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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Modern Wisdom
Gene S. Jones
Dreamquest Publishing
9780998324074, $19.95
https://www.amazon.com/MODERN-WISDOM-Wisdom-Thought-Provoking-Century/dp/0998324078
Modern Wisdom: Wit, Wisdom and Thought-Provoking Ideas for 21st Century Living gathers wisdom quotes for an inspirational collection designed to help modern readers navigate modern living. While there are plenty of quote books on the market that appear to do the same thing, the difference in Gene S. Jones's book lies in its specific links to issues from love and technology to faith, parenting, the arts, and education. This synthesis of advice and topic allows readers to quickly link admonitions to examples from modern life for maximum impact.
Also, unlike many a wisdom collection, insights and advice have been "inspired by conversations and situations I've found myself in, and relationships I've either witnessed first-hand or participated in."
The personal wellsprings make for a far more intimate, hard-hitting series of reflections than just gathering quotes from wise reflectors. The pairing results in observations that are succinct and important. One example: "If you cannot be happy unless you succeed, then you probably still won't be happy after you succeed." The admonition assumes greater impact when paired with: "Rapid success is also a time for caution."
Modern Wisdom is highly recommended for a wide audience, from readers of inspirational writing to those seeking to give the gift of wisdom and enlightenment to college or high school grads or other young people on the cusp of big life changes.
Libraries and readers will find that a slow review of these insights lends to not just time for reflection, but reader group discussions about the potential for making better life choices.
The Sports Shelf
Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons
Jen Benson and Sim Benson
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788405775, $32.99 HC, $15.99 Kindle, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-World-Ultramarathons-Jen-Benson-ebook/dp/B0DG52P7JH
Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons is the first atlas to chart some fifty of the world's ultra marathons, pairing art, maps, elevation profiles, and photos as it assesses some of the environments of this marathon. Each marathon includes intricate details of the race from start to finish, providing athletes with the specifics needed for getting to the race, participating, and assessing its conditions. From the Black Canyon Ultras which take place in February each year in Arizona to the unique Peruvian race The Jungle Ultra, held in Manu National Park and consisting of 143 miles of heat, river, and elevation changes, each race receives enough exact detail to allow assessments of which environment and race is most appropriate for participation. The result is a reference that should be a mainstay in any serious ultramarathon participant's collection, as well as in libraries catering to athletes.
The Cookbook Shelf
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
https://www.amazon.com/Sicily-Recipes-Italian-Enza-Genovese/dp/1840919523
Enza Genovese's Sicily: Recipes from an Italian Island (9781840919523, $32.99) gathers traditional dishes from Sicily, pairs them with nearly eighty photos of the island and its foods, and presents a diversity of flavors that can be found on the island. From a range of risottos, including Artichoke and Pea Risotto (which may be perfect for vegetarians if anchovies are eliminated), to Tuna Carpaccio (which requires access to especially fresh tuna) or a traditional autumn Sweet and Sour Pumpkin dish, these varied dishes require no special ingredients and make the most of Sicily's culture and culinary creations, making this cookbook a standout among similar-sounding Sicilian recipe titles for its broader inclusion of comments about Sicily's culture and landscape.
https://www.amazon.com/Portugal-Recipes-ingredients-Ana%C3%AFs-Delon/dp/184091940X
Portugal: Recipes and Ingredients (9781840919400, $29.99) by Anais Delon and Nicolas Lobbestael pairs artistic sprayed edging and photos with a cross-country survey of Portugal's culinary history and recipes both traditional and modern. Destination-bound visitors will also appreciate how it holds recommendations for restaurants, grocery stores, taverns, and other food-oriented places that will help in travel planning and appreciating Portugal's many culinary wonders.
https://www.amazon.com/Persiana-Easy-Sabrina-Ghayour/dp/1783256125
Sabrina Ghayour's Persiana Easy (9781783256129, $34.99) employs many shortcuts to streamline the process of making Persian foods, offering cooks convenience blended with traditional dishes that are easy to feed the family. Recipe introductions clarify the origins of these dishes, as in a Spicy Prawn and Spinach Kari Fry, which admits "This is not an authentic recipe but a creative combination of two classics: a good old curry, but made quickly like a stir-fry and therefore great for midweek sustenance." Full-page color photos and tips on what dishes pair well together complete the easy access and appeal of this cookbook.
Each of these three wonderful cookbooks promise to become staples in any serious personal, professional, or community library culinary collections.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
All Roads Lead to Rome
Hank Davis & David Afsharirad, Editors
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668072691, $18.00
https://www.amazon.com/Roads-Lead-Rome-Hank-Davis/dp/1668072696
All Roads Lead to Rome gathers alternate history short stories by David Weber, David Drake, Eric Flint, and some old-time good writers such as Robert Silverberg and Harry Turtledove in a collection whose theme is the Roman Empire, but with twists of topic readers may not see coming. History, alternate history, and new realities blend on a basic premise: Rome has not only survived, but in this future, reaches into the solar system. The variety of possibilities and confrontations in this anthology is spirited, diverse, and lends to an appreciation of just how far the sci-fi mind can stretch over an inviting theme.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
These new arrivals from Baen Books represent fine new stories suitable for a wide range of sci-fi readers.
https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Ruin-Griffin-Corps-1/dp/166807267X
Melissa Olthoff's Rise From Ruin (9781668072677, $18.00) tells of Harper, who dreams of riding into battle on a dragon. Her ambitions place her at the top of her cadet class and on track for becoming a formidable combatant, but when a schoolmate's prank brings on disaster, Harper must wildly adjust her dreams to a new reality. These take her on a journey from bonding with an unexpected companion to facing a different form of national defense that demands she address and lower her own barriers.
https://www.amazon.com/Fenrir-Eric-Flint/dp/1668072661
Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor's Fenrir (9781668072660, $28.00) combines an espionage thriller's tension and fast pace with sci-fi intrigue as Stephanie discovers a huge object, called Fenrir, heading straight towards Earth. What is the purpose of this alien visit, and what new changes will Fenrir's visit introduce to the world? Before this can happen, Fenrir experiences a disaster that demands Earthlings act on a rescue mission even as they have no idea if they are rescuing their future enemies.
Both of these new titles are thoroughly absorbing, creative landscapes that sci-fi readers and librarians will find worthy of pursuit.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Akashic Records
Theresa Cheung
Goldsfield Press
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781841816142, $22.99 HC, $11.99 Kindle, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Akashic-Records-Open-discover-purpose/dp/1841816140
The Akashic Records comes from dream decoder Theresa Cheung, who reviews the history, spiritual meaning, and possibilities of the Akashic records. This guide links self-awareness exercises with Akashic tools essential for understanding connections between past and present lives and future possibilities. It surveys chakra work, the impact of initial Record readings, different types of dreaming which includes intentional dreaming, linking sources of growth and revelation to provide a full-bodied survey of Akashic potentials and applications. New age and self-help readers interested in spiritual paths to discovery and change will appreciate how The Akashic Records promotes both.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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