to community and college Aviation History collections and supplemental studies curriculum lists, "The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers" is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Judo Advantage
Steve Scott
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594396281, $18.95, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com

Steve Scott is an expert in grappling martial arts. He has decades of training and experience in judo, sambo, and jujitsu. He holds a seventh dan in judo and a seventh dan in Shingitai jujitsu. He is a member of the US Sambo Hall of Fame. As a coach, he has developed hundreds of national and international medal winners, as well as members of world, Pan American, and Olympic teams. In "The Judo Advantage" Scott deftly explores the dynamics of how and why the human body works most efficiently for throwing, submission, and pinning techniques. Although judo provides the basis for the author's analysis, his insights also relate to other grappling sports such as Russian sambo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Olympic and collegiate wrestling. Readers of "The Judo Advantage" will: Gain a competitive edge using the principles of human biomechanics; Master the ability to control your opponent's movements; Improve fluency for seamless transition between techniques; Generate incredible power and speed. "The Judo Advantage provides martial arts students with an in-depth analysis of stances, balance breaking, throws, takedowns, transitions, ground fighting, trapping, footwork, combinations, gripping, posting, linear and angular movement, torque, generating power, evading, generating force, changing directions, and stability. Illustrated with more than 200 action photos, as well as drills and winning insights for coaches and athletes of grappling arts, "The Judo Advantage" is unreservedly recommended for dojo, community, and academic library Martial Arts instructional reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated martial arts students that "The Judo Advantage" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Fiction Shelf

Little Zinnobers
Elena Chizhova, author
Carol Ermakova, translator
Glagoslav Publications
www.glagoslav.com
9781911414384, $22.99, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com

Ably translated into English by Carol Ermakova, "Little Zinnobers" is a carefully crafted novel by the Russian author Elena Chizhova on the question of whether or not it is possible to cultivate fundamental human values if you are living in a totalitarian state. A teacher who has organized the school theatre sets out to prove that it is. Whilst the pupils rehearse Shakespeare's tragedies and comedies under her ever-vigilant eye, Soviet life begins to make its brutal adjustments. "Little Zinnobers" is can be called a novel about love -- the tough kind of love that gets you through life and death. As intrinsically entertaining as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Little Zinnobers" is one of those rare novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Simply stated, "Little Zinnobers" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Literary Fiction collections.

Tacoma Stories
Richard Wiley
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV A612, New York, NY 10016
www.blpress.org
9781942658542, $16.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

On St. Patrick's Day in 1968, sixteen people sit in Pat's Tavern, drink green beer, flirt, rib each other, and eventually go home in (mostly) different directions. In the their stories that comprise Richard Wiley's "Tacoma Stories" and which span 1958 to the present, Richard Wiley pops back into the lives of this colorful cast of characters (sometimes into their pasts, sometimes into their futures) and explores the ways in which their individual narratives indelibly weave together. At the heart of it all lies Tacoma, Washington, a town full of eccentricities and citizens as unique as they are universal. The Tacoma of "Tacoma Stories" might be harboring paranoid former CIA operatives and wax replicas of dead husbands, but it is also a place with all the joys and pains one could find in any town, anytime and anywhere. Uniquely original and deftly crafted, "Tacoma Stories" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tacoma Stories" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.19).

Staff Picks: Stories
George Singleton
Louisiana State University Press
3rd Floor, Johnston Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
http://lsupress.org
9780807170335, $22.50, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com

It's Father's Day 1972 and a young boy's dad takes him to visit a string of unimpressive ex-girlfriends that could have been his mother; the unconventional detective work of a koan-speaking, Kung Fu - loving uncle solves a case of arson during a pancake breakfast; and a former geology professor, recovering from addiction, finds himself sharing a taxicab with specters from a Jim Crow era lynching. Set in and around the fictional town of Steepleburg, South Carolina, the loosely tied stories in George Singleton's "Staff Picks" place sympathetic, oddball characters in absurd, borderline surreal situations that slowly reveal the angst of southern history with humor and bite. Elegantly crafted and entertaining stories, "Staff Picks" is an extraordinary anthology and highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.


The Western Fiction Shelf

Hard Trail To Breakneck Pass
Terrell L. Bowers
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839777, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Bolt, the general foreman for Tug Mackintosh's railroad line, is charged with the simple task of meeting and bringing Mack's young bride-to-be to the end of the tracks. Arriving just in time to fend off would-be abductors, Bolt is smitten by the enchanting Ariette Ekhard who is the unwilling fiance of his boss. However, within hours of her safe delivery and to avoid an unwanted wedding she goes off on her own and is again in the hands of the kidnappers. Mounting a rescue mission, Bolt finds himself up against overwhelming odds. But he has found someone worth fighting for. She may also be worth dying for. Another original and non-stop entertaining western novel by a master of the genre, this large print edition of Terrell Bower's "Hard Trail To Breakneck Pass" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to both the personal reading lists of western fans and community library Western Fiction collections.

Wichita Town Tamer
Dale Graham
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444838213, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 248pp, www.amazon.com

The citizens of Wichita are desperate to appoint a lawman who can control the wild Texas cowboys fresh off the trail, and crooked plotters who want to take over the town. Bear River Cal Bonner has earned an enviable reputation as a town tamer, and soon brings peace to the cow town. But his enemies are determined that the saying 'Anything Goes' will be resurrected, and bring in a hired gunman to challenge the marshal. Will the town once again fall into the hands of the unscrupulous bad hats? A true master of the western action/adventure genre, author Dale Graham has penned another riveting novel that is a 'must read' for all dedicated western buffs. This large print edition from the Linford Western Library series is especially recommended for community library collections.

Jernigan
John Callahan
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785415647, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 162pp, www.amazon.com

After he foiled a stage hold-up, a beautiful widow offers Ed Jernigan the job of range detective at her ranch, to protect her from her stepson and his shady friends. Is he up to the task? In "Jernigan", author John Callahan has deftly crafted a western novel that is an inherently riveting read leading to a dramatic surprise ending. Here is an enduringly entertaining read and one that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Certain to be an enduringly welcome addition to community library Western Fiction collections, this large print edition of "Jernigan" is unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists.

Gringo
L. L. Foreman
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785415623, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 234pp, www.amazon.com

Watt Coxon arrives in Santa Fe to take up duties as a U.S. Attorney. But he is young and green, and residents reckon he'll be lucky to last a week as he walks directly into a feud between Dandy Dee and his gang of bar toughs and cattle rustlers and Nat Yarbrough with his team of wagoneers and Spanish ambition to restore his wife's heritage of an enormous land grant. Then there is Yarbrough's lovely young daughter and the complicated problem of land ownership now that it is under the jurisdiction of the United States to complicate things further. The great western novelist Louie L'Amour once said that he didn't really write westerns, instead, he wrote historical novels that were set in the West. That perspective clearly applies to L. L. Foreman's "Gringo" -- a deftly crafted and entertainingly engaging novel that will be appreciated by dedicated western buffs and historical novel enthusiasts alike! This large print edition of "Gringo" is unreservedly recommended for both community library collections and personal reading lists.

Fear Valley
Alex Frew
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839418, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 264pp, www.amazon.com

When a gang of criminals commits an atrocious robbery in the bank of Harrisville, bounty hunter Jubal Thorne is quick on their trail and soon dispatches four of them. The murder of innocent bystanders during the robbery makes Thorne (also known as Blaze) determined that all of the criminals will pay with their lives, including maverick leader of the group, River Shannon, gives the rest of his doomed men the slip, escaping to Fear Valley at the very end of the desert frontier. The valley is ruled by Valquez, a despot who holds control over a group of settlers whose leader is determined to assassinate Valquez and free his farming community of their current condition of semi-slavery. Soon Blaze the hunter finds himself becoming the prey. A deftly written western by Alex Frew, the readers will particularly enjoy the interplay between the distinctive story elements which lead to unexpected but dramatic conclusions. The large print edition of "Fear Valley" will prove to be an enduringly popular choice for community library Western Fiction collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated western action/adventure fans.

Death Wields a Henry .44: A Western Duo
Frank Leslie
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432848804, $25.95, HC, Library Binding, 321pp, www.amazon.com

In the two stories that comprise "Death Wields a Henry .44: A Western Duo " by Frank Leslie, western action/adventure buffs can saddle up and ride the wild trails of the old frontier with the Revenger, Mike Sartain, as he rights wrongs for people who can't right the wrongs themselves. In 'Savage Barranca', the revenger is captured by the U.S. Cavalry, who has a special bone to pick with him. Only, he's not sent to a firing squad. The governor of New Mexico Territory gives him an ultimatum: kill a man in Mexico and retrieve the governor's kidnapped daughter, or face a court-martial. In 'San Juan Buchwhackers', Sartain rides into the little mountain ghost town of Hard Winter looking for water. What he finds instead is a bushwhacker's bullet. When an outlaw named Chick Beacham rides into town, even more questions arise as the bullets fly! Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collection, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of Frank Leslie fans that "Death Wields a Henry .44: A Western Duo" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).


The Military Shelf

Operation Dragoon
Robin Cross
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681778600 $27.95 hc / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com

Operation Dragoon The Allied Liberation of the South of France: 1944 is a meticulously researched, expertly presented historical and military analysis of "the second D-Day", an American-French operation in which the British (who pushed for action in northern Italy) played a significantly smaller role. While the French had been excluded from the original D-Day, in Operation Dragoon the French provided the majority of the ground troops. The campaign began on the beaches of the Riviera and reached to the Alpes Maritimes. An inset selection of black- and-white photographic plates and an index round out this astute account of military operation with long-lasting repercussions for France and beyond. Operation Dragoon is a welcome addition to public and college library World History and Military shelves, highly recommended.

The Wrecking Crew
Bernd Horn
The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459743380, $24.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Audacious to the extreme, Operation Colossus was a military raid in the early, dark days of the Second World War, when Britain stood seemingly alone. After the country's defeats in western Europe in 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill insisted on an aggressive raiding campaign. Conducted on February 10, 1941, Operation Colossus was one such raid, meant to steal back the initiative and create as much chaos for the Axis powers as possible. However, bad luck stalked the mission, as one mishap after another seemed to foredoom the operation. In the aftermath, there were recriminations as well as accolades. Few military operations have proven as controversial. "The Wrecking Crew: Operation Colossus, 10 February 1941" by retired Regular Force infantry officer and military educator Colonel Bernd Horn will prove to be an enduringly valued and appreciated addition to the growing body of World War II histories. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century Military History collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Wrecking Crew" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).


The World History Shelf

The Story of Britain
Roy Strong
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781643130132, $35.00, HC, 608pp, www.amazon.com

"The Story of Britain: A History of the Great Ages: From the Romans to the Present" by Sir Roy Strong (who was the Director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum) is an accessible one-volume history that clearly depict Britain's origins and explains in detail how the past shaped the nation's current identity. Strong begins the story of Britain from the very earliest recorded Celtic times, and with this new edition has now brought it up to date via the Blair years and into the present day of Brexit Britain. A magnificently eloquent volume, the narrative chronicles two thousand years of Britain's history, the triumph of its people, the glory of its culture, and its dramatic influence on other nations of the world, especially the United States. Impressively researched, organized and presented, "The Story of Britain" will prove to be an extraordinary and enduringly valued addition to community, college, and university library British History collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Story of Britain" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.16).

The Pharisee Enigma
John Merrill
Biblical Archaeology Society Press
4710 - 41st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016-1700
www.biblicalarchaeology.org
9781880317945, $39.95, HC, 246pp, www.amazon.com

"The Pharisee Enigma Ancient Judean Sects and Christian Origins" by John Merrill (who has been long engaged in the field of biblical history and archaeology and has served as a past Chairman of the Biblical Archaeology Society, as well as having sponsored and participated in many archaeology expeditions and research projects) leads readers on a fascinating journey through the often unexplored period of history from which modern Judaism and Christianity emerged. Written especially for the nonspecialist general reader, the well documented story will stir controversy among academia as Merrill challenges conventional wisdom about the roots of two world religions. "The Pharisee Enigma" highlights the economic and social turbulence during the centuries in which Judeans struggled to maintain their distinctive identity in a world dominated by a succession of great powers: Persia, Macedonia and ultimately Rome. Woven into this history are profiles of some of the ancient world's larger-than-life figures including: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Herod the Great, John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, and the apostle Paul, to mention a few. Enhanced with the inclusion of maps, tables, and listing of abbreviations, "The Pharisee Enigma" is an extraordinary history that is exceptional in its research, organization and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in the subject, as well as community, college, and university library collections.


The Civil War Shelf

Crossing the Deadlines
Michael P. Gray, editor
The Kent State University Press
1118 Library, P.O. Box 5190, Kent OH 44242
http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com
9781606353417 $45.00 hc / $29.09 Kindle amazon.com

Crossing the Deadlines: Civil War Prisons Reconsidered is an anthology of essays by learned historians, anthropologists, and more re-examining conventional scholarship concerning prisons of the American Civil War. (The title refers to the "deadlines" of prisons, which are boundaries that prisoners could not pass for risk of being shot). Here are essays that seek to break new ground by applying interdisciplinary scholarship and new methodologies to the study of Civil War incarceration. Individual writings include: "Civil War Captives and a Captivated Home Front: The Rise of Prisons as Dark Tourist Destinations", "'De Bottom Rails on Top Now': Black Union Guards and Confederate Prisoners of War", "Johnson's Island Prison Uncovered: An Archaeological Exploration of a Northern Civil War Prison", and much more. Exhaustively researched and analytically presented, Crossing the Deadlines is a seminal contribution to public and college library Civil War collections, highly recommended.

Confederate Ironclads at War
R. Thomas Campbell
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476676401, $49.95, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com

Hampered by lack of materials, shipyards and experienced shipbuilders, even so the South managed to construct 34 iron-armored warships during the Civil War, of which the Confederate Navy put 25 into service. The stories of these vessels illustrate the hardships under which the Navy operated -- and also its resourcefulness. Except for the Albemarle, no Confederate ironclad was sunk or destroyed by enemy action. Overtaken by events on the ground, most were destroyed by their own crews to prevent them from falling into Union hands. "Confederate Ironclads at War" by R. Thomas Campbell covers the design and construction and the engagements of the Confederate ironclads and describes the ingenuity and courage, as well as the challenges and frustrations of their "too little, too late" service. A welcome and impressively informative contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature, "Confederate Ironclads at War" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of dedicated Civil War buffs.

The Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy
H. Leon Greene
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476668901, $39.95, PB, 262pp, www.amazon.com

Defeat was looming for the South -- as the Civil War continued, paths to possible victory were fast disappearing. Dr. Luke Pryor Blackburn, a Confederate physician and expert in infectious diseases, had an idea that might turn the tide: he would risk his own life and career to bring a yellow fever epidemic to the North. To carry out his mission, he would need some accomplices. Tracing the plans and movements of the conspirators, "The Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy: The Germ Warfare Plot of Luke Pryor Blackburn, 1864-1865" is a thoroughly researched history that describes in documented detail the yellow fever plot of 1864-1865. Bringing to light biological warfare as one of the more obscure aspects of the conflict, "The Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy" is a seminal study and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library American Civil War History collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and dedicated Civil War buffs that "The Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Rube Tube
Sara K. Eskridge
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826221650, $50.00, HC, 254pp, www.amazon.com

In "Rube Tube: CBS and Rural Comedy in the Sixties", historian Sara Eskridge (Adjunct Assistant Professor of History, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia) examines television's rural comedy boom in the 1960s and the political, social, and economic factors that made these shows a perfect fit for CBS. The network, nicknamed the Communist Broadcasting System during the Red Scare of the 1940s, saw its image hurt again in the 1950s with the quiz show scandals and a campaign against violence in westerns. When a rival network introduced rural-themed programs to cater to the growing southern market, CBS latched onto the trend and soon reestablished itself as the Country Broadcasting System. Its rural comedies dominated the ratings throughout the decade, attracting viewers from all parts of the country. With fascinating discussions of The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and other shows, Professor Eskridge reveals how the southern image was used to both entertain and reassure Americans in the turbulent 1960s. An impressive work of seminal scholarship and an inherently engaging read throughout, "Rube Tube" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library American Television & Popular College collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Rube Tube" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $39.99).

Making Your First Blockbuster
Paul Dudbridge
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932962, $34.95, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com

A perfect do-it-yourself curriculum under one cover, "Making Your First Blockbuster: Write It. Film It. Blow it Up!" provides everything the aspiring film maker requires, from getting the script right, to the edit being tight, is laid out in an informal and easily digestible style. "Making Your First Blockbuster" covers not only all the major components but delves deep into the nuances that make the big blockbusters really deliver. Using examples from older and modern blockbuster movies, as well as his own experiences on set, author and filmaker Paul Dudbridge (who is a British director, producer, cinematographer and educator, making feature films, television, commercials and music video) helps demonstrate points clearly and make them easy to understand. Aimed at the professional filmmaker, this comprehensive instructional guide and reference also covers how to shoot and utilize special and visual effects in films as well as the techniques on how to shoot and edit action sequences safely, all whilst producing epic results on screen. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic film school collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Making Your First Blockbuster" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.87).


The Art Shelf

Celestial Watercolor
Elise Mahan
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781631065880, $19.99, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

An ideal and beautifully presented instruction manual and guide, with Elise Mahan's "Celestial Watercolor", anyone can learn how to paint the beautiful night sky throughout the seasons while also learning about sun signs and their place in astrology. Complete with an overview of the tools and techniques of watercolor, "Celestial Watercolor" also features: How to achieve the look of the night sky unique to each season, from the light blue summer night to the deep blue of the winter; Watercolor wash techniques: wet-into-wet and wet-on-dry painting; How to paint moons throughout the year, including the 12 moons from the Native American and spiritual traditions; Adding environmental elements, including trees, mountains, and lakes; Ideas for night sky painting gifts for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, and other occasions. Profusely illustrated, exceptionally and impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Celestial Watercolor" is unreservedly recommended for personal, school, and community library Fine Arts & Painting instructional reference collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Right-Size Recipes
Betty Crocker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.hmhco.com
9781328588760, $22.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com

With the publication of "Right-Size Recipes: Delicious Meals for One or Two", Betty Crocker makes cooking for one (and maybe one more) easier and more economical than ever with a complete assortment of almost 200 perfect fit recipes. She's delightfully re imagined beloved classics like Black and Blue Mini Meat Loaves and quick and easy dinners like Pan Asian Salmon and Vegetables. Even dessert is made sweeter and simpler with personal treats like Cherry Cobblers for Two. "Right Size Recipes" makes cooking effortless and fun, with recommendations for the proper equipment, advice on navigating the grocery store to shop small, and lessons on transforming or stretching leftover ingredients and meals into another delicious entree for less repetitive leftovers and more delightful cooking. Holidays and special occasions are also handily scaled to size, with a sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner for two, menus for a romantic dinner or a stay in movie night, and more. Beautifully and profusely illustrated, 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Right-Size Recipes" is unreservedly recommended for community libraries. It should be noted for personal use that "Right-Size Recipes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes
Sabrina Ghayour
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784725754, $34.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled by chef, food writer, culinary teacher, and Middle Eastern cuisine expert Sabrina Ghayour "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is a colorful, flavorful and satisfying celebration of vegetable dishes, designed to suit every occasion and every palate. Every dish showcased in "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is features easy-to-achieve flavors and depth that would win over even the most die-hard carnivore. Each individual recipe utilizes the abundance of varied flavor profiles of the East ranging from spices, herbs and perfumed aromatics, to hearty staples such as grains and pulses, combined with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Here are salads for all seasons, spectacular sides, bowl comfort, moreish mains, sweet treats, and more! Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is a culinary pleasure to browse through and create menus with, making it an ideal and highly recommended addition to family and community library Vegetarian Cook Book collections. It should be noted for personal and professional lists that "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Gardening Shelf

Vertical Vegetables
Amy Andrychowicz
Cool Springs Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9780760357842, $24.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

In "Vertical Vegetables: Simple Projects that Deliver More Yield in Less Space", gardening expert and the creator of the website "Get Busy Gardening", Amy Andrychowicz introduces the concept and practice of gardening vertically in order to make maxim advantage of limited spaces. With practical principles and the incisive background information needed to start, "Vertical Vegetables" shows how to build nearly two dozen growing structures, including trellises, arbors, archways, wall pockets, towers, and more. Bigger yields per square foot may be the main reason for vertical growing, but vertical gardens also offer opportunities that go beyond the purely functional -- they can be beautiful, too. Among the many projects in her new book, "Vertical Vegetables" has included several that are visually stunning, especially once the garden has matured. Freestanding or wall-hung, the projects reflect a wide variety of building materials, too, including dimensional lumber, metal re-bar, fabric, and even "upcycled" everyday objects. "Vertical Vegetables" is packed from cover to cover with important information, including lists of plants that are best suited for vertical growing. A beautiful organized and presented do-it- yourself project book for even the most novice of gardeners, working with any sized outdoor space, "Vertical Vegetables" is very highly recommended for personal and community library Gardening instructional reference collection. It should also be noted that "Vertical Vegetables" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.41).


The Automotive Shelf

Supercar Revolution
John Lamm
Motorbooks
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9780760363348, $40.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

In "Supercar Revolution", John Lamm (a respected, long-time automotive journalist and photographer who covers sports and racing cars for Road & Track) deftly charts the evolution of the battle for performance and supremacy among the world's leading marques, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Ford GT. "Supercar Revolution" profiles the designers and engineers who developed these beasts, and includes interviews with the racers and celebrities who drive them. And that's not to mention the fabulous photographs of the supercars themselves you'll find throughout this highly produced volume. Jay Leno, the host of Jay Leno's Garage and one of the best-known automotive collectors and enthusiasts in the world, is also featured in several hilarious and informative commentaries. "Supercar Revolution" conveys the power of automotive aesthetics and performance as they're pushed to their absolute limits like you've never seen before. It is a new benchmark in automotive publishing, and is destined to become a classic history of these incredible marques. An absolute 'must read' for all dedicated car buffs, "Supercar Revolution" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Automotive History collections.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

There Is No Planet B
Mike Berners-Lee
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108439589, $12.95, PB, 302pp, www.amazon.com

Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, antibiotics, plastics - the list of concerns seems endless. But what is most pressing, what are the knock-on effects of our actions, and what should we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world? Should we frack? How can we take control of technology? Does it all come down to population? And, given the global nature of the challenges we now face, what on Earth can any of us do? Fortunately, Mike Berners-Lee (a leading expert in carbon footprinting, as well as the director and principal consultant at Small World Consulting) has crunched the numbers and plotted a course of action that is practical and even enjoyable. "There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the Make or Break Years" maps it out in an accessible and entertaining way, filled with astonishing facts and analysis. For the first time environmental activists can find big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of the day laid out in one place, and traced through to the underlying roots -- questions of how we live and think. "There Is No Planet B" will shock and even surprise you -- and then make you laugh. And you'll find practical and even inspiring ideas for what you can actually do to help humanity thrive on this (our only) planet. An absolute 'must read' for anyone concerned with the once looming and now upon us effects of climate change, "There Is No Planet B" needs to be a part of every community and academic library collection in the country. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, social activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "There Is No Planet B" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.00).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Pirate Queen
Tony Lee and Sam Hart
Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9781536200195 $19.99 amazon.com

Pirate Queen: The Legend of Grace O'Malley is a full-color graphic novel based on Grace O'Malley (1530-1603), a legendary Irish chieftain and rebel against English colonization. Although Pirate Queen takes some creative license to interpret what little is conclusively known about O'Malley's character and deeds, the core story of a seafaring woman driven to avenge the slaughter of her loved ones is drawn directly from historical record. O'Malley's resolve to defend her family and her homeland brought her bitter enemies, unlikely allies, and ultimately, a confrontation with another legendary female ruler - Queen Elizabeth I. Striking art and masterful storytelling bring adventure to life in this treasure for historical fiction graphic novel connoisseurs! Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library collections.

Vincent Book One
Vitor Cafaggi
Super Genius
supergeniuscomics.com
c/o Papercutz
www.papercutz.com
9781545805343 $9.99 amazon.com

Vincent is an ordinary student with a knack for magic tricks, who likes to play RPGs with his friends, and has never experienced more than platonic love... yet. Vincent Book One: Guide to Love, Magic, and RPG is the first volume of a full-color, graphic novel collection of Brazilian creator Vitor Cafaggi's delightful comic strip about a love triangle between the humble, charming Vincent and two girls. Interactions between the anthropomorphic characters (including the adorable white dog Vincent, the feline Lady, the panda Princess, and Vincent's monkey best friend Bu) bring to life a story both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Vincent Book One is suitable for all ages, and highly recommended for personal browsing, gift-giving, and public or school library graphic novel collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Ancient Celts
Barry Cunliffe
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com/new-releases.html
9781630153502, $44.99, CD, www.tantor.com

For two and a half thousand years the Celts have continued to fascinate those who have come into contact with them, yet their origins have remained a mystery and even today are the subject of heated debate among historians and archaeologists. Now in a fully updated and revised second edition, "The Ancient Celts" is an erudite history in which Barry Cunliffe explores the archaeological reality of these bold warriors and skilled craftsmen of barbarian Europe who inspired fear in the Greeks and Romans. Tracing the emergence of chiefdoms and their migrations as far as Bosnia and the Czech Republic, he assesses the disparity between the traditional and contemporary information on the Celts and offers new insight into the true identity of this ancient people. Ably narrated by Julian Elfer, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "The Ancient Celts" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. (8 CDs, 11 Hours).

Team of Vipers
Cliff Sims
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250238184, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com

After standing at Donald Trump's side on Election Night, Cliff Sims joined him in the West Wing as Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Message Strategy. He soon found himself pulled into the President's inner circle as a confidante, an errand boy, an advisor, a punching bag, and a friend. Sometimes all in the same conversation. As a result, Sims gained unprecedented access to the President, sitting in on private meetings with key Congressional officials, world leaders, and top White House advisors. He saw how Trump handled the challenges of the office, and he learned from Trump himself how he saw the world. For five hundred days, Sims also witnessed first-hand the infighting and leaking, the anger, joy, and recriminations. He had a role in some of the President's biggest successes, and he shared the blame for some of his administration's worst disasters. He gained key, often surprising insights into the players of the Trump West Wing, from Jared Kushner and John Kelly to Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway. He even helped Trump craft his enemies list, knowing who was loyal and who was not. And he took notes. Hundreds of pages of notes. In real-time. Sims stood with the President in the eye of the storm raging around him, and now he tells the story that no one else has written -- because no one else could. As only a true insider could report, "Team Of Vipers" is the true and inherently fascinating story of what it was really like in the West Wing as a member of the President's team. Ably narrated by Daniel Thomas May, this real life tale of power and palace intrigue, backstabbing and bold victories, as well as painful moral compromises (occasionally with himself) is ably narrated by Daniel Thomas May, making this Macmillan Audio a complete and unabridged production that is a very highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library audio book collections.

Wild Bill
Tom Clavin
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250315885, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com

In July 1865, "Wild Bill" Hickok shot and killed Davis Tutt in Springfield, MO -- the first recorded quick-draw duel on the frontier. Thus began the reputation that made him a marked man to every gunslinger in the Wild West. James Butler Hickok was known across the frontier as a soldier, Union spy, scout, lawman, gunfighter, gambler, showman, and actor. He crossed paths with General Custer and Buffalo Bill Cody, as well as Ben Thompson and other young toughs gunning for the sheriff with the quickest draw west of the Mississippi. Wild Bill also fell in love (multiple times) before marrying the true love of his life, Agnes Lake, the impresario of a traveling circus. He would be buried however, next to fabled frontierswoman Calamity Jane. Even before his death, Wild Bill became a legend, with fiction sometimes supplanting fact in the stories that surfaced. Once, in a bar in Nebraska, he was confronted by four men, three of whom he killed in the ensuing gunfight. A famous Harper's Magazine article credited Hickok with slaying 10 men that day; by the 1870s, his career-long kill count was up to 100. The legend of Wild Bill has only grown since his death in 1876, when cowardly Jack McCall famously put a bullet through the back of his head during a card game. Ably narrated by Johnny Heller, author Tom Clavin's "Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter" has sifted through years of western lore to bring Hickok fully to life in this rip-roaring, spellbinding true story, making this Macmillan Audio production an unreservedly recommended addition to personal and community library audio book collections.


The Library CD Shelf

Thunder In My Arms
Lissa Schneckenburger
www.lissafiddle.com
Footprint Records
$15.00 CD / $10.00 digital cdbaby.com

Lissa Schneckenburger presents Thunder In My Arms, a music album about attachment, parenting, and trauma. The songs draw upon bass, electric guitar, piano, strings, and at times brass and saxophone, while Schneckenburger's vocals reverberate in the heart and mind. A lyrics booklet is included with the physical CD. Thunder In My Arms is a unique, creative soundscape, highly recommended for connoisseurs of quality original music. The tracks are "Look Away", "On My Own", "Since the Day We Met", "The 11th Labor of Hercules", "I Need Us Together", "Feel Better", "They Sent Me a Picture", "I'll Stick Around", "Blow Out the Candles", and "When My Baby Cries". 38 min.

Ailleurs
Mylle Fournier
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $4.95 MP3 amazon.com

The debut solo album of harpist and composer Mylle Fournier, Ailleurs is an instrumental album of original works inspired by the great turning points of life. Elements of classical and rock-'n'- roll music are seamlessly integrated into the breathtaking performances. Ranging in tone from deep sorrow to exuberant joy, Ailleurs is dramatic, stunning, exceptionally beautiful, and highly recommended. The tracks are "Every Goodbye", "Penta", "Prynhawn, Nos, Bore", "An Ocean, A Decade", and "Tell It to the Wind". 27 min. 32 sec.

Secrets of the Sea
Greg Maroney
www.gregmaroney.com
Greg Maroney Music
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Recorded live, Secrets of the Sea is a neo-classical, new age solo piano album of original compositions by Greg Maroney, performed on a 9-foot Steinway Concert Grand piano. The twenty-fifth release by the talented and imaginative Maroney, Secrets of the Sea draws inspiration from the ever-changing, mysterious nature of rivers, waves, tributaries, and ocean shores. Extraordinarily beautiful and inspiring, Secrets of the Sea is highly recommended especially for solo piano connoisseurs and public library collections. The tracks are "Secrets of the Sea", "Reverence", "River of Dreams", "Distant Shores", "Arise in Hope", "The Clock Strikes Nine", "A Thousand Miles", "Sea Breeze", "Rippling Waters", "Dreaming Tree", "Emerald Lake", and "The Lighthouse". 53 min. 14 sec.

Chapters
Stephen Wallack
www.stephenwallackmusic.com
Privately Published
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/stephenwallack
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download

Chapters: Solo Piano Reflections is the debut album of Stephen Wallack, featuring new age solo piano drawn from autobiographical elements, and performed with cinematic flair. Brimming with vivacious memories and emotion, from amazing travels to the day of his wedding, Chapters is profoundly joyful and highly recommended. The tracks are Virginia", "Oceans", "Cooper's Song" Trains", "Dad", "Chicago", "The traveler", "Wedding Song", "Holiday", and "Archer.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Second Time Around
Starring Linda Thorson and Stuart Margolin
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

The Second Time Around is an award-winning movie about love blossoming among senior citizens. The widowed Katherine Mitchell (played by Linda Thorson) strikes an unexpected chemistry with the grumpy Isaac Shapiro (played by Stuart Margolin) while she convalesces after breaking her hip. A shared love of music bring Katherine and Isaac closer, and the two decide to work together to achieve Katherine's dream of going to the opera in Milan. Poignant and emotionally moving, The Second Time Around is a timeless romance, highly recommended. 107 min.

Moynihan
A documentary by Joseph Dorman and Toby Perl Freilich
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Moynihan is an in-depth documentary about Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003), who made his mark on the twentieth century as an intellectual sociologist, policy specialist, ambassador, and long-serving senator of New York. Under Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, he worked as Assistant Secretary of Labor and put great effort into the War on Poverty. He wrote the controversial Moynihan Report ("The Negro Family: The Case For National Action"); advised President Nixon; was an ambassador to the United Nations under President Ford; and much more. His good-faith work with both political parties stands in stark contrast to the hyper- partisan politics of twenty-first century America. A close examination of a most remarkable, forthright, and outspoken public servant, Moynihan is highly recommended especially for public and college library documentary collections. 104 min.


The Political Science Shelf

White Identity Politics
Ashley Jardina
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108475525, $99.99, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Amidst discontent over America's growing diversity, as reflected by the elections of 2016, 2018, and the current race toward the 2020 election, many white Americans now view the political world through the lens of a racial identity. Whiteness was once thought to be invisible because of whites' dominant position and ability to claim the mainstream, but today a large portion of whites actively identify with their racial group and support policies and candidates that they view as protecting whites' power and status in view of the demographic 'browning of America'. In "White Identity Politics", academician Ashley Jardina (she is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, Duke University, North Carolina) offers a landmark analysis of emerging patterns of white identity and collective political behavior, drawing on sweeping data. Where past research on whites' racial attitudes emphasized out-group hostility, Professor Jardina brings into focus the significance of in-group identity and favoritism. "White Identity Politics" shows that disaffected whites are not just found among the working class; they make up a broad proportion of the American public -- with profound implications for political behavior and the future of racial conflict in America as evidenced by the achievement of Donald J. Trump in winning the presidency and the success of continued voter suppression activities by a Republican dominated congress during Trump's first two years. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of Figures, Tables, an Appendix, Notes, References, and an Index, "White Identity Politics" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers that "White Identity Politics" is also available in a paperback edition (9781108468602, $24.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.49).


The Language Studies Shelf

Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language
Yang Xiao-Desai & Ka F. Wong, editors
Cheng & Tsui Company
25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111-1213 USA
9781622911844, $39.99, PB, 248pp, www.cheng-tsui.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Yang Xiao-Desai & Ka F. Wong, "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" is comprised of fourteen erudite and informative articles on teaching Chinese contributed by an impressive array of knowledgeable contributors. Instructors and researchers especially will benefit from these essays on best practices in instruction, Language Flagship programs, Chinese linguistic studies, heritage learner identities, curriculum development, teacher training, and more. Cheng & Tsui worked closely with Professor Tao-chung "Ted" Yao in the past, and published "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language in commemoration of the legacy left behind by Professor Yao. Indeed, the spirit of Professor Yao lives on in his colleagues and students, who contributed to the compilation of "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" to honor his memory. "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" is a unique body of linguistic scholarship and unreservedly recommended for professional and academic library Chinese Language instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists.

William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in Greek
William Sanders Scarborough
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865168633, $24.00, PB, 187pp, www.bolchazy.com

A complete facsimile of the 1881 First Edition, "William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in Greek" features an informative Foreword by Ward W. Briggs, Jr. and an Introduction by Michele Valerie Ronnick which together provide an historical and intellectual context for this pioneering work written by a nineteenth-century African American classicist. The introductory text includes Greek to English and English to Greek exercises that drill Greek grammar and vocabulary as well as readings from Xenophon's Anabasis and Memorabilia. Also featuring five illustrations, "William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in Greek" will prove to be a welcome and valued addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Greek Language Instruction and Reference collections and supplemental studies lists.

The Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic
Mohamed Maamouri, editor
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781626163317, $80.95, HC, 760pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Mohamed Maamouri (who is a retired professor of linguistics at the Manouba University in Tunisia and a retired senior researcher and research administrator at the Linguistic Data Consortium at the University of Pennsylvania, where he directed the Arabic Treebank Group and the development of Arabic lexical resources and projects), "The Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic: Arabic-English, English-Arabic" is a modernized language resource for learning and studying Moroccan Arabic that updates the pioneering Arabic dialect dictionary published by Georgetown University Press over fifty years ago. Students, teachers, and scholars of Arabic will welcome this upgraded resource, which includes key Moroccan words, to grow their vocabulary and learn more about Moroccan Arabic language and culture. Created using the latest computational linguistics approaches and tools, this etymological dictionary represents a new generation of Arabic language reference materials designed to help English speakers gain proficiency in colloquial Arabic dialects. Scholars and linguists are certain to find this complex and challenging dialect informative and useful in discussions of Arabic dialectology. This fully updated edition features over 13,000 Moroccan Arabic - English entries and 8,000 English-Arabic entries; provides entries in Arabic script and organized by root, as is standard in Arabic dictionaries; employs International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for all terms to demonstrate correct pronunciation and allow comparison across dialects; includes borrowed words commonly used in Moroccan Arabic, such as those from French, Spanish, and Amazigh; and contains extensive example sentences and an appendix showing the roots of words with prefixes, both to help learners. This bilingual (Arabic-English/English-Arabic) edition of "The Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Language Studies collections.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Career Rookie
Sarah Vermunt
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4E 1E2
www.ecwpress.com
9781770414884, $14.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com

"Career Rookie: A Get-It-Together Guide for Grads, Students and Career Newbies" by Sarah Vermunt (who is the founder of Careergasm and the author of Careergasm: Find Your Way to Feel-Good Work, is a regular career columnist on TV's CityLine, and whose work has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Fast Company) is a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual and guide for every grad, student, and 20-something who feels lost, overwhelmed, and anxious when it comes to establishing themselves in a career. "Career Rookie" specifically addresses the emotional and logistical WTF-ness of starting a career, answering questions like, What if I don't have any experience? What if I went to school for something I hated? What if I have NO IDEA what I actually want? Should I just suck it up and settle? Because, honestly, this career thing is starting to give me an ulcer. A fresh and fun guide that gives even the most lost and overwhelmed a way forward, "Career Rookie" deftly explores passion, curiosity, uncertainty, self-sabotage, and the personal quest to shake off post-graduation paralysis. While very highly recommended for community, college, university, and corporate library Jobs/Careers collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Career Rookie" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).


The Biography Shelf

Phantom in the Sky
Terry L. Thorsen
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417548 $34.95 amazon.com

The fifteenth volume in the "North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series", Phantom in the Sky: A Marine's Back Seat View of the Vietnam War is the autobiography of a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) who served in the back seat of the supersonic Phantom jet during the Vietnam War. As an RIO, he was a second pair of eyes to aid the pilot with communications, navigation, and emergencies. His backup support was crucial to prevent or correct errors that would otherwise cause a crash. Here is the story of his grueling training ordeal in the Platoon Leaders Course at Quantico; of surviving aviation and intercept training in spite of airsickness; and his service in the oldest and most decorated squadron in the Marine Corps, the VMFA-232 Red Devils in southern California. And here are true tales of life-or-death combat, secret missions, and perilous close calls with anti-aircraft weapons. Phantom in the Sky is a riveting from cover to cover, highly recommended especially for public and college library military biography collections as well as personal reading lists.

Mary Queen of Scots
Stefan Zweig
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781782275459, $17.95, PB, 448pp, www.amazon.com

Written with all the drama of a novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative storytelling, "Mary Queen of Scots" by Stefan Zweig is an impressively detailed and documented biographical history of a remarkable woman who lived in a remarkable time. From the moment of her birth to her death on the scaffold, Mary Stuart spent her life embroiled in power struggles that shook the foundations of Renaissance Europe. Revered by some as the rightful Queen of England, reviled by others as a murderous adultress, her long and fascinating rivalry with her cousin Elizabeth I led ultimately to her downfall. This simply outstanding biography of Mary Queen of Scots is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library biography collections in general, and Renaissance England supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context
Martin J. Duffell
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866985697, $68.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Incorporating advances in historical linguistics but aimed at teachers and students of poetry, "Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context" by Martin J. Duffell (a member of the School of Modern Languages at Queen Mary College, London) argues that between 1378 and 1400 Geoffrey Chaucer used his knowledge of how poets versified in other languages to devise a meter that would be a perfect fit for the newly respectable English. While Chaucer and Gower are largely responsible for the last stage of this evolution in Middle English and Anglo-Norman, Chaucer's risk in composing in English paid off and iambic pentameter and tetrameter endured to become the staples of English verse, while Gower's French stress-syllabic meters died with the Anglo-Norman dialect. An impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented study, "Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a twenty-two page bibliographic listing of Works Cited, a twelve page Glossary, and a five page Index, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to college and university library Medieval/Renaissance collections in general, and Chaucerian Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Technology Shelf

The Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar, second edition
Victor C. Chen
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630815462 $189.00 amazon.com

Written for aspiring and practicing professionals in the scientific field, The Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar is the updated and expanded second edition of a classic text by expert author Victor C. Chen, who is internationally recognized for his work in the micro-Doppler effect in radar and time-frequency-based radar image formation. Here are the basic principles of Doppler effect and micro-Doppler effect, and their practical applications in radar; the latest discoveries in vital sign and gesture recognition through micro-Doppler radar; guides to modeling and animating objects with movement; simulation of radar returns; coverage of the Google Project Soli (which used the micro-Doppler effect to recognize micro motions of human hand gestures for controlling devices); and much more. A wealth of charts, graphs, equations, and source codes in MATLAB for programs used to simulate radar backscattering, as well as programs for generating micro- Doppler signatures and analyzing characteristics of targets, enhance this advanced resource and reference. The Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar, second edition is highly recommended especially for college and university library science and technology shelves.

Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics, third edition
Nam-Trung Nguyen, et al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630813642, $149.00, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded third edition, "Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics" provides engineers and engineering students with the most complete and current coverage of this cutting-edge field. This newly revised edition provides updated discussions throughout and features critical new material on microfluidic power sources, sensors, cell separation, organ-on-chip and drug delivery systems, 3D culture devices, droplet-based chemical synthesis, paper-based microfluidics for point-of-care, ion concentration polarization, micro-optofluidics and micro-magnetofluidics. Enhanced with the inclusion of four appendices (List of Symbols; Resources for Microfluidics Research; Abbreviations of Different Plastics; Linear Elastic Deflections Models) and a seven page Index, "Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics" is an ideal curriculum textbook and an unreservedly recommended addition to both corporate and academic Microfludics collections and supplemental studies lists.

Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures
Ivan Vidal, et al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630813789, $149.00, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com

Exceptionally well organized and accessibly presented, "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" is a practical and comprehensive resource that provides a survey on the technologies, protocols, and architectures that are widely used in practice to implement networked multimedia services. "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" deftly presents the background and basic concepts behind multimedia networking, and provides a detailed analysis of how multimedia services work, reviewing the diverse network protocols that are of common use to implement them. To guide the explanation of concepts, "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" focuses on a representative set of networked multimedia services with proven success and high penetration in the telecommunication market, namely Internet telephony, Video-on-Demand (VoD), and live IP television (IPTV). Contents are presented following a stepwise approach, describing each network protocol in the context of a networked multimedia service and making appropriate references to the protocol as needed in the description of other multimedia services. "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" also contains questions and exercises to provide the reader with insight on the practical application of the explained concepts. Additionally, a laboratory practice is included, based on open-source tools and software, to analyze the operation of an Internet telephony service from a practical perspective, as well as to deploy some of its fundamental components. Ideal as a curriculum textbook, "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" is unreservedly recommended for corporate, college, and university library Contemporary Technology collections in general, and telecommunications supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The LGBT Studies Shelf

Evidence Of Being
Darius Bost
University of Chicago Press
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226589824, $27.50, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

"Evidence of Being: The Black Gay Cultural Renaissance and the Politics of Violence" by Darius Bost (Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies in the School for Cultural and Social Transformation, University of Utah) opens on a grim scene: Washington DC's gay black community in the 1980s, ravaged by AIDS, the crack epidemic, and a series of unsolved murders, seemingly abandoned by the government and mainstream culture. Yet in this darkest of moments, a new vision of community and hope managed to emerge. Bost's deftly detailed account of the media, poetry, and performance of this time and place reveals a stunning confluence of activism and the arts. In Washington and New York during the 1980s and '90s, gay black men banded together, using creative expression as a tool to challenge the widespread views that marked them as unworthy of grief. They created art that enriched and reimagined their lives in the face of pain and neglect, while at the same time forging a path toward bold new modes of existence. At once a corrective to the predominantly white male accounts of the AIDS crisis and an openhearted depiction of the possibilities of black gay life, "Evidence of Being" above all insists on the primacy of community over loneliness, and hope over despair. An impressively informative, thoughtful and thought- provoking read from cover to cover, "Evidence Of Being" is an extraordinary account and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library LBGT and African-American Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Evidence Of Being" is also available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $15.12).


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