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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Abraham Lincoln Book of Quotes
Travis Hellstrom
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578269709, $15.00, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincoln-Book-Quotes-Collection/dp/1578269709
Synopsis: Abraham Lincoln's words have been a source of wisdom and inspiration for so many people in all walks of life. From his rousing Gettysburg Address to his personal letters to his wife, there is always something new to learn about the man and, in turn, about ourselves.
The Abraham Lincoln Book of Quotes compiles his best quotes, speeches, and advice in one place and reaches out to an America, and a world, which need them more than ever.
Organized into sections by themes, this book is accessible and easy to share with friends and loved ones.
Critique: Simply stated, this compact (5.05 x 0.72 x 7.41 inches) hardcover edition of "The Abraham Lincoln Book of Quotes" from Hatherleigh Press is a collection of the best quotes, speeches, and advice from one of the most influential and greatest president of all time, compiled and edited by Travis Hellstrom. Unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Quotation Reference collections, it should be noted that "The Abraham Lincoln Book of Quotes" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Travis Hellstrom (https://travishellstrom.com) is a writer and consultant helping social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders dream big and expand their influence. He is the author of several titles including The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes and The Peace Corps Volunteer's Handbook.
The Woodenhead: Treachery at the Northern Edge
Mike Skubal
Hodag Press
https://hodagpress.com
9780965374569, $18.00, PB, 175pp
https://www.amazon.com/Woodenhead-Treachery-Northern-Edge/dp/0965374564
Synopsis: In the Spring of 2023, The Outhouse Gene Shepard and the Hodag, appeared in Rhinelander -- a small city in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods.
"The Woodenhead: Treachery at the Northern Edge" by Mike Skubal follows the protagonist, The Old Man, as he works out of a remote cabin to discover the true story behind Rhinelander's beloved and nationally celebrated mascot, the Hodag.
"The Woodenhead" brings together Rhinelander's distant past with Mike's current investigation into a captivating tale that makes even Rhinelander's old-timers question what they thought they knew.
You may have even read it (many of us have), "The Woodenhead - Treachery at the Northern Edge", follows the same Old Man, still working out of his rustic cabin, on a new quest of discovery.
"The Outhouse Papers: Gene Shepard and the Hodag" had brought Mike some notoriety and with it a letter addressed to "The Old Man who writes in a cabin in the woods." The letter asks him to find a missing chest containing the memorabilia of Harry (The Great) Lester, an internationally acclaimed vaudevillian ventriloquist and one of Rhinelander's most notable early 20th-century residents.
His investigation turns up more than just the chest, however, and he shines new light on a nearly century-old tragedy that took place at a long-forgotten resort on Moen Lake just outside of Rhinelander.
In this second book in the Old Man Series, readers are again taken along with the writer as he weaves in and out of Rhinelander's past and discovers that there is, once again, more to the story.
Critique: A carefully crafted and inherently fascinating read from start to finish, "The Woodenhead: Treachery at the Northern Edge", written by Mike Skubal and published by Hodag Press, is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library collection.
Editorial Note: Mike Skubal (https://www.facebook.com/mike.skubal) is on Facebook.
The Cookbook Shelf
Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!
Sara Haas
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578269686, $25.00, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Recipes-Flavor-Ingredient-Everybody/dp/1578269687
Synopsis: You don't need fancy equipment or expensive ingredients to create delicious pizza at home. All you need is the right recipe, a good attitude, a smoking hot oven, and your own copy of "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" leading you through the basics with step-by-step instructions as well tips and tricks to help you create awesome pizza every time. Plus you'll get over 75 pizza recipes, all easy to make and all delicious.
From quick and easy pizza recipes to creative and fun flavor combinations as well as veggie-forward and healthy-ish pizzas, "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" contains culinary wealth of ideas for your next pizza night. Gluten-free and vegan options as well as multiple recipes for doughs and sauces make it easy to mix and match.
Expect plenty of fun and flavor too! The DIY pizza recipes comprising "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! by Sara Haas range from Spicy Southwest with black beans and salsa; Grilled Vegetable; Roasted Tomato Margarita; and Sauteed Garlic Greens; to Peach and Jalapeno; Potato and Sausage; Pulled Pork and Cabbage Slaw, and more!
Critique: A true pizza lover's delight, this mouth-watering, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly compendium of pizza recipes is beautifully illustrated with full page, full color photographs of finished pies. While also available from Hatherleigh Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!: Over 75 Fresh Recipes for Every Pizza Night" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Sara Haas RDN, LDN is a food and nutrition expert with formal training in the culinary arts. She works as a freelance writer, recipe developer, media authority, public speaker, food photographer, and consultant dietitian/chef. Sara is a former culinary and nutrition instructor and served as a National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Spokesperson. Sara has been featured in Eating Well Magazine, Shape Magazine, Parents Magazine, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, Epicurious, BabyCenter, O Magazine and Today's Dietitian Magazine. Sara also shares her love of food and nutrition on her website, SaraHaasRDN.com, and on Instagram (@cookinRD) where she posts recipes, as well as nutrition and cooking tips. She is a also co-author of "Fertility Foods" and the author of "Taco! Taco! Taco!".
Gas Fire Heat
Aly Romero
Familius
www.familius.com
9781641709101, $24.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gas-Fire-Heat-Essential-Outdoors/dp/1641709103
Synopsis: Now with the publication of "Gas Fire Heat: Essential Recipes and Secrets for Cooking Outdoors" by Aly Romero, family cooks and their spouses can get excited about cooking together outdoors! Take recipes from the kitchen to the grill, enjoying friends and family, and building community through cooking outdoors!
The author of "Gas Fire Heat", Aly Romero, is a private chef, Traeger ambassador, and media personality and has provided illustrated recipes for beef, chicken, seafood, or grilled veggies. "Gas Fire Heat" also provides recipes with a culinary approach for BBQ, smoking, and griddling to awaken taste buds with easy, unique, and creative recipes the whole family will enjoy!
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Gas Fire Heat: Essential Recipes and Secrets for Cooking Outdoors" is an impressive and 'user friendly' culinary compendium of palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying, step-by-step recipes that range from Roasted Tomato, Feta & Shrimp Crostini, Apple Cider Brined Pork Tenderloin with Mango Salsa, Mixed Seafood Paella, Cheesy Potato Stacks, and so much more! This large format ( 8.35 x 0.85 x 10.35 inches, 2.06 pounds) hardcover edition of "Gas Fire Heat" from Familius is a solid and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library Outdoor Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Aly Romero (www.alyromero.com) is a private chef, brand ambassador, media personality, and now officially a cookbook author -- but you can just think of her as your friend who cooks!
Eat Like a Girl
Dr. Mindy Petz
Hay House, Inc.
www.hayhouse.com
9781401979447, $30.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Like-Girl-Delicious-Hormones/dp/1401979440
Synopsis: With the publication of "Eat Like a Girl: 100+ Delicious Recipes to Balance Hormones, Boost Energy, and Burn Fat", nutrition expert Dr. Mindy Petz teaches women how to use food to enhance such benefits as the establishment/return of regular menstrual cycles, improved fertility, and sustained weight loss that had previously seemed impossible.
Offering more than 100 step-by-step recipes for both plant-based and omnivore diets, Dr. Mindy shows you how to eat for your hormones and use food to support your fasting lifestyle, while enjoying delicious recipes that reflect the latest nutritional science, including:
Quick and easy "fasted snacks" to sustain you while fasting
Nourishing choices to break your fast and stabilize blood sugar
Meals designed to support hormonal production and balance
Recipes that keep blood sugar levels steady and support a healthy gut
Dr. Mindy writes, "You deserve to live in a body you love - a healthy, happy, vibrant body that lives congruently with your hormonal wisdom." -- "Eat Like a Girl" is more than a just another cookbook -- it is also a manifesto for women living in tune with their body.
Critique: Nicely illustrated with color photos of finished dishes, and offering a complete course of instruction on a diversity of thematic related topics that include hormones and fasting, "Eat Like a Girl: 100+ Delicious Recipes to Balance Hormones, Boost Energy, and Burn Fat" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Women's Health/Medicine and Contemporary Cookbook collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Eat Like a Girl" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Dr. Mindy Pelz, DC (https://drmindypelz.com) is a renowned advocate for women's health and is passionately committed to empowering women to embrace and trust their body's natural healing processes. With an extensive background in women's health, Dr. Mindy has developed groundbreaking approaches that help women navigate the complexities of hormonal fluctuations throughout different life stages and the specific needs of women as they age.
French Charcuterie at Home
Gilles Verot
Tra Publishing
www.trapublishing.com
9781962098076, $45.00, HC, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/French-Charcuterie-Home-Rillettes-Saucisses/dp/1962098079
Synopsis: Charcuterie is a branch of French cuisine devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, ballotines, pates, and confit, primarily from pork. Charcuterie is part of the chef's repertoire. Originally intended as a way to preserve meat before the advent of refrigeration, they are prepared today for their flavors derived from the preservation processes. (Wikipedia)
With the publication of "French Charcuterie at Home: Terrines, Rillettes, Saucisses, & Pates En Croute", making homemade charcuterie has never been easier with this culinary compendium of 89 accessible and beautifully illustrated recipes crafted by father and son charcutiers, Gilles and Nicolas Verot from the renowned Maison Verot in Paris.
Detailed line drawings illustrate step-by-step techniques to master the basic methods of charcuterie, and beautiful photographs provide a visual reference for each dish. Whether country terrine, grandma's pate, or vegetable press, there's no need for special tools or hard-to-find ingredients -- just simple techniques that bring the art of charcuterie to your kitchen with ease.
Critique: Enhanced with full page, full color photographs of the prepared recipes, "French Charcuterie at Home: Terrines, Rillettes, Saucisses, & Pates En Croute" will enable American family cooks and amateur chefs to produce palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, memorable varieties of authentic French charcuteries for every formal and informal dining occasion or event. "French Charcuterie at Home" from Tra Publishing will prove an enduringly welcome and popular pick for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collection.
Editorial Note: Gilles, Catherine, and Nicolas Verot helm Maison Verot, a pioneering force in exceptional charcuterie spanning four generations. Maison Verot (www.maisonverot.fr) stands at the forefront of the rekindled interest in this quintessentially French culinary savoir-faire, from Paris to New York. The heirs have consistently fused tradition with modernity, maintaining high standards and transparency. Maison Verot's charcuterie distinguishes itself through an unwavering commitment to excellence, blending meticulous sourcing, contemporary recipes, and artisanal methods. Maison Verot boutiques are located in Paris: Saint-Placide, Sevres-Lecourbe, Enfants-Rouges, Saint Paul, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysees. Lafayette Champs-Elysees.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Accessible Ashtanga
Kino MacGregor
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
www.shambhala.com
9781645470816, $29.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Accessible-Ashtanga-All-Levels-Primary-Intermediate/dp/1645470814
Synopsis: Even experienced practitioners find the challenging style of Ashtanga Yoga to be daunting. Whether you're a beginner, living in an unconventional yoga body, or need modifications for any reason, "Accessible Ashtanga: An All-Levels Guide to the Primary and Intermediate Series" by Kino MacGregor will make you feel empowered, inspired, and confident to make the adjustments and modifications that feel right for your body.
Kino posits that the Ashtanga Yoga method needs a systemwide reset and reevaluation to make it viable and beneficial to all students. She reframes the guru model and re-envisions the method in a way that will truly make Ashtanga available to all, while maintaining the integrity of the traditional teachings.
Kino also presents a brief theory of movement mechanics that can help prevent injury, optimize physical mobility, and tap into the natural intelligence of the body. The practice section presents each of the poses of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series (plus some of the poses in the Ashtanga Yoga Second Series) in traditional, modified, accessible, and adaptive forms (including using blocks and a chair). Not only will you see how to modify the pose, you will learn how best to work the pose for your unique need. Teachers will find plenty of reference material to update their teaching methodology.
Critique: This large format (8.52 x 0.55 x 11 inches, 2.31 pounds) paperback edition of Kino MacGregor's "Accessible Ashtanga: An All-Levels Guide to the Primary and Intermediate Series" from Shambhala Publications is profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'yoga practitioner friendly' step-by-step tutorial. Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Yoga Instructional Reference collections, it should also be noted for yoga students and practitioners that "Accessible Ashtanga" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.99).
Editorial Note: Kino MacGregor (https://kinoyoga.com) is the founder of Omstars -- the world's first yoga TV network (www.omstars.com) and the Yoga Inspiration podcast. With over two million social media followers, Kino's message of spiritual strength resonates with yogis worldwide. She is a master teacher, an inspirational speaker, the author of four books, the producer of numerous yoga videos, and the cofounder of Miami Life Center. A Miami native who is happiest on the beach with a fresh coconut, you can find her teaching online, in Miami, on retreat, or at one of the many seminars she gives worldwide.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Most Human
Adam Nimoy
Chicago Review Press
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9780915864737, $30.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Most-Human-Reconciling-Father-Leonard/dp/0915864738
Synopsis: While the tabloids and fan publications portrayed the Nimoys as a "close family," to his son Adam, Leonard Nimoy was a total stranger.
The actor was as inscrutable as the iconic half-Vulcan science officer he portrayed on Star Trek, even to those close to him.
Now, his son's poignant memoir, "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy" explores their complicated relationship and how it informed his views on marriage, parenting, and later, sobriety.
Despite their differences, both men ventured down parallel paths: marriages leading to divorce, battling addiction, and finding recovery. Most notably, both men struggled to take the ninth step in their AA journey: to make amends with each other.
Readers will discover how the son of Spock learned to navigate this tumultuous relationship (from Shabbat dinners to basement AA meetings) and how he was finally able to finally reconcile with his father -- and with himself.
Critique: Candid, fascinating, informative, "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy" will prove to be of very special interest to the legions of Star Trek fans in general, and Leonard Nimoy fans in particular. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library American Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9798874751357, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Adam Nimoy (www.adamnimoy.com) is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Loyola Law School. After seven years in entertainment law, he left to pursue a directing career. Nimoy has directed over forty-five hours of network television, as well as directing the critically acclaimed documentary film about his father. For the Love of Spock (2016) which was the Official Selection at the Tribeca Film Festival. He was also featured in the New York Times article "To Boldly Explore Jewish Roots of Star Trek" and he published a Father's Day piece about his relationship with his father for the Boston Globe. He is the author of My Incredibly Wonderful, Miserable Life and has been in 12-step recovery for twenty years. Adam has three children, a step-son, a dog and two cats. He lives in Los Angeles.
The Grandfather of Black Basketball
Edwin B. Henderson II
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781538163610, $36.00, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Grandfather-Black-Basketball-Times-Henderson/dp/1538163616
Synopsis: Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson was the son of working-class parents born into slavery. A driven, intelligent, and charismatic young man, Henderson attended Harvard University's Dudley Sargent School of Physical Training. There he met the leaders in the new field of physical education and recognized athletics (and basketball, especially) as a public health initiative and a way that young African American men could gain college scholarships and debunk the idea of racial inferiority.
With the publication of "The Grandfather of Black Basketball: The Life and Times of Dr. E. B. Henderson", by Edwin Bancroft Henderson II (who is Dr. Henderson's grandson) provides unprecedented detail and fascinating insight into this influential figure in Black history.
Henderson organized the first athletic league for Blacks, introduced basketball to Black people on a wide-scale, organized basis, and founded associations to train and organize Black officials and referees. He also wrote and co-edited the first Spalding publication that highlighted the exploits of African American participation in sports and authored The Negro in Sports. Outside of athletics, Henderson was instrumental in founding the first rural branch of the NAACP, advocated for school desegregation, and held executive board positions with multiple NAACP branches.
Overlooked for decades, Henderson was finally enshrined in the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 as a contributor. "The Grandfather of Black Basketball" gives long-overdue recognition to a sports pioneer, civil rights activist, author, educator, and pragmatic humanitarian who fought his entire life to improve opportunities for youth through athletics.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of B/W historical photos, eighteen pages of Notes, a ten page listing of References, and an eighteen page Index, "The Grandfather of Black Basketball: The Life and Times of Dr. E. B. Henderson" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition for personal, community, and college/university library African American & Sports/Basketball history and biography 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 "The Grandfather of Black Baskeball" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.00).
Editorial Note: Edwin Bancroft Henderson II is the founding president and director of the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, whose mission it is to research, preserve and celebrate the African American and civil rights history of Falls Church, Fairfax County, and Northern Virginia. He received the NAACP's African American History Preservation Award and was named a National Trust for Historic Preservation Diversity Scholar. He is a Life Member of the NAACP and a member of the Historical Society of Washington. He has served on the Falls Church Historical Commission since 1995. Henderson was an educator for 25 years and is the namesake of Dr. E. B. Henderson.
Please Send Hats
Laura Clark-Hansen
TEN16 Press
www.orangehatpublishing.com
9781948365574, $16.00, PB, 210pp
https://www.amazon.com/Please-Send-Hats-Boomers-Awakening/dp/194836557X
Synopsis: "Please Send Hats: One Baby Boomer's Rude Awakening to Ovarian Cancer" is Laura Clark-Hansen's intensely personal, emotionally moving and often hilarious story of cancer survival. In her memoir she combines vibrant reflections on her Baby Boomer past as she tells the story about the transformative power that cancer can have as it... Rearranges the present... Evokes memories of the past, and... Forever changes the future.
"Please Send Hats" emphasizes the importance of early detection, teaches the warning signs of ovarian cancer that we can all be watchful for, while providing hope and inspiration for survivors, their caregivers, and their loved ones.
The overall message Of "Please Send Hats" is one of hope and healing as it follows Laura's journey to rebuild, reclaim, and revitalize a life battered and bruised by illness.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and presented, "Please Send Hats: One Baby Boomer's Rude Awakening to Ovarian Cancer" is especially and specifically relevant and recommended reading for anyone having to deal with ovarian cancer or who has a loved one having to deal with ovarian cancer. "Please Send Hats" is an inspiring and welcome pick for community and college/university library Contemporary American Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Laura Clark-Hansen (www.lauraclarkhansen.com) was an actress, playwright and theater producer. She held a Masters Degree in Human Development and was the co-founder of Cornerstone Productions LLC, a theater company dedicated to helping groups and organizations develop exceptional programs that were educational and entertaining. She co-wrote and performed "Questions" & "Questions II" - one woman shows for middle school students and "The Next Level," - a play celebrating the history of women in sports. She was very involved with the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance (WOCA) as an Ambassador for the Madison area. She wrote and performed a one woman show about her ovarian cancer journey called "Please Send Hats." Laura was also active as a Director and Presenter for "Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women's Lives(R)" a program that brings ovarian cancer survivors into medical school classrooms to share their stories and key information about the disease to 3rd year medical students.
Skid Dogs
Emelia Symington-Fedy
Douglas & McIntyre
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
c/o Harbour Publishing
https://harbourpublishing.com
Tantor Media
https://tantor.com
9781771623643, $19.95, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Skid-Dogs-Emelia-Symington-Fedy/dp/1771623640
Synopsis: In 1991, Emelia Symington-Fedy stumbled upon a tight-knit group of girls hanging out on the secluded railroad tracks intersecting her small rural town -- and became "best friends" with them overnight in the way only fifteen-year-olds can. Unsupervised and wild, the girls navigated teenage friendship dynamics, toyed with adult vices, and explored their growing sexuality.
Two decades later an eighteen-year-old girl is murdered on Halloween on the same tracks, and Symington-Fedy returns to her hometown to stay with her mother, who is fearful of a murderer at large. The victim was simply taking a shortcut to her friend's house -- just like Emelia's gang had done so many times in their day. While the media fixates on why the girl dared to be alone on the tracks, Symington-Fedy slowly comes to terms with the mistreatment of her own teenage body and the twenty years of silence between her former friends.
Combining the intimacy of memoir with the gripping narrative of true crime, Symington-Fedy offers a bold and often darkly humorous first-hand account of nineties rape culture, the sexual coercion that still permeates girlhood, and the subtle ways that misogyny shows up daily.
Critique: A riveting read from start to finish, "Skid Dogs" is the fascinating and candidly personal memoir of Emelia Symington-Fedy and is particularly commended to the attention of readers with an interest in Punk Musician biographies, women's friendship dramas, and True Crime stories written from a candidly personal perspective. Highly recommended for community/public library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Skid Dogs" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Media, 9798212952118, $41.99, CD) narrated by the author.
Editorial Note: Emelia Symington-Fedy (www.emeliasymingtonfedy.com) grew up in Armstrong, British Columbia. She has worked as an essayist, storyteller, and documentary producer for CBC Radio and is co-artistic director of The Chop Theatre. She is the creator of the popular blog and radio show that became an audiobook, Trying to Be Good: The Healing Powers of Lying, Cheating, Stealing, and Drugs.
The General Fiction Shelf
Fire Music
Connie Hampton Connally
Coffeetown Press
c/o Camel Press
www.camelpress.com
9781684921591, $24.95, PB, 422pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Music-Connie-Hampton-Connally/dp/1684921597
Synopsis: Antal Varga, a Budapest violinist, is 78 years old when a young American stranger places a yellowed music sheet into his hands. With shock he recognizes his own teenage handwriting, for he himself wrote this piece in 1945, when his city was under siege.
Desperate to talk with this American woman, Varga enlists his grandson Kristof to translate; and he finds that the woman, Lisa, shares his family's painful heritage. Now his grandson and this young American press him for the story behind the music, and especially behind its shattered ending.
For decades he's hidden this story of war, love, jealousy, and loss. Can he bear to tell it now? Can they bear to hear it? Cautiously Varga, Kristof, and Lisa open the music and its hard secrets, hoping that although pain has extended over generations, perhaps love will extend further still.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a compelling read from start to finish, "Fire Music" by Connie Hampton Connally showcases this author's distinctively impressive and narrative driven storytelling style. Of special and particular value to readers with an interest in historical literary fiction, "Fire Music" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Fire Music" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note: Connie Hampton Connally (https://conniehamptonconnally.com) holds a BA in English from the University of Washington and an MFA from Antioch University. She has taught high school English and elementary music, worked as an editor, led workshops at writers' conferences, and written both fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel, The Songs We Hide, was published by Coffeetown Press in 2018. Fire Music is Ms. Connally's second novel.
Big in Sweden
Sally Franson
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780063312746, $28.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Sweden-Novel-Sally-Franson/dp/0063312743
Synopsis: Paulie Johansson has never put much stock in the idea of family: she has her long-term boyfriend Declan and beloved best friend Jemma, and that's more than enough for her. Yet one night on a lark, she lets Jemma convince her to audition for Sverige och Mig, a show on Swedish television where Swedish-Americans compete to win the ultimate prize: a reunion with their Swedish relatives. Much to her shock, her drunken submission video wins her a spot on the show, and against Declan's advice Paulie decides to go for it.
Armed with her Polaroid camera, a beat-up copy of Pippi Longstocking, and an unquenchable sense of possibility, Paulie hops on a plane to Sweden and launches into the contest with seven other Americans, all under the watchful eye of a camera crew. At first, Paulie is certain that she and her competitors have nothing in common besides their passports and views their bloodthirsty ambitions with suspicion. Yet amid the increasingly absurd challenges (rowing from Denmark to Sweden in the freezing rain, battling through obstacle courses, competing in a pickled herring eating contest) Paulie finds herself rethinking her snap judgments about her fellow countrymen, while her growing attachment to her Swedish roots increases her resolve to win the competition herself.
Grappling with long-held notions of family, friendship, and love (not to mention her feelings for the distractingly handsome Swedish cameraman who's been assigned to follow her around) Paulie starts to reconsider her past and rethink what she wants for the future. A fish-out-of-water tale filled with warmth, optimism, and wit, Big in Sweden is at its heart a love story: love for family, friends, country, and (most importantly) oneself.
Critique: A delightful blending of wit, humor, friendship, and personal growth, "Big in Sweden" by Sally Franson is a fun, original, and memorable read from cover to cover. While an unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this edition of "Big in Sweden" from Mariner Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874621513, $41.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Sally Franson (www.sallyfranson.com) is the author of "A Lady's Guide to Selling Out". Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Best American Travel Writing, and on NPR, among other places. She grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and was educated at Barnard College and the University of Minnesota. She currently lives in Minneapolis.
Dawnland
Tess Callahan
https://tesscallahan.com
Little A
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517594, $28.99, HC, 332pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dawnland-Novel-Tess-Callahan/dp/1662517599
Synopsis: April, her brother-in-law Oliver, and their families reunite in Cape Cod on an exquisite stretch of beach called Dawnland. After eleven summers of building traditions (kayaking, whale watching, bonfires, and ocean swims) this year comes with new threats both on and off the coastline.
Before their marriages, April and Oliver had an intense but disastrous fling that they kept hidden. Although they moved on with their lives, their more recent fiery encounter is getting harder to keep secret -- especially as the week unravels, revealing fault lines not only between husbands and wives but between brothers, fathers and sons, and children growing up amid discord and lies. Ground zero for conflict is April's volatile teenage son, Lochlann.
The family structure begins to teeter. Secrets are surfacing. As everyone faces the consequences of their choices, the truth could finally forge them together or tear them apart forever.
Critique: A deftly crafted and simply riveting read from start to finish, and one that will be especially appreciated by readers with an interest in complex family relationships, "Dawnland" by Tess Callahan is a very special and recommended pick for community/library Contemporary General Fictions. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Dawnland" is also available in a paperback edition (9781662517570, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Tess Callahan (www.tesscallahan.com) is the author of April & Oliver. Her essays and stories have appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Writer's Digest, National Public Radio, AGNI, Narrative Magazine, AWP: The Writer's Notebook, Newsday, The Common, the Best American Poetry blog, and elsewhere. Her TEDx talk on creativity is titled "The Love Affair Between Creativity and Constraint." Tess is a graduate of Boston College and Bennington College Writing Seminars and teaches creative writing and meditation.
How to Age Disgracefully
Clare Pooley
Pamela Dorman Books
c/o Penguin Group
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593831496, $29.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-Age-Disgracefully-Clare-Pooley/dp/0593831497
Synopsis: When Lydia takes a job running the Senior Citizens' Social Club three afternoons a week, she assumes she'll be spending her time drinking tea and playing gentle games of cards.
The members of the Social Club, however, are not at all what Lydia was expecting. From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to Daphne, who has been hiding from her dark past for decades to Ruby, a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn, these seniors look deceptively benign -- but when age makes you invisible, secrets are so much easier to hide.
When the city council threatens to sell the doomed community center building, the members of the Social Club join forces with their tiny friends in the daycare next door (as well as the teenaged father of one of the toddlers and a geriatric dog) to save the building.
Together, this group's unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as the police don't catch up with them first!
Critique: A fun read from first page to last, "How to Age Disgracefully" showcases author Clare Pooley's impressively imaginative, quite distinctive, and narrative driven storytelling style. Deftly crafted characters and more plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster, "How to Age Disgracefully" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How to Age Disgracefully" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Clare Pooley (https://clarepooley.com) graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising before becoming a full-time writer. Her memoir, "The Sober Diaries", has helped thousands of people worldwide to quit drinking. Clare's first novel, "The Authenticity Project" was a BBC Radio 2 Bookclub pick, a New York Times Bestseller and the winner of the RNA debut novel award. It has been translated into 30 languages. Her second novel, "The People on Platform 5" (titled Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting in the USA) was published in 2022.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Daughter of Fire
Sofia Robleda
https://sofiarobleda.com
Amazon Crossing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517976, $16.99, PB, 301pp
https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Fire-Novel-Sofia-Robleda/dp/1662517971
Synopsis: In 1551, Catalina de Cerrato is being raised by her widowed father, Don Alonso, in Guatemala, scarcely thirty years since the Spanish invasion. A ruling member of the oppressive Spanish hierarchy, Don Alonso holds sway over the newly relegated lower class of Indigenous communities.
Fiercely independent, Catalina struggles to honor her father and her late mother, a Maya noblewoman to whom Catalina made a vow that only she can keep: preserve the lost sacred text of the Popol Vuh, the treasured and now forbidden history of the K'iche' people.
Urged on by her mother's spirit voice, and possessing the gift of committing the invaluable stories to memory, Catalina embarks on a secret and transcendent quest to rewrite them. Through ancient pyramids, Spanish villas, and caves of masked devils, she finds an ally in the captivating Juan de Rojas, a lord whose rule was compromised by the invasion. But as their love and trust unfold, and Don Alonso's tyranny escalates, Catalina must confront her conflicted blood heritage (and its secrets) once and for all if she's to follow her dangerous quest to its historic end.
Critique: An original and simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Daughter of Fire" by Sofia Robleda is a carefully crafted novel that will have immense appeal to readers with an interest in Hispanic American historical fiction with elements of a cultural heritage and magical realism. While currently available from Amazon.com for personal reading lists in an inexpensive digital book format (Kindle, $1.99), "Daughter of Fire" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community/public library Historical Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Sofia Robleda (www.sofiarobleda.com) is a Mexican writer who has spent her childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. She completed her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and son, and splits her time between writing, raising her son, and working as a clinical psychologist supporting people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Reuniting With Strangers
Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio
Douglas & McIntyre
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
c/o Harbour Publishing
https://harbourpublishing.com
9781771623582, $18.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reuniting-Strangers-Novel-Jennilee-Austria-Bonifacio/dp/1771623586
Synopsis: Vera has been dreaming for years about the day she will be reunited with her son Monolith, who has been raised by her sister in the Philippines ever since Vera moved overseas to work as a caregiver. But when he finally arrives, Monolith is violent, destructive, and unable (or unwilling?) to speak.
Monolith and Vera weave themselves through the chapters that follow in author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio's novel, "Reuniting with Strangers" as new characters take up the narrative, telling their own stories and providing insight into Monolith's psyche.
Incorporating a plethora of forms (emails, text messages, resumes, a songbook, an instruction manual) and traversing diverse settings scattered across Canada and the Philippines, their voices combine to form a joyful, devastating, humorous, and surprising account of the way North American reliance on Filipina caregivers has impacted families on both sides of the ocean.
Compellingly readable, Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio's stunning debut reveals the displacement, estrangement, resilience and healing in the homes and hearts of the Filipino community around the globe.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "Uniting with Strangers" is author Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio's debut as a novelist, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is available from Douglas & McIntyre in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99). Of appeal to readers with an interest in emigrant displacement stories in general, and stories arising out of th American Filipino community in particular, that "Uniting with Strangers" is a highly recommended pick for community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio (http://jennileeaustriabonifacio.com) is a Filipina-Canadian author, speaker and school board consultant who builds bridges between educators and Filipino families through her initiative, Filipino Talks. After completing her master's degree in Immigration and Settlement Studies, she graduated from the Humber School for Writers and completed a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She was a finalist for the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award and has been published in various anthologies.
Emily Forever
Maria Navarro Skaranger, author
Martin Aitken, translator
World Editions
https://worldeditions.org
9781642861372, $19.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Emily-Forever/dp/1642861375
Synopsis: Emily is nineteen years old and pregnant. Her boyfriend Pablo has gone out "to take care of something" and hasn't returned. Her mother, who raised Emily alone, moves into the little apartment to help.
Meanwhile, Emily's neighbour (who may or may not be a clergyman), wonders if it's normal to be so infatuated with someone you've never spoken to. Emily's boss at the supermarket might have feelings for her too, if only she'd notice.
"Emily Forever" by author Maria Navarro Skaranger is a poignant, achingly hard-hitting novel about class and about digging deep to find what it takes to get by. At the same time, it is a deeply original exploration of how a girl like Emily is seen from the outside, by those who think they know who she is and how her life is supposed to pan out.
Empathetic and quizzical, and scathingly humorous, "Emily Forever" is a novel of unyielding solidarity and smoldering social dissent, by a new star of Scandinavian literature.
Critique: Ably translated into English for an American readership by Martin Aitken, "Emily Forever" showcases author Maria Navarro Skaranger's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style that creates an inherently interesting, original, and memorable coming of age novel. While unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Emily Forever" is also readily available from World Editions in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Maria Navarro Skaranger was born in 1994 in Oslo and made her debut in 2015 with Alle utlendinger har lukka gardiner (All Foreigners Keep Their Curtains Closed). Hailed for its prose (a groundbreaking and highly stylized immigrant-influenced Oslo vernacular) the novel was nominated for the Tarjei Vesaas First Book Award and also won the Debut Prize 2015 in Norway. Her acclaimed second novel, Bok om sorg (Book of Grief), was awarded the Oslo Prize and the EU Prize for Literature. Skaranger won the Missing Voice Prize 2022 for her latest novel, Emily Forever, her international breakthrough.
Editorial Note #2: Martin Aitken's translations of contemporary Scandinavian literature are numerous. His work has appeared on the shortlists of the International DUBLIN Literary Award and the US National Book Awards, as well as the 2021 International Booker Prize. He received the PEN America Translation Prize in 2019, and most recently the 2022 US National Translation Award for Prose. He lives and works in Denmark.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
All Our Tomorrows
Catherine Bybee
https://catherinebybee.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517235, $16.99, PB, 415pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-Tomorrows-Heirs-Catherine-Bybee/dp/1662517238
Synopsis: When Chase Stone's estranged father dies, leaving his multibillion-dollar business to his children, no one is more surprised than Chase. Growing up outside of the high-stakes world filled with human vultures, Chase and his sister, Alex, are less than enthusiastic about stepping into their father's shoes. That is until they learn of a half brother they didn't know existed and must find to share their inheritance with.
Piper Maddox was the elder Mr. Stone's ubercapable assistant -- abruptly fired two weeks before his death. She knows everything about Stone Enterprises and the man who built it. But Piper has no desire to work for another member of the Stone family. Even one as down-to-earth as Chase.
Desperately needing financial security, Piper agrees to return so long as kissing up to Chase and accepting unwanted advances are not part of her job description. A promise that becomes a serious hurdle for both of them. Piper and Chase scramble to find the third Stone sibling before the media does, sharing secrets along the way. Secrets that can bring them together or tear them irrevocably apart.
Critique: A fully engaging read from cover to cover, "All Our Tomorrows" by Catherine Bybee will have a special attraction for readers with an interest in Contemporary Romance. The stuff of which Hallmark Movies are made, "All Our Tomorrows" is an impressive crafted and original novel that is especially recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists of Catherine Bybee fans that "All Our Tomorrows" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Catherine Bybee (https://catherinebybee.com) has written thirty-eight books that have collectively sold more than ten million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages. Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series.
Close Knit
Jenny Colgan
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063386662, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Close-Knit-Novel-Jenny-Colgan/dp/0063386666
Synopsis: In the northernmost reaches of Scotland, where a string of little islands in the North Sea stretches towards Norway, lives Gertie MacIntyre, a proud island girl by birth. Her social circle is small but tight: family and friends, particularly the women in her knitting circle.
In the whitewashed cottages of their hometown, everyone knows everyone, and the ladies of the knitting circle know more than most. In a place of long dark winters and geographic isolation, the knitting circle is a precious source of gossip, home, laughter, and comfort for them all. And while she knits, Gertie's busily plotting what to do with the rest of her life.
When Gertie develops a crush on Callum Frost, who owns the local airline, she dares herself to take a job as an air stewardess on the little plane that serves the local islands. Terrifying at first, the sixteen-seat puddle jumper also offers the first taste of real freedom she's ever known. Will Gertie's future lie in the skies? Or will she need to go further afield to find the adventure she craves?
Critique: Simply stated, Jenny Colgan is a natural born storyteller with an impressively flair for the kind of narrative driven style that is reader compelling from start to finish. "Close Knit" is her latest novel and a 'must' for the growing legion of Jenny Colgan fans. Especially recommended for community/public library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Close Knit" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780063260566, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Jenny Colgan is the author of numerous novels, including The Christmas Bookshop, The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. Jenny, her husband, and three children live in a genuine castle in Scotland.
That Prince is Mine
Jayci Lee
Griffin
c/o Macmillan
https://us.macmillan.com
9781250907769, $18.00, PB, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/That-Prince-Mine-Jayci-Lee/dp/1250907764
Synopsis: Emma Yoon dreams of opening a culinary school in Los Angeles. To that end, she teaches Korean royal court cuisine to hopeful brides of upper-crust Korean families. Thanks to her godmother, a renowned matchmaker, business is booming.
But when rival matchmakers plot against her godmother using Emma's single status, she must save her godmother's reputation and her dreams by finding a perfect-on-paper husband -- even if she's not ready for love.
Meeting the gorgeous and irresistible Professor Michel Chevalier is not part of her plan.
Prince Michel Chevalier refuses to marry a woman handpicked by his elders. If he must spend the rest of his life in service to his country, he wants to do so with someone he loves by his side.
With only three months left until his arranged engagement is formally announced, Michel escapes to Los Angeles to find a bride of his choosing, someone who loves him for himself rather than his crown.
Serendipity leads him right to Emma Yoon, who might just be the woman of his dreams.
Critique: "That Prince is Mine" by novelist Jayci Lee is what all rom-com novels should be -- a fun read from cover to cover. The stuff of which Hallmark Channel movies are made, "That Prince is Mine" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community/public library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted that "That Prince is Mine" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Jayci Lee (https://jaycilee.com) writes poignant, sexy, and laugh-out-loud romance novels featuring Korean American main characters. Her books have been in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Hollywood Reporter, E! News, and Women's World. Jayci is retired from her fifteen-year career as a litigator because of all the badass heroines and drool worthy heroes demanding to have their stories told.
Meeting Her Match
Jen Turano
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764240225, $17.99, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Her-Match-High-Society-Matchmakers/dp/0764240226
Synopsis: Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.
After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.
Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made -- her own.
Critique: The third title in author Jen Turano's 'The Matchmaker', "Meeting Her Match" is a Christian historical romance novel set in New York's high-society. Laced with Turano's remarkable humor and memorable characters, "Meeting Her Match" is a fun read from cover to cover and a 'must' for her growing legions of fans. While highly recommended for community/public library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Meeting Her Match" is also readily available from Bethany House Publishers in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49).
Editorial Note: Jen Turano (www.JenTurano.com) is an author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist.
After the Red Carpet
Patricia Leavy
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647427504, $17.99 PB, $12.99 Kindle, 213pp
https://www.amazon.com/After-Red-Carpet-Patricia-Leavy-ebook/dp/B0D3FJGP55
Synopsis: After legendary Hollywood star Finn Forrester proposed to philosopher Ella Sinclair on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the couple captivated the press and public with their real-life fairy tale.
Now they vow to prioritize their romance and live an adventure of their own making. Ella moves into Finn's Beverly Hills mansion and must adjust to his world. Finn, secretly afraid of losing Ella, is determined to make everything perfect for his betrothed.
Meanwhile, Ella wants nothing more than to retain her own identity as they build their new life together. All the while, she is writing a philosophical treatise on love, exploring the question: when we love so deeply, where do we end and where does the other begin?
"After The Red Carpet" by novelist Patricia Leavy is the highly anticipated sequel to "The Location Shoot" and answers the question of weather or not Ella and Finn will finally live the life they've dreamed of as their epic romance continues to unfold.
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, author Patricia Leavy's "After The Red Carpet" from She Writes Press is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated romance fans and community/public library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Patricia Leavy (https://patricialeavy.com) in addition to being an author, was formerly an Associate Professor of Sociology and the Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books and has received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and more. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women's Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz when they established the "Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice."
His Treasured Bride
Jodi Hedlund & Patti Stockdale
https://jodyhedlund.com
https://pattistockdale.com
Sunrise Publishing
https://sunrisepublishing.com
9781953783813, $16.99, PB, 380pp
https://www.amazon.com/His-Treasured-Bride-Ships-Voyages/dp/1953783813
Synopsis: After recently arriving in Vancouver Island on a bride ship, aspiring seamstress Daisy Harper is determined not to rush into a hasty and quarrelsome marriage, a mistake her parents made. To avoid choosing the wrong man, she creates a rigorous list of ten requirements for a potential husband.
Mapmaker Seth Ryann moved to the colony to assist his partially blind brother, a local missionary. They'll soon return to Ireland, but first, Seth is tasked by a friend to find a treasure of gold hidden in the mountains. Seth has the map to the treasure, but he's missing the key.
When he discovers Daisy somehow has the key, the two agree to search for the treasure together. They're left with little choice but to quickly enter a marriage of convenience. As they venture into the wilderness and work together to overcome danger, an undeniable attraction grows. But will they find the treasure only to lose what matters most?
Critique: An original and fun read from start to finish, "His Treasured Bride" by co-authors Jody Hedlund and Patti Stockdale will have a special appeal for readers with an interest in Christian historical romance novels. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Historical Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "His Treasured Bride" from Sunrise Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Jody Hedlund (https://jodyhedlund.com) is the author of over fifty sweet historical romances and is the winner of numerous awards.
Editorial Note 32: Patti Stockdale (www.pattistockdale.com) is a historical romance author and freelance writer who lives in Wisconsin and creates tangled-up characters full of heart and hope.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
You Shouldn't Be Here
Lauren Thoman
https://www.laurenthomanwrites.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662517686, $28.99, HC, 396pp
https://www.amazon.com/You-Shouldnt-Be-Here-Novel/dp/1662517688
Synopsis: When sixteen-year-old Angie Stewart starts hearing a mysterious voice in her house, she's thrilled at the possibility of a ghost. Finally, something interesting is happening in her boring hometown of East Henderson, Pennsylvania. But why is she the only one who can hear it? And what does it want from her?
Meanwhile, first-year teacher Madelyn Zhao just got the keys to her new home, which is located close to her job, within walking distance of a dog park -- and, most importantly, in the town where her cousin went missing several years ago. No one in East Henderson wants to talk about what happened, but Madelyn is determined to find answers.
As the two strangers search for clues, their investigations begin to point toward the same dark place. But by the time they realize that the truth could be deadly, it's too late to turn back. And someone out there will stop at nothing to make sure their secrets stay buried.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel of murder, suspense and cover-up revealed, "You Shouldn't Be Here" by author Lauren Thoman is a fun read from cover to cover for those who enjoy female amateur sleuth suspense thrillers with more unexpected plot twists and turns than an Oklahoma tornado. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "You Shouldn't Be Here" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781662517693, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Lauren Thoman (www.laurenthomanwrites.com) writes speculative fiction for teens and adults. Her debut novel, I'll Stop the World, was selected for publication in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling through her eponymous imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. Lauren's pop culture writing has also appeared in numerous online outlets including Parade and Vulture.
Summers End
Juneau Black
Vintage Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593470534, $17.00, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Summers-End-Shady-Hollow-Mystery/dp/0593470532
Synopsis: It's late August in Shady Hollow, and intrepid reporter Vera Vixen agrees to chaperone the school's annual field trip to Summers End, an ancient tomb built by an early woodland culture. Naturally, her good friend Lenore Lee comes along to help her.
But when the group enters the tomb one morning, they find a corpse that is distinctly more modern than expected! Digging deeper, Vera and Lenore discover that the deceased was involved in the recent excavation at the site, and very unpopular with their colleagues -- including Lenore's sister, Ligeia.
Now the fox and raven must delve into the dark world of academia and archaeology to clear Ligeia's name. Some creature at Summers End thought they were clever enough to get away with the perfect murder. Can Vera and Lenore unearth the truth in time?
Critique: A part of author Juneau Black's 'Shady Hollow Mystery' series, this paperback edition of "Summers End" is a fascinating and fun read from beginning to end. Of particular interest to fans of the cozy mystery genre feature amateur women sleuths and deftly scripted 'whodunnit' murder mysteries, "Summers End" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Summers End" is also readily available for mystery buffs in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Juneau Black (www.juneaublack.com) is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses, and good murders (in fictional form only). Though they are two separate people, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. This is a little unnerving for any number of reasons.
Known to the Victim
K. L. Armstrong
Doubleday Canada
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780385697705, $18.00, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Known-Victim-K-L-Armstrong/dp/0385697708
Synopsis: When Amy Gibson's mother is brutally murdered by her boyfriend, Amy's world is completely undone. Overcome with grief and heartache, she withdraws from everything around her -- college, her friends, her entire life. Until her estranged half-brother, Oliver, saves her, pulling her back into her life and giving her family. Giving her a home.
Eight years later, she's picked herself up and has worked hard to move forward. She's the host of a popular true crime podcast that focuses on crimes against women committed by their partners and is finding purpose and healing through helping women in ways she couldn't help her mother.
And then Oliver is accused of the unthinkable -- something that is so unlike him. Something that horrifies Amy. But desperate to save the only family she has, she sets out to prove her brother's innocence.
But as the days pass and more information about Oliver and his past slowly comes to light, Amy begins realizing that nothing is ever as it seems -- especially when it comes to family.
Critique: A crisply crafted story of suspense and mystery, "Known to the Victim" by K. L. Armstrong is a simply riveting read from start to finish. Compelling, original, memorable, "Known to the Victim" is a solid and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense/Thriller collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Known to the Victim" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: K. L. Armstrong (www.kelleyarmstrong.com) is the pseudonym of a popular author who lives in Ontario, Canada.
If You Tell a Lie
Lucinda Berry
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662512629, $16.99, PB, 267pp
https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Tell-Lie-Thriller/dp/1662512627
Synopsis: They never considered how his wife might react, or that by the end of the summer a man would be dead. But Blakely always got her way, and the others followed her lead -- even when they knew it was dead wrong.
The girls had been friends from day one at Camp Pendleton, a haven for gifted children. But their senior summer was different. When Mr. Crosby, the handsome tennis coach, wound up murdered after a reckless lie, Blakely, Grace, Meg, and Thera swore themselves to secrecy. And never spoke to each other again.
Not until twenty years later a sinister note claiming to know what they did brings them back together. And once again Blakely is pulling the strings.
Critique: Deftly written in a dual timeline, "If You Tell a Lie" by novelist Lucinda Berry takes her readers on a disturbing journey into the dangerous, sometimes deadly consequences of peer pressure. Replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, "If You Tell a Lie" is an original and riveting read from start to unexpected finish. Available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99), this paperback edition of "If You Tell a Lie" from Thomas & Mercer is a quality and recommended addition to community/public library Mystery/Suspense/Thriller collections.
Editorial Note: Dr. Lucinda Berry (https://LucindaBerry.com) is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. Now she writes full time, using her clinical experience to blur the line between fiction and nonfiction. She enjoys taking her readers on a journey through the dark recesses of the human psyche. Her work has been optioned for film and translated into multiple languages.
Murder at the White Palace
Allison Montclair
Minotaur Books
www.minotaurbooks.com
c/o Macmillan
https://us.macmillan.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781250854216, $29.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-White-Palace-Bainbridge-Mystery/dp/1250854210
Synopsis: In the immediate post-war days of London, two unlikely partners have undertaken an even more unlikely, if necessary, business venture -- The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. The two partners are Miss Iris Sparks, a woman with a dangerous (and never discussed) past in British intelligence and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a genteel war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family.
Looking to throw a New Year's Eve soiree for their clients, Sparks and Bainbridge scout an empty building -- only to find a body contained in the walls. What they initially assume is a victim of the recent Blitz is uncovered instead to be a murder victim -- stabbed several times.
To make matters worse, the owner of the building is Sparks' beau, Archie Spelling, who has ties to a variety of enterprises on the right and wrong sides of the law, and the main investigator for the police is her ex-fiancee.
Gwen, too, is dealing with her own complicated love life, as she tentatively steps back into the dating pool for the first time since her husband's death.
Murder is not something they want to add to their plates, but the murderer may be closer to home than is comfortable, and they must do all they can to protect their clients, their business and themselves.
Critique: A fun read from cover to cover, with the publication of "Murder at the White Palace", novelist Allison Montclair proves herself to be a master of the cozy mystery genre with the introduction of two memorable, admirable, and amateur female sleuths who find themselves having to solve an complicated murder mystery. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections, "Murder at the White Palace" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874837976, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Author Allison Montclair grew up devouring hand-me-down Agatha Christie paperbacks and James Bond movies, becoming addicted to tales of crime, intrigue, and espionage. She now spends her spare time poking through the corners, nooks, and crannies of history, searching for the odd mysterious bits and transforming them into novels of her own.
Broken Bayou
Jennifer Moorhead
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662518775, $16.99, PB, 238pp
https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Bayou-Jennifer-Moorhead/dp/1662518773
Synopsis: Dr. Willa Watters is a prominent child psychologist at the height of her career. But when a viral video of a disastrous television interview puts her reputation on the line, Willa retreats to Broken Bayou, the town where she spent most of her childhood summers. There she visits her aunts' old house and discovers some of her unstable mother's belongings still languishing in the attic -- dusty mementos harboring secrets of her harrowing past.
Willa's hopes for a respite are quickly crushed, not only by what she finds in that attic but also by what's been found in the bayou.
With waters dropping due to drought, mysterious barrels containing human remains have surfaced, alongside something else from Willa's past, something she never thought she'd see again. Divers, police, and media flood the area, including a news reporter gunning for Willa and Travis Arceneaux -- a local deputy and old flame.
Willa's fate seems eerily tied to the murders. And with no one to trust, she must use her wits to stay above water and make it out alive.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "Broken Bayou" is author Jennifer Moorhead's debut as a novelist, this carefully crafted, memorable, and impressively original murder mystery/suspense thriller of a read is readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99) and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Jennifer Moorhead graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Geaux Tigers! She has written and produced three indie short films, which made Top 20 at Louisiana Film Prize and were presented with awards at festivals around the world. She lives in Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, and one cat - plus plenty of horses, mini ponies, and donkeys - in a place where swamps and winding trails are the norm. When she's not writing or spoiling her pets, she's on a tennis court laughing and providing job security for her coach.
A Scandal in Mayfair
Katharine Schellman
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639108411, $30.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scandal-Mayfair-LILY-ADLER-MYSTERY/dp/1639108416
Synopsis: London, 1817. The London Season is beginning once more, and Lily Adler's return to her home on Half Moon Street feels different this year. No longer a recent widow, she has a life and friends waiting for her. Lily also has new responsibilities in the form of her protegee Amelia, the sister of her longtime friend Jack Hartley, who is escaping her own brush with scandal and murder.
It doesn't take long for Lily's growing reputation as a lady of quality who can discreetly find what is missing or solve what is puzzling to bring a desperate young woman to her doorstep. But helping her means unraveling a tangled web of family secrets. Soon, a missing will, a dead body and the threat of blackmail leave Lily facing danger every way she turns.
The glittering society of Mayfair conceals many secrets, and the back alleys of London hide even more. Lily Adler will need to find the connection between them quickly if she wants to stop a killer before it's too late.
Critique: The newest addition to novelist Katharine Schellman's 'A Lily Adler Mystery', this new edition of "A Scandal in Mayfair" has everything a cozy mystery fan could want -- an historical English setting, an amateur female sleuth, a high tension 'whodunnit' murder mystery of a thriller from start to finish. While especially recommended as an enduringly popular pick for community and public library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Scandal in Mayfair" is also readily available from Crooked Lane Books in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Katharine Schellman (www.katharineschellman.com) is a former actor, a one-time political consultant, and currently the author of the Lily Adler Mysteries.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Boy From Two Worlds
Jason Offutt
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744308242, $28.99, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Two-Worlds-Girl-Corn/dp/0744308240
Synopsis: Thomas Cavanaugh's life is now a blur, a blend of foggy memories and hidden horrors. When his fae girlfriend Jillian begins to act strangely, he wonders whether he should put an end to their relationship. Then Jillian does the unthinkable and vanishes with four-year-old Jacob Jenkins, a boy with terrifying supernatural powers. Suddenly, years later, Jacob reappears unaged, claiming to have been in another world.
Sheriff Glenn is called in to investigate a series of violent murders, all with evidence pointing toward the boy from two worlds. Someone with dark magic is devouring souls but for what purpose? Thomas and his allies must prepare for a bloody final battle before their world is completely swept away into another, with no way to get home.
Evil comes in pretty packages.
Critique: Dark fantasy at its very best, "The Boy From Two Worlds" showcases author Jason Offutt's total master of this specialized genre. Original, deftly crafted, memorable and entertaining from start to finish, "The Boy From Two Worlds" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading list that "The Boy From Two Worlds" from CamCat Books is also available in a large print paperback edition (9780744308273, $29.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Jason Offutt (www.jasonoffutt.com) writes books. This is infinitely better than what his father trained him to do, which was to drink beer and shout at the television. He is best known for science fiction, such as his end-of-the-world zombie novel Bad Day for the Apocalypse (a curious work that doesn't include zombies), his paranormal non-fiction like Chasing American Monsters (that does), and his book of humor How to Kill Monsters Using Common Household Objects. He also teaches university journalism.
Terralena
Victoria Wattiaux
CK Books Publishing
https://ckbookspublishing.com
https://terralena.com
9781949085624, $14.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Terralena-Victoria-Wattiaux/dp/1949085627
Synopsis: When Lea's family is murdered by Mertonan soldiers from the North, her misery is unleashed in a powerful force that causes the ground to quake. Unable to control her unusual gift, she wanders the woods alone, grieving for her lost people. When Lea discovers she is pregnant by the soldiers who raped her, she falls into deep despair.
Elmond is a mystic aligned with the wind and is far from home when the Mertonans attack the southern towns along the Helian Sea. A refugee family begs him to guide them north to Halen through the dangerous Brenan Woods. In the forest, they are under constant threat from renegade soldiers but find strength in their own solidarity, a protective spirit wandering in the woods, and the Ria, the life force that flows through all nature.
Only by aligning with the Ria, can Lea recover from her past and follow her own destiny, and only through its power, can she and the other mystics overcome the violent Mertonans to protect the creatures and forests of Terralena.
Critique: Deftly crafted and impressively original, "Terralena" by Victoria Wattiaux adroitly features elements of magic realism, romance, and action/adventure -- making it an inherently fascinating read from start to finish. Unreservedly recommended for community/public library Epic Fantasy collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Terranlena" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99). It should also be noted that "Terralena" has been newly released in a Spanish edition by the author (9798874016050, $10.99 PB, $2.99 Kindle).
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Comic Book Implosion: Expanded Edition
Keith Dallas, et al.
TwoMorrows Publishing
https://twomorrows.com
9781605491240, $26.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Implosion-Expanded-Keith-Dallas/dp/1605491241
Synopsis: In 1978, DC Comics launched a bold initiative to win over fans and retailers with an expanded line-up billed as "The DC Explosion." But mere weeks after its launch, DC's parent company pulled the plug, cancelling a slew of titles, and leaving stacks of completed comic book stories unpublished.
Now, over 45 years after that "DC Implosion", TwoMorrows Publishing recalls one of the most notorious events in comics with an exhaustive oral history from Jenette Kahn, Paul Levitz, Len Wein, Mike Gold, Al Milgrom, and other creators and executives involved! Plus: detailed analysis and commentary by other top pros who were "just fans" in 1978 (Mark Waid, Michael T. Gilbert, Tom Brevoort, and more) -- examining how it changed the landscape of comics forever!
This new Expanded Edition of the long sold-out first edition of the Eisner Award-nominated book authored by Keith Dallas explodes in full cover for the first time, with additional coverage of lost 1970s DC projects like Ninja the Invisible and an adaptation of "The Wiz," Jim Starlin's unaltered cover art for Batman Family #21, content meant for cancelled Marvel titles such as Godzilla and Ms. Marvel, and more!
Critique: An absolute 'must' for all dedicated comic book history fans, this large format (8.27 x 0.55 x 10.94 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edition of "Comic Book Implosion: Expanded Edition" is a profusely illustrated, inherently fascinating, exceptionally informative, and highly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library 20th Century American Pop Culture history and biography collections.
Epilectra: Graphic Novel Series
Sue Seserman
Dorrance Publishing Company
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9798892112314, $34.95, PB, 172pp
https://www.amazon.com/Epilectra-Graphic-Novel-Sue-Seserman/dp/B0D5JR6S8P
Synopsis: The electrifying graphic novel series, Epilectra by Sue Seserman, follows the incredible journey of Eden Rivers, a 5th grade social studies teacher, whose life takes a shocking turn when she's struck by lightning and develops epilepsy as a result.
But what initially appears as a frustrating disability soon reveals itself to be a remarkable superability. As Eden grapples with her new reality, she quickly becomes New York City's newest and most unconventional superhero: Epilectra.
Epilectra Book 1 is packed with three exciting adventures: Story 1: SEEZation, Epilectra's origin story, Story 2: Up on the Roof, where troublemaker Henry takes Epilectra's story nationwide, and Story 3: River Rager, which spans from the bottom of the Hudson River to the top of the Empire State Building.
Critique: An original and fun read from start to finish, this large format (8.5 x 0.45 x 11 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edition of Sue Seserman's "Epilectra: Graphic Novel Series" from the Dorrance Publishing Company unique showcases the concept of a female superhero that transforms a disability into a 'superability', and is especially and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated fans of superhero comics, and community library Graphic Novel collections.
Editorial Note: Sue Seserman (www.epilectra.com) is the Creator and Author of Epilectra. Her graphic novel reflects many of her own battles with and successes over different autoimmune disorders, all while trying to live a "normal" life. She was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2013 and with type 1 diabetes in 1993. Her graphic novel conveys the crucial message that being different should not invoke shame, but rather pride in the strength it takes to manage a disability and deal with the unknowns and inconveniences it throws your way. Epilectra's motto is, "Your Difference Is Your Strength," and everyone is different in one way or another.
The Audiobook Shelf
Dog Day Afternoon
David Rosenfelt, author
Grover Gardner, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250345073, $29.99, 7 CDs,
https://www.amazon.com/Dog-Day-Afternoon-Carpenter-Mystery/dp/1250345073
Synopsis: Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter has run the Tara Foundation (the dog rescue organization named after his beloved golden retriever) for years. It's always been his calling, even as Andy's pulled into representing clients in court. His investigator, Marcus Clark, has been at Andy's side for a long time. Even though they've known each other for years, Marcus keeps his personal life a mystery.
So it's a shock when Marcus arrives at the Tara Foundation with two strangers in tow. Turns out Marcus takes disadvantaged young men under his wing, gets them jobs, a place to live, and a chance at a different life. And they want a dog. Andy's specialty. One of the young men, Nick Williams, instantly falls in love with one of the dogs, Daisy.
When there's a mass shooting at Nick's work, leaving six dead, all signs point to Nick. Marcus, who's never asked Andy for anything, asks Andy for help. Despite Nick's troubled background, Andy trusts his friend and takes the case.
Critique: The 29th title in the enduringly popular Andy Carpenter mystery series by David Rosenfelt, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Dog Day Afternoon" from Macmillan Audio is vividly brought to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the storytelling talents of Grover Gardner. As with its 28 predecessors, "Dog Day Afternoon" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: David Rosenfelt (https://davidrosenfelt.com) is a native of Paterson, New Jersey, is a graduate of NYU. He was the former marketing president for Tri-Star Pictures before becoming a writer of novels and screenplays. "Open And Shut" was his first novel; "First Degree," his second novel, was named a best book of 2003 by Publishers Weekly. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife and 35 dogs.
Editorial Note: Grover Gardner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Gardner) is an American narrator of audiobooks. As of May 2018, he had narrated over 1,200 books. He was also the Publishers Weekly "Audiobook Narrator of the Year" (2005) and is listed among AudioFile magazine's "Best Voices of the Century".
The Burning
Linda Castillo, author
Kathleen McInerney, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250345097, $39.99, 8 CDs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-burning-linda-castillo/1143881801
Synopsis: Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. It is an appalling and eerily symbolic crime against an upstanding husband and father.
Kate knows all too well that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without interference from the outside world, and no one will speak about the murdered man. From what she's able to piece together, Swanz led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. But if that's the case, why are the Amish so reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting the memory of one of their own? Or are they afraid of something they dare not share?
When her own brother is implicated in the case, Kate finds herself not only at odds with the Amish, the world of which she was once a part, but also the English community and her counterparts in law enforcement. The investigation takes a violent turn when Kate's life is threatened by a mysterious stranger.
To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate must dive deep into the Anabaptist culture, peering into all the dark corners of its history, only to uncover a secret legacy that shatters everything she thought she knew about the Amish themselves -- and her own roots.
Critique: In this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Macmillan Audio of Linda Castillo's novel "The Burning", we are treated to the impressive storytelling skills of narrator Kathleen McInerney. Offering a true 'theatre of the mind' experience, "The Burning" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Linda Castillo (www.lindacastillo.com/about_linda.html) is the author of the Kate Burkholder mystery series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Critically acclaimed as "the master of the genre" (People magazine), Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards including an Edgar Award, the Sue Grafton Memorial Award, a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, a nomination for an Audie Award for best mystery audiobook, and an appearance on the Boston Globe's shortlist for best crime novel.
Editorial Note #2: Kathleen McInherney has narrated numerous audiobooks by bestselling authors such as Emily Giffin, Danielle Steel, Jeffrey Stepakoff, Mary Kay Andrews, and Linda Castillo. Her narration of Just One Day by Gayle Forman won an AudioFile Earphones Award. She has appeared onstage in New York and around the United States in both classical and contemporary theater. Her credits also include television commercials, daytime drama, radio plays, and animation voice-overs.
Extinction
Douglas Preston, author
David Aaron Baker, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
2940160028224, $39.99, 11 CDs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/extinction-douglas-preston/1142827191
Synopsis: Erebus Resort, occupying a magnificent, hundred-thousand acre valley deep in the Colorado Rockies, offers guests the experience of viewing woolly mammoths, Irish Elk, and giant ground sloths in their native habitat, brought back from extinction through the magic of genetic manipulation.
When a billionaire's son and his new wife are kidnapped and murdered in the Erebus back country by what is assumed to be a gang of eco-terrorists, Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Frances Cash partners with county sheriff James Colcord to track down the perpetrators.
As killings mount and the valley is evacuated, Cash and Colcord must confront an ancient, intelligent, and malevolent presence at Erebus, bent not on resurrection -- but extinction.
Critique: Impressively original, exceptionally well written, and brought vividly to life by the narrative talents of David Aaron Baker, "Extinction" by Douglas Preston will prove to be of particular interest to any and all dedicated mystery fans. Blending action, adventure, just a touch of science fiction, this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Macmillan Audio is an ideal and highly recommended pick for both personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Douglas Preston (www.prestonchild.com) has published forty books of both nonfiction and fiction, of which thirty one have been New York Times bestsellers, a half-dozen reaching the #1 position. He is also the co-author, with Lincoln Child, of the Pendergast series of thrillers. He also writes nonfiction pieces for the New Yorker. He worked as an editor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught nonfiction writing at Princeton University. He is president emeritus of the Authors Guild and serves on the Advisory Board of the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe.
Editorial Note #2: David Aaron Baker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Aaron_Baker) is a talented American actor and narrator whose credits stretch across theater, film, television and audio books
Children of Anguish and Anarchy
Tom Adeyemi, author
Cynthia Erivo, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
2940159612427, $39.99, 9 CDs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/children-of-anguish-and-anarchy-tomi-adeyemi/1142835788
Synopsis: When Zelie seized the royal palace that fateful night, she thought her battles had come to an end. The monarchy had finally fallen. The maji had risen again. Zelie never expected to find herself locked in a cage and trapped on a foreign ship. Now warriors with iron skulls traffic her and her people across the seas, far from their homeland.
Then everything changes when Zelie meets King Baldyr, her true captor, the ruler of the Skulls, and the man who has ravaged entire civilizations to find her. Baldyr's quest to harness Zelie's strength sends Zelie, Amari, and Tzain searching for allies in unknown lands.
But as Baldyr closes in, catastrophe charges Orisha's shores. It will take everything Zelie has to face her final enemy and save her people before the Skulls annihilate them for good.
Critique: Unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Fantasy Adventure audio book collections, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of the third title in author Tomi Adeyemi's 'Legacy of Orish' fantasy series, "Children of Anguish and Anarchy" is brought to life in a magnificent 'theatre of the mind' experience for the listener by the storytelling skills of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning actor Cynthia Erivo.
Editorial Note #1: Tomi Adeyemi (https://tomiadeyemi.com) is a Hugo- and Nebula Award - winning Nigerian American writer and storyteller based in New York, New York. After graduating from Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she studied West African mythology, religion, and culture in Salvador, Brazil. Her first novel, Children of Blood and Bone, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Its highly anticipated sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, also debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Tomi's Legacy of Orisha trilogy is being developed into a feature film. Tomi can be found teaching creative writing online. In 2020, she was named one of Forbes's 30 Under 30 in Media, and her website was named one of the 101 Best Websites for writers by Writer's Digest.
Editorial Note #2: Cynthia Erivo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Erivo) is an English actress and singer. She gained recognition for starring in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple from 2015 to 2017, for which she won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Erivo ventured into films in 2018, playing roles in the heist film Widows and the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. For her portrayal of American abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the biopic Harriet (2019), Erivo received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress; she also wrote and performed the song "Stand Up" on its soundtrack, which garnered her a nomination in the Best Original Song category.
Mind Games
Nora Roberts, author
January LaVoy, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250345318, $39.99, 12 CDs
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Games-Novel-Nora-Roberts/dp/1250345316
Synopsis: As they do each June, the Foxes have driven the winding roads of Appalachia to drop off their children for a two-week stay at their grandmother's. Here, twelve-year-old Thea can run free and breathe in the smells of pine and fresh bread and Grammie's handmade candles. But as her parents head back to suburban Virginia, they have no idea they're about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb.
Back in Kentucky, Thea and her grandmother Lucy both awaken from the same nightmare. And though the two have never discussed the special kind of sight they share, they know as soon as their tearful eyes meet that something terrible has happened.
The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea's vision, their parents' killer will spend his life in supermax. Over time, Thea will make friends, build a career, find love. But that ability to see into minds and souls still lurks within her, and though Grammie calls it a gift, it feels more like a curse -- because the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability.
Thea can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away. He knows it, and hungers for vengeance. A long, silent battle will be waged between them -- and eventually bring them face to face, and head to head...
Critique: Nora Roberts at her best, "Mind Games" is now available as a complete and unabridged audio book from Macmillan audio. Deftly narrated by the impressive storytelling talents of actress January LaVoy, "Mind Games" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for the legions of Nora Roberts fans and community/public library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Nora Roberts (https://noraroberts.com) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.
Editorial Note #2: January LaVoy (www.januarylavoy.com) is the recipient of the 2023 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Performer (Fires in the Mirror), January made her Broadway debut in Lucy Prebble's ENRON in 2010, and has appeared Off-Broadway in Wings (Second Stage), Coraline (MCC), Measure for Measure (TFANA), Mrs. Murray's Menagerie (Ars Nova, Lucille Lortel Nomination) Two Trains Running, Home, Funnyhouse of a Negro, and Wakey, Wakey (Signature Theatre).
House of Glass
Sarah Pekkanen, author
Laura Benanti, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250345103, $39.99, 9 CDs
https://www.amazon.com/House-Glass-Novel-Sarah-Pekkanen/dp/1250345103
Synopsis: On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they had built the perfect lie.
A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?
Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny (in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce) and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.
From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.
As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?
Critique: Now in a complete and unabridged audio book edition deftly narrated by Laura Benanti, "House of Glass", a domestic suspense thriller of a novel by Sarah Pekkanen will prove to be an immensely popular pick for personal and community/public library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Sarah Pekkanen is the co-author of four novels of suspense including The Golden Couple and The Wife Between Us, as well as the solo author of the thriller Gone Tonight.
Editorial Note #2: Laura Benanti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Benanti) is an American actress and singer.
The Rom-Commers
Katherine Center, author
Patti Murin, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250344786, $39.99, 9 CDs
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rom-commers-katherine-center/1143881615
Synopsis: Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She's spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies -- good ones! Ones that win contests! But she's also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates (her personal writing god!) it's a break too big to pass up.
Emma's younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don't meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn't want to write with anyone -- much less "a failed, nobody screenwriter". Worse, the romantic comedy he's written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn't even care about the script -- it's just a means to get a different one green-lit.
Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.
But Emma's not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter -- even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But... what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much... more real than fiction? What if the love story they're writing breaks all Emma's rules -- and comes true?
Critique: The stuff of which Hallmark Channel movies are made, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of Katherine Center novel "The Rom-Commers" is ably narrated by the impressively skilled storytelling talents of Patti Murin. From Macmillan Audio, "The Rom-Commers" is unreservedly recommended for personal and community/public library Romance themed audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Katherine Center (https://katherinecenter.com) writes laugh-and-cry books about how life knocks us down -- and how we get back up. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists, including RealSimple's Best Books of 2020, Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2019, Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and many more. The movie adaptation of Katherine's novel The Lost Husband (starring Josh Duhamel) hit #1 on Netflix, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is now a Netflix original starring Ellie Kemper.
Editorial Note #2: Patti Murin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Murin) is an American actress, singer and dancer. On Broadway, she has originated the title role in Lysistrata Jones (2011) and Princess Anna in Frozen (2018). She also had a recurring role as Dr. Nina Shore in the NBC medical drama Chicago Med from 2016 to 2019.
The Music CD Shelf
Augie Haas +8 Live at the Speakeasy
Augie Haas
www.augiehaas.com
Playtime Music
$TBA
https://www.augiehaas.com/lats
Jazz trumpeter and singer Augie Haas presents Augie Haas +8 Live at the Speakeasy, a new album recorded in one take before a live audience in 2024. Created to evoke the sense of experiencing live music in a New York speakeasy, Augie Haas +8 Live at the Speakeasy includes both original creations and arrangements of classics such as Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon". Performed with a grand gathering of talented vocalists and music artists playing alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpets, trombone, piano, bass, and drums, Augie Haas +8 Live at the Speakeasy is a celebration of live jazz performance, highly recommended. The tracks are Jamo Rocks, The Sound, Candy, Fly Me To The Moon (ft. Major Attaway), You Can Fly!, Keep On Keeping On, I Put A Spell On You (ft. Kacie Sky & Mike Gorham), Feelin' Alright, The Red Door (ft. Andrew Carson), and Za Toba Pojde Jak Na Bal.
Vagabond Heart
Rosemary Loar
www.rosemaryloar.com
Atlor Music
$TBA CD / $12.00 digital
https://www.rosemaryloar.com/music
Vagabond Heart is the latest album from Rosemary Loar, a jazz vocalist of over 35 years' experience. Three of the songs are written by Loar herself; others are classics by various beloved creators. Loar's singing is emotionally charged and passionate, supported by the mellifluous performances of Frank Ponzio on piano, Tom Hubbard on upright bass, Vito Lesczak on drums, Gary Schreiner on chromatic harmonica, and David Longworth on egg shaker and triangle. Vagabond Heart is a treasure for connoisseurs of vocal jazz, highly recommended. The tracks are Coracao Vagabundo, Just a Fairy Tale, Get Out Of Town, Midnight Sun, Your Turn To Be Brave, You Taught My Heart To Sing, Fascinating Rhythm, La Belle Dame Sans Regret, I Don't Want To Know For Sure, Show Me, I Fall In Love Too Easily, and Cool.
Recuerdo
Amanda Martinez
amandamartinez.ca
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6P8GC3L
Recuerdo (which translates to "I remember") is a Spanish-language Latin music album, the fifth by talented vocalist Amanda Martinez, with support from music artists on trumpet, flugelhorn, violin, piano, guitars, percussion, and more. In Recuerdo, Martinez celebrates the life of her father, who recently passed on, and from whom she inherited her passion for music. With elements of world music, jazz fusion, Latin rhythms, and a smidgin of pop, Recuerdo is a multifaceted treasure and highly recommended especially for international music connoisseurs. The tracks are A la edad de cuatro, Mi libertad, Recuerdo, Release Me, No te vayas, Todavia, Sol de ayer, Quiero volver, Ya viene el sol, and Nostalgia.
A Window Within
Olivia Foschi
https://www.oliviafoschi.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $8.91 MP3
https://open.spotify.com/album/3oJ3XIsgv343TQDpH8YeOK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3M8KL7B
Jazz singer and composer Olivia Foschi presents A Window Within, a collaborative album with drummer Mauricio Zottarelli. Most tracks are Foschi's original creations; "Live With It" is co-written with Zottarelli, and "Cun la Prema Stela" is a revival of a traditional song from the 1920's by D.G.C. Martuzzi and A. Spallicci. Foschi's singing is transcendently beautiful, in this emotionally uplifting album highly recommended for connoisseurs of vocal jazz. The tracks are Caught Me By Surprise, Pieces of Central Park, Live With It, Cun La Prema Stela, Nona, Eat Wind, Savoring the Rain, Subtle Farewell, and John John Joel and Joan.
Paganova
Michael Pagan
www.michaelpaganmusic.com
Capri Records
www.caprirecords.com
$16.99 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Paganova-Michael-Pag%C3%A1n/dp/B0D3FHBB51
Award-winning arranger and prolific pianist and composer Michael Pagan presents Paganova, a jazz album featuring five of Pagan's compositions and three arrangements of beloved classic tunes. Paganova is performed by a jazz quintet: Michael Pagan on piano, his son Louie Pagan on upright bass, Ray DeMarchi on drums, and David Chael and Michael Herrera on saxophones - they twitch between tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones throughout. Paganova is a mind-expanding musical journey and a treat for jazz connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are Burn it Forward, Deep in My Soul, Guess Whose Blues, Eiderdown, Where Do We Go From Here, Gaviota, Just the Other Day, and Napoli.
Miniature America
Miles Okazaki
https://www.milesokazaki.com
Cygnus Recordings
$15.00 CD / $12.00 digital
https://miniatureamerica.bandcamp.com/album/miniature-america
The twelfth album of guitarist Miles Okazaki, Miniature America is a unique work combining the talents of ten music artists, including vocalists and performers on vibraphone, piano, saxophones, trombones, and Miles Okazaki on guitar. The individual tracks quite short - most are 1-2 minutes long - and have been crafted as brief fragments and atmospheric moments. An exquisitely crafted collection of fleeting instants, Miniature America is adventurous, inspirational, and highly recommended. The tracks are The Cocktail Party, The Funambulist, The Funicular, Lookout Below, Wheel Of Cloud, And The Deep River, Follow That Car, Open Road, Whack A Mole, Promise Me, The Cavern, Chutes And Ladders, The Haze, The Hive, Venus Calling, Zodiacal Cloud, Only Outer Space, The Firmament, The Furniture, Pulsation Station, In The Fullness Of Time, and A Clean Slate.
The Blu-ray Shelf
Helck Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$58.99
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726025063-helck-season-1-complete-collection-blu-ray
Helck Complete Collection presents the entire anime (Japanese animation) series about Helck, a powerful human hero who aspires to become the next Demon Lord! To fulfill his dream, Helck enters the traditional tournament to fill the vacancy of the previous Demon Lord, who was slain by human heroes. Why would any human ever want to become the next Demon Lord? Helck claims to hate his own kind, but can the word of a human be trusted? Vermillion, the tournament overseer, suspects that Helck secretly plans to betray and destroy demonkind - but she knows so little about Helck that finding proof of his true intentions is an uphill struggle. Even worse, Helck grows more popular among the ranks of demons every day! Helck Complete Collection treads a fine line between comedic parody and dark fantasy, and is enthusiastically recommended for anime connoisseurs. Helck Complete Collection is rated TV-14; it's intended for viewers age 14 and up due to coarse language and scenes of violence. 24 episodes on 3 Blu-ray discs, English and Japanese audio, English subtitles, 600 minutes.
Is the Order a Rabbit? Season 2 Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$32.99
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726027760-is-the-order-a-rabbit-season-2-complete-collection-blu-ray
Is the Order a Rabbit? Season 2 Complete Collection presents the entire second season of an anime (Japanese animation) set amid the cafes and restaurants of a quaint, European-style town. Is the Order a Rabbit? has relatively little plot, instead focusing on the relationships, silliness, personality quirks, and strange happenings among several teenaged girls working as waitresses, baristas, and other restaurant-themed jobs. Is the Order a Rabbit? is lighthearted fun, and its slice-of-life comedy format makes Season 2 just as good a jumping-on point as Season 1. Highly recommended especially for anime connoisseurs who just want to relax and enjoy delightful hijinks! Is the Order a Rabbit? Season 2 Complete Collection is rated TV-PG (parental guidance recommended for young children). 12 episodes on 2 Blu-ray discs, Japanese audio, English subtitles, 300 minutes.
Dark Gathering Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$58.99
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726024868-dark-gathering-complete-collection-blu-ray
Dark Gathering Complete Collection presents the entire anime (Japanese animation) series about a young man and a genius girl who make a pact to take on supernatural forces. Keitaro is a natural magnet for ghosts, and his uncontrollable talent caused him and a friend to become cursed; Yayoi is a genius prodigy girl who wants to save her missing mother from the evil spirit who made her vanish. Keitaro agrees to go ghost-hunting with Yayoi in exchange for her promise to help him find a way to break his curse. A suspenseful, modern-day dark fantasy, Dark Gathering Complete Collection is highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of ghost stories in general and Japanese horror in particular. Dark Gathering Complete Collection is rated TV-MA; it's intended for mature viewers ages 17 and up due to scenes of violence and sexual situations. 25 episodes on 3 Blu-ray discs, English and Japanese audio, English subtitles, 625 minutes.
The Music Shelf
ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track
Benoit Clerc
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788404822, $60.00, HC, 528pp
https://www.amazon.com/Abba-All-Songs-Story-Behind/dp/1788404823
Synopsis: The definitive recording history of pop megastars, "ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track", tells their story song-by-song and track-by-track and is filled with fascinating, full page, color photography (some rarely seen), and sensational behind-the-scenes details.
A loving and thorough dissection of every album and song released by Swedish superstars, ABBA. From their first single in 1972, when they weren't yet even called ABBA, all the way up to their Grammy-nominated studio album, Voyage, and their revolutionary virtual tour, expert author Benoit Clerc analyzes everything there is to know about each song and session.
"ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" a unique volume that includes the stories behind all their greatest hits, including 'Waterloo', 'Mamma Mia', 'Fernando' and 'Dancing Queen', as well as lesser-known gems.
In over 500 pages, no stone is left unturned. Drawing upon decades of research, it recounts the circumstances that led to the composition of every song - detailing the inspiration behind the lyrics, the recording process and the instruments used.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1.57 x 10.75 inches, 2.31 pounds) hardcover edition of "ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track: featuring hundreds of full page photographs, as well as rare black-and-white publicity stills, images of instruments used by the band, and engaging shots of the musicians on-stage and in-studio, "ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" is a 'must' for the legions of ABBA fans. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.99), "ABBA - All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track" is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Popular/Rock Music History collections.
Editorial Note: Benoit Clerc is the author of Prince all the Songs, David Bowie All the Songs, and Metallica All the Songs, among others.
Mourning Dayze: A Wisconsin Garage Band
Rick Pfeifer
McIver Publishing
http://www.mourningdayze.net
9780996284677 $TBA
https://www.amazon.com/Mourning-Dayze-Wisconsin-Garage-Band/dp/0996284672
Synopsis: "Mourning Dayze: A Wisconsin Garage Band" new paperback book that is written by band member Rick Pfeifer. Featuring hilarious insights, stories and irreplaceable pictures Mourning Dayze fans will enjoy taking a trip through these magical times and hear about their gigs in the oft played towns, bars, and teen events that are recounted in depth. Of special note is the inclusion of a DVD of the bands concerts, then and now, as well as interviews with the band members. The band had a full length release on CD from Gear Fab in 2007 (GEA 225). NTSC region 1, 153 minutes.
Critique: A 'must' for the legions of Mourning Dayze fans, and a fun read for garage band enthusiasts, this exceptional edition of Rick Pfeifer's "Mourning Dayze: A Wisconsin Garage Band" from McIver Publishing is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Music History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
The Photography Shelf
Mennonites of Southern Illinois: A Photographic Journal
Jane Flynn
Southern Illinois University Press
www.siupress.com
9780809339402, $24.95, PB, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mennonites-Southern-Illinois-Photographic-Journal/dp/0809339404
Synopsis: Offering a glimpse into a world largely misunderstood by mainstream society, with the publication of "Mennonites of Southern Illinois: A Photographic Journal" documents the period of eight years that Jane Flynn practiced with Mennonites in two different Southern Illinois communities: Stonefort, and Mount Pleasant in Anna. Despite her status as an outsider, Flynn was welcomed and allowed to photograph the Mennonites in their homes, making applesauce, farming, and beekeeping.
Escaping persecution from the Catholic Church in Europe, the Mennonites arrived in America in 1683, settling in what is now Pennsylvania. Today, they live in almost all 50 states, Canada, and South America. To reflect the Mennonites' manual-labor lifestyle, Flynn processed her black-and-white photographs by hand and hand-printed them in a dark room. The imagery explores the Mennonites' labors, leisure, and faith by documenting their homes, places of work and worship, and the Illinois Ozark landscape they inhabit.
Similar to the Amish and the Quakers, Mennonites consider the Bible the supreme authority and insist on a separation between church and state. To enact that separation, they distinguish themselves from society in speech, dress, business, recreation, education, pacifism, and by refusing to participate in politics. They believe in nonconformity to the world, discipleship, and being born again through adult baptism. With "Mennonites of Southern Illinois", photographer Jane Flynn provides representation for these closed communities and illustrates the Mennonites' struggle to find and maintain balance between rustic and modern life while remaining faithful to their religious beliefs.
Critique: An impressive compendium of captioned B/W photographs of Mennonites and two of their communities in Illinois, Jane Flynn's "Mennonites of Southern Illinois: A Photographic Journal" from the Southern Illinois University Press is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Photography collections and supplemental Mennonite curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Jane Flynn (www.janeflynnphotography.com) is a photographer who is deeply interested in documenting those in contemporary American society who may not typically be considered as under-represented, but are not well (or fairly) represented within the art and media of today.
The Art Shelf
Anime + Chibi Art Class
Yoai Yoai
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9781631069901, $21.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Anime-Chibi-Art-Class-Complete/dp/163106990X
Synopsis: "Anime + Chibi Art Class: A Complete Beginner Course in Drawing Manga Cuties + Their Chibis" by Yoai is her follow-up to "Chibi Art Class" and "Anime Art Class". In it she embraces the two styles for an all-in-one DIY drawing book!
A common artistic device within anime and manga is for the characters to morph into a chibi version of themselves for comic relief, especially when expressing emotion. In "Anime + Chibi Art Class", popular anime artist Yoai teaches you how to draw characters big and little so you don't have to choose. It doesn't matter if you prefer drawing traditionally or digitally because both methods are welcome here!
With in-depth what-to-use and how-to guides at the front of the book, the tutorials are divided evenly between traditional and digital. Spanning from simple to advanced, each focuses on honing an area of drawing, such as basic body shapes, shading, and coloring.
Including all-new material, "Anime + Chibi Art Class" is comprised of 20 step-by-step tutorials will have you nailing that distinct anime style in an array of mediums, including:
Pencil drawing
Inking line art
Shading with colored pencils
Coloring with markers and watercolors
Scanning and printing to combine media
and doing it all digitally!
By the end, you will be a seasoned expert in the art of anime and chibi drawing and be ready to design your own expressive and cute characters.
Critique: With the publication of "Anime + Chibi Art Class: A Complete Beginner Course in Drawing Manga Cuties + Their Chibis" by Yoai you can now say goodbye to all the other anime art books that don't explain what they're doing. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Anime Art Instruction collections, it should be noted that "With the publication of "Anime + Chibi Art Class" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Editorial Note: Yoai Yoai is a Toronto-based anime artist with a worldwide fan base and popular accounts on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, and YouTube under the handle @yoaihime. She is also the author of Chibi Art Class and Anime Art Class.
Drawing Nature
Linda Miller Feltner
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691255385, $35.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Nature-Creative-Illustrator-Naturalist/dp/0691255385
Synopsis: "Drawing Nature: The Creative Process of an Artist, Illustrator, and Naturalist" by Linda Miller Feltner and published by the Princeton University Press presents the creative process of an acclaimed nature artist, guiding readers from field sketches to finished art and demonstrating how science and the close observation of nature can be integrated into the artist's work to create dynamic, meaningful images. With chapters that flow from drawing basics to more advanced methods and concepts, this beautifully illustrated instructional volume is like a having look inside the artist's sketchbooks to discover their secrets.
In "Drawing Nature", Feltner also demonstrates how observation and recording are sparks to creativity. Her journey from loose sketches and drawings to a completed work begins with observing a natural process, object, or interaction between organisms. Her curiosity generates scientific inquiry that, when researched, helps her to answer a question or make broad, often surprising connections. Blending examples of her stunning artwork with invaluable insights into time-honored art techniques, Feltner illustrates how sketching, developing an image, and scientific accuracy are essential to her art and encourages each of us to cultivate our own powers of observation and discover anew the world around us.
"Drawing Nature" enables us to look at nature through an artist's eyes, draw inspiration from a place or a moment, and give expression to its beauty.
Critique: This large format (8.75 x 1 x 11.25 inches, 3.1 pounds) hardcover edition of "Drawing Nature: The Creative Process of an Artist, Illustrator, and Naturalist" from the Princeton University Press is deftly organized into seven chapters: A Spark of Curiosity; The Nature of Drawing Nature; Ancient Partnerships; Mammals - Minuscule to Massive; Educational Animals; From Spark to Finish; Interpreting Nature's Connections. Of special note is the inclusion of a one page listing of Recommended Reading for Creative Inspiration. Eloquent, elegant, exceptional in both organization and presentation, "Drawing Nature: The Creative Process of an Artist, Illustrator, and Naturalist" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Plant/Animal Art Reference/Instruction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers that "Drawing Nature: The Creative Process of an Artist, Illustrator, and Naturalist" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.25).
Editorial Note: Linda Miller Feltner (www.lindafeltner.com) is an award-winning artist, naturalist, and educator. Her books include A Haven in the Sun: Five Stories of Bird Life and Its Future on the Texas Coast, Brittle Stars and Mudbugs: An Uncommon Field Guide to Northwest Shorelines and Wetlands, and Alaska: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide.
Colored Pencil Drawings & Doodles
Atelier RiLi
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317952, $17.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Colored-Pencil-Drawings-Doodles-How/dp/4805317957
Synopsis: With the publication of "Colored Pencil Drawings & Doodles: Draw Adorable Animals, Flowers, Foods and Characters with Just 12 Colored Pencils!" you can now transform your journals, cards, gifts and place settings into a "canvas of cuteness" with adorable colored pencil drawings.
There's no need for expensive art supplies -- the delightful doodles comprising "Colored Pencil Drawings & Doodles" are brought to life with just 12 inexpensive pencils! The whimsical examples in this book will get you excited about drawing everything from baguettes and mushrooms and cherry blossoms to bluebirds, macarons, calico cats and more -- including holiday motifs and colorful lettering.
Even if you've always thought "I can't draw," you can approach these 21 lessons with the confidence of knowing that the step-by-step instructions and demonstration videos provide all the support you need to start enjoying this wonderful pastime right away.
Get ready to draw adorable motifs including: Cuddly Creatures (from charming kitties to lovable hedgehogs and forest animals); Brightly Colored Flowers and Plants (a botanical bounty awaits, from vibrant tulips and romantic roses to lucky clovers and creeping ivy); Irresistible Foods (from luscious cupcakes, crusty French bread and juicy strawberries to other treats that look good enough to eat!); -- and so much more including bright ribbons, elegant seashells, enchanting castles and motifs to celebrate each season of the year.
These playful drawings will add splashes of color and flair to cards and letters, sketchbooks and more, and are a perfect way to decorate your spaces or create personalized gifts!
Critique: Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09) with more than 500 DIY illustrations to color, "Colored Pencil Drawings & Doodles: Draw Adorable Animals, Flowers, Foods and Characters with Just 12 Colored Pencils!" offers hours and hours of DIY illustrated fun and is unreservedly recommended for personal and professional pastel and pencil drawing exercises and color use with respect to graphic design.
Editorial Note: Atelier RiLi (www.atelierrili.com) is a multi-award-winning Japanese illustration studio which focuses on picture-book illustration and other freelance illustration work. They have illustrated dozens of books, and their artwork has appeared in numerous advertisements and on a range of commercial products. Their work has been exhibited throughout Japan in solo exhibits, group exhibits and other special events.
The Crafts Shelf
Paper Quilling for Beginners
Motoko Maggie Nakatani
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857666, $18.99, HC, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Quilling-Beginners-All-One/dp/0804857660
Synopsis: Under the expert guidance of Japanese quilling artist Motoko Maggie Nakatani, one of the world's top paper quilling experts, with "Paper Quilling for Beginners: A Complete All-in-One Guide to Creating Paper Flowers, Plants, Vegetables and other Decorative Items!" you will learn how to make many wonderful paper objects with just a few inexpensive tools and paper strips. Maggie's simple roll-shape-and-paste paper quilling method is ideal for beginners -- allowing you to form dozens of shapes and objects easily.
"Paper Quilling for Beginners" features easy-to-follow, step-by-step photographic instructions for 30 projects comprised of 75 adorable paper quilled objects, including: Frilly flowers with ornate petals and leaves which make sweet and romantic decorations; Colorful vegetables, herbs and fruits that look lovely on your kitchen wall or containers; Decorative tiles with fancy whorls and flourishes that can be framed to add a splash of kaleidoscopic color to any room; Japanese dolls, lions and masks which add a touch of Asian flair to miniature hoop frames and shadow box arrangements; Delicate butterfly and heart brooches and other one-of-a-kind wearable art pieces that add the perfect finishing touch to any ensemble -- and dozens of other delightful DIY projects!
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, "Paper Quilling for Beginners: A Complete All-in-One Guide to Creating Paper Flowers, Plants, Vegetables and other Decorative Items!" is the ideal introduction to the art and craft of paper quilling with its user friendly DIY step-by-step instruction format. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.04), Paper Quilling for Beginners" is ideal for the novice and especially recommended for personal, community library, and senior center instruction crafts/hobbies collections.
Editorial Note: Motoko Maggie Nakatani discovered her love of quilling when she opened a toy and candy shop in Kobe, Japan. She taught herself to quill and began importing quilling tools and materials to sell in her shop. After attending her first North American Quilling Guild convention, she was inspired to offer quilling classes customers. Maggie is now the lead instructor for Botanical Quilling Japan, a group that focuses on the seasonal beauty of plants and flowers. She is also a founding member of the Japan Quilling Guild and the Japanese representative to the North American Quilling Guild. (https://www.facebook.com/motoko.nakatani)
Rock Painting for Beginners
Christine Rechl
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857550, $18.99, HC, 96pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Painting-Beginners-Complete-Techniques/dp/0804857555
Synopsis: Using pens, markers, paints, brushes, and the simple lessons in "Rock Painting for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Techniques and Supplies with 50 Original Designs to Inspire You", you will be able to turn stones into gorgeous works of art that everyone will love.
Design expert Christine Rechl provides all the information you'll need to get started, including a few simple tips and techniques and over 50 inspiring designs in 225 color photographs.
For aspiring artists of all ages, the simple instructions and examples in this book show you how to create: A menagerie of cuddly cats, shaggy sheep and adorable dogs - even unicorns; Funny faces, cartoon characters and kooky caricatures; Kaleidoscopic patterns made up of spirals, squiggles, dots and lines; Meditative mandalas, runes, oracle stones, amulets and lucky charms -- and many more creative designs!
With "Rock Painting for Beginners, anyone can create a colorful rock display for their home or wanting to send an inspiring message to a friend. Painted rocks make perfect gifts and keepsakes to treasure forever!
Critique: Profusely and instructively illustrated throughout, Christine Rechi's "Rock Painting for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Techniques and Supplies with 50 Original Designs to Inspire You" from Tuttle Publishing is an ideal DIY introduction to the art and craft of a distinctive and fun craft/hobby. While highly recommended for personal and community library collections, it should be noted that "Rock Painting for Beginners" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Christine Rechl (https://christinerechl.de) designs home decor, textiles, wrapping papers and porcelains when she's not writing a new book. She lives in Coburg, Germany, with her family and is the author of many books, including 1,001 Very Easy Design Motifs, Creative Beading, Magical Stones: 30 Symbols, Oracles and Spirit Animals to Paint and Favorite Phrases: Sayings, Messages and Quotes Painted on Stone.
The Gardening Shelf
Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art
Judith Clancy, author
Ben Simmons, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805315965, $18.99, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kyoto-Gardens-Masterworks-Japanese-Gardeners/dp/4805315962
Synopsis: By design, Kyoto's gardens possess a unique ability to provoke deep contemplation and joy in equal measure. "Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art" is a labor of love from master photographer Ben Simmons and longtime Kyoto-based writer Judith Clancy.
It contains lyrical images and poetic essays describing Kyoto's most famous gardens -- most of them now UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:
Kyoto's Old Imperial Palace Garden: A massive walled complex filled with flowering plants, trees and buildings which served as the official residence of the Japanese emperor for over 500 years before 1868 and is now a public park.
Heian Jingu Shrine Garden: Constructed on the site of the ancient capital and filled with lush greenery, ponds, rocks, bridges and pavilions which float above the water, providing a sense of tranquility and natural beauty.
Ginkaku-ji Pure Land Garden: An earthly paradise featuring a massive truncated mound of packed sand that is resculpted by hand daily, this site was originally designed as a private villa by one of Kyoto's rulers then turned into a Zen Buddhist temple upon his death.
Kinkaku-ji Estate Garden: Perhaps Kyoto's most recognizable sight, a Golden Pavilion perched on the edge of a tranquil pond on whose smooth surface are reflected beautiful rocks and cypress trees placed all around it.
Ryoan-jin Zen Rock Garden: The purest expression of a world in miniature, expressed as a sea of raked gravel with islands of natural stone and moss set in its midst, walled off from the outside world to provide a place for meditation and contemplation.
Saiho-ji Moss Garden: Famed for its moist and soft, shimmering green covering of moss, this unique estate was designed in the 14th century and radically altered the art of the Japanese garden.
Tofuku-ji Zen Garden: An ancient temple site which contains some of the best examples of a new "contemporary" gardening style pioneered by Mirei Shigemnori in the early 20th century, featuring enormous rocks set in a sea of raked gravel and irregular checkboard squares set in a soft bed of moss ringed by azalea bushes.
Plus two dozen other masterful gardens!
Simmons' sensitive photos present a fresh, contemporary look at these timeless gardens while Clancy's graceful descriptions provides historic, aesthetic and cultural context. This new edition has been updated and revised, with many new photographs added.
Critique: An absolutely beautiful tour of some of Japanese finest gardens, this new edition of "Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art" from Tuttle Publishing is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Gardening & Photography collections. It should be noted that "Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener's Art" is also available in a digital book format that is ideal for on-site tourists.
Editorial Note #1: Judith Clancy (www.kyotoworkshops.com) has lived in Kyoto for more than 50 years, writing and teaching about Japanese culture. Her first publication, Naturescapes, was a tribute to her Ikebana teacher, Tamura Suiko, who, through the art of flower arrangement, instilled a deep and subtle appreciation of Japanese aesthetics and character. Clancy has published multiple books including Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capita; Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide, and Kyoto: City of Zen. Clancy lives in a 120-year-old converted weaving studio in Nishijin, the weaving and dyeing district of Kyoto.
Editorial Note #2: Ben Simmons is a longtime Japan resident whose photos have appeared in books, magazines, and exhibitions worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the United Nations. He holds an MFA from the University of Florida. Some of his other book projects are Tokyo Megacity, Japanese Architecture, Kyoto City of Zen, and The Little Book of Kyoto--all published by Tuttle. (https://bensimmonsphoto.com/?l=en&p=bio)
The Christian Studies Shelf
Embedded Genres in the New Testament
Jeannine K. Brown
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9781540967725, $39.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Embedded-Genres-Testament-Understanding-Interpretation/dp/1540967611
Synopsis: Genre is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other forms of art or entertainment, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Often, works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions. Stand-alone texts, works, or pieces of communication may have individual styles, but genres are amalgams of these texts based on agreed-upon or socially inferred conventions. Some genres may have rigid, strictly adhered-to guidelines, while others may show great flexibility. (Wikipedia)
The genre of what we are reading is crucial to understanding any written work, including the books of the New Testament. However, we may not always realize we use genre categories as we interpret, whether explicitly or implicitly. Embedded genres, or genres within genres, can substantively impact the interpretation of an entire New Testament book.
A part of the Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology from Baker Academia, "Embedded Genres in the New Testament: Understanding Their Impact for Interpretation" is a succinct and accessible study by widely respected scholar and seasoned teacher Jeannine K. Brown who introduces embedded genres, their impact on New Testament interpretation, and how they contribute to the message of the New Testament authors.
Jeannine Brown also offers hermeneutical guidance for interpreting embedded genres and explores the hermeneutical questions they raise. She focuses on three case studies of embedded genres that have been contested, underidentified, or underappreciated across the New Testament corpus: the Christ poem in Philippians 2, riddles in Matthew, and the household code in 1 Peter.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Embedded Genres in the New Testament: Understanding Their Impact for Interpretation" is unreservedly recommended for church, seminary, community, and college/university library New Testament Criticism/Interpretation collections and supplemental Biblical Exegesis/Hermenutics curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary students, and all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations that "Embedded Genres in the New Testament" is readily available in a paperback edition (9781540967619, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).
Editorial Note: Jeannine K. Brown (PhD, Luther Seminary) is the David Price Professor of Biblical and Theological Foundations at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of Scripture as Communication, The Gospels as Stories, two commentaries on Matthew, and a commentary on Philippians. She coauthored Relational Integration between Psychology and Christian Theology and Becoming Whole and Holy and is a coeditor of the revised Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Brown has also served as a translation consultant for the New International Version, Common English Bible, and New Century Version.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
The Free Mind
Dza Kilung Rinpoche
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
www.shambhala.com
9781645473251, $18.95, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Free-Mind-Finding-Digitally-Distracted/dp/1645473252
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Free Mind: Finding Clarity in a Digitally Distracted World" by Shambhala Publications, Dza Kilung Rinpoche offers a refreshing approach to understanding the role of digital technology in our world and how we can better manage our relationship to it from a Buddhist perspective.
Our engagement with digital devices connects us to people and ideas, but it also causes anxiety, distraction, imbalance, and suffering. Rather than a digital detox, we can train our minds to leverage our negative habits and digital temptations to deal with life more effectively, improve our attention span, reduce mental fatigue, and deepen our happiness.
In 'The Free Mind", Dza Kilung Rinpoche (a respected contemporary Tibetan Buddhist teacher and the author of "The Relaxed Mind"), skillfully addresses these widespread issues in modern life geared toward a wide audience. In twelve short chapters, he offers straightforward strategies and tools to clear away the distractive clutter that prevents us from living fully and with clarity.
"The Free Mind" also explores deeper issues like the nature of wisdom, question of karma, and importance of lovingkindness and compassion.
The practices and meditations in "The Free Mind" will appeal to anyone who suffers from a distracted "monkey mind". By calming our minds, we can clearly see the sources of our inner and outer problems and begin to work on them for the benefit of ourselves, others, and the earth.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the benefit of students of Buddhism and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of Karma & Tibetan Buddhism in this age of Social Media, "The Free Mind: Finding Clarity in a Digitally Distracted World" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Contemporary Buddhist Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should also be noted that "The Free Mind" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Dza Kilung Rinpoche (https://kilung.org/about-kilung-rinpoche) was born in 1970 and is head of Kilung Monastery in the Dzachuka District of Kham, Tibet, which he has been working to reestablish as a center of learning and practice since he was a teenager. He has been teaching in the West since 1998 and regularly accepts invitations to teach in Boston, Beijing, Denmark, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brazil, and Argentina. His home in the West is on Whidbey Island near Seattle, Washington, and he divides his time among Washington, his community in Tibet, and his students worldwide. He is the author of The Relaxed Mind: A Seven-Step Method for Deepening Meditation Practice (Shambhala, 2015).
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Joan Crawford in Film Noir
David Meuel
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476691473, $39.95, PB, 225pp
https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Crawford-Film-Noir-Actress/dp/1476691479
Synopsis: Joan Crawford's contribution to film noir during the 1940s and 1950s, though rarely discussed in its totality, is one of her most impressive and far-reaching career achievements.
Several of her noir and noir-tinged efforts contain arguably her best acting work, and all bear her personal stamp. These are not conventional film noirs, they are Joan Crawford noirs: highly distinctive films that extended the boundaries of noir content and brought added depth and dimension to the noir style.
Unlike most actors who routinely adapted to the needs of particular film projects and directors, she approached each film, first and foremost, as a Joan Crawford vehicle, often exerting great control over multiple production functions and at times operating as a de facto producer.
Examining these films as a collective and relatively cohesive body of work, with the publication of "Joan Crawford in Film Noir: The Actress as Auteur", film historian David Meuel highlights what Crawford aspired to achieve in her art, how (when the circumstances were right) she could deliver superb results, how she helped expand the possibilities for noir, and why the best of her efforts speak across the decades with such intensity and authority.
Critique: Illustrated with B/W historical photos, "Joan Crawford in Film Noir: The Actress as Auteur" by David Meuel is a fascinating and informative read from start to finish. A 'must' for the legions of Joan Crawford fans, this cinematic biography is insightfully informative and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Cinematic History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Joan Crawford in Film Noir: The Actress as Auteur" from McFarland & Company is also available for film students, academia, and movie buffs in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.49) as well.
Editorial Note: The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology.
The Star Wars Radio Dramas
Maria Jose Tenuto & John Tenuto
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476695631, $39.95, PB, 213pp
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Radio-Dramas-Serialization/dp/1476695636
Synopsis: By 1977 National Public Radio (NPR) was in serious financial trouble, plagued by too little funding and small audiences. The phenomenal success of its adaptation of Star Wars as a radio drama in 1981 gave NPR the needed ratings, publicity, and boost in donations that kept it afloat at exactly the time it was threatened the most.
Most importantly, Star Wars brought a new audience to NPR. As it did in theaters, where George Lucas's films redefined movie making, so too did NPR's Star Wars forever change the artistic world of radio drama.
That a radio network, dependent exclusively on audio, would find a lifeline in one of the most visually dynamic movies ever released is the stuff of irony. Utilizing new interviews with creatives such as Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Ann Sachs (Princess Leia), Perry King (Han Solo), and director John Madden, and archival research, "The Star Wars Radio Dramas: Brian Daley and the Serialization That Saved NPR" by professors Maria and John Tenuto details how an unlikely alliance of academics, radio executives, Lucasfilm employees, actors, and behind-the-scenes artists banded together, despite the obstacles, to create a unique and consequential work.
It is also the story of how writer Brian Daley was the fulcrum who made it all possible.
Critique: A simply fascination and 'behind the scenes' informative read from cover to cover, "The Star Wars Radio Dramas: Brian Daley and the Serialization That Saved NPR" is especially and unreservedly recommended reading for the legions of Star Wars fans and students of non-profit public radio station histories. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of two Appendices ('Related Star Wars Audio Projects' & 'NPR Affiliates'), ten pages of Chapter Notes, six pages of References, and a twelve page Index, "The Star Wars Radio Dramas: Brian Daley and the Serialization That Saved NPR" is unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Star Wars Radio Dramas" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Professor of sociology Maria Jose Tenuto was named the 2019 Outstanding Illinois Adjunct Faculty of the Year by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9505467)
Editorial Note #2: John Tenuto (https://titanbooks.com/creators/john-tenuto) is a retired sociology professor. He was named the 2020 Central Regional Faculty Member of the Year for the United States by the Association of Community Colleges.
The Ghost of Frankenstein: Scripts from the Crypt, Volume 16
Tom Weaver & Gregory W Mank
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887715018, $50.00, HC, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Frankenstein-Scripts-Crypt-hardback/dp/B0D6K3C69X
Synopsis: Human monsters, cripples and wretches, unite! Ygor, every Monster Kid's favorite blacksmith/body snatcher, adds Paramilitary Strategist to his bulging resume when he unveils his plan to organize his country's outcasts into a fighting force. Their objective: enslave strong people and make them work for the weak. And at the head of Ygor's hideous hordes: the Frankenstein Monster!
In 1941, as Universal prepared to make The Ghost of Frankenstein, they "took a pass" on screenwriter Eric Taylor's bonkers plotline, described above. But fortunately for 21st-century Monster Kids, a copy of his script still exists; and now it rises from the ashes to become the centerpiece of the newest "Scripts from the Crypt" volume. Extras include a deluxe new Ghost of Frankenstein production history by Gregory W. Mank, Fun Facts, bonus essays and a trove of vintage photos.
Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout with B/W historical photos and co-authored by Tom Weaver and Gregory W. Mank, this large format (8.25 x 0.88 x 11 inches, 2.55 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Ghost of Frankenstein: Scripts from the Crypt, Volume 16" from BearManor Press is a unique and highly prized addition to personal, professional, and college/university library Cinematic History collections and a 'must' for the legions of Frankenstein fans wanting a peek behind the curtain with respect to the cinematic fate of The Ghost of Frankenstein.
Editorial Note #1: Tom Weaver (www.imdb.com/name/nm0915967) is a multiple-time winner of the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award, a fan-based award presented each year for the best in horror movie research and appreciation. He was inducted into the Rondos' "Monster Kid Hall of Fame" on March 30, 2011.
Editorial Note #2: Gregory W. Mank (www.gregorymank.com) is an actor, known for Horror Icons: Lon Chaney Jr, Horror Icons: The Singular Case of Basil Rathbone and The Chaneys: Hollywood's Horror Dynasty.
The Business Shelf
Pattern Breakers
Mike Maples Jr. & Peter Ziebelman
https://www.patternbreakers.com
Public Affairs Books
c/o Hachette
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781541704350, $30.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Breakers-Start-Ups-Change-Future/dp/1541704355
Synopsis: The breakthrough concepts laid out in "Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future" come from the observations of Mike Maples Jr., a seasoned venture capitalist, who noticed something strange. Start-ups like Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft had achieved extraordinary success despite their disregard for "best practices." In contrast, other startups deemed highly promising often failed, even when they seemed to do everything right.
Seeking answers, Maples and co-author Peter Ziebelman set out to discover the hidden forces that drive extraordinary start-up success. Pattern-breaking success, they reveal, demands a different mindset and actions to harness developments others miss or that may, at first, seem crazy.
"Pattern Breakers" is filled with firsthand storytelling about initial interactions with some of the most transformative start-ups of recent times as Maples and Ziebelman challenge us to rethink how to transcend the ordinary and achieve the extraordinary.
Critique: Informative, thought-provoking, insightful, and inspiring, "Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future" is impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. Thoroughly 'real world practical', "Pattern Breakers" will prove to be of immense value to readers with an interest in venture capitalism, entrepreneurship, and business motivation/leadership. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, corporate, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that 'Pattern Breakers" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Mike Maples, Jr is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, and the co-founder of FLOODGATE, a leading seed stage fund in Silicon Valley that invested in companies like Twitter, Twitch, Okta, and Outreach at the very beginning of their startup journeys. An eight-time member of the Forbes Midas List of Top Venture Capital investors, he was one of the pioneers of the seed investing movement, which started in the mid-2000s and now is a mainstream part of startup funding. Mike has the popular podcast Starting Greatness (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-greatness/id1488560647).
Editorial Note #2: Peter Ziebelman teaches entrepreneurs as a lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where he is the principal instructor for the popular graduate school course on entrepreneurship and venture capital. He has also lectured for the Wharton School and the University of Chicago. He started his career as part of the innovative start-up team for speech synthesis semiconductors at Texas Instruments and then later he was a systems software entrepreneur at a venture-backed start-up. In 1996 he co-founded, Palo Alto Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm. He consults with Fortune 500 companies on entrepreneurship, and advises start-up companies as an independent board member.
Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader
Jan Rutherford & Jacquie Jordan
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637745595, $30.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Self-Reliant-Leader-Disciplined-Indomitable/dp/1637745591
Synopsis: "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams" by co-authors Jan Rutherford and Jacquie Jordan was deftly crafted from author Jan Rutherford's 'Crucible Expedition' wilderness experiences. This insightful, practical guide explores each step of the Crucible journey and how its lessons can be applied to today's leadership challenges.
The lessons are based around the three pillars of Self-Reliant Leadership: leading yourself, leading others, and leading an organization).
"Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader" covers: Developing courage, curiosity, and grit to confront challenges and lead your team effectively; Selecting the right people for your team -- people who are selfless, adventurous, and heroic; Creating the right direction, pace, and tone to sustain a culture of disciplined duty; Designing and maintaining a positive and energized work environment; Building mutual, genuine trust among team members and fellow leaders where true commitment versus mere compliance prevails.
This compilation of lessons and stories from past expeditions offers business leaders more than just an exciting or inspiring read. "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader" offers a proven recipe to creating and sustaining high-performing teams.
Critique Of immense relevance and value to readers with an interest in the subjects of personal finance, corporate leadership, employee and self motivation, this edition of Jan Rutherford's and Jacquie Jordan's "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams" from Matt Holt Books is a welcome and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret and founder of Self-Reliant Leadership(R) where he coaches executives, and leads Crucible(R) wilderness expeditions with executives and veterans. Jan has over 25 years of business experience and has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO. For 15 years, he was a Senior Instructor with the University of Colorado Denver Business School, teaching leadership to MBA students in the U.S. and Ireland. He's the co-host of The Leadership Podcast, and also serves on numerous boards, and invests time with select DOD units and veteran organizations.
Editorial Note #2: Jacquie Jordan, a graduate of West Point and Teacher's College, Columbia University, is passionate about improving work through leader and organizational development. Jacquie cultivated this passion while serving as a logistics officer in the US Army, including assignments as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy, a tour with the United States Army Special Operations Command, and culminating as a Legislative Liaison working to advance US Army personnel policy. Jacquie deployed to combat four times where she led small and large teams in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. As a consultant, Jacquie brings her expertise to teams to increase the capacity of leaders to lead, teams to build trust, and organizations to produce results.
The Sports Shelf
The Art of Climbing
Simon Carter
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500025970, $45.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Climbing-Simon-Carter/dp/0500025975
Synopsis: The popularity of rock climbing (arguably the single most dangerous recreational pastime) is burgeoning across the globe, with dedicated communities practicing everything from bouldering to sport climbing, top roping to free soloing, in awe-inspiring locations. "The Art of Climbing" showcases climber and photographer Simon Carter's dramatic and often graphic photos, providing inspiration for aspirational outdoor climbers (anyone keen to graduate from inside climbing walls) and seasoned climbers alike.
The main chapters evoke powerful themes (from Formations to Environment, Intensity to Flow) that exist at the intersection of sport and art. "The Art of Climbing" is a compendium of thoughtful chapter texts, written by Carter and major names on the international climbing scene, who narrate their experiences on the rock face, exploring both the athletic and aesthetic value of climbing. Of special note is the inclusion of a reference section that includes practical details such as a glossary, grading table, and descriptions of ten selected routes. 229 color illustrations
Critique: This large format (9 x 1.1 x 10.9 inches, 2.31 pounds) hardcover edition of Simon Carter's "The Art of Climbing" features 229 full color, informatively captioned photographs -- many of which are simply harrowing but illustrate and demonstrate the excitement rock climbing has as a recreational activity for both amateurs and professionals. Informative and fascinating, this coffee-table style edition of "The Art of Climbing" from Thames & Hudson is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Climbing Sports Photography/Essays collections and reading lists.
Editorial Note: Simon Carter (https://www.onsight.com.au) is an Australian rock climber and photographer. He began working as a professional photographer and established Onsight Photography in 1994. Since then, he has traveled widely and built up an extensive body of work encompassing many of the world's best climbing destinations. Carter is the recipient of several photography accolades and the author of four previous coffee-table books, including World Climbing: Images from the Edge, which won the Best Book -- Mountain Image award at the Banff Mountain Book Festival.
The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf
Tiki Cocktails
Shelly Slipsmith, author
50s Vintage Dame, illustrator
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781923049307, $24.95, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tiki-Cocktails-dreamy-luau-inspired-libations/dp/1923049305
Synopsis: Whether you're a seasoned bartender, a cocktail enthusiast, or tending bar for friends at home, "Tiki Cocktails: 180+ Dreamy Drinks and Luau-Inspired Libations" is your DIY ticket to cocktail success. In these profusely illustrated pages you can explore classic rum-based recipes like the Mai Tai and the Zombie, as well as other fruity cocktails like the Trotsky and the Woodpecker.
Complete with fabulous retro illustrations by 50s Vintage Dame to accompany each recipe, along with notes on glassware and garnishes by Shelly Slipsmith, "Tiki Cocktails" is your guide to stirring, shaking, and sipping summer drinks.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Tiki Cocktails: 180+ Dreamy Drinks and Luau-Inspired Libations" is a 'must' for all dedicated cocktail enthusiasts and will prove to be an extraordinary and enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library collections.
Editorial Note #1: Shelly Slipsmith is a mixologist and writer specializing in Rum-based cocktails.
Editorial Note #2: 50s Vintage Dame is a freelance illustrator, designer and digital artist specializing in portraying modern concepts and ideas through vintage-style illustration.
The Mythology Shelf
The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai
Zack Davisson
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317730, $19.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Japanese-Yokai-Creatures/dp/4805317736
Synopsis: Featuring more than 250 images/illustrations, "The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Other Mythical Creatures from Japan" by Zack Davisson introduces a vast range of mysterious beings from Japanese mythology and folklore that ranges from malevolent demons and chilling monsters, to spectral ghosts and enchanted beasts.
Throughout "The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai", Davisson skillfully navigates this elusive spirit realm, shedding light on their mysteries and revealing their significance to the cultural tapestry of Japan.
Featuring iconic Yokai such as the enigmatic Amabie, the endearing Tofu Kozo, and the pitiful Kyokotsu, alongside lesser-known entities like the repulsive Akaname and the never before catalogued Kaiju, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of Japan's supernatural pantheon.
Modern Yokai art by esteemed artists such as Lili Chin, Emi Lenox, and Peach Momoko breathe new life into the age-old legends shared within. Illustrated with over 250 color woodblock prints and paintings, and packed with interesting facts and entertaining stories, this book transports readers into a realm where the line between myth and reality blurs.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout, this paperback edition of Zack Davisson's "The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Other Mythical Creatures from Japan" from Tuttle Publishing is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Japanese Mythology & Folklore collections and supplemental Metaphysical Studies curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Other Mythical Creatures from Japan" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Zack Davisson (https://zackdavisson.com) is the author of Yurei: The Japanese Ghost, Yokai Stories and Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan, and many more. He has translated Japanese bestsellers including Leiji Matsumoto's Space Battleship Yamato, Go Nagai's Devilman, and Shigeru Mizuki's Kitaro. He lectures on translation, manga and folklore at Duke, UCLA and the University of Washington, as well as contributing to major international exhibitions.
The Travel Shelf
Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour
Sondra Diepen
Sunstone Press
www.sunstonepress.com
9781632934413, $60.00, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Route-New-Mexico-Visual-Tour/dp/1632934418
Synopsis: "Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour" by Sondra Diepen will inspire her readers to as up the car, fill the cooler, pack a lunch, and get ready to seek out snake pits, curio shops, wall murals, old gas stations, and vintage motels that were welcomed sights and exciting attractions to travelers along Historic Route 66 in New Mexico since 1926.
There are a great many Route 66 books and travel guides about this famous 2,448-mile U. S. highway connecting Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Yet, few points of interest are detailed along New Mexico's 507-mile segment of the Mother Road. But "Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour" is different.
With over 200 beautiful color photographs and simple maps to guide the traveler, this tour guide provides lively stories, interesting facts, and unique tales about 51 different locations and sites along Historic Route 66 across the Land of Enchantment.
Amidst New Mexico's awe-inspiring beauty lie remnants of way stations that provided weary travelers with water, curios and oddities. Today you'll find businesses serving tourists from all corners of the world, providing nostalgia, souvenirs, and a cold soda pop.
Sondra Diepen has captured it all -- from vintage trading posts, motor courts and classic cars, to neon motel signs that still beckon travelers to stop, rest, and see the sights. Whether you are relaxing in your armchair or revving up your engine to hit the road, let "Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour" be your guide
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 11 x 0.5 inches, 1.57 pounds) paperback edition of "Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour" from Sunset Press is a profusely illustrated, informative and fun read which is recommended for on-site visitors and armchair travelers alike. Simply stated, "Route 66 New Mexico: A Visual Tour" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library American Travel Guide collections.
Editorial Note: A resident of New Mexico since 1974, artist/photographer Sondra Diepen spent the past ten years traveling the cities, villages, and ghost towns along Route 66 of her beloved Land of Enchantment. With two Nikon cameras and a stack of vintage maps, she headed out on I-40, exiting here and there, seeking the original Route as it once wound across New Mexico. (http://www.rainbowartists.com/sondra-diepen.html)
Charleston Food Crawls
Jesse Blanco
The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493058945, $26.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Charleston-Food-Crawls-Neighborhoods-Libation/dp/1493058940
Synopsis: "Charleston Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time" by Jesse Blanco is an ideal DIY planning resource for taking exciting culinary tours through Charleston, the largest city in South Carolina.
Locals and visiting tourists alike can taste the city's culinary history through its top-notch neighborhood restaurants and bars in this profusely illustrated and informative guide..
Hit the Upper Peninsula for a day of breweries and barbeque galore. Just in town for the weekend? Take a stroll through King Street for quick bites and crafty sips. Experience where southern comfort food and zesty libations collide, and dig into Charleston one dish at a time.
Critique: "Charleston Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time" is a welcome and high value pick for personal, professional, and community library South Carolina tour guide collections.
Editorial Note: Jesse Blanco's 24-year career in TV news coupled with his large Cuban family's influence on his taste in food has given him the ability to connect with viewers and readers through their stomachs. This has led Jesse and his business partner to create Eat It and Like It, a blog and TV show that reports on the culinary scene of the South. A full-time food writer with an insatiable desire to travel and explore, Jesse is also the author of Savannah Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Astrology's Magical Nodes of the Moon
Carmen Turner-Schott & Bernie Ashman
https://carmenturnerschott.com
O Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803414126, $16.95, PB, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Astrologys-Magical-Nodes-Moon-Releasing/dp/180341412X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Astrology's Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future", co-authored by professional astrologers Carmen Turner-Schott and Bernie Ashman, will effectively introduce and guide the interested reader in the basics and fundamentals of astrology, including the importance of the moon's nodes in a birth chart, and the soul's higher purpose.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Astrology's Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future" is an informative read from start to finish and will be of special value to readers with an interest in practice, principles, and applications of astrology. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies/Astrology collections, it should be noted that "Astrology's Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note #1: Carmen Turner-Schott, MSW, LISW, is a practicing licensed clinical social worker, astrologer, writer, and teacher with a national and international clientele. She has worked with victims of trauma for over 25 years. Since 2010 she has managed several Facebook Astrology groups which have over 50K members from all over the world. She lives in Troy, Illinois. (https://carmenturnerschott.com)
Editorial Note #2: Bernie Ashman (https://bernieashman.com) is the author of several astrology books including How to Survive Mercury Retrograde. Bernie is also a professional astrologer serving clients internationally. His insightful interpretations have also been utilized for astrology software programs used worldwide and now produced by Cosmic Patterns in the U.S.
The Witch's Book of Spells
Lindsay Squire, author
Viki Lester, illustrator
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711289635, $23.00, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Book-Spells-Simple-everyday/dp/0711289638
Synopsis: Do you want to tap into your metaphysical power and bring out your inner Witch? With the publication of "The Witch's Book of Spells: Simple spells for everyday magick", a unique collection of over 100 spells and rituals from Lindsay Squire, The Witch of the Forest, will show you how -- step by step, spell by spell.
Profusely illustrated by Viki Lester, "The Witch's Book of Spells" from Leaping Hare Press, is mystical guide showcasing spells for:
The different moon phases, seasons, and Witches' sabbats
Protection and hex breaking
Spiritual well-being
Manifestation and abundance, whether for finances, career, or personal wellbeing
Self-love and self-care
Love and romance
Peace and justice
Success and happiness -- and more!
Taken from Lindsay Squire's personal grimoire, "The Witch's Book of Spells" is a compendium where each spell and ritual is organized by theme. With a combination of simple, five-minute spells, to longer, more in-depth spells and rituals, and including beginner, intermediate, and advanced spells, this DIY instructional will be your guide as you grow and progress within your craft.
From the same author-illustrator team behind The Witch of the Forest's Guide series, and containing a mixture of modern and traditional spells and rituals, with a focus on Witchcraft for well-being, there's something in this book for every Witch at every level of experience.
Critique: "The Witch's Book of Spells: Simple spells for everyday magick" is an ideal introduction to the creation of fascinating spells ranging from Moon Magick, Success, Happiness, Peace, Good Luck, Protection, Spell Removal, and so much more. A pleasure to work with and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Witch's Book of Spells" is an ideal and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Instructional collections. It should be noted that "The Witch's Book of Spells" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49) as well.
Editorial Note #1: Lindsay Squire aka The Witch of the Forest is a practitioner of eclectic Witchcraft and is the Witch behind the popular Instagram account, @thewitchoftheforest. She has been walking her own spiritual path for over a decade, and is passionate about helping and empowering Witches at the beginning of their Witchcraft journeys. She is the author of several titles on witchcraft and astrology, including those from the Witch of the Forest's Guide to... series, such as Astrology Magick, Natural Magick, Earth Magick, and Tarot Magick. Lindsay lives in her home county of Yorkshire, England, with her husband and their mischievous cats, Luna and Merlin. (https://bookshop.org/shop/lindsaysquire)
Editorial Note #2: Viki Lester of Forensics & Flowers is an illustrator from London. Her work inspires people to feel magical, and features positivity with a dark botanical twist. She has previously illustrated Practical Crystals, The Witch of the Forest's Tarot Magick Deck, and Practical Symbols. (https://www.forensicsandflowers.com)
Goddess Oracle Deck
Katja Perez
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780711297753, 96pp, Card Deck (52 cards)
https://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Oracle-Deck-channel-Esoteric/dp/0711297754
Synopsis: "Goddess Oracle Deck" from Katja Perez is a magnificent, culturally rich deck of 52 oracle cards offers spiritual guidance that encourages you to explore and channel your inner goddess. Each individual card is infused with the divine wisdom of a unique goddess, and includes an evocative illustration by artist Katja Perez, alongside an affirmation that will enhance your life with sacred energy.
Feel the transformational power of deities from around the world, including: Melissa, Greek Bee Goddess (for inner strength and femininity); Ixchel, Mayan Goddess of the Moon, Weaving, and Childbirth (for change and inner beauty); Pele, Hawaiian Goddess of Fire, Volcanoes, and Dance (for channeling passion); Hathor, Egyptian Goddess of Women, Fertility, and Joy (for expressing gratitude); Hel, Norse Goddess of Death and the Underworld (for opportunities for growth).
Also included is an illustrated guidebook that explains more of the background of each goddess and features rituals to help you channel their energy, empowering you to: Connect with your intuition; Add layers of depth to your oracle readings; Gain clarity into relationships, personalities, behaviors, and tendencies.
The "Goddess Oracle Deck" from Leaping Hare Press is is the ultimate invitation to listen to your feminine intuition, immerse yourself in the beauty of diverse mythology, and embrace the goddess within.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated, "Goddess Oracle Deck" is an impressively original, exceptionally 'user friendly', and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Studies oracle deck collections.
Editorial Note: Katja Perez (https://katjaperez.com) makes art that is feminine, magical and inspired by all things witchy. She draws the goddesses she sees in her dreams, and has a special fascination with the moon. She firmly believes in the healing power of rituals and meditation and hopes that her art can transport some of that magical energy into your home. She can be followed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katja.perez/?hl=en
The Wisconsin Shelf
Wisconsin Through the Seasons
Michael Grudzielanek
Prosna Banks Publishing
9798218395315, $34.95, HC, 66pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wisconsin-Through-Seasons-Mid-Twentieth-Landscapes/dp/B0CZ999R1X
Synopsis: Polish-American artist Thomas Angelski and his sons Edward and Eugene studied art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and completed dozens of works during their lifetimes. "Wisconsin Through the Seasons: Mid-Twentieth Century Landscapes as Seen by an Artist and Two of His Sons" is a collection of fifty carefully selected pieces of Angelski family artwork shows the progressive change of everyday scenes of country and city life from one season to the next in the middle of the Twentieth Century. These scenes may be studied and savored as the artists guide you on a self-paced tour of Eastern Wisconsin from January through the end of the year.
Critique: This large format (11 x 0.31 x 8.5 inches, 1.13 pounds) hardcover edition of "Wisconsin Through the Seasons: Mid-Twentieth Century Landscapes as Seen by an Artist and Two of His Sons" from Prosna Banks Publishing is an beautifully reproduced compendium of captioned artworks showcasing rural farms and urban neighborhoods from the 1930s through the 1950s that is a fascinating delight to browse through one memorable page at a time. Simply stated, "Wisconsin Through the Seasons" is a delight from cover to cover and an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Wisconsin Art & Artists collections.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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