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Reviewer's Choice
Helping the Disabled Veteran
Joanna Romer
MSI Press
1760-F Airline Hwy, #203, Hollister, CA 950243
http://msipress.com
9781942891789, $14.95, PB, 124pp, www.amazon.com
"Helping the Disabled Veteran: How to Assist Your Disabled Veteran's Adjustment to Civilian
Life" by Joanna Romer suggests 'real world practical' ways to assist disabled veterans leaving the
military and trying to integrate back into mainstream society in spite of their disabilities. The
chapters comprising "Helping the Disabled Veteran" contain recommendations, suggestions, and
practical suggestions, based on a large number of wide-ranging interviews with disabled veterans
about their experiences after returning from war. Impressively informative, thoughtful and
thought-provoking, "Helping the Disabled Veteran" should be a part of every community,
college, and university library collection in the country, just as there are disabled American
military veterans in every village, town, and city in this nation. "Helping the Disabled Veteran" is
especially and unreservedly commended to the attention of all family members and employers of
a disabled veteran.
Famous Kentucky Flavors
Cameron M. Ludwick & Blair Thomas Hess
Indiana University Press
Office of Scholarly Publishing
Herman B Wells Library 350, 1320 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405-3907
www.iupress.indiana.edu
9780253039255, $15.00, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
The state of Kentucky has a rich tradition of good eating with such famous classics as fried
chicken and bourbon balls, as well as less well-known Bluegrass mainstays like spoonbread,
burgoo, and Derby pie. There's nothing worse than pulling off the road for a tasty bite and being
confronted with a less than appetizing meal instead. Veteran road trippers Cameron Ludwick and
Blair Thomas Hess are on a mission to help the traveler in Kentucky to ditch the dives and find
the best of authentic cafes, restaurants, and food related community events. They have traveled
the state and mapped out the best local foods, festivals, and flavors. From their trek to the Beer
Cheese Festival in Winchester to the Hot Brown Hop in Louisville, these gals know the best
places to eat and want to take you along for the ride in Famous Kentucky Flavors. Along the way,
the traveler benefitting from "Famous Kentucky Flavors" can visit all the classics and will also be
introduced to some more unusual fare, including lamb fries, Benedictine spread, and barbecued
mutton. Plan your own lip-smacking road trip from bourbon balls to burgoo with Famous
Kentucky Flavors. A unique, profusely illustrated, and original food based travel guide, it you are
visiting or simply live anywhere in the state of Kentucky, then treat yourself to a copy of Famous
Kentucky Flavors!
I Am a Stranger Here Myself
Debra Gwartney
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
www.unmpress.com
9780826360717, $24.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
Debra Gwartney is the author of Live Through This: A Mother's Memoir of Runaway Daughters
and Reclaimed Love and the coeditor of Home Ground: A Guide to the American Landscape.
She teaches in Pacific University's MFA in Writing program and lives in Western Oregon. Part
history, part memoir, in the pages of "I Am a Stranger Here Myself" she deftly taps into
dimensions of human yearning: the need to belong, the snarl of family history, and embracing
womanhood in the patriarchal American West. Gwartney becomes fascinated with the missionary
Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, the first Caucasian woman to cross the Rocky Mountains and one of
fourteen people killed at the Whitman Mission in 1847 by Cayuse Indians. Whitman's role as a
white woman drawn in to "settle" the West reflects the tough-as-nails women in Gwartney's own
family. Arranged in four sections as a series of interlocking explorations and ruminations,
Gwartney uses Whitman as a touchstone to spin a tightly woven narrative about identity, the
power of womanhood, and coming to peace with one's most cherished place. An absorbing,
skillfully crafted, thoughtful and thought-provoking read, "I Am a Stranger Here Myself " is
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "I Am a Stranger Here Myself " is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $8.69).
Remembering
Donald G. MacKay
Prometheus Books
9781633884076, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
Remembering: What 50 Years of Research with Famous Amnesia Patient H.M. Can Teach Us
About Memory and How It Works is a lively survey of a twenty-seven year old man who
underwent brain surgery to remedy epilepsy, which destroyed the memory center of his brain. As
a result, he experienced catastrophic memory failures for the rest of his life, and became the most
studied amnesia patient in the world. The author himself was one of those who worked with him
for some fifty years, and his notes and studies form the foundation of a book that examines the
science, psychology, and nature of memory. As a side benefit to this intriguing study, discussions
also revolve around how to maintain memory at any age and how to offset the effects of its
degradation. While this book will find its place in any health library, it also holds an accessibility
and subject that will make it attractive to general-interest readers, as well.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Writer's Guide to Self-Editing
Naveed Saleh
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476671598, $29.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Over the years, technological advances have given publishers the ability to produce more books
and online publications with greater speed. This new efficiency, however, has increased editors'
workloads, limiting the amount of detailed editorial feedback they can provide authors. In turn,
writers must become self-editors, ensuring that their text is nearly perfect upon submission. "The
Writer's Guide to Self-Editing: Essential Tips for Online and Print Publication" by Naveed Saleh
(who is a science writer and editor that has written for various online and print publications and
is a long-time blogger at Psychology Today) serves as a guide to self-editing nonfiction print and
online publications, including articles for general and academic audiences. It is both prescriptive
and descriptive, drawing from stylebooks, dictionaries, research, and more to provide a full
picture of both style and grammar. Also provided are techniques that boost search-engine
optimization and engagement of Internet audiences. The single greatest weakness of most self-
published authors is a lack of effective editing. "The Writer's Guide to Self-Editing" is
thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library
Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections.
The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing
Tara Mokhtari
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781350056688, $29.95, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com
Covering all of the major genres, this fully updated and expanded second edition of "The
Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" by Tara Mokhtari (Assistant Professor of
Communication Arts and Sciences at the Bronx Community College) is a complete introductory
manual for students of creative writing. This new edition of "The Bloomsbury Introduction to
Creative Writing" features an updated and expanded chapter on writing for digital media, and
new exercises for reading across the genres and writing hybrid forms. Through a structured series
of practical writing exercises (which are perfect for the classroom, the writer's workshop or as a
starting point for a portfolio of work) "The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" builds
the student writer from the first explorations of voice and the relationship between writing and
knowledge, through to mastery of a wide range of genres and forms. "The Bloomsbury
Introduction to Creative Writing) deftly covers such genres as: Autobiographical writing; Short
fiction; Poetry; Screenwriting and writing for performance; Writing for digital media, including
video games and social media. With practical guidance on writing scholarly critiques of your
own work and a glossary of terms for ease of reference, "The Bloomsbury Introduction to
Creative Writing" is an essential and fundamental manual for any introductory creative writing
course and a practical companion for more advanced writers. While very highly recommended as
a curriculum textbook for highschool and college Creative Writing courses, and unreservedly
recommended for community, highschool, college, and university library Writing/Publishing
instructional reference collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, aspiring writers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $26.95).
21st Century Playwriting
Timothy Daly
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259222, $21.95, PB, 477pp, www.amazon.com
Timothy Daly's plays have been produced all over the world. Actors such as Academy-Award
winners Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush and Oscar-nominated actor Jack Weaver have all
appeared in his plays. He has taught and mentored hundreds of playwrights in many different
countries. In "21st Century Playwriting, A Manual of Contemporary Techniques" Daly provides
the most detailed analysis of contemporary playwriting techniques ever published. A decade in
the making, "21st Century Playwriting" examines the contemporary theatre scene and the skills
and writing techniques needed to succeed as a modern playwright. No other book goes into such
depth and detail on areas like dramatic structure, story-shaping, characterization and the
contemporary language techniques used in modern playwriting. Blending theatre tradition and
radical aesthetic, "21st Century Playwriting" is perfect for both new playwrights and more
experienced writers wishing to refresh and modernize their writing, as well as anyone interested
in the rarely-discussed techniques that go into the making of contemporary theatre and its scripts.
Offers a wealth of useful writing tips, as well as an understanding of how radically theatre has
changed in the 21st century, "21st Century Playwriting" is an especially recommended addition
to both community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections,
and a 'must read' for anyone aspiring to write a play for the stage, for film, or for television.
Seven Steps to Confident Writing
Alan Gelb
www.alangelbwriter.com
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685448 $16.95 pbk / $10.98 Kindle amazon.com
Author, writing coach, and communications consultant for higher education Alan Gelb presents
Seven Steps to Confident Writing, a guide to overcoming anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional
hurdles to writing. Whether crafting a business memo, a speech, a blog or magazine article, a
research paper, or a novel, Seven Steps to Confident Writing is an invaluable tool for breaking
through paralysis and writer's block. Chapters focus on the value of incorporating storytelling
anecdotes into one's communication, the importance of paying attention to one's tone, the
"lapidary work" of refining, condensing, and editing one's writing into a polished piece, and
more. Seven Steps to Confident Writing is a "must-have" not only for aspiring authors, but also
for professionals in every field that requires writing! Highly recommended.
Tarot for the Fiction Writer
Paula Chaffee Scardamalia
Red Feather
c/o Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764357237, $24.99, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Paula Chaffee Scardamalia uses myth, fairy tale, Tarot, and dreams to write fiction and
nonfiction, to guide book coaching clients, and to teach writers around the country. She is the
award-winning author of the nonfiction book, Weaving a Woman's Life: Spiritual Lessons from
the Loom. Writing a novel is a wild, unpredictable (and oftentimes stormy) adventure. And
sometimes aspiring writers and seasoned veteran authors alike need a compass to guide them.
Because story is inherent in Tarot's structure, it is an effective map and storytelling tool --
whether writing a novel in progress or starting out on a brand-new endeavor. In "Tarot for the
Fiction Writer: How 78 Cards Can Take You from Idea to Publication", Paula draws upon her
years of experience and expertise with tarot myths, symbols, characters, settings, and
innumerable combinations as a powerful, portable, and imaginative tool for story development,
to show their value in editing and revisions, publication, and promotion. Each individual card has
a story to tell and can help to map out a book. With "Tarot for the Fiction Writer", anyone
working with any literary genre will discover how to hook their readers; figure out what happens
next; find a unique twist in a scene; deepen character backgrounds; create meaningful settings;
and identify that "Black Moment" in the storyline. One of the most unique instructional guides
for the writing of a short story or a full blown novel, "Tarot for the Fiction Writer" is an
extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
academic writing instructional reference collections.
Your Guide to Marketing Christian Books, fourth edition
Sarah Bolme
Crest Publications
PO Box 481022, Charlotte, NC 28269
www.crestpub.com
9780991299515, $24.99, PB, 242pp, www.amazon.com
Sarah Bolme is the Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association, which exists to assist
independent authors and small publishers in marketing Christian books. Sarah frequently
conducts seminars for writers and publishers on indie publishing and marketing. Sarah has an
informative blog at www.marketingchristianbooks.com Now in a fully updated fourth edition,
"Your Guide to Marketing Christian Books" Sarah provides the advice and resources needed for
an author or a publisher to promote a Christian book successfully! This award-winning resource
is packed from cover to cover with valuable information on promoting Christian books. "Your
Guide to Marketing Christian Books" features a wealth of specific resources from launching the
book, to connecting with consumers and retailers, to obtaining media coverage, to utilizing social
networking. This exceptionally well organized and presented guide walks authors and publishers
step-by-step through the various aspects of book promotion. It is an ideal and thoroughly 'user
friendly' resource for authors and publishers. It should also be noted that the Midwest Book
Review is cited on page 35 as a resource for the authors and publishers of Christian books.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Bringing Back the Birds
American Bird Conservancy
Photography by Owen Deutsch
www.OwenDeutsch.com
Braided River
www.braidedriver.org
c/o Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512113 $35.00 amazon.com
The American Bird Conservancy presents Bringing Back the Birds: Exploring Migration and
Preserving Birdscapes Throughout the Americas is a coffee-table book showcasing a wealth of
truly stunning, full-color photography of wild birds in their natural habitat. Complementing the
exceptional images is an anthology of essays by conservationists and ornithology experts about
the wonders of birds, as well as the perils that have rendered numerous avian species extinct and
continue to threaten survivors today. The American Bird Conservancy strives to protect
endangered birds, but supporting birds in need is no simple task, since a given species may
migrate and have nesting and wintering territories in completely different nations; if either
territory is compromised, the species' survival is at risk. Bringing Back the Birds discusses in
plain terms how to create bird-friendly environments that also earn the support of local human
residents (for example, birding can be a popular tourist activity). It should be noted that 100% of
royalties for Bringing Back the Birds support the American Bird Conservancy. Bringing Back the
Birds is exceptionally beautiful, a joy to page through, and makes an unforgettable giftbook as
well as a wonderful addition to public library collections. Highly recommended.
Unleashing Your Dog
Marc Bekoff & Jessica Pierce
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608685424, $15.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
No matter how cushy their lives, dogs live on the terms imposed by the human masters. They
compromise their freedom and instinctual pleasure, as well as their innate strategies for coping
with stress and anxiety, in exchange for the love, comfort, and care they get from us. But it is
possible to let dogs be dogs without wreaking havoc on our lives, as biologist Marc Bekoff and
bioethicist Jessica Pierce show in "Unleashing Your Dog: A Field Guide to Giving Your Canine
Companion the Best Life Possible". They begin by illuminating the true nature of dogs and
helping us "walk in their paws". They reveal what smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing mean to
dogs and then guide readers through everyday ways of enhancing dogs' freedom in safe, mutually
happy ways. The rewards, they show, are great for dog and human alike. Exceptionally well
written, organized and presented for the non-specialist general reader, "Unleashing Your Dog" is
a 'must read' for anyone with their own canine companion. While very highly recommended for
community library Pets/Wildlife collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Unleashing Your Dog" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.42).
The Education Shelf
Serious Fun
Marie L. Masterson & Holly Bohart, editors
The National Association for the Education of Young Children
https://www.naeyc.org
9781938113390, $28.00, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Marie L. Masterson (Director of Quality Assessment
at McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership) and Holly Bohart (who is the Senior
Editor in Books and Related Resources at NAEYC. and who formerly taught in special education
early childhood programs), "Serious Fun: How Guided Play Extends Children's Learning" is a
guide for preschool and elementary school teachers about the importance of planning learning
experiences that integrate child-centered play with rich content-based instruction. "Serious Fun"
emphasizes a classroom teachers' active role in children's play in order to guide learning.
Organized into two sections, "Serious Fun" first looks at strategies teachers can use to connect
play to learning. The second focuses on playful learning in math, literacy, drama, art, STEM, and
outdoors. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Serious Fun" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended addition to school district in-service training curriculums, as well as
college and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies reading
lists.
Nurturing Habits of Mind in Early Childhood
Arthur L. Costa & Bena Kallick, editors
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416627081, $29.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
In the first years of life, as children observe, imitate, and interact with people and their
environment, the brain is structuring a foundation for vocabulary, values, cognitive processes,
and social skills. Classroom teachers can help influence that development by teaching the skills
and dispositions of intelligent, creative, effective decision makers and problem solvers.
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Arthur L. Costa (Emeritus Professor of Education at
California State University, Sacramento) and Bena Kallick (a private consultant providing
services to school districts, state departments of education, professional organizations, and public
agencies throughout the United States and around the world), "Nurturing Habits of Mind in Early
Childhood: Success Stories from Classrooms Around the World" shares authentic stories and
experiences of teachers who have taught these Habits of Mind (HOM) to young children. The
practical examples provided by the contributors shows how anybody who works with young
children can introduce the Habits of Mind in entertaining and concrete ways that are
developmentally appropriate. By designing learning experiences that reflect the situations and
challenges children face in their lives, classroom teachers can help our youngest citizens begin to
develop the habits of mind that feed a lifetime of learning. A collaborative work of simply
outstanding scholarship, "Nurturing Habits of Mind in Early Childhood: Success Stories from
Classrooms Around the World" is an especially recommended addition to school district, college,
and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental curriculum lists. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of classroom teachers, education students, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Nurturing Habits of Mind in Early
Childhood" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.45).
The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences, 14th edition
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780525567899, $31.99, PB, 752pp, www.amazon.com
Hundreds of thousands of students with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or other learning
differences head to college every year. Now in a fully updated 14th edition, "The K&W Guide to
Colleges for Students with Learning Differences" is a comprehensive guide makes it easy for
those students and their families and guidance counselors to tackle the daunting process of
finding the school that fits their needs best. This indispensable resource book for students,
parents, and professionals includes: 338 school profiles with targeted information on services,
admissions, and support at each school; Lists of support services available to learning-disabled
students at each college; Policies and procedures regarding course waivers or substitutions;
Strategies to help students find the best match for their needs; Advice from learning specialists
on making an effective transition to college. Thoroughly comprehensive and 'user friendly' in
organization and presentation, "The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning
Differences " is an absolutely essential addition to highschool counselor and community library
Higher Education reference and resource collections.
Encounters With Archetypes
Tamra Stambaugh, Emily Mofield, Eric Fecht, and Kim Knauss
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781618218063, $45.00, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com
"Encounters With Archetypes: Integrated ELA Lessons for Gifted and Advanced Learners in
Grades 4-5" integrates the study of archetypes with the concept of encounters. This unit was
originally developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth, and is aligned to
the Common Core State Standards and features accelerated content, creative products,
differentiated tasks, engaging activities, and the use of in-depth analysis models to develop
sophisticated skills in the language arts. Through the lens of encounter, elementary school
students will examine the patterns, symbols, and motifs associated with common archetypes by
analyzing fictional and informational texts, speeches, and visual media. The students will follow
various archetype encounters with conflicts and challenges to explore questions such as "How do
archetypes reflect the human experience?" and "How do archetypes reveal human strengths and
weaknesses?" Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Encounters With Archetypes" is
especially recommended for school district in-service training curriculums, as well as college and
university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies lists.
Making Every History Lesson Count
Chris Runeckles
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785833366, $18.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Written especially for classroom history teachers of students aged 11 to 16 years, "Making Every
History Lesson Count: Six Principles to Support Great History Teaching" by Chris Runeckles
offers invaluable and lasting answers and solutions to the crucial question that all history teachers
must ask: What can I do to help my students retain and interrogate the rich detail of the content
that I deliver? Writing in the practical, engaging style "Making Every History Lesson Count"
articulates the fundamentals of great history teaching and shares simple, realistic strategies
designed to deliver memorable lessons. Underpinned by six pedagogical principles with the tools
and techniques to help students better engage with the subject matter and develop more
sophisticated historical analysis and arguments, "Making Every History Lesson Count" expertly
bridges the gap between the realms of academic research and the humble classroom by blending
evidence-based practice with collective experience and, in doing so, inspires a challenging
approach to secondary school history teaching. Of special note is that each chapter concludes
with a series of questions that will prompt reflective thought and enable educators to relate the
content to their own classroom practice. While unreservedly recommended for school district,
college and university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Making Every History Lesson Count" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $16.49).
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com
Kimberly L. Mitchell's Experience Inquiry: 5 Powerful Strategies, 50 Practical Experiences
(9781544317120, $34.95) provides an interactive guide for educators looking to implement
inquiry processes in the classroom, and blends a practical guide filled with advice with an
interactive journal format designed to encourage educators to practice the book's five key
strategies. Examples of real-world classroom inquiry blend with a handbook of reference
information and examples to document experiences that can be used on a one-on-one basis with
students, or with small groups of teachers. Strategies for encouraging curiosity to assessing
expertise levels make for easy and clear courses of action and examples. Emily Rinkema and
Stan Williams' The Standards-Based Classroom: Make Learning the Goal (9781544324203,
$34.95) discusses best practices for making learning accessible to each student, and provides a
resource filled with strategies for making the kinds of changes that result in better educational
processes and classroom instructional strategies. From skills that will be assessed and design
tasks that lead students to apply these skills in a guided session to maintaining a different kind of
grade book based on learning targets and their achievement, The Standards-Based Classroom is a
treasure box of templates and examples designed to easily translate to practical applications.
Victoria Lentfer's keep Calm and Teach: Empowering K-12 Learners with Positive Classroom
Management Routines (9781506397764, $26.95) provides a framework for teachers addressing
behavior strategies to make for a CALM (Communication, Accountability, Leadership, and
Motivation) classroom environment. From methods for redirecting negative behavior into
positive, more appropriate responses to scripts that can be used to teach and define positive
behavior expectations, this is a key acquisition for classroom teachers struggling with behavioral
issues. H. Richard Milner IV, et.al.'s "These Kids Are Out of Control": Why We Must Reimagine
"Classroom Management" for Equity (9781483374802, $31.95) also covers classroom
management issues, defining and outlining effective instruction approaches and discussing the
basics of creating a caring classroom atmosphere. Chapters integrate lesson planning with
opportunities for classroom environment change even with difficult students, and address many
problems with an eye to emphasizing equity as the end goal. All are top picks for education
collections.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Exercises for Cardiac Recovery
William Smith, Keith Burns, and Christopher Volgraf
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578267064, $15.00, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Simply stated, "Exercises for Cardiac Recovery: The Strong Heart Fitness Program for Life After
Heart Attack & Heart Surgery" by the team of William Smith, Keith Burns, Christopher Volgraf
should be considered mandatory reading by anyone who is at risk for, or has experienced with,
any degree of cardiac problem with respect to themselves or a loved one. This illustrated and
authoritative post-rehabilitation exercise guide is specifically designed to help patients regain
their physical health and strength after heart attack or heart surgery. "Exercises for Cardiac
Recovery" presents a do-it-yourself post-rehabilitation exercise program specifically and
effectively designed to help men and women regain their physical health and strength after heart
attack or heart surgery. Also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$7.99), the paperback edition of "Exercises for Cardiac Recovery" should be a part of every
community library Health & Medicine instructional reference collection.
Shifting Into High Gear
Kyle Bryant
Health Communications Inc.
9780757321528, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com
Shifting Into High Gear: One Man's Grave Diagnosis and the Epic Bike Ride That Taught Him
What Matters tells of a young athlete and college student who struggled with inexplicable health
issues for years before he was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia, a degenerative neurological
condition that is a rare disease. Told to expect increasing health issues and a shorter life span,
Kyle embarked on a purposeful journey on a red trike that he could ride, and traveled across the
country on it twice. Readers follow him on a life-changing journey as he faces death with
renewed, revised ambitions and insights into positive thinking and purposeful living. This
approach will keep readers thinking long after his story ends.
The 6 Week Programme
Louise Parker
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784725372, $24.00, www.octopusbooks.co.uk
The 6 Week Programme: Reshape Your Body and Change Your Habits for Life offers a weight
loss program for anyone looking to change not just their weight, but their lifestyle. It provides a
specific, guided program of weekly adjustments that promote eating and living well, and blends
mind-body exercises with adjustments to daily efforts that involve education about food content
and diet and exercise regimens. The result is a guide especially recommended for those willing to
reconsider their habits and make lasting lifestyle changes.
The Aviation Shelf
The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers
Bruce Hales-Dutton
Air World
c/o Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526732170, $39.95, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com
Every day up to 3,000 aircraft fly across the Atlantic Ocean. If each one carries 250 passengers,
that could mean as many as 750,000 people on the move between Europe and North America.
But just a bit over a century ago it was uncertain if the new invention of the air plane would
allow flights over the length and breadth of the Atlantic Ocean was every going to be possible --
let alone safe! "The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers: From First Flights to Supersonic Jets - The Battle to
Cross the Atlantic" by Bruce Hales-Dutton (a newspaper and magazine journalist, government
press officer, and aviation industry public relations specialist) is a fascinating and impressively
informative history of the developing technology of aircraft based trans-Atlantic crossings. A
seminal and welcome addition to community and college Aviation History collections and
supplemental studies curriculum lists, "The Trans-Atlantic Pioneers" is especially commended to
the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
The Martial Arts Shelf
The Judo Advantage
Steve Scott
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594396281, $18.95, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com
Steve Scott is an expert in grappling martial arts. He has decades of training and experience in
judo, sambo, and jujitsu. He holds a seventh dan in judo and a seventh dan in Shingitai jujitsu.
He is a member of the US Sambo Hall of Fame. As a coach, he has developed hundreds of
national and international medal winners, as well as members of world, Pan American, and
Olympic teams. In "The Judo Advantage" Scott deftly explores the dynamics of how and why the
human body works most efficiently for throwing, submission, and pinning techniques. Although
judo provides the basis for the author's analysis, his insights also relate to other grappling sports
such as Russian sambo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Olympic and collegiate wrestling. Readers of
"The Judo Advantage" will: Gain a competitive edge using the principles of human
biomechanics; Master the ability to control your opponent's movements; Improve fluency for
seamless transition between techniques; Generate incredible power and speed. "The Judo
Advantage provides martial arts students with an in-depth analysis of stances, balance breaking,
throws, takedowns, transitions, ground fighting, trapping, footwork, combinations, gripping,
posting, linear and angular movement, torque, generating power, evading, generating force,
changing directions, and stability. Illustrated with more than 200 action photos, as well as drills
and winning insights for coaches and athletes of grappling arts, "The Judo Advantage" is
unreservedly recommended for dojo, community, and academic library Martial Arts instructional
reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated martial arts
students that "The Judo Advantage" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Fiction Shelf
The Making of Mrs. Hale
Carolyn Miller
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825445354, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Julia Hale ran off to be married in Gretna Green, following romance instead of common sense.
But her tale isn't turning into a happily ever after. Her new husband is gone and she doesn't know
where - or if he's ever coming back. Julia has no option but to head home to the family she
betrayed by eloping and to hope they'll forgive her. Especially now that she might be carrying a
baby from her brief marriage. "The Making of Mrs. Hale" by Carolyn Miller is another deftly
penned Regency Romance novel by a master of the genre and will prove to be a welcome and
enduringly popular addition to community library Romance Fiction collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of Carolyn Miller fans that "The Making of Mrs. Hale" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Moral Inventory
Tara Johnson
Austin Macauley Publishers
https://www.austinmacauley.com
9781641820257, $23.95, HC, 154pp, www.amazon.com
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth thought she had been doing a decent job of navigating through the
obstacles life had put in her path. But that it all came to a screeching halt with the simple words
from her mother that Elizabeth was going to see a family counselor. Elizabeth felt she had
nothing to fear. Her confidence in her manipulation skills had her convinced that she would be
back in the arms of her druggie boyfriend by noon. Underestimating her mother's determination,
Elizabeth would soon realize that escape would not come so easily. Forced to expose her
mother's alcoholism, her own drug abuse, and her sense of feeling abandoned since her father's
death, Elizabeth was faced with a reality that she had fought so hard to avoid. A grim, deftly
scripted, but inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Moral Inventory" is an
especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Moral Inventory" is also available
in a paperback edition (9781641820240, $10.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$4.95).
Owed to My Mother
N. T. Keahon
Austin Macauley Publishers
https://www.austinmacauley.com
9781641826877, $24.95, HC, 189pp, www.amazon.com
Nadine has always excelled in her career and had just reached the next level of her success,
which brought her to the company's illustrious complex outside of San Francisco, CA; but as she
begins to get settled into this new chapter of her life, she learns that her mother's cancer is now
stage 4 and she's forced to make a choice between staying where she is or going to be with her
mother. She chooses her mother and the story that unfolds from there is filled with heartfelt
humor, ridiculous sarcasm and examples of their forever love. Although a work historical fiction
by N. T. Keahon (and all the more impressive when considering that it is her debut as a novelist),
"Owed to My Mother" is based on a true story, and nothing exemplifies that fact better than the
sacrifices made between this mother and her child. While "Owed to My Mother" is very highly
recommended, especially for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that it is also available in a paperback edition (9781641826860, $11.95)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.95).
A Day in the Life
Rajani Kanth
Austin Macauley Publishers
https://www.austinmacauley.com
9781787109896, $13.95, PB, 220pp, www.amazon.com
"A Day in the Life" chronicles a short, yet tumultuous, day in the life of a wayward protagonist.
Lightly, side-stepping the usual pitfalls of everyday life, unmindful of his own peripatetic
passage, from irony, to pathos, to temptation, he perseveres through his journey to a climactic
end, rather like an earnest pilgrim en route to salvation. "A Day in the Life" is a parable for our
impossible times: for what ails him is what would inflect us all if we could only see the world we
have built through his disintermediated, distempered eyes. "A Day in the Life" is a
post-modernist romance, a love story, of an unlicensed, defiant love that will not accept
boundaries. Showcasing author Rajani Kanth's genuine flair for originality, a distinctive narrative
storytelling style, and an impressive ability to engagingly entertain and compel his readers full
attention from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library
Contemporary General Fiction collections it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A
Day in the Life" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.66).
A Tender Hope
Amanda Cabot
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800735609, $29.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it's time for a change. With her husband murdered and her
much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a
position as Cimarron Creek's midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another
child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea
isn't sure her heart can take it. Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn't concerned only with the baby's
welfare. He's been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that
killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he
anticipated -- and he'll need Thea's help if he's ever to find the justice he seeks. Another
Cimarron Creek romance novel by Amanda Cabot, "A Tender Hope" is an extraordinary and
deftly crafted story of loss, betrayal, and love in the majestic Texas Hill Country. While
unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Tender Hope" is also available in a paperback
edition (9780800727581, $10.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.89).
Bulwark
Britt Lunden
Chelshire Inc.
9781947188914, $8.99, PB, 146pp, www.amazon.com
Clay Finnes is the sheriff of a small town in Georgia called Bulwark. Recently separated from his
wife, all he can think about is what went wrong, and will Jenna ever come back to him. He's
troubled by a bothersome reporter trying to build a story from what he thinks is a normal day in
his life. Clay has to admit that the fantastical stories, told by an accident victim as well as
unusual sightings of wolves, things are getting a bit strange. A visit to the ominous Gingerbread
House makes him realize that his life as he knows it will never be the same. An inherently
riveting and original little novel by an accomplished master of narrative storytelling, "Bulwark"
by Britt Lunden is unreservedly recommended for community library collections and available
for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99). Also very highly recommended
is Britt Lunden's "The Knowing" (9781947188990, $8.99 PB, $0.99 Kindle) which is volume
one of the 'Bulwark Anthology' series.
Map of the Heart
Susan Wiggs
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062425508, $15.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Widowed by an unspeakable tragedy, Camille Palmer has made her peace with the past and
settled into the quiet safety of life with her teenage daughter Julie in a sleepy coastal town. Then
the arrival of a mysterious package breaks open the door to her family's secret past. In uncovering
a hidden history, Camille has no idea that she's embarking on an adventure that will utterly
transform her. Camille, Julie, and Camille's father return to the French town of his youth,
sparking unexpected memories -- recollections that will lead them back to the dark days of the
Second World War. And it is in the stunning Provencal countryside that they will uncover their
family's surprising history. While Provence offers answers about the past, it also holds the key to
Camille's future. Along the way, she meets a former naval officer who stirs a passion deep within
her -- a feeling that she thought she'd never experience again. Another deftly crafted gem of a
romance novel by an accomplished master of the genre, "Map of the Heart" by Susan Wiggs is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Son of Saigon
David Myles Robinson
Terra Nova Books
33 Alondra Road, Santa Fe, NM 87508
www.terranovabooks.com
9781948749008, $19.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Hank and Norm were living the good life: two friends with plenty of money, homes in a lovely
California retirement town, and no problems -- except for the boredom that felt almost fatal.
Then Mai came into the picture, the love of Hank's life during his CIA days in Saigon,
desperately needing his help to save the son he'd never known he had. Boredom was over, as
Hank and Norm hit the road, following the few clues Mai could give them in search of a man
who desperately wants not to be found. What they find is a slew of lies and hidden truths, strange
characters, improbable danger that has them fighting to survive, and the happy lesson that their
lives are far from over. A deftly written and engagingly entertaining read from beginning to end,
"Son of Saigon" showcases author David Myles Robinson genuine flair for a simply riveting
style of narrative storytelling. While very highly recommended, especially for community library
Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Son
of Saigon" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.69).
The Sky Above Us
Sarah Sundin
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800735616, $29.99, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US
357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German
Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of
the air before the D-day invasion. Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but for now she
serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment for the men of the 357th in
the Aeroclub on base and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she
enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long
estrangement. Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But
D-day draws near. And secrets can't stay buried forever. Another deftly crafted novel by an
author with a distinctive narrative storytelling style and a genuine flair for originality, "The Sky
Above Us" is a simply riveting read by Sarah Sundin and certain to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Sky Above Us" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800727987,
$15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.79).
Angel in the Fog
T. J. Turner
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092413, $25.95, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Molly Ferguson's comfortable life unravels when her Louisiana home is burned to the ground,
her family murdered, and she is enslaved in a Baltimore brothel. Amidst the threat of the Civil
War, Molly learns of secessionist plans to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln as he
makes his way to Washington for his inauguration. She's manages to pass this information on to
a Pinkerton agent posing as a client. Impressed with her fortitude and intelligence, the Pinkerton
Agency arranges for Molly's freedom and brings her under the tutelage of Mrs. Kate Warne,
America's first female detective. After they save Mr. Lincoln in Baltimore, Molly is sent by the
Pinkerton Agency into the Deep South (where the Civil War now rages) a spy behind enemy
lines. Molly threads a thin line between revenge and redemption as she races to unravel a sinister
plan that will doom the Union and allow the Confederacy to win the Civil War -- all while
coming face to face with the demons from her tragic past. T. J. Turner's "Angel in the Fog" is a
page turner of an historical thriller by a true master of narrative storytelling. While an
exceptionally entertaining and highly recommended addition to community library Historical
Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Angel in the Fog" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Little Zinnobers
Elena Chizhova, author
Carol Ermakova, translator
Glagoslav Publications
www.glagoslav.com
9781911414384, $22.99, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
Ably translated into English by Carol Ermakova, "Little Zinnobers" is a carefully crafted novel by
the Russian author Elena Chizhova on the question of whether or not it is possible to cultivate
fundamental human values if you are living in a totalitarian state. A teacher who has organized
the school theatre sets out to prove that it is. Whilst the pupils rehearse Shakespeare's tragedies
and comedies under her ever-vigilant eye, Soviet life begins to make its brutal adjustments.
"Little Zinnobers" is can be called a novel about love -- the tough kind of love that gets you
through life and death. As intrinsically entertaining as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking,
"Little Zinnobers" is one of those rare novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after
it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Simply stated, "Little Zinnobers" is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Literary
Fiction collections.
Tacoma Stories
Richard Wiley
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV A612, New York, NY 10016
www.blpress.org
9781942658542, $16.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
On St. Patrick's Day in 1968, sixteen people sit in Pat's Tavern, drink green beer, flirt, rib each
other, and eventually go home in (mostly) different directions. In the their stories that comprise
Richard Wiley's "Tacoma Stories" and which span 1958 to the present, Richard Wiley pops back
into the lives of this colorful cast of characters (sometimes into their pasts, sometimes into their
futures) and explores the ways in which their individual narratives indelibly weave together. At
the heart of it all lies Tacoma, Washington, a town full of eccentricities and citizens as unique as
they are universal. The Tacoma of "Tacoma Stories" might be harboring paranoid former CIA
operatives and wax replicas of dead husbands, but it is also a place with all the joys and pains
one could find in any town, anytime and anywhere. Uniquely original and deftly crafted,
"Tacoma Stories" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from cover to cover. While very highly
recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Tacoma Stories" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $10.19).
Staff Picks: Stories
George Singleton
Louisiana State University Press
3rd Floor, Johnston Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
http://lsupress.org
9780807170335, $22.50, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
It's Father's Day 1972 and a young boy's dad takes him to visit a string of unimpressive
ex-girlfriends that could have been his mother; the unconventional detective work of a
koan-speaking, Kung Fu - loving uncle solves a case of arson during a pancake breakfast; and a
former geology professor, recovering from addiction, finds himself sharing a taxicab with
specters from a Jim Crow era lynching. Set in and around the fictional town of Steepleburg,
South Carolina, the loosely tied stories in George Singleton's "Staff Picks" place sympathetic,
oddball characters in absurd, borderline surreal situations that slowly reveal the angst of southern
history with humor and bite. Elegantly crafted and entertaining stories, "Staff Picks" is an
extraordinary anthology and highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both
community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Hushed in Death
Stephen Kelly
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681778686, $25.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
In the spring of 1942, with the war in Europe raging, a gruesome murder shocks the rural
community of Marbury, where a once-grand estate called Elton House has been transformed into
a hospital for "shell-shocked" officers sent back from the front lines. When Detective Chief
Inspector Lamb arrives to solve the case, he quickly learns that the victim, Elton House's
gardener Joseph Lee, had plenty of enemies in Marbury -- and so he and his team have plenty of
suspects. Along with his team of investigators, which includes his daughter Vera, Lamb begins to
untangle the threads of rivalry and deceit that lie beneath the surface of the seemingly-peaceful
countryside village. It soon becomes clear that Lee's mysterious past is intertwined with the
history of Elton House itself, which fell into disrepair a generation earlier after a shockingly
similar murder, and the mystery deepens further when Lamb discovers that one of the prime
suspects has seemingly committed suicide. As Lamb pieces together the connections between the
crimes of the present and those of the past, he must dive into the darkest, most secret corners of
Elton House to discover who is committing murder, and why. An Inspector Lamb mystery set in
World War II, "Hushed in Death" is a deftly crafted read from cover to cover and showcases
author Stephen Kelly's impressive mastery of the genre. While very highly recommended for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists
of dedicated mystery buffs that "Hushed in Death" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.99).
RED Hotel
Ed Fuller & Gary Grossman
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
www.beaufortbooks.com
9780825308901, $26.95, HC, 532pp, www.amazon.com
When a bomb rips the facade off the Kensington Hotel in Tokyo, dozens are killed and injured
while one man walks calmly away from the wreckage, a coy smile playing on his lips. Former
Army intelligence officer Dan Reilly, now an international hotel executive with high level access
to the CIA, makes it his mission to track him down. He begins a jet-setting search for answers as
the clock ticks down to a climactic event that threatens NATO and the very security of member
nations. Reilly begins mining old contacts and resources in an effort to delve deeper into the
motive behind these attacks, and fast. Through his connections he learns that the Tokyo bomber
is not acting alone. But the organization behind the perpetrator is not who they expect. Facilitated
by the official government from a fearsome global superpower, the implications and reasons for
these attacks are well beyond anything Reilly or his sources in the CIA and State Department
could have imagined, and point not to random acts of terror, but calculated acts of war. An
original and deftly crafted novel from its first inherently riveting page to it's cliff-hanger of an
ending, "RED Hotel" is an incredibly timely globe-trotting thriller that's fiction on the edge of
reality. While very highly recommended for community library Contemporary Suspense Thriller
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists the "RED Hotel" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $14.29).
Scones & Bones
Laura Childs
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780425246641, $7.99, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is attending the Heritage Society's Pirates and
Plunder show when a history intern is murdered amidst the gold earrings and doubloons. Even
with that on her plate, Theodosia still has to attend Charleston's Food and Wine Festival, where
she's hosting a tea and cheese tasting. But as her thoughts keep drifting to the victim, Theodosia
knows she'll have to whet her investigative skills to find the killer among a schooner of suspects.
The newest addition of author Laura Childs' A Tea Shop Mystery series, "Scones & Bones" is
another wonderfully entertaining and deftly crafted mystery that is a 'must read' for her legions of
fans and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any community library's
Mystery/Suspense collections.
Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods
Emily Brightwell
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780451492227, $16.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
On a cold night in February, the popular Lighterman's ball festivities are cut short when a guest
of honor, Stephen Bremmer, goes into spasms and abruptly collapses. Once again Inspector
Witherspoon returns to the Wrexley Hotel to investigate a murder. The victim was considered a
boorish snob who felt entitled to anything and anyone he wanted. Yet despite his Oxford
education, he was barely literate, lazy, and prone to make stupid mistakes -- his last mistake
turned out to be crossing a killer. The owners and management of the Wrexley Hotel clearly don't
welcome the return of Inspector Witherspoon but he has his job to do, and Mrs. Jeffries, and the
rest of the household must do their best to catch a murderer who shows no signs of slowing
down! Another cleverly penned mystery by an author who is a master of the genre, "Mrs. Jeffries
Delivers the Goods" is a first class Victorian era mystery that will be an immediately popular
addition to personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should
be noted for all dedicated mystery buffs that "Mrs. Jeffries Delivers the Goods" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Murder Likes It Hot
Tracy Weber
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738750699, $15.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Newly married yoga instructor Kate Davidson feels stuck in low-energy limbo, despite her
high-energy life. She's trying to conceive a child, keep her studio afloat now that the ultra-cheap
Some Like It Hot Yoga studio has opened across the street, and start a yoga program at a local
resource center for homeless youth. When a center employee is found dead, Kate sets aside her
fertility and financial woes to delve into the world of teenage homelessness. While digging for
clues with her German shepherd Bella, Kate discovers that family can be formed by bonds
stronger than shared DNA, and she must defend it at all costs. The sixth and latest title in author
Tracy Weber's simply outstanding 'Downward Dog' mystery series, "Murder Likes It Hot" is
another deftly crafted and solidly entertaining read from beginning to surprise ending. While
especially recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted
for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Murder Likes It Hot" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).
Cat Got Your Crown
Julie Chase
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319566, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Lacy Marie Crocker can hardly believe it's been a year since her return home to New Orleans.
There hasn't been a dull moment since opening her pet boutique last summer, and thanks to the
popularity of Lacy's organic pet treats, and the arrival of the National Pet Pageant, Lacy
desperately needs some help before she is overrun by the demand for pupcakes and crinolines.
The entire Garden District seems to be counting the minutes until opening night of the pet
pageant and everything is going spectacularly until Viktor Petrov, the pageant emcee takes a spill
from the balcony during dress rehearsal. All signs points to murder and homicide detective Jack
Oliver sets his eyes on Eva Little, one of Lacy's committee sisters and the only other person on
the balcony at the time of the fall, as the killer. But when it comes out that Viktor was
notoriously rude, the doors blow wide open with potential suspects who could've wanted him
dead. Lacy's determined to find the killer and exonerate Eva, but when Lacy receives a
mysterious warning -- a plush kitty from Lacy's shop with its mouth crudely stitched over -- it's
clear that she's been found first. Complete with the inclusion of recipes for pets, "Cat Got Your
Crown" is the fourth and latest addition to author Julie Chase's wonderfully entertaining 'Kitty
Couture' mystery series and is a guaranteed popular addition to community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the legions of Julie Chase fans that "Cat Got
Your Crown" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.80) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982628505, $34.95, CD).
Something Read, Something Dead
Eva Gates
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319504, $26.99, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Winter falls on North Carolina's Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help
her favorite cousin, Josie O'Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie's Cozy
Bakery and her fiance, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding. But to their horror,
Josie's imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the "Louisiana Mafia": a gaggle of aunts
and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn't do small and simple,
and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie's wedding, something grand and lavish - and
paid for by Josie's parents, of course -- that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business
and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle
focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom...and Jake doesn't seem entirely
adverse to her attentions. To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island
Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses - soon after eating the
gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from
prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book. "Something Read, Something Dead" is the fifth
festive Lighthouse Library mystery and continues to showcase author Eva Gates total mastery of
the genre. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans that
"Something Read, Something Dead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.49)
and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781982628437, $29.95, MP3
CD).
Trouble on the Books
Essie Lang
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781683319818, $26.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Shelby Cox never intended to become a bookseller, so when the former editor returns to her
hometown of Alexandria Bay, nestled in upstate New York's breathtaking Thousand Islands
region, to take over her aunt's bookstore, she has no idea what to expect. To her amazement, she
discovers that she now owns a fifty-percent share in Bayside Books, and will also run the store's
second location in the majestic castle on nearby Blye Island. But just as Shelby is gearing up for
the start of the tourist season, the Castle volunteer coordinator is found murdered in the nearby
Grotto. Castle caretaker Matthew Kessler is suspect number one, but Shelby thinks the killing
may be connected to an earlier era, when violence among Prohibition-era smugglers was rampant
in the region. As Shelby launches her own investigation, handsome and unnerving Special Agent
Zack Griffin of the Coast Guard Investigative Services tries to quell her smuggling theory and
keep her safe. But Shelby is determined to summon all her savvy as a book editor to plot the
murder and find the killer before he strikes again! All the more impressive when considering that
"Trouble on the Books" is author Essie Lang debut as a mystery novelist, this original and
thoroughly entertaining read has more plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller coaster,
making it an a very highly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. For the personal reading lists of mystery buffs it should also be noted that "Trouble
on the Books" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.69).
After Anna
Lisa Scottoline
St. Martin's Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250099655, $27.95, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Dr. Noah Alderman, a widower and single father, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie
Ippolitti, and for the first time in a long time, he and his young son are happy. Despite her
longing for the daughter she hasn't seen since she was a baby, Maggie is happy too, and she's
even more overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she
thought she'd lost forever, her only daughter Anna. Maggie and Noah know that having Anna
around will change their lives, but they would never have guessed that everything would go
wrong, and so quickly. Anna turns out to be a gorgeous seventeen-year-old who balks at living
under their rules, though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that
hint at the trouble brewing in a once-perfect marriage and home. Events take a heartbreaking turn
when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused and tried for the heinous crime. Maggie must face
not only the devastation of losing her daughter, but the realization that Anna's murder may have
been at the hands of a husband she loves. In the wake of this tragedy, new information drives
Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she could have ever
imagined. A deftly crafted and riveting read from cover to cover, "After Anna" is a complex and
original novel by an author with a total mastery of narrative storytelling. While unreservedly
recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"After Anna" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250099662, $17.95) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Every Time the Phone Rings
Rufus J. Brooks Jr.
Commonwealth Publishing
PO Box 770354, Coral Springs, FL 33077
www.commonwealthbooks.com
9781892986085, $17.95, PB, 242pp, www.amazon.com
Seven young women from well-to-do families became friends during their days at their private
school. During a freak electrical storm, the school caught fire and burned to the ground. The
young women returned to their families. Years later, one after another apparently committed
suicide, yet something didn't seem right. Out of the seven, only one still lived. Special Agent
Dormie Shackleford, traveling from one state to another, is determined not only to keep her alive
but to solve the mysterious "suicides" and stop whoever is behind it all. Can he solve the
mystery? Will he be able to keep the last woman alive and protect her from whoever is behind
the ringing phones? Deftly written by an author with a genuine flair for originality, an engaging
style of narrative storytelling, and offering more plot twists and turns than a Coney Island roller
coaster, "Every Time the Phone Rings" by Rufus J. Brooks Jr. is unreservedly recommended for
the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs, as well as community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections.
Murder x3
J. R. Canfield
Biographical Publishing Company
95 Sycamore Drive, Prospect, CT 06712-1493
www.biopub.us
9780997602852, $9.95, PB, 118pp, www.amazon.com
The single most important element in solving a premeditated, capital crime is the motive of the
perpetrator(s). Motivation for murder frequently comes in the form of expected financial gain,
marital problems, revenge, jealousy, etc. In considering the three separate mysteries by J. R.
Canfield that comprise "Murder x3" (The Reunion; Fatal Promotion; The Provocateur), the
individual motivations vary widely! A quick and easy read, "Murder x3" is very highly
recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs -- as well as being an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary
Mystery/Suspense collections.
Double Exposure
Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781538731369, $26.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
David Toland, a decorated Korean War veteran, has done all he can to leave a life of combat
behind. Now Director of Preservation for the Library of Congress's National Film Archive,
Toland has made it his mission to preserve what he loves most: the Golden Age of American
cinema, moving pictures full of romance, adventure and American Dream. That is, until CIA
Agent Lana Welles drops in unannounced with a film canister, smuggled over the Berlin Wall at
great cost, that may prove WWII never really ended -- it just went underground. David
reluctantly agrees to serve his country one last time and help recover the film for Lana and the
CIA. But it seems not everyone is as eager as they are to dig up the past. David and Lana's
discovery awakens shadowy forces who will do anything to keep their findings a secret. In search
of the truth, David and Lana find themselves pursued across the globe in a cat and mouse game
with enormous, world-altering consequences. A superbly crafted suspense thriller of a read from
cover to cover, "Double Exposure" by the team of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar will prove to
be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library collections. For personal
reading lists it should be noted that "Double Exposure" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio,
9781549143205, $29.00, CD).
Catch Me When I'm Falling
Cheryl A. Head
Bywater Books
P.O. Box 3671, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-3671
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612941455, $16.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com
Someone is murdering the homeless in Detroit's Cass Corridor by setting them on fire. These
horrific crimes wouldn't require an investigation by Charlie Mack and her crack team
investigators, except one of the burned bodies is her mother's friend. There's a lot wrong with this
case: the police won't admit a serial killer is on the loose, drug trafficking intersects with the
deaths, and a rogue cop is involved. Also the timing couldn't be worse -- Charlie and Mandy are
finally moving in together. This case becomes the most difficult of Charlie's career when she
transforms herself into a street person, and mixes with the corridor's gangs, do-gooders, and the
down-and-out to uncover evidence the police can't continue to ignore. A riveting page-turner of a
read by a master of the suspense/thriller genre, "Catch Me When I'm Falling" by Cheryl A. Head
is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading list of dedicated mystery buffs that "Catch Me When I'm Falling"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
First, Kill the Lawyers
David Housewright
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250094490, $27.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Five prominent attorneys in Minneapolis have had their computer systems hacked and very
sensitive case files stolen. Those attorneys are then contacted by an association of local
whistleblowers known as NIMN and are quietly alerted that they have received those documents
from an anonymous source. If those files are released, then not only will those lawyers be ruined,
but it might even destroy the integrity of the entire Minnesota legal system. This group of lawyers
turns to Private Investigator Holland Taylor with a simple directive: stop the disclosure any way
you can. But while the directive is simple, the case is not. To find the missing files and the
person responsible, Holland must first dive into the five cases covered in the files - divorce,
bribery, class action, rape, and murder. While Taylor is untangling the associates and connections
between the cases and families affected, things take another mysterious turn and the time before
the files are released is running out. As the situation becomes more threatening, Holland Taylor
is trapped in the middle of what is legal and what is ethical -- between right, wrong, and deadly.
A simply riveting read by a master of the mystery genre, "First, Kill the Lawyers" by David
Housewright is certain to be a prized addition to community library Mystery/Suspense
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery fans that "First,
Kill the Lawyers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Tell Her No Lies
Kelly Irvin
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780785223115, $15.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Nina Fischer carries a camera wherever she goes so that she can safely view life through a filter.
After her mother abandoned her to the streets, Nina has kept people at a distance, including her
uncle, who adopted Nina and her sister. Wealthy and proud, he is a good man, a fair judge, and
someone many in San Antonio admire. But when he is murdered, and the detective assigned to
the case accuses Nina of the crime, she knows she must act. She's determined to use her
journalism background to find the real killer. The two men in her life want to help, but can she
trust them? She's known Rick since they were children, but now he's an attorney whose political
aspirations seem more important than Nina's tragic loss. And then there's Aaron, a news
videographer; using their friendship could break the biggest story of his career. Following the
evidence leads Nina on a journey of discovery into her father's shocking masquerade as a
law-abiding, family-loving Christian. Unlocking these secrets could prove fatal, but it's the only
way Nina will ever be able to trust love again. A deftly crafted suspense thriller of a mystery
novel, Kelly Irvin's "Tell Her No Lies" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular
addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. For the personal reading lists of
dedicated mystery buffs, "Tell Her No Lies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99) and in a large print edition (Center Point Publishing, 9781643580555, $36.95,
455pp).
The Victory Garden
Rhys Bowen
http://rhysbowen.com
Lake Union Publishing
9781542040129, $24.95, www.apub.com
The Victory Garden is set during World War I and tells of Emily Bryce, who lives in Devonshire
with her parents. While peers are entering the war and helping in such professions as nursing,
Emily has been kept at home by her parents. Meeting an Australian pilot and falling in love with
him leads to her decision to leave home and participate in the war effort - and love - in a more
meaningful way in this engrossing story of different generations facing change and world-wide
conflict.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Expedition
Chris Babu
Permuted Press
https://permutedpress.com
9781682618356, $21.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Drayden and his friends thought nothing could be harder than the Initiation. Little did they know
it had only been a warmup for the challenge that lay ahead. With New America's situation dire,
Drayden and the pledges venture into the unexplored world beyond the walls, escorted by a team
of elite Guardians. The group seeks to contact another civilization in what remains of Boston, but
Drayden has secret goals of his own. Dangers abound in the outside world, including Aeru, the
deadly superbug that wiped out humanity. While they battle the elements of a desolate landscape,
a power struggle emerges within their ranks. The Guardians seem to be carrying out a covert
mission themselves, and the quest turns everything they thought they knew about New America
upside down. A deftly crafted and riveting read from first page to last, "The Expedition"
documents author Chris Babu's genuine flair for originality and master of the post-apocalyptic
science fiction genre. While unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction
collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated SciFi buffs that "The
Expedition" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Marked
S. Andrew Swann
Daw Books, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dawbooks.com
9780756415020, $16.00, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Detective Dana Rohan has an excellent arrest and conviction rate. But even her partner doesn't
know the real reason why. All her life Dana has borne a Mark of unknown origin that she's kept
secret. A Mark that allows her to walk into alternate pasts and futures. A Mark that allows her to
go back and see any crime as it's being committed. But the life she's carefully built around this
secret ability begins to crumble when she's assaulted by a ragged old man. He babbles an
incoherent warning that "the Shadows are coming", right before he is killed by an armored
monstrosity out of another century. The armored attacker vanishes, leaving the old man to die in
Dana's arms, and she realizes that he bears the same Mark she does. Soon Dana finds herself
hunted by Shadows coming from out of Chaos. She must flee through a host of alternate worlds
as she finds out the true meaning of the Mark on her skin, and why someone wants to kill her for
it. Another entertainingly riveting read from an author with a genuine flair for originality and
narrative driven storytelling, "Marked" by S. Andrew Swann is certain to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of dedicated SciFi fans that "Marked" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Captain Marvel: Liberation Run
Tess Sharpe
Titan Books
https://titan-comics.com
9781789091656, $24.95, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Captain Marvel: Liberation Run is an original prose novel set in the Marvel comic book universe,
featuring the strong-willed superheroine Captain Marvel. In "Liberation Run", Captain Marvel
(whose normal identity is Carol Danvers) narrowly stops a spacecraft from crashing. Its pilot Rhi
is a young Inhuman woman from a group who left for a life among the stars. Instead they were
imprisoned on a planet where an enslaved Inhuman brings her owner great power and influence.
Horrified by the account, Carol gathers a superhero team that includes Ant-Man, Mantis, and
Amadeus Cho. Together they set out to free Rhi's people. A welcome addition to the Marvel
Universe, "Captain Marvel: Liberation Run" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition to community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections -- and is a 'must
read' for all dedicated Captain Marvel fans. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Captain Marvel: Liberation Run" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).
The Alchemist's Illusion
Gigi Pandian
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738753010, $15.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Centuries-old alchemist Zoe Faust is tired of running from her past. She's finally got her life on
track in Portland, Oregon, gardening and cooking in her fixer-upper house with her mischievous
best friend, Dorian the gargoyle chef. It seems like the perfect life for Zoe, until she discovers
that her old mentor Nicolas Flamel, who she thought had abandoned her, has been imprisoned. A
local artist holds the secret that could lead Zoe to her mentor, but the artist is murdered and the
painting containing the hidden clue is stolen. To rescue Nicolas, Zoe and Dorian must explore art
forgery, a transformative process that has much in common with alchemy and cooking -- but one
that proves far more dangerous. "The Alchemist's Illusion" by Gigi Pandian is a simply riveting
and deftly crafted read that will have immense appeal for readers with affinity for fantasy mystery
fiction. Highly recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community
library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of both fantasy fans and mystery
buffs that "The Alchemist's Illusion" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59) and
as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781978664654, $14.99, CD).
The Western Fiction Shelf
Hard Trail To Breakneck Pass
Terrell L. Bowers
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839777, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Bolt, the general foreman for Tug Mackintosh's railroad line, is charged with the simple task of
meeting and bringing Mack's young bride-to-be to the end of the tracks. Arriving just in time to
fend off would-be abductors, Bolt is smitten by the enchanting Ariette Ekhard who is the
unwilling fiance of his boss. However, within hours of her safe delivery and to avoid an
unwanted wedding she goes off on her own and is again in the hands of the kidnappers.
Mounting a rescue mission, Bolt finds himself up against overwhelming odds. But he has found
someone worth fighting for. She may also be worth dying for. Another original and non-stop
entertaining western novel by a master of the genre, this large print edition of Terrell Bower's
"Hard Trail To Breakneck Pass" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to both the
personal reading lists of western fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
Wichita Town Tamer
Dale Graham
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444838213, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 248pp, www.amazon.com
The citizens of Wichita are desperate to appoint a lawman who can control the wild Texas
cowboys fresh off the trail, and crooked plotters who want to take over the town. Bear River Cal
Bonner has earned an enviable reputation as a town tamer, and soon brings peace to the cow
town. But his enemies are determined that the saying 'Anything Goes' will be resurrected, and
bring in a hired gunman to challenge the marshal. Will the town once again fall into the hands of
the unscrupulous bad hats? A true master of the western action/adventure genre, author Dale
Graham has penned another riveting novel that is a 'must read' for all dedicated western buffs.
This large print edition from the Linford Western Library series is especially recommended for
community library collections.
Jernigan
John Callahan
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785415647, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 162pp, www.amazon.com
After he foiled a stage hold-up, a beautiful widow offers Ed Jernigan the job of range detective at
her ranch, to protect her from her stepson and his shady friends. Is he up to the task? In
"Jernigan", author John Callahan has deftly crafted a western novel that is an inherently riveting
read leading to a dramatic surprise ending. Here is an enduringly entertaining read and one that
will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon
the shelf. Certain to be an enduringly welcome addition to community library Western Fiction
collections, this large print edition of "Jernigan" is unreservedly recommended for the personal
reading lists.
Gringo
L. L. Foreman
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785415623, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 234pp, www.amazon.com
Watt Coxon arrives in Santa Fe to take up duties as a U.S. Attorney. But he is young and green,
and residents reckon he'll be lucky to last a week as he walks directly into a feud between Dandy
Dee and his gang of bar toughs and cattle rustlers and Nat Yarbrough with his team of wagoneers
and Spanish ambition to restore his wife's heritage of an enormous land grant. Then there is
Yarbrough's lovely young daughter and the complicated problem of land ownership now that it is
under the jurisdiction of the United States to complicate things further. The great western
novelist Louie L'Amour once said that he didn't really write westerns, instead, he wrote historical
novels that were set in the West. That perspective clearly applies to L. L. Foreman's "Gringo" -- a
deftly crafted and entertainingly engaging novel that will be appreciated by dedicated western
buffs and historical novel enthusiasts alike! This large print edition of "Gringo" is unreservedly
recommended for both community library collections and personal reading lists.
Fear Valley
Alex Frew
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839418, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 264pp, www.amazon.com
When a gang of criminals commits an atrocious robbery in the bank of Harrisville, bounty hunter
Jubal Thorne is quick on their trail and soon dispatches four of them. The murder of innocent
bystanders during the robbery makes Thorne (also known as Blaze) determined that all of the
criminals will pay with their lives, including maverick leader of the group, River Shannon, gives
the rest of his doomed men the slip, escaping to Fear Valley at the very end of the desert frontier.
The valley is ruled by Valquez, a despot who holds control over a group of settlers whose leader
is determined to assassinate Valquez and free his farming community of their current condition
of semi-slavery. Soon Blaze the hunter finds himself becoming the prey. A deftly written western
by Alex Frew, the readers will particularly enjoy the interplay between the distinctive story
elements which lead to unexpected but dramatic conclusions. The large print edition of "Fear
Valley" will prove to be an enduringly popular choice for community library Western Fiction
collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated western action/adventure fans.
Death Wields a Henry .44: A Western Duo
Frank Leslie
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432848804, $25.95, HC, Library Binding, 321pp, www.amazon.com
In the two stories that comprise "Death Wields a Henry .44: A Western Duo " by Frank Leslie,
western action/adventure buffs can saddle up and ride the wild trails of the old frontier with the
Revenger, Mike Sartain, as he rights wrongs for people who can't right the wrongs themselves. In
'Savage Barranca', the revenger is captured by the U.S. Cavalry, who has a special bone to pick
with him. Only, he's not sent to a firing squad. The governor of New Mexico Territory gives him
an ultimatum: kill a man in Mexico and retrieve the governor's kidnapped daughter, or face a
court-martial. In 'San Juan Buchwhackers', Sartain rides into the little mountain ghost town of
Hard Winter looking for water. What he finds instead is a bushwhacker's bullet. When an outlaw
named Chick Beacham rides into town, even more questions arise as the bullets fly! Certain to be
an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collection,
it should be noted for the personal reading lists of Frank Leslie fans that "Death Wields a Henry
.44: A Western Duo" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram
Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, et al.
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
9780830836000, $24.00, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com
An Enneagram is a model of human personality illustrated by the enneagram figure of a
nine-sided star polygon with various configurations. The Enneagram opens a remarkable window
into the truth about us, enabling us to see how image, wounds, lies, triggers, and default
responses shape us every bit as much as our faith. But simply diagnosing our number doesn't do
justice to who we are. Nor does it necessarily change us or our relationships. Transformation
happens as we grow in awareness and learn how to engage and reflect God's image. And
relational repair then results as we apply Enneagram insights to the rhythms and grooves of our
ordinary daily lives. For those who have learned about the Enneagram and wonder "What's
next?" -- "Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A Handbook for Harmony and Transformation"
is the answer. Filled with exercises to engage, challenge, encourage, and sustain, "Spiritual
Rhythms for the Enneagram" will help us grow in greater awareness and lead us to spiritual and
relational transformation. Including new insight on the Enneagram and the Harmony Triads, and
offering helpful "Soul Resources" in the appendix, "Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A
Handbook for Harmony and Transformation" can be used by individuals or groups. A unique and
effective 'spirituality workbook', it should be noted that "Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram: A
Handbook for Harmony and Transformation" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.16).
The Christian Studies Shelf
Making a Scene in the Pulpit
Alyce M. McKenzie
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
www.wjkbooks.com
9780664261566, $25.00, PB, 226pp, www.amazon.com
How can preachers ensure that their sermons continue to engage listeners in a world defined by
visual media and the short, segmented delivery of information? In "Making a Scene in the Pulpit:
Vivid Preaching for Visual Listeners", Alyce McKenzie (who is the Le Van Professor of
Preaching and Worship and Director of the Center for Preaching Excellence at Perkins School of
Theology) harnesses the element of drama and the human fascination with scenes to offer
ministers a modern means of sermon development and delivery. Professor McKenzie's core
strategy is to invite listeners into scenes (whether from Scripture or contemporary life) and, once
they are there, to point them toward the larger story of God's relationship with humankind.
Creating such scenes unifies the whole process of preaching, she says, from the preacher's daily
life observations to interpretation of scenes from Scripture, to sermon shaping, sequencing, and
delivery. The process culminates in a specific understanding of the purpose of the sermon: to
send listeners out into the scenes they'll play in their lives for the next week, equipped to act out
their parts in ways that are kinder, more just, and more courageous than last week. Thoroughly
'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Making a Scene in the Pulpit" is an especially
recommended addition to seminary and academic library Christian Studies collections. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students and clergy that "Making a Scene in
the Pulpit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Open Your Heart
Pope Francis, author
Theresa Khoo, editor
Pauline Books & Media
50 St. Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3433
www.paulinemedia.com
9780819855084, $7.95, PB, 136pp, www.amazon.com
Pope Francis, born Jorge Borgoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the 265th successor of St.
Peter as Bishop of Rome. He has reigned as Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church since 2013.
Lent is a time for all Roman Catholics to open their hearts to the sacrifice of Christ and the love
of God. With "Open Your Heart: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis", Pope Francis'
world-renowned compassion, mercy, and tenderness help Catholics on their Lenten journey as he
invites them out of the darkness of sin and into the light of the Gospel. Including daily reflections
from Ash Wednesday through Easter week, "Open Your Heart" draws from the popes homilies,
public addresses, and other writings to encourage all Catholics on their Easter journey. "Open
Your Heart: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis" is especially and unreservedly recommended
to the attention of all members of the Roman Catholic community.
A Philosophy of the Christian Religion
Nancey Murphy
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
www.wjkbooks.com
9780664263287, $40.00, PB, 348pp, www.amazon.com
The Christian religion as we find it in the twenty-first century presents a unique set of problems
to be solved and questions to be answered. "A Philosophy of the Christian Religion" by Nancey
Murphy (Senior Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary) is an
informed and informative introduction to the philosophy of the Christian religion. Professor
Murphy applies the tools of philosophical analysis to a set of core yet contemporary religious
questions: What does our historical moment mean for the possibility of knowing God?; Is faith
still possible?; Does God intervene in human history?; Is there such a thing as universal
knowledge of God? Written with the needs of students encountering the philosophy of religion
for the first time in mind, "A Philosophy of the Christian Religion" provides a comprehensive
introduction to the fundamental questions inherent in Christian faith, along with the intellectual
and scholarly tools for how to answer these seminal questions within the context of the Christian
religion. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Philosophy of the Christian
Religion" is especially recommended for seminary, church, community, college, and university
library Contemporary Christian Theology collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
From Fire, by Water
Sohrab Ahmari
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781621642022, $22.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Sohrab Ahmari was a teenager living under the Iranian ayatollahs when he decided that there is
no God. Nearly two decades later, he would be received into the Roman Catholic Church. In "From Fire, by Water: My Journey to the Catholic Faith", he recounts this unlikely passage,
from the strident Marxism and atheism of a youth misspent on both sides of the Atlantic to a
moral and spiritual awakening prompted by the Mass. At once a young intellectual's finely
crafted self-portrait and a life story at the intersection of the great ideas and events of our time,
"From Fire, by Water" marks the debut of a compelling new Catholic voice. Inspired and
inspiring, "From Fire, by Water" is a compelling memoir that is especially and unreservedly
recommended to the attention of all members of the Catholic community, clergy and laymen
alike.
The Grace of Patience
Margaret Whipp
Twenty-Third Publications
1 Montauk Ave #200, New London, CT 06320
www.23rdpublications.com
9781627853651, $12.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Having to wait is a fact of life. And depending on what we re waiting for, the experience can
leave us feeling frustrated, anxious, or even fearful. We cannot escape these times of waiting, but
in them we can discover the gift and beauty of patience. "The Grace of Patience: Discovering the
Spiritual Abundance of Waiting Discovering the Spiritual Abundance of Waiting"is a spiritually
rich and beautifully written book by Margaret Whipp (who is the Lead Chaplain for the Oxford
University Hospital) in which she explores several kinds of waiting and shows how each can
become a moment of grace in our lives. "The Grace of Patience" offers helpful activities and
exercises to turn these moments of disquiet into prayerful encounters with calm and peace.
Patience is not only a virtue; it is a gift which is deftly showcased in the pages of "The Grace of
Patience". Very highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community
regardless of denominational affiliations, "The Grace of Patience" is especially appropriate for
church and community library Spirituality and Personal Growth collections and reading
lists.
The Unsaved Christian
Dean Inserra
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802418807, $14.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Whether it's the Christmas and Easter Christians or the faithful church attenders whose hearts are
cold toward the Lord, we've all encountered cultural Christians. They'd check the Christian box
on a survey, they're fine with church, but the truth is, they're far from God. So how do we bring
Jesus to this overlooked mission field? "The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity
with the Gospel" equips you to confront cultural Christianity with honesty, compassion, and
grace, whether you're doing it from the pulpit or the pews. A practical guide, "The Unsaved
Christian" will: Show you how to recognize cultural Christianity; Teach you how to overcome
the barriers that get in the way; Give you easy-to-understand advice about VBS, holiday services,
reaching "good people," and more! If you've ever felt stuck or unsure how to minister to someone
who identifies as Christian but still needs Jesus, "The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural
Christianity with the Gospel" is the perfect instructional guide and reference. While very highly
recommended to all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational
affiliations, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Unsaved Christian" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Oasis Audio, 9781640911505, $24.99, CD).
Dare to Hope
Melissa Spoelstra
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
www.abingdonpress.com
9781501879654, $16.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
When we look around at today's world, hope usually isn't the first word that comes to mind. In
many ways we live in an unstable world where marriages fail, bank accounts run low, friendships
end, and the everyday demands of a fast-paced life get us down. In the Book of Jeremiah, we find
God calling out to His people with a message of hope -- a message that intentional living is
possible even in an unstable world. In "Dare to Hope: Living Intentionally in an Unstable
World", Melissa Spoelstra (popular women's conference speaker and Bible Studies teacher)
examines this hope-filled message, highlighting six guidelines for intentional living that enable
us to overcome fear, worry, and doubt as we surrender to God and put our hope in Him alone.
"Dare to Hope" inspires us to dare to hope, remembering that God is rich in mercy and love and
has good plans for us. Inspired and inspiring, "Dare to Hope" is unreservedly recommended
reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Dare to Hope" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Oasis Audio,
9781640911727, $24.99, CD).
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Elements of Magic
Jane Meredith & Gede Parma, editors
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738757148, $19.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Deeply poetic and rich with passion, "Elements of Magic: Reclaiming Earth, Air, Fire, Water &
Spirit" was collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Australian writer and ritualist Jane
Meredith and witch, seer, healer, mystic, activist, and writer Gede Parma to helps metaphysical
studies to expand their relationship with earth, air, fire, water, and spirit through personal
reflections and hands-on explorations. With brilliant contributions from members of the
international Reclaiming community, this empowering volume provides a wealth of spells,
exercises, practices, and perspectives that are taught in Reclaiming's foundational class, Elements
of Magic. Readers will discover and learn the techniques for grounding, casting a circle, trance,
and visualization, as well as guidance for working with breath, raising energy, and charging an
intention. The perfect introduction for the novice while having a great deal of insightful value for
even the more seasoned practitioner, "Elements of Magic" is very highly recommended for
personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Elements of Magic" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $12.71).
The Science Shelf
Virginia Rocks!
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780878426881, $18.00, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap, Virginia stretches across five distinct regions, each
home to unique and amazing geology. In the Coastal Plain's wedge of fossil-rich sediments, a
meteor impact crater-the sixth largest on Earth-helped determine the location of Chesapeake Bay.
The Piedmont begins at the Fall Line, the series of East Coast waterfalls that mark the upstream
limit to ship navigation, such as Belle Else in Richland, where the turbulent James River erodes
potholes in the Petersburg Granite. Rising up from the rolling hills of the Piedmont, the Blue
Ridge forms the spine of the state, its hard basalt and gneisses on display at Shenandoah National
Park. Farther west, limestones in the Valley and Ridge are riddled with caves and sinkholes, with
dissolution forming one of the wonders of the world at Natural Bridge State Park. Along the very
western edge of the state is the Appalachian Plateau, where the No. 3 coal, known as America's
Favorite Fuel was extracted from the historic Pocahontas Mine. "Virginia Rocks!" by geologist
Albert Dickas showcases 50 of the best sites in Virginia for discussing the enormous variety of
rocks, minerals, and landforms created over the course of the states more than 1 billion years of
geologic history. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Virginia Rocks!" is
impressively informative and unreservedly recommended for personal, school, and community
library geology studies collections and reading lists.
The Military Shelf
Spy Pilot
Francis Gary Powers Jr. and Keith Dunnavant
Prometheus Books
9781633884687, $25.00, www.prometheus.com
Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, The U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy comes
from the son of Francis Gary Powers, who commanded an American U-2 spy plane over the
Soviet Union in 1960, which was shot down. Powers was captured by the KGB and imprisoned
during an international incident, eventually to be released in a spy exchange and exonerated of
any wrongdoing. His son has written a new account of events based on personal files new to this
book, filling in details and adding insights into the truth, some sixty years after the event.
Military history holdings will find it an engrossing series of revelations and new details about a
notorious event.
Operation Dragoon
Robin Cross
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681778600 $27.95 hc / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com
Operation Dragoon The Allied Liberation of the South of France: 1944 is a meticulously
researched, expertly presented historical and military analysis of "the second D-Day", an
American-French operation in which the British (who pushed for action in northern Italy) played
a significantly smaller role. While the French had been excluded from the original D-Day, in
Operation Dragoon the French provided the majority of the ground troops. The campaign began
on the beaches of the Riviera and reached to the Alpes Maritimes. An inset selection of black-
and-white photographic plates and an index round out this astute account of military operation
with long-lasting repercussions for France and beyond. Operation Dragoon is a welcome addition
to public and college library World History and Military shelves, highly recommended.
The Wrecking Crew
Bernd Horn
The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459743380, $24.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Audacious to the extreme, Operation Colossus was a military raid in the early, dark days of the
Second World War, when Britain stood seemingly alone. After the country's defeats in western
Europe in 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill insisted on an aggressive raiding campaign.
Conducted on February 10, 1941, Operation Colossus was one such raid, meant to steal back the
initiative and create as much chaos for the Axis powers as possible. However, bad luck stalked
the mission, as one mishap after another seemed to foredoom the operation. In the aftermath,
there were recriminations as well as accolades. Few military operations have proven as
controversial. "The Wrecking Crew: Operation Colossus, 10 February 1941" by retired Regular
Force infantry officer and military educator Colonel Bernd Horn will prove to be an enduringly
valued and appreciated addition to the growing body of World War II histories. While
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century Military
History collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Wrecking Crew" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
The World History Shelf
The Story of Britain
Roy Strong
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781643130132, $35.00, HC, 608pp, www.amazon.com
"The Story of Britain: A History of the Great Ages: From the Romans to the Present" by Sir Roy
Strong (who was the Director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert
Museum) is an accessible one-volume history that clearly depict Britain's origins and explains in
detail how the past shaped the nation's current identity. Strong begins the story of Britain from
the very earliest recorded Celtic times, and with this new edition has now brought it up to date
via the Blair years and into the present day of Brexit Britain. A magnificently eloquent volume,
the narrative chronicles two thousand years of Britain's history, the triumph of its people, the
glory of its culture, and its dramatic influence on other nations of the world, especially the United
States. Impressively researched, organized and presented, "The Story of Britain" will prove to be
an extraordinary and enduringly valued addition to community, college, and university library
British History collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "The Story of Britain" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.16).
The Pharisee Enigma
John Merrill
Biblical Archaeology Society Press
4710 - 41st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016-1700
www.biblicalarchaeology.org
9781880317945, $39.95, HC, 246pp, www.amazon.com
"The Pharisee Enigma Ancient Judean Sects and Christian Origins" by John Merrill (who has
been long engaged in the field of biblical history and archaeology and has served as a past
Chairman of the Biblical Archaeology Society, as well as having sponsored and participated in
many archaeology expeditions and research projects) leads readers on a fascinating journey
through the often unexplored period of history from which modern Judaism and Christianity
emerged. Written especially for the nonspecialist general reader, the well documented story will
stir controversy among academia as Merrill challenges conventional wisdom about the roots of
two world religions. "The Pharisee Enigma" highlights the economic and social turbulence
during the centuries in which Judeans struggled to maintain their distinctive identity in a world
dominated by a succession of great powers: Persia, Macedonia and ultimately Rome. Woven into
this history are profiles of some of the ancient world's larger-than-life figures including:
Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, Herod the Great, John the Baptist,
Jesus of Nazareth, and the apostle Paul, to mention a few. Enhanced with the inclusion of maps,
tables, and listing of abbreviations, "The Pharisee Enigma" is an extraordinary history that is
exceptional in its research, organization and presentation, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in the subject, as
well as community, college, and university library collections.
The Civil War Shelf
Crossing the Deadlines
Michael P. Gray, editor
The Kent State University Press
1118 Library, P.O. Box 5190, Kent OH 44242
http://www.kentstateuniversitypress.com
9781606353417 $45.00 hc / $29.09 Kindle amazon.com
Crossing the Deadlines: Civil War Prisons Reconsidered is an anthology of essays by learned
historians, anthropologists, and more re-examining conventional scholarship concerning prisons
of the American Civil War. (The title refers to the "deadlines" of prisons, which are boundaries
that prisoners could not pass for risk of being shot). Here are essays that seek to break new
ground by applying interdisciplinary scholarship and new methodologies to the study of Civil
War incarceration. Individual writings include: "Civil War Captives and a Captivated Home
Front: The Rise of Prisons as Dark Tourist Destinations", "'De Bottom Rails on Top Now': Black
Union Guards and Confederate Prisoners of War", "Johnson's Island Prison Uncovered: An
Archaeological Exploration of a Northern Civil War Prison", and much more. Exhaustively
researched and analytically presented, Crossing the Deadlines is a seminal contribution to public
and college library Civil War collections, highly recommended.
Confederate Ironclads at War
R. Thomas Campbell
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476676401, $49.95, PB, 276pp, www.amazon.com
Hampered by lack of materials, shipyards and experienced shipbuilders, even so the South
managed to construct 34 iron-armored warships during the Civil War, of which the Confederate
Navy put 25 into service. The stories of these vessels illustrate the hardships under which the
Navy operated -- and also its resourcefulness. Except for the Albemarle, no Confederate ironclad
was sunk or destroyed by enemy action. Overtaken by events on the ground, most were destroyed
by their own crews to prevent them from falling into Union hands. "Confederate Ironclads at
War" by R. Thomas Campbell covers the design and construction and the engagements of the
Confederate ironclads and describes the ingenuity and courage, as well as the challenges and
frustrations of their "too little, too late" service. A welcome and impressively informative
contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature, "Confederate Ironclads at
War" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic
library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of dedicated Civil War buffs.
The Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy
H. Leon Greene
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476668901, $39.95, PB, 262pp, www.amazon.com
Defeat was looming for the South -- as the Civil War continued, paths to possible victory were
fast disappearing. Dr. Luke Pryor Blackburn, a Confederate physician and expert in infectious
diseases, had an idea that might turn the tide: he would risk his own life and career to bring a
yellow fever epidemic to the North. To carry out his mission, he would need some accomplices.
Tracing the plans and movements of the conspirators, "The Confederate Yellow Fever
Conspiracy: The Germ Warfare Plot of Luke Pryor Blackburn, 1864-1865" is a thoroughly
researched history that describes in documented detail the yellow fever plot of 1864-1865.
Bringing to light biological warfare as one of the more obscure aspects of the conflict, "The
Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy" is a seminal study and unreservedly recommended for
both community and academic library American Civil War History collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of students and dedicated Civil War buffs that "The
Confederate Yellow Fever Conspiracy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Rube Tube
Sara K. Eskridge
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826221650, $50.00, HC, 254pp, www.amazon.com
In "Rube Tube: CBS and Rural Comedy in the Sixties", historian Sara Eskridge (Adjunct
Assistant Professor of History, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia) examines
television's rural comedy boom in the 1960s and the political, social, and economic factors that
made these shows a perfect fit for CBS. The network, nicknamed the Communist Broadcasting
System during the Red Scare of the 1940s, saw its image hurt again in the 1950s with the quiz
show scandals and a campaign against violence in westerns. When a rival network introduced
rural-themed programs to cater to the growing southern market, CBS latched onto the trend and
soon reestablished itself as the Country Broadcasting System. Its rural comedies dominated the
ratings throughout the decade, attracting viewers from all parts of the country. With fascinating
discussions of The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and other
shows, Professor Eskridge reveals how the southern image was used to both entertain and
reassure Americans in the turbulent 1960s. An impressive work of seminal scholarship and an
inherently engaging read throughout, "Rube Tube" is unreservedly recommended for community,
college, and university library American Television & Popular College collections and
supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Rube Tube" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $39.99).
Making Your First Blockbuster
Paul Dudbridge
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932962, $34.95, PB, 250pp, www.amazon.com
A perfect do-it-yourself curriculum under one cover, "Making Your First Blockbuster: Write It.
Film It. Blow it Up!" provides everything the aspiring film maker requires, from getting the
script right, to the edit being tight, is laid out in an informal and easily digestible style. "Making
Your First Blockbuster" covers not only all the major components but delves deep into the
nuances that make the big blockbusters really deliver. Using examples from older and modern
blockbuster movies, as well as his own experiences on set, author and filmaker Paul Dudbridge
(who is a British director, producer, cinematographer and educator, making feature films,
television, commercials and music video) helps demonstrate points clearly and make them easy
to understand. Aimed at the professional filmmaker, this comprehensive instructional guide and
reference also covers how to shoot and utilize special and visual effects in films as well as the
techniques on how to shoot and edit action sequences safely, all whilst producing epic results on
screen. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic film school collections,
it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Making Your First Blockbuster" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.87).
The Art Shelf
Celestial Watercolor
Elise Mahan
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781631065880, $19.99, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
An ideal and beautifully presented instruction manual and guide, with Elise Mahan's "Celestial
Watercolor", anyone can learn how to paint the beautiful night sky throughout the seasons while
also learning about sun signs and their place in astrology. Complete with an overview of the tools
and techniques of watercolor, "Celestial Watercolor" also features: How to achieve the look of
the night sky unique to each season, from the light blue summer night to the deep blue of the
winter; Watercolor wash techniques: wet-into-wet and wet-on-dry painting; How to paint moons
throughout the year, including the 12 moons from the Native American and spiritual traditions;
Adding environmental elements, including trees, mountains, and lakes; Ideas for night sky
painting gifts for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, and other occasions. Profusely illustrated,
exceptionally and impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Celestial
Watercolor" is unreservedly recommended for personal, school, and community library Fine Arts
& Painting instructional reference collections.
The Cookbook Shelf
Asma's Indian Kitchen
Asma Khan
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781623719128, $30.00, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Asma Khan's award-winning restaurant Darjeeling Express began life as a dinner party with
friends; Indian food lovingly cooked from family recipes that go back generations. In "Asma's
Indian Kitchen" Asma reveals the secret to her success, telling her immigrant's story and how
food brought her home. The recipes pay homage to her royal Mughlai ancestry and follow the
route of the Darjeeling Express train from the busy streets of Bengal, through Calcutta, where she
grew up, and along the foothills of the Himalayas to Hyderabad. Platters of dishes boasting
texture and intense flavor encourage you to gather for a traditional dawaat (feast). Starting with
simple midweek Feasts for Two, Asma then reveals the way to quick and easy cooking with less
spice for Family Feasts. There are Feasts for Friends, for when you want to show off a little, and
Celebratory Feasts. Many of the recipes are vegetarian, there are sweet treats and drinks, too, and
all feature alongside lesser-known recipes and stories unique to Asma's family. "Asma's Indian
Kitchen" is more than just another collection of delicious and accessible recipes, it is also a
celebration of heritage, culture, community and quality. An inherently fascinating personal story
combined with palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, and authentic recipes from the Indian
subcontinent, "Asma's Indian Kitchen" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to
community library Contemporary Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Asma's Indian Kitchen" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Super Green Simple and Lean
Sally Obermeder & Maha Koraiem
Allen & Unwin
https://www.allenandunwin.com
c/o Trafalgar Square Books
PO Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781760292027, $19.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com
In their new cookbook, "Super Green Simple and Lean", Sally Obermeder (an Australian
television host who also co-founded and runs the lifestyle blog SWIISH.com) and her sister
Maha. Maha Koraiem (who is the co-founder and director of SWIISH.com and a certified Health
and Nutrition Coach) have created a beautifully illustrated compendium of smoothie recipes,
monster salads, nourishing bowls and satisfying snacks that will help even the most novice of
kitchen cooks to make healthy living faster, easier and more delicious than they ever thought
possible. These nutritious, easy to make recipes will help anyone to lose weight, gain energy and
simply feel fantastic. Of special note is the inclusion of dual measures. Exceptionally well
organized and presented, "Super Green Simple and Lean" will quickly become an enduringly
favorite addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Super Green Simple and Lean" is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $11.00).
The Seaweed Cookbook
Nicole Pisani & Kate Adams
Firefly Books Ltd.
www.fireflybooks.com
9780228100911, $19.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Seaside societies have included seaweed in their diets for millennia. seaweed provides a
nutritional punch, a powerful mix of iodine, iron, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, vitamin K,
vitamin B12; minerals, fiber and protein. It is linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease,
Type 2 diabetes and obesity and it is believed to help in the prevention and treatment of cancer."
The Seaweed Cookbook" covers all aspects of seaweed and us specifically intended for those
who would like to incorporate this powerful food into their diet and it is for those who already
enjoy it and want to discover new recipes. In addition to showcasing 50 kitchen cook friendly and
palate pleasing recipes for appetizers, side dishes, main entres, and baked goods, "The Seaweed
Cookbook" also explains the benefits of eating seaweed, where to buy it, how to collect it (if
you're lucky enough to live seaside), and how to dry, store, soak and handle it as an ingredient.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Seaweed Cookbook" will prove to be a unique and
treasured addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Seaweed Cookbook" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Right-Size Recipes
Betty Crocker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.hmhco.com
9781328588760, $22.99, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
With the publication of "Right-Size Recipes: Delicious Meals for One or Two", Betty Crocker
makes cooking for one (and maybe one more) easier and more economical than ever with a
complete assortment of almost 200 perfect fit recipes. She's delightfully re imagined beloved
classics like Black and Blue Mini Meat Loaves and quick and easy dinners like Pan Asian
Salmon and Vegetables. Even dessert is made sweeter and simpler with personal treats like
Cherry Cobblers for Two. "Right Size Recipes" makes cooking effortless and fun, with
recommendations for the proper equipment, advice on navigating the grocery store to shop small,
and lessons on transforming or stretching leftover ingredients and meals into another delicious
entree for less repetitive leftovers and more delightful cooking. Holidays and special occasions
are also handily scaled to size, with a sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner for two, menus for a
romantic dinner or a stay in movie night, and more. Beautifully and profusely illustrated, 'user
friendly' in organization and presentation, "Right-Size Recipes" is unreservedly recommended for
community libraries. It should be noted for personal use that "Right-Size Recipes" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes
Sabrina Ghayour
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784725754, $34.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled by chef, food writer, culinary teacher, and Middle Eastern cuisine expert Sabrina
Ghayour "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is a colorful, flavorful and satisfying celebration
of vegetable dishes, designed to suit every occasion and every palate. Every dish showcased in
"Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is features easy-to-achieve flavors and depth that would
win over even the most die-hard carnivore. Each individual recipe utilizes the abundance of
varied flavor profiles of the East ranging from spices, herbs and perfumed aromatics, to hearty
staples such as grains and pulses, combined with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Here are
salads for all seasons, spectacular sides, bowl comfort, moreish mains, sweet treats, and more!
Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is a
culinary pleasure to browse through and create menus with, making it an ideal and highly
recommended addition to family and community library Vegetarian Cook Book collections. It
should be noted for personal and professional lists that "Bazaar: Vibrant Vegetarian Recipes" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Well Being
Danielle Copperman
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
http://www.kylebooks.com
9780857834423, $34.99, www.kylebooks.co.uk
Well Being: Recipes and Rituals to Realign the Body and Mind comes from a successful young
model and businesswoman who looked for a more holistic approach to wellbeing. Her blend of
yoga, nutritious recipes, and exercise helped increase her energy levels and promoted a better
relationship and balance with food and fitness, and this book gathers her rituals and recipes that
illustrate her footsteps for those who would follow. Little is neglected in this pursuit: formulas
for spearmint and almond mouthwash to a breakfast Turmeric Tofu Scramble or Walnut
Chocolate Biscuits and Millionaire's Shortbread accompany broader discussions of formulas for
better living, making this a recommended pick for food, lifestyle, and self-help holdings
alike.
The Gardening Shelf
Vertical Vegetables
Amy Andrychowicz
Cool Springs Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9780760357842, $24.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
In "Vertical Vegetables: Simple Projects that Deliver More Yield in Less Space", gardening
expert and the creator of the website "Get Busy Gardening", Amy Andrychowicz introduces the
concept and practice of gardening vertically in order to make maxim advantage of limited spaces.
With practical principles and the incisive background information needed to start, "Vertical
Vegetables" shows how to build nearly two dozen growing structures, including trellises, arbors,
archways, wall pockets, towers, and more. Bigger yields per square foot may be the main reason
for vertical growing, but vertical gardens also offer opportunities that go beyond the purely
functional -- they can be beautiful, too. Among the many projects in her new book, "Vertical
Vegetables" has included several that are visually stunning, especially once the garden has
matured. Freestanding or wall-hung, the projects reflect a wide variety of building materials, too,
including dimensional lumber, metal re-bar, fabric, and even "upcycled" everyday objects.
"Vertical Vegetables" is packed from cover to cover with important information, including lists
of plants that are best suited for vertical growing. A beautiful organized and presented do-it-
yourself project book for even the most novice of gardeners, working with any sized outdoor
space, "Vertical Vegetables" is very highly recommended for personal and community library
Gardening instructional reference collection. It should also be noted that "Vertical Vegetables" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.41).
The Automotive Shelf
Chrysler Slant Six Engines
Doug Dutra
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613254325, $25.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
1960 was the year all of the Big Three automakers unveiled entrants in a new class of car called
the compact. Chrysler's offering, the Plymouth Valiant, was paired with its redesigned 6-cylinder
engine entrant, the Slant Six, known by its nickname the "leaning tower of power". This engine
powered the Valiants when they swept the top seven positions in the newly christened compact
race that precluded the Daytona 500. With its legacy intact, Chrysler's Slant Six powered Mopar
automobiles for decades to come in three displacement offerings (170, 198, 225). Now 60 years
old, surviving Slant Six engines could probably use some freshening up. Slant Six engine expert
Doug Dutra has produced "Chrysler Slant Six Engines: How to Rebuild and Modify" a profusely
illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide, manual, and reference to walk the
do-it-yourself Slant Six owner through every aspect of disassembly, evaluation, rebuild, and
reassembly in an easy-to-read, step-by-step format. "Chrysler Slant Six Engines" also covers
modifications, showing how to squeeze the most out of a Slant Six engine.
Supercar Revolution
John Lamm
Motorbooks
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9780760363348, $40.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
In "Supercar Revolution", John Lamm (a respected, long-time automotive journalist and
photographer who covers sports and racing cars for Road & Track) deftly charts the evolution of
the battle for performance and supremacy among the world's leading marques, including Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Bugatti, Porsche, Aston Martin, and Ford GT. "Supercar Revolution" profiles the
designers and engineers who developed these beasts, and includes interviews with the racers and
celebrities who drive them. And that's not to mention the fabulous photographs of the supercars
themselves you'll find throughout this highly produced volume. Jay Leno, the host of Jay Leno's
Garage and one of the best-known automotive collectors and enthusiasts in the world, is also
featured in several hilarious and informative commentaries. "Supercar Revolution" conveys the
power of automotive aesthetics and performance as they're pushed to their absolute limits like
you've never seen before. It is a new benchmark in automotive publishing, and is destined to
become a classic history of these incredible marques. An absolute 'must read' for all dedicated car
buffs, "Supercar Revolution" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and
community library Automotive History collections.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
There Is No Planet B
Mike Berners-Lee
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108439589, $12.95, PB, 302pp, www.amazon.com
Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, antibiotics, plastics - the list of concerns seems
endless. But what is most pressing, what are the knock-on effects of our actions, and what should
we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world?
Should we frack? How can we take control of technology? Does it all come down to population?
And, given the global nature of the challenges we now face, what on Earth can any of us do?
Fortunately, Mike Berners-Lee (a leading expert in carbon footprinting, as well as the director
and principal consultant at Small World Consulting) has crunched the numbers and plotted a
course of action that is practical and even enjoyable. "There Is No Planet B: A Handbook for the
Make or Break Years" maps it out in an accessible and entertaining way, filled with astonishing
facts and analysis. For the first time environmental activists can find big-picture perspective on
the environmental and economic challenges of the day laid out in one place, and traced through
to the underlying roots -- questions of how we live and think. "There Is No Planet B" will shock
and even surprise you -- and then make you laugh. And you'll find practical and even inspiring
ideas for what you can actually do to help humanity thrive on this (our only) planet. An absolute
'must read' for anyone concerned with the once looming and now upon us effects of climate
change, "There Is No Planet B" needs to be a part of every community and academic library
collection in the country. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, social
activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "There Is No Planet B" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.00).
The Activity Shelf
Quote Acrostic Favorites: Volume 4
Charles Preston, editor
aka Associates Inc.
www.akabooks.com
9780578452821, $9.95, PB, 70pp, www.amazon.com
Created by former USA Today crossword puzzle editor Charles Preston, "Quote Acrostic Favorites: Volume 4" is the fourth volume of in his outstanding series and is comprised of 50 favorite acrostics, which reveal wise and witty sayings on topics from human nature and politics to science and society. Crack the clues in the word column; transfer them to the diagram; and discover quotations from people like G.K. Chesterton, Samuel Clemens, Joan Didion, Molly Ivins, Jack London, and more. "Quote Acrostic Favorites: Volume 4" is perfect for passing the time, whether during a quick lunch break or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Offering hours and hours of puzzle-solving fun, the "Quote Acrostic Favorites" series is especially and unreservedly recommended for every puzzle enthusiast's personal collection.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Pirate Queen
Tony Lee and Sam Hart
Candlewick Press
99 Dover Street, Somerville, MA 02144
www.candlewick.com
9781536200195 $19.99 amazon.com
Pirate Queen: The Legend of Grace O'Malley is a full-color graphic novel based on Grace
O'Malley (1530-1603), a legendary Irish chieftain and rebel against English colonization.
Although Pirate Queen takes some creative license to interpret what little is conclusively known
about O'Malley's character and deeds, the core story of a seafaring woman driven to avenge the
slaughter of her loved ones is drawn directly from historical record. O'Malley's resolve to defend
her family and her homeland brought her bitter enemies, unlikely allies, and ultimately, a
confrontation with another legendary female ruler - Queen Elizabeth I. Striking art and masterful
storytelling bring adventure to life in this treasure for historical fiction graphic novel
connoisseurs! Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library collections.
Vincent Book One
Vitor Cafaggi
Super Genius
supergeniuscomics.com
c/o Papercutz
www.papercutz.com
9781545805343 $9.99 amazon.com
Vincent is an ordinary student with a knack for magic tricks, who likes to play RPGs with his
friends, and has never experienced more than platonic love... yet. Vincent Book One: Guide to
Love, Magic, and RPG is the first volume of a full-color, graphic novel collection of Brazilian
creator Vitor Cafaggi's delightful comic strip about a love triangle between the humble, charming
Vincent and two girls. Interactions between the anthropomorphic characters (including the
adorable white dog Vincent, the feline Lady, the panda Princess, and Vincent's monkey best
friend Bu) bring to life a story both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Vincent Book One is
suitable for all ages, and highly recommended for personal browsing, gift-giving, and public or
school library graphic novel collections.
The Rolling Stones in Comics!
Ceka
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Suite 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
www.nbmpub.com
9781681121987, $26.99, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
When the Rolling Stones hit the scene in the 60's, it was to play rhythm & blues, nothing more.
They were far from imagining that they would change music, let alone become the mouthpiece of
a changing world. Sticking their tongue out at the establishment with their brilliant music and
hard-hitting lyrics, they achieved planet-wide success. With Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in
the lead, these rebels have become, over 50 years, not just a band, but a whole attitude! Through
21 stories in comics accompanied by biographical texts and a rich iconography, "The Rolling
Stones in Comics!" by Ceka (who was formerly a copywriter in advertising and has scripted more
than 30 graphic novels) helps fans relive, in a totally new way, the incredible epic of one of the
biggest rock bands ever. Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community, college, and
university library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated
Rolling Stones fans that "The Rolling Stones in Comics!" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle & comiXology, $16.99).
Cannonball
Kelsey Wroten
Uncivilized Books
PO Box 6534, Minneapolis, MN 55406
https://uncivilizedbooks.com
9781941250334 $24.95 amazon.com
Cannonball is an LGBTQ graphic novel, featuring characters brought to life with simple yet
expressive color artwork. The story focuses on the precarious livelihood of Caroline Bertram, a
recent art school graduate and aspiring professional writer. She's also a lesbian who enjoys sex
(although a past love broke her heart), a binge drinker who might not have crossed the line to
alcoholism yet (although she'll drink with just about anyone to avoid drinking alone), a tortured
genius (in her own mind), snidely nasty to anyone she takes a dislike to (a woman willing to have
sex with her is not immune to her ill graces), and harassed by her parents to get a steady job
instead of trying to write full-time (and scraping by with the pittance she makes from freelance
editing work). Fortunately, Caroline does have friends, including a staunchly loyal lesbian best
friend, and a straight best friend. Caroline might be her own worst enemy - or her own greatest
motivator; the "Cannonball" title refers to a female professional wrestler that Caroline idolizes to
the point of visionary adoration. A slice-of-life story that keeps the reader fascinated all the way
to the final page, Cannonball is highly recommended. It should be noted that Cannonball has
some nudity and sexual content, and is therefore suggested for mature readers.
Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst
Ales Kot, author
Piotr Kowalski, illustrator
Brad Simpson, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785869532, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
"Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst" is the second volume of a full-color, horror-fantasy graphic
novel series based on the critically acclaimed video game. As the first Hunters slice the night in
the search of the afflicted, The Healing Church faces a rupture in its ranks as it struggles to halt
the spread of the mysterious Ashen Blood disease. Suspecting Old Blood as the cause, Priest
Clement strikes a pact with the older healer Alfredius to uncover the true nature of the Healing
Church and expose it to the citizens of Yharnam. Based on Hidetaka Miyazaki's
critically-acclaimed Bloodborne video game, "Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst" is a dark and
compelling page-turner of graphic novel. The artwork illustrations of Piotr Kowalski and Brad
Simpson fully enhance author Ales Kot's unique and compelling story of ecclesiastical arrogance
and the struggle of the fledgling practitioners of science in a age of superstition when faced with
a seemingly unholy and unstoppable horror. It should be noted for dedicated graphic novel fans
of the eerie and the mysterious, "Bloodborne: The Healing Thirst" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle & comiXology, $11.01).
The Raid
Alex Paknadel, author
Ollie Masters, author
Budy Setiawan, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785858659, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Alex Paknadel is a British comic book writer who has written several titles, including Doctor
Who for Titan Comics and Arcadia and Turncoat for Boom! Studios. Ollie Masters is a British
comic book writer who has written several titles, including The Kitchen for Vertigo, and Sons of
Anarchy and Snow Blind for Boom. Together they have collaborated to write "The Raid", a
riveting graphic novel expertly illustrated by Budy Setiawan. Based on characters from the Raid
movie series, "The Raid" is an action/adventure thriller of a read from cover to cover. While very
highly recommended for community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all graphic novel fans that "The Raid" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $11.99).
The Steel Prince
V. E. Schwab, author
Andrea Olimpieri, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785865879, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
The youthful Maresh is sent to a violent and unmanageable port city on the Blood Coast of
Verose, on strict orders from his father, King Nokil Maresh, to cut his military teeth in this
lawless landscape. There, he encounters an unruly band of soldiers, a lawless landscape, and the
intoxicatingly deadly presence of the newly returned pirate queen, Arisa. The first volume of V.
E. Schwab's 'Shades of Magic' series, "The Steel Prince" is superbly illustrated by the artwork
illustrations of Andrea Olimpieri. The result is a sword-wielding action/adventure epic that will
leave its fully entertained readers looking eagerly toward the next volume of this simply
outstanding graphic novel series. While unreservedly recommended for community library
graphic novel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Steel Prince" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Newbury & Hobbes: The Undying
George Mann, author
Dan Boultwood, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781782760399, $16.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Produced by the team of author George Mann and illustrator Dan Boultwood, "Newbury &
Hobbes: The Undying" takes place in the bizarre and dangerous steam punk world of Victorian
London, a city teetering on the edge of revolution. Airships soar in the skies over the city, ground
trains rumble through the streets and clockwork automatons serve the bustling public. But beneath this shiny veneer of progress lurks a sinister side. Queen Victoria is kept alive by a
primitive life-support system while her agents Sir Maurice Newbury and his delectable assistant,
Miss Veronica Hobbes, do battle with enemies of the crown, both physical and supernatural. This
time it is the re-emergence of an old nemesis who is the creator of monsters. A deftly crafted
example of the science fiction sub-genre of 'stem punk', "Newbury & Hobbes: The Undying" is
an extraordinarily entertaining read from cover to cover and will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to community library graphic novel collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all steam-punk science fiction fans that "Newbury & Hobbes: The
Undying" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle & comiXology, $11.99).
The Audiobook Shelf
The Ancient Celts
Barry Cunliffe
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
https://tantor.com/new-releases.html
9781630153502, $44.99, CD, www.tantor.com
For two and a half thousand years the Celts have continued to fascinate those who have come
into contact with them, yet their origins have remained a mystery and even today are the subject
of heated debate among historians and archaeologists. Now in a fully updated and revised second
edition, "The Ancient Celts" is an erudite history in which Barry Cunliffe explores the
archaeological reality of these bold warriors and skilled craftsmen of barbarian Europe who
inspired fear in the Greeks and Romans. Tracing the emergence of chiefdoms and their
migrations as far as Bosnia and the Czech Republic, he assesses the disparity between the
traditional and contemporary information on the Celts and offers new insight into the true
identity of this ancient people. Ably narrated by Julian Elfer, this complete and unabridged audio
book edition of "The Ancient Celts" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular
addition to community library collections. (8 CDs, 11 Hours).
Team of Vipers
Cliff Sims
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250238184, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com
After standing at Donald Trump's side on Election Night, Cliff Sims joined him in the West
Wing as Special Assistant to the President and Director of White House Message Strategy. He
soon found himself pulled into the President's inner circle as a confidante, an errand boy, an
advisor, a punching bag, and a friend. Sometimes all in the same conversation. As a result, Sims
gained unprecedented access to the President, sitting in on private meetings with key
Congressional officials, world leaders, and top White House advisors. He saw how Trump
handled the challenges of the office, and he learned from Trump himself how he saw the world.
For five hundred days, Sims also witnessed first-hand the infighting and leaking, the anger, joy,
and recriminations. He had a role in some of the President's biggest successes, and he shared the
blame for some of his administration's worst disasters. He gained key, often surprising insights
into the players of the Trump West Wing, from Jared Kushner and John Kelly to Steve Bannon
and Kellyanne Conway. He even helped Trump craft his enemies list, knowing who was loyal
and who was not. And he took notes. Hundreds of pages of notes. In real-time. Sims stood with
the President in the eye of the storm raging around him, and now he tells the story that no one
else has written -- because no one else could. As only a true insider could report, "Team Of
Vipers" is the true and inherently fascinating story of what it was really like in the West Wing as
a member of the President's team. Ably narrated by Daniel Thomas May, this real life tale of
power and palace intrigue, backstabbing and bold victories, as well as painful moral
compromises (occasionally with himself) is ably narrated by Daniel Thomas May, making this
Macmillan Audio a complete and unabridged production that is a very highly recommended
addition to personal, community, and academic library audio book collections.
Wild Bill
Tom Clavin
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250315885, $39.99, CD, www.amazon.com
In July 1865, "Wild Bill" Hickok shot and killed Davis Tutt in Springfield, MO -- the first
recorded quick-draw duel on the frontier. Thus began the reputation that made him a marked man
to every gunslinger in the Wild West. James Butler Hickok was known across the frontier as a
soldier, Union spy, scout, lawman, gunfighter, gambler, showman, and actor. He crossed paths
with General Custer and Buffalo Bill Cody, as well as Ben Thompson and other young toughs
gunning for the sheriff with the quickest draw west of the Mississippi. Wild Bill also fell in love
(multiple times) before marrying the true love of his life, Agnes Lake, the impresario of a
traveling circus. He would be buried however, next to fabled frontierswoman Calamity Jane.
Even before his death, Wild Bill became a legend, with fiction sometimes supplanting fact in the
stories that surfaced. Once, in a bar in Nebraska, he was confronted by four men, three of whom
he killed in the ensuing gunfight. A famous Harper's Magazine article credited Hickok with
slaying 10 men that day; by the 1870s, his career-long kill count was up to 100. The legend of
Wild Bill has only grown since his death in 1876, when cowardly Jack McCall famously put a
bullet through the back of his head during a card game. Ably narrated by Johnny Heller, author
Tom Clavin's "Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter" has sifted
through years of western lore to bring Hickok fully to life in this rip-roaring, spellbinding true
story, making this Macmillan Audio production an unreservedly recommended addition to
personal and community library audio book collections.
Crashing Heat
Richard Castle
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781549122231 $30.00 amazon.com
Crashing Heat is a dark, intense murder mystery, now available in audiobook format. Nikki Heat
is married to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jameson Rook. Her marriage is stormy, but also
sexy and sensational. Then a shocking death makes news headlines - a female reporter for a
college newspaper is found naked and dead in Rook's bed. Is someone trying to frame Rook for
murder? Or does he have an evil side that he's kept hidden from Nikki all this time? Determined
not to take any form of betrayal lightly, Nikki resolves to learn the truth about what happened
and why, embarking on an investigation that points toward a secret society within a secret
society. A riveting thrill ride from beginning to end, Crashing Heat is enthusiastically
recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 8 CDs, 9 hours.
The Library CD Shelf
Thunder In My Arms
Lissa Schneckenburger
www.lissafiddle.com
Footprint Records
$15.00 CD / $10.00 digital cdbaby.com
Lissa Schneckenburger presents Thunder In My Arms, a music album about attachment,
parenting, and trauma. The songs draw upon bass, electric guitar, piano, strings, and at times
brass and saxophone, while Schneckenburger's vocals reverberate in the heart and mind. A lyrics
booklet is included with the physical CD. Thunder In My Arms is a unique, creative soundscape,
highly recommended for connoisseurs of quality original music. The tracks are "Look Away",
"On My Own", "Since the Day We Met", "The 11th Labor of Hercules", "I Need Us Together",
"Feel Better", "They Sent Me a Picture", "I'll Stick Around", "Blow Out the Candles", and "When
My Baby Cries". 38 min.
Ailleurs
Mylle Fournier
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $4.95 MP3 amazon.com
The debut solo album of harpist and composer Mylle Fournier, Ailleurs is an instrumental album
of original works inspired by the great turning points of life. Elements of classical and rock-'n'-
roll music are seamlessly integrated into the breathtaking performances. Ranging in tone from
deep sorrow to exuberant joy, Ailleurs is dramatic, stunning, exceptionally beautiful, and highly
recommended. The tracks are "Every Goodbye", "Penta", "Prynhawn, Nos, Bore", "An Ocean, A
Decade", and "Tell It to the Wind". 27 min. 32 sec.
Secrets of the Sea
Greg Maroney
www.gregmaroney.com
Greg Maroney Music
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Recorded live, Secrets of the Sea is a neo-classical, new age solo piano album of original
compositions by Greg Maroney, performed on a 9-foot Steinway Concert Grand piano. The
twenty-fifth release by the talented and imaginative Maroney, Secrets of the Sea draws
inspiration from the ever-changing, mysterious nature of rivers, waves, tributaries, and ocean
shores. Extraordinarily beautiful and inspiring, Secrets of the Sea is highly recommended
especially for solo piano connoisseurs and public library collections. The tracks are "Secrets of
the Sea", "Reverence", "River of Dreams", "Distant Shores", "Arise in Hope", "The Clock Strikes
Nine", "A Thousand Miles", "Sea Breeze", "Rippling Waters", "Dreaming Tree", "Emerald
Lake", and "The Lighthouse". 53 min. 14 sec.
Chapters
Stephen Wallack
www.stephenwallackmusic.com
Privately Published
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/stephenwallack
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download
Chapters: Solo Piano Reflections is the debut album of Stephen Wallack, featuring new age solo
piano drawn from autobiographical elements, and performed with cinematic flair. Brimming with
vivacious memories and emotion, from amazing travels to the day of his wedding, Chapters is
profoundly joyful and highly recommended. The tracks are Virginia", "Oceans", "Cooper's Song"
Trains", "Dad", "Chicago", "The traveler", "Wedding Song", "Holiday", and "Archer.
American Highway
Marty Brown
www.martybrownmusic.com
Plowboy Records
http://plowboyrecords.com
$TBA CD / $TBA download
American Highway is a country album of original music written by Marty Brown and Jon Tiven
(Kristopher Martin Brown is the third co-writer of one track) celebrating Marty Brown's return to
major recording after a break of twenty years. Vibrant, candid, and reverent, American Highway
captures both the highs and lows of daily life with glorious aplomb. Highly recommended! The
tracks are "American Highway", "I'm On A Roll ( Better Than It's Ever Been)", "Umbrella
Lovers", "Shaking All Over The World", "When The Blues Come Around", "Right Out Of Left
Field", "Kentucky Blues", "Casino Winnebago", "Velvet Chains", and "Mona Lisa Smiles".
Wooh Dang
Daniel Norgren
Superpuma Records
www.superpumarecords.com
c/o Redeye (distribution)
www.redeyeworldwide.com
https://danielnorgren.bandcamp.com/album/wooh-dang
$15.00 CD / $7.00 digital
Music artist Daniel Norgren's first worldwide release Wooh Dang is an intense, original music
album with a deep connection to history and memory. Created within a 19th century textile
farmhouse in the woods near Norgren's home in Sweeden, Wooh Dang was recorded live in its
entirety on a 16 track analogue rig, with no guitar tuners. Norgren and his friends Anders Grahn
(bass), Erik Berntsson (drums), and Andreas Filipsson (guitar and banjo) have created songs that
reflect the exuberance of rural life. Highly recommended, especially for international music
connoisseurs. The tracks are "Blue Sky Moon", "The Flow", "Dandelion Time", "Rolling Rolling
Rolling", "So Glad", "Let Love Run the Game", "The Day That's Just Begun", "When I Hold You
In My Arms", and "Wooh Dang".
Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves
Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves
allisondegroot.com
tatianahargreaves.com
Free Dirt Records
freedirt.net
$12.59 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves is the self-titled debut album of two bluegrass music
artists inspired by traditional music from Mississippi, Missouri, the Arkansas Ozarks, and
Appalachian stringband music. Though many of the songs are their renditions of traditional
classics, the music speaks to modern issues of race, gender, and class. There are also American
fiddle and banjo songs from the African-American duo Nathan Frazier and Frank Patterson,
Arkansas fiddler Violet Hensley, and modern music masters Judy Hyman and John Hatcher. Both
Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves are professional music teachers, and their commitment
to pass on the joy of music shines through their work. Highly recommended! The tracks are
"Eighth of January", "I Don't Want to Get Married", "Farewell Whiskey", "Dry", "Beaufort
County Jail", "Cuckoo's Nest", "Lonesome Blues", "Willie Moore", "Buffalo Gals", "Wabash
Blues", "Who Wouldn't Be Lonely", "Melinda", and "Green Valley Waltz".
Stories Told
Dave Zinno Unisphere
With Mike Tucker & Eric "Benny" Bloom, Tim Ray, Rafael Barata
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Naxos (dist.)
www.naxosusa.com
PR: Ginny Shea - mixedmediapromo.com
$16.99 CD
Stories Told is an original Latin Jazz album by Dave Zinno Unisphere, and the follow-up to
"River of January". Dave Zinno performs on the double bass; Mike Tucker on tenor saxophone;
Eric "Benny" "Stories Told" includes elements of neo-Latin, and the intense music ranges from
gregarious excitement to a somber tribute created in the memory of Tucker's father. Stories Told
is a treasure for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. The tracks are "Neurotico",
"Larrytown", "The Opener", "Michelle", "Requiem", "Ta", "Seventh Hour", "Backup", and
"Triste".
Black & White
The Green
thegreen808.com
Easy Star Records
www.easystar.com
$11.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Black & White is a reggae album by The Green, primarily revisiting their most popular, original
reggae songs with a new acoustic arrangements. These new renditions are frequently retouched
by the guideline that "less is more", to quote guitarist/singer JP Kennedy, focusing on the core
key elements. The result is keenly forthright in its simplicity, and a "must" for reggae
connoisseurs. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Alone", "Good Vibration", "Runaway
Train", "Love I", "Alive", "Decisions", "What Will Be Will Be", "Going Up", "Chocolates &
Roses", "Trod the Hard Road", "All I Need", "Wake Up", "Foolish Love", "Never", and "Good
One".
The Library DVD Shelf
The Second Time Around
Starring Linda Thorson and Stuart Margolin
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
The Second Time Around is an award-winning movie about love blossoming among senior
citizens. The widowed Katherine Mitchell (played by Linda Thorson) strikes an unexpected
chemistry with the grumpy Isaac Shapiro (played by Stuart Margolin) while she convalesces after
breaking her hip. A shared love of music bring Katherine and Isaac closer, and the two decide to
work together to achieve Katherine's dream of going to the opera in Milan. Poignant and
emotionally moving, The Second Time Around is a timeless romance, highly recommended. 107
min.
Moynihan
A documentary by Joseph Dorman and Toby Perl Freilich
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Moynihan is an in-depth documentary about Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927-2003), who made
his mark on the twentieth century as an intellectual sociologist, policy specialist, ambassador, and
long-serving senator of New York. Under Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, he
worked as Assistant Secretary of Labor and put great effort into the War on Poverty. He wrote
the controversial Moynihan Report ("The Negro Family: The Case For National Action");
advised President Nixon; was an ambassador to the United Nations under President Ford; and
much more. His good-faith work with both political parties stands in stark contrast to the hyper-
partisan politics of twenty-first century America. A close examination of a most remarkable,
forthright, and outspoken public servant, Moynihan is highly recommended especially for public
and college library documentary collections. 104 min.
A Place to Call Home, season 6
Starring Marta Dusseldorp
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com
A Place to Call Home, season 6 is the final chapter of this critically acclaimed television drama
set in 1950s rural Australia, and directly addressing social issues including homosexuality, single
motherhood, racism, and the aftereffects of war. Starring Marta Dusseldorp as the resourceful
nurse Sarah Nordmann, season 6 follows Sarah's marriage to wealthy landowner George Bligh.
George's mother Elizabeth feels excluded from the household that she used to rule as matriarch;
George's son James returns from abroad to start a business in Sydney; and George's daughter
Anna resides in distant Hawaii, hiding a secret from the rest of her family. Intrigue, deceit, and
betrayal layer this complex, character-driven family saga, highly recommended. 10 episodes on 3
DVDs, 519 min., SDH subtitles.
The Heart Guy, series 3
Starring Rodger Corser
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com
Starring Hugh Knight (played by Rodger Corser) as a brilliant yet prideful heart surgeon, The
Heart Guy, series 3 (also known as "Doctor Doctor" in Australia) continues the Australian
medical dramady on DVD about a doctor who returns to his rural home of Whyhope and
becomes entangled in increasingly out-of-control personal matters! In series 3, although Hugh's
probation from his prestigious job in Sydney is coming to an end, he has mixed feelings about
abandoning a possible relationship with local hospital boss Penny (played by Hayley
McElhinney). A family tragedy causes Hugh to inherit his family's farm - and $11 million in
debt! Hugh's mother and brother are bereft with grief, and his brother's wife received an
unexpected guest that makes matters even more complex. Hugh must choose between returning
to his high-powered career or helping family, hospital workers, and people of Whyhope. The
Heart Guy, series 3 is wry, witty, thought-provoking, and highly recommended! 10 episodes on 3
DVDs, 473 min.
Bagua for Beginners
Chenhan Yang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594396700 $29.95 www.ymaa.com
Bagua for Beginners (75 min.) is an instructional DVD to the internal martial art of bagua, which
can be compared to tai chi. Bagua is notable for its emphasis on circular movement, including
distinctively evasive circular footwork, applied to both defensive and offensive strategies. The
exercises shown in Bagua for Beginners include basic leg stances for circle walking, Eight Palms
hand forms, and Eight Palms sequence. Bagua for Beginners is excellent for increasing one's
energy, improving physical fitness and longevity, and can supplement self-defense training
(although Bagua for Beginners is not primarily a self-defense video). Also highly recommended
are the book "Baguazhang" by Master Liang, Shou-Yu; Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming; and Mr. Wu,
Wen-Ching, which complements the instruction in Bagua for Beginners. For those who master
the fundamentals in Bagua for Beginners, a sequel instructional DVD "Bagua for Beginners
DVD 2" (sold separately) offers further instruction in the Swimming Body movements and
sequence.
The Political Science Shelf
White Identity Politics
Ashley Jardina
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108475525, $99.99, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Amidst discontent over America's growing diversity, as reflected by the elections of 2016, 2018,
and the current race toward the 2020 election, many white Americans now view the political
world through the lens of a racial identity. Whiteness was once thought to be invisible because of
whites' dominant position and ability to claim the mainstream, but today a large portion of whites
actively identify with their racial group and support policies and candidates that they view as
protecting whites' power and status in view of the demographic 'browning of America'. In "White
Identity Politics", academician Ashley Jardina (she is an Assistant Professor of Political Science,
Duke University, North Carolina) offers a landmark analysis of emerging patterns of white
identity and collective political behavior, drawing on sweeping data. Where past research on
whites' racial attitudes emphasized out-group hostility, Professor Jardina brings into focus the
significance of in-group identity and favoritism. "White Identity Politics" shows that disaffected
whites are not just found among the working class; they make up a broad proportion of the
American public -- with profound implications for political behavior and the future of racial
conflict in America as evidenced by the achievement of Donald J. Trump in winning the
presidency and the success of continued voter suppression activities by a Republican dominated
congress during Trump's first two years. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of Figures,
Tables, an Appendix, Notes, References, and an Index, "White Identity Politics" is unreservedly
recommended for community, college, and university library Contemporary Political Science
collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of students, academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers that "White Identity
Politics" is also available in a paperback edition (9781108468602, $24.99) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $15.49).
The Language Studies Shelf
Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language
Yang Xiao-Desai & Ka F. Wong, editors
Cheng & Tsui Company
25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111-1213 USA
9781622911844, $39.99, PB, 248pp, www.cheng-tsui.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Yang Xiao-Desai & Ka F. Wong, "Explorations in
Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" is comprised of fourteen erudite and informative
articles on teaching Chinese contributed by an impressive array of knowledgeable contributors.
Instructors and researchers especially will benefit from these essays on best practices in
instruction, Language Flagship programs, Chinese linguistic studies, heritage learner identities,
curriculum development, teacher training, and more. Cheng & Tsui worked closely with
Professor Tao-chung "Ted" Yao in the past, and published "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as
a Second Language in commemoration of the legacy left behind by Professor Yao. Indeed, the
spirit of Professor Yao lives on in his colleagues and students, who contributed to the
compilation of "Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" to honor his memory.
"Explorations in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language" is a unique body of linguistic
scholarship and unreservedly recommended for professional and academic library Chinese
Language instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in Greek
William Sanders Scarborough
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865168633, $24.00, PB, 187pp, www.bolchazy.com
A complete facsimile of the 1881 First Edition, "William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in
Greek" features an informative Foreword by Ward W. Briggs, Jr. and an Introduction by Michele
Valerie Ronnick which together provide an historical and intellectual context for this pioneering
work written by a nineteenth-century African American classicist. The introductory text includes
Greek to English and English to Greek exercises that drill Greek grammar and vocabulary as well
as readings from Xenophon's Anabasis and Memorabilia. Also featuring five illustrations,
"William Sanders Scarborough's First Lessons in Greek" will prove to be a welcome and valued
addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Greek Language
Instruction and Reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
The Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic
Mohamed Maamouri, editor
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781626163317, $80.95, HC, 760pp, www.amazon.com
Compiled and edited by Mohamed Maamouri (who is a retired professor of linguistics at the
Manouba University in Tunisia and a retired senior researcher and research administrator at the
Linguistic Data Consortium at the University of Pennsylvania, where he directed the Arabic
Treebank Group and the development of Arabic lexical resources and projects), "The
Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic: Arabic-English, English-Arabic" is a modernized
language resource for learning and studying Moroccan Arabic that updates the pioneering Arabic
dialect dictionary published by Georgetown University Press over fifty years ago. Students,
teachers, and scholars of Arabic will welcome this upgraded resource, which includes key
Moroccan words, to grow their vocabulary and learn more about Moroccan Arabic language and
culture. Created using the latest computational linguistics approaches and tools, this etymological
dictionary represents a new generation of Arabic language reference materials designed to help
English speakers gain proficiency in colloquial Arabic dialects. Scholars and linguists are certain
to find this complex and challenging dialect informative and useful in discussions of Arabic
dialectology. This fully updated edition features over 13,000 Moroccan Arabic - English entries
and 8,000 English-Arabic entries; provides entries in Arabic script and organized by root, as is
standard in Arabic dictionaries; employs International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for all terms to
demonstrate correct pronunciation and allow comparison across dialects; includes borrowed
words commonly used in Moroccan Arabic, such as those from French, Spanish, and Amazigh;
and contains extensive example sentences and an appendix showing the roots of words with
prefixes, both to help learners. This bilingual (Arabic-English/English-Arabic) edition of "The
Georgetown Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic" is unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, community, college, and university library Language Studies collections.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
The Actor's Guide to Self-Marketing
Carla Renata
Allworth Press
www.allworth.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781621535515 $16.99 pbk / $12.99 Kindle amazon.com
Actress, online radio personality, blogger, branding expert, and former publicist Carla Renata
presents The Actor's Guide to Self-Marketing: How to Brand and Promote Your Unique Image, a
no-nonsense guide for aspiring actors and actresses to promote their careers. Chapters discuss
how to prepare professional resumes, one sheets, and press releases; how to maximize the
marketing potential of social media; how to distinguish oneself from the pack and highlight one's
unique talents and skills; how to improve the odds of landing one's dream role; and much more.
Thoroughly accessible and practical-minded, The Actor's Guide to Self-Marketing is an absolute
"must-read" for actors and actresses everywhere, highly recommended.
Career Rookie
Sarah Vermunt
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4E 1E2
www.ecwpress.com
9781770414884, $14.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com
"Career Rookie: A Get-It-Together Guide for Grads, Students and Career Newbies" by Sarah
Vermunt (who is the founder of Careergasm and the author of Careergasm: Find Your Way to
Feel-Good Work, is a regular career columnist on TV's CityLine, and whose work has been
featured in Forbes, Fortune, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Fast Company) is a thoroughly 'user friendly'
instruction manual and guide for every grad, student, and 20-something who feels lost,
overwhelmed, and anxious when it comes to establishing themselves in a career. "Career Rookie"
specifically addresses the emotional and logistical WTF-ness of starting a career, answering
questions like, What if I don't have any experience? What if I went to school for something I
hated? What if I have NO IDEA what I actually want? Should I just suck it up and settle?
Because, honestly, this career thing is starting to give me an ulcer. A fresh and fun guide that
gives even the most lost and overwhelmed a way forward, "Career Rookie" deftly explores
passion, curiosity, uncertainty, self-sabotage, and the personal quest to shake off post-graduation
paralysis. While very highly recommended for community, college, university, and corporate
library Jobs/Careers collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Career Rookie"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
The Biography Shelf
The Kindness of Strangers
Salka Viertel
New York Review of Books
435 Hudson Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10014
www.nybooks.com
9781681372747, $17.95, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Now brought back into print for a new generation of appreciative readers, the autobiography of
actress and screenwriter Salka Viertel (15 June 1889 - 20 October 1978), "The Kindness of
Strangers" tells the life story of a brilliant, creative, and well-connected woman's pilgrimage
through the darkest years of the twentieth century, a journey that would take her from a remote
province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Hollywood. "The Kindness of Strangers". A 'must
read' for anyone with an interest in Hollywood and the history of the film industry, "The
Kindness of Strangers" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community
and academic library collections. Enhanced with an informative Introduction by Lawrence
Weschler (a staff writer at The New Yorker for over twenty years) it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "The Kindness of Strangers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$11.99).
Phantom in the Sky
Terry L. Thorsen
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417548 $34.95 amazon.com
The fifteenth volume in the "North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series", Phantom in
the Sky: A Marine's Back Seat View of the Vietnam War is the autobiography of a Radar
Intercept Officer (RIO) who served in the back seat of the supersonic Phantom jet during the
Vietnam War. As an RIO, he was a second pair of eyes to aid the pilot with communications,
navigation, and emergencies. His backup support was crucial to prevent or correct errors that
would otherwise cause a crash. Here is the story of his grueling training ordeal in the Platoon
Leaders Course at Quantico; of surviving aviation and intercept training in spite of airsickness;
and his service in the oldest and most decorated squadron in the Marine Corps, the VMFA-232
Red Devils in southern California. And here are true tales of life-or-death combat, secret
missions, and perilous close calls with anti-aircraft weapons. Phantom in the Sky is a riveting
from cover to cover, highly recommended especially for public and college library military
biography collections as well as personal reading lists.
Mary Queen of Scots
Stefan Zweig
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781782275459, $17.95, PB, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Written with all the drama of a novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative storytelling,
"Mary Queen of Scots" by Stefan Zweig is an impressively detailed and documented biographical
history of a remarkable woman who lived in a remarkable time. From the moment of her birth to
her death on the scaffold, Mary Stuart spent her life embroiled in power struggles that shook the
foundations of Renaissance Europe. Revered by some as the rightful Queen of England, reviled
by others as a murderous adultress, her long and fascinating rivalry with her cousin Elizabeth I
led ultimately to her downfall. This simply outstanding biography of Mary Queen of Scots is
unreservedly recommended for community and academic library biography collections in
general, and Renaissance England supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context
Martin J. Duffell
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866985697, $68.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Incorporating advances in historical linguistics but aimed at teachers and students of poetry,
"Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context" by Martin J. Duffell (a member of the School of
Modern Languages at Queen Mary College, London) argues that between 1378 and 1400
Geoffrey Chaucer used his knowledge of how poets versified in other languages to devise a meter
that would be a perfect fit for the newly respectable English. While Chaucer and Gower are
largely responsible for the last stage of this evolution in Middle English and Anglo-Norman,
Chaucer's risk in composing in English paid off and iambic pentameter and tetrameter endured to
become the staples of English verse, while Gower's French stress-syllabic meters died with the
Anglo-Norman dialect. An impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented
study, "Chaucer's Verse Art in its European Context" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion
of a twenty-two page bibliographic listing of Works Cited, a twelve page Glossary, and a five
page Index, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to college and university
library Medieval/Renaissance collections in general, and Chaucerian Studies supplemental
reading lists in particular.
Kurt Vonnegut Remembered
Jim O'Loughlin, editor
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
www.uapress.ua.edu
9780817320119 $49.95 hc
9780817392246 $9.95 ebook
Kurt Vonnegut Remembered an anthology of remiscences about American author Kurt Vonnegut
(1922-2007), who is best known for his best-selling, dark satire novel "Slaughterhouse Five".
These writings and insights are from a wide range of individuals people, from those who knew
Vonnegut intimately to those who met him only once, and different essays shine a light on the
many different phases of Vonnegut's life, including his service during World War II (he survived
being captures by German troops during the Battle of the Bulge and the Allied bombing of the
city of Dresden), his marriage, his years as a struggling writer with a family to support (including
his sister's three sons, after his sister died from cancer and their father perished in a train
accident), his philosophical views (he was an atheist and a humanist, and served as honorary
president of the American Humanist Association), his rise to literary celebrity, and much more.
Notes and an index round out this "must-read" for connoisseurs of Vonnegut's classic works,
highly recommended especially for public and college library Literary Studies collections.
The Technology Shelf
The Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar, second edition
Victor C. Chen
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630815462 $189.00 amazon.com
Written for aspiring and practicing professionals in the scientific field, The Micro-Doppler Effect
in Radar is the updated and expanded second edition of a classic text by expert author Victor C.
Chen, who is internationally recognized for his work in the micro-Doppler effect in radar and
time-frequency-based radar image formation. Here are the basic principles of Doppler effect and
micro-Doppler effect, and their practical applications in radar; the latest discoveries in vital sign
and gesture recognition through micro-Doppler radar; guides to modeling and animating objects
with movement; simulation of radar returns; coverage of the Google Project Soli (which used the
micro-Doppler effect to recognize micro motions of human hand gestures for controlling
devices); and much more. A wealth of charts, graphs, equations, and source codes in MATLAB
for programs used to simulate radar backscattering, as well as programs for generating micro-
Doppler signatures and analyzing characteristics of targets, enhance this advanced resource and
reference. The Micro-Doppler Effect in Radar, second edition is highly recommended especially
for college and university library science and technology shelves.
Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics, third edition
Nam-Trung Nguyen, et al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630813642, $149.00, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded third edition, "Fundamentals and Applications of
Microfluidics" provides engineers and engineering students with the most complete and current
coverage of this cutting-edge field. This newly revised edition provides updated discussions
throughout and features critical new material on microfluidic power sources, sensors, cell
separation, organ-on-chip and drug delivery systems, 3D culture devices, droplet-based chemical
synthesis, paper-based microfluidics for point-of-care, ion concentration polarization,
micro-optofluidics and micro-magnetofluidics. Enhanced with the inclusion of four appendices
(List of Symbols; Resources for Microfluidics Research; Abbreviations of Different Plastics;
Linear Elastic Deflections Models) and a seven page Index, "Fundamentals and Applications of
Microfluidics" is an ideal curriculum textbook and an unreservedly recommended addition to
both corporate and academic Microfludics collections and supplemental studies lists.
Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures
Ivan Vidal, et al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630813789, $149.00, HC, 300pp, www.amazon.com
Exceptionally well organized and accessibly presented, "Multimedia Networking Technologies,
Protocols, & Architectures" is a practical and comprehensive resource that provides a survey on
the technologies, protocols, and architectures that are widely used in practice to implement
networked multimedia services. "Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, &
Architectures" deftly presents the background and basic concepts behind multimedia networking,
and provides a detailed analysis of how multimedia services work, reviewing the diverse network
protocols that are of common use to implement them. To guide the explanation of concepts,
"Multimedia Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" focuses on a representative
set of networked multimedia services with proven success and high penetration in the
telecommunication market, namely Internet telephony, Video-on-Demand (VoD), and live IP
television (IPTV). Contents are presented following a stepwise approach, describing each
network protocol in the context of a networked multimedia service and making appropriate
references to the protocol as needed in the description of other multimedia services. "Multimedia
Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" also contains questions and exercises to
provide the reader with insight on the practical application of the explained concepts.
Additionally, a laboratory practice is included, based on open-source tools and software, to
analyze the operation of an Internet telephony service from a practical perspective, as well as to
deploy some of its fundamental components. Ideal as a curriculum textbook, "Multimedia
Networking Technologies, Protocols, & Architectures" is unreservedly recommended for
corporate, college, and university library Contemporary Technology collections in general, and
telecommunications supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The LGBT Studies Shelf
Evidence Of Being
Darius Bost
University of Chicago Press
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226589824, $27.50, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
"Evidence of Being: The Black Gay Cultural Renaissance and the Politics of Violence" by Darius
Bost (Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies in the School for Cultural and Social Transformation,
University of Utah) opens on a grim scene: Washington DC's gay black community in the 1980s,
ravaged by AIDS, the crack epidemic, and a series of unsolved murders, seemingly abandoned by
the government and mainstream culture. Yet in this darkest of moments, a new vision of
community and hope managed to emerge. Bost's deftly detailed account of the media, poetry, and
performance of this time and place reveals a stunning confluence of activism and the arts. In
Washington and New York during the 1980s and '90s, gay black men banded together, using
creative expression as a tool to challenge the widespread views that marked them as unworthy of
grief. They created art that enriched and reimagined their lives in the face of pain and neglect,
while at the same time forging a path toward bold new modes of existence. At once a corrective
to the predominantly white male accounts of the AIDS crisis and an openhearted depiction of the
possibilities of black gay life, "Evidence of Being" above all insists on the primacy of community
over loneliness, and hope over despair. An impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-
provoking read from cover to cover, "Evidence Of Being" is an extraordinary account and
unreservedly recommended for community and academic library LBGT and African-American
Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists. It should be noted for the personal reading
lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Evidence Of Being" is also available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $15.12).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Threads Around the World
Deb Brandon
Schiffer Publishing
9780764356506, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com
Threads Around the World: From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe offers stories about
handmade textiles in various cultures and regions around the world, covering embroidery to rugs
and clothing and considering how they developed in various cultures. Color photos throughout
illustrate both finished products and textile workers in the process of making them, accompanied
by a history of the region's textile arts and the influences on its development. Between its
historical review and artistic insights, this book will appeal to a range of readers and library
collections, from needleworkers to artists.
First Time Sewing with a Serger
Becky Harrison & Beth Ann Baumgartel
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781631597145, $19.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com
Becky Hanson began her career with SINGER over three decades ago as an educator, leading
sewing machine classes and product training nationally. She later relocated to the company's
North America corporate offices in Nashville, Tennessee, to become Director of Education.
Today she is Global Product Specialist for SINGER, consulting with the product development
team and providing creative support to the sales and marketing departments. Beth Baumgartel
has written and edited sewing technique and project books for Vogue Patterns, Butterick,
Taunton, Home Sewing Association, Family CircleCrafts, and many other crafts publishers. She
is also the author of Successful Serging (CPi). In the illustrated pages of "First Time Sewing with
a Serger: The Absolute Beginner's Guide these two women draw upon their many years of
experience and expertise to create the ideal 'how to' introduction to how a serger works, the many
styles available, and the roles of various parts and accessories. "First Time Sewing with a Serger"
provides a detailed overview of the variety of functional and decorative stitches that can be made,
plus 'must-have' threads, tools, and notions. Also covered are how to thread a serger, set the stitch
size, and use it to start and end seams, sew curves and corners, and more. "First Time Sewing
with a Serger" will provide even the most novice of first time users with the essential skills to
make the nine fun, easy garment and home decor projects -- employing skills that be immediately
applicable to creating any other serger-based sewing projects in the future.
Embroidered Lettering
Debra Valencia
Design Originals
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N. East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497204157, $19.99, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Inside "Embroidered Lettering" needlecraft enthusiasts will find 25 fun and unique embroidery
lettering projects that feature heartfelt sentiments and witty statements. Innovative designer and
author Debra Valencia combines some of her favorite embroidery designs with creative lettering
in this inventive book. She provides step-by-step instructions for 24 useful stitches, useful advice
on tools and materials, and 7 alphabet templates to use in customizing your own designs.
Needlecrafters will learn how to use the traditional craft of embroidery to add a modern message
to coasters, tote bags, throw pillows, tea towels, monograms, luggage tags, an eyeglass case and
more! Profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Embroidered Lettering" is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to
personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.
Crocheted Succulents
Emma Varnam
The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784945046, $19.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
"Crocheted Succulents: Cacti and Succulent Projects to Make" by crocheting expert Emma
Varnam for those needlecrafters who love houseplants but have an unerring ability to kill
everything off. Instead they can now make cute needlecraft creations that don't require green
fingers! Featured are 25 splendid succulents to make in a variety of shapes and sizes for a touch
of indoor greenery that will never need watering, repotting or special plant food. Each individual
project is beautifully photographed and includes clear patterns and guidance. Very highly
recommended for personal and community library instructional reference collections, "Crocheted
Succulents" also includes a techniques section that gives clear instructions on all the skills
needed and necessary to successfully make the projects creating crocheted succulents for stylish
home interiors.
JOMO Knits
Christine Boggis
The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784945053, $22.95, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com
Christine Boggis is a mom, a journalist, and a knitter. JOMO means 'joy of missing out'. In
"JOMO Knits" she presents 21 knitting projects that includes insights into how to use knitting to
unwind from the relentless demands of our over-stimulated and digitalized lives and rediscover
how to connect with ourselves, and those around us, in a more meaningful way. Included are
special sections exploring the link between knitting and JOMO, along with humorous
observations and lists. Profusely illustrated throughout, exceptionally well organized and
presented, "JOMO Knits" will prove to be an especially valued and appreciated addition to
personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft & Knitting instructional reference
collections.
The Interior Design Shelf
Natural Style
Janet Sobesky
Creative Homeowner
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N. East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781580118293, $19.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Janet Sobesky was the Home Design and Lifestyle Editor at Woman's Day magazine for 22
years, where she wrote the popular "Tip Talk" feature. In "Natural Style: Using Organic and
Eco-Conscious Materials for Earth-Friendly Designs" she draws upon her years of experience
and expertise to create an eco-elegant guide to home decor that is packed from cover to cover
with attractive decorating ideas inspired by the colors, forms, and themes of nature. "Natural
Style" shows how to bring a breath of freshness into home decorating by incorporating natural
elements into everyday living. Using organic and eco-conscious materials for earth-friendly
designs, "Natural Style" deftly presents a host of practical suggestions for achieving a
comfortable, informal, easy-care, and sustainable lifestyle, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Interior Design
instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Woodworking Shelf
Woodworking for the Garden
Alan Bridgewater & Gill Bridgewater
Creative Homeowner
www.creativehomeowner.com
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781580118309, $19.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Whatever the size or style of your garden, "Woodworking for the Garden: 16 Easy-to-Build
Step-by-Step Projects" will provide a wealth of inspiring, illustrated ideas for enhancing any
outdoor space! "Woodworking for the Garden" offers 16 attractive, functional projects for
making the most of your yard or garden ranging from trellises and planters to decking, fences,
chairs, benches, tables, sheds, and even a children's playhouse! Each individual project includes
easy to follow step-by-step instructions, color photographs, cross-section drawings, and
comprehensive materials lists. In "Woodworking for the Garden', DIY experts Alan and Gill
Bridgewater also provide helpful advice on cutting and preparing wood, fixing joints, finishing,
and maintaining outdoor wooden structures. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Woodworking for the Garden" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to personal, professional, and community library Woodworking do-it-yourself
instructional reference collections.
The Self-Help Shelf
Increase Your Personal Productivity
John Martin
Sound Wisdom
167 Walnut Bottom Road, Shippensburg, PA 17257
www.soundwisdom.com
9781640950634, $15.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com
"Increase Your Personal Productivity: Your Guide to Intentional Living & Doing More of What
You Enjoy" was written by John Martin for those men and women who want to learn the skill
and willpower needed to easily ''get more done'' in their personal and professional life. "Increase
Your Personal Productivity" shines the spotlight on six useful initiatives, including a three-step
process to creating a personalized sustainable and repeatable goal system, and is certain to unlock
interesting possibilities about increasing levels of productivity. Combining practical advice with
less mainstream tips, Martin reveals how ''not having time'' becomes a distraction you can
quickly bypass with a simple yet remarkable formula. Additionally, "Increase Your Personal
Productivity" offers the valuable truth about how to: Create a productive state of mind; Produce
around strengths; Stop second-guessing; Use patience to become more productive; Overcome
perfectionism; Finish what is started; and so much more. Expertly organized and presented,
"Increase Your Personal Productivity" is especially recommended for community and academic
library Self-Help/Self-Improvement instructional reference collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Increase Your Personal Productivity" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle,$12.99).
The Business Shelf
Tax Savvy for Small Business, 20th edition
Frederick W. Dailey
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413325782, $29.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com
The collection and payment of local, state, and federal taxes are a business part of every
commercial enterprise or business. Creating a practical and comprehensive business tax strategy
that will save business owners and entrepreneurs time, energy, and money. Now in its fully
updated and revised 20th edition reflecting all the changes to the 2018 business tax code, "Tax
Savvy for Small Business: A Complete Tax Strategy Guide" shows how to: Deduct operating
expenses; Deduct travel, vehicle, and meal expenses; Take advantage of tax credits; Write off
long-term assets; Compare business structures; Keep solid business records; Handle an IRS
audit, and more! Simply stated, "Tax Savvy for Small Business" should be considered mandatory
reading for anyone who is new to the subject and desire to take maximum legal advantage of the
many tax benefits that available to small business owners. While very highly recommended for
community library Business Management collections, it should be noted for the personal reading
lists of entrepreneurs, business managers, tax accountants, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that the 2018 edition of "Tax Savvy for Small Business" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Sports Shelf
The Mountains are Calling
Jonny Muir
Sandstone Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781912240104, $38.00, HC, 408pp, www.amazon.com
Jonny Muir was a nine-year-old when the silhouette of a runner in the glow of sunset on the
Malvern Hills caught his eye. It later became the mountainside silhouette that first inspired him.
His exploits inevitably led to Scotland's supreme test of hill running: Ramsay's Round, a
daunting 60-mile circuit of twenty-four mountains, climbing the equivalent height of Everest, to
be completed within twenty-four hours. While Ramsay's Round demands extraordinary
endurance, the challenge is underpinned by simplicity and tradition, in a sport largely untainted
by commercialism. "The Mountains are Calling" is the story of that sport in Scotland, charting its
evolution over half a century, heralding its characters and the culture that has grown around
them, ultimately capturing the irresistible appeal of running in high places. An inherently
fascinating and impressively informative read, "The Mountains are Calling" is enhanced with the
inclusion of illustrations (including two sections of delightful color plates), maps, a bibliography
and an index. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Mountains are Calling" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781912240630, $13.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$6.99).
The Computer Shelf
Game Development Using Python
James R. Parker
Mercury Learning
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781683921806, $34.95, www.merclearning.com
Game Development Using Python comes with a disc of companion files containing source code
and teaches basic game development concepts using Python. From graphics and animation to
game engines and web-based gaming, this will serve as a basic primer especially recommended
for blossoming programmers who already have some basics in Python and game development,
and who want to apply these basics to more advanced gaming applications and completed
projects. Charts, black and white illustrations, step-by-step discussions, and examples that
simplify application directions make it easy to learn both.
The Gaming Shelf
The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 2 N-Z
Brett Weiss
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764357251 $49.99 amazon.com
The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 2 N-Z is the second volume in a
two-volume, encyclopedic coffee-table showcase of every Super Nintendo game ever made -
including at least one that was not an official Nintendo release! Each game has at least one full
page devoted to it, illustrated with full-cover pictures of the game's packaging, multiple
gameplay screenshots, and sometimes pictures of associated promotional posters. The text
describes the setting, story, gameplay genre and style of each game, along with "notable
quotable" passages from various reviews (sourced from assorted video game magazines or
websites) that shine critical insight upon the game's essence. A handful of brief bonus articles
about the Super Game Boy and Super Scope peripherals (as well as "A Deeper Meaning for
Super Metroid", a bibliography, and an index round out this treasure for retro video game
connoisseurs. Whether used as a reference or just for casual browsing, The SNES Omnibus is a
joy to page through! Also highly recommended is the previous volume in this two-volume set,
The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 A-M (9780764355325,
$49.99).
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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