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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
War and Morality: Citizens' Rights and Duties
Michael Canvanagh
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786469888, $29.95, PB, 207pp
https://www.amazon.com/War-Morality-Citizens-Rights-Duties/dp/0786469889
Synopsis: In democratic societies, it is said that wars and military interventions are fought in the name of the citizens of the
nation engaged in the conflict. Yet, ordinary citizens, the major stakeholders in war, are seldom provided with as much
information for making and acting on their moral decisions about war as they are about many other national issues that
affect them.
To fill that void, with the publication of "War and Morality: Citizens' Rights and Duties", Professor Michael Cavanagh
addresses the nature of conscience, various moral norms, a moral decision-making process, and the theoretical and practical
issues involved in attempting to avoid war or at least to make it as moral as possible, considering its nature.
By discussing how the morality of war differs from its political, military, economic and legal dimensions, this unique work
attempts to enable citizens to make informed decisions about declaring, waging and ending war, and to act on those
Critique: Of special interest to readers concerned with the morality, ethics, philosophy, and politics of military warfare with
respect to democratic societies in general, and the Unites States of America in particular, "War and Morality: Citizens'
Rights and Duties" is an impressively presented study that is as thoughtful and thought-provoking, and it is timely and
relevant today. Extraordinary, well written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "War and Morality:
Citizens' Rights and Duties" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Bibliography
and a three page Index. Deserving of as wide a readership as possible in these volatile times, "War and Morality: Citizens'
Rights and Duties" is unrestrictively recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library
War & Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political
activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "War and Morality: Citizens' Rights and
Duties" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Michael Cavanagh, a professor of psychology and supervisor of clinical internships at Mount Olive College
in North Carolina, has published extensively in the fields of psychology and law enforcement.
(www.librarything.com/author/cavanaghmichael)
Common Sense Police Supervision, seventh edition
Gerald W. Garner
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094362, $54.95, PB, 374pp
https://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Police-Supervision-First-Line/dp/0398094365
Synopsis: Newly revised, updated, and expanded, this seventh edition of "Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips
for the First-Line Leader" by Gerald W. Garner continues to be a practical hands-on book that is packed from cover to cover
with step-by-step guidelines and suggestions for carrying out a multitude of leadership tasks and responsibilities focused on
a changing law enforcement workforce that serves an equally changing and complex society.
While emphasizing the real value of common sense in good leadership practices, Garner furnishes the aspiring law
enforcement novice or veteran police supervisor with specific advice on how to train, counsel, inspect, discipline, and assess
the performance of his or her subordinates. He strives to help the supervisor with the vital obligations of being a planner, a
problem resolution officer, and effective communicator within as well as outside the law enforcement organization.
The major topics comprising "Common Sense Police Supervision include: (1) what supervision means and what you need to
know; (2) supervisory ethics, professional responsibilities as a teacher, inspector, advocate, and role model; (3) the key
qualities of true leadership; (4) the vital job as an evaluator of employee performance, discipline in the correction process,
oral and written communication skills; (5) the skills needed when dealing with the news media; (6) assistance in planning a
career as a first-line leader in supervision; (7) the skills necessary for effective counseling; (8) managing external and
internal complaints; (9) an effective role in community policing and customer service; and (10) effective leadership of
different generations.
Each individual chapter concludes with a brief "Points to Remember" that provides a quickly-read and easily remembered
checklist of the chapter's salient points. This new seventh edition furnishes many more practical, helpful, and real-life
examples pertaining to leadership issues. In addition, a new chapter, "Working for Someone," which offers insight into this
all-important topic of what your supervisor expects, some pitfalls to avoid, addressing the boss's problems, and learning the
boss's job.
This new seventh edition also offers a realistic approach to the challenging task of providing strong, effective leadership to
front-line employees in a dynamic, demanding profession.
Critique: Like its six earlier editions, this newly updated and expanded seventh edition of "Common Sense Police
Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader" by Gerald W. Garner from Charles C. Thomas, Publisher is an
essential, core, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, police academy, and college/university
library Law Enforcement & Police Supervision/Training collections and curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: There are online listings of the police books by Gerald W. Garner at
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gerald-W.-Garner/author/B001ITTG66
and www.police-writers.com/gerald_garner.html
Reading Together
Robert Broder, author
Melissa Larson, illustrator
Blue Star Press
https://www.bluestarpress.com
9781950968923, $18.99, HC, 32pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Together-Heartwarming-Bonding-Through/dp/1950968928
Synopsis: With the publication of "Reading Together: A Heartwarming Story About Bonding with Your Child Through the
Love of Reading" by the team of author/storyteller Robert Broder and artist/illustrator Melissa Larson, parents, teachers, and
caregivers will help children to discover the magic of reading together with this story of a family's love for picture books
and the moments of laughter, imagination, and connection they share.
Filled with playful illustrations and fond memories from classic children's tales, "Reading Together: A Heartwarming Story
About Bonding with Your Child Through the Love of Reading" is a nostalgic journey through childhood, when the joys of
discovering new stories together create bonds that last a lifetime.
Critique: Whether you're a parent or caregiver looking to relive the magic of reading with your child, a teacher working to
install a love of reading in their young charges, or simply a lover of picture books and wanting to share that joy with a child,
"Reading Together: A Heartwarming Story About Bonding with Your Child Through the Love of Reading" is specifically
appropriate and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library collections with its
theme of family bonding through the power of books and storytelling.
Editorial Note #1: Robert Broder (www.RobertBroder.com) is a children's book author and founding publisher of
award-winning Ripple Grove Press. He is the writer of Patagonia's first picture book titled Better Than New. Other books
include Crow & Snow (Simon and Schuster) and Our Shed (Little Bigfoot) which received a Kirkus Starred Review.
Editorial Note #2: Melissa Larson (www.melissaleannlarson.com) is the illustrator of Iver & Ellsworth, written by Casey
Robinson. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, painting small town shop windows and getting her hands into every
creative project that comes her way.
Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller
Oliver Darkshire
W. W. Norton & Company
www.wwnorton.com
9781324074786, $17.99, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Misadventures-Rare-Bookseller/dp/1324074787
Synopsis: Some years ago, Oliver Darkshire stepped into the hushed interior of Henry Sotheran Ltd (est. 1761) to apply for a
job. Allured by the smell of old books and the temptation of a management-approved afternoon nap, Darkshire was soon
unteetering stacks of first editions and placating the store's resident ghost (the late Mr. Sotheran, hit by a tram).
A novice in this ancient, potentially haunted establishment, Darkshire describes Sotheran's brushes with history (Dickens,
the Titanic), its joyous disorganization, and the unspoken rules of its gleefully old-fashioned staff, whose mere glance may
cause the computer to burst into flames. As Darkshire gains confidence and experience, he shares trivia about ancient
editions and explores the strange space that books occupy in our lives - where old books often have strong sentimental
value, but rarely a commercial one.
By turns unhinged and earnest, Once Upon a Tome is the colorful story of life in one of the world's oldest bookshops and a
love letter to the benign, unruly world of antiquarian bookselling, where to be uncommon or strange is the best possible
compliment.
Critique: With the publication of "Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller" by Oliver Darkshire we are
welcomed to Sotheran's (https://sotherans.co.uk) one of the oldest bookshops in the world, complete with its weird and
wonderful clientele, suspicious cupboards, unlabeled keys, poisoned books, and some things that aren't even books -- all
presided over by one deeply eccentric apprentice. A bibliophile's delight and firmly laced with humor throughout, "Once
Upon a Tome" is a memoir that is inherently fascinating, impressively informative, and a fun read from start to finish. A
'must read' pick for anyone who has every daydreamed of owning a bookshop of there own, "Once Upon a Tome" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/library Bookseller Biography/Memoir
collections. It should be noted that "Once Upon a Tome" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.17).
Editorial Note: Oliver Darkshire (@DeathByBadger) is an antiquarian bookseller at Henry Sotheran Ltd, and the voice of
@Sotherans twitter account. He lives in England, with his husband and his neglectfully curated collection of books.
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
These new books from New World Library encourage mental health and relationship problem-solving thinking, using
references that are pointed and easy to absorb.
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Hacks-Simple-Solutions-Relationship/dp/1608689085
Kelli Miller, LCSW's Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues (9781608689088, $18.95)
synthesizes relationship advice into small bites of wisdom, organizes these into chapters that outline the problem ("We Can't
Trust Each Other After Infidelity" or "We Are Too Culturally Different"), and offers tips on fine-tuning communications,
expectations, and the tipping points of problems which may seem insurmountable, but actually can benefit from further
enlightenment about boundaries, perception, and communication.
https://www.amazon.com/College-Students-Guide-Mental-Health/dp/1608689018
Plenty of books have been written about mental health, but the specifically-targeted The College Student's Guide to Mental
Health: Essential Wellness Strategies for Flourishing in College (9781608689019, $21.95) by Mia Nosanow, MA, LP
narrows the focus and audience to college students and college life challenges. Licensed psychologist Nosanow tackles such
subjects as building healthy friendships, how to observe without judgment, handling procrastination, and more, with a
special eye to subjects college students will typically confront in the course of their education and becoming new
adults.
Both of these new titles are highly recommended choices for general-interest libraries seeking hard-hitting, specific, yet
succinctly accessible discussions that new generations can easily access and understand.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Universal Principles of Typography
Elliot Jay Stocks
Rockport Publishers
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760383384, $40.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Principles-Typography-Concepts-Choosing/dp/0760383383
Synopsis: We communicate with text every single day, but what does it mean to really understand type -- to use it with clear
intent and purpose?
The art and science of typography combines subtle tweaks to line lengths with harmonious combinations of weights and
styles; considered typeface pairings with a robust set of alternate characters; exciting technological advances with the
realities of font licensing. There are so many ways designers can optimize how text is read and influence the way its
message is understood -- and yet so many designers miscommunicate without even realizing it.
Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, with the publication of "Universal Principles of Typography: 100 Key Concepts for
Choosing and Using Type", typography expert Elliot Jay Stocks pairs clear explanations of each principle with visual
examples of it applied in practice. By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed, and
ultimately better, typography decisions.
Building upon tried-and-tested principles from the world of print through to the very latest advances in browser technology,
"Universal Principles of Typography" will equip you with everything you need to make the most informed typographic
decisions in your design work today.
The featured principles covered in "Universal Principles of Typography" include: Characters & Glyphs; Font v. Typeface;
Hierarchy; Inclusivity; OpenType; Pairing Type; Rhythm; and Web Fonts .
Each principle is presented in a two-page format. The left-hand page contains a succinct definition, a full description of the
principle, examples of its use, and guidelines for use. Sidenotes appear to the right of the text, and provide elaborations and
references. The right-hand page contains visual examples and related graphics to support a deeper understanding of the
principle.
With "Universal Principles of Typography", authors, publishers, and printers will gain a deep understanding of the universal
principles of typography and learn how to apply them across any work they do with type, ranging from the simplest of
documents to the most complex of cross-platform design systems.
Critique: A complete and comprehensive course of instruction in typography, as well as being thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation, "Universal Principles of Typography: 100 Key Concepts for Choosing and Using Type" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, technical college, and university library Calligraphy,
Decorative Design, and Typography collections and curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Universal Principles of
Typography: 100 Key Concepts for Choosing and Using Type" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
Editorial Note: Elliot Jay Stocks (https://elliotjaystocks.com) is a designer and musician, based just outside Bristol, UK.
After founding the typography magazine 8 Faces in 2010, Elliot joined Typekit (now known as Adobe Fonts) as Creative
Director, and helped lead the service's transition into desktop fonts and the Creative Cloud ecosystem. He then went on to
take several Creative Director roles and collaborated with Google to launch the typography education resource Google Fonts
Knowledge. Elliot currently focuses exclusively on typographic projects, as well as publishing the newsletter Typographic &
Sporadic, and hosting the podcast Hello, Type Friends!
Writing by Heart
Meredith Heller
New World Library
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608689101, $21.95, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Heart-Poetry-Healing-Self-Discovery/dp/1608689107
Synopsis: With the publication of "Writing by Heart: A Poetry Path to Healing and Self-Discovery", Meredith Heller invites
you to write as a path toward self-understanding and as a lifelong refuge of steadfast friendship with yourself.
She herself has used the power of writing to heal and save her own life, and now she teaches others to do the same. In the
pages of "Writing by Heart", Meredith shares the techniques she developed to help people from all walks of life explore
their emotions, find their voice, and better navigate life's challenges.
Critique: Packed with potent DIY exercises and inspiring poems by Meredith and her students, "Writing by Heart: A Poetry
Path to Healing and Self-Discovery" is essential reading for anyone, from the seasoned writer to the novice beginner,
wanting to discover the transformative power of writing in the context of their own lives. While highly recommended for
personal, professional, community, writer workshop, college, and university library Writing & Self-Help/Self-Improvement
collections, it should be noted that "Writing by Heart: A Poetry Path to Healing and Self-Discovery" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Meredith Heller (www.MeredithHeller.com) is a poet, singer-songwriter, avid nature lover, and educator
with degrees in writing and education. She leads workshops at schools, women's prisons, the Institute for Poetic Medicine,
creativity summits, wellness retreats, and online.
The Social Issues Shelf
Coming Out as Dalit, expanded edition
Yashica Dutt
Beacon Press
www.beacon.org
9780807045282, $29.95, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Out-Dalit-Memoir-Surviving/dp/0807045284
Synopsis: Born into a "formerly untouchable manual-scavenging family in small-town India," Yashica Dutt was taught from
a young age to not appear "Dalit looking". Although prejudice against Dalits (who compose 25% of the population), has
been illegal since 1950, caste-ism in India is alive and well. Blending her personal history with extensive research and
reporting, with the publication of "Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir of Surviving India's Caste System", Dutt provides an
incriminating analysis of caste's influence in India over everything from entertainment to judicial systems and how this
discrimination has carried over to US institutions.
Dutt traces how colonial British forces exploited and perpetuated a centuries-old caste system, how Gandhi could have been
more forceful in combating prejudice, and the role played by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, whom Isabel Wilkerson called "the MLK
of India's caste issues" in her book Caste. Alongside her analysis, Dutt interweaves personal stories of learning to speak
without a regional accent growing up and desperately using medicinal packs to try to lighten her skin.
Published in India in 2019 to acclaim, this newly expanded edition of "Coming Out as Dalit" from Beacon Press includes 2
new chapters covering how the caste system traveled to the US, its history here, and the continuation of bias by South Asian
communities in professional sectors. Amid growing conversations about caste discrimination prompting US institutions
including Harvard University, Brandeis University, the University of California system, and the NAACP to add caste as a
protected category to their policies, Dutt's work sheds essential light on the significant influence caste-ism has across many
aspects of US society.
Raw and affecting, Coming Out as Dalit brings a new audience of readers into a crucial conversation about embracing Dalit
identity, offering a way to change the way people think about caste in their own communities and beyond.
Critique: Fascinating, informative, insightful, and extraordinarily well written, organized and presented, this newly updated
edition of "Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir of Surviving India's Caste System" by Yashica Dutt is unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Contemporary India History, Biography and Memoir
collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir of Surviving India's Caste System" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$15.99).
Editorial Note: Yashica Dutt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yashica_Dutt) is a journalist, an activist, an award-winning
writer, and a leading feminist voice on caste. Born "in a formerly untouchable 'lower' caste family," she passed as dominant
caste to survive discrimination. Dutt moved to New Delhi at 17 and became one of the most widely-read culture journalists
at a leading English language paper. Eventually coming out as Dalit, she introduced this expression which powerfully
resonated in India. Her site, Documents of Dalit Discrimination, was among the first highly visible media spaces for caste
oppressed people. Dutt's work has been published in the New York Times, Foreign Policy and the Atlantic, and she has been
featured on The BBC, The Guardian, and PBS NewsHour.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Environmental Hazards, seventh edition
Keith Smith, et al.
Routledge
www.routledge.com
9780815365419, $52.95, PB, 632pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/environmental-hazards-keith-smith/1116756568
Synopsis: The newly revised and expanded seventh edition of "Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing
Disaster" provides a much expanded and fully up-to-date overview of all the extreme environmental events that threaten
people and what they value in the 21st century globally.
The newest edition of "Environmental Hazards" also integrates cutting-edge materials to provide an interdisciplinary
approach to environmental hazards and their management, illustrating how natural and human systems interact to place
communities of all sizes, and at all stages of economic development, at risk.
Part 1 defines basic concepts of hazard, risk, vulnerability and disaster and explores the evolution of hazards theory. Part 2
employs a consistent chapter structure to demonstrate how individual hazards occur, their impacts and how the risks can be
assessed and managed.
This extensively revised edition of "Environmental Hazards" features: Fresh perspectives on the reliability of disaster data,
disaster risk reduction, risk and disaster perception and communication, and new technologies available to assist with
environmental hazard management; The addition of several new environmental hazards including landslide and avalanches,
cryospheric hazards, karst and subsidence hazards, and hazards of the Anthropocene; More boxed sections with a focus on
both generic issues and the lessons to be learned from a carefully selected range of up-to-date extreme events; An annotated
list of key resources, including further reading and relevant websites, for all chapters; More color diagrams and photographs,
and more than 1,000 references to some of the most significant and recent published material; New exercises to assist
teaching in the classroom, or self-learning.
Carefully structured and balanced, "Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster" is an ideal textbook
that fully captures the complexity and dynamism of environmental hazards and should be considered as essential reading for
students, academicians, and practicing professionals across many disciplines including geography, environmental science,
environmental studies and natural resources.
Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout, "Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster 7th Edition" is
co-authored by Keith Smith, Carina J. Fearnley, Deborah Dixon, Deanne K. Bird, and Ilan Kelman. Comprehensive and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, This new and current edition of "Environmental Hazards" from
Routledge is an essential and core addition to personal, professional, college and university library Environmental Disaster
Relief and Climate Change collections and supplemental Environmental Studies curriculum lists. It should be noted for
students, academicians, environmental professionals, environmental protection activists, governmental policy makers, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this new 7th Edition of "Environmental Hazzards" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $39.99). Librarians should note that there is a hardcover edition
(9780815365402, $160.00) from Routledge as well.
Editorial Note #1: Keith Smith was Emeritus Professor at the University of Stirling, UK.
Editorial Note #2: Carina J. Fearnley is Professor in Science Communication and Warning Research at University College
London in the Department of Science and Technology Studies.
Editorial Note #3: Deborah Dixon is Professor of Geography in the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences at the
University of Glasgow, UK.
Editorial Note #4: Deanne K. Bird is Adjunct Research Fellow at the Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative,
Australia, and a Research Specialist with the Nordic Centre of Excellence on Resilience and Societal Security
(NORDRESS), University of Iceland.
Editorial Note #5: Ilan Kelman is Professor of Disasters and Health in the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction and
Institute for Global Health at the University College London, UK and Professor II at the University of Agder, Norway.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being
National Academy of Medicine
The National Academies Press
www.nap.edu
9780309694674, $25.00, PB, 122pp
https://www.amazon.com/National-Plan-Health-Workforce-Well-Being/dp/0309694671
Synopsis: In the United States, 54% of nurses and physicians, 60% of medical students and residents, and 61% of
pharmacists have symptoms of burnout. Burnout is a long-standing issue and a fundamental barrier to professional
well-being. It was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health workers who find joy, fulfillment, and meaning in their work can engage on a deeper level with their patients, who
are at the heart of health care. Thus, a thriving workforce is essential for delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered
care.
The "National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being" is intended to inspire collective action that focuses on changes
needed across the health system and at the organizational level to improve the well-being of the health workforce.
As a nation, we must redesign how health is delivered so that human connection is strengthened, health equity is achieved,
and trust is restored. the vision revealed in the "National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being" is that patients are cared
for by a health workforce that is thriving in an environment that fosters their well-being as they improve population health,
enhance the care experience, reduce costs, and advance health equity; therefore, achieving that quintuple goal.
The underlying message throughout the "National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being" is that together we can create a
health system in which care is delivered joyfully and with meaning, by a committed team of all who work to advance health,
in partnership with engaged patients and communities.
Critique: Deserving of as wide a readership within the medical community as possible, the "National Plan for Health
Workforce Well-Being" from the National Academy of Medicine is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, medical school, college and university library Health & Medical Policy collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: The National Academy of Medicine (https://nam.edu) is an organization that provides independent,
evidence-based advice to improve health for all. Learn about its strategic plan, awards, publications, and initiatives on topics
such as health workforce, longevity, and climate.
Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery Research, second edition
Lisa McKenna, author
Beverley Copnell, author
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781032539539, $46.95, PB, 194pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Nursing-Midwifery-Research-McKenna/dp/1032539534
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery Research: A
Practical Guide for Evidence-Based Practice" by co-authors Lisa McKenna and Beverley Copnell presents a unique
approach to teaching the principles of health research using practical case studies with which nurses and midwives can
engage to gain the skills to read and understand reports, evaluate the quality of research, synthesize different studies and be
able to evaluate their effectiveness when applied to clinical practice.
"Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery Research" covers core concepts and principles, including: What evidence is and
why understanding research is vital; Finding reliable sources of evidence; The nature of the research process; Understanding
quantitative and qualitative research; Ethical considerations; Using research to guide clinical practice.
Throughout the new second edition of "Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery Research", are activities, summaries and
review questions to help ground theory in real-life scenarios, showing how evidence-based practice can be applied in every
aspect of nursing and midwifery care. It is specifically designed for nurses and midwives, ranging from those just beginning
their studies to qualified practitioners undertaking their first research projects.
Critique: Informative enhanced for the benefit of the reader with Tables, Figures, a Glossary, and an Index, "Fundamentals
of Nursing and Midwifery Research: A Practical Guide for Evidence-Based Practice: 2nd Edition" is especially directed to
the attention of readers with an interest in Women's Health Nursing, Women's Health Care Delivery, and Midwifery.
Exceptionally well written, organized and presented this new edition of "Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery Research"
is unreservedly recommended for professional, medical/nursing school, and college/university library collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists of nursing students and practitioners that this new second edition of "Fundamentals of
Nursing and Midwifery Research" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $44.60).
Editorial Note #1: Lisa McKenna is Professor and Dean in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University,
Melbourne. She has researched widely, particularly in the areas of nursing, midwifery and health professional education and
workforce, and published over 250 refereed peer-reviewed journal articles along with a number of textbooks. Lisa's research
expertise incorporates a range of methodologies, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.
Editorial Note #2: Beverley Copnell is Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University,
Melbourne. Before entering academia, she worked in paediatric intensive care, a field in which she maintains an active
interest. She is a member of the editorial board of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and an editor of Collegian: The
Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship and Research. She has a long-standing interest in promoting research
and evidence-based practice in nursing.
Status Quo Thinking is Harming Your Health
Dr. Sarah Hallberg
Olio Media
9798989986101 $17.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXCMMKPV
Status Quo Thinking is Harming Your Health: A Physician's Final Plea represents the late Dr. Sarah Hallberg's magnum opus, synthesizing her research and reflections on the American healthcare system which (she found as an insider and participant) worked as much against her healing efforts as they professed to support them.
Dr. Hallberg did more than chafe against these barriers to helping her patients. She opened a clinic in Indiana which refuted the common notion that a low-fat diet was essential for good health, observing concrete results in eliminating diabetes and other diet-related symptoms by adopting a low-carb, high-fat diet.
The contention that diabetes can be reversed by diet is not a new one. What is new, here, is the research and findings which indicate that the type of diet being promoted to manage the disease does little to actually cure it, placing the disease's management and stasis over a real solution.
The idea is simple: eat better and live longer. It's not a new notion, but one which has been vastly revised, here, where it expands to include not just issues of diet and health, but how the healthcare system as a whole does an injustice to patients with its focus on managing symptoms over finding real, lasting solutions.
Dr. Hallberg wrote her book while battling terminal cancer. She made a point of staying on the diet she was recommending to her patients, even though she did not share their symptoms, in the interests of staying fit and better understanding what her patients' struggles and experiences.
She is candid about presenting her naivety over the process of participating in research studies and their ultimate ability to help her patients, forthright about the joys of meeting personal and processional goals, and spirited and lively in her delivery:
"I was doing what I loved and felt as if I were helping lots of people, and working on methods that could help a substantially greater number."
Status Quo Thinking is Harming Your Health is much more than a physician's condemnation of systems that don't achieve their ultimate goals of good health. It's a lively memoir; a story of study, research, and blending these efforts with the bigger picture of supporting health routines and ideals; and a powerful consideration of medical attitudes and objectives. It will be especially pertinent reading for medical school students and classrooms debating the ultimate impact of health management systems and their underlying politics, goals, and influences.
Status Quo Thinking is Harming Your Health should be part of any collection appealing to medical personnel who hold a greater vision for a healthy future than traditional rote thinking and approaches to healthcare. It's also highly recommended for general-interest library collections concerned about healthcare approaches.
The Psychology Shelf
Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults
Chris Williams
Routledge
www.routledge.com
9781032389448, $39.95, PB, 244pp
https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Depression-Mood-Older-Adults/dp/1032389443
Synopsis: "Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" by Professor Chris Williams is part of the Routledge
Overcoming Series, which includes publications that have the seal of approval by the Association for Behavioral and
Cognitive Therapies and highly commended by the British Medical Association.
"Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" is a workbook that outlines how to use the Five Areas(R) model
of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to equip older adults experiencing low mood or depression with key life skills to
overcome these conditions.
Addressing the common challenges faced by older adults during times of low mood and depression, "Overcoming
Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" provides educational life skills and resources to increase mental wellbeing in
the care home, day hospital, and social support networks of this population.
The chapters comprising "Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" cover topics such as understanding and
changing behaviours; behavioural activation and tackling avoidance; noticing and changing extreme and unhelpful thoughts;
rebalancing relationships; building assertiveness; and problem solving.
Substantially featured throughout are worksheet resources using interactive questions that can be photocopied for use by
practitioners with older adults or in their routine business as a therapist or health/social care practitioner.
Critique: "Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" is especially recommended reading for any healthcare
or mental health professional working with older adults including psychological therapists, social care workers, residential
home staff, psychiatrists and practice nurse and health visiting staff. This workbook is also an approachable resource for
older adults themselves. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, this large format (8.27 x 0.55 x 11.69
inches) paperback edition of "Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" from Routledge is unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Psychology/Psychotherapy collections
and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted by librarians that there is also a hardcover edition of
"Overcoming Depression and Low Mood in Older Adults" available (9781032389455, $170.00).
Editorial Note: Chris Williams (www.weeatelephants.com/about-us) is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of
Glasgow, UK, and an Honorary Fellow and Past President of BABCP - the lead body for cognitive behavioural therapy
(CBT) in the UK. He is a well-known writer, teacher and researcher and his work focuses on making CBT approaches
accessible and usable. Discover more at www.llttf.com/evidence
The Education Shelf
Early Childhood Research for Educational Equity
Christine M. McWayne, editor
Vivian L. Gadsden, editor
Brookes Publishing Company
www.brookespublishing.com
9781681257464, $89.95, PB, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Childhood-Research-Educational-Equity-Family-School-Systems/dp/1681257467
Synopsis: As educators, how can we close opportunity gaps for young children affected by poverty and systemic racism --
and build hope and resilience for children and their families? Research points the way forward. "Early Childhood Research
for Educational Equity: Family - School - Systems Connections" is collaborative compiled and co-edited by Christine M.
McWayne and Vivian L. Gadsden who present articles by some 40+ leading researchers identifying new approaches,
insights, and technologies that can promote educational equity and improve outcomes for children and families living in
poverty.
Building on the seminal work of researcher John Fantuzzo, "Early Childhood Research for Educational Equity: Family -
School - Systems Connections" focuses on identifying and expanding on child, family, and community strengths to address
the urgent needs of the whole child and the whole family. The expert contributors examine the importance of 1) child-level
strengths and social connections, 2) strengths-based intervention as an antidote to deficit framing, and 3) collaboration and
data sharing across systems serving vulnerable children and families.
Critique: Of immense and timely relevance for readers with an interest in educational research and early child education,
"Early Childhood Research for Educational Equity: Family - School - Systems Connections" is an ideal and unreservedly
recommended pick for personal, professional, school district, college and university library Education Policy &
Development collections and supplemental Early Childhood curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students,
academicians, teachers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Early Childhood Research for
Educational Equity: Family - School - Systems Connections" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $81.18).
Editorial Note #1: Christine M. McWayne, Professor, in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human
Development at Tufts University, is an applied developmental psychologist and a community-based educational researcher
whose work has centered on fostering better understandings of the early social and learning successes of young children
growing up in urban poverty, as well as on understanding how to better support and connect the adult contributors to
children's early development -- their parents and teachers.
Editorial Note #2: Vivian L. Gadsden is the William T. Carter Professor of Child Development, Professor of Education, and
Director of the National Center on Fathers and Families at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a professor of
Africana Studies and of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Her research, scholarly interests, and writing focus on
learning and literacies across the life-course and address issues of equity, access, and change for young children and families
in historically marginalized communities.
58-IN-MIND
Debbie Golos, et al.
Gallaudet University Press
https://gupress.gallaudet.edu
9781954622203, $48.00, PB, 402pp
https://www.amazon.com/58-MIND-Multilingual-Teaching-Strategies/dp/1954622201
Synopsis: A highly practical and engaging resource for current and future teachers, "58-IN-MIND: Multilingual Teaching
Strategies for Diverse Deaf Students" describes and demonstrates theoretically-driven, research-based, and classroom-tested
best practices for using American Sign Language and English in instruction across the curriculum. The multilingual and
multimodal instructional strategies presented here are embedded in approaches that aid learning and foster well-being.
"58-IN-MIND" will support teachers in creating meaningful educational experiences for Deaf students in all grades, from
early childhood education through high school.
Each chapter is written by a team of researchers and P - 12 teachers with at least one Deaf coauthor. With seventy-five
percent of the authors being Deaf, "58-IN-MIND" is the first teaching methods book to harness the expertise of Deaf
professionals at this level, highlighting their vital role in Deaf education and in shaping inclusive and effective learning
environments. This book meets the need for a resource that recognizes the diversity of Deaf students by creating space in the
classroom to honor their home/heritage languages, cultures, races, genders, abilities, hearing levels, and other multiple and
intersecting identities.
Written in a conversational tone, :58-IN-MIND" includes core recommendations for instruction of the targeted subject area,
examples of key strategies, lessons and real stories from those working in the field, suggestions for practice, and
recommended resources.
"58-IN-MIND" in the title refers to the version of the ASL sign "stick" that is made on the forehead, which is equivalent to
the English idiom "to stick in one's mind." As in, when students learn in a culturally responsive manner, the learning is
likely to stick. The title also alludes indirectly to the collective aspirations of the chapter authors that the practices discussed
in "58-IN-MIND" will also stick in the readers' minds, and thus have a transformative impact on the way Deaf students are
taught.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 1.1 x 11 inches, 2.42 pounds) paperback edition of "58-IN-MIND: Multilingual Teaching
Strategies for Diverse Deaf Students" is collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Debbie Golos, Marlon
Kuntze, Kimberly Wolbers, and Christopher Kurz. A critically essential and unreservedly recommended addition to
professional, college, and university library Deaf Education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should
also be noted for teachers and curriculum designers that "58-IN-MIND" is also available from the Gallaudet University
Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $45.60).
Editorial Note #1: Debbie Golos is an associate professor of Deaf Education and lead of the Deaf Education teacher
preparation program in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Her research and
development projects focus on mitigating language deprivation in early childhood by fostering language, literacy, and
identity development for Deaf children through American Sign Language and through the creation and evaluation of
educational media and children's literature.
Editorial Note #2: Marlon Kuntze is Professor of Government and Public Affairs, Gallaudet University.
Editorial Note #3: Kimberly A. Wolbers is a professor in the Deaf studies program and is co-director of TPTE's
undergraduate studies programs at the University of Tennesse. She earned her PhD from Michigan State University in 2007
with a focus in special education and literacy.
Editorial Note #4: Christopher Kurz is a Professor at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of
Technology.
The Cookbook Shelf
A Taste of the World: Celebrating Global Flavors
Rowena Scherer
Collective Book Studio
https://thecollectivebook.studio
9781685551728, $29.95, HC, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-World-Celebrating-Global-Flavors/dp/1685551726
Synopsis: From Rowena Scherer (founder of Eat2Explore) "A Taste of the World: Celebrating Global Flavors" is a carefully
curated collection of recipes celebrating global cuisine and designed to be made by families with kids of all ages. Each
showcased recipe is a full meal and includes step-by-step instructions so parents can safely have their kids join in the fun
while learning about other cultures through their traditional foods.
"A Taste of the World" offers: 64 kid-friendly recipes ranging from Pork Katsu from Japan and Vegetable Korma from
India to Lamb Kebabs from Morocco and Black Bean Enchiladas from Mexico; Short selections of facts of twenty different
countries as well as adorable in-color illustrations of their landmarks; Full-color photographs of each finished dish and the
steps along the way.
Critique: Brilliantly illustrated throughout, "A Taste of the World: Celebrating Global Flavors" will prove to be an
immediately popular and fun addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. Ideal for
planning 'kitchen cook friendly' menus for any and all dining occasions with its impressive variety of palate pleasing,
appetite satifsying, family friendly dishes to plan truly memorable menus with, it should be noted that "A Taste of the
World: Celebrating Global Flavors" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Rowena Scherer grew up in Malaysia and her fondest memories are from when she cooked in the kitchen
with her family. Years later, after working on Wall Street and living all over the world, she decided she wanted to create the
same lasting memories with her children. She attended the French Culinary Institute, began to source hard-to-find
non-perishable ingredients that highlighted her cherished foods, and started eat2explore, an explorer box filled with
authentic recipes, activities, and collectibles that offered a worldwide cultural education through the exploration of food.
(https://eat2explore.com/pages/our-story).
Sprout & Co Saladology: Fresh Ideas for Delicious Salads
Theo Kirwan
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784729158, $26.99, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sprout-Co-Saladology-Delicious-Salads/dp/1784729159
Synopsis: The first cookbook from the acclaimed Dublin-based food brand, the "Sprout & Co Saladology: Fresh Ideas for
Delicious Salads" by Theo Kirwan showcases more than 100 flavor-packed recipes.
Theo and Jack Kirwan (co-founders of Sprout & Co.) are devoted to celebrating the most delicious things in life, all within a
'farm to fork' context. This culinary collection of theirs feature show-stopping sides to satisfying noodle dishes. The "Sprout
& Co Salad Cookbook" shows us how much more there is to salads.
With an extra chapter on dressings, toppings and pickles, this specialized cookbook will teach you how to pack your meals
full of flavor while ensuring your body gets the nutrients and healthy ingredients it needs with recipes that range from
Endive taco with mustard, walnut & gouda salsa; Pickled Zucchini, pistachio zaatar & ricotta; and Ratatouille con tomate;
to Gochujang chicken salad; Harissa sweet potato & green yoghurt; Chorizo & halloumi honey with braised fennel; Salt &
pepper prawn salad -- and so many more!
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full page, full color photos of finished dishes, this large
format (7.5 x 0.77 x 9.75 inches, 1.74 pounds) hardcover edition of "Sprout & Co Saladology: Fresh Ideas for Delicious
Salads" from Mitchell Beazley is unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library
cookbook collections. It should be noted for family kitchen cooks and professional restaurant chefs with an interest in
organic, natural food, or vegan cooking that "Sprout & Co Saladology: Fresh Ideas for Delicious Salads" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Theo Kirwan and his brother Jack Kirwan are the co-founders of Sprout & Co. With 6 restaurants in and
around Dublin, Sprout is the leading brand in Ireland for local, seasonal and flavorful food. In 2019 the brothers started their
own organic farm in Co. Kildare, cutting their supply chain from farm to restaurant to just 24 hours. Theo, a former actor
and graduate of the Ballymaloe cookery school, has led Sprout & Co's online presence with his recipe videos, gaining a
loyal following of 170k people who get just as excited about food as he does.
The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Serena Ball, author
Deanna Segrave-Daly, author
BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781637744505, $28.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Mediterranean-Diet-Cookbook-Brain-Healthy/dp/1637744501
Synopsis: "The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 101 Brain-Healthy Recipes to Protect Your Mind and Boost Your
Mood " is packed from cover to cover with recipes that provide "food for thought", ranging from breakfast to dessert, as
well as snacks, sides, and small plates, kitchen cooks and family chefs will reach for this culinary compendium again and
again whether they are preparing a family dinner or a meal for a large gathering.
Co-authored by Serena Ball and Deanna Segrave-Daly, the dishes comprising "The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook"
range from Mediterranean Sun Gold Granola; Berry Smart Seeded Dressing Over Greens; and Green Falafel Fritters with
Red Pepper Sauce; to Sizzling Shrimp and Peppers with Cilantro; Moroccan Spiced Hot Chocolate; Shortcut Homemade
Ravioli -- and more!
"The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" also includes the tools for making nutritious meals easier than ever before,
including: A reader-friendly quick guide to the principles of cognitive and mental-healthy eating; Healthy Kitchen Hacks for
every recipe, including substitutions, prep tips, and timesaving suggestions; Adaptable recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free,
egg-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and vegan lifestyles; and Five-day meal plans.
Eating a Mediterranean diet is one of the most effective ways to protect and enhance your brain health, halt inflammation,
improve symptoms of depression, and help to reduce daily stress. Research shows results in less than two months -- but
good nutrition only works if you want to eat the food. And that's where "The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: comes
in.
Serena and Deanna's smart recipes are layered with enticing Mediterranean flavors and the most potent brain-boosting
ingredients. "The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" solves the dilemma of "what's for dinner" while enhancing your
brain and mood with every dish.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated, thoroughly 'kitchen cook' friendly in organization and presentation, "The Smart
Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 101 Brain-Healthy Recipes to Protect Your Mind and Boost Your Mood" is an impressive
and inspiring collection of step-by-step, palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying, and nutritionally healthy recipes suitable for any
and all dining occasions. Highly recommended for personal, professional, community library cookbook collections, it
should be noted the "The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$13.99).
Editorial Note: Serena Ball, MS, RD, and Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD, each have over 25 years of culinary nutrition
experience and have dedicated their careers to helping people make delicious and nutritious meals. Together, they are the
authors of The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, The Easy Everyday Mediterranean Diet Cookbook, and The
Sustainable Mediterranean Diet Cookbook. You can find them online at www.teaspoonofspice.com and doing weekly
live-stream recipe demonstrations on their Facebook page, Teaspoon of Spice.
Taste of Home Mediterranean Favorites
Taste of Home, editor
Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889770152, $19.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Mediterranean-Favorites-Hundreds/dp/B0C99M8FXD
Synopsis: Take your taste buds on a mouthwatering trip with Greek, Tuscan, Moroccan and other vibrant flavors inspired by
the sun-kissed coastal region of the Mediterranean Sea with "Taste of Home Mediterranean Favorites: Savor the Good Life
with Hundreds of Popular Dishes", the follow-up to Taste of Home's top-selling Mediterranean cookbook as this culinary
sequel offers even more tantalizing recipes that are light, fresh and loaded with flavor.
Featuring easy-to-find ingredients, familiar cooking methods and step-by-step instructions "Taste of Home Mediterranean
Favorites: Savor the Good Life with Hundreds of Popular Dishes" makes quick work of getting a delicious meal on the table
in no time flat. It's a snap with this sensational collection of tried-and-true favorites as the 240+ recipes comprising this
culinary collection are shared by today's family cooks who have happily adopted this light and lively Mediterranean cuisine
in their own homes.
There are recipes for every type of dish (ranging from impressive appetizers and mezze plates to satisfying entrees, soups,
salads, sides and more); At-a-Glance icons make it a snap to find the dishes that best fir your lifestyle; "Fast Fix" recipes
spotlight items ready in half an hour; "5-Ingredient" dishes call for just a handful of items; "Slow Cooker" items simmer up
meals while you're away; and "Freeze It" recipes store well and cook up in a jiffy.
Of speciial note are the kitchen cook friendly recipes for weekend appetizers, including mezze, tapas, small plates and
antipasti platters that will easily impress partygoers and guests. There is even a bonus chapter of "Yia Yia's Favorites"
featuring Grandma's classic Greek and Mediterranean foods that families have adored for generations.
Critique: With the publication of "Taste of Home Mediterranean Favorites: Savor the Good Life with Hundreds of Popular
Dishes", even the most novice of kitchen cooks can produce extraordinary and memorable dining experiences for all
occasions. Enhanced with the inclusion of beautifully and profusely illustrated photos throughout of finished dishes, "Taste
of Home Mediterranean Favorites: Savor the Good Life with Hundreds of Popular Dishes" is a fun and inspiring resource
for planning appetite satisfying, palate pleasing, good health supporting menus for all dining occasions both formal and
informal. Especially recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be
noted that "Taste of Home Mediterranean Favorites: Savor the Good Life with Hundreds of Popular Dishes" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking and
entertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands of
subscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site is
a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has more
than 6.3 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.6 million Pinterest followers and receives more than
28 million unique monthly visitors. You can visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.
Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking
Emiko Davies
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754523, $35.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gohan-Everyday-Japanese-Cooking-Memories/dp/1922754528
Synopsis: Gohan refers to everyday Japanese family meals. "Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking: Memories and Stories
from My Family's Kitchen" by Emiko Davies is a dedicated cookbook on precisely this subject.
Practically any home-cooked Japanese meal revolves around rice. It sits beside miso soup, pickles, tofu, and a piece of
grilled fish at breakfast. It soaks up the sauce in a comforting donburi bowl, or is wrapped in nori for the ultimate portable
lunch called onigiri. And it's there for dinner, perhaps served with a pickled plum, some mild Japanese curry, braised fish, or
even a Japanese-style Hamburg steak.
The everyday meals, cooked in the homes of Japanese mothers and grandmothers, is the food that Emiko Davies grew up
with. They're the dishes she makes for her own children: simple, satisfying food like tamagonogohan (stir fried egg and
rice), soba noodle soup, Japanese curry, yakisoba, and miso soup, prepared with whatever seasonal vegetables happen to be
around.
Unlike what many people think, Japanese home cooking is not fiddly, nor time consuming. It's quick and remarkably
simple, thanks to the Japanese philosophy that fresh, seasonal food doesn't need much to enhance its natural flavor.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full page, full color photographs of finished dishes, "Gohan: Everyday
Japanese Cooking: Memories and Stories from My Family's Kitchen" is a substantial compendium of palate pleasing,
appetite satisfying, authentic and family kitchen cook friendly recipes for creating Gohan dishes in American homes fully
and accurately reproducing these same dishes as they would be found in Japanese homes. The recipes are deftly organized
into eight sections: Home-Made Pantry Samples; Japanese Breakfast; Rice; Vegetables; Noodles & Street Food; Family
Favorites; The West Meets Japan; and Sweets. This hardcover edition of Emiko Davies' "Gohan: Everyday Japanese
Cooking: Memories and Stories from My Family's Kitchen" from Smith Street Books is an authentic, unique, menu
inspiring, and highly recommended addition for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Emiko Davies (www.emikodavies.com) is an Australian-Japanese food writer, photographer, and cookbook
author. Growing up in a diplomatic family, she spent most of her life in countries other than her own, from China to the US.
She now calls Italy home.
Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible
Wendy Hutton
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804857437, $19.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Asian-Vegetables-Descriptions-Illustrations-Including/dp/0804857431
Synopsis: "Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible" by leading food expert Wendy Hutton is a complete guide to purchasing and
preparing Asian vegetables and plant-based food products!
A culinary compendium offering descriptions and illustrations of 139 vegetables (including dried and preserved varieties)
along with 145 authentic recipes "Asian Vegetables" provides everything you need to know about the rapidly-expanding list
of Asian vegetables found in supermarkets, farmers' markets, Asian grocers and specialty gourmet stores around the
globe.
With attractive watercolor illustrations and photos, the 145 recipes and 139 different vegetables showcases range from small
to large dishes, sauces, soups and so much more, The recipes range from Indian Chickpeas in Spicy Tomato Sauce;
Malaysian-style Cabbage Stewed in Coconut Milk' and Blanched Water Spinach and Tofu with Spicy Peanut Sauce; to Sri
Lankan Breadfruit Curry; Stir-Fried Loofah with Oyster Sauce; Thai Wild Pepper Leaf Parcels; Chinese Garlic Chive
Pancakes; Fresh Tuna Baked in Konbu Seaweed, Spice Indian Cauliflower, and a great many more!
From sugar peas and azuki beans to fern tips, hijiki seaweed, jackfruit and mustard cabbage "Asian Vegetables: A Cook's
Bible" also offers insightful background stories about the ways Asian cultures have traditionally prepared these vegetables
as well as a description of their appearance, nutritional content, flavor, selection and storage -- plus interesting information
about their medicinal properties according to traditional folk beliefs. Fresh, dried, fermented, pickled and preserved Asian
vegetables, tubers, herbs, mushrooms and sprouts are all described in detail.
Critique: "Asian Vegetables: A Cook's Bible" is an ideal and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' reference that home cooks,
epicures and professional chefs alike will want to have on hand. Fun to browse through and inspiring to plan memorable
meals with for any and all dining occasions, While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "Asian
Vegetables: A Cook's Bible" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and community
library Ethnic Cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Wendy Hutton is a writer specializing in food and travel, who lived in Southeast Asia for more than five
decades. She has written widely on the cuisines of Southeast Asia, including cookbooks such as Green Mangoes and Lemon
Grass, Tropical Asian Cooking and the highly acclaimed Singapore Food.
The Big Book of Hatch Chile
Kelley Cleary Coffeen
University of New Mexico Press
www.unmpress.com
9780826365439, $29.95, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Hatch-Chile-Featuring/dp/0826365434
Synopsis: New Mexico chile or New Mexican chile (Scientific name: Capsicum annuum 'New Mexico Group'; Spanish:
chile de Nuevo Mexico, (chile del norte) is a cultivar group of the chile pepper from the US state of New Mexico, first
grown by Pueblo and Hispano communities throughout Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico. These landrace chile plants were used
to develop the modern New Mexico chile peppers by horticulturist Fabian Garcia and his students, including Roy
Nakayama, at what is now New Mexico State University in 1894. (Wikipedia)
Simply stated, the New Mexico chile peppers grown around the village of Hatch are world famous for their culinary
versatility, unique flavor, and varying levels of heat.
With the publication of "The Big Book of Hatch Chile: 180 Great Recipes Featuring the World's Favorite Chile Pepper",
Kelley Cleary Coffeen offers a compendium of detailed but easy-to-use recipes for everything from chile-laced margaritas to
several variations on the classic green chile cheeseburger. Here are to be found both amazing new recipes and familiar
Hatch chile favorites, including weeknight time-savers and Saturday-night showstoppers. With "The Big Book of Hatch
Chile" even the most novice of family cooks can spice up their home menus with everything from amazing appetizers to
delicious desserts, soups and stews, Mexican classics, and so much more.
In every chapter Coffeen (who has lived in chile country for over thirty years), serves up generous helpings of Hatch chile
lore and history. "The Big Book of Hatch Chile" takes the reader on a fascinating culinary trip to explore the history and
evolution of Hatch chile and the flavor characteristics that make it the most versatile and sought-after chile varietal. Coffeen
also profiles family farms, restaurants, and everyone and everything that makes chile central to the identity of the Hatch
valley and New Mexico.
"The Big Book of Hatch Chile offers comprehensive details on chile resources, chile varieties and their flavor characteristics
and nutritional value, the differences between dried chile and fresh chile, and tips for buying, roasting, and storing Hatch
chile.
Critique: Featuring full color, full page sized photos of finished dishes, "The Big Book of Hatch Chile: 180 Great Recipes
Featuring the World's Favorite Chile Pepper" is a chile lovers delight to simply page through one recipe at a time. Ideal for
planing menus with for any dining occasion be it formal or informal, each menus if clearly laid out, step-by-step and
guarantees even the most novice of family cooks a palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying, and truly memorable dish. While
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections,
it should be noted that "The Big Book of Hatch Chile" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Kelley Cleary Coffeen (https://www.kelleycoffeen.com) is a professor at New Mexico State University. She
is also a culinary expert, food consultant, and the author of five Mexican cookbooks, including Fiesta Mexicali; 300 Best
Taco Recipes: From Tantalizing Tacos to Authentic Tortillas, Sauces, Cocktails and Salsas; and 200 Easy Mexican Recipes:
Authentic Recipes From Burritos to Enchiladas.
Trap Kitchen: Wah Gwaan Jamaican Cookbook
Malachi Jenkins, author
Roberto Smithare, author
Kathy Landoli, author
Kingston Imperial
https://kingstonimperial.com
9781954220621, $29.99, HC, 140pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trap-Kitchen-Gwaan-Jamaican-Cookbook/dp/1954220626
Synopsis: The recipes comprising "Trap Kitchen: Wah Gwaan Jamaican Cookbook" reflect authentic an authentic Jamaican
heritage as they successfully fuse Caribbean cuisine with signature Trap Kitchen sensibilities and flavors.
Within the captivating pages of "Wah Gwaan" (meaning "What's going on?" and the universal greeting in Jamaica), "Trap
Kitchen" takes aspiring kitchen cooks on a whirlwind journey through the heart and soul of the island of Jamaica with more
than 60 recipes, each of which are steeped in centuries of history and culture, and will unleash a sensory explosion that will
leave the diner breathless.
From beloved ethnic classics like Goat Head Soup, and a succulent Oxtail that melts in your mouth, to the iconic Ackee &
Saltfish, and the fiery and addictive Jerk Chicken, this Kingston Imperial edition of "Trap Kitchen: Wah Gwaan: Jamaican
Cookbook" is a culinary adventure that will take you deep into the heart of Jamaican culinary traditions.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color, full page images of dishes ready to serve, each individual recipes
comprising "Trap Kitchen: Wah Gwaan Jamaican Cookbook" is an adventure in Caribbean & West Indian cuisine. "Trap
Kitchen" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Ethnic
& Vegan cookbook collections.
Editorial Note: Malachi Jenkins and Roberto Smithare childhood friends from neighboring rival gangs, brought together by
their two passions: food and girls. Today they are the cofounders and owners of Trap Kitchen LA. The underground culinary
experience was completely fueled off Instagram. Their colorful past has made them media darlings, having appeared on the
Today show, Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party, VICE, Fox 11 News, and BET.
Bubble Tea: Make Your Own at Home
Sandra Mahut
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922754981, $14.95, HC, 64pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-Tea-Make-Your-Home/dp/1922754986
Synopsis: Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, tapioca milk tea, or boba tea) is a tea-based drink that
originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. Taiwanese immigrants brought it to the United States in the 1990s, initially in
California through regions including Los Angeles County, but the drink has also spread to other countries where there is a
large East Asian diaspora population. (Wikipedia)
Simply stated, "Bubble Tea: Make Your Own at Home" is the ultimate 'how to' book of bubble tea!
Readers will learn how to perfect the beloved Asian drink at home with Bubble Tea. This delicious, colorful instructional
guide showcases 22 bubble tea recipes, ranging from brown sugar, matcha and jasmine, and lime to grass jelly and coconut
milk, pomegranate, and grenadine and pandan jelly.
With this comprehensive and profusely illustrated step-by-step guide to making your own tapioca pearls, and with its
easy-to-follow recipes for all the flavors imaginable, plus all the basics, "Bubble Tea: Make Your Own at Home" will leave
you never wanting store-bought bubble tea again!
Critique: Delicious, thirst-quenching, and an ideal alternative to the usual run of coffee, tea, or sodas, "Bubble Tea: Make
Your Own at Home" (as part of a meal or as a stand alone drink for the thirsty) is an unreservedly recommended and
enduringly valued addition to personal, family, professional, and community library Asian or Party Time cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Sandra Mahut (http://sandramahut.com) is a food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and food stylist
living in France.
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
Two new cookbooks from Kyle Books provide recipe titles both attractive and filled with versatile, appealing dishes not to
be found elsewhere.
https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Sanctuary-Quick-Easy-Delicious/dp/1804191000
Nicky Corbishley's Kitchen Sanctuary Quick & Easy (9781804191002, $26.99) features a hundred recipes that can be
created in 30 minutes or less. These are family-friendly creations, promoting healthy dishes from scratch without the
demanding requirements of hours of cooking or prep work. A chapter of quick chicken recipes answers the typical question
of a busy cook who has chicken and wants to use it in creative new ways. Examples of such dishes are Naan Chicken Tikka
Pizza, a Chicken Salsa Bake, and stir-fried Black Pepper Chicken. Each dish is accompanied by a full-page facing colorful
photo, introduced with at-a-glance information on prep and cook times and green sidebars of author 'pro tips' which provide
insights on reheating for optimum make-ahead results.
https://www.amazon.com/Fruitful-Savoury-Recipes-Inspired-Orchards/dp/1804191035
Sarah Johnson's Fruitful (9781804191033, $34.99) stands out from other fruit cookbooks on the market by including a
selection of savory recipes for using fruits in main dishes, as well as the usual dessert and jam offerings in most fruit
cookbooks. Recipes for North African Lamb with Plums, Pan-Fried Duck Breast with Blackcurrants and Black Pepper, and
Peach and Tomato Salsa are just a few of the savory dishes peppered within this fruit guide, which comes with dialogues
about fruit pairings and use, and insights into what kinds of fruits work best in selected endeavors (and why).
Both of these new and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' cookbooks are exceptional stand outs for any library seeking a
blend of appealing photos and recipes.
The Biography Shelf
Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing
Peter Harmsen
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636243313, $32.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bernhard-Sindberg-Schindler-Peter-Harmsen/dp/1636243312
Synopsis: In December 1937, the Chinese capital, Nanjing, falls and the Japanese army unleash torture, murder, and rape.
Over the course of six weeks, hundreds of thousands of civilians and prisoners of war are killed. At the very onset of the
atrocities, the Danish supervisor at a cement plant just outside the city, 26-year-old Bernhard Arp Sindberg, opens the
factory gates and welcomes in 10,000 Chinese civilians to safety, beyond the reach of the blood-thirsty Japanese. He
becomes an Asian equivalent of Oskar Schindler, the savior of Jews in the European Holocaust.
"Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing" by Peter Harmsen is a biography of Sindberg from his childhood in the old
Viking city of Aarhus and on his first adventures as a sailor and a Foreign Legionnaire to the dramatic 104 days as a rescuer
of thousands of helpless men, women, and children in the darkest hour of the Sino-Japanese War.
It also describes how after his remarkable achievement, he receded back into obscurity, spending decades more at sea and
becoming a naturalized American citizen, before dying of old age in Los Angeles in 1983, completely unrecognized. In this
respect, too, there is an obvious parallel with Schindler, who only attained posthumous fame.
"Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing" clearly sets the record straight by providing the first complete account of
Sindberg's life in English, based on archival sources hitherto unutilized by any historian as well as interviews with surviving
relatives. What emerges is the surprising tale of a person who was average in every respect but rose to the occasion when
faced with unimaginable brutality, discovering an inner strength and courage that transformed him into one of the great
humanitarian figures of the 20th century and an inspiration for our modern age, demonstrating that the determined actions of
one person (any person!) can make a huge difference.
Critique: Rescuing a genuine hero from an undeserved obscurity, "Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing" by
journalist and author Peter Harmsen is an inherently fascinating, inspiring, and memorable life story -- and one deserving of
as wide a readership as possible. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with an Introduction (The Dane 1932), twenty-two pages
of Notes, a six page Bibliography, and a five page Index, "Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of Nanjing" is a critically
important and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library World War II & Asian
History & Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,
historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Bernhard Sindberg: The Schindler of
Nanjing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Peter Harmsen, PhD, is the author of "Shanghai 1937: Stalingrad on the Yangtze" and "Nanjing 1937: Battle
for a Doomed City", as well as the War in the Far East trilogy. He studied history at National Taiwan University and has
been a foreign correspondent in East Asia for more than two decades. He has focused mainly on the Chinese-speaking
societies but has reported from nearly every corner of the region, including Mongolia and North Korea. His books have been
translated into Chinese, Danish and Romanian.
Samuel Richardson as Anonymous Editor and Printer
John A. Dussinger
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781785273537, $110.00, HC, 148pp
https://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Richardson-Editor-Printer-Recycling/dp/1785273531
Synopsis: During the first two decades of his career, Samuel Richardson's role as printer was hardly limited to setting the
type for the periodicals that issued from his shop. Perhaps the most glaring evidence of his intervention in producing text is
the fact that both The True Briton (1723-24) and The Weekly Miscellany (1732-41) just happen to have letters supposedly
from women who protest the legal restraints against their participation in the public sphere.
Neither the Duke of Wharton, the owner of The True Briton, nor William Webster, the desperately impecunious producer of
The Weekly Miscellany, launched their journals with the objective of advancing radical views about political equality for
women. But almost inadvertently this middle-aged, rotund printer at Salisbury Court was quietly feminizing
journalism.
After his first experiments in Wharton's anti-Walpole journal he developed his satiric powers in the Miscellany by creating
not only his own feisty counterpart to Pope's coquette Belinda but even partnering with Sarah Chapone's subversive Delia.
As an outlier in what was perceived to be a corrupt, predatory political world, Richardson readily assumed a female voice to
express his resistance.
Critique: A fascinating and informatively detailed study that rescues a once influential printer/publisher from an undeserved
obscurity, "Samuel Richardson as Anonymous Editor and Printer: Recycling Texts for the Book Market" will be of special
interest to students, academicians, and bibliophiles concerned with the history of publishing in 18th Century Britain.
Enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a six page Bibliography and a two page Index, "Samuel Richardson
as Anonymous Editor and Printer: Recycling Texts for the Book Market", while unreservedly recommended for
college/university library 18th Century Publishing History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be
noted for students, academicians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in ths subject that it is also available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49).
Editorial Note: John A. Dussinger, Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, has written widely
about 18th-century authors from Astell to Austen. (https://english.illinois.edu/directory/profile/dussinge)
A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder
John J. Fry
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
www.eerdmans.com
9780802876287, $24.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Prairie-Faith-Religious-Ingalls-Biography/dp/0802876285
Synopsis: The beloved Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder have sold over 60 million copies since their publication
in the first half of the twentieth century. Even her unpolished memoir, "Pioneer Girl" (which tells the true story behind the
children's books), was widely embraced upon its release in 2014. Despite Wilder's enduring popularity, few fans know much
about her Christian beliefs and practice.
With the publication of "A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder", academician and author John J. Fry
shines a light on Wilder's quiet faith in this unique biography. Fry surveys the Little House books, Pioneer Girl, and Wilder's
lesser-known writings, including her letters, poems, and newspaper columns. Analyzing this wealth of sources, he reveals
how Wilder's down-to-earth faith and Christian morality influenced her life and work. Interweaving these investigations
with Wilder's perennially interesting life story, "A Prairie Faith" also nicely illustrates the Christian practices of pioneers
and rural farmers during this dynamic period of American history.
Critique: "A Prairie Faith: The Religious Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder" deftly explores what role Laura Ingalls Wilder's
Christian faith play in her life and in her writing. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented by history professor
emeritus John J. Frey and published by the Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, "A Prairie Faith" is unreservedly
recommended for community and college/university library 20th Century Women Author Biography collections. It should
also be noted for the legions of Laura Ingalls Wilder fans that her biography is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $21.99).
Editorial Note: John J. Fry (www.trnty.edu/faculty/john-j-fry) is professor of history, dean of faculty, and director of
Foundations at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. He is the author of The Farm Press, Reform, and Rural
Change, 1895- 1920 and the editor of Almost Pioneers: One Couple's Homesteading Adventure in the West.
My Vietnam, Your Vietnam
Christina Vo, author
Nghia M. Vo, author
Three Rooms Press
www.threeroomspress.com
9781953103468, $17.99, PB, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/My-Vietnam-Your-daughter-returns/dp/1953103464
Synopsis: "My Vietnam, Your Vietnam: A father flees. A daughter returns" is an unusual, captivating, and heartfelt dual
memoir by Christina Vo and her father, Nghia M. Vo, who delve into themes of their identity, heritage, and the tragic
multi-generational ordeals of war, with intertwined stories that present a multifaceted portrayal of Vietnam and its profound
influence on shaping both familial bonds and individual identities across time.
Nghia M. Vo left Vietnam in April 1975 with only the clothes on his back, following the US withdrawal of troops and the
fall of Saigon. After a harrowing two month journey, he found himself in a refugee camp outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
where he began the painful process of reconnecting with his family and rebuilding his life as a medical doctor.
Christina Vo, Nghia's daughter, grew up in the US. As a restless young adult, she felt a longing to connect with her heritage
and soon moved to Hanoi in the former North Vietnam (much to her father's distress) to discover a country that had changed
dramatically since the war, yet retained many of the ancient traits experienced by her ancestors.
Captivating in its fluid movement and evocative depictions of place, "My Vietnam, Your Vietnam" offers readers a unique,
rich, and multilayered exploration of Vietnam through two very distinct voices and perspectives. This seminal memoir's
exploration of healing the trauma suffered by war refugees and their families echoes far beyond the personal experience of
the two authors, providing a path to discussion of reconciliation and hope.
Critique: Inherently fascinating, exceptionally thoughtful and thought-provoking, impressively well written, organized and
presented, "My Vietnam, Your Vietnam: A father flees. A daughter returns" is an informed and informative read from start
to finish and a brilliant, unreservedly recommended pick for community and college/university library Contemporary
Biography/Memoir collections. A truly memorable read, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "My Vietnam,
Your Vietnam" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).
Editorial Note #1: Christina Vo is an author based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she writes and explores the interplay of
culture, identity, and personal history. Her work reflects her commitment to understanding and sharing the complexities of
the human experience. She is the author of the The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding
Home (She Writes Press). Her second book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam (Three Rooms Press), is an intergenerational
memoir co-written with her father, Nghia M. Vo. She has worked internationally for UNICEF in Vietnam, the World
Economic Forum in Switzerland, served as a consultant for nonprofits, and currently works in donor relations for Stanford
University.
Editorial Note #2: Nghia M. Vo, a retired physician, is an independent researcher of Vietnamese history and culture. He has
written many books on Vietnamese culture and works to document Vietnamese-American culture through conferences and
publications. Recent books include The Vietnamese Boat People, Saigon: A History, and The Trung Sisters Revisited.
The American History Shelf
Catastrophe at Custer Creek
Ian Campbell Wilson
Montana Historical Society Press
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9780917298783, $26.95, PB, 285pp
https://www.amazon.com/Catastrophe-Custer-Creek-Montanas-Deadliest/dp/0917298780
Synopsis: Just after midnight on June 19, 1938, the Olympian No. 15, an elite passenger train operated by the famed
Milwaukee Road, crashed into Custer Creek, which flows into the Yellowstone River southwest of Terry, Montana. In the
moments before the train reached the small bridge spanning the typically dry creek, the waters had swelled dramatically, the
result of a violent storm system that moved across Montana that day. The wreck killed forty-nine passengers and crew
members and injured another seventy-five, making it the most devastating train accident in Montana history.
The sudden and violent wreck garnered national attention. It forever altered the lives of survivors and victims' families and
dealt a significant blow to the Milwaukee Road's fortunes. In this vivid narrative history, author Ian Campbell Wilson
reconstructs the lives of several passengers and crew members, probes what caused this unprecedented disaster, and surveys
the intertwined histories of the Milwaukee Road and the eastern Montana communities that the Olympian passed through on
its usual route from Chicago to Tacoma and back again.
Critique: With the publication of "Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana's Deadliest Train Wreck", Ian Campbell Wilson
documents the final ride of the Olympian. Enhanced for the reader's benefit with a section of historic B?W photographs, this
railroading history is impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, and of immense appeal to readers with an
interest in 20th Century American railroading history. Published by the Montana Historical Society Press, "Catastrophe at
Custer Creek" will prove a prized pick for personal, community, and college/university library collections.
Editorial Note: Ian Campbell Wilson (www.iancampbellwilson.com) is a writer and historian who lives in Bozeman,
Montana. His 2023 book, He is the author of "Goddesses of the Sun, Tucson's Hacienda del Sol School for Girls", an article
about the origins of an elite 1920s girls' school in Tucson, Arizona, published in 2017 in the Journal of Arizona History.
Canadian by birth, Campbell Wilson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New
Hampshire.
Killing over Land
Robert M. Owens
University of Oklahoma Press
www.oupress.com
9780806193625, $45.00, HC, 266pp
https://www.amazon.com/Killing-over-Land-Diplomacy-American/dp/080619362X
Synopsis: In early America, interracial homicide (Whites killing Native Americans, Native Americans killing Whites) might
result in a massive war on the frontier; or, if properly mediated, it might actually facilitate diplomatic relations, at least for a
time. With the publication of "Killing over Land: Murder and Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier", Professor Robert
M. Owens explores why and how such murders once played a key role in Indian affairs and how this role changed over
time.
Though sometimes clearly committed to stoke racial animus and incite war, interracial murder also gave both Native and
white leaders an opportunity to improve relations, or at least profit from conflict resolution. In the seventeenth century, most
Indigenous people held and used enough leverage to dictate the terms on which such conflicts were resolved; but after the
mid-eighteenth century, population and material advantages gave white settlers the upper hand. Professor Owens describes
the ways settler colonialism, as practiced by Anglo-Americans, put tremendous pressure on Native peoples, culturally,
socially, and politically, forcing them to adapt in the face of violence and overwhelming numbers.
By the early nineteenth century, many Native leaders recognized that, with population and power so heavily skewed against
them, it was only practical to negotiate for the best possible terms; lex talionis justice (blood for blood) proved an unrealistic
goal. Consequently, Indigenous and white leaders alike became all too willing to overlook murder if it led to some kind of
gain -- if, for instance, justice might be traded for financial compensation or land cessions.
Ultimately, what Professor Owens analyzes in "Killing over Land" is nothing less than the commodification of human life in
return for a sense of order -- as defined and accepted, however differently, by both Native and white authorities as the
contest for land and resources intensified in the European colonization of North America.
Critique: Of particular value to readers with an interest in authentic and accurate American history and evolution of
Indigenous/White relationships that were to lead to the eventual domination of White settlers over Native American
populations, "Killing over Land: Murder and Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier" is a seminal work of original and
meticulously detailed research. Expertly written, organized and presented, Professor Robert M. Owens ground-breaking is
informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a fourteen page Bibliography and twenty-six pages of
Notes. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library American History collections and supplemental Native American History curriculum studies lists, it should be noted
for students, academia, historians, Native American Rights activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject that "Killing over Land: Murder and Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $26.49).
Editorial Note: Robert M. Owens is Professor of History at Wichita State University. He specializes in colonial U.S. history
and the Early Republic. He is the author of Mr. Jefferson's Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American
Indian Policy (OU Press, 2007). His articles have appeared in the Journal of the Early Republic and the Journal of Illinois
History.
(https://www.wichita.edu/profiles/academics/fairmount_college_of_liberal_arts_and_sciences/History/Owens-Robert.php)<
br>
Clinton: Images of America
Peggy Adler
Arcadia Publishing
https://www.arcadiapublishing.com
9781540239198, $31.99, HC, 130pp
https://www.amazon.com/Clinton-Images-America-Arcadia-Publishing/dp/1540239195
Synopsis: Clinton, Connecticut, is a small shoreline town situated 25 miles east of New Haven. It was founded in 1663
when a committee appointed by the General Court at Hartford laid out a settlement called the Homonoscitt Plantation. In
1838, following multiple name changes during the intervening years, it came to be known as Clinton.
It is two hours by car or commuter train from New York City and two and a half hours from Boston. And for those that ski,
it is three hours from Southern Vermont and New Hampshire.
Clinton was the birthplace of Yale College in 1701; the hometown of choice for a family and their performing bears, who,
for years, headlined with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey; and the place where Dr. Seuss spent his summers. More
recently, Tony Award-winning actor Jefferson Mays and television journalist Erica Hill grew up there.
Critique: Part of the simply outstanding 'Images of America' series from Arcadia Press, "Clinton" by Peggy Adler is a
marvelous compendium of descriptively captions B/W photos of this iconic community and its history. A pleasure to simply
browse through, "Clinton" will hold a very special interest for fans of American Local Histories and the history of American
Photography. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library American History &
Photography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Clinton" is also readily available in a paperback
edition (9781467103558, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Peggy Adler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Adler) has authored five titles for New York City
publishers, illustrated two dozen, and provided art for the Bronx Zoo and the Humane Society of the United States.
Additionally, she coordinated the 1969 world premiere of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for 20th Century Fox,
worked as a consultant for the US House of Representatives' October Surprise Task Force, and served eight years as a
Clinton police commissioner.
The World History Shelf
History of the Caucasus: In the Shadow of Great Powers
Christoph Baumer
I. B. Tauris Publishers
c/o Bloomsbury Press
www.ibtauris.com
9780755636280, $48.00, HC, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/History-Caucasus-Shadow-Great-Powers/dp/0755636287
Synopsis: "In the Shadow of Great Powers" is the second volume of Christoph Baumer's 'History of the Caucasus' series. It
covers the period from the Seljuk domination of the Southern Caucasus around 1050 CE to the present day.
After the Kingdom of Georgia's golden age of independent power and cultural blossoming in the 12th and early 13th
centuries, the Caucasus was overrun by the Mongols and soon disintegrated into innumerable smaller kingdoms,
principalities and khanates. At the same time, an Armenian kingdom in exile maintained a precarious independence in
Cilicia, today's southern Turkey, by applying a three-way diplomatic policy balanced between the Mongol Il-Khanate, the
Crusader states and, to a lesser degree, the Mameluke Empire.
Then followed four centuries during which the highly fragmented polities of the North and South Caucasus became political
pawns of the regional great powers, above all the Ottomans, Iran and Russia.
In the wake of World War I the South Caucasus enjoyed a short-lived independence whereas its northern neighbours were
engulfed by the Russian civil wars. But by 1921 the Soviet Union had re-established Russian dominance over the whole
region and, from a Western perspective, the region 'disappeared' behind the Iron Curtain. Nevertheless, the Caucasian
nations kept their pronounced identities even under Soviet rule, giving rise at the dissolution of the Soviet Union to a
number of internecine conflicts.
Whereas the Russian Federation managed to maintain its supremacy over the North Caucasus (albeit at the cost of bloody
wars and insurrections) Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia succeeded in more or less gaining control over their destiny. Of
these three republics, only Azerbaijan secured a wide-ranging independence thanks to its fossil fuel resources.
Following Russian interference, Georgia lost control over two of its provinces while Armenia remains dependent on
Russian support in the face of its notoriously antagonistic relations with neighbouring Azerbaijan and Turkey over the
unresolved issue of Karabakh.
"In the Shadow of Great Powers" includes some 200 full-color images and maps which further bring the turbulent history of
this region to light.
Critique: This large format (9.8 x 1.3 x 11.7 inches, 5.15 pounds) hardcover edition of Christoph Baumer's "History of the
Caucasus: Volume 2: In the Shadow of Great Powers" from I. B. Tauris Publishers is informatively enhanced for the
reader's benefit with the inclusion of numerous Notes, a Bibliography, a Map List, and three Indexes (Concepts; People,
Places). Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, this coffee-table style volume is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library history collections and supplemental
Caucasus History curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Christoph Baumer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_Baumer) is a leading explorer and historian of
Central Asia, Tibet and the Caucasus and has written many well-received books in the fields of history, religion,
archaeology and travel. These include The Church of the East: An Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity (2006), Traces
in the Desert: Journeys of Discovery across Central Asia (2008), China's Holy Mountain: An Illustrated Journey into the
Heart of Buddhism (2011) and the seminal History of Central Asia in four volumes (2012 - 2018), all published by
I.B.Tauris. Dr Baumer is also President of the Society for the Exploration of EurAsia, Senior Research Fellow at the
Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences, and a member of the Explorers' Club, New York, the Royal Asiatic Society, the Royal
Geographical Society and the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London. He is a recipient of the prestigious Sir Percy Sykes
Memorial Medal, awarded to him by the Royal Society for Asian Affairs in 2015.
Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time
Rebecca Wilson
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399043618, $34.95, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tudor-Feminists-Renaissance-Women-Ahead/dp/1399043617
Synopsis: The term 'feminist' would have been anachronistic in the Tudor period, but surely we would not hesitate to call
Anne Boleyn (the lady who would be queen) a feminist?
With the publication of "Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time" we are introduced to all ten
women, ranging from Catherine Par to Margaret Beaufort, who lived their lives in the Tudor era in a way that challenged the
patriarchal world they lived in.
Each chapter comprising "Tudor Feminists" is dedicated to one remarkable woman, ahead of her time. Author Rebecca
Wilson explores her achievements and examines the impacts she had on a male-dominated world, while placing her in the
context of her particular circumstance and background.
Each of these Renaissance women, from the high born to the merchant class, were rule breakers, they railed against the rigid
social norms of their time and stand out vividly against a backdrop of domestic servitude.
Critique: An informative and inherently fascinating study, "Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time"
by historian and academician Rebecca Wilson is informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a seventeen
page Introduction (Domesticity and Doctrine), an eight page section of color & BW historical images, fourteen pages of
Notes, and a seven page Index. An extraordinary, seminal, and ground-breaking historical study, "Tudor Feminists: 10
Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time" is a unique, impressive, and unreservedly recommended pick for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Tudor Biography, Feminist Theory, and Women's History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Rebecca Wilson has a bachelors' degree in history and English literature; after gaining her PGCE she taught
English and history for several years. She now writes for The Historians Magazine on a range of historical periods and gets
involved in archaeological digs when the opportunity arises. Rebecca is part of a group of volunteers who raise funds and
awareness for the Egremont Castle, a beautiful medieval ruin. She has been a guest speaker on Talking Tudors and speaks
passionately on the dissolution of the monasteries and the life and work of William Shakespeare.
The Civil War Shelf
The Cassville Affairs
Robert D. Jenkins Sr.
Mercer University Press
www.mupress.org
9780881469318, $39.00, HC, 44pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cassville-Affairs-Johnston-Confederate-Strategy/dp/0881469319
Synopsis: Civil War historians have remained baffled over the Cassville controversies for the past 150 plus years. There are
two versions of events: Confederate commanding General Joseph E. Johnston's story, and Lieutenant General John Bell
Hood's story. But Federal General William T. Sherman had other plans, and it was Confederates who would be "surprised"
instead.
With the publication of "The Cassville Affairs: Johnston, Hood, and the Failed Confederate Strategy in the Atlanta
Campaign, 19 May 1864", author Robert D. Jenkins Sr. examines two critical decisions the Confederate leadership faced:
first, whether to attack a portion of the Federal army in the morning; and second, once the morning attack was no longer
feasible, whether to stay and fight the next day.
Both decisions were the responsibility of Johnston, and both decisions involved the advice and assistance by Hood. Before
the war even concluded, Johnston and Hood began finger-pointing as they wrote their own versions of what happened. This
study promises to change our understanding of the events surrounding the Cassville controversies and close the gap in its
history.
Critique: Thoroughly researched, exceptionally well written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation,
"The Cassville Affairs: Johnston, Hood, and the Failed Confederate Strategy in the Atlanta Campaign, 19 May 1864" is a
highly value contribution to the every expanding library of American Civil War histories. Enhanced for the reader's benefit
with maps, a listing of abbreviations, a thirty page bibliography, and a thirteen page Index, "The Cassville Affairs: Johnston,
Hood, and the Failed Confederate Strategy in the Atlanta Campaign, 19 May 1864" is a welcome and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil Ware
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Robert D. (Bob) Jenkins, Sr. has been a trial attorney in Dalton, Georgia, since 1990. He holds a BBA in
Business Management from Georgia Southern University and a JD from Mercer University School of Law. He is the author
"The Battle of Peach Treek Creek and To the Gates of Atlanta. Jenkins is also the president of Save the Dalton Battlefields,
LLC and is vice chair of Whitfield County's Historic Preservation Commission.
J. E. B. Stuart: The Soldier and the Man
Edward G. Longacre
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216806, $34.95, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/General-J-B-Stuart-Soldier/dp/161121680X
Synopsis: James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart (February 6, 1833 - May 12, 1864) was a Confederate States Army general
during the American Civil War.
Fifteen years have passed since the publication of the last biography of Jeb Stuart. Several appeared during the last century
lauding his contributions to Confederate fortunes in the Eastern Theater. Each follows a familiar tradition established by
hero-worshipping subordinates portraying its subject as a model of chivalric conduct with a romantic's outlook on life and a
sense of fair dealing and goodwill, even toward his enemy.
"J. E. B. Stuart: The Soldier and the Man" by civil war historian Edward Longacre, is the first balanced, detailed, and
thoroughly scrutinized study of the life and service of the Civil War's most famous cavalryman.
Long known to scholars and history buffs alike as "The Beau Sabreur of the Confederacy," Jeb Stuart of Virginia was
possessed of many gifts, personally and professionally, and led the Army of Northern Virginia's cavalry to the
all-but-complete satisfaction of his superiors. Stuart, insisted Robert E. Lee, "never brought me a piece of false
information." Being human, Stuart also under-performed. On occasion, he underestimated his opponents, took unnecessary
risks with his habitually understrength command, failed to properly discipline and motivate his troopers, and was prone to
errors both strategic and tactical.
These flaws were evident during the Gettysburg Campaign, when his wayward route to the battlefield deprived Lee of the
ability to safely negotiate his path toward a climactic confrontation with the Union Army of the Potomac. Because of his
outsized wartime reputation (one embellished in the century-and-a-half since) most of Stuart's errors have passed virtually
unnoticed or, when addressed, have been excused or explained away in some fashion.
Longacre's study is based on hundreds of published works, archival sources, and newspapers. He probes not only Stuart's
military career but elements of his character and personality that invite investigation. Even the man's fiercest partisans
admitted that he was vain and inordinately sensitive to criticism, with a curious streak of immaturity -- at times the
hard-edged veteran, at other times a devotee of the pageantry of war, given to affectations such as ostrich-plumed hats,
golden spurs, and the headquarters musicians who accompanied him on the march. Ever motivated by appeals to vanity, he
curried the patronage of powerful men and responded readily to the attentions of attractive women even though by 1861, he
was a long-married man.
Personal flaws and limitations aside, Stuart was popular with his officers and men, beloved by members of his staff, and
considered by the people of his state and region the beau ideal of Confederate soldiery. The distinction endures today.
Longacre's biography of J. E. B. Stuart is an attempt to determine its validity.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of numerous illustrations and maps, a twenty
page bibliography, and a twenty page Index, "J. E. B. Stuart: The Soldier and the Man" is a solid work of meticulous
scholarship based on impressively extensive research. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "J. E. B. Stuart:
The Soldier and the Man" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library American
Biography collections and supplemental American Civil War curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students,
academia, and Civil War buffs that "J. E. B. Stuart: The Soldier and the Man" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Edward G. Longacre (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Longacre) is a retired historian for the
Department of Defense. He is the recipient of a Ph.D. from Temple University and taught military history at the University
of Nebraska and the College of William and Mary. Ed is the author of 30 books, all but one of which covers the Civil War.
The Cavalry at Gettysburg won the Fletcher Pratt Award, his biography of Wade Hampton III, Gentleman and Soldier,
received the Douglas Southall Freeman History Award, and his study of First Bull Run, The Early Morning of War, received
the Dr. James I. Robertson Jr. Literary Prize.
The World Will Never See the Like
John L. Hopkins
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611216844, $32.95, HC, 208pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-world-will-never-see-the-like-john-l-hopkins/1143179913
Synopsis: The 1913 Gettysburg reunion is a story of 53,000 old comrades and former foes from the American Civil War
reunited, and of the tension, even half a century later, between competing narratives of reconciliation and remembrance. For
seven days the old soldiers lived under canvas in stifling heat on a 280-acre encampment run by the U.S. Army. They
swapped stories, debated still-simmering controversies about the battle, and fed tall tales to gullible reporters. On July 3, the
aging survivors of Pickett's Division and the Philadelphia Brigade shook hands across the wall on Cemetery Ridge in the
reunion's climactic photo op.
Some of the battle's leading personalities attended, including Union III Corps commander Dan Sickles, who at 92 was still
eager to explain to anyone who would listen the indispensable role he claimed to have played in the Union victory. Also
present was Helen Dortch Longstreet, the widow of Confederate Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, who devoted her life and
considerable energies to defending the reputation of her general. Both wrote articles from the reunion that were syndicated
in newspapers across the country. There was even a cameo appearance by a young and as-yet unknown cavalry officer
named George S. Patton Jr.
With his articulate and detailed history of the even, Hopkins fills his marvelous account with detail from the letters, diaries,
and published accounts of Union and Confederate veterans, the extensive archival records of the reunion's organizers, and
the daily stories filed by the scores of reporters who covered it.
"The World Will Never See the Like" offers the first full story of this extraordinary event's genesis and planning, the
obstacles overcome on the way to making it a reality, its place in the larger narrative of sectional reunion and reconciliation,
and the individual stories of the veterans who attended. Every reader interested in Gettysburg will find this a welcome
addition to their library.
Critique: The largest gathering of Union and Confederate veterans ever held was front-page news throughout the country in
1913. But as the years passed, the memorable event was all but forgotten. Now with the publication "The World Will Never
See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913" by John L. Hopkins this once-in-a-lifetime event is rescued from an
undeserved obscurity and goes a long way toward making sure the world will remember. While also available for personal
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), "The World Will Never See the Like" is a unique and unreservedly
recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: John L. Hopkins is a communication and public relations professional with more than three decades of
experience in strategic communication planning, issues management, media relations, crisis communication, news and
feature writing, and team building in higher education, nonprofit, and agency settings.
Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War
Richard W. Hatcher, III
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611215939, $32.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Harbor-Fort-Sumter-Civil/dp/1611215935
Synopsis: Fort Sumter. Charleston. April 1861 is universally regarded as the start of the American Civil War. The
bombardment and surrender of Sumter were only the beginning of the story. Both sides understood the military significance
of the fort and the busy seaport, which played host to one of the longest and most complicated and fascinating campaigns of
the entire Civil War.
Civil War historian Richard Hatcher's "Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War" is the first modern study to
document the fort from its origins, through the war, and up to its transfer to the National Park Service in 1948.
After its surrender, Southern troops immediately occupied and improved Sumter's defenses. The U.S. blockaded Charleston
Harbor and for two years the fort, with its 84 heavy guns and a 500-man garrison, remained mostly untested. That changed
in July 1863 when a powerful combined operation set its sights on the fort, Charleston, and its outer defenses. The result
was a grueling 22-month land and sea siege - the longest of the Civil War. The complex effort included ironclad attacks,
land assaults, raiding parties, and siege operations. Some of the war's most famous events unfolded there, including the
assault against Battery Wagner, led by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (depicted in the movie Glory), the shelling
of the city by the "Swamp Angel," and the beginning of submarine warfare when the H. L. Hunley sank the USS Housatonic
and was herself lost at sea. The destruction of Fort Sumter remained a key Federal objective throughout the siege. Despite
repeated concentrated bombardments of the fort and the city, Sumter never fell.
The defiant fort, Charleston, and its defensive lines were evacuated in February 1865 once word arrived that Maj. Gen.
William T. Sherman approached Columbia, South Carolina. Hatcher, the former historian at Fort Sumter Fort Moultrie
National Historical Park, mined a host of primary sources to produce an in-depth and fascinating account of the intricacies,
complexities, and importance of this campaign to the overall war effort.
Nearly 18 months of shelling had rendered Fort Sumter almost unrecognizable, but the significance of its location remained.
During the eight decades that followed, the United States invested millions of dollars and thousands of hours rebuilding and
rearming the fort to face potential foreign threats in three different wars. By the end of World War II, sea and air power had
made Sumter obsolete, and the fort was transferred to the National Park Service.
"Thunder in the Harbor" fills a large gap in the historiography and underscores that there is still much to learn about our
endlessly fascinating Civil War.
Critique: A masterpiece of historical research and informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a
listing of Abbreviations, Maps, a nine page Bibliography, and a seven page Index, "Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and
the Civil War" by Civil War historian Richard W. Hatcher III will prove to be an immediately welcome and appreciated
contribution to the growing library of Civil War Histories and is an unreservedly recommended core addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be
noted for students, academia, Civil War historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Richard W. Hatcher, III worked as a seasonal employee at Richmond National Battlefield Park and began
working permanently with the National Park Service in 1976. He retired as Historian from Fort Sumter Fort Moultrie
National Historical Park in 2015. Rick is the author or co-author of numerous articles and books including the
award-winning Wilson's Creek, The Second Major Battle of the Civil War and the Men Who Fought It (2001) and The First
Shot (2011). He is a regular on the Civil War speaking circuit.
The Military History Shelf
The First Hellcat Ace
Commander Hamilton McWhorter III (Ret.)
Jay A. Stout, author
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636244099, $34.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/First-Hellcat-Cdr-Hamilton-McWhorter/dp/1636244092
Synopsis: Although he objected to being characterized as such, Hamilton McWhorter III's service to family and country
make him a standout among America's Greatest Generation. A Georgia native whose family roots date from that region's
settlement during the 1700s, "Mac" McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was
attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941. After earning his Wings of Gold in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter was trained as a
fighter pilot in the robust but technologically outmoded F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9 (a fiercely spirited and
hard-playing fighter squadron) he saw first combat in November 1942 against Vichy French forces in North Africa.
After returning to the United States, VF-9 became the first unit to convert to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat. This was the
fighter the U.S. Navy would use to crush Japanese air power during the long offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the
shores of Japan. From mid-1943, Hamilton McWhorter was constantly engaged in the unforgiving and deadly aerial warfare
that characterized the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifth aerial victory, in November 1943 off Tarawa Atoll, made him
the first ace in the Hellcat, and seven subsequent victories ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat.
McWhorter's combat service, from the beginning of the war to the last campaign off the shores of Okinawa, makes his story
a must-read for the serious student of the Pacific air war. Hamilton McWhorter III retired from the Navy as a commander in
1969. He passed away in 2008.
Critique: An exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented biography of a genuine war hero, "The First
Hellcat Ace" by military historian and author Jay Stout is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the occasional inclusion of
historic B/W photos, an informative Introduction, Glossary, Guide to Abbreviations, Epilogue, and Afterword. A fascinating
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library World War II
American Military Aviation History & Biography collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that this edition of "The First Hellcat Ace" from Casemate Publishers is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note #1: Commander Hamilton McWhorter III (February 8, 1921 - April 12, 2008) was a United States Navy
aviator and a flying ace of World War II, credited with shooting down twelve Japanese aircraft. He was the first Hellcat ace,
first USN carrier-based double ace, and the first Grumman F6F Hellcat pilot to achieve double ace status. He flew 89
combat missions during World War II while flying with the VF-9 and VF-12 units. On May 23, 2014, he was also
posthumously awarded the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal, when the United States Congress
collectively awarded the gold medal to all flying aces. (Wikipedia)
Editorial Note #2: Jay Stout (www.jayastout.com) is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University. He was
commissioned into the Marine Corps and earned his designation as a naval aviator in 1983 with orders to fly the F-4
Phantom II. He later transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. As a Hornet pilot, he flew 37 combat missions during Desert Storm.
During his 20-year career, he logged more than 4,700 flight hours. The author of 14 books, he works as an operational
expert in the defense industry, is a regular public speaker, and lives with his wife.
Witness to Neptune's Inferno
David F. Winkler
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636244075, $34.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Neptunes-Inferno-Lieutenant-Commander/dp/1636244076
Synopsis: 1942 would prove crucial for the United States in the Pacific following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and a
series of setbacks in the Southwest. As the first ship commissioned following America's entry into World War II, the light
cruiser USS Atlanta would be thrust into the Pacific fight, joining the fleet in time for the pivotal battle of Midway and on to
the Guadalcanal campaign in the Southwest Pacific. Embarked on this vessel was an exceptionally astute observer,
Lieutenant Commander Lloyd M. Mustin, who faithfully recorded his thoughts on the conflict in a standard canvas-covered
logbook.
Diaries were not supposed to be kept by those serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and for good reason. If
recovered by the Japanese, they would likely have revealed that the Japanese code had been broken prior to the battle of
Midway. Thus, Mustin's diary is a rare day-to-day accounting of the Pacific from a very opinionated mid-grade officer.
Beginning with the commissioning of Atlanta at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Christmas Eve 1941, Mustin covers the ship's
workups and her deployment to the Pacific in time for the battle of Midway.
It's then on to the Southwest Pacific, where the ship first engages enemy aircraft at the battle of the Eastern Solomons in late
August 1942. Mustin's final entry covers the battle of Santa Cruz in late October 1942. The story is completed by an account
of the battle of Guadalcanal and beyond, drawing upon Mustin's oral history. This is a valuable document, fully interpreted
to provide a better understanding of the Pacific War during that critical year.
Critique: Retired Navy commander, military historian, and Naval Academy/War College academician, with the publication
of "Witness to Neptune's Inferno: The Pacific War Diary of Lieutenant Commander Lloyd M. Mustin, USS Atlanta (CL
51)" by David F. Winker, the diary of Lieutenant Commander Lloyd M. Mustin (a very rare and impressively candid
day-to-day account of life and combat in the World War II Pacific Theater) is now available through Casemate Publishers
for the benefit of military historians, students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject. A
fascinating and informative read from start to finish, and especially recommended for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library World War II Maritime Military History & Biography collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and military history buffs that "Witness to Neptune's
Inferno" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).
Editorial Note: David F. Winkler (www.usni.org/people/david-winkler) is a retired Navy commander having received his
commission through Penn State NROTC. Having earned his Ph.D. at American University, he served as staff historian at the
Naval Historical Foundation for 25 years, has taught at the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval War College, and held the
Charles Lindbergh Chair of Aerospace History at the Smithsonian. He has published five books with the Naval Institute
Press and writes a monthly historical perspective column for Sea Power Magazine. At the Naval Historical Foundation he
interviewed numerous retired Flag Officers, including Vice Admiral Henry C. Mustin (son of the diary author) with the aim
of seeing it published.
Sparta and the Commemoration of War
Matthew A. Sears
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781316519455, $39.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sparta-Commemoration-War-Matthew-Sears/dp/1316519457
Synopsis: The tough Spartan soldier is one of the most enduring images from antiquity. Yet Spartans too fell in battle -- so
how did ancient Sparta memorialise its wars and war dead?
From the poet Tyrtaeus inspiring soldiers with rousing verse in the seventh century BCE to inscriptions celebrating the 300's
last stand at Thermopylae, and from Spartan imperialists posing as liberators during the Peloponnesian War to the modern
reception of the Spartan as a brave warrior defending the "West", Sparta has had an outsized role in how warfare is framed
and remembered.
This image has also been distorted by the Spartans themselves and their later interpreters. While debates continue to rage
about the appropriateness of monuments to supposed war heroes in our civic squares, this authoritative and engaging book
suggests that how the Spartans commemorated their military past, and how this shaped their military future, has perhaps
never been more pertinent.
Critique: With the publication of "Sparta and the Commemoration of War" from the Cambridge University Press, historian
and academician Matthew A. Sears has created a seminal, meticulous, and impressively informative study that is enhanced
for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a number of Maps, Figures, a seventeen page listing of References, and a seven
page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented "Sparta and the Commemoration of War" is a unique and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Sparta/Greece
ancient history collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Sparta and the Commemoration of War" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99).
Editorial Note: Matthew A. Sears is Professor of Classics at the University of New Brunswick. He is the author of Athens,
Thrace, and the Shaping of Athenian Leadership (Cambridge University Press, 2013) and of Understanding Greek Warfare
(2019). He is also the co-author (with C. Jacob Butera) of Battles and Battlefields of Ancient Greece: A Guide to their
History, Topography, and Archaeology (2019). (https://newbrunswick.academia.edu/MatthewSears)
The Wildlife Shelf
Avian Architecture
Peter Goodfellow, author
Torry D. Williams, editor
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691255460, $25.95, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Avian-Architecture-Revised-Expanded-Engineer/dp/0691255466
Synopsis: Birds are the most consistently inventive builders, and their nests set the bar for functional design in nature.
Describing how birds design, engineer, and build their nests, "Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build"
by Peter Goodfellow is in a newly revised and expanded edition. Goodfellow deconstructs all types of nests found around
the world using architectural blueprints and detailed descriptions of the construction processes and engineering techniques
birds use.
This spectacularly illustrated volume features more than 300 full-color images and more than 40 case studies that profile key
species worldwide. Each chapter covers a different type of nest, from tunnel nests and mound nests to floating nests,
hanging nests, woven nests, and even multiple-nest avian cities. Other kinds of avian construction (such as bowers and food
stores) are also featured.
Now with more case studies and an updated foreword, this revised and expanded edition of "Avian Architecture" includes
intricate step-by-step sequences, visual spreads on nest-building materials and methods, and insightful commentary by a
leading expert.
"Avian Architecture" illustrates how birds around the world design, engineer, and build their nests and features architectural
blueprints, step-by-step sequences, visual spreads on nest-building materials and methods, and expert commentary.
Critique: Showcasing more than 300 spectacular full-color photographic images covering more than 100 bird species
worldwide, This newly revised and expanded, large format (8 x 0.75 x 10 inches, 1.9 pounds) hardcover edition of "Avian
Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build" authored by Peter Goodfellow and edited by Tony D. Williams, is an
fully exciting, informatively impressive, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Birds & Birdwatching collections and supplemental Ornithology curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Avian Architecture:
How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.17).
Editorial Note #1: Peter Goodfellow is a retired English teacher and lifelong birdwatcher. His books include A Naturalist's
Guide to the Birds of Britain and Northern Europe and Birds as Builders.
Editorial Note #2: Tony D. Williams is professor of ecological and evolutionary physiology and chair of biology at Simon
Fraser University. His books include What Is a Bird? and Physiological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds (both published
by the University of Princeton Press).
Secrets of the Octopus
Sy Montgomery, author
Warren K. Carlyle IV, author
National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426223723, $30.00, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Octopus-Sy-Montgomery/dp/1426223722
Synopsis: The companion to the highly-anticipated National Geographic television special (narrated by Paul Rudd and
airing for Earth Day), "Secrets of the Octopus" is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the alluring underwater world
of the octopus -- a creature that resembles an alien life form, but whose behavior has earned it a reputation as one of the
most intelligent animals on the planet.
"Secrets of the Octopus" is magical journey into the world of the octopus and will reveal how the large and capable brain of
these creatures occupies their whole body (not just their heads) and they can actually adjust their genetic makeup to respond
to the demands of the environment. It will allow readers to watch them change shape and color in order to camouflage
themselves more effectively than any other species. And it will divulge how octopus mothers give their all in order to bring
forth a new generation.
With the publication of "Secrets of the Octopus", author Montgomery offers current and compassionate stories about the
scientists on the front lines of octopus research and conservation.
Critique: Magnificently illustrated throughout with National Geographic quality full color photography, "Secrets of the
Octopus" is an inherently fascinating read and a perfect introduction to the octopus. While also available to students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "Secrets of the Octopus" is a quality pick for
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Marine Wildlife collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Sy Montgomery (https://symontgomery.com) is the author of 31 books for adults and children including
"Travels in Turtle Time". She specializes in animals and conservation. Her titles have earned numerous awards and
accolades; "Soul of an Octopus" was a National Book Award finalist. She holds three honorary doctorates and is often
featured in TV and podcast interviews.
Editorial Note #2: Warren K. Carlyle IV (https://warrencarlyle.com) is a professional community building strategist who
works with purpose-driven brands & influencers to build highly engaged online communities. He is also founder/CEO of
OctoNation(R) - The Largest Octopus Fan Club, a nonprofit organization that inspires conservation of the ocean by teaching
the world about octopuses.
Velvet Ants of North America
Dr. Kevin Williams, author
Dr. Aaron D. Pan, author
Joseph S. Wilson, author
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691212043, $35.00, PB, 440pp
https://www.amazon.com/Velvet-North-America-Princeton-Guides/dp/069121204X
Synopsis: "Velvet Ants of North America" is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated photographic guide to the species
of the wasp family Mutillidae found in the United States and Canada. Featuring hundreds of full-color photos, it covers
nearly 460 species (representing more than 9 percent of all velvet ant species, which number in the thousands worldwide)
providing detailed and up-to-date coverage of this spectacular group of insects.
A one-of-a-kind guide, "Velvet Ants of North America" serves as an invaluable reference for naturalists, scientific
researchers, museum specialists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Included are nearly 460 species found in North America and
throughout the world; stunning high-resolution photos of each species; detailed species accounts and keys allow for easy
and rewarding identification; invaluable data on taxa from Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, and beyond; silhouette images
depicting the actual size ranges of species; distribution maps of nearly all diurnal species in the United States and
Canada.
Critique: The collaborative work of co-authors Kevin Williams, Aaron D. Pan, and Joseph S. Wilson, "Velvet Ants of North
America" must be considered as a core and essential addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Entomology, Ecology, and Insects/Spiders Biology collections and supple mental curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for students, academia, professional and non-professional readers with an interest in the subject that this Princeton
University Press edition of "Velvet Ants of North America" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.25).
Editorial Note #1: Kevin A. Williams is an insect pest identifier for the California Department of Food and Agriculture and
a leading authority on velvet ants.
Editorial Note #2: Aaron D. Pan is executive director of the Museum of Texas Tech University. His research interests range
from mimicry within velvet ants to the evolution of prehistoric African forests.
Editorial Note #3: Joseph S. Wilson is associate professor of biology at Utah State University and an expert on the evolution
and ecology of bees and wasps. His books include Common Bees of Western North America (Princeton).
Birds: Intimate Images, Volume 2
David Jeffrey
Orange Frazer Press
www.orangefrazer.com
9781949248739, $59.00, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Intimate-Images-David-Jeffrey/dp/1949248739
Synopsis: With the publication of the first volume of "Birds: Intimate Images" (2020), master photographer David Jeffrey
invited readers to take a closer look at the inspiring majesty of our native coastlines. Now in "Birds: Intimate Images,
Volume 2", David returns to the parks and sanctuaries of Florida and Massachusetts to witness again, in stunning detail, the
private lives of some of our country's most beautiful birds.
With each turn of the page, we enter extraordinary scenes as he showcases his feathered neighbors in their natural
environments. From the humble chores of the tiny House Wren to the impressive wingspan of the dramatic Brown Pelican,
his eye is keen and decisive. Punctuating each shot with lively, up-to-the-moment descriptions in his signature disarming
tone, David makes us feel right by his side (but he does all the work) waiting patiently to capture the beauty and spirit of
each subject with awe and tenderness.
Bird enthusiasts can join David on another brilliant wildlife journey of technicolor splendor with "Birds: Intimate Images,
Volume 2" -- a visual feast for bird watchers, bird lovers, shutterbugs, and all.
Critique: This large format (11.34 x 0.73 x 14.27 inches, 4.71 pounds) hardcover edition of "Birds: Intimate Images,
Volume 2" from Orange Frazer Press is a simply stunning portfolio of full page, full color, informatively captioned
photographs of a remarkable and impressive series of birds. "Birds: Intimate Images, Volume 2" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library wildlife
photography collections.
The Photography Shelf
America the Beautiful: A Story in Photographs
National Geographic
National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426221422, $40.00, HC, 416pp
https://www.amazon.com/America-Beautiful-Photographs-National-Geographic/dp/1426221428
Synopsis: "America the Beautiful" from the National Geography Press showcases the stunning spaces closest to our nation's
heart ranging from the woods in the Great Appalachian Valley that Davy Crockett once called home to the breathtaking
sweep of California's Big Sur coast to the wilds of Alaska.
It is also a pictorial celebration of the people who have made this country what it is, and featuring a wide range of images
including the Arikara Nation in the early 1900s and scientists preparing for travel to Mars on a Hawaiian island.
Culled from more than 130 years of National Geographic's vaunted archives, this provocative collection of captioned
photographs depicts the splendor of this great nation as only National Geographic can, with a dramatic combination of
modern and historical imagery--from the creation of architectural icons like the Golden Gate Bridge and Lady Liberty to the
last of the country's wild places currently preserved in our national parks.
Organized by chapters focused on region (west coast and the Pacific, east coast, the south, and the Midwest) that are
themselves inspired by verses of the original poem America the Beautiful, this book also features a moving introduction
offering perspective on the country's unique journey.
There are also behind-the-scenes commentaries from the world-renowned photographers who captured this unforgettable
imagery, and observations from the conservationists, activists, and historians who help keep America beautiful today.
Profound and inspiring, "America the Beautiful: A Story in Photographs" is for everyone who has ever marveled at the
inspiring beauty of the United States.
Critique: Especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Photography
collections, this compact (10.22 x 1.17 x 10.1 inches, 4.19 pounds) hardcover edition of "America the Beautiful: A Story in
Photographs" from the National Geographic Press is a fascinating compendium of superbly photographed images that truly
showcases the diversity, the beauty, the complexity, the landscapes, and the people of America.
Editorial Note: One of the world's leading nonfiction publishers, National Geographic has published more than 1,700 titles,
featuring such categories as history, travel, nature, photography, space, science, health, biography, and memoir. A portion of
its proceeds is used to fund exploration, conservation, and education through ongoing contributions to the work of the
National Geographic Society.
The Camera Bag Companion
Benedict Brain
Ilex Press
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781781579299, $26.99, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Camera-Bag-Companion-Personal-Photography/dp/1781579296
Synopsis: Imagine having your personal, professional photographer with you whenever you go out to shoot. There to guide
you, share their knowledge, and inspire you to take better photographs. In his latest book, "The Camera Bag Companion:
Your Personal Photography Tutor", photography expert Benedict Brain puts himself in your kitbag, with a beautifully
illustrated how-to guide that's as essential as any lens or tripod, and cuts through the jargon to deliver clear advice in a
friendly, conversational style.
Critique: Comprehensive, nicely illustrated, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Camera Bag
Companion: Your Personal Photography Tutor" is the ideal DIY jargon free manual that is an ideal and unreservedly
recommended pick for personal, professional, community, photography club, and college/university library Photography
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of aspiring and practicing photographers that "The Camera Bag
Companion" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Benedict Brain (www.benedictbrain.com/#1) is a UK based photographer and journalist. He graduated from
the Derby School of Art in 1991. He is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and sits on the society's Distinctions
Advisory Panel. Benedict was the editor of Britain's best-selling consumer photography magazine, Digital Camera
Magazine until 2018. He currently writes a regular column, 'The Art of Seeing', for Digital Camera magazine. Benedict is
also a tour and workshop leader and is regularly asked to jduge prestigious photo competitions such as the International
Garden Photographer of the Year and the British Photography Awards and is a regular speaker at shows including The
Adventure Travel Show and The Photography Show.
The General Fiction Shelf
The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County
Claire Swinarski
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063319875, $30.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Funeral-Ladies-Ellerie-County-Novel/dp/006331987X
Synopsis: Esther Larson has been cooking for funerals in the Northwoods of Wisconsin for seventy years. Known locally as
the "funeral ladies", she and her cohort have worked hard to keep the mourners of Ellerie County fed -- it is her firm belief
that there is very little a warm casserole and a piece of cherry pie can't fix. But, after falling for an internet scam that puts
her home at risk, the proud Larson family matriarch is the one in need of help these days.
Iris, Esther's whip-smart Gen Z granddaughter, would do anything for her family and her community. As she watches her
friends and family move out of their lakeside town onto bigger and better things, Iris wonders why she feels so left behind in
the place she is desperate to make her home. But when Cooper Welsh shows up, she finally starts to feel like she's found the
missing piece of her puzzle.
Cooper is dealing with becoming a legal guardian to his younger half-sister after his beloved stepmother dies. While their
celebrity-chef father is focused on his booming career and top-ranked television show, Cooper is still hurting from a public
tragedy he witnessed last year as a paramedic and finding it hard to cope. With Iris in the gorgeous Ellerie County, though,
he hopes he might finally find the home he's been looking for.
It doesn't seem like a community cookbook could possibly solve their problems, especially one where casseroles have their
own section and cream of chicken soup mix is the most frequently used ingredient. But when you mix the can-do spirit of
Midwestern grandmothers with the stubborn hope of a boy raised by food plus a dash of long-awaited forgiveness -- things
might just turn out okay.
Critique: A deftly crafted, exceptionally well written, inherently fascinating, and a fun and memorable read from start to
finish, "The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County" by Claire Swinarski will have immense appeal to readers with an interest in
novels about women's friendship, grandmothers, daughters, and their social arrangements and relationships. While
especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be
noted for personal reading lists that "The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $11.99) and in a paperback edition (9780063319882, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Claire Swinarski (http://www.claireswinarski.com) is the author of several books for both kids and adults.
Her writing has been featured in the Washington Post, Seventeen, Milwaukee magazine, and many other publications. She
lives in small-town Wisconsin with her husband and three kids, where she writes books, wears babies, and wrangles bread
dough.
The Outhouse Papers: Gene Shepard and the Hodag
Mike Skubal
Hodag Press
https://hodagpress.com
9780965374552, $18.00, PB, 198pp
https://www.amazon.com/Outhouse-Papers-Gene-Shepard-Hodag/dp/0965374556
Synopsis: To people living in Rhinelander, northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan the Hodag's story is a
familiar one. First discovered and then captured in the 1890s by Rhinelander's most celebrated timber cruiser and city jester,
Gene Shepard, the beast connected Ojibwe legend, lumberjack lore, and city promotion to bring some notoriety to the small
northern Wisconsin community.
Shepard famously displayed his captured creature (the angry spirit of a cremated lumber ox reincarnated into the body of an
antediluvian monster) at county fairs, and at his Rhinelander home until it was revealed to be a hoax -- just a stump dressed
up with hide and horns.
Hoax or not, since then Rhinelander has been using the Hodag to connect to its past and promote its future. But is that the
full story?
With the publication of "The Outhouse Papers: Gene Shepard and the Hodag", we learn of a mysterious patron employing a
retired investigative journalist to track down the truth behind the Hodag legend. The quest follows the writer as he moves
beyond the well-known story to a time when Rhinelander was younger, grittier, and its saloons had spittoons instead of
stools. Slowly he discovers new clues, fits pieces together, and makes connections that reveal a story much different than the
one you've so often heard.
This is a masterfully told story that takes readers along with the journalist through twists and turns as he discovers
connections between Rhinelander's past and the sanitized legend it advertises today. Perhaps the Hodag is a hoax, but the
hoax is not what you thought it was!
Critique: Original, fascinating, and a fun read from start to finish, "The Outhouse Papers: Gene Shepard and the Hodag" by
Mike Skubal is a very special and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university library
Literary & Folklore Fiction collections. It should be noted that "The Outhouse Papers: Gene Shepard and the Hodag" is also
now available in a digital book format (B0CBT9Z8B7, Kindle, $9.99).
Studies at the School by the Sea
Jenny Colgan
Avon Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063359703, $30.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Studies-School-Sea-Fourth-Novel/dp/0063359707
Synopsis: Beloved literature teacher Maggie Adair loves her life at the prestigious Downey House boarding school on the
gloriously sunny, windy English coast. It was there that she found her footing as a teacher and fell in love with her colleague
David -- the two great anchors of her life. But these days Maggie's feeling restless, lured by the promise of a different life
back in her Scottish hometown. How can you follow your heart when it seems to be taking you in two directions at
once?
Meanwhile, Maggie's favorite students are abuzz at the thought of graduation and set to fly the nest to their next adventure.
What will life hold for mercurial Fliss, glamorous Alice, and shy, hard-working Simone when they finally finish their
studies at the school by the sea? Will Maggie stay to welcome the next class of girls, or will she too graduate to new
adventures?
Critique: The fourth and finale title in author Jenny Colgan's delightful 'School by the Sea' series, "Studies at the School by
the Sea" is a fun read from start to finish. Once again Colgan's natural and distinctive flair for crafted novels that are of
special interest to fans of contemporary women's friendship stories, "Studies at the School by the Sea" will prove a welcome
and enduringly popular pick for community library collections. It should be noted for the growing legions of Jenny Colgan
fans that "Studies at the School by the Sea" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780063141858, $18.99) and in
a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Jenny Colgan (https://www.jennycolgan.com) is the author of numerous novels, including The Christmas
Bookshop, The Bookshop on the Corner, Little Beach Street Bakery, and Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. Jenny, her
husband, and three children live in a genuine castle in Scotland.
Under a Neon Sun
Kate Gale
Three Rooms Press
www.threeroomspress.com
9781953103499, $17.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Neon-Sun-Kate-Gale/dp/1953103499
Synopsis: For people living in houses and apartments, with stay-at-home jobs, the pandemic was inconvenient. For Mia (a
student and housekeeper whose budget is so tight she lives in her car) the pandemic destroys the very source of her paltry
income.
Fortunately, gutsy and funny Mia is a determined survivor. After weeks of cutting her limited spending even further,
missing meals along the way, her wealthy employers become desperate for her services again. But this time, she's
determined not to let them take advantage of her as they have in the past. Her newfound confidence gives her new hope as
she works to escape the shackles of poverty on her own terms!
Critique: "Under a Neon Sun" is author Katie Gale's impressive debut as a novelist. Showcases her genuine flair for the kind
of distinctive narrative driven storytelling that fully engages the readers attention and is an entertaining, thought-provoking,
deftly crafted read from start to finish, "Under a Neon Sun" will be of particular interest to fans of contemporary women's
fiction raised to an impressive level of literary excellence. While unreservedly recommended for community and
college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Under
a Neon Sun" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Kate Gale (https://kategale.com) is the co-founder and managing editor of Red Hen Press, editor of the Los
Angeles Review, and a teacher in the low residency MFA program at the University of Nebraska in poetry. She is also the
author of seven books of poetry including The Goldilocks Zone (University of New Mexico Press) and Echo Light (Red
Mountain), and, most recently, The Loneliest Girl (University of New Mexico Press).
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Romanov Brides
Clare McHugh
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9780063250932, $18.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Romanov-Brides-Novel-Tsarina-Sisters/dp/0063250934
Synopsis: Destined to wed well and wisely, Princesses Alix and Ella were granddaughters of Queen Victoria and two of the
most beautiful princesses in Europe. But while their grandmother wants to join them to the English and German royal
families, the sisters fall in love with Russia -- and the Romanovs.
Defying the Queen's dire warnings, Ella weds the tsar's brother, Grand Duke Serge. Cultivated, aloof, and proud, Serge
places his young wife on a pedestal for all to admire. Behind palace gates, Ella struggles to secure private happiness.
Alix, whisked away to Russia for Ella's wedding, meets and captivates Nicky - heir apparent to the Russian throne. While
loving him deeply, Alix hears a call of conscience, urging her to walk away.
Their fateful decisions to marry will lead to tragic consequences for not only themselves and their families, but for millions
in Russia and around the globe.
Critique: A moving and fascinating portrait of two bold and spirited royal sisters, with the publication of "The Romanov
Brides", novelist Clare McHugh brings to vivid life imperial Russia -- a dazzling, decadent world on the brink of disaster for
the ancient ruling Romanov lineage. Of particular interest to fans of historical biographical fiction, "The Romanov Brides"
is unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Romanov Bridges" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and as a complete and unabridged
audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212900195, $41.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Clare McHugh (www.claremchugh.com) is also the author of "A Most English Princess" which is an
historical novel about the family of Queen Victoria, and The Romanov Brides. A former newspaper reporter and magazine
editor, McHugh graduated from Harvard College with a degree in European history.
The Half Life of Valery K
Natasha Pulley
Bloomsbury Press
www.bloomsbury.com
9781635573275, $28.99, HC, 384pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-half-life-of-valery-k-natasha-pulley/1140323920
Synopsis: In 1963, in a Siberian prison, former nuclear specialist Valery Kolkhanov has mastered what it takes to survive:
the right connections to the guards for access to food and cigarettes, the right pair of warm boots, and the right attitude
toward the small pleasures of life so he won't go insane. But one day, all that changes: Valery's university mentor steps in
and sweeps him from the frozen camp to a mysterious unnamed city. It houses a set of nuclear reactors, and surrounding it is
a forest so damaged it looks like the trees have rusted from within.
In City 40, Valery is Dr. Kolkhanov once more, and he's expected to serve out his prison term studying the effect of
radiation on local animals. His research is overseen by an imposing but surprisingly kind KGB officer, Shenkov, whose trust
Valery feels a strong urge to win. But as Valery begins his work, he is struck by the questions his research raises -- questions
even Shenkov is afraid to answer.
Why is there so much radiation in this area? What, exactly, is being hidden from the thousands who live in the town? And if
he keeps looking for answers, will he live to serve out his sentence?
Critique: Based on real events in a surreal Soviet city, and told with novelist Natasha Pulley's distinctive narratively driven
storytelling style, "The Half Life of Valery K" is an inherently fascinating, fully original, and compulsive page-turner of a
read that will be of particular interest to fans of historical thrillers from the old Soviet Union era. While unreservedly
recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Half Life of Valery
K" is also available in a paperback edition (9781639733033, $18.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.39), and in a
large print edition (9798885786218, $34.99).
Editorial Note: Natasha Pulley (https://natashapulley.co.uk) is the author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Bedlam
Stacks, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow, The Kingdoms, and The Half Life of Valery K. She has won a Betty Trask
Award, been shortlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, the Royal Society of Literature's Encore Award, and
the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, and longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize.
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
The Birthright of Sons: Stories
Jefferey Spivey
Texas Tech University Press
www.ttupress.org
9781682831953, $29.95, HC, 270pp
https://www.amazon.com/Birthright-Sons-Stories-Horse-Prize/dp/1682831957
Synopsis: "The Birthright of Sons" is a collection of fourteen short stories by Jeffrey Spivey centered around the experiences
of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Although the stories borrow elements from various genres
(horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they are linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is
shaped through interactions with the people, places, and belief systems around us.
Underpinning this literary project is a core tenet: self-definition is fluid, but conflict arises because society often fails to
keep pace with personal evolution. In each of these stories, the protagonists grapple with their understanding of who they
are, who and how they love, and what is ultimately most important to them. In almost every case, however, the quest to
know or protect oneself is challenged by an external force, resulting in violence, crisis, or confusion, among other
outcomes.
"The Birthright of Sons" colors in "the other" as three-dimensional by highlighting the unique obstacles that marginalized
people face while simultaneously centering their humanity and unearthing universal struggles and commonalities. Be it
experiencing a sexual awakening, contemplating the cumulative effects of racial tension in the workplace, or searching
desperately for a moment of peace in the attention economy, this outstanding short story collection amplifies
under-represented voices in a playful and contemporary way, elevating, critiquing, and confronting its characters.
Critique: Consistently raising the short story to an impressive degree of literary excellence and social/cultural impact, "The
Birthright of Sons" showcases author and poet Jeffrey Spivey's genuine flair for originality and linguistic skills as a writer.
An especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, community, and college/university Contemporary
American Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted that "The Birthright of Sons" is also readily available for personal
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.49).
Editorial Note: Jefferey Spivey (www.jeffereyspivey.com) is an author, poet, and copywriter. He was named runner-up for
Poets & Writers' 2023 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award. He was also a recipient of The de Groot Foundation's 2022
Courage to Write grant. His short stories have appeared in Hive Avenue Literary Journal, Punt Volat, A Gathering of the
Tribes, Typehouse, decomp, and Havik.
Unswerving
Barbara Ridley
University of Wisconsin Press
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299348144, $19.95, PB, 234pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unswerving-Barbara-Ridley/dp/0299348148
Synopsis: When Tave wakes up alone in the hospital, she barely remembers the car wreck. Far from home, dazed, and
despondent, she struggles to face the challenges of her new paralysis -- all while worrying about her partner, Les, also
severely injured in the accident, now cared for by her homophobic parents who refuse to allow contact.
In rehab, Tave relearns life skills and comes to recognize that her future will be completely different than she'd imagined.
Where will she live? How will she find the help she needs? Can her friends rise to the occasion? Or will she be forced to
move back in with her mother, putting up with endless talk of faith healers?
Her one beacon of hope is Beth, her physical therapist. But Beth's relationship problems with her own girlfriend push her
toward over-involvement -- and risking damaging both her career and Tave's recovery.
A story of courage, resilience, and love, "Unswerving" challenges readers' preconceived notions of disability, of limitations,
and of the inevitability of fate.
Critique: It's clear that as the author of "Unswerving", novelist Barbara Ridley is able to write with definitive medical
accuracy in her impressive new story by drawing on her professional experience as a former spinal-cord-injury nurse
practitioner. Her deftly crafted characters combined with Ridley's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style make
"Unswerving" an especially entertaining read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for
community library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Unswerving" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95).
Editorial Note: Barbara Ridley (www.barbararidley.com) is also the author of When It's Over, winner of the IBPA Benjamin
Franklin Silver Medal for Historical Fiction. Before turning to creative writing, she worked for many years as a
spinal-cord-injury nurse practitioner.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
Glimpses of the Moon
Edith Wharton
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805330929, $16.95, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Glimpses-Moon-Pushkin-Press-Classics/dp/1805330926
Synopsis: Nick Lansing and Susy Branch are young, attractive, but impoverished New Yorkers. They are in love and decide
to marry, but they realise their chances of happiness are slim without the wealth and status that their more privileged friends
take for granted.
Nick and Susy agree to separate whenever either encounters a more eligible proposition. However, as they honeymoon in
friends' lavish houses, from a villa on Lake Como to a Venetian palace, jealous passions and troubled consciences cause the
idyll to crumble.
Critique: A young couple's love is threatened by the destructive power of money, by one of the greatest authors of her age in
"Glimpses of the Moon", a beautifully crafted novel by literary legend Edith Wharton and perceptively describes the
seductions and temptations of high society with all of Wharton's trademark wit and irony. Of special interest to fans of
Gilded Age era romance novels, this new paperback edition from Pushkin Press Classics is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, community, and college/university library Classic Literary Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Edith Wharton was born in 1862 in New York, into a rich and socially prominent family. She began to write
at an early age, although it was a habit viewed by her family as unsuitable for a woman of her social class. In 1885 she
married Edward "Teddy" Wharton, a Boston banker. They lived a privileged life, but Wharton gradually grew dissatisfied
with the roles of wife and society matron. The Whartons moved to Paris in 1907 and divorced in 1913. Edith continued to
live in France, her beloved adoptive home, until her death in 1937.
And the Earth Will Sit on the Moon: Essential Stories
Nikolai Gogil, author
Oliver Ready, translator
Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781805330332, $16.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Will-Pushkin-Press-Classics/dp/1805330330
Synopsis: Few writers has captured the absurdity of the human condition as acutely as Nikolai Gogol. In a lively new
translation of "And the Earth Will Sit on the Moon: Essential Stories" by Oliver Ready, this collection contains Gogol's
great classic stories including "The Overcoat", "The Nose" and "Diary of a Madman" -- alongside lesser known gems
depicting life in the Russian and Ukrainian countryside.
Collectively this anthology of five short stories reveals Gogol's marvelously skewed perspective, moving between the urban
and the rural with painfully sharp humor and scorching satire.
Strikingly modern in his depictions of society's shambolic structures, Gogol plunders the depths of bureaucratic and
domestic banalities to unearth moments of dark comedy and outrageous corruption. Defying categorization, the stories
comprising this collection range from the surreal to the satirical to the grotesque, united in their exquisite psychological
acuteness and tender insights into the bizarre irrationalities of the human soul.
Critique: This new paperback edition of Russian writer Nicholai Gogol's "And the Earth Will Sit on the Moon: Essential
Stories" from the Pushkin Press Classic series is enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative
Introduction by the translator, Oliver Ready, a two page listing of Translator's Acknowledgments, a two page Note on
Ranks, and seven pages of Chapter Notes. A classic of Russian Literature, "And the Earth Will Sit on the Moon: Essential
Stories" is a significant and high value addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Literary
Fiction collections.
Editorial Note #1: Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was born in 1809 in Ukraine, and moved to St Petersburg after his studies in
1828 to work in an obscure government ministry. His first collection of stories, Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1831),
made him famous, and he went on to write several further collections of stories, as well as the play The Government
Inspector. Part I of his great, and only novel, Dead Souls, appeared in 1842. In his later life he was increasingly tormented
both physically and psychologically, and he burned much of his writing, including part II of Dead Souls. He died in 1852,
possibly from self-starvation.
Editorial Note #2: In 1994-1998, Oliver Ready studied Modern Languages (Russian and Italian) at Worcester College,
University of Oxford. In 2000 - 2001, he did MA in Russian Studies at SSEES, University College London. In 2007, he
completed his DPhil at Wolfson College, Oxford. In 2008 - 2017, he was Consultant Editor for Russian and East-Central
Europe at The Times Literary Supplement. Since 2010, he has been a Research Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford. In
2011 - 2014, he was director of the Russkiy Mir Program. Since 2014, he has been working as a teacher of Russian literature
at the University of Oxford. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Ready)
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Just for the Summer
Melody Carlson
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
www.revellbooks.com
9780800745615, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Summer-Melody-Carlson/dp/0800745612
Synopsis: Ginny Masters manages a popular boutique hotel in Seattle and manages it with aplomb. But the daily challenges
and irritations of a fast-paced job and a demanding boss are starting to get to her.
Jacqueline Potter manages her grandfather's fishing lodge in Idaho because it was the only job she could find after
graduating with her hospitality degree. She's grateful for the work but longs for a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan life
she's just not going to find in this backwoods town.
The solution to both their problems seems obvious. Just for the summer, they'll swap jobs and lifestyles. But they never
anticipated swapping love interests!
"Just for the Summer" by novelist Melody Carlson offers a fabulous new twist on an age-old fable and introduces her
readers to two career-focused women who are about to discover that there's more to finding happiness than just switching up
the scenery.
Critique: Clean, wholesome, and a fun read from start to finish, "Just for the Summer" by accomplished author and gifted
storyteller Melody Carlson is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary Romance
collections. It should be noted for the legions of Christian romance novel fans that "Just for the Summer" is also available in
a paperback edition (9780800744717, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Melody Carlson (www.MelodyCarlson.com) is the author of more than 250 books with sales of more than
7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a
Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long has been made into a Hallmark movie, and the
movie based on her novel The Happy Camper premiered on UPtv in 2023.
Sincerely, The Duke: Say I Do
Amelia Grey
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250850430, $8.99 PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sincerely-Duke-Say-Do/dp/1250850436
Synopsis: Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and
being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the
Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the
attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina's wit to navigate her past,
reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke.
Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it is: honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his
friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But
when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and
writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it - until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery
shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn't seem much of an
inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love?
Critique: "Sincerely, The Duke" is the second novel in author Amelia Grey's 'Say I Do' historical romance trilogy. A fun
read from start to finish, "Sincerely, The Duke" is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99) and is certain to be an immediate popular pick for community library Regency Romance collections.
Editorial Note: Amelia Grey (www.ameliagrey.com) read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she's been a
devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill.
Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious
Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan.
Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of over
twenty-five books, including the Heirs' Club trilogy and the Rakes of St. James series.
The Western Fiction Shelf
The Valerons - Winter Kill
Terrell L. Bowers
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850567, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 270pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-valerons-winter-kill-terrell-l-bowers/1137640883
Synopsis: Snowstorms have paralyzed the stage and freight companies, and Castle Point is desperate for supplies. Doctor
Nash Valeron wires his brother Jared, who loads up pack horses and mules with medicine and food to bring to the stricken
settlement. But Castle Point is also a refuge for a pack of outlaws, who have committed a brazen robbery that left several
soldiers dead. Jared must do the impossible: take twelve men into custody in a town with no sheriff or jail...
Critique: Another riveting novel featuring the Valerons by western author Terrell L. Bowers, this large print paperback
edition of "The Valerons - Winter Kill" from the Linford Western Library series will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated action/adventure western novel fans and community
library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: A lengthy listing of available novels by western author Terrell L. Bowers can be found at:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/102448.Terrell_L_Bowers
Animal Instinct
Lee Clinton
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850581, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 224pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/uk/search/Animal%20Instinct
Synopsis: It was the perfect hold-up, conducted with military precision by four men who calmly walked out of the Ozark
Branch of the First National Bank with close to $50,000. Then it all went wrong.
One unfortunate shot hits their leader Frank Jerome as he rides away. What to do? Take the risk and try to ride out the 250
miles back to the mighty Mississippi? Or let the other three escape without being slowed by a wounded man?
Frank didn't hesitate. In a selfless act he stayed to face a prison sentence and an uncertain future. Now, years later on release,
his companions have all disappeared along with the money, and it is going to take more than luck to untangle the lies, deceit
and secrets that have been left behind. It is going to take animal instinct.
Critique: A simply riveting read from first page to last, "Animal Instincts" by western novelist Lee Clinton is the stuff of
which Clint Eastwood 'spaghetti western' movies were made. This large print paperback edition of "Animal Instincts" from
the Linford Western Library series is highly recommended for both community library Western Fiction collections and the
personal reading lists for dedicated fans of action/adventure westerns.
Editorial Note: Lee Clinton is the pen name of Leigh Alver, a hobby writer from Perth, Australia. Leigh has written and
published in other genres, but a love for the Western remains unbridled believing that it allows for universal stories to be
told in a variety of ways, which will still engage, excite and surprise a modern reader.
Somewhere - A Sundown
Sheldon B. Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850420, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 204pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somewhere-a-sundown-sheldon-b-cole/1137640890
Synopsis: When Blake Durant reached the town of Lincoln, he really should have just kept riding. But he didn't get the
chance. Within moments of his arrival, a gun-tough named Nico Semole injured his horse and then tried to pick a fight with
an old man. Blake intervened and beat him to a pulp. Yet Nico just didn't know when to quit. Later that day he came at
Blake with a gun...and set off a chain of events that was to end in murder and bloody revenge.
Critique: A fun read from start to finish, "Somewhere - A Sundown" is another one of author Sheldon B. Cole's deftly
crafted action/adventure westerns. This large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library series will prove to
be an immediate and enduringly popular addition for personal and community library Western Fiction collections and
reading lists.
Editorial Note: There is a comprehensive and available listing of Sheldon B. Cole's novels at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/19648928.Sheldon_B_Cole
Wagons West Of Hell
Cole Sheldon
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444850390, $25.00, PB, Large Print, 216pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wagons-west-of-hell-cole-shelton/1136785772
Synopsis: Following the death of its guide, a wagon train bound for Gun Creek had stalled outside the small town of
Conchita. But when Shane Preston and Jonah Jones rode in on the trail of the scar-faced man Shane had sworn to kill,
wagon master Huston Whittaker saw an answer to his problem. Huston was an old friend of Shane's, and when he asked for
help in getting the travelers to their destination, the black-clad gunfighter and his sidekick couldn't refuse...
Critique: Another of the vengeance quest novels by Cole Sheldon, "Wagons West Of Hell" continues the saga of Shane
Preston and his partner Jonah Jones as once again their quest for the scar faced killer of Shane's loved one leads to an
unexpected involvement in the problems of others -- problems that will require gun play and survival. This large print
paperback edition of "Wagons West Of Hell" is a solid recommendation for any and all dedicated fans of action/adventure
westerns.
Editorial Note: There is an impressive on-line listing of novels by Cole Sheldon at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7160486.Cole_Shelton
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Framed Women of Ardemore House
Brandy Schillace
https://brandyschillace.com
Hanover Square Press
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781335014030, $30.00, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Women-Ardemore-House-Novel/dp/1335014039
Synopsis: Jo Jones has always had a little trouble fitting in. As a neurodivergent, hyperlexic book editor and divorced New
Yorker transplanted into the English countryside, Jo doesn't know what stands out more: her Americanisms or her
autism.
After losing her job, her mother, and her marriage all in one year, she couldn't be happier to take possession of a possibly
haunted (and clearly unwanted) family estate in North Yorkshire. But when the body of the moody town groundskeeper
turns up on her rug with three bullets in his back, Jo finds herself in potential danger -- and she's also a potential suspect. At
the same time, a peculiar family portrait vanishes from a secret room in the manor, bearing a strange connection to both the
dead body and Jo's mysterious family history.
With the aid of a Welsh antiques dealer, the morose local detective, and the Irish innkeeper's wife, Jo embarks on a mission
to clear herself of blame and find the missing painting, unearthing a slew of secrets about the town (and herself) along the
way. And she'll have to do it all before the killer strikes again!
Critique: With the publication of "The Framed Women of Ardemore House, novelist Brandy Schillace proves that she is a
master of the cozy mystery genre. All the elements are here -- an abandoned English manor, a peculiar and missing portrait,
a deviously clever murder mystery, an amateur female sleuth in desperate need to find out 'whodunnit', and a wealth of
unexpected plot twists and turns. A fun read from start to finish, "The Framed Women of Ardemore House" is especially
and unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Framed Women of Ardemore House" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and
as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212723718, $46.99, CD).
Editorial Note: Brandy Schillace (https://brandyschillace.com) is an autistic author, historian, mystery novelist, and editor.
Having grown up in an underground house (next to a graveyard, in abandoned coal lands, with a pet raccoon) she spent her
childhood reading about diseases and going to a lot of funerals. This led to an abiding interest in dead stuff, a PhD, and a
career in science history -- a likely thing to happen when one spends their formative years in a cemetery. Brandy writes at
the intersections of history, mystery, and the weird.
Murder in the Tea Leaves
Laura Childs
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593200988, $28.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Tea-Leaves-Shop-Mystery/dp/0593200985
Synopsis: When Theodosia Browning reads the tea leaves on the set of the movie, Dark Fortunes, things go from spooky to
worse. Lights are dimmed, the camera rolls, and red hot sparks fly as the film's director is murdered in a tricky electrical
accident.
Or was it an accident? Though the cast and crew are stunned beyond belief, nobody admits to seeing a thing. And when
Theodosia's friend, Delaine, becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia begins her own shadow investigation. But who among
this Hollywood cast and crew had murder on their mind? The screenwriter is a self-centered pot head, the leading actress is
trying to wiggle out of her contract, the brand new director seems indifferent, and nobody trusts the slippery-when-dry
Hollywood agent.
Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany's Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line, Theodosia doggedly
hunts down clues and explores the seemingly haunted Brittlebank Manor where the murder took place. And just when she's
ready to pounce, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered, throwing everything into total disarray. But this clever
killer will go to any lengths to hide his misdeeds as Theodosia soon finds out when she and her tea sommelier, Drayton, get
caught up in a dangerous stakeout.
Critique: Laura Child's is one of the most talented and original storyteller novelists in the Cozy Mystery genre today. Here
newest mystery, "Murder in the Tea Leaves" is part of her popular cozy mystery series 'A Tea Shop Mystery'. It has
everything including an 'innocent accused', a sudden death under unusual circumstances, a determined amateur female
sleuth working hard to find out 'whodunnit', and more unexpected plot twists than an Oklahoma tornado. An extraordinary,
fun, and recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the legions of Laura
Child fans that "Murder in the Tea Leaves" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Laura Childs (https://booksreadingorder.com/laura-childs) is the New York Times author of the Tea Shop
Mysteries, New Orleans Scrapbooking Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. Before becoming one of the most
popular and prolific authors in the Cozy Mystery genre, Laura was CEO of her own marketing firm, authored several
screenplays, and produced a reality TV show.
Speculations in Sin
Jennifer Ashley
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin/Random House
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780593549919, $18.00, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Speculations-Sin-Below-Stairs-Mystery/dp/0593549910
Synopsis: Kat Holloway is distressed to learn that Samuel Millburn, husband of the woman who looks after her daughter,
has been accused of embezzling funds from the bank where he works as a clerk. The accusation is absurd, and Samuel's wife
fears that her husband will not only lose his post but be imprisoned. Kat vows to uncover the truth.
When she discovers the bank is involved in shockingly murky business dealings, Kat realizes she's treading in dangerous
waters. She turns to her confidante and handsome suitor, Daniel McAdam, for help. To exonerate Samuel, Kat and Daniel
may have to expose the unseemly financial dealings of prominent aristocrats and government officials, and even those
working to bring down the royal family. Kat will risk everything to protect the man who has sacrificed so much for her
daughter, even if it means endangering herself and the friends she has come to love.
Critique: A fun read and especially recommended for dedicated Cozy Mystery fans, "Speculations in Sin" by author Jennifer
Ashley features a gifted by amateur female sleuth confronted with a cascading number of unexpected plot twists to uncover
the true felon and absolve the 'innocent accused'. While certain to be a popular pick for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Speculations in Sin" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Jennifer Ashley (https://jenniferashley.com) is the author of the Below Stairs Mysteries series, the Shifters
Unbound paranormal romances, and the Mackenzies historical romances. She also writes as USA Today bestselling mystery
author Ashley Gardner.
The Woman Who Lowered the Boom
David Handler
The Mysterious Press
www.mysteriouspress.com
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781613165133, $26.95, HC, 284pp
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Lowered-Boom-Stewart-Mystery/dp/1613165137
Synopsis: Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag is walking on cloud nine after a meeting with his editor, Norma Fives, where she predicts
his new book is sure to establish him as the next great American author. It has been years since he has even dreamed of such
success after a crippling case of writer's block limited his literary aspirations to ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. But his
happiness is short-lived when at his next meeting with Norma she asks for his help in discovering who is behind a series of
increasingly threatening letters sent to her attention.
Norma herself is not overly concerned about the letters but her boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Romaine Very of the NYPD,
thinks the threat of violence against Norma should not be so easily dismissed. Very feels the combination of Hoagy's
detective skills and knowledge of the underbelly of the publishing world make him the perfect person to investigate the
matter. Plus, Hoagy is a friend he can trust to take care of the love of his life. Hoagy agrees if for nothing else than to ease
the minds of two people he cares about very much. After all, this is likely to be nothing more than a dramatic gesture from a
frustrated writer.
But as Hoagy and his trusty basset hound Lulu investigate, the threats move beyond the written word, making it clear that
someone out there is determined to write a vicious ending to Norma's life. Could it be the wealthy aging children's author?
The unethical snake of a literary agent? Or the handsy historian? This is not the return to the literary world that Hoagy
dreamed of, but he is determined to unravel the mystery before the author of these crimes gets the last word.
Critique: David Handler is a master of the 'whodunnit' mystery/suspense genre and his latest novel, "The Woman Who
Lowered The Boom" is another literary gem that will prove to be of particular interest to fans of traditional detective stories
that also features an amateur (and reluctant) sleuth trying to solve the mystery. A 'must' for the growing legions of David
Handler fans, "The Woman Who Lowered The Boom" will also hold appeal for bibliophiles who appreciate the
backgrounding of this mystery inside the publishing industry. An extraordinary and unreservedly recommended pick for
community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Woman Who
Lowered The Boom" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.73) and as a complete and unabridged
audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798874724870, $36.90, CD).
Editorial Note: David Handler (https://davidhandlerbooks.com) is the Edgar Award-winning and critically acclaimed author
of several bestselling mystery series. He began his career as a New York City reporter, and wrote his first two novels,
"Kiddo" (1987) and "Boss" (1988), about his Los Angeles childhood. In 1988 he published "The Man Who Died Laughing",
the first of his long-running series of mysteries starring ghostwriter Stuart Hoag and his faithful basset hound Lulu.
Peril in Pink
Sydney Leigh
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106394, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Peril-Pink-Sydney-Leigh/dp/1639106391
Synopsis: It's the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate,
Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend (reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong) performing live. As
guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south
when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.
After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars' name,
but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he's innocent. Especially when he's found at the scene of another murder.
With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her
head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put
behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.
Critique: Cozy mystery writing at its very best, "Peril in Pink" by novelist Sydney Leigh features an amateur female sleuth
reluctantly drawn into a 'whodunnit' murder mystery to clear the name of a friend -- and to protect her business! A riveting
and fun read from first page to last, "Peril in Pink" successfully launches Sydney Leight's new 'Hudson Valley B&B
Mysteries' series and is unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of cozy mystery fans, as well as a high
priority recommendation for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted that "Peril in Pink" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Sydney Leigh (https://sydneyleighbooks.com) has served on the Board of Directors for Crime Writers of
Canada from 2019-2021. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers.
A Deadly Endeavor
Jenny Adams
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106950, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Endeavor-Novel-Jenny-Adams/dp/1639106952
Synopsis: Philadelphia, 1921. When Edie Shippen returns home after spending years in California recovering from
Influenza, she's shocked to discover that her childhood sweetheart is engaged to her twin sister. Heartbroken and adrift, Edie
vows to begin living her life as a modern woman -- and to hell with anyone who gets in her way. But as young women start
to disappear from the city, her newfound independence begins to feel dangerous.
Gilbert Lawless returned home from the Great War a shell of his former self. He hides away in the office of Philadelphia's
Coroner, content to keep to himself until a gruesome series of corpses come into the morgue. And when his sister, Lizzie,
goes missing, he risks his career to beg help from the one person Lizzie seemed to trust: her employer, Edie Shippen.
Fearing the worst, Edie and Gilbert desperately search for clues. It soon becomes clear that Lizzie's disappearance is
connected to the deaths rocking the City of Brotherly Love...and it's only a matter of time until the killer strikes again.
Critique: Set in the era of the Roaring Twenties, "A Deadly Endeavor" by novelist Jenny Adms is a compelling 'page turner'
of a read from start to finish that will be particularly welcome addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated cozy
mystery fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for cozy mystery buffs that "A Deadly
Endeavor" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Jenny Adams (https://jenny-adams.com) turned her love of books and stories into a career as a librarian and
author of novels for adults. She holds degrees in Medieval Studies and Library Science from The Ohio State University and
Drexel University.
Cirque du Slay
Rob Osler
Crooked Lane Books
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781639106479, $29.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cirque-du-Slay-Rob-Osler/dp/1639106472
Synopsis: Pint-sized Seattle middle school teacher and gay dating blogger Hayden McCall and his best friend Hollister are
invited to a fundraiser for Bakers Without Borders. The celebrity performer, Kennedy Osaka, is the artistic director of
Mysterium, an upscale circus arts show combining magic, acrobatics, and a Michelin-star dinner. But Kennedy is a no-show
-- until she's found dead in her hotel suite.
When frenemy Sarah Lee is discovered in the room with the body, Hayden and Hollister are on the case to find the real
culprit before Sarah Lee is charged with the crime.
The suspects for the murder are as unique as Mysterium itself: a Russian trapeze artist, a cowgirl comedian sharp-shooter,
an over-cologned operations director, a feisty, green-haired costume manager, and Adrenalin!, a sexy troop of Romanian
male acrobats...If Hayden and Hollister are to clear Sarah Lee of suspicion, they'll have to outsmart a killer for whom
trickery is art.
Critique: "Cirque Du Slay" by novelist Rob Osler is a masterfully crafted and original cozy murder mystery with an
LGBTQ+ element. The second title in Osler's 'Hayden & Friends' mystery series from Crooked Lane, the first being "Devil's
Chew Toy" (2022), "Cirque Du Slay" is laced through and through with humor and unexpected plot twists that make it a fun
read from start to finish -- and with the reader looking forward to the next installment of the cozy mystery solving team of
Hayden & Friends! While a welcome and recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Cirque Du Slay" is also available in a paperback edition (9781639107155, $22.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Rob Osler (https://robosler.com) resides in southern California with his long-time partner and a tall, gray
cat.
Crimeline Hollywood
Thomas Collins
MindStir Media
https://mindstirmedia.com
9781961532649, $18.99, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crimeline-Hollywood-Thomas-Collins/dp/1961532646
Synopsis: Whoever thought an astrologer's life could be so dangerous? Especially when you are "Hollywood's Astrologer to
the Stars". Yet Dash Harwood found himself crawled out on a 20-story beam trying to talk down a suicidal celebrity. And
when Dash gave a Vegas casino owner a costly piece of advice, he found himself the target of a hitman!
Fortunately Dash escaped -- but unfortunately only to himself embedded in still another crisis: the kidnapping of Sparklynn
James, his most famous client. After the Feds falter on the case, the family asks him to assist Rebecca Fairway, a
publicity-seeking P.I. (a.k.a. "The Glamorous Gumshoe) to find her. Not exactly the A Team.
But a coded ransom message from Sparklynn herself points them in the right direction -- leading Dash straight into a web of
corporate evil.
Critique: An impressively original and thoroughly fun read from start to finish, "Crimeline Hollywood" by author Thomas
Collins will hold a very special interest to fans of suspense thriller novels laced with humor, astrology, amateur sleuths,
memorable characters, and more unexpected plot twists and turns than a Kansas tornado! A compulsive page turner of a
novel from first page to last, "Crimeline Hollywood" is one of those deftly crafted stories that will linger in the mind and
memory of the reader long after the book is finished and set back upon the shelf. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Crimeline Hollywood" is also currently available from Amazon.com in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Thomas Collins (https://crimelinebythomascollins.com) wrote his first book, "The Adventures of Tom and
Rom", at the age of ten. (Now long out of print) As an adult he gained valuable knowledge of the inner workings of big
business as corporate communications director for a Fortune 500 company. "Crimeline Hollywood" is his first mystery
though not his last, especially since the hitman from Crimeline is still on the loose. Like his hero, Dash Harwood, he is an
Aquarian who likes to think outside the box -- once he cuts through all the packaging.
The Cat Saw Murder
Dolores Hitchens
American Mystery Classics
c/o Penzler Publishers
https://penzlerpublishers.com
9781613162132, $15.95, PB, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Saw-Murder-Murdock-Mysteries/dp/1613162138
Synopsis: When Rachel Murdock and her sister Jennifer receive a call for help from their favorite niece, Lilly, in Breakers
Beach, CA, they quickly hop a train from Los Angeles to see her -- but not before collecting their prized cat Samantha in a
picnic basket and bringing her along for the ride.
Samantha, it turns out, is an heiress, the inheritor of a fortune left by a wealthy relative, and so the attempt at the cat's life,
made right after they arrive, comes as a shock. The cat survives, but unfortunately, Lilly, murdered soon thereafter, is not so
lucky.
By the time the police arrive, the clues are already falling into place. The source of Lilly's trouble is revealed to be a
gambling debt incurred during an attempt to cheat at bridge, and the suspects in her slaying quickly pile up. But then another
corpse is discovered, buried in the nearby sand, and it becomes clear that the killing spree concerns more than just the young
lady's personal money trouble.
With the authorities distracted by lurid details, it's up to Rachel and her furry friend to uncover the subtleties containing the
solution to the puzzle.
Critique: A 'time lost' classic and now brought back into print for an appreciative new general of mystery enthusiasts, "The
Cat Wears a Noose" by Dolores Hitchens is a fun read from start to finish. Female amateur sleuths, a plot with multiple
surprises, deftly crafted characters, and Hitchens flair for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that
keeps her reader's compulsive page turners, "The Cat Wears a Noose" is unreservedly recommended for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated 'whodunnit' murder mystery fans
that "The Cat Wears a Noose" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, 9.99). Librarians will want the
hardcover edition (9781613162125, $21.95).
Editorial Note: Dolores Hitchens (December 25, 1907 - August 1, 1973) was a highly prolific mystery author who wrote
under multiple pseudonyms and in a range of styles. A large number of her books were published under the D. B. Olsen
moniker (under which her "Cat" series was originally published), but she is perhaps best remembered today for her later
novel, Fool's Gold, published under her own name, which was adapted as Band a part by Jean-Luc Godard.
The Last Word
Elly Griffiths
Mariner Books
www.marinerbooks.com
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063374720, $27.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Word-Novel-Elly-Griffiths/dp/0063374722
Synopsis: Natalka and Edwin are perfect if improbable partners in a detective agency. At eighty-four, Edwin regularly
claims that he's the oldest detective in England. He is a master at surveillance, deploying his age as a cloak of invisibility.
Natalka, Ukrainian-born and more than fifty years his junior, is a math whizz, who takes any cases concerning fraud or
deception.
Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated. She loves a murder, as she's fond of saying, and none have
come the agency's way. That is until local writer Melody Chambers dies.
Melody's daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody's death is linked to that of an
obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a
creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked and what is the role of
a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? By the time Edwin has infiltrated the group, he is in
serious danger...
Seeking professional help, the investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, and find that they have stumbled
on a plot that is stranger than fiction.
Critique: A fun read for murder mystery fans from start to finish, "The Last Word" will hold a very special interest to
readers of police procedural, international crime, and women sleuths trying to discover 'whodunnit'. Author Elly Griffiths is
a master storyteller and "The Last Word" is a solid recommendation for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Last Word" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$14.99).
Editorial Note: Elly Griffiths (https://ellygriffiths.co.uk) is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as
well as standalone novels including: The Stranger Diaries (winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel); The Postscript
Murders; and Bleeding Heart Yard. She is the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the Mary Higgins
Clark Award.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Hidden Queen
Petere V. Brett
Del Rey
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
www.randomhouse.com
9781984817112, $30.00, HC, 608pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Queen-Book-Nightfall-Saga/dp/1984817116
Synopsis: Humanity thought the war with demonkind was over. Now, after less than a generation to rebuild, the demon
corelings have returned with a vengeance. The Spear of Ala (the fortress that stands at the gates of the demon's hive) is the
last bastion against the horde, and reports say it may already have fallen.
Olive Paper is expected to take the vanguard in the fight. Only an heir of Kaji can wield the artifact that opens the gates of
the Spear of Ala, and as Ahmann Jardir's child, Olive seems destined for a role as leader and savior. But Olive does not wish
to follow in her father's footsteps any more than she did her mother's.
Darin Bales was born with supernatural senses that he struggles to process, and even those who love him believe he can
barely take care of himself. Yet to save his mother from the clutches of Alagai Ka, the demon king, Darin will brave
anything to mount a rescue.
Darin and Olive each strive to walk their own path but find themselves inextricably tied to the legacies of their parents and
to a fated confrontation with the demon king and his new hatchling queen.
If they fail, humanity may not survive!
Critique: A sword & sorcery saga of epic proportions, "The Hidden Queen" is the second novel in author Peter V. Brett's
action packed 'The Nightfall Saga' series. Brett is a master of the genre and "The Hidden Queen" is a deftly crafted, fun and
compelling read from start to finish. While unreservedly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "The Hidden Queen" is also readily available in
a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Peter V. Brett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_V._Brett) is also the author of The Demon Cycle, which
has sold more than four million copies in twenty-seven languages worldwide. His novels include The Warded Man, The
Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, The Core, and The Desert Prince.
Empire of the Damned
Jay Kristoff
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250245335, $32.00, HC, 736pp
https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Damned-Vampire-2/dp/1250245338
Synopsis: Gabriel de Leon has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into
an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani,
and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone.
But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between
the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not
survive to see the Grail learn her truth.
And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine.
Critique: "Empire of the Damned" is the eagerly awaited sequel to author Jay Kristoff's vampire fantasy novel "Empire of
the Vampire". A brilliantly original, exceptionally compelling, deftly crafted, and thoroughly fun read from start to finish,
"Empire of the Damned" does not disappoint. Highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections and
an absolute 'must read' pick for the growing legions of Jay Kristoff fans, it should be noted for personal reading lists that
"Empire of the Damned" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note: Jay Kristoff (https://jaykristoff.com) is an author of fantasy and science fiction, including "Empire of the
Vampire". He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over half a million books in print and is published in
over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6'7 and
has approximately 11,500 days to live. He does not believe in happy endings.
Angolin
C. E. Taylor
CamCat Books
www.camcatpublishing.com
9780744306750, $29.99, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Angolin-C-Taylor/dp/0744306752
Synopsis: The Hidden Realm of Angolin has existed in peaceful isolation for centuries, but that's about to change. The
enemy across the Abyss has discovered them and is intent on conquest. Lieutenant Dharmen Tate has a great love for his
homeland and a greater understanding of its position in the world. When he discovers a plot by fellow officers to join the
enemy and overthrow Angolin, he and his colleagues spring into action to defend the Hidden Realm from its foes - those
without, and those within. The ensuing struggle magnifies Angolin's vulnerability and exposes the collusion of a growing
body of its citizens, signifying an uncertain and bloody future.
Critique: With the publication of "Angolin", author, C. E. Taylor proves to be a master of space opera style action/adventure
science fiction. A fun read that will especially appeal to dedicated fans of military science fiction, "Angolin" will prove to
be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicate SciFi fans that "Angolin" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.49) and
in a large print paperback edition from CamCat Books (9780744306811, $30.99).
Editorial Note: C. E. Taylor (www.ce-taylor.com) is a cultural anthropologist and urban planner. His fascination for science
fiction began as a child, and his interest in human culture within urban environments, along with a penchant for other
worlds, places, and times led to the first book of the Angolin trilogy. When not creating fictional storylines, histories, etc.,
he spends his time reading science fiction and suspense novels. In one way or another, he finds a form of anthropology in
everything he experiences in real life and in everything he reads, as even fiction provides insight into the human
condition.
Queen Nanny & The White Witch of Rosehall
Bobby Spears Jr.
Kingston Imperial
https://kingstonimperial.com
9781954220645, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Nanny-White-Witch-Rosehall/dp/1954220642
Synopsis: Deep in the heart of Jamaica, the stories of insatiable bloodthirsty creatures and dark rituals brought over from the
old country have been the stuff of legends for centuries. Queen Nanny, the leader of a community of Maroons, is well versed
in military leadership and spiritual wisdom. But how do you beat an enemy that possesses the power over life and
death?
One such figure is the enigmatic White Witch, shrouded in mystery and superstition -- some say she was once a wealthy
woman who murdered her husbands, while others believe she was a powerful sorceress who used dark magic. As the White
Witch threatens the safety of Queen Nanny's home, she must use every weapon at her disposal to protect her people.
Critique: A simply riveting read from start to finish, "Queen Nanny & The White Witch of Rosehall" is an original dark
fantasy novel by Bobby Spears Jr. that (even though a work of deftly crafted fiction) provides an extra bonus for the reader's
benefit with respect to providing a fresh perspective on Jamaica's rich cultural history. Especially and unreservedly
recommended for readers with an interest in Vampire Fantasy Fiction, and Witch/Wizard thrillers, "Queen Nanny & The
White Witch of Rosehall" will prove a welcome addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Queen Nanny & The White Witch of Rosehall" is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Bobby Spears, Jr., a distinguished alumnus of Howard University, graduated with a B.A. in TV/Film
production. With an innate passion for storytelling, Bobby has since ventured into the realm of writing and TV/film
production, crafting narratives that resonate deeply with audiences around the world.
Baen Books
www.baen.com
Two new science fiction novels from Baen Books are top picks for readers that look for new arrivals from favorite
authors.
https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Silence-Saga-Forgotten-Warrior/dp/1982193204
Fans of Larry Correia will find Tower of Silence : Saga of the Forgotten Warrior (9781982193201, $18.00) adds to the
series as it follows the raging winds of war, a vision of the Great Extermination, and the only hope for salvation which lies
in fallen Protector Ashok Vadal's escape from a demon-protected prison to confront war and supernatural entities alike.
Special interests entwine as Vadal challenges history and demons with a warrior's hand to not just facing demon attacks, but
ultimately understanding their origins.
https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Called-Peterbilt-Assiti-Shards/dp/1982193190
Eric Flint, Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett's An Angel Called Peterbilt (9781982193195, $28.00) is the compelling saga of a
temporal irregularity that sends a couple, their daughter, and a Peterbilt truck back in time a thousand years, along with
another couple and part of a convenience store. Charged with making a new life in this alien world, the characters face
hostility from natives convinced that this new and sudden community is the work of the devil, as well as a threat to the
powers that keep order in their world. A thoroughly engrossing story evolves, perfect for readers who enjoyed Flint 's 1637
time-displacement series.
Both of these new titles from Baen Books are very highly recommended for prior fans who enjoyed each author's extensive
previous lineups of successful sci-fi -- and as first introductions to these highly skilled science fiction authors.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Harlem
Mikaël
NBM Publishing
www.nbmpub.com
9781681123288, $27.99, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com.au/Harlem-Mikael/dp/1681123282
Synopsis: Harlem, 1931. In the heart of the Great Depression, invention is the mother of necessity to make ends meet.
Stephanie St. Clair, known as 'Queenie', had already understood this when she landed in New York almost twenty years
before. Inventiveness when you are a woman and you are black is much more than a necessity. It's a question of
survival.
In a few years, this young immigrant West Indian servant freed herself from the weight of ancestral servitude. Even better,
she created her own American dream: the underground Harlem numbers game. Hers is an ascent that makes people cringe,
both with the local authorities and the white mafia. Dutch Schultz, aka the Dutchman, an unscrupulous mafioso, intends to
take control of the kingdom of the "Frenchy."
But that's without taking into account the determination and impetuosity of Queenie, whose heavy past continues to guide
her steps as she rises and then falls as the boss of the Harlem numbers racket.
With the publication of "Harlem", French and Canadian artist Mikaël takes us to the Harlem of the prohibition era for the
final chapter of his New York triptych in sumptuous chiaroscuro, to meet a woman as strong as she is enigmatic.
Critique: Published in a large format (22.86 x 1.52 x 30.48 cm) hardcover edition by Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing
(NBM), there is a cinematic dynamism to this graphic novel style story based on a real life personality that was a unique
woman in a man's game and up against the Mafia's attempt to take over the numbers game in Harlem. Simply stated,
"Harlem" by the artist/illustrator Mikaël is an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and
college/university library collections. It should be noted that this edition of "Harlem" is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $28.20).
Editorial Note: An autodidact, French artist Mikaël, adoptive of French Canada, has illustrated award winning children's
books and created graphic novels since 2001. Among his awards are 2 Grand Prizes of the City of Quebec (2015, 2016) and
a special mention of the jury for youth at Ouessant, France. Since 2006 he has turned to adult comics, some in collaboration
with other writers and artists. (www.europecomics.com/author/mikael)
The Audiobook Shelf
The Fox Wife
Yangsze Choo, author/narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250329509, $49.99, CD (14 Hours 37 Minutes)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fox-wife-yangsze-choo/1143330973
Synopsis: Manchuria, 1908. In the last years of the dying Qing Empire, a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway. Her death
is clouded by rumors of foxes, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and
handsome men. Bao, a detective with an uncanny ability to sniff out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman's identity.
Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they've remained tantalizingly out of reach -- until, perhaps,
now.
Meanwhile, a family who owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments but can't escape the curse that afflicts
them -- their eldest sons always die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. When a disruptively winsome servant named Snow
enters their household, the family's luck seems to change -- or does it?
Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all she's a mother seeking vengeance for her lost child. Hunting a murderer,
she will follow the trail from northern China to Japan, while Bao follows doggedly behind. Navigating the myths and
misconceptions of fox spirits, both Snow and Bao will encounter old friends and new foes, even as more deaths occur.
In her novel, "The Fox Wife", author Yangsze Choo brilliantly explores a world of mortals and spirits, humans and beasts,
and their dazzling intersection. Epic in scope and full of singular, unforgettable characters, "The Fox Wife" is a stunning
novel about old loves and second chances, the depths of maternal love, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.
Critique: A brilliant work of literary historical fiction based on Japanese folklore and which is deftly narrated by its author,
Yangsze Choo's epic novel, "The Fox Wife" is an amazing listening experience. This complete and unabridged audio book
(13 CDs) from Macmillan Audio will prove to be a highly prized pick for both personal and community library audio book
collections.
Editorial Note: Yangsze Choo (https://yschoo.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ghost Bride (now a
Netflix Original series) and The Night Tiger, a Reese's Book Club Pick, and a Big Jubilee Read selection for Queen
Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Yangsze is happy to visit book clubs via Zoom and can be foun her on her website, Twitter,
Instagram, and Facebook.
Lone Wolf: An Orphan X Novel
Gregg Hurwitz, author
Scott Brick, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250329486, $39.99, CD, (13 Hours 13 Minutes)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lone-wolf-gregg-hurwitz/1143330012
Synopsis: Once a black ops government assassin known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak left the Program, went deep
underground, and reinvented himself as someone who will go anywhere and risk everything to help the truly desperate who
have nowhere else to turn. Since then, Evan has fought international crime syndicates and drug cartels, faced down the most
powerful people in the world and even brought down a president.
Now struggling with an unexpected personal crisis, Evan goes back to the very basics of his mission -- and this time, the
truly desperate is a little girl who wants him to find her missing dog.
Not his usual mission, and not one Evan embraces with enthusiasm, but this unlikely, tiny job quickly explodes into his
biggest mission yet, one that finds him battered between twisted AI technocrat billionaires, a mysterious female assassin
who seems a mirror of himself, and personal stakes so gut-wrenching he can scarcely make sense of them.
Evan's mission pushes him to his limit - he must find and take down the assassin known only as the Wolf, before she
succeeds in completing her mission and killing the people who can identify her -- a teenaged daughter of her last target, and
Evan himself. Matched skill for skill, instinct for instinct, Evan must outwit an opponent who will literally stop at nothing if
he is to survive.
Critique: Another simply riveting Orphan X novel by Gregg Hurwitz and vividly brought to life in a true 'theatre of the
mind' experience through the storytelling talents of narrator Scott Brick, this complete and unabridged (11 CD) audio book
edition of "Lone Wolf" from Macmillan Audio is an ideal and enduringly popular pick for personal and community library
Action/Adventure audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Greg Hurwitz (https://gregghurwitz.net) is the author of the New York Times bestselling Orphan X
novels. Critically acclaimed, his novels have been international bestsellers, graced top ten lists, and have been published in
thirty-two languages. Additionally, he's sold scripts to many of the major studios, and written, developed, and produced
television for various networks.
The Fury
Alex Michaelides, author
Alex Jennings, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
2940160607344, $39.99, CD, (8 Hours 8 Minute)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fury-alex-michaelides/1143480580
Synopsis: Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites
her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. But on this occasion
they found themselves trapped on that island overnight. An unexpected result was that it enflamed old friendships that
concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What ensued was a battle of wits, a series of twists and turns, all building to an
unforgettable (and lethal) climax. That night ended in violence and death, as one of them was found murdered.
Critique: "The Fury" by author Alex Michaelides is deftly told tale of suspicions, revenge, murder, and love. Deftly narrated
by the truly impressive storytelling tales of Alex Jennings, the complete and unabridged audio book edition of "The Fury"
from Macmillan Audio (7 CDs) is a welcome and unreservedly recommended pick for personal and community library
Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English Literature from Trinity
College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.
Editorial Note #2: Alex Jennings is a teacher, author, and performer living in New Orleans. His writing has appeared in
strangehorizons.com, podcastle, The Peauxdunque Review, Obsidian Lit, the Locus Award-winning Luminescent Threads:
Connections to Octavia Butler, and in numerous anthologies.
Identity
Nora Roberts, author
January LaVoy, narrator
Macmillan Audio
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781250871732, $39.99, CD (15 Hours 4 Minutes)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/identity-c-carl-roberts/1110279268
Synopsis: Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her
friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and
Nina host their first dinner party-attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar-her carefully
built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on
the floor.
Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named
Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal:
murder.
What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the
wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont.
While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his
family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who
got away.
Critique: A suspense thriller of a read from start to finish, "Identity" by Nora Roberts is brought vividly to life through the
narrative storytelling abilities of January LaVoy in this complete and unabridged (12 CD) audio book edition from
Macmillan Audio. A 'must' for the legions of Nora Roberts fans, "Identity" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly
popular addition for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.
Editorial Note #1: Nora Roberts (https://noraroberts.com) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 230
novels. There are more than 500 million copies of her books having been sold around the world.
Editorial Note #2: January LaVoy (www.januarylavoy.com/home/audio) is the recipient of the 2023 Helen Hayes Award for
Outstanding Lead Performer (Fires in the Mirror). January made her Broadway debut in Lucy Prebble's ENRON in 2010.
Along with a very successful theatrical career, she has been seen on television in "Blue Bloods", "N0S4A2", "Elementary",
and "Law & Order" (classic, CI and SVU). In 2007 she created the role of Noelle Ortiz-Stubbs on "One Life to Live", which
she played until 2011.
The Library CD Shelf
Little Sun
Charlie Parr
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
https://folkways.si.edu
B0CQ8SQ25V, $16.98, CD (41 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Sun-Charlie-Parr/dp/B0CQ8SQ25V
Synopsis: Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician. Born in Austin, Minnesota, he spent part of his childhood in
Hollandale before starting his music career in Duluth. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary
Davis, Dave Van Ronk, Mississippi John Hurt, and his self-professed "hero" "Spider" John Koerner. He plays a Mule
resonator, National resonator guitar, a fretless open-back banjo, and a twelve-string guitar, often in the Piedmont blues style.
Of special note is that Charlie is divorced from Emily Parr, who occasionally adds vocals to his music.
"Little Sun" is a new release from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and is comprised of eight original songs performed by
Charlie Parr and include: Portland Avenue (4:30), Bear Head Lake (7.20), Boombox (3:55), Pale Fire (7.31), Ten Watt
(5:30), Stray (4.40), Sloth (3:41), and the title song Little Sun (3: 57).
Critique: While unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library CD Music collections,
it should be noted for Charlie Parr fans that "Little Sun" is also readily available in an MP3-CD format ($7.92) and as a
Vinyl Record ($19.99).
The Stars, If You Look Closely
The Stetson Family
www.thestetsonfamily.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD
Australian bluegrass-folk band The Stetson Family presents their fourth album, The Stars, If You Look Closely. All of the
songs are original creations, written by lead vocalist Nadine Budge and John Bartholomeusz. The harmonized singing
superbly balances The Stetson Family's memorable guitar, banjo, and mandolin interplay. The Stars, If You Look Closely is
a treasure for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. The tracks are The Stars, If You Look Closely; The Other
Side; Dollar In My Hand; Lonesome Valley; Nightfall; Better Left Unsaid; heading West; Brother; Angel's Hand; Make Me
Ashes; and Mama's Gonna Take You Home.
Guardians
Annie Chen
anniechenjazz.com
Privately Published
$12.00 CD / $8.00 digital
https://anniechenjazz.com/music/guardians
Beijing-born, New York-based vocalist and composer Annie Chen presents Guardians, an international jazz album inspired
by admiration for the flora and fauna of the natural world. The songs call upon the listener to cherish and protect fragile
ecosystems from the threat of human-caused mass extinction. Guardians is beautiful, reverent of nature's wonders, and
passionate in its call to environmental preservation. Highly recommended! The tracks are Rozpacz (Despair); Underground
Dance; Rosemary's Lullaby; Gule Gule Istanbul; The Northern Eyes; The Whale River Song; Jellyfish All Around; and
Vanished Tales, No Return.
Being Human
Lynne Arriale Trio
Challenge Records International
www.challengerecords.com
$18.99 CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Arriale-Being-Human-Lynne/dp/B0CJ47L7BZ
The Lynne Arriale Trio consists of Lynne Arriale on piano and Yamaha clavinova, Alon Near on bass, and Lukasz Zyta on
drums. Together, they present Being Human, a suite of ten original compositions that celebrate positive human traits such as
courage, curiosity, faith, joy, and more. A masterful work of contemporary jazz, Being Human is highly recommended for
both personal and public library collections, and also makes a wonderful gift. The tracks are Passion, Courage, Love, Faith,
Curiosity, Soul, Persistence, Heart, Gratitude, Joy, and Love (reprise).
Moon Over Lake
Roddy Ellias
www.roddyellias.com
KWIMU Music
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWS7GXWS
Moon Over Lake is the first solo acoustic guitar album by Roddy Ellias in over twenty years. Featuring twenty brand new,
original compositions, Moon Over Lake draws upon jazz traditions to create an inspiring, adventurous, and beautiful
soundscape that lingers in mind and memory like a dream. Moon Over Lake is highly recommended for both personal and
public library music collections. The tracks are Prelude, Chant, Interlude, Butterfly Dreams, Monkey Business, Little Bird's
First Flight, Rainbow Dance, Moon Over Lake, Brothers and Sisters, Flower, Summer's End, and Hope.
Spirit
Peter Calandra
www.PeteCalandraMusic.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTD5ZD1Y
Spirit is an album of elegant and heart-pulling piano compositions by Peter Calandra. Ten of the tracks are Calandra's
original compositions; three are arrangements of early 1970's songs that Calandra played as a teen in bands. Evocative and
masterfully performed, Spirit is a "must-have" for connoisseurs of quality piano music and also a choice pick for library
collections. The tracks are Spirit, A Box of Candles, Layla, Joyful Light, Fading Memories, Stately and Kind, The Weight,
Reflective Romance, Thankful, Uncle John's Band, Night Sky, Spring Hope, and Spirit.
Reflections on a Moonlit Lake
Rudy Adrian
Spotted Peccary Music
www.spottedpeccary.com
$16.00 CD / $10.00 digital
https://rudy-adrian.bandcamp.com/album/reflections-on-a-moonlit-lake
Reflections on a Moonlit Lake is a tranquil, new age album of soothing instrumental music that defies traditional concepts
of melody. The songs evoke natural beauty and calm, in this choice pick for meditation, creative focus, or simple relaxation.
Reflections on a Moonlit Lake is a beautiful soundscape experience, and also makes an excellent gift! The tracks are Mirror
Island, Dawn Across the Southern Ocean (remix), Papanui Lagoon (remix), Lunar Shadow, Tantalised, The Belt of Orion,
Midnight Angel, Within the Darkness, Rising Moon, Reflections on a Moonlit Lake, and Summer Night Rain.
Jonesville: Music By And For Sam Jones
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Hot Cup Records
$15.00 vinyl / $TBA CD / $7.00 digital
https://accelerationduetogravity.bandcamp.com/album/jonesville
Jonesville: Music By And For Sam Jones is the second album by the nine-member jazz band Acceleration Due to Gravity.
Four of the seven songs are by composer and bassist Moppa Elliot; the other three are arrangements of early pieces created
by jazz legend Sam Jones (1924-1981). "Choice" is by Sam Jones and Tim Bradshaw, "Miami Drag" is by Sam Jones and
Paul Williams, and "Stack of Dollars" is by Sam Jones and Tiny Bradshaw. Eclectic and transformative, Jonesville is both a
high tribute and an adventure in spontaneous improvisations, highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs. The
tracks are Choice, Delaware Water Gap, Miami Drag, Unity, Cedar Run, Stack of Dollars, and Jonesville.
The Door Is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill
Randy Napoleon
OA2 Records
$16.98 CD / $8.91 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Door-Open-Music-Gregg-Hill/dp/B0CRHYJBZH
The Door Is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill is an extraordinary collaborative album. Gregg Hill sends Randy Napoleon
original scores and compositions, with the blessing of freedom for interpretation and improvisation. Randy Napoleon brings
the music to life on the guitar, along with Aubrey Johnson's vocals, Rick Roe on piano, Quincy Davis on drums, Rodney
Whitaker and Lucas Lafave on bass, Anthony Stanco on trumpet, Walter Blanding on tenor saxophone, and Andrew Kim on
trombone. The result is an extraordinary, creative musical concoction highly recommended especially for jazz connoisseurs!
The tracks are The Lost Tune, The Door is Open, Escape to Cat Island, Motel Blues, Spa-Teneity, April Song, The Last Pop
Tune, Skyline, and Triple Play.
Cohesion
David Larsen
www.larsenjazz.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $7.92 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPP6D57B
Saxophonist, composer, and accolade-showered music artist David Larsen presents Cohesion, a collaborative jazz album
created with East Coast jazz musicians Darryl Yokley on tenor sax, Zaccai Curtis on piano, Alex Apollo on bass, and
Wayne Smith Jr. on drums. David Larsen plays baritone sax and personally composed the first six tracks; Darryl Yokley
composed the final two tracks. Cohesion explores the intricacies of modal composition, and is a choice pick for
connoisseurs of elaborate jazz. The tracks are Cohesion, Down To It, Movement, Wishing Well, Fedchock, Working Things
Out, Mount Fuji, and El Duelo.
The Ways In
James Zollar
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-ways-in/1669129526
The Ways In is a jazz album featuring trumpet and flugelhorn player James Zollar. The songs are composed by a variety of
talented individuals; some are arranged James Zollar. The music is brought to vibrant life with contributions by Michael
Rorby on trombone, Stefano Doglioni on bass clarinet, Nabuko Kiryu's vocals, David Hazeltine on piano, Gerald Cannon on
bass, Willie Jones III on drums and more. The vibrant music, performed with grace and passion, reflects Zollar's own
contemplations on "the ways in" to a lifetime of celebrating music, especially jazz. The Ways In is a treasure for jazz
enthusiasts, highly recommended! The tracks are The Fruit, Peace / Blue Silver, Reflectory, The Single Pedal of a Rose, Jim
Jim, Do Nothing till You Hear From Me, Swing Spring, Pat, Down Town up, and Checkered Hat.
My Daddy's Dad
Alex Miller
Billy Jam Records
billyjamrecords.com
$TBA CD / $6.45 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW7QJNMT
My Daddy's Dad is a country music EP featuring storytelling lyrics inspired by Alex Miller's own life experiences and the
classic "Western" era. The final track is a tribute to Miller's grandfather, who inspired Miller's passion for country music.
My Daddy's Dad is a choice pick for connoisseurs of original country music, highly recommended. The tracks are She
Makes Dirt Look Good; Oh, Odessa; The Last House in God's Country; Ain't Ever Saying Never; and My Daddy's Dad.
The Solitude Suite
Scott Marshall
scottdouglasmarshall.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $10.00 digital
https://scottdmarshall.bandcamp.com/album/the-solitude-suite
Saxophonist and composer Scott Marshall presents his sixth album The Solitude Suite, created with Scott Marshall on tenor
and soprano saxophones, Kevin Turcotte on trumpet and flugelhorn, Mike Downs on acoustic bass, and Terry Clarke on
drums. The original songs are inspired by solitude, especially the isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns
and the adjustment to the "new normal" as the pandemic shifted into its endemic phase. The Solitude Suite is a
contemporary jazz enthusiast's delight, showcasing talent, emotion, and creative passion in every song. The tracks are What
Would Eddie Do, Optimism, Frugal Fuguel, Points of View, The Monk Trane, Reflection, Conversations, Solid Dude
Debate, and That's Better.
Disaster Pony
Disaster Pony
disasterpony.com
Lovetown Records
lovetownrecords.com
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVDLX22P
Disaster Pony is the self-titled debut album of a new jazz and electronic dance music band led by saxophonist, pianist,
synthesizer player and composer Gordon Hyland. Members lend their talent on guitar, violin, electric bass, double bass, and
percussion. The result is a treasure, highly recommended for connoisseurs of electronic jazz! The tracks are It's Got
Tentacles; Robot Pain; Hot Like Bugs; Dead Neon & the Noon Sun; Angle Boys of the Cosmos; Fruit Flies in Cola; Sly,
Dirty Machines; You're Still a Lousy Fink; and Moons Become Planets.
The Library DVD Shelf
Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island
A film by Heidi Hutner
First Run Features
www.firstrunfeatures.com
$19.95
https://firstrunfeatures.com/radioactivevod.html
Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island is a documentary on DVD about four women who fought to expose the
nuclear industry's cover-up of the 1979 Three Mile Island meltdown. The four women took their local community's case
against the plant operator all the way to the Supreme Court, and a female journalist was targeted for her efforts to report the
unfolding story. Radioactive is a sobering true story of ordinary people's attempts to resist powerful, wealthy interests.
Regardless of whether or not one feels that nuclear power will be a needed source of energy in a post-fossil fuels world,
Radioactive underscores the need for strict safeguards and oversights in any project that can potentially cause an
environmental disaster, including and especially nuclear power plants. Radioactive: The Women of Three Mile Island is
highly recommended for personal, public library, and school library DVD collections. 77 minutes, optional English
subtitles.
The Blu-ray Shelf
Otaku Elf Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$59.98
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726024462-otaku-elf-complete-collection-blu-ray
Otaku Elf Complete Collection has all twelve episodes of the anime series "Otaku Elf", following sixteen-year-old Koito
Koganei who has just inherited her family's role as shrine maiden. There's one complication - the shrine's "deity", an ageless
elf summoned 400 years ago, has become a completely introverted, anime-watching, video game-obsessed otaku! Can Koito
coax the reclusive elf out of her shell, and persuade her to reconnect with the world at large? A whimsical comedy with a
compassionate protagonist, Otaku Elf Complete Collection is a delight to watch and highly recommended. 12 episodes on
two Blu-ray discs, TV-PG rating, 300 min., Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Black Bullet Complete Collection
Sentai Film Works
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com
c/o RLJ Entertainment (distribution)
$49.98
https://www.sentaifilmworks.com/products/816726026961-black-bullet-complete-collection-blu-ray
Black Bullet Complete Collection has all thirteen episodes of the anime series "Black Bullet", set in a horrific dystopian
near future where the Gastrea virus has exterminated 99% of humanity. The Gastrea virus mutates the infected into
murderous, nearly-unkillable abominations. Conventional weapons are nearly useless against Gastrea monsters; only the
"Cursed Children", girls who have been infected but are capable of holding on to their humanity, have the power to fight the
Gastrea directly. Yet the infection that gives Cursed Children power also makes them dangerous, since as time passes they
risk turning into mindless Gastrea as well. In Tokyo, the Cursed Children are feared, reviled, and subject to police brutality.
Rentaro Satomi is a civil servant paired with Cursed Child Enju Aihara; although Rentaro strives to protect people and forge
a better future, his efforts are under brutal attack from Gastrea monsters without and human ruthlessness within! Filled with
edge-of-seat action and drama, Black Bullet is rated TV-MA due to intense violence. 13 episodes on two Blu-ray discs, 325
min., English and Japanese audio with English subtitles.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Law and Humanities
Daniel Newman, editor
Russell Sandberg, editor
Anthem Press
www.anthempress.com
9781839990366, $195.00, HC, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/Law-Humanities-Anthem-Society/dp/1839990368
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by academicians Daniel Newman and Russell Sandberg, "Law and
Humanities" is the first volume in the Anthem Law and Society series.
This edited collection provides the first accessible introduction to Law and Humanities. Each chapter explores the nature,
development and possible further trajectory of a disciplinary 'law and' field.
Each chapter comprising "Law and Humanities" is written by an expert in the respective field and addresses how the two
disciplines of law and the other respective field operate.
This edited work, therefore, fulfils a real and pressing need to provide an accessible, introductory but critical guide to law
and humanities as a whole by exploring how each disciplinary 'law and' field has developed, contributes to further
scrutinizing the content and role of law, and how it can contribute and be enriched by being understood within the law and
humanities tradition as a whole.
Critique: A seminal and ground-breaking compendium of fifteen original articles by experts in their respective fields, "Law
and Humanities" is especially and specifically recommended for college/university library collections and supplemental
Judicial Studies curriculum lists. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $63.67), should be noted for the personal
reading lists of students and academicians that "Law and Humanities" also includes a listing of the contributors and their
credentials.
Editorial Note #1: Daniel Newman is Reader in Law at Cardiff University. His research focuses on access to justice.
(https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/newmandc)
Editorial Note #2: Russell Sandberg is Professor of Law at Cardiff University. His research interrogates the interaction
between law and humanities, with particular reference to law and religion and legal history.
(www.researchgate.net/profile/Russell-Sandberg)
The Mathematics Shelf
Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know
Bianca Szasz
Vibrant Publishers
https://www.vibrantpublishers.com
9781636511207, $64.99, HC, 218pp
https://www.amazon.com/Analytics-Essentials-Always-Self-Learning-Management/dp/1636511201
Synopsis: Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering
useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and
approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social
science domains. In today's world of business and government, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific
and helping businesses operate more effectively. (Wikipedia)
Data analytics is becoming increasingly important in today's data-driven society, and so has the demand for data analysts.
With the publication of "Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted to Know", Bianca Szasz has created a
comprehensive yet succinct manual that is an ideal introduction for readers wanting to understand the fundamentals of data
analytics. It provides a concise introduction to data analytics and its current applicability.
"Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know" includes: A fundamental comprehension of data analytics,
including its types; An understanding of data analytics processes, software tools, and a range of analytics methodologies; A
comprehension of what daily tasks and procedures the data analysts follow; An investigation into the vast field of big data
analytics, covering its possibilities and challenges; An understanding of the existing legal frameworks, as well as ethical and
privacy issues in data analytics; Application-based learning using a variety of real-world case studies.
"Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know" goes beyond being just a theoretical manual as it contains
real-world case studies and fun facts to help its readers to enhance their knowledge. Of special note are the chapter
summaries and self-assessment tests along with every chapter will help readers to test themselves as they move from one
concept to the next.
"Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know " is also a great tool for professionals switching to a career in data
analytics and for students who want to learn the basics of data analytics. Simply stated, "Data Analytics Essentials You
Always Wanted To Know" will give the reader a strong foundation by explaining everything in an easy-to-understand
language.
Critique: Deftly organized into eight chapters (Introduction to Data Analysis; Data Collections and Management; Types of
Data Analysis; Techniques and Tools for Data Analysis; What Does a Data Analyst Do?; Big Data Analytics; Ethics and
Privacy in Data Analytics; Real-World Case Studies on Data Analytics), and informatively enhanced for the readers benefit
with the inclusion of a three page Glossary and an eleven page Bibliography, "Data Analytics Essentials You Always
Wanted To Know" is a comprehensive DIY course of instruction in science of Data Analysis. Exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, this edition of Dr. Bianca Szasz's "Data Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know" from
Vibrant Publisher is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate,
governmental, and college/university library Business Management/Leadership collections and supplemental Information
Management curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, corporate executives, governmental policy
makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Data Analytics Essentials You Always
Wanted To Know" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781636511184, $43.99) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Bianca Szasz (https://biancaszasz.com) is a Ph.D. holder in Space Engineering. Having more than 14
years of experience in engineering and a dedicated focus of 4 years in data analytics, she has used data analytics in a variety
of innovative projects, like post-processing of the wind tunnel test results and the analysis of high enthalpy heating test
results. Her enthusiasm for data analytics eventually expanded beyond using it for work. Now she is passionate about
educating the future generation of data analysts.
Editorial Note #2: Vibrant Publishers is focused on presenting the best texts for learning about technology and business as
well as books for test preparation. Categories include programming, operating systems and other texts focused on IT. In
addition, a series of books helps professionals in their own disciplines learn the business skills needed in their professional
growth. Vibrant Publishers has a standardized test preparation series covering the GMAT, GRE and SAT, providing ample study
and practice material in a simple and well organized format, helping students get closer to their dream universities.
The Economics Shelf
Behind the Startup
Benjamin Shestakofsky
University of California Press
www.ucpress.edu
9780520395022, $85.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Startup-Venture-Innovation-Inequality/dp/0520395026
Synopsis: In recent years, dreams about our technological future have soured as digital platforms have undermined privacy,
eroded labor rights, and weakened democratic discourse. In light of the negative consequences of innovation, some blame
harmful algorithms or greedy CEOs. "Behind the Startup: How Venture Capital Shapes Work, Innovation, and Inequality"
by Professor Benjamin Shestakofsky focuses instead on the role of capital and the influence of financiers.
Drawing on nineteen months of participant-observation research inside a successful Silicon Valley startup, "Behind the
Startup" examines how the company was organized to meet the needs of the venture capital investors who funded it.
Investors push startups to scale as quickly as possible to inflate the value of their asset. Professor Shestakofsky shows how
these demands create organizational problems that managers solve by combining high-tech systems with low-wage human
labor.
With its focus on the financialization of innovation, "Behind the Startup" fully explains how the gains generated by these
companies are funneled into the pockets of a small cadre of elite investors and entrepreneurs. To promote innovation that
benefits the many rather than the few, Professor Shestakofsky compellingly argues that we must focus less on fixing the
technology and more on changing the financial infrastructure that supports it.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a four page listing of Acknowledgments, an
eighteen page Methodological Appendix, twenty-six pages ofNotes, and a six page Index, "Behind the Startup: How
Venture Capital Shapes Work, Innovation, and Inequality" is vital and timely reading for professional and non-professional
readers with an interest in economics, venture capitalism, income inequality, and corporate evaluations. While also available
for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9780520395039, $29.95), and in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.49),
"Behind the Startup" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and college/university library
Contemporary Economics collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Benjamin Shestakofsky (www.benjaminshestakofsky.com) is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the
University of Pennsylvania, where he is affiliated with AI at Wharton and the Center on Digital Culture and Society.
The Library Science Shelf
Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library
Kelsy Kayes, author
Ellie Dworak, author
ACRL Books Association of College & Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
https://www.ala.org
9798892555531, $82.00, PB, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Supporting-Student-Parents-Academic-Library/dp/B0CVNBT5RS
Synopsis: Student parents are a socioeconomically, racially, and financially diverse group. What they have in common is the
drive to work hard to overcome steep barriers in obtaining a college education.
Co-authored by Kelsy Kayes, and Ellie Dworak, "Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library: Designing Spaces,
Policies, and Services" is part toolkit, part treatise, and part call to action presented in four parts: The Higher Education
Landscape; The Role of Academic Libraries; Looking Outward to Community, For-Profit, and International Organizations;
Evaluating Needs and Measuring Success.
"Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library" includes templates, sample policy language, budgets, survey
instruments, and other immediately useful tools and examples. There are field notes from academic librarians from
institutions of varying sizes and resources demonstrating different ways of supporting these students, and the voices of
students themselves.
Student parents can feel unwelcome and invisible in their institutions. And for every student parent who is struggling to
complete an education despite these hurdles, there are many others who have not been able to find a way. "Supporting
Student Parents" is an effective guide to engaging with and aiding the student parents in your libraries and leading the
charge in making your institutions more family friendly.
Critique: Informed and informative, "Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library:: Designing Spaces, Policies, and
Services" is exceptionally well organized, impressively comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation
making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and college/university library General Library
& Information Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Kelsey Keyes is an Emerita Professor at Boise State University, where she worked as a research and
instruction librarian from 2012 - 2023. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science and a Masters of English
Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served on Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0 -
18, including terms as co-chair, from 2017 - 2020. Her research is focused on supporting parenting students in higher
education. She provides writing and editing support for academics, business, fiction and non-fiction writers
(www.kelseykeyes.com).
Editorial Note #2: Ellie Dworak is an Associate Professor and the Research Data Librarian at Boise State University. She
earned her Masters in Library and Information Services from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on higher
education policy, human computer interaction, and the social impacts of living in a datafied society.
The Art Shelf
Dick Termes: Black Hills Artist and Visionary
Craig Volk
South Dakota Historical Society Press
https://www.sdhspress.com
9781941813492, $27.95, HC, 80pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dick-Termes-Black-Artist-Visionary/dp/1941813496
Synopsis: A life-long South Dakotan, artist-educator, Dick Termes has revolutionized the art world with his signature art
form, the innovative Termesphere. Over the past half century, Termes has created over 400 unique Termespheres, each one
a fascinating interplay of vanishing points and multiple perspectives.
Born in 1941, Termes lives on the ranch built by his grandparents in the lower valley south of Spearfish, South Dakota. He
graduated from nearby Black Hills State University in 1964. After teaching art for several years, he earned a master's degree
in art from the University of Wyoming, where he first struck upon his concept of the six point perspective. In 1969, he
began studies for the Master of Fine Arts degree at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, where he further developed the
concept. The California art scene soon took notice.
In an unusual move for artists feted by the West Coast art world, Termes returned home to South Dakota and the northern
Black Hills. He continued working as an artist-educator through artists in schools programs and met fellow artist Markie
Scholz. They married in 1979, raised two sons, and built a geodesic dome on the family ranch, which has since evolved into
a compound of geodesic domes, including one that has housed the Termesphere Gallery since 1992. With the publication of
"Dick Termes: Black Hills Artist and Visionary", author Craig Volk offers the first intellectual biography of Dick Termes
and his art, focusing on the development of his Termespheres.
Of special note is an informative introduction by art critic Bill Fleming places Termes in the canon of Western art and
exquisite photos by Bonny Fleming capture the unique spherical surfaces that convey Termes's artistic angle on "the gentle
world we live in."
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, Carig Volk's "Dick Termes: Black Hills Artist and Visionary"
from the South Dakota Historical Society Press is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library American Art History & Contemporary Artists collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Craig Volk (www.sdhspress.com/about/press-staff/craig-volk) is a poet, playwright, screenwriter,
biographer, and memoirist. His stage dramas have been selected three times for the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights
Conference and his play "Mayakovsky Takes the Stage" won the 2007 PEN-USA award for best drama. He spent twelve
years working in the television/film industry, including a staff position on the Emmy-winning series "Northern Exposure."
His historical bio-drama based on the writings of his grandmother and mother, titled A Dustbowl Book of Days, 1932 was
published by South Dakota Historical Society Press in 2021.
Lee Krasner
Eleanor Nairne
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500094082, $50.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lee-krasner-eleanor-nairne/1129598889
Synopsis: In 1984, Lee Krasner (October 27, 1908 - June 19, 1984) became one of the few women artists to have been given
a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. She quipped about her belated recognition: "I was a woman,
Jewish, a widow, a damn good painter, thank you, and a little too independent." One of the original pioneers of abstract
expressionism, Krasner has for too long been eclipsed by her husband, Jackson Pollock. In fact, his death in 1956 marked
her renaissance as an artist.
Coinciding with a major exhibition at Barbican Art Gallery, "Lee Krasner" features an outstanding selection of her most
important paintings, collages, and works on paper, contextualized by photography from the postwar period, an illustrated
chronology, and an unpublished interview with her biographer Gail Levin.
This richly illustrated monograph is a comprehensive survey of the work of one of the twentieth century's most dynamic
artists.
Critique: Rescuing from an undeserved obscurity, "Lee Krasner" by art historian and curator Eleanor Nairne, and published
in a large format (9 x 1 x 11.4 inches, 2.79 pounds) hardcover edition from Thames & Hudson, will be of special and
enduring value to art students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in 20th Century Art History &
Women Artists. Deftly combining biography with an insightful art appreciation critique, "Lee Krasner" is an informative
and essential addition to personal, professional, community, art school, and college/university library collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "Lee Krasner" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9780500297582, $35.00).
Editorial Note: Eleanor Nairne is an art historian and curator at Barbican Art Gallery, London, where her previous
exhibitions include "Basquiat: Boom for Real." She has contributed to publications including the Basquiat monograph
Kings, Heroes and the Street: The Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat and is a contributor to Frieze. She is a former Jerwood writer
in residence.
(https://press.philamuseum.org/the-philadelphia-museum-of-art-announces-new-curatorial-leadership-contemporary)
Dreamy Anime Hair
Mei Yan
Epic Ink
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760385531, $24.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dreamy-Anime-Hair-Beloved-Characters/dp/076038553X
Synopsis: With the publication of "Dreamy Anime Hair", author/illustrator Mei Yan has created an easy-to-follow guide for
everyone, from the most dedicated cosplayer to your everyday anime fan.
"Dreamy Anime Hair" includes a list of tools and basic techniques that will help you build your perfect look, and each
tutorial includes simple, illustration-driven instructions, a gorgeous photo of the final style, and information about the
characters, movies, and series that inspired it. This DIY guide to fun and unique hairstyles will inspire you to try something
new with your look!
Some of the imaginative hairstyles featured include: Double buns (inspired by Himiko Toga from My Hero Academia);
Long braid (inspired by Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle); Updo with clips (inspired by Lacus Clyne from Gundam Seed
Destiny); Pigtail loops (inspired by Nurse Joy from Pokemon); and Front and back braids (inspired by Mei Mei from Jujutsu
Kaisen).
With "Dreamy Anime Hair" you can be creative and find what works best for you -- or try them all out! Either way, you will
be able to become your most adorable self with these gorgeous hairstyles. With everything from braids to curls, "Dreamy
Anime Hair" is your one-stop shop for anime-inspired hair.
Critique: This large format ( 8 x 0.4 x 10 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edition of Mei Yan's "Dreamy Anime Hair" from
Epic Ink is an ideal introduction and 'how to' guide for professional and non-profession illustrators and artists work in an
anime format. Also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) and showcasing more that 30 different hair
styles, "Dreamy Anime Hair" must be considered an essential, unique, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Manga Art Instruction collections.
Editorial Note: Mei Yan (www.youtube.com/c/MeiYan)" is a Chinese American and the visionary founder behind the
esteemed jewelry brand, Meide Jewelry. With a strong and dedicated fan base on YouTube under the handle @meiyan and
on Instagram as @princessmei, Mei Yan has garnered recognition for her expertise in intricate hair transformations,
stunning recreations of anime-inspired hairstyles, and captivating makeup tutorials that have captivated audiences
globally.
Squeegee Art Revolution
Clara Cristina de Souza Rego
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760388136, $22.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Squeegee-Art-Revolution-amazing-abstract/dp/076038813X
Synopsis: Clara Cristina de Souza Rego first went viral for a squeegee painting video that she posted on social media. Her
hundreds of thousands of followers frequently ask for her for tips and techniques. With the publication of "Squeegee Art
Revolution: Scrape your way to amazing abstract art" from Walter Foster Publishing, Clara now offers them in abundance
so aspiring and practicing artists can learn to make abstract art in her signature style.
Complete instructions for making 22 finished pieces are included in the pages of "Squeegee Art Revolution", as well as tips
throughout, suggestions for creating a balanced artwork, ideas for what to do with leftover paint to reduce waste and cost,
how to know when you're done painting, and much more. Each individual project can be done in minutes using affordable,
accessible materials and makes perfect gifts and home decor.
Clara's pieces are beautifully photographed and styled in this highly visual book that includes the following painting
projects: Dynamic shapes; Pop art; A sunrise over a mountain; Rays of color; Miniatures; A black hole; Words of
encouragement -- and much more!
Clara has learned from her own mistakes when starting to paint with a squeegee and has perfected the technique so that you
don't need to make the same mistakes she did. With "Squeegee Art Revolution" she features easy-to-follow instruction,
beautiful photographs, and vibrant artwork from a pioneer in the fun, abstract squeegee-painting technique.
Critique: This richly illustrated, large format (8.5 x 0.32 x 11 inches, 1.2 pounds) paperback edition of "Squeegee Art
Revolution: Scrape your way to amazing abstract art" is an ideal DIY instructional guide and 'how to' manual. While also
available for personal use in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), "Squeegee Art Revolution" is unique, 'user friendly' and
unreservedly recommended for amateur, professional, community, art school, and college/university library Acrylic Painting
and Mixed Media Craft instructional reference collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Clara Cristina de Souza Rego (@aclaracris) is a Brazilian designer and an artist now living in Stuttgart,
Germany. A lifelong artist from a craft-loving family, Clara got back into painting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her
goal is simple: to have fun making art! She enjoys experimenting with art and sees creating as a meditative process. Clara
built her following through Instagram after her first viral video received 5 million views, and now her larger following is on
TikTok, where she frequently posts videos of herself creating her signature vibrant and joyful abstract art. She uses acrylic
paints, squeegees, markers, pencil, palette knives, and other materials to work on top of paper.
The Interior Design Shelf
Timeless Modern Interiors
Pilar Vilades, author
Rizzoli
www.rizzoliusa.com
9780847899500, $75.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Timeless-Modern-Interiors-Roberts-Partners/dp/0847899500
Synopsis: Well-known for his subtle use of color, texture, and fabric, interior designer Rees-Roberts's creations capture the
essence of modern living.
Descended from generations of painters, his love for art is an important source for his inspiration and indelibly marks the
work. Functionally elegant designs are characterized by a deference to art as well as to light and the views provided by
natural surroundings. Each individually and uniquely designed home reflects the owner's character as well as the needs of
everyday life, incorporating custom furniture and unusual antiques.
"Timeless Modern Interiors: RRP / Rees Roberts + Partners" (bound in sumptuous cloth and wrapped in a jacket with
French folds), reflects the firm's ever-present attention to detail.
With respect for the architectural style of the house or apartment within which the firm is at work, be it contemporary or
historic, the interiors created are a consistently sophisticated blend of twentieth-century modernist, contemporary, and
antique pieces, and elegant custom-designed upholstered furniture, along with cherished art. And no matter how glamorous
the setting, these rooms, through their balance of color, texture, and furnishings, are consistently comfortable and
welcoming.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with an Introduction by Lucien Rees-Roberts (a partner of Rees
Roberts + Partners), this large format (12.23 x 1.2 x 9.82 inches, 4.59 pounds) hardcover coffee-table style edition of Pilar
Viladas' "Timeless Modern Interiors: RRP / Rees Roberts + Partners" from Rizzoli is a fascinating, elegant and magnificent
compendium of full page, full color photos of memorably artistic rooms as well as the luxuriously refined elements and
details that make them truly impressive and award-winning. Perfect for browsing through in search of interior design ideas
and concepts, "Timeless Modern Interiors" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Interior Design & Residential Architecture collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Pilar Viladas is a design editor, writer, former design editor for T: The New York Times Style Magazine,
contributing editor at Architectural Digest, and architecture editor at HG. (https://www.nytimes.com/by/pilar-viladas)
Editorial Note #2: Lucien Rees-Roberts (https://rrp.nyc/people) is partner of Rees Roberts + Partners. He is a 2008 inductee
of the Interior Design hall of fame.
The Business Shelf
The Digital-First Customer Experience
Joe Wheeler
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398612631, $110.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Digital-First-Customer-Experience-Strategies-Leading/dp/1398612669
Synopsis: "The Digital-First Customer Experience" is author and consultant Joe Wheeler's third book on the topic of
customer experience. In it he tackles the challenges many organizations are facing as they attempt to design compelling
experiences in a digital-first world. Wheeler features case studies of leading brands including Lemonade, Spotify, CEMEX,
VMware, Starbucks, NIKE and Amazon.
Part One introduces the new "3 Cs", key trends associated with technology convergence, competition and culture change in
a post-pandemic world.
Part Two takes a deep dive into seven design strategies, from designing emotional peaks across channels to empowering
customers through immersive experiences that merge physical and digital assets.
Part Three provides a playbook for how to design digital-first experiences, including how to solve the right problems,
develop a measurable business case, design digital-first experiences customers love and execute the new design at
scale.
Critique: Of special and particular value to readers with an interest in industrial, global, and direct marketing in the current
and ever evolving digital driven business world, "The Digital-First Customer Experience: Seven Design Strategies from the
World's Leading Brands" is essential reading and a core addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, and
college/university library Digital Marketing collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted
for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "The Digital-First Customer Experience" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9781398612631, $23.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.79).
Editorial Note: Joe Wheeler earned his MBA from Edinburgh Business School and is an author, speaker and consultant. He
is also the CEO of CX/Digital, a subsidiary of The Service Profit Chain Institute (SPCI), a Boston-based consulting firm he
co-founded with Professors Len Schlesinger, James Heskett and W. Earl Sasser of the Harvard Business School.
Furthermore he is the co-author of two previous books on the topic of employee and customer experience: The Ownership
Quotient (2008) and Managing the Customer Experience (2002)..
Cyber Risk Management
Christopher J. Hodson
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613515, $201.00, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Risk-Management-Prioritize-Vulnerabilities/dp/1398613517
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Cyber Risk Management: Prioritize Threats, Identify
Vulnerabilities and Apply" by Christopher J. Hodson covers the latest developments in cyber security for those responsible
for managing threat events, vulnerabilities and controls. These include the impact of Web3 and the metaverse on cyber
security, supply-chain security in the gig economy and exploration of the global, macroeconomic conditions that affect
strategies. Also explained is how COVID-19 and remote working changed the cybersecurity landscape.
"Cyber Risk Management" presents a data-centric approach to cyber risk management based on business impact
assessments, data classification, data flow modelling and assessing return on investment. It covers pressing developments in
artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and cloud mobility, and includes advice on dealing with malware, data
leakage, insider threat and Denial-of-Service.
With its analysis on the innate human factors affecting cyber risk and awareness and the importance of communicating
security effectively, this new edition of "Cyber Risk Management" is essential reading for all risk and cybersecurity
professionals.
Critique: Essential reading for corporate executives charged with responsibilities for risk and information management,
computer security, and data encryption, Cyber Risk Management: Prioritize Threats, Identify Vulnerabilities and Apply: 2nd
Edition" is comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader/user friendly' in organization and presentation. A complete course of
information and instruction, "Cyber Risk Management" is especially and unreservedly recommended for professional,
corporate, and college/university library Business Data Protection and Cyber Security collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this newly revised edition of "Cyber Risk
Management" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398613492, $53.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$45.19).
Editorial Note: Christopher J Hodson is Chief Security Officer for Cyberhaven where he oversees all facets of security to
protect Cyberhaven customers and employees, including cloud and application security, security operations, and risk
management. In addition, Chris serves as a board advisor at the workforce development platform, Cybrary, and is a fellow
of the Chartered Institute of Information Security. He has previously held CISO positions with Contentful, Zscaler, and
Tanium. He is a guest lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London where he also holds a master's degree in computer
and information systems security.
People-centric Organizational Change
Julie Hodges
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398612570, $173.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/People-Centric-Organizational-Change-Employees-Transformation/dp/139861257X
Synopsis: Written by Julie Hodges, a leading voice in the change management industry who has both academic and
practitioner experience, "People-Centric Organizational Change: Engaging Employees with Business Transformation" from
Kogan Page is a practical guide for change professionals and postgraduate students.
"People-Centric Organizational Change" covers everything from what people-centric change is and why it's essential to
engage people with the change through to the importance of the communication of change and how to do this effectively
with a distributed workforce in a hybrid working environment. Using evidence-based research, "People-Centric
Organizational Change" fully explores the human dynamic of change, explains how to promote collaboration between
colleagues and shows how to involve line managers in the change process. There is also advice on how to encourage staff to
see change as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Of special note is that "People-Centric Organizational Change" also includes a enlightening discussion of the impact of
change on employee wellbeing as well as the relationship between Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and change.
There is also advice on how to build people-centric initiatives into an overall change strategy. It is full of country agnostic
tools and tips that can be used across cultures as well as frameworks and skills that can be applied in public, private and
third sector settings.
Global case studies and examples throughout "People-Centric Organizational Change" effectively help to put the content
into context and show how a people-first approach to change works in practice. Online resources include PowerPoint slides
for each chapter.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's benefit with a three page Glossary, a one page bibliography of Further Readings, and an
eight page Index, "People-centric Organizational Change: Engaging Employees with Business Transformation" is an
invaluable and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university
library Business Management/Leadership collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Professor Julie Hodges is a leading international expert on change in organizations, particularly the role and
impact of people during transformations. Before entering the academic world Julie worked as a business consultant for over
20 years in several profit and non-profit organizations, including PwC. At PwC Julie was responsible for organizational
change and management development in a number of FTSE 100 companies. She is the author of several books including
'Consultancy, Organizational Development and Change', and ' Managing and Leading People through Change' (Kogan
Page). Julie is an Academic Fellow of the ICMCI (International Council of Management Consulting Institutes), a Principal
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a Senior Fellow of the Foundation for Management Education (FME). She is
also a member of the editorial board of the 'Management Consulting' journal.
Take the Lead
Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, author
Anne-Valerie Corboz, author
Delphine Mourot-Haxaire, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398614147, $75.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Lead-Leaders-Driving-Innovation/dp/1398614149
Synopsis: Only 26% of leadership positions in business are occupied by women. Co-authored by the team of Shaheena
Janjuha-Jivraj, Anne-Valerie Corboz, and Delphine Mourot-Haxaire, "Take the Lead: How Women Leaders are Driving
Success through Innovation" explores how we can close this prevailing gender gap before offering practical strategies on
how you can Take the Lead as a business leader.
Combining academic rigour with corporate expertise, "Take the Lead" features first-hand research and interviews with
female leaders within global organizations to offer the strategies and insights that will propel you to success.
From managing conflict and building confidence to growing your network and shaping your career, "Take the Lead" offers
the strategies and inspiration you need as a woman to boost your leadership skills and establish yourself as a successful and
influential changemaker in a male dominated business environment.
Critique: Well written, informative, timely, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Take the
Lead: How Women Leaders are Driving Success through Innovation" is deserving of as wide a readership as possible and a
critically important pick for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library collections. It
should be noted for female MBA students, corporate executives, business managers, and non-specialist general readers with
an interest in the subject that "Take the Lead: How Women Leaders are Driving Success through Innovation" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781398614123, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Survive, Reset, Thrive
Rebecca Homkes
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398607880, $89.00, HC, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Survive-Reset-Thrive-Implementing-High-Growth/dp/1398607886
Synopsis: In life and in business, strategy is about making choices around where to play and where not to play, how to win,
how to allocate resources among competing priorities and, critically, what to do. All these choices must be made when you
never know everything you would like to know.
"Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times" by Rebecca Homkes is about facing
uncertainty head-on and then playing each round to not just survive, but thrive. Doing so only comes from the power move
of executing a reset: the differentiated step where you embrace change, new insights and new opportunities to set your
organization up for sustainable performance.
"Survive, Reset, Thrive" is a kind of playbook for corporate leaders and derives from Homkes first-hand experience working
with and advising executive teams across industries from software, technology, retail, fashion and construction through to
manufacturing. Drawing from over a decade of rich real-world experience, Homkes illustrates how to navigate the most
complex strategic situations with a simple, executable approach.
Also covered in the pages of "Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times" is how to
proactively stabilize your business to withstand and grow through market shocks, reset your strategy to take account of new
realities and thrive through uncertainty.
Critique: Highly recommended and invaluable reading for anyone charged with achieving corporate success in an every
volatile business environment subject to the impacts of politics, advancing technologies, social/cultural unrest, and global
factors ranging from climate change to supply chain interdictions, "Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth
Strategy in Volatile Times", while unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and college/university library
Business Management/Leadership collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that it is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.79) and in a paperback edition (9781398607866, $23.99).
Editorial Note: Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at
the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, and a former fellow at the London School of
Economics Centre for Economic Performance. A global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the
global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several
fintech accelerators, and serves on the boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London
School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar.
The Leadership Skills Handbook
Jo Owen
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398615977, $74.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Skills-Handbook-Essential-Leader/dp/1398615978
Synopsis: Now in a newly revised and updated sixth edition, "The Leadership Skills Handbook: 100 Essential Skills You
Need to Be A Leader" by Jo Owen gives you the 100 essential tools you will need in order to be an outstanding leader.
Taking you beyond just theory, Owen shows you what works in real life, in a concise, easy-to-follow format. Based on
research from over a thousand leaders around the world, from the public, private and voluntary sectors, Owen identifies the
key practical skills that will make you even more successful.
Thoroughly updated to take into account the permanent move to remote and hybrid working and the challenges raised for
leadership by artificial intelligence (AI), "The Leadership Skills Handbook" shows you how you can learn to disagree well,
the best ways to get things done, develop your human and political skills in an increasingly AI world and explains how
leaders can add value to any organization.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, there is no better way to learn how to become the leader that
people want to follow than with this new sixth edition of Jo Owens' "The Leadership Skills Handbook" from Kogan Page.
While especially recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and college/university library Business
Management/Leadership collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted by MBA students,
academia, business/corporate managing executives, and non-specialists general readers with an interest in the subject that
"The Leadership Skills Handbook: 100 Essential Skills You Need to Be A Leader" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781398615793, $19.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Jo Owen (www.a-speakers.com/speakers/jo-owen) is a multi-award winning leadership author, keynote
speaker and social entrepreneur. He is a founder of eight charities, including the UK's largest graduate recruiter Teach First.
His books The Mindset of Success, The Leadership Skills Handbook and Management Stripped Bare, all published by
Kogan Page, have been translated into eight different languages, and offer expert advice on the leadership field.
Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour
Chia-Yu Kou-Barrett
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613355, $173.00, HC, 376pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Organizational-Behaviour-Applications-Performance/dp/1398613355
Synopsis: With the publication of "Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour: Principles and Applications for Improving
Workplace Performance", Professor Chia-You Kou-Barrett presents a hands-on and streamlined textbook exploring the
workplace -- an area that can at times seem challenging and abstract.
Professor Kou-Barrett covers key areas including individual differences at work, motivation, leadership styles and conflict
and negotiation, without assuming students' prior knowledge or working experience. She also explores cutting edge topics
such as the implications of technology and remote working on workplace behaviour.
"Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour: Principles and Applications for Improving Workplace Performance" is new
textbook that examines in descriptive details power, status and political behaviors, organizational change and culture and
organizational structure and design. It also includes real-world examples throughout and is supported by a range of features
including learning outcomes, key concepts and terminology boxes and reflective exercises to aid professional
development.
Critique: An essential and exceptional resource for masters level and upper-level undergraduate students on HRM and
Management degrees, taking modules on Organizational Behaviour, "Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour: Principles
and Applications for Improving Workplace Performance" is recommended as an critically important addition to personal,
professional, corporate, and community library Business/Corporate Management collections and supplemental MBA
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers,
entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that 'Fundamentals of Organizational
Behaviour: Principles and Applications for Improving Workplace Performance" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781398613331, $47.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $47.99).
Editorial Note: Chia-Yu Kou-Barrett is Lecturer in Organizational Behaviour and Applied Psychology at Cranfield School
of Management. Prior to this, she was an Assistant Professor in Organizational Behaviour at Smurfit Business School,
University College Dublin. She has published her work in top-ranked peer-review journals, presented at a number of
international conferences. (www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/people/dr-chiayu-koubarrett-26054945)
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Reinvent Yourself
Susan Kahn
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398613317, $68.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reinvent-Yourself-Psychological-Insights-Transform/dp/1398613312
Synopsis: The underlying message of "Reinvent Yourself: Psychological Insights That Will Transform Your Work Life" by
Susan Kahn is that you deserve a career that allows you to fully harness your skills and lead a rewarding and satisfying life.
In the pages of "Reinvent Yourself", Kahn offers original psychological insights and strategies that will show you how to
focus your efforts, build your network and navigate any challenge in your work life.
Drawing upon both psychological research and first-hand stories from a diverse range of businesspeople and experts,
"Reinvent Yourself" is a call-to-action for you to overcome any doubts and tap into your full potential. Break free from the
grind and pursue a career that works for you through the illuminating insights, strategies and stories that comprise "Reinvent
Yourself".
Critique: Timely, practical, insightful, inspiring, "Reinvent Yourself: Psychological Insights That Will Transform Your
Work Life" is a potentially life-changing, life-enhancing, DIY self-help 'how-to' manual for succeeding in developing a
fulfilling job or career. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Reinvent
Yourself" will prove an enduringly popular and appreciated pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Jobs/Careers collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Reinvent Yourself" is
also readily available in a paperback edition (9781398613294, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.39).
Editorial Note: Dr Susan Kahn is a coach, consultant, and mediator. As a coach, she works together with individuals and
their organisations to help clients develop and enhance their authentic leadership style. As a mediator, she is skilled in
improving working relationships and developing common understanding between parties in toxic relationships. In addition,
she is a lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, teaching coaching and organisational psychology, and is a faculty
member at the School of Life, working with businesses to develop their emotional intelligence.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Sweet Home Macrame
Casey Alberti
Walter Foster Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
www.quartoknows.com
9780760386156, $22.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Home-Macrame-Beginners-hangings/dp/0760386153
Synopsis: Macrame is a form of textile material produced using knotting (rather than weaving or knitting) techniques.
Whether you are a beginner to soft crafts, looking to try something new, hoping to improve upon your existing macrame
techniques, a DIYer, or just in search of a beautiful coffee table book, "Sweet Home Macrame: A Beginner's Guide to
Macrame" by Casey Alberti offers the step-by-step instruction and inspiration you will need to succeed -- as well as
gorgeous eye candy for the dedicated needlecrafter (without the needles)!
"Sweet Home Macrame" covers: The supplies you'll need for macrame, including cord and rope; How to make the most
common knots, such as lark's head, square, and gathering; Selecting a color palette; Personalizing your macrame pieces --
and so much more.
The 12 step-by-step projects show you how to make gorgeous items such as: Plant hangers; Coasters; Wall hangings; A fruit
basket; A disco ball hanger; Earrings -- and more. All are done in eye-catching color schemes, such as rainbow, rose gold,
black and gold, and crystal, but each item can be personalized to your own favorite colors using Alberti's expert advice.
In addition to the projects and techniques, "Sweet Home Macrame" provides helpful tips for forming an artist's community
and starting your own business. Also of note are the online videos from the author, available on her social media, to boost
your understanding.
Critique: This large format (8.5 x 0.32 x 11 inches, 1.25 pounds) paperback edition of Casey Alberti's "Sweet Home
Macrame: A Beginner's Guide to Macrame: Learn to make jewelry, home decor, plant hangings, and more" from Walter
Foster Publishing is an ideal introduction to the art and craft of macrame and highly recommended for personal,
professional, and community library Needlecraft & Macrame collections. It should be noted that "Sweet Home Macrame" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Casey Alberti (www.sweethomealberti.com) is the founder of Sweet Home Alberti, a business selling
macrame items and lessons, based in the Pacific Northwest. She first learned to create macrame in 2019, and soon found
that she couldn't stop knotting and had more plant hangers than plants. Previously a stay-at-home mother of four, Casey
started an Etsy shop, and soon, it was thriving. Casey's work has been featured online, including on Etsy. She enjoys the
community of artists she's formed and with whom she shares her work and advice for starting a small business. Casey can be
followed online at @sweethomealberti
The New Sashiko: A Fresh Approach to Japanese Embroidery
sashikonami
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317914, $17.99, HC, 80pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Sashiko-Approach-Japanese-Embroidery/dp/4805317914
Synopsis: Sashiko is a type of traditional Japanese embroidery or stitching used for the decorative and/or functional
reinforcement of cloth and clothing. Owing to the relatively cheap nature of white cotton thread and the abundant nature of
cheap, indigo-dyed blue cloth in historical Japan, sashiko has a distinctive appearance of white-on-blue embroidery, though
some decorative pieces may also use red thread. (Wikipedia)
With the publication of "The New Sashiko: A Fresh Approach to Japanese Embroidery", prolific embroiderer, quilter and
author sashikonami combines her love of sashiko with her fondness for piecework to create a whole new style of sashiko
stitches and applications. Some of these patchworks give you a chance to play with patterns, colors and textures to create
strikingly original bags, pouches, tableware and accessories.
The 11 sashiko stitches (three of them original) and 23 projects presented and feature: Rows of uneven running stitches to
create jagged stripe and check patterns that look fantastic on any item!; Fun asymmetrical patterns created with white
threads on pastel fabrics to create brightly-colored textured table settings!; Traditional stitches applied to vividly-colored
fabrics (often with two different thread colors) for a radical new look!; Contrasting stitches on patches to create charming
tote bags, potholders and more!
Running stitches are free and relaxed. Straight stitches form easy geometric shapes -- like a triangle with a stem to make a
fun, minimalist flower. Elements from traditional patterns are recombined in fresh and exciting ways. Try them on your
jeans, your floor pillows or in a full-sized quilt, and enjoy adding your own personality to these projects. There is no end to
the great ideas that you will find in the pages of "The New Sashiko: A Fresh Approach to Japanese Embroidery".
Critique: Available in a large format (8.5 x 0.5 x 11.1 inches, 1.5 pounds) hardcover edition from Tuttle Publication, and
featuring a profusion of clearly illustrated step-by-step instructions for each project, "The New Sashiko: A Fresh Approach
to Japanese Embroidery" is a unique, unusual, and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, and
community library needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "The New Sashiko: A Fresh
Approach to Japanese Embroidery" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49).
Editorial Note: Tokyo author sashikonami (https://sashikonami.shopinfo.jp) has long been a fan of combining sashiko and
patchwork. She has written and co-written numerous books and articles on sashiko in her native Japan. With "freedom and
fun" as her motto, she shares her creative process and tips on her website, on YouTube and on other video sharing platforms
including Instagram: @sashikonami
Search Press Ltd.
https://www.searchpress.com
Search Press is a premier publisher of art and craft books. As a publisher, they specialize in producing stunning, practical
books on knitting, crocheting, sewing, needlecraft -- including cross stitch and embroidery, textiles, practical art and general
crafts, such as pottery and woodwork, for people of all skill levels. With a team of around 40 people, Search Press publishes
up to 100 of its own titles every year, as well as distributing books for other publishers. One of their popular Needlecraft
series is "All New 20 To Make" which consists of:
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Flowers-Knit/dp/1800920873
"Flowers to Knit" by Schiyo Ishii (9781800920873, $11.95, HC, 64pp) This collection of beautiful blooms will give you
something colorful all year round. Why not knit a bunch of flowers for every season, starting with a bouquet of poinsettia
for Christmas? There are 20 projects to choose from including: an intricate peony; a colorful freesia; a delicate viola; the
iconic English rose; and the distinctive Scotch thistle. The mix of shapes and yarns brings a bright splash of colour and the
use of different textures and techniques to create both flat and 3D flowers is very appealing. Make wonderfully tactile gifts
featuring a whole range of flora, or just pick and choose your favorites.
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Festive-Decorations/dp/1800920989
"Festive Felt Decorations" by Corinne Lapierre (9781800920989, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Sew 20 stunning felt decorations -
perfect for adding some sparkle to your home or for giving as gorgeous handmade gifts. Corinne Lapierre brings you 20
fantastic new festive designs! Create decorations to hang on your tree or ornaments to decorate your table and mantelpiece,
including stars, trees, birds and animals. Create gorgeous family heirlooms that you will look forward to seeing year after
year. All the projects are simple to make, and all the necessary templates are given at actual size.
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Felt-Flowers/dp/1800922043
"Felt Flowers" by Jo Lochhead (9781800922044, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Craft 20 of your favorite flowers using soft and
versatile felt, and adorn your space with everlasting floral beauty that will bloom all year round. Whether you're a seasoned
crafter or a beginner looking to explore a new medium, this comprehensive guide has everything you need to get started.
From tools and materials to simple techniques, each step is expertly explained, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable crafting
experience. Plus, with full-size transfers included for each project, tracing the shapes onto your felt becomes a breeze,
allowing you to focus on the fun part -- assembling your stunning floral arrangements!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Animal-Squares/dp/1782219811
"Animal Granny Squares" by Sarah-Jane Hicks (9781782219811, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Featuring 20 popular animals
(including dogs, cats, bears, sheep, pigs, lions, turtles, ladybugs, sloths and more), this book has a 3D animal to suite every
taste! Use different stitches to create textured elements such as fluffy manes, shaggy fur and frilly tentacles, and crochet
three-dimensional elements such as ears, eyes, horns, beaks and wings to bring the animals to life! Make wonderfully tactile
gifts featuring a whole menagerie of animal friends, or just pick and choose your favorites!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Amigurumi-Animals/dp/1800921608
"Amigurumi Animals" by Sarah Abbondio (9781800921603, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Showcasing 20 adorable animals to crochet
and love, "Amigurumi Animals' has a cute character for everyone! Whether you want to make your favorite household pet
such as a dog, cat or rabbit; explore the woodland with a brown bear or an owl; or venture into the jungle by creating
elephants, monkeys and crocodiles. These quick and easy little projects are great for using up small amounts of yarn from
your stash; with clear instructions and a basic body shape to get you started, you'll soon be on your way to creating the
whole collection!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Flowers-Crochet/dp/1800921004
"Flowers To Crochet" by Sarah-Jane Hicks (9781800921009, $11.95, HC, 64pp) There are 20 stunning flowers to choose
from, including a sunshine-yellow sunflower, the classic rose, a dainty daisy, a sweet snowdrop and the bumblebee's
favourite: lavender. Once you've crocheted your blooms, use them to embellish clothing and accessories, or even turn them
into a floral wreath and fairy lights! This is a fantastic little project book in a handy pocket-size format, so you can crochet
your posies wherever you go!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Squares-Crochet/dp/180092139X
"Granny Squares To Crochet" by Val Pierce (9781800921399, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Granny squares are perfect for helping
you become proficient in crochet, thanks to their repeating stitches and patterns. They're also excellent stashbusters and
portable projects, as they use only small amounts of yarn and are relatively small in size. Once you've made the multitude of
lovely squares in this instructional guide, Val Pierce has shared a number of project ideas that you can make with your
newly made blocks -- from a sweet 'n simple coaster and retro cushion to pretty fingerless gloves and a beautiful baby
blanket. This is a fantastic little project book in a handy pocket-size format, so you can crochet your favorite squares
wherever you go!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Knitted-Baby/dp/1782219765
"Knitted Baby Hats" by Lynne Rowe (9781782219767, $11.95, HC, 64pp) Hats are a timeless must-have baby item -- so
what could be better than making one for yourself or a friend? This cute and colorful book is filled with 20 knitted hats to
keep your little one cozy as well as on-trend. Whether you fancy making a simple beanie or bonnet, a cute panda, fox or bee,
a colorful watermelon or strawberry or a quirky tassel hat, this step-by-step instructional guide has it all. Choose from hats
with ears, stripes, pompoms, topknots and more -- all the techniques are included!
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Twenty-Make-Sewing-Scraps/dp/1782219676
"Sewing With Scraps" by Debbie Von Grabler-Crozier (9781782219675, $11.95, HC, 64pp) How do you keep your piles of
scrap fabric from growing out of control? Sew with them, of course! "Sewing With Scraps" shows you how to stitch 20
stylish, fresh items from very small amounts of fabric. From tiny scraps that can be transformed into patchworked coasters,
strips that can be made into scrap bunting and offcuts that can be used for pouches or pincushions, your treasured scraps can
be given a new lease of life! An invaluable crash-course on key techniques is included at the beginning of this instructional
guide and every featured project includes clear step-by-step instructions and a stunning photograph of the finished design to
inspire.
Critique: Profusely illustrated, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, the DIY instructional 'how-to'
titles comprising "All-New 20 To Make" are especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and
community library Needlecraft collections. It should be noted for readers with an interest in patchwork and felting fabric art,
creative sewing, crocheting, knitting, and home decorating that each one of these individual titles is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $11.95).
The Gardening Shelf
The Succulents Design Book
Kentaro Kuroda
Tuttle Publishing
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804856102, $19.99, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Succulents-Design-Book-Combinations-Year-Round/dp/0804856109
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Succulents Design Book: Container Combinations That Look Great and Thrive
Together Year-Round", container gardening expert Kentaro Kuroda presents an instant DIY how-to guide to creating the
succulent container gardens.
"The Succulents Design Book" shows aspiring gardeners how to group plants with compatible growing cycles in a way that
balances their colors, shapes and sizes so the arrangements look beautiful all year long.
"The Succulents Design Book" presents 36 combinations presented provide design ideas for every type of space and decor.
Each arrangement will thrive and look good throughout the year since the not only the shapes, sizes and colors of the plants
match, but their individual growing cycles are also synchronized. There are also practical step-by-step instructions and
layout diagrams make creating these arrangements foolproof.
A field guide to the 100 succulents showcased in the illustrated pages of "The Succulents Design Book" will help in the
purchasing of plants with confidence. Also included is information on soils, additives, watering, fertilizing, light exposure,
pest management and more.
The stunning photos throughout "The Succulents Design Book" will inspire novice and experienced gardeners alike to
create unique combinations using unusual and unexpected containers, from hanging pots to old tins. And because the plants
are compatible and grow well together, they will continue to look good over time.
Of special note is how expert container gardener Kentaro Kuroda emphasizes the differences between summer and winter
seasonal varieties and shows you how to artfully combine them so the plants will thrive together year-round.
Critique: This large format, beautifully illustrated paperback edition of "The Succulents Design Book: Container
Combinations That Look Great and Thrive Together Year-Round" provides a complete and thoroughly 'user friendly' course
of instruction that will have immense appeal and value for amateur and professional gardeners alike. While especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library gardening collections, and
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99), the visual esthetics of container gardening as laid out in the
pages of "The Succulents Design Book" will hold immense interest to interior designers as well.
Editorial Note: Kentaro Kuroda, is a horticulturist and founder of Flora Kuroda Gardening in Saitama Prefecture. He
specializes in imaginative group plantings and nostalgic vignettes. He is a blogger in his native Japan, and co-author of
Container Succulents (Tuttle Publishing).
Outside In
Sean A. Pritchard
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781784728854, $39.99
https://www.amazon.com/Outside-growing-displaying-Sean-Pritchard/dp/1784728853
Outside In: A Year of Growing and Displaying pairs gardening objectives with interior design tools to make the most of
designs that embrace the concept of year-round interior flower displays.
As garden designer Sean A. Pritchard moves through the process of growing for display, readers interested in both design
and gardening will find a rich loam of new possibilities in pages that, themselves, feature extraordinary visual displays
through full-page color flower photos.
From how to choose and display flowers to bulbs and specific flowers that feature special attributes (such as nasturtiums or
autumn annuals), the lavish appeal of this title lies in not just its visual attractors, but in the promise that flower growing and
display can be just as accessible to average readers as to interior design or gardening professionals.
All it takes is this book and an interest in growing and arranging flowers for year-round indoor displays.
The Travel Shelf
Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations
Andrew Nelson
National Geographic Press
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426222580, $30.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Here-Not-There-Unexpected-Destinations/dp/1426222580
Synopsis: Today many of the world's most beloved places to visit have become very expensive and overcrowded, making
their celebrated allure that much harder to enjoy. But with the publication of "Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel
Destinations", National Geographic travel writer Andrew Nelson helps the aspiring tourist to create a more robust,
off-the-beaten path vacation by revealing 100 alternative destinations to the standard travel playbook -- as well as a wealth
of expert tips on when to visit, where to eat, what to see, and where to stay.
A DIY collection for creating lively travel itineraries for global destinations, her to be found are authentic, unexpected, and
rewarding destinations of a lifetime to add to your bucket list, including: A trip to Quito, Ecuador (instead of Lima, Peru),
for iconic architecture and top-notch South American cuisine; A road trip along West Virginia's byways (instead of New
England's highways) for brilliant autumn colors; A romantic rendezvous to Lecce, Italy (instead of mega-touristed Florence)
for art, wine, and artifacts; A hiking excursion in Chile's Lake District (instead of England's Lake District) for an unexpected
natural wonder.
Then there is a theater-infused visit to Cleveland, Ohio -- where the performances match the levels of New York City's
Broadway; A tour of Portugal's Azores (rather than the Hawaiian islands), for flora, fauna, and underwater adventures; A
water-filled excursion through New York's Thousand Islands -- instead of a cruise down Germany's Rhine River; A trip to
Detroit to find Art Deco skyscrapers (and even a beach in Motown) that rival those of Miami, Florida -- as so much
more!
Both surprising and inspiring, "Here Not There" offers its readers a chance to think beyond their typical borders and in the
process, discover undreamed-of and truly memorable destinations.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with National Geographic quality, full color photography, "Here
Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations" is an ideal resource for alternative travel planning for recreational
purposes. A fun read from start to finish for the armchair traveler, "Here Not There" is impressively organized and presented
for DIY travel itineraries and will prove to be an enduringly welcome pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Travel Guide collections. It should be noted for travelers and tourists that "Here Not There" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: An award-winning writer and editor for National Geographic Traveler, Andrew Nelson
(http://andrewtnelson.com) has roamed all 50 states as well as numerous countries for the magazine and website. He served
as director of editorial projects for National Geographic Travel in Washington, D.C., and has taught in institutions such as
Loyola University New Orleans and the College of Charleston.
The Parenting Shelf
The Sneaky Parent
David Borgenicht, author
James Grace, author
Jason Schneider, illustrator
Quirk Books
www.quirkbooks.com
9781683694212, $16.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sneaky-Parent-Tactics-Cheerful-Cooperative/dp/168369421X
Synopsis: As a parent, you want nothing more than to keep your child fed, clothed, clean, healthy, and safe. Your kid,
meanwhile, wants nothing more than to eat junk, go nude, stay up all night, and fall down a well. Begging doesn't work.
Bribery isn't sustainable. You don't want to shout. It's time to get sneaky.
"The Sneaky Parent: Crafty Tactics for Raising Cheerful, Cooperative Kids" offers a full playbook of clever ploys for
beating kids at their own game. With the strategies outlined in this book, you can gently guide kids toward positive choices
-- all while letting them think they're the ones in control.
With the help of "The Sneaky Parent", readers will learn how to: Boost oral hygiene by pretending a toothbrush is a
paintbrush for teeth; Render long plane trips painless with a game of "Name That Cloud"; Calm separation anxiety by
developing fun ways to wave goodbye; Plus dozens of other clever tactics, tricks, and games!
With a little benevolent sneakiness, your child will enthusiastically try new foods, embrace bath time, go to sleep on a
schedule, and other necessary but unpopular life skills. The best part? They'll be sure it was their idea.
Originally published as How to Con Your Kid (2012) this edition includes gender-neutral language, updated screen time
advice, and more for today's parent.
Critique: Fun, informative, practical, and ingenious, "The Sneaky Parent: Crafty Tactics for Raising Cheerful, Cooperative
Kids" by co-authors David Borgenicht and James Grace, enhanced with images by artist/illustrator Jason Schneider, is
especially and unreservedly recommended reading for any and all parents having the responsibilities of raising babies,
toddlers, and preschoolers. While certain to be an enduringly popular pick for community library Parenting collections, it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Sneaky Parent: Crafty Tactics for Raising Cheerful, Cooperative Kids"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: David Borgenicht is a New York Times best-selling author and the creator of the iconic Worst-Case
Scenario Survival Handbook series. He is also the founder of Quirk Books and, more importantly, is the father of two clever
and now adult children, Sophie and Max. He lives in Pennsylvania.
Editorial Note #2: James Grace is the coauthor of several books, including the New York Times bestselling The Worst-Case
Scenario Survival Handbook: Golf. He is a lawyer and runs a non-profit that supports artists and arts organizations. He lives
in Massachusetts with his wife, Lisa, and is the father of three crafty and now adult kids, Avery, Cooper, and Dustin.
Editorial Note #3: Hailing from Toronto, Jason Schneider is an editorial illustrator with over 25 years of experience
providing advertising, print, and web content for leading North American and European publications and clients.
The Secret World of Children
Meri Wallace, LCSW
Precocity Press
www.precocitypress.com
9798989204328, $19.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-World-Children-Understand-Behave/dp/B0CN31F5P6
The Secret World of Children: Understand Why Your Kids Behave the Way They Do reviews nine developmental reasons
why kids behave and misbehave, explaining to parents the rudiments of belief systems, perceptions, and lessons that adults
may have never thought of (or intended to pass on to their kids).
The purpose of this treatise is to not just explain, but explore the dimensions of such systems and teachings, helping parents
understand the messages and impact of how they teach kids to handle common life issues from bullying to separation
anxiety and daily routines. Each behavior receives a translation to real-world events that adults will readily understand,
showing how to provide the type of encouragement and support that builds character and strong children.
Examples can be found in as simple an effort as showing a child how to iron a shirt: "Avoid perfectionism. When your child
is ironing for the first time and is upset because there are many wrinkles left in the shirt, it's best to say, "Ironing is hard and
you're just learning how to do it. We'll keep working on it together." If you expect perfection from your children and readily
criticize their attempts telling them, "You didn't do it right. I'll do it myself," they feel inadequate and defeated, and may not
try again.
Your words and attitude can be internalized by your children, and they might become their own worst critics." While the
intended result is to encourage better parenting through example, Meri Wallace perhaps won't have intended the side benefit
of outlining strategies and common reactions that resonate not only between adults and kids, but adults and their own peers.
Her delineation of attitudes and examples inherent in life encounters will help adults better understand the roots of their own
responses to life and others around them.
This makes The Secret World of Children not only an invaluable expose of children's behaviors and how they learn, but an
exploration of adult patterns of action, reaction, and interaction with all ages. For these reasons and more, The Secret World
of Children is highly recommended for new parents, those who want to learn more about how and why kids learn and react
to life in certain ways, and their own roles and engrained lessons towards others. Libraries seeking parenting titles that go
the extra mile in linking common reactions to life-long lessons, as well as book clubs interested in the psychology of
relationships and modifying perceptions and attitudes for more positive, growth-oriented results, will find The Secret World
of Children a winner.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
The Mae West Films
James L. Neibaur
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887713946, $40.00, HC, 220pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mae-West-Films-James-Neibaur/dp/B0CTCVMQNQ
Synopsis: Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 - November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, comedian,
screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned over seven decades. Considered a sex symbol, she was known for her
breezy sexual independence and her lighthearted bawdy double entendres, often delivered in a husky contralto voice. She
was active in vaudeville and on stage in New York City before moving to Los Angeles to begin a career in the film industry.
(Wikipedia)
It is quite true that in her time Mae West was one of the true icons of show business, enjoying success on stage and in
movies. She created her own character, wrote her own dialog, and understood the value of self-promotion -- and was very,
very good at it.
An innately talented entertainer, Mae began working on stage as a small child and was still pursuing creative endeavors in
the last year of her life. With the publication of "The Mae West film", cinematic historian James L. Neibaur concentrates on
her movie work, and although she only made 12 movies, they made her a universally recognized movie star. Her best
movies were edgy and challenging along with being entertaining, and have lived on for succeeding generations of film fans
as true cinematic classics.
Critique: In "The Mae West films", each of her twelve movies are critiqued. Informatively enhanced further for the reader's
benefit, "The Mae West Films" includes an eight page chapter on 'Mae West Before the Movies', a six page Bibliography,
and a four page Index. A 'must' for the remaining legions of Mae West fans, "The Mae West Films" is a high value pick for
personal, professional, community, film school, college, and university library Cinematic History collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this BearManor Media edition of "The Mae West Films" is
also available in paperback (9798887713939, $28.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: James L. Neibaur is a film historian and scholar who has written over 35 books and hundreds of articles,
essays, and reviews for various film magazines and website blogs.
(https://www.sensesofcinema.com/author/james-l-neibaur)
Nozone: Reviews of Art, Cult, and Genre Cinema, 2003-2012
Tim Lucas
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887714042, $38.00, C, 442pp
https://www.amazon.com/Nozone-Reviews-Genre-Cinema-2003-2012/dp/B0CW1RHM5N
Synopsis: As editor and chief critic of Video Watchdog ("The Perfectionist's Guide to Home Video"), Tim Lucas acquired a
national reputation as the leading guide to truly underground cinema: those bizarre, elusive but revelatory movies that could
then only be found through foreign and subterranean markets or swap meets.
With this notoriety in mind, he was approached in 2003 by Sight and Sound, the venerable publication of the British Film
Institute, to write a monthly column reviewing the most interesting new video releases not then available for sale within the
UK. This column, NoZone, became a monthly feature of the magazine for nearly ten years.
"Nozone - Reviews of Art, Cult, and Genre Cinema, 2003-2012" collects, updates, and annotates the full run of Tim Lucas'
NoZone columns, while adding one previously unpublished. This is the first in a comprehensive new series from Bear
Manor Media collecting the best of Tim Lucas's 50+ years of film-related writings, and the first such collection to appear in
more than 30 years.
Critique: Arranged chronologically from June 2003 to September 2012, "Nozone - Reviews of Art, Cult, and Genre Cinema,
2003-2012" is concisely informative, inherently fascinating, and essential reading for film buffs and cinematic history fans.
Thoroughly 'film fan friendly' in organization and presentation, "Nozone - Reviews of Art, Cult, and Genre Cinema,
2003-2012" is especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library Cinematic History & Movie Guide collections. It should be noted that "Nozone - Reviews of Art, Cult, and Genre
Cinema, 2003-2012" is also available in a paperback edition (9798887714035, $37.00).
Editorial Note: Tim Lucas (https://videowatchdogblog.blogspot.com) has been reviewing films professionally, with a
preference for art and exploitation cinema, since the age of 15. His work has appeared in Sight and Sound, Film Comment,
Fangoria, Gorezone and numerous other books and magazines, including his own influential Video Watchdog, co-published
with his wife Donna from 1990 to 2018. He is the author of the multi-award-winning Mario Bava - All the Colors of the
Dark, as well as The Video Watchdog Book and monographs on Videodrome, Spirits of the Dead and Succubus.
It's That Time Again 2!
Martin Grams Jr., author
Jim Harmon, editor
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com
9798887713076, $36.00, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Its-That-Time-Again-hardback/dp/B0CRS1P5KJ
Synopsis: Edited and with an informative Foreword by Jim Harmon "It's That Time Again Vol. 2" offers the reader with a
memorable and entertaining sampling of popular old time radio shows including:
Vic and Sade (The Stembottom Situation)
William F. Nolan (Radio Detectives)
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Duplicate Daughter
The Avenger and the Maker of Werewolves
Baby Snooks (Out with Mommy)
The Whistler (For I Walk by Night)
The Adventures of Jimmie Allen In World War II)
House of Mystery (The Ghastly Dream)
Richard Diamond (Fall from Grace)
My Friend Irma (Jane's Side)
Columbia Workshop (A Drink for the Damned)
Bobby Benson and His B Bar B Riders (The Adventure of the Lady Prospector)
Jack FrenchRed Ryder (Little Beaver's Schooling)
The Man Called X (Crisis in Cairo)
Nightbeat (A Dancer, a Soldier, a Villain)
The Jack Benny Program (The Fred Allen Murder Case)
Lum and Abner (Murder in Pine Ridge)
Harold Lloyd Comedy Theatre (Maltese Omelet)
Hermit's Cave (Last of the Legares)
A Witch's Tale (The Peltonville Horror)
Lights Out (Later Than You Think)
The Great Gildersleeve (Saturday Morning)
Critique: An absolute 'must' for all fans of Old Time Radio, "It's That Time Again 2!" will prove to be a prized addition to
personal, professional, community, and college/university library Radio Broadcasting History collections and supplemental
curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that "It's That Time Again 2!" from BearManor Books is also readily available in
a paperback edition (9781593930066, $28.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Jim Harmon, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Harmon) is an Old Tim Radio guru, and the author of "The
Great Radio Heroes" and "The Great Radio Comedians".
The Fishing Shelf
Most Trout Don't Read
Scot Bealer, author
Lea Frye, illustrator
Sweetgrass Books
c/o Farcountry Press
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591523413, $19.95, PB, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Most-Trout-Dont-Read-Lessons/dp/1591523419
Synopsis: Contrary to popular belief, trout are not intellectuals! However, they are keen observers of their environment and
well attuned to the elements important to their survival. If you plan on chasing them with a fly rod, you need to learn how to
pay attention to those details. True mastery of the sport isn't about memorizing lots of facts, but rather having a sense of
curiosity and spending time out on the water.
With the publication of "Most Trout Don't Read: Lessons from Time on the Water" Scot Bealer leads you on a journey of
discovery, recalling occasions when he, or sometimes his clients, learned important lessons. His stories are warm, funny,
and full of great advice to improve your skills and better enjoy your time on the water. His comments on gear, guides, and
other aspects of the sport are based on decades of practical experience.
The images from photographer Lea Frye's camera vividly bring Scot's stories to life and will leave you yearning to get out
there.
Critique: Impressively informative, beautifully illustrated, and a fascinating read from start to finish, "Most Trout Don't
Read: Lessons from Time on the Water" is especially and unreservedly recommended reading for avid anglers who enjoy fly
fishing, being outdoors, or just want to learn more about the wily trout. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Most Trout Don't Read: Lessons from Time on the Water" is a prized pick for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Trout Fishing collections.
Editorial Note #1: Scot Bealer's background includes teaching, guiding, and even a stint as the head instructor at the L.L.
Bean Fly Fishing School. He has fished all over the country and introduced hundreds of people to the sport of fly fishing. He
currently lives with his wife, Lea Frye, in Helena, Montana. When he's not out on the water fishing, Scot splits his time
between helping Lea with her wildlife photography and working as an instructor in the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
'Hooked on Fishing' program.
Editorial Note #2: Lea Frye (https://frye-lea.pixels.com) is a wildlife and landscape photographer.
The Gaming Shelf
Master Point Press
www.masterpointpress.com
Master Point Press is the premier publisher of instructional books on and about the game of Bridge. Three of their newest
titles are particularly of interest to dedicated Bridge players seeking to improve their game.
https://www.amazon.com/Bidding-at-Bridge-Barbara-Seagram/dp/1771400188
"Bidding at Bridge: A Quizbook" by Barbara Seagram & Bird David (9781771400183, $17.95, PB, 162pp) explains the
sound natural bidding methods that will allow you to play in the right suit (or notrump) at the correct level. Each of the
fourteen chapters comprising "Bidding at Bridge: A Quizbook" begins with three or four pages of instruction, followed by
several pages of multiple-choice bidding problems, illustrating everyday situations you will face countless times at the
table.
https://www.amazon.com/Declarer-Play-at-Bridge-Quizbook/dp/1897106912
"Declarer Play at Bridge: A Quizbook", by the same author team, was named Book of the Year by the American Bridge
Teachers' Association. Building on the success of that title, "Bidding at Bridge: A Quizbook" gives the improving player a
chance to practice the principles on which sound bidding is based, from the opening bid onward.
https://www.amazon.com/2-1-Steroids-Daniel-Solow/dp/1771402598
"2/1 On Steroids" by Daniel Solow (9781771402590, $19.95, PB, 154pp) Modern bidding systems in Bridge have evolved
over the past hundred years, starting with four-card majors and culminating in 2/1, together with a plethora of conventions
along the way (Stayman, transfers, Roman Key Card, to name a few).
Yet you can still encounter the occasional deficiency -- such as an ambiguous bid or ending up in the wrong contract. When
this happened to Daniel Solow, he wondered if it was possible to fix some of the issues he encountered by developing a
system from scratch using all of the effective bidding principles that have been developed over time, and the answer is... yes
(but with some tradeoffs)!
Readers will join the Solow on a bridge cruise where they will meet some amazing women who unfold this new bidding
system through illustrative hands. While no claim is made that this system should replace those currently in use, players will
find the approach novel, interesting, and thought provoking.
https://www.amazon.com/Duplicate-Bridge-403-Second-seat-Interference/dp/1771402636
"Duplicate Bridge 403: Defending Second-Seat Interference" by Stephen Paul (9781771402637, $22.95, PB, 230pp) focuses
on improving your partnership's ability to overcome interference which is essential for good results. Finding the right
contract requires a clear understanding of the values represented by responder's bids after the opponents interfere.
Duplicate Bridge 403: Defending Second Seat Interference provides the reader with two sets of tools for this:
1.Hand valuation in competition using an algorithm developed by Lawrence and Wirgren. This method of hand evaluation
provides the reader with a competitive advantage relative to older methods of estimating trick count.
2.A comprehensive set of bidding structures is provided for defending against bids made in the second seat. Where possible,
alternatives are detailed giving partnerships a choice that fits their individual style. Quizzes follow each section allowing the
reader to test their understanding.
"Duplicate Bridge 403: Defending Second-Seat Interference" includes defending against:
A Takeout double
Natural overcalls using Negative Doubles
Two-suited overcalls such as Unusual 2NT, Michaels, and Roman Jump Overcall
Two-level opening preempts using the Lebensohl relay
Natural overcalls of a 1NT opening (Lebensohl relay)
1NT overcalls with one known suit and one unknown suit (Lebensohl relay)
1NT overcalls with two known suits (Lebensohl relay)
It should be noted that the bidding structures for Lebensohl were based on "The Lebensohl Convention Complete" by Ron
Andersen.
This text of "Duplicate Bridge 403: Defending Second-Seat Interference" is specifically meant to improve your partnership
understandings in competition. Given the frequency opponents interfere in today's game a small improvement and can
quickly lead to stronger results.
Critique: Each of these three seminal and ground-breaking titles are thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, making each of them critically important an unreservedly recommended picks for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library instructional Bridge book collections.
Editorial Note: Master Point Press grew out of Canadian Master Point magazine (1992-1997), which was published in
Toronto, Canada by Ray and Linda Lee. The company began publishing books in 1994. While primarily interested in books
on contract bridge, MPP also has published books on other games and intellectual pursuits.
The Computer Shelf
The Complete Developer
Martin Krause
No Starch Press
www.nostarch.com
9781718503281, $49.99, PB, 344pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Developer-TypeScript-Next-js-MongoDB/dp/1718503288
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Complete Developer: Master the Full Stack with TypeScript, React, Next.js,
MongoDB, and Docker", website building expert Martin Krause offers a hands-on, beginner-friendly approach to
developing complete web applications from the ground up, using JavaScript and its most popular frameworks, including
Node.js and React.js.
Whether you have been in the developer kitchen for decades or are just taking the plunge to do it yourself, "The Complete
Developer" will show you how to build and implement every component of a modern stack and build it from scratch.
Reader's will go from a React-driven frontend to a fully fleshed-out backend with Mongoose, MongoDB, and a complete set
of REST and GraphQL APIs, and back again through the whole Next.js stack.
This No Starch Press edition of "The Complete Developer" is comprised of easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes will teach
you how to build a web server with Express.js, create custom API routes, deploy applications via self-contained
microservices, and add a reactive, component based UI. You will leverage command line tools and full-stack frameworks to
build an application whose no-effort user management rides on GitHub logins.
Readers will also learn how to: Work with modern JavaScript syntax, TypeScript, and the Next.js framework; Simplify UI
development with the React library; Extend an application with REST and GraphQL APIs; Manage data with the MongoDB
NoSQL database; Use OAuth to simplify user management, authentication, and authorization; Automate testing with Jest,
test-driven development, stubs, mocks, and fakes.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, deftly organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "The Complete
Developer: Master the Full Stack with TypeScript, React, Next.js, MongoDB, and Docker" is an ideal pick for both
experienced software engineers and those new to DIY web development. Covering Docker, Express.js, JavaScript, Jest,
MongoDB, Mongoose, Next.js, Node.js, OAuth, React, REST and GraphQL APIs, and TypeScript, "The Complete
Developer" is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university
library JavaScript/Web Services collections and supplemental Computer Science curriculum lists. It should be noted that
"The Complete Developer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99).
Editorial Note: Martin Krause has been building websites from scratch for over 20 years. He has been an engineering
manager at Publicis Sapient and a senior frontend architect at Razorfish, creating cutting-edge microsites and leading teams
on large-scale projects.
The Music Shelf
American Hair Metal: Can't Get Enough!
Steven Blush, author
Feral House
www.feralhouse.com
9781627311489, $34.95, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/American-Hair-Metal-Cant-Enough/dp/1627311483
Synopsis: Not so long ago there was a time when pomp and spandex dominated MTV and pop radio playlists. Nearly 20
years after the first edition of "American Hair Metal" (2006) by Steven Blush, people still can't get enough hair metal! The
new expanded edition of "American Hair Metal: Can't Get Enough!" visually celebrates this orgy of flamboyance,
androgyny, and animal magnetism, of big-haired alpha males and the beautiful women who surrounded them. Interest in
hair metal is currently exploding -- witness arena-level revival tours, reissue compilations, and documentaries and
docudramas that revisit the excesses of the eighties and nineties.
The hundreds of striking photographs comprising "American Hair Metal: Can't Get Enough!" are complimented by
hedonistic ephemera from bands like Poison, Cinderella, Mtley Cre, Skid Row, and Stryper. Wild quotes from major
players such as David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi, Sebastian Bach, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Bret Michaels, Don Dokken, and
many unsung heroes.
Critique: This newly expanded edition of "American Hair Metal: Can't Get Enough!" includes more photos, more quotes,
and a new introduction by Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff), as well as an informative interview with Rik Fox (WASP, Steeler).
A 'must' for the legions of Heavy Metal fans, "American Hair Metal: Can't Get Enough!" is a fun read from cover to cover
and highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university librar Amerian Music History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Steven Blush (https://stevenblush.com) has written five books about rock music: American Hardcore
(2001), .45 Dangerous Minds (2005), the original American Hair Metal (2006), Lost Rockers (2015) and New York Rock
(2016). His journalism has appeared in over 50 publications, such as Spin, Details, Interview, Village Voice, and The Times
Of London, and for years was a contributing editor to Paper Magazine. He wrote and produced the theatrically released
Sundance Film Festival-premiered doc film American Hardcore (Sony Pictures Classics, 2006). In 2010, Feral House
published an expanded Second Edition of the American Hardcore book, which is now available in four languages.
Editorial Note 32: Chip Z'Nuff (www.enuffznuff.com) is an American singer, songwriter, bassist, producer, and radio
personality. Having founded the popular glam rock band Enuff Z'Nuff in 1984 in the illustrious city of Chicago, the band
saw its self-titled major label debut released in the summer of 1989.
The Christian Studies Shelf
God's Goodness for the Chosen
Amanda Jenkins, author
Dallas Jenkins, author
Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, author
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
www.davidccook.org
9780830784585, $17.99, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Goodness-Chosen-Interactive-Season/dp/0830784586
Synopsis: The fourth volume in the 'The Chosen Bible Study Series' series from David C. Cook, with the publication of
"God's Goodness for the Chosen: An Interactive Bible Study Season 4" is a study that teaches Christian readers how to
reframe their hardships and see them as fertile soil for God's goodness to grow in their lives.
We see it over and over again in the Bible: God brings good things out of bad things for the sake of His people and for His
glory. But truth be told, when we personally experience suffering, we have a difficult time actually believing it. Yet, life is
challenging even for the followers of Jesus, and hardship in the twenty-first century is no exception.
"God's Goodness for the Chosen" takes Christian readers through eight lessons which reveal how God uses suffering to
bring about good things in the lives of those He loves.
Death is eclipsed by life; Grief is eclipsed by praise; Questions are eclipsed by resolve; Confusion is eclipsed by grace;
Temporary things are eclipsed by eternal things; Heartbreak is eclipsed by love; Sin is eclipsed by obedience; Pain is
eclipsed by the fullness of God's plan.
Indeed, readers will be challenged to embrace the hard things of life, to experience more of the goodness God offers on the
other side.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring, "God's Goodness for the Chosen: An Interactive Bible Study Season 4" is ideal for
individual and small group studies in Christian Spiritual Growth, New Testament Commentaries, and Biblical Studies from
a Christian perspectives. Highly recommended for all members of the Christian community, it should be noted for clergy,
seminary students, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "God's Goodness for the Chosen:
An Interactive Bible Study Season 4" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Amanda Jenkins is an author, speaker, and the lead creator of The Chosen's additional content. Her
husband, Dallas Jenkins, son of celebrated Left Behind author Jerry Jenkins, directed and produced over a dozen feature and
short films before creating The Chosen, the largest crowd-funded media project of all time. They currently live in Texas
with their four children.
Editorial Note #2: Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, the evangelical biblical consultant for the television series, is Professor of New
Testament and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) in
California.
The Gift of Limitations
Sara Hagerty
Zondervan
https://www.zondervan.com
9780310357049, $26.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Limitations-Finding-Beauty-Boundaries/dp/0310357047
Synopsis: It's all too much. Too much laundry and too many bills. Too many appointments, meetings, and open tabs on our
browser. Yet in the midst of so much, we feel deprived. Limited. We make another family dinner while shelving our passion
for art. We tend our tiny patch of grass while envying the time our neighbor has to garden. We go to bed exhausted, too tired
to enjoy a few minutes with our own thoughts.
As a writer, speaker, and mother of seven, Sara Hagerty knows what limitations feel like. Yet she has also seen how the
boundaries of our life circumstances can bring about growth and satisfaction we'd never experience otherwise. With the
poetic voice, gentle validation, and deep spiritual insights that have made Sara's previous books so popular, "The Gift of
Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries" explores how to:
Name the limitations that haunt us and how we have unknowingly given them power
Open our eyes to what God can do with the weaknesses we resent
Discover what God's Word says about living within our limitations
Understand what embracing our limits looks like in everyday life
Recognize when we are pushing ourselves too far
Understand how God sees weakness and how He has used it in the lives of great believers
Dream again while remaining tethered to God's best story for us
Release the shame and frustration of our weaknesses
In reading "The Gift of Limitations", you will learn to see the beauty and peace God provides in the midst of our life
circumstances -- and the deep spiritual growth we can experience through the limitations that we once thought held us
back.
Critique: Beautifully written, inspired and inspiring, "The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries" will
prove of immense interest with Christian readers aspiring to spiritual and personal growth for themselves, their families,
their friends, their neighbors, their associates, and their fellow church members. While also readily available for personal
reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), "The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for clergy, seminary students, and all members of the Christian community
regardless of denominational affiliations.
Editorial Note: Sara Hagerty (https://sarahagerty.net) is a lifelong admirer of words. She's experienced their power to revive.
The way she sees and crafts words comes from her love for God and his Word. She can be followed on her on Instagram at
@sarahagertywrites and on Substack at sarahagerty.substack.com
I Could Be Wrong, But I Doubt It
Phil Robertson, author
Gordon Dasher, author
Thomas Nelson Publishers
www.thomasnelson.com
9781400230181, $28.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Could-Be-Wrong-But-Doubt/dp/1400230187
Synopsis: Over nearly five decades of walking with God, podcaster, author and Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has
learned a thing or two about why Jesus is the only one worth following. Of all the things we could put our trust in, only
Jesus has the answers to our questions and the solutions for our problems.
Plenty of people claim to have the answers for a better life. Politicians claim they can fix our nation. Scientists and
technologists trumpet the latest and greatest discoveries that'll make everything right. Self-help gurus offer one pathway to
peace after another. But it's no secret that our world is increasingly divided and broken -- and we have the fear, anxiety, and
hopelessness to prove it. Jesus alone can make good on the promise of lasting peace, real freedom, and life eternal.
With his trademark directness, humor, and insight, with the publication of "I Could Be Wrong, But I Doubt It: Why Jesus Is
Your Greatest Hope on Earth and in Eternity", Phil will help you: Experience Jesus as the Creator and all-powerful
Sustainer of all creation; Reconcile your own brokenness and sinfulness with Jesus' unending well healing, forgiveness, and
peace; Develop the eyes to see Jesus for who he really is: the friend who will always be there for you, no matter what
mistakes you've made; and Look to the Bible to get to know Jesus and better understand His grace and love for you.
Politics won't save you. Science can't give you the power to sidestep death. The pleasures and joys of this world are fleeting
at best, damaging counterfeits at worst. But Phil has good news for you: Jesus offers life, joy, and peace, and he's never
more than a prayer away.
Critique: Inspired and inspiring, given the condition of the world today, "I Could Be Wrong, But I Doubt It: Why Jesus Is
Your Greatest Hope on Earth and in Eternity" is timely and unreservedly recommended reading for all members of the
Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy,
seminary student, congregational members, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Church/State & Christian
Social issues that "I Could Be Wrong, But I Doubt It: Why Jesus Is Your Greatest Hope on Earth and in Eternity" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Phil Robertson (https://duckcommander.com/pages/phil-robertson) is a professional hunter who invented his
own duck call and founded the successful Duck Commander company. He also starred in the popular television series on
A&E, Duck Dynasty, and is now the cohost of the hugely popular podcast, Unashamed with Phil & Jase Robertson. He is a
New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Politics; The Theft of America's Soul; Happy, Happy, Happy; and
UnPHILtered. He and his wife, Kay, live in West Monroe, Louisiana. He has five children, nineteen grandchildren, and
thirteen great-grandchildren.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Hakuin's Song of Zazen
Yamada Mumon Roshi, author
Norman Waddell, translator
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
www.shambhala.com
9781645471813, $24.95, PB, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hakuins-Song-Zazen-Yamada-Practice/dp/1645471810
Synopsis: First published in Japan in 1962, Hakuin's Song of Zazen is a celebrated collection of short essays by Zen master
Yamada Mumon Roshi. Translated into English for the first time by Norman Waddell, it introduces the story of Hakuin's
early life and training, then uses his classic Zen chanting poem, Song of Zazen, to make wide-ranging considerations of the
Zen tradition and its applications in modern Japanese life.
As Daisetz Suzuki remarks in his foreword, what gives Mumon's book its unique flavor and makes it different from
previous works by Zen teachers are his forays into matters of ordinary, everyday life, expanding his Zen teaching to
encompass interests that are closely linked with his lay audience. He responds to a news article that catches his eye in the
morning paper, delivers criticism on contemporary political and social trends, explores matters as diversified as the uses of
atomic energy, the court culture of seventeenth-century France, a leper hospital on an island in the Inland Sea, Albert
Schweitzer and other noted Western figures -- and more.
In doing this Mumon gives readers open access to the opinions, judgements, and practical thinking of a leading Zen master
-- a map of his planet, so to speak. Each brief chapter of "Hakuin's Song of Zazen: Yamada Mumon Roshi on Zen Practice"
is an invitation to follow Hakuin and himself down the path of true Zen realization.
Critique: Of special interest to students and practitioners of Zen Buddhism and now available to an American readership,
"Hakuin's Song of Zazen: Yamada Mumon Roshi on Zen Practice" is a seminal study that is articulate, elegant, insightful,
thoughtful and thought-provoking. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99) for the personal reading
lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "Hakuin's Song of Zazen:
Yamada Mumon Roshi on Zen Practice" is a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to persona, professional,
community, and college/university library Buddhism collections and supplemental Buddhist Studies curriculums lists.
Editorial Note #1: Yamada Mumon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumon_Yamada) was born in the mountainous Aichi
Prefecture of Japan in 1900. While attending high school in Tokyo, reading Confucius turned him toward the deeper
questions about life. He began exposing himself to Christian and Buddhist teachers, entering a Zen monastery at the age of
19. Mumon later met his primary teacher, Seki Seisetsu Roshi, and moved into Tenry?-ju monastery, where he served the
master until his death in 1945. In his fifties, Mumon became a master in his own right, serving as abbot of Shofuku-ji
Temple in Kobe, where he taught both Japanese and Western students and eventually established an international network
of disciples. Known for his curiosity and for his many writings on Zen, he passed away in 1988.
Editorial Note #2: Norman Wadell (www.shambhala.com/authors/u-z/norman-waddell.html) is the authoritative English
translator of works by and about Hakuin. He taught at Otani University in Japan for over thirty years and was editor of the
Eastern Buddhist Journal for several decades. He has published more than a dozen books on Japanese Zen Buddhism and is
one of the finest translators of sacred texts of our time.
The Buddha: Life and Afterlife Between East and West
Philip C. Almond
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781009346795, $39.99, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Buddha-Life-Afterlife-Between-East/dp/1009346792
Synopsis: Alongside Jesus and Muhammad, the Buddha is the most significant figure in the history of religion.
"The Buddha: Life and Afterlife Between East and West" by Professor Emeritus Philip Almond is the first to combine a
history of early traditions about Siddhartha Gautama's life with an authoritative account of how he and the tantalizing
philosophy inspired by him came to the attention of the West.
Professor Almond takes his reader on a remarkable journey encompassing (among other topics) Alexander the Great, the
courts of the Mongol Khans, Jesuit missions to China and Japan, and intrepid European travellers and scholars from the
modern era.
Deftly melding Pali and Sanskrit sources with vivid reception, Professor Almond presents the Buddha's story as
multi-layered: one of transition from a world of angels and demons, water and tree spirits, to an altogether different context
where Buddhism mixed with the cultural preoccupations of those who tentatively (sometimes following false trails) tried to
make sense of its fascinating complexity.
Critique: Of special and particular interest to readers concerned with Buddhism and western philosophy, "The Buddha: Life
and Afterlife Between East and West" by Professor Philip Almond is an extraordinary and seminal contribution that is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Buddhism & Philosophy
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Exceptional in organization and presentation, "The Buddha: Life and
Afterlife Between East and West" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.99) for students, academia,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
Editorial Note: Philip C. Almond is Emeritus Professor in Religious Thought at the University of Queensland and a
renowned specialist in the nexus between religion and the history of ideas. His recent publications include Mary Magdalene:
A Cultural History (Cambridge University Press, 2022), The Antichrist: A New Biography (Cambridge University Press,
2020), God: A New Biography (I.B. Tauris, 2018); Afterlife: A History of Life after Death (I.B. Tauris, 2016), and The
Devil: A New Biography (I.B. Tauris, 2014). His earlier, pioneering book The British Discovery of Buddhism (Cambridge
University Press, 1988) has gained a reputation as a landmark study in comparative religion and intellectual history.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Laughter Effect
Ros Ben-Moshe
Alcove Press
www.alcovepress.com
9781639105755, $32.99, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Laughter-Effect-Build-Resilience-Positivity/dp/1639105751
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Laughter Effect: How to Build Joy, Resilience, and Positivity in Your Life", author
Ros Ben-Moshe provides a roadmap to tap into the lighter side of life with laughter therapy. Ben-Moshe shares tips and
tools to achieve an intentional state of being she calls the Laughter Effect -- a way to elevate mindfulness, gratitude, and
self-compassion. When used regularly, it enhances resilience to stress, enabling you to respond to adversity and bounce
forward with humor, levity, and grace.
Drawing on research from around the world, practice and wisdom from humor and laughter therapy, and positive
psychology and neuroscience, Ben-Moshe shows you how to use the energy of laughter and joy to counter stress hormones
and stimulate a daily dose of positive wellbeing with "happy hormones."
The techniques, strategies and practices you will learn from "The Laughter Effect" can transform your physical, mental,
social and emotional landscape. Viewing life through a laughter lens will awaken a positive change in yourself, how you
respond to the world and, in turn, how the world responds to you.
Critique: Unique, fascinating, fun and effective, "The Laughter Effect: How to Build Joy, Resilience, and Positivity in Your
Life" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Life changing, life enhancing, life celebrating, "The
Laughter Effect" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university
library motivational Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted that "The Laughter Effect" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Ros Ben-Moshe (https://ros-benmoshe.com) is an internationally recognised laughter wellness and positivity
expert. She is adjunct lecturer at La Trobe University, where she has taught positive psychology and health promotion. A
Global Laughter Ambassador, Ros is a regular commentator and writer in Australian media. Her first book was "Laughing at
Cancer - How to Heal with Love, Laughter and Mindfulness". She has spent over twenty years empowering people to
embrace intentional smiling and laughter practices to generate positive life transformation and boost joy.
The Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal Development
Maja Djikic
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
www.bkconnection.com
9781523006014, $22.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Possible-Self-Leaders-Personal-Development/dp/1523006013
Synopsis: We are often told that the key to success in life involves advancing in our careers, but why do feel so stuck and
unfulfilled when everything seems to be going right?
With the publication of "The Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal Development", adult development expert,
Professor Maja Djikic explains that in order to discover our purpose and achieve real, lasting change, we need to move
beyond narrowly targeted ideas and strategies like changing our mindset or slightly altering our behavior, and instead go
deeper and focus on our innate desires.
Professor Djikic claims that sustained change can only happen when all five parts of ourselves move in the same direction
and at the same time. She introduces a transformational system called the Wheel of Change -- a simple, five-segment plan
that corresponds with the five key parts of ourselves: Desires, Actions, Emotions, Thoughts, and Body.
By understanding the mechanisms of these five integral parts, you will be able to escape the paradox of success without
happiness and move towards your own path of fulfilling self-development.
Critique: Of particular interest to readers concerned with business based motivational leadership and management, "The
Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal Development" by organizational behavior and human resource management
expert Professor Maja Djikic is exceptionally well written, organized and presented -- making it an ideal for both
professional and non-professional readers. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,
corporate, and college/university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies
lists, it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers, entrepreneurs, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that 'The Possible Self: A Leader's Guide to Personal
Development" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).
Editorial Note: Maja Djikic (https://www.majadjikic.com) is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human
Resource Management, the Director of the Self-Development Laboratory, and the Academic Director of Rotman Executive
Coaching Certificate program at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She has published more than 35
scientific articles and book chapters on personality development, and her research has been featured in over 50 media
outlets.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Sacred Geometry in Ancient Goddess Cultures
Richard Heath
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9781644116555, $48.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Geometry-Ancient-Goddess-Cultures/dp/1644116553
Synopsis: Long before Pythagoras and Plato, before arithmetic and Christianity, there existed matrilineal societies around
the Mediterranean, led by women with a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and sacred science.
"Sacred Geometry in Ancient Goddess Cultures: The Divine Science of the Female Priesthood" is a detailed exploration by
Richard Heath who decodes for his readers the cosmological secrets hidden by ancient goddess-centered cultures on the
island of Malta, at Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, and on the Greek island of Crete.
Heath reveals how the female astronomers of Malta built megaliths to study the sun, moon, and planets, counting time as
lengths and comparing lengths using geometry. He also shows how they encoded their cosmological and astronomical
discoveries, their "astronomy of the goddesses", in the geometries of their temples and monuments.
Examining Maltese and Cretan artifacts, including secret calendars, Heath details how the Minoans of Crete transformed
Maltese astronomy into a matriarchal religion based upon a Saturnian calendar of 364 days. He also reveals evidence of the
precursors of Maltese astronomical knowledge in the monuments of Gobekli Tepe.
Looking at the shift from sacred geometry to arithmetic in ancient Mediterranean cultures, Heath parallels this change in
mindset with the transition from matriarchal to patriarchal cultures. He reveals how Greek myths present a way to see the
matriarchal past through patriarchal eyes, detailing how Saturn's replacement by Jupiter-Zeus symbolizes the transition from
matriarchy to patriarchy.
Of special note is Heath's examination of how the early Christians helped preserve the ancient astronomy of the goddesses,
due to its connections to Christ's cosmological teachings, by encoding it in the artwork of the rock-cut churches and
monasteries of the Cappadocia region of Turkey.
Revealing how our planet, with its specific harmonics and geometries within our star system, is uniquely designed to
support intelligent life, "Sacred Geometry in Ancient Goddess Cultures: The Divine Science of the Female Priesthood"
shows how this divine spiritual truth was known to the ancient astronomers.
Critique: This large format (8 x 0.8 x 10 inches, 2.16 pounds) hardcover edition of "Sacred Geometry in Ancient Goddess
Cultures: The Divine Science of the Female Priesthood" from Inner Traditions beautifully and profusely illustrated
throughout and of immense value to readers with an interest in the sciences of antiquity in general, and the metaphysical
history of numbers/mathematics in particular. While a unique and invaluable pick for personal, professional, community,
and college/university library collections, it should be noted for historians, as well as metaphysical students and practitioners
that "Sacred Geometry in Ancient Goddess Cultures: The Divine Science of the Female Priesthood" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $31.99).
Editorial Note: Richard Heath, M.Sc., is a system designer who studies the technical achievements of the ancient world,
from those of the megalithic astronomers to sacred building design. He is the author of 5 books, including Sacred Number
and the Origins of Civilization and Sacred Geometry: Language of the Angels.
The Hoodoo Tarot Workbook
Tayannah Lee McQuillar
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
www.innertraditions.com
9781644116333, $19.99, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hoodoo-Tarot-Workbook-Rootwork-Divination/dp/1644116332
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Hoodoo Tarot Workbook: Rootwork, Rituals, and Divination", Tayannah Lee
McQuillar presents a deeper understanding of the concepts, themes, and symbology featured in her Hoodoo Tarot card deck
alongside rituals, botanical knowledge, and advanced practices for working with the cards.
Exploring the philosophy behind Hoodoo as well as its historical and spiritual roots, Tayannah looks at this tradition as a
nature-based spiritual system, emphasizing the unique environmental features of the Deep South that have shaped what
Hoodoo and rootwork are today.
She explores in depth the plants, herbs, and flowers of the Hoodoo tradition featured on the cards, as well as the animals that
play a totemic role in rootworking. She also explains the three sacred circles of Hoodoo and the different groups whose
spiritual traditions give this syncretic faith its complex heritage: early Black American Christianity, esoteric European
traditions, and Indigenous American traditions.
She then goes on to explore dreamwork and other divination systems practiced in Hoodoo, including bibliomancy, judicial
astrology, cartomancy, and cleromancy (divination with pebbles or other objects).
Looking at the Elder cards (Major Arcana) of The Hoodoo Tarot, Tayannah provides rituals to work with each of the cards
and the plants, legendary figures, and spiritual concepts they represent. She offers eleven new card spreads, such as the New
Moon spread, the Big House Healing Trauma spread, and the Difficult Ancestry spread. She looks closely at family card
connections, explaining what particular cards reveal when they appear, and shares exercises for resolving problems and
dysfunctional patterns.
Tayannah also explores the important role of rootworkers in their communities in the past and looking forward into the
future.
Presenting new ways to work with The Hoodoo Tarot, this informative and instructive manual also provides a foundational
introduction to the rootworking tradition, allowing divination practitioners and spiritual seekers alike to expand their
journeys of growth and understanding.
Critique: Of immense value to metaphysical students and practitioners with an interest in divination tarot, "The Hoodoo
Tarot Workbook: Rootwork, Rituals, and Divination" is an extraordinary and illustrated high value pick for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Tarot collections. It should be noted that "The Hoodoo Tarot
Workbook" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a tarot reader and researcher of religion, esoterica, and mysticism. The author of
several books and divination decks, including The Hoodoo Tarot and Astrology for Mystics.
(www.innertraditions.com/author/tayannah-lee-mcquillar)
When a Pagan Prays
Nimue Brown
Moon Books
c/o Collective Ink Books
https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
9781782796336, $19.95, PB, 207pp
https://www.amazon.com/When-Pagan-Prays-Exploring-Druidry/dp/1782796339
Synopsis: When a Pagan prays, there are many uncertainties -- who we pray to, what we pray for, and what might happen to
us as a consequence. Not having the same structures as other religions, Pagans cannot frame prayer in the same ways, and
our experiences are likely to be wilder and more personal. "When a Pagan Prays: Exploring Prayer in Druidry and Beyond"
by practicing druid Nimue Brown is both a wide ranging exploration of what prayer means in different faith and cultures,
and a personal journey into a spiritual practice.
Critique: Informative, thought-provoking, fascinating, extraordinary, and especially recommended for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Druid/Paganism collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists, it should be noted that "When a Pagan Prays: Exploring Prayer in Druidry and Beyond" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Druid, author, bard and dreamer. Nimue Brown is OBOD trained, a founding member of Bards of The Lost
Forest, Druid Network member and previously a volunteer for The Pagan Federation.
(https://druidry.org/people/nimue-brown)
The Criminology Shelf
Tinseltown Gangsters
Jeffrey Sussman, author
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781538173565, $36.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tinseltown-Gangsters-Rise-Decline-Hollywood/dp/1538173565
Synopsis: Like sharks to blood in the water, the Mafia arrived in Hollywood greedy and ready to tear away huge chunks of
cash. Opportunistic mobsters saw labor unions as the means for muscling into the movie industry and extorting millions of
dollars from studio bosses. Control the unions to which projectionists, art directors, cinematographers, electricians, scene
designers, stagehands, extras belong, and you control the whole industry.
Painting colorful portraits of numerous mobsters, producers, actors, and directors, with the publication of "Tinseltown
Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in Hollywood", Jeffrey Sussman tells the gripping, fast-paced, and true story of
corruption and greed in Hollywood throughout much of the twentieth century.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a two page Bibliography, and a two page
Index, "Tinseltown Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in Hollywood" is an exceptionally well written, organized
and presented history of the Mafia's involvement with (and eventual expulsion from) the film industry in Hollywood.
Unique, fascinating, comprehensive, detailed, documented and informative, "Tinseltown Gangsters" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library True Crime collections and
supplemental Criminology curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Tinseltown Gangsters" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$34.00).
Editorial Note: Jeffrey Sussman is the author of seventeen nonfiction books, seven of which have been published by
Rowman & Littlefield. Sussman is also the author of Sin City Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in Las Vegas;
Big Apple Gangsters: The Rise and Decline of the Mob in New York; and Boxing and the Mob: The Notorious History of
the Sweet Science. (www.goodreads.com/author/list/1211074.Jeffrey_Sussman)
Church Pastor, Child Trafficker
Roger Rodriguez, author
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
www.rowman.com
9781538185063, $32.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Church-Pastor-Child-Trafficker-Cuellar/dp/1538185067
Synopsis: Since the early 1990s, Elsa Cuellar was able to operate in a way that left no trail. She would pose as a pastor,
doctor, or lawyer to win the trust of her young victims. With the promise of a better life, citizenship, and education, these
young girls were lured into the clutches of Cuellar's claws where they became the source of her wealth.
This in itself made her money, but the true motive was to ensure these young girls got pregnant. By posing as a doctor or
midwife, Cuellar would convince the young girls that having the baby at her home was the most sanitary and natural way to
give birth. But unknown to the girls, the objective was to have a delivery that would not be on record at a hospital.
This made her underground baby-selling enterprise easier. After all, who would look for a baby no one knows exists? Once
Cuellar delivered the sad news to the young girls that the baby died during birth, her mission was complete.
Critique: A chilling and detailed account of an horrific criminal activity that took years to discover and put an end to,
"Church Pastor, Child Trafficker: The Crimes of Elsa Cuellar in a Border Town" will have a very special value for readers
with an interest in white collar and organized crime accounts. An impressively research, detailed, and informative study,
"Church Pastor, Child Trafficker: The Crimes of Elsa Cuellar in a Border Town" is a compelling read and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library True Crime collections and
supplemental Criminology curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Church Pastor, Child Trafficker: The Crimes of Elsa Cuellar in a Border Town"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.00).
Editorial Note: Roger Rodriguez (www.writingbyroger.com) is an American author born in Houston, Texas. He is the
author of The Long Way to Mexico which won an International Latino Book Award (2022) and Silver Book Fest Award
(2022). In 2008, he was featured in the Discovery Channel for his work The Grass Beneath His Feet: The Charles Victor
Thompson Story which highlights the escape of death row inmate Charles Victor Thompson. Later, this work was translated
into French, German, and Italian editions.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
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