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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Of the Human Heart
Edward R. Hogan
Lehigh University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
9780934223935, $80.00, www.leigh.edu/library/lup
At the tail end of the Enlightenment, there were still many monumental science advances. "Of the
Human Heart" tells of one of America's most prominent scientific minds in the nineteenth
century. Benjamin Peirce worked hard towards improving the lives of Americans through his
various scientific advances and work, starting at Harvard at only the age of sixteen, and his
accolades have brought him across many sciences from mathematics to astronomy to geology,
among others. A look into the life of a great mind and a great man, "Of the Human Heart" is
worthy acquisition for any community library or college library collection dedicated to the
history of science.
Altruism, Intergroup Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation
Samuel P. Oliner, assisted by Piotr Olaf Zylicz
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, Saint Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788788, $19.95, www.paragonhouse.com
It takes good people to truly make a positive impact on the world. "Altruism, Intergroup Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation" is a look at the titular concepts and how they have happened throughout history, and the lessons modern day politicians can learn from them. With looks at many religion's and culture's approaches to the subjects and how understanding is just as important as the desire to improve relations, "Altruism, Intergroup Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation" is something to be considered for community library social issues collections.
Utah's Low Points
Fred J. Nash
The University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
9780874809329, $22.95, www.uofupress.com
There are certain things not mentioned in most hiker's manuals, and "Utah's Low Points" presents
one of these oft omitted facts. "Utah's Low Points: A Guide to the Lowest Points in Utah's 29
Countries" is a manual focusing on exploring this geological extremes in the state of Utah. Each
county has an entry covering how difficult it is to access, suggestions on GPS use, time
estimates, and much more. A must for hikers seeking new adventures, "Utah's Low Points" is
recommended reading.
The Biography Shelf
Waiting for Coyote's Call
Jerry Wilson
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, South Dakota, 57501
9780977795581, $24.95, www.sdshspress.com
Carbon footprint, something environmentally minded people have been caring about for quite
some time now. "Waiting for Coyote's Call: A Eco-Memoir from the Missouri River" is Jerry
Wilson spending two and a half decades living the most environmentally friendly life possible.
His story is of a life living alongside nature that is quite different than what most people
experience. With plenty of anecdotes and intriguing stories, "Waiting for Coyote's Call" is solid
and very recommended reading for environmentally oriented readers.
Paddling South
Rick Ranson
NeWest Press
#201 8540.109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1E6, Canada
9781897126233, $16.96, www.newestpress.com
A huge journey, but Ranson has learned it was worth the trip. "Paddling South: Winnipeg to New
Orleans by Canoe" tells of his epic voyage going from the Great Lakes all the way down to the
Gulf of Mexico. His story is incredibly intriguing and entertaining, filled with plenty of
entertaining character. A solid and hilarious story about two friends right out of high school,
"Paddling South" is one of the most entertaining memoirs one could find.
Some Like It Hot
Nicolyn Rajala
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56301
9780878391400, $14.95, www.northstarpress.com
The sauna is something that is almost universal to many different cultures. "Some Like it Hot" is
a collection of short stories and tips revolving around the relaxing activity known as the Sauna.
History, traditions in various parts of the world, and lots and lots of stories involving the sauna,
Rajala also touches on constructing one's very own sauna. "Some Like It Hot" is a must for
anyone who enjoys time in the sauna.
Crazy Loco Love
Victor Villasenor
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston, 452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558853157, $26.95, www.artepublicopress.com
There are certain things expected of a young Hispanic Catholic man. "Crazy Loco Love" is the
memoir of Victor Villasenor and his coming of age as a young man who pursues the opposite
sex. The collision of his Catholic values and his hormones leads to an intriguing story that many
will relate to as he gains experience, both through experimentation and meeting of a more mature
woman. "Crazy Loco Love" is something many readers will enjoy and relate to.
Bob Marley
Garry Steckles
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567336, $17.00, www.interlinkbooks.com
An icon of Jamaica, an icon of the Rastafarian philosophy, an icon of Reggae - Bob Marley meant a
lot of things to many people. "Bob Marley: A Life" is a biography of one of the most important
cultural figures of the twentieth century, tracing his life from his early days to his tragic early
death from brain cancer, to the still raging legal battles over the rights to his music and estate.
"Bob Marley" is an educational look at this versatile man.
I am a Teamster
Terry Spencer Hesser
Lake Claremont Press
PO Box 711, Chicago, IL 60690
9781893121355, $15.95, www.lakeclaremont.com
Some history falls between the cracks. "I am a Teamster: A Short, Fiery Story of Regina V. Polk,
Her Hats, Her Pets, Sweet Love, and the Modern-Day Labor Movement" is the story of labor
leader Regina Polk and her efforts to campaign for better workplace conditions for everyone,
idolizing Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa. A story of compassion and desire to change the world, "I
am a Teamster" tells an unknown story well worth reading for those looking for the history of
labor leaders.
Unfulfilled Promise
PJ Browne
Currach Press
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781856079563, $28.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Every country has its motivational people, but all too often, they leave the world too soon. "Unfulfilled Promise: Memories of Donogh O'Malley" tells of one of Ireland's own Donogh O'Malley, a highly charismatic and inspirational figure during his day. Unrestrained by the politics of his time, O'Malley died at the age of forty-seven, yet made a lasting impact on the country to this day. "Unfulfilled Promise" tells of a man who packed as much change as he could in those forty seven years.
A Biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi
Antonella Cupillari
Mellen Press
PO Box 450, Lewiston, NY 14092-0450
9780773452268, $119.95
Throughout history, women have advanced and broken many barriers in different fields. "A
Biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi: An Eighteenth-Century Woman Mathematician" is a look at
the life of a major contributor to the field of math in a time where women were still viewed as
vastly inferior to men in intellectual fields. Agnesi spited this claim and did much work on the
field, and slowly earned some degree of respect from history for her work. Containing not only a
biography, but a translation of some of her more essential work from the original Italian into
English, Cupillari does much to demonstrate the vital purpose of Agnesi's contribution. With
thirteen black and white photographs of the documents of her time, indexes, and explanations of
her work, "A Biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi" is an enthusiastically recommended piece for
both community and college library collections dedicated to the history of mathematics and
extraordinary women.
When the Laughing Stopped
John Evangelist Walsh
Snowy Owl Books
c/o University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
9781602230293, $26.95 www.uaf.edu/uapress 1-888-252-6657
In the summer of 1935, beloved American "cowboy philosopher" and popular movie/radio star
Will Rogers perished in a plane crash, on the shore of the Arctic Ocean in northernmost Alaska.
By pure chance, Rogers' beloved daughter Mary happened to be performing in a play about a
plane crash at the time of Rogers' death, an misfortunate coincidence that abruptly ended her
career. Further ripples of the tragedy echoed in the hearts and minds of the public. When the
Laughing Stopped: The Strange, Sad Death of Will Rogers explores the circumstances behind
Will Rogers' passing, including an in-depth analysis of the cause of the crash and a close scrutiny
of Mary's subsequent misfortune. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this
thoughtful, exhaustively researched account.
Starlust
Jesse Cutler
Morgan James
1225 Franklin Ave, Ste 32, Garden City, NY 11530-1693
Mantra Empowered Public Relations (publicity)
110 West 26th Street, Floor 3, New York, NY 10001-6805
9781600374180, $29.95, www.morganjamespublishing.com
The story of a rock and roll star is one we've heard many times, but never grow tired of hearing. "Starlust: The Price of Fame" is the story of Godspell Grammy award winner Jesse Cutler, best known for his hit 'Everybody Do the Duck' and his star studded rise and fall. A young prodigy, he found himself working with a who's who of twentieth century of musical acts ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Beatles and Marvin Gaye. With a portion of the funds going to the Habitat for Humanity and Guitar Center Music Foundation, "Starlust" is a great acquisition for rock and roll fans.
Mary Breckinridge
Melanie Beals Goan
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807832110, $45.00, www.unc.edu
Many city dwellers think nothing of having doctors at easy access. This was not true for rural dwellers in Appalachia in the early twentieth century. "Mary Breckinridge: The Frontier Nursing Service and Rural Health in Appalachia" tells the story of Mary Breckinridge, founder of the Frontier Nursing service, who for several years provided aid and medical care to those in need throughout this backwoods region. Her heartwarming story is one of altruism and care, making "Mary Breckinridge" highly recommended.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Deep Cinema
Mary Trainor-Brigham
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907506, $19.95, www.mwp.com
Movies can have more meaning than eye-candy, explosions, and cheap laughs. "Deep Cinema:
Film as Shamanic Initiation" takes a look at serious storytelling with a message through the art of
film. Mixing ancient shamanic tradition with today's top of the line film-making techniques,
Brigham discusses symbolism, cultural meaning, and much more and their relevance to films.
Dissecting some of today's most spiritual films, "Deep Cinema" is worth reading for those who
want their films to mean more than just being pop culture.
The Best American Short Plays
Barbara Parisi
Applause
c/o Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
9781557837127, $16.95, www.applausepub.com
There are more plays than just Shakespeare. "The Best American Short Plays: 2004-2005" is a
collection of short plays to use in a classroom or theater to give a more modern edge to acting
and drama than just the flowery language and plots of the seventeenth century bard. The plays all
present a modern viewpoint with modern topics from contemporary writers, giving it a very
different blend from most plays. "The Best American Short Plays: 2004-2005" is a must for any
drama teacher who wants to expand their students' horizons.
The Monster Hunter in Modern Popular Culture
Heather L. Duda
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jerrson, NC 28640
9780786434060, $35.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
The character of the monster hunter has made a come back in recent years. "The Monster Hunter
in Modern Popular Culture" takes a survey of the genre with TV Shows and movies such as
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Van Helsing. Discussing why the genre has gotten as popular as it
has and the common themes among them, it gives new perspective on this media and expands
one's understanding of why such things are as popular as they are. A critical dissection of the
genre, "The Monster Hunter in Modern Popular Culture" is highly recommended.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
The Criminal Records Manual
Larry Henry, and Hinton
Facts on Demand Press
c/o BRB Publications
PO Box 27869, Tempe, AZ 85285
9781889150543, $24.95, www.brbpub.com
Criminal records are made available to the public for whatever use they desire. "The Criminal
Records Manual: A Complete Guide to Legal, Ethical, and Public Policy Issues and Restrictions"
is a guide for businesses to ethically use public criminal records in their human resources
departments. With the many laws and regulations laid down that business must follow, and
defines where the ethical boundary of using the records lies. "The Criminal Records Manual" is a
must for any business which hires many people and wants to remain harmonious.
Know Your Legal Rights
Kiplinger
Kaplan Publishing
30 South Wacke Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
1419517538, $18.95, www.kaplanpublishing.com
When dealing with the law, if you don't know what one is doing, you've already lost. Now in a
newly revised and updated third edition, "Know Your Legal Rights: Protect Yourself From
Common Legal Problems That Can Really Cost You" is a guide to most efficiently dealing with
personal legal problems that one is bound to face in their lifetime. With tips on figuring when
legal action is necessary, when to seek professional help, and other invaluable information, it's a
book of fundamentals when dealing with law. For providing everything one needs to know to
defend oneself in legal battles, "Know Your Legal Rights" is well worth reading.
The Education Shelf
How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students
Susan M. Brookhart
ASCD Press
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416607366, $19.95, www.ascd.org
No one can improve on anything without feedback and criticism. "How to Give Effective
Feedback to Your Students" is a guide for teachers and educators on how best to criticize their
student's work. Too harsh, and you discourage them, too light, and they won't improve. This
balance is discussed in great detail, and gives advice on giving good criticism to help their
students progress as much as they possibly can. "How to Give Effective Feedback to Your
Students" is a solid acquisition to any educator, no matter the subject.
Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community
Victor C. X. Wang
Krieger Publishing Company
1725 Krieger Drive, Malabar, FL 32950
1575242966, $36.50, www.krieger-publishing.com
Adult minds are much more solid than those of children, hence require different approaches for
teaching. "Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community: Volume I
Strategic Approaches" is a collection of scholarly essays on adult education and how it can be
improved worldwide. Covering the core principles of the concept and how different professions
require different methods, and enhanced with indexes and appendixes with additional
information, "Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community" is highly
recommended for anyone in charge of adult education.
African Legends, Myths, and Folktales
Anthony D. Fredericks
Teacher Ideas Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9781591586333, $25.00, www.techerideaspress.com
Africa has its own unique history and culture, and many folk tales have their origin on the
continent. "African Legends, Myths, and Folktales for Readers Theatre" is a collection of African
folk tales and stories for reading aloud between many different students in a classroom setting.
Aimed at children nearing the end of elementary through middle school, the folk tales will give
young readers an appreciation for African culture and literature. "African Legends, Myths, and
Readers Theatre" is a solid choice for any educator looking to expand their student's
horizons.
The Bullying Prevention Handbook
John H. Hoover and Ronald L. Oliver
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781934009116, $27.95, www.solution-tree.com
A bully can make a student's life miserable and make them hate school. "The Bullying Prevention
Handbook: A Guide for Principles, Teachers, and Counselors" is a guide for school
administrators to deal with the inevitable act of bullying and teasing in their schools. Dealing
with both the bully and the victim through counseling is important, as are discussing things with
both sets of parents, and how to reverse the damage caused by the act, as well as simply
discouraging the act through education. It covers the wide range of types, from elementary school
recess about a kid's large ears to cyber-bullying, to far more serious taunting of LGBT students in
high school. "The Bullying Prevention Handbook" comes with a companion CD-ROM of extra
material, making it a must for any responsible school administrator.
Educating the Other America
Susan B. Neuman
Paul H Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669063, $39.95, www.brookespublishing.com
Schools in areas of deep poverty have never been putting out good grades. Is this changeable?
"Educating the Other America: Top Experts Tackle Poverty, Literacy, and Achievement in Our
Schools" believes so, and many top educational experts speak out within. Subjects such as
multi-lingual classrooms to help students who treat English as a second language, the cultural
differences lower class students face from middle class students, and much more. Scholarly,
complete and comprehensive, "Educating the Other America" is highly recommended reading for
any school administrator or education professional.
The Psychology Shelf
Spirituality and the Therapeutic Process
Jamie D. Aten & Mark M. Leach, editors
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433803734, $69.95, www.apa.org
Science hasn't been able to pinpoint it, but spirituality can mean a great deal in the healing
process. "Spirituality and the Therapeutic Process: A Comprehensive Resource From Intake to
Termination" is the work of many professionals in the field of therapy, speaking out on their
experiences with the touchy subject of spirituality with their patients and using it to help them
heal their patient's woes. Enhanced with an index, "Spirituality and the Therapeutic Process" is a
brain trust well worth reading for both therapists and non-specialist general readers.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Diabetes Sourcebook
Karen Bellenir
Omnigraphics
PO Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780810051, $87.00, www.omnigraphics.com
Diabetes is a rapidly rising epidemic in America, riding the rising obesity's rates coattails to a
very serious issue in today's society. "Diabetes Sourcebook" is the newly updated and expanded
fourth edition, completely and comprehensively covering almost everything a student or
physician would need to know, updated with the most up to date research. Chapters cover the
definitions of diabetes and its statistics, the lifestyle changes the afflicted's day to day lives, what
physicians and doctors can do, what it can lead to, the potential fatal implications, and what
current medical science is doing to combat the problems Diabetes brings humanity. Filled back to
the rim with information and enhanced with a subject dictionary, cookbooks, assistance for
finding medical care, "Diabetes Sourcebook" is well worth the investment for anyone facing the
ailment or any physician who wants to specialize in its treatment.
Creative Recovery
Eric Maisel and Susan Raeburn
Trumpeter
c/o Shambhala
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9781590305447, $16.95, www.shambhala.com
The creative energies that all people have can be used for more than art or inventing. "Creative
Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity" is a
guide for creative types who have been plagued with an addiction they have struggled to
overcome. With many examples and ideas for readers to help put their creativity to use, no matter
what it is, be it prose, poetry, painting, or anything else, it helps creative types deal with the
addictions that may plague them. With solid and fresh ideas throughout, "Creative Recovery"
is worth acquiring for any artisans who want to be free of the diseases that plague them.
Observing Bioethics
Renee C. Fox & Judith P. Swazey
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4308
9780195365559, $45.00, www.oup.com
A little over a hundred years ago, it was forbidden to do research on human corpses. Today, it's
still touchy ground. "Observing Bioethics" is a discussion of Bioethics and how they have taken
form over the past years. Cloning, stem cell research, simple human anatomy classes are all
covered under the banner, and morality has a huge role in what's appropriate to do with the
remains of both humans and animals. Educational, enlightening, and a look into the future of
biology and what it could bring, both technologically and ethically in coming years. All this
makes "Observing Bioethics" worthwhile reading for those in such fields and for non-specialist
general readers.
The Fiction Shelf
Homage to Czerny
Gert Jonke
Dalkey Archive
riker@dalkeyarchive.com
9781564785015, $12.95, www.dalkeyarchive.com
Reliving the good times is something many of us dream to do, but two eccentric and wealthy
siblings may just be taking it a bit too far. "Homage to Czerny: Studies in Virtuoso Technique" is
the story of a garden party. One that its hosts would like to happen twice...once last year, and this
year, again...only in the exact same way, movement for movement, word for word, and more.
Hilarious in its approach and masterfully translated by Jean M. Snook, "Homage to Czerny" is
highly recommended and riveting reading from one of Austria's best.
Fixing America by Fixing the Vote
Hal Gauger
Artworks
1297 Grove Circle, Benicia, CA 94510-1751
9780981787107, $19.95, www.HCGauger.com
There are those who believe that the country doesn't know what's good for it. Those who believe
it so much that they will force a candidate into office, even if they have to cheat Democracy to do
it. "Fixing America by Fixing the Vote: Government Change at a Dogtrot" is a story on the side
of the soon to be elected politician and his father. Sam Woodstock and his son Ott's political
campaign seems to be going well, but Sam is faced with defending democracy and helping the
country using fraud. "Fixing America by Fixing the Vote" asks serious ethical questions through
fiction, highly recommended.
Waiting for Elvis
David Elias
Coteau Books
2517 Victoria Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4P 0T2
9781550503944, $21.00, www.coteaubooks.com
Don't judge a book by its cover, a secular proverb used to describe many people. "Waiting for
Elvis" is the story of Betty and Arty, a happily married couple who run a diner. Dealing with a
disrespectful son, she finds a loner and drifter called Sam. Through her conversations, Betty
learns that there isn't much joy to Sal's life, nor has there ever been. What little joy there was
came from the King of Graceland. "Waiting for Elvis" is a moving literary story, a strong pick for
fiction readers.
The Impostor
Damon Galgut
McClelland & Stewart
75 Sherborune Street, Toronto, ON M5A 2P9
9780771035487, $29.99, www.mcclelland.com
When one thinks things can't get any worse, they do. "The Impostor" is a story set in modern
South Africa, telling of Adam. Losing his job and his home, he tries to start anew in a beat down
shack on the edge of town. An old childhood acquaintance soon appears, Canning, who has the
exact opposite of Adam's luck. The ensuing story between the two will alter the course of both of
their lives forever. "The Impostor" is a thoroughly entertaining story, a strong choice for personal
fiction collections.
The Banquet of Esther Rosenbaum
Penny Simpson
Alcemi
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780955527234, $21.95, www.alcemi.eu
When things don't seem to be getting any worse, they always do. "The Banquet of Esther
Rosenbaum" is the story of Esther Rosenbaum, a giant of a Jewish woman on the eve of Hitler's
rise to power and the regime of the Nazi party. Although that is a looming fear, the present isn't
exactly paradise either. Fearing that a bright future isn't available, she hopes to go out with a
bang with one last banquet for everyone she cares about. Moving and inspiring, "The Banquet of
Esther Rosenbaum" is very much recommended reading.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Mindful Woman
Sue Patton Thoele
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572245426, $15.95, www.newharbinger.com
Going through life on automatic is no way to live. "The Mindful Woman: Gentle Practices for
Restoring Calm, Finding Balance, & Opening Your Heart" promotes a more mindful approach to
life for women, in which every act they do begins to have more meaning. With much wisdom
and advice throughout for sprinkling more thought onto life, "The Mindful Woman" is very solid
and recommended reading for any woman who wants to break out of cruise control.
The Poetry Shelf
The Pear As One Example
Eric Pankey
Ausable Press
1026 Hurricane Road, Keene, NY 12942
9781931337397, $16.00
An intellectual and a teacher, Eric Pankey brings his poetic skill to the table with "The Pear As
One Example" is his massive, for poetry standards, tome of his work, collected over twenty four
years of his life. As his eighth book to his name, "The Pear as One Example" is a lot of bang for
the poetry readers buck. "The Kingdom Likened to a Field of Weeds": The green is not wheat,
but mustard/That once sown flourishes to seed./Wherever it falls, it takes hold.//The field, an
indelible smear/Of darnel, thistle, and burdock,/Stinks of rank fullness and welter.//A swarm
hovers like the wet smoke/Of an effigy set afire/And dragged across the brambled field.//Within
its chirm and drone, crows turn./The axle of the sun is locked./No shade falls on the kingdom of
weeds.
Flawed Landscape
Sharif S. Elmusa
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567343, $15.00, www.interlinkbooks.com
A lot can change in a person over twenty one years. "Flawed Landscape: Poems 1987-2008" is
award nominated poet Sharif S. Elmusa's solo anthology of poetry. Focusing on the themes of
war, family, and exile, his work is powerful and moving, making "Flawed Landscape" a vivid
portrait of a man's life through poetry. "The Two Angels": Among the things mother told me as a
child://Every person has two angels//standing on his shoulders./And they weigh every deed./On
the right, Nakir, /for the good deeds;/for the bad, Nakeer, on the left.//That is why my gait is
tilted now/and as the years pass--/ my back will grow hunched.// Such nakedness!
Winter Sky
Coleman Barks
The University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820332376, $26.95, www.ugapress.org
A man who has worked with and loved poetry all of his life, Coleman Barks has picked up more
than a thing or two about writing the stuff. "Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems, 1968-2008" is
an anthology from the acclaimed translator whose poetry is simple and complex at the same time
as it is poignant. Poetry from a man who went out of the way to compose a letter protesting the
Iraq War on its very eve, "Winter Sky" is much worth reading for poetry fans. "A Walk in the
Botanical Gardens": We get it in our heads/ to inspect the undersides of each/waist-high Queen
Anne's lace,/to find the black bug always at home/in his apartment of green scaffolding.//I don't
understand why we want each other so much./Some of my wanting is curiosity./Each time, here's
something living inside./I want you. I want you./What are we saying.//Eventually we eat the
flower of our need,/bug and all,/and we're just out walking nowhere,/ with no schemes.
Second Nature
John Witte
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295988597, $19.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress
Prolific and critically acclaimed poet John Witte brings readers his third collection of poetry in
"Second Nature". Using skilled and expert verse to explain his views of the world, human nature,
and history, his message in optimistic and uplifting, as well as poignant and powerful. "Second
Nature" is worth reading for many a poetry reader. "The Seed": The jade dwarf/smiled or sneered
a fetal god/we were young and far from home the terra-cotta wrestlers.//grappling the
woman/nursing a dog in the shadows a thief/crunched dense fleshy a stubbly spongy muzzle
snarling.
On Purpose
Nick Laird
W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393067767, $23.95, www.wwnorton.com
A man with many published works under both novels and poetry, "On Purpose" is the work of
someone who has seen much in the world, originating in Northern Ireland, now living in Rome.
Tackling a wide arrange of emotions, Laird seeks to make readers laugh as well as cry. "On
Purpose" is the work of much life experience, a great choice for poetry-enthusiasts. "Use of
Spies": Upright and sleepless,/having watched three bad movies,/I am flying across the ocean to
see you.//I am a warrior and nothing will stop me,/although in the event both passport control/and
a stoned cabbie from Haiti will give it a go,/but I meant to mention something else.
Words By the Water
William Jay Smith
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801890659, $16.95, www.press.jhu.edu
Chosen by the government as a consultant on poetry, "Words by the Water" is an anthology of
one of the great American minds of poetry, William Jay Smith. Drawing on his massive
experience as a man and a scholar of poetry, he presents some of his own, and fails to disappoint.
"Words by the Water" is very much recommended reading for poetry fans. "Contemplation of
Conspiracy":Where the table-leg projects into the yellow autumn/sunlight/like the poor premise
of an argument,/the plotters gather, rotting wood at a creek's end/tirelessly planning the
devastation of the spirit,/wiring the heart for a final explosion.//Where can they lead you but over
the bridges of beetroot/into the country of spiders?//Do not follow them to their camp pitched in
a cranny; bring your fist down hard on the table .../ and send them flying.
Marginalia Poems from the Old Irish
Louis McKee, translator
Adastra Press
16 Reservation Road, Easthampton, MA 01027
9780977666799, $18.00
Who knew Monks had such a knack for poetry? "Marginalia Poems from the Old Irish" is a
collection of nineteen quatrains from Irish monks who composed the poems hundreds of years
ago. The poems are not what one would expect from holy men of the middle ages, and prove to
be quite entertaining to modern audiences. "Marginalia Poems from the Old Irish" is quite the
treat, masterfully translated from the original old Irish by Louis McKee. "Apology": Don't be
blaming the poets, man - / it's not their fault;/ you will get no more from a pot/ than what's in
it.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Soul Hunter
Melanie Wells
Multnomah
601 North Larch Street, Sisters, OR 97759
1590524276, $12.99, www.mpbooks.com
Psychologists aren't detectives. But Dylan Foster must become one. "The Soul Hunter" tells of
Dylan Foster and the murder that literally spilled out on her door step. A strange string of events
leads her into being the investigator for it, and it leads her to believe that there is little that she
would consider sane involving the case. "The Soul Hunter" is a solid and entertaining suspense
novel, recommended.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
No-Nonsense Job Interviews
Arnold G. Boldt
Career Press
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781564149961, $13.99, www.careerpress.com
The interview can mean the difference between getting the job and not. "No-Nonsense Job
Interviews: How to Impress Prospective Employers and Ace Any Interview" is a guide for not
fumbling what many describe as the most vital part of the hiring process. Employers don't want
to waste their time with scrubs and people who would only cause trouble for the work place, and
one must present themselves as competent and trouble free. "No-Nonsense Job Interviews" is a
must for those who want to make sure they land the job they desire.
The World History Shelf
Spymistress
William Stevenson
Arcade
publicity@arcadepub.com
9781559707633, $26.95, www.arcadepub.com
Sometimes the most charming person in the world is the most dangerous. "Spymistress: The Life
of Vera Atkins, The Greatest Female Secret Agent of World War II" is a Romanian Jew who
served the English during the second World War. Only recently has her exploits been known to
the public, declassified after decades of confidentiality and secrecy. Her exploits did a great part
for the cause of the Allies, and her story reads just as well as any Bond novel. "Spymistress" is a
must read for anyone interested in the history of espionage.
The Greatest Day in History
Nicholas Best
Public Affairs Books
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York, NY 10107
9781586486402, $27.95, www.publicaffiarsbooks.com
It takes a long series of events to start a war, and it takes a long series to end it. "The Greatest
Day in History: How, On the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month, The
First World War Came to an End" chronicles the series of events that led to the conclusion of
World War I and the unconditional surrender of the Germans. The story covers the events leading
up to the surrender including the final bloody morning in great detail, informing readers with the
intriguing tale. "The Greatest Day in History" is a must for anyone who wants to call themselves
World War I history buff.
Lands That Hold One Spellbound
Spencer Apollonio
University of Calgary Press
MLB 19, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4
9781552382400, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com
The most intriguing history can be found in the least expected of places. "Lands That Hold One
Spellbound: A Story of East Greenland" looks at the long history of eastern Greenland, from its
early period to its famous, or infamous to some, Norse period known for its Viking raiders, to its
recent years, filled with unknown yet intriguing history about the region, sure to please any
history fan. "Lands That Hold One Spellbound" is very much recommended for someone seeking
something, ironically, new in history.
Writing History in the Soviet Union
Arup Banerji
Social Science Press
c/o Berghan Books
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
8187358378, $90.00
There is history of many things, including the very history of history itself. "Writing History in
the Soviet Union: Making the Past Work" is a history of how communist Russia dealt with the
subject of history throughout its existence. A strange medium between encouraging the
knowledge of its people and censorship, Banerji tells the story of expression, suppression, and
how it was used to promote the communist ideals. From 1917 to a more free and honest approach
in 1985, it's complete and comprehensive in its coverage and even has statements by Russian
president Vladimir Putin himself. Enhanced with bibliographies and indexes, "Writing History in
the Soviet Union" is a must for anyone who studies the history behind history.
Through Indian Eyes
Don Johnson & Jean Elliott
Apex Press
777 United Nations Plaza, Suite 3C, New York, NY 10017
9780938960553, $24.95, www.apexpress.org
The second most populous country in the world and a home to several different religions. Now in
a newly revised and expanded fifth edition, "Through Indian Eyes" is a look at India and its
people, their history, their customs, and the modern day. With three parts breaking the Indian
people into their traditions, their history, and the modern day where India is quickly becoming a
huge economic juggernaut, A intriguing history and cultural guide about a nation with a
marvelous and greatly varied story to tell, "Through Indian Eyes" is a must have for any with an
interest in Indian culture or are seeking to teach others.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Contemporary Israel
Robert O. Freedman, editor
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813343853, $40.00, www.westviewpress.com
Israel has never been the home of quiet peaceful Jews, although it yearns to be. "Contemporary
Israel: Domestic Politics, Foreign Policy, and Security Challenges" is an examination of modern
Israel and the many challenges it faces, particular with its violent neighbors and constant battle
with terrorism. The rough road they face isn't helped by the politicians of the country butting
heads just like any other. A look at the many challenges that Israel faces like many other
countries tells the story. "Contemporary Israel" is invaluable for understanding Israeli
politics.
Coping with Adversity
Joel A. Roffman & Gordon A. Fuller
Brown Books
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812228, $16.00, www.brownbooks.com
Adversity exists everywhere in life, dealing with it is what matters. "Coping with Adversity:
Judaism Response to Illness and Other Life Struggles" is a combination of both secular and
Judaic wisdom in coping with the inescapable adversity that everyone faces in every avenue of
life. The combination brings a two pronged approach to dealing with the challenges of life, and if
one can't help someone, the other will. "Coping with Adversity" is a moving and very helpful
self-help manual.
The Women's Studies Shelf
Legislative Women
Beth Reingold, editor
Rienner
1800 30th St., Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301-1026
9781588265678, $24.50, www.rienner.com
Women have been serving in political auction even before. "Legislative Women: Getting
Elected, Getting Ahead" is a guide for women politicians for facing the special challenges they
face in politics when compared to men. A series of essays from many female politicians and
many political thinkers speak their mind on gender in politics and tell both inspirational and
downer stories about their adversity. "Legislative Women" is very much a must for any women
considering the world of politics.
Women & Entrepreneurship and Social Capital
Iiris Aaltio, Paula Kyro, & Elisabeth Sundin, editors
Copenhagen Business School Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9788763002103, $52.00, www.isbs.com
Despite all of the west's advances, it is still shockingly misogynist. "Women & Entrepreneurship
and Social Capital: A Dialogue and Construction" is a collection of essays and writings on the
subject of female business leaders, and the special challenges they face as they climb the
corporate ladder and establish their own companies. Both men and women alike speak on the
subject, as it evaluates the pressure on women in many societies, including middle eastern
Islamic societies, where women face a much taller order of challenges. Poignant, scholarly, and
enlightening, "Women & Entrepreneurship and Social Capital" is a fine study on the business
world's attitudes in gender, enthusiastically recommended to community library women's studies
collections.
Daughter Zion, Mother Zion
Christl M. Maier
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress Publishers
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN, 55459-0304
9780800662417, $20.00, www.fortresspress.com
Women played major roles in ancient Israel. "Daughter Zion, Mother Zion: Gender, Space, and
the Sacred in Ancient Israel" is a look at Ancient Israel and its vitally important role in history, as
a major holy city for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. May concepts of history are presented and
discussed in a scholarly manner offering much food for thought on the roles of women, the land
they live on, and what is considered holy throughout the history of Jerusalem and Israel.
"Daughter Zion, Mother Zion" is very much worth a read for anyone who enjoys history and an
informed view of the diverse roles of women within the context of the Abrahamic religions.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Christ Our Hope
Pope Benedict XVI
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809105618, $14.95, www.paulistpress.com
"Christ Our Hope: The Papal Journey Addresses of the Apostolic Journey to the United States" is a collection of Pope Benedict XVI's speeches that he made during his historic five day visit to the United States in April of 2008. Covering even his in flight address to the press, it's a complete and comprehensive anthology on the man's words to the American people. "Christ Our Hope" is a must for any Catholic.
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
Ruth Haley Barton
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830835133, $18.00, www.ivpress.com
It may seem hard to believe, being a pastor or other religious leader can be very draining on one's
faith. "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry" is a
guide for religious leaders who want to maintain their own faith while leading others. With tips
on realizing when one is born to lead in faith, surrounding oneself with a positive congregation
and more, "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership" answers a real problem that many may
not realize exists for their pastors and priests.
Bible for Vital Congregations
Barbara J. Essex
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
9780829817324, $12.00, www.thepilgrimpress.com
Language changes over time, as do cultures. What was said two thousand years ago needs
translating to apply. "Bible for Vital Congregations" is a companion reader to the Bible for best
understanding all of the complicated intricacies that come from one of the most important books
of all time. Composed to help readers read the Bible and understand it, "Bible for Vital
Congregations" is a solid choice for Christians who want to be educated about their holy
book.
Life of Jesus in Icons
Francis J. Moloney
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814632376, $34.95, www.litpress.org
Icons represent a lot in western society. "Life of Jesus in Icons: From the 'Bible of Tbilisi'" is a
fresh approach to the life of Jesus through the iconic events throughout the man's life. From the
Annunciation to the Ascension, each event is discussed in detail with quotes from scriptures
accompanying each event alongside classical art work. A new way of reading the story of Christ,
"Life of Jesus in Icons" is a strong choice for any Christian book collection.
Ireland's Saint
J. B. Bury
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Oreleans, MA 02653
9781557255570, $21.95, www.paracletepress.com
There was an Ireland before St. Patrick, but he changed Ireland into the course it is on today.
"Ireland's Saint: The Essential Biography of St. Patrick" is a scholarly examination of the Saint
who is Ireland's most famous saint. Coming to the island from the Roman Empire over a
thousand years ago, he brought Christianity to the island and did what he could to compete with
the Druidic shamans and bring peace to the warring clans. "Ireland's Saint" is a vivid and human
picture of the man who's responsible for the importance of March 17th.
The Gift of Work
Bill Heatley
NavPress
PO Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
9781600061349, $12.99, www.navpress.com
One person can make a difference when it pertains to morale. "The Gift of Work: Spiritual
Disciplines for the Workplace" is a guide to making oneself a positive force in one's own
workplace. Heavily Christian-oriented, the messages encourage bringing a degree of spirituality
to one's office to decrease anxiety and potential violence, while making work seem less torturous
that one would assume. "The Gift of Work" is recommended for any Christian in the
workplace.
The Literary Shelf
Posthuman Metamorphosis
Bruce Clarke
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458
9780823228515, $26.00, www.fordhampress.com
Science fiction asks many questions about possible future, which could become realities in mere
decades. "Posthuman Metamorphosis" serves as a dual examination and discussion of both
fiction and reality, looking at the ethical problems that come with the advancement of cybernetic
technologies. Defining humanity when humans can become what could no longer be purely
human, it looks at many subjects, such as social implications, media, and the literary world.
Incredibly interesting to those who think about the future of humanity and science, "Posthuman
Metamorphosis" is solidly recommended reading.
The Gulistan of Sa'Di
W.M. Thackston, translator
Ibex Publishers
PO Box 30087, Bethesda, MD 20824
9781588140586, $60.00, www.ibexpublishers.com
One of the most iconic books in the country of Iran, "The Gullistan of Sa'Di" is unknown to
western readers, until now. W.M. Thackston brings western readers a direct translation of the
text, each page side by side with both the Persian writing and English. For over seven hundred
years, the book has influenced Persian writers as much as Chaucer or Shakespeare have
influenced western writers in English. A key to understanding the Iranian culture, "The Gullistan
of Sa'Di" is very much worth reading for world literature students and for community and college
library world fiction collections.
The Brontes
Harold Bloom, editor
Bloom's Literary Criticism
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9781604131369, $45.00, www.chelseahouse.com
A sisterhood of great writers, The Brontes have made their mark. "The Brontes" is another
edition in Bloom's Classic Critical Views series. Wildly popular in their day, they have became a
major force in the history of English writing. Bloom and his critics look at the full catalog of
their writings and discuss each of them in full, ranging from their novels to their poetry which
was published under pseudonyms. "The Brontes" is a thorough and scholarly examination of
icons of English literature.
The Business Shelf
Guerrilla Marketing on the Internet
Jay Conrad Levinson, Mitch Meyerson, & Mary Eule Scarborough
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614
9781599181943, $21.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com
The internet has revolutionized many things about business, including advertising. "Guerrilla
Marketing on the Internet: The Definitive Guide from the Father of Guerrilla Marketing" is a
marketing guide for selling one's product with little investment using the vast resources that the
internet provides. Promoting ten strategies on the subject, backed up with case studies and advice
on expertly crafting a website, "Guerrilla Marketing on the Internet" is enhanced with a bonus
Internet Jumpstart Kit, making this a must for any who want to use the internet to push their
product.
Greening Your Business
Daniel Sitarz
Earthpress
1103 W. College Street, Carbondale, IL 62901
9781892949462, $29.95, www.earth-press.com
Profitable and Green are not mutually exclusive qualities. "Greening Your Business: The
Hands-On Guide to Creating a Successful and Sustainable Business" is a guide to turning one's
company into one that is environmentally friendly with little or no damage to one's efficiency and
profit. Energy and water use, waste, transportation, and other subjects are touched upon on how
one can make their business much friendlier to the environment. "Greening Your Business" is a
must for any environmentally-minded entrepreneur.
The Innovation Handbook
Adam Jolly, editor
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749453183, $45.00, www.koganpage.com
The best way to a fortune is to create a new and hot selling innovation. "The Innovation
Handbook: How to Develop, Manage, and Protect Your Most Profitable Ideas" is a guide for
businesses in crafting new and innovative ideas, and more importantly, putting those new and
innovative ideas to good use. With a business approach to the many aspects of developing
something from an innovation to a possible hot selling success, it leads entrepreneurs through
every step. "The Innovation Handbook" is very much worth reading for anyone whose business
relies on developing new ideas.
A Little Less Conversation
Tom Asacker
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780980174526, $19.95, www.paramountbooks.com
Standing out means the world in the field of advertising. "A Little Less Conversation:
Connecting with Customers in a Noisy World" is an advertising advice manual that advocates
standing out is of utmost importance. Asacker discusses from start to launch about creating a
brand that the target customer will remember above all other brands, and how to turn that
recognition into sales. "A Little Less Conversation" is solid and informative, a strong
consideration for advertising professionals.
The Travel Shelf
Hawaii
Luci Yamamoto & Conner Gorry
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741047158, $19.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
A vacation to Hawaii, something everyone at one time considers. "Hawaii: The Big Island" is a
full color travel guide, designed for those who are finally getting around to making that Hawaiian
vacation to make the most of it. The activities outlined within range from the simplest baking on
the beach to fun for the entire family to sight seeing. It also takes a look at the vast and deep
cultural roots of the Hawaiian people, making "Hawaii: The Big Island" a must for those who
want to make the Hawaiian dream vacation a dream come true.
The Treasures & Pleasures of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, & Yemen
The Impact Guides
Impact Publications
9104-N Manassas Dr., Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
9781570232749, $19.95, www.impactpublications.com
The cradle of civilization, the neighbors of Saudi Arabia can provide much joy to world tourists
if they know what they are doing. "The Treasures & Pleasures of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, &
Yemen: Best of the Best in Travel & Shopping" is a guide to going to one of these lesser known
travel destinations and making the most of one's time there. Outlining the best of the best of
hotels, restaurants, places to shop, and entertainment, "The Treasures & Pleasures of Dubai, Abu
Dhabi, Oman, & Yemen" is an absolute must for anyone who would consider a vacation in one
of these countries.
Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
Martha Honey
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597261265, $29.50, www.islandpress.org
Visiting new places can be quite the experience, but one must consider the environmental
impacts of tourism. Now in a newly revised, updated, and expanded second edition, "Ecotourism
and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?" is an informed and informative look at
'ecotourism', the concept of tourists being respectful to the environments they visit. Honey goes
over her concepts defining her more complex definition of ecotourism and outlining many
important environments such as the Galapagos, South Africa, Costa Rica, and many others.
"Ecotourism and Sustainable Development" is worth reading for those who like to travel but are
also concerned for the places they visit or plan to visit.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Pitch Black
Youme Landowne & Anthony Horton
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901
9781933693064, $17.95, www.cincopuntos.com
There are conditions that many humans live in that many Americans would deem unfit for
animals. "Pitch Black" tells the story of what can be seen in the deep, dark tunnels beneath the
biggest city in America, New York City. The homeless, drug deals, prostitution, are only some of
the more tame things one would see in this harsh environment. Joint written and illustrated by
both Landowne & Horton, their efforts tell the story of the deep depths well, making "Pitch
Black" a highly recommended story worth reading.
Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur
Gary Russell, author
Nick Roche, Jose Maria Berdy, Stefano Martino, and Mirco Pierfederici, artists
IDW Publishing
5080 Santa Fe St., San Diego, CA 92109
9781600101960, $19.99 www.idwpublishing.com
Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur is the full-color graphic novel collection of issues one through
six of the new Doctor Who comics, featuring the latest incarnation of the time lord in his quest to
keep all causality stable. Assisted by the capable adventurer Martha Jones, the Doctor becomes
inextricably involved in a cataclysmic plan to harness the energy of planetary populations to seal
a rip in space and time - but the plan is critically sabotaged by the manipulations of a psychotic
murderer! A high-stakes science fiction extravaganza, Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur captures
the spirit of the television series and highly recommended for fans everywhere.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 1
Noizi Ito, character design
Nagaru Tanigawa, author
Gaku Tsugano, artist
Yen Press
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9780759529441, $10.99 www.hbgusa.com
Recommended for older teen readers due to some innuendo, Volume 1 of The Melancholy of
Haruhi Suzumiya kicks off a new black-and-white manga (Japanese comic) series brimming with
over-the-top enthusiasm and comedy! Ordinary high school freshman Kyon has his life turned
upside down when he meets Haruhi Suzumiya, a young woman whose passion to discover exotic
mysteries cannot be stopped by any human force - or even her own inability to see actual
evidence those mysteries right under her nose. Suzumiya forms the S.O.S. Brigade, a school club
dedicated to finding such amazing supernatural phenomena as aliens, time travelers, and espers.
Aside from Kyon, the first three members to join are (gasp!) an alien, a time traveler, and an
esper - all sent on a special mission to observe Suzumiya, who has the hidden powers of time and
causality unbeknownst to herself! A rollicking ride starring a forceful, unapologetic,
unstoppable whirlwind of a title heroine, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a blast from
cover to cover. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is printed right-to-left, to keep the integrity
of its original artwork.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Spiritual Leadership in the Global City
Mac Pier
New Hope Publishers
PO Box 12065, Birmingham, AL 35202-2065
9781596692411, $19.95, www.newhopepublishers.com
New York, San Francisco, these two cities have much more in common than being simply large.
"Spiritual Leadership in the Global City" is a look at religion in these behemoth cities that act as
representations of the world as a whole. Examining the acts of religious leaders in these cities, it
gives advice for urban pastors and priests who still have to make difference in a rapidly changing
world. With advice from some of today's leading spiritual leaders, "Spiritual Leadership in the
Global City" is something to be strongly considered for city-dwelling church leaders.
Hurry Up and Meditate
David Michie
Snow Lion
605 West State Street, PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781559393065, $14.95, www.snowlionpub.com
A time to rest and think has numerous health benefits...but really, who has the time? "Hurry Up
and Meditate: Your Starter Kit for Inner Peace and Better Health" is a guide to making time for a
little peace, quiet, and meditation when one's life doesn't seem to present any opportunity for it.
With a blend of scientific logic and poignant wisdom, Michie offers a plan that can improve
one's quality of life in ways they didn't think possible. "Hurry Up and Meditate" is something to
consider for anyone who thinks their life could use a bit more rest.
The Parenting Shelf
You Don't Know Anything...!
Nadir Baksh, Psy. D. and Laurie Murphy, Ph.D.
Hohm Press
PO Box 2501, Prescott, AZ 86302
9781890772826, $12.95, www.hohmpress.com
Everyone thinks they know it all as a teenager, it's a fact of life. "You Don't Know Anything...!:
A Manual For Parenting Your Teenagers" is a collection of advice and wisdom on dealing with
the walking volcanoes of hormones that are teenagers. Tackling subjects of how youth is
different in the twenty-first century, how to effectively talk to them about the dangers that come
with age, and proper discipline for the age group, "You Don't Know Anything...!" is a must for
any parent with a tween on their way to teen and anxious about it.
Intentional Grandparenting
Peggy Edwards & Mary Jane Sterne
Fulcrum Books
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555916152, $16.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com
There are plenty of books on parenting, but what about grandparenting? "Intentional
Grandparenting: A Contemporary Guide" is a collection of principles and advice for grandparents
who want to be more than the old people Mommy and Daddy make their children visit.
Enlightening grandparents on the rapidly changing trends of today's world including new
techniques of raising children, safety ideas, the rise of technology, same-sex unions, and much
more, "Intentional Grandparenting" is perfect for keeping up to date with the latest social issues.
"Intentional Grandparenting" is a solid a much recommended acquisition for any loving parent of
a parent.
The Art Shelf
Art in Detroit Public Places
Dennis Alan Nawrocki
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building, 4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333785, $24.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu
One's art has to be the best of the best to be displayed along the streets of a major city like
Detroit. "Art in Detroit Public Places" is a collection of photographs and history about the
wonderful sights one can see in the Motor city. Each entry contains its location, its origin, and a
black and white photograph of the of the piece. This newly revised, updated and expanded third
edition is the first new edition in nine years and adds many solid landmarks, "Art in Detroit
Public Places" is highly recommended for anyone plotting a trip to Detroit.
A Wood Engraver's Alphabet
G. Brender a Brandis
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., Erin, Ontario, N0B 1T0, Canada
9780889843110, $16.95, www.sentex.net/~pql
Woodcutting has become a bit of a lost art form in the modern day. "A Wood Engraver's
Alphabet" is a collection of twenty-six woodcuts of flower decorations, in black and white, all
paper reproductions of Brandis's woodcutting work. Intriguing and artistically pleasing " A Wood
Engraver's Alphabet" is something to be considered for art fans.
The Music Shelf
6 Steps to Songwriting Success
Jason Blume
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill Publications
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780823084777, $16.95, www.watsonguptill.com
Anyone with ears can tell the difference between a top forty hit, and the screaming guttural music
that comes from small clubs and never emerges from there. "6 Steps to Songwriting Success: The
Comprehensive Guide to Writing and Marketing Hit Songs" is a complete and comprehensive
study and guide to the hit songs of today and how songwriters produced these record-breaking
records, and more. "6 Steps to Songwriting Success" is a must for any aspiring musician who
wants advice on making their own breakout hit.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Dog Breeders Professional Secrets
Sylvia Smart
Dogwise Publishing
403 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781929242597, $19.95, www.dogwise.com
There are tricks of every trade, including Dog Breeding. "Dog Breeders Professional Secrets:
Ethical Breeding Practices" is a guide for potential dog breeders who want to get into the
business and avoid breaking the industry taboos. A step by step guide to getting started, handling
the business side of the trade, networking, and other vital elements one would need to get started
and stay ethical in an industry where falling off the path is so easy. "Dog Breeders Professional
Secrets" is enhanced with resource list, indexes, and more, making an absolute must for would be
dog breeders.
Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail
Jack L. and Anna Mary Childs
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
9781933855097, $19.95 www.rionuevo.com
Ambushed on the Jaguar Trail is a captivating book of wild photography. In service of the
Arizona-New Mexico Jaguar Conservation Team, Jack and Anna Childs set up "camera traps",
remote-sensor cameras activated by motion and body heat, along the U.S. Mexico border. They
were seeking photographs of the elusive wild jaguar, yet discovered so much more! Full color
photographs of black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, javelinas, coyotes, and even humans were
discretely captured on film. The extensive text provides information and context about the
amazing wild animals literally caught in the act, in this treasury enthusiastically recommended
for wildlife lovers everywhere.
The Computer Shelf
Perfect Software
Gerald M. Weinberg
Dorset House Publishing
353 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
9780932633699, $29.95, www.dorsethouse.com
Humans aren't perfect, so why do we expect it of our software? "Perfect Software: and other
Illusions about Testing" is a guide for software developers telling them that perfection is an
unreasonable goal when it comes to software. With charm, Weinberg entertains as he informs
about how a good software development team moves forward and does what they can to make
the product the best it can before they shove it out into public. "Perfect Software" is a must for
any head of a software development team.
Murach's ASP.NET 3.5
Anne Boehm & Joel Murach
Murach
4340 North Knoll Ave., Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774486, $52.50, www.murach.com
Programming for the Web is very different from programming for an offline application.
"Murach's ASP.NET 3.5: Web Programming with C# 2008" is the famous Murach series entry
on internet programming with the popular ASP.NET 3.5 software. With chapters on minimizing
the size of one's application for streamlined usage to fundamental skills to building databases and
much more than that, it gives a full expert education in what one needs to maximize their ability
with the program for professional use and to maximize their business. A complete and
comprehensive reference on ASP.NET 3.5 Web Programming, "Murach's ASP.NET 3.5: Web
Programming with C# 2008" is a must have for any potential user of the program or business
who wants to train their employees.
The Science Shelf
Nature's Wonders
Kelly Knauer, editor
Time Life, Inc.
PO Box 4002011, Des Moines, Iowa 50340-2011
9780761342281, $39.93 www.timelife.com
Brilliantly stunning, full-color photography illustrates virtually every page of Nature's Wonders, a
tour of amazing sights and scientific discoveries about Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere,
pedosphere, cryosphere, and (subterranean) geosphere. Each two-page spread features a text
summary and fun facts, sure to spark amazement in readers age 12 to 120. "Trapped in the
permafrost, vegetation in the tundra typically freezes rather than decomposes after it dies, and it
does not release the carbon dioxide taken in during photosynthesis. Tundra has thus been one of
the planet's major carbon dioxide sinks. But as warmer temperatures worldwide heat the
permafrost layer, more carbon dioxide is now being released, exacerbating the problem in a
dangerous feedback loop." Though too broad-ranging to prove effective as a reference volume,
Nature's Wonders lives up to its title in its ability to elicit awe, and is an utterly fascinating
volume to browse. Especially recommended for sparking interest in Earth science among curious
teenagers!
The Sports Shelf
Bo's Lasting Lessons
Bo Schembechler
Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446582001, $13.99, www.hachettebookgroupusa.com
You don't become a legend by just being mediocre. "Bo's Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach
Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership" are the words of legendary football coach Bo
Schembechler on the sport of football and the art form of coaching and the leadership one must
provide to bring their team to championships and fame. A must for college football fans, "Bo's
Lasting Lessons" tells a story that any aspiring coach should heed and l earn from.
Mountain Bike Master
Mark Langton
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 First Avenue South, Suite 102, Birmingham, AL 35233
9780897324359, $14.95, www.menasharidge.com
For some, high speed isn't enough. They need the adventure of treacherous terrain, and mountain
biking is how they venture into it. "Mountain Bike Master: Essential Skills and Advanced
Techniques Made Easy" is a complete and comprehensive guide to the world of mountain biking.
From everything from the most fundamental skills for those who don't know how to ride a bike,
to the advanced techniques that the pros use when the terrain gets rough, "Mountain Bike
Master" proves itself time and time again, making it a must for any who want to get into the
activity.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Food Security for the Faint of Heart
Robin Wheeler
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716247, $16.95, www.newsociety.com
Worrying about where one is going to get their next meal is never something one wants to have
to deal with. "Food Security for the Faint of Heart: Keeping Your Larder Full in Lean Times" is a
book about preparation when crisis hits. In this modern world, everyone takes the existence of
the supermarket for granted and has enough food for about a week, two at most. Covering the
skills one needs to stay fed when disaster hits such as preservation, foraging, rationing, and more,
"Food Security for the Faint of Heart" is something to keep at hand in case the worst occurs.
The Political Science Shelf
Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century
Timothy J. Conlan & Paul L. Posner
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036
9780815715412, $64.95, www.brookings.edu
Local, county, state, federal, America's government is a hierarchy of many layers.
"Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century" takes a look at the complex system of
government that the United States has used throughout its entire existence. With several essays
from many great modern political thinkers, taking a look at the topic, looking at the issues at
hand, and the problems with the current system. More than fifteen different writers present well
formed and scholarly opinions, sure to widen the knowledge of its readers. "Intergovernmental
Management for the 21st Century" is a strong choice for any community library collection on
politics.
The Cookbook Shelf
Galley Guru
Lisa Hayden-Miller
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780939837793, $19.95
Little place to store food, little place to cook it. Galley chefs need a few extra skills to do their
jobs effectively. "Galley Guru: Effortless Gourmet Cooking Afloat" is a complete and
comprehensive guide for readers who want to master their cooking art aboard a ship, no matter
the size, but particularly small ones for family and small gathering voyages. With this audience in
mind, "Galley Guru" proves to be quite the cookbook for its audience, and has much to offer
even land-based home chefs.
The Humor Shelf
The Ultimate Game Guide to Your Life
Christopher Monks
Tow Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
9781582975344, $12.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966
The Ultimate Game Guide to Your Life: Or, The Video Game as Existential Metaphor is a
tongue-in-cheek guide to life itself - from the uncomfortably being born to the sudden stop at the
end - that couches all its wit, wisdom, and insight in the format of a video game strategy guide. If
all of life is a game, then The Ultimate Game Guide to Your Life is a walkthrough filled with
tips, tricks, and techniques for achieving a high score of "life points". "Mini Game: Dodge Ball -
Most often, recess is when you'll get the chance to play this mini game. Be the last person left
without getting hit, and you'll earn one Life Point. Finishing anywhere else will lose you a Life
Point." Simple monochromatic illustrations of iconic, video game-style avatars at all stages of
life pepper this chuckle-inducing guide. Highly recommended, especially for diehard video game
fans, who will definitely pick up on all the gamer in-jokes!
The Civil War Shelf
Texas Civil War Artifacts
Richard Mather Ahlstrom
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412512, $60.00 www.tamu.edu/upress 1-800-826-8911
Texas Civil War Artifacts: A Photographic Guide to the Physical Culture of Texas Civil War
Soldiers is an in-depth compendium, featuring black-and-white photographs on glossy,
high-quality paper of American Civil War artifacts ranging from swords and pistols to buckles,
buttons, portraits of soldiers, and much more. Each item is given a full page to display its image,
while the facing page lists a data sheet of facts about the artifact's origin as well as brief
supplementary commentary. A museum-quality visual reference, accessible to lay readers and
historians alike, especially recommended for Civil War enthusiasts and collectors.
Gustavus Vasa Fox of the Union Navy
Ari Hoogenboom
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801889868, $40.00 www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487
Written by Ari Hoogenboom (professor of history emeritus, Brooklyn College, City University of
New York), Gustavus Vasa Fox of the Union Navy: A Biography is a meticulously researched
and presented biography of the man commonly held most responsible for the U.S. Navy's
exceptional success in the Civil War. Chapters chronicle Fox's naval service from his debut as a
midshipman in 1838, to his participation in the Coast Survey, his captainship of a steamer that
traveled from New York to Havana to New Orleans, to his crucial role in the effective blockade
of the southern coast during the Civil War. Hoogenboom was personally neither for nor against
slavery, but rather dedicated to preserving the Union. As he witnessed the invaluable contribution
of black sailors, he became an advocate of freedom and voting rights for African-Americans. He
was as skilled in working with politicians and administrators as he was in naval matters, and
shared a close working relationship with Abraham Lincoln. A handful of black-and-white
diagrams illustrate this detailed and thoughtful study of an exceptional leader and true
patriot.
The Military Shelf
The Question of MacArthur's Reputation
Robert H. Ferrell
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218308, $19.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894
Douglas MacArthur is remembered as one of America's most outstanding five-star generals. His
military reputation was built at the hill of Chatillon during the great battle of Meuse-Argonne in
World War I. Historical accounts have lauded his leadership and bravery, in his alleged (and
self-proclaimed) act of seizing the hill of Chatillon and breaking the main German line in
northern France, inspiring the Eighty-fourth Infantry Brigade to greater heights. The Question of
MacArthur's Reputation: Cote de Chatillon, October 14-16, 1918 dares to examine the question
of what really happened on those critical few days - though it is undisputed that MacArthur's
forces were victorious, there are to this day no detailed accounts of how exactly the battle
progressed. Robert H. Ferrell (Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University) has pored over
a multitude of imprecise accounts of the battle found in regimental and divisional histories, as
well as Army records, to determine whether MacArthur's claims were, in fact, true. Presenting a
moment-by-moment reconstruction of how the battle unfolded, Ferrell offers surprising new
insight into history, with the revelation that MacArthur's subordinates were the true heroes. A
fascinating re-examination of a critical span of days in American military history, highly
recommended.
The American History Shelf
From Colony to Superpower
George C. Herring
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195078220, $35.00 www.oup.com/us 1-800-451-7556
From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 is an omnibus summary and
reference chronicling America's foreign relations and diplomacy with the rest of the world, from
its birth as a nation in 1776 to 2007 and the ongoing Iraq war. George C. Herring (Alumni
Professor of History Emeritus, University of Kentucky) applies his expertise in American history
in this exhaustive account accessible to lay readers and history scholars alike. "The impact of the
war on Iraq and the Middle East was profound. Estimates of Iraqi war dead ranged from fifty
thousand to more than two hundred thousand through 2008. The influx of Iraqi refugees
destabilized neighboring countries such as Jordan and Syria. The U.S. invasion and occupation of
Iraq provoked fury in the Muslim world, undermining Washington's broader efforts against
international terrorism. The one winner of the war was Iran, which no longer faced a strong
Sunni nation to the south and had close ties with some Iraqi Shiites." A welcome addition to
public and college library reference shelves alike, especially recommended as a history study
textbook due to its relatively concise portrayal of centuries of international relations.
The Library DVD Shelf
Children of the Stones
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$24.99 www.acornmedia.com
Children of the Stones is the DVD collection of all seven episodes of a British science fiction
thriller, filmed on location at the Avebury stone circle (which is older than the nearby
Stonehenge). When astrophysicist Adam Blake (whose other credits include "Blake's 7") and his
teenage son Matthew come to research the standing stones, they discover fascinating and
harrowing mysteries hidden in the stones' past. The seemingly druidic Rafael Hendrick holds an
inexplicable sway over the entranced "happy ones" of the local village - and why is it said that
"nobody ever leaves the circle"? The menace gradually builds up to the suspenseful climax, in
this exciting and dramatic saga enhanced with interviews, production notes, series trivia, and a
photo gallery. Highly recommended. Approximately 174 min., full screen, color.
Makeup Assignment - Brow Abilities
Monique Powers
Empowers Beauty, Inc.
PO Box 16245, Beverly Hills, CA 90209
$24.99 www.MakeupAssignment.com www.MoniquePowers.com
Licensed esthetician Monique Powers, who has over 15 years of experience as a makeup artist
and eyebrow specialist, presents Makeup Assignment - Brow Abilities, a how-to DVD teaching
teenagers and women of all ages how to create, groom, and enhance one's eyebrow shape,
regardless of one's natural eyebrow structure. Step-by-step instructions walk the viewer through
the composition of an aesthetically pleasing eyebrow shape, how to fake a full eyebrow, how to
efficiently and effectively use inexpensive eyebrow tools and makeup, and more. An
easy-to-follow, professional-quality instructional highly recommended to not only prospective
and professional makeup artists, but also to any woman determined to look her best. 20 minutes,
color.
Dance Off The Inches: Dance It Off Ballroom
Kristina Milova, host
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Part of the energetic Dance Off the Inches series, Dance Off The Inches: Dance It Off Ballroom
is a fun exercise DVD featuring cardio ballroom routines perfect for burning calories and getting
into shape. Ballroom dancer Kristina Milova guides the viewer through mini dance routines that
draw upon three of the most popular styles of ballroom dance. No partner is needed for these
samba, cha cha, and jive routines that make working out as fun as it is tummy-flattening. A
Dance Off The Inches Step Guide teaching the viewer ten basic dance steps in ten minutes
rounds out this welcome addition to DVD fitness libraries. 61 minutes, closed captioned.
The Romance of a Vanishing Race
Rich-Heape Films, Inc.
5952 Royal Lane, Suite 254, Dallas, Texas 75230
$29.95 www.richheape.com 214-696-6916
The Romance of a Vanishing Race collects three vintage motion pictures of Native Americans
and their daily culture, originally filmed in the early 1900s and featuring tribal chiefs who
participated in the last Great Indian Council, including some who fought at the Battle of Little
Big Horn. The first, "The Romance of the Vanishing Race" (released 1916, 29 min.) features
Navajo, Pueblo, Crow, and Hopi tribes and re-enactments of Indian battles on the plains as well
as tribal ceremonies and medicine men. "Rodman Wanamaker Expedition of Citizenship to the
North American Indian" (released 1913, 26 min.) has Dr. Joseph Dixon explain the important
symbolism of the flag to different Indian tribes and their dedication ceremonies. "Winter Farm
Life on a Crow Reservation" (released 1921, 8 min.) features World War I French hero General
Ferdinand Foch, and shows scenes from reservation life including the butchering of a cow,
erecting a teepee, and the ceremonies to welcome General Foch. Suitable for viewers of all ages,
The Romance of a Vanishing Race preserves invaluable evidence of Native American culture
and is an enthusiastically recommended addition to public and college library DVD collections.
63 minutes, captioned, black-and-white.
Kathy Smith: Total Body Lift
Kathy Smith
Lionsgate
2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.98 www.lionsgatedvd.com www.411videoinfo.com
Kathy Smith: Total Body Lift is a fitness DVD featuring energetic, dance-inspired exercises as
demonstrated by host Kathy Smith. Expensive equipment is not required, though a simple mat,
towel, chair for support, and light weights are recommended. The workout itself consists of a
five-minute warm-up, upper body lift, leg lift, butt lift and tummy lift, and can be customized to a
degree; a music only option is also available for the audio track. A user-friendly DVD suitable
for all ages and experience levels, Kathy Smith: Total Body Lift is a welcome addition to any
exercise DVD collection. Approximately 69 minutes, full screen, color.
Rules of the Road
Vat 19
11783 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146
$34.95 www.Vat19.com
Rules of the Road is an interactive driver's educational course on two DVDs, ideal for teenagers
but also useful for adults seeking to refresh their driving knowledge and awareness. Disc 1 is
specifically prepared to help the viewer pass the written driving test with flying colors, as well as
sample the Virtual Driver experience to heighten awareness of one's surroundings. From parallel
parking to highway merging, night driving, right-of-way rules, and more, the viewer is guided
through everything he or she absolutely must know before getting behind the wheel. Disc 2
includes a complete behind-the-wheel curriculum ideal for assisting parents and teachers,
enhanced with tips on auto safety, car maintenance, preventing road rage, and what to do in case
of an emergency. A bonus of nine printable drive packets spanning ninety-five pages, as well as
eight interactive practice DMV written tests round out this enthusiastically recommended
addition to school and community library collections. Rules of the Road is also the perfect gift
for any teen who has just turned old enough to start learning how to drive! 192 minutes, English
and Spanish subtitles.
Cook's Country Season One
Chris Kimball
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781593758431, $34.95 www.ssapr.com
Cook's Country Season One is the DVD collection of all thirteen episodes from season one of the
public television show "Cook's Country", featuring Chris Kimball and America's Test Kitchen
Chefs. A distinctly American cooking show that demonstrates how to create great recipes like
Chocolate Blackout Cake, Cincinnati Chili, Raspberry Chiffon Pie and much more, Cook's
Country Season One also broadens its informative repertoire with general food shopping and
preparation tips, tricks, and techniques, such as which cookware, kitchen tools, and supermarket
foods are most worth buying. Printable versions of 26 selected recipes round out this highly
enjoyable presentation of tasty delights, highly recommended for viewers of all levels of skill and
experience in the kitchen. Approximately 5.5 hours, closed-captioned.
Lionel Nation 2
A McComas/Stachler Production
TM Books & Video
PO Box 279, New Buffalo, MI 49117
9781932291735, $19.95 www.tmbv.com 1-800-892-2822
Kindred spirit to the first Lionel Nation DVD yet featuring all-new footage, Lionel Nation 2 is a
DVD tour of a prewar layout and collection of amazing model railroad trains. Laid out by expert
craftsman, and hobbyist Norm Charbonneau, the made-to-scale trains are stunningly realistic,
sure to delight and inspire model railroad enthusiasts. Additional material includes a
behind-the-scenes look at a toy train auction, a tour of the engines and cars that inspired the
Lionel brand's new series of Conventional Classics, and model railroad operating tips. Lionel
Nation 2 is a treat for anyone with an interest in model railroading. 60 minutes, color.
Composing the Beatles Songbook
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$19.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon and McCartney 1966-1970 is an independent DVD
documentary examining the partnership and music of Lennon and McCartney, widely beloved
creator of some of the most popular songs by the classic 60's rock band "The Beatles". Filled
with rare footage including classic Beatles performances, and also testimony from friends of the
pair, Composing the Beatles Songbook is sure to prove as inspirational as it is educational to
songwriters today. Extras include extended interviews and biographies, in this superb gift for
dyed-in-the-wool Beatles fans. 112 minutes, black-and-white.
Encounters With John Wesley
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
#501297D, $19.95, www.visionvideo.com
Few itinerant preachers in 18th Century England would equal the accomplishments of John
Wesley as he went around the country spreading the Protestant gospel and founding Methodist
societies. As with all Christian reformers, Wesley faced unrelenting persecution, endured
tremendous hardships, and was both fearless and dedicated in his Christian labors. Now a
thirty-minute story of his life has been produced in a DVD format starring Mark Topping as John
Wesley in an action-packed docudrama filmed on location in New Room, Bristol (the oldest
Methodist chapel in England), and the Charles Wesley house. The DVD format is enhanced with
the inclusion of an interview with Mark Topping. Of special note are the dramatized versions of
four sermons by John Wesley. Superbly produced and thoroughly engaging from beginning to
end, "Encounters With John Wesley" is very highly recommended for personal, church, and
community library Christian Studies and Christian DVD collections.
Language Partners: Building a Strong Foundation
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010
0974788961, $24.95 www.boystownpress.org 1-800-282-6657
The third DVD in the Early Intervention Illustrated Series, Language Partners: Building a Strong
Foundation teaches parents of deaf or hard of hearing children how to create a language-rich
environment that gives children the tools they need to develop thinking, communication, and
learning skills. Simple techniques ideal for use early in child's life when their language-learning
ability is amazingly malleable make Language Partners: Building a Strong Foundation easy to
follow and utterly invaluable. Especially recommended for public library collections and parents
or caretakers of young, hearing-impaired children. 20 minutes.
Blue Dragon Volume 1
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
DVD, $14.98 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042
Based on the hit role-playing game for the Xbox 360, Blue Dragon Volume 1 collects the first
five episodes of the Japanese animated fantasy-adventure television series. Featuring the main
characters from the game (all of whom were designed by Dragonball Z creator Akira Toriyama),
Blue Dragon follows the plucky young hero Shu and his friends - his cool-headed rival Jiro, the
sensitive girl Kluke, the boisterous Devee Marumaro, and the icy warrior woman Zola in their
quest to combat the spreading evil of Nene and the Grankingdom. The titular Blue Dragon itself
is Shu's shadow come to fierce life, the better to fight for courage and justice! The plot of the
animated Blue Dragon series differs significantly from that of the Xbox 360 game, to the extent
that it could be considered an alternate universe; anyone who has played the game is sure to
enjoy the surprises in this new story. Blue Dragon Volume 1 is a family-friendly DVD,
particularly recommended for fans of fantasy, anime, and dragons! English, 100 minutes,
color.
Blue Dragon, Volume 2
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
1421522640, $14.98 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042
Containing episodes 6-8, volume 2 of Blue Dragon continues the family-friendly anime
(Japanese animated) DVD series loosely based on the popular Xbox 360 role-playing game about
a group of young people who can bring their animal-like shadows to life to fight for what's right
in a fantasy world threatened by war. Though the personalities of Blue Dragon's characters (and
their nemesis, the villainous Nene) will be familiar to game players, as well as much of the
musical score, the storyline is completely different from that of the game, to the extent of being
set on a parallel world. Led by the mysterious Zola, wielder of Killer Bat shadow that never
speaks, Shu (Dragon shadow), Jiro (Minotaur shadow), Kluke (no shadow yet), and Marumaro
(Sabertooth Tiger shadow) must defend themselves against not only invading Grankingdom spies
and attacks at sea, but also the gushing gratitude of a young girl with the power to turn invisible
or change shapes! Trouble is, their klutzy newest admirer has a tendency to accidentally hurt as
easily as help - and she just might have a crush on Shu, much to Kluke's dismay! A saga of
fantastic action, rivalry, and a dash of intrigue, Blue Dragon Volume 2 is highly recommended to
viewers of all ages. 100 minutes, color.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009
Jeff Herman
Three Dog Press
c/o The Jeff Herman Agency
3 Elm Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
9780977268245, $29.95, www.jeffherman.com
Having written a manuscript is only the first and initial step toward being published. In many
ways, it is the easiest part of the publication process. Turning that manuscript into a published
book requires special knowledge, targeted skills, and useful contacts beyond those required to
simply write well. That's where a reference and resource like "Jeff Herman's Guide To Book
Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" will prove invaluable. Now in a completely updated
and substantially expanded 19th edition, "Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, &
Literary Agents 2009" is a 1070-page compendium of practical and descriptive information that
begins with five individual sections listing publishing conglomerates, independent U.S.
publishers, university presses, Canadian publishers, and literary agents. That alone would make
this exhaustive reference a worthwhile addition to any writer's reference shelf. But "Jeff
Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" is made even more useful
with the inclusion of an impressive 'Advice for Writers' section providing 'real-world'
information on all aspects of the publishing process from literary agents, to book proposals, to
time management, to rejections, and more. Of special note are the concluding sections dedicated
to providing insight and information with respect to Independent Editors and Resources for
Writers. Enhanced with a Glossary and an exhaustive Index, "Jeff Herman's Guide To Book
Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009" is an enthusiastically recommended resource guide
for novice and experienced authors alike!
My Book's Published -- Now What???
John F. Harnish & Jane M. Martin
Infinity Publishing.com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
0741450003, $19.95, www.amazon.com
'Now What?' is a question that ever published author will have to address whether or not they are
self-published, published by an independent small press, an established university publisher, or
one of the large New York publishing conglomerates. John F. Harnish is the voice of experience,
practicality, and authority in all things related to publishing. Co-authored by Jane M. Martin and
featuring contributions by dozens of authors and publishing professionals, Harnish has now
published "My Book's Published -- Now What???: The Owner's Manual For Your Books", a
compendium of informed and informative essays on every aspect of post-publication operations
for the novice author and the neophyte small press publisher. Addresses such diverse but
thematically appropriate issues as copywriting; Amazon.com; a 'first book order'; selling in
non-bookstore venues; the roles of freelance marketers, book reviewers, and the internet;
conferencing, networking, and so much more, "My Book's Published -- Now What???" will
prove to be an invaluable source of advice, insights, tips, and ideas for marketing a published
book. Of special interest is the extensive chapter on 'Increasing Your Book's Revenue Flows'.
Novice publishers should consider "My Book's Published -- Now What???" a critically important
addition to their studies as they seek to master the 'learning curve' for successfully marketing and
selling a published book, while even experienced authors will find a great deal of useable
background information and insights into the marketing and promotion process. Also highly
recommended is John F. Harnish's "The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United
States" (074145100X, $14.95).
The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United States
John F. Harnish
Infinity Publishing.com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
074145100X, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Author and writing seminar instructor John F. Harnish draws upon his many years of experience
and expertise in "The Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United States: What Every
Writer Needs To Know Before Becoming A Published Author!!!". This is a compendium of
solid, real-world, 'Dutch Uncle' advice offering insights, tips, techniques, and resource
information that will stand any and all aspiring authors wanting to break into print, as well as an
invaluable refresher for newly published authors wanting to more firmly establish themselves as
professionals able to support themselves through their literary work. Of special note are the
chapters devoted to the disadvantages of traditional publishing, considerations associated with
subsidy publishing, as well as the advantages of self-publishing. Informed and informative, "The
Amazing Book Publishing Evolution In The United States" is a very highly recommended and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' addition to any writer reference shelf and supplemental reading list.
Also very highly recommended by John F. Harnish is "My Book's Published -- Now What???"
(Infinity, 0741450003, $19.95).
Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus
David Auburn, et al.
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195342840, $40.00, www.oup.com/us
Words are a writer's tools. The larger the writer's vocabulary the more options available for
expressing ideas. That's why every dedicated writer seeking to master their craft will have a good
thesaurus as a core part of their personal and professional reference shelf. Now in a completely
updated second edition, the "Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus" provides more than 300,000
synonyms and 10,000 antonyms, with real-life example sentences. enhanced with notes on
American English usage by Bryan Garner, Word Spectrums showing shades of meaning between
polar opposites, and a comprehensive language guide, The "Oxford American Writer's
Thesaurus" is a core reference work suitable for professional authors and non-specialist general
writers alike. This new edition also features Word Toolkits and Wordfinder, two invaluable aids
that will help to define and delineate nuances of word usage. Simply stated, the "Oxford
American Writer's Thesaurus" is a core and recommended addition for personal, professional,
community, and school library Writing/Publishing reference collections.
Time to Write
Frank Milligan
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956769, $16.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com
Frank Milligan's TIME TO WRITE: DISCOVERING THE WRITER WITHIN AFTER 50 is for
any who believe themselves 'too old' to learn new tricks. It offers a set of tips on how to take a
work from initial idea to published manuscript, reviewing writer's secrets, shortcuts to help make
up for lost time, and details on how to make the most of the second half of life. General-interest
libraries - especially those catering to older adult would-be writers - will find this a popular
lend.
The Grammar Detective
Gillian Hanson
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane #704, New York NY 10038
9780826498076, $14.95 www.continuum.com
THE GRAMMAR DETECTIVE: SOLVING THE MYSTERIES OF BASIC GRAMMAR offers
up a series of short illustrated murder mysteries and exercises based on puzzles, from word
searches to crosswords - to introduce and reinforce grammatical skills. From nouns to clauses
and phrases, this covers punctuation and grammar and provides a fine method of either
introducing English grammar or offering an easy refresher course for adults.
Adventures In Pen Land
Marianne Gingher
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826218179, $19.95, 1-800-828-1894
Marianne Gingher is the author of four published books, as well as numerous pieces of fiction
and essays which have appeared in a number of periodicals ranging from the Southern Review;
the Oxford American; and the North American Review; to the Washington Post Magazine;
Redbook; Seventeen; and the New York Time Book Review. So it is only to be expected
"Adventures In Pen Land: One Writer's Journey From Inklings To Ink", her biographical memoir
of life as a writer, be a particularly deftly presented and thoroughly engaging account that begins
with her story of being a child working a con to obtain a copy of the 'Ding Dong School Book'
(which was a blank book in which children could write their own stories), continues her
adventures in the world of competition to be a published author, to her experiences as an
established Southern writer within the broader context of American literary culture. Packed from
cover to cover with anecdotal stories, "Adventures In Pen Land" offers insights into the impact
her marriage, family, teaching career, pop culture, writing workshops, and other hinderments to
publication has had upon her career as an author of fiction and essay. Although there are a
sprinkling of insightful advice and ideas to be gleaned by other aspiring authors yearning for
publication, "Adventures In Pen Land" is especially recommended reading for anyone wanting to
know what the life of a working writer in the real world is like.
The Successful (Liberty Nut) Author 2009
John Longenecker
Contrast Media Press
PO Box 6195, Lakewood, CA 90714
9780981738253, $16.95, www.ContrastMediaPress.com
The well known constitutional principle of "Freedom of the Press" throughout most of American
history meant that whoever owned the press was the one who would enjoy the freedom to
publish. With the revolution in publishing technology thanks to the computer and the internet has
come an expansion of that privilege to the point that anyone can now have their work published
thanks to the 'desktop computer revolution' and access to the World Wide Web. This has been
especially true of those who would publish in the area of politics, social issues, and the culture
wars. John Longenecker is a dedicated advocate of all the constitutional freedoms fundamental to
the preservation of an American democracy founded upon freedom of speech, freedom of
thought, and freedom to participate. Toward those ends he has published "The Successful
(Liberty Nut) Author 2009: The Liberty Purist's Guide to Patriotic Platforming Before You
Publish", a compendium of advice, insights, observations, practical information, and real life
counsel on how to successfully publish as an independent in an era of expanding government and
high-speed communication. "The Successful (Liberty Nut) Author 2009" is especially
commended to the attention of aspiring authors of controversial works, novice publishers of
iconoclastic materials, and anyone else with an interest in successfully getting published and
effectively marketing their work once it has seen print.
The Library CD Music Shelf
Bad Dream No. 13
Eerie Von
Ghastly Records
c/o MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486
Recorded entirely without the use of computers, Bad Dream No. 13 is a dark rock music CD that
blends elements of trance and heavy metal into one intense experience. An accompanying
booklet spells out the lyrics of this enthralling, up-close scrutiny of the dark side of life and the
human experience. "Meet Death": Meet death, she's your friend, in a long, long black dress / she's
in love, she's in love, with your unhappiness. / You haven't lived, until you, partake of her
charms, / you have not died, until you've died in her arms. / I recognize the mask she hides
behind, I realize there's a shadow behind her smile. / I play along, with her siren song, I play
along until her last note is sung." The tracks are A Cage Is A Cage, The Bone Drone, In The
Shade, Downontheslab, 2 Tears in a Bucket, Prelude to Death, Meet Death, Bad Dream, The
Perfect Criminal, The Velvet Shroud, Sing Sinner Sing!, Case Study #107/Rec. Room 3A, and
Benediction #2.
Seems Like Old Times
Helen Marcovicci
Andreasong Recordings
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$28.49 www.millerwright.com www.marcovicci.com
Seems Like Old Times is a music CD album featuring Helen Marcovicci, who once sang at New
York nightclubs under the name of Helen Stuart during the war years. On her eightieth birthday,
she went on tour, singing to the piano music of her daughter Andrea to sold-out houses across
America. Helen's voice is as beautifully clear and evocative as ever; just listening to Seems Like
Old Times can practically transport one to the lounges of yesteryear. Especially recommended as
the perfect gift to anyone who loves to luxuriate in the sweet style of singing similar to that of
"Casablanca" and other famous motion pictures. The tracks performed include many songs by
famous composers; they are Smiles (2:33), My Melancholy Baby (3:29), Seems Like Old Times
(3:25), It All Depends On You (3:23), I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) (2:36), The Twelfth of
Never (2:07), Autumn Leaves (2:47), I'm a Fool To Want You (2:11), Don't Blame Me (2:40), In
the Still of the Night (1:59), Russian Lullaby (2:01), Blue Skies (3:24) [sung with Andrea
Marcovicci & Shelly Markham], For All We Know (1:39), and Take Me Out to the Ballgame
(1:36). Total runtime 35 minutes 59 seconds.
Afterplay
Brian Kelly
Skylight Music
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$13.98 www.briankelly.com
Award-winning contemporary instrumental pianist Brian Kelly presents Afterplay, a jazz album
featuring his piano and percussion stylings enhanced with additional musician's contributions on
the alto sax, drums, trumpet, trombone, flute, and guitar. All pieces are the original compositions
of Brian Kelly, and they reveal his love of music that sings with pure, eloquent energy and joie de
vivre. An audio delight for jazz enthusiasts everywhere. The tracks are River Rush (5:15),
Smiling South (4:22), New Vision (4:44), Snowflakes Rising (3:31), Flavor Seven (4:46),
Afterplay (4:44), Heaven On Earth (4:39), Celtic Fire (3:41), Stone Shine (5:05), Reach For The
Stars (4:53) and Sunchaser (3:32). 49 min. 15 sec.
Chopteeth
Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$14.97 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.chopteeth.com
A dozen musicians blend their talents in Chopteeth, a celebration of West African music blended
with American pop elements. Featuring hip-shaking percussive rhythm, five-piece horns,
call-and-response choruses, Chopteeth exults in Afrofunk while unashamedly reaching out to
other musical elements as diverse as salsa and Balkan time signatures. An album of pure
enthusiasm, meant to stimulate the joy of dance as much as the pleasure of good listening,
Chopteeth is highly recommended for public library as well as private international music
collections. The tracks are Struggle (5:28), Weigh Your Blessings (5:53), Upendo (5:34), Snake
Eyes (3:49), Dog Days (5:24), Wili Ninneh (3:07), Herky Jerk (5:06), Eyi Su Ngaangaa (5:20),
Fogo Fogo (6:44), and No Condition is Permanent (6:15).
Teslim
Kaila Flexer & Gari Hegedus
Next Village Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$19.49 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.kailaflexer.com
Teslim is an instrumental music CD created by classically-trained violinist Kaila Flexer (violin,
viola) and self-taught musician Gari Gegedus (lauto, baglama, bulgari, divan, cura, lavta, oud,
viola, tarhu, frame drum, and pennywhistle), with contributions from special guests Shira
Kammen and Julian Smedley (fiddles), Olov Johansson (nyckelharpa), and Liza Wallace (harp).
Reveling in the distinctive time signatures found throughout the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey,
Teslim embodies not only a syncretic harmony between cultures but also a tribute to the personal
friendship between fellow artists. An inspirational album, Teslim overflows with the joy that
went into making it. Highly recommended. The tracks are Camila's Song (4:37), Ajuar de Novia
Galana / Timarxou Street Dojo (8:38), El Meod Na'ala (6:43), Knight of Cups (4:46), Azade
(5:44), Taxim (2:30), Stone's Throw (for Carla) (3:26), Kiana's Waltz (8:16), Elk/High
Tide/Yetierre (6:52), Aley Givah (2:15), Petalouda (7:59), and For a 5 / Karsilamas for Sara
(5:05). 60 minutes, 6 seconds.
The Audiobook Shelf
Descartes' Bones
Russell Shorto, author
Paul Hecht, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781436138024, $92.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304
Award-winning historian Russell Shorto presents the unabridged audiobook rendition Descartes'
Bones: A Skeletal History of the Conflict Between Faith and Reason, a fascinating blend of
philosophy and (admittedly morbid) history. Rene Descartes, famous for saying "I think,
therefore I am," a phrase with the underlying tenet that true knowledge lies in facts and research
rather than church teachings. After Descartes' death, his remains became subject to surprisingly
ghoulish greed - humans have fought over, stolen, and sold his bones, and the location of his
skull remains a perplexing mystery to this day. A saga that spans six nations, three centuries, and
three burials, while also exploring the philosophical implications of Descartes' legacy, Descartes'
Bones is a truly remarkable look at how one man's ideas can literally affect himself and all
around him long after his passing. Tracks are present every three minutes for easy bookmarking.
8 CDs, 9.25 hours.
Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon
Samuel Dashiell Hammett, author
Michael Madsen, Sandra Oh, Edward Herrmann, et. al., narrators
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433252488, $40.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
Brought to exciting life by a full cast (including Michael Madsen, whose acting credits include
"Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill, Vol. 2"), Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon is an
unabridged audiobook rendition of the classic story, first published in "Black Mask" magazine in
1929, that inspired an unforgettable and beloved mystery movie. Protagonist Sam Spade, the
embodiment of the jaded, tough-as-nails private eye that has become a universal archtype in
detective fiction, becomes caught up in a web of intrigue due to the womanly wiles of the
mysterious Brigid O'Shaughnessy. As edge-of-one's-seat captivating today as it was eighty years
ago, Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon is a classic that hard-boiled mystery buffs
everywhere are sure to enjoy. 3 CDs, approximately 3 1/2 hours.
Enchanted
Elizabeth Lowell, author
Anne Flosnik, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781423332350, $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859
Read aloud by stage and television actress Elizabeth Lowell, Enchanted is an unabridged
audiobook about the fire of romance. An arranged marriage between the warrior Simon the Loyal
and a Norman heiress is meant to bring peace to the Disputed Lands, but marriage alone cannot
bring the love needed to save nations - Simon has vowed never to love, believing the emotion to
be weakness, while his bride is psychologically wounded from the deepest level of betrayal, and
cannot bring herself to trust any man. Even so, an attraction stirs; Simon must learn the value of
cherishing another above one's own life, while his new wife must learn the freedom of trusting
one who is worthy of it. A sweeping, emotional saga of how only the enchanting power of love's
passion can save not only individual people, but also entire nations. 10 CDs, approximately 12
hours.
The Library Science Shelf
Technology Projects
Patricia Ross Conover
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250 Columbus, OH 43214
1586833049, $39.95, www.linworth.com
One of the principal functions of a school library is to furnish teachers and students with
instructional reference materials for projects suitable for supplemental curriculum activities.
"Technology Projects For Library Media Specialists And Teachers, Volume 2: Books, Boxes,
And All Things Fun To Make" is a compendium of fun and educational do-it-yourself projects
and activities for children in grades K-8, each of which takes sixty minutes or less using
Microsoft's PowerPoint program. The step-by-step instructions are enhanced with multiple
illustrations of computer screens. The projects are organized into three chapters -- Books; Boxes;
and miscellaneous activities. The projects themselves range from a party hat, to a bird house, to
jig saw puzzles. Thoroughly 'kid friendly' and all kids of fun, "Technology Projects For Library
media Specialists And Teachers, Volume 2: Books, Boxes, And All Things Fun To Make" is a
welcome and recommended addition to school library reference collections and an ideal
curriculum supplement activity resource appropriate for use by home-schooling parents as
well.
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
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