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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 25, Number 12 December 2015 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Christmas Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Terrorism Studies Shelf Business Shelf Activity Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Photography Shelf
Computer Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Crafts Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Homeowner's Shelf Agriculture Shelf
Gardening Shelf Cookbook Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Education Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Art Shelf Music Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Sports Shelf Poetry Shelf
Gaming Shelf Fiction Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Military Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Civil War Shelf Psychology Shelf
Fishing Shelf Travel Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Automotive Shelf Parenting Shelf Biography Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Biology Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Mythology Shelf Journalism Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Surviving the Forgotten Armenian Genocide
Smpat Chorbadjian, author
Patrick Sookhdeo, editor
Isaac Publishing
6729 Curran Street, McLean, VA 22101
9780991614578 $10.00 www.isaac-publishing.us

Surviving the Forgotten Armenian Genocide is the true-life, primary testimony of a man who survived the genocide that the Ottoman Turkish government enacted against its Armenian Christian subjects during World War One. Author Smpat Chorbadjian recounts the suffering inflicted upon him and his family; they were forced to leave their home and all possessions, and underwent a grueling death march. Smpat survived, and was able to reconstruct his life after years of grief and misery; an estimated 800,000 to 1.5 million Armenians were not so fortunate. Surviving the Forgotten Armenian Genocide is stark, sober, and dramatic reading, highly recommended for both public and college library collections.

The Retirement Boom
Catherine Allen, Nancy Bearg, Rita Foley, and Jaye Smith
Career Press Inc.
12 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470
c/o Tess Woods Public Relations
www.careerpress.com
9781632650160 $16.99 pbk / $10.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Written by four professionals of the baby boom generation who interviewed more than 300 people and 30 organizations, The Retirement Boom: An All-Inclusive Guide to Money, Life, and Health in Your Next Chapter is filled with tips, tricks and techniques for making one's money last, sustaining one's health in the golden years, leaving a legacy, and much more. A valuable resource for those planning their retirement as well as those who are already retired, The Retirement Boom is enthusiastically recommended. "...have a physical every year. Medicare offers a free physical as soon as you become eligible for Medicare. Medicare also covers bone density, mammogram, colonoscopy, PSA, and other tests, so get those at minimum. Have your hearing checked, too, because if you don't take care of this early enough, the nerve endings can deteriorate. Then address any health issues."

The Language of Food
Dan Jurafsky
W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393351620, $15.95, www.wwnorton.com

The hidden language of food is one that involves culinary history, linguistics, and similarities and differences in language and culture, all explored in The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu. Chapters excel in food writing that considers seasonal celebrations and food trends and linguistic history and analysis alike to reveal the many international influences on American cuisine and how they evolved. Any who look for a history of foods and seasonings and how they evolved will find The Language of Food to be revealing, lively, and informational all in one.

Texts from Your Ex
Cassell Illustrated
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781844038787, $9.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Texts from Your Ex offers fun illustrations of what breakups and broken relationships look like in the abbreviated formats of texting, and is the perfect, fun item for choice for any who are breaking up, broken up, or fighting the urge to get back together. Caustic, funny, pleading, insulting and at times filled with angst, this collection offers the ultimate in guilt-tripping, innuendo, and simmering anger and is the perfect pick for any who want a bit of laughter about the modern process of text communications.

Star Trek the Next Generation Warped
Mike McMahan
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476779058, $16.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Star Trek the Next Generation Warped blends humor, fun illustrations by Jason Ho, and a parody guide to the unaired eighth season of Star Trek based on a popular Twitter account from creator Mike McMahan, and provides a parody of supposed VHS tape discoveries that contain new episodes and fun encounters from a 'secret season'. Readers should, ideally, be prior Next Generation fans to catch all the spoofs and fun loaded into this Trekkie read: those with such a background will find it filled with fun references and hard to put down!

The Global Jihad Movement
Rohan Gunaratna and Aviv Oreg
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781442245419, $75.00, www.rowman.com

The Global Jihad Movement is recommended reading for college-level political science readers strong in global security issues, and provides a reference designed to identify and differentiate the various world groups involved in global jihad. An introductory section covers basic ideology common to such groups, while other sections present 'affiliate groups' and discuss their different perspectives, strategies, and political processes. Any college-level reader with more than a cursory interest in the subject will find this a serious reference that uses the different groups as a starting point for examining their patterns, ideology, lifestyles, and effects on world political and social order.


The Christmas Shelf

Get Yourself Organized for Christmas
Kathi Lipp
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736959292 $11.99 pbk / $5.39 Kindle www.amazon.com

Get Yourself Organized for Christmas: Simple Steps to Enjoying the Season offers tips, tricks, and techniques for reducing stress while making the most of the holidays. Chapters discuss how to determine an affordable Christmas spending budget, collect recipes and prep one's kitchen, assemble a useful holiday binder, create a gift list that will keep one's holiday shopping focused, and much more. "Why do I love those Priority Mail boxes so? You can schedule Priority Mail to be picked up at your house the next day. Boxes with preprinted, prepaid labels from USPS.com can just be dropped off at the post office. You don't need to wait in line." Get Yourself Organized for Christmas is an excellent reference and resource, especially for busy members of large families with a great deal of holiday preparations to keep track of!

Country Faith Christmas
Deborah Evans Price
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
300 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.regnery.com
9781621574521, $18.99, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Light a fire, pour a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and curl up with "Country Faith Christmas" compiled by Deborah Evans Price. The holiday follow-up to "Country Faith!" from Regenery Publishing, "Country Faith Christmas is comprised of contributions from thirty-seven of America's favorite country music stars as they share their Christmas memories, personal recipes, family traditions and favorite Christmas carols in a beautiful, colorful ode to the season. From Hunter Hayes, Florida Georgia Line, Lee Brice, and Reba to Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill, The Eli Young Band, and Brenda Lee, "Country Faith Christmas" features Christmas reflections from new and veteran artists. What's more, there's a Foreword by Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town, four Advent meditations from Charlie Daniels, and the complete text of the Christmas story from Luke 2. Families and individuals will have everything needed to experience a joyous Christmas in the pages of Country Faith Christmas -- a compilation that is as inspired and inspiring as it is inherently entertaining and absorbing. Very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Christmas themed collections.

Regency Christmas Gifts: Three Stories
Carla Kelly
Camel Press
c/o Coffeetown Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
9781603819947 $14.95 pbk / $5.95 Kindle www.camelpress.com

As the title suggests, "Regency Christmas Gifts: Three Stories" is comprised of three deftly crafted and entertaining stories by Carla Kelly with each one being cast in the yesteryear of Regency England. In the first of these stories, The Lasting Gift, an impoverished war widow returns a mis-delivered parcel and attracts the interest of a well-to-do retired sailing master and his sister. In story 2, Faithfully Yours, a self-made man returns to Scotland to marry the woman he has corresponded with ever since he left as a boy, little knowing the letters were written by another. In story 3, Lucy's Bang-Up Christmas, a man visits the estate of his relatives to comfort his lovely second cousin, who is unhappy that Christmas has been usurped by her sister's nuptials. Carla Kelly is a master of the Regency Romance genre and her short story collection, "Regency Christmas Gifts" is highly recommended for community library Romance Fiction collections. For personal reading lists this holiday season it should be noted that "Regency Christmas Gifts" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.95).


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing a Research Paper: Quick and Easy Guide, third edition
Anna Georgantonis Keah
The Educational Publisher
1313 Chesapeake Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
www.edupublisher.com
9781622490196, $8.95, 94pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded third edition, "Writing a Research Paper: Quick and Easy Guide" by Anna Georgantonis Keah continues to be an excellent and affordable resource to use in teaching the research process. Professor Keah has taught at the college level for 21 years and clearly knows how to reach students. She writes a sample research paper in the latest MLA and APA styles taking students through the entire process in ten simple steps, from choosing a topic to the final edit. From a teacher's perspective, this instruction guide for students will save on a teacher's grading time because the students will have less stylistic errors. In addition, "Writing a Research Paper: Quick and Easy Guide" offers an organized approach to presenting the research process to students and is a good back-up to lectures. Professor Keah emphasizes form, grammar and thorough editing fostering quality work from students. Sample research topics are thought-provoking, which makes grading interesting, and the MLA and APA formats are well-presented. From the student's view, "by Anna Georgantonis Keah" presents a step-by-step process that will guide him or her to completion as Professor Keah goes through the process with them. The mind map hones critical thinking skills in their chosen topics, the outline organizes them and makes them accountable for their subject matter, and the sample research papers give students a pattern to follow. Finally, Professor Keah's motivational approach encourages students along the way to write a successful research paper. With this concise guide, students will write well-organized and thorough research papers, which, for the teacher, are fun to grade and exciting to read! Spiral bound and also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99), "Writing a Research Paper: Quick and Easy Guide" is an ideal instruction guide and highly recommended for classroom students and non-specialist readers who aspire to write (and have published) research papers regardless of the subject matter their research involves.

A Bushwhacker's Guide to Academic Writing
Michael Olendzenski
The Educational Publisher
1313 Chesapeake Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
www.edupublisher.com
9781622491780, $19.95, 159pp, www.amazon.com

"A Bushwhacker's Guide to Academic Writing" is the result of Michael Olendzenski's education (BA and MA, McGill; Ph.D. Florida) and his twenty-five-plus years of experience as an instructor of First-Year Composition courses. The book presents a narrative account of the rhetoric of academic writing and a thorough examination of the linguistics of English. The author takes exception to the shortcomings of typical English handbooks, and offers instead this sharply focused, readable guided journey down the path that he has bushwhacked for those who are learning or teaching academic writing. As informed and informative as it is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in both presentation and application, "A Bushwhacker's Guide to Academic Writing" is especially recommended for both community and academic library Writing/Publisher reference collections and supplemental studies lists. For personal reading lists for aspiring academic writers, it should be noted that "A Bushwhacker's Guide to Academic Writing" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Stop Talking & Start Writing Your Book
Terrance Zepke
Safari Publishing
PO Box 4881, Greensboro, NC 27404
9780990765332 $9.95 pbk / $0.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Terrance Zepke, award-winning author of twenty-eight fiction and nonfiction books, and co-host of "A Writer's Jouney" podcast, shares his wisdom in Stop Talking & Start Writing Your Book, a no-nonsense guide for writers of all skill and experience levels, from aspirant to seasoned professional. Chapters outline nine different ways to write a book, keys to writing nonfiction or crafting a breakout novel, guidelines for dealing with common distractions and writer's block, the role of "beta readers" and editors, and much more. "Pacing is how you control the flow of information given to the reader and often depends on the genre. For example, in a cozy mystery there better be a murder within the first few pages. In historical fiction, the pacing can be more leisurely. No matter what kind of book you're writing, you don't want to go so fast as to leave readers confused or disoriented." An excellent, user-friendly resource, Stop Talking & Start Writing Your Book lives up to its title! Also highly recommended are Zepke's additional guides to the writing and publishing process, "Stop Talking and Start Publishing Your Book" (9780990765356, $9.95 pbk / $4.99 Kindle) and "Stop Talking and Start Selling Your Book" (9780990765370, $9.95 pbk / $4.99 Kindle).

Questions Writers Ask
Karen Speerstra
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, 1380 Face Rock Drive
Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759325 $16.95 pbk / $8.99 Kindle www.rdrpublishers.com

Now available in a Kindle edition as well as paperback, Questions Writers Ask: Wise, Whimsical, and Witty Answers from the Pros offers nearly 6,000 quotations from a vast diversity of professional writers from a diversity of backgrounds. Offering pithy answers to common questions ranging from "What do I do about writer's block?" to "How do you handle criticism?", "Do you have a writing method?" and much more, these quotes are insightful, invaluable, and simply fascinating to browse. Highly recommended! "If my doctor told me I only had six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood; I'd type a little faster. -Isaac Asimov."

Guide To Literary Agents 2016
Chuck Sambuchino, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.WritersDigest.com
9781599639406, $29.99, www.amazon.com

A literary agent represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers, film producers and film studios, and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and non-fiction writers. They are paid a fixed percentage (usually twenty percent on foreign sales and ten to fifteen percent for domestic sales) of the proceeds of sales they negotiate on behalf of their clients. It is exceptionally difficult for new authors to have their books published by the larger publishing houses without the assistance of a literary agent. Now in a fully updated 25th annual edition, "Guide to Literary Agents 2016: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published" is a 332 page compendium covers every aspect of what a literary agent is responsible for, how to contact and select an appropriate literary agent, and a roster of roster of literary agents currently available. Of special note is the Glossary of Industry Terms and Chuck Sambuchine's New Agent Spotlights. Featuring hundreds of listings for literary agents and writing conferences, as well as including a one-year access to the literary agent database at WritersMarket.com, "Guide to Literary Agents 2016" should be considered an essential reference resource for all aspiring authors and will prove to be an invaluable aide for even the experienced author. No community or academic library Writing/Publishing reference collection should be without a copy of the "Guide to Literary Agents 2016". For individual authors it should be noted that the "Guide to Literary Agents 2016" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.19).

Successful Selling Tips for Introverted Authors
Kim Staflund
Polished Publishing Group
www.polishedpublishinggroup.com
9780994043511 $14.99 www.amazon.com

Calgary Herald bestselling author Kim Staflund presents Successful Selling Tips for Introverted Authors, a user-friendly guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for self-published and trade published authors alike. Chapters offer practical advice and tested strategies for marketing audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers. From making the most of blogs, twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and pay-per-click advertising, to promote one's book, to the dynamics of price-based marketing versus value-based marketing, to redirecting traffic to one's storefront using book reviews (both paid and unpaid), and much more, Successful Selling Tips for Introverted Authors is a "must-have" for every author. Highly recommended.


The Terrorism Studies Shelf

Counter Terrorism and the State
Dorle Hellmuth
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812247435 $69.95 www.upenn.edu/pennpress

Counter Terrorism and the State: Western Responses to 9/11 uses four Western democracies (the U.S., Germany, Great Britain, and France) as case studies in support of its premise: that state responses to terrorism are heavily shaped by the state's specific governmental framework. Author Dorle Hellmuth, who teaches politics at the Catholic University of America, deconstructs common misperceptions about domestic counterterrorism efforts in each case study. Closely analyzing the interplay of official constructional powers, informal relationships between executive and legislative branches, the decision-making processes that create counterterrorism policies, and more, Counter Terrorism and the State is a sober, serious-minded scrutiny of the decision-making process of Western democracies. The result is an invaluable resource for understanding how counter-terrorism policy is implemented, and how new tools for containing and mitigating transnational terrorism violence can be created. In a world increasingly under siege by ruthless terrorism and murderous attacks against civilians, Counter Terrorism and the State is an invaluable and welcome resource for public and college library Terrorism Studies collections. Also highly recommended are Ian Lustick's "Trapped in the War on Terror" (9780812239836, $24.95) and Michael Chertoff's "Homeland Security: Assessing the First Five Years" (9780812242027, $24.95).


The Business Shelf

The Big Shift in IT Leadership
Hunter Muller
Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118867129, $45.00, www.wiley.com/business

The Big Shift in IT Leadership: How Great CIOs Leverage the Power of Technology for Strategic Business Growth in the Customer-Centric Economy is directed to CIO readers who want to develop further leadership skills, and it comes from an expert on CIO leadership who focuses on the basic elements differentiating successful leaders from those less effective. It creates a blueprint for examining, analyzing, and applying specific leadership strategies that have been proven to work in successful businesses, and it blends case-history examples and stories with discussions that are as far-ranging as how innovation is analyzed and how decisions are made to include CIOs in leadership arenas. The result is a powerful and specific survey no business collection should be without.


The Activity Shelf

Coloring Book of Creative Quilts
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9781935726807, $9.95, 64pp, www.amazon.com

Now dedicated quilt makers can relax and unwind with the "Coloring Book of Creative Quilts", which is comprised of 64 pages of quilt patterns that can be filled in with color using gel pens, markers or colored pencils. Each inspiring design is derived from classic quilt blocks to make an exciting new adult coloring book. Though quilting inspired, this adult coloring book will have immense appeal to anyone looking for a creative outlet. The pages spark colorful creativity, all while encouraging you to unwind and take a few moments to relax and revel in the beauty of color. "Coloring Book of Creative Quilts" would make an excellent gift for Christmas or any other gift giving occasion throughout the year. Highly recommended!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Master Keaton Volume 4
Naoki Urasawa
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421575933 $19.99 www.viz.com

Set in the late 80's (the contemporary times of when it was originally published), Master Keaton Volume 4 continues the story of Taichi Hiraga Keaton, a dilettante with military training. When Keaton isn't working as a lecturer, he investigates claims for an insurance company - and if foul play is involved, he often takes on the role of a private detective, or even an impromptu bodyguard! Master Keaton is an episodic saga, which makes Volume 4 as good a starting point as any other. In Volume 4, Keaton works to uncover the identity of a traitor who condemned thousands of his fellow Roma people to extermination in Nazi death camps; comes to the unlikely aid of a South African expatriate; mounts a last-ditch defense against an avalanche in Italy's Carnic Alps; becomes embroiled in a plot of murder and revenge between members of the I.R.A. and the S.A.S.; and much more. Other prominent figures in Keaton's life also get spotlight moments in their own side-stories; Keaton's elderly father endeavors to uncover the truth behind a kind man's suicide, and Keaton's teenage daughter risks her educational future to prevent her fellow students from being expelled. Connoisseurs of detective fiction are especially encouraged to experience this classic! The Master Keaton series is recommended for older teen and adult readers, due to occasional scenes of violence.

Ultraman Volume 2
Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421581835 $12.99 www.viz.com

Ultraman Volume 2 continues the modern-day manga (Japanese comics) successor series to the original Ultraman story about a man who assumed incredible powers to battle gigantic alien invaders. In this brand-new series, the young man Shinjiro Hayata has inherited the Ultraman legacy, but his determination will be put to the test. Yet Shinjiro and the Science Special Search Party have an unlikely new ally - an alien who seems to have switched sides from oppressing Earth to aiding Earth's defenders! The stark black-and-white artwork is unflipped (presented right-to-left as originally created) and brings titanic clashes to vivid life. An action-packed saga, Ultraman is recommended for older teen and adult readers due to scenes of violence.

Ranma 1/2: 2-in-1 edition, volume 11
Rumiko Takahashi
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
9781421566320 $14.99 www.viz.com

The 2-in-1 reprint editions of Ranma 1/2 make Rumiko Takahashi's wacky martial-arts-comedy manga (Japanese comics) saga available at a bargain price! The black-and-white artwork is presented in "unflipped" (right-to-left) format. Ranma 1/2 is an episodic manga series, which makes volume 11 as good a jumping-on point as any other. In volume 11 of the 2-in-1 collection (which combines the original volumes 21 and 22 under a single cover), Ranma's father must confront the disturbing prospect that his martial arts prodigy son just might outclass him! Akane attempts to use fortune-telling to divine her romantic future, Ranma pits his female form's skills and wiles against a master-of-dirty-tricks martial arts cheerleader, Ranma's sternly principled mother makes her first appearance, a mysterious gem turns Shampoo against Ranma, and more. The crisp, expressive art perfectly complements the wild-and-crazy antics in this cherished classic, recommended for older teen and adult readers due to occasional (and typically accidental) nudity. Takahashi is also well-known for her popular manga series "Inu-Yasha" and "Ursusei Yatsura".

Tales from the Deep
Jim Toomey
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449462994, $14.99, 128pp, www.amazon.com

"Tales from the Deep: That Are Completely Fabricated" is the twentieth volume of Jim Toomey's newspaper comic strip showcasing the adventures and tribulations of Sherman, the lovable shark, and his aquatic cohorts in the comfy environs of Sherman's Lagoon. Sherman's Lagoon is an imaginary lagoon somewhere in the tropics, inhabited by a cast of sea creatures whose lives are curiously similar to our own. Sherman, the main character, is a great white shark who is completely unaware of how intimidating his species can be. He gets pushed around by the other characters, namely: Hawthorne the hermit crab, Fillmore the sea turtle, and his wife, Megan, who is another great white shark, of course. A 'must read' for Toomey's (and Sherman's!) legion of fans, "Tales from the Deep" is very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library humor collections.

The Other Kind of Funnies
Han Yu
Baywood Publishing
26 Austin Avenue, Box 337, Amityville, NY 11701
www.baywood.com
9780895038395 $67.95 hc
9780895038401 $49.95 pbk
9780895038418 $39.95 ePUB
9780895038425 $39.95 ePDF

Part of Baywood's "Technical Communications Series" The Other Kind of Funnies: Comics in Technical Communications is a studious examination of how comics - from simple cartoons to graphic novels - have the potential to revolutionize technical communication. The "reader-friendly" accessibility of comics make them well-suited for aiding comprehension of instructional materials, whether in education, health and safety awareness, politics and propaganda, and much more. The Other Kind of Funnies also discusses the limitations of comics in technical communication, and possibilities for the future. Black-and-white illustrations, including occasional samples of comics, illustrate this thoughtful analysis, highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

A Christmas Escape
Anne Perry, author
Steven Crossley, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781490637914 $36.75 www.recordedbooks.com

A Christmas Escape is the unabridged library rendition of a holiday murder mystery. When Charles Latterly vacations in the Mediterranean island of Stromboli, he is dismayed to learn that his fellow guests (including an arrogant novelist, a prim colonel, an antagonistic married couple, and a sickly old man) are as cheerless as he is. The bad situation quickly becomes worse, as interpersonal quarrels escalate and the local volcano begins to rumble. When a dead body is found, Charles realizes the killer must be one of the guests! Cozy and suspenseful to the very end, A Christmas Escape is enthusiastically recommended especially for connoisseurs of Anne Perry's bestselling mysteries. 3 CDs, 3.5 hours.

De Profundis
Oscar Wilde
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
NA0210, $34.98, www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Written during his time in Reading Gaol, "De Profundis" is Oscar Wilde's moving letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, whose relationship with Wilde led to the poet's imprisonment. Here Wilde repudiates Lord Alfred and reflects on his ordeal, acknowledging how the depths of his sorrow have helped liberate him towards a fuller, freer wisdom. Brimming with beautiful passages, "De Profundis" is a profound and inspiring treatise on the meaning of suffering. Complete and unabridged, this flawlessly produced audio book edition is impressively narrated by Simon Russell Beale. "De Profundis" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library audio book collections -- and a 'must' for anyone who appreciates the life and work of one of England's most controversial contributors to great literature. 5 CDs, 4 hours 54 min 56 sec.

Broken Blade
Kelly McCullough
Graphic Audio
4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
9781628511895, $19.99, www.graphicaudio.net

Once a fabled Blade of Namara, Aral Kingslayer fought for justice and his goddess alongside his familiar, a living shadow called Triss. Now with their goddess murdered and her temple destroyed, they are among the last of their kind. Surviving on the fringes of society, Aral becomes a drunken, broken, and wanted man, working whatever shadowy deal comes his way. Until a mysterious woman hires him to deliver a secret message -- one that can either redeem him or doom him. "Broken Blade" is the second volume of action/adventure fantasy series "Fallen Blade" by Kelly McCullough, a writer with an impressive set of imaginative storytelling skills. Directed by Ken Jackson and starring a roster of exceptional actors, this Graphic Audio edition is deftly enhanced with sound effects and music making it a true 'theatre of the mind' listening experience from beginning to end. A simply outstanding production, "Broken Blade" presents a 'stand alone' story that will fully entertain any heroic fantasy enthusiasts and prove to be an exceptional and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. 7 CDs, 7 Hours.

Archangel's Enigma
Nalini Singh
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781452605715, $39.99, www.amazon.com

Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required - those more common to predatory animals than to man. Enlisted to accompany Naasir, Andromeda is a young angelic scholar with dangerous secrets and who is fascinated by his nature which is at once playful, brilliant, sensual and brutal. As they race to find the Sleeping archangel before it's too late, Naasir will force her to question all she knows and tempt her to walk into the magnificent, feral darkness of his world. But first they must survive an enemy vicious enough to shatter the greatest taboo of the angelic race and plunge the world into a screaming nightmare. Author Nalini Singh has created a unique fantasy world of humans, vampires, angels, and hybrids that is an inherently fascinating action/adventure novel of the first order. Impressively narrated by Justine Eyre, complete and unabridged, and with flawless production values as an audio book recording from Tantor Media, "Archangel's Enigma" is very highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. 10 CDs, 12.5 Hours.

Crimson Debt
Evangeline Anderson
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
9781494515263, $39.99, www.amazon.com

Addison Godwin is a Non-Glam, that is, one of the one in ten thousand humans who is immune to vampire glamour and mind tricks. Her gift enables her to work as an Auditor, enforcing the law that vampires and humans keep their distance from each other except in a purely non-physical way. The law is necessary because when a vampire tries to have sex with a human their blood-lust combines with their sexual appetite and the result looks like road kill. Alec Corbin is a Four Star Master Vampire with piercing blue eyes and intentions to get Addison into his bed. He promises he can be gentle but Addison has seen way too many vamp/human crime scenes to go for that. She has no interest in the six foot four hunk of sexy vampire man candy, even if he is supernaturally hot. But just because she Audits (and sometimes executes) vampires for a living, doesn't mean she hates them all. Her best friend, Taylor, was turned against her will. Now, living as a slave to one of the crueler Master vamps in town, she leads a miserable existence and Addison is helpless to save her within the confines of the law. Things come to a head when Roderick, the Vampire Inquisitor, comes to town and Taylor is given to him as a sex slave. When Addison sees her best friend tortured, beaten, and burned with silver she knows she has to do something-even if it means teaming up with Corbin and paying the Crimson Debt. Superbly narrated by Mackenzie Cartwright and very highly recommended for fans of the vampire genre, it should be noted that this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Crimson Debt" is for adults only due to its explicit sexual content. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Brad Meltzer's The President's Shadow (9781600247095, $35.00) receives a fine, unabridged reading by Scott Brick, whose experienced audio voice enlivens and embellishes this story of a young staffer responsible for safekeeping the government's most important secrets in the National Archives in Washington. As a member of the Culper Ring, a secret society responsible for protecting the Presidency, he's always had many key duties; but when the Ring is called upon to solve a gruesome puzzle, Beecher also called upon to solve a murder that may hold a threat to the President himself, in his own backyard. But who is the real target, and how can Beecher's investigation proceed when it may reveal an astonishing and long-held secret key to the safety of the President? A fine thriller is brought to life under Brick's voice, highly recommended for any who want a blend of political insights and intrigue. Richard Castle's Driving Heat (9781478962816, $30.00) receives a fine performance by Robert Petkoff, whose background in film, TV and stage lends a firm and evocative voice to the story of a dead NYPD shrink, new police station captain Nikki Heat, and a series of puzzling homicides that rock the department. When Rook refuses to share confidential information about the victim and Heat's case is threatened by their engagement, trouble begins on both a personal and professional level as Heat finds herself on a desperate race for resolution. For a riveting performance that brings the saga alike, Driving Heat lives up to its name and simply shines in audio format. Ted Dekker's A.D. 33 (9781478959991, $30.00) is narrated by Ellen Archer, an award-winning actress and singer who has extensive theater experience and whose voice lends a quick, engrossing feel to this story of Maviah, a slave who becomes a queen in Arabia, where she experiences a growing power and becomes a force to be reckoned with in a brutal world. Politics and romance come together against the backdrop of an early world filled with intrigue, romance, and religion in a story line that not just comes to life, but is steeped in Christian history and culture. John Fogarty's Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music (9781619698710, $30.00) is narrated by Fogarty himself, who brings to life his evolution from his Northern California roots to his rise to fame under the umbrella of Creedence Clearwater Revival and beyond. What is even more tantalizing in his autobiography is the fact that it comes to life under his voice, and that it contains far more details about the music industry and his role in it than popular discussions could offer. Listeners will readily recognize his signature voice, which is not singing but telling his story, and will appreciate the powerful insights that appear nowhere else. Joel Osteen's The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today (9781609419042, $30.00) appears in an unabridged production narrated by the bestselling author, who draws some important connections between speech and talking and gaining control over one's life. Ultimately it's about taking responsibility for one's choices and making choices that build self-assurance and capitalize on one's unique traits: 'I Am' are the key words towards this path, and Osteen shows how to use them to best advantage in a self-help audio that should be a listen for any who want to develop more powerful personas. Nicholas Sparks' See Me (9781619691353, $35.00) provides an unabridged story narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant and tells of Colin, who is working towards his teaching degree and trying to put a violent history behind him and move away from the bad decisions he keeps making. When he meets Mexican beauty Maria, who harbors a traumatic past of her own, their lives blend in a story of romance, threats, and increasing confrontation. The result is a romance story with many fine twists and a plot that comes alive in audio and is particularly well presented in the unabridged version.


The Library CD Shelf

Under the Stars
Joanne Lazzaro
Privately Published
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

Recorded live on location in one night, with one take per track and using no added studio effects or overdubbing, Under the Stars is the debut solo album of Native American flute player Joanne Lazzaro. Classically trained in orchestral flute playing, Lazzaro has broadened her skill and expertise to craft unique acoustics and improvisations from a variety flutes in different keys and modes. The result is a transcendental, immersive soundscape, and treasury for anyone and everyone who loves the lilting cascade of skilled Native American flute play. The tracks are "Evening Star Song" (4:55), "Sky Chief" (5:15), "Medicine Wheel" (4:29), "Moon Dances With New Star" (3:03), "Giant Cactus-Gathering Hook" (5:47), "Path of the Departed Souls" (6:19), "Bear Who Wanted a Mango" (5:16), "Rabbit Tracks" (3:21), "Spirits of the Long Eyes" (4:30), "Amazing Grace - Trail of Tears" (5:56), and "Zuni Sunrise (extended version)" (8:04), "Lark Who Sang His Song to the Sun Every Morning" (4:27).

Now
Paz del Castillo
www.pazdelcastillo.com
The Borderline Music
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
$14.97 CD / $13.99 download cdbaby.com

Madrid-born solo pianist Paz del Castillo presents Now, an instrumental exploration of love, freedom, and appreciation for the gift of experiencing each new day. Her piano technique is a light, serene glide of rapture and wonder. Highly recommended, especially for gift-giving or public library music collections. The tracks are "Unchain Me" (4:15), "Sobre el Cabo de Mar" (2:40), "Mother" (6:04), "Swinging with the Trees" (4:41), "Hymn" (4:28), "En el Aire" (2:04), "Painting Colours" (3:53), and "Tom" (3:13).

Jazz Titans
The Classic Jazz Trio
Inner City Jazz
http://innercityjazz.com
http://innercityjazz.com/contacts
Music Minus One
www.mmogroup.com
ASIN: B006VX9PME, $17.57, 1 CD, www.amazon.com

The music on "Jazz Titans", recorded in 1991 and never previously released, features consistently exciting playing by Glenn Zottola (doubling on Trumpet and Alto Sax) and pianist Mark Shane, as well as Mark Manaitt playing quietly supportive drums. These three came together to form the Classic Jazz Trio in 1991; shortly thereafter, they recorded the music on this CD, and toured England. A truly memorable listening experience, this is a flawless production is once again made available to a whole new generation of jazz enthusiasts. "Jazz Titan" showcasing The Classic Jazz Trio is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Jazz collections. It should be noted that "Jazz Titan" is also available in an MP3 format ($8.99).

Classic Jazz Records
50 Executive Boulevard, Elmsford, NY 10523
www.innercityjazz.com

Born in Port Chester, New York, on April 28, 1947, Glenn Zottola is a legendary American jazz trumpeter and saxophonist. Zottola is known for his work with Lionel Hampton, the Benny Goodman Sextet and Bob Wilber, and has played for a broad range of vocalists, particularly Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Williams. He has recorded over 50 albums, performed at major jazz festivals throughout the world, and was a featured soloist at Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall 50th Anniversary in 1988. In 1995, Zottola was Band Leader on the Suzanne Somers daytime TV Talk Show at Universal Studios. Now Classic Jazz Records has beautifully produced eleven of those albums showcasing a truly extraordinary American musical talent by a master of his instrument. Available in a CD format, these include "Glenn Zottola Plays Classic Arrangements: Original Transcriptions Inspired by Frank Sinatra" (CJ 14, $16.95); "The Bossa Nova Story: Glenn Zottola Salutes Stan Getz" (CJ 11, $16.95); "Clifford Brown Remembered: His Famed Neal Hefti String Album Revisited - Interpreted by Glenn Zottola" (CJ 6, $16.95); "Getting Sentimental" (CJ 14, $16.95); "Too Marvelous For Words" (CJ 16, $16.95); "Charlie Parker With Strings Revisited by Glenn Zottola" (CJ 32, $16.95); "Got Rhythm" (CJ 33, $16.95); "Classic Standards With Strings: Inspired by Ben Webster" (CJ 37, $16.95); "Miles Davis Remembered" (CJ 39, $16.95); "Come Fly With Me" (CJ 40, $16.95); "Triple Play" (CJ 41, $16.95). With flaws production values, each and every one of these CD albums is a masterpiece and very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Jazz collections.

Legendary Friends & Country Duets
T.G. Sheppard
Cleopatra Records Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd. #703
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
$9.85 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com

Legendary Friends & Country Duets is a country anthology to stir the soul. American singer-songwriter T.G. Sheppard combines his talent with a multitude of guests to perform ballads that reflect the peaks and valleys of everyday life. An absolute "must" for connoisseurs of the genre! The tracks are "Down On My Knees", "The Killer", "Why Me Lord", "Songman", "Fifteen Rounds With Jose Cuervo", "The Next One", "100% Chance of Pain", "It's A Man Thing", "Wine To Remember Whiskey To Forget", "Dead Girl Walking", "In Texas", "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?", "I'm Not Going Anywhere", and "If You Knew".

Deux Visions
Francesca Blanchard
www.francescablanchard.com
Cumbancha Music Publishing
c/o Press Junkie PR
$10.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

The first full-length album of singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard, Deux Visions consists of six songs in French and six in English. Francesca's musical vision conveys the dramatically different worldviews reflected in each language, and range in tone from the distantly beautiful and reflective longing for a lost loved one, to the tongue-in-cheek musical story of a working-class Parisian prostitute. An extraordinary medley of internal and external musical perspectives, Deux Visions is especially recommended to connoisseurs of the exotic. The tracks are "Rame", "Save a Different Way", "Le Blues", "Home is a Cage", "Mon Ange", "Wanderer", "Now That You Are Gone", "Tu N'Existes Pas", "Empty House", "Papa... Pere", "Pas D'sa Faute", and "The Sea (Zach's Song)".

Kimie Miner
Kimie Miner
www.kimieminer.com
Arium
c/o Press Junkie PR
$15.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimie Miner presents an independent self-titled album showcasing her unique style, incorporating elements of reggae, soul, R&B, jazz, pop, and Hawaiian musical traditions. Expressive and magical, Miner's songs allude to the long road to the healing, childhood memories, internal conflict, and the joy of companionship. The result is a uniquely genre-defying listening experience, highly recommended. The tracks are "Bottom of a Rainbow" (3:47), "Throwback Love" (3:47), "Love's in the Melody (Feat. Caleb Keolanui)" (3:38), "Trouble" (3:43), "Make it to Morning" (3:27), "Fallin' Again" (3:44), "Shine" (3:52), "Kumulau" (1:19), "Lullabies" (4:38), "New Day" (3:26), and "Sweet Company" (4:46).

Atlantis Trilogy: Brave New World
Robert Slap
www.RobertSlap.com
Highpooch Music
c/o RS Promotions (publicity)
$11.99 CD / $7.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Inspired by creator Robert Slap's journey to Mexico to explore the pyramids of Teotihuacan, Atlantis Trilogy: Brave New World is an instrumental music CD imagining the Atlantis civilization of legend and lore. Atlantis Trilogy includes the content of Slap's 1991 album, previously released as "Atlantis Healing Temple", and a new track, "Brave New World", a final chapter concluding the Atlantean era and heralding the dawn of modern times. An evocative New Age soundscape, Atlantis Trilogy is highly recommended to connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "Crystal Chamber" (12:25), "Indigo" (6:21), "Voices from the Past" (4:33), "Equinox" (2:33), "Healing Temple" (6:10), "Migration" (4:51), "Wizard's Journey" (3:57), "Brave New World" (4:46), and "Epilogue" (4:21).

YouYouMeTu Volumes 1 & 2
Zemog el Gallo Bueno
abrahamgomez-delgado.com
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
$9.98 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com / $7.00 digital bandcamp.com

YouYouMeTu Volumes 1 & 2 is a Spanish-language music album by Puerto Rico-born composer Abraham Gomez-Delgado, and avant-garde Latin band Zemog el Gallo Bueno ("Zemog the Good Rooster"). Volume 1 has been revived from the oblivion of a decaying hard drive and revamped with zeal, and volume 2 is a new creation that surges forth with excitement and interconnected rhythms. YouYouMeTu also draws upon Gomez-Delgado's personal efforts to leave the world a better place than he found it, from speaking out against racism and injustice to mentoring young men who just got released from prison, the better to help them stay out. Highly recommended. The tracks are Vol. 1: "Remote Control" (5:46), "Periodico" (4:48), "Braille For The Colorblind" (3:54), "Zemog Dm Plena" (44:19), "Contenido Adentro" (4:08), "Bomba Sin Plena" (5:44), "Teta y Tiro" (5:04), "Plena Sawtooth" (3:50), "Lado Elado" (5:21); Vol. 2: "Calma Tus Colores" (3:43), "Genealogico" (3:31), "Un Poncho Para Los Dos" (4:03), "Hipnotico" (3:18), "Contemplando" (2:48), "AEIOU" (3:45), "Alvaro, Bajo y Maquina" (1:47), "Entero" (3:38), "Pinata" (3:22), "Carnisa" (2:44), and "Hueco" (4:02). YouYouMeTu Volume 3 is forthcoming, and eagerly anticipated!


The Library DVD Shelf

Empire: The Complex Legacy of Britain's Imperial History
Hosted by Jeremy Paxman
Athena Learning
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722281 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

"The sun never sets on the British Empire" used to be an adage about how the lands controlled by Britain spanned the circumference of the earth. Empire: The Complex Legacy of Britain's Imperial History is a five-part educational documentary on two DVDs about the lasting repercussions of Britain's imperial period. Veteran BBC broadcaster Jeremy Paxman teaches viewers about the motives that prompted British people to colonize faraway lands, how they changed the territories they conquered, and how Britain itself was changed in turn. Paxman travels to India, the Middle East, Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Far East while exploring empire's lasting effects, both good and bad, that continue to shape the lives of people today. A physical 12-page viewer's guide is included in this informative, enlightening, and meticulously objective documentary. Empire: The Complex Legacy of Britain's Imperial History is an excellent addition to public and college library DVD collections but is recommended for older teens and adults due to the presence of strong language. 5 episodes on 2 DVDs, 303 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Doc Martin Series 7
Martin Clunes
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724155 $39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Doc Martin Series 7 continues the incredibly popular British drama-comedy series starring BAFTA-winning actor Martin Clunes as the titular Doctor Martin Ellingham, a selfish, rigid doctor whose bedside manner could be compared unfavorably to that of a territorial badger. He tends to the sick in a quirky (to put it mildly) seaside town in Cornwall; it's up to the viewer to decide to what degree the maddening residents and the obnoxious doctor deserve one another! In series 7, Doc Martin must face the consequences of his own irascible temperament, as his marriage teeters on the brink of collapse. Doc Martin agrees to see a therapist, but can the youthful and brilliant Dr. Rachel Timoney (played by Emily Bevan, notable for her role in "The Casual Vacancy") soften his acerbic personality, cure his paralyzing blood phobia, or save his disintegrating marriage? Doc Martin must also contend with an ill aunt, financial disaster in the family, and an arrogant vet (Caroline Quentin). Oscar nominee Sigourney Weaver is a guest star for one episode, playing an American tourist. Alternately funny and poignant, Doc Martin Series 7 a "must-have" for connoisseurs of memorable British television. Bonus material includes nine behind-the-scenes featurettes (72 min.) and a photo gallery. 8 episodes on 2 DVDs (or 2 Blu-ray discs), 383 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Eric Brown: A Pilot's Story
A Nicholas Jones Film
Shelter Island
www.shelterisland.net
TDC Entertainment (dist.)
www.tdcent.com
$14.98 www.amazon.com

Eric Brown: A Pilot's Story is a biographical DVD documentary about Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown, one of the most notable aviators of the 20th century. He has set records that will likely never be broken, including flying the largest number of different aircraft (487) and the most aircraft carrier landings (2,407). And he served in World War II; his most notable wartime deeds include his participating in the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp, interrogating Hermann Georing, and identifying a captive Heinrich Himmler. Eric Brown: A Pilot's Story is a color movie with a wealth of vintage black-and-white footage, especially from the World War II era, and is an extraordinary showcase of a truly legendary pilot's life. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library DVD collections. Brief bonus features include "RAF Gibraltar Today", "Quizzing the Nazis", "About the Me 262 (Messerschmitt), and "Meeting Bubi Hermann (Pride of the Luftwaffe)". 80 min. plus 18 min. bonus material, widescreen.

Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners: 24 Form
Helen Liang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
$29.95 www.ymaa.com

Wushu Competition gold medalist and 8th degree black belt Helen Liang hosts Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners: 24 Form, an instructional DVD created to teach viewers about the Yang style of traditional Tai Chi in as little as 6 minutes a day. Accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners walks one through a streamlined version of the 24-posture form. Each posture is shown from multiple angles, with step-by-step instructions in English. The entire routine can be performed in only 6 minutes a day, yet offers health benefits that last a lifetime. Simplified Tai Chi for Beginners: 24 Form is highly recommended for both public library and personal martial arts DVD collections. 140 min.

The Last: Naruto the Movie
Viz Media LLC
1355 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco CA 94103
$19.98 DVD / $29.99 Blu-ray www.viz.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, The Last: Naruto the Movie is a superbly animated movie based on the enormously popular shonen manga (action-packed Japanese comics aimed at boys and men), set in a world where ninjitsu powers resembling magic are the strongest means of self-defense - and the deadliest weapons of war. Despite a lifetime of obstacles and setbacks, the titular hero Naruto has dedicated himself to becoming the greatest protector of his home, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and of his comrades. The Last is set two years after Naruto's climactic battle with his fierce rival Sasuke; Naruto and his friends have honed their bodies and minds as they matured. A disturbing prophecy has shattered their relative peace: the moon is falling to the earth! Could a global cataclysm be imminent? And what is the connection between this impending disaster and the innate power of Hinata's Hyuga clan? A "cannon" story that is officially aligned with the continuity of the manga, The Last is the final Naruto movie to feature Naruto's generation in a starring role (future movies will focus on the next generation). A milestone in Naruto's life, commemorating his transition from a borderline pariah with dreamlike aspirations into a mature warrior with a purpose, "The Last" is also notable in that it balances exhilarating ninja battles with deep character development and the intensity of a blossoming relationship. A "must-see" for anime fans! Special features include Japanese commercial videos, promotional videos, and trailers. 109 min., Japanese and English audio with optional English subtitles.

Restless
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724278 $34.99 www.acornonline.com

Nominated for multiple awards, Restless is a dramatic spy-thriller adaptation of William Boyd's tense novel. Alternating between the 1970s and 1939 time periods, Restless follows a young woman who learns that her mother served as a spy during World War II. An all-star cast including Rufus Sewell, Michelle Dockery, Michael Gambon, and lead Hayley Atwell (who also performed in "Captain America: The First Adventure") bring this fine blend of intrigue and suspense to life. Highly recommended! Restless is not rated, but suggested for adult viewers due to the presence of sexual situations, nudity, coarse language, violence, and some disturbing images. 2 episodes, 185 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Patricia Friberg's Belly Beautiful Workout: Pre and Postnatal Pilates Barre Fusion
Patricia Friberg
www.patriciafriberg.com
Privately Published
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
www.411videoinfo.com
$19.95 www.amazon.com

Volume 3 of the "Belly Beautiful Workout" series, Patricia Friberg's Belly Beautiful Workout: Pre and Postnatal Pilates Barre Fusion lives up to its title as an excellent fitness DVD for expectant and new mothers. Elements of both Barre and Pilates are incorporated to promote physical conditioning, and the program follows the guidelines of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for safe exercise. Workout sections include the introduction; pelvic floor activation exercises; pre and postnatal barre for arm and thigh exercises; pre and postnatal barre back and bottom exercises; a stretch and align series; postnatal pilates; and more. Two women in different stages of pregnancy help Patricia Friberg demonstrate exercises, in this excellent, viewer-friendly workout. 89 min.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The End of All Things
John Scalzi
TOR
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765376077, $24.99, www.tor-forge.com

The End of All Things tells of a world where humans expand into space to face a hostile universe against them, prompting the creation of a Colonial Union to help protect humans in exchange for using earth and its excess population for soldiers and colonists. It seems a mutually beneficial arrangement until Earthlings rebel and the Colonial Union faces dissolution and possible destruction. Some alien species have long awaited this moment - and it's up to Lieutenant Harry Wilson and others to protect the human race in this military sci-fi adventure story. Faith, trust, and high technology permeate a powerful saga of dangerous dead-ends and possible challenges to survival in a fast-paced, vivid story.

Doubleday Canada
c/o Penguin Random House Canada
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
$9.99 each, www.penguinrandomhouse.com

Two books by author Eric Walters provide a riveting survival story and are recommended for young adult to adult readers who enjoy apocalyptic sagas. End of Days (9780385670067) is set in 2012 and tells of a group of astrophysicists, astronomers and mathematicians who have all died in the last year. But none of them are really dead: they've been taken hostage by aliens, and only a talented teen and some special Earthlings hold the ability to rescue them and save their world. Regenesis (9780385683098) provides the second book in the series: an asteroid has hit the earth and the world's end is beginning - but Billy and his friends may survive in their refuge in outer space. Russian plans, thwarted efforts, and ultimate sacrifices meld into the story of teens who seek a new way of surviving in this engrossing saga. The books juxtapose nicely and together pose many intriguing scenarios and a solid, action-packed plot laced with science and interpersonal encounters alike: perfect for teen to adult readers.


The Photography Shelf

Colorado: A Photographic Journey
Blaine Harrington III & Laurence Parent
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376378, $12.95, 80pp, www.amazon.com

"Colorado: A Photographic Journey" is professional photographers Blaine Harrington III and Laurence Parent are proud photographic study of Colorado. Harrington, a homegrown Coloradan, and Parent, a native of the Southwest, provide a combined 106 color photographs that highlight soaring Fourteeners, centuries-old cliff dwellings, world-class ski runs, deep canyons, high plains, and so much more. Each superbly presented full color photograph is enhanced with a succinct and informative captioned commentary. Ideal for armchair travelers and community library photography collections, "Colorado: A Photographic Journey" is certain to be a favorite for anyone who has ever traveled the state or wanted to.

Portraiture Unplugged
Carl Caylor
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608958832, $34.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Portraiture Unplugged: Natural Light Photography offers a basic guide to working with natural light and creating marketable results, from locating scenes that suit portraiture to producing exceptional, artistic results from relatively simple tools and approaches. His ideas use clear examples to support discussions of 'sweet light', unusual poses to highlight each subject's unique qualities and the underlying stories surrounding tattoos and other body art, how to blend beautiful and unusual backgrounds with natural lighting at all times of day, and more. A key to understanding these approaches lies in his first-person recollections of how he composed his image examples, and their influences and results. The result is a powerful guide that no aspiring pro should be without, filled with professional insights fueled by a personal approach to making the best of not just natural light, but knowledge of subjects and surroundings.


The Computer Shelf

Murach's jQuery
Zak Ruvalcaba & Anne Boehm
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781890774912, $54.50, 596pp, www.amazon.com

jQuery is a cross-platform JavaScript library designed to simplify the client-side scripting of HTML. jQuery is the most popular JavaScript library in use today, with installation on 65% of the top 10 million highest-trafficked sites on the Web. jQuery is free, open-source software licensed under the MIT License. Now in a fully updated and comprehensive second edition, "Murach's jQuery" makes it easier than ever to learn how to use jQuery to create the dynamic user interfaces, fast response times, and special effects that today's users expect. Section 1 provides a four-chapter crash course in the JavaScript skills that you need to use jQuery. That means you don't need to know JavaScript before you start using "Murach's jQuery", and that makes this the right instruction manual for programmers who aren't familiar with JavaScript, as well as for programming novices. This section also becomes the ideal reference for the JavaScript that's used for the jQuery applications in this book...or for any jQuery application. In brief, sections 2 and 3 of "Murach's jQuery" presents the essential jQuery and jQuery UI (User Interface) skills for developing professional jQuery applications. With those skills, you ll be able to add all of the popular jQuery features to your web pages: image swaps, image rollovers, slide shows, accordions, tabs, carousels, and much more. Then, section 4 shows you how to use Ajax and JSON to get data from a web server and add it to a web page without reloading the page. It also shows how to use Ajax and JSON with the APIs for websites like Flickr and Google Maps and with HTML5 APIs like Geolocation, Web Storage, and Web Workers. The last section of "Murach's jQuery" shows you how to use jQuery Mobile to develop mobile websites. This requires little or no programming, and it's a great alternative when it's impractical to rebuild an established website with Responsive Web Design. An invaluable addition to community and academic library Computer Science reference collections, no JavaScript user's personal reference shelf should be without a copy of "Murach's jQuery".

Murach's Beginning Java with Eclipse
Joel Murach & Michael Urban
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781890774899, $57.50, 660pp, www.amazon.com

Exceptionally well organized and offering a complete course of instruction under in a single volume, "Murach's Beginning Java with Eclipse" is deftly organized into four major sections. Section 1 guides you through the core concepts and coding you need to create simple object-oriented applications. By the end of this section, you'll be using Eclipse to code, test, and debug 3-tier Java applications that use classes from the java SE 8 API as well as your own classes; Sections 2, 3, and 4 let you build out your core Java and OOP skills. Here, you'll find chapters that expand on skills that were presented in section 1 or that teach you new skills. That includes working with features that are new in Java 8, like lambda expressions and the new date/time API. At that point, you'll have all the Java prerequisites you need to start learning web or Android programming. Or, you can go on to section 5 to start developing desktop applications for business with a Swing interface and a MySQL database. Along the way, the sample applications will show you how to apply your skills in the real world. And the chapter exercises will give you valuable hands-on experience programming (the solutions to these exercises are posted at our website, so you can check your work). Thoroughly 'student friendly' in organization and presentation, "Murach's Beginning Java with Eclipse" is very highly recommended to the attention of anyone, novice or aspiring professional, wanting to become competent in using Java with Eclipse.

Murach's Javascript, second edition
Mary Delamater
Murach
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774851, $54.50, www.murach.com

The second updated edition of Murach's Javascript is highly recommended for any programmer who would use it as a self-paced workbook designed for newcomers as well as those with prior Javascript background, and provides the basics of objects, methods, applications and development for this audience. It's designed as a self-teaching workbook that covers and builds upon the basics, and also is designed so that a range of audiences can use its various tools to best advantage, downloading book applications and exercise solutions and reading explanations, code, and real-world examples. This real-world focus includes many discussion points JavaScript programmers can expect to encounter in their real-world applications, from how to use Chrome to review and edit items in web storage to adding links to enhance the Task Manager application. The result is guide that works as both a JavaScript reference, a classroom supplement, and an at-home tutorial alike.

Learn C the Hard Way
Zed A. Shaw
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321884923, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Learn C the Hard Way: Practical Exercises on the Computational Subjects You Keep Avoiding [Like C] comes from an author who offers a course for beginning C programmers who want to learn new skills, synthesizing basics into over fifty exercises that are supported by an accompanying video. Learners receive code to type, and thus learn how to fix mistakes and discover how code runs. From using any language to create software that protects itself from defects to applying the new skills to real-world situations, Learn C the Hard Way assumes no prior programming background as it shows how to set up a C environment, compile files, observe the results of instructions, and handle various data structures and libraries. Any aspiring to learn C will find this invaluable!


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Mythologizing Jesus
Dennis R. MacDonald
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9780742558915, $34.00, 178pp, www.amazon.com

American popular culture is well-populated with fictional superheroes such as Superman, Bat Man, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and so many more. But Superheroes are not a modern invention but something that first appears from prehistoric antiquity and continued down through the ages. The gods and goddesses of the Greeks, for example, walked on water, flew, visited the land of the dead, and lived forever. Ancient Christians told similar stories about Jesus, their primary superhero. In both their scriptural and apocryphal accounts he possessed incredible powers of healing, walked on water, rose from the dead, and more. In "Mythologizing Jesus: From Jewish Teacher to Epic Hero", Dennis R. MacDonald (Professor of New Testament and Christian origins at Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California) shows how the stories told in the Gospels parallel many in Greek and Roman epics with the aim of compelling their readers into life-changing decisions to follow Jesus. MacDonald doesn't call into question the existence of Jesus but rather asks readers to examine the biblical stories about him through a new, mythological lens. An inherently fascinating, informative, and thought-provoking read from beginning to end, "Mythologizing Jesus" will prove to be of enormous interest to scholars, clergy, and non-specialist general readers within the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation. An extraordinary work of seminal scholarship, "Mythologizing Jesus" is strongly recommended for both community and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Mythologizing Jesus" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.35).

Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for People with Dementia: A Learning Guide
Elizabeth MacKinlay and Corinne Trevitt
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849055734, $34.95, www.jkp.com

Facilitating Spiritual Reminiscence for People with Dementia: A Learning Guide offers caregivers and families keys to stimulating spiritual reminiscence in older people, and covers a spiritual and communication approach designed to engage those with dementia in a more meaningful way. It offers exercises and discussions designed for organizing such sessions, and is written by a registered nurse and Anglican priest and a registered nurse who is an academic associate at the Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies in Australia who talk about how to put together such discussions and provide concrete examples. From sharing stories in group settings to handling responses, this is a powerful collection designed to get the ball rolling for caregivers who work with people with dementia.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Atlas of the European Reformations
Tim Dowley
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781451499698, $24.00, 160pp, www.amazon.com

A new, definitive atlas of the European Reformations, Christian historian Tim Dowley's "The Atlas of the European Reformations" is newly built from the ground up. Featuring more than sixty brand new maps, graphics, and timelines, the atlas is a necessary companion to any study of the reformation era. Consciously written for students at any level, concise, helpful texts guide the experience and interpret the visuals. Perfect for independent students, as well as those in structured courses, and for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Christian History, "Atlas of the European Reformations" is deftly organized and presented in four primary parts. "Before the Reformation" presents the larger political, religious and economic context of Europe on the eve of the reformation. "Reformation" presents the major contours of the reformation, including Lutheran, Reformed, English, and Anabaptist movements. "Catholic Reform and Counter-Reformation" provides extensive information on the reforming movements within Catholicism and the responses to other movements. Finally, "Early Modern Europe" sheds fresh light on the movement and implications of the reformation in the later sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Enhanced with a profusion of beautifully produced maps; a two page bibliography of Further Readings; an eight page Gazetteer; and a two page Index, "Atlas of the European Reformations" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, seminary, church, community, and academic library Christian History reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Walking The Path Of The Jewish Mystic
RabbiYoel Glick
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
9781580238434, $18.99, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Walking The Path Of The Jewish Mystic: How to Expand Your Awareness And Transform Your Life", a thoughtful, 240 page handbook to the life of the Jewish mystics, renowned teacher and spiritual mentor Rabbi Yoel Glick (Director of Daat Elyon, an online center for spiritual training) uses the secret traditions of Judaism and other world religions to show seekers how to deepen their self-knowledge and live life with greater meaning and awareness. Organized and presented in four major sections (Made in the Image of God; The Science of the Soul; The Divine Structure of Reality; Revealing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth), "Walking The Path Of The Jewish Mystic" is enhanced with the inclusion of twenty-two pages of Notes, a forty-five page bibliography of Suggested Resources, and eleven illustrations. Of special note is Rabbi Glick's introduction (Awakening the Higher Knowledge), his 'A Note on Language', and The Garden and the Cosmic Vessels (Two ancient Paradigms That Define Our Existence). As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Walking The Path Of The Jewish Mystic" is very highly recommended for personal, synagogue, community, and academic library Judaic Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Walking The Path Of The Jewish Mystic" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Finger Weaving Scarves & Wraps
Naoko Minowa
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811715577, $19.95, www.stackpolebooks.com

Finger Weaving Scarves & Wraps: 18 Fun, Easy Projects Made Without Loom, Needle or Hook provides easy introductory weaving techniques illustrated with step-by-step color photos, making for a project collection especially accessible to newcomers to weaving. Three basic techniques form the foundation of all the projects featured here, with a range of finishes and instructions on using yarn leftovers accompanying techniques that are a snap to learn. The result is a finger weaving introduction that promises good-quality results for a minimum skills level: highly recommended for newcomers.

Cath Kidston Sewing Book
Cath Kidston
www.cathkidston.com
Quadrille Publishing
9781849496674, $24.95, www.quadrille.com

Cath Kidston Sewing Book: Over 30 Exclusive Projects Made Simple follows up on Cath Kidston's best-selling book Sew! and offers a project book of accessible, bright ideas recommended for novices and those with some sewing skills. Step-by-step illustrations for all 30 projects accompany templates, clear directions, hand-drawn, step-by-step illustrations and photos, and keys to shortcuts. Materials and equipment are outlined for quick assessment while the projects are contemporary, refreshingly different, and fun.

Half-Scrap Quilts: Take and Make Them Yours
Mickey Depre
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604604153, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com

Half-Scrap Quilts: Take and Make Them Yours pairs traditional quilt designs with tips on how to customize them to vary color and blocks, and includes piecing directions, triangles, and nine quilt designs that vary in difficulty. Each quilt receives a full-page color photo and pattern, along with smaller images for border blocks, finishing, and variable assembly. From sidebar notes on pieced borders and personal introductions to each quilting project to customization insights, this is a quilt guide that is especially recommended for newcomers with some quilting skills who want insights on customizing patterns.

Cut and Shuffle Quilts
Jan Ochterbeck
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604602098, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com

Cut and Shuffle Quilts provides modern and traditional quilters with a set of projects that range from a 40" to a 90" quilt as well as smaller throws, and offer finished projects designed to create a 60" and a 40" quilt. The focus is on a series of quilts that can be cut and made into different blocks, with chapters offering full-page color photos of finished products, alternate constructions, and step-by-step photos for accomplishing each. The basic premise is simple: a variety of quilt blocks can be created by making a 'parent block', slicing it, and shuffling and assembling the parts Nine-Patch style. When that simple basic is mastered, the rest fall neatly into place in a production especially recommended for newcomers to quilting.


The Crafts Shelf

Silk Ribbon Flowers
Ann Cox
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
9781782211075 $9.95 www.searchpressusa.com

Illustrated with useful diagrams and striking color photography throughout, Silk Ribbon Flowers is a craft book to making beautiful flowers from silk ribbons. Step-by-step instructions walk the reader through the process to create silk ribbon flowers, which can be used to embellish clothing, quilts, scarves, hats, handbags, and more. Silk Ribbon Flowers is a superb guide for adding the perfect touch to handmade gifts!

Handcraft Wire Jewelry
Kimberly Sciaraffa Berlin
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9781627001335, $21.99, www.jewelryandbeadingstore.com

Handcraft Wire Jewelry provides jewelry makers with projects that use chains, wire-wrapped cabochons, and more, as well as cold soldering techniques that requires no special tools. The techniques can be mixed and matched and have been classroom tested to assure their simplicity, and they also cover different parts of a necklace and are thus flexibly interchangeable. Small step-by-step color photos accompany good-sized photos of finished products, making this a key acquisition for any who would enter the world of handcrafted wire jewelry making.


The Woodworking Shelf

Classic Whittling: Basic Techniques and Old-Time Projects
Rick Wiebe
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781610352543 $14.95 www.woodworkerslibrary.com

Illustrated with step-by-step, full-color photography on virtually every page, Classic Whittling: Basic Techniques and Old-Time Projects is a solid guide to this art of crafting beautiful and functional items from wood, whether for purposes of hobby, stress relief, or just plain fun. In addition to whittling fundamentals, Classic Whittling includes a wealth of sample projects, from interlinking hearts and ball-in-a-cage to "fan birds" (with delicate wingfeathers spread wide), spoons, whistles, walking sticks and much more. Classic Whittling is a "must-have" for anyone interested in practicing or refining their command of this creative and skillful endeavor.


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Wood Fire Handbook
Vincent Thurkettle
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845336707, $16.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

The Wood Fire Handbook: The Complete Guide to a Perfect Fire offers many wide-ranging discussions on the subject; and while one might not initially think that wood fire could receive over two hundred pages of discussion, this book doesn't pad its contents but packs in essential information for any outdoors-oriented reader. From learning which trees produce the best firewood and how to handle and store it to alternative firewood sources, handling weather when building and maintaining a fire, splitting wood and building a woodshed, this handbook is the place to begin for an in-depth education on wood fire construction.


The Agriculture Shelf

101 Different Ways to Build Homes and Pens for Your Animals, second edition
Randy LaTour and Sarah Ann Beckman
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781620230176, $14.99, www.atlantic-pub.com

101 Different Ways to Build Homes and Pens for Your Animals: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide is recommended for pet and livestock owners who face the task of building a pen from scratch, and displays over a hundred ways to construct homes for different kinds of animals, from pets to livestock. Whether indoor or outdoor, the tips in this second revised edition can be used for a range of animals from dogs and cats to snakes, turtles and sheep, and it discusses animal needs and carpentry and construction methods with equal attention to detail, making it the perfect book of choice for amateur builders who seek animal-specific advice.


The Gardening Shelf

Chelsea Green
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com

Will Bonsall's Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant Gardening (9781603584425, $34.95) is recommended for any beginner new to gardening and homesteading processes, and offers unique insights into how to grow one's own food and become self-reliant. Some forty years of experience helps Bonsall cover the basics with an eye to reducing reliance on fertilizers, chemicals, and supplements; but the organic focus takes a bigger step in covering efficient operations that lead to better crops with less cost and management hassles. From using 'green' manure and avoiding diseases without resulting to chemical applications to companion planting and harvesting choices, this book takes organic gardening one step beyond the norm and provides a survey of solid, proven methods that work. Andrew Moore's Pawpaw: In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit (9781603585965, $26.00) offers an impressive study of a fruit that most Americans likely don't know about. It tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango and is the largest edible fruit native to the U.S., growing wild in twenty-six states; yet it is also the country's least known fruit. Pawpaw considers why, offer a history of the fruit and gathering technical details from plant breeders and horticulturalists alike. The result is a cultural, biological, and economic study that excels in a wide range of insights and which is recommended for horticulture, home and garden, and general-interest culinary readers alike.


The Cookbook Shelf

The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook, second edition
Jackie Newgent
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
http://www.diabetes.org
9781580405454, $19.95, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, the "The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook" by Jackie Newgent (a classically trained chef, registered dietitian nutritionist, media personality, professional recipe developer, and culinary instructor) is a 352 page compendium of delicious, nutritious, and diabetes oriented dishes. Absolutely nothing is artificial, everything involves naturally delicious fresh foods, whole-food ingredients, and offers full flavor for dishes that would be diabetes appropriate for every dining occasion. This is underscored by the absolute lack of artificial sweeteners and other concocted substitutions to reduce calories, sugar, and fat. What is features are dishes based on just-right amount of plant-based goodness, well-rounded nutrition, and simple-to-fix recipes, creating such tempting dishes that range from Heirloom Caprese Omelet; Party Spinach Dip; California Chicken Burger Sliders; and Hibachi Slaw; to Baja Bean Chili with Guacamole; Horseradish Pork Tenderloin on Naan with Arugula; Farmers' Market Mushroom Flatbread Pizza; Thai-Style Halibut with Mango Relish; Cajun Grains; Green Juice Smoothie; Peppermint Brownies, and so much more. Each individual recipe is specifically designed to be enjoyed by people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, heart health issues, or simply looking to improve their diet. "The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook" is filled from cover to cover with tips for achieving naturally high-flavor dishes, techniques for no-fuss cooking and baking, sample meal plans, a handy substitution chart for swapping out processed foods from favorite recipes, and much more. "The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook" is a critically important and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, community, and professional cookbook collections in general, and as a meal planning resource for diabetics in particular!

The Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free Cookbook
Marlisa Brown MS, RD, CDE
www.glutenfreeasy.com
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036
www.demoshealth.com
9781936303793 $19.95 pbk / $15.94 Kindle www.amazonc.om

Registered dietitian Marlisa Brown presents The Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free Cookbook: Delicious, Foolproof Recipes for Every Day and Every Occasion, a practical, user-friendly cookbook for creating gluten-free dishes and meals on both a monetary budget and prep-time budget. Options for making recipes allergy-free and FODMAP-friendly (ideal for those with irritable bowel syndrome or other functional gut disorders) are included. Gluten-free, hassle-free, and wallet-saving delights include Whole Grain Breakfast Cookies, Cheese Blintzes with Fresh Strawberries and Whipped Cream, White Bean Salad, Chicken Cacciatore, Linguini with Shrimp and Petite Diced Tomatoes, and much more. A handful of inset color plates and an index round out this excellent recipe book.

Egyptian Cooking, revised edition
Samia Abdennour
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018-2729
www.aucpress.com
9789774249266, $19.95, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, Samia Abdennour's "Egyptian Cooking" is a true culinary classic and an essential for anyone who wants to dine on authentic Egyptian cuisine. From hearty staples like foul midammis (stewed fava beans) and kushari (a mix of pasta, rice, and lentils under a rich tomato sauce) to more complex meals such as roast leg of lamb and baked stuffed fish, "Egyptian Cooking" runs the gamut of the national cuisine. Now, in this revised and expanded edition, Samia Abdennour has added over eighty new recipes from all over the Middle East, including some of the most popular dishes from the Levant, the Gulf, and North Africa. With 485 recipes enhanced with full color photographs, "Egyptian Cooking" is a versatile guide gives even the most novice of kitchen cooks a wide array of basic meals and sumptuous dishes. With entries organized under the categories of Mezze, Breakfast, Main Courses, Sweets and Desserts, and Beverages, "Egyptian Cooking" offers a comprehensive collection of Middle Eastern recipes in one volume. Spiral-bound for easy accessibility while cooking, this edition of "Egyptian Cooking" is practical handbook offers detailed advice on shopping, food preparation, and unusual ingredients, as well as the Arabic names for individual items and recipes. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Egyptian Cooking" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Egyptian Cooking" is also available in a paperback edition (9789774167119, $19.95) and in a Kindle format ($13.99).

Bulletproof: The Cookbook
Dave Asprey
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.rodalepress.com
9781623366032, $27.99, www.amazon.com

"Bulletproof: The Cookbook" is a compilation by Dave Asprey (the author of "The Bulletproof Diet") beautifully illustrated, 272 page compendium of simply wonderful recipes for palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly dishes that will result in the loss of up to a pound a day, all while increasing energy and ending the kind of food cravings that sabotage most dieting efforts. Beginning with chapters on 'The Bulletproof Principles', 'Bulletproofing Your Food', 'Bulletproof tips and Techniques'; and 'All About the Recipes', the dishes themselves are organized into chapters on Mains; Sides and Salads; Soups and Broths; Lattes and Smoothies; Deserts; Salts, Butters, and Condiments. From Grilled Salmon and Zucchini; Pork Flank Steak with Coconut Relish; Braised Radishes and Greens; Low-Roasted Broocoli Rabe; and Swiss Chard with Fennel Salt; to Asian-Style Bone Broth; Carrot and Ginger Smoothie Soup; Raspberry Clafoutis; Pineapple Granita; and Shockingly Rich Chocolate Truffle Pudding. Enhanced with conclusion commentary, Sample Fasting Days, and an index, "Bulletproof: The Cookbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any personal, family, and community library cookbook collection. It should be noted that "Bulletproof: The Cookbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.99).

Better Homes and Gardens Calorie-Smart Meals
Better Homes and Gardens
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544569829, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The iconic 'Better Homes and Gardens' brand is one of America's most trusted sources for information on cooking, gardening, home improvement, home design, decorating, and crafting. There latest cookbook is "Better Homes and Gardens Calorie-Smart Meals: 150 Recipes for Delicious 300-, 400-, and 500-Calorie Dishes" which is a beautifully illustrated, 304 page compendium showcasing low calorie dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. These thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Greek Beef Kabobs with Cucumber Salad; Almond-Crusted Mahi Mahi with Lemon Wine Sauces; Pork and Noodle Bowl; Tomato-Basil Turkey Burgers; and Spicy Mushroom Sloppy Joes; to Wild Mushroom Ravioli Skillet Lasgna; Balsamic Onion and Steak Pasta; Lasagna Soup; Silky Chocolate Pie; Fresh Apple Bars; and Raspberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownies. A pleasure to browse and ideal for planning menus with, "Better Homes and Gardens Calorie-Smart Meals" truly lives up to its title and is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library collections. It should be noted that "Better Homes and Gardens Calorie-Smart Meals " is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Dinner at Home
JeanMarie Brownson
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841789, $29.95, www.amazon.com

JeanMarie Brownson writes the "Dinner at Home" column for the Chicago Tribune and served as assistant food editor and test kitchen director between 1980 and 1996. Superbly enhanced with full color photography throughout, "Dinner at Home: 140 Recipes to Enjoy with Family and Friends" is a 288 page compendium that showcases Brownson's palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes for dishes suitable to any kind of dining experience from simply family meals to elegant celebratory occasions. The dishes range from Warm Grilled Eggplant and Prosciutto Salad; Asparagus and Teriyaki Steak Fried Rice; Roasted Chicken with Tomato-Olive Relish; and Curried Red Cabbage with Chestnuts; to Braised Turkey with Moroccan Spices; Chorizo and roasted Pepper Sausage Gravy; Sweet Potato Pancakes; Easy Cheesy Popovers; and Coconut Mango Ice Cream. "Dinner At Home" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Dinner At Home" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.99).

Eating Purely
Elizabeth Stein
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
www.purelyelizabeth.com
9781634502191, $24.99, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Elizabeth Stein is the founder and CEO of Purely Elizabeth, an all-natural and organic food company. Stein launched the company in October 2009 with a goal to create the most delicious gluten-free products made with innovative, nutrient-rich ingredients. She is a certified holistic nutrition counselor with a background in business marketing from Boston University. Drawing upon her years of experience and expertise she has now published "Eating Purely: More Than 100 All-Natural, Organic, Gluten-Free Recipes for a Healthy Life", a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 336 page compendium showcasing an impressive variety of gluten-free recipes for dishes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, appropriate for any dining occasion, and thoroughly kitchen cook friendly in organization and presentation. The recipes range from Vegetable Rolls with Spicy Nut Sauce; Roasted Pumpkin Seed Hummus; Pad Thai with Maple Ginger Sauce; Pan-Seared Halibut with Pesto Gnocchi and Brussels Sprouts; Shrimp Puttanesca over Zucchini Pasta; and Fettuccine with Grilled Chicken and Sundried Tomato Almond Paste; to Poached Pears with Coconut Whipped Cream; Blueberry Crumb Bar; Roasted Pineapple Habanero Margarita; Antioxidant-Rich Berry Smoothie with Granola; Stuffed Blueberry French Toast; and Breakfast Tacos with Black Beans, Zucchini, Avocado, and Sriracha. As fascinating to browse through as it is useful to plan menus with, "Eating Purely" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Eating Purely" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.74).

Medieval Cooking in Today's Kitchen
Greg Jenkins
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764348426 $24.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Medieval Cooking in Today's Kitchen presents 78 recipes for drinks, breads, soups, hors d'oeuvres, entrees, and desserts with roots in tradition and folklore of cultures throughout Europe and the English Isles during the Middle Ages. Every dish has be carefully researched, translated, prepared in kitchens, and deemed suitable for modern cooks today. The result is an extraordinary "time capsule" cookbook, that encourages the reader to create and taste the delicacies of centuries past for themselves. Recipes include Metheglin (Cornish Ginger Mead), Stewed Pompion (Spicy Pumpkin Soup), Iumbolls (a.k.a. Jumballs, a type of long-lasting cookie present in Martha Washington's cookbook), Watercress and Violet Salat (Salad), Baked Carp with Spices and Figs, and many more. Enhanced with an introduction, appendices, and a wealth of color photographs, Medieval Cooking Today's Kitchen is a superb choice for historical reenactment or Renaissance Fair cooks, as well as anyone interested in embarking on a time-traveling culinary adventure.

Cook's Illustrated Kitchen Hacks
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781940352008 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Cook's Illustrated Kitchen Hacks: How Clever Cooks Get Things Done lives up to its title with more than 1,000 "kitchen hacks" - that is, quick and effective ways to perform culinary tasks without using expensive or specialized kitchen equipment. From a simple way to clean grounds out of a French press, to successfully staring an outdoor grill fire on a windy day, to transporting hot, cold, or delicate foods in top condition, Cook's Illustrated Kitchen Hacks is brimming with tips, tricks, and techniques to help cooks of all skill and experience levels. Almost every "hack" is illustrated with a simple black-and-white sketch in this insightful, user-friendly reference and resource. Highly recommended! "To keep the open pages of a cookbook or magazine flat, readable, and clean while cooking, put a clear glass (Pyrex) baking dish over them."

Raw Organic Goodness
Megan May
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9781592337088 $25.00 www.quartous.com

Featuring one hundred recipes that rely on raw, plant-based ingredients, Raw Organic Goodness is a cookbook featuring a wealth of full-color photography highlighting its sumptuous dishes, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees to salads, drinks, and desserts. Delights such as Herbed 'Chicken' Sandwich with Watercress & Cucumber (the 'chicken' filling is itself a multi-ingredient recipe including cashews and sunflower seeds blended in a food processor), Olive & Basil Zucchini Cannelloni Bites (using a separate recipe for macadamia and cashew cultured nut cheese), Superfood Maca & Cacao Cookies, and much more show that raw, plant-based cuisine can be appetizing to anyone and everyone! An extensive introductory section guides cooks who may be new to setting up a "raw foods kitchen", in this appetizing cookbook. Raw Organic Goodness also makes an excellent gift!

Sticky Fingers' Vegan Sweets
Doron Petersan
Avery Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9781583335116, $20.00, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Doron Petersan opened Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats in 2002, drawing on her degree in dietetics from the University of Maryland and years of experience working in restaurants. When Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats (a bakery that just happens to be vegan) opened it instantly became one of the most popular bakeries in Washington, D.C.. Soon, Sticky Fingers was voted D.C.'s best bakery by the Washington City Paper, and chef Doron Petersan found herself beating out traditional bakers on Food Network's Cupcake Wars. "Sticky Fingers' Vegan Sweets" is a 320 page vegan cookbook that is packed from cover to cover with one hundred of Petersan's beloved recipes ranging from indulgent snacks such as Fudgetastic Brownies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, to breakfast treats including Pecan Spice Coffee Cake and Cranberry Ginger Scones, and from celebratory desserts such as Chocolate Seltzer Cake and Red Velvet Cupcakes, to Sticky Fingers' most popular sweets: Little Devils, Cowvins, and Sticky Buns. "Sticky Fingers' Vegan Sweets" also includes "love bite" nutritional tips and valuable tricks-of-the-trade techniques that every home baker will appreciate. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in tone, content, and presentation, "Sticky Fingers' Vegan Sweets" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library Vegetarian/Vegan cook collections. It should be noted that "Sticky Fingers' Vegan Sweets" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.99).

Vanilla Table
Natasha MacAller
Jacqui Small LLP
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781909342866, $40.00, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Vanilla is a flavor derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia). The word vanilla, derived from the diminutive of the Spanish word vaina (vaina itself meaning sheath or pod), translates simply as "little pod". In "Vanilla Table: The Essence Of Exquisite Cooking From The World's Best Chefs", international chef Natasha MacAller takes us on a journey to discover the many wonders of one of the most amazingly versatile ingredients in the typical American pantry. "Vanilla Table" is a culinary celebration of all things vanilla. With its fragrant and captivating scent, it can be creatively used in an endless array of delicious dishes ranging from sweet to savory. "Vanilla Table" showcases more than 100 recipes -- including 32 dishes carefully curated from 33 internationally acclaimed chefs worldwide- show how to make the most of this magical ingredient. For instance, this cookbook demonstrates the delights of vanilla and trout pairing; how just a vanilla pinch deliciously wakes up a pork chop; and of course, countless ways to make desserts sparkle. Chef Natasha MacAller also provides tips, tricks, and expert knowledge to make even the most novice of kitchen cooks a vanilla connoisseur, too. With advice ranging from how to recognize the best product, to proper storing. This 240 page, beautifully illustrated compendium features a culinary wealth of delicious dishes that range from Heirloom Tomato Bisque with Green Pea Pesto; Crispy Salmon Fillet with Fennel Broth & Creamy Polenta; Normandy Caramelised Apple Tart; and Chocolate Cadeaux Entremet; to Devilish Eggs with Vanilla Candied Bacon; Scottish Shortbread Sundae with Blueberry Ice Cream; Beekeeper's Elderflower Cheesecake; and Black Pepper Chai Truffles. A mouth watering pleasure to browse through and plan menus with, "Vanilla Table" will prove to be a highly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

200 Cocktail Party Recipes
Carol Beckerman
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
www.sellerspublishing.com
9781416245612, $10.95, 96pp, www.amazon.com

Carol Beckerman is a food writer, recipe developer, and enthusiastic cook with more than 40 years of culinary experience which she puts to very good use with the publication of "200 Cocktail Party Recipes". This beautifully illustrated, 96 page compendium deftly showcases recipes for delicious party fare that are thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in tone, organization, presentation, and preparation. The dishes range from Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms; Red Onion and Parmesan Tartlets; Tomato-Basil Bruschetta; and Beef Curry Puffs; to Spanish Empanadas; Smoky Chipotle Hummus with Garlic Bagel Chips; Deep-Fried Risotto Balls with Melting Mozzarella; and Grilled Scallops Wrapped in Prosciutto. Of special note is the section on cocktails and the chapter devoted to Sweet Treats & Petit Fours'. A pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan party menus with, "200 Cocktail Party Recipes" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Everyday Secret Restaurant Recipes
Leah Schapira & Victoria Dwek
ArtScroll / Shaar Press
c/o Mesorah Publications Ltd.
4401 Second Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
www.artscroll.com
9781422616475, $34.99, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Drawn from restaurant, cafe, grill, and take-out menus ranging from Bangkok to Brooklyn, and from Miami to Melbourne, "Everyday Secret Restaurant Recipes" is a superbly illustrated, 336 page culinary compendium comprised exclusively with easy-to-prepare kosher recipes and tips, along with inherently fascinating behind-the-scenes excursions of these diverse establishments. "Everyday Secret Restaurant Recipes" provides a kind of window into the kitchens of some of the world s finest kosher restaurants, bringing home entertaining and elegant home dining to a new level. Of special note is Elan Kornblum's informative commentary what makes restaurant food so good; why some restaurants are more successful than others; and why people go out to eat. In addition to over 100 family-friendly recipes, collaborative culinary experts Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek share fascinating vignettes about today s most popular kosher chefs and eateries. With step-by-step, kitchen cook friendly recipes ranging from Mushroom Noodles; Smoked Hot Wings; Haloumi Salad; and Sino Steak Sandwich; to Chickpea Burger; Crispy Wonton Chicken; Branzino with Pickled Onions; and Passion Fruit Sabyon, "Everyday Secret Restaurant Recipes" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any and all kosher cookbook collections.

Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step
Todd Wilbur
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9780142196960, $22.00, 304pp, www.amazon.com

For more than 25 years Todd Wilbur has been reverse-engineering America's most iconic foods for his series of 11 Top Secret Recipes cookbooks. In "Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step: Secret Formulas with Photos for Duplicating Your Favorite Famous Foods at Home" he showcases 125 new clone recipes: 75 first-time hacks and 50 overhauled all-time favorites. Each recipe comes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photos so that even novice cooks can perfectly recreate their favorite famous foods with everyday ingredients. And your homemade versions cost just a fraction of what the restaurants charge! The recipes range from KFC Original Recipe Fried Chicken and Cole Slaw; Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll; IKEA Swedish Meatballs; and Arby's Curly Fries; to Wendy's Chili; Starbucks Cake Pops; P.F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps; Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich; and Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies. Profusely illustrated and showcasing And over 100 more delicious dishes, from snacks and appetizers to entrees and desserts, "Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step" will prove to be an enduringly popular and highly prized addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Top Secret Recipes Step-by-Step" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

My First French Bakery
Barbara Beery
Familius
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
www.familius.com
9781942934110, $17.95, www.amazon.com

"My First French Bakery" is a beautifully illustrated, 64 page, hardcover, spiral bound cookbook specifically designed to lay flat upon a kitchen counter or table. Comprised of twenty-eight recipes for authentic French baked goods that are as delicious as they are kitchen cook friendly to prepare, the showcased cuisine ranges from Perfect petit Fours; Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls; Crusty French Baguette; and Chocolate Mousse; to French Vanilla Cupcakes; French Chocolate Cake; Fancy French Pizza; Creme Brulee; Parisian Hot Chocolate; and Sparkling French Lemonades. A mouth-watering joy to simply browse through and an ideal reference to plan special party deserts with, "My First French Bakery" is ideal for use with children, as well as being very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Something Sweet
Miriam Pascal
ArtScroll / Shaar Press
c/o Mesorah Publications Ltd.
4401 Second Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
www.artscroll.com
9781422616154, $27.99, www.amazon.com

Miriam Pascal is the founder of OvertimeCook.com, one of the world s leading destinations for kosher recipes, with hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. In "Something Sweet: Desserts, Baked Goods, and Treats for Every Occasion" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to create a 208 page culinary compendium impressively showcasing an exceptional variety of beautifully illustrated and presented recipes for cookies and bars, cakes and cupcakes, muffins and pastries, pies and tarts, desserts and party treats, candy and chocolate, frostings and toppings, drinks and frozen treats. Thoroughly novice kitchen cook friendly in every respect, the delectable dishes range from Blueberry Muffin Cookies; Pumpkin Crumb Cake; Fruit-Filled Pastry Roses; and Braided Apple Pie; to Lemon Cheesecake Mousse Cups; Chocolate Truffles; Easy Homemake Caramel Popcorn; and Mango Peach Sorbet. Of special note is the inclusion of a Baking Guide, a Holiday Guide, and a Party Guide. "Something Sweet" is enthusiastically and highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Sausage And Jerky Makers' Bible
Eldon Russell Cutlip
Elk Mountain Products
478 Suttler Creek Road, Kooskia, ID 83539
www.dakotahsausagestuffer.com
www.sausagebooks.com
9780964492226, $38.95, 544pp, www.amazon.com

The "Sausage And Jerky Makers' Bible" by Eldon Russell Cutlip is a 544 pages compendium comprised of expert meat curing information. "Sausage And Jerky Makers' Bible" features 229 meat curing recipes, dry-cure sausage recipes, smoked sausage recipes, cooked sausage recipes, fresh sausage recipes, smoked sausage recipes, whole-muscle jerky recipes, sticky jerky recipes, ground jerky recipes, dried deer stick recipe, salami Genoa recipe, salami soppressata recipe, corned beef recipe, beef brisket bacon recipe, honey-cured bacon recipe, capicola recipe, pastrami recipes, picnic ham recipe, smoked turkey recipe, venison chopped and formed bacon recipe, venison Bresaola recipe and so more! Enhanced with hundreds of 4-color images, perfect sewn, lay-flat binding, features both Fahrenheit and Metric measurements, "Sausage And Jerky Makers' Bible" is a complete course of instruction in the do-it-yourself creation of sausages and jerky. It is interesting to note that Eldon Cutlip and wife, Karen, started their own custom sausage kitchen in Harpster, Idaho, which they operated successfully for seven years, producing some of the best custom sausage and jerky in the state. Eldon was able to compile a substantial number of recipe/formulas during that era, many of which have been included in this book. Others are from friends and bygone acquaintances. Simply stated, the "Sausage And Jerky Makers' Bible" should be a part of every personal, professional, community, and academic library food preparation instructional reference collection for the making of sausages and jerky.

The Complete Guide To Sushi & Sashimi
Jeffrey Elliot & Robby Cook
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778805205, $25.95, 306pp, www.amazon.com

Sushi is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients such as seafood, vegetables and sometimes tropical fruits. Ingredients and forms of sushi presentation vary widely, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is rice. Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy consisting of very fresh raw meat or fish sliced into thin pieces. "The Complete Guide to Sushi and Sashimi" is a hardcover, spiral bound, profusely illustrated, 306 page culinary compendium that is a complete course of instruction so carefully presented that it will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to turn out sushi and sashimi based Japanese cuisine that is restaurant quality. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Complete Guide To Sushi & Sashimi" features three major sections: The Basics (covering ingredients, equipment, and the buying/storing/butchering of fish and seafood); Sashimi (sliced raw fish and seafood); and Sushi. The recipes range from Tokyo-Style Scattered Sushi; Dry Toasted Seaweed (Nori); and Large Rolls (Futomaki); to Cucumber-Wrapped Roll; Hand Rolls (Temaki); and Shiso Ginger Stuffed Sushi (Inarizushi). Simply stated, for all Japanese cuisine enthusiasts, no personal, family, professional, or community library cookbook collection would be complete without a copy of "The Complete Guide To Sushi & Sashimi".

The New Kosher
Kim Kushner
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616289263, $35.00, www.weldonowen.com

The New Kosher: Simple Recipes to Savor & Share uses Kim Kushner's family culinary traditions and her own innovations to provide a cookbook filled with unique creations that go beyond Jewish traditions to feature fresh, seasonal and mouth-watering fare. It's a pick not just for Jewish kitchens but for any who seek cookbooks a cut above the ordinary, and it incorporates international influences in such dishes as Poisson a la Marocaine, which holds Moroccan influences and offers tips on streamlining the recipe to save time; or a Mediterranean-influenced Lentil Soup with Carrot, Lemons and Greens. Add full-page color photos of finished dishes and you have a winning presentation recommended for kosher cooks and general cooks alike!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Bleeding Scissors / The Evil Days
Bruno Fischer
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781933586809, $20.95, 280pp, www.amazon.com

The late Bruno Fischer was a master of the mystery/suspense genre in the golden age of 1950s era pulp magazines. Now for the first time Stark House Press is able to publish two of his most representative stories under one cover. "The Bleeding Scissors" and "The Evil Days" are two literary gems and will well serve, after a 40+ year absence, to introduce a whole new generation of appreciative readers to an impressively gifted storyteller at the top of his game. "The Bleeding Scissors / The Evil Days" is very highly recommended for the personal reading lists of mystery/suspense enthusiasts and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. Of special note is the cover art for "The Bleeding Scissors / The Evil Days" which is a direct reprint of the cover that artist Robert Maguire painted for the original 1955 Signet edition of "The Bleeding Scissors".

Mystery of the Missing Quilts
Jan Cerney
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781604602104, $14.95, 300pp, www.amazon.com

"Mystery of the Missing Quilts" by author Jan Cerney involves the struggle of women called upon to leave the mission to finish the call on each of their lives in their marriages, careers, and families. Their ties to one another are like Mrs. Wilkes puff quilt, intricate, yet simple. Although they will leave, it is those ties that will bring them home-to the mission. An absolutely fascinating and entertaining read from beginning to end, "Mystery of the Missing Quilts" showcases author Jan Cerney's truly impressive storytelling skills and her originality as a novelist. Highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mystery of the Missing Quilts" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.95).

Never Look Down
Warren C. Easley
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464204647, $26.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

Oregon lawyer Cal Claxton is called upon to defend a Portland tagger in a case that doesn't seem overly complicated at first, but which soon puts his first venture into private practice to the test. The ex-LA prosecutor finds more than meets the eye when he becomes involved in the tagging community in Oregon, follows a trail that leads out of the city and into rural areas, and straight into a brutal murder whose only eyewitness is tagger Kelly. Add many social issues and insights into abusive homes and struggles to survive and you have a powerful saga that's hard to put down and packed with intrigue.

Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue
Victoria Thompson
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780428278970, $25.95, www.penguin.com

Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue provides a fine gaslight mystery set in 19th century New York City at Christmas time, and revolving around newlyweds who face problems when a wealthy employer is found dead with a poor Irish girl, his wife, cradling his body, mute with horror. Una can't explain what happened so she's being charged with murder - and Mrs. O'Neill would like Frank Malloy to investigate her daughter's predicament. A complex saga replete with Victorian-era politics, social mores, murder mystery and intrigue makes for a wonderful period piece especially recommended for readers of historical mysteries.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Synchronicity
Chris Mackey
Watkins
9781780288086, $24.95, www.watkinspublishing.com

Synchronicity: Empower Your Life with the Gift of Coincidence comes from a clinical psychologist who has himself struggled with depression and emerged with new understanding of the patterns of coincidences and how they hold messages for positive change. He provides keys to recognizing the signs that let people know they're on the right life path, and he suggests how to draw on the power of intuition and dreams to invite in and enhance mystical experiences. His is not a psychology self-help guide in the true sense in that it advocates a new 'positive psychiatry' approach that invites readers to turn adversity and mental health challenges into opportunities for positive growth. The result is life-affirming and a new kind of perceptive on growth, patterns, and synchronicity.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Shamanic Transformations
Itzhak Beery
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620554753, $18.95, www.destinybooks.com

Shamanic Transformations: True Stories of the Moment of Awakening compiles works from a range of contributors who focus on shamanic awakening from a variety of sources, from ceremonies and dreams to near-death encounters, and gathers these epiphanies under one cover. The narrators come from all walks of life and evolved from different encounters to join the same shamanic path as teachers, healers, and more. Their inspirational stories seek to capture and define the moment of realization and inspiration that led to their revised lives.


The Education Shelf

Getting from Me to We
Shonna Tuck, M.A., SLP
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606132692 $24.95 www.woodbinehouse.com

Getting from Me to We: How to Help Young Children Fit In and Make Friends is a guide for parents and caregivers of young children ages 3 to 7 who have difficulty cultivating social skills, whether or not diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, language deficits, etc. are involved. Parents of socially at-risk children have more options to help than may seem apparent at first glance. Chapters explain the underlying causes of social skill delays; how to identify where one's child is developmentally on the social skills ladder; profiles of children engaging in a variety of isolating behaviors; parent-child activities to encourage foundational skills such as eye contact and social interaction; and much more. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections about parenting.

Beyond Measure
Vicki Abeles with Grace Rubenstein
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781451699234, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Beyond Measure: Rescuing An Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation comes from a 2009 documentary the author created of the same name; a film that centered around education in America and began a national grassroots movement of change. The film was the first to show that intense school environments were hurting students: the book Beyond Measure takes the discussion a step further in providing students, parents and educators with keys on how to enact changes that move beyond classrooms into life itself, discussing the measuring devices that create pressure without actually supporting standards and examining how constant competition leads not to better, smarter students, but ones who are actually harmed by the process.

Corwin Literacy
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

Releah Cossett Lent's This is Disciplinary Literacy: Reading, Writing, Thinking, and Doing... Content Area by Content Area (9781506306698, $25.95) offers an in-depth analysis on deep content expertise and creating and fostering a discipline-specific model, and is a reader for teachers who would apply key literacy to their specialties, whether it be science, math, history, or English. Chapters move from different content areas as they discuss how to blend such literacies into lesson plans and how to use projects and specific teaching strategies to create activities useful in different classrooms. The result is a discussion teachers will want to use as a framework for understanding disciplinary literacy and how it applies in classroom teachings. Yong Zhao's Never Send a Human to do a Machine's Job: Correcting the Top 5 EdTech Mistakes (9781452282572, $24.00) considers technology's potential for changing the educational process and considers why it's not transformed education more than it has. Five ways are outlined which educators can use to optimize classroom technology applications, with chapters offering specifics as well as generalities, such as how to use Pininterest as a PLN tool, connections between technology and better test scores, keys to understanding the iLearn model, and more. The result is a survey no teacher should be without, offering important insights into how education and technology can better interact, and what happens when they don't. Gravity Goldberg's Mindsets & Moves: Strategies That Help Readers take Charge (9781506314938, $33.95) is directed to educators and parents for grades 1-8 and outlines a series of reading goals and approaches designed to encourage a 'growth' mindset. It outlines a basic framework for success, offering a 4 Ms model packed with examples, lessons, strategies, and a photo tour of reading classrooms that work. Educators and homeschooler parents will find the specific discussions invaluable keys to success.


The Social Issues Shelf

We Are Market Basket
Daniel Korschun & Grant Welker
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814436653, $24.95, www.amacombooks.org

We Are Market Basket: The Story of the Unlikely Grassroots Movement That Saved a Beloved Business is labeled as a business book; but to limit its audience to business people alone would be limiting its potential: it's also about the power of grassroots movements to effect positive change. The example of this power lies in the popular New England supermarket chain Market Basket, which faced threat after a long-time CEO was ousted by his cousin. The company's workers and managers risked their jobs to reinstate their boss, holding protest rallies that were joined by customers who boycotted the stores. The events that saved Market Basket's structure and personnel are documented here in a book that takes a business change to community participation levels and documents an unprecedented event the entire country needs to learn about.

The Making of Asian America
Erika Lee
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476739403, $29.95, www.simonandschuster.com

The Making of Asian America: A History provides a powerful survey of the past fifty years of Asian Americans and their role in American life, choosing these years to profile the arrival of the first Asians in America and following them as an ethnic group to today's images. It provides a powerful focus on Asian immigrants and their American-born descendants who came here from other lands but narrows its scope to events of the past fifty years when a new force of activism and immigration has affected and changed the Asian American community. Published to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, The Making of Asian America is required reading for anyone who would understand the scope, influences and face of modern Asian America.


The Art Shelf

Benjamin West and the Struggle to be Modern
Loyd Grossman
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946412, $60.00, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Benjamin West (October 10, 1738 - March 11, 1820) was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence. He was the second president of the Royal Academy in London, serving from 1792 to 1805 and 1806 to 1820. At the time of his death Benjamin West was the most famous artist in the English-speaking world, and much admired throughout Europe. In "Benjamin West and the Struggle to be Modern", broadcaster, historian and journalist Loyd Grossman explains why Wolfe was such an instant success and why this thrilling work of art continues to exercise such a strong grip on our imaginations nearly 250 years after it was first shown to the public. Grossman situates Benjamin West in the midst of Enlightenment thinking about history and modernity, and seeks to demolish some of the prejudices about the talent and intentions of the young man from the American Pennsylvania frontier who attained such eminence at the British court. Flawlessly reproduced images of Benjamin West's art grace this impressively detailed biography throughout. A seminal work of scholarship, "Benjamin West and the Struggle to be Modern" is strongly recommended and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Art History reference collections in general, and Benjamin West individual supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

New York in Fifty Design Icons
The Design Museum & Julie Lovine
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781840916911, $20.00, www.octopusbooksusa.com

New York in Fifty Design Icons adds to a new series that examines fifty facets of art trends and designs from murals to architecture and fashion, with this book narrowing the focus to New York but widening the umbrella to include everything from buildings to logos and even parade balloons and New York subways. Images in black and white and color appear on facing pages to compliment discussions of a range of New York icons and their artistic meaning. While it might have been hoped that all the pages could have been in color, this production nonetheless is well-detailed and absorbing and highly recommended not just for general-interest arts holdings, but especially for those with a specific interest in New York.


The Music Shelf

Sounds Like Me
Sara Bareilles
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476727776, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Sounds Like Me: My Life (so far) in Song provides essays by five-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles and centers around her life as a musician and how she honed her talents and sense of self. It's a memoir so it includes far more than her musical achievements, offering up insights into how songs and lyrics are developed, her childhood and adolescence, career and personal struggles, and more. Readers with a prior familiarity with and appreciation of Sara Bareilles will find it a powerful set of impressions and candid insights about her life and times, key to understanding her world and choices.

Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'N Roll
Peter Guralnick
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316042741, $32.00, www.littlebrown.com

Casual music fans may not recognize the name of Sam Phillips, but most know his record label, Sun Records, in Memphis. This tells how one man with a small record label and big dreams churned out star after star in the likes of Johnny Cash, Ike Turner, Elvis Presley, and more, and it surveys proceedings using deep insights into the nature and psyche of Sam Phillips himself. This biography concurrently examines the similarities between the poor, country-boy singers whose records would change American popular culture, and it offers a fine examination of how much of rock 'n roll music came to be. No definitive rock music history collection should be without this.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Pete Dunne on Bird Watching, second edition
Pete Dunne
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811715768 $19.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

Now in an updated second edition, Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: Beginner's Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Enjoying Birds is a reader-friendly guide for prospective and practicing birdwatchers of all backgrounds. Author Pete Dunne is the birding ambassador with the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory, and has shared his extensive experience in the joy of observing feathered friends in numerous articles and books. Pete Dunne on Bird Watching is a general-purpose guide, explaining in plain terms the fundamentals of birding a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques to make the most of it, and an invaluable final chapter about ethics and responsibilities. "[When a bird is lured out with recordings of birdsongs] they are not able to apply their energy more productively - by attracting a mate, foraging, or being vigilant for real threats. Repeated use of playbacks by multiple individuals targeting individual birds compounds these deleterious effects... Until more is known about recorded playbacks and their effects, and until guidelines are established, the prudent action for individual birders to take is no action. Leave the gadgetry at home and enjoy birds on their terms." Highly recommended!

Deer, Elk & Moose: Grand and Majestic Creatures
Stan Tekiela
Adventure Publications
820 Cleveland Street South
Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9781591934592 $14.95 www.amazon.com

Illustrated with masterful, full-color photography on virtually every page, Deer, Elk & Moose: Grand and Majestic Creatures is a wonder-inducing glimpse into world and life cycle of these noble and beautiful creatures. Deer, Elk & Moose is not a hunting guide (though it does not condemn hunting when practiced responsibly); it is a visual showcase of these animals grazing, running, courting, raising their young, and more. The informative text teaches the reader about the natural history of these animals, emphasizing that only habitat conservation will ensure that they grace the future. "Management of our large animals greatly favors White-tailed Deer. Nearly all monies are assigned to increase deer populations for hunters, with little allocated to benefit elk and moose. I believe we are neglecting these larger cousins of deer." Highly recommended.

North American Hummingbirds: An Identification Guide
George C. West
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
9780826337672 $24.95 www.unmpress.com

Illustrated with full color artwork or photographs on virtually every page, North American Hummingbirds: An Identification Guide is a gorgeous, user-friendly reference and resource. Featuring detailed descriptions of humming birds by species, gender, and age, as well as information about migration habits, courtship/nesting, and more North American Hummingbirds: An Identification Guide is especially recommended for birdwatchers and anyone curious to better know these amazingly beautiful and energetic avians. Even casual birders will enjoy browsing the strikingly beautiful photos of hummingbirds a-wing! A list of references and an index round out this excellent guide.

Please Don't Bite the Baby (And Please Don't Chase the Dogs)
Lisa J. Edwards
Seal Press
1700 - 4th Street, Berkeley, California 94710
9781580055772, $16.00, www.sealpress.com

Please Don't Bite the Baby (And Please Don't Chase the Dogs): Keeping Our Kids and Our Dogs Safe and Happy Together is a highly recommended pick for any family where small children and dogs co-exist, and comes from a dog trainer who tells how to keep animals and kids safe. Over four million dog bites occur in the U.S. annually, and over half are to children under the age of eight. Most come from a family pet. These statistics alone should indicate that dog/child relationships are something to cultivate carefully and shouldn't be tossed together. The author's own focus on successfully integrating her pets and child makes for a discussion of training techniques and options, advice for pet owners, and tips on how to keep animal and child safe during the process of family adjustments. Every parent who contemplates a new child or a pet in the house should have this guide.


The Sports Shelf

Social Issues In Sport, third edition
Ronald B. Woods
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781450495202, $104.00, 536pp, www.amazon.com

Ronald B. Woods is an Adjunct Professor of Health Science and Human Performance at the University of Tampa. He was a Professor of Physical Education and Men's Tennis Coach at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for 17 years where he was inducted into their athletic Hall of Fame. Professor Woods has more than 40 years of experience as an educator, coach, and sport administrator. Now in this fully updated and expanded third edition of "Social Issues In Sport", Professor Woods draws upon his years of experience and expertise to address common questions and issues about sport and its relationship to society. From such basic questions as to what is sport and why it should be studied; to the scope and effect of sport including participants versus spectators, business, and the media; to sport as an institutions; to sport and culture. Of special note are the chapters on the Olympic Movement; Religion and Sport; Politics and Sport; Violence and Rule Breaking in Sport; and Future Trends in Sport. Enhanced with the inclusion of a four page Glossary; a twenty-two page list of References; and an eight page Index, "Social Issues In Sport" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Sports & Athletics reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Who's Better, Who's Best in Coaching?
Steve Silverman
Sports Publishing
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
9781613217641 $16.99 www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Award-winning sports journalist Steve Silverman presents Who's Better, Who's Best in Coaching? Setting the Record Straight on the Top 50 NFL Coaches in History, a collection of fifty biographical essays about the greatest coaches of the National Football League, from modern times to the NFL's earliest beginnings. Which coaches had the most outstanding tactical skills? Who among them was best behind the scenes, and who had the keenest grasp of offense and defense? An index rounds out this fascinating and thoroughly accessible browse of exceptional leaders, highly recommended for football fans!

Food Guide For Women's Soccer
Gloria Averbuch & Nancy Clark
Meyer & Meyer Sport
c/o Cardinal Publishers Group
2402 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
www.cardinalpub.com
9781782550518, $18.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of women's soccer enthusiast Gloria Averbuch and Nancy Clark (a registered dietitian who specializes in nutrition for sports performance), "Food Guide For Women's Soccer: Tips & Recipes From The Pros" is a handy "how-to" food guide that directly addresses the nutrition questions and concerns of soccer athletes of all ages and abilities to help them achieve success with energy to spare. The "Food Guide for Soccer" is a 255 page compendium offering practical tips, nutrition myths debunking, and is a simple "how-to" resource for soccer players, their coaches and parents. Informed and informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Food Guide For Women's Soccer" is very highly recommended for school, community, and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Food Guide For Women's Soccer" is also available in a Kindle edition ($18.00).


The Poetry Shelf

The Different War
Michael Miller
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612481395, $16.95, www.amazon.com

"The Different War" is a 70 page compendium showcasing the poetry of Michael Miller whose poetry has appeared The New Republic, The Kenyon Review, Ontario Review, The Sewanee Review, Raritan, The Yale Review, The Southern Review, and other publications. The theme of this particular anthology the stress and aftermath of war, those who fought and those who loved them. Each compelling and articulate poem is a literary gem and this particular anthology is very highly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary American Poetry collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Different War" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99). The Pilot: Staggering from the fuselage wrapped in flame, / He imagined a burning cocoon, / Then collapsed in the jungle in Vietnam, / Hist eyes closed upon the charred remains / Of what had been his glory. // today, his photograph rests upon / A Mantelpiece in Knoxville, / And his grandson, / Peering through his night-vision goggles, / Hunts the Taliban / In the mountains of Afghanistan.


The Gaming Shelf

Tips On Competitive Bidding
Mike Lawrence
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5M 1H2
www.masterpointpress.com
9781771400213, $19.95, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Mike Lawrence has Bridge Hall of Fame credentials both as a player and a writer. An original member of the Dallas Aces, he has won three world titles and eighteen national titles. Several of his books are widely regarded as classics of the game. In "Tips On Competitive Bidding" he draws upon his more than twenty years of experience and expertise to once again compile "Tips On Competitive Bidding" drawn from his original series of short instructional pamphlets specifically written for intermediate players with advice on various aspects of bidding and card play. Long unavailable, this material has now been revised, updated, and republished for the benefit of a new generation of dedicated bridge enthusiasts. "Tips On Competitive Bidding" covers Overcalls; overcalling in a Fou-card Suite at the One-level; Responding to an Overcall; Responsive Doubles; The Takeout Double; Responding to a Takeout Double; Bidding Against an Opening 1NT; Bidding over Preempts; Balancing; and Penalty Doubles. Simply stated, "Tips On Competitive Bidding" is essential reading for the novice bridge player and has a great deal of value for even the more experienced player. "Tips On Competitive Bidding" is very highly recommended for personal and community library bridge card gaming instructional reference collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Only with Blood
Therese Down
Lion Fiction
c/o Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregelpublications.com
9781782641353, $14.99, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Set in Ireland, "Only with Blood" is the story of Jack Flynn, strong and aggressive but slowly dying of tuberculosis on his farm in Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland, who has decided to acquire by purchase a young wife who can bear him sons to inherit his family's land. His choice, Caitlin Spillane, is less than half his age, attractive and intelligent, and resents bitterly the obedience that is forced upon her. When a young firebrand, a supporter of the IRA, arrives in the village, he and Caitlin are drawn together in their detestation of Flynn. Flynn, traumatized by his own insurgent IRA experiences twenty years earlier, is secretly convinced that Eamonn de Valera's more diplomatic, peaceful approach to Ireland's problems is the only sane one. Could Caitlin be won for the cause, and leave her unloved husband? Set against the struggle for the heart of Ireland in the Second World War, when the IRA notoriously sought assistance from the Nazis, "Only with Blood" deftly explores flawed characters placed in extraordinary situations. A fully absorbing read from beginning to end, "Only with Blood" is very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections where it is certain to be an enduringly popular title. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Only with Blood" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).

The Hot Spurs
Boyd Cassidy
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444825343, $20.99, 192pp, www.amazon.com

When the riders of the Bar 10 run up against an escaped prisoner and his ruthless gang, they find themselves in deep trouble. Bret Jarvis and his henchmen are heading to Mexico, where men of the Circle J ranch have returned from a profitable cattle drive - making them sitting targets for a raid. But Gene Adams and his Bar 10 cowboys are soon in hot pursuit -- all they need to do is stop the outlaws before they reach the border. "The Hot Spurs" is gun-blazing shoot-out western action/adventure at its very best and clearly documents author Boyd Cassidy as a expert storyteller and a true master of the genre. This large print edition of "The Hot Spurs" is particularly recommended and will prove to be a popular addition to any community library Western Fiction collection.

Smoky Range
E. E. Halleran
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785410109, $29.99, 264pp, www.amazon.com

A riveting read from beginning to end, "Smoky Range" by E. E. Halleran is the story of Frank Burdick who came home to the Big Hole Basin as a freshly graduated doctor intending to set up in the practice of medicine only to be held up at gunpoint on his very first day, involved in a three-way fistfight, and to discover that his uncle had been murdered. It seems Frank's expertise with a gun would prove to be every bit as necessary as his skill with a scalpel. "Smoky Range" will prove to be an enduringly popular read with western action/adventure fans and this large print edition is especially recommended for community library Western Fiction collections.

Coffin Ranch
Walt Coburn
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785410123, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Walt Coburn was a master of the action/adventure western genre. His stories appeared in virtually every important Western magazine and became the standard by which other Western fiction was judged. Now in a large print, 319 page, paperback edition, three of his most important short stories are anthologized in "Coffin Ranch" for a new generation of appreciative readers. Included are 'He Rides Alone'; 'The Badlands Buckaroo', and the title piece, 'Coffine Ranch' This last story is based on the notorious bandit gang called the Wild Bunch -- some of whom Walt Coburn knew personally. A riveting read from beginning to end, "Coffine Ranch" is very highly recommended for all western novel enthusiasts and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections.


The Interior Design Shelf

HomeMade Modern
Ben Uyeda
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762455072, $24.00, 216pp, www.amazon.com

Boston resident Ben Uyeda is a designer, lecturer, and co-founder of HomeMade-Modern.com, FreeGreen.com, and ZeroEnergy Design. In 2010, he won the U.S. Green Building Council's Natural Talent Design Competition by creating affordable green home designs for the New Orleans' Broadmoor neighborhood as part of the rebuilding effort following Hurricane Katrina. In "HomeMade Modern: Smart DIY Designs for a Stylish Home" he brings to bear his years of experience and expertise to showcase 30 impressive do-it-yourself furniture building projects that are solidly built and environmentally sustainable pieces using real materials like metal, wood, concrete, and other recycled ready-mades. The projects comprising "HomeMade Modern" don't require special skills, prior experience, or even a garage full of tools. "HomeMade Modern" will walk you step-by-step through the process of making furniture, from where to buy the materials (or where to scavenge!) to how to make the most of the tools you own. All you need is a sense of adventure to make furniture that looks amazing and that you can actually afford. As much fun to browse through as it is 'user friendly' to apply, "HomeMade Modern" is very highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Interior Design instructional reference collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "HomeMade Modern" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out, second edition
Mick Napier, author
With a foreword by Stephen Colbert
Meriwether Publishing
c/o Pioneer Drama Service
PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155-4267
9781566081986 $19.95 www.meriwether.com

Award-winning director and experienced improv instructor Mick Napier presents Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out, now in an expanded and revised second edition with additional tips, tricks, and techniques as well as a full reproduction of Napier's web journal from his time directing "Paradigm Lost" for The Second City. Chapters teach the reader about the oft-misunderstood art of improvisation - creating performance art (comedy, drama, or what-have-you) on the spot with no script, whether by oneself or as part of a group. Topics covered include how to use context to one's advantage, two-person scenes, balanced large-cast scenes, advice for successful auditioning, solo exercises one can practice at home, and much more. Actors of all walks of life (whether their primary venue is improv-heavy or not) will directly benefit from Napier's expertise; comedian and talk show host Stephen Colbert certainly did, as he testifies in a brief yet hilarious foreword!

Writers
Barry Gifford
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
9781609806491 $18.00 www.sevenstories.com

Writers is a compendium of short plays about famous, real-life writers. Each play is loosely based upon events in a writers' life, although in author Barry Gifford's own words "I've taken liberties, certainly, with what in several cases has passed for biographical information. The facts are to be found in what they wrote". In the plays, a drunk-off-his-hiney Ernest Hemingway sets explosive trip wires about his Cuban home; Marcel Proust makes an impassioned plea to the angel of death as Arthur Rimbaud lies delirious and dying; Albert Camus speaks to a young prostitute while gazing at his own reflection in a mirror; and more. Eyebrow-raising, tongue-in-cheek, insightful, and memorable, Writers is highly recommended. (It should be noted that all plays are protected under copyright law and subject to royalty governing any performances, including but not limited to amateur performance and public reading. Performance inquiries may be addressed to the author's agent Matthew Snyder at the Creative Artists Agency, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067).


The Military Shelf

United States Navy & Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia, and History Vol. 2
Michael J. Crowder
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764347559 $59.99 www.schifferbooks.com

United States Navy & Marine Corps Aviation Squadron Lineage, Insignia, and History Vol. 2 specifically focuses upon marine scout-bomber, torpedo-bomber, bombing and attack squadrons. Exhaustively researched, and illustrated with a wealth of both vintage black-and-white and modern color photographs (many of which have never previously been published), this volume offers an extensive analysis of these marine attack squadrons through the decades, yet is written to be thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended for military history scholars and casual browsers alike.


The American History Shelf

Lincoln, the Law, and Presidential Leadership
Charles M. Hubbard, editor
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334544 $34.50 www.siupress.com

Lincoln, the Law, and Presidential Leadership is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors examining the influence of American law on Lincoln's presidency, and vice versa. History records that the American Civil War, a crisis that posed an existential threat to the Union, caused President Lincoln to expand his power in unprecedented ways destined to transform society. Individual writings include "Abraham Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Wartime", "The Quality of Mercy: Abraham Lincoln and the Presidential Power to Pardon", "Lincoln and the Potter Congressional Committee Concerning the Loyalty of Government Employees", and much more. An index rounds out this insightful and erudite addition to American legal and political history collections. Highly recommended, especially for public and college libraries.


The World History Shelf

Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine
Nathan N. Prefer
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
9781612003221 $32.95 www.casematepublishers.com

Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine: The Battles for the Colmar Pocket, 1944-45 scrutinizes a lesser-known campaign from the closing days of World War II. After the success of the Normandy invasion, as well as the expulsion of German forces from northern France and most of the Low Countries, a fierce pocket of German resistance around the city of Colmar continued to frustrate Allied forces. This last-ditch holdout was so fierce that in January of 1945, President Eisenhower said to George Marshall, "It is a very bad thorn in our side today." Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine examines this military juncture from all perspectives; chapters describe in detail the military strategies utilized and their repercussions, as well as the hardships and bravery of troops pressed to their limit on both sides. Extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this scholarly military history, highly recommended especially for public and college library World War II collections.

Islamic History through Coins
Jere L. Bacharach
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018-2729
9789774249303 $34.95 hc / $24.72 Kindle www.aucpress.com

Jere L. Bacharach (Professor Emeritus of International Studies and Professor Emeritus of Middle East History, the University of Washington, Seattle) presents Islamic History through Coins: An Analysis and Catalogue of Tenth-Century Ikhshidid Coinage, a scholarly scrutiny of what numismatics (the study of ancient coins) reveals about the Islamic civilizations of a thousand years ago. Half of Islamic History through Coins details with what has been learned from studying coins from during and after the reign of Muhammad ibn Tughj al-Ihkshid (323-358/935-969); half is a catalog of over 1,200 coin specimens, designed to help curators, collectors, and dealers identify and evaluate the rarity of coins in their own collections. Black-and-white photographs of various coins enhance this superbly written, engagingly presented, and highly recommended contribution to college library history, archaeology, and numismatics collections.

A History of Civilization in 50 Disasters
Gale Eaton, author
Phillip Hoose, series editor
Tilbury House, Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, ME 04861
9780884483830 $24.95 hc
9780884484899 $16.95 pbk www.tilburyhouse.com

Illustrated with sobering images and photographs on almost every page, many of them in full color, A History of Civilization in 50 Disasters (part of the "History in 50" series) is an extraordinary tour of catastrophes that have changed the course of human history over the past millennia. Entries summarize the Vesuvius eruption that buried Pompeii; to the depopulation of Europe due to the Black Death, to the 1923 Kanto Earthquake that prompted the Japanese people to massacre Koreans, Chinese, and even northern Japanese in search of a scapegoat; and much more. Thoroughly accessible to young adult and adult readers alike, A History of Civilization in 50 Disasters is at once fascinating, edifying, and horrifying. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections.


The Civil War Shelf

A Connecticut Yankee at War
Robert Grandchamp
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455620777 $24.95 www.pelicanpub.com

A Connecticut Yankee at War: The Life and Letters of George Lee Gaskell gathers the war correspondence of George Lee Gaskell, a white commissioned lieutenant who served in the United States Colored Troops during the American Civil War. He was assigned to garrison duty in Louisiana, and eventually mustered out in the fall of 1865. His writing speak of fighting a deadly guerilla war in the southern bayou; diseases that ravaged the troops; and bitter knowledge that Southern troops would not take him prisoner if he were to be captured - the South was well-known for its cold-blooded murder of both African-American troops and the white officers who commanded them. Gaskell would eventually grow to love the land of Louisiana, fall in love with the daughter of a French businessman, and spend most of the rest of his life in the South. A Connecticut Yankee at War is a vivid primary source, and enthusiastically recommended for both personal and public library Civil War collections.

A Want Of Vigilance
Bill Backus & Robert Orrison
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611213003, $14.95, 170pp, www.amazon.com

The Bristoe Campaign was a series of minor battles fought in Virginia during October and November 1863, in the American Civil War. Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, commanding the Union Army of the Potomac, began to maneuver in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Lee countered with a turning movement, which caused Meade to withdraw his army back toward Centreville. Lee struck at Bristoe Station on October 14, but suffered losses in two brigades and withdrew. As Meade followed south once again, the Union army smashed a Confederate defensive bridgehead at Rappahannock Station on November 7 and drove Lee back across the Rapidan River. Along with the infantry battles, the cavalry forces of the armies fought at Auburn on October 13, again at Auburn on October 14, and at Buckland Mills on October 19. The Confederates had not achieved their primary objectives of bringing on a decisive battle or preventing the Federal reinforcement of the Western Theater, and Lee and his officers were much demoralized by this failure. "A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, October 9 19, 1863" is the collaborative work of Civil War historians Bill Backus & Robert Orrison and details one of the key campaigns of the American Civil War. Profusely illustrated throughout, "A Want Of Vigilance" as a compelling read and a very highly recommended contribution to both community and academic library American Civil War reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Want Of Vigilance" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

The Aftermath of Battle
Meg Groeling
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611211894 $14.95 www.savasbeatie.com

Part of the "Emerging Civil War Series" designed to make the history of the American Civil War accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Aftermath of Battle: The Burial of the Civil War Dead examines how the remains of those who fell in the battles of the Civil War were treated. In the short term, bodies were often hastily interred in an attempt to preempt stench and disease; eventually, families labored to have the bodies of their loved ones reclaimed and buried in established cemeteries. Writer, teacher, and curriculum developer Meg Groeling walks readers through the somber process and the aftermath of battle. Black-and-white photography on virtually ever page illustrates this sober, serious-minded, and thorough accounting of a lesser-discussed aspect of the Civil War. The Aftermath of Battle is especially recommended for both public and college library Civil War history shelves.


The Psychology Shelf

Star Wars Psychology
Travis Langley, editor
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781454917366 $14.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com

Travis Langley (professor of psychology, Henderson State University) presents Star Wars Psychology: Dark Side of the Mind, an anthology of scholarly essays by expert contributors discussing the psychological ramifications within one of the most popular science fiction franchises worldwide. Not only can Star Wars help illustrate examples of psychological theory and practice; psychology can also help Star Wars fans better understand the motivations of its celebrated characters. How does limb amputation and neuroprosthesis (i.e. Luke Skywalker's artificial hand) affect the brain? Can robots truly feel pain or mental anguish? What is the intersection between anxiety disorder and a person's transition between common precepts of "evil" and "good"? An index rounds out this fascinating collection, ideal for psychology students and Star Wars fans alike. Also highly recommended is Langley's "The Walking Dead Psychology: Psych of the Living Dead" (9781454917052, $14.95), which applies the same intellectual treatment to the zombie horror television show and media franchise "The Walking Dead".


The Fishing Shelf

Trout Streams of Central New York
J. Michael Kelly
Burford Books, Inc.
101 East State Street, #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801782 $18.95 www.burfordbooks.com

Interspersed with helpful maps and occasional black-and-white photography, Trout Streams of Central New York: Locations, Strategies, and Techniques for All Anglers is a detailed guide featuring descriptions of over 100 trout streams and rivers in 18 counties in central New York. Written by award-winning outdoors columnist J. Michael Kelly, Trout Streams of Central New York is a "must-have" for avid fisherman who reside in or plan to visit the area. Trout Streams of Central New York is as extensive as it is user-friendly, and highly recommended.


The Travel Shelf

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781743607459 $14.99 www.lonelyplanet.com

Illustrated with eye-catching photography throughout, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016 strives to answer a hotly debated topic - what are the best destinations for travel worldwide? Compiled in one volume are the staff picks for the top 10 countries, regions, cities, and travel lists (including "most accessible destinations", "best burger experiences", "best places to elope" and much more). A "must-browse" for those undecided on their ultimate vacation destination, and also a treasury for armchair travelers, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016 lives up its title and is highly recommended.

The Bible on Location
Julie Baretz
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor
Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
9780827612228 $19.95 www.jewishpub.org

The Bible on Location: Off the Beaten Path in Ancient & Modern Israel lives up to its title as a guide to twenty-one off-the-beaten-path sites in Israel that were where stories in the Bible are believed to have taken place. Each site is presented with color photographs, a recounting of the connected biblical tale, and extensive commentary. Author Julie Baretz is an experienced tour guide who brings biblical stories from centuries past to life, as well as offering thoughtful reflections on the tales grounded in history, archaeology, academic scholarship, and rabbinic literature. A different type of tour guide, The Bible on Location is an excellent supplement for tourists and pilgrims, and also makes an unforgettable gift for armchair travelers. (It should be noted that general information about lodging, restaurants, etc. in Israel is mostly left to other guides; The Bible on Location is exclusively focused on these historic sites and their biblical stories).


The Philosophy Shelf

The Princess Bride and Philosophy
Edited by Richard Greene and Rachel Robison-Greene
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812699142 $19.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Part of the "Popular Culture and Philosophy" series, The Princess Bride and Philosophy is an anthology of essays by scholarly authors contemplating a beloved fantasy-romance novel, which was in turn adapted into a classic movie. Highlights from the movie, such as the deadly Battle of Wits, the relentless avenger's fury of Inigo Montoya, and more have become embedded in the popular consciousness. But how could Westley be considered a "good guy" when he killed so many innocent people? Why is it expected that "Men of Action" don't lie? Is it truly appropriate revenge for the punishment to fit the crime? These brief yet thoughtful writings explore hidden dimensions of "The Princess Bride" with philosophical rigor; connoisseurs of the source material will be especially delighted. Also highly recommended is "Downton Abbey and Philosophy" (9780812699036, $19.95), an anthology of essays about the popular television series showcasing upper and lower classes of English society during the era of the First World War.


The Automotive Shelf

1001 Drag Racing Facts
Doug Boyce
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781613251911 $24.95 www.cartechbooks.com

Drag racing is a sport where automobiles or motorcycles, usually custom prepared and often two at a time, compete to reach the finish line first in a burst of all-out speed. Illustrated with occasional black-and-white photography, 1001 Drag Racing Facts: The Golden Age of Top Fuel, Funny Cars, Door Slammers & More lives up to its title as an amazing composite of drag racing trivia, from the 1950's to the 1980's. Whether one is nostalgic for the drag races of memory, a fan of the immensely powerful drag cars of the 50's-80's, or a diehard trivia buff, 1001 Drag Racing Facts is as fun to browse as it is edifying. "Pennsylvania's York U.S. 30 became the first track to make use of reaction-time clocks when Chrondek wired up a set on July 9, 1966. The clocks quickly became a standard feature across the nation and the decision maker when arguments arose as to one's driving abilities." Also enthusiastically recommended for automobile afficionados everywhere is Matt Stone's "Exotic Barn Finds" (9781613252024, $24.95), an amazing compilation of more than 25 automotive "barn finds" that historian Matt Stone discovered, all of which are cherished, imported sports cars from the days of yore.


The Parenting Shelf

Your Personal Parenting Guide
Charlotte E. Thompson
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620230350, $14.95, 144pp, www.amazon.com

In "Your Personal Parenting Guide: Infant and Childcare Wisdom from a Top Pediatrician", Dr. Charlotte E. Thompson draws upon her 50 years of expertise and experience to provide parents with answers to commonly encountered questions. Impressively well written, organized and presented for the benefit of the non-specialist general reader, "Your Personal Parenting Guide" covers everything a parent might worry about, including caring for children with special needs, helping older siblings feel included when a new baby arrives, and so much more. Very highly recommended for community library Parenting instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Your Personal Parenting Guide" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.49).

Stress-Free Potty Training, second edition
Sara Au and Peter L. Stavinoha, Ph.D.
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814436660 $14.95 www.amacombooks.org

Now in an updated second edition with brand new "Universal Strategies", updated techniques for confronting common potty training obstacles, useful apps/websites, and more, Stress-Free Potty Training: A Commonsense Guide to Finding the Right Approach for Your Child is a user-friendly guide for parents and caretakers. The techniques provided are flexible, designed to be tailored to a wide variety of children, including children who are stubborn, impulsive, clinging to diapers, nervous about making the change, or just late bloomers. "If you suspect your child is constipated, contact your child's primary care provider. Depending on the time frame and symptoms, the doctor may suggest changes in your child's diet, such as adding a cup of prune, pear, or apple juice (100 percent fruit) or adding foods with higher amounts of fiber... Reducing your child's intake of other foods, particularly dairy products, such as cow's milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream, may also help." An index rounds out this "must-have" for parents and caregivers confronting the crucially important developmental milestone that is potty training!

Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Mary A. Hardin-Jones, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Kathy L. Chapman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Nancy J. Scherer, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606132104 $21.95 www.woodbinehouse.com

Orofacial clefts are one of the most common birth defects, observed in roughly 1 every 600-700 births. Children with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Parents' Guide to Early Speech-Language Development and Treatment is a "reader-friendly" resource written especially for parents of all backgrounds, and presumes no familiarity with medical or therapeutic terminology; all technical words are defined as they are introduced. Chapters instruct the reader about cleft lip and palate and other syndromes that commonly interfere with speech and language development in young children. Topics covered include feeding a baby with cleft palate, [oral] surgery and dental care, boosting speech and language development, special concerns if one's child was internationally adopted, and much more. Children with Cleft Lip and Palate is highly recommended for both personal and public library parenting collections. "Observe your baby and determine the times of day when he is most vocal. Take advantage of those times and plan your language stimulation activities accordingly. You may notice that your baby is more vocal in some positions than others."


The Biography Shelf

White Eskimo
Stephen R. Bown
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780306822827 $27.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

White Eskimo: Knud Rasmussen's Fearless Journey into the Heart of the Arctic is the true-life story of university drop-out, opera singer, and dinner party connoisseur Knud Rasmussen (1879-1933), highlighting Rasmussen's three years of travel across Greenland and the plains of Alaska. Danish and Inuit by blood, and an adventurer at heart, Rasmussen survived blizzards, traced migrations routes, and documented ancient ways of life in remote regions; his journey was the longest dogsled expedition in history up to that time. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes on sources, and an index round out this fascinating true-life story of a dedicated explorer who contributed enormously to human knowledge and understanding. White Eskimo is highly recommended, especially for public and college library biography collections.

George Whitefield Chadwick: An American Composer Revealed
Marianne Betz
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576472132 $38.00 www.pendragonpress.com

George Whitefield Chadwick: An American Composer Revealed is a detailed biography of American composer, organist, and conductor George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931)., who served as director of the New England Conservatory in Boston. Chadwick was a prolific musical genius in his day, yet his life and musical works were almost forgotten for decades, until their recent revival sparked growing public interest. Documented with a wealth of personal papers, this biography reveals Chadwick's career, social networks, role models, musical ideals, and aesthetics. Occasional black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful, heavily researched, and elegantly presented life story of a dedicated composer.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

A Job-Seeker's Guide to Careers in Market Research
James T. Heisler, PhD
Paramount Market Publishing, Inc.
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781941688311 $34.95 www.paramountbooks.com

Author James T. Heisler, PhD (a 40-year veteran of the market research industry) presents A Job-Seeker's Guide to Careers in Market Research, a reader-friendly, practical-minded reference and resource for aspirants to this challenging and rewarding line of work. "The field is no longer dominated by surveys and focus groups. Big Data and social media have created a virtual 'fire hose' of information about what people are doing and saying that must be taken into consideration. To an increasing degree the focus for marketers will be on integrating these different data streams." Chapters describe the evolving industry of market research, how to prepare for entry into the field, the processes of getting hired, career progression paths, and much more. An extensive list of career information resources and a glossary of terminology common to the world of market research rounds out this "must-read" for anyone considering the field. Highly recommended!


The Biology Shelf

Neurogenesis
Edited by Fred H. Gage, Gerd Kempermann, and Hongjun Song
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard
Woodbury NY 11797-2924
9781621820741 $135.00 www.cshlpress.com

Written and edited by accredited experts, Neurogenesis is part of the "Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology" series. Intended for advanced students and scholars, Neurogenesis is an anthology of essays discussing cutting-edge discoveries about mammalian neurogenesis - the creation of neurons (nerve cells) from neural stem cells and progenitor cells. Neurogenesis is most active during prenatal development, but is known to occur at other stages of life as well. Individual writings include "In Vitro Models for Neurogenesis", "Diversity of Neural Precursors in the Adult Mammalian Brain", "Control of Cell Survival in Adult Mammalian Neurogenesis", "Computational Modeling of Adult Neurogenesis", "Epilepsy and Adult Neurogenesis", "Adult Neurogenesis: An Evolutionary Perspective", and much more. Notes, charts, diagrams (occasionally in color) and an index round out this detailed and highly technical compilation, especially recommended for graduate school library collections and the personal study of research biologists.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Constitution of the United States of America: A Contextual Analysis
Mark Tushnet
Hart Publishing
www.hartpub.co.uk
An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
c/o International Specialized Book Services (dist.)
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97213
www.isbs.com
9781849466042 $25.00 pbk / $9.99 Kindle www.amazon.com

Part of the "Constitutional Systems of the World" series, The Constitution of the United States of America: A Contextual Analysis is an in-depth scrutiny of America's constitution, penned by author Mark Tushnet (the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law at Harvard Law School). The (often contentious!) history and currently interpreted meaning of every line of the U.S. Constitution is dissected and discussed at length. Chapters note two prevailing themes about the U.S. Constitution: first, it is old, brief, and very difficult to amend. Second, it creates a structure of political opportunities that allows political actors, including but not limited to political parties, to advance their chosen policy goals. The structure of national government, federalism, judicial review, and individual rights are also considered in this scholarly resource, worthy of the highest recommendation for public and college library judicial studies shelves.


The Mythology Shelf

Tarpeia: Workings of a Roman Myth
Tara S. Welch
Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1002
9780814212813 $68.95 hc
9780814293867 $14.95 CD-ROM www.ohiostatepress.org

Tarpeia: Workings of a Roman Myth is a scholarly examination of a legend dating to the foundation of Rome. According to the saga, the men of Rome needed wives to bear children and perpetuate their civilization; when the men of the neighboring Sabine tribe refused to let their daughters marry the Romans, the Romans abducted Sabine women to become their wives. This sparked a war with the Sabines, and during the war Tarpeia, the daughter of a Roman general, betrayed Rome to the Sabines in exchange for what the Sabines "wore on their left arms." Tarpeia allegedly craved the Sabines' golden jewelry, but the Sabines also bore their shields on their left arms; they crushed her to death with their shields, and her body was hurled from Tarpeian Rock, a place that became an execution site for Roman traitors. Author Tara S. Welch (Professor and Chair of Classics, University of Kansas) explores how the myth of Tarpeia was retold and used among centuries of Roman history, drawing upon a variety of sources including Latin and Greek texts. Welch reveals that the Tarpeian myth was inextricably Roman, and strikingly constant (as opposed to myths from the Greek city-states, which were as changeable as the city-states themselves). A bibliography, an index, and a brief list of other traitorous women from the era's mythology round out this thoughtful study of what Tarpeia's myth conveys about ethics, gender, ethnicity, political authority, language, conquest, and tradition. Tarpeia: Workings of a Romany Myth is highly recommended especially for public and college library mythology collections.


The Journalism Shelf

ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire
Travis Vogan
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252081224 $19.95 www.press.uillinois.edu

ESPN: The Making of a Sports Media Empire is the true story of how ESPN evolved from a spit-and-sticks operation utilizing plywood sets and covering Australian rules football into a gigantic sports media conglomerate. The network's strengths included cross-promotion and rapport with viewers, to the extent that it practically became the trend-setter and curator of modern sports history. Author Travis Vogan (assistant professor of Journalism and Mass Communication and American Studies, University of Iowa) draws upon both archival research and a wealth of interviews to assemble the definitive chronicle of ESPN's meteoric rise. Notes, an extensive bibliography, and an index rounds out this welcome addition to public and college library journalism and media studies shelves.


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