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SOME NEWER BOOKS YOU MAY ENJOY READING...
The Lost
World by
Arthur Conan Doyle If you know the name of Conan Doyle, you know he is the man who created Sherlock Holmes, one of the world’s most enduring literary characters. You may not know about Professor George Challenger, another memorable Doyle creation, and the central figure of The Lost World. Spurred on by the woman he loves, young journalist Edward Malone eagerly joins forces with the highly irascible Professor Challenger on an expedition to South America. The mission is to verify Professor’s Challenger claim of a Lost World: a mysterious Jurassic-age plateau untouched by civilization, holding the promise of treasure and ancient terror. This is rousing good fun of Edwardian daring-do and dinosaurs, plus other adventures!
Spartacus
by Howard Fast
This is a fictionalized account of an actual slave revolt during the Roman Empire, by one of America’s finest historical novelists. Spartacus was originally self-published in 1951, after all mainstream publishers turned it down because the very popular Fast had been blacklisted for his political views. The book went on to become immensely popular, selling millions of copies and has since gone through nearly one hundred editions. Spartacus, born a slave, trained as a gladiator, leads a slave revolt against the power of Rome. The spellbinding storytelling takes the reader to slave barracks in the desert, the bloody struggle of the gladiatorial arena, and the drama of a turning moment in history. Although brutally put down by the Roman Counsel Crassus, Spartacus’ nearly successful rebellion remains a symbol of the desire for human freedom after two thousand years. This novel was the basis for the very popular 1960 movie of the same name.
Raymond
Chandler: Collected Stories
This volume collects all of Chandler’s short fiction in one volume. Chandler was the master of the American detective story. He helped create the terse laconic style we associate with the glory days of Film Noir and Chandler’s most famous character Philip Marlowe. This collection of twenty-five stories is a rich harvest for those who enjoy an entertaining excursion “down mean streets” in a pre-war America of tough guy detectives and long-legged wise cracking blondes. Originally published in Black Mask and other pulp magazines, these stories show Chandler developing his famous style that has drawn the admiration of other writers. For fans of traditional detective novels this is a great bedside volume. This edition also features an insightful introduction by John Bayley, putting Chandler in context.
Bram
Stoker’s Dracula Omnibus Bram Stoker created a literary icon of a less savory sort – the vampire Count Dracula. Of course many people have seen the movies based on Stoker’s creation, but many have not given themselves the shivering pleasure of meeting the undead Count in person. To read Dracula is to hear the wolves howling as Jonathon Harker looks out of the window of an ancient castle in the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania and wonders in terror about the nature of the monstrous being called Dracula who is holding him prisoner. To read Dracula is to experience dread as this horrific creature of the night in brings his ancient evil into the heart of London and cruelly seeks out the purest to victimize and spread the undead contagion of his blood. The Dracula Omnibus also includes Stoker’s later creepy horror novel The Lair of the White Worm, and a collection of gothic short stories called Dracula’s Guest. Like it’s subject, the story of Dracula has never really died, and still haunts our troubled dreams. This another great bedside volume – if you don’t mind sleeping with the lights on!
The
Universe Next Door
by Marcus Chown
This is an excellent and extremely readable introduction to various mind-stretching new ideas in physics, astronomy, and biology. Are there an infinite number of universes, just next door? Does that explain the bizarre activity in Quantum mechanics? Can there be areas where time runs backwards? What about the origin of life on Earth? Did it first develop here, or did biological material come from space? Is time travel actually possible? Clear and clever explanations of these amazing theories, are presented in an entertaining manner.
Crome
Yellow
by Aldous Huxley
Huxley is best known as the author of Brave New World, but he was also a sharp satirist of his own society. In this, his first novel, Huxley tells a story about Denis, who visits the country house of Crome during a vacation from college. Crome is inhabited by a variety of outlandish characters that satirize English upper class types. Mr. Barbecue-Smith, the self-help guru, writes 1,500 publishable words an hour by getting in touch with his subconscious. Henry Wimbush, is obsessed with writing a definitive history of Crome (but who will read it?). Mrs. Wimbush is obsessed with the occult and gambling, so she casts horoscopes for racehorses. The loquacious Mr. Scogan has a vast knowledge of every subject, and he is more than ready to share it, even if not asked to. During his less-than-successful stay at Crome Denis make ineffective attempts to court the girl of his dreams, but is merely ridiculed for his vague plans to write a novel about art and love. All the characters are crisply drawn, with a perceptive eye on Huxley's part. This is an amusing and subtle comedy of manners. The reader wonders where affectionate storytelling ends and sharp-edged irony begins.
Escape
From Lucania by
David Roberts
In 1937 Mount Lucania was the highest unclimbed mountain in North America. Located on the border of Alaska and the Yukon, surrounded by glaciers and wilderness, Lucania was all but inaccessible. A pair of daring young climbers attempted the first ascent. Little did they realize that this expedition would turn into a perilous struggle for survival. Brad Washburn and Bob Bates were Harvard classmates with a zest for adventure. After being dropped by airplane they suddenly found themselves stranded by weather conditions, marooned on the Walsh Glacier at the foot of the mountain with limited supplies, hundreds of miles from help. They decided to attempt their climb anyway. Roberts recounts their drive to Lucania’s 17,150 foot summit, despite avalanches, blinding snow, and hidden crevasses. Against the odds, they became the first to set foot on the summit – but their greatest challenge still lay ahead of them. They then had to navigate their way out through the uncharted Yukon Territory racing against time, before spring conditions made the rivers impassable. Even as their situation grew more desperate, they refused to give up hope. This is an exciting tale of outdoor adventure.
Love,
War, and Circuses by Eric Scigliano
This book treats the age-old relationship between elephants and humans. For millennia people all over the world have revered, adored, and exploited elephants. This account is rich in history, lore, surprising science, and exotic adventure. Elephants may have affected human evolution. Elephants are reflected in history, art, religion, and popular culture as no other animal. Scigliano takes us on an expedition after crop raiding rogue elephants in Sri Lanka. He probes the bitter battles over elephants in zoos and circuses. The elephant has been used in war, shown in circuses, and now faces the challenge of survival in a human dominated world.
The Complete Book of
Spaceflight by
David Darling
In a dictionary format, Darling presents a huge amount of information on the entire spectrum of space exploration. 3,000 cross referenced entries reveal the evolution of thought about space travel, the interaction of science fiction and science fact, military aspects of space, plus the human characters involved. From space probes to ideas about astronomy in the ancient world, this book is comprehensive. It is great fun for browsing, and yet full of serious information for students or those with a more serious interest in space exploration and the science behind it.
Glorious
French Food
by James Peterson
Peterson explores the essential ingredients, techniques and recipes of French cooking to explore the underlying principles which identify the unique French cooking style. The author shows cooks how to move beyond technical detail and bring the spirit and techniques of French cuisine to their own special dishes. This large book includes hundreds of recipes and descriptions of general techniques.
Japanese
Home Cooking
by Shunsuke Fukushima
This book shows you how to prepare elegant meals that not only taste delicious, but also are simple to make. Author Fukushima takes you step by step through such delicious home-style favorites such as salmon rice soup, spinach with sesame dressing, chicken and vegetable hot pot. With detailed instructions even complicated dishes like sushi or tempura will not be a challenge. This is also a guide to Japanese cooking ingredients and equipment, from bamboo rolling mats to Japanese knives to steamers. Even a novice will gain confidence and skill with this simple and straightforward manual.
Eating
Well
by Burt Wolf
Television chef Wolf is well known from his numerous TV programs and appearance. This book is based on his educational television series of the same name. This contains recipes, cooking tips, food history, folklore, and nutritional information. Over two hundred international recipes from Wolf’s collection have been carefully worked out and tested to deliver the most pleasure with the least work.
The
Wild Vegetarian Cookbook
by “Wildman” Steve Brill
Brill is a well known ‘forager” who is an expert in gathering wild plants. This book tells you how to find and gather gourmet wild plants that grow in parks, woodlands and fields, as well as underused natural foods that are increasingly available in supermarkets. Brill’s style is down-to-earth and entertaining, as he gives recipes and methods of preparing foraged and purchased natural foods. There are also chapters with recipes for “un-wild” foods, that offer tips and techniques for vegan cooking, including non-dairy cheeses, sauces and spreads, and wonderful breads. The “Wildman” takes us through the season with various foods, fruits, mushrooms, and greens. Chez Panisse: Fruits by Alice Waters. 
Waters is the famous chef and restaurateur, owner of Chez Panisse the legendary restaurant with a commitment to organic locally grown foods. Waters takes the reader through a tour of memorable dishes using the exuberant flavors of fresh, ripe fruit. In this companion volume to Chez Panisse: Vegetables, Waters offers over two hundred recipes, organized alphabetically, featuring fruit, including Peach and Raspberry Gratin, Grilled Cured Duck Breast with Pickled Peaches, Candied Grapefruit Peel, and Pork Loin Stuffed With Wild Plum and Rosemary. Illustrated with watercolor drawings, this is a book to savor.
Everything
is Illuminated by
Jonathan Safran Foer With only a yellowing photograph in hand a young man (with the same name as the author) sets out to find the woman who might (or might not) have saved his grandmother from the Nazis. He is accompanied by an amorous old man, a dog named Sammy Davis Junior, and the unforgettable Ukrainian translator Alex, who speaks a sublimely butchered English. Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over the devastated landscape and into an unexpected past. This book is an arresting blend of high comedy and great tragedy. It is a story about searching for hidden truths that haunt every family, and the delicate but necessary tales that link past and future. Hysterically funny and deeply moving.
Taste of
Honey by
Eileen Goudge.
This is the latest of Goudge’s Carson Springs novels. At the center of the story one woman, Gerry Fitzgerald, chooses to confront her past, and the daughter she gave up twenty-eight years ago. Claire Brewster, a successful attorney engaged to her childhood sweetheart, is rocked to the core when Gerry calls her out of the blue to introduce herself as her mother, on Christmas Day. Despite the tearful objections of her adoptive parents, Claire agrees to make a trip to Carson Springs to meet her birth mother. Both women come to see themselves and those around them in a new light. Love and loyalties are tried and personal discoveries are made in this latest novel from a perennially favorite author.
Bloody Jack
by L.A. Meyer
Jacky Faber was used to fighting for survival. As an orphan on eighteenth century London’s streets every day is a struggle that often ends with an empty stomach. When a departing warship is taking on ship’s boys Jacky jumps at the chance to pursue pirates and get steady meals. There is only one problem: Jacky is a girl. She has to use every bit of her courage, spirit, and wit to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of a lifetime, if she doesn’t get caught first. This rousing adventure is suitable for adults or teenage readers.
Ignorance
by Milan Kundera
A man and a woman meet by chance while returning to their homeland which they had abandoned twenty years earlier to become exiles. Will they manage to pick up the threads of their strange love story, interrupted by the tides of history as soon as it began? They soon find that even their memories of their love are different. Those who return after a long absence can be astounding by observing the goddess of ignorance firsthand. This is another thoughtful and moving work by the acclaimed Czech author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. The Soldier’s Return by Melvyn Bragg
In the spring of 1946 ex-corporal Sam Richardson returns home the “forgotten war” in Burma to his hometown in England, to a joyful reunion with his young wife, Ellen. He finds that little has changed in his small town, except himself. With no prospects, and traumatic memories, he finds fitting in difficult. His wife has gained a sense of independence she does not want to give up and his six-year old son can barely remember him. As all three struggle to adjust, the bonds of love and loyalty become stretched to the breaking point. This absorbing story conveys the experience of millions in the aftermath of the Second World War. A taut engrossing novel by a writer at the height of his powers.
Cornucopia:
New and Selected Poems 1975-2002 by
Molly Peacock
Well-known American poet Peacock’s latest volume shows her current work along with a sampling of earlier materials. Her poems are both humorous and daring, studded with sparkling imagery. Peacock has been active in promoting poetry through her position as poet-in-residence at the Cathedral of Saint John the Devine in New York City, her writings on poetry discussion groups, her lecturing, and appearances on Public Radio. Peacocks poems are very straightforward and accessible, telling stories and making keen observations about the world around us.
Let’s Go
Down To The Beach by
William Lawlor William Lawlor has translated a wonderful collection of the poets of Cuba and the Dominican Republic, as well as offering some of his own poetry influenced by these artists. From Belkis Cuza Male, whose award-winning book of poetry was shredded by the Cuba government, while she was arrested for subversive writing, to Nicolas Guillen, who is called the National Poet of Cuba, this volume gives a good sample of the some of the best-known writers of the Caribbean. The poems are presented with the original Spanish on the page facing the English translation, which may be of special interest to the bilingual reader. These poems evoke a world that is close to us in North America, and yet far way for most of us. This is a fascinating excursion into the heart of the islands.
A History of
Pi By Peter Beckmann.
The history of Pi is only a small part of the history of mathematics, but it is nevertheless a mirror of the history of mankind. Beckmann holds up this mirror and gives the background of the times when pi was used to make progress, and also when it did not, because of science being stifled by militarism or religious fanaticism. This book contains the math it discusses but can be read by any level of reader, math-phobe or fan. From engineers and pyramid-builders, to mystics and moderns “squaring the circle” this is an interesting survey of the many places this central mathematic idea shows up.
The Nothing
That Is: A Natural History of Zero
by Robert Kaplan.
The concept of zero was invented in the ancient world and in some sense it has helped lead to the modern world. Zero engendered philosophical debates, it powered the Mayans, and it lays behind the wonders of Newton. The very idea of zero, the concept of something representing nothing was a philosophical leap. Kaplan is a clever and skilled writer who explores the implications of this idea, in theory, and how the clever human animal has used it in practice.
Hidden
Secrets: A Complete History of Espionage and the Technology Used To Support It
by David Owen. Someone called spying the world second oldest profession. The profession of spying has often been portrayed as a glamorous James Bond world or danger and intrigue. This book tells of the real world of the spy, it secret successes and public failures. Today technology makes the craft of espionage more complex than ever before. Owen takes an intriguing look at the technology and the real lives of the spies themselves. Cloak and Dollar: A History of American Secret Intelligence by Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones
This is a sweeping history of American spying from the founding of the republic to the present day. George Washington set aside a discretionary fund for covert operations, while today the U.S. intelligence expenditures exceeds Russia’s total defense budget. How did this huge secret bureaucracy develop? And what are it’s successes as well as failures. From Allen Pinkerton’s detective agency in the 19th century, to the manipulation of public opinion for self-promotion, this history critiques the creation of a secret force within modern government and its implications.
Black Hawk:
An Autobiography
This is a new edition of a stirring autobiography by the Sac Indian war chief, whose refusal to accept a bogus treaty resulted in the brief and tragic Black Hawk War of 1832, fought out in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Deceived by the United States government, and sold out by his own tribal leaders, Makataimeshekiakiak (Black Sparrow Hawk), attempted to re-occupy his traditional lands on the east bank of the Mississippi. This triggered a disastrous pseudo-war as Black Hawk’s starving band was pursued by the Army and the Territorial Militia, which finally ended in the horrific slaughter of the surviving Indians at Bad Axe. This factual and yet poignant account of Black Hawk’s earlier life and his doomed “war” was first published in 1833. The new edition includes notes to explain the historical background and clarify some references in the text. Black Hawk is a classic description of the world that European settlement displaced and the tragic conflict that inevitably resulted.
Bad
Astronomy
By Philip Plait
Professor Plait presents a witty description of various fads and fallacies regarding astronomy and space. Plait examines the Coriolis Effect in your bathroom (the direction sinks drain in which hemisphere), why the sky is blue, an explanation of the change of the seasons, the Moon’s effect on tides, the illusion of Moon sizes, star twinkle, the so-called moon landing “hoax,” and lots of other fascinating topics, all viewed with a decidedly skeptical eye. And don’t miss Plait’s “Top Ten Examples of Bad Astronomy in Major Motion Pictures.” This book is, by turns, amusing, informative, and biting.
Media
Unlimited
By Todd Gitlin
We are all surrounded by a sea of media, but no one quite understands how this has happened and what it does to our lives. Cultural critic Gitlin looks at our media glutted world, and discusses this universe of relentless sensation, instant transition, and non-stop stimuli. Far from signaling a new information age, Gitlin argues that this media torrent encourages disposable emotions, casual commitments, and threatens to make democracy a mere sideshow. This is a startling and thoughtful analysis of the phenomena that envelops us to such a degree that we seldom are able to identify it or consider the implications.
The Inferno
by Dante Alighieri A new
verse translation by Michael Palma.
Palma has rendered Dante into contemporary American English, while maintaining Dante’s original rhyme scheme. This translation is accompanied by the original Italian text on the facing pages. A talented poet, Palma has brought this world classic to a form that is accessible to a modern American audience.
At the End
of An Age by John Lukacs.
The great historian John Lukacs describes how we in the Western world have been living through the end of an entire age that began in Western Europe five hundred years ago. Unlike the people during the end of the Middle Ages or the Roman Empire, we are capable of knowing where we are. In Lukacs view, the Earth and human history are the center of the universe and this is all we can know.
Buddhism:
The Illustrated Guide
Kevin Trainor, Editor Buddhism is a major spiritual and ethical force in the world today, and it is one of the fastest growing religions in North America and Europe. This book provides a brilliantly clear and superbly illustrated encyclopedia of this religion. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field. The book goes from the origins of Buddhism to it’s various diverse forms, from the elaborate and esoteric rituals of Tantric Buddhism to the refined minimalism of Zen. The illustrations are stunning. Also Buddhist sutras (scriptures) and their history are explained.
The Ultimate
Golf Book Charles McGrath, editor
The NPR
Curious Listener’s Guide to Opera
by William Berger
This volume provides you everything you need to know about opera, from Pucini to Porgy and Bess. Berger starts with some general chapters on opera and its variations, then he moves on to discuss what makes opera still popular today. He describes the various well-known composers, the famous opera performers, and summarizes the most famous operas that are well-known elements in world culture. Berger also includes a list evaluating the thirty essential recorded operas. Also included is a glossary of terms related to opera. If you are an opera buff you’ll love this handy little guide. If you are new to opera but looking to increase your understanding or widen your horizons, this is a wonderful guide to get a handle on one of the world’s great art forms.
A Most
Ingenious Paradox: The Art of Gilbert and Sullivan
by Gayden Wren
They wrote The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and many other comic masterpieces more than a century ago. Even though W.S. Gilbert, and Sir Arthur Sullivan regarded these operas as nothing more than light entertainment, during the past century only Shakespeare’s plays have been produced more often in more countries. What accounts for the astonishing popularity of these operas? Wren considers all fourteen of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic masterpieces. He analyzes the brilliant comic lyrics, the witty dialogue, and of course the catchy music. Like Shakespeare’s comedies, the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan endure because of strikingly resonant stories, characters, and themes. Wren also discusses the artistic legacy of Gilbert and Sullivan, and their influence on Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, and even Samuel Beckett. We also learn what leading lights of the contemporary musical theater such as Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, and Tim Rice, have discovered in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. This is a fascinating study for anyone interested in the delightful works of Gilbert and Sullivan, as well as the contemporary American musical theater and its roots in one of our longest enduring and most beloved musical theater traditions.
Jazz 101: A
Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz by John F. Szwed
Often called American only original indigenous art form, Jazz is misunderstood by many people. Szwed analyzes the myths, history, and developments of this enthralling art form. This book takes us on a tour of how jazz developed from ethnic music to become America’s most popular music, and then part of the avant garde, all in just fifty years. Szwed reviews the major types of jazz and the significant jazz musicians of the 20th century, the roots of jazz, and provides extensive sidebars that recommend recordings. This is a very readable and informative guide written in a fluid and entertaining style.
Bubblegum
Music is the Naked Truth
edited by Kim Cooper and David Smay
Is it plastic? Is it inauthentic? This books looks at pop music and attempts to “rehabilitate” a vilified genre. Bubblegum music, from the Banana Splits to Britney Spears – what does it mean? Who does it include? Are The Ramones, to be included in the dreaded category? This is a clever discussion of the phenomena of disposable pop music and the many groups that produced it. From Captain Groovy to The Turtles, with side trips to Japanese Pop, the Partridge Family, cartoon show bubblegum music, and the bubblegum record labels, this is great fun for those who “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy have love in their tummy.”
The NPR
Curious Listener’s Guide to Popular Standards
by Max Morath
Morath, the highly acclaimed musician, narrates this survey of the best in show tunes, jazz standards, and Tin Pan Alley. He tells us about The Creators (including Ellington, Berlin, Gershwin, Porter, Kern, etc), The Songs (including “Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather,” “As Time Goes By,” “Star Dust,” plus many others) and The Performers (including, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, and others). This is handy guide for those exploring this music for the first time, and wonderful return tour for those who love the heyday of American popular music.
Songwriting:
A Complete Guide to the Craft
by Stephen Citron
So, you are ready to take up the challenge and write your own songs, or perhaps you are already an experienced song-writer. This is the helpful book of hints and tips that you have been looking for. Citron provides information on different song styles, and he discusses individual forms of lyrics, how to refine your rhymes, and lots of good technical information on writing music and notating your melody. Short chapters on using chords, scales, rhythm, and harmony are only some of the valuable information that is presented in a simple and usable manner. Want to learn how to write lead sheets, or three stave arrangements? This is the book. Anyone who is serious about writing songs should take some time to browse this very helpful how-to manual. Citron also includes a glossary, discussions about copyright, demo tapes, and much more.
Morrow Guide
to Knots by Mario Bigon
This book has a wonderful series of clear color photos that illustrate the art of tying knots. These illustrations show you how to tie by looking over the shoulder of the tier, so the reader sees exactly what he will see as he ties these knots for himself. When two or more ropes are used they are colored coded so you can clearly see what is done with each rope. There is a section on decorative knots, and a detail cross-reference list of the many applications of knots. The heart of the book is the clear and easy to follow instructions on how to tie a series of simple and yet very useful knots for camping, climbing, fishing, and sailing. Experienced outdoors people, homeowners, and even curious children will find this book fun and useful.
Socrates in
90 Minutes by Paul
Strathern
Just a century after it had begun, philosophy entered its greatest age with appearance of Socrates in classical era Athens of the fifth century BCE. This is a short handy book that sums up Socrates life and work in 85 pages. If you are unclear who he was, and why he is famous, this simple guide explains the key elements of what Socrates said, and the immensely influential philosophical ideas he represented. This is a friendly and simple introduction to one of the most important thinkers of the ancient world.
Electing
Jesse Ventura: A Third Party Success Story
by Jacob Lentz
Few elections in U.S. history have received as much interest and media coverage as that of the 1998 Minnesota Governor’s race, which put Jesse Ventura in the Governor’s mansion. Few candidates have challenged the political establishment in such a striking and successful manner. Jacob Lentz provides an analysis of how and why Ventura’s third party challenge worked when so often such efforts fail. What motivated the “Jesse vote” and what was the role of the media? Ventura’s win surprised and puzzled many people. After reading this book the surprise may remain but the puzzle is cleared up.
The
Intelligence of Dogs by
Stanley Cohen
Lots of us have wondered just how smart our dogs really are. This book gets you inside your dog’s head. Psychologist, and dog-trainer Coren, provides a startling new view on the intelligence of our oldest and closest animal companions. Do dogs really think? Are they conscious in the same way that people are? What is the nature of canine memory? Do they have feelings such as guilt, loyalty, jealousy, sorrow and joy? Drawing on the most recent scientific research, and personal observations Coren speculates on these many other fascinating topics. He also includes rankings on general intelligence by breed, and tips on testing you dog’s smarts. Also gain some insight on how to read your dog’s body language and interpret the “language” of dog barks. This is fascinating reading for the dog owner and lover.
Saucer
Attack! : Pop culture in the Golden Age of Flying Saucers
by Eric Nesheim
Madison, Wisconsin popular culture instructor Nesheim has gathered together hundreds of classic images from the first big wave of UFO hysteria, including bug-eyed aliens, ray-zapping saucers, giant tin robots, and damsels in intergalactic distress. This thrilling and chilling collection is full of the fun and quirky images the defined the Golden Age of flying saucers in the 1950’s. Mankind’s wildest dreams and deepest fears are reflected in these objects of Cold War America. Watch out for amazing encounters, strange abductions, tentacled marauders, and hair-raising accounts from a time when America was more innocent, but also pretty paranoid.
Patience & Fortitude : A
Roving Chronicle of Book People, Book Places, and Book Culture
by Nicholas Basbanes Drawing its title from the unofficial names of the lions that guard the New York Public Library, Patience & Fortitude explores the changing form of the book over the centuries. The author also looks at the institutions which contain the books and how they have evolved. Written in an easy to read narrative style, Patience & Fortitude profiles the experience and thoughts of all kinds of book people, be they librarians, readers, writers, or collectors.
Book
: The Magazine For the Reading Life [Periodicals]
The magazine, Book, goes beyond book reviews to cover the whole world of books, from all angles. You'll read about authors at home and at work; publishing news, trends and issues; great bookstores; exciting literary locations; and technological developments affecting books. You'll find excerpts, essays and fiction by leading writers and new voices. The strength of this magazine is its ability to find the stories behind the stories.
What
to Read
by
Mickey Pearlman
Two of life’s most persistent questions are what to read next and what to fix for dinner. This book answers one of those questions by offering a lifetime supply of annotated, intriguing and original book lists such as Fairy Tales for Grown-ups, The Butler Did It? Unlikely, Attention Women and Love Is (Only Sometimes) a Many-Splendored Thing. The lists are designed for book lovers who want to know about wonderful contemporary and classic books that they may have missed.
At
Home with Books : How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries
by
Estelle Ellis, Caroline Seebohm, Christopher Simon Sykes
The libraries of forty different booklovers are showcased in this beautifully illustrated book. Interviews reveal not only the content of their shelves, but also such practical information as how books are stored, how they are moved from one space to another, how their book walls were built, how they integrate new books into old collections, and how they arrange comfortable places to read. There also are special sections that include professional advice on organizing, categorizing, and editing your own library as well as how to care for your collection.
First Mothers: The Women Who Shaped the Presidents
by Bonnie Angelo
This book tells the captivating stories the mothers who played such a large role in shaping the characters of modern U.S. Presidents. The book covers a wide range of memorable personalities from the formidable aristocrat Sara Delano Roosevelt to the diehard Democrat Martha Truman, from zealous pacifist Ida Eisenhower to family matriarch Rose Kennedy, nurturing Rebekah Baines Johnson, stoic Hannah Milhaus Nixon, and courage Dorothy Ford. From outspoken Peace Corps mother Lillian Carter to would-be actress Nelle Reagan, champion athlete Dorothy Bush, hard-living Virgina Kelley Clinton, First Mothers invites into glimpses of the lives of these extraordinary women.
Secret Agent: The True Story of the War Against
Hitler by
David Stafford
In June 1940 Britain was driven from the European continent by the conquering forces of Nazi Germany. As the British stared invasion in the face, a group of unconventional warriors were organized to bring a new form of warfare to occupied Europe. The top secret Special Operations Executive was given a brief from Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze,” coordinating sabotage and subversion against the enemy by all means necessary – using disguise, deception, bribery, explosives, guerilla warfare, and even assassination. This book presents the intriguing details of the men and women, many of them civilians who had no qualifications or experience, but who risked their lives to fight a secret war behind enemy lines. Secret Agent reveals how SOE agents were recruited, their daring operations, codes and secret radios, and the James Bond style gadgets that helped them carry out their missions.
Dylan Thomas In America by John Malcolm
Brinnin When the great Welch poet Dylan Thomas journeyed to the United States for a series of poetry readings across the country, America did not know what had hit it. Angelic, devilish, charming, immoral, doubting his own inner resources for further poetry, and pursued by his self-destructive urges and alcoholic binges, he was not what the sober world of American academe expected. The students loved him, and girls had to be protected from him. He made immediate friends with many American writers, journalists and barflies. The man who was Thomas’ patron and guide, was the young poet John Malcolm Brinnin, who watched horrified by Thomas’ slow descent into a hell of his own creation, but still utterly beguiled by the poet’s charm and genius. This is an insider’s look at the man, and the poet, who became a literary legend.
Far
Appalachia: Following the New River North
by Noah Adams
Noah Adams, well-known host of National Public Radio’s news program All Things Considered is also an accomplished author (Piano Lessons). In this new book, Adams starts at the headwaters of the New River on North Carolina’s Snake Mountain and follows the river as it winds it way north through Appalachia. On his account of this journey by canoe and bicycle along the New River Adams tells of the men and women whose lives have crossed the river before him: Daniel Boone, Cherokee Indians on the Trail of Tears, the ill-fated men who worked on the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel while dying of silica dust in their lungs. Adams tells their stories with eloquence and compassion, while painting a luminous portrait of a rich and vital region of America’s heartland. At the same time, his adventures on the river capture the natural magic of flowing waters and a haunting sense of human history and nature meeting in an abiding sense of place.
Stanley,
Flat Again! by
Jeff Brown, pictures by Scott Nash
People familiar with Flat Stanley will remember Stanley Lambchop became flat when a bulletin board fell on him, and his brother made him round again by blowing him up with a hose. Stanley thought he was through with flatness forever, but it was not to be. On an ordinary day Stanley goes flat again, and this time the hose doesn’t work. Well, there are things a flat person can do that a round one can’t, and it all goes to prove that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. This new adventure of Flat Stanley is recommended for readers age 7 – 10.
Sliding into
Home by Dori Hillestad Butler
This is the story of 13 year old Joelle Cunningham, star baseball player. Joelle’s family has moved to a small town where only boys play baseball; girls play softball. Joelle, a determined young woman, decides that must change. Through some creative problem-solving and surprising alliances she finds the solution to bring the disputing sides together…and baseball to the girls of Greendale. Recommended for readers in grades 5 – 8.
Rodzina
by Karen Cushman
This is another excellent historical fiction book by an award winning author. Twelve year old Rodzina is boarding an orphan train heading west, leaving behind the only home she has ever known and bringing with her little more than memories of the family she has lost. Her journey is filled with memorable characters, high humor, and no small amount of grit and grime. This would be great book report material for readers in grades 5 – 8.
Bernie
Magruder & the Bats In the Belfry by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Reynold's offers her latest addition to the uproarious series about the Magruder family who live in and operate Middleberg’s famous Bessledorf Hotel. In this tale the town of Middleberg is threatened by an invasion of the dreaded Indiana Aztec bat. Or are the bells recently installed in the church belfry in accordance with the will of town benefactor, and are programmed to play “Abide with Me” every hour on the hour, 24 hours a day so that her surviving husband will always be reminded of her more of a threat to the people of the town? Bernie and his friends Georgene and Weasel set out to find the answers. A fast paced, humorous mystery for readers age 8 – 12.
Junie B, First
Grader (at last!) by
Barbara Park
Park's newest features one of the most popular of recent children’s book characters, Junie B. Jones. As the title suggests, Junie has finally become a First Grader with new worries and problems. She is no less interesting for the advancement, and kids and parents will enjoy all of the exploits in the many books about her. It is not unusual to see middle school students reading the latest Junie B. book to find out what one of their favorite characters is up to now.
Second-Grade
Ape by Daniel Pinkwater
Flash Fleetwood finds a very quiet gorilla which he names Phil and takes to school. This delights his classmates, but what will teacher think? This is vintage Pinkwater. There may be only one book about Flash and Phil, but there are many wonderful, wacky books by the author to keep kids reading and laughing.
The Cobble
Street Cousins by Cynthia Rylant
This is a series of books about three cousins who are staying with their young aunt while their parents are away performing with the ballet. These are warm, homey stories about the lives and adventures the girls share. They are definitely “girl” books, and the readers love them. What better recommendation than that?
The Tornado
Watchers by Patrick Jennings
This is one of two books about brother and sister, Ike and Mem. In this book Ike, who has learned how dangerous a tornado can be, appoints himself the official family tornado watcher. This book may be a good choice for a child with a fear of storms as the gentle story offers comforts, frights and a cozy home to wait out the storm.
The Jamie and
Angus Stories
by Anne Fine
Check out this collection of six stories about Jamie and his beloved toy bull, Angus. The stories may be a bit too “babyish” for a second grade reader, but they would be a wonderful read-aloud book for a younger sibling. Try this trick if your young reader balks at the idea of reading on their own.
It Came from
Beneath the Bed! by James Howe
Here is just one of an interesting new series for young readers based on the Bunnicula books the author wrote for older elementary school readers. In this series, Tales From the House of Bunnicula, young readers will be introduced to the stars of the books and have their appetites whet for the longer adventures. A good transitional series.
I Can Make
That! Fantastic crafts for
kids by Mary Wallace
Wallace gives ideas that go way beyond what is usually thought of as “crafts.” Here you will find cool ideas for making costumes (the Super Heroes suggestions look easy & will be sure to delight kids), paper clothing, and a whole array of space exploration paraphernalia, along with more traditional crafts, like puppet making. This is a book filled with ideas to wile away winter afternoons.
Amazing
Origami by Kunihiko Kasahara
This new book is best suited to older children and adults. Here are origami objects that go beyond the usual paper cranes, frogs, and simple boxes. The book begins by guiding you through “Dividing Areas,” learning how different folds give different results; to “Fun with Geometry,” more difficult concepts, easily explained, to the final “Three-Dimensional Objects. In every section you will create beautiful and unique objects. This would be a fun book for a group of friends to use for an afternoon class or get together.
The Gliding
Flight by John M. Collins
Here is help for the less ambitious paper-folder. Here you will learn to make and fly 20 original paper airplanes using one sheet of paper, no glue or cutting. It would also be fun to have some races with the resulting aircraft.
Ecology
Crafts for Kids by Bobbe Needham
Needham offers 50 different projects to help kids make friends with planet earth. The wide variety of projects vary in complexity and difficulty, and several of them are things to make now, and use in summer, for example, building a bat house, or bird house. There are some nice gift ideas for kids to do too.
Dribble
Drabble by Deya Brashears
Welcome an old favorite with excellent suggestions for art experiences for very young children. Here are ways of teaching even the youngest children how to have fun with inexpensive materials. There is even a section on “food art.” Some of the activities in this book are labeled, “group activity,” but most would work just as well for one child with one adult.
Preschool
Art by Mary Ann Kohl
Here is an art book that is geared to the young child and a caregiver. This is one title in a series of art or craft books intended for use by teachers, but work just as well for individuals. It has a plethora of ideas, and one nice feature is a table of contents that not only tells the name of the project, and the page number, but also shows the medium, suitable age for the child, preparation time, whether or not help is needed, if extra caution is needed while doing the project, and author. The projects are written clearly, and hints are included to make the experience pleasant for both the child and the adult in charge.
Goose’s
Story by Cari Best, illustrated by Holly Meade
Enjoy this true story. Goose came on a Sunday with other geese, but she is different. She stands on one leg, and is not accepted by the others in the flock. How will a goose with only one leg survive? This tale of courage and determination comes to life in Meade’s dramatic paper collage art, and shows that sometimes the most unlikely heroine can become an inspiration. Suitable for children ages 4 – 8.
Daddy’s
Lullaby by Tony Bradman, illustrated by Jason Cockcroft
Lullaby is perfect for fathers and babies everywhere. Daddy comes home to a sleeping house, greeted by the cat, but as he makes his rounds checking on his sleeping family he finds the youngest member is wide awake. Readers join Daddy and Baby as they enjoy each others company for the rest of the night. Suitable for children ages 6 months to 3 years.
My World of
Color by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by
Loretta Krupinski
Here is a wonderful first introduction to the concept of color. Follow the painter mouse through the poem and paintings. Each page spread is carefully designed to highlight the featured hue. The whimsical illustrations offer plenty to look at, point to, and guess, making an exciting interactive exploration of creativity. Suitable for ages 2 – 5.
“Slowly,
Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth written and illustrated by
Eric Carle
Jane Goodall contributes an explanation about the sloth. Are you over- programmed and stressed for time? Anyone that is should read the sloth’s amusing explanation of the merits of its leisurely way of life. Carle, long a favorite illustrator has reached a new height of dazzling collage illustrations to introduce young readers to the exotic beauty of the Amazon rain forest and the unusual animals that live there. Suitable for ages 3 – 8.
Gotcha, Louie!
by H. M. Ehrlich, illustrated by Emily Bolan
We present a winning addition to the books featuring Louie and his toy goose, Rosie. Louie is tired of listening to the grownups talk, and wants to play “gottcha” instead. He grabs Rosie, and runs outside calling “Catch us, Mommy!” and a few moments later the fun begins. This is a good story about separation and reunion for young listeners. Suitable for ages 3 – 5.
Jethro Byrd
Fairy Child written/illustrated by Bob Graham Graham has created some of the most original books in recent years. This is a wry tale about the marvelous discoveries to be made by seeing the world through the wide-open eyes of a child. Plus readers meet some very interesting characters! Suitable for ages 4 – 8. A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley.
Non-fiction books are becoming more common for young children, and are a welcome addition to the literature for that age. Using handsome photographs from around the world, and a simple text Kerley points out “all over the world, in villages and in cities, by the sea and in deserts, whether rich or poor, old or young, people are drinking water.” Suitable for ages 3-8.
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| Updated: 9/20/04 | ||