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Reviewer's Choice
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Download the Weird
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
7576 Kingspointe Pkwy., Suite 188
Orlando, FL 32819
9781609910327 $28.95 www.ripleybooks.com
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Download the Weird is the latest annual of bizarre and extraordinary
wonders from Ripley Publishing. Illustrated with full-color photography throughout, Download
the Weird showcases incredible things ranging from the icky to the miraculous, from the
Inflatable Crowd Company whose rubber dummies substitute for human extras in a wide variety
of popular movies, to a two-headed milk snake, a motorcycle designed to resemble the monsters
from the movie "Aliens", a centipede that catches and eats bats, a dress made from human hair,
an artist who creates works from her own vomit, a diversity of gut-wrenchingly gross human
parasites, and much more! Readers of all ages will enjoy browsing the fantastic-yet-real
creatures, people, and creations, a free downloadable app for Apple or Android allows one to
check out kooky bonus content. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Download the Weird is sure to be a
smash hit for anyone who enjoys learning about oddities that are wildly off the beaten path.
Living Nonviolent Communication
Marshall Rosenberg
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781604077872, $17.95, www.soundstrue.com
Violence should never be an option. "Living Nonviolent Communication: Practical Tools to
Connect and Communicate Skillfully in Every Situation" is a guide to reaching out and
promoting clearer and more spiritual communication in life. Drawing on the practice of
'Nonviolent Communication', Marshall Rosenberg has elaborated on the details of this practice
and how it has flourished and helps readers improve their relationships. "Living Nonviolent
Communication" is a strong pick for communication and self-help collections,
recommended.
The Book for Dangerous Women
Clare Conville, Liz Hoggard, & Sarah-Jane Lovett
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
841 Broadway, 4th floor
New York, NY 10003
9780802120182, $20.00, www.groveatlantic.com
One will never get anywhere without taking any risks. "The Book for Dangerous Women: A
Guide to Modern Life" follows three British women. Clare Conville, Liz Hoggard, & Sarah-Jane
Lovett come together and give women everywhere witty advice on taking charge of their lives,
and squeezing something much more out of it all. "The Book for Dangerous Women" is a fine
addition for humor and inspirational collections, not to be overlooked.
The Education Shelf
Strategies For Learning Art Styles
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
www.crystalproductions.com
9781562906603, $14.95, CP1855, 77pp.
"Strategies For Learning Art Styles" is a 72-page, spiral-bound workbook with lessons
specifically developed to instruct and record students' understanding of thirty-two diverse art
styles chronologically ranging from Prehistoric Art down the centuries and concluding with
contemporary Installation Art. A page of questions regarding a specific art style (e.g. Greek Art)
is faced with a page of Q&A answers for the teacher, a section of art activities thematically
germane to that particular art style; and an appropriate internet exercise. Informed and
informative, "Strategies For Learning Art Styles" will prove to be a welcome Art History
curriculum supplement, and is especially recommended for home school teaching.
The Cookbook Shelf
Complete Cake Mix Magic
Jill Snider
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804222 $24.95 www.robertrose.ca
Food stylist, recipe developer, and former Test Kitchen Manager of twenty-five years' experience
Jill Snider presents Complete Cake Mix Magic: 300 Easy Desserts Good as Homemade, a guide
to transforming cake mixes (especially the Duncan Hines brand) into sumptuous delicacies. A
handful of full color photographs intersperse the step-by-step preparation instructions accessible
to cooks of all skill and experience levels. From Queen Elizabeth Cake to Chocolate Orange
Marble Cake, Bumbleberry Cheesecake, Toffee Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apricot
Upside-Down Cake, and more, Complete Cake Mix Magic is a dream for sweet tooths who are
short on time! Practical-minded tips for knowing one's ingredients and kitchen tools round out
this excellent, easy-to-follow cake-lover's cookbook.
America's Best Ribs
Ardie A. Davis & Paul Kirk
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449414139 $19.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Barbecue champion chef Paul Kirk and "ambassador of barbecue" Ardie A. Davis present America's Best Ribs, a compilation of prizewinning rib recipes that enable one to savor the finest rib-lover's delights at home! In addition to recipes for many different types of meat and poultry, there are also recipes for sauces, side dishes, and something sweet for when it's all done. "America's Best Ribs" is a delicious exploration of barbecue flavor, complete with full color photography throughout.
Cooking for a Healthy Church
The Episcopal Medical Trust
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
9780819227607, $14.00, www.churchpublishing.org
Good nutrition should be the foundation of any family menu. "Cooking for a Healthy Church" is
a spiritual and physical health cookbook as Morehouse Publishing compiles writings from the
Episcopal Church Medical Trust as they bring out some 'soul' food of their own. Compiling
traditional recipes with a touch of spirituality with every recipe, "Cooking for a Healthy Church"
is a must for any church-going cook, much recommended.
The Big Book of Babycakes
Kathy Moore & Roxanne Wyss, authors
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, ON, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804178, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca
"The Big Book of Babycakes: Cupcake Maker Recipes" is a fantastic new collection of cupcake
maker recipes designed for Babycakes Cupcake makers, a fabulous new electric cooking
appliance that makes much more than cupcakes. Here is a creative collection of recipes that
begins with special instructions for how to use the Babycakes Cupcake Maker and how to bake
and store your baked goods. Following are recipes for cupcakes, brownie bites, cheesecakes,
pies, tarts, frostings and glazes, all in the Sweet Treats chapter. This is only the beginning of the
show, however, continuing is a chapter called Mealtime Favorites with recipes for muffins and
breads, breakfast and brunch bites, and lunch and dinner main dish pies. Then there is a specialty
chapter for gluten-free and vegan treats and small treats for tots. Finally there is a chapter full of
ideas for appetizers, finger foods, and hors d'oeuvres and treats for parties and special occasions.
An internet support index plus mail order sources provides the final coda to this magnificent
collection of stunning Babycakes creations. Recipes are clear, written with step by step
instructions following a list of measurements and ingredients. Some unusual recipes that are
Cheesecake Brownies, Spicy Texas Cheese Biscuits, Ham, Mushroom and Spinach Quiches,
Green Chile Sausage Hand Pies, Chocolate Ale Pies, and Bacon Pecan Tassies. Enjoy learning to
make these tiny tasty treats without heating up your entire oven and kitchen with "The Big Book
of Babycakes."
Gooseberry Patch
6450 Lasalle Drive, Lockbourne, OH 43137
www.gooseberrypatch.com www.amazon.com
Three outstanding, pocket-sized cookbook collections from Gooseberry Patch will be welcome
additions to family cookbook collections everywhere! "Kid-Friendly Recipes" (9781612810577,
$7.95) showcases recipes that will have special appeal to young and finicky eaters with dishes
ranging from Incredible Mini Burger Bites; Chinese Fried Rice; and Maple Popcorn Balls; to
Sunny Lemonade Salad; Pizza Roll Snacks; and Honey-Pumpkin Pie. "Cake Mix Recipes"
(9781612810560, $7.95) is a compendium of baked deserts ranging from Slice of Sunshine
Cake; Boston Cream Cake; and Cherry Crisp Cobbler; to Pecan Pie Bars; Slow-Poke Turtle Bars;
and Rabbit Scones. "Game-Day Recipes" is a cornucopia of culinary offerings ranging from
Creole Craziness Popcorn Sprinkle; Hot-Hot Buffalo Wing Dip; and Mamma Mia Italian Stew;
to Toffee Almond Treats; Cranberry Cocktail Sausages; and Sweet & Spicy Pork Ribs. Each of
these inexpensive, 127-page, spiral bound, pocket-sized culinary collections are thoroughly 'user
friendly', palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, highly recommended additions for personal and
family cookbook collections.
The Travel Shelf
A Field Guide to Mineral Point
Nancy Pfotenhauer
Little Creek Press
5341 Sunny Ridge Road
Mineral Point, WI 53565
9780984924523 $18.00 www.littlecreekpress.com
A Field Guide to Mineral Point: The Buildings, Past and Present, of a Historic Wisconsin Town
is a spiral-bound travel guide especially for Wisconsin tourists interested in exploring the
fascinating history of Mineral Point, once a frontier town that boomed after the discovery of lead
in 1828. A wealth of black-and-white photographs, both ancient and modern, illustrate this
detailed, street-by-street guide to numerous historic buildings. Excerpts from local newspapers
and historical publications supplement this excellent guide that will appeal to not only tourists,
but also armchair travelers and anyone fascinated by Wisconsin's rich pioneer lore.
Israel & the Palestinian Territories
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781741799361 $24.99 www.lonelyplanet.com
Featuring full-color maps and illustrations, including a pull-out map of Jerusalem, Israel & the
Palestinian Territories is Lonely Planet's solid reference and resource to navigating Israel,
covering restaurants, lodgings, holy sites, recreation, concise historical summaries, and much
more. Easy to browse and use, Israel & the Palestinian Territories applies Lonely Planet's helpful,
user-friendly format that makes looking up need-to-know information as simple as possible.
Subsections of the guide are devoted especially to planning one's trip, understanding the land and
its peoples, and a practical-minded "survival guide". Israel & the Palestinian Territories is a
highly recommended "must-have" for anyone considering a trip to the region, whether for
reasons of business, spirituality, or pleasure.
Meat London
Tom Howells & Thomas Blythe
Black Dog Publishing
10a Acton Street
London, England, WC1X 9NG
www.blackdogonline.com
9781907317880, $14.95, www.amazon.com
A handy, pocket-sized travel guide, "Meat London: An Insider's Guide" will prove to be of
unique value for businessmen and tourists visiting London and wanting to sample the finest
meat-bast cuisine the upscale restaurants of that venerable city have to offer. Beautifully
illustrated, this 176-page compendium provides a two-page display for every showcased eating
establishment that includes contact information and a succinct description of the restaurant's
history and culinary offerings. As much fun to simply browse through as it is practical in
planning itineraries, "Meat London: An Insider's Guide" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and a very
highly recommended and specialized travel guide for London visitors.
Flanders
Emma Thomson
Bradt Guides
9781841623771, $23.99, www.bradtguides.com
Belgium holds much culture that's not quickly apparent to those taking the routine trip through
Europe. "Flanders: Northern Belgium" is a travel guide for those who want to get the most out of
their trip to this northern region of Belgium and experience its brews, its culture, and its history.
Filled with detailed information and maps, "Flanders" is a strong addition to any European
traveler reference collection.
A Room with a Pew
Richard Starks & Miriram Murcutt
Lyons Press
The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200
Guilford, CT 06437
9780762781454, $16.95, www.globepequot.com
Spain has a rich religious history, a clash of cultures from Africa and Europe. "A Room with a
Pew: Sleeping Our Way Through Spain's Ancient Monasteries" is a travelogue as Richard Starks
and Miriam Murcutt share their journey throughout Spain and its rich religious history, and
meeting with the monks and nuns of the region, including the paths much less traveled. "A Room
with a Pew" is a must for anyone who enjoys taking their own touristy pilgrimage, highly
recommended.
Two Guys On the Road
Steve Chandler & Terrence N. Hill
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759639, $14.95, www.rdrpublishers.com
We can all see our worlds so very differently. "Two Guys on the Road: Walking Backwards
Across the World" is a unique sort of memoir as Steve Chandler and Terrence Hill come together
compose another collection of writings, as they share their adventures through the world and
their exclusive experiences and how they contrast with one another. Through postcards and
letters, their adventures provide a revealing picture of the world. "Two Guys on the Road" is a
fine addition to anyone seeking humor and memoirs of world travel.
The Nautical Shelf
World Voyage Planner
Jimmy Cornell, author
Charts by Ivan Cornell
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29
Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780957262607 $49.95 www.paracay.com
World Voyage Planner is a solid, at times technical guide written especially for experienced
sailors planning an ocean voyage "from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world".
Full-color photographs and a medley of navigation charts intersperse the in-depth chapters
focusing on each corner of the globe. World Voyage Planner is written especially for recreational
sailors, and is especially valuable for planning an optimal route that takes weather, ocean
currents, and even the risk of piracy into account long before the trip begins. "According to Mike
Dorsett an important feature [that a boat must have] on a world voyage is 'a larger than standard
self-draining gas locker with space for additional tanks when cruising in areas where refilling
them can be a problem.'The three most commonly mentioned pieces of essential equipment...
were a watermaker, a strong autopilot preferably backed up by a wind-operated self-steering gear,
and an automatic identification system (AIS)." An absolute "must-have" for serious ocean sailing
and yachting enthusiasts.
Royal C. Moore: The Man Who Built the Streetcar Boats
Lori Cherland-McCune
Beaver's Pond Press
7108 Ohms Lane
Edina, MN 55439
9781592985340 $22.00 www.BeaversPondPress.com
Royal C. Moore: The Man Who Built the Streetcar Boats is more than the biography of a driven
Minnesota businessman who designed and constructed incredible, wooden streetcar boats during
the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; it's a celebration of the boats themselves, and
the people who depended on them. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate
this reader-friendly chronicle of the streetcar boats' contribution to Great Lakes area trade.
Nautical enthusiasts will love the tour de force of streetcar boat history!
The Uchuck Years
David Esson Young
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219
Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550175820, $24.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
Vancouver and its islands still hold much adventure in its seas. "The Uchuk Years" is a memoir
from David Esson Young, who recalls his days with the Nootka Sound Service Limited
Company for over sixty five years. Young tells of his journeys through the four incarnations of
the Uchuck vessel, in this down to earth tale of modern oceanfaring and how it can shape lives.
"The Uchuk Years" is a must for any nautical collection dealing in memoirs.
The Automotive Shelf
Competition Engine Building
John Baechtel
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709627, $29.95, www.cartechbooks.com
There's building a functional engine, and then there's pushing oneself to be the best.
"Competition Engine Building: Advanced Engine Design and Assembly Techniques" is a guide
to competitive engine construction from John Baechtel, who advises readers on the highest end
cutting edge techniques needed to make engines that will perform far and above the call of duty.
With full color photography all throughout, for any auto junkie who wants to rise to the
competitive level, "Competition Engine Building" is a strong pick for any hobbyist auto
enthusiast collection.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Zombies at Tiffany's
Sam Stone
Telos
9781845830724, $15.78, www.telos.co.uk
There's more to diamonds that just them looking pretty. "Zombies at Tiffany's" is a steampunk
novel from Sam Stone, taking a humorous twist on the genres of steampunk and zombies. Kat
Lightfoot thought she was set when she scored a job at Tiffanys in 1862. But the streets begin
crawling with people prophecizing the time of darkness, and she has to learn the other
applications of diamonds in her work place. "Zombies at Tiffany's" is a fun read that shouldn't be
overlooked, highly recommended.
To Catch a Vampire
Jennifer Harlow
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738727110, $14.99, www.midnightinkbooks.com
What was at first an act turns into something more. "To Catch a Vampire" is a suspense and
mystery novel of the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, as telekinesis specialist Beatrice Alexander works with
Vampire Oliver Montrose to infiltrate a group of vampires in Dallas. Posing as husband and
wife, their link grows stronger, and the secrets they keep may have nothing on the secrets among
them. For those who love a bit of supernatural fantasy blended with their mystery, "To Catch a
Vampire" is a riveting work, hard to put down mystery, highly recommended.
Zombies
John Skipp, editor
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
9781579128289, $18.95, www.workman.com
The shambling, unstoppable dead have become a pop culture fascination. "Zombies: Encounters
with the Hungry Dead" is a collection of short stories from some of fiction's most accomplished
authors such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury and others. They come together to
present their own take on the zombie, shambling dead ever consuming wrought from what was
once called human. "Zombies" is a strong pick for any fan of horror and short fiction, especially
of the zombie variety, highly recommended.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Being Well
Elana Rosenbaum
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781611800005, $14.95, www.shambhala.com
Piece of mind is not just for the physically healthy. "Being Well: (Even When You're Sick):
Mindfulness Practices for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses" is a spirituality and
mental well being guide from Elana Rosenbaum who advises readers on trying to find that
healthy mindset and keeping it through life, despite the tolls of stress or illness. "Being Well" is a
must for any spiritual health collection, highly recommended. Also from Shambhala for wellness
is "The Healing Power of the Breath" (9781590309025, $17.95), touching on the value of breath
and healing for improving one's general health.
A Still and Quiet Place
Hope Lyda
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736942348, $17.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com
A silent point in our lives is times to think and enjoy what one has. "A Still and Quiet Place:
Gentle Words to Calm Your Soul" is a collection of thoughts on silence and tranquility as Hope
Lyda presents an insightful exploration of the soul and the devotion to God that we find in our
everyday lives and in finding peace. "A Still and Quiet Place" is a strong pick for spirituality and
as an excellent choice for a gift book.
Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying
Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary
Fresno, CA 93721
9781610350242, $16.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com
Death is a terrifying thing, and we don't know how terrifying it is until we're looking it in the
eyes. "Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying: The Four Stages of Hope" is an
inspirational read for those who are facing the ends of their lives and those who are caring for
these people in their roughest hour of need. Outlining the "Hope System", Cathleen
Fanslow-Brunjes gives readers something to live by, and potentially die by. "Using the Power of
Hope to Cope with Dying" is strongly recommended to spirituality collections.
The Memoir Shelf
Psychic Blues
Mark Edward
Feral House
PO Box 39910
Los Angeles, CA 90039
9781936239276, $18.95, www.feralhouse.com
Psychics are never as such. "Psychic Blues: Confessions of a Conflicted Medium" is a memoir
from Mark Edward, who touches on his career as a mentalist, performing cold readings to act as
if he is connecting people to their dead relatives, read minds, among other things that may be
thought of as supernatural. Describing the techniques of the mentalist and how he performs the
supernatural by simply being mundane, "Psychic Blues" is an enticing and creative spin into the
world of mentalists and so called 'psychics'.
Fauna & Family
Gerald Durrell
David R. Godine Publisher
PO Box 450, Jaffrey, NH 03452
9781567924411, $15.95, www.godine.com
The people around us define our lives and very being. "Fauna & Family: More Durell Family
Adventures on Corfu" is a collection of memoir from Gerald Durrell as he recollects his
childhood, with a focus on family and the local people who made up his youth. Telling a
poignant story of nature and coming of age when everyone around you seems slightly insane,
"Fauna & Family" is a strong addition to history and memoir collections, and a choice pick for
those who want a pre-war look at the Isle of Corfu.
The Shining Levels
John Wyatt
Little Toller Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781908213037, $22.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Little bits of nature all through the world offer us samples of very different things all over the
world. "The Shining Levels" is a memoir from the late John Wyatt, who writes on the unique
freedom that he found in the Lakewood region in the United Kingdom, exploring the draw that
nature brought him there and musing on the rustic life that many in the world have already left
behind. "The Shining Levels" is an enticing piece of writing ont he topics of the forests and
naturism, very much recommended reading for anyone with an interest the lost outdoors.
Take a Shot!
Jake Steinfeld
Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401940270, $24.95, www.hayhouse.com
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. "Take a Shot!: A Remarkable Story of Perseverance,
Friendship, and Really a Crazy Adventure" is a memoir of taking risks and what comes forth
when one dares to do so. Jake Steinfeld tells of he and Dave Morrow, and their gambit to create a
national sports league for lacrosse, and the obstacle course that sat in front of them and their
expertise in making it work. An uplifting memoir of business success, and beating adversity,
"Take a Shot!" is a powerful and recommended addition to self-help and memoir collections,
with possible interest for those who love lacrosse.
Dead Man Breathing
Billy Jack & A'Leta McDaniel
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street
Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781606152171, $15.99, www.winepressgroup.com
As we are pushed towards death, there are events we shouldn't have survived. "Dead Man
Breathing" is a memoir of Billy Jack McDaniel as he recounts his own certain death, being
caught in a towering inferno in an oil field that by all odds should have claimed his life. Instead,
he survived with severe burns and little outlook for survival. With the help of a devoted wife,
Billy Jack regains the will to live and attains a life very much worth living. "Dead Man
Breathing" is a fine addition to any memoir collection focusing on tragedy and the triumph over
it.
Caveat Emptor
Ken Perenyi
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
9781605983608, $27.95, www.pegasusbooks.com
Art can be worth millions...which can make a sublime mimic worth millions. "Caveat Emptor:
The Secret Life of an American Art Forger" tells the story of Ken Perenyi, a famed art forger and
gained the attention of the FBI with his explicit skill in producing forgeries of major art works.
Gaining a reputation as America's most talented art forger, he shares his unique career and life of
working under deception. "Caveat Emptor" is a riveting delve into the art world and the
underworld that lives on beneath it.
Midstream
Reynolds Price
Scribner
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781439183496, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com
As we approach the end of our lives, we want to leave something for the world to remember us
by. "Midstream: An Unfinished Memoir" is a memoir from Reynolds Price, held as a major voice
in Southern fiction throughout the twentieth and early twenty first centuries. He shares his life
story, which is cut off due to his sudden death, sharing his experiences and what morphed him
into the writer he became, and the man he became. "Midstream" is a strong pick for memoir
collections, especially those with a focus on figures of modern literature.
And Live Rejoicing
Huston Smith
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way
Novato, CA 94949
9781608680719, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
A search for greater enlightenment is a search that never ends. "And Live Rejoicing: Chapters
from a Charmed Life" is a spiritual memoir from Huston Smith, a renown world traveler who has
dedicated much of his life to seeing the faiths of the world and gaining greater insight to the
bonds that we all share. Touching on his encounters with remarkable people and what he has
ultimately learned, "And Live Rejoicing" is a fine pick for those who seek greater understanding
and education out of their lives.
Snakes in My Dreams
Dr. Mike Deninger
Unrivaled Books
c/o Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9781613601099, $21.95, www.hcibooks.com
When the world seems so hateful it can be a tough weight to shake off. "Snakes in My Dreams:
A Mental Health Therapist's Odyssey from Hardship to Healer" is author Dr. Mike Derringer's
own struggles with mental health problems, telling of his own dark time and struggles with
sexuality issues as well substance abuse. Drawn to help others like himself, "Snakes in My
Dreams" is a fine memoir for anyone seeking one that touches on psychology, PTSD, and LGBT
issues, recommended.
The Farm at Holstein Dip
Carroll Engelhardt
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381172, $22.00, www.uiowapress.org
The farm upbringing grows rarer in today's society. "The Farm at Holstein Dip: An Iowa
Boyhood" is a memoir from Carroll Engelhardt who delves into his own history and upbringing
in the farms of Iowa, and recounts his German and Norwegian roots and his delve into his deep
history. Reflecting on the rapid changes that the past fifty years have brought, "The Farm at
Holstein Dip" is a strong addition to any history and memoir collection, much
recommended.
You're Married to Her?
Ira Wood
Leapfrog Press
PO Box 2110
Teaticket, MA 02536
9781935248255, $15.95, www.leapfrogpress.com
The most unusual bonds can often be the strongest. "You're Married to Her?" tells of the unique
romance between Ira Wood and a woman much older than himself. The bond of their true love
was forged in spite of their age difference, affecting his journey through manhood and his career.
"You're Married to Her?" is a work of true life romance, very much recommended reading.
Surviving Cancer After Surviving Cancer
Kevin L. Murphy
Headline Books, Inc.
PO Box 52, Terra Alta, WV 26764
9780938467403, $19.95, www.headlimebooks.com
Even as the disease is purged from one's body, its scars still burn. "Surviving Cancer After
Surviving Cancer: Coping with the Emotional Side of Cancer" is a memoir from Kevin L.
Murphy as he shares his own pain of survival with his cancer-afflicted wife. Their relationship
was rocky, but their problems were put aside when her disease struck, and although they survived
the cancer, their relationship did not. "Surviving Cancer After Surviving Cancer" is a powerful
memoir on the impact of cancer and how it alters our lives.
We Shall Not Be Moved
Tom Wooten
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807044636, $25.95, www.beacon.org
Nature's fury permanently changes lives. "We Shall Not Be Moved: Rebuilding Home in the
Wake of Katrina" is a memoir of coping with the force of Hurricane Katrina and the untold
damage it did to New Orleans, placing them behind meters of water. Telling of their struggles to
rebuild and reclaim their home, this read proves both tragic and inspiring, as Tom Wooten shares
his personal experience, and the tells the stories of others in the struggle. "We Shall Not Be
Moved" is a must for memoir collections focusing on the many tales of this historical
disaster.
Bogus Allegations
Michelle Lombardi Gesse
Johnson Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
3660 Mitchell Lane, Suite E., Boulder, CO 80301
9781555664503, $17.95, www.bigearthpublishing.com
It's supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, right? "Bogus Allegations: The Injustice of
Guilty Until Proven Innocent" is the memoir of criminology and law of Michelle Lombardi
Gesse as she tells of her husband's accusation of a crime, as she shares the struggle against the
system that she feels assumes guilt and leaves it to the burden of proving one's own innocence.
"Bogus Allegations" is an intriguing look at the struggles of the accused in the modern American
legal system.
Fat No More
Alberto Hidalgo-Robert
Pinata Books
c/o Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Fwy, Bldg 19, Rm 100
Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558857452, $16.95, www.artepublicopress.com
Obesity is a problem that carries countless other problems along with it. "Fat No More: A
Teenager's Victory Over Obesity" is a memoir from Alberto Hidalgo-Robert as he shares his
story how he faced down the problems of obesity as a young boy, sharing his struggles to get his
weight down and the failures it had. Outcast by his peers, he finally found his method that
worked, and he shares his journey in hopes that it will inspire others to follow his path. "Fat No
More" is a strong addition to any health and memoir collection.
The Poetry Shelf
When Eyes Meet Over the Minestrone
Jonathan Russell
Birch Brook Press
PO Box 81
Delhi, NY 13753
9780984200344 $15.00 www.birchbrookpress.info
When Eyes Meet Over the Minestrone is a compilation of free-verse poetry about attraction,
love, and heartbreak, both within and without the realm of marriage. As capricious as the whims
of the human heart, When Eyes Meet Over the Minestrone balances the high-flying joys and the
crushing disillusionments of emotions out of control. A swift yet thoughtful read, When Eyes
Meet Over the Minestrone is highly recommended. "Hearts to Ransom": Lost love is a stood up
tryst / where only memories meet, / and walk on air with the wind at our feet. / With her flock of
the sky, she walks in her sleep, / and faithfully we follow as a bleat from its sheep. / She glides
on air with the wind in her hair, / we are swept like a fly beside her there. / Like the grave of her
soul, we await the remains / of the love for which we shall weep in vain.
pH Neutral History
Lidija Dimkovska
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271
Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556593758, $16.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org
Europe as we know it has long since changed. "pH Neutral History" is a collection of poetry from
Macedonian poet Lidija Dimkovska, bringing his take on the world, and brought to English by
Ljubica Arsovka & Peggy Reid, bringing his work to life in another language. "pH Neutral
History" is a read well worth considering, highly recommended. "Care": I wash the soup ladle as
though I'm washing a baby's head,/with profound understanding I give it the complete treatment
--/and I have been longing for a lice-destroying hair dyer/or a similar device against foreign
bodies in the head,/but the world was slow when humanity was in question,/and fast when I stood
at crossroads moving neither forward nor backward/and watched people and events of neither
this nor that world.
Whatever Sends the Music Into Time
Leah Fritz
Salmon Poetry
Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
97819088636007, $22.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Rhythm and music can cross time without translation. "Whatever Sends the Music Into Time" is
a collection of poetry from Leah Fritz, who discusses anything and everything about our world as
we try to piece it all together. With critical acclaim, Fritz's work proves to be something to look
out for with "Whatever Sends the Music Into Time", highly recommended. "Epitaph for My
Father": It was nice of you to say goodbye/and wait until we were all grown up/ to die.
The Winter Sleep of Captain Lemass
Harry Clifton
Wake Forest University Press
PO Box 7333
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
9781930630604, $14.95, www.wfu.edu/wfupress
The Irish cultural identity is always looking for its place in today's society. "The Winter Sleep of
Captain Lemass" is a collection of poetry from established poet and author Harry Clifton as he
expands his experience and continues to muse on the lost place of Ireland. Thoughtful and world
weary, "The Winter Sleep of Captain Lemass" is a strong addition to any international poetry
collections. "At Toome": There was a pheasant somewhere around,/Croaking; drowned out/By
the small birds/Nearer. Would it enter the yard/And dazzle us, or be lost/In the morning, in the
wet fields/Leveling out amazement?//A door was opened, a comment made./Somebody flung a
bucket of slops/Across the air. In the silence/New and frightened,/Finches, tits, the little
birds,/An army helicopter heard,/Moved in, to their feeding-grounds.
The American History Shelf
Swedes in Michigan
Rebecca J. Mead
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9781611860412, $12.95, www.press.umich.edu
Michigan, much like America, was made by many people coming together and making a truly
unique blend of culture. "Swedes in Michigan" is another entry in the Discovering the Peoples of
Michigan series, this time focusing on the Swedish Americans who came to the state and made
their own impact on the state. Analyzing the Swedish culture and how it was infused into
Michigan through public policy, business, education, and much more, "Swedes in Michigan" is
an intriguing exploration of American anthropology, highly recommended.
Wicked Western Slope
D.A. Brockett
The History Press
635 Rutledge Ave., Suite 107
Charleston, SC 29403
9781609495701 $19.99 www.historypress.net
Wicked Western Slope: Mayhem, Mischief & Murder in Colorado lives up to its title with a
collection of vignettes about the criminal history of Colorado's Western Slope, which during the
time of the Wild West used to be a land of drink, gambling, thieving, and worse. From forced
prostitution and white slavery, to crimes of passion, to cold-blooded murder, Wicked Western
Slope is brimming with true tales of iniquity on the rough-and-tumble frontier. A luridly
fascinating slice of the darker side of American History, Wicked Western Slope is thoroughly
accessible to readers everywhere who are curious about Colorado's dirty deeds.
The Christian Studies Shelf
50 Days of Hope
Lynn Eib
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414364490 $13.99 www.tyndale.com
Colon cancer survivor Lynn Eib presents 50 Days of Hope: Daily Inspiration for Your Journey
through Cancer, a compilation of God's wisdom from Biblical passages that is directly applicable
to the trials that those diagnosed with cancer must face. "I believe I have a heavenly Father who
loves me, watches over me, and has good plans for my life. So why did a nice girl like me get a
not-nice thing like cancer? The reality is that God's Word never promises that He will stop all
bad things from happening to us. On the contrary, it promises us that He is prepared for each
battle and will equip us too. 'The Message' paraphrases 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 this way: 'We've been
surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we
know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side;
we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken.'" A profound and powerful resource of spiritual
wisdom, 50 Days of Hope is an excellent read for any and all Christians struggling with great
troubles, not just those fighting the battle against cancer. Also highly recommended is the
author's previous book, "When God & Cancer Meet" (9780842370158, $13.99).
Thriving in Leadership
Karen A. Longman
Abilene Christian University Press
1626 Campus Court, Abilene, TX 79601
9780891122296, $24.99, www.abilenechristianuniversitypress.com
Good leadership is needed in any field, especially when training the leaders of tomorrow.
"Thriving in Leadership: Strategies for Making a Difference in Christian Higher Education" is a
guide for those involved in Christian Higher Education to help their students in Christian
colleges and universities, and inspiring values that will stay with students for years to come.
From student government, the classroom, and sharing stories from others in their tales of
leadership, "Thriving in Leadership" is to be considered for anyone leading in a Christian
academic environment.
10 Life-Charged Words
Derek Maul
Upper Room Books
PO Box 340003
Nashville, TN 37203-0003
9780835811163, $16.00, www.upperroom.org
Men often lose sight of their faith more quickly than women. "10 Life-Charged Words" is a
Christian inspirational guide from Derek Maul, who presents many tales of helping men retain
and charge their lives more effectively. Drawing on personal anecdotes, ideas to consider, and
things to talk about with other Christian men for their lives. "10 Life-Charged Words" is a strong
addition to Christian and inspirational collections, much recommended.
Unfashionable
Tullian Tchividjian
Multnomah Books
12265 Oracle Blvd., Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
9781601434105, $14.99, www.multnomahbooks.com
Sometimes the right thing isn't the most popular thing. "Unfashionable: Making a Difference in
the World by Being Different" is a Christian empowerment guide that advises readers to go
against trends if they feel that is what required of them to make a positive impact in the world,
much like Jesus had done two thousand years ago. "Unfashionable" is an empowering read for
Christians and those who want to make a difference in general, recommended.
Fearing the Stigmata
Matt Weber
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
9780829437362, $13.95, www.LoyolaBooks.org
The Stigmata, spontaneous bleeding holes upon one's hands and feet, are marks of virtuous
Catholicism. "Fearing the Stigmata" is a collection of humorous short stories from Matt Weber,
as he draws on his experiences of trying to be a good Catholic while evading the Stigmata,
something he viewed avoiding as well worth the stigmata. Touching on faith and modern life,
Weber comes with plenty of moving stories of life and advises young Catholics how to keep the
spirit strong in these trying times. "Fearing the Stigmata" is a strong addition to any Catholicism
collection focusing on modern life.
Unlocking the Treasure
Bev Roozeboom
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449715991, $16.95, www.westbowpress.com
When faced with a child who isn't like all the others, panic can wrongfully set in. "Unlocking the
Treasure: A Bible Study for Moms Entrusted with Special-Needs Children" is a guide for
mothers of special needs children who are often conflicted on what to do with their children who
have a diagnosis such as bipolar disorder, autism, or other childhood disabilities. Drawing from
faith, Bev Roozeboom advises readers to encourage greater dedication to their children and
making them feel like they really belong. "Unlocking the Treasure" is to be considered for
Christian parents, recommended.
Dreaming of More
Michelle Anthony
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434700162, $14.99, www.davidccook.com
Faith and family go together often. "Dreaming of More For the Next Generation: Lifetime Faith
Ignited by Family Ministry" is a Christian guide that encourages families to inspire life long faith
and inspiration in their children's life, encouraging them to become spiritual leaders themselves
and much more. "Dreaming of More for the Next Generation" is a strongly recommended
addition to Christian family collections for those who want to inspire greater faith from
themselves and those they love.
Taking Jesus at His Word
Addison Hodges Hart
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866912, $18.00, www.eerdmans.com
The words of Christ hold power, and they can all too often be overlooked. "Taking Jesus at His
Word: What Jesus Really Said In the Sermon on the Mount" explores the words of Christ in the
context of the legendary sermon, seeking to resonate his message genuinely with the modern era,
which has been distorted in the modern day, as retired pastor Addison Hodges hart seeks to
advise modern Christians to follow Christ's lead. "Taking Jesus at His Word" is a much
recommended addition to Christian Studies collections.
The One Year Devotions for Women
Ann Spangler
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414336022, $15.99, www.tyndale.com
Finding peace in a world that expects so much from you has proven so difficult for many women.
"The One Year Devotions for Women: Becoming a Woman at Peace" is a collection of
inspirational and faith driven passages for everyday of the year as Ann Spangler presents much
for women to ponder and help women find peace throughout their lives and how to put it all
together. "The One Year Devotion for Women" is a strong addition to any Christian studies or
woman's inspirational collection.
The Art of Faith
Judith Couchman
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568
Orleans, MA 02653
9781557256300, $22.99, www.paracletepress.com
Art is founded heavily and symbolism, which risks flying over the viewer's head. "The Art of
Faith: A Guide to Understanding Christian Images" is a Christian spirituality guide as Judith
Coachman coaches readers on how to better understand the ins and outs of Christian art work and
how to connect them all together and get the most out of many famed Christian works of art.
"The Art of Faith" is a must for those who want to gain greater education in Christian
artwork.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Volume II
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9780800698386, $60.00, http://fortresspress.com/
On the eve of the Third Reich, there was much changing. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Volume
II: Ecumenical, Academic, and Pastoral Work 1931-1932" is the second entry into the series
covering the man's woks and his writings. At the time, Bonhoeffer was entering the second half
of his twenties; he returned to Germany shortly before Hitler's rise to power, and the Third Reich
would eventually claim his life. In his short forty years, he gained much influence on the role of
Christianity in a secular world. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works Volume II" is a must for any world
history collection and for Christian studies as well.
Telling the Gospel Through Story
Christine Dillon
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830837946, $15.00, www.ivpress.com
Narrative is a powerful tool. "Telling the Gospel Through Story: Evangelism That Keeps Hearers
Wanting More" is a guide for those who want to share the gospel through the power of
storytelling. Christine Dillon touches on how to tell a better story through scripture, and making
sure your story connects with your audience. "Telling the Gospel Through Story" is a must for
general Christian collections focusing on ministry.
Adam, God's Beloved
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759949, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com
Through God, new strength can be found. "Adam, God's Beloved" is a Christian inspirational and
memoir from Henri J. M. Nouwen as he recounts his friendship with a handicapped young man,
Adam. Through their friendship, Henri writes of how Adam's drive sought to inspire him to
greater success and higher potential in his life. "Adam, God's Beloved" is a powerful read, the
last work of priest Henri J. M. Nouwen, a faithfully inspiring one as well.
Liguori Publications
1 Liguori Drive
Liguori, MO 63057-9999
www.liguori.org
Two books by Pia Septien, a biblical instructor at the University of Dallas School of Ministry,
tells Christians of all backgrounds about notable women of the Bible and the moral lessons they
have for us today. "Women of the Old Testament: Their Lives, Our Hope" (9780764822049,
$8.99) tells of women who acted on behalf of their community (Miriam and Abigail); who
suffered abuse and neglect (Hagar, Leah, and Michal); and who demonstrated immense wisdom
(Hannah, the woman of Proverbs 31); and who embodied pro-life values (Ruth, Shiphrah and
Puah). "Women of the New Testament: Their Lives, Our Hope" (9780764822162, $8.99)
discusses women who saw God in the child Jesus (Mary mother of Jesus, Elizabeth mother of
John the Baptist, and Anna the prophetess); women who understood God's paramount greatness
(friends of Jesus Martha and Mary, Lydia, and the first witness of Christ's resurrection Mary
Magdalene); and women who personally experienced the salvation brought by Jesus. Each of
these stories is couched with thought-provoking questions for personal reflection, group
questions and activities, suggested resolutions, prayers, and more. Although Women of the Old
Testament and Women of the New Testament are written primarily from a Catholic perspective,
with special attention paid to the meaning of Catholic catechisms, Christians of all
denominations can draw inspiration from these excellent supplemental Bible study guides.
Highly recommended.
The Philosophy Shelf
Dungeons & Dragons and Philosophy
Jon Cogburn and Mark Silcox, editors
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697964 $19.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Part of an excellent series of books exploring the intersection of various popular culture
phenomena and philosophy, Dungeons & Dragons and Philosophy: Raiding the Temple of
Wisdom is an anthology of essays by a diversity of learned authors. Each essay explores a
different, thought-provoking angle of the popular pen-and-paper role playing game: how can it be
morally acceptable to play characters of evil alignment? Can the role-playing game experience be
considered art? What can inventing and exploring the stories of game characters tell us about
ourselves? Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Dungeons & Dragons and Philosophy will
prove especially enjoyable to philosophers and cerebral gamers alike.
Breaking Bad and Philosophy
David R. Koepsell & Robert Arp
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697643, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com
The delve into darkness is what makes the hit television series Breaking Bad so enticing.
"Breaking Bad and Philosophy: Badder Living Through Chemistry" explores the series and its
brushes with philosophy, including how it skews the morality of the modern day and the touches
on the nature of humanity, drugs, and everything in between. Compiled by many thinkers,
"Breaking Bad and Philosophy" is a much recommended pick for fans of the show or Open
Court's Pop Culture and Philosophy series.
The Fiction Shelf
Durango
Gary Hart
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100
Golden, Colorado 80403
9781555916701, $15.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com
Water is very important, and is something very much worth fighting for. "Durango" blends the
common themes of the American west into a modern western town in Colorado as the town of
Durango faces a crisis over who controls its water supply. A close knit-community explodes and
may be going at one another's throats. Daniel Sheridan, accused for a shady role in the conflict,
returns to his home town and sees much to settle. "Durango" is a fine literary and contemporary
read that combines themes well, highly recommended.
The Serpent's Bite
Warren Adler
Stonehouse Press
c/o Greenleaf Book Group
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781590060445, $21.95, www.warrenadler.com
Jounryes allow for great bonding between many. "The Serpent's Bite" is a novel following
George Temple, a man who wants to reconnect with his estranged adult children, using a path in
the Yellowstone Wilderness that they all had enjoyed twenty years earlier. But nostalgia blinds
them, as his family may be more lost to him than he really knows. A story of drama, selfishness,
evil, and a tragic story of the lost nature of some families, "The Serpent's Bite" is a fine and much
recommended addition to contemporary literary fiction collections.
Sweet Land of Bigamy
Miah Arnold
F&W Publications, Inc.
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440541896, $24.95, www.fwmedia.com
Polygamy has been outlawed in Utah for many years...and it doesn't matter if you want multiple
wives or multiple husbands. "Sweet Land of Bigamy" is a novel following conflicted Helen
Motes, who due to her husband serving out the conflict in Iraq, she finds herself tempted by
roping another man into marriage. Helen soon regrets her questionable actions and delve into
Utah's old shame, and is stuck between two men and no easy way to choose, or any other easy
way out of her situation. "Sweet Land of Bigamy" is a twist on contemporary fiction and
romance, highly recommended.
The Politics of Barbecue
Blake Fontenay
John F. Blair Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895875853, $24.95, www.blairpub.com
Good food should be free from the foul taste of politics, but when competition enters into it, it
can become a war worse than any presidential race. "The Politics of Barbecue" is a fun delve into
the world of barbecue in Memphis, Tennesee. Pete Pigg has a booming business, and keeps it
that way by getting himself elected mayor and creating a Barbecue Hall of Fame in his honor.
When some sour deals start to bubble over, it all starts to fall apart. With some allegory to
modern politics, "The Politics of Barbecue" is a fun and much recommended pick, highly
recommended.
If I Could Tell You
Hannah Brown
Vantage Point
419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9781936467266, $14.95, www.vantagepointbooks.com
To make something better for the next generation is every parent's goal. "If I Could Tell You" is
a novel of family, as four women come together bound by their shared bond of having an Autistic
child, as each of them pursues what they can do with all the success and failure that comes with
this difficult endeavor. A story of parenthood and Autism, "If I Could Tell You" is a much
recommended read for those seeking inspirational fiction, or for autistic parents looking for
support as well.
Gone to the Forest
Katie Kitamura
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451656640, $15.00, www.simonsays.com
The bond between father and son is at times strenuous at best. "Gone to the Forest" is a novel of
family as Tom and his father deal with the loss of their mother and wife on their farm. The loss
has set the two of them against each other, and in a town as divided as they are. As Carine arrives
in their life, things are going to get a lot worst before they get better. "Gone to the Forest" is an
enticing addition to any contemporary fiction collection.
Tiger Hills
Sarita Mandanna
Pintail Book
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780670066933, $16.00, www.penguin.com
A bond of a lifetime is a powerful thing, but it only can go so far. "Tiger Hills" is a novel of two
individuals, a girl called Devi and Devanna, a young boy. The two come of age as the turn of the
twentieth century approaches, meeting with a famed tiger hunter, whose relationship with them
and his acts will change much in both of their lives, as well as their descendants. "Tiger Hills" is
an enticing read of generational fiction, much recommended.
Heading Out to Wonderful
Robert Goolrick
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
9781565129238, $24.95, www.algonquin.com
A new face into a small town changes things, although not always for the worst. "Heading Out to
Wonderful" is a novel of 1949 Valley of Virginia, as Charlie Beale enters the lives of the people
of the region, with nothing more than his few possessions and more than a little cash.
Establishing strong ties to the town, his lust and love of a teenaged bride of the richest man in
town may rock the foundation of the town. "Heading Out to Wonderful" is an enticing and much
recommended addition to literary fiction collections.
The Company
Chuck Graham
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street
Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781414120904, $18.99, www.winepressgroup.com
With mankind on the brink of extinction, how many look to God for guidance? "The Company"
is a novel set as one of the last villages of humanity struggles as a meteor strikes and wipes many
off the face of the planet. Sam Mitchell, an engineer charged with powering the last village of
Brigos Glen, hears a call in the distance, and finds that his charge may be Biblical in nature. "The
Company" is an enticing bit of Christian fiction, using allegory to explore a post-apocalyptic
world.
No Animals We Could Name
Ted Sanders
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555976163, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org
There are creatures out there we can't understand, but encounters make for much intriguing story
telling. "No Animals We Could Name" is a collection of short fiction from Ted Sanders as he
explores animals beyond the normal and usual and presents a twist of fate of what we expect of
the world, and the conflicts between man and nature. With much humor and creativity, "No
Animals We Could Name" is a fine assortment of stories, enthusiastically recommended.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Lupe Velez
Michelle Vogel
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786461394, $45.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
As the film camera took center stage, the stars began to come out. "Lupe Velez: The Life and
Career of Hollywood's 'Mexican Spitfire'" tells the story of one of the earliest Latina Movie
starlets, who embraced the new Hollywood lifestyle fullest, for all of its good and all of its bad.
Seeking to explore the myths that have clouded Velez's legacy, including her impact on modern
film. "Lupe Velez" is a must for anyone curious in the stories of early Hollywood.
The Computer Shelf
Deploying Rails
Anthony Burns and Tom Copeland
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356951, $30.00, www.pragprog.com
An application needs to be able to run on its own, without constant input from its programmer.
"Deploying Rails: Automate, Deploy, Scale, Maintain, and Sleep at Night" is a guide to the Ruby
tool Rails, designed for automating servers effectively. Tom Copeland, an experienced Ruby
coder, provides his insights and ideas on making the most out of the programs and make it all
work together more harmoniously. For anyone coding in Ruby, "Deploying Rails" is an essential
reference for taking one's programming skills to the next level.
HTML5 Canvas and CSS3 Graphics Primer
Oswald Campesato
Mercury Books
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
9781936420346, $39.95, www.internationalpubmarket.com
A picture is worth a thousand words, and that makes graphics the biggest focus of the next
incarnations of web languages. "HTML5 Canvas and CSS3 Graphics Primer" is a guide to the
latest updates to the HTML5 and CSS3 languages, focusing on their graphical capabilities.
Chapters cover HTML5 Canvas, SVG, Linear Gradients, and all the details for maximizing one's
potential with these programs. "HTML5 Canvas and CSS3 Graphics Primer" is a vital and
strongly recommended technical reference, reinforced by a companion CD-ROM which presents
much example source code and ideas to take the next level.
The Photography Shelf
Beartooth Country
Mervin D. Coleman
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630
Helena, MT 59604
9781560375241, $12.95, www.farcountrypress.com
Nature unspoiled is truly a sight to see. "Beartooth Country: The Absaroka and Beartooth
Ranges" is a collection of nature photography set in the wilderness surrounding the town of
Cody, Wyoming, one of the largest intact ecosystems one can find in a temperate climate. For
lovers of nature who want a vast collection of beautiful full color photography, "Beartooth
Country" is a compilation well worth considering.
The Parenting Shelf
Hot Buttons
Nicole O'Dell
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825442391, $9.99, www.kregelpublications.com
The internet is an invaluable tool...but is also frightening for parents. "Hot Buttons: Internet
Edition" is an advisory and Christian parenting guide from Nicole O'Dell as she brings readers
into the endeavors of parenting in the internet era, as she advises how parents to lay down
guidelines and drawing on Biblical scripture for extra guidance. "Hot Buttons" is a parenting
guide to be considered for those intimidated by the internet and with kids who aren't so
intimidated.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Eric Powell
Jorge Khoury & Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490410, $15.95, www.twomorrows.com
Good art only takes you so far, you also need to bring something unique to the table. "Eric
Powell: Modern Masters Volume Twenty-Eight" focuses on the work of famed comic artist Eric
Powell who created his own type of hero in 'The Goon'. With his unique taste of art that's not
afraid of whisking in the cute with the gritty realism to tell a very different type of tale, "Eric
Powell" is a must for any who want to gain a greater appreciation for the art in the modern comic
world.
The Business Shelf
The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave
Leigh Branham
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
9780814417584, $24.95, www.amacombooks.org
A good employee is hard to replace, and that's why a high turnover rate is a terrible thing. "The 7
Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act Before It's Too
Late" explores the nature of employees quitting, as Leigh Branham explores what sets employees
off of the job. Exploring the nature of worker expectations not being met, wrong career for the
wrong, lack of guidance, and much more. "The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave" is a must
for managers and administrators who want to make sure the people they hire are in for the long
haul.
The Pivot Point
Victoria M. Grady & James D. Grady
Morgan James Publishing
4410 E Claiborne Square, Suite 334
Hampton VA 23666-2071
9781614483007, $14.95, www.morganjamespublishing.com
A business needs change to place it all together. "The Pivot Point: Success in Organizational
Change" is a business guide from Victoria M. Grady & James D. Grady as they provide an
insightful guide to changing one's business management scheme for greater success in their
business, including the increasingly common pitfalls that many management change situations
often lead to. With plenty of advice for making a fully functioning management strategy that will
flourish in years to come, "The Pivot Point" is a strong addition to business and management
collections.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Something to Chew On
Mike Gibney
University College Dublin Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781906359676, $38.95, www.ucdpress.ie
Food is a central topic in our lives, and there are yet many questions surrounding it. "Something
to Chew On: Challenging Controversies in Food and Health" explores the countless food related
controversies that surround food. In recent years, there has been rallying calls against organic
foods, against genetically modified foods, the growing problem of obesity, and countless other
problems. Mike Gibney brings an academic discussion of these problems, bringing them into a
historical context. "Something to Chew On" is an enticing and much recommended pick for those
confused by health standards, very much recommended for health and history collections.
The ACL Solution
Robert G. Marx & Grethe Myklebust
Demos Medical Publishing
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303335, $16.95, www.demosmedpub.com
When the knee goes, the rest of the leg might as well be useless. "The ACL Solution: Prevention
and Recovery for Sports Most Devastating Knee Injury" is a thorough read on this debilitating
knee injury. Physicians with a focus in Sports Medicine Robert G. Marx and Grethe Myklebust
come together on how to best prevent this injury, dealing with the injury when it occurs, and the
ins and outs of rehabilitation for the injury. Thorough and helpful reading for athletes, "The ACL
Solution" is a much recommended addition to health collections that have a focus on sports
injuries.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Rough Riders
Charlie Stella
Stark House Press
4720 Herron Road
Eureka, CA 95503
9781933586397, $15.95, www.starkhousepress.com
To catch a bigger fish, the law and authority will make deals with what they view as lesser evils.
"Rough Riders" is the follow up to author Charlie Stella's first crime novel, 'Eddie's World'. As
the federal government begins to crack deals with the underworld, in hopes that the truth will fail
to emerge. With a love for character and dialogue, "Rough Riders" is an enticing crime thriller
that should prove difficult to put down, highly recommended.
Vengeance
Benjamin Black
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400
New York, NY 10010-7725
97808050494398, $26.00, www.henryholt.com
Suicide is rarely done with a clear mind. "Vengeance" is a novel of high society in Ireland, as a
successful businessman takes his own life in a baffling move, and those closest to him face more
than the hardship of a recently departed friend. With corruption and trysts everywhere they turn,
Dublin's socialites secrets will become known to all and the lives of them all will never be the
same. "Vengeance" is a riveting novel of secrets and crime, as author Benjamin Black presents a
read that simply won't go down easily.
No Wake Zone
Linda Lovely
L&L Dream Spell
376 West Quarry Road, London, TX 76854
9781603184854, $15.95, www.lldreamspell.com
The methods of killing may be more sadistic than the killing itself. "No Wake Zone" is a thrilling mystery, in which Marley Clark tries and fails to rescue a dead biotech billionaire; the circumstances of his death are unclear. As accusations fly, Marley uncovers vendetta aplenty, and a link to biological weapons that could truly be terrifying. "No Wake Zone" is a solid addition to modern intrigue collections, recommended.
Vulture Peak
John Burdett
Vintage Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780307474292, $14.95, www.randomhouse.com
In the black market organ trade, there are many unusual characters, each hiding a truth of their
own. "Vulture Peak" follows Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jipleecheep, who is charged
with breaking down a black market organ trade in the country, with the trail that weaves in and
out of his jurisdiction. Encountering many people who may be involved or simply running
interference, there's plenty to keep the pages turning, making "Vulture Peak" a choice and
recommended addition to any mystery collection.
Prudence Couldn't Swim
James Kilgore
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864953, $14.95, www.pmpress.com
When there's one big flaw in the story, putting everything together around it can prove quite
difficult. "Prudence Couldn't Swim" is a mystery following Calvin Winter, who finds his wife
dead in the pool, with the titular problem showing forth, which tells him there has to be foul play
on the table. Fearing for his own life, he delves into the unusual and corrupt world of the rich and
finds many truths behind his wife he never knew. "Prudence Couldn't Swim" is an exciting read
with plenty to ponder and always keep those pages turning.
The Nose Knows
Holly L. Lewitas
WheatMark
1760 E. River Road, Suite 145
Tucson, AZ 85718
9781604947373, $14.95, www.spunkymysterybooks.com
A dog takes a liking to a person, it becomes its family, worthy of protecting. "The Nose Knows"
is a mystery following courageous mutt Spunky, who looks after the widowed Dr. Hannah
Richards as she takes another psychological patient. But the nose picks up something funny, and
Spunky jumps on the case. With a good dose of humor, "The Nose Knows" is a choice mystery
for pet lovers and will prove a highly recommended read.
Serpent of Moses
Don Hoesel
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764209253, $14.99, www.bethanyhouse.com
The relics of the Patriarch Moses are much coveted by many of those who believe in their
powers. "Serpent of Moses" is a religious thriller as Archeologist Jack Hawthorne finds himself
on the trail of the serpent staff Nehushtan, thought to be destroyed...or perhaps simply lost under
the sands of northern Africa. Hawthorne finds himself at odds with Israel government officials
with no scruples about eliminating the competition, among others who after the serpentine staff.
"Serpent of Moses" is a riveting thriller that brings a tale of the Old Testament into modern light,
much recommended.
The Shadow Man
Mark Murphy
Langdon Street Press
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781938296031, $14.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com
We can only keep an eye on so much of our lives, and what we don't see can do immense
amounts to us. "The Shadow Man" is a novel following surgeon Malcolm King as he tries to put
his life together as he soon finds that something may be lurking him and may bring omen into his
life, connecting him into a serial killing case, and his sanity will be challenged as he brings
himself closer to the killer. "The Shadow Man" is a must for fans of psychological thrillers.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Loving This Planet
Helen Caldicott
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
9781595588067, $17.95, www.thenewpress.com
A clean and nuclear free world is a distant dream, but there are those who continue to work
towards it. "Loving This Planet: Leading Thinkers Talk About How to Make" is a call from
Helen Caldicott for a better future, sharing her journeys through the world and conversations
with many individuals in her journeys, discussing politics and issues of the day. A memoir well
worth considering for environmentalists, "Loving This Planet" is worthy reading, highly
recommended.
America Needs America's Energy
Mark A. Stansberry
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170
Dallas, TX 75248
9781612540719, $27.95, www.brownbooks.com
Energy will be the key item of the future. "America Needs America's Energy: Creating Together
the People's Energy Plan" is a delve into the energy crisis that America will face in the coming
years. Author Mark A. Stansberry writes of his own optimism of America's ingenuity and ways
of founding new energy and producing new technologies. Outlining the many options and their
pros and cons, "America Needs America's Energy" is a strongly recommended pick for political
and environmental collections, not to overlooked.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Investing in Funds
Jerome De Lavenere Lussan
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780273732853, $49.99, www.mcp.com
The key to greater financial success is investments. "Investing in Funds: How to Select
Investments, Assess Managers, and Protect Your Wealth" is a guide from Jerome De Lavenere
Lussan and Financial Times Publishing as they present an advisory guide for more successful
investing and better understanding the risks within. From finding the business destined for
greatness to the money holes, as well as making sure to always keep all options on the table,
Lussan provides a well researched and vital addition to history. "Investing in Funds" is strongly
recommended pick for anyone studying economics and investment for better prosperity.
The Human Sexuality Shelf
Naked at Our Age
Joan Price
Seal Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
9781580053389, $16.95, www.perseusbooksgroup.com
No one likes to think about their parents having sex, but when you get to that age, you realize
they had it right all along. "Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex" is a guide of
sex as a setting star and into twilight as Joan Price presents an advisory for newly minted seniors
who aren't resigning their libido to wither and die, and embracing the fulfilling sensual life that
they deserve. "Naked at Our Age" is an enticing read for anyone who doesn't want to just let that
part of their lives fade away.
Sex Made Easy
Debby Herbenick
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762444069, $16.00, www.runningpress.com
Good sex takes a little know-how. "Sex Made Easy: Your Awkward Questions Answered -- for
Better, Smarter, Amazing Sex" is a Q & A to answering the questions we all often have
awkwardly surrounding our sex lives, as Debby Herbenick, sex educator at the Kinsey Institute
advises readers on how to better understand their sex lives and allow them to flourish in ways
they never know. "Sex Made Easy" is a strongly recommended pick for anyone with lots of
questions and are afraid to find the answers.
Sex So Great
Barbara Keesling
M. Evans
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781590772065, $14.95, www.rlpgbooks.com
Awesome sex is the glue that keeps a relationship together. "Sex So Great: She Can't Get
Enough" is a guide to embracing the finer points of taking one's sexuality to the next level, as a
companion guide to her previous book 'The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex', this time hoping
to help men become lovers that are unmatched in their quality. Blending philosophy with plenty
of little things that can make a good tryst into something truly special, "Sex So Great" is a strong
pick for those who want to be that legendary lover they know they can be.
The Self-Help Shelf
Adapt
Tim Harford
Picador
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250007551, $17.00, www.timharford.com
It is said failure is not a truly a failure if something is learned. A failure with something learned
can be the birth of something greater. "Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure" is an
inspirational read that blends the lessons of everyday life and business to turn their constant
failures into the foundations of a potential success. "Adapt" is filled with plenty to consider and
much to motivate readers in their life's quest for success.
Understand Your Self
Dale Carlson
Bick Publishing House
16 Marion Road, Branford, CT 06405
9781884158360, $14.95, www.bickpubhouse.com
Knowing oneself more completely is key to a happier life. "Understand Your Self" is an
inspirational read from Dale Carlson as he encourages how to better find one's own self, through
one's own eyes. Encouraging readers to establish their own rules and go with what they truly
want, Carlson encourages readers to cast off society's judgments to find their own happiness.
With a strong message, "Understand Your Self" is a fine addition to psychology and motivational
collections.
When Your Child Dies
Avril Nagel & Randie Clark
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669
Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823911, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com
Losing a child can be a truly devastating experience. "When Your Child Dies: Tools for Mending
Parents' Broken Hearts" is a grieving guide from Avril Nagel and Randie Clark, as they share
their own pain of losing their own children prematurely, and the agony it faced with them.
Drawing on Clark's experience as a therapist, they encourage readers how best to cope and
remember their child healthily for the rest of their lives. "When Your Child Dies" is a strong
addition to any self-help collection focused on grief and coping.
The Power of More
Marnie McBean
Greystone Books
c/o Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group
2323 Quebeck Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781926812649, $22.95, www.douglas-mcintyre.com
A little and a little can build up to a lot. "The Power of More: How Small Steps Can Help You
Achieve Big Goals" is a motivational read from Marnie McBean, Olympic gold medalist as she
shares her own experiences with setting goals in life and moving towards them, step by step and
finding greater success in many ways. "The Power of More" is a strong read with plenty of
uplifting advice, much recommended for inspirational collections, highly recommended.
Three Simple Steps
Trevor Blake
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781936661718, $12.95, www.benbellabooks.com
Success is something that can be tapped into by all of us. "Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success
in Business and Life" is a business self-help memoir from Trevor Blake, as he challenges the
useless wisdom spouted by other self-help books, creating a system of mentality, insight, and
knowing. "Three Simple Steps" is strongly recommended for those who are trying to piece
together what's missing in their careers.
The Jobs/Career Shelf
The You Plan
Dr. Michael Woodward
Advantage Publishers Group
PO Box 1090
Poway, CA 92074-1090
9781599321752, $14.99, www.pgw.com
Today's economy isn't one you stick with one job the whole time in. "The You Plan: A 5-Step
Guide to Taking Charge of Your Career in the New Economy" is a guide to succeeding in today's
businesses - a prospect that requires more than simply working hard and hoping for a promotion.
Dr. Michael Woodward advises readers how to understand what they want out of their career and
making their own brand matter to employers. "The You Plan" is a must for careers and
motivational collections.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Essential Dowsing Guide
Dennis Wheatley
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754
Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940383, $12.00, www.ozarkmt.com
Dowsing is an ancient act of finding what you seek. "The Essential Dowsing Guide" is a
metaphysical exploration of the act and how to embrace it. Dennis Wheatley states anyone can
use dowsing, and explains it through its long history, the techniques, and finding the sites that
most fully embrace the act. For followers of mysticism and metaphysical spirituality, "The
Essential Dowsing Guide" may be well worth considering, highly recommended.
Nature Spirits, Spirit Guides, and Ghosts
Atala Dorothy Toy
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270
Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
9780835609029, $18.95, www.questbooks.net
There are things around us that we don't fully understand. "Nature Spirits, Spirit Guides, and
Ghosts: How to Talk with and Photograph Beings of Other Realms" is a metaphysical guide to
the other side as Atala Dorothy Toy discusses the bonds we can make with the creatures of the
realms that appear next to our own. With tips on making that connection to communicate,
capturing glimpses of the other side with photography and much more, "Nature Spirits, Spirit
Guides, and Ghosts" is a strong pick for the metaphysical paranormal follower,
recommended.
The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses
Claude Lecouteux
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street
Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774652, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com
How does a house gain a legend and history of its own? "The Secret History of Poltergeists and
Haunted Houses: From Pagan Folklore to Modern Manifestations" explores the history of ghosts
and these paranormal things of the night, rarely understood by those who encounter them. From
ancient Greece and Rome, Claude Lecouteux uses his academic credentials in medieval literature
to prove an intriguing history even for those who don't believe. "The Secret History of
Poltergeists and Haunted Houses" is an enticing and much recommended pick for metaphysical
studies collections.
City Magick
Christopher Penczak
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel, Conari, Weiser
65 Parker Avenue, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578635214, $19.95, www.redwheelweiser.com
Voodoo has left the bayou. "City Magick: Spells, Rituals, and Symbols for the Urban Witch" is
an exploration of the metaphysical and the spells and runes of the modern urban world. Author
Christopher Penczak explores the nature of the metaphysical, looking to the many marks of the
modern world and what it holds sacred. "City Magick" is well worth considering for those with
an interest in what lies beyond the material in the urban world.
The Gardening Shelf
Birdscaping in the Midwest
Mariette Nowak
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299291549 $34.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
Illustrated with striking full color photography throughout, Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide
to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds is a user-friendly, in-depth gardening guide
written especially for bird lovers in the eight midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Chapters discuss how to clear out invasive
species of plants and cultivate native midwestern plants, in order to better attract birds whose
survival depends on those plants. "...exotic plants degrade habitat for birds and wildlife in other
ways. Exotics, especially invasive ones, can reduce the availability of water, decrease the
diversity of soil organisms, deplete soil nutrients, cause soil erosion, compete with native
vegetation - including endangered species - and affect the frequency of wildfires. Monocultures
of exotics also destroy the diversity of vegetation and structure in plant communities that many
birds require." Chapters include tips for creating gardens that attract specific bird types
(hummingbirds, bluebirds, migratory birds, etc.), and solid advice for maintaining one's
bird-friendly garden habitat. Bird lovers and gardeners all over the Midwest will find Birdscaping
in the Midwest an absolute "must-have"!
Working with Worms
Wendy Vincent
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue
Ocala, FL 34471
9781601385994, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com
Once written off as a disgusting pest, the worm has proven a useful helper for gardening.
"Working with Worms: Using the Gardener's Best Friend for Organic Gardening and
Composting" is a guide for those who want to use this creepy crawler for use in their gardens and
in the pursuit of composting. With plenty of advice on acquiring worms, caring for them and
helping them set out to help your goals, "Working with Worms" is a strongly recommended
addition to agriculture and gardening collections.
The Martial Arts Shelf
Krav Maga
David Kahn
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480
Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392405, $24.95, www.ymaa.com
Brutal efficiency is all that matters when a life is on the line. "Krav Maga Weapon Defenses"
explores the ins and outs of the Krav Maga defensive martial art, using black and white
photography throughout describing many situations that one might face in close combat
situations that focus on disabling and disarming an opponent. Providing an additional set of study
and training for those intrigued by the art, "Krav Maga" is worth considering for those who want
to better understand Krav Maga and its techniques.
The Crafts Shelf
The Natural Soap Chef
Heidi Corley Barto
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440
Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612430621, $14.95, www.ulyssespress.com
Soap is more than the generic stuff bought in a store. "The Natural Soap Chef: Making Luxurious
Delights from Cucumber Melon and Almond Cookie to Chai Tea and Espresso Forte" is a guide
for those who want to try their own hand at creating their own soaps that have their own unique
fragrances that one could never expect out of soaps. With plenty of full color photos, Heidi
Corley Barto walks readers through how to craft these soaps step by step. For anyone who wants
to try their hand at homemade artisan soap, "The Natural Soap Chef" is an ideal and much
recommended addition to any crafts collection.
The Music Shelf
KISS FAQ
Dale Sherman
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302
Montclair, NJ 07042
9781617130915, $22.99, www.halleonardbooks.com
With face paint and an attitude, they have gained a reputation that is both famous and infamous.
"KISS FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Hottest Band in the Land" explores the history
surrounding the glam rockers whose flair was far more than some make up, with wild theatrics in
pyrotechnics, light shows, and yes, hard rock backing it all up. Dale Sherman explains the
fandom behind the band and why KISS has its own place in Rock 'n Roll history. "KISS FAQ" is
a must for any music history collection, highly recommended.
The Art Shelf
It Draws Me
Mary M. McDonald
Liguori
1 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057-9999
9780764821790, $14.99, www.liguori.org
A time of thinking can often be quite empowering. "It Draws Me: The Art of Contemplation"
discusses contemplation and art, as author Mary M. McDonald invites readers to take their
faithful thought and bring it to understanding art, using the works of Thomas Merton as well as
many Song Dynasty works, reproduced in full color, to help readers better understand the
expression of thought and devotion to spirituality. "It Draws Me" provides much to think about
for spirituality and art assortments, recommended.
The Audiobook Shelf
Emma: A Widow Among the Amish
Ervin R. Stutzman
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue
Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836196511 $28.99 www.heraldpress.com
Read aloud by the author, Emma: A Widow Among the Amish is the unabridged audiobook
rendition of Ervin R. Stutzman's true-life story of the tragedy that befell his mother, and her
perseverance. Emma Stutzman lost her husband far too soon, and had to face the challenge of
raising her children as a single parent. Especially perplexing was the conundrum of how to guide
their faith in the Amish Mennonite church, when modern mainstream culture had its own
seductive appeal. A powerful accounting of one woman's daily efforts to provide for her children
both physically and spiritually, Emma: A Widow Among the Amish is a profound and uplifting
listening experience. 8 CDs, 10 hours 7 min. Also highly recommended is the the author's
previous true-life book about his father, "Tobias of the Amish".
One Last Thing Before I Go
Jonathan Tropper, author
John Shea, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
9781611761191 $39.95 http://us.penguingroup.com
When is a man's life not worth the financial cost to save it? One Last Thing Before I Go is the
unabridged audiobook rendition of a poignant novel about mistakes and regret. Drew Silver was
once the drummer of a one-hit-wonder rock band; now he ekes out a living playing in wedding
bands. He's divorced; his ex-wife is getting remarried; and his estranged teenage daughter may
have to end her aspirations to attend Princeton because she's just confided in Silver that she's
pregnant. When Silver learns that his heart requires surgery to save his life, he decides to refuse
the expensive operation, instead choosing to focus what time he has left on improving his
relationship with his daughter. One Last Thing Before I Go is bittersweet, with a jaunty thread of
humor to counterbalance its serious take on the issues of life, death, and the struggle to
meaningfully mend relationships. Highly recommended. 7 CDs, 8.5 hours.
The Music CD Shelf
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
www.canyonrecords.com
In their long tradition of offering authentic Native American music, Canyon Records presents
two excellent new CDs that are live recordings of pow-wow songs. "Right Now: Pow-Wow
Songs Recorded Live in Mt. Pleasant" ($15.60, 55 min.) by the Grammy-nominated group Bear
Creek involves a medley of song styles including Intertribals, Side-Steps, Crow Hops and more.
The result is a high-energy album brimming with the strong spirit of lifelong cameraderie.
"Elders' Vision: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Kyi-Yo" ($15.60, 70 min.) is a compelling
album by the Blackfoot Confederacy, a pow-wow group dedicated to the Blackfoot vocal style
and drawing upon their musical traditions to honor their elders and share their culture with the
next generation. Both albums are highly recommended for listeners with an interest in the vibrant
and evolving world of Native American music.
The DVD Shelf
Letters to an Unknown Daughter
Anita Keagy
JoyShop Ministries
c/o Vision Video (distribution)
PO Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490-0540
www.JoyShop.org
$14.99 www.visionvideo.com
Based on Anita Keagy's book "The File", Letters to an Unknown Daughter: A Mother's Story of
Hope, Redemption, and Healing is a compelling true-life tale on DVD. In 1974, Anita Keagy
became accidentally pregnant. Resisting the temptation to terminate the pregnancy, she held true
to her family's strict Christian beliefs, and gave her infant daughter up for adoption. Years later,
as a married mother to four children, she felt compelled to reach out to the daughter she had
never known. Through the adoption agency, she began a file of letters to her daughter; years
would pass before the two them would ever have the chance to meet. Letters to an Unknown
Daughter is a compelling Christian story about reaching beyond the painful immediate, seeking
God's purpose, and struggling to connect with loved ones. Profound and powerful, Letters to an
Unknown Daughter is especially recommended for church DVD libraries; bonus content includes
information on crisis pregnancy and adoption services. 40 min.
Swish 3: The Swish Free Throw
Tom Nordland
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Court
Valley Cottage, NY 10989
$34.95 www.swish22.com
Veteran coach Tom Nordland presents Swish 3: The Swish Free Throw, an instructional DVD
packed with tips, tricks, techniques, and drills for making successful free throws in the sport of
basketball. Nordland debunks common "myths of shooting", including the wrongheaded ideas
about "squaring up" or "flipping the wrist". Step-by-step instructions for teaching oneself and
others the basics, user-friendly exercises to cultivate awareness, simplifying one's "pre-shot
routine", and more fill this excellent and practical DVD guide. Highly recommended, especially
for coaches and high school library DVD collections. 1 hour 28 min.
Kung Fu Body Conditioning 2
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480
Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392290 $39.95 www.ymaa.com
Author, scholar, and master of the Taijiquan and Qigong martial arts Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
presents Kung Fu Body Conditioning 2: Traditional Training for Endurance and Power, a
step-by-step DVD guide to strengthen and condition one's body through the use of traditional
Chinese martial arts techniques. Kung Fu Body Conditioning 2 demonstrates arm conditioning
methods such as candle punching, pull-ups, and cinderblock flipping; leg conditioning methods
such as stance training, log running, jumping and kicking; a total body workout; one-on-one
martial arts instruction; partner bills to improve personal reaction speed and sense of distance;
and much more. An excellent supplement to both fitness and martial arts DVD libraries, Kung Fu
Body Conditioning 2 is a "must-have" especially for practitioners of all martial arts, and highly
recommended. 240 min.
Ageless Pilates with Ethel LaBranche
Ethel LaBranche
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.411videoinfo.com
Ageless Pilates with Ethel LaBranche is a multimedia package of one thirty-minute DVD and
three sixty-minute CDs designed to introduce viewers to basic Pilates to promote longevity,
balance, flexibility, and improved health. Ideal for all ages but especially valuable for senior
citizens seeking to stay young at heart, Ageless Pilates features an easy-to-follow Pilates warmup
and practice routine on the DVD, and live recordings of classes taught by LaBranche on the CDs.
LaBranche herself is a veteran Pilates instructor of over twenty years' experience, eighty years
young and going strong, and her guidance makes learning practicing basic Pilates a simple task.
Also highly recommended is Ethel LaBranche's book, "Ageless Pilates" ($14.95).
The Crimson Petal and the White
Based on the novel by Michel Faber
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287721 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Based on the shocking novel by Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White is a dark,
four-part British miniseries. A psychological thriller marked by sex, violence, madness, intrigue,
and suspense, The Crimson Petal and the White is set in the most ruthless corners of Victorian
England. The canny prostitute Sugar (played by Romola Garai) is determined to seize a better life
for herself before her youth and beauty runs out; to that end, she seduces William Rackham
(Chris O'Dowd), the gadabout heir to a perfume business. Meanwhile, Rackham's wife gradually
descends further into madness, and the interaction between the three is steeped in greed, lust, and
deadly threat. Captivating to the brink of horror, The Crimson Petal and the White is luridly
compelling to the very end. Bonus features include deleted scenes (11 min.); interviews with
Garai, O'Dowd, director Marc Munden, and key crew members (20 min.); and character
biographies. 4 episodes on 2 DVDs, 244 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles, not rated
(contains nudity, sexual situations, violence, coarse language, and disturbing images).
The Gaming Shelf
DisgaeaArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection
Nippon Ichi Software and Takehito Harada
UDON Entertainment Corp.
118 Tower Hill Road, C1, PO Box 20008
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4K 0K0
9781926778501 $39.99 www.UDONentertainment.com
DisgaeaArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection is an oversized, full-color artbook
showcase of illustrations from the popular Disgaea series of tactical role-playing games, set in a
chaotic netherworld filled with demons, evil overlords, penguin sinners (called "Prinnies"), and
the occasional angel or hapless mortal unfortunate enough to lose their way. The uproarious,
tongue-in-cheek humor of Disgaea shines through the wacky and wild art! Fans of the series can
enjoy numerous anime-style pieces ranging from concept art to character illustrations to works
that originally appeared on Japanese telephone cards. There is very little text; instead, the brief
captions explaining the origins of each piece are relegated to the back of the book, the better to
devote as much of the page as possible to the art itself. Hijinks aplenty abound is this
"must-have" treasury for Disgaea fans everywhere!
The Political Science Shelf
Voting and Holiness
Nicholas P. Cafardi, editor
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809147670, $24.95, www.paulistpress.com
When voting with one's conscience, there are many things to consider and rarely is it clear.
"Voting and Holiness: Catholic Perspectives on Political Participation" explores Catholic
perspectives in a divided political world as many political writers come together to discuss the
electoral prospects and the weights of evils when deciding on a candidate, the immediacy of
those evils, and which candidate has the potential to do the most good. "Voting and Holiness" is
worth considering for devout Catholic voters who are unsure in the coming year.
Obama's America
Ian Reifowitz
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781612344720, $29.95, www.potomacbooksinc.com
The election of Barack Obama was a major victory for race relations in America, pushing forth
one of America's best values: cultural unity. "Obama's America: A Transformative Vision of Our
National Identity" is a discussion of culture, social issues, and politics as Ian Reifowitz presents
an optimistic view of what Barack Obama can do for America culturally, the fierce response to
his rise, and what it ultimately means for America's future. An intriguing alternative perspective
on the influence that Barack Obama holds on American culture, "Obama's America" is a solid
addition to any cultural studies collection, highly recommended.
Obama's Globe
Bruce Herschensohn
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102
New York, NY 10011
9780825306853, $24.95, www.beaufortbooks.com
Foreign policy in America has changed in the Obama years. "Obama's Globe: A President's
Abandonment of U.S. Allies Around the World" is a discussion of the Obama Administration
foreign policy by Bruce Herschensohn, who is very critical of the President's global policies and
the shifting allegiances of America due to his decisions. "Obama's Globe" is a strident and
thought-provoking addition to international issues collections, recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Reiki Fur Babies
Candy Boroditsky & Ming Chee-Brown
Balboa Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
9781452546827, $8.99, www.balboapress.com
Pets are more than just animals we keep around. "Reiki Fur Babies" is a spiritual pet guide from
Candy Boroditsky & Ming Chee-Brown explore the spiritual power that one can have connecting
to their pets, forming a bond like no other. Sharing their stories of healing and love, "Reiki Fur
Babies" is a strong pick for any spiritual pet owner, highly recommended.
The Architecture Shelf
Suffolk Windmills, 2012 edition
Brian Flint
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843837237 $24.95 www.boydellandbrewer.com
Now in a newly updated 2012 edition, Suffolk Windmills is an in-depth examination of the
history, construction, and usage of windmills in Suffolk, from the Middle Ages to the modern
day. Black-and-white photographs, a wealth of technical details, and even a gazetteer of Suffolk
windmills enhance this thoughtful account of not only these incredible structures, but also the
people who used them. "...windmills often were given names, usually to distinguish one from
another in the same village or locality. The most common distinction was to use the miller's
name, a mill often staying in the same family for many years." Suffolk Windmills is highly
recommended as a professional-quality resource for any reader curious to learn more about these
ingenious and diligent structures, whether for reasons of personal interest or scholarly
research.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Survivor of Buchenwald
Louis Gros with Flint Whitlock
Cable Publishing
14090 E Keinenen Rd
Brule, WI 54820
www.cablepublishing.com
9781934980743 $24.95 hc
9781934980750 $17.95 pbk
The second volume of The Buchenwald Trilogy, Survivor of Buchenwald: My Personal Odyssey
Through Hell is the firsthand testimony of Nazi concentration camp survivor Louis Gros, who
was sentenced to the lethal prisons for "minor offenses" against the Third Reich. He experienced
stomach-churning nightmares of human hatred and torture, barely survived, and suffered from
tuberculosis for years afterward. A harrowing account, Survivor of Buchenwald speaks out
strongly against human evil, and is a highly recommended addition to Holocaust Studies shelves,
as are "The Beasts of Buchenwald" and "Hell on a Hilltop".
The Needlecraft Shelf
Fleece Hat Friends
Mary Rasch
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781454703549 $17.95 larkcrafts.com
Fleece Hat Friends: 25+ Easy-to-Sew Projects is a delightful how-to needlecrafting book to
making animal-face themed children's hats. Cartoon-eyed owls, cuddly spiders, even a monkey
hat with an accompanying monkey-tail design sweatshirt and more designs fill this delightful
craft guide that makes working with fleece and felt fun. Templates, step-by-step instructions, and
full-color photographs make Fleece Hat Friends a great resource for creating warm and
unforgettable gifts for young ones. Fleece Hat Friends is highly recommended as an excellent (if
somewhat offbeat!) supplement to any needlecrafter's pattern library.
The Economic Studies Shelf
Defending the Free Market
Reverend Robert Sirico
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9781596983250 $27.95 www.regnery.com
Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy offers a Christian-centric
defense of right-wing economic ideology, calling for greater reliance upon free markets, private
enterprise, and Christian charities rather than government-sponsored antipoverty programs,
health care, or environmental protection. Chapters decry government collective ownership of
resources as leading to misuse and irresponsibility, champion starting a business as the best way
to help the poor, denounce greed but claim that socialism fuels greed more than capitalism, and
attack welfare for creating a culture of dependency. "When people realize that they can rely on
the state to meet human needs, a society's moral core is eroded as even Christians' incentive to
personally help others diminishes and they cease to see themselves as personal, moral actors on
behalf of those in need." Although Sirico doesn't have answers for social or health care problems
that are too large for charities to handle alone (for example, churches or private charities just
don't have the financial resources to pay for the treatment of people who suffer from devastating
illnesses like cancer), he does make some strong points (such as his harsh criticism of "foreign
aid" money that recklessly flows into the coffers of corrupt third world governments) that need to
be considered at length.
The Biography Shelf
Alan Ameche
Dan Manoyan
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299290108 $26.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
Alan Ameche: The Story of "The Horse" is the first biography of Alan "The Horse" Ameche, an
NFL player who reached his height of fame during the 1950's; indeed, the 1958 championship
NFL game between Ameche's Colts and the New York Giants has been popularly dubbed the
NFL's "Greatest Game Ever Played". Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Alan's talent for football
showed through early in high school teams, and shone even brighter during his University of
Wisconsin college football days (during which he led them to the 1953 Rose Bowl and a victory
of the 1954 Heisman Trophy). Ameche was called "The Horse" for his steadfast training regimen,
physical power, and endurance. His professional football career playing for the Baltimore Colts
ended abruptly after six seasons due to an injury, but during that time he was an 1955 NFL
Rooke of the Year and went to the Pro Bowl five times. Striking a balance between Ameche's
dedicated athletic career and the influences of his day-to-day life, Alan Ameche: The Story of
"The Horse" is highly recommended especially for sports biography collections and American
football history enthusiasts.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Hartland Horses
Gail Fitch
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764340284, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com
Model horses carry much charm to their collectors, and many enticing creations have emerged
since a decade ago. "Hartland Horses: New Model Horses Since 2000" is a guide to the newest
model horses created in recent times, demonstrating the figures, their accessories, their values
and the extent of their collections. With full color photographs of nearly every item discussed,
"Hartland Horses" is a must for the enthusiastic collector, highly recommended.
The Wisconsin Shelf
Lawyers Who Shaped Dane County
Tom Ragatz, Paul Humphrey, Sally Garbo Wedde
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780985364601, $39.95, www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
Important legal cases shape the legal code, and the men who debate the law are the hammers that
form it. "Lawyers Who Shaped Dane County: A History of the Practice of Law in the Madison
Area" analyzes the history of the county's laws and the men who were behind these changes, as
they were also men who altered the route of the history and success of the era. Masters of their
crafts, the collaborators of this book present a tribute history to 261 attorneys and the firms they
worked with. "Lawyers Who Shaped Dane County" is a must for those who want to better
understand the impact of the law in Wisconsin's capital county.
A Real Emotional Girl
Tanya Chernov
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
9781616088699, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com
Tragedy can devastate our lives. "A Real Emotional Girl: A Memoir of Love and Loss" focuses
on the strong familial bond between Tanya Chernov and her father, Richard, who was known as a
major figure throughout his hometown. As he is hit with cancer, Tanya's picturesque childhood
gets a rude awakening as he recounts the last years of her fathers life and the growing up she was
forced to do. "A Real Emotional Girl" is a strong addition to memoir collections focusing on
personal stories and Northern Wisconsin.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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