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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Southern Comforts: Rooted in a Florida Place
Sudye Cauthen
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9781930066588, $29.95 www.ugapress.org
Sudye Cauthen is a fifth-generation Floridian who blends memoir, oral history and cultural
geography to consider the vanishing elements of a place she holds dear. Southern Comforts:
Rooted in a Florida Place is a recommended pick for any library strong on Florida history and
culture, surveying the roots of changes to tradition and sense of place and considering
archaeology as well as history in the process.
Madison Avenue Maxi
DaCapo Press
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780786720385, $22.00 www.dacapopress.com
In Madison Avenue Maxi, the wife of a movie star provides an inherently fascinating and
engagingly personal memoir of the life and times of the family dog, a miniature dachshund she
and her husband adopted, and offers up whimsical, fun anecdotes on how to dog became a part of
their fast-paced, globe-trotting lifestyle. Any general-interest library strong in books about pets
and stars will find it a fun leisure choice indeed.
Merriam-Webster references
Federal Street Press
25-13 Old Kings Highway North #277, Darien, CT 06820
www.federalstreetpress.com
Two exceptionally affordable student desk references are top picks for both libraries and home
collections, offering new editions of essential print resources students can consult time and again.
High school, college students and all adults will benefit from WEBSTER'S THESAURUS FOR
STUDENTS, NEW EDITION (9781596950234, $2.99), a resource for students seeking the best
words for writing projects. Each entry consists of a brief definition plus synonyms and antonyms,
with over 85,000 words listed in an easy alphabetical arrangement. WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY
FOR STUDENTS SPECIAL ENCYCLOPEDIC EDITION, NEW EDITION (9781596950221,
$3.49) is another vastly revised, updated budget offerings with words specific to students in
second through sixth grades - and many a home collection. The updated word list relates to
current expert research and provides an added section of additional information, all of which has
been updated for 2007 and includes maps, discussions of world geography and politics, and
more. Both are top picks to be gained for less than the price of a restaurant drink.
The Business Shelf
The Point of the Deal
Danny Ertel and Mark Gordon
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422102336, $26.95 www.HBSPress.org
Why do business deals fall apart, and how do strategists and deal-makers fail? THE POINT OF
THE DEAL: HOW TO NEGOTIATE WHEN YES IS NOT ENOUGH goes beyond the usual
business focus on getting the deal to examine what makes it work or causes it to fail. From a
different focus on using the deal as a means and not the end goal to considering behaviors after
the deal has been signed, THE POINT OF THE DEAL follows through where other books end,
using strategies from different businesses and even different countries to show how a different
focus on implementation processes leads to success. Business libraries, especially those catering
to managers, need this.
One Year to an Organized Life
Regina Leeds
DaCapo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9781600940569, $16.95 www.dacapopress.com
An organized life lends to more time, less aggravation, better health and more - and professional
organizer Regina Leeds here provides a set of guidelines to help even the most disorganized
reader gain control over time management. These are organized in a series of weekly and
monthly plans to streamline everyday life challenges, from making a home space more efficient
to organizing travel, business and finances. Consumer collections will find it invaluable.
The Audiobook Shelf
Hachette Audio
www.twaudiobooks.com
Anthony Heald's fine stage and acting skills include many Broadway credits, so if you're an avid
theatre-goer his voice on James Patterson's CAT AND MOUSE (160024128X, $17.98) may
sound familiar, spicing a vivid and fast-paced story of a murderer who has come to slay a family
only to find competition with another murderer with the same goals. A fast-paced, vivid murder
mystery thriller evolves, perfect for libraries catering to fans of either Patterson or audio thrillers.
Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins' THE NUCLEAR JIHADIST: THE TRUE STORY OF
THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS SECRETS AND HOW WE
COULD HAVE STOPPED HIM (1600241298, $39.98) is a key title nonfiction audio collections
must have: it tells the story of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of the 'Islamic bomb', and the
methods he used to obtain his information. In adding the knowledge of intelligence authorities
and how they could have stopped him, this goes a step further and proves a gripping report fueled
by Bob Craig's powerful reading.
Dark of the Moon
John Sandford
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9780143148212, $29.95 www.penguin.com
Eric Conger's voice has earned him a Golden Earphones Award and much acclaim, and it's easy
to see why when pursuing DARK OF THE MOON, a masterpiece of crime investigation. A
house's explosion, murders, and a personal vendetta combine to create a gripping thriller with
many unexpected twists and turns of plot to keep readers guessing. Another fine Sandford thriller
general-interest audio libraries will find a popular lend: this appears abridged but listeners
seeking the unabridged version (9780143142508, $39.95) also will appreciate Conger's voice and
rendition.
George's Secret Key to the Universe
Lucy & Stephen Hawking
Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743571614, $29.95 www.simonsays.com
This unabridged cd is directed to younger audiences, but it'd be a shame to limit its
recommendation to children's audio collections alone, and so is reviewed here as a top pick for
all ages. Hugh Dancy provides a vigorous reading spiced with science notes read by Stephen
Hawking as it discusses facts about black holes in the context of a science fiction adventure.
When George's pet pig breaks into the yard next door, George meets his new neighbors, who are
involved in science, and uncovers a secret key to understanding the universe. His journey to the
edge of the solar system will lead him into danger in this gripping adventure.
At First Sight
Nicholas Sparks
Time Warner Audio
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1600242545, $14.98 www.twaudiobooks.com
Jeremy has long been certain he'll never leave New York City, love again, nor become a parent:
now he's living in North Carolina, engaged, and anticipating a new family - until a mysterious
email challenges their new marriage. Romance and heartbreak come to life under narrator David
Aaron Baker's smooth and excellent reading, certain to appeal to any audio library where
romance is of interest.
The Science Shelf
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
Major astronomical discoveries have their histories in many popular books for lay readers - but
what about oddities and spectral 'ghosts' that have led scientists to different conclusions over the
decades? Astronomer Richard Baum provides a lively survey of these wonders and ideas in The
Haunted Observatory: Curiosities from the Astronomer's Cabinet (9781591025122, $28.00),
from the legendary 'mountains of Venus' to strange objects seen near the sun. These legends,
speculations and science ideas which proved faulty are as intriguing as the astronomical theories
which stood the test of time, and provide both college-level students of astronomy and lay
readers alike with a vivid exploration recommended both for general-interest and school
collections. Kristine Larsen's STEPHEN HAWKING: A BIOGRAPHY (9781591025740,
$16.95) comes from a physicist and astronomer who examines noted physicist Stephen Hawkins'
personal and professional life, emphasizing his contributions, his life, and his special physical
challenges. From Hawking's early lack of focus as a college student to the evolution of his
groundbreaking work, this biographical coverage is key reading for any interested in correlating
his science with his life.
The Music Shelf
The Miles Davis Reader
Frank Alkyer, Editor/Compiler
Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
142343076X, $24.95 www.halleonard.com
Any avid fan of jazz musician Miles Davis and any music library catering to this audience needs
THE MILES DAVIS READER. With so many biographies and music coverages on Miles
available, why the need for yet another? Because it collects some sixty years worth of articles,
interviews, news reports, police reports and record reviews, plumbing almost every type of
written record on Davis and providing a selection of the best writings revealing the man and his
music. This reader surveys Miles throughout his career and is a key addition, not to be
missed.
This Business of Concert Promotion and Touring
Ray D. Waddell, Rich Barnet, Jake Berry
Billboard Books/Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823076873, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com
THIS BUSINESS OF CONCERT PROMOTION AND TOURING: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO
CREATING, SELLING, ORGANIZING AND STAGING CONCERTS provides new
cutting-edge career paths in the notoriously difficult music industry, which has been virtually
transformed by digitalization and online copying. Promoters of music have kept industry secrets
to success tightly to themselves - until now. Here's a book for any looking to become involved in
the music industry and for business pros seeking an edge: from ads and promotion to managing
performers, gaining publicity and venue staffing, here are all the keys to industry success and the
secrets which fuel such successes.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Decorative Plates Identification & Value Guide
Jim & Susan Harran
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325638, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com
Collections strong in specialty identification and values guides need DECORATIVE PLATES
IDENTIFICATION & VALUE GUIDE, a survey of English, German, American and other
European plates which includes notes on their marks, makers, and changing values. Excellent
detailed color photos pack a survey strong in both history and values, appealing to any library
catering to collectors.
100 Greatest American Stamps
Janet Klug and Donald J. Sundman
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Rd Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
0794822487, $29.95 www.whitmanbooks.com
Any library strong in stamp collecting, whether it be a specialty collection or a general-interest
lending library, will find the oversized presentation of 100 GREATEST AMERICAN STAMPS
to be a gorgeous presentation which packs in illustrations and history to survey American stamp
history from pre-Revolutionary to modern times. An eye-catching coffee table presentation packs
in over a hundred pages of colorful stamps and stories and makes for a reference which will
appeal to history buffs and collectors alike, with its market values, information on print
quantities, and catalog references.
The Health/Medical Shelf
The Acupressure Atlas
Bernard C. Kolster MD and Astrid Waskowiak, MD
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772078, $24.95 www.healingartspress.com
An oversized format to this title might prove a shelving challenge to some collections but
compensates by making for a great display item in THE ACUPRESSURE ATLAS, pairing
step-by-step color photos of technique with anatomy pointers and therapy keys. From massage
points to healing pressure potentials, THE ACUPRESSURE ATLAS offers far more insights on
home how-to basic health care than most titles and an emphasis on visuals which makes for
infallible applications.
A Short History of the American Stomach
Frederick Kaufman
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
9780151011940, $23.00 www.harcourtbooks.com
American eating patterns run to extremes and ordinarily are blamed on modern living, but
Frederick Kaufman provides a history of American dining to prove we've been this way from
Mayflower to modern times. From secret Puritan purges to diet gurus of the 19th century, food
fads and fanaticism - A Short History of the American Stomach offers a lively, close look at
dietary habits, patterns, and fallacies alike, using a lively tone to make it accessible not just to
high school and college libraries, but especially for general-interest collections interested in
culinary history and health.
Relics of Eden
Daniel J. Fairbanks
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025641, $24.95 www.prometheusbooks.com
RELICS OF EDEN: THE POWERFUL EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION IN HUMAN DNA adds
to the debates and literature on evolutionary processes and deserves a place in any college-level
science collection, offering DNA-based evidence supporting human evolution. From the latest
DNA analysis and research linked to archaeological evidence to religious fallacies, RELICS OF
EDEN offers much food for thought.
Workouts in a Binder for Swimmers, Triathletes and Coaches
Nick Hansen and Eric Hansen
Velo Press
1931382743, $29.95 www.velopress.com
Athletes seeking new or modified routines for swimming will find this a treasure trove of tips,
packaging waterproof pages for pool deck use and oversized flap pages for holding workouts
upright with 100 new workouts that blend strokes, drills and endurance-building routines. It's the
perfect gift item for the athlete looking to the pool to improve prowess and routines.
The Social Issues Shelf
Becoming a Woman
Richard F. Docter, Ph.D.
Haworth Press Inc.
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
9781560236672, $24.95 www.haworthpress.com
BECOMING A WOMAN: A BIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTINE JORGENSEN offers a more
studied examination of the state of transsexuality than most biographies offer, focusing on the
sociology and science issues as much as the biographical factors involved. Thus BECOMING A
WOMAN, with its scholarly approach, becomes much more the item of choice for the
college-level health or sociology library than for the general-interest collection, with its chapters
on psychology, social interactions, and Jorgensen's struggles within larger contexts of social
definitions. An excellent guide for college-level holdings specializing in alternative social
issues.
Our Gods Wear Spandex
Christopher Knowles
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634064, $19.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
The histories of American comic book heroes and who defined them considers both the social
and mythical impact and influences on these heroes, arguing that fantastic characters aren't just
entertainment, but deities for modern technological society. From the occult origins of such
characters to the attraction magic and the occult has held over all, this analysis earns a place not
only on the shelves of New Age libraries, but for any collection strong in social issues, myths,
and the needs of modern society.
The International Studies Shelf
Guacamole Dip: From Baja Tales of Love, Faith and Magic
Daniel Reveles
Sunbelt Publications
1256 Fayette Street, El Cajon, CA 92020-1511
9780932653659, $14.95 www.sunbeltpub.com
Any who would understand Mexican culture and social issues will find at once poignant,
moving, and revealing Guacamole Dip, an expose of daily life in the border town of Tecate. His
vignettes are folksy, fun and often provide both a light-hearted and alternately serious look at
Mexican and Mexican-American culture and issues, juxtaposing tales with views of changing
border life between Mexico and the U.S. Any collection strong in Mexican or Mexican-American
immigrant issues will find this an attractive, popular lend whether at the college or general
lending library level.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Quilter's Workbook
Landauer Editors
Landauer Corporation
3100 - 101st Street, Urbandale, IL 50322
0979371104, $26.00 www.landauercorp.com
A three-hole compact binder format lends to individual use and easy lay-flat application, while
spine lettering makes QUILTER'S WORKBOOK quick and easy to locate on a home bookshelf.
This handy quilter's workbook can be rearranged to suit individual needs: it comes with
color-coded tab dividers, poly-vinyl pouches to store fabric swatches and patterns, and is
designed to fit into a purse or bag for take-along shopping consultation. With its compact format
and reference charts of blocks and processes, quilters - especially beginners, will find this an
essential pick.
Favorite Applique Quilts
Mimi Dietrich
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564776792, $26.95 www.martingale-pub.com
Mimi Dietrich has built a 20-year career as an applique artist, and here shares some favorite
quilts both new and old. 13 of her quilt designs are updated with new fabrics, colors and settings
and provide fine patterns perfect for beginners as well as experienced quilters. From classic
applique to new methods, Mimi's title will attract any library strong in either quilt or applique
needlework references, packing bright color examples with easy step-by-step instruction.
Uniquely Felt
Christine White
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176736, $24.95 www.storey.com
Felt holds all kinds of potential for unique creations: add water and soap and you can create all
kinds of items, or use cobwebbing techniques to make scarves, shawls and more. UNIQUELY
FELT is not your typical applique guide: it offers crafters a fine set of projects based on felt and
water use, and explains all techniques options, from traditional applications to needlework, 3-D
seamless, cobweb and more. Large-size color photos blend with color sidebars of information
and easy step-by-step detail for nearly fifty projects demonstrating a range of options for felt. A
'must' for any serious needlework library, this goes far beyond the typical felt/applique
approach.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Secret Societies of America's Elite
Steven Sora
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
0892819596, $20.00 www.innertraditions.com
SECRET SOCIETIES OF AMERICA'S ELITE: FROM THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR TO
SKULL AND BONES discusses secret associations which have succeeded in freeing the U.S.
from foreign domination and which have used their powers to further their own unique purposes.
Such secret societies are commonly viewed as being from the past but actually they still play key
roles in the ruling families and politics of modern democracy in America, and so this book
deserves a place on the shelves of both new age libraries and collections serious about politics
and American history.
The Druid Magic Handbook
John Michael Greer
Weiser Books
500 - 3rd Street Suite 230, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781578633975, $19.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
THE DRUID MAGIC HANDBOOK: RITUAL MAGIC ROOTED IN THE LIVING EARTH is
the first manual of magical practice in Druidry, a branch of the Pagan movement, and provides
strategies for practicing Druids on how to practice ritual magic to reach specific goals. Chapters
focus on 'applied magic' plans but don't require readers to adhere to a particular set of symbols.
Making this a fine New Age library acquisition.
The World History Shelf
When Asia Was the World
Stewart Gordon
DaCapo Press
2300 Chestnut Street #200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
0306815567, $26.00 www.dacapopress.com
Before Marco Polo and other noted world explorers there was cultural and commercial trade
around the world: Asia had its own explorers, traders and travelers who crossed the globe to
exchange ideas. Research scholar Stewart Gordon has traveled the world to examine original
texts in science, history, philosophy and sociology to create WHEN ASIA WAS THE WORLD,
and here provides an Asian focus unique in the world of Western focuses on exploration. His
stories of travelers and explorers of Asia provides a compelling, lively account perfect not just
for high school and college collections, but for general-interest lending libraries strong in history
and culture, especially Asian history.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Getting in T-touch With Your Puppy
Linda Tellington-Jones
Trafalgar Square Publishing
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com 1-800-888-4741
9781570763724, $14.95 www.horseandriderbooks.com
Animal expert Linda Tellington-Jones fostered a new pet training method decades ago, which
has evolved into an international program teaching positive 'no force' routines for influencing dog
behavior and willingness to learn. Her Getting in T-touch With Your Puppy outlines the basic
contentions of her Puppy School program and offers step-by-step instruction in her famous
T-touch circles, including bodywork which has been scientifically proven, to teach exercises
geared to showing puppies specific tasks. Dog owners who need to train will find the instruction
specific and useful.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Critic: The Second of the Enzo Files
Peter May
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 East First Avenue Suite 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590584583, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com
Gil Petty, a world-renowned wine critic, went missing during a tasting tour and his body is
discovered three years later on a cross in a French vineyard. It's up to Scottish forensic expert
Enzo Macleod to re-open the old case to discover the heart of winemaker envy, competition, and
the roots of a unique style of wine murderer in THE CRITIC, a mystery packed with unexpected
twists and turns which is perfect for any public lending library strong in mystery writings.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Irreligion
John Allen Paulos
Hill & Wang
c/o Farrar Straus Giroux
18 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
0809059193, $20.00 www.fsgbooks.com
IRRELIGION: A MATHEMATICIAN EXPLAINS WHY THE ARGUMENTS FOR GOD
JUST DON'T ADD UP considers God from a logical standpoint, examining the author's own
irreligious worldview and providing chapters that refute the twelve arguments most often placed
for believing in God. Adding a dose of humor along with insight keeps this from becoming a
scholarly analytical piece, this making it a recommended pick not just for spiritual libraries, but
for general-interest collections.
Mending a Torn World
Maura O'Neill
Orbis Books
Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570757266 $20.00 www.maryknoll.org
MENDING A TORN WORLD: WOMEN IN INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE explores the
main obstacles and beliefs of women in five major religions, covering different kinds of
behaviors, spiritual concerns, common conflicting viewpoints in different religions, and more. It's
a dialogue which explores similarities and differences alike, and is an essential recommendation
for not just spirituality holdings, but for women's studies libraries at the college level, and for
those strong in philosophy as well. Chapters include many statements from different levels of
each belief system, from the common woman to religious leaders.
The Sports Shelf
Wilderness Press
1200 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1306
www.wildernesspress.com 1-800-443-7227
Two excellent boulder-climbing books for the San Francisco Bay area in the Wilderness Press
'SuperTopo' series are top picks offering unique, specific boulder-climbing opportunities. Chris
Summit's BAY AREA BOULDERING (0976523531) includes over 700 boulder problems with
in a 1.5 hour drive of San Francisco, from coastal to inland challenges. Over 50 color photos of
the Bay Area's best includes not only topos and detailed descriptions for each problem, but tips
on where to eat and stay around the destinations. Matt Wilder's YOSEMITE VALLEY
BOULDERING (0976523523) covers one of the best granite bouldering areas in the world, and
is written for any who would boulder in the Valley. Beginner and advanced boulder climbers
receive assessments of common and new problems, along with photo diagrams, descriptions to
get you right to it, and how to travel to Yosemite in general. Any collection strong in California
sports travel needs these two very specific bouldering travel guides.
The Education Shelf
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com
Teachers and college-level education courses will find refreshing an excellent a survey of
coaching techniques in Bonnie M. Davis' How to Coach Teachers Who Don't Think Like You
(9781412949101), which encourages teachers to write about and discuss their practices. Coaches
can use literacy strategies to train across content areas and improve learning styles: her samples
of teaching writing and student work come from such coaching and provides specifics from
coaches across the country to show how coaching interacts with and works in the education
world. An essential teacher's guide to growth and understanding - and flexibility - builds applied
techniques for the real world classroom. Walter B. Roberts Jr.'s WORKING WITH PARENTS
OF BULLIES AND VICTIMS (9781412951043) is also perfect for college-level libraries
appealing to educators, and for working professionals in the field: it explores common concerns
of parents of both victims and bullies, and reveals an eight-point plan for talking to such parents.
From setting realistic expectations for behavioral changes to helping parents talk to their
children, lessons are for administrators and teachers alike and use case study examples to
reinforce real-world solutions. Gilberto Conchas and Louie Rodriguez's SMALL SCHOOLS
AND URBAN YOUTH: USING THE POWER OF SCHOOL CULTURE TO ENGAGE
STUDENTS (9781412939348, $24.95) is an excellent survey of the cultural and structural
features of small schools in two major urban cities. This narrowed focus allows for an analysis of
school culture and student involvement on a macroscopic level, creating a fine sociological
investigation suitable for both education and sociology libraries. Frank Sennett's
FUNDRAISING: 50 PROVEN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS
(9781412949828, $22.95) is an excellent, basic handbook offering new approaches to traditional
fundraising efforts. From ethical issues and common fundraising mistakes to lists of potential
partners and sponsors and tips on grantwriting, here's a series of action-packed options schools
and educators will appreciate. Randi Stone's BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING SCIENCE:
WHAT AWARD-WINNING CLASSROOM TEACHERS DO (9781412924573) packs in tested
'best practices' for teaching science to elementary, middle and high school classrooms.
College-level educator's libraries will appreciate the gathering of tips specific for science, which
includes discussions of technology, independent study options, model lessons in science, and
inquiry-based ideas along with reinforcing activities.
The Photography Shelf
The Polaroids
Andre Kertesz
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065640, $35.00 www.wwnorton.com
Published in conjunction with gallery shows across the U.S. is ANDRE KERTESZ: THE
POLAROIDS, which considers the photographer's final works - some 80 colored Polaroid's
capturing his unique use of light. Kertesz pioneered photojournalistic techniques: his inspirations
produced a revolutionary body of work and their representation here makes this a fine pick for
any library strong in photographer history.
The Art Shelf
The Elephant and the Lotus
Philippe Truong
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467174, $85.00 www.mfa-publications.org
Independent scholar and curator Philippe Truong provides a key text for any college-level art
library strong in Asian ceramics in THE ELEPHANT AND THE LOTUS: VIETNAMESE
CERAMICS IN THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON. Over two hundred objects from the
collection are profiled in a gathering of wares from throughout Vietnam, analyzed by the expert
author and representing the first complete published catalog of this collection.
An Artist's Handbook: Materials and Techniques
Margaret Krug
Harry Abrams Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
0810994011, $29.95 www.abramsbooks.com
Every art studio needs a guide to essential drawing and painting materials and how to use them,
making AN ARTIST'S HANDBOOK a key acquisition not just for college-level art libraries and
individual artists, but for general-interest holdings where patrons would understand the historical
and modern techniques the artist needs to master in all media, from sketches to oil and acrylic
paints. It's the only in-depth 'materials and techniques' guide oriented to modern art students and
should be considered a staple acquisition.
The Literary Shelf
Tales from Shakespeare
Charles and Mary Lamb and Joelle Jolivet
Abrams Image
115 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
9780810994539, $17.95 www.abramsimage.com
Joelle Jolivet is an internationally-acclaimed illustrator while Charles and Mary Lamb are known
for the 1700s prose adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. They join forces in the finely illustrated
TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE, a collectible for all ages pairing lovely prose retellings of
plays with Jolivet's beautiful drawings. Stories pack in the best of modern and traditional worlds
in a selection of highly recommended works.
Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman
William Stephenson
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane Suite 704, New York NY 10038
9780826490094, $14.95 www.continuum-books.com
Joining others in the 'Reader's Guide' series for supplemental literary study is this focus on THE
FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, a novel often assigned as a complex modern classic for
college-level audiences. College-level collections will find this an excellent starting point for
classroom debates and discussions of the novel, offering analysis of key themes, social issues,
and critical points of interest.
The Cookbook Shelf
Techniques of Healthy Cooking
Culinary Institute of America
Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470052327, $65.00 www.wiley.com
Americans are seeking ways to avoid weight gain but want tasty food in the process, so
successful chefs and foodservice pros need to adjust their techniques and methods to reflect this
revised approach, and the newly updated guide to healthy cooking TECHNIQUES OF
HEALTHY COOKING is one place to start. The latest information on ingredients, menu
planning and more reviews all the basics, current dietary guidelines, recommendations, and more,
teaching both the basics of healthy cooking and reflecting the latest research findings. It's not a
guide for casual cooks, but for the college-level foodservice pro who will find over 150 food
photos and step-by-step techniques discussions to be invaluable keys to healthy cooking from
scratch.
The Art of Scottish-American Cooking
Kay Shaw Nelson
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
1589803868, $21.00 www.pelicanpub.com
Any interested in Scottish cuisine and home cooking ne4eds THE ART OF
SCOTTISH-AMERICAN COOKING in their collection. It packs in details on unique Scottish
creations and American adaptations of traditional dishes alike, comes from a Scottish-American
author and lecturer, and reflects more than four hundred years of Scottish food and drink in the
U.S. and Canada. Recipes offer a diverse blend of traditional and contemporary take-offs and are
outstanding creations, easy to reproduce and perfect for libraries specializing in ethnic
cuisine.
Weight Watchers All-Time Favorites
Weight Watchers
Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470169995, $29.95 www.wiley.com
Any following the Weight Watchers system knows how important and key are the meal plans -
which is why the ALL-TIME FAVORITES collection of some 200 'best' recipes from their test
kitchens is so important. From Lamb and Vegetable Skewers to Double-Cheese Polenta with
Mushroom sauce and Cauliflower Parmesan, a peppering of color photos enhances very easy and
appealing dishes packed with nutrition details.
The Library DVD Shelf
ADV Films
5750 Bintiff Drive, Suite 210, Houston, TX 77036
$29.98 Each www.advfilms.com
Collections strong in anime and manga will want these fine new publications from ADV which
reflect a powerful Fall collection of hits. The first volume in 'Live to Kill', RED GARDEN
(702727122729) is set in modern New York and offers up a vivid supernatural thriller with a fine
story of a series of strange suicides, amnesia, and mysterious red butterflies. Volume 1 of
XENOSAGA, the anime series inspired by the video game for PlayStation2, is XENOSAGA:
ENTER THE GNOSIS (702727178429) and tells of an abandoned Earth, the embattled crew of a
spaceship fighting to defend a mysterious monolith, and an evil Gnosis which will stop at
nothing. Intrigue and fine science fiction action will delight both prior fans of the Xenosaga
series and complete newcomers. VENUS VERSUS VIRUS (702727173721) first aired on
Japanese TV in January 2007, is based on the hit manga series, and offers a new series packed
with supernatural action. Demons, ghosts, and a power-girl from Venus Vanguard interact in a
vivid story of hell, heaven and the dark forces among mankind called Virus. PUMPKIN
SCISSORS (702727151224) is a collaborative effort between Gonzo and AIC, and is based on
the six-volume manga series of the same name. Here in the aftermath of the Great War one Alice
Malvin is charged to take command of an elite team where tanks are attacked with handguns. Her
mission is to expose corrupt power lords - but her discovery of an alien military technology
challenges her mission. All are top picks for any DVD library strong in manga or anime.
'Spiral Fitness' DVD
Rob Moses and David Carradine
David Nakahara Enterprises www.spiralfitness9.com
Three new DVDs introduce the concept of martial arts, healing and fitness combined, offering
instructional keys to using the Spiral Fitness concept and the Sphere Knot Energy Stick or spiral
wand. Start with SPIRAL FITNESS: BEGINNINGS ($14.98), a 60-minute introductory program
which teaches basic concepts and movements; progress further with SPIRAL FITNESS: THE
BASICS ($14.98), which builds on the basics presented in BEGINNINGS and blends in moves
from dance and kung fu, then move to SPIRAL FITNESS: NINE PALMS ($19.98), an 80-minute
extended program covering flexible movement's connections to thinking and spirituality. All are
outstanding, especially when viewed progressively as a unit guide to the spiral fitness concept,
and are fine picks for new age fitness libraries.
InControl
Karen Armstrong
$19.95 www.collagevideo.com
INCONTROL offers nearly 30 minutes of pelvic exercises designed to exercise and improve the
pelvic floor muscle group, offering two routines in nine- and twelve-minute sets of exercises
which are done with a minimum of equipment (the advanced routine does require an exercise
ball and resistance band). Charts, diagrams and clear directions explain the physiology of the
muscle exercises and how each muscle exercised affects the key organs it supports. An excellent
addition, INCONTROL is especially recommended for women's health libraries from public to
college levels.
Dance Lessons 101
Shawn Trautman
Xpress Innovations www.411videoinfo.com
Shawn Trautman's dance routines are extensive and comprise some 25 titles of dance lesson
DVDs, so the release of his latest ballroom dancing video DANCE LESSONS 101 is a fine
opening to any who would learn to dance at home, but who shy away from ballroom dances. It's a
fine beginner's guide to ballroom, swing, Latin and country dance lessons and provides a clear set
of instructions with step-by-step moves and practice music. 2 hours of details packed on a
ballroom dancing DVD make this a top pick for any at-home ballroom dancer wannabe.
Baywatch Beach Body Workout
Lauren Jones
Rodale
$14.98 www.rodale.com
Lauren Jones has been the star of Baywatch, a cheerleader, and more: her BAYWATCH BEACH
BODY WORKOUT provides nearly an hour of fat-burning exercises specially designed to get a
gal into a swimsuit, and is shot on a Malibu beach emphasizing swimsuit-oriented workouts.
From lunges and squats to pushups, Lauren provides a full cardio workout in segments which are
designed to tone muscles and be worked in short bursts, covering head to toe. Any seeking a
beachwear body will find this a fine at-home exercise program.
Drop It With Dance
Tabitha D'Umo
Prevention
$14.98 www.prevention/com
Prevention Magazine is the nation's leader in health, and DROP IT WITH DANCE comes with
the magazine's acclaim and features a dance expert's tree fun, ten-minute, high-energy dance
routines designed to drop weight and exercise the whole body through dance and music. From
hip-hop and 90s Jams to warm-up and cool down and beyond, a progressive instructional DVD
packs in movements and tips on how to get the most from her fat-busting workout program.
Perfect for at-home exercisers.
Macbeth
William Shakespeare
Union Station Media
$26.98
Under the lively acting of Sam Worthington and the Union Station group comes a retelling of a
classic in contemporary style packed with high drama. Here Macbeth is henchman to a crime
boss, and the story is told by teenage witches whose prophecies drive his life. It's presented in
letterbox, comes with a featurette which includes interviews with the actors and closed
captioning, and is a fine pick for any library interested in bringing the classics to life with a
contemporary twist.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
235 East 22nd Street, Suite 1S, New York NY 10010
$14.98 Each www.starzmedia.com
The first two DVDs in the Element, The Mind and Body Experience collection are out and
ELEMENT: BALLET CONDITIONING (013131635198) and ELEMENT: YOGA FOR
BEGINNERS (013131636099) are top picks for consumers interested in tailoring ballet and yoga
to exercise and conditioning workout routines. Instructor Elsie Gulan has over 18 years
experience in dance education and provides unique, challenging workouts with lovely
background settings. The new DANCE WORKOUT FOR DUMMIES (03131634993) provides
some 44 minutes of two 20-minute workouts packed with tips and definitions of workout jargon,
this appealing specifically to newcomers to the workout world with an easy tutorial. Jennifer
Galardi's new DVD DANCE OFF THE INCHES: HIP HOP DANCE PARTY (013131534795)
offers up a high-energy dance-based workout of 44 minutes based about ten moves used in three
quick dance routines. An initial warm-up leads to three hiphop dance party dances, and comes
from a professional dancer and fitness expert based in Los Angeles. Crunch gets down and dirty
with two new workouts: CRUNCH: BELLY, BUTT AND THIGHS BOOT CAMP and
CRUNCH: CARDIO GO-GO DANCE, which offers high-impact cardio workouts taking users
through four levels of increasing difficulty. Crunch L.A. instructor Teri Ann Krefting is drill
sergeant in this 41-minute muscle toning set of drills perfect for exercise libraries. Two excellent
'Ten Minute Solution' DVDs are fine workouts for specific purposes. 10 MINUTE SOLUTION:
PRENATAL PILATES (013131534191) and 10 MINUTE SOLUTION: TONE TROUBLE
ZONES (013131534290, $16.98) each provide quick, easy solutions to help time-crunched
women to get in exercise workouts. Views can mix and match the ten-minute workouts on each
DVD each time they use them for added variety. All are top picks for any DVD library strong on
workout options.
Docurama Films
$26.95 each www.docurama.com
Actress Daphne Zuniga directs and narrates the vivid TED: THE FUTURE WE WILL CREATE,
a survey of a range of legendary minds who join resources to build new innovative ideas such as
Google or new technologies. Every year since 1984, for our days, a group of brilliant world
minds share new ideas to influence the future: TED: THE FUTURE WE WILL CREATE
captures the best of TED 2006 and offers many eye-opening views of this group's participants
and influence. The 2007 world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, THE DEVIL CAME ON
HORSEBACK offers up an analysis and expose of the genocide in Darfur as seen through the
eyes of a former U.S. Marine Captain who served as an unarmed military observer with the
African Union. His photos and first-hand observations provides a wild ride into the heart of
Darfur society, politics, and social issues and will prove a striking addition to any film library
strong in African history and society. Director Michael Apted's MARRIED IN AMERICA 2 is a
DVD providing a fine second installment about marriage in the 21st century, providing new
analysis of marriage vows and why people stay together. These are excellent DVDs any
general-interest library will wish for.
HBO Video
$24.98 Each www.homeboxoffice.com
Two excellent new social issues DVDs are top picks for lending libraries at the public and
college levels alike. ALICE DAY MEMORIES: HOME FROM IRAQ offers the first full-length
documentary from Attaboy Films surveying the survivors of debilitating memories and injuries in
Iraq. Interviews with ten soldiers and marines reveals their feelings and concerns, juxtaposing
with an analysis of the physical and emotional costs of war. LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL: 50
YEARS LATER shares the stories and experiences of both black and white students surveying
the special challenges of classrooms and racial issues. Both are excellent choices libraries will
find popular lends.
Razor Fitness
4401 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 210, Los Angeles, CA 90010
$14.99 Each www.razorfitness.com
Exercise libraries will relish Eva Vondar's MAUI PILATES - ABS MADE EASY provides
viewers with a very basic Pilates program which is easily followed and requires no special fitness
equipment. This 55-minute DVD can be done either in a progressive series or as bits and pieces,
with chapters offering options for either approach. Traditional Pilates mat exercises offer detailed
instructions which even account for lower back sufferers, and comes from a dance and fitness
instructor. Eva Barash's intermediate yoga workout LIVINGROOM YOGA offers up 48 minutes
of strengthening fitness routines which use systematic bodily exercises and include special
movement and breathing techniques. It's easy to turn a living room into a private exercise room
with this yoga instructional, perfect for home users.
Poof: You're a Magician!
Curtis Eugene Lovell II
$19.95 www.magicofcurtis.com
Any who would learn basic magic and any DVD library catering to the general public will find
this an excellent set of tricks ranging from challenging demos of 'miracles' which should not be
tried at home to everyday parlor tricks anyone can do. Lovell dreamed of becoming a magician
since the age of seven, and his step-by-step instructional brings that magic alive for all ages.
'Dance Sampler' DVDs
$19.99 Each www.shawntrautman.com
Dance instructor Shawn Trautman's Dance Collection offers three fine 'Dance Sampler' DVDs to
help viewers learn new routines: SLOW AND ROMANTIC, BALLROOM & LATIN and
COUNTRY WESTERN - all devised for beginners with very little or no dance experience. Each
90-minute set focuses on four popular, most-requested dances and offer easy step-by-step
instruction, making it easy to absorb and apply lessons. The 'Dance Sampler' set can be used
individually or as a group: either way, libraries strong in dance instructional DVDs will find
these 'must' acquisitions.
Prevention Fitness DVDs
Prevention
$14.98 Each www.presention.com/shop
Two excellent sets of short ten-minute 'express' workouts power two new Prevention fitness
DVD instructionals, which are highly recommended picks for libraries strong in DVD lending
and exercise. SHORTCUTS TO BIG WEIGHT LOSS (9780766232563) and BETTER BELLY
YOGA (9780766231207) each come with an unusual option beyond different exercise routines:
the option to choose instruction with or without music, which can aid vastly in learning new
routines. Prevention contributing fitness editor Chris Freytag demonstrates three basic workouts
on his DVD plus a warm-up and cool-down session, offering options for working with or without
weights. BETTER BELLY YOGA comes from personal trainer Desiree Barlett, who holds a
degree in kinesiology and a minor in dance, and offers a warmup and three yoga segments which
focus on belly and back. Both are excellent step-by-step demonstrations.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Image Comics: The Road to Independence
George Khoury
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh NC 27614
9781893905719, $34.95 www.twomorrows.com
In 1992 seven artists left their top-selling Marvel Comics titles to form a new company named
Image Comics: a company which allowed them fewer editorial restraints and censorship. IMAGE
COMICS: THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE celebrates this company, uses interviews and art
from the company's founders, and includes discussions with and examples from many comic
creators over the last fifteen years who have helped make the imprint a lasting, notable company.
Any library strong in graphic novel or comics history needs this.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Starship: Mercenary
Mike Resnick
PYR
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591025993, $25.00 www.pyrsf.com
It's 1968 of the Galactic Era, some 3,000 years from Earth's future, and a human-created
Republic is in the midst of war. A rescued rogue captain finds himself a key player in the
conflict, becoming a mercenary ship forming some unusual partnerships which may ultimately be
at odds with his goals and self-interest. Military science fiction at its best, STARSHIP:
MERCENARY represents Book 3 in a fast-paced series.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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