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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Lost Amazon, second edition
Text by Wade Davis
Photographs by Richard Evans Schultes
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
www.insighteditions.com
9781608876549 $24.99 hc amazon.com
Now in an updated second edition, The Lost Amazon: The Pioneering Expeditions of Richard
Evans Schultes is the extraordinary, true-life chronicle of explorer and botanist Richard Evans
Schultes (1911-2001) in the depths of the Amazon jungle. In 1941, Schultes left Harvard for a
journey he originally expected to last one semester. Instead, he spent twelve years living among
local tribes, mapping unknown rivers, conducting secret research for the U.S. government during
World War II, and discovering over 300 new plant species. Schultes' black-and-white
photography is featured throughout this extraordinary chronicle of his journey, ideal for
historians and armchair travelers alike. As engrossing as it is educational, The Lost Amazon is
especially recommended for public and college library collections.
Wonder Women
Sam Maggs, author
Sophia Foster-Dimino, illustrator
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781594749254 $16.99 hc / $12.99 Kindle amazon.com
Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History is an
anthology of short biographies of truly brilliant, brave, and outstanding women whose
achievements changed history. From notable women of science such as Ada Lovelace (British
Mathematician and Programmer, 1815-1852), to women of medicine like Marie Equi (American
doctor and birth control advocate, 1872-1952), to women of espionage, innovation, and
adventure, these are incredible and inspirational true stories of women who dared to dream in a
man's world. Additional, briefer vignettes of other notable and accomplished women round out
this fascinating, educational "must-have" for both school and public library collections.
The Fighting Sullivans
Bruce Kuklick
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049
www.kansaspress.ku.edu
9780700623549 $27.95 hc / $15.99 Kindle amazon.com
The Fighting Sullivans: How Hollywood and the Military Make Heroes is the true story behind
the making of a twentieth-century fable. In November of 1942, the five Sullivan brothers of
Waterloo, Iowa, were killed when a Japanese torpedo sank their ship in the South Pacific. The
family's loss was lionized in the 1944 Hollywood film "The Fighting Sullivans". But this flurry
of publicity deliberately obscured more unsavory truths about the situation. The navy had
committed a catastrophe of errors by failing to rescue the survivors after the Sullivans' ship sank,
and the brothers themselves were hardly regarded as heroic prior to their untimely deaths - if
anything, they used to be disliked in their home town. The Fighting Sullivans deconstructs the
process of mythmaking step by step, revealing invaluable lessons about how human perceptions
of real-life events can be clouded on a grand scale. The Fighting Sullivans is fascinating,
insightful, and highly recommended especially for public and university library collections.
The Civil War Shelf
The Union Sixth Corps in the Shenandoah Valley, June-October 1864
Jack H. Lepa
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476666297, $35.00, PB, 228pp, www.amazon.com
During the summer and fall of 1864, Virginia's Shenandoah Valley was one of the most
contested regions of the South. Federal armies invaded the Valley three times -- and twice they
were repulsed by Confederate forces. "The Union Sixth Corps in the Shenandoah Valley,
June-October 1864" by Civil War historian Jack H. Lepa describes the third campaign, the
supreme achievement of the Army of the Potomac's Sixth Corps. One of the most respected units
in the Federal Army, the Sixth Corps formed the nucleus of the Federal force that spent several
months competing for control of the Valley with a desperate Confederate army, resulting in some
of the toughest fighting of the war. Following victories at Winchester and Fisher's Hill the Sixth
Corps campaign culminated with a remarkable stand that stopped the attacking enemy and turned
what began as a disastrous defeat into a spectacular victory at Cedar Creek. Exceptionally well
researched, organized and presented, "The Union Sixth Corps in the Shenandoah Valley,
June-October 1864" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of nine pages of Notes, a nine
page Bibliography, and a four page Index. An outstanding contribution to the growing library of
Civil War literature and very highly recommended for both community, college, and university
Civil War History collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of Civil War buffs that "The Union Sixth Corps in the Shenandoah Valley,
June-October 1864" is also available in a Kindle format ($19.99).
The American History Shelf
Muslims and the Making of America
Amir Hussain
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781481306225, $24.95, HC, 142pp, www.amazon.com
Memories of 9/11 and the rise of global terrorism continue to fuel concerns about American
Muslims. The fear of American Muslims in part stems from the stereotype that all followers of
Islam are violent extremists who want to overturn the American way of life. Inherent to this
stereotype is the popular misconception that Islam is a new religion to America. "In Muslims and
the Making of America" Amir Hussain ( Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount
University in Los Angeles) directly addresses both of these stereotypes. Far from undermining
America, Islam and American Muslims have been, and continue to be, important threads in the
fabric of American life. Professor Hussain chronicles the history of Islam in America to
underscore the valuable cultural influence of Muslims on American life. He then rivets attention
on music, sports, and culture as key areas in which Muslims have shaped and transformed
American identity. America, Professor Hussain concludes, would not exist as it does today
without the essential contributions made by its Muslim citizens. An extraordinary and much
needed historical study and an impressive example of impeccable scholarship, "Muslims and the
Making of America" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, making it
very strongly recommended, especially for community, college, and university library American
History collections and supplemental studies lists. For the personal reading lists of students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "Muslims
and the Making of America" is also available in a Kindle format ($23.70).
Lynched
Angela D. Sims
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602582668 $29.95 hc / $28.45 Kindle amazon.com
Lynched: The Power of Memory in a Culture of Terror is an unflinching, historical study of an
instrument of murder and terrorism in America. Chapters examine lynching as the product of a
culture of violence, domination, and fear. Author Angela D. Sims (Dean of Academic Programs,
Saint Paul School of Theology) draws heavily upon oral histories and testimony to study the
relationship between lynching and the religious self-understanding of a community. The
possibility for hope and justice shines like a distant beacon, but what is the path to reach that
faraway star? "Memories of lynching and a culture of lynching are not the stories of fairy tales.
One too many persons in the United States are reluctant to acknowledge this dark side of our
national history. To cultivate a climate of blind obedience in the twenty-first century is to create
police forces that are symbolic lynching trees. As a prerequisite to healing, lynching must be
named as a national sin." Lynched shines a spotlight on an evil part of American history, and is
highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.
Peck's Beach, third edition
Tim Cain
Down the Shore Publishing
PO Box 100, West Creek, NJ 08092
www.down-the-shore.com
9780945582045, $17.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a revised third edition, "Peck's Beach: A Pictorial History of Ocean City, New Jersey" by
the late Tim Cain has become a classic book about the New Jersey community of Ocean City's
founding and history is now available. Featuring a visual wealth of period photography
enhancing the historical text and commentary, "Peck's Beach" reveals the roots of this unique
seaside community through 21 chapters of anecdotal stories. This informed and informative
examination of Ocean City's past, ranging from the religious founding of the town; to the
Boardwalk, to the Music Pier; as well as the resort's glamorous royal family (Princess Grace and
the Kelly family), the lifeguarding tradition, shipwrecks, coastal storms, and the Sindia. An
informed and informative history "Peck's Beach" is a veritable compendium of Ocean City's
famous moments, firsts, and facts, and so much more. While highly recommended, especially for
community and academic library American Regional History collections, "Peck's Beach" should
be considered a 'must read' for all residents and visitors to one of New Jersey's most iconic
communities.
The World History Shelf
A History of the Modern Middle East, sixth edition
William L. Cleveland & Martin Bunton
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.westviewpress.com
9780813349800, $55.00, PB, 624pp, www.amazon.com
Now in an newly expanded and fully updated sixth addition, "A History of the Modern Middle
East" by the late William L. Cleveland (Professor of History, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby,
British Columbia, Canada) and Martin Bunton (Professor of History, University of Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada) examines the profound and often dramatic transformations of the
region in the past two centuries, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge
of Western imperialism, to the impact of US foreign policies. Built around a framework of
political history, while also carefully integrating social, cultural, and economic developments,
this expertly crafted account provides readers with the most comprehensive, balanced and
penetrating analysis of the modern Middle East. This new edition provides a thorough account of
the major developments since 2012, including the tumultuous aftermath of the Arab uprisings,
the sectarian conflict in Iraq and civil war in Syria that led to the rise of ISIS, the crises in Libya
and Yemen, and the United States' nuclear talks with Iran. With brand-new time lines in each
part, an updated section of select bibliographies, and an expanded online instructor resources, "A
History of the Modern Middle East" remains the quintessential textbook for curriculum courses
on Middle East history. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library
Middle Eastern History collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for students
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "A History of the Modern
Middle East" is also available in a Kindle format ($35.99).
Handbook of the Irish Revival
Declan Kiberd & P. J. Mathews, editor
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268101305, $100.00, HC, 512pp, www.amazon.com
The Irish Revival of 1891 to 1922 was an extraordinary era of literary achievement and political
ferment. This period generated not only a remarkable crop of poets and writers but also a range
of innovative political thinkers and activists. The contributors to this period exchanged ideas and
opinions about what Ireland was and could become, yet much of this discourse remains out of
print, some of these voices almost forgotten. In "Handbook of the Irish Revival: An Anthology of
Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891 - 1922" Declan Kiberd (Donald and Marilyn Keough
Professor of Irish Studies and Professor of English and Irish Language and Literature at the
University of Notre Dame) collects for the first time many of the essays, articles, and letters by
renowned figures such as James Joyce, Maud Gonne, W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Sean
O'Casey, and J. M. Synge, among others. This anthology also contains pieces by less well-known
individuals such as Stopford A. Brooke, Mary Colum, and Helena Molony. Many of the lesser
known texts contextualize the social, political, and cultural lives, values, and aspirations of those
involved in and on the periphery of the Revivalist movement. The introduction and commentary
by Declan Kiberd and P. J. Mathews convey the ideas of a brilliant generation that, in spite of
difficulty and demoralization, audaciously shaped a modern Ireland. Divided into sixteen
sections covering issues as diverse as literature, religion, drama, education, women's rights, and
the 1916 Rising, "Handbook of the Irish Revival" is the ultimate reference book for anyone with
an interest in Irish literature and history. A truly extraordinary anthology, the "Handbook of the
Irish Revival" is unreservedly recommended as an essential, core addition to community, college,
and university Irish History reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be
noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that the
"Handbook of the Irish Revival" is also available in a paperback edition (9780268101312,
$25.00).
The Literary Studies Shelf
Konundrum: Selected Prose of Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka, author
Selected and translated by Peter Wortsman
Archipelago Books
232 Third Street #A111, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.archipelagobooks.org
c/o Penguin Random House (dist.)
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780914671510 $18.00 pbk / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com
Selected and expertly translated from the original German by Peter Wortsman, Konundrum:
Selected Prose of Franz Kafka collects prose writings from the classic German-Jewish author,
especially known for settings in which hapless humans struggle against the unfathomable
machinations of Byzantine bureaucracies (foreshadowing everyday life in the twenty-first
century). The writings chosen for Konundrum include short fiction, black comedy parables, fairy
tales, reflections, even posthumously published letters. The bite-sized offerings and fluid
translation make Konundrum a particularly excellent introduction to Kafka for literary students
and aspiring scholars. Konundrum is especially recommended for public and college library
literary studies shelves.
Lost Profiles: Memoirs of Cubism, Dada, and Surrealism
Philippe Soupault, author
Alan Bernheimer, translator
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872867277 $13.95 www.citylights.com
Superbly translated from the original French by poet Alan Bernheimer, Lost Profiles: Memoirs of
Cubism, Dada, and Surrealism is both memoir and retrospective by the co-founder of the
Surrealist Movement. Chapters reminisce about the international Dada movement that arose as a
negative response to the horrors of World War I, and how Dada transformed into the beginning
of surrealism, then discuss the literary contributions of great authors. Joyce, Proust, Apollinaire,
Cendrars, and more are vividly and intimately portrayed. Lost Profiles is a preserved treasure of
literary history in the making, highly recommended especially for public and college library
collections.
Toni Morrison For Beginners
Ron David
For Beginners LLC
155 Main Street, Suite 211, Danbury, CT 06810
www.forbeginnersbooks.com
9781939994547, $15.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Toni Morrison is an American novelist, editor, and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University.
Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Many
people consider her novels difficult to read. Most of her readers have at least one book on their
shelves that they couldn't finish or, when they did finish one, just scratched their heads in
confusion. And when we think we are sure we know what she's writing about, it turns out we are
half wrong or only getting the tip of the iceberg instead of the whole, beautiful, brooding thing.
"Toni Morrison For Beginners" is about the woman, her books, her mission, her word music, and
all that subtext in her writings. Morrison's books are like the ocean: the surface is beautiful but
everything that gives them life lies beneath. She's the kind of writer who can change your life and
"Toni Morrison For Beginners" is here to help you navigate the words and the woman. While
very highly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary American Literary
Studies collections in general, and Toni Morrison supplemental studies reading lists in particular,
it should be noted that "Toni Morrison For Beginners" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
The Gospel in George MacDonald
George MacDonald, author
Marianne Wright, editor
Plough Publishing House
151 Bowne Drive, PO Box 398, Walden, NY 12586 USA
www.plough.com
9780874867664, $17.60, PB, 358pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Marianne Wright, "The Gospel in George MacDonald" is a superb
introduction to the novels of George MacDonald, a the great Scottish storyteller who is credited
with inspiring C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Mark Twain, W. H. Auden, and J. R. R. Tolkien.
This outstanding anthology of selections drawn from MacDonald's novels, fairy tales, and
sermons reveal the profound and hopeful Christian vision that infuses his fantasy worlds and
other fiction. Those previously unfamiliarly with McDonald will find in these pages a rich,
accessible sampling, while MacDonald enthusiasts will be pleased to find some of the writer's
most compelling stories and wisdom in one volume. Drawn from books including Sir Gibbie,
The Princess and the Goblin, Lilith, and At the Back of the North Wind, the selections are
followed by appreciations by G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis and accompanied by classic
illustrations by Arthur Hughes. While highly recommended for community, college, and
university library Literature Studies collections in general, and George MacDonald supplemental
studies lists in particular, it should be noted that "The Gospel in George MacDonald" is also
available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Unknown Judith Wright
Georgina Arnott
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781742588216, $29.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Judith Wright (1915-2000) remains a giant figure within Australian art, culture, and politics. Her
1946 collection of poetry, "The Moving Image", revolutionized Australian poetry. She helped to
establish the modern Australian environmental movement and was a key player in early
campaigns for Aboriginal land rights. A friend and confidante of artists, writers, scholars,
activists, and policy makers, she remains an inspiration to many. And yet, as Georgina Arnott is
able to show in the pages of her definitive study "The Unknown Judith Wright", the biographical
picture we have had of this renowned poet-activist has been very much a partial one. This
seminal work presents a more human figure than we have previously seen, and concentrates on
Wright's younger years. New material allows us to hear - directly, thrillingly - the feisty voice of
a young Judith Wright, and forces us to reconsider the woman we thought we knew. Thoroughly
'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Unknown Judith Wright" is unreservedly
recommended for community and academic library Literary Studies collections in general, and
supplemental studies reading lists in the subject areas of: Australian History, Art, Poetry, Gender
Studies, Literary Criticism, and Biographies.
The Education Shelf
Twenty Writing Assignments in Context
Melissa Bender & Karma Waltonen
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476665092, $35.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by Melissa Bender (a Lecturer in the University Writing Program and the Assistant
Director of the Writing Across the Curriculum Program at the University of California, Davis),
"Twenty Writing Assignments in Context: An Instructor's Resource for the Composition
Classroom" is comprised of twenty original, classroom-tested by composition experts presenting
assignments designed to teach aspiring writers the basics of composition. This innovative and
diverse collection of college writing assignments deftly explores the practical applications of
each lesson. Drawing upon current best practices, each individual chapter includes a discussion
of the rationale behind the assignment, along with supplemental elements such as guidelines for
evaluation, pre-writing exercises and tips for avoiding common pitfalls. The assignments are
designed for a range of courses, from first-year composition to upper-division writing in various
disciplines. Of special note are Dalyn Luedtke's 'The Discipline Resource Guide Website' and
Gwendolynne Reid's 'Critical Analysis of a Wikipedia Entry'. While unreservedly recommended
for college and university library collections, it should be noted that "Twenty Writing
Assignments in Context" is also available in a Kindle format ($14.99).
Engaging & Challenging Gifted Students
Jenny Grant Rankin
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416623342, $12.95, PB, 64pp, www.amazon.com
Specializing in School Improvement Leadership, Jenny Grant Rankin teaches the Post Doc
Masterclass at the University of Cambridge. In the pages of "Engaging & Challenging Gifted
Students: Tips for Supporting Extraordinary Minds in Your Classroom", she draws upon her
years of experience and expertise to share with classroom teachers how they can learn how to:
Recognize the challenges of each child; Identify the five unexpected traits of exceptional
learners; Adjust their teaching to meet the needs of all learners. Filled with useful, practical,
effective strategies and poignant personal accounts, "Engaging & Challenging Gifted Students"
gives succinct essence of what is needed to prevent those gifted students who need to be
challenged and engaged from slipping through the cracks and falling short of their academic
potential. While unreservedly recommended for college and university library Teacher Education
collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for teacher students, classroom
instructors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Engaging &
Challenging Gifted Students" is also available in a Kindle format ($6.99).
The Mythology Shelf
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
Richard H. Wilkinson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500051207, $39.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
The lives of pharaohs and commoners alike were dominated by the need to honor, worship, and
pacify the huge pantheon of deities. From lavish tomb paintings and imposing temple reliefs to
humble household shrines, countless tributes throughout Egypt reflect the richness and
complexity of their mythology. An absolute 'must' for students of Egyptology, "The Complete
Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt" by Richard H. Wilkinson (Professor and Director of the
University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition) examines the evolution, worship, and eventual
decline of the numerous gods and goddesses ranging from minor household figures such as Bes
and Taweret, to the all-powerful deities Amun and Rethat made Egypt the most completely
theocratic society of the ancient world. With 400 illustrations (including 170 in color) and
specially commissioned drawings, "The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt" is a
comprehensive and authoritative guide to the deities that lay at the heart of Egyptian religion and
society. While emphatically and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library
Egyptology collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Complete Gods and
Goddesses of Ancient Egypt" is also available in a trade paperback edition (9780500284247,
$26.95).
The Art Shelf
Yakuglas' Legacy
Ronald W. Hawker
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
www.utppublishing.com
9781442649408, $85.00, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Charlie James (1867 - 1937) was a premier carver and painter from the Kwakwaka'wakw First
Nation of British Columbia. Also known by his ceremonial name Yakuglas, he was hawker a
prolific artist and activist during a period of severe oppression for First Nations people in
Canada. "Yakuglas' Legacy: The Art and Times of Charlie James" by Ronald W. Hawker
(formerly Associate Chair of the School of Critical and Creative Studies at the Alberta College of
Art and Design and an associate professor in the Department of Art and Design at Zayed
University) deftly examines the life of Charlie James. During the early part of his career James
created works primarily for ritual use within Kwakwaka'wakw society. However, in the 1920s,
his art found a broader audience as he produced more miniatures and paintings. Through a
balanced reading of the historical period and James' artistic production, Professor Hawker argues
that James' shift to contemporary art forms allowed the artist to make a critical statement about
the vitality of Kwakwaka'wakw culture. "Yakuglas' Legacy", enhanced with the inclusion of 123
full color illustrations, is at once a beautiful and poignant study of the impact of the Canadian
project on Aboriginal people and their artistic response. An exceptional scholarly study,
"Yakuglas' Legacy" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Canadian
Art History collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Yakuglas' Legacy" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781442626751, $34.95).
Nordic Painting: The Rise of Modernity
Katharina Alsen & Annika Landmann
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791381312, $75.00, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of art historians Katharina Alsen and Annika Landmann, "Nordic
Painting: The Rise of Modernity" is large-format, lavishly illustrated study that offers a
comprehensive survey of the fin-de-siecle and modernist painting of Scandinavia. "Nordic
Painting" features an impressive and extensive variety of Scandinavian artists and their works
that explore the impact of Nordic geography, history, social mores, and national identities on the
region's painters. Focusing on the "core" countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and
Iceland) as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the Danish-German border region, "Nordic
Painting" presents a thematically organized overview of Nordic art between the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Drawing from the most recent scholarship, "Nordic Painting" considers the
prevalent themes and subjects, such as landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, interiors, modern city
life, and abstraction, and analyzes various works by artists such as Edvard Munch, Vilhelm
Hammershoi, Helene Schjerfbeck, Johannes S. Kjarval, and Sigrid Hjerten. "Nordic Painting"
relates the rise of modernism in Nordic art and discusses the artistic interaction between North
and Central Europe. Of special note is a final chapter is devoted to the significance of Nordic
painting today. Comprehensive and authoritative, this beautifully illustrated compendium will
prove to be the standard instructional reference volume on Nordic art and is especially
recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Art History collections in
general, and Nordic Art supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
Klimt and the Women of Vienna's Golden Age, 1900 - 1918
Tobias Natter
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791355825, $60.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 - February 6, 1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of
the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt is noted for his
paintings, murals, sketches, and other objets d'art. Klimt's primary subject was the female body,
and his works are marked by a frank eroticism. "Klimt and the Women of Vienna's Golden Age,
1900 - 1918" by noted scholar on Austrian Expressionism Tobias Natter is authoritative and
generously illustrated comprehensive study that highlights Gustav Klimt's portrayals of women in
his work. Klimt was a central figure in Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, and a crucial
link between nineteenth-century Symbolism and Modernism. His sensual portrayals of women
are among his most celebrated works and the focus of this book. Highlights of this informed and
informative study include Klimt's most important society portraits, such as Serena Lederer
(1899); Gertrud Loew (1902); Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907); Ma da Primavesi (1913); Elisabeth
Lederer (1914 - 16); and Ria Munk III (1917). These works cover the gamut of Klimt's portrait
style, from his early ethereal works influenced by Symbolism and the Pre-Raphaelite movement
to his so-called "golden style," as well as his almost Fauvist depictions. These art works are
complemented by preparatory Klimt sketches and decorative arts from the Wiener Werkstatte..
"Klimt and the Women of Vienna's Golden Age, 1900 - 1918" is an impressively organized and
presented coffee-table formatted volume that is unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and academic library Art History collections in general, and Gustave Klimt
supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Fiction Shelf
The Devil's Marshal
I. J. Parnham
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444826463, $22.98, PB, Large Print, 240pp, www.amazon.com
When Lucinda Latimer is accused of murdering Archibald Harper, her bounty hunter brother
Brodie is convinced of her innocence. Vowing to find the culprit, he turns up a witness in the
form of drunken varmint Wilfred Clay - who, minutes after admitting to seeing the real killer, is
shot to death on his own front porch. All the clues point to the murderer being Derrick Shelby -
the man known as 'the devil's marshal'. The only trouble is, Derrick died a year ago. I. J.
Parnham's "The Devil's Marshal" is another riveting western action/adventure read by a true
master of the genre. Hurtling from one cliff hanger to another, right down to the final page, "The
Devil's Marshal" is unreservedly recommended to the attention of all western novel buffs and this
large print edition will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Western
Fiction collections.
Wild Things
Jaimee Wriston Colbert
BkMk Press
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University House, Room 224, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2446
www.umkc.edu/bkmk
9781943491056, $15.95, PB, 249pp, www.amazon.com
"Wild Things" by Jaimee Wriston Colbert is impressive collection of fourteen "linked,
rural-noir" stories that depict endangered humans in endangered environments. This is a short
story anthology for modern times. Colbert's human characters face displacement, just like the
tropical alligator who appears in New York's Susquehanna River. They face sheer desperation,
like that of an ohia tree clinging to solid lava on a Hawaiian volcano. In an environment where
good-paying factory jobs are an endangered species, Colbert's protagonists confront such post-
industrial predations as meth, homelessness, and the ghosts of lost dreams. Their survival is their
triumph. Exceptionally well written and a consistently compelling read from cover to cover,
"Wild Things" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists as well as both community
and academic library General Fiction collections.
Renato After Alba
Eugene Mirabelli
McPherson & Company, Publishers
PO Box 1126, Kingston, NY 12402
www.mcphersonco.com
9781620540268, $24.00, HC, 188pp, www.amazon.com
"Renato After Alba" is the sequel to author Eugene Mirabelli's "Renato, The Painter"
(9780929701967, $25.00) and continues ten years after the conclusion of Renato Stillamare's
defiant confessions to Alba, his beloved wife of fifty years who dies without warning, leaving
him in pieces. When he resumes his narrative, this larger-than-life artist has been reduced to a
gray existence of messy confusion broken belief, crazy hope, desperate philosophy. A man of
fragments but still an artist, he assembles a collage of scenes of life with and without Alba,
recollections of his eccentric Sicilian-American family, encounters with well-meaning friends,
daily attempts at resuming his former life, and metaphysical railings against any deity capable of
destroying what it has created. In "Renato After Alba", the deepest sorrow is not merely
lacerating, outrageous, heart-rending, and tragic, but also, for someone so completely human as
the enduring Renato, touchingly comic. And miraculously beautiful in its astonishment. A
literary masterpiece by a novelist with an impressive flair for deftly crafting memorable
characters and construction consistently compelling storylines, "Renato After Alba" is especially
recommended for community and academic library Literary Fiction collections -- and is a 'must'
for anyone who has read and appreciated "Renato, The Painter".
Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont
Aris Janigian
Rare Bird Books
453 South Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angeles, CA 90013
www.rarebirdlit.com
9781942600190, $20.00, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Set in two iconic locales (Hollywood's legendary Chateau Marmont and Fresno's amazing
Forestiere's Underground Garden) "Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont" by Aris Janigian
is a bold and colorful critique of the California Dream through the perspective of screenwriter
who has gone from riches to rags. A kind of Hollywood version of Waiting for Godot, Janigian's
Lipchitz is a stunningly original take on the absent protagonist and what is illuminated in the
void. A consistently engaging and deftly crafted novel from beginning to end, "Waiting for
Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont" is an especially recommended addition to community, college,
and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont" is also available in a Kindle
format ($8.69).
The Lesser Blessed
Richard Van Camp
Douglas & McIntyre
c/o Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771621137, $16.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Larry is a Dogrib Indian growing up in the small northern town of Fort Simmer. His tongue, his
hallucinations and his fantasies are hotter than the center of the sun. At sixteen, he loves Iron
Maiden, the North and Juliet Hope, the high school "tramp." In this powerful and very funny
debut novel, author Richard Van Camp gives us one of the most original teenage characters in
Canadian fiction. Skinny as spaghetti, nervy and self-deprecating, Larry is an appealing mixture
of bravado and vulnerability. His past holds many terrors: an abusive father, blackouts from
sniffing gasoline, an accident that killed several of his cousins, and he's now being hunted and
haunted by a pack of blue monkeys. But through his new friendship with Johnny, a Metis who
just moved to town, he's now ready to face his memories -- and his future. "The Lesser Blessed"
is an eye-opening depiction of what it is to be a young Dogrib man in the age of AIDS,
disillusionment with Catholicism, and a growing world consciousness. This 20th anniversary
edition of a true Canadian literary classic from Douglas & McIntyre is unreservedly
recommended, especially for community, college, and university library General Fiction
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Lesser Blessed" is also
available in a Kindle format ($9.59).
The Library Science Shelf
Developing Digital Scholarship
Alison Mackenzie & Lindsey Martin, editors
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783301102, $70.00, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Alison Mackenzie (Dean of Learning Services at
Edge Hill University) and Lindsey Martin (Assistant Head of learning Services at Edge Hill
University), "Developing Digital Scholarship: Emerging Practices in Academic Libraries"
provides strategic insights drawn from professional librarians who are successfully meeting the
challenge of digital scholarship, utilizing the latest technologies and creating new knowledge in
partnership with researchers, scholars, colleagues and students. This edited collection spans a
wide range of contrasting perspectives, contexts, insights and case studies, which explore the
relationships between digital scholarship, contemporary academic libraries and professional
practice. The contributors to "Developing Digital Scholarship" demonstrate that there are
opportunities to be bold, remodel, trial new approaches and reposition the library as a key partner
in the process of digital scholarship. "Developing Digital Scholarship" covers such issues as: The
impact of digital scholarship on organizational strategies; Developing digital capable librarians;
Social networking with the scholarly community; Digital scholarship centers; New approaches to
service delivery; Re-visioning of space, physical and virtual. "Developing Digital Scholarship" is
an essential guide for librarians and information professionals involved in digital scholarship and
communication, and are interested in extending their awareness of emerging practices, as well as
library administrators and students studying library and information science. While unreservedly
recommended for college and university Library Science curriculum's and collections, it should
be noted that "Developing Digital Scholarship " is a critically important read for all members of
private, corporate, governmental, community and academic libraries who are charged with
developing and/or upgrading digital elements of their library systems for the benefit of their
patrons.
The Poetry Shelf
Daughter, Daedalus
Alison D. Moncrief Bromage
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612481838, $18.00, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com
"Daughter, Daedalus" is a compendium of free verse poetry by Alison D. Moncrief Bromage that
is composed of loss and beauty. Bromage uses detailed themes of mothering and barrenness so
wonderfully interwoven that her readers will feel the pain and want as seeming simultaneously
just out of reach and attached to the soul. In her collection of apostrophes and open letters to the
mythic inventor Daedalus and her daughter, Bromage hauntingly presents intersections between
the natural laws of the physical world and the powers of mystery, creation, and myth. "Daughter,
Daedalus" is an especially recommended addition to community and academic library
Contemporary American Poetry collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that
"Daughter, Daedalus" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99). 'Daughter; The cold will
come': The cold will come to deliver you / as a body surrounded by another. / If you must take
hold of me here, / I will meet you / north as we are. / There are no islands in winter.
The Technology Shelf
Guide to Wireless Communications, fourth edition
Jorge L. Olenewa
Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.cengageptr.com
9781305958531, $208.95, PB, 528pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, "Guide to Wireless Communications " by
Jorge L. Olenewa (an instructor at George Brown College for more than 15 years, where he
continues to teach and assist in the creation and implementation of several programs of study
related to networking and wireless technologies.) is a complete and comprehensive instructional
textbook about the most popular wireless data communications technologies in use today
including Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite communications, as well as providing a
broad industry perspective. "Guide to Wireless Communications" provides a solid base of
knowledge in Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs), Wireless Local Area Networks
(WLANs), Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs), and Wireless Wide Area Networks
(WWANs) and offers a better understand the most popular wireless communications available
today. "Guide to Wireless Communications" presents a comprehensive approach to wireless
communication technology providing the solid background needed to prepare for a future career
in today's information and communications technology field. Enhanced with an extensive sixteen
page Glossary and a thirteen page Index, "Guide to Wireless Communications" is unreservedly
recommended as a curriculum textbook and an essential core addition to technical school, college
and university library Communications Technology collections and supplemental studies lists. It
should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Guide to Wireless Communications" is also available in a Kindle format ($124.49) -- and can be
rented $83.58 PB / $84.34 Kindle.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Edgar Allan Poe and the London Monster
Karen Lee Street
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681772202, $25.95, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
In the summer of 1840, Edgar Allan Poe sails from Philadelphia to London to meet his friend C.
Auguste Dupin, with the hope that the great detective will help him solve a family mystery. For
Poe has inherited a mahogany box containing a collection of letters allegedly written by his
grandparents, Elizabeth and Henry Arnold. The Arnolds were actors who struggled to make a
living on the London stage, but the mysterious letters suggest that the couple has a more
clandestine and nefarious lifestyle, stalking well-to-do young women at night, to slice their
clothing and derrieres. Poe hopes to prove the missives forgeries; Dupin wonders if perhaps they
are real, but their content fantasy. Soon Poe is being stalked by someone who knows far more
about his grandparents and their crimes than he does. And then he remembers disturbing attacks
made upon him as a child in London -- could the perpetrators be connected? An inherently
riveting read from cover to cover, "Edgar Allan Poe and the London Monster" showcases author
Karen Lee Street as an impressively gifted novelist with a genuine flair for crafting memorable
characters and constructing a riveting storyline of unexpected twists and turns. While very highly
recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Edgar Allan Poe and the London Monster" is also available in a
Kindle format ($12.99).
The Cookbook Shelf
Soup for Syria
Barbara Abedeni Massaad, editor
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566560894, $30.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Because of the plight of the Syrian people, acclaimed chefs and cookbook authors the world over
have come together to help food relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian refugees.
Each professional chef has contributed a recipe to this beautifully illustrated cookbook of
delicious soups from around the world. The culinary contributors to "Soup for Syria: Recipes to
Celebrate our Shared Humanity" include: Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, Anthony Bourdain,
Alice Waters, Paula Wolfert, Claudia Roden, Chef Greg Malouf, Chef Alexis Coquelet, Chef
Chris Borunda, Chef Alexandra Stratou, Necibe Dogru, Aglaia Kremenzi, and many others. The
recipes themselves range from Greg Malouf's Fennel Soup with Lemon and Cinnamon; to Sally
Butcher's Iranian Pomegranate Soup; to Fernando Gomez's Red Pepper Soup; to Oumayma
Nadar's Spicy Sweet Potato Soup. All these outstanding soup recipes are made with 'no-fuss'
ingredients easily found in any local supermarket. "Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate our
Shared Humanity" is enthusiastically and unreservedly recommended for personal, family,
professional, and community library cookbook collections.
The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen Editors
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781940352640, $29.95, PB, 440pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by the editorial staff of America's Test Kitchen, "The Complete Mediterranean
Cookbook" beautifully showcases some five hundred authentic Mediterranean recipes suitable
for any and all dining occasions. Of special note are the informative Introduction, the section on
'Nutritional Information for Our Recipes', a chart of 'Conversions and Equivalents', and a recipe
Index. The dishes themselves range from a Tricolor Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette; Warm
Farro with Lemon and Herbs; Hearty Tuscan Bean Stew; and Sauteed Zucchini Ribbons; to
Grilled Swordfish with Eggplant, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad; Flank Steak Peperonata; Potato,
Swiss Chard, and Lamb Hash with Poached Eggs; Whole-Wheat Pizza with Feat, Figs, and
Honey; and Olive Oil-Yogurt Cake. Each recipe comes with an introduction, listing of
ingredients, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step instructions, as well as the number of
servings. A delight to browse through, and inspiring to plan menus with, "The Complete
Mediterranean Cookbook" is unreservedly recommended for family and community library
cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook" is also
available in a Kindle format ($28.99).
Not My Mother's Kitchen
Rob Chirico
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
www.imaginebks.com
9781623545017, $24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Rob Chirico is a freelance writer and artist whose work has appeared in the food journal
Gastronomica. Rob first learned to cook as a defense against his Italian-American mother's awful
meals. After discovering that there was more to real food than canned ravioli and frozen
vegetables, he decided to try his hand in the kitchen. "Not My Mother's Kitchen: Rediscovering
Italian-American Cooking Through Stories and Recipes" is his personal memoir and presents
recipes, cooking techniques, and tips that he has cultivated over the decades. Blendin expert
kitchen-based experience with an engaging and humorous narrative on growing up with suspect
meals, "Not My Mother's Kitchen" is a compelling and informative read from beginning to end,
and offers a wealth of culinary inspiration for menu planning with dishes that range from Frittata
with Grape Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Prosciutto; to Pears Stuffed with Gorgonzola; to
Twice-Cooked Green Beans and Potatoes with Tomato Sauce; to Meatloaf with Wild
Mushrooms, and so many more! Also available in a Kindle format ($11.99), "Not My Mother's
Kitchen" will prove to be an enduringly popular and unusual addition to personal, family, and
community library cookbook collections.
Our Best Bites
Sara Wells & Kate Jones
Shadow Mountain Publishing
P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0178
www.shadowmountain.com
9781629722634, $21.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborate effort of award winning food bloggers Sara Wells and Kate Jones, "Our Best
Bites" beautifully showcases some150 palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly
recipes (some of which are intermingled with favorite blog requests). Of special note are the
illustrated, step-by-step tutorials; ideas for using leftove4r ingredients; shortcuts and tips for
cooking; and serving suggestions. These culinarily impressive dishes range from a Mango
Coconut Smoothie; Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole; Cranberry-Orange Chicken Salad;
and Chipotle Beef Taquitos; to Indian-Spiced Pork Skewers; Grilled Potatoes and Onions;
Fire-Roasted Artichokes; and Strawberry Cheesecake Bars. Of special note are the delicious,
mouth-watering recipes for Stovetop Kettle Corn and Cinnamon Bun Caramel Corn! Certain to
be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community cookbook collections,
"Our Best Bites" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended!
Indian for Everyone
Anupy Singla
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841628, $35.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Anupy Singla is an acknowledged authority on Indian home cooking, and her expertise with
delicious, healthful recipes has endeared her to fans everywhere. In "Indian for Everyone: The
Home Cook's Guide to Traditional Favorites" she has compiled authentic recipes that opens up
the true simplicity and flavor of Indian food for anyone, regardless of any dietary restrictions or
previous familiarity. Singla's recipes feature popular favorites, regional specialties, and (unlike
any other ethnic Indian cookbook) provides alternative preparation styles for every recipe.
Included are quick-and-easy adaptations for making a meal vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free, or
even in the slow cooker. Beginners appreciate the Singla's step-by-step instructions, while
veteran home cooks now have a reference point for family favorites, including little-known
instructions and standard cook times. The beautifully illustrated dishes range from Angoor Chaat
(Tangy Grape Salad); Masala Bharwan Bhindi (Stuffed Okra); Imlee Lobhia (Black-Eyed peas in
Tamarind-Coconut Curry); and Lamb Kabobs; to Sambhar (Spiced South Indian Stew); Makki ki
Roti (Indian corn Bread); Kheer (Rice Pudding); and Kulfi (Indian Ice Cream). While a truly
extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library
collection, it should be noted that "Indian for Everyone" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781572841970, $22.95) and in a Kindle format ($18.70).
Portuguese Homestyle Cooking
Ana Patuleia Ortins
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566567268, $35.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
While Mediterranean food is widely popular, not many kitchen cooks are familiar with genuine
Portuguese cooking, a cuisine that is a melange of Mediterranean, mountain, and Atlantic coast
influences. Portuguese cooking is especially notable for the abundant use of legumes and leafy
greens in hearty soups and stews; unusual combinations of meat and shellfish; wine and garlic
marinated casseroles; simple seafood preparations; luscious egg-sweet desserts; and fresh herb
bread. It's all part of the rich and tasty tapestry that Ana Ortins, a passionate Portuguese cook,
dishes up in the pages of "Portuguese Homestyle Cooking". Nicely illustrated throughout, the
palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes range from Chickpea Soup with Spinach; Peel-and-Eat
Shrimp Portuguese-Style; Marinated Beefsteaks; and Portuguese Potato Fries; to Fried Flat
Bread; Pasta Pudding; Squash Fritters; and Custard Cream Pasties. Of special note is the chapter
devoted to the wines of Portugal. While unreservedly recommended for family and community
library ethnic cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Portuguese Homestyle Cooking" is
also available in a paperback edition (9781566564083, $24.95) and in a Kindle format
($21.20).
One-Pan Wonders
Cook's Country, editor
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781940352848, $27.95, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Cook's Country, "One-Pan Wonders: Fuss-Free Meals for Your Sheet
Pan, Dutch Oven, Skillet, Roasting Pan, Casserole, and Slow Cooker" beautifully illustrates and
showcases some 130 meticulously tested recipes that deliver fresh, fuss-free meals from a single
vessel. These are recipes that have been specifically tailored to highlight each vessel's strengths,
from imparting a deep, flavorful sear on chicken breasts to roasting a turkey breast above bread
stuffing to turning out supremely tender slow-cooked beef. And each individual recipe is
engineered to ensure every component of the meals turns out perfectly cooked and ready to eat at
the same time. The result is an authoritative resource that will allow even the most novice of
kitchen cooks to prepare simple yet satisfying meals for any and all dining occasions with recipes
ranging from Parmesan Chicken with Warm Arugula, Radicchio, and Fennel Salad; Flank Steak
Tacos with Charred Corn Salsa; Meatloaf with Sour Cream and Chive smashed Potatoes; to
Simple Pot Roast with Root Vegetables; Spicy Shrimp with Cheesy Grits; Peruvian Roast
Chicken with Swiss Chard and Sweet Potatoes; Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Couscous; and Beef
and Three-Bean Chile. Simply stated, "One-Pan Wonders" will prove to be an ideal and treasured
addition to any and all personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should
be noted that "One-Pan Wonders: Fuss-Free Meals for Your Sheet Pan, Dutch Oven, Skillet,
Roasting Pan, Casserole, and Slow Cooker" is also available in a Kindle format ($25.99).
The American Cancer Society New Healthy Eating Cookbook
Jeanne Besser
American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-2002
www.cancer.org
9781604432374, $22.95, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Jeanne Besser is a former food columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and author of
numerous cookbooks, including the American Cancer Society's "The Great American Eat-Right
Cookbook" and "What to Eat During Cancer Treatment". In "The American Cancer Society New
Healthy Eating Cookbook " Besser features more than 100 simple and delicious dishes that will
turn healthy eating into a celebration of good food for anyone undergoing cancer treatments.
"The American Cancer Society New Healthy Eating Cookbook " is enhanced with the inclusion
of healthy substitutions, simple tips in the kitchen, smart shopping ideas, and notes on how to
judge portion sizes. There is new material on how to shop in a healthy way, how to set up a
pantry for healthy meals, and even guidelines for physical activity. With the latest research,
revisions to recipes, and updated recommendations for healthy eating, "The American Cancer
Society New Healthy Eating Cookbook" makes it fun and easy to eat well with dishes that range
from Maple Mustard Salmon; Lentil Salad with Tahini Dressing; and Banana-Yogurt Muffins; to
Carrot-Apple-Ginger Juice; Roasted Carrot Hummus; and Roasted Pineapple with Toasted
Coconut. Featuring full color photography of completed dishes, "The American Cancer Society
New Healthy Eating Cookbook" is very highly recommended, especially for personal, family,
and community library cookbook collections.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Freefall into Fiction: Finding Form
Barbara Turner-Vesselago
www.freefallwriting.com
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781785921728, $18.95, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Barbara Turner-Vesselago is a published author who teaches Freefall Writing Workships
(www.freefallwriting.com). Her first book, "Writing Without a Parachute: The Art of Freefall"
(9781908363046, $9.99 Kindle), showed writers how to fall in love with writing. With "Freefall
into Fiction: Finding Form" Barbara builds on her first 'how to' instructional guide and
encourages writers to pursue their work with intention and without inhibition. "Freefall into
Fiction: Finding Form" is specifically designed to help writers, step-by-step, to create publishable
short stories, novels and memoirs by finding their own unique balance between the exploration
offered by Freefall Writing and the requirements of each particular genre. "Freefall into Fiction:
Finding Form" penetrates deep inside the writing process where that balancing act takes place.
While unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists for aspiring authors seeking to improve their skills
that "Freefall into Fiction: Finding Form" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Gender Medicine
Marek Glezerman, M. D.
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468313185, $29.95, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Over millions of years, male and female bodies developed crucial physiological differences to
improve the chances for human survival. These differences have become culturally obsolete with
the overturning of traditional gender roles. But they are nevertheless very real, and they go well
beyond the obvious sexual and reproductive variances: men and women differ in terms of
digestion, which affects the way medications are absorbed. Sensitivity to pain is dependent on
gender. Even the symptoms of a heart attack manifest differently in a man than in a woman. And
yet the medical establishment largely treats male and female patients as though their needs are
identical. In fact, medical research is still done predominately on men, and the results are then
applied to the treatment of women. This is clearly problematic and calls for a paradigm change.
That is the clarion message of "Gender Medicine: The Groundbreaking New Science of Gender-
and Sex-Based Diagnosis and Treatment" by Dr. Marek Glezerman (Professor Emeritus Chairman
of Gender Medicine, and Chairman of the Ethics Committee at the Sackler School of Medicine,
Tel Aviv University). As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking,
"Gender Medicine" is an especially recommended addition to community and academic library
Health/Medicine collections. For the personal reading lists of medical students and non-specialists
general readers with an interest in the subject, it should be noted that "Gender Medicine " is also
available in a paperback edition (9781468314977, $17.95) and in a Kindle format ($14.16).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Apothecary's Curse
Barbara Barnett
Pyr
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633882331, $17.00, PB, 340pp, www.amazon.com
In Victorian London, the fates of physician Simon Bell and apothecary Gaelan Erceldoune
entwine when Simon gives his wife an elixir created by Gaelan from an ancient manuscript.
Meant to cure her cancer, it kills her. Suicidal, Simon swallows the remainder--only to find he
cannot die. Five years later, hearing rumors of a Bedlam inmate with regenerative powers like his
own, Simon is shocked to discover it's Gaelan. The two men conceal their immortality, but the
only hope of reversing their condition rests with Gaelan's missing manuscript. When modern-day
pharmaceutical company Transdiff Genomics unearths diaries describing the torture of Bedlam
inmates, the company's scientists suspect a link between Gaelan and an unnamed inmate. Gaelan
and Transdiff Genomics geneticist Anne Shawe are powerfully drawn to each other, and her
family connection to his manuscript leads to a stunning revelation. Will it bring ruin or
redemption? A uniquely compelling read from cover to cover, "The Apothecary's Curse" clearly
showcases author Barbara Barnett's impressively storytelling skills and abilities to craft
memorable characters and a story that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book has
been finished and set back upon the shelf. While unreservedly recommended, especially for
community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "The Apothecary's Curse" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.99).
The Political Science Shelf
Crossroads for Liberty
William J. Watkins, Jr.
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428
www.independent.org
9781598132793, $32.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
What did the American Founders actually intend for the country, and does it even matter today? If
America began as an idea, then what kind of idea? In a time of increasing turmoil over American
history, politics, and society, "Crossroads for Liberty: Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of
America's First Constitution" by William J. Watkins, Jr. (a Research Fellow at the Independent
Institute) takes a surprising and thought-provoking look at the American Revolution, the Articles
of Confederation, and the Constitution, and asks what we can learn from them. Informed and
informative, "Crossroads for Liberty" is a critically important study of American political life, and
a much needed reexamination of the American Founding that presents a significant contribution to
the story of America. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of current political
and constitutional issues, as well as a new perspective on American history. While very highly
recommended, especially for community, college, and university library Political Science
collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for students and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that "Crossroads for Liberty" is also available in an
eTextbook format ($9.99).
The Reference Shelf
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2017
Sarah Janssen
World Almanac
c/o Infobase Learning
132 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
http://www.worldalmanac.com/world-almanac.aspx
9781600572067, $34.95, HC, 1008pp, www.amazon.com
Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The World Almanac and Book of
Facts" is compendium of information that reviews the events of 2016 and will be a primary go-to
source for questions on any topic. Informed and informative, the features include: Top 10 News
Topics: The editors of The World Almanac(R) list the top stories that held the world's attention in
2016; Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports
fan, featuring complete coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the 2016 World Series, and
much more; Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2016, covering
news, entertainment, science, and sports; Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac(R) editors
found some of the strangest news stories of the year; World Almanac (R) Editors' Picks: Time
Capsule: The World Almanac(R) lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2016, from
news and sports to pop culture; Election Results: The World Almanac(R) provides a
comprehensive look at the entire 2016 election process, from the roller coaster of the early
primaries to state and county presidential voting results and coverage of House, Senate, and
gubernatorial races; The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac(R)
provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world;
World Almanac (R) Editors' Picks: The Best Teams That Never Won It All: In light of Golden
State's unprecedented regular season success and eventual downfall in the NBA Finals, The World
Almanac(R) takes a look back into sports history for the best teams that fell just short of
championship glory; Statistical Spotlight: A brand-new feature highlights statistics relevant to the
biggest stories of the year. These data provide context to give readers a fresh perspective on
important issues; Other New Highlights: Newly available statistics on sexuality, student loans,
overdose deaths, state minimum wages, and much more. While unreservedly recommended,
especially for school and community library collections, it should be noted for students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subjects covered that "The World Almanac
and Book of Facts 2017" is also available in a paperback edition (9781600572050, $14.99) and in
a Kindle format ($10.99).
The Economic Studies Shelf
SUPERHUBS
Sandra Navidi
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
20 Park Plaza, Suite 610, Boston, MA 02116
www.nicholasbrealey.com
9781857886641, $29.95, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com
"SUPERHUBS: How the Financial Elite and their Networks Rule Our World" by Sandra Navidi
(the Founder and CEO of BeyondGlobal, a consulting firm, where she renders macroeconomic
and strategic positioning advice) is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how the world's most
powerful titans, the "superhubs" pull the levers of our global financial system. Combining an
insider's knowledge with principles of network science, Navidi offers a startling new perspective
on how superhubs build their powerful networks and how their decisions impact all our lives.
"SUPERHUBS" reveals what happens at the exclusive, invitation-only platforms such as: The
World Economic Forum in Davos, the meetings of the International Monetary Fund, think-tank
gatherings and exclusive galas. "SUPERHUBS" is the most vivid portrait to date of the global
elite including: bank CEOs, fund managers, billionaire financiers and the politicians who, through
their interlocking relationships and collective influence are transforming our increasingly fragile
financial system, economy and society. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"SUPERHUBS" is a critically important and highly recommended addition to community and
academic library Political Science & Economics collections. It should be noted for students and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "SUPERHUBS" is also available
in a Kindle format ($15.99).
The Biography Shelf
Vanished Hero
Jay A. Stout
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612003955 $32.95 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysterious Disappearance of America's World War II Strafing
King is the fascinating biography of a little known yet courageous (and outrageous) commander
from World War II. Elwyn G. Righetti led the England-based 55th Fighter Group against the
Nazis during the final months of the war. He was a bold aviator and scored 27 strafing victories,
more than any other Eighth Air Force pilot. His reckless behavior heralded his end - when his
aircraft was hit, he performed one more firing pass with his heavily damaged fighter before
making a crash landing. He radioed his men with a message that he was fine, asking them to
reassure his family - and was never heard from again. Enhanced with a wealth of vintage black-
and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography, and an index, Vanished Hero is a welcome addition
to military biography collections, and highly recommended for both public library collections and
personal reading lists.
Bust Hell Wide Open
Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr.
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
300 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.regnery.com
9781621575931 $29.99 hc / $17.00 Kindle amazon.com
Bust Hell Wide Open: The Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest is a biography of the charismatic,
controversial, and larger-than-life Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877), a
ferocious figure of the American Civil War. Forrest was a gigantic man, who killed no less than
thirty people in combat. Controversy surrounds his life; he was a wealthy slave trader before the
war (though he became impoverished by the end of his life); during the war he was allegedly
responsible for the massacre of surrendered soldiers, especially black soldiers, at Fort Pillow; and
he was the first elected leader of the Ku Klux Klan, a group he later sought to disband and
disavow. Enhanced with notes and an index, Bust Hell Wide Open is a scholarly biography that
seeks to understand all the complexities of the proud and defiant General Forrest, and highly
recommended especially for public and college library collections.
John Aubrey, My Own Life
Edited by Ruth Scurr
New York Review of Books
435 Hudson Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10014
www.nybooks.com
9781681370422 $35.00 hc / $17.99 Kindle amazon.com
John Aubrey, My Own Life is the portrait of an extraordinary man, and a pioneer of the art of
biographical writing, in his own words. John Aubrey (1626-1697) was a talented writer who is
best for writing "Brief Lives", a collection of short biographies, his groundbreaking work in the
field of archaeology, and his devotion to facts and truth. Historian and literary critic Ruth Scurr
has collated Aubrey's own words from countless manuscripts, letters, and books, arranged them in
chronological order, updated words and spellings to modern-day English, and further enhanced
them with scholarly notes for clarity. A bibliography and an index round out this unique,
enlightening, and highly recommended contribution to public and college library biography
shelves.
Kierkegaard: A Single Life
Stephen Backhouse
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com
9780310520887, $24.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (5 May 1813 - 11 November 1855) was a Danish philosopher,
theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first
existentialist philosopher. Kierkegaard, like Einstein and Freud, is one of those geniuses whose
ideas permeate the culture and shape our world even when relatively few people have read their
works. That lack of familiarity with the real Kierkegaard is about to change with the publication
of a "Kierkegaard: A Single Life", a lucid new biography by scholar Stephen Backhouse that
presents the genius as well as the acutely sensitive man behind the brilliant books. Scholarly and
accessible, "Kierkegaard: A Single Life" introduces his many guises (the thinker, the lover, the
recluse, the writer, the controversialist) in a deftly written biography that reads like a novel. Of
special note is the chapter examining Kierkegaard's influence on such greatest cultural icons as
Kafka, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Camus, and Martin Luther King Jr., to name only a few. A useful
appendix presents an overview of each of Kierkegaard's works, for the scholar and the
non-specialist general reader. Impressively informed and informative, "Kierkegaard: A Single
Life" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library biography
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Kierkegaard: A Single Life" is also
available in a Kindle format ($12.99).
Underground Ranger
Doug Thompson
www.parkrangerdoug.com
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
www.unmpress.com
9780826357502, $24.95, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
For six exciting years Doug Thompson worked as a park ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National
Park. In "Underground Ranger: Adventures in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Other
Remarkable Places" he passes along the essence of what he learned on this unusual job and in his
related adventures exploring the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. He overcame his fear of tight
spaces and heights, learned to climb rope, and went on to explore many of the deep vertical caves
in the Guadalupe Mountains of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico -- including
Lechuguilla Cave, one of the most spectacular underground wonders of the world. He even
became a member of the park's technical rescue team and made a fifty-story rappel into one of the
deepest underground pits in the United States. In visceral detail, Thompson shares the physical
and mythical stories of caves and shows what it's like to experience the extravagant beauty of
nature's underground realm. After retiring from the National Park Service, Doug Thompson
moved to the juniper-pinon hills of Capitan, New Mexico. Readers are encouraged to visit his
Underground Ranger website at www.parkrangerdoug.com. While very highly recommended for
both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Underground Ranger" is also available in a Kindle format
($9.99).
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Blueberry, Cranberry, and Lingonberry Diseases and Pests, second edition
James J. Polashock, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890545362, $149.00, PB, 231pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly revised, updated, and expanded second edition, "Compendium of Blueberry,
Cranberry, and Lingonberry Diseases and Pests" is comprehensive new diagnostic and
management guide is the largest, most comprehensive APS compendium published to date.
Nearly triple the thickness of the first edition, it collectively covers nearly 150 diseases, pests, and
disorders of blueberry, cranberry, and lingonberry crops. It is ideal for large and small commercial
growing operations, nurseries, as well as the advisors that serve them, including universities,
extension offices, independent consultants, and diagnostic labs. Profusely illustrated in full color,
"Compendium of Blueberry, Cranberry, and Lingonberry Diseases and Pests" is a critically
important contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library Agricultural
Science collections in general, and Blueberry, Cranberry, and Ligonberry supplemental studies
reading lists in particular.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Inside an Osprey's Nest
Teena Ruark Gorrow & Criag A. Koppie
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764352003, $24.99, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Teena Ruark Gorrow is a Professor of Teacher Education at Salisbury University, who lives on
Maryland's Eastern Shore with her family. Craig A. Koppie is a raptor biologist with the US Fish
& Wildlife Service. Together the have collaborated to take their readers on a photographic journey
through nesting season with a newly mated osprey pair. In this true raptor adventure, the ospreys
prepare a nest and mate, but their eggs do not hatch. Through an unlikely twist of events, the
unviable eggs are swapped by biologists with hatchlings from an ill-fated nest. Readers will read a
photographically illustrated and heartwarming account as the adults become foster parents and
care for the young, including a nest interloper. Readers will witness the helpless chicks grow into
fledglings and experience first flight. "Inside an Osprey's Nest: A Photographic Journey through
Nesting Season" is enhanced with the inclusion of resources that include the osprey's current
plight, tips for helping injured ospreys, and a glossary of terms. This informed and informatively
illustrated compilation of comprehensive information featuring some 380 photographs in the
ospreys' natural habitat makes it a highly recommended contribution to community and academic
library Pets/Wildlife collections, and an ideal addition to the personal reading lists of raptor
enthusiasts, webcam viewers, nature and wildlife lovers, conservationists, teachers, children, and
wildlife photographers.
The Nautical Shelf
Taliesin's Tales: Sailing Towards the Southern Cross
Lin and Larry Pardey, authors
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518
L & L Pardee Publications
120 Monda Way, Bluelake, CA 95525
www.paracay.com
9781929214112, $18.95 PB, $ 9.95 Kindle, 189pp, www.amazon.com
"Taliesin's Tales" is a fascinating account of a series of maiden ship voyages of a beautiful ocean
cruising boat designed to replace the earlier vessel owned by the Pardeys, the Seraffyn. Their
ocean tale of Taliesin's voyages began off southern California and the Sea of Cortez and continued
on toe French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and New Zealand. Filled with color photos of
the famous nautical couple on their exciting marine adventure, "Taliesin's Tales" is a very exciting
book with elements of human interest, marine adventure, practical sailing advice, and threads of
danger laced with mind enhancing moments of soul-seeking clarity. In their journey the sailing
couple encounter hospitality, surprises, beauty, sordid knavery and thieving, and natural obstacles
and challenges. They also found a quality of precious joy in their long sea voyage together alone.
Many friends became a part of "Taliesin's Tales," as evidenced in both the photos and narrative.
Traced on a series of maritime maps, their voyages wends its way towards the Southern Cross.
Paradise can be dangerous, but the sailing experiences of the Pardeys is certainly inspirational to
armchair voyagers and real life sailors as well. This complex narrative is enhanced by beautiful
color photographs of island natives, the Taliesin under sail, marine life, and beautiful sailing
scenes. "Taliesin's Tales" is a great narrative for all marine travel lovers, sailors and landlubbers
who dream of voyaging to paradise.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Manga Classics: Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte, author
Story Adaptation by Crystal S. Chan
Art by SunNeko Lee
Udon Entertainment
www.udonentertainment.com
www.mangaclassics.com
9781927925652 $19.99 pbk / $10.78 Kindle amazon.com
Part of the Manga Classics series of black-and-white graphic novels adapting great novels with
artwork reminiscent of the style used by Japanese comics ("manga"), Manga Classics: Jane Eyre
presents the timeless tale by Charlotte Bronte in an accessible, reader-friendly format for readers
of all ages. Manga Classics: Jane Eyre does not take any liberties with the original novel about an
independent young woman in Victorian England, who values listening to her conscience even if
doing so may break her heart. Manga Classics: Jane Eyre is especially ideal for high school and
public library collections, as an excellent way to encourage teenagers and adults alike to
experience Bronte's masterpiece! Highly recommended.
The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 4
Konami Kanata
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.vertical-inc.com
9781942993575 $24.95 amazon.com
The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 4 is the full-color manga (Japanese comics) conclusion to
the story of Chi, an innocent kitten adopted by a loving family. Part 4 contains volumes 10, 11,
and 12 of the original manga, including extras (such as cutouts and comments from creator
Konami Kanata) and a bonus cat comic. The story takes a dramatic turn when Chi's family
stumbles across a "lost kitten" poster that looks extraordinarily similar to Chi. Chi herself must
grapple with the shocking idea that she is a cat - and therefore very different from the humans she
loves so much! The simple art is the perfect complement for this heartwarming story, ideal for cat
lovers of all ages as well as public library graphic novel collections.
Seeking Refuge
Irene N. Watts, author
Illustrations by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
Tradewind Books
202-1807 Maritime Mews, Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 3W7
www.tradewindbooks.com
9781926890029 $15.95 US / $18.95 CAD amazon.com
Seeking Refuge is a black-and-white graphic novel about Marianne, a young refugee girl who
flees Nazi Germany on the kindertransporte to relative safety in Britain. Although Marianne is
fortunate to escape the Nazi death camps, she is lonely in her new home. Learning to speak
English is difficult, and she dearly misses her real family. Although Seeking Refuge is fictional,
the story is directly based on the real-life experiences of almost 10,000 children from Germany,
Austria, and Czechoslovakia, including author Irene N. Watts. Seeking Refuge is highly
recommended for all ages and public library as well as personal graphic novel collections, as is
the preceding graphic novel "Goodbye Marianne".
The Audiobook Shelf
Classic Ghost Stories
Charles Dickens and M.R. James
Read by Stephen Critchlow
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9789626344590 $17.98 amazon.com
Superbly performed by theater, television, film, and BBC Radio Drama actor Stephen Critchlow,
Classic Ghost Stories is an audiobook anthology of terrifying supernatural tales by timeless
authors Charles Dickens and M.R. James. These spine-tingling stories have terrified generations -
listen to them in the dead of night strictly at your own risk! The paranormal stories are "The
Signal-Man", "Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad", "The Mezzotint", "To Be Taken With
a Grain of Salt", and "Rats". Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library
audiobook collections. 2CDs, 2 hours 30 min. 51 sec.
Holding Nothing Back
Mark Nepo
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com
9781604076745 $19.95 amazon.com
Poet, philosopher, and bestselling author Mark Nepo presents Holding Nothing Back: Essentials
for an Authentic Life, a spiritual self-help guide designed to help listeners live more fully in the
moment, engage in true-self expression, and better understand paradoxes of life such as how
humans need both solitude and community. Enlightening and eye-opening, Holding Nothing Back
is an inspiration for listeners from all walks of life. Highly recommended. 2 CDs, 2 hours 27
min.
Operation Happiness
Kristi Ling
Blackstone Audiobooks
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781441798190 $29.95 amazon.com
Read by author Kristi Ling, Operation Happiness: The 3-Step Plan to Creating a Life of Lasting
Joy, Abundant Energy, and Radical Bliss is based upon a simple yet profound revelation:
happiness isn't something you feel, it's something you do. Ling covers the three foundational
principles to transform one's viewpoint and take greater pleasure in everyday life. Blending
elements of memoir and self-help guide, Operation Happiness outlines straightforward steps that
anyone can take to permanently improve their outlook. Highly recommended! 7 CDs, 8
hours.
The Library CD Shelf
Sanctuary for the Soul
Janice Lacy Project
www.janicelacymusic.com
Shore Light Records
$15.25 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Sanctuary for the Soul is the instrumental debut album of Los Angeles-based pianist and
composer Janice Lacy, in collaboration with pianist and keyboardist Rob Mullins, cellist Jeness,
bassist Larry Antonio, and drummer and percussionist Tony Braunagel. All tracks were composed
by Lacy and range from solo piano to piano-cello duets to a mellifluous melding of bass, drums,
and percussion or synthesizer. Gentle jazz stylings send the listener's imagination on a world-
spanning journey, in this soundscape treasure created to refresh and rejuvenate the spirit. Highly
recommended! The tracks are "Sanctuary for the Soul" (3:52), "Take Care of My Heart" (2:56),
"Everything's Alright" (3:56), "Lovers' Flight" (3:33), "Refuge" (3:34), "Sunrise Dance" (4:19),
"Through the Shadows" (2:49), "Shimmering Ocean" (2:23), "December Goodbye" (3:12), "Jim's
Waltz" (2:58), "Crystal Harbor" (1:45), "Full Moon" (3:33), "Prayer" (3:49), and "Tell You That I
Love You" (4:45).
The Recognition
Art Patience
www.artpatience.com
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$14.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 amazon.com
The Recognition is a full-length New Age album featuring the compositions, harmonica, and
guitar music of Art Patience (with additional guitar contributions by Dan Mahoney). The
soothing, instrumental stylings encourage relaxation and thoughtful contemplation, with a binding
theme reflecting the nuances of an enlightening journey through transformative natural
landscapes. The Recognition is a treasure for connoisseurs that redefines the limits of the humble
yet beloved harmonica, and highly recommended for both personal and public library music
collections. The tracks are "Compassion" (5:49), "The Wishing Well" (6:22), "Memorial Day"
(5:15), "Flight of the Butterfly" (4:23), "The Treehouse" (6:05), "Spirit of the Woods" (5:53),
"Safe Journeys" (5:27), "Winds of Change" (7:03), and "The Recognition" (5:56). 53 min. 44
sec.
Mystic's Nine
Dyan Garris
DyanGarrisMusic.com
Privately Published
$12.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Mystic's Nine is a captivating CD New Age album that beautifully demonstrates composer Dyan
Garris' keyboarding talent. Two songs have vocal tracks (with lyrics printed on the album's case);
the rest are instrumental. A soundscape that soothes the quiescent soul, Mystic's Nine is highly
recommended for both personal and public library ambient music collections. The tracks are
"Mystic's 9" (4:25), "Mystic Sea" (4:28), "Muse's Gift" (3:21), "Mystical" (5:25), "Mystic Kiss"
(3:49), "Heaven's Gate" (3:53), "Cloud 9" (2:47), "The Mist" (4:11), "East on 9th" (3:54),
"Aquamarine" (3:46), and "Water for the Soul" (2:52). 43 min.
Openings
Nick DeCesare
https://nickdecesaremusic.com
Privately Published
$15.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Acoustic pianist Nick DeCesare presents Openings, a captivating solo piano album featuring
music to gently lift the heart and soothe the soul. The peaceful, mind-expanding stylings
encourage meditation, reflection, or simple rest in the listener. Openings is a treasure for new age
piano connoisseurs, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The
tracks are "Prologue Anthem", "Grace Rapids", "Joy", "Morning", "Farewell", "Ocean Waltz",
"Rainy Day", "Lullabye", "In Love", "Moonlit Cathedral", "Visit", "Sanctuary", and "Epilogue:
Return".
Resonance
Peter Kater
New Earth Records
www.NewEarthRecords.com
c/o Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com
$16.98 CD / $9.49 download amazon.com
Resonance is an instrumental soundscape that embodies the essence of New Age music - healing,
mindfulness, spiritual awakening. Peter Kater's tender piano playing is enriched with synthesizers,
gongs, chimes, and melodic strings. A joy to experience, especially when unwinding after a hard
day, Resonance is highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The
tracks are Resonance (5:17), "Twilight Star" (6:37), "Echo Inside" (9:00), "Night's Cavern" (9:47),
"One Flame" (6:21), "Venus in Pisces" (9:11), "Rebirth" (9:57) and "Resonance (Reprise)" (3:55).
60 min., 5 sec.
The Library DVD Shelf
Britain's Bloody Crown
Athena Learning
c/o Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
$39.99 amazon.com
Historian and journalist Dan Jones presents Britain's Bloody Crown, an exciting, four-part
historical documentary about the Wars of the Roses, a series of vicious wars fought between the
House of Lancaster and the House of York for control of the throne of England during the latter
half of the 1400's. Thousands of people perished, and the crown changed hands seven times in
three decades, in a ruthless saga of battle and betrayal, brought to life with scripted re-enactments.
It should be noted that the cruelties of Britain's history are not for the faint of heart; Britain's
Bloody Crown contains violence and sexual situations. Britain's Bloody Crown is utterly
fascinating, highly recommended for both personal and public library DVD collections. 4 episodes
on 2 DVDs, 188 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.
The Military Shelf
Under a Blood Red Sun
John J. Domagalski
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612004075 $32.95 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Under a Blood Red Sun: The Remarkable Story of PT Boats in the Philippines and the Rescue of
General MacArthur is the true story of the American sailors who manned small wooden torpedo
(PT) boats in the Pacific theatre of World War II. Led by the heroic Lieutenant John D. Bulkeley,
they battled the navy and air power of Imperial Japan. When America's defense of the Philippines
fared poorly for US forces, the unit earned fame and a place in history by successfully evacuating
General Douglas MacArthur from the front. The squadron battled until all six of its torpedo boats
were destroyed under fire. The blockbuster 1945 movie "They Were Expendable" starring John
Wayne and Robert Montgomery was based on their sacrifice. Under a Blood Red Sun balances
scholarly research with accessible storytelling to preserve and illuminate the story of Lieutenant
Bulkeley and his men, enriched with maps, appendices, notes, a bibliography, and an index.
Highly recommended, especially for public and college library military history collections.
The Language Studies Shelf
Medieval Mosaic, second edition
A.W. Godfrey
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com
9780865168411 $39.00 amazon.com
Now in a second edition with seven new selections (mostly from women writers), Medieval
Mosaic: A Book of Medieval Latin Readings is a selection of brief, vocabulary and
comprehension-building Latin writings that show the theology, culture, history, and spiritual lives
of people living in the fourth through fifteenth centuries C.E., a span covering the rise of early
Christianity and the Renaissance. Occasional black-and-white reproductions of classical artwork
and Latin vocabulary notes enrich this excellent pick for intermediate Latin students, college
course reading lists, and college library Latin Studies shelves.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2016
Lawrence Harbison
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259055, $24.95, PB, 570pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by Lawrence Harbison (who for more than 30 years was in charge of new play
acquisitions for Samuel French, Inc.), "The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2016" is comprised of fifty
terrific new ten-minute plays all successfully produced during the 2015-2016 theatrical season.
They are written in a variety of styles. Some realistic plays, some are not, some comic, some are
dramatic. Included is a comprehensive list of theatres which do ten-minute plays. The plays range
from Before or After (Christopher Lockheardt); Best Lei'd Plans (Kelly Younger); Broken (James
McLindon), and Family of Flechner (Gregory Fletcher); to Foodies (Jenny Lyn Bader); The Great
Gaffe (Jennifer O'Grady); Heartland (Andrea Fleck Clardy); Here Comes the Drone (Arlene
Hutton); and LaRuta (Mayank Keshaviah). A theatrical landmark publication, "The Best
Ten-Minute Plays 2016" is an essential, core addition to personal, professional, community
theatre, community library, and academic library collections.
The Homeowner's Shelf
Plumbing
Steve Cory
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781631861628, $24.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Stanley's "Plumbing: A Homeowner's Guide" by Steve Cory is a comprehensive, visual handbook
packed with step-by-step photographs and authoritative, reliable, detailed information. Eventually,
every homeowner needs be able to repair, replace, or upgrade a plumbing fixture because doing it
yourself will save a great deal of money. With today's materials and installation methods, almost
any plumbing project is DIY-doable with a modest set of tools and basic skills. Whether it's a
faucet repair or installing plumbing for a new bathroom, all the projects from the simple to the
complex are thoroughly explained and illustrated. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, every home and every community library should have a copy of Stanley's
"Plumbing: A Homeowner's Guide".
The Philosophy Shelf
Red Rising and Philosophy
Courtland Lewis & Kevin McCain, editors
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com
9780812699470, $19.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Collaborative compiled and co-edited by Courtland Lewis (an Instructor of Philosophy at
Owensboro Community and Technical College, Kentucky) and Kevin McCain (Assistant
Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham) "Red Rising and
Philosophy" is comprised of contributions by a crew of the wisest Helldivers philosophy can offer
address such questions as: Could humanity's love of physical enhancements cause its extinction?
Do people doom humanity by trying to all be the same? Can a person love someone, while at the
same time wanting that person destroyed? Is equality always the best principle on which to
organize society? What is evil, and how does it exist in contemporary life? Does one remain the
same person, even after changing every physical aspect of one's body? Is it moral to sell oneself
into slavery, whether it's through sex or manual labor? Is it ethical to sell one's children into
slavery, on the promise that their children will live in peace and tranquility? These questions and
more are what make Pierce Brown's "Red Rising" trilogy such an resonating story. Brown pulls no
punches, and philosophy works best in such an environment. While highly recommended for
personal, community, and academic library Popular Culture & Philosophy collections, it should be
noted that "Red Rising and Philosophy" is not for the timid or the faint at heart. But reading it
could be a life-changing experience!
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Remembering for the Future
Michael Berenbaum, Richard Libowitz, Marcia Sachs Littell, eds.
Paragon House
3600 Labore Road, Suite 1, St. Paul, MN 55110-4144
www.paragonhouse.com
9781557789235, $24.95, PB, 308pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Michael Berenbaum, Richard Libowitz, Marcia Sachs Littell, "Remembering for the Future: Armenia, Auschwitz, and Beyond" is an anthology of new and original research by genocide and holocaust scholars and commemorates a series of significant anniversaries, such as: 100 years since the beginning of the Armenian Genocide; 80 years since the Barmen Declaration; 75 years since the beginning of World War II; 70 years since the uprising at Auschwitz. Other topics under discussion include: Holocaust Education for Future Generations, Personal Experiences, as well as New Forms of antisemitism. The seventeen original and seminal articles comprising "Remembering for the Future" are enhanced with the inclusion of a memorial tribute to Dr. Elisabeth Maxwell z"l, a six page listing of the contributors and their credentials, and a twenty-one page index. An absolutely essential addition to community, college, and university library Genocide/Holocaust collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Remembering for the Future" is also available in a Kindle format ($9.95).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
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