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Volume 15, Number 8 August 2005 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Homeowner's Shelf Travel Shelf
American History Shelf Audiobook Shelf Computer Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Biography Shelf Musicbook Shelf
Gardening Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf Business Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Military Shelf Humor Shelf Parenting Shelf
Literary Shelf Library Video/DVD Shelf Fiction Shelf
Art Shelf Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Nature Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Photography Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf World History Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Social Issues Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Railroading Shelf Poetry Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf International Studies Shelf
Sports Shelf Nautical Shelf Education Shelf
Political Science Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Mythology Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Milwaukee Fire Department
Wayne Mutza
Arcadia
420 Wando Park Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com
073853434X $19.99 1-888-313-2665

The newest addition to Arcadia's outstanding "Images of America" series, Milwaukee Fire Department by Wayne Mutza (who served for almost twenty years with the Milwaukee Fire Department before the hazards of firefighting ended his career) tells the story of the Milwaukee Fire Department from its origins as a volunteer group in 1837 down to the present day. Milwaukee Fire Department is not a strictly text history, but rather a photographic one, consisting almost entirely of black-and-white photographs from the past century and a half, each photograph sporting a brief caption detailing its origin. A treasury of visual history, steeped in pride, gratitude, and respect for the selfless and often heroic labor of Milwaukee's protectors against the ravages of fire.

Books In A Box
Stuart Stotts
Big Valley Press
S 2104 Big Valley Road, La Farge, WI 54639
0976537206 $17.95 bigvalleypress.com

A work of imagination, originality, and superb storytelling appropriate for readers from 8 to 80, Books In A Box: Lutie Stearns And The Traveling Libraries Of Wisconsin is the "biography" of a passionate pioneer librarian, who brought books to hundreds of communities in Wisconsin from 1895 to 1914. She traveled alone, defying winter weather and wilderness hazards to bring her libraries to loggers, students, farmers, and families. Her belief in the power of books to change the world was nothing less than inspirational, and she continued to work with the American Library association and write articles advocating social change and education long after retiring as a traveler bringing books. Her life, legacy, and personal triumphs make for a singularly uplifting read. A superbly written novel, Books In A Box: Lutie Stearns And The Traveling Libraries Of Wisconsin is a unique and very highly recommended read, as well as a "must" addition all Wisconsin community library collections!

Xtreme Fashion
Cortenay Smith & Sean Topham
Prestel
900 Broadway, #603, NY, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
3791331752 $39.95 1-888-463-6110

The latest fashion trends tout street styles and technical designs which are extreme in taste and presentation, and the hottest new designers of new trends are profiled in Xtreme Fashion, with powerful visual takes on 'Hoodlum Welding Gear', 'House of Harlot' designs and more. Here are cutting edge fashions paired with profiles of their creators which cover ideas and startling, often spontaneous, concepts in fashion design. A 'must' for any college-level collection on fashion design - and many a public library holding.

Open Court
315 - 5th Street, Peru, IL 61354-0300
www.opencourtbooks.com

By 2004 the International Baccalaureate programs had reached 116 countries around the world, fueled by U.S. promotion rapid growth, and a lasting influence on American educational standards and assessment policies. Jay Mathews & Ian Hill's Supertest: How The International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools (0812695771 $29.95) deftly assesses the statistics about the Baccalaureate, including its impact on student chances for success in college and life. Chapters provide a history of the IB, its increasing introduction in American school systems, and how it makes a difference in the transition to college. Sounds like dry reading: but the concurrent story of one American high school that adopted the IB adds a personal flavor and human interest touch to the statistics and discussions. Timothy Shanahan edits Philosophy 9/11: Thinking About The War On Terrorism (0812695828, $29.95), a philosophical examination of the issues involved in classifying and combating terrorism as opposed to other kinds of violence. Philosophical scholars specializing in terrorist-related topics provide essays examining some of the founding ideas of the ethics of a 'just war' and its applications to how terrorism is handled.

Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487

College-level collections strong in astronomy yet seeking acquisitions general interest readers would also enjoy would do well to consider professor/astronomer Kimberly Weaver's The Violent Universe: Joyrides Through The X-Ray Cosmos (0801881153 $35.00). The history and changing technology of x-ray astronomy is revealed, from its beginnings in the 1950s when the first artificial satellites began transmitting to modern-day x-ray telescopes. Beautiful color images of quasars, black holes and more captured by x-ray satellite Chandra are presented along with a fine explanation of the new worlds and environments discovered through x-ray astronomy. With its emphasis on color photos and science mixed with an easy reading style, The Violent Universe is sure to captivate beyond a readership of astronomy students alone. Mammals Of The National Parks: Conserving America's Wildlife And Parklands by John H. Burde & George A. Feldhamer provides a gorgeous survey of American wildlife and parks alike, using the history of each park to provide links to related conservation issues in its establishment, and tips on sighting the animals to be found in the park. John Burde is a forestry professor, Geldhamer is chair of environmental studies and a zoology professor at the same Southern Illinois University Press: their joined expertise lends a fine authority and diversity to a book packed with color photos.

The Book Of Ceremonies
Gabriel Horn
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
1577315049 $14.95 1-800-972-6657

In The Book Of Ceremonies, Native American writer Gabriel Horn offers a spiritual blend of traditional stories, songs and payers which reflect the Native lifestyle and rituals for everything from healing to dreams and seasonal celebrations. Carises Horn provides original art for the ceremonies, nicely supplementing the stories and instructions with simple, appealing Native art.

Poisons
Peter Macinnis
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Fl, NY, NY 10010
www.arcadepub.com
1559707615 $25.00 1-800-759-0190

Poisons are a part of our world, from workplace to home: they can cure as well as kill. Science writer Peter Macinnis examines many different kinds of poisons and their history in Poisons: From Hemlock To Botox And The Killer Bean Of Calabar. From cosmetic and domestic poisons in history and literature to the use of poisons in war, Poisons provides a blend of vignette, history, and lively case histories.

Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com

Charles Scribner's Sons originally published Noah Brooks' classic history Story Of The Lewis & Clark Expedition (0486437566, $14.95) in 1901: well, here it is again, in an unabridged republication which bases itself on original expedition records, providing a narrative following the expedition through Missouri, the Yellowstone and Columbia areas, and into the pacific region. A fitting introductory history with many dramatic embellishments. Richard Sanders Allen's Covered Bridges Of The Northeast (0486436624, $9.95) republishes the second revised edition of a 1983 classic survey of foot bridges, latticework and drawbridges alike. Black and white photos accompany history and fine accounts of both the bridges and the pioneers who built them.

Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218
www.press.jhu.edu

Highly recommended picks for science library holdings, Stephen G. Alter's William Dwight Whitney And The Science Of Language (0801880203, $49.95) follows the emergence of the science of linguistics, from its emergence as an independent field of study in the Victorian era to America's pioneer of linguistics, William Dwight Whitney. Blending a biography with an examination of the science of language, Alter provides a full-length study of both Whitney and his achievements and discoveries in language study. A 'must' for linguistics collections. Norman C. Ellstrand's Dangerous Liaisons? When Cultivated Plants Mate With Their Wild Relatives (0801881900, $29.95) provides a paperback reprint of an excellent survey of the hybridization process, both natural and man-made. From what's know about hybridization between world crops and wild relatives to issues of rare species preservation and gene pool vitality, Dangerous Liaisons provides some intriguing insights into what happens when cultivated plants mingle with wild ones. Birds Of Two Worlds: The Ecology And Evolution Of Migration (0801881-072, $110.00), edited by Russell Greenebrg and Peter P. Marra, completes the trilogy of discussion of technical bird migration begun in Keast and Morton's classic Migrant Birds In The Neotropics and continued in 1992 by Hagan and Johnston's Ecology And Conservation Of Neotraoppical Migrant Landbirds. Again, the world's avian experts join forces to discuss the ecology and evolution of avian migration, from its global indicators and patterns to how avian migration systems differ between species. Collections strong in natural history, ecology, and bird behavior and lore will find Birds Of Two Worlds an indispensable ornithological reference.

Digital Video For Beginners
Colin Barrett
Lark Books
67 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801
1579906680 $19.95 larkbooks.com

Whether it's your first camcorder or whether you're moving into digital video from analog, you need Digital Video For Beginners, a guide which goes beyond the owner's manual: one that covers all the basics from choosing the right camera to using it efficiently and getting great shots from vacations, events and more. The examples are quick and easy to follow whether you're reading cover-to-cover or looking for quick answers. A handy little guide which should've been packed with every digital video.

Puzzle Power
Terry H. Stickels
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591022037 $15.00 1-800-421-0351

There's a host of puzzle books already on the market: so what makes Terry Stickels' Puzzle Power: How To Jump-start Your Mind stand out from the crowd? For one thing, it's the author's on collection of challenging brainteasers designed to help readers train different areas of thinking, from special-vision to logic and convergent thinking, word power and math. Unlike competitors, there's no singular approach here. For another, the puzzles are designed to challenge, not thwart. Answers are provided later and discussions reveal underlying logic to each puzzle - so you'll learn how to think better, attacking these puzzlers.

Over The Edge
Leo Bogart
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60622
www.ivanrdee.com
1566635337 $27.50 1-800-462-6420

Both the media and marketing companies have been guilty of pursuing the image, allure and fantasy of youth and the youth market - and the result is a set of hard-hitting consequences which have changed American culture itself, maintains Leo Bogart in Over The Edge: How The Pursuit Of Youth By Marketers And The Media Has Changed American Culture. For decades the 18-34 age group has been the focus of advertisers and marketers who seek their dollars and attention, resulting in an increased diet of sex and violence in the media and a loosening of general media restrictions on content. Chapters follow this trend and reveal a concurrent shift in social acceptance and moral values as a result.


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Home Buyer's Question And Answer Book
Bridget McCrea
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
0814472362 $16.95 1-800-250-5308

First-time home buyers have hundreds of questions about the entire process from start to finish, and there's no better place to look for answers than Bridget McCrea's Home Buyer's Question And Answer Book, which covers over a hundred questions, provides sample loan paperwork, and more. McCrea is a former Century 21 real estate agent: this background enables her to pick out the most common questions asked, and to answer them in clear, simple detail.

Scotts Sprinklers & Watering Systems
Meredith Books
1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50336
www.meredithbooks.com
0696221497 $19.95 1-800-678-8091

Scotts Sprinklers & Watering Systems is a complete and thoroughly "user friendly" guide to planning and installing landscape irrigation for the home. Profusely illustrated, this "how to manual covers every aspect of planning out a sprinkling system to be as cost efficient to install as it would be to operate. Included in the planning process are detailed materials and equipment comparisons as this superbly organized "how to" manual takes the homeowner and do-it-yourselfer through the planning and design process from beginning to end. Then the reader is taken step-by-step through the installing process with clear instructions and illustrative photography which will eliminate any operational problems later one. Also included is the maintenance, care and upkeep of the installed watering system including occasional repairs and replacement of parts. Finally there is an invaluable section on using the installed water system, getting the right amount of water in the right place at the right time. If you are wanting to include a sprinkler or other kind of watering system as part of your landscaping, then give a close and careful reading to Scotts Sprinklers & Watering Systems -- it will save you not only time and money, but help you to avoid aggravation and error!

Creative Homeowner Press
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com

Transform your house and living space with some creative home remodel ideas offering fresh new plans. Kerry Skinner's The Painted Home: Transform Your Living Space With Color, Pattern, And Texture (1580112404, $19.95) features over 300 ideas for twenty projects which use color to enhance room decor and appearance. So what's new about painting a room? Plenty: for one thing, today's room colors can be as bold as plum or bright green, and can be combined with trim colors for added impact. For another, faux tiles, textures, and color variations can transform even the dullest wall to a work of art. The Painted Home is packed with ideas on how to make it happen. Or, choose 1001 Ideas For Windows: The Ultimate Sourcebook For Curtains, Blinds, Fabrics, And Hardware by Anne Justin (1580112242, $24.95): illustrations and photos pack in the ideas for window dressings which range from interior shutters to swags. Home atmosphere will help determine appropriate choices: chapters tell how to pair home with window treatment, how to work within a limited budget, and where to locate fabrics and accessories. Finally, use the essential templates to 'try out' the feel of a window covering before you go further.

Sunset Publishing Corporation
80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
1-800-643-8030 www.sunsetbooks.com

Two fine new looks at home improvement options and projects offer homeowners a range of options and how-to advice on how to do the projects. For landscaping ideas to blend swimming pools or spas into a landscape, choose Swimming Pools And Spas (0376016108, $19.95), which covers building, maintaining and landscaping a pool or spa. From how to choose among different pool or spa options to understanding its mechanical systems and using landscaping to integrate it into a backyard, by including both under one cover, Swimming Pools And Spas provides a much wider-ranging set of discussions than competing titles with narrower focuses - and enable homeowners to contrast and choose between a pool or spa. Trellises And Arbors (0376017961, $14.95) packs in color photos and details on how to choose or build a trellis or decide on an appropriate arbor design. Over forty projects range from easy arbors to detailed neo-professional productions, blend in advice on plant needs, and provide a range of arbors for different looks and purposes.


The Travel Shelf

Florida Keys & Everglades National Park
Bruce Morris
Hunter Publishing
130 Campus Dr., Edison NJ 08818
1588434036 $18.99 hunterpublishing.com

The newly updated 4th edition of Bruce Morris' Adventure Guide Florida Keys & Everglades National Park is out, and any destination-bound Everglades traveler would do well to obtain a copy. From places to stay and snorkeling experiences to eco tours and cultural adventures, the latest updated information is imparted in a spirited set of outdoor adventure tips. A 'must' for any serious about Florida.

Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland, CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

Jeff Campbell, John Vlahides and David Lukas' Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (1740599365, $19.95) is a take-along tote for activity-oriented outdoors explorers who want to make the most of a trip of Utah's famous two parks. You'd think there'd be a host of guides on the parks available; but surprisingly few go into such detail: the parks typically receive feature as a chapter or so in overall Utah guides. With Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks in hand you can explore further, take advantage of mountain biking and rock climbing or river rafting, and see much more of these amazing parks. Andrew Bender's Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard (1740597575, $17.99) is also a sound exploration of areas rarely given their own guidebooks. Expanded listings and new sections on cycling and walking tours provide plenty of tips on each area - right down to health food stores and areas where internet access may be obtained. Want to go overseas on a small budget? Don't miss Australia & New Zealand On A Shoestring: Big Trips On Small Budgets (1740596463, $24.99): over 800 pages come packed with adventure travel tips for budget-minded travelers, whether they be students or travelers seeking less expensive options. Want to write about your journeys? Don George and Charlotte Hindle's Travel Writing: Expert Advice On Travel Writing From The Best Writers And Editors In The Business (0864427425, $18.99) comes from established travel writers and packs in advice on how to discovery, research, write, and promote a great travel story. Truly these are the voices of experience, supplemented by tips on writing for different media from newspapers to the web, and holding an extensive selection of writers' resources. Highly recommended indeed.

Angry Wind
Jeffrey Taylor
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
061833467X $25.00 1-800-225-3362

Jeffrey Taylor's Angry Wind: Tyhrough Muslim Black Africa By Truck, Bus, Boat And Camel is an engrossing travelogue of Taylor's journey which also conveys important cultural insights which are not to be missed by any who would understand Muslim black African sentiments and environment. His overland journey in 2002 was enhanced by his ability to speak the region's three languages - French, Arabic and English - and thus Angry Wind provides a deeper perspective than from others who may just pass by with interpreter in tow. A fine blend of adventure, travelogue and insight.

John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Dr., Winston-Salem NC 27103
www.blairpub.com

Two intriguing titles will provide both armchair and destination travelers with something different. Folklore fans in particular with a special affection for lighthouses will relish Sheryl Monks' Ghostly Lighthouses From Maine To Florida (0895873109, $12.95), a gathering of fifteen folktales about lighthouses from the East coast. While the stories read like fiction, they are derived from reports and followed by directions for the would-be lighthouse visitor not scared off by spooks. Mia Dery's Adventure Guide To The Triangle (0895873125, $19.95) refers to North Carolina's Triangle area, who enjoy a range of outdoor activities from mountain and road biking to hiking and sea kayaking. Visitors and residents alike will find plenty of sports and outdoors-oriented suggestions, including clear directions and line maps for locating the area, difficulty ratings, and reviews of back roads and byways.

Travelling Historian's Guide To France
Robin Neillands
Robson Books/Parkwest Publications
Box 20261, New York , NY 10025-1512
http://www.parkwestpubs.com/
1861056206 $25.00 1-646-215-9003

Travelling Historian's Guide To France is more than just another route map of 'must sees', though this is one of its foundations: Robin Neillands supplements maps and tour information with a bibliography of books to read before you go, and plenty of cultural and historical background information on unique French features. Small villages, towns which discourage cars, and byways make for a pleasing emphasis on France's lesser-discovered routes, and memorable tours based on historical events.


The American History Shelf

Columbia Guide To Asian American History
Gary Y. Okihiro
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd St., NY, NY 10023-7015
www.columbiaedu/cu/cup
0231115113 $24.00 1-800-944-8648

A choice, concise guide to Asian American experiences is offered by Gary Okihiro, the recipient of the American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award and past president of the Association for Asian American Studies. The experiences of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hmong, Indians and more are contrasted in chapters exploring migration patterns, racism issues, gender issues and much more. Columbia Guide To Asian American History is a recommended pick for any high school or college collection focusing on Asian-American immigrant, multicultural, or ethnic group experiences.

When the Mississippi Ran Backwards
Jay Feldman
The Free Press
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
0743242785 $27.00 1-800-223-2336

In 1811 two of Thomas Jefferson's nephews murdered a slave and burned the evidence, even as the Mississippi River's first steamboat made its maiden voyage to a series of earthquakes which would shake the valley with 8.0+ mega-quakes felt as far away as Canada and New York. So, what connected these events? The quakes uncovered the Jefferson nephews' crime, made the steamboat Tecumseh a part of history and war, and led to a tribal alliance which was to secure the U.S. against Britain and Europe. Jay Feldman's writings have appeared in the Smithsonian, Newsweek and others: his lively style translates well to a unique historical coverage which links many seemingly disparate events to provide a uniform history ala Burke.

American Freemasons
Mark A. Tabbert
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd floor, NY, NY 10003
www.nyupress.org
0814782922 $29.95 1-800-996-6987

Written by an elected Masonic lodge master and the curator of Masonic and fraternal collections at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts, American Freemasons: Three Centuries Of Building Communities is a survey of Freemasonry throughout three centuries of American history. Tracing Freemasonry from its origins in 17th-century Scotland and England to its role in American history, fluctuations in its membership, and seeking to explain why it has attracted so many men to join it over the course of centuries, American Freemasons draws from an extensive body of research to portray numerous anecdotes of Freemasons helping fellows and others, and explore reasons why some have praised while others have questioned or reviled this organization. Black-and-white and color photographs illustrate this engaging survey, that captures the Freemasoner's point of view in a thoroughly positive light.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Triumph Of The Sun
Wilber Smith
Books On Tape, Inc.
Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
www.librarybooksontape.com
1415919615 $120.00 1-800-541-5525

John Lee's masterful and complex narration of Wilbur Smith's thrilling historical action/adventure novel The Triumph Of The Sun truly brings to life memorable personalities and dramatic events set against the background of the Islamic holy war of 1884 that resulted the death of General "Chinese" Gordon, the catastrophic fall of the city of Khartoum, and in the expulsion of the British from the Sudan. The British trader and businessman Ryder Courtney, the dashing Captain Ballantyne and his faithful one-eyed Arabic companion Yacoub, the British Consul David Benbrook along with his three lovely young daughters and their devoted servant Nadire, are caught up along with the other inhabitants of Khartoum in a deadly siege by the fanatical forces of the Mahdi and his Muslim warlords. The Triumph Of The Sun follows their adventures and adversities through out what will prove to be a sometimes shocking, sometimes unexpected, but always gripping novel that pays close attention to historical detail. Of special note unique to this outstanding novel are the last pages which go on to provide the reader with capsule summaries of the rest of the surviving main character's lives in this complete and unabridged audiobook edition (23 hours, 15 cassettes) which is enthusiastically recommended for community library audiobook collections, Wilbur Smith's storytelling flair is superbly matched by that of John Lee -- the combination being a perfect "theater of the mind" experience for spellbound listeners.

Articles Of War
Nick Arvin
Highbridge Audio Books
33 South Sith Street, CC-2205, Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.highbridgeaudio.com
1565119487 $26.95 1-800-847-5515

Artfully and dramatically read by J. D. Cullum, this complete and unabridged audiobook edition (5 hourse, 30 minutes on 5 compact discs) of Nick Arvin's Articles Of War is the story of GeorgeTilson, an eighteen-year-old Iowa farm boy who joins the army during World War II and is deployed in Normandy shortly after D-Day. Nicknamed "Heck" due to his aversion to cursing, the brutal reality of combat forces to light an unpleasant truth about George - he is a coward through and through. The mounting fear of death drives him to make choices with terrible consequences; but would the consequence be any less terrible if he were to cease to exist in the middle of battle? A taunt, gripping war novel about cold options and the grim spectre of nonexistence.

Die A Little
Megan Abbott
Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
1400101514 $29.99 1-877-782-6867

A riveting tale of femme fatales, obsessive love, and unexpected double-crosses, Megan Abbott's novel set in the glamorous but duplicitous world of 1950s Hollywood is superbly narrated by Ellen Archer in this complete and unabridged audiobook edition (6.5 hours, 6 CDs). A noir story about a brother, a sister, and the brother's wife with a shady past, Die A Little focuses upon the hostile bond of two women made sisters through marriage. The blood sister takes on the role of amateur detective, in order to dig into the past of her sister-in-law, but the deeper she delves the more potential jeopardy she unleashes. A darkly thrilling and suspenseful story throughout, impressionably revealing the seedier side of show business glamour.

36 Yalta Boulevard
Olensteinhauer
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
0786179414 $81.00 1-800-729-2665

36 Yalta Boulevard by Olen Steinhauer is brought vividly to life with the expert and nuanced narration of Yuri Rascovsky is this complete and unabridged Blackstone Audibook CD edition (11 hours, 30 minutes on 9 discs). The story of a purely loyal man who serves the Ministry for State Security, who always does whatever the authorities ask. When he receives orders to travel to the village of a potential defector, he obeys; and when a murdered corpse turns up and he is framed for the crime, he assumes this is all part of what is expected. Yet when he is sentenced to exile in Vienna, at long last he begins to question what he is doing and why, and the surprising answers may yet reveal that unthinking loyalty is as harmful a crime as open rebellion. An enthralling parable of ambiguous moral choices and difficult decisions.

The Autumn Castle
Kim Wilkins
Bolinda Publishing, Inc.
2 Trap Falls Rd, #113, Shelton, CT 06484
www.bolinda.com
1740936531 $136.00 1-888-235-2019

Enhanced with a talented narration by Audie Award nominee Richard Aspel, The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkins is the complete and unabridged audiobook production (19 hours, 30 minutes on 17 compact discs) of Wilkins' unique blend of fantasy, murder, and conflicting love affairs. Set in an artist's colony in autumn Berlin, it focuses upon the relationship of Christine Starlight, her lover Jude, and the crimson-haired Mayfridh, ruler of a fantastic land, who loses her heart to Jude even as Christine becomes infatuated with Mayfridh's exotic kingdom. Yet a cunning, cruel, wealthy and powerful billionaire threatens them all with his mad and murderous wish to create a grand sculpture of faery bones. A taut, emotionally evocative and absorbing story that transports the reader into a believable yet breathtaking world.

Clipper Audio/Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com

Recorded Books' Clipper imprint specializes in unabridged, library-quality productions of British authors and novels: most are narrated by British voices, and all hold the virtues of being high interest action novels. Chris Ryan's The Increment (084505217X, $109.75) is narrated by Gordon Griffin, whose smooth voice brings to life a tense spy thriller about an assassination unit of the SAS and one who has left it, only to find his ex-colleagues still need his special brand of talents. JoJo Moyes' The Peacock Emporium (18450-52552, $109.75) receives Judith Boyd's practiced and pleasing audio voice as it tells of one Suzanna, whose small business is a haven for the town's misfits even as she searches for her own happiness; The Fifth Season by David Docherty (18419-78116, $89.75) receives Graham Padden's warm style and tells of a brilliant scientist's involvement in a promising genetically modified food crop. Her success will bring threats to her life which only childhood friend Sam can cope with. Elizabeth Noble's The Reading Group (1845051-572, $109.75) receives the calm and lovely narrative style of Gerri Halligan which brings to life the trials of a group of women who meet regularly to read and discuss books. Not only do their book enjoyments become intertwined - so do their lives. Priscilla Masters' Night Visit (1841979-880, $69.75) receives Juanita McMahon's warm and moving narrative style, pairing well with the story of Dr. Harriet Lamont, who faces the end of her marriage and a decades-old mystery involving a vanished child. Alex Gray's Never Somewhere Else (1841977015, $59.75) receives Andrew Napier's moving vocal style as it tells of a series of young women who are discovered strangled in Glasgow, leading DCI Lorimer to embark on one of the most frustrating investigations of his career. David Hewson's The Villa Of Mysteries (1841978752, $109.75) enjoys Christopher Kay's clear and vivid narrative approach as it tells of a murdered young woman and a maverick pathologist who believes she's the victim of a paga ritual. Finally, Bernard Knight's The Witch Hunter (1845051734, $89.75) receives Paul Matthews' solid narrative style as it tells of the death of a prominent burgess while riding his horse, and the discovery of a voodoo doll which may indicate murder. Excellent, solid library lending audios, all.

Full Cast Audio
618 Westcott Street, 1st floor, Syracuse, NY 13210
www.fullcastaudio.com

While Full Cast's latest productions are intended for a young adult audience, they're featured here so adults won't miss their splendor: recommended for all ages with splendid blends of music, narration and dramatic acting by a full cast is Kathleen Karr's classic Gilbert & Sullivan Set Me Free (1932076743, $34.00), narrated by Carmen Viviano-Crafts and backed by the Full Cast dramatists and telling of a frightened girl in prison who discovers new talents and a new life; and David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy (1933322330, $45.00), a first novel exploring the gay experience in a high school setting. Nicholas Robideau provides an excellent narration on Boy Meets Boy - again, backed by full cast acting. Both are exceptional listens - for all ages.

The Expert's Guide To 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do
Samantha Ettus
HighBridge Audiobooks
33 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402
1565119932 $24.95 highbridgeaudio.com

The simplest things can be hardest to master, from telling a story to understanding etiquette: no more, with The Expert's Guide To 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do, a "listener friendly" collection of easy pointers on everything from painting a room to maintaining health. Various experts contribute essays to the cause of efficiency, which receive fine narration by Paula Parker and others, and which make it easy to simplify tasks.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

There's a host of new audio cds on the market perfect for vacation take-along totes and summer listening, and Brilliance Corporation offers some of the best. Among the most highly recommended of their latest releases for leisure listeners: Larry Bond's Dangerous Ground (15960-03022, $26.95), with veteran narrator Dick Hill as usual lending a swift, clear and drama-laden voice to the story of an old submarine's last mission sneaking into Russian waters to recon leaking nuclear fuel containers, P.J. Tracy's Dead Run (1596-001305, $26.95), with Buck Schirner adding impact to the story of the Monkeewrench gang, who here returns to investigate a double murder and face danger; Sandra Brown's Shadows Of Yesterday (1593559100, $26.95), with veteran Joyce Bean lending a quietly dramatic reading to the story of a mysterious stranger who befriends a pregnant woman on a lone highway; Nancy Taylor Rosenberg's Sullivan's Justice (1596008423, $26.95), with Sandra Burr fueling the hot story of a probation officer's latest challenge investigating a deadly murder; Karen Roberts' Superstition (1596008601, $26.95), also fueled by veteran Joyce Bean's smooth voice as it tells of a police chief and a reporter facing conflict when a dangerous killers comes out of hiding; D.J. MacHale's Pendragon Book 2: The Lost City Of Faar (1597372455, $29.95), with William Dufris providing a spirited and involving embellishment to the story of an unusual teen whose uncle solves interdimensional conflicts for a living, and Eric Jerome Dickey's Genevieve (1596000015, $32.95), with Richard Allen's narrative style powering a moving tale of romance and betrayal in true Dickey style. Amanda Quick's Lie By Moonlight (1596008465, $26.95) pairs Anne Flosnick's warm and calm rendition with the smooth story of two independent people at a remote castle who discover conspiracy - and romance. The pairing of mystery and love works well, lending a depth to the story. Nora Roberts' novel Black Rose (1593556160, $26.95) aptly receives Susie Breck's warm voice, perfec for accenting the romantic story of an old Memphis mansion, a middle-aged widow, and a thriving business which is the symbol of hope in the face of ghosts. Gigi Levangie Grazer's The Starter Wife (159737623X, $26.95) pairs veteran Susan Ericksen's dramatic rendition with the fast-paced story of a 'starter wife' dumped before her 10th anniversary. Her refuge at a friend's mansion for divorce therapy results in some strange encounters. Fern Michaels' Texas Rich (15973-74903, $26.95) receives veteran expert Laural Merlington's exciting voice to tell of a heroine who begins a dynasty out of romance. Jeanne Ray's Julie And Romeo Get Lucky (1597374482, $29.95) is lucky enough to receive the author's own voice, which happens to be a warm and passionate pairing for the story of a modern Julie and Romeo who have overcome family strife to live happily together until an injury changes their busy lives. Karen Kingsbury's Fame (159600194X, $21.95) receives veteran Sandra Burr's outstanding experienced quiet drama as it begins a new series to pick up where her popular Redemption series left off - on new members of the Baxter family. Prior familiarity with the series is not required to enjoy this story of one Dayne Matthews, who returns to Hollywood to face dangerous fame. Fantasy fans - especially those who've followed D.J. MacHale's prior 'Pendragon' books - will delight in the audio cd addition of books 3 and 4 to the fast-paced series. The Never War (1597372536, $29.95) is Book 3, with William Dufris providing the lively voice to tell of a teen who once again finds himself in an alternate dimension: that of First Earth in 1937, where evil must be uncovered. Book 4, The Reality Bug (1597372617, $29.95) keeps the listening experience uniform by also having Dufris continue dramatizing the further pursuit of the evil Saint Dane by Bobby - to a peaceful planet where residents have discovered how to enter their own dream worlds, using their minds to escape their bodies. In case you wonder, Brilliance does produce some outstandng nonfiction regularly: Laurence Leamer's Fantastic: The Life Of Arnold Schwarzenegger (1597373176, $29.95) pairs dramatic Mel Foster's voice with the story of the colorful life of Governor Schwarzenegger, from his Austria childhood to his rise in film and politics. The incorporation of interviews with many close associates rounds out and adds depth to the biography. All are outstanding picks promising hours of listening pleasure.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio

Random's excellent selection of fiction and nonfiction audios geared to general listening audiences provides a wide variety of topics and approaches, assuring powerful readers and authors who translate well to audio format. Jane Fonda's My Life So Far (0739319841, $34.95) offers a reading by Fonda herself as it probes her life from childhood to her current work inspiring others from her experiences. Whether it's details about her acting career or life philosophy you seek, My Life So Far is a winner. Susan Casey's Devil's Teeth (0739320440, $26.95) is also read by the author and tells of her exploration of sharks and the scientists who study them. Her encounters with two such biologists brings her face to face with the sharks themselves in this thrilling account. There's many to choose from in the leisure fiction/thriller genre. Among the best of recent releases: Jonathan Kellerman's Rage (0739309722, $26.95), narrated by Broadway actor John Rubinstein and providing another wonderful Alex Delaware mystery. Rubinstein brings to life the story of young adults facing a sordid killing of their teen years when murder catches up to them. Dean Koontz's Velocity (0739315-560, $44.95) receives actor Michael Hayden's fine vocal abilities - you might recognize his voice from either TV or the movies - as it captures the drama and ironies in Koontz's latest story of a quiet, hardworking guy faced with murder and the police. What seems a prank turns all too serious - and deadly - in this gripping story with its fast-paced acceleration of plot and tension. Iris Johansen's Countdown (0739308890, $25.00) tells of a kidnapping and orphan Jane's involvement in one of the greatest archaeological finds in history. Someone is trying to destroy her new life and great discovery - something from the past, which is driven to kill. Outstanding tension is captured by narrator Kate Burton, whose Broadway skills bring Countdown to life. A full cast gives a Broadway feel to Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted (0739302868, $39.95): an unusual story consiting of twenty-three connected tales offering a satire on reality TV. Ad answerers find themselves isolated in a deadly theater with diminishing supplies and their writing skills the only key to survival. Steve Berry's The Third Secret (0739320084, $29.95) is enhanced by veteran narrator L.J. Ganser's recording skills and is set in 1917 Portugal as it tells of a miracle appearance and three secrets revealed; one of which is sealed in the Vatican. A modern-day Pope's distress over the sealed document in modern times leads to the search for a priest and murder in this tense thriller.

The Psalms
Alex Jennings, narrator
Naxos AudioBooks
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9626343524 $28.98 1-877-629-6723

The complete and unabridged text of the biblical "Book of Psalms" is superbly read by Alex Jennings, whose resume includes lead performances for Royal Shakespeare Company productions, and enhanced with English choral music from the 16th and 17th centuries. The 150 Psalms are narrated in the language of the King James Bible; among the Psamls are well-known, inspirational verses; darker lines about punishment and revenge; and some oddly indulgent writings that appear to be focused upon David. A singularly valuable resource for anyone striving to intimately acquaint themselves with the Psalms and understand their emotional expression. 4 CDs, approx. 5 hours 17 min.

Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859 brillianceaudio.com

The latest audio cd picks from Brilliance are out, and they're a choice group indeed. Veteran Dick Hill narrates Ridley Pearson's latest Out And Run (1596008350, $26.95): you may remember Ridley's prior novels of action: this creates an atmosphere of intrigue as it tells of a U.S. marshal who fights the mob's best killer to save the woman he loves. Multiple encounters with a deadly professional killers keep tension high. Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes' Full Bloom (1695008-377, $24.95) receives Lorelei King's smooth and passionate rendition as it tells of one Annie Fortenberry, who has inherited not only a b&b business, but a ghost. King's voice highlights the drama and ironies in a romance involving murder, an ex-husband, and a mystery. Laurell K. Hamilton's A Stroke Of Midnight (1695-008121, $26.95) benefits from veteran Laural Merlington's passionate rendition which brings to life the underlying intrigue of a seductive novel of a female P.I. based in Los Angeles who doubles as a faerie princess in another world. Human politics vie with faerie needs and place Meredith at odds with her heritage on both sides in this engrossing fantasy. Elizabeth Berg's The Year Of Pleasures (1593557-736, $29.95) comes to life under veteran narrator Sandra Burr's compelling style, telling of one Berta, who tries to begin a new life in a small town after her husband dies, only to find isolation isn't possible: there are a host of people who stand ready to help her; some from unexpected places. David Ellis's In The Company Of Liars (1597370002, $26.95) benefits from a dual narration by Dick Hill and Susie Breck which adds intrigue and high drama to their story of a woman accused of murder who contemplates suicide. An unusual reverse chronological arrangement is heightened by the dual narration which brings the story line to life. Excellent leisure listens, all!


The Computer Shelf

Java: A Beginner's Guide
Herbert Schildt
McGraw-Hill/Osborne
Two Penn Plaza, 12th fl., NY, NY 10121
0072231890 $34.99 www.osborne.com

Now in an updated third edition expanded for J2SE 5, Java: A Beginner's Guide is a basic introductory handbook meant to efficiently teach beginners and serve as a quick-reference resource. Chapters address Java Fundamentals, Data Types and Operators, Classes, Objects, and Methods, Inheritance, Exception Handling, Using I/O, Applets and Events, and much more. Sample code with annotated syntax, "Mastery Check" quizzes at the end of each chapter, "ask the experts" Q&A sections, projects to test one's skills, and other learning-friendly tips, tricks, and techniques enhance this excellent training guide. Highly recommended, especially for novices who have never written a single line of Java code before.

Cisco Network Design Solutions For SmallMedium Businesses
Peter Rybaczyk
Cisco Press
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
1587051435 $50.00 www.ciscopress.com

Cisco Network Design Solutions For SmallMedium Businesses zeros in on critical solutions for networking professionals who are deploying computer networks within a small or mediumsized business. It addresses core networking issues, including security, customer relations management (CRM), wireless LANs, unified communications, IP telephony, and more. For networking professionals, Cisco Network Design Solutions for SmallMedium Businesses is a onestop reference and design guide for the effective implementation of networking solutions that enhance the bottom line. Cisco Network Design Solutions For SmallMedium Businesses is separated into two parts the first part explores the network design process, surveys the SMB landscape, and identifies the network requirements from the edge to the core for an effective solution implementation. The second part identifies multiple security solutions, Cisco's integration with popular CRM solutions, design models for ICS 7750 deployment in the context of an IP Telephony solution, Wireless LAN solutions, and Cisco's Unity and IP/TV solutions.

Charles River Media
20 Downer Ave., Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com

Many modern computer games are being released simultaneously on all platforms, so it's no longer enough to hone programming skills for one alone. For a definitive game development guide for advanced game programmers, don't miss Steven Goodwin's Cross-Platform Game Programming (1584503793 $49.95), which promotes code which can behave identically on all machines and platforms. A handy CD-Rom includes the book code, audio and graphics tools, and more utilities to accomplish this goal, while veteran game industry programmer Goodwin uses his cross-platform skills to explore the methods for creating solid results. Mike Wellins' Storytelling Through Animation (1584503947, $49.95) provides animators with a detailed guide to the process of conceiving and producing an animated or live action media production. From using Flash effectively to creating a workable story line which makes the most of lighting, art direction, and film tools, Storytelling Through Animation focuses on the story itself, and what can be done to enhance it. Included with the handy CD-ROM are film clips to evaluate and study along with the techniques recommended. Adam Watkins and Anson Call's Cinema 4D 9/9.1 Handbook (1584504021, $49.95) is a recommended pick for newcomers to the Cinema 4D program: it teaches beginners how to harness C4D's tools and many functions, covers the new facets of this major program update, and uses tutorials to link images and documentation. From reviews of the new interface enhancements to new features, the tutorial files combined with the demo are invaluable.

Que Publishing
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1-800-428-5331 www.mcp.com

Que publishes some of the most "user friendly" exam guides currently available in the field of applied computer science. Two especially outstanding examples include MCSA/MCSE 70-270 Exam Prep 2: Windows XP Professional (0789733-633, $59.99. 768 pages) by the team of Melissa Craft and Don Poulton is the most comprehensive, accurate study guide for this popular MCSE exam. Updated with Service Pack 2 information, this in-depth approach to the exam objectives also explains the core concepts of the technology to help you pass the exam. Organized by exam objective, you will be able to quickly and easily assess your understanding of key exam topics. The real-world examples, extensive hands-on exercises and end-of-chapter exercises support exam objectives and reinforce learning. Praxis I and II Exam Cram (0789732629, $19.95, 416 pages) by Diana Huggins is an easy to use, concise study guide for the teacher licensing exams which focuses upon only what you need to know to pass the exams and doesn't force you to spend your time reading about things you already know. The guide is packed with test taking strategies, tips, tricks and practical knowledge to help you learn and remember the information. A CD is also included that features an innovative test engine that provides multiple test modes.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastapol, CA 95472
1-800-998-9938 www.oreilly.com

O'Reilly's 'hacks' guides provide the depth and detail necessary to customizing programs and understand pitfalls and ways around them. Nigel McFarlane's Firefox Hacks: Tips & Tools For Next-Generat-ion Web Browsing (0596009283, $24.95) provides keys to understanding the open source web browser Firefox, from customizing its actions and appearance to using skins, themes, integration techniques and toolbars to increasing security and using preferences. An excellent guide to all of Firefox's capabilities, both obvious and those lesser known. James Avery's Visual Studio Hacks: Tips & Tools For Turbocharging The IDE (0596008473, $24.95) provides a hundred tips from Visual Studio experts, from debugging scripts and locating new sources of information to be integrated with Visual Studio to testing code. Advanced Visual Studio users will find plenty of tips which lend to streamlining operations and code. The second edition of Steve Bass' PC Annoyances: How To Fix The Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, Windows And More (0596008821, $19.95) is out, and it's a 'must' for any who wrestle with PC and Windows oddities and inconsistencies. From making Windows compatible with the iPod to handling the weighty service pack updates and handling Word annoyances in pasting from the Internet, PC ANNOYANCES updates and adds important tips and insights to make your PC more user-friendly. IPHOTO 5 comes packed not just with explanations, but with powerful all-color visual examples and screenshots to reinforce the learning. Nicholas Petreley & Jono Bacon's Linux Desktop Hacks: Tips & Tools For Customizing And Optimizing Your OS (0596009119, $24.95) teaches semi-experienced Linux system users how to tweak and customize the system to boost performance and make the most of the console. From running applications at near local speed to viewing PDF documents in a console or automating your system with cron, Linux Desktop Hacks has all the special tools difficult to unearth from the usual support material.

Sams Publishing
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1-800-428-5331 www.mcp.com

Chris Newman's Sams Teach Yourself PHP In 10 Minutes (0672327627, $14.99, 264 pages) is Enthusiastically recommended as a thoroughly "user friendly", no-fluff, just-the-answers, step-by-step working guide to building dynamic websites using PHP. Broken down into 10-minute lessons, the novice will gain a rapid working knowledge of PHP 5 and be able to immediately put that knowledge to use in practical applications. Now in a significantly expanded and updated second edition, Inside Network Perimeter Security (06723-27376, $49.99, 768 pages) by the team of Stephen Northcutt, Lenny Zeltser, Scott Winters, Karen Kent, and Ronald W. Ritchey. deftly consolidates the perimeter security experience of leading SANS experts into a practical, easy to digest compendium of the best practices for prevention of intrusions and defense against those intrusions that do succeed. Starting from the essentials of perimeter security, readers will methodically and effectively work their way through fortifying the security perimeter, designing a secure network, and maintaining and monitoring the security of the network.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Post Office Jobs
Dennis V. Damp
Bookhaven Press
249 Field Club Circle, Mckees Rocks, PA 15136
0943641241 $19.95 www.federaljobs.net

Eight simple steps are presented in Post Office Jobs, an employment guide which ranges from identifying all job vacancies within the postal system and matching your skills to them, to locating exam test dates, studying for the test, and applying for jobs. If you wish to become a postal worker, this is the definitive guide, with its fourth edition expanding and updating facts and representing the author's thirty-plus years of experience working for the government.

How To Get From Cubicle To Corner Office
Joel Weiss
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
1586855247 $18.95 1-800-748-5439

Found yourself dreaming of how to get ahead in the workplace? You aren't alone: Joel Weiss gathers not just the similar dreams of others, but the stories of those who have achieved their goals in How To Get From Cubicle To Corner Office. Every job shares some common skills and practices which speed up the entire process of getting ahead: Weiss' title is packed with professional and personal practices alike, all couched in real-life experiences which demonstrate just how to translate goals into achievements.

Careers With Animals
Ellen Shenk
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811729621 $16.95 1-800-732-3669

Readers who are animal lovers and who dream of working with animals often stop at the idea of being a vet: in actuality, there's so much more available, as Careers With Animals: Exploring Occupations Involving Dogs, Horses, Cats, Birds, Wildlife And Exotics demonstrates. Career options range from breeding and treating animals to being a show judge or working for a zoo or aquarium. An organization by animal type - marine, horses, birds, wild animals - makes it easy to hone in more specifically to careers with particular types of animals. Very highly recommended.


The Biography Shelf

Recollections Of An Occasional Attorney
Francis N. Iglehart
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
1561678627 $17.95 1-800-873-2003

Recollections Of An Occasional Attorney is the wry and candid memoir of attorney Francis N. Iglehart, presenting his firsthand experience with the American legal system from the mid-1950's to the present day. Offering the reader an opportunity to see the courtroom and trial cases from the inside, Recollections Of An Occasional Attorney devotes one to a handful of pages to each individual remembered case, ranging from disputes about divorce or a slip and fall to the death of a child and school desegregation. A revealing and sometimes personal, often professional but always compelling glimpse behind the scenes of human attempts at justice.

Sacagawea's Child
Susan M. Colby
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
www.ahclark.com
0870623397 $28.50 1-800-842-9286

Sacagawea's Child: The Life And Times Of Jean-Baptiste (Pomp) Charbonneau is a carefully researched biography of the son of the legendary Native American guide and heroine of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea, and her French-Canadian husband. Paying attention to both what can be reconstructed from historical record and what scholars remain in dispute over to this day, Sacagawea's Child offers as full a picture as possible of events from before Jean-Baptiste's birth to the circumstances of his demise. Though Jean-Baptiste was flesh-and-blood with flaws like all human beings, he was also a "citizen Indian" who sought to remain mindful of his heritage while living peacefully among people of various cultures, and his story is ultimately one of exploration, wonder, and tolerance. A highly recommended addition to school, public, and reference library shelves, as well as personal biography and American history shelves.

The Du Mauriers
Daphne Du Maurier
Virago/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
1844080641 $14.00 1-800-423-4525

Popular novelist Daphne Du Maurier's superbly written and memorably personal autobiography of her own family provides a spirited saga of family history, and will prove a 'must' for any student seeking a full coverage of Du Maurier's influences and life. From the histories of relatives she never personally knew to her own life, The Du Mauriers makes for a lively and engaging "first-person" read.


The Musicbook Shelf

Britten And Barber
Daniel Felsenfeld
Amadeus Press
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574571081 $22.95 amadeuspress.com

A full-length budget Naxos music CD makes the perfect pairing accompaniment to New York composer/music writer Daniel Felsenfeld's dual biographical sketch Britten And Barber: Their Lvies And Their Music. Benjamin Britten and Samuel Barber are two giants of 20th century classical music, both men are celebrities who came of age during war times. Felsenfeld's fascinating contrast of their lives and genius allows for a probe of their differing techniques, analyzing specific works and how each composer created new experiences for listeners.

Moneymaking Music
Jeffrey P. Fisher
ProMusic Press
236 Georgia St. #100, Vallejo, CA 94590
193114012X $24.95 www.artistpro.com

Author Jeffrey Fisher created many hit music books on how to make money in the industry: his latest tells not just how to make it, but how to keep and protect music rights and expand music success. Here's a complete proven method for starting your own music business, from promoting music and developing a specialty niche and image to advertising, promoting, and more. A 'must' for any who would still be in the music industry - and a success.

Guitar Chords Deluxe
Hal Leonard
151 West 46th St, 8th fl., NY, NY 10036
www.halleonard.com
0634073893 $7.95 1-800-637-2852

Guitar Chords Deluxe from the Hal Lenoard Corporation showcases more than 1,600 guitar chords, each of which is clearly and completely illustrated with full-color photos and diagrams. Included in this highly portable instruction manual are easy-to-red chord grids, readily perceived color photo illustrations, basic chord theory, basic fingering principles, open chords and barre chords, partial chords and broken-set forms. Each chord is perfectly framed for the guitar student with five consecutive photos in a vertically arranged column on the left side the page, with an accompanying five vertically arranged diagrams matching the photos on the right side of the page. Guitar Chords Deluxe is a welcome addition to personal, music department, private instructor, and community library music instruction resource materials, substantially making earning to play the guitar has been made easy and faster than ever.

The Beatles Solo On Apple Records
Bruce Spizer, compiler
498 Productions
P.O. Box 70194, New Orleans, LA 70172
0966264959 $50.00 midpointtrade.com

Avid Beatles collectors who already have all the collector's guides to Apple Records may imagine they already have all they need - until they confront The Beatles Solo On Apple Records: The Stories Behind The Entire Beatles Solo Catalog On Apple Records Including Imagine, Band On The Run, All Things Must Pass And Ringo. Packed with black and white and color photos of records, vintage posters, ad illustrations and more, The Beatles Solo On Apple Records supplements extensive illustrations with meticulous background details for each recording's origins. In using the recordings to ground background history, The Beatles Solo produces a depth unequalled by competing, lighter Beatles coverages - and insights simply unavailable in price guides alone. Not for the casual readers who seeks a light history, but perfect for the avid Beatles fan who needs to know everything about the group, it's individual members, and their recordings.


The Gardening Shelf

Dryland Gardening
Jennifer Bennett
Firefly Books Ltd.
155 E. 34th St. #5B, NY, NY 10016
www.fireflybooks.com
1554070317 $24.95 1-800-387-5085

As the planteary weather patterns and overall environment warms, so garden plants which typically did well in prior decades are now suffering from hotter summers, requiring even the most experienced gardener to try new plants which have a greater range of tolerance to warmer conditions. Gardening writer Jennifer Bennett has already produced several award-winning titles, but Dryland Gardening: Plants That Survive And Thrive In Tough Conditions is broader-based than most, and provides alternative plant choices for all kinds of dry conditions. Organized by type of plant: bulbs, grasses, groundcovers and vines, and even herbs, Dryland Gardening is a real problem-solver for any seeking to produce a beautiful garden under today's drier conditions.

The John Tradescants: Gardeners To The Rose And Lily Queen
Prudence Leith-Ross
Dufour Editions
Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
0720610737 $34.95 1-800-869-5677

Few may have heard of the John Tradescants, father and son of the late 1500s-1600s who worked for a series of patrons supervising some of the most notable gardens of the 17th century: Prudence Leith-Ross remedies this omission with The John Tradescants: Gardeners To The Rose And Lily Queen. Of particular interest to gardeners, besides the fascinating history and biographies of the two, are discussions of the plants introduced by them, with their original plant lists paired with modern botanical names.

Modern Garden Design
Janet Waymark
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thames.wwnorton.com
0500284210 $24.95 1-800-233-4830

The elements of modern garden design technique actually begins in the Victorian era and continues to modern times around the world: Janet Waymark's collection reflects world trends and changes as it follows innovations post-1900, juxtaposing different approaches to landscape design. Changing theories, practices, and even urban design values are contrasted in chapters packed with color photo examples and history. College-level students with more than a casual interest in landscaping will find Modern Garden Design: Innovation Since 1900 an essential key to unlocking trends and influences on garden paths.

Shields Publications
Box 669, Eagle River, WI 54521
www.happydranch.com

Three fine earthworm guides will prove handy for gardeners and natural history students alike, providing excellent pro-worm instructions, tips, and insights. Shelley C. Grossman & Toby Weitzel's Recycle With Earthworms: The Red Wiggler Connection (0914116320, $10.00) comes from a certified Master Composter who has developed this book and its accompanying video for use in classrooms and recycling programs. From figuring out volume of organic garbage to setting up a worm bin and understanding worm reproduction and development, Recycle With Earthworms covers all the basics. Want to go further with the idea? Turn to Earl B. Shields' Raising Earthworms For Profit: A Multi-Million Dollar Market (0914116-215). Readers will be surprised to learn earthworms are used not only for recycling but for bait, breeding stock and soil amendments. Learn how to grow 'em, feed 'em, pack 'em and ship them to customers through this handy guide to a profitable venture. Speaking of which, just where to buy them? Turn to the handy pamphlet Earthworm Buyer's Guide 2004-05: A Directory Of Earthworm Hatcheries In The U.S.A. And Canada (0914116371): A state-by-state arrangement of such sources includes name, address, phones, emails, descriptions of worm types and systems sold, as well as a wealth of display ads: everything you need to locate sources or get set up.

Gardens To Go
Sydney Eddison
Bullfinch Press
c/o Little, Brown & Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
www.bullfinchpress.com
0821257153 $35.00 1-800-759-0190

It's not just urban gardeners who wish to garden by container: it's anyone who seeks portability, defenses against gophers and underground varmints, and the possibility of having a garden in manmade environments. Gardens To Go: Creating And Designing A Container Garden holds gorgeous photos by Steve Silk as it reviews a range of container garden ideas, from choosing decorative planting containers which are functional to using rooftops, patios, and more as spaces to hold them. A gorgeous set of guidelines for producing show-stopping displays.

The Garden View
Tara Dillard
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
140271405X $24.95 1-800-805-5489

The Garden View: Designs For Beautiful Landscapes is an in-depth guide to creating aesthetically pleasing garden. It is not an instructional manual for choosing the right plant species for one's climate, or keeping plants lush and healthy; The Garden View leaves that part of the task largely to other gardening books, and specifically focuses upon logistical matters of garden layout and architectural landscaping. From building the garden design around "viewing axes" (those vantage points from which a garden will most often be seen) to tips, tricks and techniques for camouflaging eyesores to the maxim "if a garden looks good in the winter it will look good the rest of the year" and much more, The Garden View is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in creating a work of living beauty, as it is presents the wisdom of experts and professionals in plain and simple terms. Read this to refine and balance a garden design before the first seed is sown.

The Gaia Book Of Organic Gardening
Charlie Ryrie & Cindy Engel
Gaia Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
1856752186 $17.95 1-800-805-5489

The Gaia Book Of Organic Gardening by Charlie Ryrie (with the assistance of Cindy Engel) focuses upon composts, pests, weeds, and soil as it offers a comprehensive and accessible guide to organize gardening. Complete with a profusion of checklists and planners, The Gaia Book Of Organic Gardening covers everything from crop rotation to making "green manure", from enhancing biodiversity to using botanical pesticides. Do-it-yourself gardeners and commercially minded farming operations will learn how to build a healthy garden through identifying soil types and properly nurturing them, which weeds are useful and controlling unwanted varieties, encouraging "good" predators such as ladybirds and overflies, while repelling destructive pests in the garden. Offering the most up-to-date concepts and practices for time management, seasonal planting, harvesting, and more, The Gaia Book Of Organic Gardening is ideal for the non-specialist general reader wanting to establish an organic garden, and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced and practicing organic gardener.

Gardening With Hardy Geraniums
Birgitte Husted Bendtsen
Timber Press
133 S.W. Second Avenue, #450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881927163 $29.95 1-800-327-5680

Plenty of gardeners associate geraniums with potted plants which have a long flowering period: Gardening With Hardy Geraniums shows there's many more varieties available - over 400 in all - which are good garden cultivars. Over 400 photos cover the characteristics which distinguish them, from color to flower shape, while accompany summaries cover height, propagation, season, and background history. Avid gardeners with a passion for geraniums will relish Gardening With Hardy Geraniums as in-depth survey of geranium varieties. Timber Press is a premier publisher of books for gardening and landscaping. Send for their free catalog for a complete listing of their superb titles.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitticisms
Kari Cornell
Voyageur Press
PO Box 338, Stillwater, MN 55082
www.voyageurpress.com
089658707X $12.95 1-800-888-9653

What to give that avid knitter besides yarn and craft ideas? Why, Knitticisms And Other Perls Of Wisdom: a nifty little guide which packs in knit wit with historical photos and images, art, vintage pattern booklets and ads. A nifty little pocket tote gift which has a little something for every knitter.

Illustrated Knitting & Crocheting
Maran Graphics
Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1592008623 $24.99 courseptr.com

The Maran family's fine guide to knitting and crocheting uses high-quality color graphics and photos to explain the process to beginners, from beginning to intermediate stitches, fringes, lace and more. There are plenty of projects to reinforce the close-up instructions, from sweaters and purses to complete baby outfits - and chapters on how to read a pattern, so learners can move to the next levels. An essential instructional, Maran Illustrated Knitting & Crocheting is highly recommended indeed.

Japanese Anime Linens
Anita Yasuda
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
0764321552 $34.95 schifferbooks.com

Japanese Anime Linens: 1970s To Present showcases more than 325 photographs of vintage and contemporary Japanese textiles, including fabrics, handkerchiefs, yukatas, and appliques, that come alive with art celebrating characters from anime, Japanese animated film and television. Most of the figures and shows chosen are from older anime of the decades leading up to the early 90's, including such classic heroes as Goku of Dragonball Z and Astro Boy, and many others corresponding to television shows never officially translated and released in English; a few offer designs celebrating more modern shows such as Digimon. Notes on fabric designs, color trends, examples of common textile labels, and recommendations for crafts round out this impressive and beautiful collection, revealing its smorgasboard selection with all the grandeur and respect of a museum collection artbook. Recommended for fabric collectors, sewing enthusiasts, fabric historians, and Japanese pop culture fans.

Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.fwpubs.com

Quilters will delight in two highly recommended guides to expand skills. Cindy Walter and Stevii Graves' Contemporary Quilting: Exciting Techniques And Quilts From Award-Winning Quilters (087349749X, $24.99) teaches new techniques thorough a blend of color photos and 12 projects. Thanks to rotary machine cutting there's a whole generation who have never used scissors: the authors interviewed many pros in the quilting industry to gather these challenging new projects. Joanie Zier Poole's Elegant Machine Quilting: Innovative Heirloom Quilting Using Any Sewing Machine (0873498-984, $24.99) teaches the basics of heirloom machine quilting, from choosing appropriate fabrics to customizing designs. Color photos accompany tips on pattern alternation, sizing choices, and finishes. Both are especially recommended for advanced quilters wanting to branch out.

Martingale & Company
2025 - 144th Ave. NE, Woodinvale, 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

These excellent new crafts guides are perfect for sewers and knitters seeking something different. Melissa Matthay and Sheryl Thies' Little Box Of Scarves II (1564-776220, $19.95) packages a variety of scarf project patterns in a box set of appealing project cards rather than the usual book form. The advantage of this format: cards can be individually slipped into a knitting bag for projects in progress. Each card includes a color photo, schematics, materials, and step-by-step directions for easy reproduction. Amy Barickman's Bag Boutique: Making Fabulous Purses And Totes (1564776115, $21.95) tells how to create an appealing bag or purse. There's more to such projects than style and color: handles and closures and a range of personalization options such as photo transfers and free downloadable images offer all kinds of options: all of which are covered in and easy project-oriented guide. Applique artists will relish a nature-oriented guide in Jane Townswick's Applique Takes Wing: Exquisite Designs For Birds, Butterflies, And More (1564-775844, $29.95). Simply gorgeous block patterns and samples for birds and butterflies provide step-by-step color photos on their creation: they may be used in quilts, for towels, and for a range of art projects. The color photos and easy directions make this an exceptional pick. Sarah Dallas' Knitting (1564776379, $29.95) provides a catalog of Sarah Dallas's modern designs for clothes, afghans and accessories alike. There are over 30 such projects here, with sizes, yarn advice, needles, and even more important, explanations of knitting abbreviations within the instructions, making it easy for novices to produce polished, professional results. All are wonderful, different picks crafters will appreciate.

Creative Publishing International
18705 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317
www.creativepub.com

Whether you wish to accessorize home or personal style, all that's needed is a love of sewing and crafting to appreciate the latest two top Creative Publishing International guides. Stitch & Sizzle Accessories: Hot Handbags, Scarves, Wraps & Accents (1589232070, $19.95) pairs bold hot colors with easy sewing instructions and show-off bags, boas, and scarves in a sassy, stylish presentation packed with color photos. Simple instructions show how to use a sewing machine to best advantage, how to preshrink wools for optimum results, and how to use templates and patterns for added impact. Linda Neubauer and Joanne Wawra's Handcrafted Pillows: Sew And Embellish Pillows In The Decorator Looks You Love (1589231511, $21.95) provides a set of some thirty projects achieved using five basic sewing styles. These are bold patterns that can be used to touch up a room, cozy pillows to soothe, and eye-catching new renditions of classic pillow styles. One look at either bag or pillow book and you'll be hooked.

Stewart, Tabori & Chang
115 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
www.stcbooks.com

Two fine knitter's guides are a cut above the ordinary, offering something different for knitters. Christina Stork and Leslie Barbazette's Viva Poncho (1584794216, $16.95) offers patterns for beginners to advanced knitters for ponchos and caplets, featuring twenty different designs suitable for both summer and winter. From one-piece ponchos to two-piece designs, each project features a review of skills needed, building upon prior skills to offer a continuous series of lessons. Teva Durham's Loop-D-Loop (1584794143, $29.95) ably presents forty modern projects for adults, kids and home use. Knitters of all levels receive a host of knitting ideas and projects, which are as varied as a cardigan with a 'dreamcatcher' web in the back to a eye-catching slipcover or a corrugated V-neck sweater and hat. High color, high fashion, and lots of variety mark a project book packed with color photos throughout.

America Knits
Melanie Falick
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.workman.com
1579652875 $19.95 1-800-722-7202

Author and knitter Melanie Falick spent years searching through knitting books, finding the most beautiful ones came from England with the idea Britain held more talented knitters than America. America Knits: 30 Projects For The Whole Fmaily To Knit And Wear From The Country's Leading Artisans seeks to correct this idea, packing in patterns and artisan profiles with gorgeous color photos by Chris Hartlove of notable creations. This isn't another pattern book: it's a celebration of American knitting traditions and styles, packed with biographies, artist accounts of knitting, and regional color.

Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.watsonguptill.com

Sherri Haab's Designer Style Handbags: Techniques And Projects For Niue Fun, And Elegant Designs From Classic To Retro (0823012883, $19.95) makes it easy to create colorful, unique purses and especially tote bags using 10 'master plans' as templates. And you don't even have to be a sewer: included herein are makeovers of plain bags with crafting techniques ranging from collage and clay to photo transfers! Beginners to accomplished sewers at all levels will relish the variety, which goes above and beyond competitors. Melissa Leapman's Cool Crochet: 30 Hot, Fun Designs To Crochet And Wear (0823011240, $19.95) also goes beyond the norm in focusing on style and sexy clothing as much as crochet techniques themselves. Gone are the boxy sweaters usually associated with the art of crochet: in their place are slinky small-strap dresses, soft wrap-tops, and honeycomb/popcorn-stitched sweaters which don't reflect tired crochet looks. An eye-opening project guide for any seeking something different in crochet projects. Easy Beading: Fast, Fashionable, Fun (0871162-172, $29.95) comes from the archives of BeadStyle Magazine and compiles the best easy beading projects from the magazine's first year. Many different kinds of necklaces are presented in the form of articles by different crafts, which include exceptionally clear step-by-step instructions, plenty of color photos, supply lists and more.

Creative Cloth Doll Faces
Patti Medaris Culea
Quarry/Rockport Publishers
33 Commercial St, Gloucester, MA 01930
159253144X $24.99 www.rockpub.com

The doll's face is its most compelling feature and the key to a doll's personality - it's also the most difficult to render: thus deserving of an exclusive crafter's coverage in artist Patti Culea's Creative Cloth Doll Faces Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage And Sculpting Techniques. Dollmakers receive a variety of step-by-step approaches to creating doll faces, from developing simple grids which divide the face into quadrants to using different mediums from watercolors and dyes to collages and fabric sculpting. While there are instructions for dress and other doll parts, it's the face which is the focus.

Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com

Two excellent "So Simple" sewing guides by Gail Abbot and Cate Burren link needlecraft projects to home embellishment, providing all levels of sewers with plenty of applications for their skills. So Simple Slipcovers (1580112250, $19.95) displays thirty easy projects, using step-by-step photos and no-sew idea combinations to provide ideas for slipcovers, pillows, and table linen alike. Color photos of finished projects pack each page and offer numerous ideas for different approaches to color and look. So Simple Window Style (1580112447, $19.95) uses a similar format and approach in addressing window covering options, pairing thirty projects and variations with tips on how to choose the right window treatments to compliment colors and room feel. Both are excellent practical home project guides.

C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com

Two wonderful new guides are recommended picks for knitters and crocheters at all levels. Sally Harding's Quick Crochet Huge Hooks (1571203125, $25.95) blends great designs and unusual yarns with patterns for over 20 projects which can be done quickly using giant hooks. Beginners will be thrilled by the focus on different ideas to be done quickly - and by the wealth of color photos throughout. Cyndy Lyle Rymer's Fast Fun & Easy Fabric Knitting: Fabulous Projects-Great New Looks (1571203036, $14.95) is also a winner, with an unusual focus on quick, portable projects which can be quickly done in a day. Ten projects are featured, with tips ranging on using specialty yarns with unusual textures to unusual color combinations and plenty of step-by-step stitch basics. The perfect item of choice for a knitting newcomer!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Edgework
Ronald L. Peters, MD, MPH
Blue Dolphin Publishing
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959-0008
1577331168 $17.95 1-800-643-0765

Edgework: Exploring The Psychology Of Disease by family medicine and holistic medicine practitioner Ronald L. Peters provides the reader with an exceptionally accessible and concise overview of the research on the mind/body interconnection, summarizing the essence of healing at the level of the conscious mind, and guiding the reader through the process with detailed exercises that will make the abstract concepts a tangible and personal reality. Dr. Peters utilizes an approach that will provide his readers with a framework for inner healing while encouraging the use of suggested techniques day to day, either to assist in the treatment of an existing illness, or to prevent a disease from every taking hold. Informed and informative reading, Edgework is especially recommended to the attention of those with an interest in alternative medicine and the psychological impact of the mind upon the body as part of the process for insuring and/or restoring physical health.

Polio And Its Aftermath
Marc Shell
Harvard University Press
79 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138
www.hup.harvard.edu
0674013158 $35.00 1-800-448-2242

There was a time when fear of polio held America in its grip, much as the public fears terrorism today: though in recent decades polio has been all but eliminated, readers may be surprised to learn it's not only resurfaced but spread in various African nations, and is still with us even while the society-wide fear is gone. Professor Marc Shell is concerned about this collective amnesia: his Polio And Its Aftermath: The Paralysis Of Culture focuses not on the climax but the aftermath of the polio trauma. Polio And Its Aftermath comes from personal experience as well: Shell himself contracted polio in 1953 at the age of six, making this part memoir as well as a cultural history and survey of the meaning of polio in society.

Omnigraphics
615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226
1-800-234-1340 www.amazon.com

Three fine updated and new additions to Omnigraphic's signature red-sided 'Health Reference Series' titles are highly recommended picks for basic consumer health reference holdings at all levels. Joyce Brennfleck Shannon edits Thyroid Disorders Sourcebook (0780897456, $78.00), a primer on preventative lifestyles and recognizing malfunctions of the thyroid gland, central to regulating body metabolism and organs. There's a range of disorders related to thyroid imbalances, from sleep disturbance and weight changes to intolerance to cold or heat: learn the symptoms and treatments of and for thyroid disease. The second edition of Brain Disorder Sourcebook (0780807448, $78.00) is edited by Sandra J. Judd and covers all kinds of brain disorders, from injury to neurological disorders and injuries. From Parkinson and multiple sclerosis to brain tumors, all kinds of injuries and conditions are described along with the latest treatment options and research. The latest research is also included in Amy L. Sutton's updated and expanded second edition of Blood And Circulatory Disorders Sourcebook (0780807464, $78.00), covering disorders ranging from blood cancers and clots to circulatory disorders. The latest new treatments and medications are many - and all are covered in this extensive updated reference.

How To Be Idle
Tom Hodgkinson
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
0060779683 $18.95 1-800-242-7737

Oscar Wilde devotee Tom Hodgkinson launched a quarterly magazine in 1993 which was devoted to doing nothing. How can you write about nothing? Surprisingly there's a fine art to daydreaming, laziness, and the lack of work - and How To Be Idle combines anecdotes and literary criticism with history and a how-to commentary which defies easy categorization.

Optimal Digestive Health
Trent Nichols, MD & Nancy Faass
Healing Arts Press
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 065767
www.innertraditions.com
1594770360 $19.95 1-800-246-8648

Over twenty top physicians and practitioners in Integrative Medicine discusses digestive health and how to create an optimal customized health plan blending exercise, rest, medications and diet. Dr. Nichols is an internist and nutritionist, Nancy Faas is a writer and editor: the two provide an important survey of herbal therapies, homeopathy, and other alternative methods to mainstream medicine - including complimentary therapies.

The Ultimate New York Body Plan
David Kirsch
McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
0071446494 $21.95 1-877-833-5524

Is it possible to transform your body in just two weeks through diet and fitness? The Ultimate New York Body Plan is the program as seen on ABC-TV's 'Extreme Makeover': it offers a diet and fitness combo to reshape the body and promotes quick weight loss. Black and white photos throughout, spaces for journal entries, and clear chapters divided by area of body to be sculpted make for an easy guide to use in the course of developing a personal fitness program.

Dare To Dream
Douglas Cairns
Albyne Press Ltd.
1221 Pearl St., Boulder, CO 80302
0954992903 $16.95 www.amazon.com

Douglas Cairns was enjoying racing and jets in the RAF when he was diagnosed with diabetes, a diagnosis which seemed to put an end to his top speed life. His career as a fighter plane pilot was over - but his determination to both fly again and raise awareness of diabetes resulted in his Diabetes World flight, chronicled in Dare To Dream: Flying Solo With Diabetes Around The World In 159 Days. Both an adventure story and a health memoir, Day To Dream is passionate about flight and living life to its fullest.

Brain Imaging Handbook
J. Douglas Bremner, MD
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
0393704149 $42.50 1-800-233-4830

If it's a primer on brain imaging for a college-level course or basic understanding which is needed, there's no better place to start than with Dr. Bremner's Brain Imaging Handbook. From the basics of film imaging and different kinds of brain imaging devices to the use of imaging in both psychiatry and physical health, Brain Imaging Handbook provides an in-depth review of the techniques and application of the science to diagnostic processes of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mental health care providers and students alike will benefit from Dr. Bremner's background in radiology and psychiatry, and from a clear discussion packed with color brain imaging results.

Diabesity
Francine R. Kaufman, MD
Bantam
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
0553803840 $27.00 1-800-726-0600

There's a firm connection between obesity and diabetes resulting in the current epidemic levels of diabetes in America, and Dr. Kaufman, as past president of the American Diabetes Association, is in the perfect position to identify and comment upon this connection in Diabesity: The Obesity-Diabetes Epidemic That Threatens America--And What We Must Do To Stop It. Dr. Kaufman sees vastly overweight children and dangerous new connections between obesity and Type 2 diabetes: chapters outline the condition and use patient stories to explain consequences.

How To Live With An Idiot
John Hoover
Career Press
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.careerpress.com
1564147703 $14.99 1-800-227-3371

Yes, you can live with an idiot - whether it be a spouse, child, or roommate - all depending on willingness to recognize your own 'inner idiot'. Author Hoover is a Ph.D. and the author of the popular How To Work For An Idiot: Clueless Creatures And The People Who Love Them - and he's an organizational behavior consultant who here uses the family structure as his 'organization'. Chapters survey issues of blame, compatibility, criticism and more.

Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book
Peter Scardino, MD & Judith Kelman
Avery
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014-3657
1583332200 $27.95 1-800-847-5515

Dr. Scardino has been billed as the 'finest prostate surgeon in the country', and here provides an updated guide to the prostate gland which covers everything from enlargement to diseases. Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book The Complete Guide To Overcoming Prostate Cancer, Prostatis And BPH covers all the basics; from understanding the results of PSA and other screening tests to finding the best doctors and treatment centers. Co-author Judith Kelman's background writing nonfiction articles and novels lends a smoothness and accessibility to Dr. Scardino's technical advice, making Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book most accessible to lay readers.

Microbe
Alan P. Zelicoff, MD & Michael Bellomo
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
0814408656 $23.00 1-800-250-5308

Are we ready for the next plague? It could come through variants of West Nile, SARS, or other modern diseases - or it could come from nowhere; and the U.S. public health system is vastly under-equipped to respond to a major plague. That's the message of Microbe: Are We Ready For The Next Plague? A physician/physicist and lawyer combine talents to expose conditions conducive to major biological crises, from gaps in communication and information chains to lack of containment plans. Promising models for networks and vaccines are also analyzed. A gripping assessment of the world's ability to withstand a major plague.

Extreme Emergencies
Anthea Sanyasi
Intermediate Technology Development Group Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc. (dist.)
22883 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
www.styluspub.com
1853396028 $49.95 1-800-232-0223

Drawing upon research from the UK medical relief agency Merlin, Extreme Emergencies is a practical survival manual for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive disasters, intended especially for humanitarian organizations serving middle and low-income nations, who are most likely to face such deadly man-made threats. From basic tactical management procedures to identification and containment of hazards, appropriate decontamination procedures, quick-reference cards for fast consultation, and an extensive directory of organizations, conventions, websites, and references, Extreme Emergencies is a "must-have" for its target audience and highly recommended for anyone who needs to know how to best prepare and react in such crises. A straightforward reference and resouce that spares no details or small talk but focuses expressly on survival, triage, and what most needs to be done.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Land Of The Sky
Al Petteway & Amy White
Maggie's Music
PO Box 940, Shady Side, MD 20764
www.maggiesmusic.com
MM233 $15.98 1-877-624-4436

When the Scots, Irish, Welch, and English settlers populated the mountain valleys, hills, and mountains of Southern Appalachia, they brought their music with them as an integral part of their culture. In Land Of The Sky, Al Petteway and Amy White deftly collaborate to memorably perform within that Southern Appalachian music tradition and heritage for the benefit and delight of a new generation of listeners with recorded performances that include both original and traditional compositions of mountain melodies played on acoustic guitars, the mandolin, the Celtic harp, the banjo, fiddles, the Irish Bouzouki, Fretless Bass, percussion, and vocals. Entertaining listening with a total running time of 53:06, the fourteen pieces comprising this outstanding and recommended CD for personal, music department, and community library New Age & Contemporary Folk Music collections include Black Bear's Picnic (4:16); Shady Grove (4:39); Across the Blue Mountains (4:11); Bobcat in the Brambles (3:03); Sunny Day (3:08); Pretty Polly (4:00); A Walk in the Woods (4:20); Western Highlands (3:30); Wayfaring Stranger (4:33); The Cuckoo (2:42); Swannanoa (4:44); Ryan's Rambles (4:05); Trillium Waltz (2:33); and the title piece, Land of the Sky (2:58).


The Business Shelf

Office Stress Emergency Kit
Darrin Zeer
Chronicle Books
65 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94105
www.chroniclebooks.com
0811847020 $9.95 1-800-722-6657

Stressed out at work, or looking for an inspirational gift for a stressed co-worker? Darrin Zeer's cute card-box-size Office Stresws Emergency Kit: The World's Easiest Stress-management Program is the item of choice. Where other books would pose weighty questions and tome-like pages, this little box holds a set of 30 yoga and relaxation cards and a stress-alleviating squeeze ball. Just a pick a card and perform the simple exercise to feel a newfound calm.

Business For Beginners
Frances McGuckin
Sourcebooks
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
www.sourcebooks.com
1402203926 $14.95 1-800-432-7444

If you're a bare-bones newcomer to the business world and seek a basic introduction to all the concepts, from business plans and marketing to the law, then Frances McGuckin's Business For Beginenrs: From Research And Business Plans To Money, Marketing And The Law is for you. McGuickin is a small business expert and consultant, and shares her strategies for developing a small business using seven basic skills and seven reasons businesses fail. Checklists and boxed information sets abound.

Made In China
Donald N. Sull with Yong Wang
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.hbspress.org
1591397154 $35.00 1-800-668-6780

Western managers can learn a lot from the new Chinese entrepreneurs, and the perfect place to receive these lessons - aside from a trip to China, is with Donald N. Sull and Yong Wang's Made In China: What Western Managers Can Learn From Trailblazing Chiense Entrepreneurs. From the rise of elite new firms who do business successfully where hundreds of rivals have failed to their ability to predict trends and respond consistently in inconsistent markets, Made In China profiles eight Chinese ventures to probe the secrets behind their success.

How To Do Business In China
Michael Shen, Ph.D., MBA
Dorrance Publishing Company
701 Smithfield Street, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3906
www.dorrancepublishing.com
0805964436 $20.00 1-800-788-7654

The China market offers much promise to multinational companies, but it's also a tough one to break into - that's why the experience of one who has been there and achieved such breakthroughs is so invaluable. How To Do Business In China shares Shen's own experiences, covering such basics as how to set up China operations, reach into and grow the Chinese market, and how to travel and live in the country. From initial visits and possible side-tracking when the red carpet's rolled out to later growth and development, there's plenty of practical cultural insights alongside business savvy.

Getting It Right The First Time
John Katsaros & Peter Christy
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
www.greenwood.com
0275984796 $34.95 1-800-225-5800

Business changes and influences are happening faster and faster, requiring the successful company to be more responsive and anticipatory than ever. For a guide which teaches managers and owners how to predict demand and handle it correctly, Getting It Right The First Time: How Innovative Companies Anticipate Demand is essential. Examples of real-life lucrative successes and missed opportunities alike offer lessons for all, and John Katsaros and Peter Christy have gathered a representative sampling of these case histories to work into a general company plan for marketing and advancement. Recommended for any entrepreneur interested in innovation.

The Outsourcing Revolution
Michael F. Corbett
Dearborn Trade
30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606
0793192145 $25.00 1-800-245-2665

Outsourcing is a $6 trillion global industry and is a hot topic not only in business but in the daily papers, where workers displaced complain and employers saving money face the pros and cons of outsourcing. Several books have appeared on the topic, but The Outsourcing Revolution: Why It Makes Sense And How To Do It Right differs in several ways. It's written by an expert and pioneer on the topic who's been coaching executives on outsourcing practices for over a decade, it explains the values - when conducted properly - of outsourcing, and it tells how to identify the right partners and fine-tune outsourcing relationships. A 'must' for serious companies considering outsourcing.

Transferring Learning To Behavior
Donald & James Kirkpatrick
Berrett Koehler
235 Montgomery St. #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
978-1-57675-325-5 $39.95

Donald Kirkpatrick's four level model has become the model of choice for evaluating the effectiveness of training programs, and his Transferring Learning To Behavior: Using The Four Levels To Improve Performance expands further on how to use these levels to improve performance, exploring the gap between learning and behavior, the rudiments of what happens in the transference of learning to behavior, and how employers can ensure organizational support of such processes. Twelve best-case studies from major companies highlight the principles in real-life action in corporate settings, making Transferring Learning To Behavior much more than just a theory.


The Language Studies Shelf

Federal Street Press
PO Box 281, Springfield, MA 01102
www.federalstreetpress.com

Why the need for print dictionaries and thesaurus with the advent of online? Because there will be times the computer is inaccessible, inconvenient, or not as quick as the browsing eye: for these times, three new Merriam-Websterr's editions of standard references are highly recommended picks: all the more so because of their very affordable price tags for extensive references promising lots of repeat use. Webster's New Explorer Thesaurus: More Word Choices In An Easy-To-Use Format (1892859777, $10.98) is a bargain in hardcover, packing in an outstanding selection of word choices. Its companion, Webster's New Explorerer Dictionary: More Than 75,000 Clear, Concise Definitions (1892859769, $19.99) is equally easy to use, even including small illustrations where appropriate. And if just one volume is required, make it Webster's New Explorer Dictionary And Thesaurus: A Total Language Resource, Completely Revised And Updated (1892859-785, $10.98), packing in 75,000 definitions to include 2,000 new additions to the language. Solid reference winners, all, with the authoritative stamp of Merriam Webster paired with bargain price tags.

Talking With Your Hands, Listening With Your Eyes
Gabriel Grayson
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Rd., Garden City, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
075700007X $26.95 www.amazon.com

Sign language is the third most common language in North America and there are numerous books on the topic - but none quite so visual and easy to comprehend as Talking With Your Hands, Listening With Your Eyes: A Complete Photographic Guide To American Sign Language. Well over a thousand photos are used in this primer to the techniques, words and phrases of signing: photos which show not just hand motions, but body motions and facial expressions. Tips on visualization and memorizing signs complete the offering and make for a far easier coverage than competitors offer making this a core addition to any sign language studies reference collection.


The Military Shelf

Mimi And Toutou's Big Adventure
Giles Foden
Alfred A. Knopf
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.aaknopf.com
1400041570 $24.00 1-800-726-0600

Fans of either the African Queen or African history will have to have Giles Foden's Mimi And Toutou's Big Adventure: The Bizarre Battle Of Lake Tanganyika: it provides a unique coverage of the first World War in Africa, an improbable mission on a remote African lake in the face of German steamers, and an impossible assignment to trek overland through the African bush hauling two fort-foot gunboats, the Mimi and Toutou. A fun true account of history, adventure, and odd heroes and battles.

Bayonets: An Illustrated History
Martin J. Brayley
KP Books/F&W Publications
700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
0873498704 $29.99 1-888-457-2873

Written by a military photographer of 24 years' experience, Bayonets: An Illustrated History offers an in-depth examination of the role of the bayonet in military conflicts worldwide from 1650 to present. More than 500 photographs enhance Bayonets: An Illustrated History. 300 different types of bayonets are closely scrutinized; almost every photograph features a capsule of notes specific to its topic. The text, while intended more for serious military historian than the lay reader, is highly accessible as it traces the design evolutions and purposes of bayonets as history passed. A welcome contribution to military and weapon history shelves.

U.S. Army Map Reading And Land Navigation Handbook
Dept. of the Army
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.lyonspress.com
1592283829 $18.95 1-800-836-0510

Soldiers need to know how to read maps accurately, how to navigate, and how to understand all manner of maps, compasses, celestial navigation and more. So does the outdoorsman. For the military and the outdoors wilderness trekker, U.S. Army Map Reading And Land Navigation Handbook provides basic instruction on grids, scale and distance, reading overlays and using navigation equipment. A 'must' for any who might need basic survival skills.

Black Submariners
Glenn A. Knoblock
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786419938 $45.00 1-800-253-2187

Black Submariners In The United States Navy 1940-1975 by author, lecturer, and military historian Glenn A. Knoblock is an exploration of the role of African American submariners who served in the U.S. Submarine Serice from World War II through the Cold War era. Black-and-white photographs, biographical portraits of 82 men (many of whom provide oral histories), and appendices listing such things as the names and data profiles of black stewards during WW II round out this impressive and impeccably researched resource. Written in plain terms, Black Submariners is sure to engage the casual reader and avid military historian alike.


The Humor Shelf

A Guy Walks Into A Bar
Michael Lewis
Black Dog & Leventhal
151 W. 19th Street, New York NY 10011
www.bdlev.com
1579124526 $9.95 1-800-722-7202

If it's a definitive guide to bar jokes you seek, look no further than the tips, triva and terms defined by Michael Lewis in A Guy Walks Into A Bar 501 Bar Jokes, Stories, Anecdotes, Quips, Quotes, Riddles And Wisecracks. All the best bar jokes are packed under one cover, making this the perfect item of choice for the friend who imbibes a little too much.


The Parenting Shelf

Your Child Abroad
Jane Wilson-Howarth & Matthew Ellis
Brandt/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.bradtguides.com
184162120X $14.95 1-800-243-0495

The updated and expanded second edition of the classic traveling parents' guide Your Child Abroad: A Travel Health Guide covers everything from tropical jungles to a visit to Europe, offering tips on how to handle both minor problems and emergencies and including the latest medical updates for countries and problems. From handling a child's allergy problems overseas to new antimalarials and a regional risk analysis. Your Child Abroad provides plenty of precautions and risk assessments to make for informed parents.

Last Child In The Woods
Richard Louv
Algonquin Books
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.algonquin.com
1565123913 $24.95 1-800-722-7202

Our kids are the first to be raised without meaningful contact with nature: that's the message and warning of Last Child In The Woods: Saving Out Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Kids are so 'plugged in' that they're becoming 'unplugged' from nature and the outdoors. So why is this of concern? Because columnist Louv links such deficit to the rise of childhood problems ranging from obesity to depression and ADD. Chapters describe the costs of alienating kids from nature - and also provide solutions which are as close as one's back yard.

Why The Wild Things Are
Gail F. Nelson
Harvard University Press
79 Garden St., Cambridge, MA 02138
www.hup.harvard.edu
0674017528 $16.95 1-800-448-2242

Kids live in a world filled with animals both real and fictional, from Black Beauty and Barney to Pooh and more. Kids seem to relate better to their pets than to adults - and may understand them better. Why The Wild Things Are is a fascinating survey of the history, psychology and effects of children's media and how it reflects kids' attraction to animals and its influence on their growth. Chapters tackle such varied subjects as how kids relate to and learn from animals, how they perceive object and animal differences, and how they form close associations with animals. A fascinating and informative survey.

For Goodness' Sake
Michael Nitai Deranja
Crystal Clarity Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
www.crystalclarity.com
1565891937 $12.95 1-800-424-1055

How can parents help support kids and teens as they explore life's values and their own direction? Food Goodness' Sake: Supporting Children & Teens In Discovering Life's Highest Values helps guide the way: it presents activities adults can use to help kids learn from their own experiences. Ages 4-17 alike will explore seventeen selected values, from integrity to willingness, with parents at the helm. An inspirational guide.

Preventing Childhood Obesity
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
National Academies Press
500 - 5th Strett, NW, Box 285, Washington, DC 20055
0309091969 $44.95 www.nap.edu

Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health In The Balance examines the modern crisis in children's health issues: childhood obesity. Not only are the environmental, social, medical and historic factors influencing children's weight considered over the long term, but a prevention program identifies the best of short- and long-term interventions and how adults can guide kids away from common pitfalls. Recommendations range from mobilizing parents to making national health a priority overall.


The Literary Shelf

The Poetic Works Of Helius Eobanus Hessus, Volume 1
Harry Vredeveld, editor and translator
Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
PO Box 872508, Tempe, AZ 85287-2508
0866982574 $75.00 1-480-727-6503

Most of the poetic texts in The Poetic Works Of Helius Eobanus Hessus, Volume 1: Student Years At Erfurt 1504-1509 are rare and previously unedited. They come from Eobanus Hessus' student years attending the University of Erfurt. The works are presented chronologically, in Latin and English, with extensive supplementary notes that assist in explaining the derivation of translations. Indexes, a list of abbreviations, and an index of medieval and neo-Latin words assist in the full comprehension of these classic texts and poetry. Little attempt is given to perfectly match the rhythm of the original Latin; that is left to speak for itself, while the translations focus upon accuracy and meaning. The Poetic Works Of Helius Eobanus Hessus, Volume 1 is especially recommended for scholars of ancient and Latin poetry."A Bucolic Poem": If the rustic Muse of the Sicilian poet delights you, if you, my fellow countrymen, take pleasure in the bucolics of the two Vergils, or if any of you German bards are hankering for something else, put up with me as I too take my place in the Latin countryside. I am the first to pasture a Latin flock on German soil, whether that counts for something or not.

More Book Lust
Nancy Pearl
Sasquatch Books
119 S. Main St. #400, Seattle WA 98104
www.sasquatchbooks.com
1570614350 $16.95 1-800-775-0817

If it's reading lists of extraordinary books you seek, you could do no better than with ex-librarian Nancy Pearl's Book Lust and here, her sequel, More Book Lust, which adds further names - some 120 - to her list of intelligent, thematic books; from 'Cozies' and Dewey decimal areas to books set in geographic regions and fantasies for kids and adults alike. Delicious descriptions of what makes each recommendation special assures readers gain tips ranging from holiday shopping choices to just plain good mysteries.

The Secret Of The Hardy Boys
Marilyn S. Greenwald
Ohio University Press
Scott Quadrangle, Athens, OH 45701
www.ohio.edu/oupress
0821415476 $32.95 1-800-621-2736

Reporter Marilyn Greenwald's The Secret Of The Hardy Boys: Leslie McFarlane And The Stratemeyer Syndicate appeared some time ago and took some time to come to our attention, but deserves ongoing recommendation as a 'must' for any Hardy Boys series fan. Greenwald's reporter background served her well as she synthesized extensive archival records to reveal the relationship between ghostwriter Leslie McFarlane and syndicate chief Edward Stratemeyer. Oh, you thought Franklin W. Dixon wrote the series? NO: he was the creation of Stratemeyer, who founded the same book empire that produced Tom Swift and the Nancy Drew series. Read all about his extensive legacy - and gain a better understanding of and affection for young adult series production.

Fantasy Literature For Children And Young Adults
Ruth Nadelman Lynn
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1591580501 $65.00 www.lu.com

Well over a thousand pages of Fantasy Literature For Children And Young Adults: A Comprehensive Guide, a bibliographic reference pack in nearly 7,500 titles - almost three thousand of them new to this updated fifth edition - for readers of fantasy in grades 3-12: but it's the book's organization which is so unique and makes it such an important tool. For such fantasy synopses are organized under 'Anima', 'Sorcery', 'Time Travel' and the other types of fantasy kids typically ask for, making it easy to cross-reference fantasy novels and story collections published between 1900 and 2004 for kids of all ages. Librarians in particular and any adult regularly working with kids will find Fantasy Literature For Children And Young Adults: A Comprehensive Guide includes grade levels and review citations as well as notes on recommended titles.

Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com

Elizabeth Chesney Zegura edits The Rabelais Encyclopedia (0313310343, $95.00), about a French humanist who was one of the finest French writers of Renaissance times. Specialty college-level holdings on French literature or Renaissance history will find The Rabelais Encyclopedia a specialized yet important addition, providing in-depth coverage of five books written between 1532 and 1553 which rivaled the works of Shakespeare in their time. Rabelais is read in numerous courses on French literature and Renaissance history, so this will prove indispensable for such a collection. Mary Steible's Coriolanus: A Guide To The Play (0313329621, $55.00) joins others in Greenwood's 'Guides to Shakespeare' series, analyzing a play which holds thematic consistency in presenting a class conflict between Roman patricians and plebeians. Use this as a reader's guide to the play: it discusses the history of Coriolanus, its metaphors, provides a plot summary, and discusses its historical, cultural and literary significance as an influencer of Shakespeare. Greenwood's literary biographies are recommended picks for any studying a significant author's works, and Connie Ann Kirk's Sylvia Plath (0313332142, $29.95) is a vivid, complex coverage presenting the facts of her life as they are currently known. Research reflects the latest updated scholarship, including new information from her unabridged journals published in 2000, and the recently accessible Ted Hughes archives, making Kirk's SYLVIA PLATH much more detailed than its biographical predecessors. James H. Meredith's Understanding The Literature Of World War I (0313312001, $45.00) joins others in the 'Literature in Context' series to present high school to college level students with a 'casebook' to issues, sources and historical documents. Students may use this to understand both World War II history and the fiction works which resulted in such classics as All Quiet On The Western Front, making it of dual importance to both American history and literature classes. Also contributin to the 'Literature in Context' series is Lynn Domina's Understanding Ceremony (03-13328595, $45.00), providing a student casebook of examples blending Native American history and insights with a survey of Native and Western literature reflecting on ceremony. Close relationships between social and political issues and Native American literature's rise are revealed in an exciting, different study.


The Library Video/DVD Shelf

Making The Speech
Vat19.com
11783 Borman Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146
$29.95 www.vat19.com

Making the Speech: From Last Year's Loser To This Year's Winner is a how-to DVD for reluctant or nervous speechmakers. Intended especially for students, Making The Speech follows a young man who, with the help of speech guru Doug Masters, learns the tips, tricks and techniques of public speaking and applies them to improve his performance from clumsy to smooth and suave. As entertaining as it is a practical teaching tool, Making The Speech enhances its educational program with on-screen and printable quizzes, printable notes, a teacher's guide, printable versions of famous speeches, and a selection of short drills and lessons. A superb resource for helping young people and teenagers conquer their fear of public speaking. 63 minutes, color.

10 Minute Solution: Carb Burner
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
$14.98 www.collagevideo.com

10 Minute Solution: Carb Burner is an exercise workout DVD especially for people with little time. 10 Minute Solution: Carb Burner offers five different intensity workouts that can be applied individually to blast carbs or combined into a larger workout. The five workouts, each ten minutes long, are "Slow & Steady Burn" for keeping one's heart rate and exertion level at a comfortable pace; "Carb Killer" which applies simple, easy-to-learn kickboxing moves; "Power Blast" for a high-energy, high-power workout; "Interval Burn" which applies boot camp-inspired exercises to build muscular strength; and "Metabolism Booster" which incorporates light hand weights to build lean muscle, increase one's metabolism, and burn more carbs faster. A bonus carb conversion chart is included, along with a collection of 5 useful tips to resist carb cravings. 59 minutes, color.

Degrassi Junior High, Seasons 1 & 2
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
16027 Ventura Blvd., Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
1593752415 $39.95 (season 1)
1593753047 $39.95 (season 2)

As seen on public television, Degrassi Junior High, Seasons 1 & 2 presents the complete seasons of the late 80's-early 90's television series that dared to be different from its peers and portray young people as they really are, through friendship, puberty, athletics, grade pressures and more. Each set consists of the thirteen episodes of the season on three DVDs; season 1's episodes are "Kiss Me, Steph", "The Big Dance", "The Experiment", "The Cover-Up", "The Great Race", "Rumor Has It", "The Best Laid Plans", "Nothing To Fear", "What A Night", "Smokescreen", "It's Late!", "Parents' Night", and "Revolution". Season 2's episodes are "Eggbert", "A Helping Hand", "Great Expectations", "Dinner and a Show", "Stagefright", "Fight!", "Bottled Up", "Sealed with a Kiss", "Dog Days", "Censored", "Trust Me", "...He's Back", and "Pass Tense". The performances, atmosphere, and dialogue all ring true, direct from the heart of personal memories and experiences during tough times, goofing off, and inner challenges of growing up. Special features include bonus videos, trivia quizzes, printable materials for educators, Degrassi Junior High wallpaper, and more. Highly recommended. Approximately 338 minutes each, color, closed captioned.


The Fiction Shelf

Of Their Own Accord
Gary Dolan
The Writer's Collective
c/o Gulotta Communications
341 Lexington St., Newton, MA 02466
1594110263 $24.95 www.booktours.com

Newly married and fresh out of school, Joe Dunn finds that instead of a year of familial intimacy and family comfort, he will be enduring three hundred and sixty-five days of jungle warfare in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam where one wrong move will get you impaled on bamboo spikes, covered with leeches, and hunted by strangers trying very hard to kill you. Joe Dunn is one of the elite long range fighters known as "Charlie Rangers of the American 75th Infantry. Of Their Own Accord gives the reader as close to a real feel for what went on in the jungles of Vietnam as can be had by anyone who wasn't actually there themselves. This is because back then, author Gary Dolan was Lieutenant Gary Dolan, Platoon Leader, 2nd Platoon Company C (Airborne), 75th Infantry (Rangers) and draws upon his first hand experiences and personal memories to breath life (and death) into his characters and the events that were an intimate part of a year in the life of an Airborne Ranger during the height of America's longest and least popular war of the 20th Century. A truly riveting read from beginning to end, Of Their Own Accord is an impressive literary creation and a superbly crafted work of novelized military history.

Boy A
Jonathan Trigell
Serpent's Tail
255 West 108th Street, Suite 9D1, New York, NY 10025
www.serpentstail.com
1852428597 $14.00 1-800-283-3572

Based on a true murder case, Boy A is a singularly powerful novel about a young man, who committed a terrible crime in childhood and has spent most of his brief life in juvenile prison institutions. Now he has to struggle to adapt to the world as an adult, haunted by flashes of violence and fear, trusted by few, understood by virutally none. A disturbing get gripping story that explores both moral and practical questions, as well as the horrific negative repercussions of media hysteria.

Maddalena
Eva Jana Siroka
Semele Books
c/o Gulotta Communications
341 Lexington St., Newton, MA 02466
0976493705 $26.95 semelebooks.com

The debut novel of author and artist Eva Jana Siroka, Maddalena is the first volume of "The Golden Tripolis" trilogy and based on an historical character as the center piece of this love story set in 16th century Rome. Bartholomaeus Spranger (Berti to his friends) is young, handsome, a 20-something Flemish painter, and determined to live his life to the fullest by drinking, feasting, and whoring amidst the brothels and palaces of the Eternal City. Maddalena is a converted Jewish who is the subject of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese's lust in an ages of staggering corruption within the Catholic Church. These are the characters around which the novel evolves and revolves. An engaging and thoroughly entertaining read, Maddalena is enhanced with two dozen full color artworks by the author. With meticulous attention to historical detail that rises to the level of true scholarship, and with her undeniably talent for originality and storytelling, Eva Jana Siroka's Maddalena will leave her readers looking eagerly toward her next foray into fiction which will be titled Bartholomaeus, the second book of a trilogy and which will focus on the man who became the favorite erotic painter for Emperor Rudolf in the heyday of imperial Prague.

Painkiller
Will Staeger
William Morrow & Company
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
10 East 53rd St, NY, NY 10022
www.harpercollins.com
0060765860 $24.95 1-800-242-7737

Painkiller is a riveting 352 page spy novel that expertly interweaves contemporary politics with Caribbean magic and myth. There is a rogue faction within the Chinese military that is threatening to use nuclear terror within American borders with the intent of replacing the United States as the dominant world superpower by the juggernaut totalitarian nation that is China in a growing era of globalization. It will take Julie Laramie, a junior analyst for the CIA at Langley, Virginia to uncover this horrific plot against her country. But it will take the help of quasi-retired, Virgin Islands-based CIA operative known as W. Cooper to buck the CIA brass, deal with a litany of enemies that range from an Haitian witch doctor, to a slave-trading albino serial killer, to a bodybuilding fanatic, to stop a terrifying conspiracy. Painkiller is a roller coaster ride of a read -- and begs to be the stuff of a big-screen movie. Hollywood take note!

The Genizah At The House Of Shepherd
Tamar Yellin
The Toby Press
Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
1592640850 $19.95 www.tobypress.com

The Genizah At The House Of Shepherd is a sweeping novel that follows the return of an English biblical scholar to her grandparents' home in Jerusalem. Immersed in a simmering family feud concerning the so-called "Shepher Codex", she discovers the history of her family, from the great-grandfather who traveled to Babylon in search of the ten lost tribes, to her grandfather's Zionist ideals that caused conflict with his religion, to the tragic love affair of her parents and her own sad past. As much a parable of the transformations in Jerusalem over a hundred and thirty years as it is the story of one woman's struggle for identity and search for answers, The Genizah At The House Of Shepherd is a deeply enthralling narrative of epic spiritual proportions.

Undead And Unappreciated
Mary Janice Davidson
Berkley Sensation
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0425204332 $21.95 penguin.com

Looking for a good mystery which blends in a healthy dose of humor? Look no further than the story of Betsy, a vampire queen with a taste for the good things in life and a penchant for the darkness - even if it does hide strawberry smoothies and some of her other loves in life. At a shower for a wicked stepmother Betsy learns about a long-lost half sister - the devil's daug