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Reviewer's Choice
Russia's Army
Roger R. Reese
University of Oklahoma Press
www.oupress.com
9780806192758, $34.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Russias-Army-Napoleonic-Campaigns-Commanders/dp/0806192755
Synopsis: With the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin's Russia seems to have stepped out of
time, reverting to an imperial era of conquest and expansion. But as Professor Roger Reese
points out in this comprehensive new history, Russia's way of war has changed little from one
century to the next, one regime to another, from the army of the tsar to the army of today.
With the publication of "Russia's Army: A History from the Napoleonic Wars to the War in
Ukraine", Professor Reese reveals how the Imperial Russian Army and its successors, the Soviet
Army and the army of the Russian Federation, confronted the state's foreign policy challenges
(projecting power and defending the empire) and the domestic challenge of containing internal
unrest generated by nationalism, competing ethnic and religious identities, and political
discontent. These twin challenges, in turn, drove defense policy and the planning and conduct of
war.
From the beginning of the nineteenth century, the development of the army was driven by shifts
in the European balance of power and changes in global diplomacy, politics, economics, and
society. Professor Reese identifies themes that weave their way through this military history: the
adoption of a strategy to maintain a defensive posture in the West, an offensive strategy in the
Balkans, and an expansionist policy in the East; maintenance of a large standing army; and a
consistent unease about the army's and non-Russian minorities' loyalty to the state. These themes,
Professor Reese shows, have emerged in times of peace and war, as heads of state have made
operational and strategic military decisions while managing civil-military relations -- from the
times of tsarist Russia through the collapse of the Soviet empire, when Putin sought to restore
authoritarian rule and hegemony over the former Soviet states of the USSR.
A comprehensive account of the history of the Russian army from 1801 to 2022, "Russia's Army:
A History from the Napoleonic Wars to the War in Ukraine" Reese's is the first book to link
Russian military history across three distinct eras and to situate this history within the context of
military strategy and doctrine, as reflected in specific campaigns, issues of manning and
maintaining an army, and relations between army and society, at home and in the "near
abroad".
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Russia's Army: A History from the Napoleonic
Wars to the War in Ukraine" by Professor Roger R. Reese is a masterpiece of historical
scholarship and is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of three
maps (Imperial Russia 1914, The Soviet Union 1989, The Russian Federation 2001), an eight
page Bibliography, sixteen pages of Notes, and a four page Index. A concise and documented
military history, "Russia's Army" will be of special value to readers with an interest in Russian
military history and strategy. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, governmental, and college/university library Russian Military History
collections and supplemental 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
"Russia's Army" from the University of Oklahoma Press is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $29.95)
Editorial Note: Roger Reese received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1990 and joined
the Texas A&M History Department that same year. Dr. Reese specializes in Soviet social
history in general, and the social history of the Imperial and Russian Soviet militaries in
particular. Dr. Reese has written seven books on the Russian and Soviet military and won the
Moncado prize from the Society for Military History for an outstanding article in military history
and the Tomlinson Book Prize from the World War One Historical Association for his book on
the Russian Imperial Army. His current research focus is on issues that span the divide between
Russian and Soviet military history.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
How to Submit
Dennis James Sweeney
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608689361, $18.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-Submit-Publishing-Literary-Magazines/dp/1608689360
Synopsis: An essential and comprehensive instructional guide and 'how-to' manual, "How to
Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses" by Dennis
James Sweeney is the first of its kind to chart a path to publication that is writer led, community
based, and accessible to all.
"How to Submit" speaks to aspiring and seasoned writers alike who want to publish short stories,
essays, or poems in literary magazines, as well as to those looking for a fresh route to publishing
a full-length book. Whether you're a first-time submitter or you have experience sending out your
work, "How to Submit" provides you with the tools and knowledge to successfully share your
writing. It's also a manifesto for finding joy in the process, arguing that seeking publication
should give writers energy, not take it from them.
Perfect for writers of any genre, "How to Submit" demystifies the independent publishing
landscape for those seeking a place for their work that really feels like home.
Critique: Covering the Why, Where, When, and How aspects of getting your work published
with a small or niche press, or a literary or niche magazine, "How to Submit: Getting Your
Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses" is informatively enhanced for the
reader's benefit with the inclusion of a useful Introduction, two Appendices (Frequently Asked
Questions & Directory of Additional Resources), a two page listing of Acknowledgments, and a
ten page Index. "How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and
Small Presses" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it the ideal
resource for any and all writers seeking to have their work published, publicized and promoted.
While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Writing/Publishing collections and writer workshop curriculum studies
lists, it should be noted that this paperback edition of Dennis James Sweeney's "How to Submit:
Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses" from New World
Library is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Dennis James Sweeney (www.dennisjamessweeney.com) has been published
with Autumn House Press, Essay Press, Ricochet Editions, and Stillhouse Press, among others.
His writing has also appeared in outlets such as Ecotone, The Southern Review, Witness, and
The New York Times. Sweeney lives, writes, and teaches in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The Military History Shelf
Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783
Steven W. Hill
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811776738, $70.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Flags-North-America-1754-1783/dp/0811776735
Synopsis: Flags are an important part of the military history of colonial America. Not only are
they essential artifacts that help reconstruct battles and wars and the stories of various regiments,
but they are also vivid, colorful, evocative visual depictions of wars from an era before
photography. "Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783: Foreign Armies and
Regiments" is meticulously researched volume with which military flag expert Steven W. Hill
displays and explains the flags of the regiments which fought in North America in the French and
Indian War and the American War of Independence.
Comprehensive and in-depth, "Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783: Foreign
Armies and Regiments" covers the regimental flags of the major combatants in the two major
wars for North American in the eighteenth century -- including flags carried by regiments from
Britain, France, Germany, and Spain.
This has long been a subject surrounded by myth, legend, and inaccuracy; the last "standard"
work is more than forty years old. Hill digs deep to correct old errors and assembles a complete
record of the flags, drawing from archives and artifacts, and creates a reference that will stand the
test of time - not only during the coming 250th anniversary years, but far beyond.
Critique: This large format (8.87 x 0.79 x 11.24 inches, 2.65 pounds) hardcover edition of "Battle
Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783: Foreign Armies and Regiments" by Steven
W. Hill is profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout in full color. Deftly organized into four
major sections of regimental colors (British, French, German, Spanish) of forces engaged in 18th
Century North American conflicts, "Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783:
Foreign Armies and Regiments" is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a seven
page Annotated Bibliography, and four pages of Notes. Unique, elegant, informative, and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
18th Century North American Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists, it should be noted that "Battle Flags of the Wars for North America, 1754 - 1783: Foreign
Armies and Regiments" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $58.26) to
students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject.
Editorial Note: Steven W. Hill is a nationally recognized expert on military flags and colors, with
more than fifty years of experience in the field. He has served as curator of the flag collections
for the State of Delaware and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and as associate curator of
the military flag collections in Indiana and Connecticut. A member of the Company of Military
Collectors and Historians, Hill is proprietor and flag-maker of DuPage Military Flag Company
(http://www.dupagemilitaryflag.com), which has made reproduction flags for the Smithsonian,
the United States Military and Naval Academies, the Pentagon, the Pennsylvania State Capitol,
Harvard University, numerous Civil War battlefields (including Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and
Petersburg), Ford's Theater, Mount Vernon, Fort Ligonier, the movie Last of the Mohicans, and
hundreds of military reenactment units.
The World History Shelf
Warriors and Wilderness in Medieval Britain
Robin Melrose
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476668260, $19.99, PB, 260pp
https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Wilderness-Medieval-Britain-Beowulf/dp/1476668264
Synopsis: With the publication of "Warriors and Wilderness in Medieval Britain: From Arthur
and Beowulf to Sir Gawain and Robin Hood", academician Robin Melrose traces the
development of the King Arthur story in the late Middle Ages.
Professor Melrose deftly explores Arthur's depiction as a wilderness figure, the descendant of the
northern Romano-British hunter/warrior god. The earliest Arthur was a warrior but in the 11th
century Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, he is less a warrior and more a leader of a band of rogue
heroes.
The story of Arthur was popularized by Geoffrey of Monmouth, in his Latin History of the Kings
of Britain, and was translated into Middle English in Layamon's Brut and the later alliterative
Alliterative Morte Arthure. Both owed much to the epic poem "Beowulf," which draws on the
Anglo-Saxon fascination with the wilderness.
The most famous Arthurian tale is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which the wilderness and
themes from Beowulf play a leading role. Three Arthurian tales set in Inglewood Forest place
Arthur and Gawain in a wilderness setting, and link Arthur to medieval Robin Hood tales.
Critique: A fascinating, informative, insightful, and fun read from start to finish, "Warriors and
Wilderness in Medieval Britain: From Arthur and Beowulf to Sir Gawain and Robin Hood" is an
inherently interesting study that will hold special appeal for readers with an interest in the
Arthurian legend and the ancient tales and stories that shaped and influenced it. While a choice
pick for community and college/university library British Folklore/Mythology collections in
general, and supplemental Arthurian Studies curriculum lists in particular, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Warriors and Wilderness in Medieval Britain: From Arthur and
Beowulf to Sir Gawain and Robin Hood" is also available from McFarland & Company in a
digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Robin Melrose is a retired senior lecturer in English and linguistics at England's
University of Portsmouth. He lives on the Isle of Wight in southern England.
The Quest for the Hittites
Fausto Labruto
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476692395, $39.95, PB, 198pp
https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Hittites-Uncovering-Forgotten-Civilization/dp/1476692394
Synopsis: The Hittites were one of the most powerful peoples of the ancient Near East. They
successfully challenged all other nations, including almighty Egypt, from their Anatolian
stronghold. Then, their empire collapsed, was consigned to oblivion, and lay forgotten.
Three thousand years later, a motley group of scholars, archaeologists, and adventurers
rediscovered the Hittites in an archaeological enterprise spanning a century and weaving through
the worlds of German kaisers, Turkish sultans, and even the Nazis.
"The Quest for the Hittites: Uncovering a Forgotten Civilization" by Fausto Labruto is the history
of the rediscovery of the Hittites. It is a compelling story packed with intrigue and played out
against a compelling historical backdrop. It involves colorful characters like an explorer fluent in
29 languages and an archaeologist who slept in royal tombs, along with Victorian historians,
cuneiform experts, code-crackers, and grave robbers. These are the unlikely sleuths who
collaboratively uncovered the very roots of the long lost to history Hittite Empire.
Critique: Informatively enriched for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a Preface, an
Introduction, an Epilogue, ten pages of Chapter Notes, an eight page Bibliography, and a three
page Index, "The Quest for the Hittites: Uncovering a Forgotten Civilization" is an extraordinary
and inherently fascinating read that will be of immense interest to students, academia, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in Ancient History in general, and the Hittite Empire in
particular. While especially recommended for community and college/university library
Archaeology and Ancient History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should
be noted that this paperback edition from McFarland & Company is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Based in Australia, Fausto Labruto is a medical doctor, associate professor of
radiology, independent researcher in history, and web educator in the field of ancient
languages.
The German Empire, 1871 - 1918
Roger Chickering
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781107026742, $49.99, HC, 665pp
https://www.amazon.com/German-Empire-1871-1918-Roger-Chickering/dp/1107026741
Synopsis: Furious economic growth and social change resulted in pervasive civic conflict in
Imperial Germany. With the publication of "The German Empire, 1871 - 1918", Professor Roger
Chickering presents a wide-ranging history of this fractious period, from German national
unification to the close of the First World War.
Throughout this time, national unity remained an acute issue. It appeared to be resolved
momentarily in the summer of 1914, only to dissolve in the war that followed. This detailed
historical study examines the impact of rapid industrialization and urban growth on Catholics and
Protestants, farmers and city dwellers, industrial workers and the middle classes.
Focusing on Imperial Germany's religious, regional, and ethnic reverberations, Professor
Chickering also examines the social, cultural, and political dimensions of domestic conflict.
Providing multiple lenses with which to view the German Empire, Professor Chickering's survey
examines local and domestic experiences as well as global ramifications.
"The German Empire, 1871 - 1918" provides the most comprehensive survey of this restless era
available in the English language.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking work of meticulous scholarship, "The German Empire,
1871 - 1918" by Professor Emeritus of History Roger Chickering is informatively enhanced for
the reader's benefit with the inclusion of maps, a nine page Bibliography and a fifteen page
Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The German Empire, 1871 - 1918"
must be considered as an essential and core addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library 19th & Early 20th Century European & German History collections and
supplemental 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 "The
German Empire, 1871 - 1918" from the Cambridge University Press is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $49.99).
Editorial Note: Roger Chickering (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Chickering) is Professor
Emeritus of History at Georgetown University. His publications include The Great War and
Urban Life in Germany: Freiburg, 1914 - 1918 (Cambridge University Press, 2007) and Imperial
Germany and the Great War, 1914 - 1918 (Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed., 2014).
The Education Shelf
Meet Every Learner's Needs
Robert Barnett
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394274895, $30.00, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Every-Learners-Needs-Redesigning/dp/1394274890
Synopsis: With the publication of "Meet Every Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All
Students Can Succeed", academician Robert Barnett presents a compendium of research-backed
techniques to transform classrooms into dynamic learning environments in which all students are
appropriately challenged (and appropriately supported) every day.
Based on teacher and Modern Classrooms Project co-founder Barnett's experience training
thousands of teachers worldwide, "Meet Every Learner's Needs" provides a methodology for
K-12 educators to design lessons and courses that respond to individual learners' unique needs
and help every learner develop authentic understanding. This approach has empowered educators
and students in all grade levels and content areas, everywhere from underperforming inner-city
public schools to elite international schools, across all fifty states and over 150 countries.
"Meet Every Learner's Needs" includes highly practical tips and templates, which busy teachers
can use to provide better instruction immediately. Throughout, readers will learn how to:
Make direct instruction accessible and engaging to all learners
Develop strong personal relationships with and between learners
Create efficient learning experiences that give learners ownership and autonomy
Share this approach with their colleagues and communities
"Meet Every Learner's Needs" will leave readers both inspired and empowered to redesign
instruction in their classrooms and communities. It will help educators, administrators, and
parents take immediate action to create learning experiences that help all students truly
succeed.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative Foreword by
Kareem Farah, a three page listing of Teacher Tips showcased in the text, a Conclusion (Change
Starts Every Day), four pages of Notes on Teacher Tips, and a four page Index, "Meet Every
Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All Students Can Succeed" is an ideal textbook for
school district in-service workshops and college/university Teacher Education curriculums.
Exceptionally well organized and presented, this paperback edition of Robert Barnett's "Meet
Every Learner's Needs" from Jossey-Bass is also readily available for personal reading lists in a
digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Robert Barnett is a former teacher and the Co-Founder of the Modern Classrooms
Project. He taught math, computer science, English, social studies, and law, from the
middle-school to university levels, at public and private schools in the United States and abroad.
(https://podcast.modernclassrooms.org/guests/robertbarnett)
Beyond the Science of Reading
Natalie Wexler
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416633563, $36.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Science-Reading-Connecting-Instruction/dp/1416633561
Synopsis: The science of reading movement has done much to improve instruction in
foundational skills. But that hard-won progress may be reversed unless we also help children
acquire the knowledge and vocabulary they need to understand complex text.
At the same time, the science of learning movement has introduced many educators to
evidence-based teaching principles that can be effective for all students. With the publication of
"Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning",
Natalie Wexler addresses a missing piece of the conversation: the ways in which typical reading
comprehension and writing instruction conflict with those principles.
Wexler also offers practical solutions for bringing science-informed literacy instruction to scale
and reveals why
Teaching phonics isn't enough to create proficient readers.
Building knowledge is the key to unlocking reading comprehension.
Writing instruction holds untapped potential to boost literacy and learning.
Instruction grounded in cognitive science can narrow achievement gaps.
Current curriculum evaluation methods may be steering schools wrong.
"Beyond the Science of Reading" charts a bold path forward with a new way to equip all children
to read with fluency, understanding, and joy. This is an essential resource for educators,
policymakers, parents, and anyone who cares about the future of literacy and equity in the United
States.
Critique: Exceptional, impressive, thought-provoking, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction
to the Science of Learning" by Natalie Wexler is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the
inclusion of an informative six-age Introduction, a seventeen page listing of References, a six
page Index, and a two page Study Guide. Of immense interest and value to readers concerned
with promoting literacy, "Beyond the Science of Reading" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Reading/Phonics educational curricula collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It
should be noted for students, academia, reading specialists, and members of the publishing
industry concerned with the impact of diminishing literacy levels on the use of books for
recreation and instruction, that this paperback edition of "Beyond the Science of Reading" from
ASCD is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.10).
Editorial Note: Natalie Wexler (www.nataliewexler.com) is an education writer and the author of
The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America's Broken Education System - and How to
Fix It. She is also the coauthor, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution 2.0: A
Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades and host of "Reading
Comprehension Revisited," a six-episode series for The Knowledge Matters Podcast.
The AI Shelf
AI for Communication
David J. Gunkel
CRC Press
c/o Routledge
https://www.routledge.com
9781032571706, $31.99, PB, 130pp
https://www.amazon.com/AI-Communication-Everything-David-Gunkel/dp/1032571705
Synopsis: With the publication of "AI for Communication", Professor david J. Gunkel provides
an engaging exploration into the diverse applications of artificial intelligence (AI) within the
realm of communication. By bridging the gap between the scientific and engineering realms of
AI and communication, "AI for Communication" reveals how AI, since its inception during the
Dartmouth Summer workshop of 1956, has inherently been a science of communication.
Exploring key advancements such as machine translation, natural language processing, large
language models, computational creativity, and social robotics, "AI for Communication" shows
how these innovations not only disrupt but also actively transform human communication.
"AI for Communication" is designed for students, teachers, and general readers who want to
know how the field of communication impacts and influences the theory and practice of AI and
how recent developments in AI will affect all aspects of human social interaction.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "AI for Communication" is the ideal introduction to the background science and
development of AI technology for advancing human communication. Of special note are the
chapters on Social Robots, Computational Creativity and Generative AI, and The Future of
Communication. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$17.27), this paperback edition of "AI for Communication" from CRC Press is an essential and
highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university
library AI collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: David J. Gunkel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._Gunkel) is Professor of
Communication Technology at Northern Illinois University (USA) and Associate Professor of
Applied Ethics at Lazarski University (Poland). He is also the author of 14 books on the social
impact and significance of digital media, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
The Cookbook Shelf
Love Gluten-Free
Megan McKenna
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600638827, $26.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Gluten-free-delicious-recipes-together/dp/0600638820
Synopsis: In her follow-up to Can You Make That Gluten-free?, with the publication of "Love
Gluten-free: Easy, delicious recipes to enjoy together", Megan McKenna shares palate-pleasing,
appetite-satisfying, gluten-free recipes that will spark a culinary joy and are perfect for sharing
with loved ones at meal times and any time!
For many people, avoiding gluten can be an isolating experience, but with this compendium of
kitchen cook friendly recipes you can get together with friends and family without needing your
own separate portion of gluten-free food.
The underlying message of "Love Gluten-free: Easy, delicious recipes to enjoy together" is that
everyone gathering around the dinner table can enjoying delicious gluten free food together.
Profusely illustrated with full color photos of finished dishes, "Love Gluten-free: Easy, delicious
recipes to enjoy together" includes:
Crowd-pleasing brunch recipes: Baked feta breakfast bruschetta, Honey avocado bites and Bacon
& spinach egg muffins
Romantic date night dishes: Marry me chicken, Pink sauce spaghetti with lardons & walnuts and
Mini heart pizzas
Delicious home comforts: Short rib ragu of dreams, Cheesy crispy mac 'n' cheese and Flaky apple
pie parcels
Fun and tasty sharing plates: Buffalo chicken bites, BBQ pulled pork & pineapple tacos and
Sweet & salty chocolate covered nachos
Solo self-love dinners: Garlic chicken Kyiv, Egg fried rice and Steak fajita loaded jacket
potato
Critique: Each guaranteed gluten-free recipe includes a succinct description, number of servings,
listed ingredients, and step-by-step instructions -- guaranteeing culinary success for even the
most novice of kitchen cooks. If you only have time for one gluten-free themed cookbook, make
it "Love Gluten-free: Easy, delicious recipes to enjoy together" by Megan McKenna.
Recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should
be noted that this hardcover edition of "Love Gluten-free: Easy, delicious recipes to enjoy
together" from Hamlyn is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Megan McKenna is a TV personality, singer-songwriter, coeliac, home cook,
Celebrity MasterChef contestant, highly engaged influencer and brand ambassador with social
media platforms totaling over 4 million followers.
Pull Up a Chair: Recipes for Gatherings Big and Small, Morning to Night
Martha Collison
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804192429, $32.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pull-Up-Chair-Recipes-Gatherings/dp/1804192422
Synopsis: "Pull Up a Chair: Recipes for Gatherings Big and Small, Morning to Night" is a
compendium of delightfully delicious dishes where the recipes are big on flavor with minimal
fuss, making sharing food with friends easier than ever.
Whether you're looking for a weekend brunch spread, a little treat to share over coffee with a
friend, a three-course extravaganza or a weeknight winner for two, culinary expert, food writer
and British baker Martha Collison has got you covered. All of her recipes are all easy to follow,
and produce delicious results without hours of effort in the kitchen.
These kitchen cook friendly recipes range from Double chocolate marmalade cookies; Hoisin
Sausage Bake; Hasselback Halloumi and Orange Salad; and Sticky Pomegranate Brisket with
Vermicelli Rice; to Drunken Cherry Affogato; Sheet Pan Pizza; Baked Camembert with Sticky
Dates; and Elderflower Summer Punch Pitcher.
There are over 90 recipes organized into eight thematic chapters, taking you from breakfast
through to dinners, picnics, desserts, drinks and more. For anyone looking for easy ways to
nourish and delight their friends and family, In terms of planning memorable meals for any and
all dining occasions, "Pull Up a Chair" has everything a kitchen cook would need.
Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of beautiful full color photos of finished dishes, "Pull Up a
Chair: Recipes for Gatherings Big and Small, Morning to Night" by Martha Collison is an
impressive and recommended pick for personal, professional, and community library
Contemporary Cookbook Collections. It should be noted that his hardcover edition of "Pull Up a
Chair" from Kyle Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Martha Collison (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Collison) is a food writer
and recipe creator. In 2014, aged 17, she took part in the fifth series of The Great British Bake
Off and remains the youngest ever contestant. She has since written two cookbooks (Twist:
Creative ideas to reinvent your baking and Crave: Brilliantly indulgent recipes), established a
regular column for Waitrose Weekend, built an online following of over 150k and become
resident Show Chef on the Graham Norton Radio Show with Virgin Radio. She has also
appeared on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen and regularly collaborates with household name brands.
She has 150k followers on Instagram.
Feasts of Good Fortune
Hsiao-Ching Chou & Meilee Chou Riddle
Sasquatch Books
www.sasquatchbooks.com
9781632175182, $30.00, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Feasts-Good-Fortune-Celebrations-Mid-Autumn/dp/1632175185
Synopsis: Covering everything from traditional Lunar New Year menus with recipes passed
down generations to Thanksgiving get-togethers celebrated with tantalizing side dishes, with the
publication of "Feasts of Good Fortune: 75 Recipes for a Year of Chinese American
Celebrations, from Lunar New Year to Mid-Autumn Festival and Beyond " the mother/daughter
team of Hsiao-Ching Chou and Meilee Chou Riddle invites you to take a seat at the Chou's warm
family dinner table.
Author and former James Beard Foundation cookbook committee chair Hsiao-Ching Chou
(Chinese Soul Food) brings her on-ramp approach to Chinese cooking full circle with fresh,
uncomplicated home cooking for celebrations typical of the Chinese American experience.
Master dumplings, scallion pancakes, and more, to contribute to "tuan yuan" (the act of coming
together) that define family meals in these 75 tried-and-true recipes anyone can tackle.
Co-written with Hsiao-Ching's 17-year-old daughter, Meilee, on reconnecting with her Chinese
American heritage as a young adult, this deeply meaningful cookbook is an exploration of what it
means to grow up in a "forever hyphenated culture" and celebrates the joy of the mother-daughter
bond in cooking together.
Organized chronologically with menus that'll take out the guesswork, including:
Lunar New Year (Sticky Rice with Chicken and Chinese Sausage)
Lantern Festival (Glutinous Rice Balls with Black Sesame Paste)
Honoring the Dead/Qing Ming (Steamed Spinach Dumplings)
Dragon Boat Festival (Zong Zi)
Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncakes)
Birthdays & Party Bites (Stir-Fried Long-Life Noodles)
Side Dishes for East-meets-West Menus (Braised Kale with Dried Cranberries)
Hot Pot Parties
Critique: This large format (8.01 x 0.68 x 8.97 inches, 2.31 pounds) paperback edition of "Feasts
of Good Fortune: 75 Recipes for a Year of Chinese American Celebrations, from Lunar New
Year to Mid-Autumn Festival and Beyond" is a culinary delight to browse through, plane menus
with, and insure total success with its colorful illustrations, anecdotal commentaries, and kitchen
cook friendly step-by-step instructions. Authentic and genuine, the Chinese dishes comprising
"Feasts of Good Fortune" are palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, health supporting, and
memorable. While also available in a digital book format, "Feasts of Good Fortune" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library
Ethnic/Chinese cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Hsiao-Ching Chou is an award-winning food journalist and author of three
cookbooks on Chinese home cooking. Known for her potsticker classes, she has taught hundreds
of students over the years. She is the past chair of the James Beard Foundation's Book Awards
Committee and serves on the board of directors for the Ballard Food Bank. When she's not
wearing her culinary hat, she makes a living as an editorial director in the tech industry.
Editorial Note #2: Meilee Chou Riddle is a student of filmmaking, writing, and music. She
comes from a family of storytellers, including her TV producer dad, Eric Riddle; cookbook
author mom, Hsiao-Ching Chou; and lifestyle blogger grandma, Ellen Chou. Meilee is always
looking for ways to express her creativity. Her award-winning films have been featured in
regional and national film festivals.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend
George R. Matthews
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476695266, $45.95, PB, 311pp
https://www.amazon.com/Billy-Kid-Life-Behind-Legend/dp/1476695261
Synopsis: "Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend" by George R. Matthews is a new and
in-depth study of the life and times of Henry McCarty, alias Billy Bonney, alias Billy the
Kid.
Fresh perspectives are offered, not only on the Lincoln County War and his boyhood in Silver
City, New Mexico, but also on his Irish mother's origins and immigration to Indiana, his
public-school education in Indianapolis, the McCarty family's moves to Wichita, Kansas, and
Santa Fe, and his two-year outlaw adventures in Arizona.
For the first time, the whole person emerges in an extraordinary biography that brings together a
huge amount of material, much of it made available to researchers only in recent years. The result
is an original, authoritative, and provocative portrait of Billy the Kid as both outlaw and frontier
fighter against the infamously corrupt Santa Fe Ring.
Critique: Featuring a number of B/W illustrations, this large format (7 x 0.62 x 10 inches, 1.24
pounds) paperback edition of "Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend" by George R.
Matthews is a fun and fascinating read from start to finish and a 'must' for the legions of Billy the
Kid and Old West Outlaw fans. Scholastically enhanced with twenty-eight pages of Chapter
Notes, a six page Bibliography, and a six page Index, "Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the
Legend" is an extraordinary and fully recommended pick for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library 19th Century American Biography/Memoir collections. It should
be noted that this edition of "Billy the Kid: The Life Behind the Legend" from McFarland &
Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99).
Editorial Note: George R. Matthews has written on the Olympics, baseball and Zebulon Pike, and
is a member of Biographers International Organization and the National Coalition of Independent
Scholars. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1004362.George_R_Matthews)
Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword: Book 1
Milo Manara
Fantagraphics Books
www.fantagraphics.com
9781683969860, $19.99, PB, 64pp
https://www.amazon.com/Caravaggio-Palette-Fantagraphics-Manara-Signature/dp/1683969863
Synopsis: "Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword Book 1" is the first half of Milo Manara's
two-volume epic biography of the hot-tempered Italian master painter. It depicts Caravaggio's
early years in Rome as he struggles to capture truth on canvas, only to have his art condemned to
be burned by the Church. He then is forced to flee the city when he kills a man in righteous fury
over the death of a prostitute.
The two volumes of Caravaggio mark the return of Manara to U.S. readers and the debut of
Fantagraphics' new series, 'The Milo Manara Signature Edition', featuring affordable paperbacks
of maestro Manara's internationally acclaimed work. (Book 2 will follow in Spring 2025.)
Readers will learn about the bawdy, swashbuckling life of one of the greatest Renaissance
painters in history through Manara's passionate, personal tribute to his artistic idol, Michelangelo
Merisi, whom the world would come to know as Caravaggio.
Critique: This large format (9.3 x 0.3 x 12.3 inches, 14.4 ounces) paperback edition of
"Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword: Book 1" is a biographical history effectively presented
to the reader in a graphic novel style and format. Highly recommended for personal, community,
and college/university library Art History/Biography collections. It should be noted for art history
students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of Caravaggio and
Renaissance artists and painting that "Caravaggio: The Palette and the Sword: Book 1" is also
available from Fantagraphics in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Milo Manara (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milo_Manara), is an internationally
acclaimed Italian comic book writer and artist best known for his lush, expansive approach to the
medium, often depicting erotic characters and situations.
Saving the Lost Girl: A Memoir of Healing
Kelly Jean Torres
https://kellyjeantorres.co
Reaching Up Media
9798990967106, $19.99, PB, 388pp
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Lost-Girl-Memoir-Healing/dp/B0DPGV4V51
Synopsis: Born to parents who could not escape their battles with addiction and mental illness,
Kelly Jean Torres entered foster care before her first birthday. At ten, Kelly and her two sisters
were adopted by the Atwoods, who moved them from the busy suburbs of Chicago to a remote
Michigan town, where Kelly found herself trapped in an abusive home. After the death of their
adoptive mother, a darker side of their adoptive father emerged, and at sixteen, Kelly made a
desperate escape. She thought freedom meant she could leave her traumatic past behind her, but
every misstep forward was haunted by an undeniable truth: the pain from her childhood was
everywhere, in everything, and threatened to destroy her chances at the life she'd always longed
for - unless she turned around to face it.
"Saving the Lost Girl" is Kelly's testament to healing, courage, and the belief that a life of peace
and fulfillment is within reach, no matter how your story began.
Critique: Articulate to the point of eloquence, emotionally engaging and compelling, "Saving the
Lost Girl: A Memoir of Healing" showcases Kelly Jean Torres as a natural born storyteller with a
distinctive and memorable narrative driven style. Impressively inspiring, candidly informative,
"Saving the Lost Girl" is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections. Far more than just another Self-Help/Counseling book, "Saving
the Lost Girl" will prove of very special and illustrative value to anyone striving to recover from
their own abusive and abused childhood.
Editorial Note: Kelly Jean Torres (https://kellyjeantorres.co) defied the odds stacked against her
from childhood, becoming a beacon of resilience and hope. Her journey is a testament to the
human spirit's capacity to overcome profound adversity. Statistically, individuals with high
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) scores or histories in the foster care system often face
barriers to success in education, relationships, and mental health, but since running away from
home at sixteen, Kelly has been on a mission to rewrite her narrative, creating a life that inspires
and uplifts others. Though the effects of PTSD remain, Kelly's unwavering determination drives
her to share her extraordinary story. Through her work as a writer, artist, and advocate, Kelly is
committed to proving that even the most difficult beginnings can lead to a fulfilling and
meaningful life.
The General Fiction Shelf
Kelsey's Crossing
David Randal
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888247211, $19.95, PB, 293pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kelseys-Crossing-David-Randal/dp/B0DWVKMQ1K
Synopsis: The homeless men of the Kelsey Rescue Mission think of Greg Smith as the nice
fellow serving meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They don't know that Greg was once one of
Washington's most powerful political operatives. Recently released from prison for committing
election fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering, he only wants to live a quiet life away from
the limelight.
But when political corruption in the city of Kelsey threatens the good work of the Mission, Greg
reluctantly agrees to direct the Mission's voter referendum campaign to oppose the city's
self-serving leaders. The campaign soon results in unrest, including a tragic shooting. compelling
Greg and his army of homeless men to work in order to restore calm and prevent further
chaos.
Their success leads them to second-chance opportunities none of them imagined.
Critique: A deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, novel that is all the more impressive when
considering that "Kelsey's Crossing" is author David Randal debut as a novelist, its them is that
of the past not irrevocably repeating in the future, it about the value and necessity of second
chances. Original and inherently fascinating, "Kelsey's Crossing" is a compelling story of
corruption, struggle and redemption. Of special note is how David Randal's distinctive and
narrative driven storytelling skills have raised his novel to an impressive level of literary
excellence -- making it especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as
well as both community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction
collections.
Editorial Note: David Randal (www.davidrandalauthor.com) is a veteran content writer and
producer of educational and advocacy films. His innovative presentations on complex concepts
have won him several prestigious awards. His stories focus on such topics as childhood cancer,
the food crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, biotechnology, neuroscience, climate change, the Camp
Fire in California, life jacket safety for commercial fishermen, artificial intelligence, and
more.
Natchez at Sunset
Terry Engel
Roadrunner Press
9781955196536, $18.00, PB, 252pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/natchez-at-sunset-terry-engel/1140843165
Synopsis: Author Terry Engel has set his novel, "Natchez at Sunset" in south Mississippi a few
miles above the gulf coast.
The story is told through the alternating perspectives of three characters: Caleb Vogel, in his
early 40s, is a former journalist making a living as a heavy equipment operator and raising a pair
or wolves in South Mississippi, near the Gulf Coast; his wife, Jessica, is former ship welder, now
a university art professor preparing for a show featuring her metal sculpture "Natchez at Sunset"
while contemplating a divorce from Caleb; and Hubert Vogel, Caleb's father, is a cattle rancher
whose property joins Caleb's, but he is estranged from his son and has promised to kill the
wolves if he ever finds them on his property.
The story opens as Caleb drives up to his house and finds a dead coyote gutted and fitted over his
mailbox, a newspaper clipping crumpled in its mouth. He drops the clipping on the floor of the
pickup along with the others he's received-threats about his newspaper articles and opinion
pieces, threats against his wolves.
The setting of the novel is contemporary, or perhaps just a few years in the future, and it
imagines a Mississippi where immigrants have been deported, assault rifles are openly carried,
environmental laws have been considerably relaxed, and discrimination against minorities is on
the rise.
Critique: Original, plausible (especially given current political trends), and inherently fascinating,
"Natchez at Sunset" by Terry Engel will hold a special appeal to readers with an interest in
generational familial relationships within the context of a world in which violence and the threat
of violence have become a cultural standard. Eloquent, deftly crafted, thoughtful and thought-
provoking, (and all the more impressive when considering that "Natchez at Sunset' his debut as a
novelist) with a distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, author Terry Engel raises his
novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. While 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
"Natchez at Sunset" from Roadrunner Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Terry Engel is a Mississippi native who grew up dreaming of white-water rivers
and mountains, and he has traveled widely and lived in Colorado and Alaska. However, his
fiction and nonfiction continually wander back to the slow rhythms of the South (Mississippi and
Tennessee and Arkansas) back to the deep pine and bottomland hardwood forests, open
pastureland and fields, tannin stained and cypress lined creeks, and its people.
https://whitecountycreativewriters.org/member-profiles/terry-engel)
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Writs of Possession
Clive Rhodes
https://www.cliverhodesbooks.com
Knightsbury Press
9781069034014, $15.99, PB, 334pp
https://www.amazon.com/Writs-Possession-Clive-Rhodes/dp/1069034010
Synopsis: Spring, 1519, Milano, Italy. Two centuries earlier, an obscure monk, possessed by
Satan, wrote a cryptic manuscript containing a riddle. He made a second copy that was identical,
except for one page, and then sent the two books in different directions.
To solve the puzzle that is the plot of "Writs of Possession" by Clive Rhodes, the reader must
compare the two manuscripts.
One copy is in Amboise, France with the dying Leonardo da Vinci, who placed some clues in
The Last Supper to entice the holder of the other to bring it to him. That is now the mission of the
fifteen-year-old Nostradamus, who embarks on a perilous journey over the Alps, unaware that he
is triggering a global apocalypse.
Critique: An original, fun and fascinating read from start to finish, (and all the more impressive
when considering that it is author Clive Rhodes' debut as a novelist), "Writs of Possession" is a
deftly crafted Historical Fiction that will hold a special appeal to readers with an interest in
stories of the supernatural and paranormal laced with satire, mystery, history, suspense, puzzles,
and more thrilling plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster. Clive Rhodes' "Writs
of Possession" is a skillfully written and riveting read that is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Historical Fiction and Fantasy collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Writs of Possession" from
Knightsbury Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Clive Rhodes (https://www.cliverhodesbooks.com) is the author's pen name. He
is a lawyer and professor who taught Social Media and Comparative Freedom of Speech Law in
Italy and Canada. He is currently writing the sequel.
Boys
Roger Newman
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888245712, $29.95, HC, 332pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Roger-Newman/dp/B0DLLJRZR5
Synopsis: Brotherhood born of battle is more than skin-deep.
After Alex's family is killed by the Ku Klux Klan during the Great Depression, he takes refuge in
the barn of a nearby dairy farm. The family that owns the dairy, including their young son Pete,
take in Alex and raise the boys together. Pete and Alex consider themselves brothers and together
they navigate the Jim Crow racial intolerance of the rural South, a challenge experienced
differently because Pete is White and Alex is Black.
Anticipating European war, Pete and Alex join a segregated US Army. The brothers discover
their own identities amid the crucible of battle, leading them to separate for many years as they
continue their careers in the Army. They finally reunite at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in 1969.
Confronting escalating racial and civilian hostility in response to the Civil Rights and antiwar
movements, Alex must find those responsible for the brutal off-base beating of Pete. He must
also re-engage with his childhood and what it means to be a Black man with a White
brother.
Critique: In his new novel, "Boys", author Roger Newman raises his story about two men, one
white, one black, who come together to deal with the racial intolerance so endemic in the rural
southern communities of the American South, the U.S. Army in World War II, the impact of the
Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam movements on American race relations to an impressive level of
literary excellence. Inherently fascinating, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, ultimately
inspiring, "Boys" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Literary Fiction, Southern Fiction, and Military Fiction collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Boys" from Koehler
Books is also readily available in paperback (9798888245699, $20.95) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Roger Newman (https://rogerbnewman.com/home) is the author of a series of
medical thrillers, Occam's Razor, Two Drifters, and What Becomes, and the historical fiction
novel Will O' the Wisp: Madness, War, and Recompense. Dr. Newman is also a professor of
obstetrics and gynecology, specializing in the care of women with multiple gestations. He has
authored almost two hundred scientific papers, a dozen book chapters, and the award-winning
and bestselling When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads; Fourth Edition.
The Rabbi's Suitcase
Robert Kehlmann
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888246993, $30.95, HC, 374pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rabbis-Suitcase-Robert-Kehlmann/dp/B0DWV8QXBJ
Synopsis: Although a work of fiction, "The Rabbi's Suitcase" is inspired by author Robert
Kehlmann's family history and a trove of love letters from his mother.
"The Rabbi's Suitcase" recounts how, in the early 1880s, a battered steamship, overcrowded with
Orthodox Jewish travelers, makes a treacherous journey from Lithuania to Jerusalem, the home
of their patriarchs. On board, Yosef Siev, a twelve-year-old mystic, is entranced with wild-haired
Chana. Their story is told against a backdrop of Ottoman rule, the privations of WWI, and British
Mandatory uprisings.
In 1926 Yosef and Chana's seventeen-year-old granddaughter, Zipora, enters into a forbidden
relationship with Reuven, a young Lithuanian immigrant destined, as a close ally of David Ben
Gurion, to become a founder of the State of Israel. The liaison extracts a heavy toll. With dreams
of self-discovery and a better future for herself and her family, Zipora travels to America
determined to contribute to Reuven's studies at the Sorbonne.
Conflicts arise over issues of politics, gender inequality, and fidelity, forcing heart-wrenching
decisions.
Critique: Emotionally compelling, skillfully narrated, impressively original, "The Rabbi's
Suitcase" by Robert Kehlmann is an inherently fascinating read from start to finish. One of those
novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been
finished and set back upon the shelf, "The Rabbi's Suitcase" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community and college/university library Historical Fiction collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "The Rabbi's Suitcase"
from Koehler Books is also readily available in paperback (9798888246979, $21.95).
Editorial Note: Robert Kehlmann (www.robertkehlmann.com) is an internationally acclaimed
glass artist and art critic whose glasswork has been acquired by major museums and showcased
in prestigious exhibitions and publications. An honorary lifetime member of the Glass Art
Society, he has authored two books of art criticism and been awarded NEA grants for both his
artwork and critical writing. The Rakow Library at the Corning Museum of Glass houses
Kehlmann's artist and art critic archives. Research materials and early drafts of "The Rabbi's
Suitcase", his debut novel, are preserved at New York's YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Only Light in London
Lily Graham
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781538770559, $17.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Only-Light-London-Lily-Graham/dp/1538770555
Synopsis: London, 1939. When Finley offers her spare room to refugee Sebastien, she sees relief
in his haunted eyes. Forced to flee the hatred in Germany, Sebastien has been desperately lonely
in his adopted country. Finley lost her father in the last war and feels a stab of empathy for the
pain of this thin stranger, separated from his loved ones, far away from home.
At first, Finley and Sebastien are like ships in the night, exchanging bashful goodnights in the
corridor. But Finley quickly realizes that Sebastien is too terrified to sleep, plagued by thoughts
of his smiling little sister being snatched by soldiers. As the London sky darkens with enemy
planes, he slowly opens up to her over cups of cocoa in the kitchen.
Every time Sebastien speaks to Finley, she finds herself inching closer to him, and soon love
begins to grow. But when he tells her he wants to join the English army, to fight the people who
have forced his family to face such horror, she must silence the devastation in her heart. She
knows if she were in his shoes, she would do the same thing, and she must be brave too. She will
stay in London, waiting for Sebastien, and helping other refugees like him.
As the bombs rain down, and the London streets empty, she knows she faces grave dangers. But
she can't hide away while the man she loves risks his life. She needs to do anything she can to
defeat the enemy they all share. But the last war cost Finley so much. What will this one
take?
Critique: A deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, memorably entertaining read from start to
finish, "The Only Light in London" will hold a very special attraction for readers with an interest
in wartime romance played out against the backdrop of World War II aerial bombings of London
by the Germans. An historical romance elevated to an impressive level of literary excellence by
the narrative driven storytelling styles of author Lily Graham, "The Only Light in London" will
prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library Historical Romance
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Only
Light in London" is also available from Bookouture in a digital book format
(Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Lily Graham (https://lilygraham.net) is the author of the bestselling, The Child of
Auschwitz, The Paris Secret, and The Island Villa, among others. Her books have been translated
into numerous languages, including French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish. She lives
now in the Suffolk coast with her husband and English bulldog, Fudge.
Whispers of Fortune
Mary Connealy
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244391, $17.99, PB, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Fortune-Christian-Historical-Adventure/dp/0764244396
Synopsis: In 1875 California, Brody MacKenzie arrives at the Two Harts Ranch on a mission to
find his runaway brothers, worried they may have fallen into harm. Instead, he discovers them
thriving at the ranch's school and orphanage under the care of Ellie Hart, a woman with a heart as
resilient as the land she calls home.
His options limited, Brody reluctantly takes on the role of ranch doctor, and he forms an
unexpected bond with Ellie, who's kept a steady eye on Brody's two rapscallion brothers. When
the boys show him a mysterious journal that has been guiding their travels and may hold the key
to a lost treasure, Brody and Ellie are captivated by the possibility of a thrilling adventure.
With winter approaching and his brothers threatening to bolt again, Brody and Ellie race against
time to decipher cryptic clues and unearth the hidden fortune. But along the way, old adversaries
resurface, threatening their newfound affection and the safety of those at the ranch.
Critique: The debut novel for author Mary Connealy's new 'Golden State Treasure' series,
"Whispers of Fortune" is especially and unreservedly recommended to the attention of readers
with an interest in western historical romance novels that are laced with wit, adventure, adversity,
and a happily-ever-after ending. A fun and engaging read from start to finish, "Whispers of
Fortune" is wholeheartedly recommended, especially for personal reading lists and community
library historical romance collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Whispers
of Fortune" from Bethany House Publishers is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $17.99) and in a Library Binding edition (Thorndyke Press, 9781420522259, $34.99,
Large Print).
Editorial Note: Mary Connealy (www.MaryConnealy.com) writes "romantic comedies with
cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is the author of the popular
series A Western Light, Wyoming Sunrise, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in
eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Four Queens of Crime
Rosanne Limoncelli
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9798892420600, $29.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Four-Queens-Crime-Rosanne-Limoncelli/dp/B0D6TWDHNY
Synopsis: 1938, London. The four queens of British crime fiction, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L.
Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, are hosting a gala to raise money for the Women's
Voluntary Service to help Britain prepare for war. Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote has loaned
Hursley House for the event, and all the elites of London society are attending. The gala is a
brilliant success, despite a few hiccups, but the next morning, Sir Henry is found dead in the
library.
Detective Chief Inspectors Lilian Wyles and Richard Davidson from Scotland Yard are quickly
summoned and discover a cluster of potential suspects among the guests, including an upset
fiancee, a politically ambitious son, a reserved but protective brother, an irate son-in-law, a
rebellious teenage daughter, and the deputy home secretary.
Quietly recruiting the four queens of crime, DCI Wyles must sort through the messy aftermath of
Sir Henry's death to solve the mystery and identify the killer.
Critique: A fun read for fans of classic 'whodunnit' mysteries from start to finish, author Rosanne
Limoncelli's brilliant novel, "The Four Queens of Crime" does full homage to the genre once
dominated by crime novelists Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery
Allingham. While strongly recommended as an enduringly popular pick for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover
edition of "The Four Queens of Crime" from Crooked Lane Books is also readily available in
paperback (9798892422277, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Rosanne Limoncelli is an author, filmmaker, and storyteller living in Brooklyn.
She has written, directed, and produced short narrative films, documentaries, and educational
films. Rosanne also writes plays, screenplays, poetry, games, mysteries, and science fiction. Her
short fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Suspense Magazine and Noir
Nation, and her short films have been screened in festivals around the world. Dr. Limoncelli has
taught writing and filmmaking for more than three decades and is the Senior Director for Film
Technologies at the Kanbar Institute and the NYU Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center.
(https://blog.librarything.com/2025/02/author-interview-rosanne-limoncelli)
Pro Bono
Thomas Perry
The Mysterious Press
www.mysteriouspress.com
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613166161, $27.95, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Bono-Thomas-Perry/dp/1613166168
Synopsis: Charles Warren is a tenacious Los Angeles attorney who has dedicated his career to
aiding people in financial straits. He is particularly skilled at the art of recovering assets that have
been embezzled or hidden. In his newest case, helping a beautiful young widow find the money
missing from her late husband's investment accounts, Charlie recognizes a familiar scheme -- one
that echoes the con job that targeted his own widowed mother many years before, and that led
him, as a teenager, to commit a crime of retribution that still weighs on his conscience.
Charlie can't get the present case out of his mind, but within hours of starting his investigation,
he is followed, shot at, and has his briefcase stolen. It's clear that someone doesn't want him
following the trail of the missing money but, as Charlie continues to pursue answers, he quickly
becomes too entangled in the web of fraud, betrayal, and career criminals surrounding the theft to
escape its deadly snare.
Critique: As a novelist, Thomas Perry's newest novel, "Pro Bono" once again demonstrated that
he is a master of the suspense/thriller genre creating his own distinctive style of mystery that is
packed with suspense and the kind of unexpected twists and turns that keep the readers steady
and rapt attention from start to finish. An original, memorable, and fun read from cover to cover,
"Pro Bono" is unhesitatingly recommended for community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of Thomas Perry
fans that this hardcover edition of "Pro Bono" from The Mysterious Press is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone
Publishing, 9798228371545, $45.95, CD)
Editorial Note: Thomas Perry (www.thomasperryauthor.com) is the prolific author of over thirty-
two novels, including Murder Book, the critically acclaimed Jane Whitefield series, The Old
Man, and The Butcher's Boy, which won the Edgar Award. He lives in Southern California.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Jovian Madrigals
Janneke de Beer
Owlish Books
9789083386911, $12.99, PB, 351pp
https://www.amazon.com/Jovian-Madrigals-Symphony/dp/9083386910
Synopsis: "The Jovian Madrigals" by Janneke de Berr is set in 2193, almost a century since
scientists on Callisto discovered immortality. Every year, the Party sends a group of Earth's best
and brightest to receive this immortality. No one ever comes back.
Four people are making the journey to Callisto to receive immortality. Padraig, a brilliant
physicist, dying of cancer. Cassandra, an orphan from the irradiated ruins of New York. Jocasta,
a veteran of the Yugoslav Wars. Gautier, whose presence on Callisto no one will adequately
explain. Immortality is meant to change them for the better.
But once they're on Callisto, what happens when they just want to go home?
Critique: Original, skillfully crafted, a fun and fascinating read from start to finish, "The Jovian
Madrigals" by novelist Janneke de Beer will prove of immense appeal to the legions of classic
science fiction with a contemporary flair. With its new twist on the ancient theme of immortality,
"The Jovian Madrigals" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library
Science Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all science fiction
fans that this paperback edition of "The Jovian Madrigals" from Owlish Books is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note #1: English is the lingua franca aboard Callisto Station, and in this book - thus, the
thoughts and words of viewpoint characters are presented in English. However, words and
phrases in languages that are unfamiliar to the characters are left untranslated, to reflect both the
diversity of cultures and histories aboard the station, and the experience of the characters whose
viewpoints are expressed in the story.
Editorial Note #2: Janneke de Beer (https://jannekedebeer.com) wrote her first book at four years
old and has been writing continuously ever since. The world of 2193 is one of many worlds
dancing around in her head - - all she's missing is the time to write them. She is the primary
singer and songwriter for her band Some Unknown Fraudster, and also maintains a video game
review blog and a vegan recipe blog. She lives in Amsterdam with her partner, Zach, and more
pigeons than she cares to comment on.
Whatever Happened To Uncle Ed?
Eric Miller
Big Time Books
http://bigtimebooks.com
9798992397109, $17.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Happened-Uncle-Eric-Miller/dp/B0DTF5LVHW
Synopsis: When his mysterious Uncle Edward disappears, former high school basketball star
Max Brown inherits a fortune in cash, a creepy mansion, and a family curse.
He discovers a mind-bending arena under the house, where he and his feuding allies battle
shapeshifting demons to rescue people trapped in the cavern of horrors. But there are more than
just lives at stake -- the losers forfeit their very souls.
Max is driven to the edge of madness by playing the increasingly deadly games, the lingering
pain of losing his mother years before, and the mind-numbing terrors of falling in love.
He will risk everything to end the curse and solve the mystery that haunts him most of all:
Whatever Happened to Uncle Ed?
Critique: Original, skillfully crafted, surprising plot twists, memorable characters, all delivered in
author Eric Miller's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style, "Whatever Happened to
Uncle Ed?" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Horror/Fantasy
Fiction collections. A fun read from start to finish, it should be noted for the personal reading
lists of dedicated fantasy fiction fans that this paperback edition of "Whatever Happened to
Uncle Ed?" is also readily available from Big Time Books in a digital book format (Kindle,
$7.99).
Editorial Note: Eric Miller (http://bigtimebooks.com) is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated
editor of the horror anthology "Hell Comes to Hollywood", "Hell Comes to Hollywood II" and
the trucking-themed anthologies "18 Wheels of Horror" and 18 Wheels of Science Fiction. His
short fiction has appeared in various magazines, anthologies, and websites, including Galaxy's
Edge Magazine and Hot Valley Writers. He is a proud member of the Horror Writers
Association.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History, 3rd Edition
William Bryan Jones, Jr.
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476688329, $75.00, PB, 472pp
https://www.amazon.com/Classics-Illustrated-Cultural-History-ed/dp/147668832X
Synopsis: In its expanded third edition, "Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History" by William
Bryan Jones, Jr. is the definitive work on Classics Illustrated exploring this iconic and enduring
series of comic-book adaptations of literary masterpieces in even greater depth, with twice the
number of color plates as in the second edition.
Drawing on interviews, correspondence, fanzines, and archival research, this newly updated and
expanded third edition of "Classics Illustrated: A Cultural History" covers in full detail the work
of the artists, editors, scriptwriters, and publishers who contributed to the success of the "World's
Finest Juvenile Publication". Many previously unpublished reproductions of original art are
included, along with new chapters covering editor Meyer Kaplan, art director L.B. Cole, and
artist John Parker; additional information on contributions from Black artists and scriptwriters
such as Matt Baker, Ezra Jackson, George D. Lipscomb, and Lorenz Graham; and a complete
issue-by-issue listing of significant international series.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.94 x 11 inches, 2.55 pounds) paperback edition of "Classics
Illustrated: A Cultural History" from McFarland & Company is a 'must have' history and
reference for the legions of Classic Illustrated fans. Profusely illustrated with informative
commentary throughout, This third edition of William Bryan Jones, Jr.'s "Classics Illustrated" is
an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Comics & Graphic Novels literary history/criticism and American
Popular Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this
paperback edition is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $45.99) as well.
Editorial Note: William Bryan Jones, Jr. (https://www.williambjonesjr.com) is the author of Petit
Jean: A Wilderness Adventure; the editor of Robert Louis Stevenson Reconsidered: New Critical
Perspectives; and a contributor to The Oxford Handbook of Adaptation Studies and Icons of the
American Comic Book. He has written introductions for more than 100 reissued titles in the
revived Classics Illustrated and related series.
Captain America For Dummies
Stuart Moore
For Dummies
https://www.dummies.com
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394299447, $29.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-America-Dummies-Stuart-Moore/dp/1394299443
Synopsis: With roots dating back to World War II, Captain America reigns as one of the most
iconic and enduring heroes in the Marvel Comics universe. With the publication of "Captain
America For Dummies", Marvel Universe authority Sturt Moore provides an essential and
illustrated guide to getting to know this popular and enduring super hero.
Produced in partnership with Marvel Comics and featuring full-color art taken directly from the
comic books, "Captain American For Dummies" is a fun and friendly guide that will help fans of
all ages to understand how Captain America gained his powers and evolved over the years,
including the range of characters who have wielded the shield.
"Captain America For Dummies" reveals what inspired the creation of the character, explores
Captain America's friends and foes, and digs into the teams that Captain America has fought
alongside. Also featured are the major storylines that turned Cap into one of the most
well-known and enduringly popular super heroes of all time!
With "Captain America For Dummies", fans will:
Get to know Captain America, his creators, and origin story
Meet Captain America's allies and enemies
Learn more about others who have carried Captain America's shield
Explore major storylines and battles
Discover the teams Captain America has fought alongside
Critique: Impressively informative, expertly organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
presentation, "Captain America For Dummies" by Stuart Moore is the ideal introduction and
reference guide to the lore, legend, and history of one of the Marvel Universe's most enduringly
popular characters. "Captain America For Dummies" is expressly recommended for personal
reading lists and community/academic library Comics/Graphic Novels collections and
supplemental Contemporary American Popular Culture curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted that this paperback edition of "Captain American For Dummies" is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Stuart Moore (https://stuartmoorewriter.com) is a writer, book editor, and
award-winning comics editor. He's the author of Target: Kree, Into the Dark Dimension, and
three volumes of the bestselling The Zodiac Legacy, which was created and co-written by Stan
Lee.
Marvel Comics For Dummies
Troy Brownfield
For Dummies
https://www.dummies.com
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394299294, $29.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Marvel-Comics-Dummies-Troy-Brownfield/dp/139429929X
Synopsis: Consumers of American popular culture is very familiar with iconic super-hero
characters from Marvel Comics like Black Panther, Iron Man, Spiderman, and Wolverine, or
super-villains like Loki and Thanos. But how much do Marvel Comics fans know about the more
obscure characters like Squirrel Girl, Cyclops, or the Leader?
With over 85 years of comics published since their founding, the Marvel Comics archive is a vast
universe of iconic stories and legendary characters. But with the publication of "Marvel Comics
For Dummies", comic writer and content creator Troy Brownfield provides Marvel fans with a
shortcut to navigating this immense collection of heroes and their adventures.
Marvel fans and readers will learn the background of key characters, explore essential storylines,
and discover the interconnectedness of the Marvel universe. Created in collaboration with Marvel
Comics, this full-color guide contains striking comic book artwork along with interesting insights
that serve as an exciting map to the Marvel universe.
"Marvel Comics for Dummies" will enable Marvel fans of all ages to:
Uncover Marvel's origin story
Get to know iconic Marvel super heroes and villains
Tour the Marvel Comics Multiverse
Make sense of Marvel's many super-hero teams
Explore definitive storylines that span the history of Marvel Comics
Critique: From curious newbie to the Marvel Universe to long-time readers and dedicated fans,
"Marvel Comics For Dummies", truly brings the Marvel Multiverse to life with full color
illustrations, and is exceptionally 'reader friendly' in detail, organization and presentation. While
this paperback edition of "Marvel Comics For Dummies" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Comics/Graphic Novels
collections and supplemental Contemporary American Popular Culture studies lists, it should be
noted for fans, students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "Marvel Comics For Dummies" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note: Troy Brownfield (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Brownfield) is Executive
Editor of the The Saturday Evening Post and kid's magazines Jack & Jill and Humpty Dumpty.
He has written and created content for DC Comics, Comiccon.com, Fangoria Comics/Graphix,
and comics for Zenescope Entertainment.
Understanding Superhero Comic Books
Alex Grand
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476690391, $39.95, PB, 358pp
https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Superhero-Comic-Books-Controversies/dp/1476690391
Synopsis: With the publication of "Understanding Superhero Comic Books: A History of Key
Elements, Creators, Events and Controversies", Alex Grand informatively presents the origin and
growth of superhero comic books, including their major influences, and the creators behind
them.
Grand demonstrates how Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and many more stand as
time capsules of their eras, rising and falling with societal changes, and reflecting an amalgam of
influences.
"Understanding Superhero Comic Books" also covers in detail the iconic superhero comic book
creators and their unique contributions in their quest for realism, including Julius Schwartz and
the science-fiction origins of superheroes; the collaborative design of the Marvel Universe by
Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Steve Ditko; Jim Starlin's incorporation of the death of superheroes in
comic books; John Byrne and the revitalization of superheroes in the modern age; and Alan
Moore's deconstruction of superheroes.
Critique: Expertly organized and presented, this large format (7 x 0.72 x 10 inches, 1.45 pounds)
paperback edition of "Understanding Superhero Comic Books: A History of Key Elements,
Creators, Events and Controversies" by Alex Grand is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the
inclusion of a twenty-page Bibliography, twenty-four pages of Notes, and a fifteen page Index. A
masterpiece of literary scholarship, "Understanding Superhero Comic Books" is an extraordinary
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Comics/Graphic Novels Literary Criticism/History collections and
supplemental curriculum reading lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of
"Understanding Superhero Comic Books" from McFarland & Company is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Alex Grand is an internationally established comics historian, founder of the
Comic Book Historians, and a regular panelist at Comic Con International: San Diego, Wonder
Con, and San Diego ComicFest. He has been featured in comics-based documentaries, television,
and radio programs and has appeared or been published in The Wall Street Journal, Hollywood
Reporter, The Comics Journal, The Jack Kirby Collector and Alter Ego. He lives in Sacramento,
California
The Library CD Shelf
Kind as the Shade
The Bentley Project
www.Bentleyguitars.com
$TBA CD / $8.91 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQ92XX3W
Kind as the Shade is an "ambient tone poem" of original music expressing love for the Earth
itself, inspired by American poet John Neihardt and his poem "The Sound My Spirit Calls You".
An instrumental new age CD featuring Theresa Bentley on harp, vocalizations, synth keys, and
piano; Mark Bentley on guitars; Dana Woolard on cello; and Amado Espinosa on quena (a
traditional flute of the Andes), Kind as the Shade invites the listener to experience a musical
journey of tranquility, reflection, and wonder. A beautiful album ideal for meditation, creative
inspiration, or gift-giving, Kind as the Shade is highly recommended. The tracks are Distant
Thunder, Chant of the Sunset, Kind As The Shade, Morning Shall Sing For You, Dance Of The
Rose, Earth's Fragrance Remembered (Eolyn), My Whisper To You, Language Of The Hills, and
Kiss Of The Stars.
Iota
AeTopus
Spotted Peccary Music
www.spottedpeccarymusic.com
$16.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://aetopus-spm.bandcamp.com/album/iota
Iota is a new-age, avante-garde style album and the stylistic evolution of music artist AeTopus'
previous album Cup. The original, ambient songs engage in polyrhythmic percussion and
creative exploration, encouraging the listener to expand their horizons. Iota is inspirational,
dynamic, and highly recommended. The tracks are Museum, Why Not Now, Mohhu, Finespun,
Level, Wave Hello, Tell_Us, Subsystem, Probe, Accent, Sunny, and Decima Milia.
The Library DVD Shelf
Without Arrows
A film by Delwin Fiddler Jr., Jonathan Olshefski, and Elizabeth Day
First Run Features
https://www.firstrunfeatures.com
$19.95
Synopsis: Filmed over 13 years, Without Arrows chronicles three generations of a Lakota family
as Delwin Fiddler Jr., an acclaimed grass dancer, returns to his ancestral home on the Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. After 11 years of living in Philadelphia, he
leaves his big city life behind, aiming to reconnect with his mother and father and learn more
about their family history.
A portrait of the Fiddlers, Without Arrows begins as Delwin works to rebuild his life and sense
of identity while navigating within his family and within the larger culture of the reservation.
Delwin experiences struggles and frustrations as he attempts to rekindle an interest in traditional
Lakota lifeways while healing from the trauma that caused him to leave home in the first place.
Through tenderness and tragedy Without Arrows celebrates the emotional arcs and hidden
longings of the Fiddler family as they strive to carry on the legacy of their ancestors to the next
generation.
Critique: Without Arrows is an up-close and personal documentary of three generations of a
Lakota family on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. Filmed during
the passage of 13 years, Without Arrows portrays Delwin Fiddler Jr.'s reunion with his parents
after 11 years of city life in Philadelphia, and his desire to learn more about his family and
cultural history. An intimate portrayal of emotional ups and downs, Delwin's personal dedication
to learn more about Lakota traditions, and the practical realities of everyday life on a reservation,
Without Arrows is highly recommended for both public and school library DVD collections. 93
minutes.
Cat City
cat-city.org
First Run Features
https://www.firstrunfeatures.com
$19.95
https://firstrunfeatures.com/catcityvod.html
Synopsis: Cat City chronicles Chicago's love/hate relationship with feral cats. It tells the story of
Chicago's outdoor cats and the communities who look after them.
What is the right way to care for feral cats and who gets to decide? A ground-breaking 2007
ordinance protects feral cats in Chicago that have been trapped, neutered and returned ("TNR") to
their neighborhoods. Dubbed community cats, they control rats and provide love and meaning to
their caretakers. There are now thousands of cat colonies in Chicago, many with only a single cat,
but some with more than 40. These colonies are fed by volunteer caretakers who report on their
well-being. Many ferals succumb to the elements, but the most hardy, tough and careful survive
many seasons and become legends in their neighborhoods.
Critique: Cat City: A Documentary About The Feral Side of Chicago Policy is a thoughtful
documentary about Chicago's semi-wild outdoor cats. Feral cats sometimes have people who
feed them or look after them, but they aren't truly pets and don't have owners per se. A humane
2007 law protects feral cats that have been trapped, neutered and returned to their communities.
Feral cats help control the rat population, and the trap-neuter-return policy avoids the expense of
more labor-intensive catch-and-kill solutions. But bird lovers detest how cats kill and eat birds,
especially young birds that can't fly yet. Balanced and compassionate, Cat City is captivating
portrait of work with feral cats and highly recommended especially for public and school library
DVD collections. English language, optional English and Spanish subtitles, 76 minutes.
The Art Shelf
Artists' Journeys That Shaped Our World
Travis Elborough
White Lion Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711268708, $18.99, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Journeys-That-Shaped-World/dp/0711268703
Synopsis: Some of the most awe-inspiring works of art have been created by artists who stepped
beyond their usual surroundings and ventured into the world in search of beauty, meaning, and
creative power. Comprised of the travels that inspired the artistic greats, "Artists' Journeys That
Shaped Our World" offers invigorating accounts revealing how those journeys impacted the
artists' personal lives and shaped the broader cultural landscape.
From the obscure to the iconic, pop culture historian Travis Elborough shares fascinating insights
into the stories behind the creation of some of the world's most celebrated works, including
Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock prints of Mount Fuji in Japan, Marianne North's paintings of
India, and David Hockney's California pool scenes.
From Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo to Henri Matisse and Marcel Duchamp, "Artists'
Journeys That Shaped Our World" is an original and seminal study that invites its readers to
follow in the footsteps of artists who made it their mission to live and work beyond the
boundaries of their walls.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color throughout, "Artists' Journeys That
Shaped Our World" by Travis Elborough is an original and impressively informative study that
will prove to be of immense appeal and value to readers with an interest in Art History/Criticism
deftly explored along paths taken by some of the greatest artists in history. This paperback
edition of "Journeys That Shaped Our World" from White Lion Publishing is informative
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Selected Bibliography and a five
page Index -- making it a particularly and specially recommended pick for personal reading lists
and community/academic library Art & Artist History collections and supplemental curriculum
studies reading lists.
Editorial Note: Travis Elborough is the British author of The Bus We Loved: London's Affair
With the AEC Routemaster (Granta Books, 2005); The Long-Player Goodbye: The Album From
vinyl To iPod And Back Again (Sceptre 2008); and Wish You Were Here - England on Sea
(Sceptre 2010) and A Walk in the Park (Jonathan Cape, 2016). He reviews for The Guardian, and
has contributed to New Statesman, The Sunday Times, Zembla and The Oldie. He has written for
the Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, BBC History Magazine and Kinfolk among others,
and is a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, where he teaches creative writing.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_Elborough)
The Business Shelf
Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation
Mike Mears
Fast Company Press
www.fastcompanypress.com
9781639081325, $28.95 HC, 290pp
https://www.amazon.com/Certainty-Mike-Mears/dp/1639081321
Synopsis: With the publication of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive
Innovation", author Mike Mears reveals how great leaders draw out the best of human nature in
themselves and in others.
The dilemmas that our Stone Age brains are hardwired for survival and programmed to fear the
unknown, yet the work world demands constant innovation. Therefore the enemy of better
leadership is uncertainty deeply buried in the minds of your workforce.
The solution Mears lays out in "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive
Innovation" offers the answer: understand human nature. Work with it rather than pushing
against it.
Mears draws on neuroscience and psychology, as well as compelling stories from his career-to
offer practical leadership advice, including:
Entertaining, science-backed explanations of how our brains think and how our primitive brains
are colliding with the demands of the modern workplace
New feedback, change management, and delegation tools to build an environment of certainty
rather than of fear
Fresh insights to overcome innate change resistance in yourself and others
Time-saving ideas to empower yourself while empowering your employees
With Mears's guidance, you can identify the limitations and strengths of the human mind and
create a dynamic and innovative workplace.
Critique: Not just another business manager's self-help book for increasing personal or worker
productivity, in the pages of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive
Innovation", Mike Mears offers a distinctively original, neuro-science based approach to
management that will be of special appeal and value to readers with an interest in leadership and
motivation. Impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Certainty: How
Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library
Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for entrepreneurs, MBA students, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that this hard cover edition of "Certainty: How Great Bosses Can
Change Minds and Drive Innovation" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Mike Mears (https://www.mikemears.biz) retired as the CIA's Chief of HR
(Human Capital) and founded and headed the CIA Leadership Academy. He trains and consults
on advanced leadership and management approaches for government and private sector
organizations. In the military, Mike served as commander of a nuclear missile site and a general's
aide and was decorated for valor as a U.S. Army combat platoon leader. Mike teaches or lectures
on leadership at the Department of Defense, Georgetown University, University of Salzburg,
University of Maryland, and the National Intelligence University. He is a former Senior Fellow at
The Conference Board.
The Architecture Shelf
Fountain Safari
James Garland
ORO Editions
www.oroeditions.com
9781961856196, $55.00, PB, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fountain-Safari-James-Garland/dp/1961856190
Synopsis: We build elaborate water fountains (those vibrant symbols of life and physical
embodiments of beauty) to mark and celebrate our favored places and histories.
The creation of a fountain is act is an honor to all, and like listening to music, it is understood on
an intuitive level. We also build fountains to commemorate life. Water is the basis for, and the
symbol of, life. Many fountains are articulated to recognize some person, institution, or idea.
Those particular recognitions are fused with water's deeper symbolism to convey everlastingness
to the identities being celebrated.
"Fountain Safari" by James Garland places on the shelf a sharply focused, comprehensive, useful,
entertaining, and hopefully lasting survey aimed to provide a panoramic portrait of the fountain
class of artistic endeavor. The material attends especially to the aesthetics of water expression by
examining numerous esteemed examples. In the process, a sketch is roughed out of the evolution
of fountains over some two millennia and across several cultures.
Ultimately, the work attempts to deepen the understanding and appreciation of water features by
identifying and clarifying their most essential aesthetic qualities. Fountain Safari is written for
design professionals, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, students of the
arts or the built environment -- and everyone else interested in the engaging, one-of-a-kind
subject of fountains.
Critique: This large format (9781961856196, 3.94 pounds) paperback edition of "Fountain
Safari" by James Garland is a massive pictorial compendium of fountains from around the world.
With beautiful and captioned photos augmented by erudite and descriptive commentary, this
coffee-table style volume is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it a unique and
invaluable addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
Landscape Architectural Ornament & Decoration collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note: James Garland is an architect with a thirty-five-year career specialization in water
design. In 2002, he founded Fluidity Design Consultants, an international water feature design
and engineering firm, based in Los Angeles, where he continues to work, today.
(https://www.fluidity-design.com/studio)
The Travel Shelf
A Guide to America's World Heritage Sites
Robert Manning
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493081417, $26.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Americas-World-Heritage-Sites/dp/1493081411
Synopsis: There are twenty-five World Heritage Sites scattered across the United States. World
Heritage Sites are the most important natural and cultural areas around the world; these are the
places that the United Nations, and the 167 countries it represents, have recognized as the most
important contributions to the heritage of humanity.
World Heritage Sites are premier visitor destinations, yet most people are not familiar with the
World Heritage Site designation and many of the places included on the World Heritage
List.
With the publication of "A Guide to America's World Heritage Sites: The Heritage of
Humanity", Professor Robert Manning describes these twenty-five sites, including why they are
so important, the visitor attractions they feature, and logistical advice on how to visit, appreciate,
and protect them.
Critique: Featuring a 'user friendly format (6.5 x 0.5 x 8.6 inches, 1.05 pounds), this paperback
edition of Professor Robert Manning's "A Guide to America's World Heritage Sites: The
Heritage of Humanity" from Globe Pequot will be highly prized for the armchair traveler and
productively informative for on-site visitors. While also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $23.19), this exceptionally well organized and presented travel guide is a very highly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library
National Travel Guide collections in general, and World Heritage Site travel guide collections in
particular.
Editorial Note: Robert Manning is Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont, where he
taught the history, philosophy, and management of national parks and conducted a long-term
program of research for the US National Park Service. He has written a dozen books on
managing of national parks and related issues and three guidebooks (with his wife, Martha
Manning) on walking and hiking, including the award-winning Walks of a Lifetime in America's
National Parks: Extraordinary Hikes in Exceptional Places (Falcon Guides), which offers
descriptions of the natural and cultural history of all the national parks and firsthand descriptions
of the very best hikes in each park. (www.uvm.edu/rsenr/profile/robert-manning)
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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