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| Volume 35, Number 5 | May 2025 | Home | IBWIndex |
Table of Contents
| Reviewer's Choice | Writing/Publishing Shelf | Social Issues Shelf |
| International Studies Shelf | Science Shelf | Education Shelf |
| AI Shelf | Health/Medicine Shelf | Cookbook Shelf |
| American History Shelf | World History Shelf | Military History Shelf |
| Civil War Shelf | Jobs/Careers Shelf | Biography/Memoir Shelf |
| Graphic Novel Shelf | Audiobook Shelf | Library CD Shelf |
| Library DVD Shelf | Multimedia Shelf | General Fiction Shelf |
| Historical Fiction Shelf | Romantic Fiction Shelf | Western Fiction Shelf |
| Mystery/Suspense Shelf | Fantasy/SciFi Shelf | Money/Finance Shelf |
| Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf | Mythology Shelf | Architecture Shelf |
| Business Shelf | Art Shelf | Needlecraft Shelf |
| Music Shelf | Philosophy Shelf | Fishing Shelf |
| Wine Shelf | Travel Shelf | Interior Design Shelf |
| Woodworking Shelf | Photography Shelf | Sports Shelf |
| Gaming Shelf | Metaphysical Studies Shelf | Criminology Shelf |
Reviewer's Choice
Abby Reyes
North Atlantic Books
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781623175214, $19.95, PB, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Demands-Memoir-Climate-Justice/dp/1623175216
Synopsis: In 1999, Abby Reyes lost her partner, Terence Unity Freitas, as he and two others were murdered after departingKajka Ika (the heart of the world) of Indigenous U'wa territory in Colombia.
Imperiled by multinational oil interests, U'wa lifeways were under attack. Terence, Ingrid Washinawatok El-Issa(Menominee), and Lahe'ena'e Gay (Hawaiian) arrived to listen to community needs and accompany the U'wa. But then theydisappeared. Days later, their bodies were found, bound and bullet-riddled in a cow field across the border inVenezuela.
Twenty years later, Abby finds herself in Case 001 of Colombia's truth and recognition process. They want to know herstories. They want to know her questions. They want to know her truth demands: the fragments she's held for decades aboutthe last days of Terence's life. Why was he taken? Who pulled the trigger? Who was really behind the killings?
Plunged back into grief, ambiguity, and the unknown, Abby is called to navigate the past. Old wounds are reopened, oldhistories are redrawn, and fresh angers flare as she confronts the testimony of one of her lover's killers -- and the burden thatTerence unwittingly compelled her to bear.
Spanning three decades and three continents, "Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of ClimateJustice" charts Abby's parallel journeys as she navigates the waters of loss, purpose, and impermanence while fighting fortruth and accountability from big oil. A profound and haunting memoir, "Truth Demands" is an invitation into the current. Itshows us how to hold fast even as we let go -- holding us as we bear witness and welcome with courage and skill what thetruth demands of us all.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, emotionally engaging, impressively memorable, and a simply fascinating read fromstart to finish, "Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of Climate Justice" by Abby Reyes will proveof immense interest and relevance to readers concerned with a true life story of love, loss, environmental issues, and the riskenvironmentalists and human rights workers must deal with in their struggles against those who are all too willing to resortto lethal violence to stop them. "Truth Demands" is also a very human memoir of how one woman has had to cope (andbeen able to cope) with unthinkable tragedy over a span of decades. While a unique and recommended pick for communityand college/university library American Biography/Memoir and Environmental History/Biography collections, in should benoted that this paperback edition of "Truth Demands" from North Atlantic Books is also readily available for personalreading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Abby Reyes (https://www.abbyreyes.org) cut her teeth doing rural environmental legal assistance in thePhilippines, her father's homeland, and walking alongside the Colombian U'wa Indigenous pueblo for dignity against big oil.She directs community resilience at University of California, Irvine, supporting community-academic partnerships toaccelerate community-owned just transition solutions.
Historic Wisconsin Roadsides
Tom & Kristi Manus
Reedy Press
www.reedypress.com
9781681065809, $27.00, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Historic-Wisconsin-Roadsides-Beaten-Badger/dp/1681065800
Synopsis: Whether you are riding bicycle, a motorcycle or in a car, truck, or RV, the open road has long represented anenchanting combination of adventure and freedom.
With the publication of "Historic Wisconsin Roadsides: Towns Off the Beaten Path in the Badger State" co-authors Tomand Kristi Manus provides an essential and 'reader friendly guide to the most historic and fun road trips Wisconsin has tooffer.
With it, anyone can explore and make memories on 11 road trips including White Arrow Signs, Harbor Towns andShipwrecks, the Great River Road, and Madison and Heritage Towns.
"Historic Wisconsin Roadsides" is a travel guide that is packed from cover to cover with over 1,200 recommendationsranging from find where to get a free ice cream cone from a 1932 dairy bar when the temperature drops below -20 degrees,to eating what many consider the original butterburger (not where you expect), to riding Elvis Presley's favorite rollercoaster, to finding a whimsical 1927 C.W. Parker Amusement Company carousel, visiting the world's coolest 1950s motelfeaturing live music, songwriting workshops, to a radio station broadcasting only music created onsite -- and so muchmore!.
"Historic Wisconsin Roadsides" highlights what to do and where to eat and stay for your escape on the open roads ofWisconsin. Co-created by travel writers and road trip specialists Tom and Kristi Flick Manus, "Historic WisconsinRoadsides" is the ideal guide to hitting the road for carefree adventures through America's Dairyland.
Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Historic Wisconsin Roadsides: Towns Off theBeaten Path in the Badger State" is a highly portable, fun and fascinating resource for planning day trip itineraries, weekendadventures, and vacationing excursions in Wisconsin. This trade paperback (9 x 6 x 1 inches, 12.8 ounces) edition of"Historic Wisconsin Roadsides: Towns Off the Beaten Path in the Badger State" from Reedy Press is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Wisconsin Travel Guidecollections.
Editorial Note: Tom and Kristi Flick Manus are also the co-authors of Secret Wisconsin: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful,and Obscure and travel writers for print and online publications (visit their website www.smalltownplussize.com). Kristi isa Madison-area native, while Tom happily adopted Wisconsin after their marriage in 1995. Based in Eau Claire, they enjoyexploring different cultures, history, roadside attractions, and nature on road trips.(https://www.travelawaits.com/author/tom-kristi-manus)
Girl Unmasked
Emily Katy
Monoray
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781800961418, $14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Unmasked-Uncovering-Autism-Saved/dp/1800961413
Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life is a memoir of difference and discovery that tells how21-year-old Emily Katy comes to terms with discovering she's autistic - at age 16. Her personal struggles with OCD, schooland other systems which did not recognize her autism and therefore made her life much more challenging, and her family'sinteractions with her pre- and post-diagnosis makes for an involving story of struggle, safety, self-harming, and solutions toproblems Emily was only able to tackle after diagnosis and better understanding. This vivid memoir, packed with rawemotions and insights, is the best way anyone who is not autistic can better understand its emotional challenges and impact,making Girl Unmasked highly recommended for anyone interested in the autism experience and solutions to commonproblems.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Timothy G. Pollock
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781035325887, $135.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/how-to-use-storytelling-in-your-academic-writing-9781035325900.html
Synopsis: Good writing skills and habits are critical for scholarly success. Every article is a story, and employing effectivestorytelling techniques enhances scholars' abilities to share their insights and ideas, increasing the impact of theirresearch.
In this timely and updated second edition of "How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing: Techniques for EngagingReaders and Successfully Navigating the Writing and Publishing Processes", Professor Tim Pollock draws on fiction andnon-fiction writing tools and techniques to help academic authors enhance the clarity, presentation and flow of theirscholarly work.
With new chapters focusing on the intricacies of writing developmental reviews and dissertations, the second edition of"How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing" provides comprehensive discussions illustrating the structural andstylistic factors involved in effective storytelling and how to apply them in writing each section of an academic article. Thesecond edition also expands on important topics such as managing the co-authoring, writing and review processes.
"How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing" continues to be an invaluable resource for academics across businessdisciplines, particularly those in management-related sectors such as organizational behavior, organization theory, businessand management history and corporate governance. It is also useful to those in adjacent social science disciplines such associology, psychology and economics.
Critique: One of the imperatives for a successful academic career (including the process of acquiring tenure at a college oruniversity) is to become published. A major step toward that goal being achieved is to be able to be deftly creative and'reader friendly' in presenting your work be it a paper, an article, or a book. This newly updated and expanded second editionof "How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing: Techniques for Engaging Readers and Successfully Navigating theWriting and Publishing Processes" by Professor Timothy G. Pollock is especially and unreservedly recommended forpersonal, professional, community, and college/university library Academic/Scholarly writing/publishing instructionalreference collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers (and non-academicwriters) with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing:Techniques for Engaging Readers and Successfully Navigating the Writing and Publishing Processes: 2nd Edition" fromEdward Elgar Publishing is also available in paperback (9781035325900, $45.95).
Editorial Note: Timothy G. Pollock (https://www.timothypollock.com) holds the Haslam Chair in Business, and is theDistinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Kinney Family Faculty Research Fellow, Haslam College of Business,University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
The Social Issues Shelf
Randall Balmer
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
www.eerdmans.com
9780802879349, $16.99, HC, 141pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Faith-Race-Religious-Right/dp/0802879349
Synopsis: What really gave rise to the Religious Right?
There is a commonly accepted story about the rise of the Religious Right in the United States. It goes like this: withrighteous fury, American evangelicals entered the political arena as a unified front to fight the legality of abortion after theSupreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
The problem is this story simply isn't true.
With the publication of "Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right", Professor Randall Balmer recounts how itwas in fact the elimination of tax-exempt status for racially discriminatory Christian institutions, like Bob Jones University,that galvanized evangelicalism into a political force. It was only later, when something more palatable was needed to coverfor what was becoming an increasingly unpopular position following the civil rights era, was the moral crusade againstabortion made the leading issue.
Through exhaustive research and trenchant historical analysis, Professor Balmer exposes the ingrained priorities of theReligious Right movement and uncovers the roots of coded evangelical watchwords like "religious freedom" and "familyvalues" -- helping to explain, in part, what this movement has become.
Critique: Simply stated, "Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right" is critically important reading for anyonewith an interest in how our American style democracy is now teetering on the edge of being replaced by anauthoritarian/oligarchical/fundamentalist Christian domination. Eloquent, erudite, informed and informative, "Bad Faith:Race and the Rise of the Religious Right" by Professor Randall Balmer is especially and unreservedly recommended forpersonal, professional, community, seminary, and college/university library Political Science and Christian Studiescollections. It should be noted for students, academia, clergy, political activists, and members of faith-based communities,that this hardcover edition of "Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right" is also readily available in paperback(9780802885647, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.79, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Randall Balmer (www.randallbalmer.com) is the John Phillips Professor in Religion at Dartmouth College.He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Evangelicalism in America, Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter,and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the Evangelical Subculture in America, which is now in its fifth editionand has been made into an award-winning three-part series for PBS.
The International Studies Shelf
Katherine Natanel and Ilan Pappe, editors
Haymarket Books
https://www.haymarketbooks.org
9798888902585 $17.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Palestine-World-Fire-Katherine-Natanel/dp/B0CT8BQLPX
Synopsis: A collection of interviews with some of the world's leading progressive thinkers on the movement for Palestinianliberation and its connections to struggles for justice across the globe.
As more and more people align themselves with the Palestinian people, Palestine in a World on Fire provides the globalperspective and analysis needed to inform how we forge ahead on this path of newfound solidarity. Editors Ilan Pappe andKatherine Natanel have gathered a collection of interviews that are intimate, challenging, and rigorous - many of themconducted before October 7th but still startlingly prescient. The interviewees connect the struggle for Palestinian liberationto various liberatory movements around the world, simultaneously interrogating and recontextualizing their own positionsgiven the ongoing aggression in Palestine. This incredible group includes Angela Y. Davis, Noam Chomsky, Judith Butler,Nadine El-Enany, Gabor Mate, Mustafa Barghouti, Yanis Varoufakis, Paul Gilroy, Elias Khoury, Gayatri Spivak, andNadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian.
Palestine in a World on Fire highlights the centrality of Palestine in struggles shared across the world: capitalism,imperialism, misogyny, neo-colonialism, racism, and more. Each conversation tackles urgent events and unfoldingdynamics, and the scholar-activists interviewed here provide invaluable perspectives and insights, illuminating the richnessand relevance of recent scholarship on Palestine.
Critique: Palestine in a World on Fire was almost entirely compiled before the political and military group Hamasconducted the murderous October 7, 2023 attack that slaughtered approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israel'ssubsequent war on Hamas has been characterized as genocide due to Israel's brutal attacks on hospitals, aid workers, waterinfrastructure, civilian residences, and civilians themselves. As of May 2025 the Palestinian death toll is estimated to be atleast 52,000 and growing; over half of the dead are civilians, including many women and children. Israel's ongoing blockadeis causing additional civilian deaths through starvation and disease.
Palestine in a World on Fire is a collection of interviews and essays about Israel's suffocating oppression of Palestinianpeople before the October 7th attacks, and ways to seek global solidarity and justice for an entire demographic that Israelilaw binds but does not protect. Some of the writings are frighteningly clairvoyant; others propose questionable ideas, suchas advocating a one-state solution instead of a two-state solution. Overall, Palestine in a World on Fire offers insightfulperspectives into Palestine's state of increasing crisis prior to the October 7th attack, and is highly recommended for publicand college library contemporary International Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Palestinein a World on Fire is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Science Shelf
Michael J. Benton, author
Bob Nicholls, illustrator
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500298046, $24.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-New-Visions-Lost-World/dp/0500298041
Synopsis: Dinosaurs are not what we originally thought they were -- or at least, they didn't look like we thought they did."Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World" is new visual guide to the world of the dinosaurs with which world-leadingpaleontologist Michael J. Benton shows how rapid advances in technology and amazing new fossil finds have changed theway we see these extinct beasts forever. Stunning new illustrations by paleoartist Bob Nicholls display the latest and mostexciting scientific discoveries in vibrant color.
From Sinosauropteryx, the first dinosaur to have its color patterns identified (a ginger-and-white striped tail) by Benton'steam at the University of Bristol in 2010, to recent research on the surprising mixed feathers and scales of Kulindadromeus,"Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World" is one of the first books to include this cutting-edge scientific research inpaleontology.
Each individual chapter specifically focuses on a particular extinct species, featuring a specially commissioned illustrationthat brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs, with accompanying text exploring how paleontologists havedetermined new details, such as the patterns on skin and the colors of feathers of animals that lived millions of years ago.This visual compendium surprises and challenges everything you thought you knew about what dinosaurs looked like andhow they lived.
Critique: A magnificent illustrated guide to our astonishing new understanding of dinosaurs, with the latest science and themost accurate and visually stunning paleoart, this trade paperback (7.4 x 0.9 x 9.8 inches, 1.83 pounds) edition of"Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World" features 100 museum quality color illustrations enhancing an informative and'reader friendly' commentary about the various dinosaur species showcased. While also readily available in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $19.99) for the personal reading lists of students, academia, paleontologists, and non-specialist generalreaders with an interest in the subject, "Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World" is especially and unreservedlyrecommended as an essential, core addition to community and college/university library Paleontology and Natural Historycollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Michael J. Benton is head of the world-leading Palaeobiology Research Group at the University ofBristol. He has written more than fifty books, including Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World, Dinosaurs Rediscovered:The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology, When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time, andExtinctions: How Life Survives, Adapts and Evolves. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Benton)
Editorial Note: Bob Nicholls is one of the world's leading paleoartists. His exceptionally impressive artwork is regularlyused to illustrate the latest discoveries in both science journals and the general press.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Nicholls_(artist))
The Education Shelf
Heidi E. Mesmer & Katie Hilden-Clouse, authors
Teacher Created Materials
https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com
9798765971734, $39.99, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Research-That-Instruction-Questions/dp/B0D953FBLL
Synopsis: Co-authored by Heidi E. Mesmer and Katie Hilden-Clouse, "There's Research for That: Your K-5 LiteracyInstruction Questions Answered" answers common questions about teaching literacy, such as how many letters to teach perweek and the benefits of teaching handwriting in a digital world.
The Science of Reading directly affects how K-5 teachers do their jobs. It's hard to keep up with all of the findings, andteachers need guidance on how to apply research in practice. "There's Research for That" offers a solution, giving youaccessible explanations, examples, and strategies for helping your students build literacy skills.
Each chapter covers a single question, making it easy to find what you're looking for when you need it. "There's Researchfor That" also discusses the question, describes the history behind current practices and (unlike other books), "There'sResearch For That" methodically walks you through the "what" of the research and the "why," showing how researchconnects to everyday teaching.
Woven throughout "There's Research for That" are pointers on how best instructional practices can be applied or adapted forstudents across academic levels, and from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
"There's Research for That" presents:
An explanation of research on literacy education in a handy Q&A format
Descriptions of teaching best practices and the reasons behind them
How to update what you're already doing to reflect new evidence
And can be used with various literacy curriculums and reading programs
"There's Research for That" is provides a comprehensive and user-friendly breakdown of the Science of Reading will helpensure that you're doing what works to help develop students' literacy skills.
Critique: This trade paperback (0.48 x 7.25 x 9.25 inches, 15 ounces) edition of "There's Research for That: Your K-5Literacy Instruction Questions Answered" by Heidi Anne Mesmer and Katie Hilden is exceptionally useful andextraordinarily well organized and presented -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition for personal,professional, school district, and college/university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists -- especially appropriate for school district Reading/Phonics in-service teacher workshops.
Editorial Note #1: Heidi Anne E. Mesmer PhD., is a Professor in Literacy in the School of Education at Virginia Tech. Herresearch has appeared in numerous publications, and she has written and directed eight grants aimed at improving readinginstruction in K-5 classrooms. Dr. Mesmer is the author of several books, including There's Research for That: Your K-5Literacy Instruction Questions Answered.
Editorial Note #2: Katie Hilden-Clouse PhD., is a Professor of Literacy in the School of Teacher Education and Leadershipat Radford University, where she serves as Coordinator of the Literacy Education Graduate Program. Her research interestsare informational text comprehension and reading assessment. She is the author of There's Research for That: Your K-5Literacy Instruction Questions Answered.
EdTech Essentials, second edition
Monica Burns
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416632979, $32.95, PB, 185pp
https://www.amazon.com/EdTech-Essentials-Strategies-Every-Classroom/dp/1416632972
Synopsis: In a world awash in technology, what EdTech skills and strategies should educators focus on to ensure they aremaking the best use of online spaces for classroom learning? How can they sift through the overwhelming number ofoptions in digital tools and platforms? How can they guide students in learning best practices especially now that generativeartificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the landscape?
EdTech consultant Monica Burns answers these and other questions in this powerful and reader-friendly guide toincorporating EdTech across all grade levels and subject areas. This second edition is updated and expanded to helpeducators meet the needs of students amid the proliferation of apps that leverage AI, the easy access we all have to chatbots,and the clear need for educators and students to understand the implications of AI. Readers will gain practical adviceon
Navigating online spaces effectively
Curating resources to support every student
Generating ideas and resources with AI
Evaluating digital content with an AI mindset
Exploring the world with students
Collaborating across digital spaces
Creating multimodal artifacts of learning
Assessing to check for understanding and pivot instruction
Sharing student creations in big and small ways
Connecting students to authentic audiences
Transferring skills across digital spaces
Planning for tech-rich learning experiences
Each chapter explains why the skill or strategy is essential, including supporting research, classroom examples, guidingquestions for planning and reflection, and suggested websites and digital tools for classroom use. The book also includesaccess to downloadable forms to help you set goals, assess your progress, and equip your EdTech tool belt.
Timely, accessible, and informed by the author's experience and expertise, the second edition of EdTech Essentials is amust-read for educators who want proven ways to prepare their students to be productive, responsible users of technologyboth within and outside the classroom.
Critique: Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom inthe Age of AI" by Dr. Monica Burns is an impressively accessible, thoroughly practical instructional guide for teachersseeking to incorporate 12 essential EdTech skills and strategies in every learning setting in this new and rapidly evolving eraof Artificial Intelligence (AI). Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,"EdTech Essentials" includes five Appendices, a four page listing of References, and a seven page Index. A timely andhighly recommended pick for personal, professional, school district, and college/university library Education/AI andTeacher Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, this trade paperback edition of "EdTech Essentials,second edition" from ASCD is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.53, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Monica Burns (https://classtechtips.com/about-monica) is a curriculum and EdTech consultant, AppleDistinguished Educator, and founder of ClassTechTips.com. As a classroom teacher, Monica used digital tools to create anengaging, differentiated learning experience to meet the needs of her students. Monica started her blog, ClassTechTips.com,in 2012 and launched the Easy EdTech Podcast and her membership site, the Easy EdTech Club, to support educators whowant to streamline technology integration. She leads workshops and provides keynote presentations to teachers, instructionalcoaches, administrators, and tech enthusiasts at numerous national and international conferences, including SXSW EDU,ISTE, FETC, and EduTECH. Monica is the author of Tasks Before Apps and four ASCD quick reference guides, amongother publications.
The AI Assist
Nathan Lang-Raad
ASCD
www.ascd.org
9781416633334, $31.95, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/AI-Assist-Strategies-Integrating-Teaching/dp/1416633332
Synopsis: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting all aspects of modern society -- and that includes educationmethodologies/technologies and the classroom. Teachers need to not only keep up with technology but also harness itspotential to create more engaging, personalized, and effective learning experiences for their students.
With the publication of "The AI Assist: Strategies for Integrating AI into the Very Human Act of Teaching" educatorNathan Lang-Raad covers:
How to use the innovative HAIL model (Humanize, Augment, Integrate, Leverage) as a guide to seamlessly incorporate AIinto your teaching practice.
More than 40 practical AI tools and templates, ready for classroom implementation.
Strategies for maintaining the irreplaceable human touch in an AI-enhanced environment.
Real-world examples of AI integration across various subjects and grade levels.
Essential processes to evaluate the effectiveness of your AI integration and assess student progress.
Whether you are already using AI tools or are just starting to explore their potential benefits, "The AI Assist" provides theinsights and practical knowledge you need to confidently integrate this technology into your teaching practice. You canembrace the inevitable future of education. by utilizing "The AI Assist" as your introduction and guide in creating aclassroom where technology and a very human connection work in harmony to unlock every student's potential.
Critique: This trade paperback edition of "The AI Assist: Strategies for Integrating AI into the Very Human Act ofTeaching" by Nathan Lang-Reed is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative Introduction, anerudite Conclusion (Embrace the On-Going Process!), a one page listing of References, and a seven page Index. Essentialreading for K-12, college, and university classroom teachers and instructors, "The AI Assist" is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal, professional, school district, and college/university library Teacher Education collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "The AI Assist" is also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $28.37, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Nathan D. Lang-Raad (https://drlangraad.com) is an educator, speaker, author, and founder and CEO ofRaad Education, where he spearheads innovations in educational practice and theory. Nathan's distinguished careerencompasses roles as a teacher, an elementary and high school administrator, and a university adjunct professor. Notably, hehas served as the director of elementary curriculum and instruction for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and as aneducation supervisor at NASA's Johnson Space Center. An accomplished author, Nathan has contributed significantly to theeducation landscape, writing extensively about instructional coaching, innovative teaching methods, and the integration oftechnology in classrooms.
The AI Shelf
Medicine National Academies of Sciences
The National Academies Press
www.nap.edu
9780309717144, $34.00, PB, 200pp
https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Engineering-Medicine-Academies/dp/0309717140
Synopsis: The rapidly evolving technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) promise to improve productivitysignificantly, but there are many questions about how AI could affect jobs and workers.
Recent technical innovations have driven the rapid development of generative AI systems, which produce text, images, orother content based on user requests -- advances which have the potential to complement or replace human labor in specifictasks, and to reshape demand for certain types of expertise in the labor market.
A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work" evaluates recent advances in AItechnology and their implications for economic productivity, the workforce, and education in the United States. The reportnotes that AI is a tool with the potential to enhance human labor and create new forms of valuable work - but this is not aninevitable outcome. Tracking progress in AI and its impacts on the workforce will be critical to helping inform and equipworkers and policymakers to flexibly respond to AI developments.
Critique: This large format paperback edition of "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work" is a timely, informative,insightful, thought-provoking, and collaborative study that, impressively organized and presented, is a critically importantand unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, and college/university library Artificial Intelligence(AI) collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The National Academies Press (NAP) publishes the publications of the National Academies of Sciences,Engineering, and Medicine. NAP publishes more than 200 publications per year on a wide range of topics in science,engineering, and medicine, providing authoritative, independently researched information on important matters in scienceand health policy.
Inside AI
Akli Adjaoute
Manning
https://www.manning.com
9781633437722, $29.99, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Inside-AI-billion-purchases-authors/dp/1633437728
Synopsis: With the publication of "Inside AI", entrepreneur and AI professor Dr. Akli Adjaoute provides a comprehensiveperspective on artificial intelligence, drawing on 30 years of valuable insights from his field experience. Through accessibleand jargon-free explanations, "Inside AI" offers a clear-headed overview of modern artificial intelligence, covering recentadvances in Generative AI and Large Language Models.
"Inside AI" also takes readers on a journey through various artificial intelligence techniques, starting from its origins intraditional expert systems and progressing seamlessly to the current era of deep learning and Large Language Models.Within the pages of "Inside AI" the reader will gain practical insights, learning how to:
Understand diverse AI techniques and methodologies
Draw lessons from both successful and failed AI applications
Identify the capabilities and limitations of AI systems
Grasp the successful and unsuccessful uses of AI in business
Recognize areas where human cognition still surpasses AI
Dispel common myths, such as AI's threat to jobs and civilization
Effectively manage AI projects
"Understanding AI" presents a pragmatic blueprint that leaders can leverage to drive innovation through the application andutilization of Artificial Intelligence.
Critique: An ideal introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for students and non-professional general readers with aninterest in the subject, "Inside AI" by Dr. Akli Adjaoute is exceptionally accessible, well written, and impressively organizedand presented from start to finish. Ideal as an AI workshop or curriculum studies list, this large format (7.38 x 0.4 x 9.25inches, 11.6 ounces) paperback edition from Manning is especially and unreserved recommended for personal, professional,community, and college/university library Artificial Intelligence collections.
Editorial Note: Dr. Akli Adjaoute is a renowned academic, speaker, and writer on the subjects of AI and security. He servedas an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco (USF) and as the Head of the A.I. department and ScientificCommittee Chair at EPITA, one of Europe's leading computer science universities. He holds a master's degree in computerscience from the Universite de Technologies de Compiegne and a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence from the University ofPierre & Marie Curie. (https://thinkfuture.com/962-the-human-element)
More Human
Rasmus Hougard, author
Jacqueline Carter, author
Harvard Business Review Press
http://hbr.org/books
9798892790628, $32.00, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/More-Human-Power-Transform-Lead/dp/B0D8XL11N9
Synopsis: Humans have always been good at inventing tools that change the way we live and work, but not always good atadapting to those changes. The internet has given us instant access to gigabytes of data and yet has made us more distracted.Social media has enabled constant connection to our networks and yet it can also alienate or isolate us. What impact will thephenomenal growth of AI ultimately have on our life and work?
So far, that question has mostly prompted a wave of anxiety about the disappearance of jobs and the loss of humanity in ourwork and social lives.
With the publication of "More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead", Rasmus Hougaard, (thefounder and managing partner of Potential Project), and Jacqueline Carter (senior partner of the Potential Project) show inthis essential study, that's a very limited perspective, leaving out a crucial point: AI has the power to transform leadershipfor the better. The key is in how leaders use it.
The co-authors conducted in-depth interviews with more than a hundred CEOs and executives across a range of industries,met with top AI experts, and completed 360-degree surveys of scores of leaders and employees worldwide. They found thatby thoughtfully delegating tasks to AI and using it to augment skills and behaviors, leaders can unlock a truly humanexperience of work while enhancing organizational performance.
The AI-augmented leader moves beyond a focus on the technology itself to constantly probe how it can strengthen the corequalities of human-centered leadership: awareness, wisdom, and compassion. In this way, AI can help leaders andorganizations become more human. With deep insight and rigorous research, "More Human: How the Power of AI CanTransform the Way You Lead " will help leaders navigate our AI-enabled future.
Critique: A seminal, timely, meticulous, and ground-breaking study, "More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transformthe Way You Lead" by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter is a deftly presented and critically important study that willhold immense interest to readers concerned with Artificial Intelligence and its impact on workplace leadership and culture.While an especially recommended and vitally important pick for persona, professional, community, corporate, andcollege/university library AI collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for MBAstudents, academia, business mangers, corporate executives, and non-specialist general reader with an interest in AIapplications and workplace issues that this hardcover edition of "More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform theWay You Lead" from the Harvard Business Review Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.40,Amazon).
Editorial Note #1: Rasmus Hougaard is the founder and managing partner of Potential Project. In 2019 he was nominated byThinkers50 as one of the eight most important leadership thinkers in the world. He writes for Harvard Business Review,Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune and is the coauthor, with Jacqueline Carter, of Compassionate Leadership and TheMind of the Leader. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7728926.Rasmus_Hougaard)
Editorial Note #2: Jacqueline Carter is a senior partner at Potential Project. She has over twenty years of experience workingwith leaders in large global companies to unlock potential. She writes regularly for Harvard Business Review and FastCompany. She is the coauthor, with Rasmus Hougaard, of "Compassionate Leadership and The Mind of the Leader".(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14057223.Jacqueline_Carter)
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Ellie Phillips, DDS
Square One Publishers
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757005312, $18.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Dentist-Goodbye-Second-Yourself/dp/0757005314
Synopsis: You can brush, floss, be mindful of your diet and follow all the traditional oral hygiene advice, yet still findyourself needing fillings and ongoing dental cleanings. That's why, with the publication of the newly updated and expandedsecond edition of "Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye: A Do-It-Yourself Mouth Care System for Healthy, Clean Gums and Teeth",Dentist Ellie Phillips challenges this conventional dental instruction to "brush and floss," arguing it can be both ineffectiveand potentially harmful.
In her groundbreaking book, "Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye", Dr. Phillips unveils the secrets to achieving and maintaining atruly healthy mouth. In this new second edition from Square One Publishers, Dr. Phillips explains the importance ofbacterial balance for oral health, highlighting how it will never be attained through excessive flossing, aggressive cleanings,or the indiscriminate killing of mouth bacteria. She also exposes the detrimental effects of certain dental procedures andproducts, including tooth whitening, bleaching, dental sealants, and certain fluorides. By adopting her practicaldo-it-yourself daily routine, you can effortlessly reduce plaque buildup, strengthen your teeth, heal and even reverse smallcavities, cure periodontal disease, and eliminate tooth sensitivity.
"Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye: 2nd Edition" is divided into two parts.
Part 1 examines the underlying causes of cavities and gum disease - as well as how teeth and gums can naturally healthemselves. It provides a clear picture of why we must rethink our fundamental beliefs about oral care if we want to avoiddental problems and sidestep all the chronic health conditions that are so closely associated with poor oral health.
Part 2 provides details of a complete program that has the power to stop, prevent, and even reverse dental problems.
Critique: It's time to bid farewell to cavities, gum disease, and the general health dangers from poor oral health.Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye: A Do-It-Yourself Mouth CareSystem for Healthy, Clean Gums and Teeth, 2nd Edition" is your ideal DIY guide to becoming empowered to take rapidaction and dramatically enhance the look, feel, and health of your teeth -- at any stage of life, and with the confidence that itis never too late to begin! Of special interest to readers concerned with preventive dentistry and hygiene, "Kiss Your DentistGoodbye: 2nd Edition" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library Dental Health/Medicine collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be notedfor dental students and the general public that "Kiss Your Dentist Goodbye" is also available in a digital book format(Kindle, $15.86, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS (https://drellie.com) discovered early in her dental career that she could help patientsreverse cavities and gum disease. Her first educational program launched in 1975 taught pregnant women how to improvetheir dental health and care for their children's teeth. Her never-ending goal is to impart confidence by explaining dentalscience and methods that can transform mouth health. Dr. Ellie's experiences in England, Switzerland, and the United Stateshave given her a broad view of dentistry and an interest in many specialties and patients of all ages. She has worked in oralsurgery, community dentistry, general practice, geriatric dental care, and cosmetic dentistry. She is a pediatric specialist andwas the pediatric clinic director and faculty at the University of Rochester NY. Her lifelong interest in health and wellnessled her to be a founding member of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health and she shares her experiences as aconsultant, speaker and author of articles and books. In 2005 she founded a company that produces xylitol supplements fororal health.
The Cookbook Shelf
Taste of Home, editor
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771104, $22.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-One-Dish-Meals-MEAL/dp/B0DJZDYYJT
Synopsis: From casseroles, protein bowls and slow-cooked favorites to sheet-pan suppers, entree salads and Instant-Potgreats, the timesaving specialties comprising "Taste of Home: One-Dish Meals" will enable even the most novice of familykitchen cooks to get dinner on the table fast. No need to plan menus or prepare separate sides with "Taste of Home:One-Dish Meals" at your fingertips.
Looking for a quick solution to the "What's for dinner" quandary? Consider Pork & Asparagus Sheet-Pan Dinner. It's aone-dish sensation featuring tender pork chops and two sides that all bake simultaneously on one sheet pan!
Need a slow-simmered specialty? Try Meatball Tortellini. Each serving includes juicy meatballs, colorful veggies andtender pasta in a creamy sauce all simmered to perfection in the slow cooker. What could be easier?
You will also find one-dish greats made in the Instant Pot and air fryer, make-ahead breakfast bakes, all-in-one foil packetscooked on the grill, stews loaded with meats and veggies, and Dutch-oven dinners made quickly on the stovetop. These arejust a few of the convenient, timesaving specialties inside this brand-new cookbook.
Cut down your grocery list, beat the kitchen clock and kiss menu planning goodbye. With Taste of Home: One-Dish Meals"as your culinary resource, whipping up a complete dinner has never been easier!
Critique: "Taste of Home: One-Dish Meals" is a beautifully illustrated compendium of 210+ meal-in-one dishes perfect forbusy weeknights and special occasions alike allowing the family cook to save time and money by preparing entrees andsides together in one baking pan, skillet, Dutch oven, slow cooker or Instant Pot. Of special note is the inclusion of a bonusclip-out list of pantry staples, prep and cook timelines with each dish help make the most of your time, and nutrition factswith every recipe makes it easy to feed your family right. While an extraordinary and highly recommended, kitchen cookfriendly pick for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that this tradepaperback (8.06 x 0.7 x 8.94 inches, 1.82 pounds) edition of "Taste of Home: One-Dish Meals" is also readily available in adigital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking andentertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands ofsubscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site isa top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has morethan 6.4 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.7 million Pinterest followers and receives more than28 million unique monthly visitors. Visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.
Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook
Taste of Home, editor
Taste of Home
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771029, $22.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Ultimate-Outdoor-Cookbook/dp/B0D7J4NCLM
Synopsis: Enjoy more than 390 easy recipes that are ideal for barbecues, picnics and block parties as well as al frescodinners perfect for any night of the week, "Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook" will enable even the most novice ofkitchen cooks to make the most of summer for themselves and their families with this 'user friendly' illustrated collectionfeaturing 390+ recipes ideal for warm-weather dining!
Within its covers are to be found step-by-step recipes for everything from juicy burgers and savory steaks to grilled corn andbrilliant berry desserts, "Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook" delivers on its promises to be an ideal go-to cookbookall summer long.
Take your love of the outdoors to new heights when you dine outside! Whether you're whipping up a weeknight dinner onthe deck, packing up a picnic basket, planning a baseball tailgate or contributing to the church picnic, this sensational newculinary compendium has you covered!
Family cooks can learn pro tips on grilling pizzas and preparing desserts over an open flame. Check out foil-packet entreesthat cook to perfection on a campfire and discover, snacks perfect for enjoying while watching the fireworks. There are alsonew treats to enjoy around the bonfire, impressive contributions to block parties and more.
From flame-broiled specialties to swift weeknight suppers, everything tastes better when enjoyed outside. Experience thejoy of dining al fresco like never before with the "Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook" as it features:
394+ sensational dishes perfect for outdoor dining, including summer's best snacks, appetizers, desserts, potluck classicsand more.
3-minute and 5-ingredient icons highlight dishes perfect for workweek meals.
Prep and cook timelines with each dish help make the most of your time.
Nutrition facts with every recipe makes it easy to feed your family right.
A clip-and-keep guide to grilling lets you keep essential facts at your fingertips, including cook times and how to knowwhen things are done.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with gorgeous full color photos of finished dishes, this largeformat (8.06 x 0.7 x 8.94 inches, 1.84 pounds) paperback edition of "Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook" is amouth-watering, appetite invoking, culinary pleasure to plan menus with for all summer dining occasions from tailgateparties to camping trip and RV cookouts. Comprised from cover to cover with quick and easy DIY recipes for healthy, anddelicious dining for summer (as well as spring, fall and winter!), "Taste of Home Ultimate Outdoor Cookbook" is a veryspecial and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbookcollections.
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking andentertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands ofsubscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site isa top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has morethan 6.4 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.7 million Pinterest followers and receives more than28 million unique monthly visitors. Visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.
Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste
Adrian Miller & Deborah Chang
The White House Historical Association
www.whitehousehistory.org
9781950273683, $45.00, HC, 172pp
https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/products/asian-heritage-chefs-in-white-house-history-cooking-to-the-president-s-taste
Synopsis: "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste" is the first history to focus onthe many chefs of Asian Heritage who have prepared meals for American presidents at the White House, for State Dinners,on Presidential Yachts, and at Camp David. From navy stewards to Executive White House Chefs, the presidential serviceof these chefs extends back more than a century and continues to the present day, yet many of their names are largelyunknown.
Two-time James Beard award winner Adrian Miller was inspired to uncover and share their stories after discovering theextraordinary but long out-of-print biography of Lee Ping Quan who served President Warren G. Harding and then PresidentCalvin Coolidge aboard the presidential yacht USS Mayflower.
Miller was inspired not only to make Quan's story available again, but to expand the story to include experiences of manyAsian Heritage chefs who have served the presidency. He explains that he was able to identify presidential chefs with rootsin China, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.
With a representative, rather than a comprehensive, approach, Miller draws out the unique stories the Asian Heritage chefswhose culinary accomplishments and devotion to service combine to create a powerful chapter in America's culinaryhistory.
Miller opens "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to the President's Taste" with chapters on immigrantswho entered the U.S. Navy and were assigned to the culinary operations on presidential yachts and continues on to anin-depth focus on Lee Ping Quan's life story. He then explores the stories of Asian Heritage chefs who cooked atpresidential retreats, the Vice President's Residence, and the Navy Mess in the West Wing and concludes with profiles ofAsian Heritage Executive, Guest and Staff White House Chefs who bring the story to the present day.
Miller's research is enriched by the biographies, memoirs, cookbooks, and news coverage of the early chefs, and by his owninterviews with former and current White House chefs. We learn that each chef has taken a unique path to the Americandream, but they share remarkable talents, a devotion to excellence, and a pride in their service.
Co-author Deborah Chang selected and shaped sixty recipes that can be made in a twenty-first-century home kitchen. Wesee that featured chefs specialized not only in Asian dishes but also in creative approaches to fusion cuisine, healthy choices,and American classics such as fried chicken and chocolate cream pie.
Critique: Part cookbook, part White House culinary history, "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History: Cooking to thePresident's Taste" this large format (9"W x 11"H) hardcover edition from The White House Historical Association isimpressively illustrated throughout and an inherently fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the subject. Thoroughlyreader (and kitchen cook) friendly in organization and presentation, "Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History:Cooking to the President's Taste" by co-authors Adrian Miller and Deborah Chang is unique and unreservedly recommendedfor personal, professional, community, and college/university library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Adrian Miller (https://adrianemiller.com) is a food writer and attorney. A two-time James Beard Awardwinner, his books include Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, The President'sKitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to theObamas and Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. Adrian served as a special assistant toPresident Bill Clinton with his Initiative for One America and went on to serve as a senior policy analyst for ColoradoGovernor Bill Ritter Jr. Since 2013, Adrian has been the executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches. Adrian isalso the co-project director and lead curator for the "Proclaiming Colorado's "Proclaiming Colorado's Black History" exhibitat the Museum of Boulder. A certified barbecue judge, Adrian lives in Denver, Colorado.
Editorial Note #2: After graduating from the Napa Valley Culinary School, Deborah Chang cooked at numerous Bay Arearestaurants, created award winning recipes for Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt and the National Peanut Board and tested andwrote recipes for a cookbook with Insalata's, a Mediterranean restaurant in Marin County. She is a graduate of StanfordUniversity and the Michigan Law School. Her expansive career has included being an attorney, a tech executive, and mostrecently a career counselor. Her writing has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Hill, and Bridge EightLiterary Press.
The Everything Restaurant Copycat Recipes Cookbook
Kelly Jaggers
Everything
c/o Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781507223239, $18.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Restaurant-Copycat-Recipes-Cookbook/dp/1507223234
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Everything Restaurant Copycat Recipes Cookbook", you can skip the priceyrestaurant bill and recreate your favorite dishes right at home with this culinary compendium of 200 fast, easy-to-followrecipes that are so good people will think it's takeout!
This illustrated collection 200 fast, easy, and delicious restaurant recipes for every meal of the day ranges from IHOP'sOriginal Buttermilk Pancakes, Olive Garden's Bread Sticks, In-n-Out's Double-Double Burger, and Pizza Hut's StuffedCrust Pizza, to Crumbl's Classic Pink Sugar Cookie, Southwestern Eggrolls from Chili's, The Pink Drink from Starbucks --and so many more!
Critique: This large format (8 x 0.7 x 9 inches, 1.47 pounds) trade paperback edition of "The Everything Restaurant CopycatRecipes Cookbook" allows even the most novice of kitchen cooks to successfully and easily recreate popular restaurantmeals as closely as possible on a much smaller tab per serving from having the same dishes in the restaurants of their origin.Exceptional, kitchen cook friendly in organization, ideal in presentation for menu planning purposes, and also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $13.99), "The Everything Restaurant Copycat Recipes Cookbook" is a unique and unreservedlyrecommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Kelly Jaggers is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, food stylist, and founder of therecipe blog Evil Shenanigans (EvilShenanigans.com). She is the author of The Everything(R) Pie Cookbook, Not-So-HumblePies, Moufflet, The Everything(R) Easy Asian Cookbook, The Everything(R) Dutch Oven Cookbook, and The Everything(R) EasyInstant Pot Cookbook. She is also a cooking instructor, personal chef, and caterer. Kelly lives in Dallas, Texas.(https://evilshenanigans.com)
Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farm-To-Table Cookbook
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Publishing
www.barbourbooks.com
9798891510975, $17.99, Spiral Bound, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wanda-Brunstetters-Friends-Table-Cookbook/dp/B0DPD44G88
Synopsis: If you believe in sourcing food as close to home as possible while supporting small family farms, then you willespecially appreciate "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farm-To-Table Cookbook", an impressive compendium ofrecipes from Amish and Mennonite cooks.
This new and spiral bound collection of authentic Amish and Mennonite recipes from the iconic author of Amish fiction,Wanda E. Brunstetter, celebrates sourcing fresh meat and produce from farms in your own local area. Sprinkled with tips forgrowing, harvesting, and preserving, the cookbook is divided into traditional categories from main dishes and sides todesserts and snacks. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, it is an essential, must-have cookbook foranyone who is interested in where their food comes from, or who participates in a CSA, or who simply enjoys what theirlocal farmers' markets has to offer.
Critique: Showcasing authentic Amish/Mennonite recipes for Yogurt Pie, Grape Salad, Homemade Scrapple, SavoryMeatloaf, and Mustard Eggs, to Cheesy Chicken Breast, Chocolate Beet Cake, Summertime Pickles, Fried Eggplant, andZuccini Cobbler, "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farm-To-Table Cookbook: 280 Amazing Recipes Help EncourageLocal Farming Networks" is a menu planning pleasure for any and all dining occasions both formal and informal.Beautifully illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes, and a delight to simply browsethrough, "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farm-To-Table Cookbook: 280 Amazing Recipes Help Encourage LocalFarming Networks" will prove an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and communitylibrary Amish/Mennonite cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Wanda E. Brunstetter (www.wandabrunstetter.com) is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. Shehas written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistentlyearn spots on the nation's most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda's ancestors were partof the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life.Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the peopleand their customs.
Cook: Serve up Joy
The COOK Kitchen
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804192924, $32.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Serve-Joy-Recipes-Sharing/dp/1804192929
Synopsis: The first book from COOK (a much-loved UK frozen meal brand), "Cook: Serve up Joy: Recipes for Sharing"featuring 100 recipes for serving up joy at home, from weeknight suppers to special nights in, feeding a family to cookingfor a crowd.
Food has the unique power to bring people closer together and here the staff of COOK have gathered 100 of their mosttreasured and popular recipes to recreate at home whether you are short on time, looking to entertain with a minimum offuss, or wishing to push the boat out with style and panache for weekend entertaining or special nights in.
From the iconic chicken alexander and Moroccan lamb tagine to amazing pavlovas and gin and tonic semifreddo, there issomething here for everyone, from worknight wonders to weekend cook-ins. Ingredients are sourced from planet friendlysuppliers, with a constant emphasis on reducing the environmental footprint in the process.
The chapters comprising "Cook: Serve up Joy: Recipes for Sharing" include Worknight Wonders, Feeding the Family,Relax, it's the Weekend, Special Nights In, Cooking for a Crowd and Desserts.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color, full page photos of finished dishes, "Cook: Serve up Joy: Recipesfor Sharing" is the kind of culinary compendium that is an ideal source for planning memorable and 'kitchen cook friendly'menus for all dining occasions with its step-by-step DIY instructions that will enable even the most novice of family cooksto create palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, health supporting meals that will be a true joy both to make and to serve. Whilehighly recommended as an enduringly popular pick for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbookcollections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Cook: Serve up Joy: Recipes for Sharing" from Kyle Books isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: COOK (www.cookfood.net/info/about-cook/our-story) was founded in 1997 in Farnham, Kent, UK and nowboasts 100 shops and 1000 distribution outlets throughout the country, from Budgens to independent farm shops and gardencenters. A founding member of B Corp UK, part of the global movement of responsible businesses, COOK has been votedthe Best British Food & Drink Company to work for. It is certified by the Living Wage Foundation and has created aprogram to help people back into work after prison, homelessness and other challenges for which it has been recognizedwith a Queen's Award for Enterprise.
Rice and Shine: Recipes and Delicacies for Every Occasion
Tove Nilsson Jakobson
Gestalten
c/o Roedl LLP
http://usshop.gestalten.com
9783967041668, $50.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rice-Shine-Recipes-Delicacies-Occasion/dp/3967041662
Synopsis: Rice is more than just a side dish. It's a versatile grain that can be the star of the show, taking on a multitude offorms and flavors. From the creamy richness of risotto to the airy lightness of sushi rice, the nutty depth of brown rice to thefragrant sweetness of jasmine, rice offers endless culinary possibilities. It is therefore not surprising that every culturearound the world has its own creative way of preparing rice to make it a regional specialty.
Beautifully illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes, "Rice and Shine: Recipes andDelicacies for Every Occasion" is a compendium of rice based recipes that will whet your appetite. The diversity of ricerecipes comprising "Rice and Shine: Recipes and Delicacies for Every Occasion" features more than 100 recipes drawnfrom all regions of the world while offering insights into the harvesting, the different varieties, and the rich history of thegrain across cultures.
Rice and shine with this collection of recipes for every home cook!
Critique: This large format (7.09 x 0.98 x 9.45 inches, 2.15 pounds) hardcover edition of Tove Nilsson Jakobson's "Rice andShine: Recipes and Delicacies for Every Occasion" from Gestalten is a rice lover's dream. Inspiring to browse through againand again, "Rice and Shine: Recipes and Delicacies for Every Occasion" is ideal for planning memorable meals for any andall dining occasions both formal and informal. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation, "Riceand Shine: Recipes and Delicacies for Every Occasion" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, and community library International Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Tove Nilsson Jakobson is a renowned Swedish cookbook author and food stylist. Besides being an author,she has been a TV chef on Swedish television for 15 years, participates in radio, and co-hosts the popular food and farmingpodcast Jordkommissionen with Lotta Lundgren. As a food stylist for renowned magazines, her work has been published inElle Decoration and Vogue Living, among others.
Best-Ever Homemade Ramen
Shigekazu Takanashi, author
Makiko Itoh, translator
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319628, $17.99, HC, 104pp
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Ever-Homemade-Ramen-Secrets-Japanese/dp/4805319623
Synopsis: With the publication of "Best-Ever Homemade Ramen: Secrets of a Japanese Ramen Chef ", Japanese ramen chefShigekazu Takanashi shows you how (using easy-to-find ingredients, flavor-enhancing secrets and time-saving shortcuts) tocould create delicious ramen at home that tastes like it came straight from a professional noodle bar in Tokyo or Osaka.
"Best-Ever Homemade Ramen" showcases 50 delicious recipes including:
Best-Ever Homemade Shoyu Ramen with aromatic oil, easy char siu pork and marinated jammy eggs
Tasty regional ramens from Kyoto, Nagasaki, Tokushima and other parts of Japan
Classic side dishes like Gyoza Dumplings and Char Siu Fried Rice plus creative ways of using leftover broth ingredients,like Chicken Cracklings with Ponzu and Greens Sauteed with Ground Chicken
Takanashi's easy tricks to achieve maximum flavor in minimum time have won him a loyal social media following."Best-Ever Homemade Ramen" is an essential instructional 'how-to' guide for ramen aficionados who love to eat authenticJapanese ramen at home but don't want to spend the whole day in the kitchen!
Critique: Ably translated into English for an American readership by Makiko Itoh, this large format (8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x0.00(d)) hardcover edition of Japanese chef and restauranteur Shigekazu Takanashi's "Best-Ever Homemade Ramen: Secretsof a Japanese Ramen Chef" from Tuttle Publishing is beautifully and profuse illustrated throughout, making this an idealand fun resource for family cooks and professional chefs wanting to create authentic and delicious ramen based Japanesemeals for both formal and informal dining. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friend' in organization and presentation, "Best-EverHomemade Ramen: Secrets of a Japanese Ramen Chef" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, and community library Ethnic/Japanese cookbook collections.
Editorial Note #1: Shigekazu Takanashi is the owner of Ramen Rotas, a ramen restaurant in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. HisYouTube channel Ramen Rotas has 280,000 subscribers and his most popular videos have over 2 million views. His dreamis for everybody to eat his ramen at home!
Editorial Note #2: Makiko Itoh, author of the Just Bento cookbook series and Real Japanese Cooking, has translated manyJapanese works into English including Zen Wisdom for the Anxious, and Real Japanese Izakaya Cookbook. She now writesa monthly column on Japanese food for the Japan Times and her new compendium work, Real Japanese Cooking has justbeen published by Tuttle Publishing.
Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients
Gisli Egill Hrafsson, author
Inga Elsa Bergborsdottir, author
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781840919387, $29.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Scandinavia-Ingredients-G%C3%ADsli-Egill-Hrafnsson/dp/1840919388
Synopsis: Kitchen cooks and professional chef alike wil discover the heart of Scandinavian cuisine through the vibrantphotographs and authentic Nordic recipes that comprise "Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients" by co-authors Gisli EgillHrafsson and Inga Elsa Bergborsdottir.
"Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients" offers a culinary journey that takes you through Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Swedenand Finland, exploring the history, local produce, dishes, and festivals of these captivating countries.
"Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients" is a culinary compendium showcasing 55 enticing and authentic Scandinavianrecipes, each of which is thoughtfully organized by season. Ranging from classic dishes like Danish rye bread and pickledherring to mouthwatering innovations like rhubarb meringue bowls and skyr sorbet, "Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients"truly captures the essence of Nordic dining.
Critique: Organized seasonally (Spring-Summer & Autumn-Winter), beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in fullcolor, offering succinct descriptions of Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, "Scandinavia: Recipes andIngredients" is additionally enhanced with the inclusion of a four page Recipe Index, a one page glossary of UK/US Terms,and a two page Ingredients Index. A unique and very special 'kitchen cook friendly' collection of authentic Scandinavianthemed recipes for palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying dishes, "Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients" is a stronglyrecommended pick for personal, professional, family, and community library Ethnic/Scandinavian cookbook collections. Itshould be noted that this hardcover edition of "Scandinavia: Recipes and Ingredients" from Mitchell Beazley is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Originally from Iceland, Gisli Egill Hrafnsson and Inga Elsa Bergborsdottir are ardent food enthusiasts andculinary experts. With a passion for food and cooking, they have authored, photographed, and designed multiple books inIcelandic, English and French. Their extensive knowledge and family recipes are shared with authenticity, making themtrusted voices in the world of Nordic cuisine. As hosts of a guest house, they introduce visitors to the bountiful ingredientssourced from their own garden, creating unforgettable culinary experiences.
Jeremy Pang's Hong Kong Kitchen
Jeremy Pang
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600639121, $26.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Jeremy-Pangs-Hong-Kong-Kitchen/dp/0600639126
Synopsis: Hong Kong's cuisine draws from traditions from around the world, from classic Chinese to America's west coast.Chef Jeremy Pang grew up with Hong Kong as his second home, and has compiled authentic and simply delicious HongKong recipes brining a vibrant food culture to life and providing American kitchen cooks with the very best dishes that thecity has to offer.
With the publication of "Jeremy Pang's Hong Kong Kitchen: Classic Recipes for Baos, Noodles, Street Food and More...",even the most novice of family kitchen cooks can successfully recreate irresistible street food from dumplings, baos andBBQ snacks, through to hotpots, rice pots, noodles, desserts and drinks, and give along with Jeremy Pang's personal insightsinto the treasures of a place where east meets west in the most unforgettable way.
Critique: Featuring full page, full color photos of finished dishes, "Jeremy Pang's Hong Kong Kitchen: Classic Recipes forBaos, Noodles, Street Food and More..." is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in organization and presentation. Ideal forplanning memorable meals with for any Chinese themed menu, this hardcover edition of "Jeremy Pang's Hong KongKitchen" from Hamlyn will prove a welcome and enduringly appreciated pick for personal, professional, and communitylibrary Ethnic: Chinese cookbook collection. It should be noted that it is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$1.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Jeremy Pang (www.bbc.co.uk/food/chefs/jeremy_pang) comes from three generations of Chinese chefs.Jeremy attributes his love of food to his father, who was keen for him to experience exciting flavors and foods from a youngage. Over the years, Jeremy's expertise in the Chinese food industry has continued to gain him recognition, winning bothRising Young Star and Best Specialist Cookery School at the British Cookery School Awards 2015. He has also hosted hisown successful ITV show, Jeremy Pang's Asian Kitchen and is a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet.Jeremy built an award-winning specialist cookery school in London called the School of Wok.
French Bakes Made Simple
Edd Kimber
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804193150, $24.99, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/French-Bakes-Made-Simple-millefeuille/dp/1804193151
Synopsis: "French Bakes Made Simple: From macaron to millefeuille and more" from Kyle Books is a new edition of EddKimber's ultimate baking book that will help you recreate all the wonderful treats that you would find in a traditional Frenchpatisserie. With easy-to-follow step-by-step guides, Edd takes you through the techniques you'll need to make your ownclassic French bakes, from a moist and tasty genoise sponge to that quintessential icon of French pastry: the flaky, butterycroissant.
Chapters include:
Sweet Treats: Classic Financiers, Caneles and Eclairs
Desserts & cakes: Cherry Clafoutis and Buche de Noel
Pastry: Easy guides to making Pate Sablee and Pate Sucree, and recipes for tarts
Basics: Essential icings and creams, such as Mousseline and Creme Chantilly
Edd's mouthwatering recipes use bakeware found in most household kitchens, removing the need for expensive or complexequipment and allowing you to create the perfect patisserie in your own home.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader with full page, full color photos of finished dishes, and with each individual recipe having'user friendly' and illustrated step-by-step instructions, "French Bakes Made Simple: From macaron to millefeuille andmore" will enable even the most novice of American kitchen cooks to create classic and iconic French pastries in their ownhome. Featuring more than 80 palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, authentic and iconic French recipes from The GreatBritish Bake Off winner Edd Kimber, "French Bakes Made Simple" is a very strongly recommended addition to personal,professional, and community library Ethnic/French cookbook collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of"French Bakes Made Simple" from Kyle Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Edd Kimber (www.theboywhobakes.co.uk/about) is a baker and food writer based in London. He is theauthor of The Sunday Times bestseller One Tin Bakes (2020) which also won the BBC Good Food, Guardian, New YorkTimes and Washington Post Best Food Books 2020, as well as One Tin Bakes Easy (2021), Small Batch Bakes (2022) andSmall Batch Cookies (2024). He regularly shares his knowledge at cookery schools and at food festivals around the worldand also writes for multiple publications, including as the baking columnist for Olive magazine.
Slimming Foodie Air Fryer
Pip Payne
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600638988, $24.99, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Slimming-Foodie-Air-Fryer-calories/dp/0600638987
Synopsis: Show you how to save money, time and calories using the air-fryer, Pip Payne is back with the publication of"The Slimming Foodie" is back showcasing 80 deliciously simple recipes (all under 800 calories) for one the nation's mostfavorite kitchen appliance.
Using everyday ingredients that won't the break the bank and clever swaps to cut down on the calories, these recipes willkeep the whole family eating healthy meals throughout the week.
"The Slimming Foodie" is known for a simple approach to food. You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen to cook goodfood, and healthy eating doesn't have to be boring.
Try tasty Char Siu Pork, or an irresistible easy roasted Ratatouille. Discover how to cook the Perfect Steak or the ultimate5-Minute Chocolate Brownies. Or recreate your favorite takeaways like Tandoori Roast Chicken or Special Chow Mein fora fraction of the price. With full nutritional breakdowns for every recipe, this palate-pleasing, appetite satisfying, healthbuilding, kitchen cook friendly compendium of simple recipes proves healthy eating for the whole family has never beeneasier.
Critique: This large format (7.75 x 0.9 x 10 inches, 1.72 pounds) hardcover edition of "Slimming Foodie Air Fryer: Quick,easy, healthy meals all under 600 calories" from the UK publisher Hamlyn is profusely with full page, full colorphotography of finished dishes. An ideal resource for planning memorable meals with for any dining occasions (formal orinformal), "Slimming Foodie Air Fryer: Quick, easy, healthy meals all under 600 calories" is a culinary delight to browsethrough and to cook from. While a solid and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, family, professional, andcommunity library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Slimming Foodie Air Fryer: Quick, easy, healthy meals allunder 600 calories" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Pip Payne (www.theslimmingfoodie.com) is the creator of the award-winning blog The Slimming Foodie.Keeping a love of food at the fore, Pip's approach is about bringing back convenient home cooking by making healthyrecipes that are accessible to a new wave of home cooks. In her books, Pip shows readers how to prepare great tasting mealsthat are cooked from scratch, while cutting down on fat and sugar and following science-led nutrition advice.
Memories of Gascony, revised edition
Pierre Koffmann
Aster
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781783256402, $29.99
https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Gascony-Pierre-Koffmann/dp/1783256400
Memories of Gascony has been out of print for a long time. It now appears in a revised edition with modern photos and aredesigned appearance to attract new generations to its special blend of Gascony gastronomy and memories. Chef Koffmannjuxtaposes his culinary memories and approaches with such dishes as Sweetbreads with Mushrooms, a simple Shoulder ofLamb with Potatoes, and a double-cream Lamb Stew in a White Sauce. The scope and appeal of this blend of memoir,culinary reflection, and recipe collection makes it a classic "must have" for any serious cook or cookbook collection.
Pull Up a Chair
Martha Collison
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804192429, $32.99
https://www.amazon.com/Pull-Up-Chair-Recipes-Gatherings/dp/1804192422
Pull Up a Chair: Recipes for Gatherings Big and Small, from Morning to Night offers recipes big on flavor and low on preprequirements, making them perfect choices for busy cooks who want to produce eye-catching, delicious food forentertaining, with a minimum of effort. It's geared to all kinds of entertaining, from brunches to three-course dinners,providing foolproof results from recipes such as Salt-and-Pepper Sea Bream, Creamy Chicken Cacciatore, and StickyPomegranate Brisket with Vermicelli Rice. Color photos on facing pages give additional incentive to relish this cookbook'seasy approach to entertaining, making Pull Up a Chair a top pick for cooks who want infallible results that are eye-catchingand look like much more work than they are.
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Hamlyn's cookbooks provide libraries and home cooks with a rich collection of recipes that will appeal to busy cookslooking to make the most of homemade efforts and time.
https://www.amazon.com/Pickle-Jar-Recipes-Pickles-Ferments/dp/1804192740
Nick Valdez's The Pickle Jar: Recipes for Making and Using Pickles and Ferments (9781804192740, $24.99) comes from aUK pickle brand and teaches how cooks can make and use their own pickles at home. Health connections between digestionand eating fermented foods appear alongside pickle-making ideas and recipes for using them. The blend of basic recipeswith a knowledge of fermentation, and dishes making the most of pickling processes, pairs mouth-watering products withalluring color photos.
https://www.amazon.com/Dip-delicious-recipes-entertaining-snacking/dp/1804192724
Sonali Shah's Dip In: 80 Delicious Dip Recipes for Enertaining, Snacking & Beyond (9781804192726, $19.99) promotesexpanding the usual use of dips to apply to small dishes as well as snacks. Ordinary store ingredients come with an attentionto using spice combinations in new ways for fare such as a Coconut & Spiced Black Bean Dip with Pineapple Salsa, Crab &Kohlrabi Remoulade, and Japanese-Style Potato Salad. These variations on traditional ideas of creating and using dips willprove exciting to cooks who want to expand their repertoires of easy, exciting foods to create and serve.
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Gluten-free-delicious-recipes-together/dp/0600638820
Megan McKenna's Love Gluten Free: Easy, Delicious Recipes to Enjoy Together (9780600638827, $26.99) comes from amedia personality and singer whose celiac and wheat allergy diagnosis resulted in her interest in tasty recipes that everyonecan eat and share, gluten-free or not. From food made for sharing to date night dishes, dishes for celebrations, and variationson classics such as a No-Fish Chicken Caesar Salad or the author's own creations, such as My Very Own Fine TomatoBolognese, this cookbook is packed with innovations and attractions not to be found elsewhere.
https://www.amazon.com/Hong-Kong-Kitchen-Jeremy-Pang-ebook/dp/B0DDXN3Q18
Jeremy Pang's Hong Kong Kitchen (9780600639121, $26.99) provides some 70 recipes specific to the country's uniquedishes, from its famous street food to hotpots and desserts. Color photos on facing pages add interest and attraction to suchrecipes as Black Pepper Beef & Potatoes Hong King Style, Cumin Beef & Spring Onion Fried Baos, and Marbled Tea Eggs.The variety of Hong Kong style cooking will attract anyone interested in translating this country's iconic cuisine to theirhome kitchen. All are appealing cookbooks that not only expand a cook's collection and repertoire, but invite innovativethinking and healthy results.
The American History Shelf
Karen L. Marrero, editor
Andrew K. Sturtevant, editor
Michigan State University Press
https://msupress.org
9781611865172, $119.95, HC, 254pp
https://www.amazon.com/Place-Common-Rethinking-History-Detroit/dp/1611865174
Synopsis: At the turn of the eighteenth century, Indigenous nations designated Detroit as a "common bowl" and a crucialnexus where they shared resources, made compromises, and coexisted. As the century unfolded, Detroit continued as apolyglot community in the face of expanding Euro-American settlement.
The region became a highly charged space where the rituals of political negotiation grew in importance alongside a constantthreat of violence. British political and economic systems continued to operate long after the end of the AmericanRevolution, creating a shared cultural border at the end of the eighteenth century that would endure even as the AmericanEmpire reestablished rule on the north side of the river.
Both Anishinaabe and Wyandot people set aside land for future occupation of their people, re-creating another transnationalspace in the region.
A hundred years later, issues of race, economic development, political partisanship, and overlapping national claimscontinued to resonate as the city commemorated and mythologized its origins.
With the publication of "A Place in Common: Rethinking the History of Early Detroit", academicians and co-editors KarenL. Marrero and Andrew K. Sturtevant have recruited contributors who considers how larger watershed occasions impactedthe Detroit region and how, in turn, the unique particularities of local custom impacted regional and national trade andpolitics and the very nature of how the city continues to view its past.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "A Place in Common: Rethinking theHistory of Early Detroit" is collaboratively compiled and co-edited by historians Karen Marrero and Andrew Sturtevant whohave included a listing of the contributors and their credentials. A valued and unreservedly recommended addition topersonal, professional, community, and college/university library United States History - Detroit collections andsupplemental curriculum Native American, Colonial, and Immigration History studies lists, it should be noted for students,academia, American history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcoveredition of "A Place in Common: Rethinking the History of Early Detroit" from the Michigan State University Press is alsoavailable in paperback (9781611865189, $44.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $44.95).
Editorial Note #1: Karen L. Marrero is associate professor in the Department of History at Wayne State University inDetroit, associate of the Wilson Institute for Canadian History at McMaster University, and member of the Canadian StudiesCommittee Advisory Board, Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale University.(https://clasprofiles.wayne.edu/profile/bx2389)
Editorial Note #2: Andrew K. Sturtevant (www.uwec.edu/profiles/sturteak) received his PhD in history from the College ofWilliam & Mary and is currently an associate professor of history and affiliate of the American Indian Studies Program atthe University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Fort Worth Characters 2
Richard F. Selcer
University of North Texas Press
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574419689, $34.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fort-Worth-Characters-Texas-Local/dp/1574419684
Synopsis: "Fort Worth Characters 2" is a sequel to "Fort Worth Characters" (UNT Press, 2009) by Richard F. Selcer -- thepreeminent historian of Fort Worth. The first book was a baker's dozen of some curious, quirky, and forgotten people fromFort Worth's past. This second volume continues the theme of human-interest stories of twenty-five more characters pulledfrom Fort Worth history.
There are Blacks and whites, men and women, criminals and crime-fighters, showgirls and preachers, musicians andfootball stars. Some, like Frank James, were already famous when they came to Fort Worth. Others, like "Stutterin' Sam"Dowell, were "discovered" here before going on to fame and fortune on the national stage.
Then there is a character who might have been the inspiration for detective Nancy Drew. A female reporter who was thefirst American to score an interview with the president of Mexico. A husband-wife pair who might have been the firstAfrican American "power couple". An abortion doctor convicted at trial in Fort Worth in 1913. These and more are coveredin "Fort Worth Characters 2", along with Selcer's considered (and sometimes provocative) opinions on where they fit intohistory.
"Fort Worth Characters 2" is profusely illustrated, with many rare photographs. It is the untold story of Fort Worth, Texasbroken down into bite-sized chapters. These are the stories of some folks who didn't make it into the usual history books.And for a few who did, this book adds new information to their lives.
Critique: A fun, informative, and engaging read from cover to cover, this exceptionally well organized and presentedhardcover edition of Richard F. Selcer's "Fort Worth Characters 2" is especially and unreservedly recommended forpersonal, community, and college/university library American Biography and Texas History collections. It should be notedthat "Fort Worth Characters 2" is also available from the University of North Texas Press in a digital book format (Kindle,$27.96, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Richard F. Selcer is a native Fort Worther who holds a PhD from TCU and has authored several UNT Presstitles, including Fort Worth Stories; Fort Worth Characters; A History of Fort Worth in Black & White: 165 Years ofAfrican-American Life; and (with Kevin Foster) volumes 1 and 2 of Written in Blood: The History of Fort Worth's FallenLawmen. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/210960.Richard_F_Selcer)
The World History Shelf
Aidan Dodson
American University in Cairo Press
www.aucpress.com
9781649031594, $35.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Thutmose-III-Hatshepsut-Pharaohs-Egypt/dp/1649031599
Synopsis: Thutmose III and Hatshepsut are among the best-known figures in Egyptian history. Thutmose has been called the"Napoleon of ancient Egypt," during whose reign Egypt's armies penetrated deep into northern Syria and consolidatedEgyptian dominion over much of Sudan. Hatshepsut, one of the handful of female pharaohs, also took to the battlefield, butis best known today for a great trading expedition, down the Red Sea coast to the mysterious land of Punt.
At first, Hatshepsut served simply as regent for her young nephew-stepson Thutmose, but subsequently the two shared thethrone of Egypt as co-pharaohs for over a decade. Later, as sole king, Thutmose devoted much of the rest of his life tomilitary matters and large-scale building works, continuing the work of Hatshepsut that created much of the core of the greattemple of Karnak. During the very last years of his life, Thutmose launched an attack on the memory of Hatshepsut, withmost of her images destroyed. Yet, some four centuries later, Thutmose III and Hatshepsut were still remembered togetheras great figures of the past, whose conception of pharaonic kingship served as the model for later rulers, into the eighthcentury BC.
"Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" by Egyptologist and author Aidan Dodson isillustrated in full color as it traces what we know about the lives and times of Thutmose and Hatshepsut, and the monumentsthey built to guarantee their afterlives. It then explores their posthumous reputations in ancient times, and ends with thestory of how the two pharaohs emerged from the mists of time during the nineteenth century AD, to resume their places inhistory.
Critique: This large format (7.48 x 1.34 x 9.53 inches, 2.7 pounds) hardcover edition of "Thutmose III and Hatshepsut,Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" from the American University of Cairo Press is enhanced for the reader'sbenefit with the inclusion of an informative Preface and Introduction, a listing of Abbreviations and Conventions, a fourpage Chronology of Egypt, twelve pages of Notes, a twenty page Bibliography, a four page listing of Image Sources, and asix page Index. Exceptionally well written, impressively informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization andpresentation, as well as beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, Professor Aiden Dodson's "ThutmoseIII and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a coreaddition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Egyptology collections and supplementalcurriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, Egyptologists, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in the subject "Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives" is also readily availablein a digital book format (Kindle, $30.44, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Aidan Dodson is honorary full professor of Egyptology in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeologyat the University of Bristol, UK. He was also Simpson Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo in 2013,and Chair of the Egypt Exploration Society during 2011-16. Awarded his PhD by the University of Cambridge in 2003, hewas elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2003. He is the author of some thirty books.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/75466.Aidan_Dodson)
The Military History Shelf
Shelby L. Stanton
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811777193, $100.00, HC, 676pp
https://www.amazon.com/World-War-Order-Battle-Encyclopedic/dp/0811777197
Synopsis: "World War II Order of Battle: An Encyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion throughDivision 1939-1946" by Shelby L. Stanton is unique and comprehensive guide to the U.S. Army ground force organizationthat won World War II. This massive encyclopedia contains a wealth of information: tables of organization and equipment;charts detailing the mobilization and expansion of the major units; the important dates and locations of each unit; campaignsparticipated in; and valuable narrative histories of the divisions and regiments.
Critique: A singularly essential, extraordinarily comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' reference that must beconsidered as a core addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library World War II Historycollections and supplemental WWII curriculum studies lists, this hardcover edition of "World War II Order of Battle: AnEncyclopedic Reference to U.S. Army Ground Forces from Battalion through Division 1939-1946" from Stackpole Books isfurther enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative Foreword by Russell F. Weigley who was theDistinguished University Professor of History at Temple University and the author of "The American Way of War" and"Eisenhower's Lieutenants", among other influential books.
Editorial Note: Shelby L. Stanton (February 01, 1948 - May 31, 2023) was the author of more than a dozen books, includingVietnam Order of Battle, The Green Berets at War, Anatomy of a Division, and U.S. Army Uniforms of World War II. Acomplete listing of his work is available at (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/191727.Shelby_L_Stanton)
Remember Us
Robert M. Edsel & Bret Witter
Harper Horizon
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400337811, $31.99, HC, 528pp
https://www.amazon.com/Remember-Us-American-Sacrifice-Freedom/dp/140033781X
Synopsis: "Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and A Forever Promise Forged in World War II" by RobertEdsel (with the assistance of Bret Witter) begins in the pre-dawn hours of Hitler's invasion of Western Europe on May 10,1940, when his forces rolled into the small rural province of Limburg in the Netherlands shattering more than 100 years ofpeace. Their freedom gone, the Dutch lived through four-and-a-half years of occupation until American forces reachedLimburg in September 1944, the last portion of Western Europe liberated by the Allies before their advance on NaziGermany slammed to a halt.
"Remember Us" is an ensemble piece that follows twelve main characters over a six-year span, zeroing in on ordinarypeople including Frieda van Schaik, a teenager who falls in love with an American soldier; Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole,the first member of the 101st Airborne to receive the Medal of Honor; and Sergeant Jeff Wiggins of the 960thQuartermaster Service Company, who escaped the poverty and racism of Alabama for yet another indignity -- digginggraves.
Drawing on never-before-seen letters, diaries, and other historical records, in the pages of "Remember Us", Edsel shows thepainful price of freedom, on the battlefields and inside American homes. In this rich, dramatic, and suspenseful story, hecaptures both the horrors of war and the transcendent power of gratitude, showing the extraordinary measures the Dutchhave taken to thank their liberators.
Given the present state of the world, "Remember Us" is exactly the book that is needed today as a vividly and tellingreminder that grief is universal, that humanity knows no national or racial boundaries, and that we all want to beremembered, somehow, someway, by somebody.
Critique: Deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, "Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and A ForeverPromise Forged in World War II" is an informative and compelling read from start to finish. Occasionally featuring B/Whistorical photographs, "Remember Us" will be of immense appreciation for readers with an interest in the World War IIHistory/Biographies in general, and the Allied Dutch campaign in particular. While highly recommended for communityand college/university library World War II collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for thepersonal reading lists of students, academia, and military history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Remember Us" fromHarper Horizon is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Robert M. Edsel (https://www.robertedsel.com) is the author of four non-fiction books includingRescuing da Vinci, Saving Italy, and The Monuments Men (also with Bret Witter), which served as the basis for AcademyAward recipient George Clooney's 2014 film. Mr. Edsel has been honored with the Texas Medal of the Arts; the President'sCall to Service Award; the Hope for Humanity Award, presented by the Dallas Holocaust Museum; and the Foundation forthe National Archives' Records of Achievement Award. In 2022, the United States Army and the Smithsonian Institutionmade Mr. Edsel an honorary graduate of the first Army Monuments Officer Training Program, an idea Mr. Edsel advocatedfor nearly twenty years. Mr. Edsel is also the Founder and Chairman of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation,recipient of the National Humanities Medal, awarded by President George W. Bush.
Editorial Note #2: Bret Witter (https://www.bretwitterbooks.com) is the author of "Dewey: The Small Town Library CatWho Touched the World". and six more New York Times bestsellers, including "The Monuments Men", which was turnedinto a movie by George Clooney.
The Borinqueneers
Noemi Figueroa Soulet
El Pozo Productions
https://borinqueneers.com/en_US
9798218001841, $39.99, HC, 200pp
https://www.amazon.com/Borinqueneers-Visual-History-Infantry-Regiment/dp/B0B6B52LTR
Synopsis: "The Borinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65th Infantry Regimen" is an inspiring collection of more than 700rare B/W historical photographs which traces the glorious history of the 65th Infantry Regiment -- the onlyHispanic-segregated unit in U.S. Army history, comprised primarily of Puerto Ricans.
With the publication of this bilingual (English/Spanish) edition of "The Borinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65thInfantry Regimen" by Noemi Figueroa Soulet impressively illustrates the regiment's more than 120 years of service, from itsorigins in 1899 through its service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
The historical content, veteran quotes, and photography captions are in both English and Spanish -- providing an in-depthperspective about the service of one of the country's last segregated military units.
Recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, the unit's trajectory comes to life as they train and fight in Puerto Rico,Panama, Europe and Korea. "The Borinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65th Infantry Regimen" provides a rich visuallegacy of the regiment's valiant service to our country.
Critique: This large format (11.57 x 9.05 x 0.67 inches, 2.5 pounds) hardcover edition of Noemi Figueroa Soulet's "TheBorinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65th Infantry Regiment" from El Pozo Productions is an inherently fascinating andinformative read from cover to cover. Unique, comprehensive, exceptional, impressively detailed, organized and presented,""The Borinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65th Infantry Regimen" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pickfor professional, community, and college/university library American Military History collections and the personal readinglists of students, academia, historians, military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in thesubject.
Editorial Note: Noemi Figueroa Soulet is the Executive Producer of El Pozo Productions which produced the PBSdocumentary film "The Borinqueneers," winner of the Military Channel Award at the GI Film Festival, amongst otherawards. For more than 26 years, she has been speaking about the regiment at corporations, universities, military facilitiesand community organizations; recorded veteran interviews and preserved archival photographs.(https://borinqueneers.com/en_US/the-film/the-team)
The Civil War Shelf
Chris Calkins, author
Bert M. Dunkerly & Patrick A. Schroder, contributors
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217346, $22.95, PB, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/Final-Bivouac-Confederate-Appomattox-Disbanding/dp/1611217342
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Final Bivouac: The Confederate Surrender Parade at Appomattox and theDisbanding of the Virginia Armies, April 10 - May 20, 1865", Civil War historian Chris Calkins (with the assistance of BertDunkerly and Patrick Schroder) presents what actually happened during the first six weeks of new-found peace onceGeneral Lee surrendered the remnants of the Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant.
"The Final Bivouac" covers the initial reactions of the soldiers and Virginia citizens to the devastating news of Lincoln'sassassination. How they handled the situation of the emancipated slaves. Along with many other issues covered in depth bythe men themselves. brought to you by Chris Calkins, former chief historian at Appomattox.
The first installment, "No One Wants to Be the Last to Die" (formerly The Battles of Appomattox), set the stage for the finaldramatic act of the Civil War in Virginia: the surrender parade at Appomattox. Calkins vividly captured the intense feelingsand emotions of Union and Confederate soldiers as the former enemies faced each other for the last time. The honor andrespect shown by the victorious Federal troops toward the defeated Southerners is one of the most moving episodes inAmerican history.
"The Final Bivouac" continues the story with marvelous firsthand accounts by homeward-bound Confederates, the membersof the Union encampment at Burkeville, men involved in the Danville Expedition, and those present for the occupation ofSouthside Virginia. The narrative concludes as the last few regiments in blue cross the James River at Richmond on theirway to Washington, D.C., and then, finally home.
Calkins based his work on primary sources, photographs, and archaeological evidence. The Final Bivouac is a timelessaccount and will be of deep interest to everyone who enjoys reading about the American Civil War.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, exceptional, meticulous, and a substantial read from start to finish, "The Final Bivouac:The Confederate Surrender Parade at Appomattox and the Disbanding of the Virginia Armies, April 10 - May 20, 1865" is aseminal and documented study that is an essential addition for personal, professional, community, college, and universityAmerian Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,historians, civil war buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of"The Final Bivouac: The Confederate Surrender Parade at Appomattox and the Disbanding of the Virginia Armies, April 10- May 20, 1865" from Savas Beatie is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.95, Amazon).
Editorial Note #1: Chris Calkins is the author of a dozen publications and many articles and was popular on the speakingcircuit. He received the 2014 Award of Merit "for his dedication to preserving the Civil War battlefield landscape ofVirginia" from the American Association for State and Local History, one of only three Virginians to receive this award. In2020, he was bestowed with the Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award for extraordinary work in historicpreservation. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6051074.Chris_Calkins)
Editorial Note #2: Robert M. (Bert) Dunkerly studied history at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and historicpreservation at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. He led tours of the battlefield and researched itshistory, preservation, and its National Cemetery. The author of three other books in the Emerging Civil War Series, he'sactive in historic preservation and research. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/701558.Robert_M_Dunkerly)
Editorial Note #3: Patrick A. Schroeder is the full-time Historian of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. Hegraduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Historical Park Administration from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV., and hasan M.A. in Civil War History from Virginia Tech.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/938587.Patrick_A_Schroeder)
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Joe Denham
Business Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803417790, $15.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Professional-How-Build-Career/dp/180341779X
Synopsis: Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Joe Denhamhas trained many salespeople through stand-uppresentations and lectures. Now with the publication of "The Sales Professional: How to Build a Career in Sales" he sharesthose lessons and his knowledge with anyone who has a strong work ethic and wants to to succeed in sales.
"The Sales Professional: How to Build a Career in Sales" not only seeks to help existing salespeople who want to succeed(Who doesn't?) it is also for people who want help getting started in a career in sales.
Many good sales staff in the corporate world become quickly disenchanted because of a lack of early sales success,generally due to a dearth of real guidance and structure in the way they approach their chosen careers. "The SalesProfessional: How to Build a Career in Sales" will bring some discipline and professionalism into the way they conductbusiness.
Experience is not something you can buy. However, when someone like Joe Denham passes his experience on to youthrough a book like this, with explanations and an understanding of the sales process that are logical, simple, andstraightforward, you will benefit beyond your expectations.
Critique: An ideal DIY combination instructional guide and how-to manual, "The Sales Professional: How to Build a Careerin Sales" is impressively well written, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Anabsolute 'must' for anyone currently working in sales and e-commerce, "The Sales Professional: How to Build a Career inSales" is unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and college/university library Business Management,Development, and Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that thispaperback edition of "The Sales Professional: How to Build a Career in Sales" from Business Books is also readily availablein a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Joe Denham (https://joedenham.com) has setup and grown four very successful businesses in his lifetime.His first major success was when he sold his computer based training business located in Dubai for $10m in 1997. He thenhad his own TV Show on Sky Television in the UK for 4 years, while he owned and operated a farm in Brittany, France.And in 2009 he founded VegTrug - an innovative raised garden bed which people use to grow their own vegetables at home.That business sold in 2012 and Joe continued to run the business as CEO until 2023. He now lives in Norfolk, UK.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Alan Reuther
Michigan State University Press
https://msupress.org
9781611865301, $89.95, HC, 348pp
https://msupress.org/9781611865318/roy-reuther-and-the-uaw
Synopsis: With the publication of "Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights", biographer AlanReuther examines the tumultuous life of Roy Reuther, including the triumphs and tragedies in the labor and civil rightsmovements. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers activists may face as they confront entrenched societalpowers.
As the brother of famed labor leader Walter Reuther, Roy was a key figure in the historic Flint sit-down strike that gavebirth to the United Auto Workers (UAW). He became the political director of the UAW and was deeply involved instruggles to pass civil rights legislation. "Roy Reuther and the UAW" explores his passion for increasing voter participationand his vow to help downtrodden farmworkers.
Many of the injustices that Reuther fought continue to plague the American labor movement today. "Roy Reuther and theUAW" provides important context for the current efforts of workers to organize, for the Black Lives Matter movement, andfor efforts to reform the filibuster rule and stop voter suppression. It shows how dedicated individuals can overcomeenormous odds to win great victories for social justice and emphasizes the potential connections between the labor and civilrights movements, offering hope for a more just future.
Critique: A seminal and original contribution to the history of the American labor movement in general, and the life of RoyReuther in particular, "Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights" is a documented and compellingread from start to finish. Offering B/W historical photos, forty pages of Notes, and a seven page Index, "Roy Reuther andthe UAW" is an original work of impeccable scholarship and unreservedly recommended for community andcollege/university library American Biography and American Labor History collections and supplemental curriculumstudies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers withan interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Roy Reuther and the UAW" from the Michigan State UniversityPress is also available in paperback (9781611865318, $38.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.16, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Alan Reuther (https://www.alanreuther.com) is the son of Roy Reuther and the nephew of famed laborleader Walter Reuther. He received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. Following in hisfather's and uncles' footsteps, Alan spent his career working for the United Auto Workers (UAW). In 1977 he began as alawyer in the union's legal department, litigating in federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.In 1982 he transferred to the UAW's Washington office to work on legislative matters. He became legislative director in1991 and supervised the union's activities lobbying Congress and the executive branch on health care, pensions, workerrights, and other issues.
Prohibition's Prince: The Bizarre Life of America's Millionaire Moonshiner, second edition
Guy Graybill
Catamount Press
c/o Sunbury Press
https://www.sunburypress.com
9798888192306, $29.95, PB, 411pp
https://www.amazon.com/Prohibitions-Prince-Americas-Millionaire-Moonshiner/dp/B0DMVM4QST
Synopsis: With the publication of the expanded second edition of "Prohibition's Prince: The Bizarre Life of America'sMillionaire Moonshiner", author and historian Guy Graybill presents the entertaining story of one of America's once mostprolific moonshiners and bootleggers during the Prohibition era.
Prince David Farrington plied his trade through the early to mid 20th century. Graybill biography of this prolific moonshinerfollows Farrington from his roots in Guilford County, North Carolina to Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, detailing thedecades of illicit moonshing and bootlegging activity along the way.
Farrington amassed a large fortune. His exploits remain legendary to this day.
Biographer Guy Graybill presents the adventurous life of Prohibition's Prince through numerous legends, testimonials, newsaccounts, and still locations. This volume is visually enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of 44 pages ofvintage B/W photographs and is indexed as well.
Critique: This new and significantly expanded second edition of "Prohibition's Prince: The Bizarre Life of America'sMillionaire Moonshiner" combines author Guy Graybill's first edition and Prince plus the inclusion of the Paupers into onesingle volume. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Prohibition's Prince: The Bizarre Life of America'sMillionaire Moonshiner" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library 20thCentury American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia,and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Prohibition Era history and biographies that this paperback edition of"Prohibition's Prince: The Bizarre Life of America's Millionaire Moonshiner: 2nd Edition" from Catamount Press in adigital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Guy Graybill is an author and historian who graduated from Gettysburg College with a degree in History.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1589251.Guy_Graybill)
We Loved It All: A Memory of Life
Lydia Miller
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324073659, $27.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/We-Loved-All-Memory-Life/dp/1324073659
Synopsis: "We Loved It All: A Memory of Life" is lucent anti-memoir from celebrated novelist Lydia Millet in which sheexplores the pain and joy of being a parent, child, and human at a moment when the richness of the planet's life is deeplythreatened.
Across more than a dozen acclaimed works of fiction, readers have become intimate with Lydia Millet's distinctive voiceand sly wit. "We Loved It All" is her first nonfiction book and combines the precision of fact with the power of narrative toevoke our enmeshment with the more-than-human world.
Emerging from Millet's quarter century of wildlife and climate advocacy, "We Loved it All" marries scenes from her lifewith moments of nearness to "the others" -- the animals and plants with whom we share the earth. Accounts of fears andfailures, jobs and friendships, childhood and motherhood are interspersed with exquisite accounts of non-humans andarresting meditations on the power of story to shape the future.
Seeking to understand why we immerse ourselves in the domestic and immediate, turning away from more sweeping views,she examines how grand cultural myths can deny our longing for the company of nature and deprive us of its charisma andinspiration. In a thrilling distillation of experience and emotion, she evinces the familiar sense of feeling both well-meaningand powerless - a creature subject to forces that are baffling in their immensity. The fear and grief of extinction and climatechange, Millet suggests, are forms of love that might be turned to resistance.
"We Loved It All" shimmers with curiosity and laconic humor yet addresses with reverence the most urgent crises of ourday. An incantatory, bewitching devotional to the vast and precious bestiary of the earth, it asks that we extend to otherliving beings the protection they deserve -- the simple grace of continued existence.
Critique: Part personal memoir, part treatise on the nature of life, part philosophical commentary on being human, "WeLoved It All: A Memory of Life" by Lydia Miller is an inherently fascinating and thought-provoking read from start tofinish. With her distinctive flair for memorable and engaging storytelling applied to an autobiographical format, "We LovedIt All: A Memory of Life" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university libraryContemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. For readers with an interest in nature writing and naturalistmemoirs, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "We Loved It All: A Memory of Life" is also available inpaperback (9781324105251, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.29, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Lydia Millet (https://lydiamillet.net) is the author of A Children's Bible, a finalist for the National BookAward and a New York Times Top Ten book of the Year. Her first work of short fiction, Love in Infant Monkeys, was afinalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2010; her second, Fight No More (2018), won an American Academy of Arts and Sciencesshort fiction award. Atavists is her third work of short fiction.
Karen: A Brother Remembers
Kelsey Grammer
Harper Select
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400252817, $31.99, HC, 456pp
https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Brother-Remembers-Kelsey-Grammer/dp/1400252814
Synopsis: On July 1, 1975, Kelsey Grammer's younger sister, eighteen-year-old Karen Grammer, was raped and murdered.With the publication of "Karen: A Brother Remembers", Kelsey reveals their past, celebrates their youth together, mournsher loss, and unearths his struggle for faith and healing in the decades since her death.
In this emotionally moving memoir of himself and his beloved sister, Grammer delves into the tragic story of his sister,Karen, who was brutally murdered at the age of eighteen. Kelsey was just twenty years old when his younger sister, a recenthigh school graduate, moved to Colorado Springs, where she was kidnapped by several men who had intended to rob theRed Lobster where she worked. They instead kidnapped Karen, raped her, and ultimately stabbed her to death.
Through this memoir, Grammer poignantly recounts the memories of his sister and the impact her loss had on his life andfamily. With raw honesty, Grammer explores the profound grief and devastation that followed Karen's death, as well as thelong and arduous journey toward healing. He bravely confronts the pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence, offeringreaders a glimpse into the complexities of coping with such a profound loss.
Karen also serves as a testament to Grammer's lifelong journey with grief and his struggle to defeat the sting of death withthe memory of a life filled with joy -- irreplaceable joy. In sharing his story, Grammer aims to help others who haveexperienced similar loss, offering solace and encouragement to cherish the love they knew, however brief, on their own pathtoward healing.
Simply stated, "Karen: A Brother Remembers" is a moving tribute to Karen and the brother's love that survives her.
Critique: Deftly written, emotionally compelling, and the kind of 'true life' story that will linger in the mind and memory ofthe reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf, "Karen: A Brother Remembers" by actorKelsey Grammer is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university libraryContemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcoveredition of "Karen: A Brother Remembers" from Harper Select is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$14.99).
Editorial Note: Kelsey Grammer is an Emmy-winning actor, producer, and director with a career spanning over threedecades in television, film, and theatre. He has earned six Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, a SAG Award, and 18Emmy nominations. Grammer is globally known for his iconic portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane, a role he played acrossCheers, Frasier, and Wings for over 20 years. Grammer's film credits include notable roles in The Space Between, The GodCommittee, The Marvels, Jesus Revolution, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and X-Men: The Last Stand, as well as a standoutvoice role as Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons since 1990, for which he won an Emmy in 2006.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelsey_Grammer)
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Arthur Conan Doyle, author
Julien Choy, artist
Manga Classics
www.mangaclassics.com
9781947808324, $19.99
https://www.amazon.com/Classics-Sherlock-Scarlet-CLASSICS-SHERLOCK/dp/194780832X
Synopsis: There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, andisolate it, and expose every inch of it. It is 1887 and a man has been murdered in an abandoned house. On his face is anexpression of utter horror; in his pocket is a woman's wedding ring. On the wall above him is the word RACHE, written inblood. But whose blood is it? Thus begins the story of one of the world's most famous partnerships. Join Manga Classicsnow as we return to the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes, in which he and his newfound partner Dr. John Watsonunravel the mystery behind a murder that spans the globe!
Critique: The first volume of a new Manga Classics series, Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet is a full-color graphicnovel adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic mystery that debuted his most famous characters - the moody yet brilliantconsulting detective Sherlock Holmes, and former battlefield surgeon Doctor John Watson, whose need to find lodging andemployment leads him to become Holmes' roommate and assistant. The beautiful art in the style of manga (Japanese comics)brings A Study in Scarlet to life, and accurately portrays the main characters in their twenties - although their ages aren'texplicitly given in the original story, Watson had become an assistant surgeon fairly recently before his discharge due to awar injury, and Holmes was a college student. (Doyle's later stories would chronicle Holmes and Watson as they aged.)
Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet is extremely faithful to Doyle's writings, and an enthralling new way to experience acherished work of literature. Here is the original Sherlock Holmes, who despised the police for their laziness andincompetence even though he aided them for a living; whose array of knowledge was immense yet lacking in specific areassuch as philosophy, literature, astronomy, and politics; who could make masterful deductions yet had such poor social skillsthat only an easygoing person like Watson could tolerate him as a roommate; and who was absolutely not immune to beingdeceived by a clever or well-prepared antagonist!
The Manga Classics edition of A Study in Scarlet is worthy of the highest recommendation for every Sherlock Holmes fanas well as public and school library graphic novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that a secondManga Classics volume, Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia and Other Stories, is forthcoming.
John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude
Lomig, author/illustrator
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123523, $24.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/John-Muir-Solitude-Comics-Biographies/dp/1681123525
Synopsis: What pushed John Muir to become the pioneering environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club?
1867: A sawmill is running at full speed with a terrible noise when suddenly, workers run to rescue a man on the ground. Hehas seriously injured his eyes. John Muir is twenty-nine years old, and it is likely that he may remain blind. Butmiraculously, after months of an almost mystical convalescence, he regains his sight. This episode convinces him he's goingto leave everything behind and embrace his lifelong dream: head south to meet the wilderness.
Armed with only his courage, his youth, a magnifying glass and a botanical book, Muir treks hundreds of miles on foot fromIndiana to Florida. Imagine an almost pristine wilderness, where only a few dangerous ex-soldiers from the South andformer slaves thrown out of the old plantations roam...
"John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude" by French illustrator and storyteller Lomig is a graphic novel biography that alsocovers his other life-changing pioneering trek along the Sierra Nevada Trail which now bears his name. Here, inbreathtaking vistas, is the inspiration he got to found the Sierra Club, create the first national parks, and become one ofAmerica's first and foremost environmentalist champions.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.7 x 11 inches) hardcover edition of "John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude" is rendered inthe B/W artwork of French illustrator Lomig. An informative and fascinating read from start to finish, this graphic noveledition of "John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude" from NBM Publishing is a compelling, entertaining, and unreservedlyrecommended pick for personal, highschool, community, and college/university library American Biography and GraphicNovel collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in thesubject that this hardcover edition of "John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude" is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Self-taught, author/illustrator Lomig first honed his skills in comic drawing. His stories feature individualsstuck in the throes of modern civilization. Lomig lives in Rennes, France.
Punk Rock in Comics!
Thierry Lamy and Nicolas Finet (writers) & various artists
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123509, $27.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Punk-Rock-Comics-NBM-Biographies/dp/1681123509
Synopsis: "Punk Rock in Comics!" from NBM Publishing is the iconic overview (in a graphic novel style format) of thepunk rock scene from its early inception in the seventies in New York and the UK.
Included are illustrated chapters on The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and more. Punk was also the flex point for women inrock that paved the way for the Riot Grrrl movement like Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, The Runaways, Patti Smithand The Slits.
Flashing the finger against the slick corporate rock of the '70s, punk was faster, messier, and louder than anything before it.Covered here with the same raw energy, look, and attitude as the music itself!
Critique: Drawing upon twenty artist contributors, and ably translated into English for an American readership by JamesHogan, "Punk Rock in Comics!" is part of the acclaimed 'NBM Comics Biographies' series. A fun and informative readfrom cover to cover, this large format (7.5 x 0.7 x 10 inches, 1.65 pounds) hardcover edition of "Punk Rock in Comics!" is a'must' for the legions of Punk Rock fans and a very special, recommended addition to personal, community, andcollege/university library 20th Century Popular Music History/Performers collections. It should be noted that this hardcoveredition of "Punk Rock in Comics!" is also available from NBM Graphic Novels in a digital book format (Kindle,$16.99).
Editorial Note #1: Born in 1962 in Chateaubriant, France, Thierry Lamy is a scriptwriter for many graphic novels andbiographies in comics, including co-authoring NBM's David Bowie in Comics and Pink Floyd in Comics. Nicolas Finet,author, publisher, filmmaker, journalist, curator, speaker, translator, has worked in comics for more than three decades. Heis also the author of more than half a dozen reference works on it. In music, he has just made a documentary on the bluesand comics, " Mississippi Ramblin," devoted to bluesman Robert Johnson. He is the writer, also with Christopher, of "Forever Woodstock."
Editorial Note #2: Nicolas Finet (https://nicolasfinet.net/biography-2) is a French writer, editor, consultant, journalist andspeaker.
Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep
Haruki Murakami, author
PMGL, illustrator
Jean-Christophe Deveney, adapter
Tuttle Publishing
https://tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317686, $19.99, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Haruki-Murakami-Manga-Stories-Scheherezade/dp/480531768X
Synopsis: Haruki Murakami's novels, essays and stories have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated intofifty languages. Now for the first time, his best-loved stories are available in the form of three independent manga stylegraphic novel volumes.
With their trademark mix of realism and fantasy, centering around Murakami's signature themes of loss, remorse andconfusion, the two stories in this third volume of his manga trilogy adapted by Jean-Christophe Deveney and deftlyillustrated by PMGL are:
1. Scheherazade: A man, Habara, is confined to his home, as though under house arrest. He is visited regularly by a woman,Scheherazade, who brings provisions then has sex with him. She tells him about a boy she was in love with in high school,and how she would break into his house. She starts re-enacting the break-ins, which further enhances their passion. At theend of the story, Habara anxiously awaits her next break-in and the continuing account of her youthful affair.
2. Sleep: A housewife has not slept for many days, but her family doesn't notice. She stays up all night reading AnnaKarenina and sees her surroundings through new eyes. Her sleeplessness provides freedom from a monotonous life lookingafter her husband and son.
These graphic novel versions of Murakami's classic stories will be devoured by his fans and will provide a new windowonto his work for readers not yet familiar with it!
Critique: As "Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep" from Tuttle Press demonstrates that graphic noveladaptations of iconic literary fictions has become an impressively sophisticated and exceptionally effective form ofillustrated storytelling. This third volume of the series showcasing Haruki Murakami's trilogy is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal, community, and college/university library Literary Graphic Novel collections. It should be notedthat this hardcover edition from Tuttle Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note #1: Haruki Murakami's first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, won the Gunzou Literature Prize in 1979. He is theauthor of many novels including Norwegian Wood, Sputnik Sweetheart and Kafka on the Shore. He has published threecollections of short stories: The Elephant Vanishes, After the Quake and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman. The most recentof his many international literary honors is the Jerusalem Prize, whose previous recipients include J. M. Coetzee, MilanKundera and V. S. Naipaul. Murakami's work has been translated into more than fifty languages.
Editorial Note #2: PMGL illustrates magazines and underground comix, and publishes comic strips, short stories and featurecomics. He also teaches human morphology and anatomy to animators and videogame artists. On the side he collects 45rpmrecords from the 70s and deejays under the nom de plume Koffi Gnato.
Editorial Note #3: Jean-Christophe Deveney's comic book adaptations have been published in Italy, Spain, England, USA,Japan and Argentina. He organizes international projects and comics exhibitions. He taught scriptwriting for comics andanimation for sixteen years.
Shadowplay: Midnight School
Sam Fonseca
Top Shelf Productions
c/o IDW
www.idwpublishing.com
9781603095488, $24.99, PB, 424pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shadowplay-Book-1-Midnight-School/dp/1603095489
Synopsis: This class is a nightmare. Violent teachers, barbed wire fences, torture devices, and gruesome suspensions... Howdid these students get trapped here? Why can't they remember? And once they realize the truth, are they strong enoughtogether to escape?
In his astonishing debut and with the publication of "Shadowplay: Midnight School", Brazilian graphic novelist SamFonseca presents a mind-bending work of psychological horror about creativity, self-doubt, and the battles we all face toendure a world where shadows only grow stronger.
This is the first part of a mind- bending horror saga of mystery and despair, friendship and hope, light and darkness asreaders join with the students of the Midnight School at the start of their macabre odyssey.
Critique: Simply stunning artwork illuminates a mind-bending story of psychological horror about creative souls strugglingagainst oppression and depression, "Shadowplay: Midnight School" by author/illustrator Sam Fonesca will be of special andparticular interest for dedicated fans of Horror, Mystery, Adventure, Manga, and Fantasy -- effectively presented in agraphic novel format. While available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), this tradepaperback (6.88 x 1.25 x 9.69 inches, 2.5 pounds) edition of "Shadowplay: Midnight School" is a riveting read from coverto cover and a prized pick for highschool and community library graphic novel collections for young adults.
Editorial Note: Sam Fonseca (https://samfonseca.com) has been drawing comics since he discovered that the anime hewatched on TV as a child came from manga -- and that it was possible to create all that stuff by himself using paper andpencil (still his tools of choice). Nowadays, he alternates duties between art direction, storyboard art, script writing foranimation and TV projects, and creating comics. His comic project Age of Rust was nominated three times for the HQMixPrize, and his other title, Dynamite & Laser Beam, won in the "best webcomic" category. Sam also has the strange hobby ofcreating soundtracks for his comics.
The Rocketeer: Breaks Free
Stephen Mooney, author
Staz Johnson, illustrator
IDW Publishing
www.idwpublishing.com
9798887242750, $19.99, PB, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Rocketeer-Breaks-Free-Stephen-Mooney/dp/B0DBH8BQRJ
Synopsis: In "The Rocketeer: Breaks Free", the Rocketeer storms the City by the Bay! With Betty about to start work on anew film, Cliff and Peevy join the aspiring starlet on a trip to San Francisco, where they liaise with fellow pilot and friend(and government operative) Debbie Seville. As always, trouble seems to follow Cliff, who gets caught up in a cable caraccident! But at least it'll be all smooth sailing after that, right? Not if the Rocketeer's luck stays true to form!
Critique: Comprised of a four-issue miniseries written by Stephen Mooney (Rocketeer: The Great Race, Half Past Danger)and drawn by Staz Johnson (Robin, Catwoman), "The Rocketeer: Breaks Free" is a fun read from cover to cover and willprove to be a prized pick for personal reading lists and community library Comics/Graphic Novel collections. It should benoted that this paperback edition of "The Rocketeer: Breaks Free" from IDW Publishing is also availablein a digital bookformat (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note #1: Stephen Mooney is a comics writer and artist from Dublin, Ireland. After drawing a series of TVspin-offs, his creator-owned pulp adventure series Half Past Danger is now being published by IDW. His other creditsinclude Generation Zero, X-O Manowar, Grayson, and Midnighter. He also works as an illustrator, concept artist, andstoryboard artist in advertising, and is a member of the Eclectic Micks Sketch Blog.
Editorial Note #1: Stewart "Staz" Johnson is an English comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on DCComics' Robin and Catwoman series.
Godzilla: Skate or Die
Louie Joyce
IDW Publishing
www.idwpublishing.com
9798887241869, $17.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Godzilla-Skate-Die-Louie-Joyce/dp/B0DBH7TFXJ
Synopsis: Four years ago, four best friends and die-hard skaters found the perfect location for a DIY skatepark. Aftermonths of hard work, they created the world's sickest spot that they could enjoy for the rest of their lives... That is, until theferocious Varan appeared in the middle of central Australia and started making a beeline for their beloved park.
Why is Varan on a rampage? Why did Godzilla just appear off the coast? What does their beloved skate spot have to dowith this? And most importantly... what are these punks willing to do to save it?
Critique: A fun and original Godzilla story that will be especially appreciated by the legions of Godzilla fans, this graphicnovel paperback edition of "Godzilla: Skate or Die" by author/illustrator Louie Joyce is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal and community library collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Godzilla:Skate or Die" from IDW Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Louie Joyce (https://louiejoyce.com) is an award-winning comics creator and illustrator. His comics includeA Fistful of Pain (Published by ComiXTribe) Haphaven (Winner of a 2020 Silver Ledger Award, Shortlisted for the 2019Aurealis Awards, Best Graphic Novel, Published by Lion Forge), Past the Last Mountain (Winner of a 2017 Silver LedgerAward), Astral, A Life in The City and self published books MISHMASH & HODGEPODGE.
The Well
Jon Allen
Top Shelf Productions
c/o IDW
www.idwpublishing.com
9781603095495, $29.99, PB, 720pp
Synopsis: Veronika is 24 and tired: of her crummy boyfriend, of living with her parents, of feeling stalled out whileeveryone else moved on. With a new job coding software for a "wellness" company that makes brain-boosting energydrinks, she finally has a chance to turn things around. At this rate, Veronika may never feel tired again!
But as she gets more comfortable with the office and the people in it, Veronika stumbles upon surprises in the dark thatleave her questioning everything she thought she knew about the world... and about herself.
Critique: With confident cartooning and expert pacing comprising writer/artist Jon Allen's debut graphic novel for TopShelf Productions, "The Well" aptly demonstrates his genuine flair for creating anthropomorphic animals who feelexquisitely human to his readers. Combining narrative driven dialogue with unexpected plot twists (and a justifiableskepticism about techno-utopian promises), "The Well" showcases an original and unfailingly entertaining slice-of-life storythat the author brings his graphic novel to an impressive level of literary excellence. Highly recommended for personal andcommunity library graphic novel collections, it should be noted that this stout (7.19 x 1.72 x 7.06 inches, 2.6 pounds)paperback edition of "The Well" from Top Shelf Productions is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,$16.99).
Editorial Note: Jon Allen (https://www.jonallenart.com/jonallenart) studied painting and illustration and has been drawingcomics since 2009. He has exhibited his work at comics festivals for over a decade, including SPX, MICE, MoCCA, TCAF,CAB, and more. His day job is being a UX designer in Brooklyn, New York.
Shadowplay: Midnight School
Sam Fonseca
Top Shelf Productions
c/o IDW
www.idwpublishing.com
9781603095488, $24.99, PB, 424pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shadowplay-Book-1-Midnight-School/dp/1603095489
Synopsis: This class in something called the Midnight School is a nightmare. Violent teachers, barbed wire fences, torturedevices, and gruesome suspensions... How did these students get trapped here? Why can't they remember? And once theyrealize the truth, are they strong enough together to escape?
In his astonishing debut, Brazilian graphic novelist Sam Fonseca presents "Shadowplay: Midnight School" a mind-bendinggraphic novel of psychological horror about creativity, self-doubt, and the battles we all face to endure a world whereshadows only grow stronger.
"Shadowplay: Midnight School" is the first part of a mind- bending horror adventure series replete with elements of mysteryand despair, friendship and hope, light and darkness. Readers will be joining the students of the Midnight School at the startof their macabre odyssey.
Critique: Original, clever, engaging, and a fun read for dedicated fans of Horror, Mystery, Adventure, Manga, and Fantasythemed grapic novels in the manga style of illustration, "Shadowplay: Midnight School" by Sam Fonseca is especially andunreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library GraphicNovel and Horror Fiction collections. It should be noted that this trade paperback (6.88 x 1.25 x 9.69 inches, 2.5 pounds)edition of "Shadowplay: Midnight School" from Top Shelf Productions is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Sam Fonseca (https://samfonseca.com) has been drawing comics since he discovered that the anime hewatched on TV as a child came from manga -- and that it was possible to create all that stuff by himself using paper andpencil (still his tools of choice). Nowadays, he alternates duties between art direction, storyboard art, script writing foranimation and TV projects, and creating comics. His comic project Age of Rust was nominated three times for the HQMixPrize, and his other title, Dynamite & Laser Beam, won in the "best webcomic" category. Sam also has the strange hobby ofcreating soundtracks for his comics.
Dreamover
Dani Diaz
Top Shelf Productions
c/o IDW
www.idwpublishing.com
9781603095464, $19.99, PB, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dreamover-Dani-Diaz/dp/1603095462
Synopsis: Amber's a headstrong goofball with a temper. Nico's a shy, self-conscious emo boy. But they've been best friendssince third grade, and she can't hide her feelings for him any longer. At the end of their eighth-grade beach trip, sheconfesses... and the feeling is mutual! Thus begins a glorious, blissful summer of first love.
But once high school starts, life gets more complicated. Faced with early mornings, bullies, homework, and other stresses,Amber and Nico cling to each other, neglecting their friends. Soon, Amber starts to wish she and Nico could escape from itall.
One night, as they fall asleep playing video games, Amber gets her wish... But when this one sleepover literally turns into adream, will they ever want to wake up again?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a compelling read from cover to cover, "Dreamover" is the captivating debut of "DaniDiaz as a graphic novelist with her riveting and illustrated story of two best friends becoming more than friends and isparticularly recommended for middle school, highschool and community library Graphic Novel collections for ages 12- 18..It should be noted for personal reading lists that this trade paperback (6.13 x 0.92 x 8.5 inches, 1.45 pounds) edition of"Dreamover" from Top Shelf Productions is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Dani Diaz (@memoryfuel) is a transfeminine Filipino-Argentinian American graphic novelist born andraised in the DMV (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. (https://theartofmemoryfuel.com)
The Audiobook Shelf
Angus Donald, author
Mike Rogers, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399182454, $126.95, CD, 12 Hours 22 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399182454
Synopsis: Post-Roman Britain. Thousands of desperate Saxon refugees are flooding the island, fleeing their homelands asthe whole world warms and the waters rise, and worse, the mighty dragon Cythraul from the once-frozen North has beenawoken by an evil sorceress.
His lust for human flesh is insatiable, and he threatens to extinguish all human life. The land is riven with strife and warfare.The petty kingdoms battle constantly with each other for supremacy and only one man, a young Dumnonian warrior, canhope to unite them.
His name is Arthur.
Critique: Offering a solidly delivered 'theatre of the mind' experience, the narrative skills of Mike Rogers brings authorAngus Donald's "The Broken Kingdom" sword and sorcery novel brilliantly to life. Original, deftly crafted, complete andunabridged, "The Broken Kingdom is a 'must' for community library audio book collections. It should be noted that this 11disc CD edition (with a sturdy clamshell casing) of "The Broken Kingdom" from Boldwood Books is also readily availablein an MP3-CD format (9781399182461, $126.95).
Editorial Note #1: LJ Andrews (https://ljandrews.net) is a gifted author of fantasy romance. She mystically brings to lifeworlds of dark Nordic and Viking myths bound by conflicts that bring together impassioned heroes and heroines.
Editorial Note #2: Mike Rogers (https://mikerogers.info/voice) has worked as a voice artist for a wide range of clients,narrating television documentaries, commercials, internet video, conference VO's, video game characters, BBC radio drama,as well as a long list of unabridged audio books for publishers such as HarperCollins, Oakhill and Audible. He has his ownstudio based in West Berkshire, England.
Whisper Of War And Storms
C. L. Mecca, author
Kate Handord & Max Dowler, narrators
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836562801, $90.95, CD, 8 Hours 20 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836562801
Synopsis: When a forgotten ring reveals Mevlida Brennan's true heritage as the long-lost princess of Aetheria, a kingdom ofimmortals and magic, her world is turned upside down. But there's just one problem -- Mev didn't know she wasmissing.
Thrust into a realm on the brink of war, Mev is caught between her newfound legacy and a dangerous political game. Apowerful king holds the key to restoring the ancient portal that connects their realms, but his son, Kael, stands in her way.Brooding, relentless, and dangerously irresistible, Kael is sworn to protect his people - even if it means kidnapping Mev tokeep her from uncovering the truth.
As dark forces rise and her dormant powers awaken, trust is a luxury neither can afford, yet their hearts may leave them nochoice. Mev must embrace her destiny or risk losing everything. Because the storm isn't coming -- it's already here. In abattle of elemental magic, loyalty, and love, one whisper could spark a war.
Critique: Complete and unabridged, this 7 CD audio book edition of the heroic fantasy "Whisper of War and Storms" by C.L. Mecca is brought vividly to life by the narrative storytelling talents of Kate Hanford and Max Dowler. Of special appealto fans of fantasy stories with a determined princess, a forbidden love, and a special destiny revealed slowly throughout,"Whisper of War and Storms" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for community library audio bookcollections. It should be noted that this CD edition of "Whisper of War and Storms" is also readily available from BoldwoodBooks in an MP3-CD format (9781836562818, $90.95) and in a large print trade paperback edition (9781836562863,$42.00).
Editorial Note #1: C.L. Mecca (a.k.a. Cissy Mecca) writes romance with a twist -- whether it's swoony small-town hunks,brooding historical knights, or magical romantasy heroes, she's ready to transport readers to another time and place.(https://meccaromance.com/cissy-mecca)
Editorial Note #2: Kate Handord (https://www.katehandford.com) is an actress living in London, England.
Editorial Note #3: Max Dowler (https://maxdowler.com) has narrated audiobooks, as well as delivering ADR andperforming corporate voiceover and adverts for both TV and radio. He has perform in feature films such as 'Ammonite',directed by Francis Lee, starring Kate Winslet and Saiorse Ronan; and 'The One and Only Ivan', with Bryan Cranston andAngelina Jolie. His television credits include some of the UK's most iconic TV series such as 'Line Of Duty', 'The Crown','Coronation Street', 'This England', 'I Hate Suzie', 'The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family', 'Emmerdale', 'EastEnders', andmore.
Mrs. Sidhu Investigates
Suk Pannu, author
Meera Syal, Justin Edwards, & Amy Morgan, narrators
BBC Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781529958188, $50.95, CD, 3 Hours 43 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781529958188
Synopsis: Mrs. Sidhu is an Indian caterer with a highly active imagination and her own brand of crime solving -- enough ofa brand, in fact, that the local police have a file on her 'observations'.
This complete and unabridged audio book eddition of "Mrs. Sidhu Investigates" from BBC Audio features: "Murder withMasala" and finds Mrs Sidhu catering an upscale Berkshire wedding at Lapsley Hall, where a bridesmaid goes missing.Calling in her contact Inspector Burton, Mrs Sidhu finds herself investigating the family's playboy son, the mysteriousbutler, and even Lord and Lady Lucas themselves. While simultaneously dealing with her argumentative son and her wilysupplier, Mrs Sidhu must uncover the truth about the whole wedding party before it's too late.
In the second story comprising "Mrs. Sidhu Investigates" is "Mrs Sidhu's Dangerous Highland Game". The sleuthing cheftravels up to Scotland, catering for a billionaire at a remote shooting estate. But soon the client is missing and the estate iscut off by bad weather. Will Mrs Sidhu's clues give Inspector Burton a helping hand, or a headache? And is she there toreveal the truth about Castle Tannoch - or are they all just there as quarry for an entirely different type of hunt?
Critique: Perfect for the legions of British cozy mystery fans, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of authorSuk Pannu's "Mrs. Sidhu Investigates" that originated as BBC 4 radio plays is once again brought to life in a true 'theatre ofthe mind' experience by the narrative acting and storytelling skills of a full cast that includes Meera Syal, Justin Edwards,and Amy Morgan. This 3 disc edition is encased in a sturdy clamshell casing, making it especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal and community library Cozy Mystery audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Meera Syal Meera Syal CBE FRSL is an English comedian, writer, playwright, singer, journalist andactress. She rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and by portraying Sanjeev'sgrandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No. 42. She has become one of the UK's best-known Asian personalities.
Editorial Note #2: Justin Matthew Edwards is an English actor, comedian and writer. His roles include Ben Swain in theBBC political comedy The Thick of It and the lead role in the short-lived Channel 5 sitcom Respectable.
Editorial Note #3: Amy Morgan is an English actress best known for her roles in movies like Mr. Selfridge (2013), Pan(2015), and No Time to Die (2021).
Murder In The Tuscan Hills
T. A. Williams, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835187760, $83.95, CD, 5 Hours 32 Minutes
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835187760
Synopsis: As grape harvest season rolls around, retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his beloved canine companion, Oscar, arelooking forward to a nice quiet September. But when Dan is contacted about a mysterious death out in the Tuscan Hills, itseems that work must come before pleasure when a body found lying outside a prestigious winery, the result of a tragic hitand run. But then the police discover that this is a cover up for murder... but who would kill in such an idyllic spot andwhy?
As Dan investigates, he meets famous ex rock star, Digger, owner of the winery and prestigious Podere Dei Santi hotel.Digger's guests include wealthy businessmen, tourists, and, among them, suspected mafia hitmen. But more significant forDan is a face he knows only too well from his own past and he soon finds that wine isn't the only thing fermenting aroundhim.
Could this murder be the start of a gangland war, or do the killer's motives lie much closer to home? Will complicationsfrom Dan's past return to trouble his future? Either way, Dan and Oscar must work around the clock to solve another Tuscanmystery.
Critique: The latest addition to author T. A. Williams' simply outstanding murder mystery series "Murder in the TuscanHills" once again stars a retired British police detective and his dog, both of whom live and travel through the beautifulItalian countryside and small villages of Tuscany. Original and fun from start to finish, this complete and unabridged, 6 CDaudio book with its sturdy clamshell container, and deftly narrated by the vocal storytelling talents of Simon Mattacks, is anideal and popular pick for community library collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of T. A. Williams fansthat "Murder in the Tuscany Hills" is also available from Boldwood Books in an MP3-CD format (9781835187777, $83.95)and in a large print paperback edition (9781835187838, $42.00).
Editorial Note #1: T. A. Williams (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/t-a-williams) has written all sorts of booksincluding: thrillers, historical novels, short stories, romances and cozy mystery 'whodunnits'.
The Library CD Shelf
Composed by Fred Stride and Jean-Nicolas Trottier
Performed by The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
winnipegjazzorchestra.com
Chronograph Records
chronojazz.com
$12.99 CD / $10.99 digital
https://chronographrecords.com/releases/east-meets-west-connections
The Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Canada's first professional community-based jazz orchestra, presents their eighth album EastMeets West: Connections, an original nine-movement suite by composers Fred Stride and Jean-Nicolas Trottier. Anextraordinary medley showcasing the talents of various orchestra members on flugelhorn, vibraphone, tenor sax, baritonesax, and much more, East Meets West: Connections is a richly textured soundscape and a welcome addition to personal andpublic library jazz collections. Highly recommended! The tracks are Sounds of Joy, Hello Jean-Nicolas, Leave No Stone,Echoes From Within, The Healing Song, Halfway Point, Another Look, The Jaws of Defeat, and The Great Return. 49 min,20 sec.
The Precious Dark
David Helpling and Eric "the" Taylor
Spotted Peccary Music
www.SpottedPeccary.com
$16.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://davidhelpling.bandcamp.com/album/the-precious-dark
The Precious Dark is the latest music album collaboration by ambient electronic music artists David Helpling and Eric "the"Taylor. Notably, The Precious Dark consists entirely of the original music crafted and performed by human beings, not byartificial intelligence! The sweeping songs evoke the galaxy-spanning forces of the unknowable cosmic expanse.Contemplative and profound, The Precious Dark is a choice pick for creative inspiration, highly recommended. The tracksare The Space Between Atoms, The Precious Dark, Cavernous Heart, The Ice Has Dreams, Her Endless Cold Embrace, ForThose in Shadow, and We Rise in a Harmonious System.
Open
Stephen Wallack
www.stephenwallackmusic.com
Privately Published
$9.99 CD / $TBA digital
https://www.stephenwallackmusic.com/store-1/open
Open is an original, new age solo piano album written and performed by Stephen Wallack. The quiescently beautifulsoundscape guides the listener on a peaceful, immersive journey. A treasure ideal for fostering meditation, or simplysoothing the mental stress of a hard day, Open is highly recommended for both personal and public library musiccollections. The tracks are Faith, Love Story, Fall, Changes, Ireland, Maine, Once Upon a Time, One Last Run, Girl in thePainting, and Storm. 48 min 19 sec.
Purposing the Air
Ingrid Laubrock
ingridlaubrock.com
Pyroclastic Records
pyroclasticrecords.com
$30.00 2 CDs / $20.00 digital
https://ingrid-laubrock.bandcamp.com/album/purposing-the-air
Purposing the Air is a 2-CD album that sets the words of poet Erica Hunt's piece "Mood Librarian - a poem in koan" tomusic. Purposing the Air approaches each two- or three-line fragment from the poem as a separate composition, creating aneclectic merger of music and philosophy. Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock gracefully weaves an interlaced masterpiece alongwith guest artists in tailored duos: vocalist Fay Victor with cellist Mariel Roberts; vocalist Sara Serpa with pianist MattMitchell; vocalist Theo Bleckmann with guitarist Ben Monder; and mezzo soprano Rachel Calloway with violinist AriStreisfeld. A transcendent marriage of poem and music, Purposing the Air is highly recommended especially forconnoisseurs of the avant-garde.
In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts
Charles Mingus
Resonance Records
www.ResonanceRecords.org
$26.98 2 CDs
https://www.amazon.com/Mingus-Argentina-Buenos-Aires-Concerts/dp/B0DW4CTM9R
Charles Mingus (1922-1979) was a multitalented jazz composer, upright bassist, pianist, bandleader, and author with astoried musical career spanning three decades. In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts is the first authorized release oftwo live concerts from Mingus' 1977 South American tour, now available as a 2-CD set. Released with the full cooperationand authorization of the Jazz Workshop, Inc. and the Charles Mingus Estate, In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts is atreasure of jazz history preserved for current and future generations, highly recommended!
Salsa de la Bahia vol. 3
Renegade Queens
renegadequeens.com
Patois Records
patoisrecords.com
$22.99 2 CDs / $14.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Salsa-Bahia-Vol-Renegade-Queens/dp/B0DSWSQF13
https://renegadequeens.com/shop-now
The third volume of a Latin jazz music CD trilogy celebrating composers and performers of the San Francisco Bay area,Salsa de la Bahia vol. 3 is a double-CD that spotlights pioneering women of salsa and Latin jazz. A lively, upbeat showcaseof commendable talent past and present, Salsa de la Bahia vol. 3 is a treasure for connoisseurs of Latin jazz and highlyrecommended. The tracks are We Were Born To Drum, Me Quedo Contigo, Take the RR Train, La Lagrima, Cosmo,Momento, Love Walked In, Can't Eat Clout, Deixa O Amor Florescer, and Odie on disc 1; and La Mensajera, Estoy Ahoraen la Punta, Moving Day, The Peanut Vendor, Caravan, Por La Tu Puerta, Frevo No Morrozinho, Matter, and Samba Novaon disc 2.
Dream a Dream
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio
Libra Records
https://www.librarecords.com/index_e.html
$TBA CD / 1,000 JPY digital
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/dream-a-dream
Dream a Dream is a vibrant jazz album by the Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio: Satoko Fujii on piano, Takashi Sugawa on bass, andIttetsu Takemura on drums. Together they have created a quietly powerful, intensely creative work that sublimely balancescomposition and improvisation. Dream a Dream is a welcome addition to personal and public library multicultural jazzcollections, highly recommended! The tracks are Second Step, Dream a Dream, Summer Day, Rain Drop, and Aruku.
Zito's Jump!
James Zito
jameszitomusic.com
Privately Published
$20.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://jameszitomusic.bandcamp.com/album/zitos-jump
Guitarist James Zito presents Zito's Jump!, a jazz album of six songs composed by Zito and six arrangements originallycomposed by others. An orchestra of talented players on bass, drums, piano, tenor saxophone, flute, vocals, trumpet,trombone, and alto and baritone saxophone bring all the songs of Zito's Jump! to multilayered life. A rousing collectionbrimming with force and verve, Zito's Jump! is a "must" for connoisseurs of vibrant jazz, highly recommended. The tracksare Zito's Jump (James Zito); Bird in the Wind (James Zito); Island Girl (James Zito); Time Zone (James Zito); Ready 'NAble (Jimmy Smith); Pense Nisso (James Zito); Minor Lies (James Zito); The Nearness of You (H. Carmichael - N.Washington); The End of a Love Affair (E. Redding); After You've Gone (T. Layton - H. Creamer); It Could Happen ToYou (J. Van Heusen - J. Burke); and After You've Gone (Alternate Take) (T. Layton - H. Creamer).
Planet D Nonet Presents Doctor Professor Leonard King in Tribute to Joe Williams
Planet D Nonet
East Lawn Records
www.eastlawnrecords.com
$10.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://planetdnonet.bandcamp.com/album/planet-d-nonet-presents-doctor-professor-leonard-king-in-tribute-to-joe-williams
Planet D Nonet Presents Doctor Professor Leonard King in Tribute to Joe Williams is a tribute album created to honor themusical legacy of African-American jazz singer Joe Williams (1918-1999). The album especially focuses on Joe Williams'songs after his departure from the Count Basie Orchestra (with one exception, in the song "The Comeback"). Arrangementsof Joe Williams' timeless songs are brought to life with the richly talented performance of a full jazz orchestra; LeonardKing sings all of the vocals. Planet D Nonet Presents Doctor Professor Leonard King in Tribute to Joe Williams is a treasurefor jazz connoisseurs of all backgrounds, highly recommended! The tracks are Who She Do; The Comeback; Detour Ahead;Sad Song; Night Time is the Right Time; Young Man on the Way Up; It's the Same Old Story; Don't Push, Don't Pull; andSome of This 'n' Some of That.
Impact
The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet
steveholtmusic.com
Privately Published
$20.00 CAD CD / $10.00 CAD digital
https://steveholtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-steve-holt-jazz-impact-quintet-impact
Impact is a striking jazz album by The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet: Kevin Turcotte on trumpet and flugelhorn, PerryWhite on tenor saxophone, Steve Holt on piano, Duncan Hopkins on bass, and Terry Clarke on drums. Six of the nine songsare composed by Steve Holt; two are by talented guest composers; and the final song is Canada's national anthem. Anexciting, intense, and high-energy music collection, Impact fires up the mind and the spirit, and is highly recommended forconnoisseurs of upbeat, joyful jazz. the tracks are Impact, Second Voyage, The Cup Bearers (Tom MacIntosh), Lalita'sWaltz, The Unveiling, The Lion's Eyes, The Inner Player, Tender Tears (Larry Coryell), and O Canada (CalixaLavallee).
The Library DVD Shelf
A film by Victoria Westover
First Run Features
FirstRunFeatures.com
$19.95 DVD
https://firstrunfeatures.com/finalvowsvod.html
Synopsis: Final Vows chronicles the life of a cloistered order of nuns at Santa Rita Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in thehigh desert of Arizona. The nuns, who take a vow that binds them to remain in the community they entered for life, candidlyshare their joys and struggles. While each woman's journey is unique, they all felt a call and chose to join this community ofprayer and work.
The nuns rise at 4am for their first prayers of the day and support themselves through the production and sale of altar bread.The Abbey faces challenges as the nuns are aging and few young women are choosing a monastic life. The Abbess, alife-sustaining presence for this striving community, may be required to step down soon when she turns 75 years old.
Made from small moments of daily life, the film serves as a meditation on aging and caring for others and asks viewers toconsider if this lifestyle offers any wisdom for our society.
Critique: An intimate portrait of daily life among a cloistered order in the Cistercian monastery of Santa Rita Abby inArizona, Final Vows candidly portrays prayer and work among the community of aging nuns. Few young women choosemonastic life and its required vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience; yet there are strong spiritual draws to a lifetime ofservice and dedication. Final Vows is captivating, emotional, and highly recommended especially for school and publiclibrary DVD collections. 84 minutes, optional English subtitles.
The Multimedia Shelf
Dr. Purgatory
davidriddel.ca
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $35.00 CAD vinyl / $15.00 CAD digital
https://drpurgatory.bandcamp.com/album/the-consumption-a-tragic-folktale-in-six-parts
https://drpurgatory.bandcamp.com/merch
Toronto guitarist and composer David Riddel (a.k.a. Dr. Purgatory) presents The Consumption: A Tragic Folktale in SixParts, an original, multidisciplinary jazz album performed with Aline Homzy on violin, Colleen Allen on alto sax and flute,Conrad Gluch on alto sax and bass clarinet, Noam Lemish on piano, Andrew Downing on upright bass, and Stefan Hegeraton drums. The chamber jazz album is intended to accompany a darkly humorous, 40-page novella, featuring mythicalcharacters and illustrations by Sid Sharp. The novella has a physical edition that will be distributed with vinyl purchases,and can be purchased independently (https://drpurgatory.bandcamp.com/merch). The Consumption: A Tragic Folktale inSix Parts is an immersive multimedia experience, highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of avant- garde jazzstorytelling! The tracks are Prologue (Barbatos Speaks to the Animals); Creature (Graiae the One-Eyed Orphan); TheConsumption; Intermission; The Fox (Pt. 1); The Fox (Pt. 2); The Philistine (Donating My Body to Seance); The MuddyRiver to Nowhere; Necropolis; and Epilogue (Paradais).
The General Fiction Shelf
Kim Fay
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group
www.penguin.com
9780593852385, $28.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Frida-Novel-Friendship-Books/dp/0593852389
Synopsis: Sometimes a book can change your life...
Twenty-something Frida Rodriguez arrives in Paris in 1991, relishing the city's butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her futureas a war correspondent. But then she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, and receives more than just the book she requests. Afriendship begins that will redefine the person she wants to become.
Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida's free spirit, spurred to believe in herself as a writer, to kiss herhandsome coworker, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives (personallyand globally) Kate and Frida sustain and nourish each other as they learn the necessity of embracing joy, especially throughour darkest hours.
"Kate & Frieda" is a kind of love letter to bookshops and booksellers in the form of a novel, paying homage to the passionsof life in our twenties, and to the last precious years before the internet was to change everything.
Critique: A unique, fascinating, deftly crafted, thought-provoking, and emotionally engaging novel on the themes of food,books, and the friendship of women, "Kate & Frida" by Kim Fay is a fun and memorable read from cover to cover. Whileespecially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should benoted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Kate & Frida" from G.P. Putnam's Sons is also readilyavailable in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Kim Fay (https://www.kimfaybooks.com) is the author of "Love & Saffron" and Edgar Award-nominated"The Map of Lost Memories". A former independent bookseller, she lived for many years in Vietnam, which was theinspiration for "Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam".
Family & Other Calamities
Leslie Gray Streeter
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662527616, $28.99, HC, 255pp
https://www.amazon.com/Family-Other-Calamities-Leslie-Streeter/dp/1662527616
Synopsis: Entertainment journalist Dawn Roberts has a lot to work through: a widow's grief, betrayals of family and friends,and scandals that almost tanked her reputation. Not that Dawn dwells on the past. Well, hardly. When she returns toBaltimore with her husband's ashes, she can't avoid it. In fact, she's diving into decades of backstabbing and treachery forher first trip home in years.
She's looking at you, Joe Perkins. Her former mentor, whose explosive expose about big-city corruption is being turned intoa slanderous movie, is also back in town. The villain of the piece? Dawn. The good news is that this could all be a chance toreset -- heal family wounds, admit to her own mistakes, and maybe even reconnect with the one who got away. Oh, and geteven with Joe any way she can.
With the surprising help of an up-and-coming journalist and a legendary R & B diva, Dawn will finally set the recordstraight. Returning home might just be the biggest story in Dawn's life, a fresh start (and happy ending) she neverexpected.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, laced throughout with dark humor arising from the foibles of an ordinary woman having todeal with an extraordinary family, "Family & Other Calamities" by novelist Leslie Gray Streeter is emotionally engaging,comedic, and resonating. Told by an author with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style the keepsthe reader interested from start to finish, "Family & Other Calamities" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a toppick for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be note for personal reading lists that thishardcover edition of "Family & Other Calamities" from Lake Union is also available in paperback (9781662527623,$16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Leslie Gray Streeter (www.lesliegraystreeter.com) is a journalist and columnist for the Baltimore Banner.She is also the author of the memoir Black Widow: A Sad-Funny Journey Through Grief for People Who Normally AvoidBooks with Words Like "Journey" in the Title. She is the co-host of the podcast Fine Beats and Cheeses, and a frequentspeaker on grief.
The Artist of Blackberry Grange
Paulette Kennedy
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662524158, $16.99, PB, 324pp
https://www.amazon.com/Artist-Blackberry-Grange-Novel/dp/1662524153
Synopsis: In the summer of 1925, the winds of change are particularly chilling for a young woman whose life has suddenlybecome unbalanced.
Devastated by her mother's death and a cruelly broken engagement, Sadie Halloran learns that her great-aunt Marguerite, arenowned artist now in the throes of dementia, needs a live-in companion. Grasping at newfound purpose, Sadie leaves herdesolate Kansas City boardinghouse for Blackberry Grange, Marguerite's once-grand mansion sitting precariously atop anArkansas bluff. Though Marguerite is a fading shell of the vibrant woman Sadie remembers, Marguerite is feverishlycompelled to paint eerie, hallucinatory portraits of old lovers - some cherished, some regretted, and some beastly. All ofthem haunting.
With each passing night, time itself seems to shift with the shadows at Blackberry Grange. As truth and delusion begin toblur, Sadie must uncover the secrets that hold Marguerite captive to her past before reality (and Marguerite's life) slips awayentirely.
Critique: Original, exceptional, and a fascinating read from start to finish, "The Artist of Blackberry Grange" by PauletteKennedy is an extraordinary novel that will hold a special appeal to readers with an interest in the occult and gothic stylefiction. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should benoted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Artist of Blackberry Grange" from Lake UnionPublishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Paulette Kennedy (www.paulettekennedy.com) is the author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, The Witch ofTin Mountain, and Parting the Veil -- which received the HNS Review Editor's Choice Award. She has had a lifelongobsession with the gothic and has an affinity for fog-covered landscapes and haunted heroines.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Lacy Fewer
Koehler Books
www.koehlerbooks.com
9798888246078, $28.95, HC, 258pp
https://www.amazon.com/Yankeeland-Lacy-Fewer/dp/B0DQYC91WS
Synopsis: Fiercely independent and passionate, Brigid feels hindered by her family and the strict society of her small Irishtown in the early 1900s.
Brigid and her cousin Molly (who is more like a sister) dream of a new life in the seemingly unlimited land of opportunitythey call Yankeeland - America. Brigid gets her chance when she emigrates with her husband Ben and her brother James,while Molly stays in Ireland.
But when Brigid's quest to have a child leads her to seek unconventional help, her mental stability is questioned. She is sooncaught up in a patriarchal medical establishment she has little power to fight.
The new life in America Brigid dreamed about takes a drastic turn. Decades later Brigid's grandniece discovers a sack full ofletters between the two cousins. She unravels the story and vows to tell the tale of what really happened to Brigid inYankeeland.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that "Yankeeland" is author Lacy Fewer's debut as a novelist and wasinspired by to write her novel by her discovery of her grandaunt's letters -- which in her words, 'haunted her'. Original, deftlycrafted, emotionally engaging, and an entertaining read from cover to cover, Lacy's genuine flair for the kind of distinctiveand narrative driven storytelling style has raised her work of historical fiction to an impressive level of literary excellence.Especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Literary & Historical Fiction collections, it should benoted that this hardcover edition of "Yankeeland" from Koehler Books is also readily available for personal reading lists inpaperback (9798888246054, $18.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Lacy Fewer (https://lacyfewer.com) is an award winning author and a native of Dublin, Ireland. A graduateof University College Dublin, she has enjoyed a career in banking and finance. Following her passion for storytelling, shehas shifted her focus to writing. She lives in Dublin with her husband and children.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Mary Ellen Taylor
https://maryellentaylor.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662513442, $16.99, PB, 335pp
https://www.amazon.com/After-Paris-Mary-Ellen-Taylor/dp/1662513445
Synopsis: At twenty-five, Ruby Nevins has already endured more than most. But after two years of battling cancer, she'swarily determined to move forward. Researching a new project about a French actress, she soon uncovers an old diary thatwill change her life forever...
Cecile, the "it" girl of early 1940s French cinema, vanished from Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942. Sylvia Rousseau, Cecile'sdressmaker and confidante, left that same year. Working to piece together the truth behind Cecile's disappearance andSylvia's extraordinary life, Ruby recognizes the women as kindred spirits. They risked their hearts and lives to aid theResistance, and each day was a struggle to survive.
Ruby knows her cancer could come back, but she's learning to embrace the future rather than fear it. If Cecile and Sylviacould live their lives in the shadow of death, so can Ruby. Because she knows there's so much life (and love) to fightfor.
Critique: Blending an historical romance set in World War II, with an element of mystery to be solved, "After Paris" bynovelist Mary Ellen Taylor is impressively original, skillfully written, reader engaging, and a fully entertaining story fromstart to finish. With the kind of tale that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has beenfinished and set back upon the shelf, "After Paris" is an extraordinary and highly recommended pick for personal andcommunity library Historical Fiction/Romance collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "After Paris"from Montlake is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: A southerner by birth, Mary Ellen Taylor's love of her home state, Virginia, and its past is evident in hercontemporary women's fiction, from her first The Union Street Bakery, set in Alexandria, to her latest, Spring House, whichtakes place on the state's Eastern Shore. In Spring Cottage and prior novels, Mary Ellen's protagonists search for their placein the world. Exploring issues of family, home and belonging, her stories entwine with those of the locales in which theyunfold, encompassing mysteries past and present. (https://maryellentaylor.com)
A Northern Light in Provence
Elizabeth Birkelund
Ballantine Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9780593722213, $29.00, HC, 352pp
9780593722237, $18.00 PB / $14.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Light-Provence-Novel/dp/0593722213
Synopsis: Ilse Erlund is a translator who lives in a house on stilts along the west coast of Greenland. Isolated and restless inher world by the sea, she convinces her publisher to pay for a trip to the country she has never visited but whose languageshe speaks fluently: France. Her mission is to translate the verses of Geoffrey "Po" Labaye, a charismatic poet known as "thelast living troubadour of Provence."
Upon arrival in the medieval hilltop village of Belle Riviere, Ilse falls under the spell of the Provencal way of life,captivated by the air, the sun, the vibrant spring colors, and the dulcet sounds of the dialect. Soon enough, Ilse is captivatedby the poet, too, and she and Po develop a daily rhythm and warm camaraderie -- which is disrupted by the arrival of thepoet's son, Frey.
Though he has a fiancee back in Paris, Frey turns his attentions to Ilse, and suddenly she is forced to learn another language,one her translation skills have not prepared her to decode. Where (and with whom) does her future lie?
Critique: As a novelist, Elizabeth Birkenlund has a genuine flair for the kind of distinctive and narrative driven storytellingstyle that will hold the reader's emotionally engaged attention throughout. A fun and memorable read from cover to cover,"A Northern Light in Provence" brings to life a love story set against the background of French village life. Whileespecially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance collections, it should be notedfor personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "A Northern Light in Provence" from Ballantine Books is alsoavailable in paperback (9780593722237, $18.00) and a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Birkelund (https://www.elizabethbirkelund.com) is the author of two previous novels, TheRunaway Wife and The Dressmaker. She started her career in the editorial department of European Travel and Lifemagazine, then turned to freelance writing as a monthly personal finance columnist for Cosmopolitan. She has written fornumerous national publications, including Glamour, Self, Working Woman, and Victoria.
Hope's Enduring Echo
Kim Voegl Sawyer
WaterBrook Press
c/o WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
https://waterbrookmultnomah.com
9780593600832, $18.00, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hopes-Enduring-Echo-Vogel-Sawyer/dp/0593600835
Synopsis: Since an accident left her father unable to work, Jennie Ward has taken on the demanding task of inspecting theisolated seven-mile wooden pipeline that supplies water to Ca on City, Colorado. Despite her responsibilities, Jennieharbors dreams of going back to school and longs for something even simpler: a friend. One day, in a moment of impulsiveand seemingly hopeless prayer, she asks God for companionship.
Her prayer is answered almost immediately with the arrival of Leo Day, a paleontology student searching for ancient bonesburied along the ridges of the wild Arkansas River. Despite her long workdays, Jennie agrees to guide Leo in his quest.
As Jennie navigates her burgeoning friendship with Leo and her unwavering loyalty to her father, she finds herself torn. Leo,who longs for his own father's approval, could change all Jennie knows. It's undeniable that God has intertwined their paths,but to what end? With so much at stake, what does He truly intend for the preacher's son and the linewalker's daughter touncover?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted with memorable characters and a compelling story, "Hope's Enduring Echo" by Kim VogelSawer will hold a very special interest for fans of Christian Romance novels. A novel of friendship, faith, and love, "Hope'sEnduring Echo" is a fun read from cover to cover and a welcome addition to personal and community library ContemporaryRomance collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Hope's Enduring Echo" from WaterBrook Press isalso readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a library binding, large print volume (ThorndikePress, 9781420523782, $36.99).
Editorial Note: Kim Vogel Sawyer (https://kimvogelsawyer.com) is an author with more than 1.5 million books in print inseven different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the InspirationalReaders' Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence.
All Superheroes Need PR
Elizabeth Stephens
https://www.booksbyelizabeth.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662523397, $16.99, PB, 295pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-Superheroes-Need-Supers-City/dp/1662523394
Synopsis: Over two decades ago, forty-eight young, gifted superheroes fell to Earth and were eventually marketed asopposing brands: heroes and villains. Now, one exceptionally gruff bad guy is looking to hop teams. Hello, PR directorVanessa Theriot.
His real name is Roland Casteel a.k.a. the Pyro. First, swap that with the less incinerating the Wyvern. Next, put him inspandex to highlight that near-godlike body. Finally, give that hero in training a heroine -- if Vanessa will play the part in apretend romance guaranteed to make the city swoon. She's game. As shy as Vanessa is, it's her job to be Roland's very ownLois Lane. Who knew that fake dating would change their worlds?
But falling head over heels for real makes for a dangerous shift in the narrative. A monstrous supervillain is bringing outRoland's bad side again. This time, it's to save a woman who, against all the odds, is becoming the human love of hissuperhero life.
Critique: A deftly crafted and imaginative blending of fantasy, romance, and humor, "All Superheroes Need PR" is anoriginal and fun read from cover to cover. Author Elizabeth Stephens showcases a genuine flair for the kind of distinctiveand engaging storytelling style that is aptly suited to engaging her reader's enthusiastic attention with distinctive charactersand surprise laden plot twists. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it shouldbe noted that this paperback edition of "All Superheores Need PR" from Montlake is also readily availble for personalreading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Stephens (www.booksbyelizabeth.com) is the author of Dark City Omega and ShadowlandsOmega in the Beasts of Gatamora series. She has been living in a fantasy world since she wrote her first sci-fi story whenshe was eleven, and she still often gets lost in places that don't exist. With a growing backlist of more than fifteen titles, herwork is best known for its diverse casts, tough heroines, wacky world-building, and villains (or beasts) who get the girl inguaranteed happily-ever-afters.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Lee Clinton
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853193, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 276pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444853193
Synopsis: Nettie Youcheck must fight for what is rightfully hers, the large and profitable Double U cattle ranch. If she fails,her future will be a life of servitude under the control of a vicious and vindictive father. By her side are just two allies --Hollis, the old, black house servant, and Rita, who runs the town brothel and knows Nettie's past. If justice prevails then allwill go well for Nettie, but since when was life like a fairy tale? Certainly not with the involvement of Albert Hopkins fromthe Missouri Savings and Loans Bank who has his own malicious agenda. Just thank the Lord that Nettie can shoot straight-- because she soon has a fight on her hands.
Critique: Original, clever, compelling, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Dark Horse" by western author Lee Clinton is amemorable story told with a genuine flair for the kind of narrative fiction that raises this western novel to an impressivelevel of literary excellence. A simply great read that will be appreciated by fans of deftly crafted stories set in the Old West,this large print paperback edition of "Dark Horse" is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to personalreading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Lee Clinton aka Leigh Alver, is a hobby writer from Perth, Australia. Leigh has written and published inother genres, but a love for the Western remains unbridled believing that it allows for universal stories to be told in a varietyof ways, which will engaging a modern reader. (https://play.google.com/store/info/name/Lee_Clinton?id=113rbnvr9)
Last Chance in Laredo
Frank Callan
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853148, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 228pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444853148
Synopsis: Jack Brady has seen more of the hard edge of life than most. He's worked cattle trails, ridden shotgun, and won areputation as a hired gun. Then, as the American-Mexican War is breaking out, he is jailed after a fight in a small Texastown. Brady is at his lowest when a preacher arrives and reminds him that there is still a chance to redeem himself. Hedetermines to enlist with the fledgling Texas Rangers. This is his last chance to rub out his bad reputation - if he cansurvive!
Critique: The kind of western they used to make Saturday matinee movies from, "Last Chance in Laredo" by author FrankCallan is a simply riveting read from start to finish. Action, gunplay, and going up against the odds, the character of JackBrady begs to have been played by the likes of John Wayne, Gary Cooper, or Clint Eastwood. A movie in a book, this largeprint paperback edition of author Frank Callan's "Last Chance in Laredo" from Linford Western Library will prove a prizedand appreciated pick for personal reading lists and community library collections.
Editorial Note: Frank Callan, aka Stephen Wade (https://stephen-wade.com), has held a long fascination with the West. Heis the author of Bad Name Drifter, The Feud at Broken Man, and Return to Blood Creek.
Return to Sundown Valley
Cole Shelton
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853421, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 264pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444853421
Synopsis: Luke Dawson and his Navajo Indian friend Honani, both Union soldiers, have ridden home from the Civil War.Each man yearns to return to a normal life, but after they went away to war, things changed in Sundown Valley. Instead of apeaceful homecoming, they're met with Dallas Zimmer, who's consumed by greed and has a bunch of killers at his disposal.He has even claimed Luke's woman. Faced with murder, corruption and injustice, Luke rides through hostile ApacheCountry to confront Zimmer and his gang in a final showdown. But are the odds too great?
Critique: Packed from cover to cover with gun blazing action and unexpected plot twists, "Return to Sundown Valley" is awestern fan's delight. Deftly crafted and a compelling read from beginning to end, this large print paperback edition of ColeShelton's "Return to Sundown Valley" is especially recommended for personal reading lists and community library WesternFiction collections.
Editorial Note: Cole Shelton, aka Roger Norris-Green, has written 137 published westerns under 6 pen names plus 2 underhis own name. Some of his westerns have received "Best Western of the Month" awards.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Green_(author))
The Road Agent
Clyde Barker
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444853223, $25.00, PB, Large Print, $234pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444853223
Synopsis: What should have been the simple robbery of a stagecoach for outlaw Brent Clancy turns into a deadly game ofwits with a band of assassins determined to kill the President of the United States. In the course of this adventure, theone-time road agent finds himself on the right side of the law for a novelty, fighting both to save the President's life while atthe same time avenging a personal grievance.
Critique: As a western novelist, Clyde Barker is at the top of his game with "The Road Agent". Packed with action andadventure, "The Road Agent" is a fun read from cover to cover and this large print paperback edition from the LinfordWestern Library collection will prove to be an exceptional and enduringly popular pick for personal reading lists andcommunity library collections alike.
Editorial Note: Clyde Barker, aka Simon Webb (https://www.simon-webb.com), is the author of more than 30 westerns,published under both his own name and also a number of pseudonyms, including Brent Larssen, Harriet Cade, Ed Roberts,Ethan Harker, and Fenton Sadler. In addition to westerns, he has written many nonfiction books, chiefly on the subjects ofsocial history and education.
The Shootout at Dogleg Crossing
P. J. Gallagher
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855135, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 224pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855135
Synopsis: Journalist Peter Lomass is enjoying a break from work, travelling and revisiting old haunts, when he discovers apoem entitled 'The Shootout at Dogleg Crossing' on a newspaper clipping from twenty years earlier, pinned up in a hotelreception area. He decides to trace the origins of the poem, and his quest takes him deep into Mexico, where he findshimself mixed up in all sorts of skulduggery and danger.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, entertaining, and showcasing western author P. J. Gallagher's natural flair for the kind ofdistinctive and narrative driven storytelling that keeps the reader's full attention from start to finish, this large printpaperback edition of "The Shootout at Dogleg Crossing" will prove a welcome pick for the personal reading of western fans,as well as community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: P.J. Gallagher is the author of such western novels as: "The Pinfire Lady", "The Return of the Pinfire Lady","Pinfire Lady Strikes Back", "Race Against Time"; "Escape from Casa Grande", "The Cross of Santiago", and "Remington'sGold'. A complete listing of his westerns is available athttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19725756.P_J_Gallagher
Fury of the .44
Adam Brady
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855128, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 216pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855128
Synopsis: It was drought country. The land was little more than dust, the cattle slowly but surely dying on the hoof. Formost of the ranchers in those parts, it had been a year-long disaster. But for local businessman Harp McPhee, it was asituation he aimed to exploit for all it was worth.
Knowing the drought couldn't last forever, McPhee aimed to buy the land and the stock at rock-bottom prices, and hebrought in a bunch of hired gunnies to back him against any opposition.
The situation seemed hopeless. And yet banker Finch Rogan had an idea that his old friend, Buck Halliday, might be able tochallenge McPhee and his army of gunslingers. Halliday didn't want trouble. But the settling of trouble was how he madehis living. So he tied down his .44 and came to deliver salvation to a town called Redemption.
Critique: A classic 'against the odds' western hero going up against the bad guys seeking to end him, "Fury of the .44" bywestern novelist Adam Brady fully lives up to the promise of its title. Action-packed from cover to cover, a fun read fromstart to finish, the stuff of which western movies are made, this large print paperback edition of "Fury of the .44" from theLinford Western Library series is a memorable and unreservedly recommended pick for community library and personalreading lists alike!
Editorial Note: Adam Brady is also the author of the western novels "So Who's Arguin'", "Halliday", and "Only theFastest".
Hell in Paradise
Pete B. Jenkins
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855142, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855142
Synopsis: Ex-sheriff Jed Grayson is on his way to Wyoming when he stops at the township of Paradise to rest few days. Atthe Golden Nugget Saloon he has an altercation with Zach Bassett, the son of the wealthiest rancher in the territory. BeatingZach to the draw, he humiliates the youngster in front of the saloon's patrons. Zach gets even. Enlisting the help of friends,he beats Jed to within an inch of his life.
Recovering from his injuries, Jed vows to repay Zach for his crime, earning the enmity of the boy's father, who is waging aprivate war against the Thornton family who own the second biggest ranch in Paradise. Events escalate as, forced bycircumstances to throw his lot in with the Thornton family, Jed finds himself the target of a hired killer and has to fight tosave his life.
Critique: An original and riveting read for all dedicated gunplay western fans who appreciated unexpected plot twists and ashowdown finale, "Hell in Paradise" continues to showcase author Pete B. Jenkins' undeniably talent for the kind ofstorytelling that has made him an enduringly popular western novelist. This large print paperback edition of "Hell inParadise" from the Linford Western Library folk is an extraordinary and highly recommended pick for both the personalreading lists of western action-adventure fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Peter B. Jenkins is the author of "The Man With No Past", "Warrior of the Storm", and "The ForsakenMan".
Robbers Roost
Steven Gray
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855111, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855111
Synopsis: Gustavus Greeley is a bounty hunter, not a private detective. Nevertheless, he reluctantly accepts an assignment totravel to Elk Horn and discover whether or not Robin Warner, the town's ex-sheriff, is guilty of being a member of the gangof stagecoach robbers plaguing the area.
On the way he sees for himself the way the gang operate when the stagecoach he is on is held up and he and the otherpassengers are robbed and threatened.
Is the new sheriff, Casey Smart, who defeated Warner in the last elections, involved? He certainly objects to Greeley'spresence. And what about the investment scheme to bring a spur line of the railroad to town? Does that have anything to dowith what is going on?
Greeley must use his wits and his guns to find out the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
Critique: Action, adventure, gunplay, mystery solving, unexpected plot twists, "Robbers Roost" by Steven Gray haseverything a western novel fan could hope for. A fun and fascinating read from cover to cover, this large print paperbackedition of "Robbers Roost" from the Linford Western Library is an extraordinary and recommended pick for personalreading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Steven Gray, a writer of westerns, is also the author of "Fight at Felicidad", "Flight at Felicidad", "Bloodshedat the Broken Spur", "Stopover at Sweetwater", "Incident at Black Horn", "The Incident at Wheeler's Canyon", "Stagecoachto Serenity", "The Shadow of the Gallows", and "The Payroll Ambush".
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Erle Stanley Gardner
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613166635, $15.95, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/D-Calls-Murder/dp/161316663X
Synopsis: In a small town north of Los Angeles, Doug Selby claims narrow victory in a hotly-contested race for DistrictAttorney. Then his troubles begin: First, when the local paper, supportive of the incumbent, immediately launches an effortto get Selby recalled. And then there's the murdered man that turns up in the very hotel that housed Selby's campaignheadquarters. If he can quickly solve the case, Selby will prove that he deserves his new position; if not, he risks providingmore fodder to his enemies at The Blade.
What follows is a fast-paced and twisty investigation involving a famous actress, a stolen identity, and plenty of red herringsas Selby, the sheriff, and a sympathetic journalist endeavor to determine whodunit. This clever Golden Age page-turnerfeatures the same legal acumen that fans expect from the author of the Perry Mason series and Erle Stanley Gardner'ssignature snappy dialogue and quick plotting, as well.
Originally published in 1937 and reissued for the first time in over thirty years, "The D.A. Calls It Murder" is a classic legalmystery. Doug Selby went on to star in eight more celebrated novels by Erle Stanley Gardner.
Critique: Another 'time lost treasure' for the mystery buff, this new paperback edition of "The D.A. Calls It Murder" fromthe pen of an iconic Erle Stanley Gardner is an unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists and communitylibrary Mystery/Suspense collections. From the creator of the Perry Mason novels, "The D.A. Calls It Murder" is a rivetingread with expertly inserted and unexpected plot twists. A fun read from cover to cover, "The D.A. Calls It Murder" welldeserves its status as a "Classic" of a murder mystery.
Editorial Note: Erle Stanley Gardner (July 17, 1889 - March 11, 1970) was the best-selling American author of the 20thcentury, mainly due to the enormous success of his Perry Mason series, which numbered more than 80 novels and inspired ahalf-dozen motion pictures, radio programs, and a long-running television series that starred Raymond Burr. Having begunhis career as a pulp writer, Gardner brought a hard-boiled style and sensibility to the early Mason books, but graduallydeveloped into a more classic detective story novelist, showing enough clues to allow the astute reader to solve the mystery.For more than a quarter of a century he wrote more than a million words a year under his own name and numerouspseudonyms, the most famous being A.A. Fair. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erle_Stanley_Gardner)
The Mystery of the Cape Cod Tavern
Phoebe Atwood Taylor, author
Otto Penzler, introduction
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613166598, $25.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Cape-Cod-Tavern/dp/1613166591
Synopsis: In a small Cape Cod town, a local tavern owner is convinced that someone is trying to kill her. She tells tales ofbeing shot at in the woods and of a trip wire strung up at the top of her staircase. Others in the village think she's just out forsome free publicity, as she's always cooking up creative ways to get people into her establishment. But when she is foundstabbed to death her suspicions are confirmed!
Man about town and jack of all trades Asey Mayo is helping out at the tavern when the murder occurs, and he's just thesleuth that such a dastardly case needs. It seems that Eve Prence had no shortage of enemies both at the inn and around thetown. Asey Mayo knows people (especially Cape Codders) and has both the common sense and the deductive powersnecessary to cut through the puzzling case and determine whodunit. But will he succeed before an innocent person takes thefall?
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with an introduction by Ottot Penzler, "The Mystery of the CapeCod Tavern" by Phoebe Atwood Taylor (18 May 1909 - 9 January 1976) is a light and entertaining mystery that takes placewithin a richly described 1930s Cape Cod setting. A Golden Age era cozy mystery, "The Mystery of the Cape Cod Tavern"is replete with charming characters, period detail, and unexpected plot twists leading to a thoroughly reader engaging finale!While a highly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personalreading lists of 'whodunnit' cozy mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "The Mystery of the Cape Cod Tavern" fromAmerican Mystery Classics is also readily available in paperback (9781613166604, $15.95) and in a digital book format(Kindle, $15.95).
Editorial Note #1: Phoebe Atwood Taylor was one of the most beloved and most successful mystery authors of the 1930sand 1940s, writing under her own name and two pseudonyms, Freeman Dana and Alice Tilton. The Asey Mayo character,first introduced in The Cape Cod Mystery, went on to star in 24 novels in a series informed by the author's family history inCape Cod. (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/phoebe-atwood-taylor)
Editorial Note #2: Otto Penzler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Penzler), is the creator of American Mystery Classics,and the founder of The Mysterious Press (1975); an electronic-book publishing company -- MysteriousPress.com (2011);and New York City's Mysterious Bookshop (1979). He has won a Raven, the Ellery Queen Award, two Edgars (for theEncyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, 1977, and The Lineup, 2010), and lifetime achievement awards from NoirCon andThe Strand Magazine. He has edited more than 70 anthologies and written extensively about mystery fiction.
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy
Kelly Oliver
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836175452, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 368pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836175452
Synopsis: England 1926 - Agatha Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London's glitteringsocial scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club, a place where mystery writers come together toshare ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously.
But then a fellow author's initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is nolonger just the creator of great mystery plots -- she is now a player in one.
And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she's widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to theClub's enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case.
But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it'stoo late?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, compelling, fascinating, and a simply fun and riveting read for any and all cozy mysteryfans from start to finish, this large print, trade paperback edition of Kelly Oliver's novel, "The Case of the ChristyConspiracy" is exceptional, phenomenal, memorable, and unreservedly recommended addition to community libraryMystery/Suspense collections and a 'must' for the personal reading lists of Agatha Christie fans and cozy mystery buffs.
Editorial Note: Kelly Oliver (https://kellyoliverbooks.com) is the author of four award-winning mystery series and dozens ofnonfiction books. Kelly is also Emerita Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. Kelly's nonfictionwork includes over 100 articles and over twenty books, including Hunting Girls: Sexual Violence from The Hunger Gamesto Campus Rape (which won a CHOICE AWARD for Outstanding Title).
The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead
Antony Johnson
Allison & Busby
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444854725, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 294pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444854725
Synopsis: Gwinny Tuffel is on location in the misty Yorkshire Dales filming a small part in Draculania, a genderswappedremake of Bram Stoker's classic tale, when life begins to imitate art a little too closely. One of the cast members is founddead inside a locked trailer, with a stake through their heart.
With a prima donna in the starring role, filming is already facing delays, while Gwinny is being run ragged by Lily, the JackRussell terrier she's looking after for a friend in hospital. Against the backdrop of Hendale Hall with its own vampirelegend, a flesh-and-blood killer has struck. Will Gwinny be able to find the murderer before the production or any furthervictims are cut?
Critique: A part of author Antony Johnson's 'Dog Sitter Detective' series of cozy mysteries, this large print trade paperbackedition of "The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead" from Alison & Busby is a fun read from first page to last. A classic cozyanimal mystery featuring an amateur female sleuth caught up in having to solve a cleverly crafted 'whodunnit' murder beforeanother tragedy strikes, "The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead" is an extraordinary, entertaining, and recommended pick forthe personal reading lists of dedicated cozy mystery fans and an enduringly welcome addition to community libraryMystery/Suspense collections.
Editorial Note: Antony Johnston (https://www.antonyjohnston.com) is the author of books, video games, and graphic novels-- including collaborations with Anthony Horowitz and Alan Moore. He wrote the New York Times bestseller DaredevilSeason One for Marvel Comics and is the creator of Atomic Blonde which grossed over $100 million at the box office. Thefirst book featuring Gwinny Tuffel, The Dog Sitter Detective, was also the winner of the Barker Fiction Award.
One Dark Summer
Saskia Sarginson
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836030188, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 499pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836030188
Synopsis: With trembling hands, Meg knocks on the door of the large manor house. Behind her, the view down to the riveris spectacular. She's here to be the nanny to two young children.
It's not the job Meg is anxious about, though. It's the house itself that scares her, and the secrets lurking inside. Not onlythat, but will her new employer recognise her?
The door opens. A beautiful, smiling woman greets her and ushers her inside.
As she walks in, Meg realizes the house is exactly as she remembers. Her employer hasn't changed much, either, unlikeMeg. The last time they met was fifteen years ago, when Meg was a child.
Because this is where Meg lived the summer her mother went missing. The summer her life changed. The summer Megbelieves she killed a man.
Now she's back, in disguise as Margaret the nanny, and determined to find out what really happened. But some secrets arebest left buried. Because someone knows exactly who Meg is, and they will do whatever it takes to keep her quiet!
Critique: A brilliantly written psychological thriller of a mystery novel by Saskia Sarginson, "One Dark Summer" is animpressively fascinating, riveting, and compelling read from cover to cover. This large print paperback edition of "One DarkSummer" from Boldwood Books is an extraordinary and memorable read -- one of those novels that will linger in the mindand memory of the reader long after it has been finished and set back upon the shelf. Highly recommended for personalreading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that "One Dark Summer" is alsoavailable from Boldwood Books in a complete and unabridged audio book a CD format (9781836030119, $107.95) and anMP3-CD audio book format (9781836030126, $107.95).
Editorial Note: Saskia Sarginson (https://www.saskiasarginson.co.uk) is also the author of: Without You, The Other Me,The Stranger, How It Ends, The Bench, The Central Line, Seven Months of Summer and Identical. Her novels have beentranslated into 15 languages.
Death Of A Foreign Gentleman
Steven Carroll
Isis LP
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399170338, $42.00, PB, Large Print, 246pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399170338
Synopsis: Cambridge, UK, 1947. Martin Friedrich, a German philosopher, is cycling through an intersection on his way togive a lecture when a speeding car strikes and kills him. Shortly afterwards, Detective Sergeant Stephen Minter, anAustrian-born cockney Jew, whose parents were interned during the war as enemy aliens, stands over the body of Friedrich,contemplating the age-old question -- who did it?
Friedrich might be one of the finest minds of his age, but he's problematic: arrogant and a womaniser, he was also, in the1930s, a member of the Nazi Party. As Stephen is soon to discover, there is no shortage of suspects. Friedrich was hated byalmost everybody, even those who loved him. Is there any sense to his death or was it just a case of rotten, random luck?Has the universe spoken? Or are there more sinister factors at work?
Critique: Steven Carroll is one of Australia's finest, most critically acclaimed writers. His novel, "Death of a ForeignGentleman" is a deftly crafted and impressively literary 'whodunnit' crime novel in a story that also examines the question ofhow to live a meaningful life in a seemingly indifferent, apparently random, post-Holocaust world. An entertaining,emotionally engaging, reader riveting novel of mystery, murder, and suspense, the large print paperback edition of "Death ofa Foreign Gentleman" from Isis LP is an extraordinary read from start to finish and especially recommended for bothpersonal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collection. It should be noted for librarians that "Death of aForeign Gentleman" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (9781399176460, $90.95, CD /9781399176477, $90.95, MP3-CD).
Editorial Note: Steven Carroll (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Carroll) is an Australian novelist and drama critic, Heis the author of "The Art of the Engine Driver" (2001) and is now a full-time writer living in Melbourne. As of 2019, he alsowrites the non-fiction book review column for the Sydney Morning Herald.
Season of Death
Will Thomas
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250343604, $28.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Season-Death-Barker-Llewelyn-Novel/dp/1250343607
Synopsis: Based in Victorian London, private enquiry agent Cyrus Barker, along with his partner Thomas Llewelyn, has along, accomplished history -- he's worked with all aspects of society, from the highest (including the Crown and thegovernment) to the lowest (various forces in London's underworld). He's been the target of murder attempts, characterassassination, bombings and attacks upon his closest associates but never has he and his agency partner Thomas Llewelynfaced such destruction and potential disaster.
The sudden collapse of a railway tunnel in the East End of London kills dozens and shuts down services all over the city.Meanwhile, a mysterious beggar calling herself "Dutch" guides Barker and Llewelyn to an attempt by a powerful aristocratto take over London's criminal underworld. With a missing heiress and a riot at a women's shelter acting as distractionsdesigned to stop the duo from getting to the truth, Barker must relentlessly fight to reach the trust while Llewelyn wondershow a simple beggar woman can be the catalyst for such destruction.
Critique: Set late Victorian England, with the publication of "Season of Death" author Will Thomas once again presents thecontinuing adventures of private enquiry agents Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn -- who this time find themselves pittedagainst dark and powerful forces who are aligned to take over London's criminal underworld. "Seasons of Death" continuesto demonstrate Will Thomas as a novelist who enjoys a having genuine and distinctive flair for the kind of narrative drivenstorytelling style that has created legions of fans who look forward to his novels of mystery and suspense. While a choiceand recommended pick for community library Historical Mystery collections, it should be noted for personal reading liststhat this hardcover edition of "Seasons of Death" from Minotaur Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$14.99).
Editorial Note: Will Thomas is the author of the Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn series, including The Black Hand, TheHellfire Conspiracy, The Limehouse Text, To Kingdom Come, and the Shamus and Barry award-nominated Some DangerInvolved. He lives with his family in Oklahoma. (https://www.goodreads.com/series/41077-barker-llewelyn)
The Girl from Greenwich Street
Lauren Willig
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063306110, $30.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Greenwich-Street-Hamilton-Americas/dp/0063306115
Synopsis: At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamiltonand Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows.
Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin's boarding house -- and doesn't come home. Has sheeloped? Run away? No one knows -- until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.
Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks ofseducing and murdering Elma.
But privately, quietly, Levi's wealthy brother calls in a special favor...
Aaron Burr's legal practice can't finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. Todefend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.
Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn't going to let Burr monopolize the public's attention. If Burr isdefending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against timeto save a man's life -- and destroy each other.
Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history -- with asurprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale.
Critique: A deftly crafted work of historical fiction, author Lauren Willig's genuine flair for the kind of engaging, detailed,and entertaining narrative storytelling style that fully emerges his reader from start to finish, "The Girl From GreenwichStreet" is a fun, fascinating, and riveting novel from start to finish. While a strongly recommended and enduringly popularpick for community library Historical Fiction and Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading liststhat this hardcover edition of "The Girl From Greenwich Street" from William Morrow is also readily available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Lauren Willig (https://laurenwillig.com) an alumna of Yale University, she has a graduate degree in historyfrom Harvard and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She is also the author of "The Lost Summers of Newport" and "Band ofSisters.
Two Seconds Too Late
Dani Pettrey
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764244599, $29.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Seconds-Late-Jeopardy-Falls/dp/0764244590
Synopsis: In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a luxury spa and couple's retreat turns into a chillingnightmare when a woman vanishes without a trace, just hours after a public fight with her boyfriend. Worried somethingsinister has happened, her friends reach out to investigator Riley MacLeod, an expert skip tracer, for help.
The assignment means going undercover at the retreat, which means pairing up with private investigator Greyson Chadwick.Their partnership ignites a tumultuous mix of attraction and distrust as Riley's unorthodox methods clash with Greyson'smeticulous approach.
As they delve deeper into the case and a ruthless hitman is unleashed upon them, Riley and Greyson find themselvesfighting not only for justice but for their very survival. Staying one step ahead of danger, the pair discovers a hidden truththat rocks them to the core. In their race against the clock, they can only hope that they're not too late.
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted, "Two Seconds Too Late" by novelist Dani Pettrey is a romantic suspense thriller ofa mystery set in New Mexico. Replete with riveting, unexpected, dangerous plot twists and turns, "Two Seconds Too Late"is an inherently fascinating and engaging read from cover to cover, and one that is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists ofChristian mystery fans that this hardcover edition of "Two Seconds Too Late" from Bethany House Publishing is alsoreadily available in in paperback (9780764238499, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Dani Pettrey (https://danipettrey.com) has sold nearly one million copies of her novels to readers eagerlyawaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after ofa romance. She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.
Kaua'i Storm
Tori Eldridge
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662525247, $16.99, PB, 445pp
https://www.amazon.com/Kauai-Ranger-Makalani-Pahukula-Mystery/dp/1662525249
Synopsis: After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua'i for her grandmother'sbirthday. Having been gone for so long, Makalani finds the disconnect with her people and her struggles have never beenmore profound. Neither has her need to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind.
When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that two of her cousins (a failedcollege football player and a rebellious teenage girl) have gone missing.
Makalani hopes they just ran off, too careless to realize the worry they've caused. But when hunters find a dead body in theKealia Forest Reserve, Makalani fears something ominous is at play, and the search for her cousins grows more desperate.Although her help may not be welcomed by family and locals, Makalani is determined to solve a mystery that poses agreater risk than anyone imagines.
The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with herfamily. Because no matter how long she's been away, for Makalani, Hawai'i is in her blood.
Critique: A deftly crafted novel from start to finish, "Kaua'i Storm" showcases author Tori Eldridge's genuine mastery of themystery/suspense genre and a distinctive flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that keeps the reader'sdedicated attention and appreciation for the background detail of a suspense thriller novel set in Kaua'i -- one of the majorHawaiian islands. While this paperback edition of "Kaua'i Storm" from Thomas & Mercer is especially recommended forcommunity library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that it is alsoreadily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Tori Eldridge (www.torieldridge.com) is the Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian author of the Lily Wongmysteries, Dance Among the Flames, and numerous short stories. Born in Honolulu, she graduated from Punahou Schoolwith classmate Barack Obama before performing as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway, television, and film, andearning a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. Her literary works have garnered Anthony, Lefty, andMacavity Award nominations and the 2021 Crimson Scribe for Best Book of the Year.
The Silversmith's Puzzle
Nev March
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250348036, $29.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Silversmiths-Puzzle-Mystery-Captain-Mysteries/dp/125034803X
Synopsis: In 1894 colonial India, Lady Diana's family has lost their fortune in a global financial slump, but even worse, herbrother Adi is accused of murder. Desperate to save him from the gallows, Captain Jim and Lady Diana rush back toBombay. However, the traditional Parsi community finds Jim and Diana's marriage taboo and shuns them.
The dying words of Adi's business partner, a silversmith, are perplexing. As Captain Jim peels back the curtains on thisman's life he finds a trail of unpaid bills, broken promises, lies and secrets. Why was the silversmith so frantic for gold, andwhere is it? What awful truth does it represent?
Set in lush, late-Victorian India, Captain Jim and Diana struggle with the complexities of caste, tradition, and loyalty. Theirsuccess and their own lives may depend on Diana, who sacrificed her inheritance for love. Someone within their circle hasthe key to this puzzle. Can she find a way to reconnect with the tight community that threw them aside?
Critique: Original, deftly scripted, a fun and fascinating thriller of a read from cover to cover, "The Silversmith's Puzzle"showcases author Nev March's genuine flair as a storyteller and a master of the 'cozy' style historical mystery with a amateurfemale sleuth having to solve a mystery. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community libraryMystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of any and all mystery buffs that thishardcover edition of "The Silversmith's Puzzle" from Minotaur Books is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: The writing career of Neve March (https://nevmarch.com) began when she won the MinotaurBooks/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award for her Edgar finalist debut, Murder in Old Bombay. In 2015,leaving a long career in business analysis, she returned to her passion, writing fiction. She is presently the New York chapterPresident of the Mystery Writers of America and coordinator for the Hunterdon County Library writers group. She teachescreative writing at Rutgers University's Osher Institute. A Parsi Zoroastrian herself, Nev lives with her family in NewJersey.
Gone Dark
Ryan Steck
Tyndale House Publishers
www.tyndale.com
9781496486028, $32.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Dark-Matthew-Redd-Thriller/dp/1496486021
Synopsis: Matthew Redd doesn't go looking for trouble. But this time, it's found him anyway... and he's not the only one inthe crosshairs.
Late-summer wildfires are a fact of life in Montana. But as an inferno nears Wellington, Redd gets the unusual call that ateam of smoke jumpers has suddenly gone dark. As head of the county's fledgling search and rescue team, Redd drops intothe fire zone and finds way more than he bargained for: a killer has taken out the smoke jumper team along with twocivilians, and only a terrified young boy is left as witness.
Redd and little Jack narrowly escape the raging fire, and Redd calls in Gavin Kline, now acting director of the FBI, toinvestigate the bigger forces at play.
Critique: A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Gone Dark" is another deftly crafted suspense thriller of amasterpiece by novelist Ryan Steck. Memorable characters and even more memorable plot twists and turns, "Gone Dark" isespecially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should benoted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Gone Dark" from Tyndale House Publishers is also readilyavailable in paperback (9781496486035, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Ryan Steck (https://ryansteck.com) is the author of "Fields of Fire", "Lethal Range", Redd Christmas", "Outfor Blood" and "Ted Bell's Monarch". He is also a freelance editor, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Real BookSpy.
Homemaker
Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare, authors
https://ruthieknoxandanniemare.com
Thomas & Mercer
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662530906, $16.99, PB, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Homemaker-Prairie-Nightingale-Ruthie-Knox/dp/1662530900
Synopsis: Prairie Nightingale is both the midlife mother of two teenage girls and a canny entrepreneur who has turnedhomemaking into a salaried profession. She's also fascinated with the gritty details of other people's lives. So whenseemingly perfect Lisa Radcliffe, a member of her former mom-friends circle, suddenly disappears, it's in Prairie's nature tofind out why.
Given her innate talent for vital pattern recognition, Prairie is out to catch a few clues by taking a long, hard look ateveryone in Lisa's life -- and uncovering their secrets. Including Lisa's. Prairie's dogged curiosity is especially irritating toFBI agent Foster Rosemare, the first interesting man Prairie has met since her divorce. His square jaw and sharp suits don'thurt.
But even as the investigation begins to wreak havoc on Prairie's carefully tended homelife, she's resolved to use hermultivalent homemaking skills to solve the mystery of a missing mom -- and along the way discover the thrill of her newsleuthing ambitions.
Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted, and a fun read from cover to cover, "Homemaker" is co-authored by thewriting team of Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare. A suspense thriller that will prove of special and particular appeal to mysteryfans, "Homemaker' will prove an immediate and enduringly popular pick for community library ContemporaryMystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Homemaker" fromThomas & Mercer is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Ruthie Knox (www.ruthieknox.com) and Annie Mare (www.anniemare.com) are authors of more than adozen romance novels between them. Together they write contemporary queer romance as Mae Marvel.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Lindy Ryan
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250324238, $28.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Another-Fine-Mess-Novel-Bless/dp/1250324238
Synopsis: For over a hundred years, the Evans women have kept the undead in their strange southeast Texas town fromrising. But sometimes the dead rise too quick -- and that's what left Lenore Evans, and her granddaughter Luna, buryingLuna's mother, Grace, and Lenore's mother, Ducey. Now the only two women left in the Evans family, Luna and Lenore areleft rudderless in the wake of the most Godawful Mess to date.
But when the full moon finds another victim, it's clear their trouble is far from over. Now Lenore, Luna, and the new sheriff(their biggest ally) must dig deep down into family lore to uncover what threatens everything they love most. The bodycount ticks up, and the most unexpected dead will rise -- forcing Lenore and Luna to face the possibility that the undeadaren't the only monsters preying on their small town!
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, a fun and fascinating read from cover to cover, "Another Fine Mess" by author Lindy Ryanwill hold a very special attraction for readers with an interest in vampires. With a distinctive and narrative drivenstorytelling style that raises her novel to an impressive level of literary excellence, Lindy Ryan adds an impressive additionto the every expanding Vampire Cannon. While highly recommended as a popular pick for community libraryContemporary Fantasy/Horror collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of"Another Fine Mess" from Minotaur Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Lindy Ryan (https://www.lindyryanwrites.com) is an award-winning author, anthologist, and short-filmdirector whose books and anthologies have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal.She is also a professor at Rutgers University.
Emperor and Hierophant
Susan Wands
https://susanwands.com
SparkPress
c/o Spark Point Studio
www.gosparkpress.com
9781684633029, $17.99, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Emperor-Hierophant-Three-Arcana-Oracle/dp/1684633028
Synopsis: On tour with the Lyceum Theatre in Manchester, Pamela Colman Smith is kidnapped by a mysterious force. Incaptivity, she begins a relationship with her mute keeper, a strange creature at the beck and call of her nemesis, AleisterCrowley.
Experiencing visions and visitations from other ethereal beings, Pamela works to escape her prison before Aleister harmsanother one of her muses over the ownership of her magical tarot deck.
Meanwhile, her guardian and mentor, Bram Stoker, tries to find her as he tours with the stars of the Lyceum Theatre,Pamela's muses for the Magician and Empress cards. Alerted to Pamela's plight, Ahmed Kamal, Pamela's Egyptologistfriend, joins Bram to come to her aid.
Plotting against the mysterious forces who abducted her, Pamela must outwit and out magic Aleister, as he tries to destroyher muses and tarot deck. Learning the lessons of her Emperor and Hierophant, she must free herself and command thepower manifesting from her tarot deck.
Critique: An impressive work of original and deftly crafted fantasy fiction, "Emperor and Hierophant" is Book 3 of authorSusan Wands' Arcana Oracle series and a fun, fascinating, and memorable read from cover to cover. Susan Wands'distinctive flair for the kind of narrative storytelling style that keeps her reader's rapt attention from beginning to end meansthat "Emperor and Hierophant" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and communitylibrary collections and is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Susan Wands (https://www.magicianandfool.com) is a writer, tarot reader, and actor. A graduate from theUniversity of Washington, she has acted professionally across the United States and on Broadway, has written plays,screenplays, and skits, and has produced several indie films. As a co-chair of the NYC Chapter of the Historical NovelSociety, she helps produce monthly online book launches and author panels. Wands's writings have appeared in Art inFiction, Kindred Spirits magazine, and The Irving Society journal First Knight.
Aurelia
Stephen R. Lawhead
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668072349 $30.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Aurelia-Pendragon-Cycle-Stephen-Lawhead/dp/1668072343
Aurelia is a prequel to Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle (now a streaming TV series), and charts the end of oneempire and the rise of another at the time when the Romans were abandoning Britain. As the child of a Magistrate and wifeof a Legate, Aureila stands at the crux of this changing world, struggling to guide a family that is moving away from thesocial order she was born in to forge new territory an unfamiliar paths. Readers of early Arthurian legend will find Aureilasteeped in many powerful themes, from the story of how a mother guides her sons in matters completely foreign to her ownexperience and connections to how Merlin guides the family through all kinds of struggles. As a preface to Lawhead's series,Aureila both sets the stage for more and stands nicely on its own as a thoroughly compelling Arthurian world read.
The Miranda Conspiracy
James L. Cambias
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668072400, $18.00 pbk / $8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Miranda-Conspiracy-Billion-Worlds/dp/1668072408
A new arrival from Baen deserves high praise and recommendation to sci-fi and fantasy libraries seeking strong novels fortheir collections. James L. Cambias's The Miranda Conspiracy is the story of an intergalactic treasure hunt, a politicalconspiracy, and the initial effort of a young man, Zee, and his AI friend Daslakh to make a good impression on hisgirlfriend's upper-class parents. Instead, they uncover a conspiracy that leads them to a dangerous treasure hunt that forcesthem to confront political factions, gangsters, and mercenaries while juggling family relationships and politics. Theintersection of family drama and politics that operate on both a personal and broader scale lends to an engrossing blend ofmystery, discovery, and action that brings the teens and their world to life.
Heart of the Mountain
Larry Correia
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668072394, $30.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Mountain-Saga-Forgotten-Warrior/dp/1668072394
Larry Correia's Heart of the Mountain adds to his 'Saga of the Forgotten Warrior' series with a powerful story of AshokVadal, chosen by a weapon to be its bearer and a law-enforcer. This immerses him in political struggles, prophecies, andambitious tyrants that hold visions of control and chaos. A cast of characters lends complexity and satisfyingly unexpectedtwists to the story of prophecies emerging from exciting events. Readers of fantasy and drama, especially those familiar withthe prior events of the series, will welcome Heart of the Mountain's rich journey into the lives and minds of disparate peoplewho struggle to adapt to new laws, environments, and outcomes. Heart of the Mountain is highly recommended to sci-fi andfantasy libraries seeking strong novels for their collections.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Zvi Bodie, Robert C. Merton, & Richard T. Thakor, authors
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781108833813. $200.00, HC, 766pp
https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Finance-Zvi-Bodie/dp/1108833810
Synopsis: Written and published specifically for the MBA or undergraduate's first course in finance (as well as follow-oncourses), and co-authored by the team of Professors Zvi Bodie, Robert C. Merton, and Richard T. Thakor, "Principles ofFinance" is a comprehensive textbook that provides a clear, accessible, and thorough explanation of the principles offinance; how they connect to real-world practice and how they are used to solve problems.
Structured around ten unifying principles representing the core tenets of the science, "Principles of Finance" imparts basicfinancial concepts irrespective of the institutional framework, ensuring that students learn about finance in a way that isapplicable both now and into the future.
Pedagogical features include learning objectives and major takeaways, applications in the world of business, numerousworked examples, key equation boxes highlighting the most important financial equations, quick check questions withsolutions, key finance terms with a detailed glossary, and more than 380 homework problems.
It should be noted that the online resources featured in "Principles of Finance" include a solutions manual, detailedinstructor manual to adapt the textbook to a formal course curriculum, lecture slides, and an 800 question test bank forinstructors.
Critique: This large format (9.94 x 1.39 x 8.62 inches, 4.37 pounds) hardcover edition of "Principles of Finance" from theCambridge University Press is comprehensive, exceptionally well organized, and an ideal informational resource forstudents in both presentation and structure. While especially and unreservedly recommended for professional andcollege/university library Finance/Economics collections and curriculum studies lists, "Principles of Finance" is also readilyavailable for students and academia in paperback (9781108987165, $74.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $69.17,Amazon).
Editorial Note #1: Zvi Bodie (https://zvibodie.com) is Professor Emeritus at Boston University where he was the Normanand Adele Barron Professor of Management. He has served on the finance faculty at the Harvard Business School (1992-94) and MIT Sloan School of Management (2008-9). Among his many published books and textbooks is the best-sellingInvestments textbook with Alex Kane and Alan Marcus.
Editorial Note #2: Robert C. Merton (https://robertcmerton.com) is the School of Management Distinguished Professor ofFinance at the MIT Sloan School of Management and John and Natty McArthur University Professor Emeritus at HarvardUniversity. Merton received the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1997 for a new method to determinethe value of derivatives.
Editorial Note #3: Richard T. Thakor (https://www.richardthakor.com) is Associate Professor of Finance at the Universityof Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. He is a research affiliate at the MIT Laboratory for Financial Engineering(LFE) and at the WFA Center for Finance and Accounting Research (WFA-CFAR) at Washington University in St. Louis.He has published numerous academic articles in top economics, management, and finance journals, and has won multipleteaching awards.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
David Huckvale
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476670508, $29.95, PB, 227pp
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Pagan-Land-Landscape-Television/dp/1476670501
Synopsis: British literature often refers to pagan and classical themes through richly detailed landscapes that suggest morethan a mere backdrop of physical features.
The myth-inspired writings of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Algernon Blackwood, Aleister Crowley, Lord Dunsany and evenKenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows informed later British films and television dramas such as The Owl Service(1969-70), Blood on Satan's Claw (1971), The Wicker Man (1973), Excalibur (1981) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail(1975).
With the publication of "A Green and Pagan Land: Myth, Magic and Landscape in British Film and Television", authorDavid Huck analyzes the evocative language and esthetics of landscapes in literature, film, television and music, and how"psycho-geography" is used to explore the influence of the past on the present.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, David Huckvale's "A Green and Pagan Land: Myth, Magic and Landscape inBritish Film and Television" will be of immense interest to film buffs. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusionof a four page Bibliography, ten pages of Chapter Notes, and eight page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized andpresented, "A Green and Pagan Land: Myth, Magic and Landscape in British Film and Television" is a unique andrecommended addition to community and college/university library Cinematic History/Criticism collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of film students, academia, andnon-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "A Green and Pagan Land: Myth,Magic and Landscape in British Film and Television" is also available from McFarland & Company in a digital book format(Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: David Huckvale has worked as a researcher, writer and presenter for BBC Radio and as a lecturer for variousuniversities in England. He lives in rural Bedfordshire, England.(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/127355.David_Huckvale)
100 Queer Films Since Stonewall
Chelsea McCraken, author
Matt Connoly, author
British Film Institute
https://www.bfi.org.uk
9781839025082, $90.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Films-Stonewall-Screen-Guides/dp/1839025085
Synopsis: While queer films have existed since the beginning of cinema, with the publication of "100 Queer Films SinceStonewall", co-authors Chelsea McCracken and Matt Connolly focuses on films released after the Stonewall uprising in1969. Stonewall is considered a turning point for queer politics and representation, and the 50 years since that event havegenerated an explosion of queer creativity.
"100 Queer Films Since Stonewall" describes significant formal elements of each film and connects them to theirinterrelated contexts. By moving in chronological order, it introduces a contemporary history of queer film and provides anoverview of major developments in LGBTQ communities, cultures, and politics. This unique volume presents a frameworkfor understanding the value of queer film.
"100 Queer Films Since Stonewall" fully identifies the 100 LBGTQ films that have shaped the modern trajectory of queercinema, connected with larger movements, and showcased the artistry of queer filmmaking. In addition to those films thatalready hold significant places in queer film canons, this very special volume examines often-overlooked titles. Byhighlighting hidden gems alongside well known classics, "100 Queer Films Since Stonewall" makes a valuable, accessiblecontribution to queer film studies.
Critique: Original, profusely illustrated in color, comprehensively informative, fun and fascinating, "100 Queer Films SinceStonewall" is especially and uniquely recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university libraryCinematic History and Gay Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students,academia, film buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "100Queer Films Since Stonewall" from the British Film Institute is also available in paperback (9781839025075, $26.95) and ina digital book format (Kindle, $24.95, Amazon).
Editorial Note #1: Chelsea McCracken is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at SUNY Oneonta. She received her PhDfrom the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Communication Arts. Her research interests include LGBTQmedia, American independent cinema, and media industries, and she has published work in Screen, Media History, andAsian Cinema.
Editorial Note #2: Matt Connolly is an Assistant Professor of Film Studies in the Department of English at Minnesota StateUniversity, Mankato. His scholarly work on LGBTQ cinematic history has been published in Cinema Journal and Spectator.He is currently revising his dissertation, which analyses the early career of queer filmmaker John Waters.
The Mythology Shelf
Jeffrey John Dixon
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476668666, $19.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Grail-Battle-Arthurs-Promised/dp/1476668663
Synopsis: The early chroniclers of Britain presented the island as the promised land of the Roman goddess Diana. Later,when the story of Arthur was transformed by Christian mythology, a new literary concept of the island was promoted: thepromised land of the Holy Grail.
As the feminine enchantment of the Goddess gave way to the masculine crusade of the Grail Quest, the other-world realmsof the fays or fairy women were denigrated in favor of the heavenly afterlife.
The dualism of the medieval authors was challenged by modern writers such as Blake and Tolkien, as well as by thescholars of the Eranos conferences. With the publication of "Goddess and Grail: The Battle for King Arthur's PromisedLand", author Jeffrey John Dixon explores the conflict between Goddess and Grail (a rift less about paganism versusChristianity than about religious literalism versus spiritual imagination) which is resolved in the figure of Sophia (DivineWisdom).
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking Arthurian study that will hold an immense and thoughtful value for readers with aninterest in historical British folklore and mythology, "Goddess and Grail: The Battle for King Arthur's Promised Land" byJeffrey John Dixon is informative enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction (The Other Worldof the Gods), a Prologue (From Eden to Albion), and Epilogue (From Albion to Avalon), and Appendix (Tolkien's LonelyIsle), eight pages of Chapter Notes, a six page Bibliography, and an eight page Index. An inherently fascinating, thoughtfuland thought-provoking read from start to finish, "Goddess and Grail: The Battle for King Arthur's Promised Land" is awelcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university librarycollections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject thatthis paperback edition of "Goddess and Grail: The Battle for King Arthur's Promised Land" from McFarland & Company isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Jeffrey John Dixon, after studying English literature at Sussex University, travelled widely and now livesand writes in Powys, United Kingdom. An interview and a listing of his books are available(www.goodreads.com/author/show/5865987.Jeffrey_John_Dixon)
The Architecture Shelf
Andrew Frontini, author
Ned Cramer, editor
ORO Editions
https://oroeditions.com
9781961856417, $60.00, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Episodes-Public-Architecture-Andrew-Frontini/dp/1961856417
Synopsis: With the publication of "Episodes in Public Architecture", Andrew Frontini provides eleven narrative insertionswhich are bound into the body of the monograph providing a parallel reading experience -- one that gets in behind thepolished architectural photography and curated drawings to reveal the poignant, often absurd and occasionally painfullessons that accompanied the gestation of each architectural project cited.
Every building has a story to tell and, in sum, these stories map the road an architect's career can take. Populated withcunning contractors, inspiring design legends (such as the late Cornelia Oberlander), intractable bureaucrats, obstinatesenior partners, mentors, students, rivals and collaborators of every stripe, Frontini's road navigates technologicalrevolutions, precipitous economies and societal threats that challenge the very notion of what architecture needs to be.
With candor, humor and a design philosophy that is fundamentally open to suggestion, Frontini converts his personalexperience into a set of universal reflections that are sure to inform, inspire and console architects (and the architecturallycurious) at any stage in their journey.
Critique: This hefty format (7.7 x 1.5 x 10.1 inches, 3.3 pounds) hardcover edition of "Episodes in Public Architecture"from ORO Editions is a unique and eloquent contribution to architectural drafting, presentation, and criticism by AndrewFrontini. Deftly edited by Ned Cramer, and will an informative Introduction by Ian Chodikoff, "Episodes in PublicArchitecture" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a listing of Built Projects, and thecontributors and their credentials. Profusely illustrated and a seminal, groundbreaking study of meticulous scholarship,"Episodes in Public Architecture" is a unique, especially, unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, professional,and college/university library Architecture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Andrew Frontini is an award-winning architect who, over thirty years, has built a highly collaborative studioculture and a singular vision of public architecture imbued with poetry, humor and theatre. Andrew serves as the designdirector of Perkins&Will's Toronto and Ottawa studios.
The Business Shelf
Elad Inbar
Independently Published
https://www.robotlab.com
9798344586663, $27.99, PB, 251pp
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Robotics-Future-transformative-automation/dp/B0DL8LZK2V
Synopsis: In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, robots are no longer a fixture of science fiction but atangible reality that, combined with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries across the globe.With the publication of "Our Robotics Future: The ultimate guide to the transformative power of automation, robotics andAI", Elad Inbar (CEO of RobotLAB and a visionary in the field of robotics, invites business owners and decision-makers)deftly explores the transformative power of automation in any enterprises.
"Our Robotics Future" serves as an essential introduction and guide for anyone considering the integration of robotics intotheir operations. Elad demystifies the current robotics market, offering clear insights into the latest technologies andemerging trends that are set to revolutionize the way we work. Whether you're looking to enhance efficiency, address laborshortages, or stay ahead of the competition, "Our Robotics Future" provides the knowledge you need to make informeddecisions.
Critique: Comprised of comprehensive overviews of available robotic solutions tailored to various industries, forwardlooking perspectives on what the future holds for robotics and artificial intelligence, providing practical evaluation tools toassess products and partners thereby ensuring successful implementation, and offering strategic advice on overcomingcommon challenges and maximizing the benefits of automation, "Our Robotics Future: The ultimate guide to thetransformative power of automation, robotics and AI" by Elad Inbar is exceptionally well written, impressively 'readerfriendly' in organization and presentation, and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate,and college/university library Business/AI/Robotics collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should benoted for MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interestin the subject that this hardcover edition of "Our Robotics Future" is also available in paperback (9798344588759,$17.99)
Editorial Note: Elad Inbar leverages his leadership at RobotLAB, the only franchise network for robots, which servicesthousands of customers nationwide. This unique position allows him to provide unparalleled insights and real-worldexamples of successful robotics implementations across diverse sectors. RobotLAB's extensive network ensures that readersgain access to a wealth of resources and support, making the transition to automated solutions smoother and more effective.(https://www.robotlab.com/about-us)
Seeing Around Corners
Ken Banta
Post Hill Press
www.posthillpress.com
9798895651384, $19.99, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Around-Corners-Americas-Insightful/dp/B0DVRGTDFY
Synopsis: Packed from cover to cover with unfettered advice, anecdotes, and insights, with the publication of "SeeingAround Corners: C-Suite Wisdom from America's Most Insightful Leaders", author Ken Banta has mines the wisdom ofindustry shaping CEOs, founders, and innovators resulting in a straight-talking guide to running (and leading) abusiness.
"Seeikng Around Corners" is a compendium of 16 quote-filled chapters, where industry leaders share their personalexperiences steering their businesses toward successful outcomes. The result is a 360-degree view from the C-suite thatdelves into innovation, crisis management, cybersecurity, corporate culture, team building, board relations, and much more.Packed with insightful straight talk, "Seeing Around Corners" is a true insider's guide to leading with authority, vision, andcompassion to drive companies, platforms, and careers forward.
Critique: Exceptional, practical, informative, inspiring, and extraordinarily well written, organized and presented, "SeeingAround Corners: C-Suite Wisdom from America's Most Insightful Leaders" by corporate strategy/leadership expert KenBanta is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/universitylibrary Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBAstudents, academia, corporate executives, business managers, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in the subject that this paperback edition of "Seeing Around Corners: C-Suite Wisdom from America's MostInsightful Leaders" from Post Hill Press is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Ken Banta is a corporate strategy expert who helped drive global turnarounds, mergers, and transformationsat Schering-Plough, Pharmacia, Bausch + Lomb, and other companies. As the founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network,he focuses on unlocking high-performance leadership. (https://crosbystreetconsultants.com/advisors/ken-banta)
Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It
Garry Ridge & Martha I. Finney, authors
Matt Holt Books
c/o BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637746295, $27.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Any-Dumb-Ass-Can-Do-Multi-Billion-Dollar/dp/1637746296
Synopsis: With the publication of "Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of aMulti-Billion-Dollar Company", Chairman Emeritus Garry Ridge (assisted by co-author Martha I. Finney) tells the story ofhow he helped grow WD-40 Company into one of the world's most recognized and beloved brands. How did he do it? Byfollowing the wisdom of Aristotle: "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."
In his trademark Aussie storytelling fashion, Garry shares experiences from his life that combine to create a deep well ofleadership wisdom. Reader's will discover:
How one letter from a devoted father inspired Garry's thinking around the legacy of positive, lasting memories; How totransform any workplace into a community where everyone thrives in psychological safety; The importance of never gettingtoo impressed with yourself; The number one responsibility of every leader, regardless of position; What he learned when hethought he was smarter than a hotel fire alarm on a cold, rainy London night; Garry's takeaway from the time he rode a horseto Wall Street, dressed in full knight's armor; What makes a soul-sucking CEO (and how not to be one!).
"Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It" is the story of Garry's grand adventure in his own words, broken down into learning moments --those flashes of insight that have made all the difference in the world.
Critique: A fascinating, informative, and inspiring read from start to finish, "Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Momentsfrom an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company" will prove of value to readers with an interest inBusiness/Corporate leadership, management, and motivation. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "AnyDumb-Ass Can Do It" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, andcollege/university library Business/Motivation/Self-Help collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. Itshould be noted for MBA students, business managers and executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest inthe subject that this hardcover edition of "Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It" from Matt Holt Books is also available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note #1: Garry Ridge has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the world's top 10 Most Admired CEOs, andserved as CEO of WD-40 Company for 25 years. The founder and CEO of The Learning Moment, Garry now delivers hisinspiring message to audiences and coaching clients throughout the world. He currently sits on the boards of The GorillaGlue Company and Eastridge Workplace Solutions. In the past, he has served on the boards of WD-40 Company, The KenBlanchard Companies and The San Diego Foundation.
Editorial Note #2: Martha I. Finney (https://marthafinney.global) has written, co-authored, and ghost-written 29 books onemployee engagement, leadership, career management, and mental health in the workplace. Her book, co-authored withLibby Sartain, about the culture experience at Southwest Airlines, HR From the Heart: Inspiring Stories and Strategies forBuilding the People Side of Great Business, remains a cherished HR classic today. Her original research into joy in theAmerican workplace has been featured on CNN, NPR, Time magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The WashingtonPost.
The Art Shelf
Martin Harrison and Sophie Pretorius, authors
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500966280, $65.00, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Revisions-Francis-Bacon-Act-Painting/dp/0500966281
Synopsis: The manner in which the paintings of Francis Bacon evolved was misunderstood during his lifetime. Since healways painted alone in his studios, there were no witnesses to the emergence of his visceral imagery. His insistence onprivacy helped generate considerable speculation about his painting process -- most of it erroneous.
Bacon did make one clear statement about the genesis of his paintings: "I sketch out very roughly on the canvas with abrush, just a vague outline of something, and then I go to work..." Yet this fundamentally accurate summation of histechnique ran counter to the received wisdom and was misunderstood or ignored.
With the publication of "Revisions: Francis Bacon in the Act of Painting", Martin Harrison's introductory essay begins bydemonstrating exactly what Bacon meant, and what he did: it will show what "rough sketching' signified. It also deploysX-ray and infrared images that reveal under-drawing, and analyzes other features that elucidate Bacon's methodology.Photographs of paintings briefly arrested at intermediate points before completion (taken by the few visitors to the studioallowed the privilege) help to explain later stages in painting process.
"Revisions: Francis Bacon in the Act of Painting" also features Sophie Pretorius's survey that deftly incorporates every oneof the images that have hitherto remained unseen, illustrating the transitional states of all the paintings recorded inphotographs, arranged thematically.
A reference section includes thumbnail images of all the paintings discussed here, arranged in chronological order. This isconsistent with the layout of Francis Bacon: Catalogue Raisonne (2016), to which this volume may be regarded as asupplement, publishing significant new information.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of 200 color illustrations, this large format (10 x 0.9 x 12.5 inches, 2.2pounds) hardcover edition of "Revisions: Francis Bacon in the Act of Painting" from Thames & Hudson is a ground-breaking monograph that must be considered essential reading for anyone having an interest in the paintings of FrancisBacon (22 January 1561 - 9 April 1626). Impressively informative and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization andpresentation, "Revisions: Francis Bacon in the Act of Painting" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, community, and college/university library 17th & 18th Century European Art History collections andsupplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Martin Harrison is one of the foremost scholars of Francis Bacon, and the editor of Francis Bacon:Catalogue Raisonne.
Editorial Note #2: Sophie Pretorius is archivist of The Estate of Francis Bacon collection, and has transcribed all Bacon'ssurviving medical records.
Moroccan Modernism
Holiday Powers
Ohio University Press
www.ohioswallow.com
9780821425794, $99.95, HC, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Modernism-New-African-Histories/dp/082142579X
Synopsis: In the years after Morocco gained its independence, new art forms and practices flourished at the CasablancaEcole des Beaux-Arts, transforming the colonial relic into a zeitgeist of Moroccan modernism.
Casablanca School artists, including Farid Belkahia, Mohammed Chebaa, and Mohammed Melehi, defined the modernistmovement in Morocco through their radical anticolonial pedagogy and their use of abstraction as a means of expanding thehorizons of postcolonial national culture.
Best known for their iconic outdoor exhibition in the large public plaza, Djemaa al Fna, in
Marrakech, and for their collaborations with the cultural and political journal Souffles, the Casablanca School artists shapedthe Moroccan experience of modernism through their visual arts activism.
With the publication of "Moroccan Modernism", Professor Holiday Powers argues that the pedagogy and transnationalsolidarities of this generation of artists were intrinsic to their broader artistic projects. Professor Powers also advances anovel reading of Moroccan modernism that is rooted in its cosmopolitan national context and in the transnationalanticolonial, pan-African, and pan-Arab intellectual movements that defined the era.
Critique: A seminal, fascinating, informative, and groundbreaking study that is especially and unreservedly recommendedfor personal, professional, community, and college/university library Modern Art as well as Moroccan Cultural Historycollections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, "Moroccan Modernism" is part of the Ohio University Press 'NewAfrican Histories' series. Featuring illustrations, an informative Introduction, a Conclusion (The Lasting Impacts ofMoroccan Modernism Today), thirty-eight pages of Notes, a twelve page Bibliography, and a ten page Index, this hardcoveredition of "Moroccan Modernism" is also readily available to students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with aninterest in the subject in paperback (9780821425800, $36.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.10, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Holiday Powers (https://post.moma.org/author/holiday-powers) is an assistant professor of art history atVCUarts Qatar. Her work has appeared in Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art, the Journal of North African Studies,and in numerous book chapters.
Street Beauty
Hannah Judah, photographer
ATMA, curator/designer
ORO Editions
https://oroeditions.com
9781961856479, $60.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Street-Beauty-Hannah-Judah/dp/1961856476
Synopsis: Street art is visual art created in public locations for public visibility. It is also associated with the terms"independent art", "post-graffiti", "neo-graffiti" and guerrilla art.
Playfully designed and curated by ATMA, "Street Beauty" by Hannah Judah unlocks the wonder and beauty of large scalemurals from hundreds of the world's most recognized street artists today.
Judah's unique photographic aesthetic enhances the brilliance of the artists and fully captures the impact of their works withher own brand of creative genius: her singular vision elevating street art photography as we once knew it.
"Street Beauty" adeptly showcases extraordinary works of public art to their fullest advantage: the imagination from theartists amplified by the mighty force of Judah's creative captures.
Critique: This large format (8.6 x 1.3 x 12 inches, 4.15 pounds) hardcover edition of Hannah Judah's "Street Beauty" fromORO Editions is a seminal and ground-breaking study that is original, unique, stunningly illustrated, and an especially andunreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Street Art andModern Art collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Hannah Judah (https://www.hannahjudah.com) is celebrated for not only documenting street art but placingthe works in context and infusing the whole theme with drama and life. Hannah Judah is the official photographer for a widevariety of international street art festivals and is a long standing contributor to Street Art United States. Her photos havebeen published in books for some of the most prominent street artists today.
Paint the National Parks: A Watercolor Journey
Emily Olson
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760393963, $24.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Paint-National-Parks-Watercolor-traceable/dp/0760393966
Synopsis: "Paint the National Parks: A Watercolor Journey" by Emily Olson showcases 20 of the most popular nationalparks from throughout the United States. Each individual art project shows step by step how to paint an iconic scene thatcaptures the essence of one of the parks: from the misty forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the majesticcacti of Saguaro National Park to the awe-inspiring trees of Redwood National Park. The scenes feature a variety oflandscapes and geological features, including breathtaking canyons, luscious woods, captivating waterfalls, stunningmountains, and more.
"Paint the National Parks: A Watercolor Journey" is an inspiring and informative DIY guide that includes:
An overview of essential watercolor techniques for beginning and intermediate watercolor artists
Step-by-step paintings of 20 of the most stunning and popular national parks
Tutorials of quintessential park subjects, such as birds, other animals, trees, and flowers
Guidance on sketching and painting on location
QR codes linked to videos that provide further insight into the techniques and tutorials
Downloadable sketches of all the paintings that can be traced or printed on watercolor paper
With the publication of "Paint the National Parks: A Watercolor Journey", landscape artist and popular watercolor instructorEmily Olson takes aspiring artists on a unique and inspiring painting adventure through America the Beautiful asrepresented by the National Park system. Whether you're an intrepid trekker or an armchair traveler, you will be able tocreate artwork worthy of the national parks.
Critique: This profusely illustrated, large format (8.5 x 0.4 x 11 inches, 1.43 pounds) paperback edition of "Paint theNational Parks: A Watercolor Journey" by Emily Olson is an ideal instructional guide and 'how to' manual that is anessential study for beginning artists and holds a great deal of practical value for more experienced landscape artists as well.Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "Paint the National Parks: A WatercolorJourney" is expressly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Watercolor &Landscape Painting collections. It should be noted that this edition of "Paint the National Parks: A Watercolor Journey"from Quarry Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Emily Olson (www.watercolormastery.com) is an artist living in Boulder, Colorado. She has taughtthousands of people to paint with her "no pressure, just paint" method through her Watercolor Mastery online school.Instagram: @e_olson_art // YouTube: @EMILYOLSONART
The Needlecraft Shelf
Amanda Sennett
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760396735, $24.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Romantasy-Crochet-Club-Projects-Journeys/dp/0760396736
Synopsis: If you're one of the millions of enthusiastic readers who's addicted to Romantasy (a blending of romance andfantasy), "Romantasy Crochet Club" by Amanda Sennett is a unique and entertaining way as a needlecrafter to pay creativetribute to your favorite characters, fantastical creatures, and enthralling themes.
"Romantasy Crochet Club" is comprised of 20 major projects that sing the praises of this crocheting needlecraftersubgenre:
For the Passionate Reader. Book Lover's Bookmark Trio (Bat Wings, Dragon's Tail, and Angel's Wing) and WerewolfTablet or Book Sleeve.
Personal Arsenal. Morally Gray Heart Garland, Tribute Rose, Skull, and Enemies-to-Lovers Pierced Heart.
Wear the Fantasy. Fairytale Mask, Fae Ear Cuffs, and Faun Beanie.
Fantastical Creatures and Amazing Animals. Mysterious Fae Warrior, Baby DraGoyle, and Fierce Dragon.
Several projects include yarn information for two sizes (large and small) so that you can decorate your bookshelf or tabletopas well as your bag or backpack.
An overview of essential crochet techniques will help guide beginners and serve as a refresher for the more experiencedcrocheter.
"Romantasy Crochet Club" is the perfect crochet companion for any Romantasy book lover, no matter which Romantasyauthors, series, or titles top your reading list!
Critique: Unique, original, clever, and fun, this large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches, 1.3 pounds) paperback edition of"Romantasy Crochet Club" by Amanda Sennett is especially recommended as an addition to personal, professional, andcommunity library Needlecraft/Crochet instructional reference collections. Profusely illustrated, impressively presented, itshould be noted that "Romantasy Crochet Club" from Quarry Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,$23.74, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Amanda Sennett is a crochet artist and designer who sells her patterns and handmade plushies on her Etsyshop and shares her crochet adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. She can be followed on: Instagram:@crochet_by_a_manda_lorian // Facebook: Crochet By A Manda Lorian // TikTok: crochet_by_a_manda_lorian // andEtsy: CrochetaMandaLorian / Crochet_By_A_Manda_Lorian
Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet
Lee Sartori
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartous.com
9780760395325, $24.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Harry-Styles-Crochet-Celebrity/dp/0760395322
Synopsis: "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet: 20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" is a delightful homage to theiconic style and charisma of Harry Styles, seamlessly blending the art of crochet with his distinctive fashion sense. Craftedby Lee Sartori, "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet" is comprised of more than 20 creative crocheting projects, ranging fromfashionable wearables to charming home decor items and whimsical Harry-gurumi.
Perfect for both Harry Styles fans and crochet enthusiasts alike, this collection features patterns suitable for beginners tomore experienced crocheters, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy and create.
"Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet" features DIY crocheting projects inspired by some of Styles's most popular songs,including "Late Night Talking" Striped Scarf, "You're So Golden" Cardigan, "Sunflower" Bucket Hat, "As It Was" HarryDoll, "Sweet Creature" Sheep Vest, "Two Ghosts" Slippers, and more. There is also an overview of basic crochet stitchesand techniques and "Style Like Styles" tips for customizing the designs.
With projects as varied as Harry's many iconic styles, "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet" has something for everyone.Whether you're a Harry Styles fan or a crocheter who wants to create unique gifts for the Harries in your life, you canunleash your crafting prowess.
Critique: The large format (8.5 x 0.36 x 11 inches, 1.3 pounds) paperback edition of "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet: 20+Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" by Lee Sartori is a DIY fun and 'user friendly' celebrity crochet instructionalguide that will be especially appreciated by novice and experienced needlecrafters alike. Exceptionally well organized andpresented, "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet: 20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" is an ideal andrecommended pick for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft/Crochet collections. It should be notedthat this paperback edition of "Unofficial Harry Styles Crochet: 20+ Projects Inspired by the Music and Style Icon" fromQuarry Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.84, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Lee Sartori (https://www.cococrochetlee.com/about) is the crochet designer behind CoCo Crochet Lee. Lee'spassion is designing modern, wearable garments and adorable amigurumi. The author of six crochet books, she wasformerly a guest host on the popular PBS/CreateTV show Knit & Crochet Now, as well as a cast member of Annie'sCreative Studio. Lee is the in-house designer for Lion Brand and works with Jimmy Beans Wool, WeCrochet, and othercompanies. She lives in Canada. Instagram: @coco.crochet.lee Facebook: Coco Crochet Lee
The Music Shelf
Carter Fox
https://www.carterfoxconsulting.com
Independently Published
9798334496279, $6.00, PB, 42pp
https://www.amazon.com/YouTube-Rockstar-Musicians-Business-Bassics/dp/B0DBZBDFB1
Synopsis: Here's something they don't teach you in music class -- being a musician, being part of a band, is a business. Andbusinesses require effective promotion, publicity, and advertising if they are to succeed against all their competition.
With the publication of "The YouTube/Google Ads Rockstar Guide for Musicians", Carter Fox has created a comprehensiveinstruction guide and 'how-to' manual that teaches you everything you need to know to hit the right notes as a musician withyour YouTube and Google Ads!
Finding success on social media and digital platforms is a great way for independent artists to find new fans and build acareer. If you've been feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out how to create compelling ads, target the right audience,optimize your ad performance, and engage potential fans, then "The YouTube/Google Ads Rockstar Guide for Musicians" isthe essential guide for you!
In "The YouTube/Google Ads Rockstar Guide for Musicians", musician and marketer Carter Fox breaks it down intounderstandable language and actions as part of his Music Business Bassics learning series and covers:
Mastering the YouTube/Google Ads Algorithm: Learn how to optimize your ads to ensure your music reaches more fansand gets discovered by a wider audience.
Targeting the Right Audience: Discover how to identify and engage your ideal audience for maximum impact, usingadvanced targeting features.
YouTube Channel Optimization: Ensure your channel is attractive to potential followers and keeps current fans engagedwith effective branding and content strategies.
Creating a 30-Day Ad Campaign Planner: Eliminate the guesswork with this musician-focused campaign calendar that helpsyou plan and execute your ads consistently.
Additionally, as part of the guide, you will receive musician-centric hooks and a visual guide to help you create engaging,authentic content!
If you're ready to stop stressing about ad creation, audience targeting, and engaging hooks, and want to ensure you're hittingall the right notes on YouTube and Google, is the ideal guide for beginners in the music business!
Critique: Succinct, comprehensive, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this trade paperback (6 x 0.1x 9 inches, 4 ounces) booklet edition of "The YouTube/Google Ads Rockstar Guide for Musicians" is especially andunreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, highschool, and college/university library MusicBusiness instructional reference collections. It should be noted aspiring and practicing musicians that "The YouTube/GoogleAds Rockstar Guide for Musicians" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.00).
Editorial Note: Carter Fox is a multifaceted talent, earning acclaim as an award-winning musician, songwriter, producer,and entrepreneur. From touring across the globe playing bass with R&B artist Freddie Jackson to crafting his own musicthat has amassed millions of streams, His musical and marketing collaborations range from indie sensations to revered iconsacross all facets of the music industry, from legendary icons Freddie Jackson and Leon Huff to independent musicpublishing powerhouse Reservoir Media Management, Universal Music Group, and CD manufacturer Disc Makers.Through his expertise in marketing, social media strategy, brand development, and beyond, Carter has left an indelible markon the music landscape. He is also the author of "Music Business Bassics: How to Effectively Release & Promote YourMusic".
Songs She Wrote
Michael G. Garber, author
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781538158654, $36.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Songs-She-Wrote-Pioneering-Popular/dp/1538158655
Synopsis: It was the women who built the popular song industry of Tin Pan Alley, yet many of their stories have seldombeen told. They blazed the trail for women in music today and set an inspiring example for generations to come.
With the publication of "Songs She Wrote: Forty Hits by Pioneering Women of Popular Music", Michael G. Barbercelebrates women's contributions to popular music by looking at dozens of well-known songwriters, lyricists, andcomposers in the first half of the twentieth century like Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, and Dorothy Parker -- and unearths moreunknown women who made major contributions, including Maria Grever ("What a Difference a Day Made") who was thefirst female Mexican to achieve international acclaim, the fascinating story of African American lyricist Lucy Fletcher("Sugar Blues") -- among a great many others.
Women in the popular music business went through struggles different from their male colleagues, making their triumphsall the more impressive. Their combined sagas convey an epic about women in the world of American popular music.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Songs She Wrote: Forty Hits by Pioneering Women of Popular Music"rescues from an undeserved obscurity forty outstanding women who made significant and trailblazing contributions to theemerging music industry of yesteryear and who set the stage and paved the way for the following decades of women'scontributions in the music industry as composers, performers, and more. Informative enhanced for the reader's benefit withthe inclusion of a four page Preface, fourteen pages of Notes, a ten page Selected Song Index, and a ten page GeneralIndex.
Extraordinary, exceptional, and throughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Songs She Wrote: Forty Hitsby Pioneering Women of Popular Music" by Michael G. Garber is an original work of meticulous scholarship and especiallyrecommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library 20th Century Music Appreciation &History collections in general, and supplemental Women's Music History curriculum studies lists in particular. It should benoted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of"Songs She Wrote: Forty Hits by Pioneering Women of Popular Music" from Rowman & Littlefield is also available in adigital book format (Kindle, $34.20, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Michael G. Garber (https://www.michaelggarber.com) is an internationally respected expert on Tin PanAlley and the American musical on stage and screen. He was a research fellow of the University of Winchester and theUniversity of London, Goldsmiths College. He is the author of "My Melancholy Baby: The First Ballads of the GreatAmerican Songbook, 1902-1913".
The Philosophy Shelf
Massimiliano Sorrentino and Daniela Panighetti, authors
Essentia Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803416137, $19.95, PB, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Matter-Life-Mind-Matter-Neo-Darwinian/dp/1803416130
Synopsis: With the publication of "Mind, Matter and Life: The Mind-Matter Problem within the Neo-Darwinian MaterialistConception of Nature", co-authors Massimiliano Sorrentino and Daniela Panighetti collaborate to show that the mind-bodyproblem concerns not only the relationship between mind and brain but also our current conception of the very phenomenonof life.
This is a problem that concerns our conception of nature as a whole in materialist terms. By addressing neo-Darwinism'sargument (that since a naturalistic explanation for the emergence and development of living organisms exists or is, inprinciple, viable, living organisms are not what they appear to be and thus not the products of a mind), "Mind, Matter andLife" ably argues that this is not the case.
Critique: Thoughtful, thought-provoking, iconoclastic, and of particular interest to readers with a concern with the conceptand philosophy implications of mind/matter consciousness and thought, "Mind, Matter and Life: The Mind-Matter Problemwithin the Neo-Darwinian Materialist Conception of Nature" is an inherently fascinating read and one that is informativelyenhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Introduction and Conclusion, five pages of Notes, and a five pageIndex. A seminal study, and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists andcollege/university library Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that hispaperback edition of "Mind, Matter and Life: The Mind-Matter Problem within the Neo-Darwinian Materialist Conceptionof Nature" from Essentia Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Massimiliano Sorrentino holds a Ph.D. in Physics and is interested in the mind-matter problem. He currentlywork as a software developer and as a maths and science teacher in a state school. This is his first book, which is written incollaboration with his wife Daniela Panighetti, who is a doctor in Philosophy. They live in Esine, Italy.
The Fishing Shelf
Colby Simms
Southern Illinois University Press
www.siupress.com
9780809339624, $26.95, PB, 228pp
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Illinois-Fishing-Comprehensive-Anglers/dp/0809339625
Synopsis: Southern Illinois's many waterways teem with an incredible variety of fish species, and award-winning fishermanand journalist Colby Simms knows exactly where and how to catch them all.
With the publication of "Southern Illinois Fishing: A Comprehensive Guide for Anglers", Simms shares the secrets he'sgleaned from years of hard-won experience: colossal catfish dominate the Mississippi River; monstrous muskies rule overKinkaid Lake. Rend gives up record crappie and bowfin, while Crab Orchard produces excellent largemouth bass fishingand Cedar offers huge striped bass.
Whether you're powerboating a large lake or paddling an out-of-the-way oxbow, the region presents countless opportunitiesfor different styles of fishing. Wondering which bait and tackle will produce the best results, or how seasonal weatheraffects fish migration patterns? Simms has already conferred with fellow fishing pros as well as biologists, outdoor sportsmedia figures, and other experts to bring you the most current, site-specific information possible.
From fishing fundamentals to the most advanced, cutting-edge techniques, Simms presents a battle plan for attacking thewaters, big and small, of the lower Prairie State, which will benefit all anglers -- from beginners to seasoned tournamentcompetitors.
Nestled between the critical information and detailed instructions, you'll find stories from Simms and additionalprofessional anglers, state fisheries staff, recreational fishers, and others. You will also find encouragement and motivationto put away life's modern distractions and get back to nature. "Southern Illinois Fishing" brims with enthusiasm, humor, andheart, and is sure to educate and inspire readers to lose themselves in the ancient tradition and modern sport of fishing.
Critique: From the novice angler to the experienced fisherman, "Southern Illinois Fishing: A Comprehensive Guide forAnglers" fully lives up to the promise of its title and must be considered essential reading for anyone one seeking to fish thewaters of Southern Illinois. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Southern Illinois Fishing: AComprehensive Guide for Anglers" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, andcollege/university library American/Illinois Fishing Guide collections.
Editorial Note: Colby Simms is a multiple muskie, bass and billfish tournament champ, multiple circuit championship titleholder, and winner of the first Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail Qualifier and IMTT State Championship, who's beenfeatured in the Chicago Sun Times, Field & Stream, Illinois Game & Fish, and USA Today. He's a record-holding guide,public speaker, award-winning national network TV & radio personality, and a multiple award-winning international writerwith work appearing over 3,000 times in over 50 publications. He's also the owner of Colby Simms Outdoors LLC,operating one of the largest charter services in the Lower Midwest, and his signature tackle products have been carried bydealers across multiple countries, including the world's largest outdoor sports retailer, Bass Pro Shops.
The Wine Shelf
Michael C. Higgins
International Exploration Society
https://internationalexplorationsociety.org
9780996966061, $34.95, PB, 340pp
https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Wine-Regions-Discovering-Phenomenal/dp/0996966064
Synopsis: While Mexico is primarily famous for producing Tequila, with the publication of "Exploring Wine Regions -Mexico: Exploring Mexico's Quality Wines and Phenomenal Cuisine", author and photographer Michael C. Higginsintroduces his readers to high-quality Mexican wines -- as well as the phenomenal cuisine and extraordinary tourism.
"Exploring Wine Regions - Mexico" is an ideal and informative armchair traveler's journey to discover the amazing winesof Mexico by combining wine education, an insider travel guide, and spectacular photography.
Tourism in Mexico is outstanding, we all know it. And the Mexican wine regions are no exception. Wine regions are alwaysvery beautiful places. Here, the mountains and valleys are ever so enchanting. The wineries are engaging, have lots oftourism activities available, and are especially inviting and friendly with their warm Mexican hospitality.
Both the wine connoisseur and novice can turn to "Exploring Wine Regions - Mexico" for insider information andinspiration. It is a must-have book for expanding your knowledge of Mexico and its wines.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches, 2.2 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Exploring Wine Regions -Mexico: Exploring Mexico's Quality Wines and Phenomenal Cuisine" is profusely illustrated with 600 photographic imagesas it explores Mexico's regions of Valle de Guadalupe (including Ensenada), Guanajuato (including San Miguel de Allende)and Queretaro. Extensive resources are provided for wine lovers who want to know where to go, what to look for, and howto discover their favorite wines. A superbly produced and impressively informative pictorial travel guide through Mexico'swine country, "Exploring Mexico's Quality Wines and Phenomenal Cuisine Exploring Wine Regions - Mexico" isespecially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library TravelGuide: Mexico collections. It should be noted that this trade paperback edition of "Exploring Wine Regions - Mexico" fromthe International Exploration Society is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Author, photojournalist and publisher Michael C. Higgins, PhD. has for more than twenty years been thepublisher of Flying Adventures, a lifestyle travel magazine for food and wine lovers who own and travel on privateairplanes. As a private pilot, travel enthusiast, and food and wine lover himself, Higgins continues to live the story he's beensharing for decades. (https://www.exploringwineregions.com/team)
The Travel Shelf
Matt Kepnes
BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637746646, $19.95, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-Travel-World-75-Day/dp/1637746644
Synopsis: Every day, more and more people long for vacations that go beyond packaged tours and overpriced hotels. Theywant unforgettable adventures.
Travel expert Matt Kepnes has been traveling the world since 2006 and has shared his expertise and insights with countlessglobe-trotters on his blog and in print. In this new, updated fourth edition of "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: TravelCheaper, Longer, Smarter", you will be able to benefit from practical, detailed, exhaustively researched travel advice thatwill help you get on the road better, cheaper, and smarter.
"How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" provides:
Step-by-step instructions for planning your dream trip
Money-saving tips and travel hacks to make the most of your budget and avoid overpaying
Expert recommendations for getting off the beaten path so you can really see and understand the places and people youvisit
Detailed guidance on everything from packing lists to vaccinations to travel companies, as well as region-specific advice foraccommodations, transportation, activities, and more
Bursting with tons of new material and vetted by the author's own experiences, "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day:Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" provides all the info you need to organize and implement the trips you've alwaysfantasized about... without breaking the bank.
Critique: Now in a fully updated fourth edition, "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter"continues to demonstrate that traveling the globe is not restricted to the super wealthy. That given the 'real world' practicalinformation comprising the new edition of "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" it'spossible and feasible to get more out of any trip itinerary. Exceptionally portable and 'travel planning friendly' inorganization and presentation, "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" truly lies up tothe promise of its title and is especially recommended for personal and community library Contemporary Travel Guidecollections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper,Longer, Smarter: 4th Edition" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Matt Kepnes (https://www.nomadicmatt.com) has been traveling the world on a near continual basis since2006. In 2008, he launched his site NomadicMatt.com to catalog his travel experiences and share his insights. Over theyears, the site evolved into a valuable trip-planning tool for budding and savvy travelers alike. Matt's travel writing has alsobeen featured by New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Time, BBC, Huffington Post, The Guardian, Lonely Planet,Forbes, The Daily Beast, NPR, Associated Press, FOX, Sydney Morning Herald, The Independent, Daily Mail, Irish Times,and National Geographic. He's a regular speaker at conferences and universities about travel. Matt is also the author of Howto Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad.
Greece: The Monocle Handbook
Monocle
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500966310, $45.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Greece-Monocle-Handbook/dp/0500966311
Synopsis:Following Monocle's travel handbooks on France, Spain, and Portugal, "Greece: The Monocle Handbook" ispractical and inspirational guide takes you from the bustling streets of Athens to the forested ski slopes of Arcadia, andbeyond to Crete and the Ionian, Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Aegean islands, introducing Monocle's favorite places to stay,eat, shop, and visit across Greece.
With "Greece: The Monocle Handbook" you will discover rural tavernas, isolated island retreats, great music venues, coolbars, and the best luxury pit stops. You'll also find out about a new generation of olive oil producers, winemakers, andbeekeepers upholding ancient traditions and creating the best produce from local ingredients, as well as contemporaryartisans creating great fashion, jewelry, and leather accessories.
For those looking to spend more time, or even put down roots in Greece, this comprehensive travel guide also profiles thecities, towns, and islands where you could make a home, the architects and designers to commission, and interior-designinspiration for your new apartment on the Athens Riviera or white-washed island retreat. So, whether you are puttingtogether an itinerary for a sun-soaked summer break, a culinary and wine-tasting tour, or planning to stay a little longer,"Greece: The Monocle Handbook" makes the perfect companion.
Critique: Profusely illustrated and simply packed from cover to cover with useable information for planning day trips,weekend excursions, or country-wide touring/vacationing, "Greece: The Monocle Handbook" is exceptionally andimpressively well organized and presented -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended itinerary planning resourcefor getting the most (and the most authentic) Greek holiday travels. Perfect for the armchair traveler to browse through oneinformative and inspiring page at a time, this hardcover edition of "Greece: The Monocle Handbook" is a very special andunreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and college/university library European Travel Guide - Greececollections.
Editorial Note: Monocle (https://monocle.com) is a global affairs and lifestyle magazine, 24-hour radio station, website,retailer, and media brand.
Campfire Stories series
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
Mountaineers Books is a premier publisher of travel guides and books dedicated to the Great Outdoors. One of theiroutstanding series is dedicated to showcase a specific place or area through the telling of stories -- the kinds of yarns thatwould be told around a campfire. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Ilyssa and Dave Kyu, the theirCampfire Stories series includes:
https://www.amazon.com/Campfire-Stories-Adirondacks-Travel-Companion/dp/1680517481
"The Adirondacks: Tales & Travel Companion" (9781680517484, $18.95, PB, 192pp)
A unique blending of literature and lore about Chesapeake Bay, "The Adirondacks" includes classic passages, originalessays, poems, and natural history of the area. The contributors include Tiya Miles, Annie Marhefka, Gilbert Byron, TomWisner, James Michener, Audrey Scharmen, Makshya Tolbert, and RagghiRain. Also featured are local recommendationsfor outdoor exploration, select cultural activities, camping options, gateway towns, and more. Additionally, the "How toVisit Well" and "Community Resources" sections offer tips on sustainable travel while highlighting cultural, Indigenous,and conservation organizations.
https://www.amazon.com/Campfire-Stories-Tales-Travel-Companion/dp/1680517503
"Cape Cod: Tales & Travel Companion" (9781680517507, $18.95, PB, 192pp)
"Cape Cod" is a unique volume of literature and lore about Cape Cod, including classic passages, original essays, poems,and its natural history. The contributors include Michael Cunningham, David Gessner, Elizabeth Bradfield, Mark Doty,Henry Beston, Mary Oliver, Clare Leighton and more. Also featured are local recommendations for outdoor exploration,select cultural activities, camping options, gateway towns, and more. Of special note are the "How to Visit Well" and"Community Resources" sections which offer practical tips on sustainable travel while highlighting cultural, Indigenous,and conservation organizations.
https://www.amazon.com/Campfire-Stories-Chesapeake-Travel-Companion/dp/168051752X
"Chesapeake Bay: Tales & Travel Companion" (9781680517521, $18.95, PB, 192pp)
Focusing on the literature and lore about the Chesapeake Bay, the contributors to this dedicated volume include Tiya Miles,Annie Marhefka, Gilbert Byron, Tom Wisner, James Michener, Audrey Scharmen, Makshya Tolbert, and RagghiRain.There are invaluable recommendations for local outdoor exploration, selected cultural activities, camping options, gatewaytowns, and more. The "How to Visit Well" and "Community Resources" sections offer tips on sustainable travel whilehighlighting cultural, Indigenous, and conservation organizations
Critique: This new and highly portable series from the editorial team of Ilyssa and Dave Kyu is a unique way to showcaseAmerica's beloved natural spaces, while offering unique tours through diverse histories, lore, and landscapes. Part storycollection and part travel companion, each eye-catching volume begins with an anthology of "campfire stories" -- takenfrom classic passages to original poetry, historical excerpts to fresh perspectives, treasured folk songs to local myths.
Through the magic of storytelling, readers are deeply drawn into each distinctive terrain. These tales are then followed by amini-guide: community-sourced recommendations for outdoor activities, cultural landmarks, and historical points of interestthat will enrich the reader's experience, as well as tips on how to best travel lightly and respectfully through these scenic andvaried public lands.
Each of these three unique pocket sized paperback editions from Mountaineers Books is especially and unreservedlyrecommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Travel Guide & Historycollections. It should be noted that each of these three fun and informative volumes are also available in a digital bookformat (Kindle, $18.00).
Editorial Note #1: Ilyssa Kyu is a design researcher focused on storytelling and creative solutions at the intersection ofnature, design, and inclusion and the founder of Amble, a sabbatical program for creative professionals to take time awaywith purpose in support of nature conservancies. Visit the Kyus online at campfirestories.com
Editorial Note #2: Dave Kyu is a socially engaged artist, writer, and arts administrator. Born in Seoul, South Korea andraised in the United States, he explores the creative tensions of identity, community, and public space in his work. They livewith their two daughters outside of Philadelphia and are always seeking adventure and connection in the outdoors. Visit theKyus online at campfirestories.com
The Interior Design Shelf
Shannon McGrath, author
Annie Reid, author
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9781760764623, $55.00, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Assemblage-Art-Room-Shannon-McGrath/dp/1760764620
Synopsis: A house is not just a series of rooms but a curated collection of objects and belongings. From the architects whohave built the spaces to the artisans and makers who have crafted the objects, this stunning book features twenty-fourinspiring interiors and the people that make them exceptional.
Shannon McGrath, one of Australia's best interiors photographers, delves into her archive to reveal the details and layersthat make up a room: from furniture and fittings to lighting choices, color palettes, and art curation. Grand or subtle,traditional or contemporary, each gesture is part of a house's legacy, adding layers of detail that bring it to life.
Featuring text by experienced design writer Annie Reid, Assemblage is a true celebration of the beauty of design andintentional curation, revealing that even the smallest of objects, and the way they are assembled, can make an extraordinaryimpact.
200 color illustrations
Critique: The collaborative work of co-authors Shannon McGrath and Annie Reid and beautifully enhanced for the reader'sbenefit with 200 color illustrations, this large format (12.5 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches, 3.59 pounds) hardcover edition of"Assemblage: The Art of the Room" from Thames & Hudson is an extensive and inspiring survey of interior design,architecture, artists, and designers that brilliantly illustrate how the thoughtful styling can transform a room from ordinary toextraordinary, from mediocre to magnificent. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Assemblage:The Art of the Room" is an ideal and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/universitylibrary Home Decorative/Interior Design reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Shannon McGrath is an award-winning Australian interior, architectural, and fine art photographer basedin Melbourne. She has over twenty-five years' experience and is commissioned by architects and designers all aroundAustralia. Shannon won INDE Best Residential Photographer category in 2023 and is on the committee for the ImagesMakers Association Australia. Her work has appeared in exhibitions and artistic series, books, and numerous magazinepublications, including Belle, Vogue, House & Garden, Houses, Indesign, est, and The Local Project.
Editorial Note #2: Annie Reid is a senior design journalist, writer, and author. She has written for over twenty years ondesign, architecture, property, and sustainability with bylines in many leading newspapers and magazines around theworld.
Cocoon: Creating Homes With Heart
Ali Heath
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729721, $39.99
https://www.amazon.com/Cocoon-Creating-Homes-Ali-Heath/dp/1784729728
Cocoon: Creating Homes With Heart is packed with color photos and advice that encourage home decorators to understandthe elements of creating a warm 'home sanctuary' refuge from the modern world. Ali Heath goes beyond advocating aparticular style, promoting a holistic approach to decorating that embraces all senses and opportunities for connection as sheshows how an entire home can be made into a comfort zone. Photos from homes around the world illustrate this concept increative ways, covering all kinds of environments large and small. Many admonitions that open these chapters will provethought-provoking, moving beyond design alone to consider emotional impact and response: "Instead of adapting to theenergy in our spaces, influence and shape that energy." Libraries will find Ali Heath's approach thoroughly engrossing,offering a very different and warmly inspirational touch that will fit in nicely in arts, home design, and general-interestcollections.
The Woodworking Shelf
Carpenters Tool Study Group
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805319130, $29.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Woodworking-Joinery-Techniques-Carpenters/dp/4805319135
Synopsis: "Japanese Woodworking and Joinery: A Beginner's Guide to the Tools & Techniques Used by Master Carpentersin Japan" is specifically intended for carpenters, weekend woodworkers, hand tool enthusiasts and dedicated wood crafters-- as well as anyone who loves Japanese-style tools and carpentry.
The age-old techniques of Japanese joinery are highly esteemed by carpenters and woodworkers all around the world. Theart of creating precise and lasting joints, fusing pieces of wood together permanently without the use of screws, nails orbrackets, continues to captivate woodcrafters seeking to elevate their own skills and knowledge.
"Japanese Woodworking and Joinery" is an all-in-one beginner's guide as well as an essential addition to any woodworker'slibrary, providing:
Detailed step-by-step photographs and texts that walk you through the process of creating 20 unique carpentry joints
A thorough introduction to traditional Japanese hand tools and how they are used
Expert guidance on selecting joinery methods that make the most sense for your projects
Extensive sidebars that focus on specialized projects, offer expert advice and identify missteps to avoid
An indispensable introduction and instructional book provides the reader with the essential building blocks for any furnitureor carpentry project, "Japanese Woodworking and Joinery" teaches how to apply traditional Japanese methods to pieceseven the most novice of woodworkers are building while adding an extra level of refinement and style to anyone'swoodworking repertoire.
Critique: The large format (7.64 x 1.1 x 10.08 inches, 2.1 pounds) hardcover edition of "Japanese Woodworking andJoinery: A Beginner's Guide to the Tools & Techniques Used by Master Carpenters in Japan" by the Carpenters Tool StudyGroup is a unique, profusely illustrated, and exceptionally well written, organized and presented introduction and guide forusing classic Japanese woodworking hand tools. "Japanese Woodworking and Joinery" from Tuttle Publishing is a strikingand unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, high school woodshop, community, community, andcollege/university library Woodworking collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Carpenters Tool Study Group is a Japanese craft collective which brings together Japan's leadingwoodworkers, carpenters and wood-based craftspeople.
The Photography Shelf
Mark Lisk, photographer
Familius
www.familius.com
9798893960228, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Superbloom-Visual-Natures-Bounty-American/dp/B0D9RZZP9K
Synopsis: Every decade or so, excess rainfall results in an amazing burst of desert blooms. This is known as a Superbloom.Nature photographer Mark Lisk visited the western states and documented the vibrant blossoms in "Superbloom: A VisualOde to Nature's Bounty in the American West", magnificent, gorgeous, full color coffee table book.
With stunning, flawless, and memorable visual images from California, Utah, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Texas, andmore, "Superbloom: A Visual Ode to Nature's Bounty in the American West" fully captures this rare and beautiful event indetail.
Critique: This large format (9.2 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches, 1.74 pounds) hardcover edition of photographer Mark Lisk's"Superbloom: A Visual Ode to Nature's Bounty in the American West" will prove to be of special appeal to readers with aninterest in landscape photography. A pure please to browse through page by page, "Superbloom" is particularly andenthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library ContemporaryPhotography collections and supplemental Photography curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Superbloom" isalso available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.99).
Editorial Note: Mark Lisk (https://www.markliskphotography.com/index) is a graduate of Brooks Institute of PhotographicArts who climbs from the sea to high ridges and plains, gathering within his camera worlds of color and expanse that fewever see or capture in any form. Mark's photographs stand alone within seven books, Idaho Impressions (1997); SalmonRiver Country (2005); Desert Water (2005); Idaho: Portrait of a State (2007); Owyhee Canyon Lands (2008); OwyheeCanyonlands: An Outdoor Adventure Guide (2013); and Sawtooth/Whiteclouds (2016).
Milford Moons
Richard C. Morais, author/photographer
https://richardcmorais.com
G Editions LLC
https://geditions.com
9781943876648, $35.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Milford-Moons-Writers-Ancestral-Village/dp/1943876649
Synopsis: Comprised of moonlit scenes taken of Milford showcasing the visual meaning and mood of his belovedhometown, "Milford Moons: A Writer's Visual Love Letter to His Ancestral Village" is an original volume of full color, fullpage photographs and an accompanying text compiled by author/photographer Richard Morais..
Morais is particularly suited to this endeavor: When he writes his novels, he conveys an atmosphere or sensibility in a storyby striving to capture the right image more than the right word. That's how his bestselling novel "The Hundred-FootJourney" became a celebrated 2014 Steven Spielberg-Oprah Winfrey film starring Helen Mirren.
"Milford Moons: A Writer's Visual Love Letter to His Ancestral Village" is no exception:
Late one night while walking his dogs, Morais wondered what a single image would best capture a novel he was working onabout his hometown, Milford. The full moon that stood over one of the back alleys prompted him to snap the beautiful,mysterious, and moody shadow-filled moonlit scene. After that first photograph, the assembly of images took on a life of itsown.
What started as a simple search for an image that would suit a murder mystery he was mentally formulating, became theprocess that ultimately morphed into its creative project: This series of photographs became a visual love letter to Milford,where his family has resided for four generations.
Critique: Unique, original, visually fascinating, this hardcover edition of Richard Morais' "Milford Moons: A Writer'sVisual Love Letter to His Ancestral Village" from G Editions LLC will prove of special and enduring appeal to readers withan interest in photography. A singular and inspiring study of photography as art and inspiration, "Milford Moons: A Writer'sVisual Love Letter to His Ancestral Village" is an high value and memorable pick for personal, professional, community,and college/university library Contemporary American Photography collections.
Editorial Note: Richard C. Morais (https://richardcmorais.com) is an award-winning American novelist and journalist. Mr.Morais is the author of The New York Times and international bestseller The Hundred-Foot Journey, a novel that followsthe life of an Indian chef as he conquers the rarified world of French haute cuisine. The novel sold in 35 territories across theglobe. In 2014, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Juliet Blake released The Hundred-Foot Journey as a film directed byLasse Halstrom and starring Dame Helen Mirren and Om Puri.
The Sports Shelf
Charles Lamb, author
Elizabeth Hogan, author
University of Notre Dame Press
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268208165, $55.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Irish-Football-Tradition-Photographs/dp/0268208166
Synopsis: Expertly selected by Charles Lamb and Elizabeth Hogan, "Fighting Irish Football: The Notre Dame Tradition inPhotographs" is a compendium of breathtaking images that capture the history of Notre Dame football (and of sportsphotography) from its beginnings in the late nineteenth century through to today. Of special note are the sections devoted tothe coaches, players, fans, games, and venues.
The photos are remarkable not only as historic artifacts, but as art, chosen for their striking composition, creative use oflight, and unique photographic techniques. From the sport's humble origins on campus to legendary Fighting Irish victories,Lamb and Hogan reveal the stories behind the game through these rare images and engaging, informative commentary.
Compelling and unforgettable, "Fighting Irish Football" builds a special connection between today's fans and the generationsof fans who came before, united by their love of Notre Dame and the sport of college football.
Critique: This large format (9.1 x 0.9 x 11.2 inches, 3 pounds) hardcover edition of "Fighting Irish Football: The NotreDame Tradition in Photographs" by co-authors Charles Lamb and Elizabeth Hogan" is divided into five chapters: Coaches,Players, Fans, Games, and Venues. A 'must' for the legions of Notre Dame football fans, enhanced with an informativeIntroduction and Afterword, "Fighting Irish Football: The Notre Dame Tradition in Photographs" is a unique andunreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library Sports/Football History and SportsPhotography collections.
Editorial Note #1: Charles Lamb is currently semi-retired, working as media assistant for Fighting Irish Media. From 1984-2018, he was assistant director and senior archivist for photographic and audio/visual collections at the University of NotreDame Archives. With Elizabeth Hogan, he is the co-author of Notre Dame at 175: A Visual History.
Editorial Note #2: Elizabeth Hogan is senior archivist for photographs at the University of Notre Dame Archives. She hascurated exhibits for Notre Dame's Hesburgh Libraries, including Daughters of Our Lady and Technologies andTouchdowns. she is the co-author of Notre Dame at 175: A Visual History.(https://directory.library.nd.edu/directory/employees/ehogan2)
The Gaming Shelf
Duncan Harris, author
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500021767, $60.00, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/WipEout-Futurism-Archives-Duncan-Harris/dp/0500021767
Synopsis: With the publication of "WipEout Futurism: The Graphic Archives", gaming artist Duncan Harries presents thedefinitive illustrated history of a cult videogame that is a heart-thumping fusion of groundbreaking graphic design,architectural futurism, electronic music, and high-speed racing.
Working its way through the fascinating creation story and cultural footprint of the WipEout game series, WipEoutFuturism offers unprecedented access to the game's visual archives and reveals the creative processes behind the teams,tracks, vehicles, and iconography that define the series. Within these pages you will find original concept art, promotionalmaterials, in-game photography, the monumental graphic design work of The Designers Republic, and much more.
WipEout crashed onto the scene in 1995, shifting games into the cultural fast lane with its unique 3D visual designs. Itpropelled a wondrous hit of antigravity, hyper-speed racing into the heart of the freshly released PlayStation console and,over time, the series grew into a cult phenomenon among graphic designers and gamers alike. With its clubland branding,devised by cutting-edge Sheffield agency The Designers Republic, and its on-the-pulse collaborations with electronic artists,from the Chemical Brothers to Kraftwerk, WipEout was not only a racing game, it was a vehicle for art.
"WipEout Futurism" chronicles the iconic game's vision, struggles, and achievements - from first conception to future plans-- in a distinctive union of trailblazing artwork and graphic design. The book includes exclusive interviews with electronicduo Orbital's Paul Hartnoll, sound designer Loic Couthier, writer Damon Fairclough, game director Stuart Tilley, andmore.
Critique: Impressively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of 500 color illustrations, this large format (10.2x 1.1 x 11.3 inches, 2.31 pounds) hardcover edition of "WipEout Futurism: The Graphic Archives" by Duncan Harris willhave a very special value for readers with an interest in graphic art design and video game art. Unique, informative, and a'must' for the legions of WipEout fans, as as well as college/university library collections and supplemental Graphic Artcurriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Duncan Harris is a game-industry artist who has worked for companies including Sony, Square Enix,Bethesda, and EA. His writing has appeared in such places as Edge, PC Gamer, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun. He also runs awebsite, Dead End Thrills, which explores the art of games through the hobby of taking screenshots.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Brett Hollyhead
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803418070, $12.95, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Sabrina-Discovering-Goddess/dp/1803418079
Synopsis: Within the flow of the Severn, Britain's longest river, resides a Goddess who, for millennia, has governed thecyclical nature of life and death in mythic and subtle ways. Whether known as Sabrina to the English or Hafren to theWelsh, with the publication of "Sabrina: Discovering the Goddess of the River Severn", author Brett Hollyhead invites youto dive deep into the currents of time to explore her identity and power.
From the age of the Celts to the tragedies woven together by the medieval clerics, right up to the modern day, "Sabrina:Discovering the Goddess of the River Severn" illuminates an ever-evolving, powerful divinity associated with boundaries,transformation, and magical Salmon. Combining personal insight, lore, academic research, and exercises to connect to herwaters, these pages traverse the historical tales of a Goddess who is the heart and soul of the landscape.
Critique: A part of the renowned Pagan Portals series from Moon Books, "Sabrina: Discovering the Goddess of the RiverSevern" is a succinct history by the Welsh Marches Folk Witch Brett Hollyhead of a particular and special river goddessfound in the old Celtic religion, and pagan mythology -- and her embrace as a New Age Goddess today. An exceptionallywell written, organized and presented study/history that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,professional, community, and college/university library Celtic Mythology collections and supplemental curriculum studieslists, "Sabrina: Discovering the Goddess of the River Severn" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Critique: Brett Hollyhead, also known as the Witch of Salopia across social media, is a practicing Welsh Marches FolkWitch, workshop leader and a public speaker at regular Pagan related events/ conferences throughout the United Kingdom.He's a member of the Cylch y Sarffes Goch Coven (Circle of the Red Serpent) alongside Mhara Starling and Moss Matthey.He's also a member of OBOD and a guardian of the Doreen Valiente Foundation. He lives in the UK.
Written in Your Stars
Narayana Montufar
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760395493, $19.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Written-Your-Stars-Saturn-Planetary/dp/0760395497
Synopsis: What does every 27-year-old have in common? At first glance, not much! But when you look at their specific agethrough an astrological lens, they are all at a critical moment along their life journey. Each of them is experiencing a SaturnReturn, an important transition from adolescence to maturity where one sets the template for their major life goals.
"Written in Your Stars: Use Your Saturn Return, Pluto Square, and Other Planetary Cycles to Become Your Best Self" byNarayana Mont�far (one of Vogue magazines "13 Astrologers to Follow"), is the ultimate accessible guidebook fornavigating planetary cycles, and their corresponding life events and transitions.
"Written in Your Stars" will show you how to:
Figure out which of the ten planets in the zodiac is currently being activated in your chart -- and their corresponding lessonsand opportunities
Learn strategies to navigate these rites of passage
Follow easy-to-implement tips on how to harness these cycles for success and fulfillment
Traverse your planetary cycles and rites of passage with confidence with the indispensable reference that is "Written in YourStars" at your side.
Critique: An ideal introduction for astrology beginners and with a great deal to offer even the more experienced practitionersof astrology, "Written in Your Stars: Use Your Saturn Return, Pluto Square, and Other Planetary Cycles to Become YourBest Self" by astrologer, writer, artist, and Akashic reader Narayana Montufar is deftly organized and presented in fourmajor sections: Astrology & Birth Chart Basics; Using This Book; Long Term Planetary Cycles by Age; Short TermPlanetary Cycles. An ideal and recommended pick for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/universitylibrary Metaphysical Studies: Astrology collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Written in Your Stars"from Fair Winds Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Narayana Mont�far (https://www.naramon.com) is a Mexican-born, California-based astrologer, writer,artist, and Akashic reader who finds inspiration in the symbolic language of the cosmos. She is the author of Moon Signs:Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power. Narayana currently serves as the in-house astrologer for House of Intuition LA. Herwork has been featured in numerous lifestyle publications such as Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, InStyle,Brit+Co, Bustle, Pop Sugar, Women's Health, Romper, and others.
Paid with a Kiss: Love and Sex in Fairy Belief
Morgan Daimler
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781803411323, $15.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Paid-Kiss-Love-Fairy-Belief/dp/1803411325
Synopsis: With the publication of "Paid with a Kiss: Love and Sex in Fairy Belief", Priestess of the Daoine Maithe andauthor Morgan Daimler gives a wide-ranging survey and study of fairies, sex, gender, and human belief through history inWestern Europe -- focusing primarily on Irish, UK, and French evidence.
By examining mythology, folklore, literature, and anecdotes, "Paid with a Kiss" answers common questions of what weknow about sex and sexuality among fairies and how they interact with humans, including human-fairy relationships andoffspring. Aiming to answer an array of questions on humans, fairies, and intimacy that the author has been asked over theyears, "Paid with a Kiss" is a deep dive into nearly two millennia of folk belief.
Critique: A seminal, fascinating, informative, and ground breaking study of the esoteric subject of fairy love, sex, intimacy,and historical consequences of human-fairy relationships, "Paid with a Kiss: Love and Sex in Fairy Belief" is of specialvalue to readers with an interest in the Celtic Religion, Paganism, Witchcraft, and Fairy Folklore. It should be noted forpersonal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Metaphysical Studies collections that thispaperback edition of "Paid with a Kiss: Love and Sex in Fairy Belief" from Moon Books is also readily available in a digitalbook format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Morgan Daimler (https://irishpagan.school/morgan-daimler) is an author, teacher of esoteric subjects, witch,and priestess of the Daoine Maithe. Morgan is a prolific pagan writer, having published more than a dozen books underMoon Books alone. Currently residing in Gales Ferry, CT, she is one of the world's foremost experts on all thingsFairy.
The Criminology Shelf
Jeffrey Sussman
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781538190265, $34.00, HC, 190pp
https://www.amazon.com/Backbeat-Gangsters-Rise-Decline-Music/dp/1538190265
Synopsis: In the 1950s, when rock and roll music burst upon the scene, the major established record companies thought thatthe new music was a passing teenage trend, but mobsters were there and pounced on the new business opportunity. Theyopened small independent record companies, signed ambitious young singers and musicians, and produced truckloads of 45rpm records. To make sure that their records would be successful, the mob bribed disc jockeys in major cities to play therecords and made sure jukeboxes, which were already mob-controlled, were filled to capacity with the new music. Whateverit took to gain airtime and repeated plays of their songs, the mob made sure it happened.
Backbeat Gangsters includes the stories of the most sinister people who took control of the record business during the earlydays of rock and roll, as well as those of the numerous, young performers who were exploited and received threats andbeatings instead of the compensation they were promised. The Mafia used intimidation and violence to achieve their endsand made millions from denying royalties, maintaining copyrights and trademarks, bribing DJs, and numerous scams likeflooding the market with counterfeit records which didn't have the burden of paying royalties. In yet another well-researchedand thorough account, Jeffrey Sussman, details how the mob was able to infiltrate and control another aspect of Americanculture with devastating results.
Critique: What is not well known by the general public is that during those early days of rock and roll the Mafia and otherelements of organized crime used every legal and illegal tactic they could, ranging from creating their own record labels, tobribing radio DJs, to stacking jukeboxes with their own artists, to exploiting and intimidating performers, and creating theirown black market of bootlegged records which allowed them to make millions of dollars with their domination of theprofessional Rock 'n Roll music scene.
With the publication of "Backbeat Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in Rock Music" organized crime expertJeffrey Sussman lays it all out in fascinating and documented detail from jukeboxes to Morris Levy, Vincent 'the Chin'Gigante to Payola, from Scalping to Skimming, and so much more. Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with theinclusion of an Appendix (List of Murdered Hip Hop Performers), eight pages of Notes, a two page Bibliography, and asixteen page Index, "Backbeat Gangsters" is a meticulous and comprehensive history of organized crime that is highlyrecommended for community and college/university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that thishardcover edition of "Backbeat Gangsters" from Rowman & Littlefield is also readily available in a digital book format(Kindle, $17.60).
Editorial Note: Jeffrey Sussman (www.jeffreysussmanauthor.com) is the author of 18 non-fiction books. He has writtenseveral books about organized crime and has been recognized as one of America's leading authorities on the subject. He hasbeen interviewed on numerous radio programs and podcasts and participated in several documentaries about organizedcrime. His most recent books about organized crime are Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in NewYork; Sin City Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in Las Vegas; Tinseltown Gangsters: The Rise and Decline ofthe Mob in Hollywood; and Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of the Sweet Science.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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