 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Library Bookwatch |
Library Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Logic for Everyone: From Proof to Paradox
Jason Decker
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781009220538, $135.00, HC, 461pp
https://www.amazon.com/Logic-Everyone-Paradox-Jason-Decker/dp/1009220535
Synopsis: A rigorous, yet accessible and entertaining introduction to the field of logic, "Logic for Everyone: From Proof to
Paradox" by Professor Jason Decker provides students (and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject)
with a unique insight into logic as a living field and how it connects to other fields of inquiry including philosophy,
computer science, linguistics, and mathematics.
With no background knowledge needed, the reader is introduced to a critical examination of 'classical logic', and the
technical issues and paradoxes that may be encountered. Each chapter includes key pedagogical features such as marginal
notes, definitions, chapter summaries and practice exercises. Arguments are backed up by authentic examples of logic
within natural languages and everyday life.
Ideal as a college/university philosophy curriculum textbook, the flexible chapter structure of "Logic for Everyone: From
Proof to Paradox" allows classroom instructors to tailor their teaching for either a one-semester or two-semester course,
according to their students' needs and knowledge. Online resources include a companion website featuring further
readings, class handouts, LaTeX resources, along with an Online Proof Evaluator allowing students to get real-time
feedback.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Logic for Everyone: From Proof to Paradox" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Philosophy collections and
curriculum studies .list. It should be noted for students, academia, and the general public that this large format (7 x 1 x 10
inches, 2.23 pounds) hardcover edition of "Logic for Everyone: From Proof to Paradox" from the Cambridge University
Press is also available in paperback (9781009220552, $45.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $43.69).
Editorial Note: Jason Decker (https://www.carleton.edu/directory/jdecker) is a Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive
Science at Carleton College, where he has taught a variety of courses in logic, language, mind, epistemology, cognitive
science, conspiracy theories and color. He has been teaching formal logic for twenty years since receiving his Ph.D. from
MIT in 2006. He has served as an associate editor of the journal Analysis and has published numerous papers on relevant
topics.
The Social Issues Shelf
Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
Claudia Rowe
Abrams Press
c/o Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
www.abramsbooks.com
9781419763151, $28.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wards-State-Shadow-American-Foster/dp/1419763156
Synopsis: A compelling and informative exploration of the broken American foster care system, told through the stories of six former foster youth. "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care" by journalist Claudia Rowe is powerful, narrative driven, study that delves into the systemic failures that has lead many foster children into the criminal justice system, and thereby highlighting the urgent need for reform.
Rowe brings her extensive experience and investigative prowess to this eye-opening work. With a career spanning over 25 years. In "Wards of the State", her storytelling approach is both vivid and unflinching, offering readers a deep understanding of the foster care-to-prison pipeline. Through interviews with psychologists, advocates, judges, and the former foster children themselves, Rowe paints a heartbreaking picture of the lives shaped by this broken system.
For example -- By the time Maryanne was 16 years old, she had been arrested for murder. In and out of foster and adoptive homes since age 10, she'd run away, been trafficked and assaulted, and finally pointed a gun at the latest man to take her into his car. She pulled the trigger and fled. But with no family to turn to and few reliable friends, it didn't take long for the police to catch up with her.
In court, the defense blamed neither traffickers, nor Maryanne, but Washington state itself -- or rather, its foster care system, which parents thousands of children every year. The courts did not listen to that argument, but concerned journalist Claudia Rowe did.
Washington state isn't alone. Each year, hundreds of thousands of children grow up in America's $30 billion foster care system, only to leave and enter its prisons, where a quarter of all inmates are former foster youth.
Weaving Maryanne's story with those of five other foster kids across the country (including an 18-year-old sleeping on the New York City subways; a gangbanger turned graduate student; and a foster child who is now a policy advisor to the White House) Rowe paints a visceral survival narrative showing exactly where, when, and how the system channels children into locked cells.
Critique: Simply stated, "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care" by Claudia Rowe is essential for anyone concerned with child welfare, social justice, and the transformative power of seminal and groundbreaking studies as this. Expertly well written, impressively organized, emotionally and intellectually engaging, eloquently presented, "Wards of the State" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Social Issues and Child Welfare collections and curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, social work professionals, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Wards of the State" from Abrams Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.20, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Claudia Rowe (https://www.claudiarowejournalist.com) has been writing about the hallways where kids and government clash for 25 years. Her reporting on racially skewed school discipline for The Seattle Times helped to change education laws in Washington State, and her coverage of Latino youth gangs was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Claudia has also written for the New York Times and Mother Jones. She was recently hired as a columnist focused on foster care, juvenile justice, and public education at the online news site Crosscut, where her work is seen by nearly 1 million viewers a month. She received the Washington State Book Award for her true crime memoir The Spider and the Fly, and published the successful Amazon Original Story Time Out in 2018.
The Economic Studies Shelf
Commodity Chains under Pressure
Lara M. Espeter & Linda Herring, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781035355297, $150.00, HC, 248pp
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/commodity-chains-under-pressure-9781035355297.html
Synopsis: Collaborative compiled and co-edited by Lara M. Espeter and Linda Herring, "Commodity Chains under
Pressure: Resilience through Coping, Adaptation, and Transformation" is insightful collection of ten impressively erudite
and informatively insightful contributions by experts in their fields that collectively presents an overview of how external
shocks affect commodity chains and their neighbouring systems. Knowledgeable contributors employ diverse theoretical
and methodological approaches to illustrate the extensive scope of this research area, exploring the impact of external
shocks throughout various parts of the commodity chain.
Dedicated chapters investigate the intricate relationships between agricultural commodity chains and external shocks
through interdisciplinary lenses, including geography, communication studies, economics, history, and sociology. They
draw on case studies from around the world ranging from the Kenyan cut roses industry to sheep farming in the UK,
providing individual and comparative analyses of the challenges caused by external forces. Examining the effects of both
short- and long-term shocks, the book evaluates potential actor strategies, ultimately underscoring the need for increased
collaboration across all scientific disciplines.
Presenting novel perspectives on the multiple social and spatial transformations associated with agricultural products,
"Commodity Chains under Pressure" is an invaluable read for students and scholars in global value chains, development
studies, human geography, sociology, and agricultural economics. Its practical guidance is also beneficial for policymakers
and practitioners in agriculture and supply chain analysis.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of numerous Tables, Figures, and an five page
listing of the contributors and their credentials, "Commodity Chains under Pressure: Resilience through Coping,
Adaptation, and Transformation" is exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, making it a valued,
timely, and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and college/university library Contemporary
Economics and Business Globalization collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Lara M. Espeter is with the Department of Sociology, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany.
Editorial Note #2: Linda Hering is with the Department of Geography, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany.
The Science Shelf
Reefs of Time
Lisa S. Gardiner
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691247335, $29.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reefs-Time-Fossils-Reveal-Survival/dp/0691247331
Synopsis: With rising global temperatures, pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, and other problems caused by
humans, there's no question that today's coral reefs are in trouble. As predictions about the future of these ecosystems grow
increasingly dire, scientists are looking in an unlikely place for new ways to save corals: the past. The reefs of yesteryear
faced challenges too, from changing sea level to temperature shifts, and understanding how they survived and when they
faltered can help guide our efforts to help ensure a future for reefs.
With the publication of "Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival", science writer Lisa Gardiner has
woven together the latest cutting-edge science with stories of her own expeditions to tropical locales to show how fossils
and other reef remains offer tantalizing glimpses of how corals persisted through time, and how this knowledge can guide
our efforts to ensure a future for these remarkable organisms.
In "Reefs of Time", Gardiner takes her readers on an excursion into "the shallow end of deep time" (when marine life was
much like today's yet unaffected by human influence) to explore the cities of fossilized limestone left behind by corals and
other reef life millennia ago. The changes in reefs today are unlike anything ever seen before, but the fossil record offers
hope that the coral reefs of tomorrow can weather the environmental challenges that lie ahead.
A breathtaking journey of scientific discovery, "Reefs of Time" reveals how lessons from the past can help us to chart a
path forward for coral reefs struggling for survival in an age of climate crisis and mass extinction.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a two page listing of Acknowledgments,
thirty pages of Notes, and an eleven page Index, "Reefs of Time: What Fossils Reveal about Coral Survival" is thoroughly
'reader friendly' in organization and presentation that makes it particularly appropriate for both the environmental studies
student and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject. Impressively informed and informative,
thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Reefs of Time" will prove to be of extraordinary interest to readers specifically
concerned about the impact of human pollution of the oceans and the rapid acceleration of climate change on coral reef
systems (and the marine life that depends upon them). Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Marine Environmentalism/Ecology collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Reefs of Time" from the Princeton University
Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.17).
Editorial Note: Lisa S. Gardiner (https://lisagardiner.com/index.html) is a science writer, geoscientist, and educator. She is
also the author of Tales from an Uncertain World: What Other Assorted Disasters Can Teach Us about Climate Change.
Her writing has appeared in leading publications such as the Atlantic, Hakai Magazine, and Scientific American.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control
Raj K. Keservani and Alka Lohani, editors
CRC Press
c/o Routledge
https://www.routledge.com
9781774917664, $240.00, HC, 442pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nutraceuticals-Obesity-Management-Control-Advances/dp/1774917661
Synopsis: A nutraceutical is a pharmaceutical effect derived from a compound or food product. In the United States,
nutraceuticals are considered and regulated as a subset of foods (such as dietary supplements) by the Food and Drug
Administration.
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Professors Raj K. Keservani and Alka Lohani, "Nutraceuticals in Obesity
Management and Control" provides detailed information on nutraceuticals that can be helpful in the control and
management of obesity.
"Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control" clarifies key aspects of nutraceuticals that include sources,
extraction, chemistry, mechanisms of action, pharmacology, bioavailability, safety, and various applications.
Beginning with a concise overview of the prevalence of obesity, complications related to obesity, and current treatment
regimens, "Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control " delves into the roles of functional foods and
nutraceuticals for the management of body weight and for alleviating obesity co-morbidities. It goes on to discuss the
effect of some of the most commonly and frequently used naturally occurring nutraceutical substances, along with their
mechanisms of action in controlling obesity.
"Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control" also looks at the role of nutraceutical fruits as well as the beneficial
aspects of carotenoids in fruits and vegetables and explores antioxidant-rich nutraceuticals, the role of vitamins and
supplements, the use of green tea, and the potential of pseudocereals and spices in the management of metabolic
syndrome.
Critique: An ideal and comprehensive textbook that is deftly organized into four major sections (Nutrition, Vegetables and
Fruits in Obesity; Antioxidants and Vitamins in Obesity; Spices and Cereals in Obesity; Micronutrients, Polyphenols, and
Others in Obsity), "Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control" also includes a four page listing of the
contributors and their credentials and a sixteen page Index. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $120.84),
this hardcover edition of "Nutraceuticals in Obesity Management and Control" from CRC Press is a critically important
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and college/university library Health/Medical and
Obesity Treatment collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Raj K. Keservani, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy at CSM Group of Institutions, Prayagraj,
India. He has more than 12 years of academic (teaching) experience and has published peer-reviewed papers, book
chapters, and edited and authored books in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. He is active as a reviewer for several
international scientific journals. His research interests include nutraceutical and functional foods, novel drug delivery
systems (NDDS), transdermal drug delivery/drug delivery, health science, cancer biology, and neurobiology. He is also
co-editor of the book series AAP Advances in Nutraceuticals.
Editorial Note #2: Alka Lohani, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Amity Institute of Pharmacy of Amity University,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her area of research expertise is dermatology, development of cosmetic formulations,
transdermal drug delivery systems, nanotechnology, and polymer-based drug delivery systems. Dr. Lohani has gained
international recognition and prestigious grants. Her research excellence was acknowledged at the IBRO Neuroscience
School Nepal - 2024, where she received the "Best Dream Project" award for her outstanding project. With over 12 years
of teaching and research experience, Dr. Lohani has made significant scholarly contributions. She has authored more than
30 research articles and has edited books and published several book chapters. She also serves as a reviewer for various
journals, including the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Cosmetics, Molecules, International Journal of Dermatology and
Venereology, and Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology.
The American History Shelf
Black Hills History Tours: The Gateway to the Hills
David A. Wolff
South Dakota Historical Society Press
https://www.sdhspress.com
9781941813584, $19.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hills-History-Tours-Gateway/dp/B0F6PGSFDJ
Synopsis: From military expeditions to gold mining boomtowns, outlandish business ventures to stunning national parks,
the Black Hills teem with history as rich as their natural beauty. Inspired by field trips that he organized for his classes at
Black Hills State University, with the publication of "Black Hills History Tours: The Gateway to the Hills", Professor
David A. Wolff has distilled decades of experience exploring, researching, and teaching the history of this majestic region
into accessible and informative self-guided tours.
In February 1876, John Brennan and his associates decided to abandon their mining claims and create a service center
modeled on Denver, Colorado. Dubbed Rapid City, the town overcame a rocky start to become "the Gateway to the Black
Hills." In this armchair traveler's South Dakota history tour, you will discover how Rapid City and the gold towns of the
Central Hills adapted to changing times and conquered the dreaded boom-and-bust cycle.
Featuring maps by the South Dakota Department of Transportation and dozens of photographs, Wolff's historical synopsis
provides just the right amount of context for each site on the route, along with precise mileage and directions. By tour's
end, you will have completed a mini-course in Black Hills history!
Critique: Impressively well written, accessibly organized, reader friendly in presentation, "Black Hills History Tours: The
Gateway to the Hills" by Professor David A. Wolff is nicely illustrated throughout with B/W historical photos, as well as
featuring an eight page Bibliography and a nine page Index. A fun and fascinating read from cover to cover, this paperback
edition of "Black Hills History Tours: The Gateway to the Hills" from the South Dakota Historical Society Press is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library South Dakota History
and Travel Guide collections.
Editorial Note: David A. Wolff is professor emeritus of history at Black Hills State University, where he specialized in
South Dakota and the Black Hills. He is the author of three books on Black Hills and mining history. His honors include
BHSU's distinguished Faculty Member Award. (https://sdhumanities.org/david-wolff)
The World History Shelf
Repast: The Story of Food
Jenny Linford
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500481158, $45.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Repast-Story-Food-British-Museum/dp/0500481156
Synopsis: Our insatiable appetite for creativity in the kitchen (or around the open fire) is reflected in the fascinating objects
explored within the pages of "Repast: The Story of Food". Written by food writer Jenny Linford in collaboration with the
British Museum, "Repast" focuses on artifacts in the museum's collection (from ancient clay cooking vessels to exquisite
gold cups) spanning multiple continents and dating from prehistory to the modern day.
Taking a broadly chronological approach to the subject, "Repast" is arranged into thirteen thematic chapters, starting with
explorations of hunting and gathering and ending with the history of eating out; along the way, agriculture, alcohol, and
cooking (among other subjects) are also investigated. Interspersed among the many remarkable objects examined in each
chapter is a series of in-depth essays on such topics as tea (the world's most consumed drink after water), pork (one of the
world's most consumed meats), and wheat (the source of 20 percent of the world's human calorie consumption), revealing
the many social, cultural, and religious aspects of food.
Through a feast of words and images, "Repast" presents the irresistible, international story of food, drink, and the culinary
arts.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with 300 color illustrations in support of an exceptionally well
written and impressively informative text, British food writer Jenny Linford's "Repast: The Story of Food" is an inherently
fascinating and informative read from start to finish. This large format hardcover edition of "Repast: The Story of Food"
from Thames & Hudson is a unique and emphatically recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Culinary/Gastronomy collections and supplemental 'History of Food' curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note: Jenny Linford (https://jennylinford.co.uk) is a London-based food writer and a long-standing member of
the Guild of Food Writers. She has written more than fifteen books, including The Missing Ingredient: The Curious Role
of Time in Food and Flavor, which explores time as the "universal, invisible ingredient" in the food we grow, make, and
cook. She also produces and presents a cheese-centric podcast called A Slice of Cheese for Food FM Radio.
The Military History Shelf
Five Flags: The Warship that Reshaped the World
Stuart Buxton
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811777230, $34.95, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Flags-Warship-Reshaped-World/dp/0811777235
Synopsis: As wooden ships gave way to ironclads, and sail gave way to steam in the nineteenth century, one warship
fought through the civil wars that shaped modern America, Germany and Japan. Its career spanned high politics and secret
diplomacy, arms dealers and royal courts, spies, sailors, and samurai across three continents. In a vivid narrative travelling
from London to Paris, from Copenhagen to Havana, from Washington to Tokyo, with the publication of "Five Flags: The
Warship that Reshaped the World", author Stuart Buxton brings this incredible true maritime naval story to life.
Strangled by the Union's naval blockade, the Confederacy needed ships - and turned to Europe to build them. In 1862,
Emperor Napoleon III agreed to deliver a unique new design whose 300-pounder canon, 5 inches of armour, and
twenty-foot bow ram made her a threat to every warship on earth.
Before the mighty ironclad was finished, U.S. agents discovered it, and she was sold to Denmark, only to be smuggled
back after her defeat by Prussia. Christened the 'Stonewall' after the legendary general, the ship took on an elite crew with
5 captains among them, narrowly survived terrifying storms, took refuge in Spain and had to run the gauntlet of Union
warships and Spanish courts to escape. The Stonewall reached Cuba in May 1865 - too late to change the Civil War -
before her sale to the Queen of Spain, and a handover to a newly re-united America.
But the ironclad would not end its career mothballed at the Washington Navy Yard. Though sold to the Tokugawa shogun
in 1867, she was delivered to his bitter enemy the emperor and led the brutal and harrowing war at sea that secured the
Meiji restoration and set Japan on a path of modernization, industrialization, and expansion that would end in World War
II.
Critique: An original, seminal and groundbreaking study, "Five Flags: The Warship that Reshaped the World" by Stuart
Buxton is a truly extraordinary, inherently fascinating, impressively detailed, and exceptionally informative account of the
history of the proto-iron ship 'Stonewall'. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a section of B/W historical
photos, fifty pages of Notes, and a seven page Index, "Five Flags" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to
community and college/university Maritime Naval History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, historians, naval history buffs, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Five Flages" from Stackpole Books is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $33.00).
Editorial Note: Currently residing in Australia, Stuart Buxton spent three decades in product management and marketing
for tech companies in Asia.
Savage Skies, Emerald Hell
Jay A. Stout
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780811775632, $34.95, HC, 432pp
https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Skies-Emerald-Hell-Australia/dp/0811775631
Synopsis: While the Marine Corps island-hopped across the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Saipan to Iwo Jima, the U.S.
Army was locked in a grueling, multiyear fight for the jungle island of New Guinea, which in Japanese hands threatened
both Australia and the vital supply lines stretching to the United States.
Forces under Douglas MacArthur intended to deny the Japanese this opportunity and use New Guinea as a stepping stone
on the road back to the Philippines and, beyond it, Japan. A critical component of that campaign was waged in the air,
where American pilots supported ground troops and took the battle to the Japanese in scattered villages and beaches, along
the way fighting not only the Japanese, but also the dangers of the island's mountainous terrain and thick jungles, the
weather, and the surrounding ocean.
With the publication of "Savage Skies, Emerald Hell: The U.S., Australia, Japan, and the Ferocious Air Battle for New
Guinea in World War II" retired Marine Corps fighter pilot Jay A. Stout tells the true story of the stirring and terrible air
combat that made winning the fight for New Guinea possible.
Included are accounts drawn from fighter, bomber, and transport crews (primarily George Kenney's Fifth Air Force) and
places their actions within the broader context of strategy and tactics, also providing descriptions of equipment and the
experiences of the mechanics and support men who made it all possible.
Featuring a riveting narrative of World War II in the air, combining deep primary research and Jay Stout's personal
experience as a fighter pilot, "Savage Skies, Emerald Hell" is a significant contribution to World War II history.
Critique: A simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "Savage Skies, Emerald Hell: The U.S., Australia, Japan, and the
Ferocious Air Battle for New Guinea in World War II" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of two
sections devoted to historical B/W photos, fourteen pages of Notes, a two page Bibliography, and a twelve page Index. A
seminal work of military history that reads with all the drama of a work of fiction, "Savage Skies, Emerald Hell" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library World War II history
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. For students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Savage Skies, Emerald
Hell" from Stackpole Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.39) and as a complete and unabridged
audio book (Blackstone Publishing, 9798228443228, $45.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Lieutenant Colonel Jay A. Stout, USMC (Ret.) is an acclaimed author of military history and a senior
aviation analyst for one of the world's preeminent defense corporations. (https://www.jayastout.com)
The American Civil War Shelf
Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War
Sarah Kay Bierle, author
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217469, $16.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Courage-Confederate-Northern-Virginia/dp/1611217466
Synopsis: "It is glorious to see such courage in one so young!"
So declared Confederate General Robert E. Lee on December 13, 1862, during the battle of Fredericksburg as he watched
Major John Pelham fight at least five Union batteries with just one lone gun. The dashing and handsome 24-year-old
Alabama officer earned the compliments and admiration of his men, the war gods of Virginia (Lee, Jackson, and Stuart),
and Southern society -- all while helping transform the concept of horse artillery on Civil War battlefields across Virginia
and Maryland.
After Pelham's death in battle in 1863, his place as a beloved Southern hero soared, and admirers firmly elevated him into
the upper ranks of the Confederate pantheon. His status as a Lost Cause martyr exacted a price, though: Admirers
transformed Pelham's memory into "the beau ideal of Confederate arms", sometimes altering and clouding the realities of
his life. His memory has been trapped there ever since -- until now.
With the publication of "Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War', historian Sarah Kay Bierle reconsiders
Pelham's extraordinary, if short, life by drawing on primary and secondary sources and her extensive knowledge of the
battlefields.
Pelham's zest for living carried him from Alabama to the military academy at West Point, while his zeal in command of
the Stuart Horse Artillery earned him well-deserved plaudits. But like every other man who served the Confederate cause,
the remarkable young officer was a human being with flaws. He deserves his place in history as he lived it, not varnished
with the perspectives shoved upon him by later generations.
Critique: A masterpiece of historical research by an expert in Civil War history, "Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the
Civil War" by Sarah Kay Bierle is an informative, fascinating, and insightful biography that is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War
History/Biography collections. This paperback edition of "Glorious Courage: John Pelham in the Civil War" from Savas
Beatie is impressively enhanced with numerous B/W historical photos and maps, making it additionally interesting for
students, academia, and Civil War history buffs.
Editorial Note: Sarah Kay Bierle (https://sarahkaybierle.com) works in the public history field, focusing on education and
battlefield preservation. A graduate of Thomas Edison State University with a B.A. in history, she has spent years
researching, writing, and speaking about the American Civil War. Her work helps audiences gain a stronger appreciation
and understanding for the accounts of real people caught in the struggles of the Civil War era.
The Education Shelf
Educating Young Children: A Neurodevelopmental Approach
Dr. Maria C. Sargent, Ph.D.
Brookes Publishing Company
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681256528, $84.95, PB, 324pp
https://www.amazon.com/Educating-Young-Children-Neurodevelopmental-Approach/dp/1681256525
Synopsis: How do young children learn, and what do educators need to know and do to teach them? Covering the full birth
- 8 early childhood age range, "Educating Young Children: A Neurodevelopmental Approach" by Dr. Maria Sargent is
introductory textbook that delivers up-to-date answers through a unique lens: a deep focus on the neurological foundations
of developmentally appropriate practices.
Pre-service and in-service educators will explore the basic neurological concepts that affect learning and development --
and discover specific ways to apply this knowledge to their classroom teaching practices to help young children
thrive.
Practical enough to use in the field, this unique foundational textbook is comprised of strategies, figures, illustrations, and
examples that are easy for all early childhood educators to understand and apply.
"Educating Young Children: A Neurodevelopmental Approach" showcases effective techniques for:
Structuring a classroom and choosing instructional materials
Planning and organizing the curriculum
Creating an engaging classroom that responds to all students' needs
Helping children develop strong social-emotional skills
Supporting play and active learning
Providing both general behavior supports and advanced behavior interventions
Teaching students with processing disorders and disabilities
Using assessments to make data-based decisions
It should be noted that faculty materials include Teacher Guides for every chapter with summaries, key terms, and sample
questions to support use in courses!
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.9 x 10.9 inches, 1.11 pounds) paperback edition of "Educating Young Children: A
Neurodevelopmental Approach" by Professor Maria Sargent (Ashland University) is exceptionally well organized and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, making it an ideal textbook for school district and college/university library
Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education instructional reference collections and supplemental Education
Theory curriculum studies lists. Comprehensive, meticulous, informed and informative, "Educating Young Children: A
Neurodevelopmental Approach" is available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $75.95).
Editorial Note: Maria Sargent (www.ashland.edu/faculty/maria-sargent-phd) has been active for 30+ years in general
education, special education, behavior intervention, and arts intervention. She is a full professor at Ashland University in
Ashland, Ohio. Her work history has also spanned a wide variety of ages and populations (e.g., Behavioral Intervention
Coordinator/Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Health; Research Coordinator/Akron Children's Hospital's Family Child
Learning Center; Infant-Toddler Program Coordinator/Kent State University and Child Development Center; Director of
the Behavior and Parenting Resource Center/multiple state, national, and international locations; Behavior Intervention and
Curriculum Design Consultant /birth through grade 12) and has just finished a 12-year tenure as a Board Member or Board
President of ArtSparks (www.artsparksdance.org), an arts intervention program operating across Northeast Ohio. She
archives her work through the website www.neuro-teach.com. The documents and videos available on this website are
totally free to professionals and families.
The LGBTQ Studies Shelf
Too Good to Get Married: The Life and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen
Bonnie Yochelson
Fordham University Press
www.fordhampress.com
9781531509507, $39.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Too-Good-Get-Married-Photographs/dp/1531509509
Synopsis: Alice Austen (March 17, 1866 - June 9, 1952) lived at Clear Comfort, her grandparent's Victorian cottage on
Staten Island, which is now a National Historic Landmark. As a teenager, she devoted herself to photography, recording
what she called "the larky life" of tennis matches, yacht races, and lavish parties.
When she was 25 and expected to marry, Austen used her camera to satirize gender norms by posing with her friends in
their undergarments and in men's clothes, "smoking" cigarettes, and feigning drunkenness. As she later remarked, she was
"too good to get married".
Austen embraced the rebellious spirit of the "New Woman," a moniker given to those who defied expectations by pursuing
athletics, higher education, or careers. She had romantic affairs with women, and at 31, she met Gertrude Tate, who
became her life partner.
Briefly, Austen considered becoming a professional photographer. She illustrated Bicycling for Ladies, a guide written by
her friend Violet Ward, and she explored the working-class neighborhoods of Manhattan to produce a portfolio, "Street
Types of New York." Rejecting the taint of commerce, however, she remained within the confines of elite society with
Tate by her side.
Although interest in Austen has accelerated since 2017, when the Alice Austen House was designated a national site of
LGBTQ history, the only prior book on Austen was published in 1976. Copiously illustrated, "Too Good to Get Married"
by Bonnie Yochelson fills the need for a fresh and deeply researched look at this skillful and witty photographer. Through
analysis of Austen's photographs, Yochelson illuminates the history of American photography and the history of
sexuality.
Critique: This large format (8.25 x 1 x 10.25 inches, 2.8 pounds) hardcover edition of "Too Good to Get Married: The Life
and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen" by historian Bonnie Yochelson is a singular work of impressive historical research
and with a meticulous attention to detail. Deftly written, profusely illustrated with B/W historical photos, exceptionally
informed and informative, "Too Good to Get Married" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
community, and college/university library American Photography & American LGBTQ History/Biography collections. A
fascinating read from start to finish, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Too Good to Get Married" from the Fordham University Press is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.33).
Editorial Note: Bonnie Yochelson (https://www.bonnieyochelson.com) is a former Curator of Prints and Photographs at
the Museum of the City of New York and an established historian of New York City's photographic history. Her notable
works include Jacob A. Riis: Revealing New York's Other Half, Alfred Stieglitz New York, and Berenice Abbott:
Changing New York.
The Wildlife Shelf
Citizen Bird
Mabel Osgood Wright and Elliott Coues, authors
Louis Agassiz Fuertes, illustrator
Rutgers University Press
https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org
9781978837072, $69.95, HC, 466pp
https://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Bird-Mabel-Osgood-Wright/dp/1023097192
Synopsis: "Citizen Bird: Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners" by co-authors Mabel Osgood Wright and
Elliott Coues offers a charming introduction to the world of birds. Originally published for young readers, this engaging
natural history guide makes the study of ornithology accessible and enjoyable to readers of all ages. Through clear and
simple language, "Citizen Bird" unveils the habits and habitats of various bird species, fostering an appreciation for the
natural world.
Beautifully illustrated throughout by Louis Agassiz Fuertes, "Citizen Bird" blends scientific observation with engaging
storytelling. A perfect starting point for budding birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, "Citizen Bird' encourages readers to
become active observers of the avian life around them as they discover the enduring appeal from this classic work and
embark on a delightful armchair journey into the fascinating realm of birds.
A timeless treasure for anyone interested in natural history and the wonders of the natural world. This work has been
selected by scholars as being culturally important, and a part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. "Citizen
Bird" is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you
may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally
available to the public.
Critique: This large format (6.14 x 0.75 x 9.21 inches, 1.33 pounds) hardcover edition of "Citizen Bird" from Rutgers
University Press is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Avian Wildlife and Natural History collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and
dedicated birdwatchers from 8 to 88 that "Citizen Bird" is also readily available in paperback (9781978837065,
$29.99).
Editorial Note #1: Mabel Osgood Wright (January 26, 1859 - July 16, 1934) was an American writer and conservationist.
She was an early leader in the Audubon movement who wrote extensively about nature and birds.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Osgood_Wright)
Editorial Note #2: Elliott Ladd Coues (September 9, 1842 - December 25, 1899) was an American army surgeon, historian,
ornithologist, and author. He led surveys of the Arizona Territory, and later as secretary of the United States Geological
and Geographical Survey of the Territories. He founded the American Ornithological Union in 1883, and was editor of its
publication, The Auk. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliott_Coues)
Editorial Note #3: Louis Agassiz Fuertes (February 7, 1874 - August 22, 1927) was an American ornithologist, illustrator
and artist who set the rigorous and current-day standards for ornithological art and naturalist depiction and is considered
one of the most prolific American bird artists. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Agassiz_Fuertes)
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: The Rebel Girl, Democracy, and Revolution
Mary Anne Trasciatti
Rutgers University Press
https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org
9781978817579, $34.95 HC / $34.95 epub, 384pp
https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/elizabeth-gurley-flynn/9781978817579
Synopsis: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was involved in almost every major campaign of the U.S. Left in the first two thirds of
the twentieth century. An outstanding orator, writer, and tactician, Flynn is one of the most important figures in the history
of the American labor movement. Inspired by the Irish freedom struggle and appalled by the exploitation and grinding
poverty she saw around her, she devoted her life to the advancement of civil liberties. Here, Mary Anne Trasciatti traces
Flynn's personal and political life to explore the broader social issues of a fraught era.
Born in 1890, Flynn began her activist career by joining the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) when she was just
sixteen, and she ended it as the first female chair of the American Communist Party, a position she held from 1961 until
her death in 1964. In the intervening years she organized workers into unions, led strikes, championed women's rights,
supported anti-imperialist movements around the globe, protested deportation, advocated for prison reform, and fought for
Black liberation. Above all, she showed absolute devotion to workers and their struggles.
Slandered as an "un-American" in the anticommunist fervor of the 1940s and 1950s, Flynn was eventually ousted from the
very organization she helped found, the American Civil Liberties Union, and imprisoned for two years. Though her own
movement abandoned her, her commitment to the cause never wavered. This stirring biography illuminates Flynn's
inspiring life and worldview and returns her to her rightful place at the heart of labor and civil liberties history.
Critique: Informed and informative, "Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: The Rebel Girl, Democracy, and Revolution" by Mary Anne
Trasciatti is an extraordinary work of meticulous and exhaustive research into the life and achievements of a civil liberties
icon. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this exceptional biography is enhanced for the reader's benefit
with the inclusion of an informative six page Introduction, a four page Epilogue, a four page listing of Acknowledgments,
fifty-eight pages of Notes, and a fifteen page Index. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, and college/university library 20th Century American Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental
American Civil Rights/Liberties History curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, political
activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Elizabeth Gurley
Flynn: The Rebel Girl, Democracy, and Revolution" from the Rutgers University Press is also readily available in a digital book format ($34.95 epub).
Editorial Note: Mary Anne Trasciatti is a professor of rhetoric and the director of labor studies at Hofstra University in
Hempstead, New York. She co-edited the collections Where Are the Workers?: Labor's Stories at Museums and Historic
Sites and Talking to the Girls: Intimate and Political Essays on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.
Joshua Hill of Madison
Bradley R. Rice
Mercer University Press
www.mupress.org
9780881469608, $45.00, HC, 472pp
https://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Hill-Madison-Republican-1812-1891/dp/0881469602
Synopsis: In 1876, Joshua Hill mused, 'not a foot print will remain to show that I was of those who lingered by the stormy
sea of politics.' He was too pessimistic about his legacy.
Distinguished Georgia historian Tom Dyer declared that Hill was 'undoubtedly Georgia's most prominent wartime
Unionist.' Nevertheless, Hill's career lacks the full biography that it deserves.
Joshua Hill served in the United States House of Representatives prior to the Civil War and strongly opposed secession.
During the War he ran for governor as the so-called peace candidate and later met with William T. Sherman in peace
negotiations that failed. In November 1864 when the March to the Sea reached his hometown, Hill interceded with the
Union command and earned his legendary title as the man who saved Madison, the village 'too pretty to burn.'
During Reconstruction, Hill supported Republican President Ulysses S. Grant and endorsed black suffrage, yet he clashed
with the Radical wing of his party. As a result of a compromise between Democrats and moderate Republicans, Hill
became the state's first Republican member of the U.S. Senate. After two years Confederate General John B. Gordon
replaced him in 1873.
Hill remained a Republican senior statesman until his death in 1891, and Georgia did not send another Republican to the
Senate until 1980.
Professor Bradley R. Rice's meticulous research, the foundation of his biography "Joshua Hill of Madison: Civil War
Unionist and Georgia's First Republican Senator, 1812-1891" has produced a long overdue account of the life and times of
the man who was, as his gravestone reads, 'a staunch southern friend of the Union.'
Critique: A detailed, seminal and groundbreaking historical and biographical study, "Joshua Hill of Madison: Civil War
Unionist and Georgia's First Republican Senator, 1812-1891" by Professor Bradley R. Rice is enhanced for the reader's
benefit with the inclusion of a thirteen page section of captioned historical illustrations, an informative Introduction
(Unswerving Unionist, Conservative Republica), a five page Note on Sources and Bibliography, a twenty-five page listing
of Abbreviations, and a seven page Index. This hardcover edition of "Joshua Hill of Madison: Civil War Unionist and
Georgia's First Republican Senator, 1812-1891" from the Mercer University Press is an especially and unreservedly
recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library 19th Century American
Biography/Memoir collections and of special interest for students, academia, and non-specialist readers with respect to the
American Civil War and the origins of the Republican Party.
Editorial Note: Bradley R. Rice is emeritus professor of History at Clayton State University. He is past president of the
Georgia Association of Historians and former board member of the Georgia Historical Society. For over fifteen years Rice
served as editor of the learned journal of the Atlanta History Center. The author and editor of several articles and books,
Rice retired to Madison, Georgia, where he serves as chair of the Historic Preservation Commission.
(https://www.clayton.edu/arts-sciences/departments/humanities/faculty/rice.php)
Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Beautiful Uncertainty
Tom Santopietro, author
Jeffrey Banks, commentary
Applause
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com
9781493068081, $45.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Audrey-Hepburn-Life-Scenes-Dresses/dp/1493068083
Synopsis: Academy Award-winning actress, fashion icon, ethereal beauty, wife, mother, World War II resistance activist,
UNICEF champion -- Audrey Hepburn (4 May 1929 - 20 January 1993) transcended her era and became a global idol
whose appeal continues to soar in the twenty-first century.
Packed with beautiful photographs of the star at her most captivating and supplemented with incisive fashion commentary
from award-winning designer Jeffrey Banks, "Audrey Hepburn: A Beautiful Uncertainty" is a unique and informative
exploration of Audrey's glamorous image and remarkable life. Always leading with her heart, Hepburn is shown here fully
captured in all her complexity: an often self-doubting but brilliant and genuinely kind woman whose style and activism
changed the world.
Slipping behind the scenes of Hollywood's Golden Age, in "Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Beautiful Uncertainty", author and
biographer Tom Santopietro details Audrey's personal and professional life, from her legendary dance partnership with
Fred Astaire on the classic Funny Face to her love affairs with Albert Finney and William Holden.
Throughout, her life and career are juxtaposed with the lasting legacy of her iconic image and unerring fashion sensibility,
as she played muse to the brilliant designer Hubert de Givenchy and inspired women from Jacqueline Onassis to Carly
Simon.
Critique: This large format (7.17 x 1.14 x 10.34 inches, 2.78 pounds) hardcover edition of "Audrey Hepburn: A Life of
Beautiful Uncertainty" from Applause Books is a 'must' for the legions of Audrey Hepburn fans and is a complete,
comprehensive, informative, expertly written, accessibly organized, nicely illustrated, and impressively presented
biography of the life and achievements of a Hollywood Icon that includes her film career and her public service activities.
Of special note is the inclusion of a commentary by fashion and design expert Jeffrey Banks on the influence Hepburn had
on the fashions of the day. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.58), "Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Beautiful
Uncertainty" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library 20th
Century American Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental Cinematic History/Criticism curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note #1: Tom Santopietro (http://www.tomsantopietro.com) is the author of nine previous books, including The
Sound of Music Story, The Importance of Being Barbra, Sinatra in Hollywood, The Godfather Effect, Why To Kill A
Mockingbird Matters, the New York Times Editor's Choice Considering Doris Day, and, most recently, The Way We
Were: The Making of a Romantic Classic. Over the past thirty years, he has managed three dozen Broadway shows.
Editorial Note #2: Jeffrey Banks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Banks) is an American fashion designer and author,
who has been described as a major black fashion maker.
Mosaic
Laura Gaddis
https://lauragaddis.com
Unsolicited Press
https://www.unsolicitedpress.com
9781956692914, $22.95, PB, 290pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Laura-Gaddis/dp/1956692916
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mosaic-laura-gaddis/1146431247
Synopsis: "Mosaic" is a deeply personal life story with a universal resonance. It's a story of exploration and
self-identification, of grief, relationships, tackling mental health, and how to walk through difficult times when there is
nowhere else to go.
"Mosaic" follows Laura, who along with her husband Jason, embarked on having a baby, only to go on a journey that
spanned over five years.
Over this time, Laura learned the hard truth about pregnancy loss, the medical field, and how to negotiate unforeseen
difficulties. She persevered through four high-risk pregnancies, with the last one being a pregnancy more successful than
the rest. Yet, it posed many tribulations, launching Laura and her husband into the world of an unpredictable birth, fetal
abnormalities, their premature baby, the NICU, and breath-holding.
"Mosaic" delves into grief and resilience, and how they work together to get Laura through a difficult time in her life. It
also shows how relying on her own mother also taught her how to enter motherhood for herself, no matter at what stage
she considered herself to be a "mother."
"Mosaic" explores how to use challenges to change us into better versions of ourselves.
Critique: Deftly written, emotionally engaging, informative, insightful, inspiring, "Mosaic" by Laura Gaddis is one of those
memoirs that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the
shelf. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental Pregnancy/Childbirth curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for
readers with an interest in books focused on love, loss, death and grief, that this paperback edition of "Mosaic" from
Unsolicited Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Laura Gaddis (https://lauragaddis.com) is a writer, book coach, and educator. With a former career in
clinical psychology, and more recently earning her MFA in creative writing from the Miami University (of Ohio), she is
interested in writing about the human condition, whether it be her own or that of others. Laura writes fiction and nonfiction
that centers around the idea that through storytelling we can connect humanity on profound levels, elevating us to be better
for ourselves and for each other. Her writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she has publications in literary
nonfiction, poetry, and humor fiction in Thin Air Magazine, The Avalon Literary Review, Adelaide Literary Magazine,
Ligeia Magazine, Pif Magazine, Vita Brevis Press, Kitchen Sink Magazine, The Dillydoun Review, Evening Street
Review, 805 Lit + Art, Stonecoast Review, The Weekly Humorist. Additionally, she has published articles on parenting
and mental health on the popular websites Scary Mommy, Tiny Buddha, and The Mighty.
The General Fiction Shelf
Where Snowbirds Play
Gina Goldhammer
https://www.ginagoldhammer.com
Renard Press Ltd
https://renardpress.com
9781804471357, $14.99 PB, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Snowbirds-Play-Gina-Goldhammer/dp/1804471356
Synopsis: From the moment recent Oxford graduate Philip takes the helm of a new marine life institute in Palm Beach, his
presence revives old feuds and sparks rivalries among the wealthy resident snowbirds, many of whom have invested
heavily in a biotech company soon to be exposed for insider trading. It quickly becomes clear that Philip's quest for
atonement on the behalf of his father will embroil many of the community's most prominent members.
Interwoven with snippets of real-life drama from an insider-trading scandal, with the publication of his novel, "Where
Snowbirds Play", author Gina Goldhammer paints a compelling portrait of the lives of the privileged, and what happens
when their world is turned upside down.
Critique: Although a deftly crafted and original work of fiction that is all the more impressive when considering that it is
Gina Goldhammer's debut as a novelist, "Where Snowbirds Play" accurately and dramatically reflects genuine realities
with respect to the impact and consequences of such financial practices as insider trading has upon the lives, privileges,
and relationships those who engage in it. A riveting read from cover to cover, "Where Snowbirds Play" reveals
Goldhammer's genuine and impressive flair for the kind of narrative storytelling style that fully engages the reader from
start to finish. Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary
General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Where Snowbirds
Play" from Renard Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Gina Goldhammer (https://www.ginagoldhammer.com) grew up in communist Yugoslavia and New York.
She now lives in Florida and also spends time in London and Venice.
Last Night at the Disco
Lisa Borders
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646036448, $19.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Night-Disco-Lisa-Borders/dp/1646036441
Synopsis: "Last Night at the Disco" begins with " I may have ended up more notorious than famous, but make no mistake:
long before Aura Lockhart began commodifying her feminist rage ballads, I was the best-known person to come out of
Keyhole, New Jersey."
In 1977, twenty-six-year-old Lynda Boyle is desperate for fame and a way out of New Jersey. After failing to make her
mark as an East Village poet and rubbing elbows with stars at Studio 54, she discovers a new path to glory through two
local musicians, Johnny Engel and Aura Lockhart.
Lynda believes she alone can transform them into rock ' n' roll legends.
Fast forward four decades: Lynda is in hiding after a series of events force her to flee the tri-state area. When she sees Aura
inducting Johnny into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Lynda's rage ignites.
Determined to reclaim her narrative, she sets out to tell her story and secure her rightful place in music history. If she
settles a few other scores along the way, that's just a bonus!
Critique: Although a work of fiction, with the publication of "Last Night at the Disco", novelist Lisa Borders deftly,
realistically, and with cutting humor, explores the impact of ruthless ambition, corruptive casts of fame, and the betrayal of
friendship in the competitive music world. With an effective, memorable, distinctive, and narrative driven storytelling
style, "Last Night at the Disco" is a fully entertaining and engaging read from cover to cover that makes this paperback
edition of "Last Night at the Disco" from Regal House Publishing an ideal and highly recommended pick for personal
reading lists and community library Contemporary Literary Fiction
Editorial Note: Lisa Borders (https://www.lisaborders.com) is also the author of the novels Cloud Cuckoo Land and The
Fifty-First State. She is a frequent humor contributor at McSweeney' s. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in The
Rumpus, Cognoscenti, Post Road and other journals.
Midlife, Mayhem and Merlot
Nanda Roep
Nanda Publishing
9789083548708, $9.99, PB, 194pp
https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Mayhem-Merlot-Nanda-Roep/dp/9083548708
Synopsis: Joanne has always been the reliable one - the rock for her family, the silent cheerleader for her brother's sports
career, the supportive partner to her ambitious husband, and the ever-present mum to her bright and opinionated daughter.
But now, in her forties, she feels adrift. Somewhere between school runs, marital routine, and yet another glass of Merlot,
Joanne realizes she's disappeared from her own life.
Determined to shake things up, she makes a decision that shocks everyone around her - her puzzled husband, the brother
she hasn't spoken to in years, and her almost-eleven-year-old daughter -- who surprisingly finds her mum's new
"fun-weird" side kind of cool.
Set between the windswept beaches of the Dutch coast and the sun-drenched countryside of rural France, "Midlife,
Mayhem and Merlot" by novelist Nanda Roep is the story of a woman who after a life spend taking care of of everyone
else, finally asks the question: What about me?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Midlife,
Mayhem and Merlot" will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in stories about female midlife crisis,
second chances at life, and the heartfelt joy available to women wanting to reinvent themselves after a life time of service
to others -- of finally choices and choosing for themselves. Author Nanda Roep reveals a genuine flair for the kind of
narrative driven storytelling skills that make for a memorably entertaining and thought-provoking read. This paperback
edition of "Midlife, Mayhem and Merlot" from Nanda Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Nanda Roep (www.nandaroep.com) is an author and publisher from the Netherlands who is known for her
heartfelt, witty and character-driven stories. She writes for both children and adults, and believes that storytelling connects
us all. When she's not writing, she's dreaming up her next adventure - on the page or in real life!
The Lemon Golf Diary
Christine Foster
Buddha Press
www.christinefoster.ca
www.besstheotherhoudini.com
9781738660384, $9.95, PB, 140pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Golf-Diary-Imagination-Neurodivergent/dp/1738660389
Synopsis: Rory may be ADHD or ASD or something else entirely - all she knows is that everything she does is wrong and
everything her confused mother does to help is wrong. She starts a halting diary to try to make sense of her private world,
but can't seem to write more than a sentence at a time.
But Rory's neurodivergence fuels a powerful imagination so when a new girl arrives at school,
complaining there is no magic in their dull suburban lives, Rory knows she finally has something to offer. She begins to
spin fantastic tales for the gullible Paige, but the trouble is, Paige wants real magic. Magic with Wishes.
Delighted that she can actually fool her new friend, Rory manages to keep the game going,
but when Paige's wishes turn stranger and darker, Rory realizes she has started something
she can't control. She just wanted to be good at something. Now they are both hurtling toward disaster.
Critique: Although a work of fiction, "The Lemon Golf Diary: An Adventure of Imagination with a Neurodivergent
Heroine" by Christine Foster is based on true events and real people. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"The Lemon Golf Diary" will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in parenting children with disabilities,
as well as the relationship of mothers and their special needs children. "The Lemon Golf Diary is one of those books that
will linger in the mind and memory long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "The Lemon Golf Diary" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99). This
paperback edition of "The Lemon Golf Diary" from Buddha Press is especially and unreserved recommended for
community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Beginning her career as an actor, journalist, casting director and script editor, Christine Foster is now a
multi-award winning playwright and passionate storyteller whose work has appeared worldwide on both stage and major
television networks. She has published both short stories and poetry but "The Lemon Golf Diary" is her first novel.
Christine is also the mother of a neurodivergent adult daughter, a child who always defied easy labels, and from whom she
has learned more than she can say.
In the Mountain's Shadow
Isabella Falconer
https://www.isabellafalconeri.com
Talon & Quill
9798998738852, $9.99 PB, $0.99 Kindle, 97pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Shadow-Isabella-Falconeri-ebook/dp/B0F6W4NMDL
Synopsis: In a fractured world where survival means loss and solitude, an aging woman walks into the mountains to die in
accordance with a half-remembered tradition. But the forest offers her more than silence -- it offers memory, and
something like grace.
The woman has sacrificed everything to secure her family's survival while battling starvation, predators, and the slow
erosion of her humanity -- she forges a fragile existence in the shadow of a vast, merciless mountain.
But when strangers stumble into her solitary world (some desperate, others dangerous) she must decide whether survival
demands her soul, or if a different kind of strength still remains.
"In The Mountain's Shadow" by Isabella Falconeri is a story of ritual, resilience, sacrifice, and the fierce, enduring spark of
hope against all odds.
Critique: Original, deftly scripted, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "In The Mountain's Shadow"
readily showcases author Isabella Falconeri's genuine flair for the kind of distinctive, narrative driven storytelling style that
creates a compelling, thought-provoking, imaginative and memorable read. "In The Mountain's Shadow" will linger in the
mind and memory of the reader long after the novel itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Especially and
unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "In The Mountain's Shadow" from
Talon & Quill is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99).
Editorial Note: Isabella Falconeri is an independent literary fiction author and publisher. Her novels deftly explore themes
of memory, survival, psychological transformation, and mythic inheritance. "In the Mountain's Shadow" is her third book.
Her first two are "Fragmentations" and "Razorblade".
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
Amy S. Kaufman
Penguin Books
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
9780143138129, $18.00, PB, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/Traitor-Sherwood-Forest-Novel/dp/014313812X
Synopsis: Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the
Greenwood. But when she's forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help -- and he makes
her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King's Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane (who has spent her whole
life going unnoticed) will be the perfect spy.
At first, Jane's work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King's Houses and all their
secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood's head on a spike.
But the more Jane is drawn into Robin's world, the more she's drawn to Robin himself -- a man as charismatic as he is
cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin's tricks grow increasingly dangerous,
and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common
people -- and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.
When Robin's schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she a prize to be won, a pawn to be used and
discarded -- or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "The Traitor of Sherwood Forest" by Amy S.
Kauman is a new and entertaining take on the Robin Hood of folklore as told from the perspective of a young woman of
the times, this impressive work of medieval historical fiction is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal
reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The Traitor of Sherwood
Forest" from Penguin Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Amy S. Kaufman (https://www.amyskaufman.com) has a Ph.D. in medieval literature and writes about
medieval history, myths, and legends.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Where I Went Wrong
David Galef
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646035861, $19.95, PB, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Went-Wrong-David-Galef/dp/1646035860
Synopsis: Tony Mazza is no stranger to bad days; in fact, they often seem to define his life, including stints at a real estate
agency, a bike shop, and a bar. After his latest job, as a hospital orderly, he faces jail time for driving off in a stolen
ambulance.
"Where did I go wrong?" he wonders as he thinks back on his failed relationships, a disastrous investment, and family
challenges dating back to high school and earlier...all the way back to his birth, as recounted by his much-put-upon
mother.
"Where I Went Wrong" is a new novel in which author David Galef successfully blends action with rueful reflection,
examining the complexities of failure and success. "Where I Went Wrong" poses the question of why some people lose out
while others get away with little short of murder, offering a narrative both comic and profoundly serious.
Critique: Deftly scripted, impressively original, emotionally and intellectually engaging, and a simply fascinating read from
cover to cover, "Where I Went Wrong" by author David Galef will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in
an expertly crafted novel whose author's storytelling skill set has raised it to an impressive level of literary excellence.
Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Where I Went Wrong" from Regal
House Publishing is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: David Galef (https://davidgalef.com) is a self-described shameless eclectic who has published over a dozen
books, including the novel Flesh, the short story collection My Date with Neanderthal Woman, the children's books
Tracks, Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom, and Brevity: A Flash Fiction Handbook. He is an English professor and
creative writing program director at Montclair State University. He is also the editor of Vestal Review, the longest-running
flash fiction magazine on the planet (https://www.vestalreview.net).
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Light on Horn Island
Valerie Fraser Luesse
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800746780, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0800746783
Synopsis: When Edie Gardner's life in New York falls apart, her grandmother Adele "Punk" Cheramie coaxes her back to
tiny Bayou du Chene, Mississippi. Edie spent many happy summers there, a stone's throw from untamed Horn Island,
where she once found love. Can she now demystify the island's strange new light?
Punk and her colorful friends introduce Edie to the Trove, a fascinating gallery and antique shop. Like Horn Island's light,
The Trove has appeared out of nowhere. Its proprietor, with a gift for discerning his customers' needs, gives Edie a
Victorian parlor game that asks players a series of personal questions, which is harmless fun at first. But Edie and her
grandmother's circle find that the game has a way of uncovering secrets, including a heartbreak that has haunted one of the
women for decades.
Banding together, this Southern sisterhood is determined to find answers that will bring healing, hope, and happiness --
and maybe explain the transcendent illumination of a wild and windswept barrier island.
Critique: A deftly crafted and fun read from cover to cover, "The Light on Horn Island" by novelist Valerie Fraser Luesse
will hold a very special appeal for readers with an interest in original stories about southern small town stories of women's
friendship, sisterhood, and self-discovery. While a highly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Light on Horn Island" from
Revell is also readily available in paperback (9780800741617, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Valerie Fraser Luesse (https://www.valeriefraserluesse.com) is the author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home,
The Key to Everything, Under the Bayou Moon, and Letters from My Sister. She is also an award-winning magazine writer
best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she retired as senior travel editor.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Postmarked Castle Cove
Judy M. Kerr
https://www.judymkerr.com
Launch Point Press
https://www.launchpointpress.com
9781633040755, $18.95 PB, $8.95 Kindle, 244pp
https://www.amazon.com/Postmarked-Castle-Cove-McCall-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0F92CHXJK
Synopsis: Back on the job after a stint in rehab, US Postal Inspector MC McCall is assigned to mentor an unseasoned
young inspector while trying to tune out her demons. The challenge is to stay sober and deal with the Columbo-loving
newbie.
Then MC is sent to Castle Cove, Minnesota, to investigate a post office robbery, which turns into something much worse.
McCall must navigate the grief and guilt of her personal loss while fighting furiously to reel in degenerates preying on
children and profiting from peddling illegal images.
Will MC succeed in taking down the twisted predators without taking a nosedive back into the bottle? A firm believer in
never giving up, MC must persist while learning how to let others in if she wants to survive.
Critique: A deftly scripted and fully entertaining novel featuring loss, redemption, lesbianism, and an older female sleuth,
"Postmarked Castle Cove" is the third installment in author Judy M. Kerr 'MC McCall' series and will be of immense
appeal for readers with an interest in police procedurals and cozy mysteries. Novelist and storyteller Judy Kerr once again
demonstrates her genuine and distinctive flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that raises this suspense
thriller to an impressive level of literary excellence. A fun read from a true master of the genre, this paperback edition of
"Postmarked Castle Cove" from Launch Point Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book
format (Kindle, $8.95. Along with this simply outstanding series first two titles ("Black Friday" and "Silent Service"), this
edition of "Postmarked Castle Cove" is especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of dedicated mystery
fans and is an immediate and enduringly popular pick community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Editorial Note: Judy M. Kerr (https://www.judymkerr.com) lives and writes in Minnesota. A number of Judy's short stories
have been published in various anthologies, including "Ruby Red Heist" in the Dark Side of the Loon: Where History
Meets Mystery anthology published in 2018 by the Twin Cities Chapter of Sisters in Crime. She has an avid interest in
crime (true and fiction) and is always working on ideas for her next story.
The English Masterpiece
Katherine Reay
Harper Muse
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400347278, $18.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/English-Masterpiece-Novel-Katherine-Reay/dp/1400347270
Synopsis: As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a
world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist -- and she's waited her whole life for this moment. The
opening is beyond anyone's expectations -- the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim
-- until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The
gallery falls silent.
Lily's boss, Diana, is polished perfection, schooled in art, and descends from European high society. She's worked hard to
become the trusted voice in London's modern art scene and respected across the Continent. The Tate's Picasso
Commemorative is to be her crowning achievement, featuring not only the artist's most iconic and intimate works, but a
newly discovered painting -- one she advised an investor to purchase. But when Lily makes her outrageous declaration,
suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting
most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild.
All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana's footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one
comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor's. Unless... Was she right? With the clock ticking and the
clues starting to pile up against her, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career
she's always wanted, but her freedom.
Critique: An original historical thriller featuring an amateur female sleuth who must solve a complicated question
concerning art forgery upon reputations will be built or ruined, "The English Masterpiece" by author Katherine Reay is an
inherently fascinating and well crafted novel that will hold a special appeal to readers with an interest in deftly scripted
stories of mystery and suspense. While an ideal pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The English Masterpiece" from Harper Muse is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Katherine Reay (www.katherinereay.com) is an award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair
with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently
lives outside Bozeman, MT, with her husband and three children. She can be followed online at: Facebook:
@KatherineReayBooks; X: @katherine_reay; Instagram: @katherinereay
Blood on the Cat
Nancy Rutledge
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613166666, $15.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Penzler-Presents-American-Mystery-Classics/dp/1613166664
Synopsis: Bennet Farr was the richest, most corrupt, and most hated man in Cognac, a small town just outside of Chicago.
He ruled the village with his money and crossed nearly all of the villagers in the process. So when he is found dead one
November morning with a bread knife in his back, the chief of police faces a long line of suspects. Was it the new
librarian, angered by Farr's threat to close the library? Was it the schoolteacher, whose pupil he threatened? Or perhaps his
son, who he disinherited just before his death?
Reporter Killian McBean is also among the list, since Farr was planning to foreclose on the Cognac Courier and put him
out of a job. But, as the cops are befuddled by too many motives, Killian's journalistic acumen cuts through the noise in
search of the real story -- even if, in the end, it's his cat Smoky that discovers the essential clue that leads to its
solution.
Never before issued in paperback in unabridged form, "Blood on the Cat" by the late Nancy Rutledge is a lost classic
worthy of rediscovery, with memorable characters, fair-play clues, and a cat that's as clever as it is charming. Cozy in
subject matter, it's sure to please any fan of Golden Age detective fiction.
Critique: This paperback edition of "Blood on the Cat" by mystery novelist Nancy Rutledge is a true gem of a 'whodunnit'
murder mystery. A simply riveting read from cover to cover, after many years of being out of print, this American Mystery
Classics edition of "Blood on the Cat" is once again available for a whole new generation of appreciative readers and a
choice, unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted for the dedicated mystery fan that "Blood on the Cat" is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$15.15).
Editorial Note #1: Nancy Rutledge was born in Chicago and educated at Rockford College and Northwestern. Between
1944 and 1960, she authored ten works of crime fiction under her own name, two of them published only in England. She
also had one mystery novel published as by Leigh Bryson, a Handi-Book paperback original in 1947. In the 1950s and '60s,
she had eight mystery novels serialized in the Saturday Evening Post, and one that appeared complete in an issue of
Redbook. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1140186.Nancy_Rutledge)
Editorial Note #2: Otto Penzler, the creator of American Mystery Classics, is also the founder of The Mysterious Press
(1975); MysteriousPress.com (2011), an electronic-book publishing company; and New York City's Mysterious Bookshop
(1979). He has won a Raven, the Ellery Queen Award, two Edgars (for the Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, 1977,
and The Lineup, 2010), and lifetime achievement awards from NoirCon and The Strand Magazine. He has edited more
than 70 anthologies and written extensively about mystery fiction.
Take it to the Limit
Linda Opdyke
Independently Published
9798283950587, $14.95 PB / $2.99 Kindle, 374pp
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Limit-Book-Linda-Opdyke/dp/B0F8TXPLYC
Synopsis: Husband and wife team, Ethan and Michele (Mickey) Jenks, own separate investigative agencies in Nashville,
Tennessee. He is a seasoned pro that loves dangerous undercover work. She is brand new but believes her skills match her
husband's, but inexperience lands her in one dangerous situation after another.
Mickey is hired to find a girl who disappeared from Hellbound, a notorious biker bar. Ethan has infiltrated a sex trafficking
ring run out of that same bar. Unknown to Mike, she and her husband are working the same case -- but from very different
angles.
The bar's hardcore biker owner uses a double-dealing journalist to manipulate Mickey into revealing how Ethan got inside
and what he's uncovered, with deadly results.
When two of her informants are murdered, Mickey dives deeper into the bar's activities and learns a transport to auction
the girls is scheduled. It's a race against time for her to locate her client's sister, but it will take all of Ethan's skill and
experience to locate not only the nondescript freight car transporting the girls to the auction, but also his wife, imprisoned
by the bar owner and now part of the transport!
Critique: Original, clever, deftly scripted, compelling, and a fun read for P.I. mystery buffs from start to finish, "Take It To
The Limit" showcases author Linda Opdyke's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the
reader fully engaged and entertained. While an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of
"Take It To The Limit" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Linda Opdyke's previous novels won numerous awards, including thriller Stones Throw, named a Best of
the Year - classic by Mystery Morgue Magazine and a finalist in the first annual Eppie (EPIC) Awards for e-books. She
loves hearing from readers. There is a listing of her published novels at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/220959.Linda_Opdyke
Take it to the Limit: Book Two: A Dish Best Served Cold
Linda Opdyke
Independently Published
ASIN: B0F8W2V1JK, Kindle $3.99 / $14.95 PB
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Limit-Book-Two-served-ebook/dp/B0F8W2V1JK
Synopsis: When top private investigator Ethan Jenks works undercover at a Nashville Christmas gala, a staged robbery and
shocking drug-spiked drink exposes a three way race to retrieve an embezzled five million dollars. With a rising body
count, events rapidly escalate.
Ethan and his wife Michele (Mickey) follow the deadly trail from Nashville to Ethan's small Kentucky home town to
uncover who's behind the killings and why their family is targeted. Simultaneously, his brother Logan plays international
financial cat-and-mouse with his fraud partner from years ago.
All bets are off when his old partner, the student, takes on Logan, the teacher, in a race to locate and recover the five
million dollars. When Mickey is kidnapped by the killer, they learn he no longer wants the money, just sweet revenge!
Critique: As an author, Linda Opdyke has a simply riveting storytelling style that is ideally suited to an action/adventure
suspense thriller of a novel keeping the reader's rapt attention from start to finish. The sequel to her novel 'Take it to the
Limit", and currently available in a digital book (Kindle) format "Take it to the Limit: Book Two: A Dish Best Served
Cold" is latest installment featuring the husband and wife PI duo Mickey and Ethan Jenks is another fun read, especially
for anyone with an interest in a deftly crafted, original, and exceptionally entertaining fast paced 'whodunnit' style multiple
murder mystery thriller. Simply stated, ""Take it to the Limit: Book Two: A Dish Best Served Cold" will prove an
immediate and enduringly popular pick for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense
collections.
Editorial Note: Linda Opdyke's previous novels won numerous awards, including thriller Stones Throw, named a Best of
the Year - classic by Mystery Morgue Magazine and a finalist in the first annual Eppie (EPIC) Awards for e-books. She
loves hearing from readers. There is a listing of her published novels at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/220959.Linda_Opdyke
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Nightmare Quest of April May
Rosemary Jones
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839083129, $16.95, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Quest-April-May-Drowned/dp/1839083123
Synopsis: April May is convinced she has the worst job at the Arkham Advertiser: placing adverts for lost dogs is about as
tedious as it gets! The only thing that alleviates her boredom is her fantasies of pulp adventures.
But when her best friend succumbs to a mysterious unwakeable sleep, she realizes the city of Arkham is sleepwalking
towards something terrible. It's been raining for days and the Miskatonic River is rising to dangerous levels.
Arkham grinds to a halt as its population falls into a deep sleep. Under cover of these apparently unrelated disasters,
shadowy forces move to usher in something truly nightmarish.
With the aid of psychologist Carolyn Fern and Professor Harvey Walters, April May must venture into the strange realms
of the Dreamlands, where a man in a golden mask holds the key to rousing the city from its collective nightmare. But for
Arkham, the waters continue to rise, and it's closer than ever to the manifestation of something that no one can wake
from.
Critique: A deftly crafted horror fantasy that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been
finished and set back upon the shelf, "The Nightmare Quest of April May" by novelist Rosemary Jones is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Horror/Fantasy collections. It should be noted
that this paperback edition of "The Nightmare Quest of April May" from Aconyte Books is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Rosemary Jones is the author of the Arkham Horror novels Mask of Silver, The Deadly Grimoire, and The
Bootlegger's Dance. She is also an ardent collector of children's books, and a fan of talkies and silent movies. Her other
works include Wrecker of Engines (Cobalt City 20th Anniversary edition), Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms
novels, numerous novellas, short stories, and collaborations.
Galloper's Quests
Augustus Cileone
Independently Published
9798305198256, $18.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gallopers-Quests-Fall-Earth-Destiny/dp/B0DRTFCK1J
Synopsis: "Galloper's Quests: The Fall of Earth and the Rise of a New Destiny" by Augustus Cileone begins in the year
2079.
Navy Captain Samuel Galloper is a scientist who continually seeks answers about the mysteries of the universe. The
military only temporarily quieted his feverish mind through its regimented ways. Galloper invents a propulsion system that
transforms matter into energy and can open wormholes. However, the military now wants to steal his work and use it to
wage war. So, Galloper decides to prevent the perversion of his invention by leaving Earth on a journey through the
cosmos.
He visits three planets whose inhabitants exhibit very different ways of dealing with life. He becomes involved in the
armed conflict between two of the planets.
Along the way he befriends aliens and a witty robot. Plus, he falls in love with an extraterrestrial who might know more
about humanity than Galloper does!
As Galloper nears the end of his quests, he must weigh the risks of returning to Earth. Will his invention fall into the
wrong hands? Will anyone believe his story about his intergalactic travels? What fate awaits his new love if she goes with
him?
Critique: Inspired by the classic novel 'Gulliver's Tales', this hardcover edition of "Galloper's Quests: The Fall of Earth and
the Rise of a New Destiny", a new science fiction novel by author Augustus Cileone, is a fun read from cover to cover.
Written with imagination, humor, and a distinctive flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that fully emerges the
reader from start to finish, "Galloper's Quests" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for dedicated action/adventure science fiction
fans that "Galloper's Quests" is also readily available in paperback (9798305195248, $10.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Augustus Cileone won the Dark Oak Mystery Contest sponsored by Oak Tree Press, which published his
first novel, A Lesson in Murder. His second novel, Feast or Famine, is about growing up as a South Philadelphia Catholic
Italian American. He has been honored for his writing by Annual Art Affair, Hidden River Arts, the annual Writer's Digest
writing competition, The Philadelphia Writers' Conference, the Montgomery County Community College's Annual
Writers' Club Poetry and Fiction Contest, Filmmakers International Screenwriting Awards, and the Annual StoryPros
International Screenplay Contest. His short stories are included in Don Ron Books "South Philly Fiction," the Delaware
Valley Chapter of Sisters in Crime's "Death Knell V," and the Schuylkill Valley Journal. His film blog, My Meaningful
Movies, analyzes various motion pictures weekly, and he is a contributor to the film site ScreenPrism.com
The Poetry Shelf
Heaven Unbuilt
Colin Dodds, poet
Dodds Amalgamated
https://tunein.com/radio/Stream-Dodds-Amalgamated-a88962
9798330499526, $44.44, PB, 950pp
https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Unbuilt-treasury-well-loved-children/dp/B0DX3GMHVG
Synopsis: Friends in the Bar
The yelling bar crowd
wants to be your friend.
Unlike other nights,
you are not looking for a friend.
When you say no,
they ask what's wrong with you.
Then, with clenched fists,
they ask what's wrong with them.
They've wondered forever.
And they will tear you apart
to learn what it is.
And they will tear you apart
to keep you from telling.
"Heaven Unbuilt: A treasury of well-loved poems for old children" encompasses the entirety of Colin Dodds' career as a
poet, which spanned more than twenty years, beginning in the late 1990s.
"Heaven Unbuilt" includes selections from early books like The Last Man on the Moon and The Blue Blueprint, the entire
Spill-O cycle, decades of poems from bars, selected lyrics from the band Adultogram and the 2018 collection Spokes of an
Uneven Wheel.
The poems comprising "Heaven Unbuilt" have appeared in more than three hundred publications.
Critique: Eloquent, elegant, emotionally and intellectually engaging, deftly crafted, impressively memorable, this
substantial trade paperback (6 x 2.12 x 9 inches, 3.01 pounds) edition of "Heaven Unbuilt: A treasury of well-loved poems
for old children" is the ideal showcase for the tangible results of a lifetime of creating poetry by a master wordsmith and is
published to mark Colin Dodds' self-announced retirement from poetry.
A major volume of verse and one to be brought back to again and again and again, "Heaven Unbuilt" is especially and
unreservedly recommended as a core addition and pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Contemporary American Poetry collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Colin Dodds (https://thecolindodds.com) is an author, poet and filmmaker whose works include Pharoni,
Ms. Never and The 6th Finger of Tommy the Goose. He has made his living as a journalist, editor, copywriter and video
producer. His work has appeared in Gothamist, The Washington Post and more than three hundred other publications, and
been praised by luminaries such as David Berman and Norman Mailer. Forget This Good Thing I Just Said, a
first-of-its-kind literary and philosophical experience (the book form of which was a finalist for the Big Other Book Prize
for Nonfiction), is available as an app for the iPhone.
Psychedelic Psalms: Reflections from an Offline World
Joshua Dean Rogers
Hat & Beard Press
https://hatandbeard.com
9781955125499, $24.95, HC,
https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Psalms-Reflections-Offline-World/dp/195512549X
Synopsis: The Question
In my dream, I sat in front of Maharajji's tucket, rubbing his feet.
He smiled at me with a smile that combined love with mocking.
He took out a large blue notecard from under his blanket and started writing...
He then held up the card to me with that smile on his face. The card read:
"In this lifetime, can you renounce money, power, and sexual desire?"
He said nothing, but spoke directly into my mind,
"If yes, then you are done with reincarnation."
"If yes, you may have siddhi powers."
psychodelic psalms v8.indd 95
Written in very short snippets for the attention spans of today's readers, "Psychedelic Psalms: Reflections from an Offline
World" by Josh Rogers is a contemporary collection of his poetry, essays and aphorisms, illustrating our shared current
experience and giving us guidance on how we should proceed in the increasing digitally dominated world of the 21st
Century.
A synthesis of Rumi's Spiritual Poems, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, and Khalil Gibran's The Prophet, "Psychedelic
Psalms" is an easy to read, entertaining analysis of human existence. At times poetic and spiritual; at other times offering
the reader hard-hitting pragmatic critiques of culture and education.
Addressing topics ranging from technology, revolutionary new education policies, to spirituality, "Psychedelic Psalms"
seeks to awaken all humans to a more evolved future and to remember the truths of existence which we already know in
our immortal souls.
Critique: Original, insightful, thoughtful and thought provoking, with the publication of "Psychedelic Psalms: Reflections
from an Offline World", poet and essayist Josh Rogers ably showcases a thought-provoking collection of his poems,
aphorisms, essays, quotes, and illustrations written over the first 23 years of the 21st century. Thoroughly 'reader friendly'
in organization and presentation impressive blending of philosophy, poetry, and the art of the essay, "Psychedelic Pslams"
is a unique and inherently fascinating read from start to finish and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Contemporary Philosophy collections.
Editorial Note: Joshua D. Rogers (https://aretewealth.com/member/joshua-d-rogers) is the CEO of Arete, the largest
distributor of alternative investments in the United States. He is a voracious reader, writer, and an avid art collector. Prior
to entering financial services, Joshua left Georgetown Law early to pursue innovation and co-invent several patents,
including the 'name your own price' e-commerce concepts that became Priceline.com. In his expanded business and
community works, Rogers is actively involved in the Chicago chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO);
currently serves as an Elected Trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; an is also a graduate of St. John's
College in Annapolis, Maryland, where he is an elected Trustee. He has also taught entrepreneurship at both St. John's
Annapolis and Sante Fe campuses.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
In the Land of the Lacandon
Richard Ivan Jobs and Steven Van Wolputte, with Manuel Bolom Pale
McGill-Queen's University Press
www.mqup.ca
9780228024767, $29.95, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Land-Lacand%C3%B3n-Graphic-Adventure-Imperialism/dp/0228024765
Synopsis: In the mid-1930s the amateur French ethnographer and filmmaker Bernard de Colmont ventured into Mexico's
mountainous state of Chiapas to study the Lacandon people and broadcast their way of life to a curious European public.
Considered a "lost tribe", the Lacandon were thought to be the closest living relatives of the ancient Maya. De Colmont
became a celebrity explorer whose adventures generated considerable attention. The Lacandon themselves, however, were
silenced in his tale.
Nearly a century later, Richard Ivan Jobs and Steven Van Wolputte have taken up this story in all its complexity, creating a
graphic history from de Colmont's narratives and images in the form of a heroic adventure comic.
An essay contextualizing and historicizing the tale follows, as does an evocative, reflective poem by Tsotsil writer Manuel
Bolom Pale, which offers an Indigenous perspective on the encounter.
A captivating experiment in a graphic novel style form, "In the Land of the Lacandon: A Graphic History of Adventure and
Imperialism" puts an immersive new spin on studying the past as it illuminates de Colmont's expedition against the
backdrop of late imperialism on the eve of the Second World War in Europe. It also investigates the history of exploration,
science, and media, revealing how these narratives represented and constructed Indigenous Peoples for the public -- and
how such representations continue to resonate to this very day.
Critique: An original and unique approach to Mexican history and one of its indigenous people, "In the Land of the
Lacandon: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism" is informative, instructive, extraordinary, and an inherently
fascinating read from start to finish. With its 'reader friendly' presentation in graphic illustration form, "In the Land of the
Lacandon: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, highschool, and college/university library Native/Indigenous American/Mexican History collections. It should
be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade paperback
edition of "In the Land of the Lacandon: A Graphic History of Adventure and Imperialism" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $28.45).
Editorial Note #1: Richard Ivan Jobs (https://richardivanjobs.com) is a professor of European history at Pacific
University.
Editorial Note #2: Steven Van Wolputte is professor of anthropology at KU Leuven.
(https://kuleuven.academia.edu/vanwolputte)
Editorial Note #3: Manuel Bolom Pale is a translator, researcher, and Tsotsil poet from Huixtan, Chiapas, Mexico.
(https://www.loc.gov/item/no2011156794/manuel-bolom-pale)
Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business
Raymond Chandler, author
Adapted by Arvind Ethan David
Ilias Kyriazis, illustrator
Pantheon Books
www.pantheonbooks.com
c/o Penguin Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780553387599, $29.00, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Chandlers-Trouble-My-Business/dp/0553387596
Synopsis: Los Angeles, 1930s. A rich old man who knows trouble when he sees it hires a detective agency to scare off a
young woman who seems to be making his adopted son hemorrhage cash. Fortunately for the detective, a hard drinking
man named Philip Marlowe, trouble is his business.
The young woman, Harriet, has an agenda all her own and aspirations beyond being a shill for a gambler. She's nobody's
fool. Nor is the old man, for his part. He's got serious muscle -- a chauffer with a degree from Dartmouth, the only Black
student from his class, who knows his way around a gun and isn't afraid to use it.
Right in the middle of it all is a big pile of money. And when the bodies begin to drop, only Philip Marlowe can sort out
which of these suspects is pulling the trigger.
Critique: A classic crime noir novel by the late Raymond Chandler and now deftly adapted to a graphic novel format by
author Arvind Ethan David and illustrator Ilias Kyriazis, this large format (7.55 x 0.55 x 11.25 inches, 1.44 pounds)
hardcover edition of "Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business" from Pantheon Books is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community and college/university library Mystery/Suspense themed graphic novel collections.
It should be noted for the legions of hard-boiled detective novel fans that "Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note #1: Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888 - 1959) was the master practitioner of American hard-boiled crime
fiction. Chandler's detective stories often starred the brash but honorable Philip Marlowe (introduced in 1939 in his first
novel, The Big Sleep) and were noted for their literate presentation and dead-on critical eye. Never a prolific writer,
Chandler published only one collection of stories and seven novels in his lifetime. Some of Chandler's novels, like The Big
Sleep, were made into classic movies that helped define the film noir style. In the last year of his life he was elected
president of the Mystery Writers of America.
Editorial Note #2: Arvind Ethan David is a Stoker Award nominated graphic novelist who has also written chart-topping
Audiodramas (The Crimes of Dorian Gray, Earworms), television (Anansi Boys) and plays (The Boy with Wings).
Editorial Note #3: Ilias Kyriazis (https://www.iliaskyriazis.com) is a comic book writer/artist based in Athens, Greece.
The Audiobook Shelf
Houston Night
Stephen Leather, author
Paul Thornley, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399190114, $107.95, 9 CDs, 9 Hours 50 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399190114
Synopsis: Supernatural detective Jack Nightingale used to be a police negotiator in a previous life -- back in the days
before he confronted devils and demons for a living. So when a young woman embarks on a killing spree in a Houston
mansion, Nightingale is the perfect choice to intervene.
But there is nothing that Nightingale can do to stop the slaughter. And there is worse to come. More killings. More
bloodshed. More young women with murderous intentions.
The killings aren't random -- a demon from Hell is orchestrating the massacres as part of a diabolical scheme. And the only
way that Nightingale can stop the carnage is to put his own soul on the line!
Critique: Certain to be of immense interest to fans of Occult Fiction & Demonology, "Houston Night" by novelist Stephen
Leather is brought to an especially vivid reality with a true theater of the mind style of narration by vocal actor and
performer Paul Thornley. Original, riveting, entertaining, and memorable, this complete and unabridged CD edition of
"Houston Night" from Isis Audio, with its clam shell casing, is a strongly recommended pick for community library audio
book collections. It should be noted for personal listening that "Houston Night" is also available in an MP3-CD format
(9781399190121, $107.95, 1 Disc).
Editorial Note #1: Stephen Leather (www.stephenleather.com) is one of the UK's most successful thriller writers and
author of the Dan "Spider' Shepherd series and the Jack Nightingale supernatural detective novels. His novel The
Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan. He has also written for television shows
such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series and two of his books, The Stretch and The
Bombmaker, were filmed for TV.
Editorial Note #2: An extensive listing of books narrated by Paul Thornley is available online at
https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Paul+Thornley
Doctor Who: The Alt Reality Collection
Derek Jacobi, John Leeson, Jon Culshaw, Mark Gates, narrators
BBC Studios
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781529965537, $132.95, 14 CDs, 16 Hours 40 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781529965537
Synopsis: The Doctor ventures into alternative dimensions in the four exciting novelizations of the TV stories comprising
"Doctor Who: The Alt Reality Collection".
In The Mind Robber by Peter Ling, the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe land in a world populated by storybook characters -
but who, or what, lurks behind the fiction?
In The Invisible Enemy by Terrance Dicks, the Fourth Doctor, and Leela make a terrifying journey into the Time Lord's
own brain in order to confront the Nucleus of the Swarm.
Warriors' Gate by Stephen Gallagher is the destination at the ethereal intersection between universes for the Fourth Doctor,
Romana, Adric and K9.
In Twice Upon a Time by Paul Cornell it's a case of deja vu for the First and Twelfth Doctors when they meet by chance in
a strange yet familiar No Man's Land.
Narrators Derek Jacobi, John Leeson, Jon Culshaw and Mark Gatiss deftly perform these stories of Doctor Who
adventures in Time & Space.
Critique: Simply stated, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Doctor Who: The Alt Reality Collection"
from BBC Studios is comprised of engaging and entertaining stories about the 1st, 2nd, 4th & 12th Doctors and is a 'must'
for the legions of Doctor Who fans. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community libraries, it
should be noted for personal acquisitions that this CD edition (with its clam shell casing) is also readily available in a
flawless MP3-CD format (9781529965544, $132.95, 2 Disc).
Editorial Note: BBC Studios (https://www.bbcstudios.com) is a global producer and distributor of TV, film, audio book,
and digital content. It creates and nurtures iconic brands, such as Bluey, Frozen Planet II and Strictly Come Dancing, and
produces award-winning stories for BBC and other platforms.
The Isis Covenant
James Douglas, author
John Telfer, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399188654, $126.95, 11 CDs, 11 Hours 44 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399188654
Synopsis: AD 64: Roman centurion Marcus Domitus leads an expedition to find the mythical treasure hidden deep inside
Queen Dido's temple.
1945: Two Nazis disappear amidst the chaos of a burning Berlin - and so does a precious object.
2009: Two brutal murders in London and Boston linked by a single name and a shared history.
When art recovery expert Jamie Saintclair is asked to help investigate those murders, he finds himself delving deep into
the occult and uncovering dark secrets, tales of lust and greed and a curse linked to ancient Egypt.
Can he discover the truth before the curse claims more victims and catches up with him?
Critique: Brilliantly narrated by John Telfer who brings author James Douglas deftly crafted and original thriller of a novel
to life in a true theater of the mind performance, this complete and unabridged CD edition of "The Isis Covenant" with its
protective clam shell case is flawless produced by Isis Audio and especially recommended for community library audio
book collections. It should be noted for personal collections that this edition of "The Isis Covenant" from Isis Audio is also
readily available in an MP3-CD format (9781399188661, $126.95).
Editorial Note #1: James Douglas is the pen name of the popular Scottish author of successful historical fiction novels.
"The Doomsday Testament" is the first in a series of thrillers featuring art recovery expert Jamie Saintclair.
(https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/james-douglas)
Editorial Note #2: John Telfer is an AudioFile Earphones Award - winning narrator. He has appeared many times in
various television dramas, while his parallel theatrical career has involved him in leading roles at the Bristol Old Vic, the
Royal National Theatre, the Old Vic in London, and regional theaters.
(https://learnoutloud.com/Results/Narrator/John-Telfer/21587)
The Library CD Shelf
Wes 101
Kristen R. Bromley Quartet
https://kristenbromley.com
Privately Published
$14.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6KXRRCP
https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0F5CTJMTN
Wes 101 is a jazz album by the Kristin R. Bromley Quartet: Kristin Bromley on guitar, Melanie Shore on organ, David Ian
Baker on bass, and Matt Coleman on drums. An experienced master of the guitar who has taught music at the university
level in addition to 20 years of private music lessons, Kristen Bromley composed all the songs of Wes 101. Created partly
as a tribute to legendary jazz guitarist John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (1923-1968) and partly to explore the rich potential
of the classic organ and guitar sound that Wes favored in his timeless music, Wes 101 will appeal to fans of classic and
modern jazz alike, and is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are Bring
It On; Swing It for the Maestro; Wes 101; Cherished Moments; House of Fire; Wahoo!; and Indy Blues.
Vagabond
Royce Campbell and the Vosbein Magee Big Band
Max Frank Music
https://www.maxfrankmusic.com
$12.00 CD
https://www.maxfrankmusic.com/catalog/vagabond/index.php
Vagabond is a live recording of world-class jazz guitarist Royce Campbell and the Vosbein Magee Big Band (which has
members on trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, bass, and drums) showcasing ten original compositions by Campbell
(plus an eleventh song, "Body and Soul" composed Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, John Green, and Robert Sour. Every
song has grand solo highlights, in this vivacious, high-energy collection. Vagabond is enthusiastically recommended for
connoisseurs of the genre and public library music collections. The tracks are Peepers; Gentle Breeze; A Sharp Blues;
Body and Soul; Mambo Puente; Moon Cycle; Vagabond; Middle Ground; Dancing Waterfall; Inner Peace; and Viper.
Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco
Kenny Dorham
Resonance Records
$17.99 CD / $12.99 digital
https://kennydorhamlive.bandcamp.com/album/blue-bossa-in-the-bronx-live-from-the-blue-morocco
Blue Bossa in the Bronx: Live from the Blue Morocco is a deluxe CD of a never-before-released live performance by
legendary American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham (1924-1972), also known as "the uncrowned king". The CD includes
notes by two-time Grammy winner Bob Blumenthal, a Dorham appreciation by Dan Morgenstern, remembrances from
trumpeters Eddie Henderson, Charles Tolliver, Steven Bernstein, and Jeremy Pelt, and more. Blue Bossa in the Bronx:
Live from the Blue Morocco is a lost treasure of jazz history rediscovered, as brilliant now as it was when played live in
1967, and highly recommended for both connoisseurs and public library music collections. The tracks are Blue Bossa;
Confirmation; Memories of You; My One and Only Love; Bag's Groove; Blue Friday; and The Theme.
Spaces
Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela
kimperlak.com
Sacred Black Records
sacredblackrecords.org
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://music.apple.com/us/album/spaces/1799292801
Spaces is the debut album of two rising stars from the Berklee College of Music, guitarist/composer Kim Perlak and
drummer/percussionist Francisco Mela. The original music of Spaces is sorted into three resonant suites, forming a
transcendent soundscape. Spaces is a choice pick for centering the mind and expanding creative vision, highly
recommended. The tracks are (Lake Suite) Dawn; Day; Dream; (Stream Suite) Asking; Flowing; Joyful - Asking; and
(Riverwalk Suite) Walking; Introspective; Moving.
Night Mist
Peter Calandra
www.petecalandramusic.com
Pecamusic, BMI
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1DRHMG7
Night Mist is an instrumental new age album of piano and synthesizer music, composed and performed by Peter Calandra.
Beautiful, quiet, and contemplative, Night Mist is a gentle album ideal for supporting meditation or creativity. Night Mist
is highly recommended for personal and public library collections, and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are Winter
Song; Peaceful Valley; Whispers Of The Dawn; Mohonk Morning; Autumn Nights; Starlit Night; Night Mist; The Heart
of Mount Seleya; Sweet Symphony; Veiled In Time; and Love's Embrace.
Keepers of the Flame
Gwen Laster and New Muse 4tet
www.gwenlaster.net
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $12.00 digital
https://gwenlastergameboard.bandcamp.com/album/keepers-of-the-flame
Keepers of the Flame is an album of original, instrumental music inspired by African mythology, social justice, current
events, and the African diaspora lexicon. Featuring Gwen Laster on violin, Melanie Dyer on viola, Teddy Rankin-Parker
on cello, and Andrew Drury on drums and percussion, Keepers of the Flame encourages the listener to help build better
world and a brighter future. Immersive and inspiring, Keepers of the Flame is highly recommended for both personal and
public library music collections. The tracks are Keepers of the Flame, Black Sun Shifting, Drishti, Foraging for Freedom,
When Peace, Asamondo, and Shoreline.
All the Light of Our Sphere
Glenn Dickson and Bob Familiar
www.GlennDicksonMusic.com
Sounds Familiar
$10.00 CD / $7.00 digital
https://dicksonfamiliar.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-light-of-our-sphere
Acclaimed clarinet player Glenn Dickson and synthesizer maestro Bob Familiar present All the Light of Our Sphere, an
avant-garde, electro-acoustic album featuring original, instrumental songs recorded live with no overdubs, beat tracks or
midi timers. The music itself weaves stories with melodic improvisation and harmonic movement, making All the Light of
Our Sphere a creative, immersive, and mind-expanding experience. Highly recommended, especially for ambient music
connoisseurs! The tracks are When fortune laid the Trojans low; Words set free from doubt; Just one inch in a hundred
years; It haunts me still; Sweet seed from bitter fruit; Pretending she was someone else; All the light of our sphere; When
the mist thins; And even yours is mine.
The Life & Times of Catharina Pratten
Emma Rush
https://emma-rush.com
Canada Council for the Arts & Ontario Arts Council
MP3-CD, $20.00 CAD
$12.00 CAD digital (Bandcamp)
$9.49 USD digital (Amazon)
https://emma-rush.com/store
https://emmarush.bandcamp.com/album/the-life-and-times-of-catharina-pratten
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3M27LZ2
Synopsis: "The Life and Times of Catharina Pratten" celebrates the Victorian guitar icon and her contemporaries. The
album includes seven previously unrecorded works by Pratten, first recordings of music by her father Ferdinand Pelzer, her
husband Robert Sidney Pratten, her colleague Leonard Schulz, her student Frank Mott Harrison, and music by her
contemporaries Francisco Tarrega, Giulio Regondi, and Ernest Shand.
Born Catharina Josepha Pelzer in Mulheim, Germany in 1824, Pratten and her family moved to England in 1829. As a
child she was such a keen student of the guitar (and also concertina) that by the age of 11 her reputation as a skilled player
was established. A contemporary review quoted by her biographer, Frank Mott Harrison, said "Her touch is powerful, and
her execution wonderful; we were surprised how such tiny fingers could draw forth such perfect sounds..." She continued
performing throughout her life, with a final concert in 1892, age 68.
Pratten also established herself as a composer. Many of her works were set in print by publisher Boosey and Sons, and
others, she published herself out of her London home. Pratten's compositions include upper intermediate works and
advanced pieces, chamber music offerings, and a large collection of works in E-Major tuning. In her catalogue of well over
200 works, there are sentimental and lyrical miniatures, rousing and rhythmic marches, arrangements of popular tunes, and
virtuosic fantasies..
"I simply take up my guitar and out of the tips of my fingers tumble out the sounds on the strings..." -Pratten letter to
Harrison, Reminiscences of Madame Sidney Pratten, 1899
Critique: Comprised of seventeen eloquently performed 19th Century pieces ranging from Daisey to Lucia de
Lamermoore, "The Life & Times of Catharina Pratten" celebrates the Victorian guitar icon and her contemporaries. This
remarkable album includes seven previously unrecorded works by Pratten, first recordings of music by her father
Ferdinand Pelzer, her husband Robert Sidney Pratten, her colleague Leonard Schulz, her student Frank Mott Harrison, and
music by her contemporaries Francisco Tarrega, Giulio Regondi, and Ernest Shand. The album is a musical treasure whose
production by Emma Rush in an MP3-CD format was supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts
Council. Beautiful music, beautifully performed, "The Life & Times of Catharina Pratten" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library CD Music collections.
Editorial Note: Emma Rush (https://emmarush.bandcamp.com) has established herself as one of Canada's top classical
guitarists. Her career has commanded world recognition. Recent touring highlights include a four-city tour in China,
appearances at major guitar festivals in Germany, Mexico, Sweden, the USA, and Canada. She loves presenting unusual
music in unusual spaces.
The Library DVD Shelf
The Cinema Within
First Run Features
https://www.firstrunfeatures.com
$19.95
https://www.firstrunfeatures.com/cinemawithinvod.html
Synopsis: From the director of The Pruitt-Igoe Myth comes a documentary about the psychology of film editing.
Why do film cuts work? Why do people around the world - even children - so effortlessly understand them? In real life we
don't instantly jump from one viewpoint to another. Such a bizarre disruption of reality would be nauseatingly jarring. And
yet, most viewers don't even notice the hundreds or thousands of edits in their favorite films and shows.
The Cinema Within delves into the mystery of how and why an edited movie feels so natural and so effortlessly makes
sense. Drawing on the insights of editor Walter Murch, scholar David Bordwell, and a varied group of perceptual
scientists, the Cinema Within explores the idea that in film's earliest years, the most common edits were instinctively
shaped to fit the contours of human perception - and that this might explain why, more than a century later, most
modern-day filmmakers still rely on these exact same techniques.
Produced over the course of four years, The Cinema Within is a film unlike any other. Playfully inventive in its
construction and striking in its visuals, it dives deep into the deliberately hidden language of film editing - a language so
seemingly natural it usually goes unnoticed. Drawing on dozens of examples from both well-known and obscure films
across cinema history, it explores not only the essential grammar of the world's most popular art form, but the very
mechanics of how we perceive reality. The result is a scientific cinematic adventure - a documentary in which our basic
understanding of film editing becomes the dramatic heart of its story.
Critique: The Cinema Within: A Documentary about the Psychology of Film Editing is a documentary on DVD that
explores why and how film editing techniques work so well. When a movie cuts from scene to scene, how can the
audience follow the action without being disoriented, or experiencing motion sickness? Is the ability to internalize edited
film as an unfolding narrative instinctive, or learned behavior? In search of answers, one researcher traveled to a remote
dwelling with a family who had never seen a movie before. Another researcher carefully studied when and how humans
blink while watching film. Award-winning film editor Walter Murch and scholar David Bordwell examine what cinematic
techniques reveal about how humans see and process the world around them, in a fascinating and enlightening study that is
thoroughly accessible to viewers of all backgrounds, The Cinema Within is especially recommended for high school,
public, and college library cinema and psychology collections. 93 min., optional English subtitles.
The Archaeology Shelf
Beneath Our Feet
Michael Lewis and Ian Richardson, authors
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500027523, $40.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Our-Feet-Discoveries-Reshaping/dp/0500027528
Synopsis: Britain has a rich past as evidenced by its incredible archaeology discoveries. Every day, new discoveries
transform our understanding of its history. Most are made not by professional archaeologists, but by ordinary members of
the public. Some are chance finds; others are recovered by the thousands of fieldwalkers, mudlarks, and metal detectorists
who scour Britain's countryside and waterways looking for artifacts and coins.
"Beneath Our Feet: Everyday Discoveries Reshaping History" is a celebration of this growing public involvement in
archaeology, and of the groundbreaking work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme managed by the British Museum in
England and Amgueddfa Cymru in Wales.
Its mission is collaboration with public finders, encouraging them to report their discoveries so they can be recorded on a
national database and shared with archaeologists, historians, and everyone with an interest in the past buried beneath our
feet.
From the 3,500-year-old Ringlemere Cup to the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard, a heart pendant connected to Henry
VIII and Catherine of Aragon, and a jar of American gold coins buried by a Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, these are the
stories of more than fifty astonishing treasures, the people who found them, and how they are reshaping British
history.
Critique: Visually enhanced with 200 color illustrations supporting and expertly written and impressively informative text,
"Beneath Our Feet: Everyday Discoveries Reshaping History" by British Museum professionals Professor Michael Lewis
and senior treasure registrar Ian Richardson is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative
Foreword by writer, director, and star of the BAFTA-winning television series Detectorists, Mackenzie Crook. The
archaeology finds are chronologically grouped: Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Early Medieval, Medieval,
Post-Medieval and Modern. Especially and unreservedly recommended, this hardcover edition of "Beneath Our Feet:
Everyday Discoveries Reshaping History" from Thames & Hudson is an ideal pick for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library British Archaeology/History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Michael Lewis is head of portable antiquities and treasure at the British Museum and a visiting
professor at the University of Reading and the University of Helsinki. He is known for his research on medieval finds
associated with religion and everyday life and is coauthor of The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry (with Dave Musgrove).
Editorial Note: Ian Richardson is the senior treasure registrar at the British Museum and secretary to the treasure valuation
committee. He has a particular interest in postmedieval archaeology -- and especially vervels!
The Language Studies Shelf
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global
Laura Spinney
Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com
9781639732586, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Proto-Ancient-Language-Went-Global/dp/1639732586
Synopsis: Daughter. Duhitar. Dustr. Dukte. Listen to these English, Sanskrit, Armenian and Lithuanian words, all meaning
the same thing, and you hear echoes of one of history's most unlikely journeys.
All four languages-along with hundreds of others, from French and Gaelic, to Persian and Polish-trace their origins to an
ancient tongue spoken as the last ice age receded. This language, which we call Proto-Indo-European, was born between
Europe and Asia and exploded out of its cradle, fragmenting as it spread east and west. Its last speaker died thousands of
years ago, yet Proto-Indo-European lives on in its myriad linguistic offspring and in some of our best loved works of
literature, including Dante's Inferno and the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings and the love poetry of Rumi.
How did this happen?
Acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney set out to answer that question, retracing the Indo-European odyssey across continents
and millennia. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the silk roads and the Hindu Kush. We
retrace the epic journeys of nomads and monks, warriors and kings -- the ancient peoples who carried these languages far
and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the scientists on a thrilling mission to retrieve the lost languages and their
speakers: the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists who have reconstructed that ancient diaspora. What they have
learned has profound implications for our modern world, because people and their languages are on the move again.
"Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words.
Critique: With the publication of "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global", Laura Spinney presents a unique and
simply fascinating study of how a universal language that dominated in the last Ice Age became so diversified as humans
and human populations spread across the world. Of immense value to academia and non-academic readers with an interest
in the evolution of language, "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" is further enhanced for the reader's benefit
with the inclusion of a twenty-two page Bibliography, twenty-two pages of Endnotes, and a fifteen page Index. A
meticulously researched and impressively well written, organized and presented study, "Proto: How One Ancient
Language Went Global" is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library
Language Development and Civilization/Cultural History collections and supplemental curriculum Linguistics studies lists.
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that this hardcover edition of "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" from Bloomsbury Press is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Laura Spinney (https://www.lauraspinney.com) is also the author of "Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918
and How It Changed the World", which has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and two novels. Her science
writing has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, Nature, The Economist, The Guardian, and elsewhere. She
lives in Paris.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Beyond Blood Quantum
Norbert S. Hill, Megan M. Hill, and Desirae Louise Hill, editors
Fulcrum Publishing
www.fulcrumbooks.com
9781682754627, $24.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Blood-Quantum-Refusal-Disappear/dp/1682754626
Synopsis: "Beyond Blood Quantum: Refusal to Disappear" is the second volume of The Great Vanishing Act series.
Voices from Indian Country convey the insidious impacts of the Indian Reorganization Act confronting the existential and
pragmatic questions facing many Native Nations to determine who is (and who is not) a citizen. The voices of poets,
parents, academics, activists, educators, young adults, and elders prompt conversations in consideration of shared cultural
values and lived realities outside of the limited confines of blood quantum.
Both informational and poetic, "Beyond Blood Quantum: Refusal to Disappear" is a guide for conversation in-community
and a songline of voices grappling with contemporary Native identity and the sovereignty inherent in defining citizenship
with analysis softened by appreciation for kin, land, and promises to future generations from the descendants of
generations who continue to resist, who refuse to disappear.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Norbert S. Hill, Megan M. Hill, and Desirae Louise Hill,
"Beyond Blood Quantum: Refusal to Disappear" is a compendium of twenty-five informative, erudite, and Native
American themed essays by knowledgeable contributors and will prove to be of special and particular interest to readers
with an interest in Indigenous People's Studies/History/Politics. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented,
"Beyond Blood Quantum: Refusal to Disappear" is additionally enhanced with the inclusion of a two page listing of
Questions for Reflection, thirty-two pages of Notes, a twenty page listing of Contributors and their credentials, and a seven
page Index. While a unique, and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Native
American collections and supplemental Indigenous Peoples curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Beyond Blood
Quantum: Refusal to Disappear" from Fulcrum Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$16.99).
Editorial Note #1: Megan M. Hill is the Senior Director of the Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and
the Director of the Honoring Nations program at the Harvard Kennedy School. The core mission of the Project is to arm
Indigenous people with the tools needed to (re)build their nations and govern effectively through research, teaching,
leadership development, policy analysis, and pro bono advising for and with Native nations and communities. Its flagship
program, Honoring Nations, is a national awards program that identifies, celebrates, and shares outstanding examples of
tribal governance. (https://indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu)
Editorial Note #2: Desirae Louise Hill (https://desiraelouise.com) is the co-founder and managing creative director and
strategist at Three Track Mind -- a design studio and consultancy supporting startups, small businesses, and nonprofits
doing purposeful work related to the arts, culture, education, environment, and wellness. She is also co-founder of
Storywell and editor at Minoka Press. She earned a BA in Business Administration with concentration in marketing while
also studying literature at Western Washington University.
Editorial Note #3: Philip J. Deloria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_J._Deloria), is a Dakota descendant and the son
of Vine Deloria Jr. (author of God Is Red). Philip currently serves as the Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History at
Harvard University and received his PhD in American Studies from Yale University in 1994. He taught at the Universities
of Colorado and Michigan before joining the faculty at Harvard in January 2018. He is the author and co-author of many
books and was a long-serving trustee of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian
(NMAI).
The Literary Studies Shelf
E.D.E.N. Southworth's Hidden Hand
Rose Neal, author
The Lyons Press
www.lyonspress.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493089130, $32.95, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/D-Southworths-Hidden-Hand-Nineteenth-Century/dp/1493089137
Synopsis: E.D.E.N. Southworth (Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte) was one of the nineteenth century's most prolific and
successful authors, with more novels to her credit than Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Mark Twain
combined. Readers loved her feisty heroines who rode horses, shot pistols, captured notorious villains, became sea
captains, and had other such grand adventures. In 1859, countless readers named their daughters Capitola after their
favorite character in Southworth's best-selling novel The Hidden Hand.
In her fifty-plus novels, Southworth wrote about unspeakable topics for the time, including alcoholism, domestic violence,
poverty, and capital punishment -- all nicely tucked away within the pages of her "domestic fiction". Despite being raised
in a slave-owning family, she wrote for The National Era (a known abolitionist magazine), supported emancipation, and
encouraged her longtime friend Harriet Beecher Stowe to publish Uncle Tom's Cabin. Southworth also advocated for
better education for girls and better living conditions for the poor and joined the early women's rights movement.
Although Southworth achieved international fame in her lifetime, knowledge of her work virtually disappeared as readers
were drawn to the new Modernist literature. Because Southworth never discussed her progressive views publicly (a
necessity as a single mother who made a living by her pen) she has long been incorrectly categorized as being against
causes she in fact supported. Now, by combining details from Southworth's novels, newspapers, and personal letters, with
the publication of "E.D.E.N. Southworth's Hidden Hand: The Untold Story of America's Famous Forgotten
Nineteenth-Century Author", research scholar Rose Neal has set the record straight, piecing together the fascinating life of
a woman who was as determined as the heroines she created.
Critique: The result a twelve year research project, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth (December 26, 1819 - June
30, 1899), "E.D.E.N. Southworth's Hidden Hand: The Untold Story of America's Famous Forgotten Nineteenth-Century
Author" is a seminal and groundbreaking study of the life and achievements of E.D.El.N. Southworth by Rose Neal, a
dedicated and meticulous scholar whose biography of Southworth began as her master thesis when a student at Swansea
University (Wales). Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "E.D.E.N. Southworth's Hidden Hand" is
unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library 19th Century Women's Literary Biography
collections and supplemental Literary History/Criticism curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading
lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of
"E.D.E.N. Southworth's Hidden Hand" from Lyons Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$31.00).
Editorial Note: Rose Neal, PhD, is one of the preeminent scholars on the author's work and life. In 2012, she finished her
master's thesis on Southworth before embarking on a doctorate in literature from Swansea University in Wales, where she
successfully defended her dissertation on Southworth's impact on female education. Dr. Neal has also presented about the
author at professional conferences and libraries. After a twenty-plus-year career in teaching, both at the high school and
university levels, Dr. Neal retired and is now devoting herself full-time to a second career as a writer.
(https://www.rosenealwrites.com)
The Music Shelf
The Complete Reba McEntire Illustrated Discography
Daniel Selby
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887717449, $64.00, HC, 262pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Reba-McEntire-Illustrated-Discography/dp/B0F8JKGR4Q
Synopsis: Country singer and actress Reba McEntire was born in McAlester, Oklahoma on March 28, 1955 and raised on a cattle ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. Her father was a rodeo rider and the family used to travel the south by car. On those car trips Reba’s mother, Jacqueline McEntire, taught her four children to sing harmony.
Young Reba then went on to perform at her school. Beginning in first grade she sang "Away in a Manger" at her elementary school Christmas pageant. In fifth grade, she joined the 4-H club and won first place in the Junior Act Division for singing "My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown."
With her mother's help, she and her siblings formed the Singing McEntires, which played at local events around the state. Reba also played basketball and ran track. For several summers, she attended a basketball camp and she took piano and guitar lessons. Reba had also developed an interest in the rodeo and trained to become a barrel racer, winning several awards. Later she enrolled at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and studied to become a public school teacher like her mother had been. She continued to occasionally perform and in 1974 was heard singing at the National Rodeo Finals by country performer Red Steagall.
Attracted by her singing voice, Red helped her secure a recording contract with Mercury Records in 1975. She relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, with her mother that year. In 1976 Reba released her first single, it basically went nowhere. But that was just the start.
Since that release Reba has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and placed over 100 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, 25 of which reached the #1 position.
As an actress Reba made her film debut in 1989’s "Tremors" with Michael Gross and Kevin Bacon. Other film roles include 1991’s "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw" with Kenny Rogers, 1994’s "North" and several others.
On television she starred in the series "Reba," which aired for six seasons: October 5, 2001, to February 18, 2007, "Malibu Country" in 2012. In 2023 "Reba McEntire's The Hammer" aired. She is a judge on "The Voice" and the upcoming, as of this writing, "Happy's Place" co-starring Melissa Peterman who also co-starred in "Reba."
On January 26, 2001, Reba expanded her acting into theater starring as Annie Oakley in the Broadway revival of "Annie Get Your Gun" to great acclaim. She also owns several businesses, including a restaurant and a clothing line. Reba has truly done it all!
The focus for "The Complete Reba McEntire Illustrated Discography" is on her career as a recording artist and the albums
of music that she created.
Critique: A discography is the study and cataloging of published sound recordings, often by specified artists or
within identified music genres. The exact information included varies depending on the type and scope of the discography,
but a discography entry for a specific recording will often list such details as the names of the artists involved, the time and
place of the recording, the title of the piece performed, release dates, chart positions, and sales figures. (Wikipedia)
With the publication of "The Complete Reba McEntire Illustrated Discography" popular music historian Daniel Selby has
provided the legions of Reba McEntire fans with a deftly researched, exhaustively compiled, and the most up to date
discography of the songs and albums of a remarkable and beloved country music icon! "The Complete Reba McEntire Illustrated Discography" is a comprehensive, chronologically presented compendium of all
of Reba's albums to date, and includes recording dates, foreign releases, reviews, chart information and more. A unique and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Popular &
Country Music History/Performer collections, and an absolute 'must' for the legions of dedicated Reba McEntire fans, this
large format (8.25 x 0.81 x 11 inches, 1.63 pounds) hardcover edition from BearManor Press is also readily available in
paperback (9798887717432, $53.00).
Editorial Note: Daniel Selby, has spent the last 4 years writing 9 discography books about musical icons. Four of his books
have been nominated for an ARSC Award, the latest the discography of Loretta Lynn. The ARSC is the Association for
Recorded Sound Collections Awards for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. Founded in 1966 the goal of
the ARSC Awards program is to recognize and draw attention to the finest work now being published in the field of
recorded sound research. Other interests include currently (2024) writing a Christmas themed TV film script with a veteran Hollywood director and
taking flying lessons with to pilot small Cessna planes. In his younger years Daniel was an actor and did theater, print, TV
and film. The profile photo here is from his first leading musical theater role in Oliver! (as Oliver) in 1974.
The Art Shelf
Fashion Illustration Techniques
Hiroko Fukuchi
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319451, $19.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fashion-Illustration-Techniques-Illustrators-illustrations/dp/4805319453
Synopsis: "Fashion Illustration Techniques: A Beginner's Guide for Fashion Designers and Illustrators" by Hiroko Fukuchi
is fascinating and inspiring DIY guide for budding fashion designers and illustrators that shows you how to draw human
figures accurately with a full range of fabrics, garments and accessories. It explains clearly all the techniques used by
professional designers and illustrators with hundreds of examples to study and learn from!
Hiroko Fukuchi is one of Japan's leading fashion illustration teachers and draws from her yers of experience and expertise
to share a wealth of insider tips and techniques to help you master the art of fashion drawing -- from sketching realistic
human figures to illustrating stylish outfits and textured fabrics
The detailed chapters in "Fashion Illustration Techniques: A Beginner's Guide for Fashion Designers and Illustrators"
present all the essential information you need to know including:
Drawing the Human Figure: Master the proportions of male and female figures, including heads, hands, arms, legs, and
torsos
Drawing Fabrics on the Body: Learn to render various fabrics and textiles with folds, gathers, wrinkles and shadows and
how to draw them draped over the body using different types of pens and media
Illustrating and Designing Clothes: Learn to draw a wide range of individual garments as well as stunning ensembles and
accessories, including skirts, dresses, shirts, pants, jackets, shoes, bags, bras, panties and much more!
Getting Creative with Colors and Fabrics: Explore patterns, surface textures, and color palettes to elevate your illustrations
with depth and personality
"Fashion Illustration Techniques: A Beginner's Guide for Fashion Designers and Illustrators" is comprehensive guide
delivers all the foundational skills taught in top Tokyo fashion schools and is ideal for self-study or supplementing a
formal design course!
Critique: Essential for the novice and with a great deal of value for the experienced fashion designer, this large format
(7.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d), 1.11 pounds) trade paperback edition of Hiroko Fukuchi's "Fashion Illustration Techniques:
A Beginner's Guide for Fashion Designers and Illustrators" from Tuttle Publishing is an exceptional and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university Fashion Art instructional
reference collections and curriculums.
Editorial Note: Hiroko Fukuchi is a lecturer in fashion illustration and design at Sugino Fashion College in Tokyo. She
also teaches at Dressmaker Gakuin and Wayo Women's University and creates illustrations for books and apparel
designers. She has contributed to many fashion books including Modalina's Illustrated Book of Fashion, Modalina's
Illustrated Book of Men's Fashion and How to Draw a Suit. This is her first book in English.
David Hockney
Norman Rosenthal, editor
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500029527, $60.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/David-Hockney-Norman-Rosenthal/dp/0500029520
Synopsis: Published in association with the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, to coincide with their major 2025 David
Hockney exhibition, this hardcover edition of "David Hockney" from Thames & Hudson charts the life and work of one of
Britain's most popular and significant artists.
Expertly written by preeminent curatorial experts, art historians, and critics including Sir Norman Rosenthal, Sir Simon
Schama, and Fiona Maddocks, "David Hockney" is a definitive survey that showcases a curated selection of archival
photographs and eye-catching artworks presented in a lavish, large-format coffee-table style book offering a visually
engaging and detailed journey through Hockney's remarkable life and career.
Following an introduction that offers an overview of Hockney's life and work, a series of chapters explore in detail the
important moments and signature styles and preoccupations of the artist's varied career, from his early life in Bradford and
London through his years in California to his later life in Bridlington, Yorkshire, and Normandy.
Several of the chapters are arranged thematically according to artistic subject matter and medium, ranging from still lifes
and portraits to his much-loved landscapes and stunning designs for opera.
A final chapter explores Hockney's engagement with new technology, particularly the iPad, demonstrating the endless
inventiveness, curiosity, and creativity that have characterized Hockney's work over the decades.
Compiled with the full involvement of David Hockney and his studio, and with a large-scale landscape format with a
selection of gatefolds that enables the reader to revel in the art, "David Hockney' is the most important book on Hockney's
entire career to have been published, and will appeal to the many fans of the artist's work across the globe.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a two page Glossary of Techniques, a four
page Chronology, three pages of Notes, a two page Selected Bibliography, and a one page listing of the contributors and
their credentials, this large format (12.3 x 1.4 x 10.5 inches, 5.2 pounds) and profusely illustrated hardcover edition of
"David Hockney" is a singular and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Contemporary Art & Artists collections.
Editorial Note: Sir Norman Rosenthal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Rosenthal) is an independent British curator
and art historian. He was exhibitions secretary at the Royal Academy, London, from 1977 to 2008.
The Gardening Shelf
The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening
Hideki Yoda
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319086, $18.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Manga-Guide-Organic-Vegetable-Gardening/dp/4805319089
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening: Detailed Tips for Growing 50
Types of Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs", manga artist and passionate home gardener Hideki Yoda illustrates the joy and
simplicity of raising vegetables in your own small home garden.
He covers everything from creating the rows and preparing the soils to building the trellises and keeping the pests and
weeds away without the use of any chemicals.
Over two thousand detailed step-by-step color photos and drawings throughout "The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable
Gardening" explain the techniques and guide you through each step.
Entertaining and informative, "The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening" is packed from cover to cover with
practical advice on:
What to grow, when to plant it, and how to get started
What seedlings to purchase and how to make good compost
Homemade organic fertilizers and chemical-free ways to keep pests and diseases at bay
Companion planting and natural weed control techniques
How to use your limited garden spaces more efficiently
And so much more!
Yoda's lighthearted illustrations and cartoon "assistants" keep it all fun. They show you how to grow beautiful potatoes,
peppers, taro, tomatoes, melons, edamame, turmeric and dozens of other vegetables, fruits and herbs -- over 50 varieties in
total.
Critique: A unique and ideal DIY instructional guide book and 'how to' manual for beginners who like a playful, illustrated
approach to solid gardening information, "The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening: Detailed Tips for Growing
50 Types of Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs" by expert gardener Hideki Yoda has a great deal of value for even the more
experienced family gardener. This large format paperback edition of "The Manga Guide to Organic Vegetable Gardening:
Detailed Tips for Growing 50 Types of Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs" from Tuttle Publishing is an original, unique,
effective, and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Organic/Sustainable
Gardening/Horticulture collections and supplemental Agriculture curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Hideki Yoda describes himself as a part-time farmer and part-time manga artist. He draws wonderful
manga and illustrations for newspapers and magazines, and also conducts lectures on gardening and small-scale farming
for diverse groups from farming organizations to PTA meetings. He is the author of several manga gardening books like
this one.
The Mathematics Shelf
A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof
Mark J. DeBonis
CRC Press
c/o Routledge
https://www.routledge.com
9781032686196, $169.44, HC, 170pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Mathematical-Proof/dp/1032686197
Synopsis: An ideal textbook on the subject, "A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" by Mark J. DeBonis will prepare
mathematics majors for the transition to abstract mathematics, as well as introducing a wider readership of quantitative
science students, such as engineers, to the mathematical structures underlying more applied topics.
The text of "A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" is specifically and intentionally designed to be easily utilized by
both instructor and student, with an accessible, step-by-step approach requiring minimal mathematical prerequisites. "A
Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" builds towards more complex ideas as it progresses but never makes assumptions
of the reader beyond the material already covered.
The features of "A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" require no mathematical prerequisites beyond high school
mathematics. It is especially suitable for an Introduction to Proofs curriculum course for mathematics majors and other
students of quantitative sciences, such as engineering.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, as well as replete thoroughly with student friendly exercises and
examples, "A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" is an ideal pick for personal, professional, and college/university
library Mathematics collections and curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students and academia that this
hardcover edition of "A Beginner's Guide to Mathematical Proof" from CRC Press is also readily available in paperback
(9781032687704, $66.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $50.91).
Editorial Note: Mark DeBonis received his PhD in Mathematics from University of California, Irvine, USA. He began his
career as a theoretical mathematician in the field of group theory and model theory, but in later years switched to applied
mathematics, in particular to machine learning. He spent some time working for the US Department of Energy at Los
Alamos National Lab as well as the US Department of Defense at the Defense Intelligence Agency as an applied
mathematician of machine learning. He is at present working for the US Department of Energy at Sandia National Lab. His
research interests include machine learning, statistics and computational algebra.
Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician
Todd Arbogast & Jerry L. Bona
CRC Press
c/o Routledge
https://www.routledge.com
9781032791562, $125.00, HC, 406pp
https://www.amazon.com/Functional-Analysis-Mathematician-Textbooks-Mathematics/dp/103279156X
Synopsis: "Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician" by co-authors and professors of mathematics Todd
Arbogast and Jerry L. Bona is a self-contained volume that provides a rigorous introduction to functional analysis and its
applications. Students from mathematics, science, engineering, and certain social science and interdisciplinary programs
will substantial benefit from the material.
This textbook edition of "Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician" from CRC Press is fully accessible to
graduate and advanced undergraduate students who have a solid background in undergraduate mathematics and an
appreciation of mathematical rigor. Students are called upon to actively engage with the material, to the point of proving
some of the basic results or their straightforward generalizations, both within the text and within the generous set of
exercises.
"Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician" features:
Replete with exercises and examples
Suitable for graduate students and advanced undergraduates
Develops the basics of functional analysis, exploring the interplay between algebraic linear space theory and topology
Presents a variety of applications, often dealing with partial differential equations and their numerical approximation
Doubles as a reference book with an extensive index listing the concepts and results
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician" by
Professors Todd Arbogast and Jerry L. Bona is an ideal textbook and unreservedly recommended for college/university
library Applied Mathematics collections and supplemental Mathematics curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for
students and academia that this hardcover edition of "Functional Analysis for the Applied Mathematician" from CRC Press
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $100.00).
Editorial Note #1: Todd Arbogast is a Professor of Mathematics, born December 9, 1957. He earned his Ph.D. from the
University of Chicago in 1987 under the direction of Professor Jim Douglas, Jr. He has held faculty positions at Purdue
University, Rice University, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a core member of the Oden Institute for
Computational Engineering and Sciences. He is a Fellow of both the American Mathematical Society and the Society for
Industrial and Applied Mathematics. His research contributes to the development and analysis of numerical algorithms for
the approximation of partial differential systems, homogenization and multiscale modeling, and scientific computation, as
well as applications of the same to the modeling and simulation of multiphase flow and transport through geologic porous
media.
Editorial Note #2: Jerry L. Bona is a professor of Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science who earned his Ph.D. in
1971 from Harvard University under the supervision of Professor Garrett Birkhoff. His early work in the Fluid Mechanics
Research Institute at the University of Essex with Professors Brooke Benjamin and J. J. Mahony resulted in a model
equation for long waves in non-linear dispersive systems, known as the Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation. He has held
faculty positions at the University of Chicago, the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the
University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a fellow of the American Mathematical Society, the Society for Industrial and
Applied Mathematics, the Centre de Recherche Mathematiques of the Universite de Montreal, and the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. His research is in fluid mechanics, oceanography, coastal engineering,
mathematical aspects of biology, mathematical economics, and the associated theory of partial differential equations,
computational mathematics, and numerical analysis.
Theory of Stochastic Integrals
Jorge A. Leon
CRC Press
c/o Routledge
https://www.routledge.com
9781032778105, $260.00, HC, 486pp
https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Stochastic-Integrals-Jorge-Le%C3%B3n/dp/1032778105
Synopsis: With the publication of "Theory of Stochastic Integrals" mathematician Jorge A. Leon provides the answer to
this problem by introducing readers to the study of some interpretations of stochastic integrals with respect to stochastic
processes that are not necessarily semimartingales, such as Volterra Gaussian processes, or processes with bounded
p-variation among which we can mention fractional Brownian motion and Riemann-Liouville fractional process.
"Theory of Stochastic Integrals" features self-contained treatment of the topic; is suitable as a teaching or research tool for
those interested in stochastic analysis and its applications, and includes original results.
Critique: A fundamental, comprehensive, and detailed introduction to stochastic integrals, "Theory of Stochastic Integrals"
is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for professional and college/university library collections and as a
supplemental Calculus curriculum textbook. Exceptionally well organized and presented, it should be noted for students,
academia, and anyone with an interest in learning about stochastic integrals that this large format (7 x 1.29 x 10 inches,
2.32 pounds) hardcover edition of "Theory of Stochastic Integrals" is also readily available in paperback (9781032778129,
$105.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $79.80).
Editorial Note: Jorge A. Leon studied the PhD in equivalence of solutions to stochastic evolution equations at the
Department of Mathematics of Cinvestav-IPN, Mexico. He has carried out joint research work with internationally
recognized researchers. He has mainly contributed to the development of stochastic calculus and integration, and their
applications to stochastic differential equations with different interpretations of stochastic integral. He has co-organized
several conferences on stochastic analysis among which we can mention the Latin American Congress of Probability and
Mathematical Statistics (CLAPEM), the joint meeting between USA and Mexico, Bernoulli-IMSWorld Congress,
Symposium on Probability and Mathematics Statistics, which was the most important meeting in probability at Mexico,
etc. He has taught at Cinvestav-IPN for 35 years.
(https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FfmxcFgAAAAJ&hl=en)
The Business Shelf
Consumer Behaviour
Jean-Eric Pelet
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398618640, $204.00, HC, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Consumer-Behaviour-Understanding-Consumers-Landscape/dp/1398618640
Synopsis: With the publication of "Consumer Behaviour: Understanding Consumers in a Digital Landscape", Professor
Jean-Eric Pelet combines theoretical underpinnings with real-world practice to provide comprehensive, up-to-date
coverage of the subject. "Consumer Behaviour" explores how consumer behaviour has evolved with the impact of
technology, personalization and sustainability on perception and decision-making. This textbook is ideal for postgraduate
students taking modules on Consumer Behaviour as part of their Marketing degrees.
"Consumer Behaviour" features:
Chapters on the psychological and social dynamics of consumer behaviour and the scientific foundations of learning and
memory in brand engagement.
Examination of the role of AR/VR and the metaverse in retail experiences, live streaming and voice commerce as well as
quantum computing and the importance of good UX design.
Ethical considerations of the digital consumer landscape, including privacy and data concerns.
Learning outcomes, key terms, a glossary and exercise questions international examples throughout, to help develop
critical thinking.
Critique: This large format (6.69 x 0.81 x 9.61 inches, 1.65 pounds) hardcover edition of "Consumer Behaviour:
Understanding Consumers in a Digital Landscape" by Professor Jean-Eric Pelet is enhanced for the reader's benefit with a
48 page bibliography listing of References, a seventeen page Glossary, and seven page Index. An ideal and strongly
recommended pick for college/university library Business & Finance collections and MBA curriculum studies lists, it
should be noted for MBA students and academia that "Consumer Behaviour" from Kogan Page is also available for
personal reading lists in paperback (9781398618619, $59.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $56.05).
Editorial Note: Jean-Eric Pelet is an Associate Professor at IAE Amiens (France). He leads the Consumer Behaviour
teaching at Masters level at IAE Amiens, IAE Vannes, EM Normandie, PBS and EMLV. He is also a visiting professor
both in France and abroad in England, Poland, Finland, Switzerland and Thailand.
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean-Eric-Pelet)
The Money/Finance Shelf
An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing
Jennifer M. Walske and Katherine J. Klein, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781803922706, $141.00, HC, 244pp
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/an-introduction-to-early-stage-impact-investing-9781803922720.html
Synopsis: Co-edited by Jennifer Walske and Katherine Klein, "An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing" provides
a comprehensive overview of early-stage impact investing, discussing best practices and equipping readers with the
resources to make effective investments that achieve financial returns and societal or environmental benefits.
The co-editors (who are academically trained and experienced impact investors) of "An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact
Investing" and their contributors provide practical advice for purpose-driven startup investing. Each chapter delves into
key topics such as setting investment criteria, sourcing deals, defining and measuring impact, structuring investments
including setting valuation and determining investment terms, and portfolio management. "An Introduction to Early-Stage
Impact Investing" draws from a culmination of years of research, practice, and advising passionate founders of startups,
emphasizing that impact investing will only continue to evolve as the field enters the mainstream. "An Introduction to
Early-Stage Impact Investing" closes with a look forward to both the challenges and opportunities involved in impact
investing.
Students and scholars focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, and finance will find "An Introduction to Early-Stage
Impact Investing" to be highly beneficial. Additionally, it is useful for investors that are new to early stage impact
investing, as well as seasoned investors seeking to move into early stage impact investing.
Critique: Exceptional and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "An Introduction to Early-Stage
Impact Investing" is the ideal and comprehensive DIY tutorial in successful financial investing. Composed of nine erudite
and informative contributions by experts in the field, "An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing" is further
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty page glossary, a complete listing of the contributors and
their credentials, and an eight page Index. While an outstanding and recommended pick for personal, professional, and
college/university library Money/Finance and Business/Entrepreneurship Investment collections and supplemental
Economics/Venture Capital curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing" from
Edward Elgar Publishing is also readily available in paperback (9781803922720, $51.25).
Editorial Note #1: Jennifer M. Walske, is a Visiting, Distinguished Scholar, Berkeley Haas, Adjunct Professor, USC
Marshall and Managing Director,Myriad Investments.
Editorial Note #2: Katherine J. Klein, is the Edward H. Bowman Professor of Management, Wharton School and Faculty
Co-Director, Wharton's Impact Investing Research Lab., USA
Editorial Note #3: The contributors to "An Introduction to Early-Stage Impact Investing" include: Brian Trelstad, Tasha
Seitz, Tyler Wry and Michael Brown.
The Political Science Shelf
The Civility Book
Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson, authors
Lynne Golodner, contributor
Wayne State University Press
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814352182, $25.99, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Civility-Book-Building-Bridges-Political/dp/0814352189
Synopsis: Once pitted as adversarial counterparts as the opinion editors of right-leaning and left-leaning newspapers, and
with the publication of "The Civility Book: A Guide to Building Bridges Across the Political Divide", veteran journalists
Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson join forces in this groundbreaking work to champion a novel approach to political
discourse.
In 'The Civility Book", Finley, a resolute conservative, and Henderson, a committed progressive, defy expectations by
demonstrating that civil conversation is not only possible but also richly rewarding, even across colossal ideological
divides.
In 2020, they launched the Civility Project with journalist and author Lynne Golodner, beginning their journey to teach
Americans how to engage in respectful dialogue and maintain relationships despite political differences. "The Civility
Book" is an extension of that mission, offering practical tools and strategies for fostering civility in everyday
interactions.
At the core of this work, the co-authors position their four pillars of civility to explain what civility is, why it matters, and
how individuals can use it to overcome the antagonistic rhetoric that threatens our society today, one conversation at a
time. This conversational, no-nonsense guide provides valuable lessons, a detailed curriculum, probing questions for
consideration, and an extensive appendix of resources outlining ongoing efforts to curb unproductive contention and
advance a more harmonious society.
Critique: Never more so than in this Age of Trump is civility needed if our American style democracy is to survive. "The
Civility Book: A Guide to Building Bridges Across the Political Divide" is a light in the growing political darkness that is
threatening to descend upon us all. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Civility Book" is an essential
instructional guide and 'how to' manual for restoring sanity and civility in our political debates and conversations.
Especially recommended as essential reading for political activists on the Right, the Middle, and the Left, "The Civility
Book" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Political Science & Communication collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this trade
paperback edition of "The Civility Book" from the Wayne State University Press is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $24.69, Amazon) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio, 9798228518094,
$39.99, CD).
Editorial Note #1: Nolan Finley has held many positions at the "Detroit News" since the start of his career there as a copy boy, including city editor, business editor, politics editor, and deputy managing editor. In 2000, he was named editorial page editor, where he directs the expression of the newspaper's editorial position on various national and local issues and writes a column in the Sunday newspaper. He graduated from Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University, and in 2012, he was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Finley is also cohost of "One Detroit" on Detroit Public Television.
Editorial Note #2: Stephen Henderson is an American journalist and winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and the 2014 National Association of Black Journalists Journalist of the Year Award—both received while writing for the "Detroit Free Press". A native of Detroit, Henderson is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and the University of Michigan. Since 2015, he has been the host of "Detroit Today" on WDET, and in 2020, he founded "BridgeDetroit", where he serves as executive editor. Henderson is cohost of One Detroit and host of "American Black Journal" on Detroit Public Television.
Editorial Note #3: Lynne Golodner (https://lynnegolodner.com) is a native of Detroit and an award-winning author, marketing entrepreneur, and writing coach. Her writing has appeared in "45th Parallel", the "Chicago Tribune", "Better Homes and Gardens", "Midwest Living", and many more publications. She served as executive director of the Civility Project from 2020-24. Golodner teaches writing around the world, leads writers' retreats, and has taught writing at University of Detroit Mercy since 2010 and with WritingWorkshops.com since 2018. A former Fulbright Specialist, Golodner is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Goddard College and earned a certificate in entrepreneurship from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Wayne State University.
The Egyptology Shelf
Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt
Amandine Marshall, author
Colin Clement, translator
American University in Cairo Press
www.aucpress.com
9781649030900, $70.00, HC, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Early-Childhood-Ancient-Egypt/dp/1649030908
Synopsis: In ancient Egypt, a woman's primary role was that of mother, and as such she ensured her place within both her
household and her community. And so, gods, doctor-magicians, as well as ghosts were all called upon to help the woman
become pregnant and successfully deliver.
Pregnancy was not without risks, and the many tests, prescriptions, and spells that have survived to this day help us to
understand obstetrics as it was practiced in those distant times.
Once the woman had eluded the ill will of Seth (who was held responsible for miscarriages) and had reached her term, she
was faced with the much awaited and yet also feared moment of birth.
The successful delivery of a child into the world was seen as a gift of the gods, but it did not mean that the parent's worries
were over. It has been estimated that a third of all children did not reach the age of five years despite the combined efforts
of parents and doctor-magicians to protect them.
With the publication of "Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt: Culture, Religion, and Medicine", Amandine
Marshall has drawn upon a wealth of sources, including texts, images, iconography, artefacts, and children's bodies
themselves, as well as medicine, anthropology, and ethnography, to examine these issues and more, and in doing so sheds
unprecedented light on the experience of maternity and early childhood in ancient Egypt.
Critique: A masterpiece of seminal, meticulous, and groundbreaking scholarship, "Motherhood and Early Childhood in
Ancient Egypt: Culture, Religion, and Medicine" is an extraordinary contribution to the field of Egyptology that is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Egyptology collections
and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Featuring illustrations, a chronology, a glossary, chapter notes, a bibliography,
and an index, it should be noted for students, academia, archaeologists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt: Culture, Religion, and
Medicine" from The American University of Cairo Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$69.99).
Editorial Note #1: Amandine Marshall obtained her PhD in Egyptology from the Ecole des hautes etudes en sciences
sociales (EHSS), Toulouse. She is a research associate with the French Archaeological Mission of Thebes West, a
scientific advisor for French television, and the director of two bilingual Egyptological channels, ToutankaTube (for
adults) and NefertiTube (for children and teachers). She is the author of thirty books, including Childhood in Ancient
Egypt (AUC Press, 2022). She resides in France.
Editorial Note #2: Salima Ikram is distinguished professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. She has
directed the Animal Mummy Project and the North Kharga Darb Ain Amur Survey, among other truly exciting projects
and excavations, throughout Egypt and in Turkey, Sudan, and Greece. She has worked in museums around the world,
including the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. She has published extensively, for
both scholarly and general audiences.
The Architecture Shelf
Home on Earth: Recipes for Healthy Houses
BLDUS, author
Ty Cole, photographer
ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781961856516, $50.00, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Home-Earth-Recipes-Healthy-Housing/dp/1961856514
Synopsis: Using traditional materials processed with contemporary techniques, BLDUS is an architectural firm that
designs and builds sustainable houses in and around Washington D.C. that pay tribute to their contexts and gain integrity
as they age.
A compendium of full color, full page interior design photos (including blueprints and informative commentaries), "Home
on Earth: Recipes for Healthy Houses" showcases built houses alongside material studies and models to propose a healthy
building cuisine specific to the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Each of these contextual houses are illustrative advocates for simple healthy building materials that work well in the
Mid-Atlantic region and have low impacts on their points of growth, manufacture, installation, inhabitation, and eventual
disposal.
Critique: This large format (8.2 x 1.5 x 8.2 inches, 2.85 pounds) hardcover edition of "Home on Earth: Recipes for Healthy
Houses" from ORO Editions provides a loose framework for BLDUS's unique farm-to-shelter architecture in "Home on
Earth", offering delectable suggestions for healthy modes of human habitation. Exceptionally well organized and
presented, "Home on Earth" is a unique and inspiring pick for personal, professional, and college/university library
Architectural & Green Design collections and as a supplemental Architectural Sustainability curriculum textbook.
Editorial Note #1: BLDUS (https://bld.us) is an architecture and development office founded by Jack Becker and Andrew
Linn in 2013
Editorial Note #2: Ty Cole (https://www.tycole.com) is an award-winning photographer who is driven by a passion for
design, technology and a curiosity about how humans connect with each other and their environments, built or natural.
Robotic Fabrication and Architectural Design
Robert Stuart-Smith
ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781957183961, $50.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Robotics-Autonomous-Systems-Fabrication-Architectural/dp/1957183969
Synopsis: At present, architectural design and construction approaches are unable to meet immediate and projected societal
needs in productivity, affordability, and sustainability or to adequately engage with the diverse conditions found in our
built environment.
The MSD-RAS seeks to address these challenges through bespoke design solutions that are integral to a critical and
creative approach to production. Implied in the term "RAS", the program seeks to harness the potential of AI and robotic
systems to work more adaptively than automation affords.
Primarily operating through the development of robotically fabricated prototypes, projects are presented that incorporate
custom approaches to generative computational design, machine learning, robot tooling, real-time adaptive robot
programming, sensor feedback, material and manufacturing processes or human-in-the-loop activities.
"Robotic Fabrication and Architectural Design: Integrated Approaches to Fabrication, Computation, and Architectural
Design" Professor Robert Stuart-Smith well serves as a graphical reflection on the first three years of the program as
research projects are presented alongside interviews with some of the program's graduates together with insights into the
exciting career trajectories they embarked on post-study.
Essays from the program's faculty dive deeper into several core topics such as the MSD-RAS's approach to design
research, critical engagement with industrial manufacturing processes, and the integration of semi-autonomous workflows
in design and production. Also discussed is the program's unique integrated approach to coursework and why it is inducive
to the creation of novel collaborative work that expands design agency into unchartered territories and careers.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Robotic Fabrication and Architectural Design: Integrated Approaches to
Fabrication, Computation, and Architectural Design" by Professor Stuart-Smith and a number of expert contributors is an
ideal introduction to the subject of architecture and robotics. This profusely illustrated, large format (7.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches,
2.1 pounds) hardcover edition of "Robotic Fabrication and Architectural Design: Integrated Approaches to Fabrication,
Computation, and Architectural Design" from ORO Editions is an ideal and recommended addition to personal,
professional, and college/university library Architecture & Robotics collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note: Robert Stuart-Smith is Director of the MSD-RAS Program, an assistant professor of architecture, and an
affiliate faculty in engineering's GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. He also directs the Autonomous
Manufacturing Research Lab in Penn's Department of Architecture and University College London's Department of
Computer Science.
(https://www.design.upenn.edu/people/robert-stuart-smith)
Editorial Note #2: The contributors to "Robotic Fabrication and Architectural Design" include: Robert Stuart-Smith Jeffrey
Anderson Billie Faircloth Nathan King Andrew Saunders Evangelos Kotsioris Ezio Blasetti Patrick Danahy
The Travel Shelf
Wilderness Navigation
Bob Burns and Mike Burns, authors
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680517217, $21.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Navigation-Finding-Compass-Altimeter/dp/168051721X
Synopsis: For nearly three decades, "Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS"
has been the official textbook for outdoor education courses throughout the US as well as a trusted resource for
adventurers all over the world. Authors and educators Bob Burns and Mike Burns describe essential tools and proven
techniques for selecting and interpreting maps, taking and following compass bearings in the field, using an altimeter, and
navigating with GPS using an app or dedicated device.
"Wilderness Navigation" features: Full-color maps to highlight real-life orientation methods and challenges. Detailed
descriptions and comparison charts of recommended tools, including personal locator beacons and satellite
communicators. Navigation exercises and practice problems. Guidance for adapting skills and techniques for a wide range
of outdoor activities
Critique: "Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS" by Bob and Mike Burns is
an ideal and unreservedly recommended instructional guide and DIY tutorial for hikers, backpackers, kayakers, climbers,
backcountry skiers, or outdoor travelers. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this detailed
step-by-step 'how-to' handbook will help you find your way wherever you go in the great Out of Doors.
While a valued and recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library Hiking & Camping
travel guide collections, it should be noted that this trade paperback (5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d), 1.11 pounds) edition of
"Wilderness Navigation" from Mountaineers Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.95).
Editorial Note #1: Bob Burns joined The Mountaineers Club in 1971. In 1972 he graduated from the Basic Climbing
Course in the Everett branch. In 1975 he moved to Seattle, and graduated from The Mountaineers Snowshoe Course in
1974 and the Intermediate Climbing Course in 1976. He served on the Club's Climbing Committee from 1975 to 1985, and
on its Board of Trustees from 1986 through 1991. He has hiked, scrambled, climbed and snowshoed extensively in
Washington, Oregon, and California, and is a longtime contributor to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills.
Editorial Note #2: Mike Burns has climbed, scrambled, and hiked extensively and has been teaching outdoor skills
(navigation, climbing, or section hiking) for decades. He is a longtime contributor to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the
Hills and has also written numerous articles for The Mountaineer and Climbing magazines.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design